It is common for companies to organize various informal events where workers can come with their partners. One of those... th (Photo: VNA) The event was held by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Peoples Committee of the northern province of Lang Son with a view to connecting farm produce sellers and buyers of Vietnamese and Chinese border provinces. Statistics show that trade between the two countries has continually increased over the past years, hitting USD93.7 billion in 2017, up 30.2 percent year on year. It reached USD46.8 billion in the first half of 2018, up 17.4 percent from the same period last year. The figure included USD3.7 billion worth of Vietnamese agricultural and aquatic exports to China, rising by 6.4 percent. Participants in the meeting shared the view that Vietnam owns many favourable conditions for farm produce trading with its neighbour, which has very big demand for these commodities. Consumers similar taste and the close proximity have also helped facilitate the transportation of goods, especially seasonal produce and items benefiting from preferential tariffs under the ASEAN-China Free Trade Agreement and other international commitments of China. However, La Dinh Tuyen from the Export-Import Department of the Ministry of Industry and Trade said Vietnamese goods in China are encountering competition from similar products of Thailand, Indonesia, India, Cambodia, and even China. Meanwhile, China hasnt permitted importing some products of Vietnams strength such as mangosteen, durian, passion fruit, live pigs, milk products, freshwater fish and clam. Some border provinces and trading companies havent strongly developed infrastructure, he added. Tuyen noted China has set higher quality standards, adding that it has built large-scale testing and quarantine laboratories comparable to those of developed nations like the US, Japan and EU countries. To enter China, agricultural and aquatic products of Vietnam will have to face higher quality barriers and stronger competition from other ASEAN countries, he said. Echoing this, Nguyen Thi Ha, head of the Plant Quarantine Sub-department of Region 7 (consisting of Lang Son and some nearby provinces), said China is raising plant quarantine barriers and has issued stricter regulations on farm produce imports. To maintain Vietnamese goods prestige, businesses need to seriously adhere to Chinese regulations on products origin and coordinate with plant quarantine units in taking samples of farm produce for testing. Meanwhile, the agriculture ministrys Plant Protection Department will work more closely with the Chinese side to gradually remove technical barriers to Vietnamese agricultural products. It will also continue asking China to permit the official import of more fresh fruits from the country, Ha said. At the meeting, Vietnamese and Chinese businesses signed many memoranda of understanding on farm produce trading cooperation./. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. The page will reload and you will be prompted to enter an account number and a zip code. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO USE THE NUMBER OFF OF THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OR ANYTHING AFTER JANUARY 28, 2019 TO GAIN ACCESS! OLD ACCOUNT NUMBERS WILL NOT WORK The account number and zip code are easily available on your most recent issue of the High Plains Journal or Midwest Ag Journal in the address fields as is shown here. Sometimes the account number has extra zero's in front of it, just ignore those. Subscribing to our services is a three step process. First you have to create an account and then you have to pick if you want to subscribe to digital and or print. Some people only want to be a digital subscriber to get access online and others want to also receive the print edition. If you are already a print subscriber and want online access, it is free, you simply have to create an online account and then attach your print subscription account number to the online account you create. iciHaiti - Panyol : Follow-up of the construction of the cafeteria of the Classic Training Center Friday, Sabrina Saint-Remy, the President of the Dr. Louis G. Lamothe Foundation (FLGL), led a delegation of the delegation to Panyol (Kenscoff) to inquire about the state of progress of the construction works on the cafeteria of the Panyol Classic Training Center, started on July 20th https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25062-haiti-news-zapping.html Accompanied by Gilbert Michel Jerome, Director of the Training Center, Sabrina Saint-Remy toured the site and was satisfied with the progress of the work while sharing her comments so that the work can meet all expectations. Realized with funding from Baldwin School and the Banco Popular, both based in Puerto Rico, this cafeteria will provide 200 schoolchildren with hot meals in an adequate sanitary environment. IH/ iciHaiti WASHINGTON, Aug. 16 (Xinhua) -- An international team has produced the most comprehensive genome map of wheat, which paved the way for more nutritious and climate-adapted varieties of a staple crop that feeds over one-third of the global population. The study published on Thursday in the journal Science presented the reference genome of the bread wheat variety "Chinese Spring," including its 21 chromosomes, precise locations of 107,891 genes, more than 4 million molecular markers and sequence information between genes. The wheat has a large, complex genome with 16 billion base pairs or the building blocks of DNA, more than five times larger than the human genome. Sequencing the bread wheat genome is challenging also due to its complexity, comprising three sub-genomes and more than 85 percent repeated elements in its genome, according to the study. The repetitive elements means that vast parts of the genome are very similar to each other, making it difficult to distinguish each sub-genome and to put together the genome into its correct order. More than 200 scientists in 20 countries collaborated to work out the results in 13 years, according to the International Wheat Genome Sequencing Consortium (IWGSC). "This will greatly speed up our efforts on identification of agriculturally important wheat genes, including those that would help to combat major fungal diseases," said Kostya Kanyuka with the IWGSC. "Completing this work means we can identify genes controlling traits of interest more rapidly," said Cristobal Uauy, Project Leader in crop genetics at the John Innes Center, one of the 73 research institutes participating in the study. "This will facilitate and make more effective the breeding for traits like drought or disease resistance," said Uauy. Wheat accounts for almost 20 percent of the total calories and protein consumed by people worldwide, more than any other single food source. It also serves as an important source of vitamins and minerals. To meet future demands of a projected world population of 9.6 billion by 2050, wheat productivity needs to increase by 1.6 percent each year. The majority of this increase has to be achieved through crop and trait improvement. Also, the method of producing the reference sequence and the principles and policies of the consortium provide "a model for sequencing large, complex plant genomes," said Kellye Eversole, Executive Director of the IWGSC. [ Editor: WPY ] We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Nigerias Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Muhammadu Modibbo has urged the federal government to ban unemployed Nigerians from traveling to the country in search of jobs, to save Nigerias image. Modibbo made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria in Makkah, Saudi Arabia saying I have sent a letter through the Foreign Affairs Ministry for government to ban such people from coming here (Saudi) because they are suffering. I am also appealing to Nigerians to try as much as possible to get something doing in Nigeria instead of coming here because it is not easy. Thousands of people from various countries have left here. He said that the embassy was also concerned about the increasing cases of women working as maids that are being abused, and some unscrupulous Nigerians involved in drug trafficking. According to him, the embassy has been intervening in cases of drug pushing by some Nigerians, adding there are many Nigerians on death row for the offence. There are many cases before I assumed office eight months ago; I always intervene but there is not much I can do even though we have some little successes. Many of them have been here for many years working and will not return home but if they are arrested, they are deported instantly. He blamed some agents for the woes of many Nigerians working in Saudi companies and other organisations. The agents manage to get passports and Visa for their clients and when they have problems, they come to the embassy daily. Some countries have banned their citizens from coming to work here because of problems being faced in Saudi Arabia. So why are Nigerians coming to face these hardships. President Muhammadu Buhari says he is more committed more than ever to ensure looters get justice. The president made this announcement shortly after he arrived at the Nnamdi Azikiwe airport in Abuja. The president who said he was feeling good after his 10-day working holiday in the UK told journalists he would see to it that looters do not go unpunished. I will work hard the more to ensure that all those who stole the Nations money are sent to prison, he said. Daddy Freeze has once again, dragged Pastor Adeboyes son, Leke Adeboye over an Islamophobic post he shared on his Instagram page. Pastor Adeboyes son had written that the greatest threat to Islam in Nigeria is the RCCG. Throwing a shade at Daddy Freeze, Leke Adeboye also stated that someone is paying the Free The Sheeple leader to write posts against the RCCG, and once in a while attach Islam is good to his post. Leke wrote in full; The greatest threat to Islam in Nigerian is RCCG and Winners, along with the churches of the same belief. Its now clear why someone is against us constantly, they need to keep posting because someone is paying them. Even if the post doesnt make any sense at all. Their given assignment is you just keep looking for how to discredit them and then once in a while add that Islam is a good religion too. Interesting. Everyone is just doing their own assignment. In reply, Daddy Freeze wrote; Earlier this week, it was reported that a radio station/music house property owned by Yinka Ayefele, which is estimated at over N800m was going to be demolished by the Oyo State government. The notice Yinka Ayefele was served, read; Having failed to comply with the earlier stop work/quit/ contravention notice (s) served on your development or as your structure is found to be structurally defective/poses danger or constitutes a nuisance to the occupier or the general public, you are hereby ordered to vacate the site and remove the structure thereon within three days, failure of which the government shall effect the removal and commence legal action against you in accordance with Section 43 of the law. Reacting to the development, Yinka Ayefele who spoke to Punch through his publicist David Ajiboye, said that the demolition of the edifice which houses his radio station and music studio is politically motivated. We dont see it as a threat; instead we see it as a challenge because the planned demolition of the music house is politically motivated. When the governor visited the studio in 2016, he said people told him to demolish the building because Ayefele was not in his camp. The building was approved in June 2008 as a business premise; that is over 10 years ago, he said. He also quoted verbatim the statement made by Ajimobi when he visited the studio in October 2016; I want to use this opportunity to thank God for the ability to be here because when we contested the first time and won, a lot of people came to meet me to destroy the music house because Ayefele is not for us and he is always using songs to insult us. But I didnt see any reason why I should demolish it because I felt if Ayefele is not for us now, he may be for us later. I am happy today that Ayefele is beside me now and I pray that the business will keep flourishing and this is the best studio I have seen in Oyo State. President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Nigeria yesterday after spending 15 days in the UK. While speaking with journalists at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport, the president vowed to imprison people who have stolen the nations fund. However, Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) member, Reno Omokri has faulted the presidents statement on jailing looters. According to him, Buhari hasnt done anything to former senate minority leader, Godswill Akpabio who has a case with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission(EFCC). He noted that Akpabio who EFCC called a thiefs was hailed by Nigerian president instead. The author also criticised the fact that some other members of Buharis party accused of corruption have not been punished, therefore the president is one to hail not jail looters. He wrote via Twitter: Nane Maria Annan, wife of late ex-Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan has revealed how he died. According to Nane, Kofi Annan died peacefully in his sleep. The ex-UN Scribes death was confirmed by Mr. Annans verified Twitter page in a statement released on Saturday via his Twitter page. Also, the President of Ghana, Akufo-Addo commiserated with Annan family over the sad loss. The President wrote: The Government and people of Ghana, First Lady Rebecca and I are deeply saddened by the news of the death, in Bern, Switzerland, of one of our greatest compatriots, Mr. Kofi Annan. I extend, on behalf of the entire Ghanaian nation, our sincere, heartfelt condolences to his beloved widow, Nane Maria, and to his devoted children, Ama, Kojo and Nina, on this great loss. I am, however, comforted by the information, after speaking to Nane Maria, that he died peacefully in his sleep. Consummate international diplomat and highly respected former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan was the first from sub-Saharan Africa to occupy this exalted position. He brought considerable renown to our country by this position and through his conduct and comportment in the global arena. He was an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanaian to chart his or her own course onto the path of progress and prosperity. Undoubtedly, he excelled in the various undertakings of his life, leaving in his trail most pleasant memories. His was a life well-lived. I have directed that, in his honour, Ghanas national flag will fly at half-mast across the country and in all of Ghanas diplomatic missions across the world, from Monday, 20th August, 2018, for one week. Rest in perfect peace, Kofi. You have earned it. God bless. Matias, the elder brother of Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi has been sentenced for possessing an illegal firearm. The 35-year-old received a two-and-a-half year prison sentence on Thursday, August 16, but instead of doing time in prison, he will undertake community service. According to the report by Argentine newspaper La Capital, investigating prosecutors met before they reached an agreement of Matias not to go to prison any longer. The report added that the firearm was found late in 2017, inside a blood-stained boat which Matias crashed in the Parana River. Matias lawyer was also said to have argued that his client crashed the boat into a sandbank and denied that he owned the gun. Matias who has has been linked with known criminals in the past, was held for 16 hours in a prison cell in 2015 after officers found an unlicensed 22-calibre gun in his car. He was also arrested In 2008 for allegedly having a loaded gun in his belt. As a close neighbour of Cambodia, Vietnam congratulates Samdech Techo Hun Sen on his appointment as Cambodian Prime Minister in accordance with a royal ordinance issued on August 17 by Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni to take a mission of establishing a new Government for the new-tenure National Assemblys approval. This is a significant stride in the election progress of Cambodia, the spokesperson said. Vietnam believes that once established, the new National Assembly and Government of Cambodia will continue leading the country to thrive and contribute to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Southeast Asian region and the world, Hang stressed. Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni on August 17 designated Samdech Techo Hun Sen as the Prime Minister for another five-year term after his Cambodian Peoples Party (CPP) won a sweeping victory in the general election on July 29. The decision was made following a request from the CPP, which won all 125 parliamentary seats in the election. Vanguard The Presidency said, yesterday, it would not join issues with anybody on the delay in the consideration of the budget of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the 2019 general elections. The Nation No cracks in Aso Rock Villa, say sourcesPresident to decide ex-DG DSS boss fatePresident Muhamnadu Buhari and Vice President Yemi Osinbajo agreed to review the appointment of Mr. Lawal Daura as Director-General, Department of State Security Service (DSS), barely two weeks to the commencement of the presidents 10-day vacation, according to fresh information yesterday.But the plan was nearly aborted by some influential backers until the two leaders stood their ground ThisDay How Osinbajo, Akiolu, others intervened Olawale Olaleye The All Progressives Congress (APC) National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has finally agreed to endorse Lagos State Governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode for another term, THISDAY has learnt. However, Tinubus resolve to endorse Ambode was made possible with the interventions of Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo Okwuosa, who is angling to represent Anambra South in the forthcoming 2019 election, gave reasons Daily Times The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina has reminded the media that its role will determine the success Daily Trust Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State on Saturday said that Nigerians will re-elect President Muhammadu Buhari come 2019 Leadership Alhaji Umar Ibrahim Sade is the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Bauchi State. In this interview with MOSES ORJIME, he speaks on the senatorial by-election held in Bauchi South senatorial district and how the stat governor, Muhammad Abdullahi Abubakar, has changed the narrative in the state within his first term . Tribune After two weeks stay in London, President Muhammadu Buhari returned to Abujaon Saturday, declaring that he is feeling good. He jetted out of the country on August 3 for what was announced as a 10 . Premium Times The Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) has suspended the by-election for the Port Harcourt Constituency lll State Assembly seat held Aug. 18 in the State. Angry Nigerians have taken to social media to blast Oyo state government for demolishing Yinka Ayefeles N800m radio house. According to many commenters, Yinka Ayefele has a strong support base among residents of the state, and as such, this demolition will come to hunt the government and the All Progressives Congress. The Oyo state government had cited that the building contravened with the original plan of the state and as such had to be brought down. Residents on their part, lamented why the state couldnt wait for the court to decide, as the matter was already in court. See reactions below The same Gov Ajimobi that is yet to pay workers their salary of over 17months has left a lot of people jobless with the demolishing of Fresh FM Ibadan. Toyo Baby (@PRINCESSBASE) August 19, 2018 I feel very sorry for Yinka Ayefele. Fresh FM Ibadan got demolished, just like that. pic.twitter.com/cIp2CDFVkD Password (@MceePassword) August 19, 2018 https://twitter.com/davidoghe/status/1031081901568798720?s=19 Fresh FM in Ibadan under demolition for allegedly speaking against Governor Ajumobi's government. I think the ancient city of Ibadan just went 50 years back from civilization. #Freshfm pic.twitter.com/b4vvFiG2jC Ogbeni La (@ogbenilatweets) August 19, 2018 This Govt wil go down in history as a very vindictive & wicked regime.Ibadan people wil write Ajimobi's name wt black clay on their history archive.Somebody of Aiyefele's status who struggled hard to rise in life &empowered other jobless people.O ma se o.Can d regime b der 4eva? FM lykdat (@fmlykdat) August 19, 2018 Out-going governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose has thrown mud on President Muhammadu Buhari, who just arrived the country. Buhari, who touched down at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international airport yesterday evening after a 10-day working vacation in London has been criticised by Fayose for how he was welcomed. According to Fayose, Nigeria is the only country where dancers are rented to welcome a president who travelled outside the country to enjoy him, at the expense of public funds. The Ekiti governor further stated that late president, Musa Yaradua didnt go abroad for his vacations but spent them in Obudu cattle ranch. He berated the state of the country and asked his followers how Nigeria got to the sorry state it is today. See what he shared via his twitter handle on Sunday morning Nigerian actress, Tonto Dikeh has finally broken her silence over allegations that she slept with controversial South African pastor, Shepherd Bushiri. Nigerian actress, Tonto Dikeh has finally broken her silence over allegations that she slept with controversial South African pastor, Shepherd Bushiri. The actress had visited the man of God in South Africa which fueled the speculation. However, the actress has addressed the issue in a lengthy post she made on her Instagram page. She wrote: A certain story has been brought to my notice. I was however, unable to respond due to my busy schedule. That was a particularly busy week for me as my focus was on several of my charity events. It was the World celebration against HUMAN TRAFFICKING week and as a NAPTIP AMBASSADOR I was actively busy. Firstly, I want to state that I do not write this in favour of anyone but to Make my son proud when he grows up A while ago I was contacted by a church in South Africa through the churchs administration representative by name Brenda. I was contacted for a YOUTH seminar and I requested to bring along a couple of people with me which included my makeup artist @vugo24 , family and a friend who had always adored the gospel of this said church I was paid an appearance fee and out of the kindness of my heart, I shared a portion of my fee with Brenda, the above mentioned friend and my makeup artist. I gave what I could each person at a time,Job was done I packed up and left back to being a mother and a humanitarian.. I was never invited to S.A by any friend, nor was I introduced to the church by a friend in NIGERIA or outside the country for my visitation I really would have let this slide but I cannot be silent and have my good name tarnished and be linked with such horrible and shameful act I can not speak for anyone else but myself A warning to whosoever is behind this falsehood, peddling all these malicious rumours, I would advice you to stop. There are things I wouldnt take likely especially now as a mom. I do not want to be roped in with the names of people who do this(Sleep with pastor) scandalous act I Go to church to serve my God and could care less about anyone else. Going to church is an avenue where I contact with my creator and not do otherwise I am a Christian, I am GROWING each day in GODS VINE yard but I wouldnt sit and watch my good name go up in flames over a malicious EVIL story BEWARE TOO LATE TO FAIL NOW GUYS,GIVE UP!! Reno Omokri, official ruffler of President Muhammadu Buharis feather as he calls himself has again fired shots at the presisent. Omokri, who was an aide to former president Goodluck Jonathan has hailed vice president Yemi Osinbajo, for feats attained during his days as acting president. According to Omokri, Osinbajo has achieved more than president Buhari in just 10 days. He praised the VP for sacking the incompetent former DSS boss, Lawal Daura Omokri, also noted how Osinbajo overhauled the activities and management of the Special Anti-robbery Squad(SARS). Speaking via his twitter handle, Omokri further stated that throughout the presidents vacation, there was no news of herdsmen and Boko Haram onslaught. He wrote An Apple Store in Amsterdam was evacuated after the battery of a demo iPad overheated and the tablet burst into flames. The incident occurred at 2:20 p.m. local time on Sunday afternoon. There was no fire and the incident was quickly dealt with by the Amsterdam fire department. There was no fire due to the overheating tablet, though three people in the store had breathing problems and were treated on site by the emergency ambulance that was quick to arrive at the spot. Apple employees inside the store were quick to place the overheating tablet in a container with sand and they evacuated the store as a precautionary measure. Brandweer aanwezig bij incident met mobiel apparaat bij de #AppleStore #Leidseplein. Geen rook, wel drie personen met ademhalingsproblemen. Vermoedelijk door een lekkende accupack. Zij worden ter plaatse nagekeken. Brandweer AA (@BrandweerAA) August 19, 2018 Flinke chaos en paniek na ontruiming Apple Store Leidseplein #Amsterdam Noord-Holland Ongeval https://t.co/4dLjLzEMlx pic.twitter.com/CuDC2e8Sdt AS Media (@asmedianl) August 19, 2018 While the issue could have turned into something serious, the presence of mind of Apple employees ensured that the overheating tablet did not do more damage. The three people with breathing issues were likely affected by the hazardous vapor that was coming out from the leaking battery of the tablet. Given that the incident occurred inside Apples own retail store, the company will thoroughly examine the tablet to see what caused the issue. It is possible that the iPad in question had a faulty battery or it was an old demo unit whose battery had swollen after extensive use and started leaking. [Via iCulture The event was also attended by former Politburo member, former Party General Secretaries Le Kha Phieu; and former Politburo member, former President Truong Tan Sang; as well as leaders of central and local departments, agencies and branches and local people. Addressing the ceremony, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Truong Hoa Binh said that Viet Bac victory in 1947, border battle in 1950, and Moc Hoa victory in 1948 generated great momentum for the Vietnamese soldiers and civilians to take further victories in the struggle for national independence toward national reunification in 1975. Deputy Prime Minister Binh urged the Party Committee and people of the Kien Tuong town, Moc Hoa district in particular and Long An province in general to continue promoting the spirit of solidarity in building a truly clean and strong political system, exploiting local advantages for sustainable economic development, and raising the material and spiritual life of the people, as well as ensuring national defense and security and maintaining political stability. He also asked the Party Committees, authorities and people of Long An province to carry out the gratitude movements to take care of war invalids, martyr families, and families with meritorious contributions to the country. BOUNCING BACK Second-grader Wyatt Hipp blows into an empty bottle, which is floating in a bucket of water, while Cora Weiner looks on during a lesson on buoyancy Friday at Melrose School.... School meetings relocating to Town Hall Parents interested in the policy making process of their childrens education now will be able to livestream those discussions from their homes. The school committee permanently will move its meetings... A FRIGHTFULLY GOOD NIGHT AT FORT GETTY Dozens of costumed children attended Fright Night at Fort Getty at the park Saturday along the West Passage. The first-time event, which was conceived by Ray DeFalco, director of parks... Saving a piece of history When Jewish businessman and philanthropist Julius Rosenwald, president of Sears Roebuck & Co., visited his friend Booker T. Washington at the Tuskegee Institute in 1912, the state of education for Black children throughout the Jim Crow South was abysmal. At that meeting, the men hatched a plan to build state-of-the... Federations campaign to kickoff Nov. 11 The Jewish Federation of Floridas Gulf Coast will hold its Annual Campaign Kickoff as a virtual event on Thursday, Nov. 11 at 7 p.m. The theme for the evening is Back to the Future and we hope to surpass the $1 million that we raised last year for our Jewish... Texas Jews raise concerns after teachers told law requires opposing views of Holocaust Jews in the Texas school district where an administrator told teachers that a new state law meant they should include opposing views of the Holocaust in their classrooms are speaking out against her statement and the law that prompted it. The facts are that there are not two sides to... Good Stuff! More honors for veteran Hannah Dailey, historian for the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, traveled to Dunedin this month to record an oral history from Murray Zolkower as he spoke on his role as an Army medic in helping liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp in 1945. Zolkower,... Army Heritage Foundation AHF Rawalpindi Jobs for Accountant Latest Pakistan Army Accounting Posts Rawalpindi 2021 Army Heritage Foundation AHF Rawalpindi, Pakistan Army, Government of Pakistan required candidates for the posts of Assistant Accounts Officer, Accountant and Branch Clerks. How to Apply on Pakistan Army 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. Official Website: www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk 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. Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College PAF Karachi Jobs 2018 Latest Fazaia Ruth PFAU Medical College Education Posts Karachi 2021 Fazaia Ruth Pfau Medical College PAF Base Faisal Karachi, Pakistan Air Force PAF, Government of Pakistan required candidates for the posts of Professors, Associate Professors, Assistant Professors, Senior Registrar and Resident Medical Officer. How to Apply on Fazaia Ruth PFAU Medical College 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. Pak Army Armoured Corps Centre Nowshera Cantt Jobs 2018 Latest Pakistan Army Army jobs Posts Nowshera 2021 Armoured Corps Centre Nowshera Cantt, Pakistan Army, Government of Pakistan required applications from experienced candidates for the posts of Retired JCO and LDC. How to Apply on Pakistan Army 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. Official Website: www.pakistanarmy.gov.pk 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. Addressing the opening, Chairman of Vietnamese Students Association in Hungary, Nguyen Anh Tu, stressed that the summer camp offers an opportunity for young Overseas Vietnamese to exchange and strengthen their unity, while enriching their knowledge and life skills. Featuring a range of activities, the four-day event is designed to help the participants to explore the culture and history of Vietnam and the host country Hungary, through folk games, sporting events, talks, and photo exhibitions. Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, Nguyen Anh Tuan, highly appreciated the operations of the Vietnamese students associations in European countries, as well as their contributions to boosting student campaigns and Overseas Vietnamese affairs. An exhibition was also launched on the occasion, displaying hundreds of paintings, photos, maps and documents asserting Vietnams sovereignty over its seas and islands. The exhibits also introduce Vietnams socio-economic achievements and tourism potential to visitors. GSK Joins the Fight Against Lymphatic Filariasis In the Philippines, GSK has donated over 255 million albendazole tablets over the last 17 years. This small white tablet is part of the fight to eliminate lymphatic filariasis (LF), a disease transmitted by mosquitoes and burdens identified rural communities in the country. GSK Joins the Fight Against Lymphatic Filariasis GSK with DOH By the end of the year, GSK projects this donation to reach 261 million albendazole tablets in support of its goal to help eliminate LF in the Philippines by 2020. Globally, GSK has donated 8 billion tablets of albendazole to help eliminate this disabling disease. This tablet is used in combination with other medicines to help prevent transmission of LF. Following almost two decades of successful LF elimination efforts by the Philippine Government led by the Department of Health (DOH), the DOH reported that only eight provinces remain endemic for LF out of the 46 earlier established. Following almost two decades of successful LF elimination efforts by the Philippine Government led by the Department of Health (DOH), the DOH reported that only eight provinces remain endemic for LF out of the 46 earlier established. During the 1st ASEAN Lymphatic Filariasis Forum 2018 in July which was held in Manila, Health Secretary Francisco T. Duque III stressed, the DOH is ready to take the challenge of eliminating filariasis in the country by being more responsive through the DOHs revitalized agenda of Fourmula 1 Plus for Health.1 Fourmula 1 Plus for Health is a DOH strategy focusing on health financing, health service delivery network, health regulation, governance in health and performance accountability. To ensure the success against lymphatic filariasis, Duque devised a Formula E approach which is for Engagement and Everybody. Engagement is where the government needs to share its resources and expertise with other stakeholders including local governments, and Everybody is where the whole of government or the whole-of-society approach should be adapted by leaders to ensure that all interventions are aligned and inter-connected, the DOH reported.1 LF, a parasitic infection spread by mosquitoes, is found in the tropical and sub-tropical areas of Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Middle East and the Americas.2 LF is one of the worlds leading causes of disability.3 Symptoms can include chronic swelling of the legs, arms and male genitals. People with LF are also less able to resist common skin infections, resulting in a cruel cycle of fevers and painful swellings. In its severest form, LF leads to elephantiasis, a crippling condition in which the limbs are swollen with marked thickening of the skin and underlying tissues.4 The World Health Organization estimates that 856 million people in 52 countries are living in areas where LF is transmitted and are at risk of being infected.4 In the Philippines, it was reported in year 2000 that over 25 million people live in LF-endemic areas.5 At the turn of the millennium, the World Health Organization launched its global program to eliminate LF with the aim of defeating the disease as a global health problem by 2020. GSK and partners helped build a global alliance including organizations from across the non-profit and private sector to get behind the WHOs campaign. GSKs albendazole donation through the WHO forms part of this global effort. GSK Philippines General Manager, Sriram Jambunathan, commented, The Philippine Government, through the DOH, is to be commended for its achievement in the elimination of LF in many provinces in the last two decades. This is a testament to the commitment and dedication of the government at the national and local government units, especially the health workers delivering treatments on the ground. We, in GSK, remain committed to playing our part with the global donation of albendazole for as long as it is needed to replicate this success throughout the remaining eight endemic provinces, freeing Filipino communities from the burden of LF. This year, GSK commemorates its 50th year in the Philippines and commits to continue helping Filipinos do more, feel better, live longer. For questions, please consult your doctor or community health officials. Reference: 1 Department of Health (Philippines) official Facebook page. Published 12 July 2018. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialDOHgov/posts/1st-asean-lymphatic-filariasis-forum/2058498820828026/ . Accessed 14 August 2018 2 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2018. Lymphatic Filariasis Epidemiology and Risk Factors. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lymphaticfilariasis/epi. Accessed June 2018 3 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2018. Parasites - Lymphatic Filariasis. Available at: http://www.cdc.gov/parasites/lymphaticfilariasis/epi.html Accessed June 2018 4 World Health Organization. 2018. Lymphatic Filariasis Factsheet. Available at: http://www. who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/lymphatic-filariasis. Accessed June 2018 Knots in tourism growth gradually loosened Vietnam first offered visa waivers to citizens from the five European countries in July 2015 and decided to extend the policy after it expired at the end of June. According to a study by the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) and the World Travel and Tourism Council (WTTC) on the impact of visa exemptions in ASEAN countries, the number of tourists increased by 3% to 5.1%. At the same time, the number of direct jobs in the tourism industry will increase from 1.6% to 3.1%. The number of visitors from Western European markets to Vietnam reached nearly one million tourists per year. The Western European market is considered a desirable tourist market with a stable economy and high-spending, long-stay visitors. Over the last three years, the number of tourists from Western European markets grew steadily by more than 10%. The Tourism Advisory Board (TAB) has also conducted separate studies on the impact of visa exemptions for visitors from UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy. Specifically, Vietnam's unilateral visa exemption makes a breakthrough, helping increase the number of tourists from these markets by 10.1%. The visa exemption policy was considered one of the knots hindering the development of tourism. However, the policy has contributed to increase the number of direct and indirect jobs in tourism, increase revenue from tourism. In addition, it will also help to develop the economy because the investors and traders from developed countries will have easier access to the Vietnamese market. According to Hoang Nhan Chinh, Director of the Travel Advisory Board (TAB) Secretariat, for tourists, the visa fee is not so important, but the maximum advantage of visa processing is important. Meanwhile, for the travel industry, the visa-free policies will create an impetus to develop the tourism industry as an effective tool to attract high-quality tourists from high-spending tourism markets. Take initiative in developing a business plan In March, 2018, in a letter from the Tourism Advisory Council and the Private Sector Development Research Board (abbreviated as IV Board) to the Prime Minister on proposing a visa-exemption policy for international visitors to Vietnam, the private sector has committed itself to working with the Government to promote tourism as a key economic sector, contributing to an overall increase in tourism growth of 15%, only countries applying visa-exemption policies at 7% to 10%. At the same time, the private sector will contribute to increasing the export value from US$ 830 to more than US$ 1,000 per visitor. In June, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) stepped up tourism promotion activities in four European cities, including Zurich (Switzerland), Vienna (Austria), Prague (Czech) and Budapest (Hungary), which are all new cities for Vietnam's tourism market. Tran Trong Kien, member of the Private Sector Development Research Board (abbreviated as IV Board), Chairman of Thien Minh Group, said that extending the visa exemption for international visitors is a very good policy of the Government, in continuing to improve the business environment of Vietnam's tourism it helps travel and airline businesses implement a longer term plan. However, Chairman of Thien Minh Group Kien stressed that in order to secure 20 million international visitors by 2020, it is necessary to complete many other tasks such as promotion activities, environmental cleanup and infrastructure synchronisation. Along with the relaxation of visa policy, it is necessary to simplify the visa policy at the border and create a more favorable process for travelers with a transit visa to experience Vietnam for 72 hours or 48 hours without a visa, and attract them to return for a longer stay. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A 62-year-old man was convicted for a 2010 rape after he was linked to the attack through a sexual assault kit that was finally tested. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports Multnomah County Circuit Judge David F. Rees on Friday found Steven Guy Tubbs guilty of two counts of rape and two counts of sexual abuse in an attack on a 25-year-old woman that occurred in Tubbs' home. The judge acquitted Tubbs of two counts of sodomy. Prosecutors said Tubbs sexually assaulted a woman who was "mentally incapacitated" and "physically helpless" because she had passed out while under the influence of alcohol and cocaine. Tubbs' conviction marks the third successful prosecution in Multnomah County stemming from an effort to send untested sexual assault kits to a private lab for analysis. The one in the Tubbs' case had been sitting in the Portland police property warehouse for years. MERLIN, Ore. -- Previously, the Taylor Creek and Klondike fires have been managed by one team. But as of 6 Saturday morning that has changed. There are now two teams working together to get these fires contained. The Klondike and Taylor Creek fires are burning nearly 119,000 acres combined in Josephine County now putting Selma under a level 1 or be ready evacuation zone. "So in order to accommodate the work needed and the amount of supervision and logistics associated with an operation of that size the decision was made to bring in a second type 1 fire team," said PETER FRENZEN, a Public Information Officer for the Alaskan Interagency Incident Management Team. Those two teams are the California Interagency Incident Management Team 4 and the Alaska Interagency Type 1 Incident Management Team. The team from California has now taken command of the west sides of both of the fires. [This] means that these lines that have been worked on by our firefighters many of those firefighters are now under the supervision of the Cal 4 team and they are doing the same things that they were doing the day before. But they are also working on the strategies and tactics and the amount of resources being put into the plan are larger," added Frenzen. The Alaska team does expect the winds and critical fire weather to lighten up as the week continues. Although these two fires burn more than 110,000 acres combined, not one home or building has been burned and not one firefighter has been injured. The teams will be holding a community meeting about the Klondike Fire at 6PM on Monday, August 20th at Illinois Valley High School in Cave Junction. Cyprus handed over to Egypt on Saturday Seif El-Din Mostafa who had hijacked domestic EgyptAir flight in 2016, said the Egyptian prosecution office. "A security mission from the Egyptian INTERPOL Police Department traveled to the Cypriot capital of Nicosia and received the suspect to extradite him to Cairo," the statement read. Mostafa is accused of hijacking an Egyptian domestic airliner en route from Alexandria to Cairo, brandishing what appeared to be an explosives belt before forcing the pilot to divert the flight to Cyprus. Egyptian Prosecutor Nabil Sadek ordered a probe into the incident, the statement added. The suspect was arrested and being held in Cyprus for the past two years. According to the prosecution statement, Egyptian authorities have filed a legal request for the extradition of the suspect from Cyprus. The Supreme Court of Cyprus accepted the request to extradite the Egyptian-national suspect. No passengers were injured in the incident and Cypriot police later said the belt used by the suspect was a fake. The Egyptian prosecutors extradition request cited an Egyptian-Cypriot 1996 agreement of extradition of criminals between the two countries along with other international treaties. Cypriot officials described Mustafa as "psychologically unstable" following a bizarre set of demands he made to police negotiators, including what Lambrianou said was a letter he wanted delivered to his Cypriot ex-wife in which he demanded the release of 63 dissident women imprisoned in Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: BROWNSVILLE, Ore. -- The Bi-Mart Willamette Country Music Festival is underway! People travel from all over to attend the festival in Brownsville. Teri Phenix and her daughter Mykayla made the drive to Oregon for the festival from Reno, Nevada. They said they're glad they were able to attend the festival's final year at this location. "Totally worth the road trip up here," said Mykayla. They're two of thousands who made the trip to Brownsville, taking the population from 2,000 to 20,000 just for the weekend. Over the last 11 years, the Bi-Mart Willamette Country Music Festival has grown from a few hundred chairs and a few performers, to 20,000 fans and the best country music has to offer. This is the last year the scenic hills in Brownsville will be surrounding the main stage, but fans said they'll follow this festival wherever it goes next. "Probably where ever it goes we will follow. We will do it next year for sure...even if we have to road trip a couple more hours," said Mykala. Festival organizers said they're still working nto secure a venue for next year. ROCHESTER, Minn. A man accused of being a significant player in the Rochester drug trade is pleading guilty. Terrance David Burkhalter, 44 of Rochester, has entered a guilty plea to 1st degree sale of drugs and possession of a firearm after being convicted of a crime of violence. He was arrested in April after Rochester police searched homes in the 2300 block of Marion Road and the 500 block of 36th Street SW. Officers said they found at the 36th Street address 19.25 pounds of marijuana, over a pound of cocaine, more than 400 oxycodone pills, nearly two ounces of heroin, 10 grams of marijuana wax, a loaded handgun, and cash. Police say they suspect the drugs were shipped from California. Burkhalters sentencing is set for September 17. He remains in the Olmsted County Adult Detention Center on $1.5 million bond. President Moon should focus on creating vibrant private sector By Kim Jae-kyoung The government is fighting a "losing battle" in creating jobs with wrong policies based on a series of stop-gap measures, analysts said, Sunday. This means that unless President Moon shifts the current job policies, the situation will get worse no matter how big an extra budget is formulated. The Moon Jae-in administration has already splurged on improving the job market but it has not come to fruition as its policies have focused on producing jobs in the short term without proper measures to bolster hiring in the private sector. According to Statistics Korea, Friday, the number of new jobs stood at 5,000 in July, the lowest in eight-and-a-half years since the aftermath of the global financial crisis The government has spent more than 30 trillion won to create more jobs in the public sector and turn irregular workers into regular ones, but it has killed more jobs by making businesses reluctant to make new investments and hire new employees through multiple anti-business policies. It has increased minimum wages and reduced work hours, which has forced many self-employed or small firms to either shut down or reduce their workforce. In short, Moon's job policies have, ironically, limited creating jobs in the private sector. "Hiking the minimum wage can often depress employment growth and, in turn lift unemployment because firms suddenly face higher costs without a parallel lift in productivity," said Katrina Ell, an economist at Moody's Analytics. "This is likely at play in South Korea, particularly for small- to medium-size firms which can be more sensitive to changes in minimum wage rates," she added. Without a major shift in job policies, injecting more money will be just a stop-gap measure. The government must realize that what Korea needs is to minimize state intervention and build a vibrant private sector by allowing more flexibility in the labor market. Antonio Fatas, professor of economics at INSEAD, said that the problem is Korea has the most dual labor market among OECD economies. This means is that the country protects heavily the jobs of full-time workers but then it creates a large share of "non-regular" jobs for more marginal workers that are not protected. "Those who are protected enjoy strong benefits and stability but those who are not, including young workers, have difficulty finding jobs," he added. "This has a negative effect on productivity in addition to the obvious social consequences." Fatas stressed that it is impossible to fix this model by making everyone as protected as those fully employed because companies cannot afford the cost and they need flexibility. "I feel that some of the policies currently implemented, though they have good intentions, are not properly addressing the duality in the labor market," he said. "It is more wishful thinking that one day all workers could be regular and fully protected. That's not realistic." Stop-gap measures Another example of the government's stop-gap measure is the recent decision by the Ministry of SMEs and Startups to prevent small Korean firms from selling products manufactured overseas through IM Shopping, the state-run home shopping channel. The ministry has defended its decision claiming that the move is aimed at keeping more factories at home and creating more jobs here by discouraging them from relocating plants abroad. However, the experts said that such a move won't help resolve worsening unemployment problems. "The government is fighting a losing battle trying to reduce the already entrenched trend of manufacturing shifting overseas to places where operating costs are cheaper," said Ell of Moody's. "This latest measure is only a Band-Aid solution," she added. Alicia Garcia-Herrero, Asia-Pacific chief economist at Natixis, said that it is a clear protectionist measure to keep jobs in Korea, which can only harm the Korean economy. "It makes much more sense for Koreans to produce where it is cheaper which does not necessarily mean losing job opportunism but rather specializing," she said. IM Shopping recently announced that it won't introduce products manufactured by Korean firms abroad as part of efforts to reduce job losses caused by factory relocations overseas and to minimize the hollowing-out of manufacturing here. Under the move, new products manufactured overseas by Korean small companies under the original equipment manufacturer (OEM) method won't be allowed to go on sale at the state-run channel, which will affect up to 40 percent of goods. Troy Stangarone, senior director at the Korea Economic Institute (KEI),?said that what the government is doing will likely hinder rather than help job creation. "SME's that have moved production abroad have done so for competitive reasons," he said. Ell stressed that an alternative strategy would be for greater public investment in industries where Korea has a competitive advantage, so is not primarily competing against lower overseas labor costs. "Investing in tech industries, for example, that are higher up the value chain would also translate to stronger employment growth, eventually addressing the weak labor market," she said. Experts stressed that the government should avoid playing a leading role but instead come up with policies to encourage businesses in the private sector to create more jobs over time through various incentives. "What Korea needs is to build a vibrant private sector that can innovate and create jobs no matter the consequences of robotization and AI on job creation not only in Korea but globally," said Garcia-Herrero. Muslims often slaughter sheep at the annual Eid al-Adha "feast of the sacrifice" which falls next week, but some Egyptians are thinking bigger. Wealthier customers are flocking to the Birqash market, northwest of Cairo, where traders from across east Africa bring animals for auction - not sheep, but camels. "This camel market is the biggest in the world ... it is the only one that still operates by word of honour, without paper," said camel trader Faraj al-Gammal, 50. "Any businessman who comes from abroad, bringing in ... camels, knows he is safe and secure here." Buyers inspect camels that limp around on three hoofs, the fourth tied at the knee to restrict their movement. Many are sold at prices ranging from 15,000 Egyptian pounds ($840) to 40,000 pounds, while some fetch as much as 65,000. Sheep sell for as little as 3,000 pounds. One trader pointed out that camels were reared more naturally than cattle or sheep. "Cattle get hormone injections to increase their weight, but camels don't," said Azmi Mansour. Used mostly for desert transport, camels also provide Bedouin with milk, meat and hair to weave into clothing. Eid al-Adha commemorates Islam's version of the biblical story of God's testing of Abraham's faith by commanding him to sacrifice his son. Meat from the animals slaughtered for Eid is traditionally shared with the poor. Search Keywords: Short link: Expansionary fiscal policies, extra budget mulled By Yoon Ja-young The finance minister said Sunday that the government will consider modifying economic policies if necessary to cope with the deteriorating job market figures. "The job market condition seems to have worsened due to multiple factors including structural and economic problems as well as policies. Since diverse problems are comprehensively emerging, it won't be easy to find a solution in the short-term," Economy and Finance Minister Kim Dong-yeon said at the emergency meeting on the job market. "We will examine the effect of economic policies implemented so far and consider improving or modifying them if necessary, following consultations with related ministries," he said. Senior officials from the government and Cheong Wa Dae as well as representatives from the ruling Democratic Party of Korea held the emergency meeting following shocking job market data released by Statistics Korea, Friday. The government, presidential office and the ruling party agreed that an expansionary fiscal policy as well as changes in the labor market were necessary to cope with the deteriorating job situation. "The role of fiscal policy is more important than ever. Since we are expecting a surplus in tax income, we need aggressive fiscal policies," said Kim Tae-nyeon, head of the DPK's policy committee. The finance minister said the government will focus on deregulation and changes in the labor market on top of fiscal policies to help job creation. He said that the administration will implement expansionary fiscal policies next year while speeding up execution of the supplementary budget. "The government will accelerate innovative growth policies and deregulation to encourage businesses," Kim said. However, it is still unclear whether any policy shift will be made soon as Jang Ha-sung, presidential chief of staff for policy, has a different view. He made it clear that he still supports the current policies. "The fruit of economic growth is not being shared by the middle and low-income classes as well as the self-employed due to structural problems. Economic growth is also not leading to job creation," he said, citing structural problems as the reason behind the worsening job figures. "If the government's income-led growth strategy, as well as policies for innovative growth and a fair economy, start taking effect, the economy will gain vitality and sustainability. I am sure that the low-income and middle classes will be given the fruits, while the job market will also improve," he said. Economists have been pointing to the steep minimum wage hike as a key factor behind falling job numbers as small merchants and businesses are hiring fewer employees. The country's hourly minimum wage was raised 16.4 percent to 7,530 won ($6.7) this year, and it is scheduled to rise 10.9 percent to reach 8,350 won next year. The steep hike is based on the administration's income-led economic growth strategy, which seeks to boost consumption and stimulate the economy by pulling up the income of low wage earners. While Jang urged that the economic players should "trust the government and wait," the job market is showing only worsening signs. According to Statistics Korea, Friday, the number of newly added jobs stood at a mere 5,000 in July compared with a year ago, which is the lowest level since January 2010 when the country was suffering from the fallout of the global financial crisis. The number of the people who have been without jobs for more than six months stood at 144,000 on average between January and July this year, the worst figure since 2000 when it averaged 145,000. The number of those who have been unemployed for such a long time has been increasing for five consecutive years since 2013 when it marked 63,000. Analysts warn that the government should find a solution for long-term unemployment since people can give up on job searching efforts. On average 507,000 gave up seeking work between January and July this year. It is also worrisome since young people in their 30s and 40s are being hit the worse. The number of employed people in this age bracket dropped by an average of 140,000 between January and July this year. "It is not desirable to be too pessimistic about the economy. The government will put in all policy efforts to put the job market back on the normal track and make utmost efforts to help recover dynamism of the market," Finance Minister Kim said. By Kim Hyun-bin Dr. Kwon Yong-hyun Chinese leader may reciprocate Kim's multiple trips Some foreign media outlets have started to report that Chinese President Xi Jinping's will visit North Korea next month. The Straits Times of Singapore reported Aug. 18 that Xi would be in North Korea for the 70th anniversary of the country's founding, Sept. 9. If confirmed, Xi would be reciprocating three visits by Kim Jong-un to China this year amid denuclearization talks with the U.S. The North Korean leader's first two visits to Beijing in March and May came before Kim's June 12 summit with U.S. President Donald Trump in Singapore. Kim's visit to the port city of Dalian in China's northeastern province of Liaoning took place after the U.S.-North Korea summit. Kim shared the outcome of his meeting with the U.S. leader during his trip to the city, a financial and shipping hub in Northeast Asia. Xi's planned visit would be the first by a Chinese leader to North Korea since Hu Jintao in 2005. High-level exchanges between the countries have been rare as relations between the two soured in recent years due to North Korea's continued nuclear and missile provocations. But the two leaders met on all of Kim's visits to China, reflecting the countries' improving ties. During the meetings, Kim stressed that the countries were like "family" and that North Korea would cooperate closely with China. There is keen interest in the reports of Xi's visit to North Korea because September is a crucial time in multilateral diplomacy toward establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo's fourth visit to Pyongyang is reportedly imminent. During his last visit to North Korea in July, Pompeo did not meet the North Korea leader and returned without visible progress in the denuclearization talks, although Pyongyang sent back some remains of U.S. soldiers killed during the 1950-53 Korean War, fulfilling part of the agreement reached between Trump and Kim in Singapore. Pompeo's trip comes as the Trump administration has stepped up sanctions against the North. Another important occasion in September is the third inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and Kim. The two Koreas recently agreed to hold a summit in Pyongyang. The summit is likely to focus on implementing the April 27 Panmunjeom Declaration, which focused on inter-Korean cooperation and a declaration to end the Korean War formally and replace the armistice with a peace treaty. During his speech on the 73rd anniversary of Liberation Day, Moon said the upcoming summit would be a "bold step toward a declaration of the end of war and a peace treaty." There is much attention from all parties concerned on the impact of Xi's trip on the U.S.-North Korea denuclearization talks and discussions to end the Korean War. His visit comes amid escalating tension between the U.S. and China over trade issues and mounting U.S. concerns about China's growing influence in Northeast Asia. The Chinese foreign ministry said it hopes the inter-Korean summit in Pyongyang will achieve positive outcomes. During his trip to the North at a critical juncture on the peninsula, Xi should do his part for North Korea's denuclearization and convince Kim to do what is right for his country's future. Village guardians. Circa 1961. By Robert Neff Caught in the act of developing a sty. Circa 1961. 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. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. Egypts Defence Minister Mohamed Zaki left Cairo on Sunday morning for Russia at the head of a senior military delegation, a statement by the armed forces read. The statement said Zaki will be visiting Russia for several days, and is set to attend the fifth meeting of the joint Egyptian-Russian military committee, and the International Military-Technical Forum which is taking place in Moscow. The visit will also include talks with top officials in the Russian defence ministry to discuss a number of issues of common interest, in light of the partnership and military cooperation between the armed forces of both countries in a number of fields. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has expressed support for India and extended condolences for the hundreds of people who have died in the worst floods in the country in a century. In the southern state of Kerala, there have been more than 350 deaths from the constant rain. Many people have been killed in landslides, are feared trapped, or have been displaced by the floods. Egypt's foreign ministry affirmed Cairos support in a statement on Sunday for the government and people of India and the families of the victims. Search Keywords: Short link: Lakota/Dakota Winyan Audio Article LISTEN As Lakota speaker and student taking classes in linguistics and methods needed to be a certified Lakota Iyapi teacher,... LETTER TO THE EDITOR Audio Article LISTEN Dear Editor, Our Dakota/Lakota/ Nakota cultures teach uschildren are sacred. On the Yankton Sioux Reservation there was,is an interference... On The Red Road Audio Article LISTEN This weeks piece is dedicated to my mother, Margaret Ann Zephier partly because she is always concerned about the... Sunny Sandhu bought his first 7-Eleven store in Southern California in 1999 when he was 28 years old. Like many other franchisees, the immigrant from India considered the Slurpee seller a sure path to the American dream. Over the following 14 years, Sandhu felt so confident about his business that he bought three more outlets, which, he said, earned him and his family a comfortable living. But he sold one of his locations last year and now is hoping to unload two more. Its gotten worse every year since the new ownership took over, Sandhu said. Theyre getting more control over everything. Advertisement Sandhu is among a group of 7-Eleven franchisees across the country who are at odds with the American subsidiary of Seven & i Holdings Co. the Japanese company that bought 7-Eleven from its distressed American ownership in 2005 over a new 15-year franchise agreement. The Tokyo company has expanded the chain over the last decade to nearly 10,000 outlets across the U.S. and more than 60,000 worldwide. But in the chains homeland where it started 91 years ago as Southland Ice Co. with a single Dallas store some owners say the new agreement will milk them of their profits. In the Los Angeles area, there are about 40 stores currently on the market compared with the usual half a dozen or so, said Darcie Fisher of the National Coalition of Associations of 7-Eleven Franchisees, which attributes the rise to the dissatisfaction with the new pact. Among the leading points of disagreement is a contract provision that would require franchisees to potentially split more profits with 7-Eleven Inc., which the U.S. store owners allege is a move to boost the profit of the Japanese parent. They point to a new $50,000 fee to renew franchise agreements, which vary in length and expire at different times depending on when a store was acquired. Renewals used to cost 20% of a store owners franchise fee, which varies too, but the disgruntled owners say it was generally less expensive except for the highest-volume outlets. The coalition of franchisees, which has spearheaded the opposition, encouraged its members not to attend 7-Elevens annual convention in Las Vegas in February in protest of those and other changes. Then, early this month, the coalition sent a letter to 7-Eleven Chief Executive Joseph DePinto asking him to renegotiate the agreement. The franchisees contend the contract changes are coming at a particularly bad time. While the national economy is booming, minimum wages are going up in dozens of states including in California, where it will rise to $15 in 2023. 7-Eleven franchisee Jas Dhillon in his store in Reseda. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Theyre basically ignoring us and then squeezing more money out of us, said Jas Dhillon, coalition treasurer and a San Fernando Valley store owner since the late 1990s. But theyre looking at short-term goals. They dont care if two years down the road, with the minimum wage rising, that the stores wont be profitable. 7-Eleven has defended the agreement, saying that only a minority of owners oppose it and that the new terms will help 7-Eleven fund new fresh-food and other offerings, as well as update the stores technology all of which should help boost store sales. It also notes that franchisees who sign on before the end of this year potentially renewing early will keep their current profit split for as long as 11 more years. We have a proven model, and its been very successful for many years, said Chris Tanco, 7-Elevens chief operating officer. If they make more money, we make more money, he said. In recent years, as retail has been upended by online sales, 7-Eleven has taken steps to keep up. The U.S. stores are now heavily promoting an app that allows patrons to win points and apply them to food and drinks. It also has a partnership with Postmates, which makes home deliveries in dozens of cities. The chain wants to innovate even more. Dhillon is locked into his current agreement for six more years and said he will wait to see if his sales increase. However, he fears that the new agreement would wipe out his profit. The current pact includes seven graduated brackets similar to a progressive income tax. 7-Eleven takes 48% of a stores first $150,000 in gross profit before expenses and more than half for many stores with higher profits. The new pact is more complicated, with 11 brackets that give 7-Eleven as little as 45% of the first $200,000 in gross profits and potentially more for higher-volume stores. Dhillon operates a higher-volume store, with total sales topping $2 million last year, according to financial documents supplied to The Times. Given his volume, 7-Eleven took a total of about 52% of his total gross profit in 2017 but after subtracting expenses, the stores income barely topped $25,000. He said last year his expenses included a salary for his wife that totaled $78,000 for working full time plus weekends. The new agreement, assuming his sales didnt increase, would cost him his entire profit. We arent making that much. I dont know if people realize that. Were hardworking people who put a lot of time into our stores, said Dhillon, who believes the U.S. stores have become cash cows for Seven & i. Tanco said that 7-Elevens parent company wasnt involved in setting the terms of the new franchise agreement. And at least one analyst doesnt think that the new U.S. contract is intended to prop up Seven & i even if American stores account for a lot of the chains growth. They do [contract updates] in Japan, and it typically benefits the franchisees in the long run, said Michael Jon Allen, an equity analyst of Japanese retail for Jefferies. Someone has to pay for product development. If franchisees are unhappy, theyll fight back. Thats not unique to 7-Eleven. Average sales at a Japanese store topped American counterparts sales by nearly $1,100 per day and about $390,000 annually, according to Seven & i company data. 7-Eleven Japan is more profitable too. 7-Eleven Inc.s net income last year was about $678 million compared with 7-Eleven Japans $1.5 billion-plus. Allen, who is based in Tokyo, said the American stores are 20 years behind the Japanese. You pass convenience stores more often in Japan, and people tend to walk in as they walk by. Its partly geography, but the food also is just so much better, he said. But the challenge for Seven & i is that the convenience-store market in Japan is totally saturated, so the chain is relying on U.S. and other markets for growth. That was reflected in the Tokyo parent spending $3.3 billion to acquire more than 1,000 convenience stores last year from Sunoco, but that still gives the U.S. only half the 20,000-plus stores in Japan, a far smaller country. Gunu Singh, who was referred to The Times by 7-Eleven, owns six mostly high-volume locations across the Los Angeles area and is currently purchasing a seventh. She bought her first store in 1991 and thinks the company is moving in the right direction. Theyre updating systems, and weve always had innovative leadership in the company, said Singh, who isnt worried about the new franchise agreements but said she understands the qualms that owners with less-profitable operations may have. Shifting to the profit split takes some adjusting, Singh said, particularly in tandem with growing wages. But she said that from a long-term perspective, the stores will see benefits. Back in 91, minimum wage was $5.25, Singh said. That worried us, but we survived then and well survive now. business@latimes.com Dear Liz: My fiancee has incurred a lot of medical debt during the course of our relationship. She works 13- to 14-hour days at two jobs so she can start saving for the wedding and our shared goals, which include buying her a car, sending me to grad school without incurring more student debt, creating a real emergency fund for us, and moving out of my apartment into a new one. She thinks her credit is horrible (though she has never checked it) and she knows with the medical bills, it is getting worse. She doesnt think she can move in because she cant buy a car. What should I do? Should I help her with her debt so we can actually plan for the wedding scheduled next July? Or should I let her deal with it herself? My biggest concern in all of this is that I have significantly better finances. I worked hard in college and have a full-time job that pays a living wage. Ive been in my own apartment for two years. Advertisement Sometimes I feel resentful of the fact that she cannot contribute to our household like I can, and I worry that I will have to shoulder our shared goals. I am particularly worried I will have to pay for the wedding, which I am finding more and more ridiculously expensive every day (were only spending $5,600), while not being able to save for grad school. I really am not sure how to give up my frustration and face reality, and our reality is that medical debt is holding up our plans. Answer: Its understandable that youre frustrated. But please dont take it out on your fiancee, who sounds like a hard-working person who had the bad luck of getting sick. Working 13-hour days isnt sustainable, particularly for someone with health issues. She may already have more medical debt than she can reasonably repay, and continuing to struggle with these bills may make achieving other goals impossible. Encourage her to make an appointment with an experienced bankruptcy attorney. Bankruptcy may not be the right choice for her, but the attorney should be able to assess her situation and discuss her options. Her debt may be manageable with some help from you. In that case, you two need to discuss how to handle this and your finances in general. Dont listen to people or your own preconceptions telling you theres only one way couples should handle money. Some married couples keep their finances entirely separate. Some combine everything all assets and income are joint, and so are all debts. Most take a middle path, combining some accounts and obligations while keeping others separate. Finances can also evolve. You may be able to contribute more now, but your fiancee may become the primary breadwinner when you start graduate school. When that happens, would you expect her to help you pay the student loan debt you acquired before marriage, or will that be your obligation? Whats most important is that you figure out how to work as a team, without resentment and unspoken expectations. It may help to schedule a visit with a fee-only financial planner to discuss your shared goals and how youll fund them. You can get referrals to fee-only advisors who charge by the hour at the Garrett Planning Network, www.garrettplanningnetwork.com, and to those who charge monthly fees at the XY Planning Network, www.xyplanningnetwork.com. Waiting for Social Security pays off Dear Liz: My husband (who will retire in January) just turned 67, but still wants to wait to collect Social Security until he turns 70 to maximize his benefit. Should he apply for Social Security now, and immediately suspend benefits? Or, should he simply wait until he turns 70 years old to apply? Is there a difference? Answer: Theres no need for your husband to file for benefits now. He will accrue delayed retirement credits for each month he delays filing, and those credits will add 8% a year to his benefit. Not only will that result in a larger check for him, but that could mean a larger survivors check for you should you outlive him. Liz Weston, certified financial planner, is a personal finance columnist for NerdWallet. Questions may be sent to her at 3940 Laurel Canyon, No. 238, Studio City, CA 91604, or by using the Contact form at asklizweston.com. Distributed by No More Red Inc. When California voters passed a tax on high-income residents in 2004, backers said it would make good on the states failed promise to help counties pay for the treatment of the mentally ill. After nearly 15 years, Proposition 63 the Mental Health Services Act has steered billions of dollars to the counties across the state. But huge sums remain unspent at a time when mental illness has become an epidemic among the homeless population. For the record: Mental health spending: In the Aug. 19 Section A, an article about the Mental Health Services Act stated that Proposition 2 the November ballot initiative that would issue $2 billion in bonds for supportive housing for homeless individuals with mental illness would be repaid using funds from the Mental Health Services Act that counties have not spent. The bonds would be paid using funds before allocation to the counties. Additionally, a previous version of this article said then-state Sen. Darrell Steinberg was the co-author of Proposition 63. Steinberg was an Assembly member at the time. As of June 2017, $1.6 billion was being held in reserve in nearly three-quarters of the counties in the state. In Los Angeles County, the Department of Mental Health had accumulated nearly $900 million. The unspent funds are believed to have increased in the fiscal year that ended June 30, but figures were not yet available. Advocates say much of this money could have put crisis teams on the streets, started construction on supportive housing projects and funded psychiatric urgent care centers. According to some estimates, more than a quarter of Californias homeless have a mental illness; in Los Angeles County, the percentage is slightly higher. Advertisement It is shocking to see these large reserves when we have a funding stream to address the crisis that Los Angeles and other jurisdictions are facing, said Catherine Blakemore, executive director of Disability Rights California. County agencies are developing plans to draw down these balances. The L.A. County Department of Mental Health recently proposed spending $896 million in surplus cash on a variety of projects and services, including the construction of a new urgent care clinic at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center and psychiatric mobile response teams. The budget was adopted by the Board of Supervisors in June, but it is unclear how soon those funds will reach the proposed projects and services. Meanwhile, the reserves continue to earn millions in interest. Counties have a lot of funds, and they sometimes struggle to spend the money as fast as it comes in, said Brian Sala, deputy director of the Oversight and Accountability Commission, which monitors mental health care programs in the state. Poor oversight Experts cite a number of factors for these balances: the volatility of the fund, its spending requirements and a lack of guidance from Sacramento. In a February report, the state auditor faulted the California Department of Health Care Services for poor oversight of the agencies statewide that receive these funds every month. Health Care Services, which agreed with most of the auditors recommendations, declined to comment for this article. The money raised by Proposition 63 accounts for 25% of the Californias $8-billion budget for mental health programs, and in the last six years, the administration of this money has been routinely criticized. In 2012, the state auditor targeted the laws former administrator, the Department of Mental Health, for its lack of oversight. Two years later, the Little Hoover Commission cited poor record-keeping for the lack of evidence that the law had helped Californians with mental illness. Advocates say the administrative bottlenecks at the state and county level are thwarting treatment for distressed, psychotic or depressed Californians who are at risk for suicide, incarceration or chronic hospitalization. Why are we taxing millionaires if were not good stewards of this fund? said Brittney Weissman, executive director of the L.A. chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness. Revenues rose, budgets stayed flat Rusty Selix, who co-authored Proposition 63 with then-Assemblyman Darrell Steinberg, said he knew something was wrong almost four years ago when he served as a policy consultant with the California Council of Community Mental Health Agencies. The state was coming out of the recession and revenues were climbing, but agencies contracted by the counties to provide service were not seeing their budgets increased. When revenues are going up, there is a tendency to underestimate how much growth is really happening, Selix said. Counties didnt accurately account for all the money that was coming in. Some counties held onto funds that should have been returned to the state after three years, if Health Care Services had been enforcing that requirement of the law. Local administrators saw the rising balances as a way to protect programs already in place from the laws funding volatility. (Swetha Kannan / Los Angeles Times) Rising and falling on the fortunes of people earning at least $1 million a year, Proposition 63 revenues rely upon the strength of Californias economy. From 2013 to 2016, revenues dropped 22%, rose 40% and fell 18%. During prosperous years, counties received more money than they had budgeted for, and because this windfall couldnt be guaranteed in following years, administrators were reluctant to spend it on projects that require sustaining funds. The law, however, has safeguards when revenues drop. Counties are given three years to spend the money, while other appropriations must be spent or committed within a year or two. You dont want to force the system to work at breakneck speeds to spend in unwise ways, said Sala, of the state oversight panel.. Counties are also required to maintain a rainy-day fund a prudent reserve to pay for programs during years when revenues fall. State guidelines do not specify an amount but initially recommended that counties set aside at least 50% of their largest annual expense. L.A. Countys rainy-day fund has averaged $160 million over the last five years. In addition to the prudent reserve, counties have also built up separate cash stockpiles. By the end of the 2016-17 fiscal year, state mental health departments held a combined prudent reserve of $286 million and a separate cash balance of $1.48 billion. L.A. Countys cash reserve at that time was $893 million. There clearly is an issue with cash management policies in many counties, Sala said. Complexity, caution fuel cash buildup The unspent funds have accumulated, in part, because of the complexity of the Mental Health Services Act itself, experts say. Each of the laws five components follows a different set of rules, planning requirements and approval mechanisms, and money can be spent only after an extensive approval process. Counties submit plans to stakeholders in the community families, individuals with mental illness then to the Board of Supervisors, and in the case of innovation, to the Oversight and Accountability Commission. Marvin Southard, who headed L.A. Countys Department of Mental Health until his retirement in 2015, said the process hobbled his effort to open more psychiatric urgent care centers. If the money had been more secure or the rules for utilizing it easier to navigate, we would have opened those faster, he said. But political caution also plays a role. Local officials have tried to cushion essential programs from sharp revenue swings, which in down years can lead to layoffs and reduced services and be a political liability for elected boards of supervisors. These local programs, provided by agencies contracted by the Department of Mental Health, are the core of the [law]. These are the clients that we have for years, Southard said. Funding for these ongoing programs has not grown proportionally with the counties revenue gains, and cash reserves have soared. Yoga, hikes and an amusement park ride Proposition 63 also requires counties to develop programs aimed at preventing the progression of severe mental illness. Allocations in the past yoga, horseback riding, wilderness hikes have been criticized, prompting counties to take a more conservative approach. The law also encourages innovation: novel, creative and/or ingenious mental health practices/approaches that contribute to learning. In 2013, Orange County officials proposed spending $2.2 million on an amusement park ride into the brain, to highlight the origins and treatment of some mental disorders. It was initially approved by the Board of Supervisors but hasnt been developed. While only 5% of money coming in under Proposition 63 goes toward innovation, counties have consistently spent far less. From 2012 to 2017, Los Angeles County received $114 million for innovation and spent $68 million. Were asking public officials to take risks with public dollars, said Toby Ewing, executive director of the Oversight and Accountability Commission. When that doesnt work out, public officials are punished. To address the surplus funds and lack of guidance from the Department of Health Care Services, politicians have come up with a series of legislative fixes. Assembly Bill 114 passed in 2017 allowed counties to keep $230 million in cash reserves if they came up with a spending plan by June 30 that would be executed by June 2020. Los Angeles County claimed nearly $90 million of that amount in its 2018-19 spending plan. This year, Senate Bill 1004 currently being considered in the Assembly would require the Oversight and Accountability Commission to play more of a role in reviewing and approving prevention and early intervention programs. Finally, in November, voters will decide on Proposition 2, which would allow the state to issue $2 billion in bonds for permanent supportive housing for chronically homeless people with mental illness. The bonds would be repaid over the years using approximately 7% of the counties unspent reserves. Each measure represents a piecemeal approach to the structural problems of the law. Some officials cite a lack of leadership in Sacramento and criticize the decentralization of mental health care services in California that has isolated local governments, mental health boards, clients and their families. The law, said Jonathan Sherin, head of L.A. Countys Mental Health Department, is not set up in a way that is complementary, that creates synergy and gets the money from the taxpayers, the millionaires, out into the streets. thomas.curwen@latimes.com Twitter: @tcurwen A Saudi Airlines plane made an emergency landing at Cairo airport on Sunday when a passenger on board became ill, Al-Ahram Arabic news website reported. According to sources at Cairo International Airport, the control tower received a message from the Saudi plane, which was on its way to Tunisia from Jeddah, requesting a doctor and an ambulance for a Tunisian passenger who was unwell. The plane was given the green light to land at Cairo and the 37-year-old passenger was transferred to a hospital near the airport. Search Keywords: Short link: Cheryl Cox remembers as a child standing in front of the wall honoring her great-great-great-great-grandmother Biddy Mason, a former slave who became a wealthy landowner, a noted philanthropist and a key founder of the first African American Church in Los Angeles. On Saturday morning, Alicia Randall, an Altadena Girl Scout, stood in almost the same spot that Cox did to help place a purple wreath next to the wall to mark Masons bicentennial birthday celebration. Several dozen people attended Saturdays event at Biddy Mason Memorial Park at 311 Spring St., the site of her former home. It was organized by the Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation and Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation of Los Angeles. Often, pedestrians walk past the downtown park without reading the history of its famous namesake. On Saturday, people stopped to partake in the celebration and to learn more about Mason. Advertisement Cox, her sister Robynn Cox, and Robynns two children Daniel and Dakota are the last living descendants of Mason, whose philanthropy included building an orphanage, a school and co-founding the First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Los Angeles. Its always good to see that people are still honoring and supporting her legacy, said Cox, who co-founded the Biddy Mason Foundation with her mother, Linda Spikes Brown. Their organization is not affiliated with the Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation. The park also includes an 81-foot long concrete wall with a timeline detailing Masons history in Los Angeles, a collage reminiscent of Masons original wood-frame home by sculptor and assemblage artist Betye Saar and a fountain. There is power in remembering who our predecessors are and keeping their memory alive, said Sonny Abegaze, director of Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Los Angeles. Biddy Mason was a philanthropist before that was a concept. That strength is something we can pull from and rely on. It is our pleasure to be here, and it is our responsibility as well, added Jackie Broxton, vice president of the Biddy Mason Charitable Foundations board of directors. A squeaky wheel gets all the noise. We need to make people aware of her legacy. The Biddy Mason Charitable Foundation continues her legacy by dedicating itself to the care of foster youth. The nonprofit organization provides clothing, toiletries, food and other supplies for foster children. The organization was inspired by the orphanage Mason opened on property she owned. Because of Masons philanthropic work, Broxton feels it is her duty to stay connected with her history. As an African American, we can only go back so far in our ancestry. I dont think others understand how disconnected we are from knowing where were from, Broxton said. Broxton and other members of the charitable foundation handed out posters and cards with the history about Masons life. Bridget Biddy Mason was born into slavery on Aug. 15, 1818, in Hancock County, Ga. She was sold multiple times, eventually landing in Mississippi on the plantation of Robert and Rebecca Smith in 1836. After Robert Smith joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1840s, he moved his family and 14 slaves from Mississippi to Salt Lake City, then to San Bernardino to join a larger Mormon settlement. Unbeknown to Smith, California was a free state. Smith hid his slaves and family until law enforcement captured them. Mason and the other slaves were put in jail under protective custody. She was eventually taken to see Judge Benjamin Hayes in his private chambers where she told him about their travels to California and Smiths refusal to set them free. In January 1856, Smith testified that Mason and the other slaves were only traveling companions. The day after Smith testified, Hayes granted Mason her freedom. With her freedom, Mason became a nurse and midwife, using the skills she learned as a slave. Some patients gave her land in payment for delivering their children. She also saved her money and invested in downtown real estate, including buying the property at 311 Spring St. that would become her home. The Spring Street property was also where Mason and others established the First AME Church, the oldest African American church in the city. The initial meetings were held in Masons home. Its Masons drive and achievements that make her worth remembering centuries later. More people in Los Angeles should know her story, Abegaze said. Biddy Mason and her life is a story of inspiration, Broxton said. For her to overcome the obstacles in her path is almost unbelievable. michael.livingston@latimes.com @MLivingston06 The body of a Los Angeles County Fire Department captain who went missing earlier this week was found Saturday in Santa Barbara County, authorities said. According to Los Angeles County Fire Department Battalion Chief Jason Robertson, family members identified the man as Wayne Stuart Habell, 43, who was last seen leaving his home in Newhall on Monday morning. He was allegedly on his way to the gym. Four days later, Santa Barbara County sheriffs deputies responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked near the Hot Springs Canyon Trail in Montecito and discovered that the car was registered to Habell. According to Lt. Kevin Huddle of the Santa Barbara County Sheriffs Office and Rescue, passersby said the SUV had been there since Monday. Its occupant was last seen walking alone up the trailhead. The authorities searched the area on Friday and resumed early Saturday morning. That evening, they discovered a mans body in the canyon. Advertisement The sheriffs department has opened an investigation into Habells death, Robertson said. carlos.lozano@latimes.com UPDATES: 2:15 p.m.: This article was updated with new information from a Los Angeles County Fire Department offiicial. 10:10 a.m., Aug. 19: This article was updated with new information from Santa Barbara County officials and a statement by a Los Angeles County Fire Department official. This article was originally posted at 10:50 p.m., Aug. 18. A double-hulled voyaging canoe crafted using an ancient design set sail from Hawaii on Saturday to raise awareness about an all-too-modern problem. As it travels from Honolulu to San Francisco, the Hikianalia, a contemporary take on a traditional Polynesian voyaging canoe, will traverse the vast mass of floating debris and trash known as the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Nainoa Thompson, president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society, which is sponsoring the trip, said the vessels crew is excited about what they may learn from navigating through the debris field the size of Alaska. We feel that this is part of our responsibility, he said. You cant protect what you dont understand. We want to be involved and try to do something about the garbage patch. Advertisement Nainoa Thompson, in a file photograph, is president of the Polynesian Voyaging Society. (Polynesian Voyaging Society) The deep-sea voyaging canoe was originally scheduled to depart July 30, but was delayed due to unfavorable weather conditions caused first by Hurricane Hector and then by Hurricane Lane. The canoe set off at 7 a.m. and voyage organizers hope it will complete the 2,800-mile voyage in time for the Global Climate Action Summit being held in San Francisco Sept. 12-14. Gov. Jerry Brown has invited Thompson to speak at the summits session on Healthy Oceans. In Hawaiian, the expedition is called the Alahula Kai o Maleka, a reference to the pathway across the Sea of America that connects Hawaii and California. In the 1980s, scientists made an alarming discovery that a huge collection of plastic and floating trash had accumulated halfway along the route. The 13-member crew of the Hikianalia will be attaching tracking devices to the debris they find in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, checking on the stomach content in fish, and conducting research and collaborating with scientists from Hawaii and California. The voyage is viewed as a chance to educate the public about the ocean, and the crew will post regular science updates at hokulea.com and on Facebook and Instagram. The beach at Kanapou Bay, Hawaii, shown in 2006, collects debris from throughout the Pacific Ocean. (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) Along with raising public awareness about environmental problems, the voyage has a cultural mission as well. Founded in 1973, the Polynesian Voyaging Society initially wanted to revive the art of wayfinding, navigating without instruments, guided only by the signs of nature the sun, moon, stars, birds, waves and ocean swells. The group also wanted to demonstrate that it was possible for Polynesians to have explored and settled the Pacific Ocean. The wayfinding tradition had nearly been lost in Polynesia, until the society in 1975 built the famed Hokulea, a replica of a traditional Polynesian double-hulled canoe. Then the society found an expert navigator in Micronesia. Under his guidance, Thompson became the first Hawaiian in 600 years skilled in wayfinding. And it changed his life. I was born and raised in a school system that didnt value things Hawaiian. I graduated from high school having no idea who my ancestors are, where they come from, and the fact that they were the greatest navigators on the face of the Earth. And why is it important? Because self-esteem, identity, self-worth matters. When those values are negative, you have very devastating consequences to a native people, Thompson said. Ever since Hokulea, which means Star of Gladness, first sailed from Hawaii to Tahiti in 1976, it sparked a revival of Polynesian voyaging throughout the Pacific. In 1995, Hokulea was shipped to Seattle and it sailed down the West Coast, to San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Then it was shipped back to Hawaii. In 2012 the society launched the Hikianalia, which initially served as an escort vessel for the Hokulea. At 72 feet, its 10 feet longer than the Hokulea and serves as a floating classroom. Both canoes are propelled by twin sails, but the Hikianalia also has a motor that can be used in emergencies. That motor, however, is solar-powered, so the vessel leaves no carbon footprint. One of the missions of the society is to train and inspire a new generation of voyagers, and this journeys crew is a diverse group, ranging in age from 19 to the late 60s and made up of people from Hawaii, Tahiti, South Korea and Japan. The captain on this trip is Lehua Kamalu, who is 32, fluent in Hawaiian and mindful of how sea travel links people to the natural world. I think wayfinding is an important thing to pass on in this day and age because its not just locating islands and navigating across the ocean to places, she said. Its trying to create an atmosphere and environment where people develop themselves. A traditional wayfinder is someone who is deeply connected to the world around them. You not only pay attention to the natural world, you pay attention to the people around you. Lehua Kamalu, captain of the Hikianalia, leads a 13-member crew. (Heidi Chang / For The Times) This is the first time the Hikianalia will sail from from Hawaii to California. After San Francisco, stops are scheduled down the California coast in Monterey, Los Angeles and San Diego. The crew plans to connect with schools and communities along the way, including the states Hawaiian, Pacific Islander and indigenous communities. My great hope there is that theres going to be this exchange, based on common values and a shared vision, Thompson said. Were going to need these relationships to move forward to create the kind of change that we need to protect this world for the benefit of our children. The canoe is scheduled to return to Hawaii in December. By day, helicopters fly overhead. Dusty patrol vehicles take up neighborhood parking lots. By night, klieg lights illuminate the new, 18-foot steel fence that snakes along the sand dunes. This strip of land thousands of miles long feels like occupied territory. And in a way, it is. I refer, of course, to the border between Mexico and the United States. After the government incarcerated children in a nearby camp, critics called for the abolition of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. But the better target for elimination, or at least downsizing, is the Customs and Border Protection agency, ICEs big, paramilitary brother. Its bloated and riddled with corruption. I grew up on the border, where the old Border Patrol was always part of the desert landscape. I carry mental snapshots of bored agents on bridges, and of the time in the late 1960s that my Mexican grandfather was detained at a checkpoint. Nervously eyeing their holsters, I asked my dad whether they were going to shoot Grandpa. But when we returned with his visa, he was none the worse, joking with them by the side of the road. The Border Patrols roots were planted here, in dusty El Paso, in 1904 when the old Immigration Service started sending officers out on horseback. In the 1920s, Congress slashed immigration levels continuing to bar Asians, Africans and cutting down on Jews, Arabs and Southern Europeans while enacting Prohibition. In 1924, it created the Border Patrol to police the Mexican and Canadian borders and the coastlines as well. For the rest of the 20th century, the Border Patrol was out of sight and out of mind for most Americans. Advertisement CBP is a paramilitary organization that has grown too large, too quickly with too little oversight. But when a national security panic that swept Washington after the Sept. 11 attacks, President George W. Bush and Congress gave the Border Patrol a new name, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. And that kicked off the unprecedented growth of the agencys powers and ranks that continues today unquestioned, unrestrained and unabated. Today, CBP spends more than $13 billion yearly, approaching 20 times what it spent in 1990. But like an iceberg, this is only the tip. The ranks of uniformed agents have swelled to nearly 20,000. Customs and Border Protection has 60,000 employees who check fruit, passports and fly their own air force: Blackhawks, old Hueys and new European helicopters along with P-3 long-range surveillance planes and the MQ-9, the same Predator surveillance drone that prowls the skies of Afghanistan. The agency dwarfs in size any police force in America, including the FBI. Customs and Border Protection personnel, along with ICE, comprise the bulk of the Department of Homeland Security which, though established only in 2002, now is bigger than the active U.S. Marine Corps, founded in 1775. El Paso, naturally, is home to the agencys Special Operations Group, which conducts search-and-rescue as well as tactical operations known as BORTAC. Candidates go through intensive training thats modeled after military special operations: sprints and pushups and drown-proofing in pools, door-busting and fast-roping from helicopters and even sniping. When its over, agent are outfitted in digital camouflage and ghillie suits and armed to the teeth. The whole course lasts, reportedly, a single month. CBP is a paramilitary organization that has grown too large, too quickly with too little oversight. In its rush to expand, the agency has put some dangerous people in the field. An agent shot and killed a Guatemalan woman, 20-year old Claudia Patricia Gomez Gonzalez, in Texas in May. Another agent, Lonnie Swartz, was acquitted of murder in Arizona this year. But his target 16-year-old Jose Antonio Elena Rodriguez, shot 12 times in the back after throwing rocks? He is still dead. The Guardian reported recently that nearly 100 people have been shot and killed by CBP in the last 15 years, not including those injured in shootings, tasings, beatings and car crashes. Some 28 shot and killed were U.S. citizens, and the youngest was just 12 years old. In a San Diego suburb, 32-year-old Valeria Munique Tachiquin Alvarados family was winding down a wrongful death suit against the agency when agents showed up at her apartment complex without a warrant and started questioning people, according to the Guardian. She drove off and was killed when an agent fired 10 times, striking her nine times. People by the dozen die in custody annually too, according to the American Civil Liberties Union, which reported recently that even child immigrants have been punched, kicked, run over by a patrol vehicle, called dogs and sexually abused. In one case, that of a 16-year-old girl, employees forcefully spread her legs and touched her private parts so hard that she screamed, the ACLU reported. And that was during the Obama administration. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Under President Trump, even as CBP agents incarcerated children and families, a handful were arrested on suspicion of sexually assaulting the people they detained in Texas. In New Mexico, yet another was arrested after allegations of the sexual exploitation of a child. The agency is permeated by corruption; 13 officers have been arrested since Trump took office on charges ranging from narcotics and human trafficking to money laundering, according to federal documents obtained by the Project on Government Oversight. Trump isnt going to do anything about the problem; hed rather yell about the MS-13 gang. Besides, the once-humble patrolmen on horseback are now certified members of the national security industrial complex. The taxpayer is paying the giant contractor, Accenture, $300 million to recruit 5,000 more officers. Only the next Congress can do something. Maybe. But remember: You dont have to live on the Mexican border to live in Occupied America. Thats because CBP has free rein over 100 miles inland of any border or coastline in America. In this zone, which includes 200 million people, 4th Amendment protections against unreasonable search and seizure do not apply. Here, agents can stop and search anyone as long as they suspect a violation of immigration law. Thats why Americans boarding buses from Florida to Maine or getting gas in Montana have suddenly been stopped and questioned by border agents. Abolish ICE? Thats just a start. Richard Parker is an author and journalist and winner of the top prize in 2018 from the National Society of Newspaper Columnists. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Moment is clearly having a moment. Has there ever been a word that has taken on so many guises? We often speak of someone having a moment. Comedian Hannah Gadsby, for example. Denzel Washingtons sons. Hedy Lamarr. (I know she has been dead for 18 years. Moments come back.) We also hear about teachable moments. My 77-year-old friend was recently complaining about a broken shoulder when his housekeepers 8-year-old son, who uses a wheelchair, said, You just have to be patient. Thats teachable. There are the magic moments: when you find the love of your life across the dance floor. When your first child is born. Perhaps most relevant or of the moment there are the telling ones, when were required to quickly decide between right, wrong or silence. Do we report the student we know cheated on a test? Or a serious lie or abuse we witnessed? Do we halt an offensive joke? Sometimes, we dont realize the importance of a moment until long after its over. When Hammerin Hank Greenberg refused to play a big game on a Jewish holiday, Detroit Tigers fans resented his decision. Greenberg couldnt possibly have predicted that wed remember his observance perhaps more than his major league achievements. Actress Ashley Judd did not expect, when she said no to Harvey Weinstein, that she would become a symbol for a movement. Advertisement Can good people act badly in key moments? Probably. Can bad people turn around and have good moments? Hopefully. History, recent and distant, is filled with such moments, in which people traded often unknowingly short-term career setbacks for long-term respect. Those who ended up on the Hollywood blacklist in the middle of the last century paid a steep price professionally but, ultimately, were less bruised than those who named names, like Jerome Robbins and Elia Kazan. In the 2008 presidential race, when Sen. John McCain grabbed a supporters microphone to stand up for his opponents patriotism, he may have lost votes, but Ill bet he slept well that night. Richard Nixon erroneously called Helen Gahagan Douglas pink right down to her underwear in their 1950 California Senate race. During the Watergate scandal, Douglas was asked whether she felt vindicated. At that moment, she could have taken her revenge. He had his victory and I had mine, that classy lady said. There are countless less public examples of men and women who took an immediately brave action, consequences be damned. A few decades ago, a Los Angeles attorney I know (who preferred to remain anonymous) snagged a big client: a New York real estate titan seeking legal help in taking over the Ambassador Hotel. But when the attorney had his first conference call with Donald Trump, and heard him berate a female associate, he told Trump he would not work with him. Even after the associate called back to say that he always feels he has to intimidate people like me to impress people like you, the lawyer gave up the client. Enter the Fray: First takes on the news of the minute from L.A. Times Opinion Right now, the headlines are filled with those who will have to look back at moments when they made decisions out of greed, ego or fear. Michael Cohen appears to have traded his integrity for the sake of his most famous client, the man who intimidated to impress and who is now our president. Rick Gates sold his soul for the enticements of Paul Manafort and Co. Weinstein and his brethren enjoyed way too many moments that, under the most generous possible interpretation, they apparently misread. Americans are forgiving, and they love comebacks, but those guys should not hold their breaths. For all the moments that happen, equally important are the ones that dont, the missed moments. Ivanka Trump, an allegedly devoted mother and feminist, steered clear of the family separation crisis. John Kelly, Trumps chief of staff, related an untruthful anecdote about a black congresswoman instead of admitting a possible misstep by his boss. The president refused to honor McCain at a recent signing ceremony, even though the senators name was on the bill he signed. Can good people act badly in key moments? Probably. Can bad people turn around and have good moments? Hopefully. Few of us become public figures or official whistleblowers. Yet in our daily lives, we can still choose to favor our better angels. Call me Capra-esque, but I sense people quietly rebelling against the dark mood out there, actively seeking out moments to prove to the world, and to themselves, that they can make the right call. Its no coincidence that millions are flocking to see a documentary about Mr. Rogers. As Bill Moyers, who has witnessed many momentous moments, said recently, We need to find the best of ourselves in the worst of times. Michele Willens writes for many publications and is a contributor to the NPR-affiliated Robin Hood Radio. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Accelerate made himself the favorite for the Breeders Cup Classic on Saturday with a dominating 12-length win, a record for the Pacific Classic. It was his third Grade 1 win this year, all coming in Southern California. In fact, 19 of his 20 starts have come in Southern California. His only start outside the state was a second in the Oaklawn Handicap this year in Arkansas. The problem with all of this is the Breeders Cup is at Churchill Downs in Louisville this year. Is it a problem taking Accelerate out of state? No, said those closest to him. When we took him to Oaklawn, he traveled really well, said Kosta Hronis, who along with his brother Pete owns the horse. Advertisement Trainer John Sadler, who won his first Pacific Classic in 12 tries, was even more confident. The Santa Anita horses run well at Churchill and the thing we [feel good about] going to go back there in November is that he won the Big Cap on a muddy track, Sadler said. So, I think in November at Churchill youve got about a 50-50 chance of getting weather. So, I think the fact he handles an off track so good, Im not worried about that. There was nothing to worry about Saturday. Accelerate positioned himself on the outside of Roman Rosso and Prime Attraction around the first turn. He moved even down the backstretch and then jockey Joel Rosario asked him just slightly and he went to the lead. Entering the stretch he was up by eight lengths. Rosario went to the whip four times, mostly because Accelerate can become a bit lazy if not pushed. So, thats what Rosario did as a crowd of 20,823 rose to its feet in celebration. It was Rosarios first time on the horse and he is likely committed for any other races as long as regular rider Victor Espinoza is out because of a broken vertebrae. Accelerate also set a record for the lowest win price by any horse. He paid $2.80, $2.40 and $2.10. Pavel was second, followed by Prime Attraction, Roman Rosso, Dr. Dorr, The Lieutenant and Two Thirty Five. Beach View was scratched when he developed a cut above his right front hoof. Providing Accelerate comes out of the race in good shape, the Awesome Again Stakes on Sept. 29 at Santa Anita is up next. Since we skipped the San Diego [Handicap] that was our plan, Hronis said. We were planning on skipping one or the other since hed already run four races this year. We wanted him to be on the fresh side. What we thought was best for the team was run Catalina [Cruiser] in the San Diego, [then] go ahead and give Accelerate his break now. I think hes better a little busy, so I think thats a better schedule for him. The track set a record for single-day handle, except for the Breeders Cup, when $25,969,128 was bet nationwide on the 11-race card. Saturdays race did not have the star power of past years when California Chrome, Beholder and Shared Belief won in the 1-mile race. Last year super horse Arrogate ran in the race but finished second. After Saturdays record-breaking race, Accelerate has earned a spot beside those stars of the past. Other stakes Fashion Business won the Grade 2 $250,000 Del Mar Handicap with a brilliant move by jockey Flavien Prat, who passed eight horses in less than 1/16th of a mile on the backstretch. He rode the horse to the front and stayed there to win the 1 3/8-mile turf race by 5 lengths. Prat is serving a three-day suspension but, as with all jockey suspensions, he could ride in designated races, which are usually stakes races. He rode in all three Saturday. If you ride in more than one in a day, a day is added to the end of the suspension. Fashion Business, trained by Phil DAmato, paid $10.20, $5.80 and $4.20. Ya Gotta Wanna, at 45-1, was second and Multiplier was third. Fatale Bere made a strong move through the stretch to catch Ollies Candy and win the Grade 1 $300,000 Del Mar Oaks. It was a 1 1/8-mile turf race for 3-year-old fillies. Fatale Bere, trained by Leonard Powell and ridden by Kent Desormeaux, paid $16.00, $6.80 and $5.20. Californiagoldrush was third. A driver whose car collided with several people before crashing outside Britains Parliament has been charged with attempted murder, police in London said Saturday. The Metropolitan Police force said Salih Khater, 29, is charged with trying to kill police officers and trying to kill members of the public. Three people were injured when Khater, a British citizen originally from Sudan, struck a group of cyclists before colliding with security outside Parliament on Tuesday. Police say that the crash was an attempt to kill police officers. One injured person was treated at the scene and two were taken to hospitals, where they were treated and released. Advertisement Within minutes of Tuesdays morning rush-hour crash, police flooded the streets around Parliament and cordoned off an area of the city that is home to government buildings and tourist attractions including Westminster Abbey. Salih Khater, 29, is charged with attempted murder. (Facebook) The crash came less than 18 months after an attacker plowed a car into pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four people, then fatally stabbed a police officer before being shot dead in a courtyard outside Parliament. Less than three months later, a van rammed into pedestrians on London Bridge before three men abandoned the vehicle and attacked weekend revelers in the nearby Borough Market. Eight people were killed and 48 injured. In June 2017, a far-right extremist drove a van into a crowd of worshippers leaving a London mosque, killing one man and injuring eight others. Police say that because of the methodology and iconic location, prosecutors are treating the Parliament crash as terrorism, although Khater has not been charged with a terrorist offense. Khater is due to appear in a London court Monday. Russian President Vladimir Putin made a flying visit to Austria to attend the wedding of the countrys foreign minister Saturday before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern border with Slovenia, where Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl married her partner Wolfgang Meilinger, a businessman. Kneissl, an independent, was nominated by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party, whose leaders also attended the wedding. Photos showed Putin dancing with the bride, who was dressed in a traditional Austrian costume. According to Austrian public broadcaster ORF, Putin also brought a small Cossack mens choir along to entertain about 100 guests at the wedding. Austrian lawmaker Joerg Leichtfried of the opposition Social Democratic Party criticized Kneissls decision to invite Putin to the wedding, saying it called into question Austrias role as a neutral intermediary in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed rebels are battling government forces. Austria currently holds the European Unions rotating presidency. Advertisement Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that the Russian president spent about an hour at the wedding. Putin gave the newlyweds a cold press oil machine, a traditional Russian samovar and a landscape painting that depicts the place where the groom hails from, Peskov said. Peskov said Putin also gave quite a long toast in German in which he said he was thankful and happy that he got a chance to visit the hospitable Austria. Speaking hours later alongside Merkel before the two leaders held bilateral talks at the German governments guesthouse in Meseberg, north of Berlin, Putin said they would discuss bilateral ties, economic cooperation and Russias Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea. Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl and Russian President Vladimir Putin dance during her wedding Saturday. (AFP) The United States and some European countries have criticized the pipeline, saying it could increase Europes energy dependence on Russia, harm Ukraine currently a major gas transit country and pose an environmental risk. Germany imported 53 billion cubic meters of Russian gas last year. Nord Steam 2 is purely an economic project and it doesnt close the door to shipping gas through Ukraine, Putin said. Transit fees for Russian gas are an important item contributing to the Ukrainian budget. With protesters audible Saturday outside the guesthouse in Meseberg, Putin also raised the issue of humanitarian aid and funding for international reconstruction in Syria. Its important to help those areas that the refugees can return to, he said. I think its in everyones interests, including Europes. Germany, which has taken in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing the war, has in the past insisted it wouldnt contribute to the reconstruction of Syria before a political settlement to end the war has been reached. Merkel said the talks would also touch on the possibility of establishing a United Nations mission to help bring about peace in Ukraine. It might seem like an inauspicious moment to try for a truce. But Afghan President Ashraf Ghani did so Sunday, declaring a cease-fire to coincide with this weeks Eid al-Adha holiday, one of the most important occasions on the Muslim calendar, and then be extended for up to three months. The only catch: The Taliban must sign on too. I announce a conditional cease-fire starting from tomorrow, Monday, until Nov. 21, birthday of the prophet Muhammad, Ghani said in a nationally televised address marking Afghanistans Independence Day, according to news agencies. Advertisement There was no immediate word on whether the Taliban would agree to the cease-fire, which was called despite a recent burst of bloodshed and came on the heels of a truce that proved short-lived. Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo welcomed Ghanis move, provided the Taliban cooperate, and added that Washington stood ready to support direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. This plan responds to the clear and continued call of the Afghan people for peace, Pompeo said in a statement. But the secretary also alluded to the collapse of the most recent truce attempt. The last cease-fire in Afghanistan revealed the deep desire of the Afghan people to end the conflict, and we hope another cease-fire will move the country closer to sustainable security, Pompeo said. In June, the Afghan government announced a unilateral cease-fire with the Taliban during the last major Muslim holiday, Eid al-Fitr. It largely held, but the insurgents spurned a call to extend that truce. Then, this month, the Taliban launched a major offensive on the southeastern city of Ghazni, which the government said killed at least 100 members of the Afghan security forces and some two dozen civilians, along with scores of Taliban fighters. Five days of fierce fighting in a city just 80 miles from the capital, Kabul, was finally quelled after U.S. airstrikes and the dispatch of American military advisors to aid the Afghan government side. Afterward, whole neighborhoods had to be painstakingly cleared of explosives laid by the Taliban. Ghanis cease-fire call came during ceremonies commemorating the 99th anniversary of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty of 1919, which is marked as the countrys Independence Day. Recent signs, though, have been ominous. Ghanis overture came only a day after Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada declared that there could be no peace as long as foreign troops remained in Afghanistan. With the Afghan conflict in its 17th year, the Trump administration is said to be weighing a controversial proposal to use private contractors to shoulder much of the burden borne by U.S. troops in the country, who now number some 15,000, down from a high of 100,000 in 2010, during the Obama administration. The privatization plan is being pitched by Erik Prince, the founder of Blackwater and brother of President Trumps Education secretary, Betsy DeVos. Prince claims it would save billions of dollars and help bring an end to the conflict, but the idea has drawn heavy criticism from military and foreign policy experts. Prince has vehemently denied that the proposal would usher in a mercenary-driven conflict. It is not a private army, he told NBC last week. It is a very clear delineation of whos in charge, OK? Afghan government, working for a U.S. government official, funded by the United States at a fraction of the cost were spending now. National security advisor John Bolton, asked about the idea of essentially outsourcing the U.S. military role in Afghanistan, said in an interview aired Sunday on ABCs This Week that he was always open to new ideas but that any privatization move would be up to Trump. I dont rule out that wed have a change in some of the things were doing there, Bolton said. The national security advisor cited indications that contacts between the insurgents and the Afghan government were moving in the right direction, adding that the administration had looked at several different possibilities to get the Taliban and others directly engaged with the government of Afghanistan. Conditions in the field, though, appear grim. Territory held by Afghan forces has been shrinking over the last two years, and Taliban fighters in recent months have carried out a number of major assaults. Afghanistan has also been shaken by a separate insurgency by the Afghan affiliate of Islamic State, which claimed responsibility for a suicide bombing Wednesday in Kabul targeting Shiite Muslims that killed at least 34, mainly high school students, and injured nearly 60 others, according to the Ministry of Public Health. The attack took place in a neighborhood that is mainly home to Hazaras, a Shiite ethnic minority. Shiites are considered heretics by Islamic State. The day after that bombing, the capital was rattled by an hours-long standoff between police and gunmen who tried to overrun a compound belonging to Afghanistan intelligence. Such attacks tend to shake public confidence that government forces are capable of securing even relatively safe areas of the capital. laura.king@latimes.com Twitter: @laurakingLAT UPDATES: 4:45 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with Times staff reporting. This article was originally published at 12:20 p.m. Two monks have been referred to trial in Alexandria for the murder of the abbot of their former monastery, according to a statement from the prosecutor-generals office on Sunday. Isaiah El-Maqary was detained on 11 August on suspicion for the murder of Bishop Epiphanius, who was found dead at Abu Maqar monastery in July. Isaiah has since been officially defrocked by the church due to behaviour unbecoming of a monk. Another monk, Faltaous El-Maqary, was detained on 12 August for aiding and abetting Isaiah El-Maqary. The prosecution stated the two men will be tried on charges of "premeditated murder." On 29 July, 64-year-old Bishop Epiphanius was found dead under suspicious circumstances. He had led Abu Maqar monastery in Wadi El-Natroun, northwest of Cairo. "During investigations, Wael Saad Tawadros, formerly known by his monastic name Isaiah El-Maqary, confessed to collaborating with the second defendant, Rimon Mansour, formerlyknown by his monastic name Faltaous El-Maqary, to kill Bishop Epiphanius due to personal disagreements," the statement read. The statement said the two men ambushed the bishop on his way from his residence to the monastery chapel, where Tawadros hit him on the head with a steel bar. A post-mortem report showed that the bishop died from severe head injuries, including skull fractures and bleeding. Following the murder, the church has imposed new measures to regulate monastic life. The new measures include a freeze on accepting new monks, a ban on monks use of social media, a ban on building non-sanctioned places of worship, and a ban on monks leaving monasteries without official permission. Search Keywords: Short link: High prices have made buying a sheep for slaughter or even a sacrifice voucher unaffordable for many families during this years Eid With the countdown to the Eid Al-Adha well underway, families across Egypt are preparing to buy animals such as sheep, camels and cows to slaughter to commemorate the sacrifice of the Prophet Ibrahim. With prices of cattle seeing a 15 to 25 per cent increase this year, according to butchers who spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly, more and more people are abandoning their life-long tradition. It is a trend that has been with us over recent years, and it has been getting more and more present as prices rise. The recent price hikes make meeting day-to-day expenses a battle, commented Ramadan Ahmed, a butcher in the Cairo district of Zeitoun. A kilogram of slaughtered meat now costs between LE140 and LE180 compared to LE100 and LE130 last year. Escalating prices have been a concern for many Egyptian households since the floatation of the pound in November 2016. Recent increases in fuel, electricity, water and transport bills have stripped family budgets of extras that could be used to celebrate the Eid. Representing a large segment of middle-class families, Noha Abdel-Razek, an engineer, said that for her family buying a sacrifice for the Eid this year was not on the table. Our expenses have increased by at least 30 per cent this year. We can hardly pay for school year that starts next month. Thank God the sacrifice is not obligatory in Islam, she said. I live in a big building containing more than 25 families. The number of sheep, cows and goats that residents buy and leave me to look after before they are slaughtered on the first day of the Eid has become smaller and smaller over the past three years, said Um Rabie, the wife of a building supervisor in Heliopolis. Um Rabie said that no one in her building had bought cows this year, compared to three or four in previous years, and there were fewer sheep and only a handful of the less-expensive goats. The increase in the prices of meat and cattle is also being translated into a hike in the prices of sacrifice vouchers. These are offered by charities authorised to buy, slaughter and distribute sacrificed meat to the thousands of needy people on their databases. A sacrifice voucher from the charity Misr Al-Kheir costs LE3,300 this year compared to LE2,900 last year. However, the number of kg of meat that each voucher buys has increased from 23 to 27. One third of this is given to the buyer, while the rest is distributed for charity. Abdel-Aziz Ahmed, head of development at the Orman charity, said his organisation was offering three kinds of vouchers this year, one for imported cows at LE1,950, one for smaller local cows at LE2,550, and one for larger local cows at LE3,100. All three have seen an increase over last years prices by 27.5 per cent, 45 per cent and 42.4 per cent, respectively. Every year during the Eid attempts are made to moderate meat prices, and the government typically imports frozen meat as well as live animals. The Ministry of Agriculture and the Ministry of Supply also offer subsidised cattle for slaughter, including both local and imported cattle. Egypt produces between 70 and 75 per cent of its needs for meat each year, or about eight million animals. It imports the rest of its needs for meat from Australia, Brazil, India, Sudan and Somalia. *A version of this article appears in print in the 16 August 2018 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly under the headline: Nothing to sacrifice? Search Keywords: Short link: Country United States of America US Virgin Islands United States Minor Outlying Islands Canada Mexico, United Mexican States Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Cuba, Republic of Dominican Republic Haiti, Republic of Jamaica Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina 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Islands Tuvalu Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe Iran told OPEC on Sunday no member country should be allowed to take over another member's share of oil exports, expressing Tehran's concern about Saudi Arabia's offer to pump more oil in the face of US sanctions on Iranian oil sales. In a meeting with OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo, a senior Iranian diplomat urged him to keep the group out of politics. "No country is allowed to take over the share of other members for production and exports of oil under any circumstance, and the OPEC Ministerial Conference has not issued any licence for such actions," Iran's oil ministry news agency SHANA quoted Kazem Gharibabadi, the permanent envoy to Vienna-based international organisations, as saying. In May, US President Donald Trump pulled out of an international nuclear deal with Iran and announced sanctions against the OPEC member. Washington is pushing allies to cut imports of Iranian oil to zero and will impose a new round of sanctions on Iranian oil sales in November. Trump has called on OPEC to pump more oil to bring down prices. Energy ministers of Saudi Arabia, a US ally, and Russia said in May they were prepared to ease output cuts to calm consumer worries about supply. "Iran believes that OPEC should strongly support its members at this stage and stop the plots of countries trying to politicise this organisation," Gharibabadi said. Regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran are involved in proxy wars, including in Yemen and Syria. Iran and other signatories of the nuclear deal, including Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, have been working to find a way to salvage the agreement despite US pressures. Iran has set a series of conditions for European powers if they want Tehran to stay in the nuclear deal, including steps by European banks to safeguard trade with Tehran and guaranteeing Iranian oil sales. EU's Plan Iran's vice president said on Sunday the government was seeking solutions to sell oil and transfer its revenues despite fresh US sanctions. In August, Washington imposed sanctions on acquisition of US dollar by Iran, and its trade in gold and precious metals. Washington will reimpose on Nov. 4 sanctions on Iran's oil exports, and banking sector. "We are hopeful that the European countries can meet their commitments but even if they cannot, we are seeking solutions to sell our oil and transfer its revenues," Eshaq Jahangiri was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA. In similar remarks, Iranian foreign minister praised the European signatories for their efforts to salvage the deal, especially for EU's so-called blocking statute that aims to mitigate the impact of US sanctions for European businesses. However, Mohammad Javad Zarif said such measures have not been enough. "The European have so far expressed their stance, but have failed to present an action plan ... We believe the Europe is not ready yet to pay a price," Zarif was quoted as saying by the Young Journalists Club (YJC) website. Zarif also tweeted on Sunday that the formation of a new Iran "Action Group" in the US State Department to coordinate Trump's pressure campaign against Iran aimed to overthrow the Islamic Republic, but it would fail. Search Keywords: Short link: CONFISCATED. Photo shows P25 million worth of party drug ecstasy being confiscated by the Bureau of Customs operatives at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City. Andrew Rabulan Customs agents at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport have intercepted parcels containing 14,720 tablets of ecstasy, a dangerous party drug, worth 25 million. Commissioner Isidro Lapena Jr. said his men assigned at the airport also arrested Joan Reynoso, 42, a resident of Cavite, who claimed ownership of the parcel Friday night at the Central Mail Exchange Center in Pasay City.In a related development: A report in Balitanghali beamed nationwide Saturday said an estimated 3.4 million worth of shabu was seized by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency in its operation Friday night in Paranaque City during a buy-bust operation inside a private subdivision there. The report said one suspect, identified as Arnel Sabal of Cotabato, was nabbed but his accomplice, identified only as Oscar, was able to escape. According to PDEA National Capital Region director Joel Plaza, Sabal, who denied PDEAs allegations, was a big-time and high-value target. Lapena said the drug pills were concealed inside a desktop computer central processing unit when it arrived at CMEC last Aug. 4, 2018 from France. He added the team of Customs operatives waited for 13 days for the claimant to appear and get the package.Reynoso, when interrogated, said she did not know that something was hidden inside the CPU. Reynoso and the prohibited drugs were turned over to the PDEA for proper disposition and for the appropriate filing of criminal charges against the suspect. Airport district collector Carmelita Talusan said for the past months, Port of Naia had been apprehending illegal drug shipments in compliance with the Bureau of Customs commissioners directive to secure the borders and the anti-drug campaign of President Rodrigo Duterte. Ecstasy apprehensions include 962 tablets of ecstasy from Netherlands last April and another 1,003 tablets from Germany in July. Manila International Airport Authority general manager Eddie Monreal ordered his men to be on alert in and outside the airport against illegal drug trafficking to discourage international and local drug syndicates from using the Philippines as a transshipment point or dumping ground for their illegal substances. Shabu, marijuana and ecstasy are the top three narcotics distributed in the streets and these prohibited substances are manufactured by Chinese, Taiwanese and Mexican drug syndicates, according to PDEA. The authorities vowed the governments crackdown on drug dealing in the country would continue with the goal of catching protectors and financiers of the illegal drug trade. Magdalo Party-list Rep. Gary Alejano on Sunday called for the disclosure of the state of President Rodrigo Dutertes health. He made the call amid the Presidents repeated remarks about his being tired and his plan of resigning from office. This is not the first time we heard from the President that he wants to resign. More often, we would also hear from his speeches and rants about being tired and experiencing illnesses due to old age, Alejano said in a statement. The public has the right to know the health status of the President. In a speech in Malacanang on Aug. 14, Duterte recalled telling the military and police officials during the joint command conference on Aug. 7 that he planned to step down. Guys, I want you to know that I am thinking of stepping down because Im tired. While I am not angry against anybody, my chase against graft and corruption seems to be endless. It has contaminated almost all government departments and offices, Duterte said. Alejano, who is a staunch critic of Duterte, said the Presidents health was a matter of public interest.He said the Constitution provides that the public should be informed about the Presidents health in case of serious illness. A lot are worried on the deteriorating health of the President. His long absences from the public eye even during important events raise speculations on the health of Duterte, Alejano said. Duterte has also said he prefers a junta taking over from him instead of a constitutional succession. But Alejano said the Constitution should be observed as regards succession, and the military should be reminded of this. I trust that the Armed Forces of the Philippines is a professional organization. Our soldiers swore to follow the Constitution and the laws of the land, he said. I believe that however Duterte wants to push the idea of a military junta, this would not happen because this is not what is enshrined in the Constitution. The military knows and understands this very well. 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. Algeria and Mauritania on Sunday opened a first ever border crossing between the two countries, Algerian media reported. Algeria's Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui and his Mauritanian counterpart Ahmedou Ould Abdallah inaugurated the post near the Algerian town of Tindouf, telling journalists that it would boost security and trade. The national news agency APS said the crossing, agreed in a November 2017 accord, had cost Algiers almost $10 million to build. The border stretches across 460 kilometres (275 miles) of desert, a region used by smugglers and armed groups. It has been declared a military zone on the Mauritanian side. Search Keywords: Short link: Twenty Chahine films will be screened from 12 to 22 September, when Zawya reopens at a new location Cairos arthouse cinema Zawya will screen 20 newly restored films by legendary Egyptian director Youssef Chahine (1926-2008) when it reopens at its new venue on 12 September. The programme marks the tenth anniversary of Chahine's death and is organised by the company he founded, Misr International Films, in collaboration with Egyptian and European partners. It will run until 22 September. Launched in March 2014 by Misr International Films, Zawya, Cairo's first arthouse cinema, was based at the historic Odeon Cinema in downtown Cairo. The cinema is now moving to a new location at Cinema Karim a few streets away, to accommodate its ever-growing audience. Alongside the screenings of the restored films is a programme of workshops, discussions, and lectures. A masterclass by Egyptian director Basel Ramsis on 14 and 15 September will look at the development of Chahines vision and how his storytelling technique developed between 1950 and 2007. Ramsis, who is based in Spain, has directed several short films and video art projects and documentaries. He teaches film directing in Spain and Cuba and serves a jury member in several film festivals in Europe and Latin America. Films to be screened: Daddy Amin - 1950 Lady on A Train - 1952 The Blazing Sun - 1954 The Desert Devil - 1954 Dark Waters -1955 My One and Only Love - 1957 Farewell My Love - 1957 Cairo Station - 1958 Saladin - 1963 Dawn of a New Day - 1964 The Land - 1969 Return Of The Prodigal Son - 1976 Alexandria, Why? - 1978 An Egyptian Story - 1982 Adieu Bonaparte - 1984 The Sixth Day - 1986 Alexandria Again And Forever - 1989 The Emigrant - 1994 Destiny - 1997 The Other - 1999 For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArts and on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: KABUL Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 99thanniversary of Afghanistans independence yesterday evening. About five hundred foreign ministry officials attended the event. H.E. Salahuddin Rabbani Minister of Foreign Affairs delivered a speech on the occasion, highlighting the ideals of the independence gained almost a century ago and those who have lost their lives in fighting for a sovereign, peaceful and prosperous Afghanistan. This year, the ministry also commemorated six members of the diplomatic apparatus who lost their lives over the recent years. Forty ministry officials were honored with certificates of appreciation for their outstanding services. : river08 (sh), : Boston : [] Furnished Room in Newton for Rent ( : BBS (Sat Aug 18 11:53:22 2018, ) One Furnished bedroom() in 1st floor of brand new construction 2 floor Townhouse, located in quiet and safe neighborhood of Newton. -With two big windows sunny bed room have both central AC and heating. -Have you own bathroom and refrigerator -Share large kitchen with small household family. -The room is furnished -Including all utility -Free WIFI access to high speed internet -Free Washer/dryer in the unit. -Private parking space and plenty free street parking -4 min drive to Mass turnpike, and 20 min drive to downtown Boston, 7 min drive to Newton Center Green line T station. -15 min drive to Harvard sq & 7 min drive to Boston College Newton Campus, -15 min drive to Brandeis University & Bentley College. -2 min walk to 558 express bus stops to downtown Boston -10 min walk to Watertown yard express bus terminal (for Bus 504,502 , 72 and 57) -5 min walk to Stop &Shop supper market/CVS -3 min walk to upper Charles River Reservation Park The room ideally for person working at downtown Boston, Newton, Watertown, Cambridge and Waltham area. Rent: $950 per month including all, and is available now. Prefer clean & quite female professional, student, short term is fine, one Person only. If interest please e-mail: [email protected] or call 617 283-4055 ( ) -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 146.] We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. Education Montgomery County Community College will present the spring installment of the interview/talk show program Issues and Insights April 20 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. in Science Center room 214, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The programs will be simulcast to the Colleges West Campus in South Hall room 216, 101 College Drive, Pottstown. Dr. Kolsky will offer a humorous presentation, Carrots, Sticks and Politics: A State of the Nation and the World Message. In this speech, he will provide his interpretation of domestic and international politics and then welcome questions from the audience for discussion. Issues and Insights, is free and open to the public. For information, contact Dr. Thomas Kolsky, professor of political science, at 215-641-6380 or tkolsky@mc3.edu. Montgomery County Community Colleges STEM Scholars Program will host a STEM Jam! open house April 25 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. in the Advanced Technology Center at the Colleges Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The drop-in event is designed for students interested in learning more about careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Activities will include STEM program information and career advising, STEM speakers throughout the day from industry and academia, micro-helicopter and robotics competitive obstacle courses and demonstrations and static models of STEM student and faculty work. For more information about STEM Jam! or STEM programs at MCCC, contact William Brownlowe at wbrownlowe@mc3.edu or 215-641-6644, or Robin Zuhlke at 215-619-7440 or rzuhlke@mc3.edu. Temple Ambler, located at 580 Meetinghouse Road, presents the following events: International Club Global Bazaar April 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. The Ambler Campus International Club invites all students, faculty, staff and the community to celebrate a multitude of diverse cultures, which will be showcased at the organizations Global Bazaar. This family friendly event will highlight cultural traditions and celebrations in Asia, Europe, the Middle East, South American, North America and Africa through music, entertainment, food and informative displays developed and presented by students at the Ambler Campus. Young visitors will be provided with passports, which they may get stamped at each country they visit. Prizes will be awarded to world travelers who talk to cultural representatives, answer questions about the countries theyve visited and take part in fun-filled activities designed to help them learn about the rich diversity of cultures found throughout the world. Refreshments will be served. The event is free. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail tuc36466@temple.edu. EarthFest 2011 April 29 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. More than 75 exhibitors, including the Philadelphia Zoo, The Franklin Institute, the Academy of Natural Sciences, the Elmwood Park Zoo and the Insectarium, will take part in EarthFest 2011. School students of all ages are invited to attend and develop displays of their own. EarthFest partner the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society also offers its Kids Grow Expo, featuring the Junior Flower Show, as part of the event. For more information, call 267-468-8108 or e-mail duffyj@temple.edu. Annual Spring Plant Sale May 7 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The plant sale an Ambler Campus tradition dating back to the early 1900s will feature woody plants and perennials in portable sizes, hardy trees, shrubs, and vines, native plants that are attractive to wildlife, herbs, and hanging baskets. There will also be numerous special plants for sale to highlight Amblers special anniversary year. Garden books and garden tools will also be available for sale. Students, staff, and volunteers from the Department of Landscape Architecture and Horticulture and the Ambler Arboretum Advisory Committee will be available to answer questions. All proceeds from the Spring Plant Sale will support the Ambler Arboretum Fund and the Pi Alpha Xi National Honor Society. Information: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. June Homecoming/Louise Bush-Brown Garden Dedication June 5 from 12:30 to 2 p.m. (June Homecoming), Bright Hall Lounge; 2 p.m. (Garden Dedication), Ambler Campus Formal Perennial Gardens. Tickets June Homecoming: Participant $18 per person; Sustainer $25 per person; Benefactor $40 per person. The 2011 June Homecoming, sponsored by the School of Environmental Design Alumni Association, will include the Alumni Association annual meeting and luncheon. June Homecoming will be followed by the formal dedication of Temple University Amblers Formal Perennial Gardens as the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Gardens. During this 100th anniversary of the campus, Temple University Ambler and the Ambler Arboretum of the Temple University is honoring Louise Bush-Browns many contributions to the history of the campus by formally dedicating the gardens in her honor. During the program, campus Executive William Parshall will welcome guests, Ambler Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey will speak about the Bush-Browns and the history of the garden, and an official ribbon cutting will be held for the Louise Bush-Brown Formal Garden. Following the ribbon cutting, guests are invited to take a tour of the gardens, which will wend their way to the Campus Greenhouse for the School of Environmental Designs annual Plant Auction. Information (Garden Dedication): 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Information (June Homecoming): 215-482-0722. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. Northview Garden Tour and Fundraiser for the Ambler Arboretum June 12 from noon to 5 p.m. Call for reservations. Tickets: $15 per person or $20 at the door. In addition to the gardens of the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University, Arboretum Director Jenny Rose Carey has a garden oasis all her own right in Ambler Northview. Visitors will have the opportunity to take self-guided tours throughout the many gardens, where garden experts will be available to answer questions about the various designs. The Ambler Keystone Chapter of the Womans National Farm and Garden Association will also provide tea and refreshments. All proceeds from the tours will support the Ambler Arboretum of Temple University. Information or to register: 267-468-8001 or judy.shatz@temple.edu. Learn more at www.ambler.temple.edu/anniversary. The Senior Adult Activities Center of Montgomery County, 536 George Street, Norristown, will hold the following events: SAAC Adult Day Care, an alternative to Nursing Home Care is available for information call 610-275-1960 Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels Program (call the number above) SAACs Fifth Avenue Boutique opens Monday through Friday from 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Exercise with Theresa will be held every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 1 p.m. Dance class is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Tai Chi is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Yoga is held every Tuesday at 10:30 a.m. Line Dancing is held every Thursday at 10:30 a.m. Dancing with Joan is held every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. Sculpture Class is held Wednesdays from 2 to 3:30 p.m. Why Should I Learn Spanish? will be held Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. Generations On-Line computer classes for seniors will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. 4 p.m. computers are available during those hours. Health Living will be held every Tuesday at 1 p.m. Boomer U will hold the following events. Boomer U is located at 45 Forest Avenue, Ambler. Registration & payment is required for all events: 215-619-8863. Pilates Class is held Wednesdays and Fridays at 9:30 a.m. First class is free; please bring a mat. For information call 610-291-5376. Blue Bell School of Dance, 921 Penllyn Blue Bell Pike, Blue Bell, hosts Argentine Tango Classes and a Milonga dance party every Friday evening. Lessons start at 8:30 p.m. followed by dancing at 9:30 p.m. Andrew Conway, master Argentine Tango dancer, instructor and performer and his partner Linda Chase will instruct. All levels welcome and no partner is needed. Refreshments will be served. Fee is $12 per person and includes lesson and dancing. Information: 215-634-1101 or www.amoretango.com. The Montgomery Hospital Medical Center will offer the following classes: Childbirth Education Class- all parents are invited to participate, including those who are delivering at other hospitals. For more information on maternity services or classes, call 610-270-2020. CPR and First Aid Courses are offered for beginners to experiences health care providers. Call 610-270-2313. The Ambler SAAC (Senior Adult Activities Center), located at 45 Forest Ave in Ambler will hold the following events: Tai Chi every Monday and Thursday at 11 a.m. Yoga is every Tuesday at 1 p.m. and Friday at 10:30 a.m. Strength and balance training every Wednesday at 10 a.m. Armchair Aerobics is held every Monday at 10 a.m. Gourmet Weight Wise every Thursday at 12:30. Fitness Center and Pool Room open daily 8 a.m.-4 p.m. The Diabetes Education Center will offer day and evening classes each month. Health insurance pays for diabetes education classes. Preregistration is required. Call 610-270-2301. For Kids & Families The Ambler Kiwanis Club will host its annual Easter Egg Hunt April 26 at 10 a.m. in Ambler Borough Park, located just off of the intersection of Hendricks Street and Valley Brook Road. Members of the Wissahickon Key Club will assist Kiwanians in hiding thousands of wrapped chocolate eggs in a designated area of the park. Also hidden will be plastic colored eggs, which are redeemed for prizes. Elementary school children are separated by age. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation will hold its 21st annual Storybook Egg-Stravaganza April 15 fom 6 to 7:30 p.m. at the Upper Dublin Township Building. Toddlers and preschoolers love this annual event where photo opportunities with favorite friends abound! Treasures are collected from UDP&Rs assortment of lifesize cutouts of favorite cartoon characters from Disney, Sesame Street, Nickelodeon and other well-known animation. Children can have their picture taken with Bugsy OHare; bring your own camera. And dont forget a basket for goodies! $7 for UD residents; $12 for non-residents. Pre-register at 215-643-1600 ext. 3443. Splash Week is a free week-long program that teaches children and families basic swimming skills and water safety practices. All YMCA branches will host multiple classes each day from April 11 to 15. For more information, contact the Ambler Area YMCA at 215-628-9950. Healthy Kids Day is April 16 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day is filled with fun, engaging and artistic activities that cultivate healthy living as part of the YMCAs larger efforts to help more kids and families become physically active. All activities are free and open to the community. For more information, contact the Ambler YMCA at 215-628-9950. No reservation is required. The Ambler Area YMCA has added several new programs for area youngsters. Classes are held late afternoons or evenings on various weekdays. For more information, visit philaymca.org or call 215-628-9950. Basic Beading: Ages: 10+. Wednesdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. This class will teach you the fundamentals of wiring and stringing along with how color can be used to create unique and vibrant beadwork design. You will create various jewelry including earrings, bracelets, charm pendants and much more! Supplies will be provided. Bringing your own jewelry pliers or tools would be a plus. Messin with the Masters: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 7 to 7:45 p.m. Learn about some of the worlds greatest artists. You will be inspired to create your own Starry Night with oil pastels and tempera paints, a tissue paper painted Monet garden, a Picasso head using scraps of paper, a Georgia OKeeffe clay flower bowl and a Rousseau jungle collage. Super Scientist: Ages: 5-7. Mondays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Well be concocting chemistry experiments such as making slime, mixing potions and having fun with magnet magic. Your budding little scientist will enhance his/her creative thinking and motor skills and to top it off will learn that science can be serious fun. Wacky Junk Art: Ages: 8-12. Thursdays 6 to 6:45 p.m. Why throw it away! Instead join us to make household junk into aliens from outer space, wacky specs, crazy hats, body masks or a recycled train. Globe Trotters: Ages: 4-6. Tuesdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Youre never too young to start thinking globally. Each week, we explore a new country through crafts, games, music, stories and even some taste-testing. A perfect introduction to our great big world! Crazy about Crafts: Ages: 5-7, Thursdays 4:30 to 5:15 p.m. Let your childs creative juices flow with our fun arts and crafts projects each week. Fine motor skills and creative thinking skills will be enhanced with this crafty class. Come out and join the Ambler Area YMCAs Teen and Junior Leaders Club. Participants are given the freedom to plan community service projects year round and truly make a difference in the lives of people in need. Those in Teen and Junior Leaders also attend leadership retreats all along the East Coast three times a year and meet other leaders who are doing the same great work in their respective areas. Dont miss out on this inspiring opportunity. Teen Leaders, ages 13-17, meet every Wednesday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Junior Leaders, ages 10-12, will begin in the spring and will meet every Monday. For more information, contact Mike Miles, Teen Director, 215- 628-9950 x 1540 or mmiles@philaymca.org. Did you know that the new Ambler Area YMCA holds childrens birthday parties at its site for members and non members as well. The Ambler Y does all the work from start to finish and birthday parties include a personalized cake, ice cream, beverage and paper products. Parties are held on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and include two party hosts to lead activities, set-up, clean-up and assist with serving. You can have a Splash Party for children ages six to 12 in the new zero depth entry pool with water slide and spray fountains. Up to 25 children have exclusive use of the pool area with 30 minutes in the party room. Sports Parties are offered for kids ages four to 12 with age appropriate activities and games, and sports such as floor hockey, soccer, basketball or dodge ball. Children ages three to five years of age will enjoy parties in the Family Active Center with use of the Moon Bounce and organized activities, such as parachute play and songs. For information, 215-628-9950 ext. 1583. Community Events at the Ambler Y: -YAchievers YMCA Achievers is a developmentally based, extracurricular, educational and team mentoring program designed to help students in grades five through 12 prepare for fulfilled livelihoods in college and beyond. Participation is free and all students in this program receive a free YMCA membership. Registration for the 2009 program begins now. You do not need to be a YMCA member to utilize these special services. Call 215-628-9950 to register. Greater Norristown Art Leagues Childrens Weeklong Summer Art Camps will be held at 800 West Germantown Pike in East Norriton, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday throughout the summer. The cost per session is $125 per student for ages 6 and up. Jo Ann Cooksey Bono teaches an introduction to basic drawing skills and techniques from 10 a.m. until the lunch break each day. In the afternoon sessions, Mary Vogel Lozinak involves the students in hands on projects such as collage, papermaking, T-shirt printing, 3D design and sculpy clay. Fridays Graduation Day includes an art show, awards ceremony and reception for parents, siblings, grandparents and friends. All supplies are included. Students provide their own lunch. A refrigerator is available and the building is air-conditioned. This is the 15th year to run this successful program. Both instructors are professional artists with State Police and Child Abuse Clearances. To register, call Jo Ann at 610-279-1008, or register on-line at www.gnal.org. Health Dresher Physical Therapy is hosting an interactive seminar discussing its Golf Assessment Progam April 30 from 10 a.m. to noon at Dresher Physical Therapy, 1075 Virginia Drive, Suite 200, Fort Washington. Physical therapist Chris Miller, certified through the Titleist Performance Institute, will discuss why your body may be the most important piece of golf equipment you invest in and how this can drastically improve your game. $10 in advance; $15 at the door. Call 215-619-4545 to reserve your spot. The Chestnut Hill Center for Enrichment, Center on the Hill and Chestnut Hill Hospital will host a Senior Health and Resource Fair April 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Presbyterian Church, 8855 Germantown Ave. The event is free. For more information, call 215-248-0180 or e-mail chseniors@cavtel.net. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is hosting Help Yourself to Health, a new six-week workshop for older adults with ongoing health conditions such as arthritis, diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, heart disease and others. The free workshop will take place at the Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center, 45 Forest Ave. on six Thursdays, May 12 through June 16 from 9:30 a.m. to noon. Although there is no charge to participate, registration is required. To register, call 215-619-8863. The Ambler Senior Adult Activities Center is sponsoring an eight-week program called A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns About Falls. Presented by the Montgomery County Health Department, this workshop will be held on Tuesdays, May 3 to June 21 from 10 a.m. to noon at the Ambler Center, 45 Forest Ave. If you pre-register by April 27, the fee is only $5! Registration at the first class is $10. (Checks should be payable to SAAC and will benefit our Meals on Wheels program that serves homebound seniors.) A workbook will be provided and refreshments will be served. Call 215-619-8863 to register or for more information. Fort Washington Wellness Center classes are ongoing. There are several offered during lunch or right after work, for your convenience: Boot Camp from noon to 1 p.m. on Monday; Zumba is MWF from 11 a.m. to noon and Friday at 4 p.m.; there are 25 cycling classes; Ashtanga and Vinyasana Yoga and Pilates; and a group Womens Strength Training class M-F from 10 to 11 a.m. Questions, call Cathy DeMarco at 215-641-1245. Following the success of other local area programs, Impact Sports and Upper Dublin Parks and Recreation are delighted to team up again to offer a spring program for the 2011 season! Upper Dublin area children ages 3-5 years old can attend a Sports Program featuring their favorite sports games; soccer, rugby, hockey, track and field, basketball, and more. The program will start on April 27 and run through June 1. Cost for the program is $85 for the six weeks. The classes will be running 12- 1 p.m.; 1- 2 p.m.; 2- 3 p.m. For more info or to register, call Upper Dublin Township on 215 643 1600 or visit their website a http://www.upperdublin.net. Spring Aquatic Programs UDHS Pool: -Summer is just around the corner Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool can help get you into shape! Programs begin in March; preregistration is required. Shallow Water Aerobics Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 8-8:45 p.m., $40R/$50NR. Adult Swim Instructions Two 5-week programs, Wednesday nights, 7-8 p.m., $50R/$60NR -Open Rec Swims are fun for the whole family! Come out on Fridays from 7-9 p.m. or Saturdays from 1-4 p.m. and enjoy use of the pool and diving area. Fridays are offered through June 17; Saturdays are offered March 12-May 21. -Join a growing group of adult lap swimmers and water walkers. Lanes are set aside evenings and weekends for use; lanes are shared. Monday Thursday from 7:30-9:30 p.m.; Fridays from 7-9 p.m. and Saturdays (March 12-May 21) from 1-4 p.m. -Private Swimming & Diving Lessons for ages 3-adult are offered at the UDHS Pool through a partnership with the Upper Dublin Aquatic Club (UDAC). Visit the UDAC website for more information, www.udac.us, and click the link to UDHS Private Lessons. -Looking for local programs for US Masters Swimming (adults) or Water Polo (all ages)? UDAC and UDSD are working together to develop programs that will be offered at the UDHS Pool. Add your name to Interest Lists by emailing slohoefer@upperdublin.net. emails will be sent about clinics and program start dates. Questions about Community Aquatic Programs at the UDHS Pool, group use of the pool or pool rental? Contact Susan Lohoefer, Facility & Community Affairs Manager at slohoefer@upperdublin.net or call 215-643-8800 x8994. SilverSneakers Fitness Program. The Healthyways SilverSneakers Fitness Program is a result-oriented program that enables older adults to take charge of their health. The program is an innovative blend of physical activity, healthy lifestyle and socially oriented programing. Members of the program are eligible for a free YMCA membership, with use of the pool and exercise equipment, along with customized classes designed for older adults who want to improve their strength, flexibility, balance and endurance. If you are a subscriber to Independence Blue Cross (Personal Choice 65 PPO) or Keystone 65 HMO, Bravo Health, or Health Options Programs (HOP), call the Ambler Area YMCA, 215-628-9950 or Hatboro Area YMCA, 215-674-4545. You can also visit www.silversneakers.com. Zumba Fitness offers Zumba dance/fitness classes at Academy of Dance and Music/BBAD Studio located at 1524 DeKalb Pike in Blue Bell (behind Sherwin Williams). Classes are offered three times a week: Tuesdays at 6 p.m., Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 8 a.m. For a free trial pass for your first class, email us at info@danceandmusic.biz or call 610-277-2557. For more info, visit our site at www.academyofdanceandmusic.org. Chestnut Hill Health Systems presents the following Health Education Programs: FITNESS CLASSES Golden Yoga: A Breathing, Stretching and Relaxation Class. Fridays, 2:30-3:30 p.m. Lea Auditorium, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. Registration for four classes at a time required. Golden Yoga is Classical Yoga, adapted by the SKY Foundation, to accommodate those who have difficulty getting up and down from the floor. The program includes postures, breathing, relaxation and meditation techniques, all performed while sitting in a chair and standing. Registration required. Call 215-247-3029. Cost: $20 for 4 classes per month. Tai Chi: Tuesdays & Thursdays, 8:30 9:30 a.m. Springfield Residence, 8601 Stenton Ave. Classes, for the novice or beginner/intermediate student, are designed to improve balance, power, posture, coordination, flexibility and mental focus. Slow, gentle movements are modified to most everyones abilities. For more information or to sign up for a free introductory class, call 215-882-2804. Cost: $8 per class/paid monthly. SUPPORT GROUPS Weight Loss Surgery Support Group: Fourth Wednesday of the month, 7-8 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. Join us for a monthly get-together where well share information for those interested in weight loss surgery, learn from guest speakers discussing current news on issues including lifestyle modification, nutrition and exercise and provide ongoing support for those who have completed surgery. Registration required. Call 215-753-2000. Breast Cancer Networking Group: Fourth Tuesday of the month 5:30 7 p.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave., Philadelphia. A free, confidential support group for women living with a diagnosis of breast cancer designed to provide a forum for sharing information, feelings and concerns associated with breast cancer. Facilitated by Tish Wakefield, LCSW, Oncology Social Worker. Registration required. To register or for more information, call 215-248-8047. New Moms Support Groups Tuesdays 10:30 a.m. 12 p.m.; contact Jeanine ORourke, MSW or 2:30 4 p.m.; contact Susan Schack, Ph.D Volunteer Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. The Center for Postpartum Depression at Chestnut Hill Hospital is pleased to offer two new support groups to support new moms. Both groups will be run by experienced mental health professionals who really get it when it comes to new motherhood and juggling relationships, extended family, work/family balance and self-care. If you are experiencing new mom challenges that often heighten anxiety and involve hormonally driven depression, join us for an informative and supportive forum to connect with other moms. Infants are welcome. $30 per session (flexible based on need). Registration is required. Call Dr. Schack, 646-265-2484, or Ms. ORourke, 215-206-2931. Man to Man Prostate Cancer Support Group Third Thursday of the month 8-9 a.m. Williams Conference Room, Chestnut Hill Hospital, 8835 Germantown Ave. A networking group for men diagnosed with prostate cancer designed to provide education, support and encouragement. Spouses and partners welcome. Harry M. Baer, MD, Chief, Urology Division, will host Ask the Doctor. Registration required. Call 215-248-8325. Contact the Senior Center by phone 215-248-0180 or email (chseniors@cavtel.net) with your questions about these programs or any of our on-going activities and classes. Holy Redeemer HomeCare and Hospice seeks compassionate and emotionally mature volunteers to provide support to local hospice patients and their families in Bucks, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties. Volunteers may also assist with pet therapy and administrative work within the hospice department and are requested to have daytime availability. Hospice patient care volunteers visit with patients in their homes or nursing facilities once a week for two to three hours. They provide emotional support and companionship to patients and family members, assist with errands or provide respite for caregivers. Bereavement volunteers support the families of hospice patients following the loss of a loved one, while administrative volunteers assist with typing, mailings and/or filing. Hospice care workers provide a great service to families and loved ones of hospice patients. Many volunteers also report a great deal of personal satisfaction as a result of their services. Patient care and bereavement volunteers complete an application and attend an 18-hour volunteer training program that covers the medical, psychological and spiritual aspects of hospice volunteering. Day and evening training programs are offered. To sign up for volunteer opportunities in Pennsylvania, contact Holy Redeemer Volunteer Coordinator Jean Francis at 215-698-3737 or email jfrancis@holyredeemer.com. Librarytalk Upper Dublin Public Library, 805 Loch Alsh Avenue, Ft. Washington, 215-628-8744 www.upperdublinlibrary.org APRIL CHILDRENS PROGRAMS: Storytimes: Please register in the library. o Wee Ones: 0 to 23 months Thursdays and Fridays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. o Tiny Tots: age 2. Wednesdays 10:30 to 10:50 a.m. and Fridays 11 to 11:20 a.m. o Jr. Book Lovers: ages 3 to 6. Tuesdays 10:30 to 11 a.m. o Bedtime Storytimes: 7 to 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 27. Wear your jammies, bring your teddy & hear Miss Barbara read bedtime stories! For ages 3 to 6. APRIL TEEN PROGRAMS: North Hills Library Teens April 28 from 4 to 6 p.m. Movie Matinee APRIL UDPL ADULT PROGRAMS: NEW! ESL Conversation Group. Tuesdays from 7 to 8 p.m. Interested in practicing your English in a safe and caring environment? Come to our conversation group and improve your skills! Please register with Kay Klocko at 215-628-8744 or kklocko@mclinc.org. One-on-One Computer Mentoring. Get personalized assistance from experienced computer volunteers! Sign-up for a one-hour session. Limit one session per month. Please register contact info above. Book Groups Please register with Kay Klocko 215-628-8744. o Daytimers: April 21 at 1:30 p.m. Tired of book groups where you all read the same book? Read any fiction or non-fiction book on this months theme: Explorers. Please register. Meetings: Annual Meeting of the Friends of UDPL: April 14 at 1 p.m. Board of Directors: April 20 at 7 p.m. Blue Bell Library www.wvpl.org Upcoming Events: The Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 650 Skippack Pike (Route 73) in Blue Bell, is diagonally across from the Blue Bell Inn. Call 215-643-1320 or visit their website at www.wvpl.org. For children and teens at Blue Bell: * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Mondays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * Fridays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Family Movies, new releases, second Saturdays of the month at 1:30 p.m. * May 14 Despicable Me * June 11 Alpha and Omega * Special Events * April watch for date of spring/Easter events * April 14 at 4:30 p.m. Junior Lego Club for children ages 3 through 5. Parents and caregivers need to stay with children. * April 14 at 7 p.m. Jeopardy for ages 11 to 18. Test your book and library knowledge for prizes. Sign up to be a contestant. No sign up to be in the audience. Snacks provided. * April 16 at 1 p.m. Adult Mystery Book Group discussing The Beekeepers Apprentice by Laurie King. * April 16 at 1:30 p.m. Childrens event for One Book, Every Young Child celebration. Story and craft for book Whose Shoes? * April 19 at 7 p.m. and April 26 at 1:30 p.m.- Adult book group discusses The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester. Group led by Adam Button. * April 30 through May 3 Friends book sale with about 10,000 items for sale for children, teens and adults. * May sign up for Science in the Summer * June sign up for Enrichment Programs for Elementary-Age children * June sign up for Summer Reading, all ages For adults at Blue Bell: * Daytime Book Discussion Group fourth Tuesday, Jan April at 1:30 p.m. * April 26 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Night-time Book Discussion Group third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. o April 19 The Professor and the Madman by Simon Winchester * Art Series with Dr. Sheldon Weintraub, docent at The Barnes and speaker at local colleges o April 27 at 2 p.m. The Art of Looking at Art-Is She Nude or Is She Naked? *Mystery Book Discussion Group, third Saturday of the month at 1 p.m.; new mystery theme each month; www.wvpl.org/programs * Yoga on Mondays at 1:30 p.m. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop-in class. * Tai Chi on Mondays at 3 p.m. with Dr. Kurt Findeisen. $20 for eight classes; $5 per drop in class. * Philadelphia Museum of Art presents class on their Marc Chagall exhibit, April 13 at 2 p.m. * Giant Book Sale, April 29 May 3 o Starts with almost 10,000 items for children and adults! o Held during library hours. o Preview for members of the Friends of the Library, April 28 at 7 p.m. o Join the Friends and attend the preview sale. Modest fee to join. * Blooms at Blue Bell Gardening Series o May 11 at 1 p.m. Summer Bulbs by PA Horticultural Society * Knitting group Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m. Work on your project or observe and learn. The groups continue year-round in the community room. * Socrates Cafe discussion group every Monday at 7 p.m. You pick the topic to discuss each week. No sign-up, nothing to read. * Bridge every Friday at 12:30 p.m. New players welcome. * Mah Jong every Wednesday at 1 p.m. New players welcome. *Chess every Wednesday at 7p.m. for adults and teens 14 and older. * Movie Matinee showing recent releases every Thursday at 2 p.m. April 14: Maos Last Dancer; April 21: Welcome to the Rileys; April 28: Conviction; May 5: Inception; May 12: Inside Job; May 19 The Kings Speech; May 26 The Fighter; June 2 Rabbit Hole; June 9 Black Swan; June 16 127 Hours * Ongoing like-new, year-round book sale for adults & children during library hours * Library opening at 10 a.m. Monday through Saturday! Ambler Library, a branch of the Wissahickon Valley Public Library, 209 Race St., 215-646-1072. www.wvpl.org. All the following events occur at the Ambler Library. * Story times with guitar music by Miss Michelle, the singing librarian. * Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. for all ages. * Thursdays at 4:30 p.m. for all ages. * For adults: * Beading Group meets the first and third Monday of every month at 1 p.m. Work on your own projects or come to watch and learn. * Free Family History Lookup with Connie Briggs. Email Connie for an appointment at the Ambler Library. conniebriggs@comcast.net * Special Events: * April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Book Group discusses Skeletons at the Feast by Chris Bohjalian. * April 19 at 7 p.m. Travel to Paris with world traveler Harry Balin. Tea and scones at 6:30 p.m. * April 21 at 7 p.m. Art with Sara for children in fourth through seventh grades. *May 2 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Lone Star with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. *May 10 Robert Capucci discusses Art into Fashion. Tea and scones served at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *May 12 at 1:30p.m. Book Group discusses The Imperfectionists by Tom Rachman. *May 17 Tour the gardens of Devon and Southwest England with Lois McMullen. Tea and Scones at 6:30 p.m. Program at 7 p.m. *June 13 at 6:30 p.m. Discuss the movie Blade Runner with Temple Professor Lisa Hawkins. Watch the movie ahead of time. Meetings and Lectures The Unisys Blue Bell Retiree Group will meet in the Church on the Mall in the Plymouth Meeting Mall April 14 at 1:30 p.m. Kathy Sacket Young, director/trainer with the North Penn YMCA, will speak on Keeping Fit in Retirement. For more information, contact Membership Committee Chairperson Jerry Feldscher at 610-275-3538 or President Al Rollin at 215-368-4833. The next FWBA meeting will be April 28 at the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; meeting from noon to 1 p.m. Leon Singletary, Principal, First Contact HR and FWBA Executive Board, will present: Social Media: How to Use It To Get More Business. Lunch is provided courtesy of the Hilton Garden Inn Fort Washington. Members are welcome to bring a guest. An RSVP is requested by return email or 215-628-0313. Big Brothers Big Sisters Southeastern PA is hosting a information sessions over the next few weeks on how to become a Big Brother. The information sessions will take place: April 16 at noon, April 19 at 8 a.m. and April 28 at 6 p.m. All sessions will be held at the groups Norristown Office,t 530 DeKalb St., Norristown. For more information, call 610-277-2200. The North Penn Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants (IMA) normally meets on the third Tuesday of each month from now until May. Meetings are held at the William Penn Inn on Route 202 and Sumneytown Pike, Upper Gwynedd, PA. Social hour starts at 5:30 p.m., dinner is served at 6:30 p.m., and the technical program begins at 7 p.m. Cost with reservation is $28 for members. Members without reservations and guests pay $30. Students with reservations pay $15. Reservations may be made by noon on the Monday preceding the meeting by phoning 215-371-1854 or emailing the reservation to northpennima@yahoo.com northpennima@yahoo.com. Information about the North Penn Chapter is available at http://northpenn.imanet.org/. LeTip, a professional organization of men and women who are dedicated to the highest standards of competence and service meets every Tuesday at Cedar Brook Country Club, 180 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell at 7 a.m. -meeting officially starts at 7:16 a.m. and ends at 8:31 a.m. Our purpose is the exchange of business tips, leads, and referrals. Each business category is represented by one member and conflicts of interest are disallowed. Guests are welcome to visit any of our breakfast meetings. Every third Thursday of month, Sunrise Assisted Living of Blue Bell (795 Penllyn Pike, Blue Bell, PA 19422, 215-619-2777) serves as a satellite site to 148th Legislative district PA congressman Mike Gerber from 10 a.m. to noon. Stop by for help needed with things such as disability placards and license plates, vehicle registration, utilities issues, birth/death certificates,property tax/rent rebates, etc. Notary services arranged by appointment. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce is an action-oriented organization dedicated to promoting its members and the economic health of eastern Montgomery county. The Chamber is committed to serving as a catalyst by uniting business, community agencies, government and education to make our county a great place to live and work. For information, call 215-887-5122 or visit www.emccc.org. Do you have a fear of public speaking? Blue Bell Toastmasters Club can help. We meet from 7 to 9 p.m., on the second and fourth Tuesday at the Marriott Courtyard, located on Route 202, directly across from the Montgomeryville Mall. Learn how to improve communication and leadership skills in a friendly and supportive environment. Guests are welcome. Admission fee: $5. For more info, visit www.bbtoast.org. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will hold the following meetings (for reservations to any of the following, email info@PennSuburban.org) -Breakfast News Network, 7:30-8:45 a.m. at Normandy Farm Hotel (1401 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422) $15 members, includes full buffet breakfast. Join us for a networking program at Normandy Farm Hotel every Thursday morning for breakfast, business news, informative speakers, and plenty of networking. The cost includes a full breakfast buffet. Copies of the business cards will be made available to those who would like them. The BNI, Fort Washington Chapter meets every Monday at The Hilton Garden Inn, 520 Pennsylvania Ave., Fort Washington for a networking meeting. Meetings are from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m. Visitors are welcome. The only cost to attend is the cost of your meal. For information or a reservation to attend, please call Luanne Cram at 215-947-7784, or visit our Internet site at: http://www.BNIDVR.Com and click on the menu item Find a Chapter. For the past seven years, people have enjoyed participating in WVWAs Adopt-a-Tree program. Individuals can support the Association in its reforestation efforts by purchasing native trees to be planted. Supporters can plant their adopted tree or have WVWA volunteers will plant it. Trees cost $30 each. If you would like to volunteer or purchase a tree(s), please contact: Bob Adams at Bob@wvwa.org or call: 215-646-8866 for more information. Check www.WVWA.org for directions and maps. Sustainable Upper Dublin, http://sustainableupperdublin.org, meets the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., at the Upper Dublin Township Building, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington, PA 19034. Please send any questions to suec@sustainableupperdublin.org or call 610-996-6316. To learn more about Sustainable Upper Dublin, view or join the discussion at http://googlegroups.com/group/sustainableupperdublin. Special Events The Mattie N. Dixon Community Cupboard will hold its first nutrition class April 19 at 10 a.m. at the Community Cupboard, 150 N. Main St., Ambler. Lynne Sinclair, a nutritionist from Abington Memorial Hospital specializing in diabetic nutrition, will conduct the class. Topics will include healthy eating, beneficial foods, recipes, making meals with every day foods, and how to use unfamiliar produce. A healthy snack will be provided.The class is is open to all residents in Montgomery County. The Historical Society of Fort Washington presents The History of Conshohocken April 19 at 8 p.m. at the Clifton House, 473 Bethlehem Pike, Fort Washington. Jack Coll will present an illustrated program on the history of the Borough of Conshohocken. Coll is a longtime resident of Conshohocken and a member of the Conshohocken Historical Society. He is co-author with his son, Brian, of the Arcadia Then and Now Series book Conshohocken. He has also done books Conshohocken and West Conshohocken Sports and Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Italian Feast. He has taken many photos for the Conshohocken Record and the Norristown Times Herald. This program is free. Refreshments will be served. For additional information, call 215-646-6065. Taste of the White House Soiree featuring former White House Chef Walter Scheib will take place April 29 at 6 p.m. at Manufacturers Golf & Country Club in Fort Washington to celebrate HealthLinks 10th anniversary and honor its founders, the Eugene Jackson Family. The evening will heat up with a Chef Meet & Greet, followed by a specially selected presidential menu. Gala tickets are $150 per person. Proceeds benefit HealthLink, a free clinic providing compassionate, quality medical and dental care to uninsured, working adults in Bucks and Montgomery counties who fall in between the health care cracks. Go to http://tasteofthewhitehouse.charityhappenings.org to make reservations online or lend support through sponsorship. For event information, call 267-699-0124 or email jmarushak@healthlinkmedical.org. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association will hold an open house at the Evans-Mumbower Mill April 17 from 1 to 4 p.m. The Mill is at the corner of Swedesford and Township Line Roads in Upper Gwynedd. The open house is free but donations are welcome. For more information, call 215-646-8866 o email info@wvwa.org. The Eastern Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce will host Breakfast With Your County Commissioners and State Representatives April 21 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Holiday Inn Fort Washington, 432 W. Pennasylvania Ave. Commissioners: James R. Matthews (Chairman), Joseph M. Hoeffel (Vice Chair), State Representatives: Todd Stephens (District 151) and Josh Shapiro (District 153). Register onlineat www.emccc.org. $10 for EMCCC member; $20 for non-members. Upper Dublins Districtwide Allied Art Show will be held April 27 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. in the Upper Dublin High School Athletic Complex. The Rev. Alfred Muli, chaplain at Fort Washington Estates, will be the featured speaker at the Kiwanis sponsored breakfast observing the National Day of Prayer May 5 at 7 a.m. at the William Penn Inn. The breakfast is open to the public ($15). Reservations can be made by calling 215-646-4356 or by emailing georgesaurman@Juno.com. The Upper Dublin Shade Tree Commission invites people to participate in its spring bare root planting events, sponsored in part by Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Friends of Robbins Park. On April 9, zix trees will be planted at the Evelyn B. Wright Park & Community Pool, 401 Logan Ave., North Hills, at 9 a.m., followed by the planting of 10 trees at Sheeleigh Park, Loch Alsh Avenue and Douglas Street, Ambler, at 10:15 a.m. On April 29, students from Upper Dublin High School will join the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society to plant 16 trees in Robbins Park, Butler Pike and Meetinghouse Road, Ambler, to help launch the societys Million Trees campaign. This event will occur in conjunction with Temple Amblers EarthFest. Experienced tree-tenders are sought to assist the students. For more information,contact Ron Ayres at 215-653-0421 or 215-483-4348. The Friends of the Wissahickon and the Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association are teaming up once again to clean the Wissahickon Creek from top to bottom April 30 from 9 a.m. to noon. This spring marks the 41st anniversary of Wissahickon Valley Watershed Associations annual Creek Clean Up, and the second year that FOW has teamed up with WVWA. Volunteers of all ages will clean the creek, the surrounding trails and the many tributaries of the Wissahickon Creek. Armed with bags, volunteers will be assigned to sections of the creek. Following the clean up, all volunteers are invited to WVWAs Talkin Trash picnic in Fort Washington State Park, with food provided by Whole Foods Market of North Wales. The pavilion is located on Mill Road in Flourtown. To help out in Montgomery County, all volunteers must be pre-assigned a section of the Wissahickon Creek to clean. Please contact Bob Adams, WVWA director of stewardship, at 215-646-8866 ext. 14 or bob@wvwa.org. To work with the Friends of the Wissahickon in Philadelphia, meet at the pavilion along Forbidden Drive, a short distance south of the intersection of Forbidden Drive and Northwestern Avenue. Limited parking is available along Northwestern Avenue and other nearby streets. Volunteers are encouraged to bike or carpool to the event. To participate, register at www.fow.org. Contact Kevin Groves with questions at 215-247-0417 ext. 105 or groves@fow.org. Montgomery County Community Colleges International Club invites the community to the second annual International Festival April 20 from 5 to 9 p.m. at the Central Campus, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The rain date is April 26. The International Club will transform the outside quad area into multicultural celebration with various performances by dancers, singers and musicians. Artists will share their artwork at various display tables. Activities include games, raffles, Easter egg decorating and henna tattoos. Students will have samples of international cuisine at tables representing different countries and will serve food from various local ethnic restaurants. Throughout the evening, volunteers will accept donations and will raffle gift baskets and prizes to raise funds for Habitat for Humanity. Donations of food, international clothes and prizes are needed. Volunteers, including artists and performers, are welcome. For more information or to sponsor an activity, contact Gillian Nel, International Club president, at gnel9277@students.mc3.edu or 267-974-0163. The Arts and Humanities Division at Montgomery County Community College is partnering with the Philadelphia Writers Conference to host Memoirs Matter: How Life Stories (Including Yours) Can Transform Your Relationship to Literature April 23 from 1 to 3 p.m. in Advanced Technology Center room 101, 340 DeKalb Pike, Blue Bell. The event is free and open to the public. In the first part of this two-hour seminar, professor and author Robert Waxler will explain how writing his two memoirs affected his life as well as his relationship to literature. In the second part, blogger and workshop leader Jerry Waxler will present a sequence of steps to help writers find their own story. For information, contact Dana Resente at dresente@mc3.edu. The Maple Glen Garden Club will hold its fourth annual Plant Sale on May 7 from 8 to 11 a.m. Perennials, shrubs, vegetables and native plants grown by the club members will be sold. The club uses the plant sale proceeds to fund community projects, a college scholarship and community plantings. The sale will be held in the 500 block of Coach Road, Horsham, as part of a neighborhood garage sale. Plants will be sold at bargain prices. For more information, email MapleGlenGardenClub@gmail.com. The Relay for Life Craft Show is looking for local crafters to participate in show, which will be May 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Wissahickon High School track, 521 Houston Road, Ambler. There is a $10 entry fee, and 20 percent of sales are donated to the American Cancer Society. Participants will receive a 6-foot table under a tent. For information, contact Joanne at joannescoles@comcast.net or Mindy at mcamsilver@comcast.net. Spring House Estates is hosting its annual book fair on April 18 from 4 to 7 p.m. and April 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Included will be hardback and paperback used books. Spring House Estates is located at 728 Norristown Road, Lower Gwynedd. The PennSuburban Chamber of Commerce will present the Penn Suburban/Hatfield Joint Business Card Exchange April 20 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Univest Bank Lansdale Area Financial Service Center, 120 Forty Foot Road, Hatfield. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. Join Univest National Bank and Trust Co. for a spring-inspired Business Card Exchange at its newest office in the Hatfield Pointe Shopping Center. Come out and meet members of Univests executive management team while enjoying fine food and beverages. 13th Annual Community Reading Day Kick-off Breakfast Get Together April 26 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the North Wales Area Library, 233 Swartley St., North Wales. The event is free. To make reservations, visit PennSuburban.org/Events. For more information, contact the chamber office at 215-362-9200 or info@pennsuburban.org. Join presenting sponsor Verizon, chamber staff and fellow members for the Community Reading Day volunteer get together. The Community Reading Day program allows volunteers to read a designated book to second-grade students throughout 38 area public and private schools and present the book as a gift to each class. Even if you are not a volunteer, you are cordially invited to stop by to network, enjoy coffee and pastries. Ambler Mennonite Church is hosting a Spring Craft Show and Flea Market May 21 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Rain date will be May 28. The community is invited to shop the great craft booths, find some gifts and deals, as well as enjoy home baked goods and tasty lunch specials. Childrens activities are planned. All vendors are encouraged to contact the church at 215-643-4876 or AmblerMennonite@verizon.net. Advertising, signage, customer parking and a shuttle to auxiliary parking at nearby lots for vendors will be provided. 10 foot by 10 foot spaces can be rented for $5 each and tables for an additional $5 each. All proceeds from space and table rentals go toward school kits for children around the world. The church is located at the corner of East Mt. Pleasant Avenue and North Spring Garden Street, Ambler. The Wissahickon Valley Watershed Association presents The Life & Times of Aquatic Insects in the Wissahickon Creek April 16 from 1 to 3 p.m. Join WVWA for a hands-on program. RSVP required: www.wvwa.org or 215-646-8866. WVWA member fee: $5 per person / $15 per family. Non-WVWA member fee: $10 per person / $20 per family. The photography exhibition Natures Palette by photo-artist Judy Miller will run March 18 to May 19 at the Art in the Storefront gallery, 41 E. Butler Pike, Ambler. JPRN Networking For People in Transition & People Who Can Help Them Unemployment remains high. JPRN, the Jarrettown Professional Relationship Network can help. Are you trying to network your way to a new job? Do you have expertise or contacts that can help people in transition? Is your company or organization looking for people in the area? This is a free outreach program to support those seeking work, involve people with contacts and networking know how, and involve local companies. Meetings held monthly at Jarrettown United Methodist Church, Limekiln Pike. Pennsylvanias Low-Income Home Energy Assistance (LIHEAP) grant program is now open for the 2010-11 heating season. Grants are based on income, family size, type of heating fuel and region. Additional information, such as specific income limits, and applications for LIHEAP grants are available online via the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Access to Social Services (COMPASS) website at www.compass.state.pa.us. Applications are available at most public officals district offices, county assistance offices, local utility companies and community service agencies, such as Area Agencies on Aging or community action agencies. Begin your holiday shopping at Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation! Entertainment books for 2011, Philadelphia North, are now on sale at $30 each. Regal/United Artists movie tickets are on sale for just $7.50 each, and tickets to the Adventure Aquarium, Baltimore Aquarium, and the Philadelphia Zoo are also available. Discounted ski vouchers to area mountains will be arriving in December; call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. RSVP of Montgomery County and the Wissahickon Valley Public Library have partnered again to offer the public their popular free mock interview sessions. The mock interviews are conducted by RSVP volunteers who are retired professionals, some of whom were in hiring positions themselves. Packets of information which include a sample employment application and interviewing tips with mock interview questions are available at the library to pick up prior to a scheduled mock interview or will be sent via email once the interview is scheduled. To schedule your interview, please contact Janis Glusman at RSVP 610-834-1040, ext. 16. The library is also offering a free resume review service. Bring in your current resume and the professional reference staff will assist you with hints and tips on capturing your work history accurately. Registration for Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation summer playgrounds, Camp B.I.G. and Small Folks, X-Zone, and sports camps has began. Register online at www.upperdublin.net/store, or at the UDP&R office, 801 Loch Alsh Avenue, Fort Washington. Call 215-643-1600 x3443 for more information. Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation and Danielles Espresso Cafe presents Mornings at Mondaug Bark Park April 16 and May 21 from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Meet fellow dog lovers. These events include complimentary coffee, treats for people and pups and raffles/giveaways. Upper Dublins Annual Spring Flea Market will be held June 4 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Reserve a table, or come and shop. Tables are $15 for UD residents, $20 for non-residents. This successful event occurs rain or shine. Refreshments available. Call 215-643-1600 ext. 3443 to register for a table. Regal movie tickets available for purchase at Upper Dublin Township Parks & Recreation. Reduced rate: $7.50 per ticket. Some restrictions apply. Call 215-643-1600 x3443. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation movie tickets $7.50 Regal Cinemas, United Artist & Edwards Cinemas on sale throughout the year Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. Whitpain Township Parks & Recreation Camp Sign-ups for Stony Creek Day Camp Stony Creek Tracers and Park n Tots. Register on-line at www.whitpaintownship.org OrCome to Township Building with check or Visa MasterCard Monday Friday from 9 a.m. 4 p.m. For additional information call 610.277-2400 ext. 374 Upper Dublin Parks & Recreation offers exciting new programs for the fall: -Returning favorites include UK Elite Petite Soccer, Tiny Dancers, Kiddie Tennis, Fun-nastics, Messy Playtime, Little Chefs, and more. Babysitters Training will be offered in November and December. Continuing Adult Fitness Classes include Cardio Circuit, Core & More, Yoga, Boxing, and Adult G.Y.M. For more information call 215-643-1600 x3443. Register for programs online at www.upperdublin.net/store. Music and Theater The community is invited to a Cantors Concert April 16 at 8 p.m. Congregation Beth Or, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen. Listen and hum-along to the Yiddish, pop tunes and classical music performed by Congregation Beth Ors own Cantor David Green and his special guest, Cantor Irvin Bell, from Temple Beth Israel in Deerfield Beach, Fla. The cantors will be accompanied by Mark Sobol and his Klezmer musicians. Tickets are $18 in advance and $25 at the door. RSVP with payment to Barb Murtha, 239 Welsh Road, Maple Glen, PA 19002, or call 215-646-5806 ext. 220. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse will host the Jameson Sisters May 14. Doors open at 7:30 pm, performance at 8:00 pm. Gwynedd Friends Coffeehouse is located at the corner of Rte. 202 & Sumneytown Pike, Gwynedd. $5 suggested donation. Light refreshment available at a modest cost. For further information, call 215-393-9576 or visit gwyneddmeeting.org/coffeehouse.html. Celebrate patriotism through song with Gwynedd-Mercy Colleges choir, the Voices of Gwynedd, as it presents Hear America Singing April 15 at 8 p.m. The choir will perform song selections from all over the country, including Georgia on My Mind, New York State of Mind, and a medley including Philadelphia Freedom and Allentown. The performance will end with When the Saints Go Marching In to acknowledge the choirs upcoming tour in New Orleans. Hear America Singing will take place in the Julia Ball Auditorium, located in St. Bernard Hall. Parking is available in lots A, C and D. Admission is free. The Choristers will present Anton Dvoraks Stabat Mater April 16 at 7:30 p.m. at Upper Dublin Lutheran Church in Ambler. The choir will be accompanied by a 41-piece orchestra. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for senior citizens, $10 for students and children are free. Tickets will be sold in advance or at the door. For more information, call 215-542-7871 or visit TheChoristers.org Religious News The Staircase Gallery at Or Hadash: A Reconstructionist Congregation in Fort Washington will feature the work of Emily Ennuat-Lustine. The artist will be showing paintings and graphics inspired by her own personal spiritual journey and quest for meaning. Some of the works to be shown have been inspired by Biblical Psalms and writings. Her work has been shown at Abington Art Center, Cheltenham Arts Center and Old City Gallery of Jewish Art among others. The exhibition is open Friday evenings starting Feb. 18 after Shabbat services. Gallery hours are: Mondays through Thursdays 10-4:30, Fridays 10-3 and following Shabbat Services and Sundays 10-1. The synagogue is located at 190 Camp Hill Road in Fort Washington. For additional information contact the synagogue office at 215-283-0276. Reunions St. Matthews High School Conshohocken Class of 1961 is looking for classmates. For details, contact Greg Marincola at 215-646-2239, 215-740-1296 or gregcola@comcast.net. Olney High School Class of 1971 is Lloking for classmates for a 40th reunion Oct. 28. For details, contact Judy at ohsclassof71@yahoo.com or 215-870-7572. Abington High School Class of 1961 is seeking classmates for a 50-year reunion to be held Oct. 14-15, 2011.Visit the website, www.abington61.com, for details or call 215-947-1779. Overbrook High School class of January 1956 is having a 55 year reunion on May 22, 2011 at the Bala Golf Club in Philadelphia. For information please contact overbrookreunion56@comcast.net Germantown High School Class Of January 1961 is looking for classmates for 50th year reunion to take place in May of 2011. Please contact: 215-362-9148, 856-577-0659 or samdelcomo@comcast.net The June 1961 class of Germantown High School is holding their 50th reunion on May 15, which will be a brunch. For further details please contact Linda Dorfman Alten at lindaalten@yahoo.com or call 215-441-8411. Support New Life Presbyterian Church in Dresher, will host GriefShare, a special seminar and support group which will run on Monday evenings from 7 to 9 p.m., from March 7 through June 6. At each meeting there will be a DVD about the grief process, discussion and reference to a grief workbook. Preregistration is required to secure a place in the group and to purchase a GriefShare notebook (for a one-time fee of $15). The notebook goes along with the 13-week schedule covering such topics as: living with grief, the effects of grief, and stuck in grief. For more information or to register, call: Sandy Elder at 215-884-5149. PUPS (People Understanding Parkinsons) A self-help group for those adjusting to a new diagnosis or dealing with the early stages of Parkinsons Disease. Meets fourth Tuesday of the month from 1 to 2:30 p.m., at Abington Health Center, Schilling Campus, Willowood Building, 2510 Maryland Road, Suite 251, Willow Grove. For more information or to RSVP, contact Lorna at 215-542-2931. The North Penn Visiting Nurse Associations Meals on Wheels program is looking for volunteers to pack or deliver meals to the elderly and infirmed. Meals are packed and delivered mornings, Monday through Friday. You can volunteer for as many days per week or month as you would like. Packaging meals requires approximately 2-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves making sandwiches, packaging food into individual serving containers and packing coolers with the meals. Delivering meals requires approximately 1-1/2 hours of your time each day and involves loading coolers into your car and delivering a route of approximately 10 to 15 stops. The Meals on Wheels program is also in need of emergency, winter-weather volunteers to pack and deliver meals in bad weather. North Penn VNA is located at 51 Medical Campus Drive in Lansdale and delivers meals in the Lansdale, North Wales and Blue Bell areas. For more information or to volunteer, please call Bridget, North Penn VNA Meals on Wheels coordinator at 215-855-8296. Elkins Park Area CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) meets the first Tuesday of every month, 7- 8:30 p.m., at Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital in Elkins Park. For information on CHADD or ADHD, please see our website www.chadd.net/249 or call Claire Noyes at: 215-779-6656. Center for Loss and Bereavement, 3847 Skippack Pike, Skippack (610-222-4110) www.bereavementcenter.org Offers professional counseling for individuals, couples, children and families dealing with issues of loss and bereavement. Six-week adult support groups: Newly forming young adult grief support group every other Wednesday, 7 8:15 p.m. (free of charge); Monthly loss of child support second Mondays, 7-8:15 p.m.; Six-week young loss of spouse/partner Thursdays, 10-11:15 a.m.; Other groups scheduled as interest is shown for suicide loss support, adult loss of parent, motherless daughters, adult loss of sibling, coping with chronic illness and disability and mens loss of spouse. Nellos Corner Family Bereavement program offers peer grief support groups for ages 4 through teen and their caregivers Every other Tuesday or Wednesday (free of charge) Local chapter of Parents of Murdered Children also meets at the Center. Registration required. Call for further information. CHADD is a national organization for children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder, providing education, advocacy and support for individuals and their families with AD/HD. Einstein at Elkins Park Hospital, 60 Township Line Road, Elkins Park, PA 19027, will host children & adults with Attention-Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder on the First Tuesday of each month 7 8:30 p.m. Free, no childcare provided. The Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphias Kehillah of Old York Road is sponsoring a free Caregiver Support Group for individuals who care for an elderly person with cognitive and/or physical impairments. The group meets at SarahCare Adult Day Care Center, 101 Washington Lane, Suite G-6, Jenkintown, Pa., on the first Wednesday of each month. Patty Rich, Gurbir Singh By Express News Service From the ramparts of the Red Fort on August 15, the Prime Minister once again kept to form and announced a big-bang programme. It was the Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyaan or the National Health Protection Mission (AB-NHPS) or Modicare, scheduled to be rolled out on September 25 this year. It is grandiose in size. More than 10 crore families or about 50 crore Indians are targeted with a hefty medical cover of `5 lakh. Healthcare has got a pride of place in our pronouncements, but on the ground, it gets short shrift. Sample this: This writer was part of a massive re-housing programme in 2007 of shifting over 12,000 families of poor and displaced slum dwellers in Mumbai from the borders of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park to a rehabilitation layout in Powai, where they were to get pucca homes. As the monsoons began to lash the city, the newly settled community was hit hard with a wave of epidemics dengue, malaria, typhoid. Many children died. Suddenly, it was realised that not enough had been done to set up medical facilities before moving such a large community. It was only after diseases and deaths sparked local agitation that a small makeshift health centre was opened by the municipal corporation; for a proper Primary Health Centre to be set up, it took nearly two years. REPORT CARD Healthcare has been central to the NDA governments thinking; but the report card has not been great. For those with short memories, the National Health Protection Mission (NHPM) the first Modicare was announced in 2016 Budget with a `1 lakh cover; but it never really got off the ground. It has now been dovetailed into the new AB-NHPS programme with a `5 lakh cover.Among other targets, the government had announced that its action plan would eliminate Kala-Azar by 2017, but the deadline has been missed. The spread of malaria too is of serious concern, with the World Malaria Report claiming that in India, the malaria surveillance mechanism detects a mere 8 per cent of cases, among the lowest in the world. In respect of the AB-NHPS, identifying those qualifying for the medical cover is going to be a nightmare. The scheme is not open to all citizens, but only to the poor identified through the Socio-Economic Caste Census database. The criteria for inclusion is catch-all and subjective. For those in rural areas, some of the conditions listed are: Families living in only one room with kuchcha walls and a kuchcha roof; a female-headed family with no adult male member in the 16-59 age group; landless households deriving a major part of their income from manual casual labour; and destitutes and those surviving on alms. Certification of many of these categories is near-impossible and will lead to corruption and mismanagement. INSURANCE-BASED MODEL The other big question mark is whether an insurance-based model for achieving universal healthcare in India can succeed. A large part of medical care is achieved through outpatient clinics, where expenses build up and can never be compensated. Therefore, a better strategy perhaps would be through public expenditure on building a more robust public healthcare system, and more doctors to cover the remotest corners. The AB-NHPS programme currently relies in a big way on the existing private sector network of hospitals and insurance companies, which is both expensive and inaccessible. Associations of private hospitals and the Indian Medical Association (IMA) have been complaining of poor packages, and eight states are still to sign up. Whether the private sector will finally cooperate or not will depend on whether the profit margins are going to be to its liking. The AB-NHPS programme hides the fact that India is among the poorest spenders among developing countries. Prime Minister Modi declared in 2017 the governments intent to raise healthcare spending from the current 1.15 per cent to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2025. But a bare minimum budget of around `65,000 crore demanded by Health Minister J P Naddafor 2018-19 about 33 per cent higher than last year was trimmed down to `52,800 crore, just 5 per cent higher than the previous year. Sri Lanka spends about four times as much as India per capita on health, and Indonesia more than twice. As a percentage, India spends 1.15 per cent of GDP compared to an average of 1.4 per cent by low-income countries. The Maldives spend is 9.4 per cent, Bhutans 2.5 per cent and Thailands 2.9 per cent. More money and will need to be put where the mouth is. By PTI NEW DELHI: Apparel retailer Lifestyle plans to invest up to Rs 200 crore to add 20 outlets in the next one-and-half years to increase its footprint across the country. Lifestyle is also eyeing 16-18 per cent growth and a turnover of Rs 4,600 crore this fiscal. It had reported Rs 4,000 crore turnover in the previous financial year. The company, which at present operates close to 75 outlets in the country, plans to open a majority of the new outlets in the cities where it already has a presence. "We plan to invest Rs 150-200 crore to open 20 new outlets in the next 1-1.5 years. At present we have stores in 44 cities. We will go into five more cities and open rest of new planned the stores in the cities where we already have a presence," Vasanth Kumar, Managing Director, Lifestyle International, told PTI. Kumar said the company gets 75 per cent of its business from top cities at present but expect smaller cities to add to its growth in the years to come. The company also expects its omni channel (combination of offline and online retail) strategy to pay off and contribute significantly over the next five years. "Omni channel at present contributes about 1-1.5 per cent of our sales but we expect it to be in double digits (10 per cent and above) in the next five years," Kumar said. Lifestyle is a part of Dubai-based retail and hospitality conglomerate, The Landmark Group. By PTI NEW DELHI: Hospitality chain Sarovar Hotels will open 15 hotels across the country and overseas by the end of 2019 as part of its expansion plans, a top company official said. The hospitality firm has close to 80 hotels in over 50 cities, at present. "We will be opening 15 hotels by 2019-end. Of these, two hotels in Africa, one each in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania and Lusaka in Zambia will be opened by the end of 2018," Sarovar Hotels Pvt Ltd Managing Director Ajay Bakaya told PTI. In India the company plans to open hotels at locations such as Jaisalmer, Gorakhpur, Katra, Dehradun and extension of a hotel in Agra in 2018, he added. "The eight hotels that will be opened in 2019, will be in Dahisar in Mumbai, Dibrugarh, Morbi, Junagadh, Dalhousie, Bodh Gaya and Jalandhar in India and in Auxum in Ethiopia," Bakaya said. The upcoming hotels will be mainly under the Sarovar Portico brand, three of them will be Sarovar Premiere and one each will be under the Park Plaza and Hometel brands, he added. When asked about the business model the company follows, Bakaya said: "We are a predominantly a hotel management company, though we also own two hotels. Founded in 1994 by Anil Madhok, Sarovar Hotels operates properties in the premium, mid-range and budget segments. In January 2017 French hospitality major Louvre Hotels Group, part of Chinese Group Jin Jiang International, had acquired a majority stake in Sarovar Hotels for an undisclosed amount. Arshad Khan By Express News Service NEW DELHI: According to the National Mental Health Survey of 2016, around 15 crore Indians need mental healthcare intervention. However, in reality, only 10-12 per cent of them seek aid. While a significant section of the society considers mental illness a taboo subject, a large section out there cannot afford the high cost associated with the treatment. The major reason why mental healthcare is so expensive in the country is because no major insurance company provides a policy that covers mental ailment and even if they have a product, it is difficult to settle a claim, if not next to impossible. However, things are likely to change as the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) has asked insurance companies to cover mental ailments under the medical insurance policy, treating it on par with physical illness.All insurance companies are hereby directed to comply with the aforesaid provisions of the Mental Healthcare Act2017 with immediate effect, IRDAI said in a notification. A few insurers have welcomed the move and it is expected that in the next few weeks, insurance companies will launch specialised products to cover mental health.We welcome IRDAIs move to include mental illnesses in the ambit of health insurance coverage for customers. This is indeed a long-awaited inclusion, much needed for those dealing with any form of mental illness and have been beyond the ambit of insurance cover so far, said Ashish Mehrotra, MD & CEO, Max Bupa Health Insurance. Jyoti Punja, Chief Operating Officer and Customer Officer, Cigna TTK Health Insurance, said that mental health insurance is a progressive step in the right direction.We believe it will certainly create awareness, acceptance and inclusion of mental illness as any other ailment, while bringing mental health disorders at par with physical illnesses will normalise diagnoses, reducing myths and stigma associated with it, she said.Mehrotra said that stress is a major cause of depression and can lead to various mental illnesses. For people dealing with such situations, his company has designed a behavioural counselling feature in its recently launched GoActive plan, which offers telephonic counselling for anything related to pre-marital, nutrition, stress, child and parenting issues. However, there are insurance companies who feel that the definition of mental illness is so wide that it becomes difficult for them to come up with a product.Mental illnesses stretch from anxiety and depression to obsessive compulsive disorder and borderline narcissistic personality disorder. While anxiety and depression can be treated in a short duration, extremes mental illnesses are an expensive and time-consuming treatment. The products for critical illnesses will depend on industry dynamics (competition), but one thing is for sure the premiums are expected to be high, said an insurance firm executive. He added that to include OPD cover for therapy, consultation and drugs will be something to watch out for, as it is something quite expensive. As per the health survey, families had to spend approximately Rs 1,000-Rs 1,500 a month for treatment and travel to access care. However, in a metro city like Delhi or Mumbai, a session with psychiatrist can cost anywhere between Rs 500 andRs 2,000 and the number of sessions vary from person to person. Drugs and travelling expenses can take the monthly expenses anywhere between Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000. Adding to it, shortage of doctors and the States timid spending to create awareness continue to make things difficult for patients. India spends only 0.6 per cent of its national health budget on mental health care, and there are just 0.3 psychiatrists and 0.07 psychologists per one lakh Indians figures that need a serious intervention. By Express News Service BENGALURU: In a move that will bring relief to thousands of people stranded in Kochi with no means of flying out of the city, the Union government on Saturday announced that flights between Kochi and Bengaluru will be operated from Monday from the Cochin Naval Air Base from August 20. The unprecedented closing of Kochi airport, which is shut for operations till August 26, has forced several operators to cancel their flights to the flood-affected state. On Friday, Jet Airways, Air India and Air India Express announced that they would operate additional flights to Thiruvananthapuram in order to make up for the closure of Kochi Airport. While talks were on to use the Naval Air Base as an alternative, it was confirmed only on Saturday. In a series of tweets, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Suresh Prabhu on Saturday said the alternative flights would be operated between Bengaluru and Cochin Naval Air Base. These flights, operated by Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, will be able to ferry 70 passengers on each trip. The flights will be operated in an ATR 72-600 twin-engine turboprop aircraft owned by Alliance Air. After the initial flights between Bengaluru and Kochi, additional flights, routed via Coimbatore will also be operated. More destinations like Madurai are also in the pipeline. Other airlines are likely to join this effort too, Prabhu tweeted. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The High Court on Saturday directed the Official Liquidator (OL) to appear on Tuesday before the Appellate Authority, which is hearing appeals related to attachment of assets of fugitive liquor baron Vijay Mallya and his companies, including the United Breweries Holdings Ltd (UBHL). A division bench of Justice Raghvendra S Chauhan and Justice H T Narendra Prasad issued this direction after hearing an appeal filed by the UBHL seeking permission for sale of assets to clear the debts of the consortium of banks and others and also the objections filed by Enforcement Directorate (ED) for sale of the assets attached by it. Since OL is the custodian of the interest of secured and unsecured creditors and the OL has to function as an agent of this court, this court directs the OL to appear before the Appellate Authority on August 21, 2018, the court said. The OL was appointed to take over UBHL after a single judge bench of the Karnataka High Court passed the order to wind up UBHL on February 7, 2017, to recover the money owed to banks and others. Meanwhile, Lakshmi Iyengar, counsel for the Official Liquidator, submitted that the OL is hesitant to appear before the Appellate Authority as the OL has not been made a party in the said appeal. She submitted that if this court were to direct the OL to appear before the Appellate Authority, the OL certainly will appear and defend its interest, she argued. After this, the counsel for the Enforcement Directorate informed the court that the petition has to be argued on August 21, 2018, before the Appellate Authority constituted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act 2002. He also informed the court that despite the fact that the order dated February 7, 2017, has not been stayed in toto by this court, even then, the OL has not appeared before the Appellate Authority, he argued. After passing the direction, the court adjourned the hearing to August 22, 2018. By Express News Service CHENNAI : A writ plea has been made in the HC for a directive to the Securities Exchange Board of India (SEBI) to take action against the employees of National Stock Exchange (NSE) for the alleged fraud in the colocation service, which allegedly resulted in loss to the tune of crores to customers. Justice T Raja, before whom the writ petition from advocate A Kumar came up for hearing last week, ordered notice to SEBI, returnable in two weeks. A colocation service is a data centre facility in which a business house can rent space for servers and other computing hardware.NSE introduced the facility of managed colocation service, which was named Colocation as a Service (CaaS), to facilitate small and medium size members, who otherwise would find it difficult to avail the facility due to various reasons including high cost, lack of expertise in maintenance and troubleshooting. Petitioners senior counsel P Wilson contended that the NSE had introduced the colocation facility without the approval of SEBI. It has amounted in commission of various illegal practices by the NSE employees, which included grant of preferential access to data dissemination servers to select stock brokers, counsel said. C Shivakumar By Express News Service CHENNAI : Chennai may be having huge number of unsold housing stock but only 40 per cent live in own houses while 44 pc live in rented houses and 15 pc live in other forms of accommodation, according to a recent draft report of state housing policy prepared by German agency GIZ.As per the study, Chennai has a shortage of 75,000 houses. This is based on Report of the Technical Group on Urban Housing Shortage, which measured households residing in unacceptable houses non-serviceable and obsolescent, households living in congested conditions and houseless households. Interestingly, this comes as Tamil Nadu has carried a demand assessment of 8.30 lakh houseless households under Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana (PMAY) in urban areas of the state under PMAYs four components Insitu rehabilitation, Credit Linked Subsidy Scheme, Beneficiary led Construction (BLC) and Affordable Housing in Partnership (AHP). But this massive project is hit due to land shortage. ALSO READ | Chennai ranks 70 in Housing and Inclusiveness category Despite declining household size and high number of houses getting added, congested houses have increased sharply in Chennai. This suggests possibility of skewed income and asset distribution leading to few households occupying more houses and larger share of population ending up living in congested houses, the report said. Affordability of houses have been a biggest problem in Chennai and this has been the issue with most metropolitan cities. The dream of owning a home in the city and state has eluded economic weaker sections, as well as low-income groups during the last decade as credit flow from public sector banks, failed to reach the lower strata. Ministry of Housing and Urban Poverty Alleviation have stated that despite flow of credit to the housing sector in general has increased, the credit flow to the urban poor remained a challenge. Statistics from MHUPA reveal that loans below Rs 2 lakh have declined from 51 per cent in 2001 to 4.1 per cent in 2014 for public sector banks in relation to overall housing loans. Similarly, the trend of lending for housing up to `5 lakh has declined from 36 per cent in 2006 to 9.75 per cent in 2010 in relation to the number of housing units financed, the statistics revealed. Flow of public sector housing (around one lakh units as sanctioned during 2001-11) accounted for merely 4 pc of urban households increased during the same period. While public sector housing shall not be able to meet the demand of rapidly increasing urban households, there is a plan to involve market or private sector in provision of houses. By Express News Service HYDERABAD: Seven minor girls including a four-year-old were rescued from a brothel house at Yadadri town on Saturday, making the total number of girls rescued from different brothel houses to 24 in three weeks. Police arrested five women, who were allegedly involved in trafficking. So far, police have arrested 24 traffickers including 20 women. All the women traffickers claimed that the minors were their own children or of their kin and are staying with them for studies. The girls were produced before the child welfare committee and the four-year-old was shifted to Shishu Vihar at Nalgonda and six others aged between 6 and 10 were handed over to Prajwala home. As a part of the ongoing crackdown on child trafficking, Yadadri police conducted raids on five houses at Ganeshnagar and rescued seven girls. Inquiries revealed that the children were procured from an agent Shankar, by paying up to Rs 60,000 each. They were procured from different parts of AP and Telangana from public places like bus and railway stations. The women claimed that the girls were their own, but inquiries revealed that the girls were in their possession for only a couple of years. The girls were purchased for pushing them into prostitution, but so far they were not administered growth hormone injections. Shan A S By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Andriya Nayak had twice defied death in his native Kandhamal district in Odisha, but he did not expect to be fearing for his life yet again, while in Kerala. With the waters rising around Fathers House, a Pentecostal denomination theological seminary at Thottamon near Ranni, Nayak and 19 others feared the worst. With no rescue teams in the vicinity and a thick blanket of darkness shrouding them, the only thing that Nayak could do was close his eyes and wait for the inevitable, all the while chanting verses from the Bible. We could hear the roaring sound of the water below. All our mobile phones were dead. We were weeping and praying, he said, recounting how they retreated to the first floor of the seminary. Nayak remembered awaiting death, first in his village Ramagiri in and then in Lankagada, both in Kandhamal district a decade back. Nayak and his family had a narrow escape when Hindu Right wingers doused their house in Ramagiri in 2000. They then relocated to Lankagada. Eight years later, during the deadly Kandhamal riots, Nayak, who was working as a warden in a hostel, had to flee to the forest with one of the inmates after the hostel came under attack from the Hindutva brigade. I could see the church and hostel go up in flames. We ran into the forest. My parents ran to another side of the forest. We came back only to see the vigilantes roaming the area, waiting to pounce on those who returned. Again, we went into the forest, Nayak said. Nayak is now pursuing a Masters in Theology from Fathers House. The institution houses 24 students, of whom four were yet to be rescued. Nayak said the water began rising by evening and as night set in, there was a sense of panic. It was the resourcefulness of Princemon, a staff, that helped them get in touch with rescue officials. A Sharadhaa By Express News Service At this point, Vedhika is eating, breathing movies. In Bengaluru to complete the last bit for her upcoming Kannada film, Home Minister, the Shivalinga heroine says, Films drive me and keep me alive. While Vedhika looks forward to the release of her next film in Kannada, she is currently shooting for a bilingual, Kanchana 3, being made in Tamil and Telugu. Talks are on about being part of a Malayalam project too. But she is currently in spotlight for her big Bollywood debut where she stars opposite Emraan Hashmi. The 20-film-old actor, says, There comes a time in every actors life, when they have to look at something bigger and better. And for me, thats Bollywood. But was it a planned entry? Offers were coming in, but I didnt know which project I should debut with. I am glad it is happening with a film like The Body (tentative title). We shot in Mauritius, and the films shoot is nearly complete, she says. Her pairing with co-star Emraan is generating much curiosity. There are a lot of assumptions and I cant stop them. All I can say now is that working with Emraan has been a fabulous experience, she says. Vedhika has already made her debut in other languages, which has made the actor understand that each region makes films typical to their locations. Every industry means the same to me. Bollywood has a wider audience and is recognised world-over. Thats the major difference. I connect to audience in the south, and now I will be able to connect to those in the north, she says. Now, Vedhika hopes to strike a balance between B-Town and the southern industry. I am familiar with the audience here as they are with me. If another interesting project in Bollywood comes up, I would like to take up. It depends on what is offered to me. I want to go with the best. I am a person who takes each day as it comes, rather than having big plans, says Vedhika, adding, While luck is a big factor, I come with the blessings of my mother, who believes my dreams more than I do. She is the wind behind my wings and force behind me, she signs off. By IANS MUMBAI: Actor Vijay Deverakonda is loving the overwhelming response to his new release "Geetha Govindam", which is a take on love and courtship. Excerpts from the interview: Q. What has the response been so far? Has the audience understood your impatience with conventional treatment of love and courtship? A. Response is shocking. I can't even begin to assess what it is that's happening. My phone's ringing off the hook. Everyone is trying to understand what is happening. It's crazy! I am not even attempting to understand the response to "Geetha Govindam". Q. The film deals with the dynamics of courtship in a healthy manner. How much of your own views are projected in the film? A. I am figuring out my personal views. And evolving as a person every day. I have no fixed views on men, women and other issues. How I feel about various things is constantly changing, evolving. Breaking moulds wasn't on our minds. It's only a happy by-product. Q. In the film, the heroine is shown to take advantage of your vulnerable situation. Normally it is men who are shown to be exploitative? A. More than exploiting, I feel she has this pent-up anger and frustration at the sight of him. She is gracious enough to give him the benefit of the doubt and say he was not the one who harassed her when asked by her brother at their first meeting, seeing the trauma it would put his family through. But that in no way meant she forgives him, and they are forced due to situations to spend so much time together. So then she gives him a tough time. I don't blame her though. Q. But so many times men get wrongly accused of sexual harassment? A. That is an extremely scary and discomforting thought. But in "Geetha Govindam", even though unintended, he shouldn't have gotten himself into that position. He could have avoided getting so friendly with a girl he had just met. Q. Are you consciously breaking conventional moulds through your roles and films? A. It's more unconscious. I am just drawn to this stuff more. Q. Though clean and wholesome, the film is not shy about the gender equations. Do you think it's time Telugu cinema explored the man-woman equation beyond the surface level? A. Cinema everywhere is growing up. We are no exception. I am glad "Geetha Govindam" has found an audience. If it hadn't, I'd still not embrace the conventional. That's not me. Shilpi Madan By Express News Service Finally, a tastefully arranged space that offers a serene coffee experience with no people-watching or decibel-pounding environs. After bringing home the Japanese brand of Royce chocolates and the Spanish candy spin in Papabubble, Samir Gadhok and Avani Raheja of Burgundy Hospitality have cupped a luxe cocoon for coffee snobs in their new space, Provenance. Nestling quietly at the end of the ground floor expanse of Palladium mall in Mumbai, the 17-seater space brings in a select clique of niche Indian and foreign brands, carefully handpicked by the duo during their sojourns. It is an alluring collusion of picks, positioned rather artfully across the space, evocative of their labour of love. Says Gadhok, Provenance has been in the making for six years. During our travels, Avani and I would often stumble across beautiful products that we would have loved to introduce in India. However, there was no place here to showcase small-batch, heritage and boutique brands, either local or foreign, in a compelling way. With Provenance, we hope to offer thoughtful brands from India and across the world, a platform to tell their stories and share their passion. Little treasures are wonderful pleasures, and the small chocolate library at the entrance sets the mood for the unfurling of a virtual theatre of flavours inside. There is a rush of Kiwi darks in limited edition Whittakers slabs of plum and roasted almonds, and TWGs delicately picked Geisha Blossom tea (pink flamingo tea infusers, anyone?) that are available for purchase in hamper formats as well. The main station stands dominated by the roasting titanthe custom-made Mirage (pegged at a whopping `12 lakh!)a coffee machine by Kees Van Der Westen, in its sculptural contours, brought in from The Netherlands. We import these for sale at Provenance as well, shares Gadhok, as we move on to the glamorous, super-sized cake oasis. Each lavish bake here is a virtual artwork from the house of Tier Nom, in South Mumbai. Gadhok recommends the rose pistachio and honey cake that unravels in a rhapsody of fragrant moistness, in its spongy softness glazed with honey yogurt, toasted pistachio drizzle and rose petals. Sip on flat white, a double shot Ristretto with hot milk and velvety milk foam alongside for the perfect foil. The idea was to bring in a connoisseurs collection, for tasting as well as gifting, says Gadhok, as we move past the crisp Italian wrapping sheets on display to the rather inviting, gleaming airtight jars, hugging Greek dragees in a melee of jewelled tones and enchanting flavours. Spells sheer magic in chocolate pebbles, possibly a recreation of a fantasy land from Enid Blytons The Faraway Tree. Wrapped in tanzanite blue, pouting pinks, brooding orange and winking silver, each chomp is an explosion of absolute crunch in mocha, and yes, even cereal tones. You can pick and choose from the gourmet gospels from Maxims De Paris, to add a spot of Parisian chic to your gift hamper, draw in beans from Mumbais best kept secret in Koinonia Coffee Roasters, snap up granola packs from Sustenance Artisinal Foods, or dip into an array of greeting cards, notepads, and mini coasters with official cartoons from The New Yorker magazine, or even flip through books. Boredom is certainly not on the menu. Everything about Provenance allures. The design rhythm that maverick decor designer Zameer Basrai of The Busride Design Studio brings in, creates an inviting, contemporary ambience. There is fluidity of space here, with the terrazzo wrapping around the display islands, the robust, zero fuss, yet comfortable seats that breathe in a sense of tranquility. Brass light fixtures circle in warm pools of amber up above. The terrazzo tables (they are movable, quite contrary as they appear to the eye), the melee of seasonal dips and preserves for sale, the hot babyccino served with chocolate topping and gooey marshmallows on the side; the killer Belgian chocolate, the lipsmacking French croissants from the Brittany region. At Provenance, we want to offer the perfect gift for a thoughtful and discerning individual. We have handpicked each product with one theme in minddoes this product embody the love, history or magic of the maker? says Raheja, the passion shining in her voice. We are passionate about telling stories and Provenance is the story of the maker and their origins, craftsmanship and passion.So, whats next? A sea salt special in chocolate and coffee, ranging from Himalayan salt to imported crystals, reveals Gadhok with a smile. We plan to keep bringing in specials every week. Encore. By MEDHA DUTTA By Artist Nilima Sheikh studied history because her parents wanted her to pursue something that would help her earn a living. After all, art was not that viable an option at the time, smiles the septuagenarian painter. That study, however, did not go waste. Rather, it helped her. History helps me in my art. The Faculty of Fine Arts in MS University of Baroda, where I studied, has a very strong inclination towards the subject. And that art history has been the basis of a lot of my works, she says. No wonder, Sheikh is known for integrating text in her art. Why shouldnt we have words and images together? Several continuing traditions of making art which come from historical times combine paintings and scriptsfor example, manuscript paintings from across the world. And they dont seem to do each other any harm. That was a lesson I picked up. Sheikh, who has a mural at the Mumbai International Airport, started using text as early as 1984. But at that time, she didnt paint it on top of the canvas; rather wrote it alongside. Later I wanted the reading aspect to be there in the painting. So, began my style incorporating text into images, she says. Displacement is the primary theme of her artworks, and one finds lines talking about the same incorporated into her paintings. From Gujarati and Punjabi literature, to a quote from Rohith Vemula, to a few lines from American poet Emily Dickinson. There are also lines from the Bouda Tribe of Ethopia, alongside those of Indo-American poet of Kashmiri originAga Shahid Aliand Persian poet Muhammad Tahir Ghani, who was born in Kashmir. While some call Sheikh a chronicler of history, others say she is an artist storyteller. People say that I work with traditions of the past, but I prefer to use the word history. And, I do like to tell stories, not necessarily all the time. Story-telling is very much a part of our art history. At a time when a very few women artists were given a platform, Sheikh showcased her work with three othersNalini Malani, Arpita Singh, and Madhvi Parekhgiving art lovers the now-legendary Four Women Artists exhibition. We were actually thinking of a larger show. Nalini was the one who was planning it. But there were issues and it became complicated and cumbersome. So Arpita suggested that the four of us should go ahead and hold the exhibition. And, it suddenly became a very doable project. While that experience was a rebellious move, she looks back fondly on her first solo. I was still a student when Roshen Alkazi, who was closely associated with the contemporary art movement in Mumbai, invited me to a show. I think of her with a great deal of regard for what she did for my professional entry into the art world. She encouraged me throughout. She always pulled me up. Having spent her young years in Kashmir where she would visit often, Sheikh says it inspired her art. It is her muse. She believes that various facets of the Kashmiri landscape have seeped into her work. I believe many Indian have a fascination for Kashmir. The artist, who counts K G Subramanyan, Bhupen Khakhar, and early Italian Renaissance painter Fra Angelico among her inspirations, believes that the younger generation today has got immense energy and are doing wonderful work. New boundaries are being broken all the time. It is very heartening to see that. And this is also being understood internationally more than it was earlier. The art is reaching out to the wider world in a way that is quite exciting, she says.The acclaimed artist, who grew up in a doctors family where dinner table conversations were very often not palatable, married another artist, Padma Bhushan Gulam Mohammed Sheikh. I hope we didnt drown our children with art, she laughs. By PTI PUNE: Hameed Dabholkar, son of slain rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, today expressed satisfaction about the CBI's announcement that it had arrested one of the shooters involved in his father's killing, and said he hoped the "real perpetrators" will be found soon. "This is the second arrest in five years in the case and we hope that with this arrest, investigating agencies will get to the real perpetrators who were involved in the killing of Dr Dabholkar," he said. Mukta Dabholkar, Dr Dabholkar's daughter, said today's arrest was a crucial development. "Had similar action been taken in the past, killings of other rationalists could have been prevented," she said, in apparent reference to killings of communist leader Govind Pansare, Kannada scholar M M Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh. It is suspected that all these killings were carried out by right-wing extremists and were connected. Monitoring of the probe of Dabholkar case by the Bombay High Court also helped as the court was constantly putting pressure on the investigating agencies, Mukta Dabholkar said. The arrest in the case comes before the fifth anniversary of Dabholkar's killing on August 20, 2013 in Pune. Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, the anti-superstition organisation founded by Dr Dabholkar, had earlier decided to intensify its protest against the slow pace of the probe. "It is just one arrest and the real perpetrators are yet to be arrested. So we will continue our protest till all real culprits are put behind bars," said Hameed Dabholkar. The CBI today arrested the alleged main shooter in the Dabholkar case, identified as Sachin Prakasrao Andure, a resident of Aurangabad in Maharashra, from Pune. By PTI AHMEDABAD: Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel today wrote to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, seeking his intervention for necessary permissions to hold an indefinite fast here from August 25. The authorities have not granted police permission, nor have they allocated a ground for his protest despite repeated applications, he said in an open letter to Rupani. Patel has announced that he will launch an indefinite hunger strike at a ground in Nikol area here to press the demand of reservation for the Patidar (Patel) community from August 25. But the civic body has converted the ground into a parking area. Patel said protesting is citizens' "fundamental right under Constitution" and referred to the fast observed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and others over the logjam in Parliament on April 12 this year. "We have given a guarantee to the administration that the protest will not affect law and order and will be Gandhian in nature," he said. "Not granting permission and a ground for the planned protest indicates government's helplessness," Patel claimed. Yesterday, Patel had said on August 19 he and his supporters will observe a fast sitting in their cars in the parking area in Nikol if an alternative place was not made available for his August 25 gathering. Sumi Sukanya dutta By Express News Service NEW DELHI: A decision is likely to be taken on scrapping some of the "unpopular" courses at the prestigious Indian Institutes of Technology in the annual IIT Council meeting this week. The courses could be discontinued owed to very low interest shown by candidates and consistently vacant seats in the IITs for last few years, sources in the Union Human Resources Development Ministry and IITs said. "Branches such as agricultural engineering, biochemical engineering and pharma engineering are not getting enough admission, probably due not so good career prospects and other institutes offering better course structures," said a senior HRD Ministry. "So we will discuss this issue in the IIT Council on Tuesday and see if the courses which are not generating interests among students can be dropped from next academic session," the official added. IIT directors take part in the IIT Council meeting every year, chaired by HRD Minister, where a number of common decisions related to IITs are taken and action plan is formulated. A total of 118 seats for B Tech courses have remained vacant in the Indian IITs, almost similar a number to last year when 121 seats had gone vacant. "This is an issue of major concern for us as we do not want even a single seat of the premier engineering institutes to go vacant," another HRD official said. In the recently concluded session of the parliament, HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, in response to a query in the Raj Sabha had said that 11,961 BTech seats had been filled this year in the 23 IITs, leaving 118 seats vacant."We have increased seats by (over) 1,000. And, out of the 12,079 seats (available), I am very happy to announce, 11,961 seats have been filled. The Other Backward Classes, Scheduled Caste (and) Scheduled Tribe quotas have completely been filled,-" Javadekar had informed the Upper House. Sources in the Ministry said that IITs had been advised last year too, to discontinue the courses that are failing to attract students in large enough numbers. Some of the branches that are usually in high demand too have witnessed a few vacancies this year. A professor at IIT Kanpur said that this happened as some students had blocked the seats during the several rounds of counselling but did not turn up for admission. This year the IITs had created 800 supernumerary seats for female students. This has raised the enrolment of girls from 9 per cent last year to 15 per cent this year. Some IITs, like IIT Delhi, had conducted special programmes to encourage girl students to opt for programmes usually not preferred by them. By PTI SRINAGAR: Three militants were killed today as the Army foiled an infiltration attempt along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Jammu and Kashmir, police said. "Militants were trying to infiltrate from across the LoC in Tangdhar sector in Kupwara district of north Kashmir. Three of them were killed," a police official said, adding a search operation was on in the area. Further details were awaited, the official said. Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police (DGP) S P Vaid also confirmed the killing of militants. "Three terrorists killed by Army while infiltrating in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara today," Vaid tweeted. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Centre has directed country's Anti-Naxal operations force CRPF to reposition itself in Naxal-hit regions of Chhatisgarh in order to tackle the Naxal problem more effectively, directing it to withdraw over 7,000 CRPF personnel from their long drawn deployment in four states re-deploy those security men Chhatisgarh's South Bastar areas. These armed troops, part of seven battalions, will be withdrawn from West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh. According to a recent directive, the Union Home Ministry informed the respective states enumerating that the maximum of three battalions are to be withdrawn from West Bengal, two from Bihar and one each from Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. The development comes after the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) made a request to the Centre for more battalions in Chhattisgarh in order to open more bases in the Maoist hotbed in Chhattisgarh. As the biggest Left Wing Extremism (LWE) combat challenge is now in south Bastar, that borders Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, it is required to enhance the number of CRPF boots in these areas, official sources said. The districts of Sukma, Dantewada, Bijapur, Kanker and Kondagaon witness the maximum movement and activity of the armed Maoist cadres and since the last year, the CRPF has begun opening camps in the interior areas to penetrate into the core Naxal areas, they added. A senior CRPF official explained that the LWE theatre in all the states from where the battalions have been ordered to be taken out, except Uttar Pradesh, have seen a marginal dip in the strength and control of Naxals and the forces are now in the dominating position. Uttar Pradesh has one LWE affected district - Sonebhadra - and the lone CRPF battalion proposed to be taken out from this central Indian state would come from a group centre of the force under which eight-nine battalions operate, he said. These states are the only places from where the CRPF could take out few battalions as there is not much scope to withdraw units from either Jammu and Kashmir or the northeast, the two other internal security theatres where the paramilitary is deployed thickly. The process of withdrawal of CRPF personnel is likely to begin by month end and their re-deployment in Chhattisgarh to be completed by the year-end, sources said. In its notification, the Home Ministry has asked the Chhattisgarh government to provide "adequate logistics and accommodation" for these new incoming units. At present, CRPF has about 30 battalions deployed in Chhattisgarh. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: In the wake of an increase in the incidence of attacks on cash vans, the Centre has decided that ATMs will not be replenished with cash after 9 pm in cities and after 6 pm in rural areas. In a notification, the Home Ministry has said that the new Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) would come into effect from February 8, 2019, in view of a spurt in attacks on cash vans and cash vaults, ATM fraud and other internal frauds, leading to an increased sense of insecurity. The deadline for loading ATM machines in Naxal-affected areas has been set at 4 pm and private cash handling agencies have been told to collect money from banks during the first half of the day and transport cash only in armoured vehicles. More than 8,000 privately owned cash vans, operated by non-bank private agencies, ply across the country, and they handle over Rs 15,000 crore daily on behalf of banks. At times, the private agencies keep currency overnight in their cash vaults. According to the directive, the agencies shall provide private security for cash transportation, with the requisite number of trained staff. Every cash van shall have one driver, two armed security guards, and two ATM officers or custodians. The SOP states that one armed guard must sit in the front along with the driver and another in the rear portion of the van while in transit. The guidelines say that during loading or unloading, while answering natures call, or taking a tea or lunch break, at least one armed security guard shall remain present with the cash van all the time and cash transportation shall be carried out only in secured cash vans fitted with a GPS tracking device. It has also been specified that no cash van should carry more than Rs 5 crore per trip. Ex-servicemen, otherwise eligible, may preferably be appointed for providing security for cash transportation, the guidelines state. It has been made clear that no private security agency shall appoint anyone for cash transportation unless the person has undergone a thorough antecedents check, including police, Aadhaar and residence verification, checking with the previous employer, a credit history check and fidelity insurance. The government has further stated that cash boxes shall be secured to the floor with separate chains and locks that can be opened only with separate keys kept with different custodians. The cash van is to be equipped with a small CCTV system with at least five days recording facility and three cameras installed in the front, rear and inside the cabin. A security alarm with a GSM-based auto-dialer shall also be provided with a motorised siren. The cash van is also to be fitted with a hooter, fire extinguishers and emergency lights to ensure quick reaction in case of an attack. The private security agency will ensure that their premises shall be designed to include two physically independent areas, one for general office purpose and other for cash processing. New ATM rules Rajesh Asnani By Express News Service JAIPUR: In poll-bound Rajasthan, Congress chief Rahul Gandhi is walking the extra mile and taking on Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje to ensure victory of his party. Rahul will holding Sankalp rallies across the northern state. These rallies are being seen as a bid to counter Rajes Gaurav Yatra, which will be entering its second phase at Jodhpur the bastion of senior Congress leader Ashok Gehlot. On the other hand, Rajes Yatra is all set to restart again from August 24. With the state Congress caught in in-fighting between Gehlot and Sachin Pilot, the Sankalp rallies may just work as a unifying force for the Grand Old Party.The success of Rahuls road show in Jaipur last week has prompted the party to plan rallies all over Rajasthan. A total of 21 rallies will be held in the next few months. Rallies will be held in all seven divisions of Rajasthan. All senior leaders, including AICC general secretary Ashok Gehlot, Party in-charge Avinash Pandey and Congress leader CP Joshi will be present, informed Congress state president Sachin Pilot. Till now, the Congress used to organise only meetings at a fixed place. But with three states heading for elections this year, the party has changed its strategy. The first Sankalp rally will be in Chittorgarh, where the target is to gather as much as 1 lakh people. After this, rallies are planned in Churu, Barmer, Karauli and Nagaur districts. The Congress has a strong base in these districts, and it would like to further consolidate the support. The series of high-profile rallies will end in September. By Express News Service PATNA: An FIR was registered against Bihars former social welfare minister Manju Verma and her husband following the recovery of 50 cartridges from her in-laws house during a CBI raid in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal. On Friday, the CBI had raided nearly 12 places, including residences of Verma in Patna and her in-laws place in Begusarai, in four districts of the eastern state. The FIR was registered under the Arms Act on Saturday against Verma and her husband Chandrashekhar after 50 live cartridges were sized from her in-laws house at Arjun Tola village during a raid, Cheria Bariarpur police station SHO Ranjit Kumar Rajak said. Police said the live cartridges were of different firearms. The FIR was registered against the couple by a CBI officer, Rajak said, but declined to name him. Verma had resigned as social welfare minister last week following a disclosure that her husband had spoken to the prime accused, Brajesh Thakur, 17 times between January and June. Meanwhile, Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar Sharma rejected the RJDs demand for his resignation over the shelter home sex scandal. Instead, he asked RJD leader Tejashwi Yadav to quit the post of the Leader of Opposition as he was charge sheeted and accused in corruption cases. Sharma, who is a BJP legislator from Muzaffarpur, said he would resign if his involvement in the case was proved. Suresh Sharma is known to be close to Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the scandal. If the CM thinks that the matter has been set to rest with the resignation of Verma, he is mistaken. We will force the government to drop Sharma from the Cabinet, Yadav had said. Minhaz Merchant By Imran Khan, sworn in as Prime Minister of Pakistan on Saturday, August 18, is widely regarded as a puppet of the Pakistan Army. That is only partly true for three reasons. First, Imran has a mind of his own. He opportunistically used the armys clout to win the general election just as the army used him to coalesce the deadly triumvirate that rules Pakistan: the Islamic clergy, terrorist organisations and a pliant judiciary. Second, a closer study of Imrans politics suggests he will clash with the army sooner rather than later. For example, Imran wants to open Pakistans 2,300-km border with Afghanistan. The Pakistan Army wants to close it with a fence. Imran is vicariously anti-American at a time when the Pakistan Army is trying to repair relations with Washington. Imran wants to spend more money on education and healthcare. The Pakistan Army wants to spend every spare rupee (and there arent many) on the defence budget from which it siphons off large sums. Imran entered politics tangentially through his interest in health care, building a cancer hospital in memory of his mother, who died of the disease. He is at some point likely to challenge the armys constantly spiralling defence budget that is now nearly 4 per cent of GDP and has made Pakistan Army officers the countrys wealthiest land owners and businessmen. There is a third reason, though, why Imran will remain a puppet of the powerful army and Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) for at least a while. He knows what the army does to prime ministers who dont toe its line. Nawaz Sharif defied the army and has been reduced to a cipher in prison. Benazir Bhutto defied General Pervez Musharraf and was assassinated. Her father Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto was hanged by General Zia-ul-Haq. So Imran will tread cautiously. If he outlives his utility value, he will be sidelined like other Pakistan Army puppets or protectees, including, most infamously, Dawood Ibrahim. Imrans party, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI), doesnt have a majority in the National Assembly. Terror groups and religious extremists support him in parliament. Shackled by needing to run a minority government, Imran is vulnerable to being remote-controlled by the army. What kind of prime minister will Imran make? The Economist minces no words: Mr. Khan who has seldom attended parliamentary sessions and who has described the National Assembly as the most boring place on earth, must find a sense of dedication, detail and compromise that has evaded him till now. He must learn to work with a political class he has only slammed. And he must gently let down his most enthusiastic supports from the irresponsible highs he generated for themfor instance, by promising to end corruption within 90 days. For India, the key question is: will terrorism abate under Imrans prime ministership? The short answer: no. The Pakistan Army controls terrorism against India and Afghanistan. The prime minister has no role in abating or increasing it. Two facts, however, may affect Pakistani-sponsored terrorism in Jammu and Kashmir. One, the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) has already greylisted Pakistan over money laundering for terrorist activities. An Asia-Pacific Group delegation of the FATF visited Pakistan earlier this week to examine what steps Islamabad has taken to clean up its act. If the number of terrorists groups that continue to receive finance from Pakistani sources is any indication, then blacklisting Pakistan at next years FAFT meeting could be on the cards. Blacklisting will be devastating for Pakistans economy. Its foreign exchange reserves have plunged below $9 billion (by way of comparison, thats 2 per cent of Indias forex reserves). An International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout is inevitable. But the IMF loan will come with conditions of strict spending restrictions that Imran will find hard to swallow. The fear of blacklisting, though, could moderate Pakistan Army-abetted terror attacks on India. Ceasefire violations across the Line of Control (LoC) have already reduced significantly. Since Governors rule was imposed on June 20, terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir too have declined, with Indian security forces using search-and-destroy tactics with greatly improved effectiveness. The other key reason why Imrans prime ministership may bring a relative lull to the Pakistan Armys terror attacks is its deteriorating relationship with the US. For the first time in over 60 years, the US International Military and Education Training programme that conducts training for armed forces from around the world at US military facilities will bar Pakistan Army participation. China has, meanwhile, begun to pull back some of its investments in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). Beijing recently refused to provide a soft loan in lieu of the IMF bailout. Pakistans debt burden to China due to the CPEC is already causing Pakistani commentators to question the viability of the debt-laden infrastructure project. In the short term, Imran will be a ventriloquist for the Pakistan Army, parroting its line on Kashmir. Rawalpindi wants a resumption of dialogue with India, but along with a continuation of terror. In the dialogue, it wants three issues to be discussed: Kashmir, Siachen and Sir Creek. For India, Siachen and Sir Creek are closed chapters. Kashmir is relevant only in the context of ending Pakistan-abetted terrorism in the Valley. The divergence between the two sides will ensure that no meaningful dialogue can take place till Pakistan ends its criminal use of terror as state policy. The generals in Rawalpindi have ensured that Imrans PTI, lacking a majority in the National Assembly, remains at the mercy of its extremist allies. It is a matter of time before Imran Khan Niazi (thats his full name) revolts against the armys authority. The inevitable clash can have only one winner and history tells us it wont be Imran. Shankkar Aiyar By Kerala, Gods Own Country! Who could curse Gods own country? Of course it would have to be man. The floods in Kerala, the worst since the 99 floods witnessed in 1924, have already claimed nearly 400 lives and lakhs are homeless. While the 1924 disaster followed an estimated 3,368 mm rainfall across three weeks, the 2018 disaster comes in the wake of just over 2,000 mm of rain since July 1. The images of submerged homes, videos of marooned people recording messages pleading for rescue, the stories of old, young and ailing persons struggling to stay alive are shocking and gruesome beyond belief. The scale of relief operations gives a sense of the magnitude of the tragic disaster. As of Saturday, 57 teams of the NDRF involving 1,300 personnel, 435 boats, two ships, 38 helicopters, 20 aircraft manned by teams of the Air Force, five companies of paramilitary troops from the BSF, CISF, RAF, ten columns of the Army, 10 teams of the engineering task force, 82 teams from the Navy, and 42 teams from the Coast Guard have been deployed just for rescue and relief. The loss of human and animal life, of livelihood and standing crops/plantations and the scale of post-disaster rebuilding and rehabilitation that will be needed can only be imagined. Deja vu, which literally means already seen, has French etymology dating back to the early 20th century. In the last few decades, at least in the context of governance, you could say deja vu has acquired naturalized Indian etymology. The annual episodes of floods and the death, destruction and disease that follow are virtually a calendar event. Between 1953 and 2017, across 65 years, floods have inundated a total of over 460 million hectares. The number of people or population impacted across over sixty annual episodes by the floods is over 2 billion. Crops worth `1.09 lakh crore, over eight million houses worth over `53,000 crore, and six million cattle have been destroyed. Through the 60 years, over 1.07 lakh lives have been lost and public wealth of over `3.05 lakh crore destroyed. Indeed, on an average, 31 million people and seven million hectares of land are impacted by floods every year. Annually, over 1,600 lives are lost due to floods. Every post-disaster committee report and reviews by parliamentary standing committees have a common screenplayof steps not taken, of funding not provided, of projects not completed, of allocations not spent, of forecasting systems missing or dysfunctional. Systemic apathy is agnostic and prevails regardless of the geography and the political ideology. Regardless of the state and the regime, there is mindless construction on the banks of rivers, leading to landslides. Siltation and illegal construction causes flooding of rivers, lakes and ponds. Brazen and unchecked encroachments into floodplains, haphazard rules that allow for change in land usage and wholesale violation of basic tenets of planning in urban areas drown sanity and cities. Year after year India witnesses, discusses and pushes past disasters, and frequently disasters acquire the hues of a sequel. Every disaster is painted as if it is all natures fault. Yes, the trigger is always a kind of black swan eventthe rains in Kerala, the flash floods in Kashmir, the downpour in Chennai or the record rains in Mumbai. Every event is aggravated by criminal neglect of ecological tenets. An expert group which looked into the July 2005 disaster that left over 500 dead pointed out that there were clear man-made reasons for the floods. These included changes in land use, occupation of floodplains, erosion of mangrove setbacks, siltation of rivers and water bodies, and indiscriminate disposal of solid waste, topped by crumbling infrastructure and systems. The findings of Mumbai would resonate with those in Chennai, Bengaluru, Gurugram or any metropolis. Man-made interventions clearly worsen a natural event. Social media is awash with allegations and attributions. The Kerala floods for instance, it is being claimed, were caused by wilful disregard and rejection of the Madhav Gadgil report on the Western Ghats. Large parts of regions impacted by the rains were ostensibly classified as ecologically sensitive zones by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel. The Gadgil Committee had taken a severe view in the 2011 report. The elected and the electors were up in arms in three states and it was shelved and a new report with a balanced view was adopted. The jury is out and for sure there will be a commission or a committee which will look into acts of omission and commission. There is no disputing there is a clear pattern. Kerala in 2018, Gujarat in 2017, Chennai in 2015, Jammu and Kashmir in 2014, Uttarakhand in 2013, Assam in 2012, UP, Bihar and Odisha in 2011, Ladakh in 2010, Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka in 2009, Kosi-Bihar in 2008, UP, Assam and Bihar in 2007, Mumbai in 2005. The geographies are different, the spatial spread is different, but there is a common theme. Every disaster has a predictable course. The narrative gathers grief and anger about warnings ignored, about encroachments, about violations of land use and topography tenets. This is followed by reports of warnings ignored and acts of commission and/or omission and the worst cutnon-implementation of recommendations by disaster review committees. On July 26, 2005, Mumbai was marooned by 944 mm of rain. In 2017, Mumbai needed less to be flooded and crippled. In 2018, it is not very clear if the Madhav Chitale report did get fully implemented, whether the precautions and preventive measures advocated are part of the system. In 2013, the Ravi Chopra Committee looked into the Uttarakhand disaster and recommended measures. As always, implantation is in a fuzzy zoneand Uttarakhand faces floods again. The story is not dissimilar in Chennai. The Indian context lends itself most eloquently to the phrase deja vu. This must change. But will it?shankkar.aiyar@gmail.com T J S George By My Lord, Never let me climb so high that Im unable to embrace a stranger. The humanism in Atal Bihari Vajpayee made him taller than a prime minister. In the vastness of his mind the ephemerality of political glory counted for what it was. He once said: You might become an ex-prime minister one day, but you will never become an ex-poet. He was a universalist, his literate self dwelling above his political persona. Vajpayee was reared in the RSS school, attending officers training courses from 1940 and qualifying as a full-time pracharak the year India became independent. But he was seldom seen as an activist pracharak preaching the prescribed gospel. He looked more like a dreamer, reaching out to people in ways that went beyond his training. Although he is on record as saying The Sangh is my soul, sensibilities of a larger mission seemed to be working within him. Above the pracharak and the politician was the poet. His spirit roamed free. This drew wider attention as Vajpayee entered Parliament. It is part of legend that the young MPs flowing oratory turned Jawaharlal Nehru into an admirer. The oft-repeated story is that Nehru would rush to the House when Vajpayee rose to speak, and that he once told the BJP leader: One day you will be prime minister. Nehru sent him to the UN General Assembly one year to help him get international exposure and some useful training in diplomacy. Such non-partisan functioning in the larger interests of the country is difficult to imagine nowadays. Nehrus very name has become taboo in patriotic circles and young leaders of Opposition parties are ridiculed as childish. One reason Vajpayee rose to greatness was that he lived in an age that valued political courtesies and did not allow petty-mindedness to cast shadows upon it. That age is behind us. What the poet in Vajpayee described as darkness in the middle of the day has come. It started sending early signals in the middle of Vajpayees term in office. His stature had grown as he progressed from frustrated short terms to a full term as prime minister beginning 1998. The Pokhran atomic explosion that year and the Kargil War the following year put garlands of glamour round his neck. He asserted his personal supremacy over his party hardliners when he took a bus to Lahore in 1999. His initiatives for peace provoked a Vishwa Hindu Parishad secretary to call him a pseudo Hindu. The ultra Hindus got their chance to punish him in 2002. When Gujarat exploded into communal violence that year, Prime Minister Vajpayee was outraged. Within a month of the atrocities he visited the state and said at a press conference that the kings duty to uphold rajdharma had not been carried out. He decided to seek the resignation of the states chief minister when the national executive of the BJP met in Goa a few days later. The flight to Goa turned out to be one of the most historic in Indias aviation history. L K Advani and Arun Jaitley strongly opposed any action against the Gujarat chief minister. Vajpayee was further rattled when slogans were raised at the meeting in favour of the chief minister. Vajpayee had to forget his concept of rajdharma and watch his critics celebrating their triumph. The post-Goa Vajpayee was a politically enfeebled Vajpayee. Advani now became Deputy Prime Minister. RSS demanded a meeting with the Prime Minister and got it, establishing the restoration of its political influence, which Vajpayee had kept at near-zero level all along. It is now 14 years since Vajpayee retired as prime minister. It can be seen that Vajpayees India was different from todays India. Vajpayees BJP was different from todays BJP. Democracy itself was different, allowing space for opponents of the government, dissent playing its essential role in public life, the spirit of freedom never suppressed overtly or covertly. For these extraneous reasons as well as for the vibrancy of his mind, Vajpayees place in history will be above that of all others in his party. He represented the ethos of the nationspiritualism without zealotry, tolerance, liberalism. Such was the roundedness of Vajpayees make-up that we could stand up and say to all the world: This was a gentleman. And sing with him: Its dark in the middle of the day / The sun is defeated by its shadow / Squeeze the oil from your soul and feed the wick / Come lets light the lamp again. By Express News Service ELURU: A 35-year-old software engineer from Andhra Pradesh working in Maryland of the USA died under suspicious circumstances on Saturday night. He was identified as B Veera Venkata Suresh from Perugu Gudem village of Denduluru mandal in West Godavari district. On Sunday morning, parents of Suresh -- B Anjaneyulu and Nagamani received a phone call from police officers in Maryland, informing them that their son Suresh was found dead in his car. However, the family members are in dark as to how Suresh has died. They are trying to contact their relatives and friends in the USA to get more details. Meanwhile, a pall of gloom descended on the village following the untimely demise of Suresh on foreign soil. By Express News Service BENGALURU: The Karnataka Chapter of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) has collected medicines worth Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh for distribution in flood-hit Kodagu district. Its 27,000 members across 175 branches have pledged support and have reached out to doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies for drugs, medicines, money and other relief supplies. About 350 patients were attended to by the Indian Medical Association, Kodagu branch, and given first aid. A few patients who had injuries, both soft tissue and fractures, were admitted to a medical college hospital and Ashwini private hospital and treated. IMA has appealed to all its branches to contribute biscuits, funds, food grains, warm clothes etc. Funds can be transferred to IMA Kodagu branch, said Dr H N Ravindra, President, IMA Karnataka. The real threat of waterborne diseases will start after the flood recedes, Ravindra said. Dr Anil Kumar B T, senior consultant nephrologist, BGS Global Hospital, said, IMA has approached medical associations like the Nephrology Association for help. Around 40-50 doctors, nurses and other medical staffers have donated close to Rs 2.5 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. At 10.30 am tomorrow our relief material will leave for Kerala. Dr Ajith Benedict Rayan, Medical Superintendent, HOSMAT Hospital, said, We have sent 10 cartons of ready-to-eat food and five to six cartons of medicines to Thiruvalla in Pathanamthitta district. By Express News Service BENGALURU/MADIKERI: With the rains letting up, rescue and relief operations gained momentum in the worst-affected Kodagu district on Saturday. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy took stock of the situation by conducting an aerial survey. Meanwhile, the death toll due to rains over the last three days has touched eight. The CM flew in an IAF helicopter from HAL airport in Bengaluru for an aerial survey of Kodagu and Mysuru districts and landed at Periyapatna. We will provide homes to all of you and there is no need for worry. Within two to three months, you will all be rehabilitated, the CM told some 250 people housed at a relief camp in Maithri Hall in Madikeri. READ| Rain recedes in Karnataka's Kodagu, rescue gains pace He also announced Rs 5 lakh compensation to the kin of those who have died due to floods and financial assistance to rebuild houses. Over 800 houses were damaged due to rains. Even as the CM was reassuring people of all assistance, the Army and other agencies were making all efforts to rescue stranded villagers as helicopters could not take off due to inclement weather. The intensity of rainfall is expected to reduce in the next two days, but windy conditions are expected to prevail. Isolated spells of heavy rainfall are also forecast, which may affect the rescue and relief activity being carried out in the district. Two deaths were reported at Jodupala on Saturday, said Deputy Commissioner Sreevidya P I, while rubbishing rumours about Harangi Dam developing a crack and an earthquake in the district, which were doing rounds in social media. Volunteers are also coming out in large numbers to help stranded people in Kodagu by providing relief materials. Earlier in the day, before embarking on the aerial survey, the CM announced that a team headed by the Chief Secretary will directly monitor relief efforts in flood-affected districts. He also said they will analyze the causes for landslides and take preventive measures. Kumaraswamy also directed officials not to give permission for conversion of lands from agriculture to non-agricultural purposes in the Western Ghats. The CM cancelled his scheduled visit to Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga on Sunday will continue to tour Kodagau district and oversee rescue and relief operations. As the helicopter used by the CM had to be pressed into a mission to rescue 60 people, he decided to stay in Mysuru on Saturday night and visit Kodagu again on Sunday morning, according to CMO officials. Union Minister D V Sadanada Gowda, who visited rain-affected areas, said he had never seen a disaster. Over 40 villages have been washed off and the damage is unimaginable. I am told that there are few bodies stuck under some landslides, but we cannot get the exact number of people dead and stranded, he said and assured of all support from the Centre. Meanwhile, in Ballari district, water entered temples at the world heritage site Hampi. On Saturday, 1,50,000 cusecs of water was released from Tungabhadra dam in Hospet, resulting in damage to crops in many villages. ULB election postponed The State Election Commission has postponed the elections to Kushalnagar, Virajapet and Somwarpet town municipalities scheduled to be held on August 31 due to heavy rains in the district. Fresh dates are yet to be announced. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said that a joint operation of Central, state forces and the effort put by the local people helped the rescue operations and could save 58,506 people on Saturday. He was addressing media persons after a high-level review meeting. KERALA FLOODS | FOLLOW LIVE UPDATES Pinarayi Vijayan said that 33 people were found dead on Saturday. He said that 22 helicopters, 83 Naval boats, 57 NDRF teams and boats, 5 BSF teams, 35 teams of the coast guard and their boats, 25 Army teams, 59 Kerala fire force teams, fire force teams from Tamil Nadu and Odisha, 600 boats of fishermen, 40,000 Kerala police personnel and 3200 firemen along with general public and various social organisations took part in the relief work on Saturday. Chief Minister said that he was briefing the Prime Minister, Home Minister and Defense minister on a daily basis ever since the crisis has erupted. He said that Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh had come to the state and did an areal survey and announced an interim relief of 100 crores and on Saturday the Prime Minister himself had come to oversee the situation and had announced an interim relief of 500 crores. Pinarayi Vijayan said that the state had requested the centre for an assistance of Rs 19,512 crores and an immediate assistance of Rs 2000 crores. Chief Minister also said that never in the history of the state has the army done any disaster relief operations on its own and had always assisted the civil administration. He pointed out the instances of the flood in Assam, Jammu and Kashmir and Tamil Nadu and the earthquakes in Gujarat. He added that even though Jammu and Kashmir is a problem state the Army had entered into flood relief operations in that state with the support of the state administration. Pinarayi Vijayan said that in addition to the central government support, other state governments have also promised financial support and support of grains and other food materials. He said that Telangana has promised a support of Rs 25 crore, Maharashtra Rs 20 crore,Uttar Pradesh Rs 15 crore, Madhya Pradesh Rs 10 crore, Delhi Rs 10 crore, Punjab Rs 10 crore, Karnataka Rs 10 crore, Bihar Rs 10 crore, Gujarat Rs 10 crore, Tamil Nadu Rs 5 crore, Odisha Rs 5 crore, Chattisgarh Rs 3 crore and rice worth Rs 7 crore. Chief Minister said that the state has faced the flood of the century and had tried to overcome this with the support of the people of the state and with Central government support. He said that the state is unique as its population density is more than double that of the national. To a question on the Leader of oppositions criticism that the operation should have been handed over to the Armed forces, Pinarayi Vijayan said: "I have already answered that and we are fighting this crisis together and I don't want to comment on this. Pinarayi Vijayan also said that the review meetings will take place on a day to day basis and even after the crisis is over, there will be meetings as there are several other processes remaining after the crisis comes to an end including cleaning, medical aid and other necessary things. By PTI NEW DELHI: The Women and Child Development Ministry has dispatched 100 metric tonnes of ready-to-eat food packets for the flood-affected children in Kerala which is witnessing its deadliest deluge in close to a century that has claimed 194 lives, a senior official has said. The ministry has been working with the Telangana government to get about 100 metric tonnes of supplementary nutrition 'Balamrutham' delivered to Thiruvananthapuram from Hyderabad, the official said. 'Balamrutham' is the weaning food to provide improved supplementary nutrition to children between 7 months and six years. The food is a preparation of wheat, chana dal, milk powder, oil and sugar. It is fortified and thus provides 50 per cent of iron, calcium, vitamins that children require per day. "This (food packets) is in the form of ready-to-eat dry mixture packed in one kg packets and is suitable for children up to six years," the official said. The relief teams from Integrated Child Development Services units of the Kerala government are already in position for immediate distribution of the food packets, the official added. The deluge has dealt a body blow to the scenic state of Kerala, wrecking its tourism industry, destroying standing crops in thousands of hectares and inflicting huge damage to infrastructure. Kerala plunged deeper into misery with hospitals facing a shortage of oxygen and fuel stations running dry. As per information from the control room of the State Disaster Management, since August 8, 194 people have lost their lives and 36 are missing. Over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. Anuja Susan Varghese By Express News Service Chengannur, known as the Gateway of Sabarimala, is experiencing an unprecedented flood situation over the past four days. Thousands of people, including pregnant women, children and the elderly, have been staying on rooftops begging for help. Our reporter, Anuja Susan Varghese, a native of Chengannur, had returned home on August 14. Though the water did not enter her house, the entire area is flooded. A witness to the havoc, Anuja narrates her experience from a safe ground. These are days of horror and heartache for the residents of Chengannur. Four days of life, death, devastation and the battle for survival. The mayhem the floods unleashed on our town is unprecedented. The agony and tribulation of the flood-hit is almost inexpressible. When a rescue boat of the Fire and Rescue Services arrived at Parambathoorpady, an elderly couple was struggling to stay afloat on the first floor of their house. They were standing in neck-deep water and struggling to breathe. They shouted and banged on the doors to attract the attention of the rescue workers. Finally, they were rescued. ALSO READ | Kerala flood blamed on women's entry into Sabarimala by Hindu Makkal Katchi Independence Day being a holiday, I returned home to Piralassery, around 2 km from Chengannur town, on August 14. I was supposed to return to Kochi on Thursday morning, but it rained heavily on August 15 and the entire area was marooned. On 16th evening, the floodwater had reached 100 m from my house and most people didn't get the time to shift. The shops at Puthenkavu Junction, merely half-a-kilometre from our house, lay submerged and the flow was so heavy that it was difficult for country boats to reach the area. Places like Arattupuzha, Neervilakom, Angadickal, Malakkara, Aikattu on the southern side of river Pampa were inundated on the 16th morning and the ground floor of the houses was submerged by evening. Water had entered around 60 per cent of the houses at Edanadu, Koyipuram, Kumbanad and Othara on the northern side of the river. Neervilakom, a low-lying area, bore the brunt of the flood and almost all houses lay submerged. The water had risen to the level of a two-storey building here. ALSO READ | Kerala floods: How to save your water damaged phone during emergency 50-member team from the Indo- Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) had arrived in Chengannur on August 16 morning. They had two fibre boats and a speed boat with them which they pressed into the rescue mission immediately. The Fire and Rescue Services personnel and the police also joined the rescue operation. Georgy Varghese, an agricultural officer, and his wife Bindu were staying in a two-storeyed tiled house at Malakkara. As the water entered the first floor of the house, they shifted to the wooden ceiling of their house. They removed the tiles of the roof and sat on the wooden ceiling for three days waiting for help to arrive. It was frightening during the night as the flow of the water echoed like a roar. Trees swept away by the running water crashed against the house and the compound wall collapsed. Each sound was deafening and the wait for dawn looked unending. On Friday, as the water was inching closer to the ceiling, the rescue workers arrived. Shifted to safety, Georgy still shivers at the thought of the tormenting night. There is no news of Georgy's 86-year-old father Baby, his mother and brother who stayed just two houses away. Elsa Mariyam, a Malakkara resident who was rescued by the NDRF team on Friday, said she kept her daughter's 40-day-old child on the ceiling of the toilet as water entered the first floor of the house. There were snakes and centipedes in the water and the family kept awake all through the night to escape from the reptiles. Mariyamma John, 61, a resident of Puthencavu, was staying alone. She was rescued as the water level started rising on Thursday. Within hours, the house was submerged completely. By UNI KOLKATA: With floods playing havoc in Kerala, the state, known as 'God's Own Country' would have suffered massive economic losses, the estimates of which could well be Rs 15,000-20,000 crore with a staggered impact of a few months, mostly on tourism, cash crops, trade including international trade from Kochi and other ports, besides shaking the lives of millions of people, an ASSOCHAM quick assessment has indicated. "In the state's Rs 8 lakh crore Gross Domestic Product, tourism and agriculture, mostly rice, pepper, cardamom, cashew, tea, coffee, coconut, contribute about 10 per cent each (tourism -10 and slightly more for agriculture). Then, the internal and external trade contribute a lot," the chamber said, receiving inputs from the state. "The external trade not only comprises exports of cash crops and other industrial goods and services from Kerala, but also commercial activities from ports like Kochi and three international ports from the state. At this point of time, all these components of the state GDP are in a state of total chaos and destruction," the chamber said. Kerala which is among the states receiving maximum of remittances from the Non-Resident Indians, particularly in the Gulf, would look up to its people abroad to raise their level of remittances to support families, though it may not be enough. It said, Kerala is not only witnessing the worst ever floods and devastation since 1924, the phase of natural fury has been quite prolonged. "The prolonged impact not only hampers the relief and rehabilitation, it takes long to re-build even the basic infrastructure like roads, re-erecting of electric poles, broad band cables, clearing the roads in the mountain region of the mud and landslides. Besides re-building of houses would take weeks and months. As far as the economic impact is concerned, while the official agencies would arrive at their own estimates, it would not be an exaggeration to say that the loss could even be Rs 20,000 crore, as things stand today". ASSOCHAM Secretary General D S Rawat said, "Tourism and cash crops are the lifeline of Kerala. When these two are completely crippled with a prolonged impact, the losses would be enormous leaving lakhs of people in the hardship. We in the industry would appeal to our members to generously contribute towards the relief and rehabilitation work". According to the official documents like the Economic Survey of the state, in agriculture the cropping pattern is dominated by cash crops constituting 63 per cent of the total cropped area while food crops consisting of rice, tapioca and pulses account for about 10 per cent of the state's farm products. Among cash crops, coconut has the largest area under crop cover (30 per cent) followed by rubber (21.3 per cent) pepper (3.3 per cent) and coffee (3.28 per cent). Rice has the third largest area under crop cover (6.6 per cent). "Floods have left nothing untouched among all these crops", breaking the back of the farmers and those allied sectors like marine products. Same is true about tourism as the state had become a sought after destination for international tourists with several beaches and a wide range of geo-ecology. "With airports shut and likely to resume operations after a week or more, the entire tourism economy has gone into a troubled spot." C J Punnathara By Express News Service We thought we had escaped the rain and flood fury when we moved up from Kochi, into the hills at Kuttikkanam in Idukki district. Yes, we had left the floodwaters behind but the torrential rains kept us company. The winds howled through the night as mist and rain lashed the windows. Kuttikkanam is the highest point of KK Road, linking Kottayam with Kumily. Back in Kochi the area around our apartment had got inundated and water rushed into the ground floor flats making them unbearable. ALSO READ | Kerala floods: How to save your water damaged phone during emergency As corporation ceased pumping water from the muddy Periyar at Aluva, the underground tanks were filled with rain and slush water. Drinking, cooking and even bathing was becoming difficult. The supermarkets were running out of stock but the residents had stocked up to tide over the immediate crisis. But no amount of rain could drench or douse the spirit of the people. With whatever they had to cook and spare, food was being mobilized, clothes and blankets were being organised, even as people volunteered to shuttle between camps distributing relief materials. Soon WhatsApp was replete with messages asking where to deliver and distribute the food that had been cooked for hundreds of people. ALSO READ | Rainfall intensity in Kerala to reduce from August 20: IMD The vehicles of these good-natured volunteers ran into the floodwaters along the National Highway far ahead of Aluva, Angamaly, Chalakkudy, a few of the affected regions. Several of them had to return. Mission un-accomplished! Food wasted! Yet the good Samaritans never gave up. There is always a meaning even in these times of calamity and madness. Unknown to many, the Rajiv Gandhi Indoor Stadium at Kadavanthra was becoming a hub for relief activities. They were organising the collection and transport of relief material to the needy at the camps. The good work continues. Up here in the hills, the people were confronting a different kind of disaster, landslides along with torrential rains and fast-flowing rivers. We had visited Vandiperiyar when all the shutters of the Mullaperiyar dam were opened. The bridge linking the small hill-town to Kumily was blocked and manned by Fire and Rescue Services and police personnel. The usually sluggish and serpentine Periyar river was flowing beneath the bridge, furiously racing to the plains. As old yet live electric posts along the river bank swayed and faltered under the fury of the tearing waters, the security personnel were busy clearing the bridge of gawking spectators and selfie-clicking visitors. The selfies were busy making the calamity into a live spectacle for the masses. In a day or two, these cascading waters would create madness and mayhem and could virtually inundate the township of Aluva. Kumily was cut off from the rest of Kerala. Earlier, a landslide at Pullupara had cut off the high ranges from the bristling midland towns. ALSO READ | Jharkhand CM announces Rs 5 crore aid for flood-battered Kerala Later, a wide crack in the road soon cut off traffic to Peermade. Landslips are a common and well-accepted feature in the ghats. But their sheer extent and ferociousness can be terrifying. Just one tree slipping on to the road or a whole hillock with houses, wells, cattle and fields crashing down are classified as landslips. We had come here to set up a house for our son, who is working in one of the resorts at Panchalimedu. A few days back he and his colleagues were blocked by a landslip from reaching their workstation. Another landslip blocked the alternate path. The next day one of the paths was cleared but he could not come back because overnight a new landslip blocked the path once again. Today he has gone prepared, carrying sufficient clothes for another stay-over. ALSO READ | Liverpool offers help to Kerala flood victims These are small landslips, a couple of trees. But an everyday feature in the hills. Only this time, the rain has made it worse. Its the wonderful age of the Internet. Just got pictures on WhatsApp of the lawn of my small cottage beside Vembanad lake getting inundated. The vastness of the backwaters, from Kayamkulam to Kochi, was supposed to keep it safe. Take care, the dark fury of the rains have not abated as yet. (The author is a senior journalist with around 30 years of experience and consulting editor to various publications). The views expressed in the article are those of the author. By Express News Service KOCHI: On Day Four of the current bout of flooding, there was a sense of urgency in evacuating the thousands stranded. According to government figures, more than 20,000 have been taken to safety, but the real worry for the state is a few thousand are still in danger, desperately awaiting rescue. Though water started receding in some parts of the state with the dams reducing the outlow, water started entering new areas, adding to the agony and despair of the victims. ALSO READ | PM Modi chairs high-level meeting, announces Rs 500 crore immediate flood relief for Kerala Two towns, Pandalam in Pathanamthitta district and Thalayolapparambu in Kottayam were marooned on Saturday as Achankoil and Muvattupuzha rivers changed course and flowed into the towns triggering panic among residents. The woes of flood victims stranded in towns like Chengannur, Pandalam, Thalayolapparambu, Aluva and Paravur seemed never-ending as rescue workers were not able to reach them due to heavy flow. The accounts of people rescued from these places paint a disaster of greater proportion. With 38 more deaths reported till Saturday evening, the death toll rose to 204. By ANI THIRUVANATHAPURAM: As the massive floods have wreaked havoc in Kerala, Telangana Home Minister, Nayani Narshimha Reddy handed over a cheque of Rs 25 crore to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday. Apart from this, the Telangana administration has also airlifted 50 R.O machines worth Rs 2.5 crore to Kerala from Begumpet for drinking water. The aid was announced by the Telangana Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday. He also expressed deep sorrow on the natural calamity and loss of lives and damage to property. Kerala has been facing the worst flooding in a century. Kerala Chief Minister confirmed on Saturday that the death toll due to the floods has increased to 357. He added that the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore due to the deluge. In this hour of need, besides Central Government, Chief Ministers of various states have come forward to support Kerala and offered financial aid to the southern state. While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered an aid of Rs 15 crore from the Uttar Pradesh Relief Fund, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu have offered a contribution of Rs 10 crore each. The states of Jharkhand and Odisha also announced a financial help of Rs 5 crore. The calamity has also grabbed global attention. Even the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took note of the issue and formed a committee to provide relief to the affected people. By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala has called for the Army to be given total command of the flood relief and rescue operations. The Southern Command of the Army should take charge and the state government should monitor the situation, he told reporters at the Cantonment House here on Saturday. He said scale of tragedy is unprecedented and its magnitude beyond the worst nightmare. Chennithala said the government should not resort to false prestige and instead call for the total services of the Army.The Opposition leader said he is not playing politics on the issue and that his appeal is for saving the hapless people of the state who are trapped and stranded. He said when such natural disasters happened in the past, the Army was in full charge of the operations. ALSO READ | PM Modi chairs high-level meeting, announces Rs 500 crore immediate flood relief for Kerala The need of the hour is the superior rescue operations of the Army to save the hapless people. He said survival and rescue have to be given the priority and the rest can be spoken about later. Chennithala also said he had given a memorandum to the Prime Minister on the assistance required and had also called the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh thrice. He urged the people of the state to take charge and support the NGOs, political parties and social organisations engaged in rescue and relief operations. He said the shutters of dams should not be opened further. He also urged the Agriculture Minister to supply maximum vegetables through horticorp outlets. Kodiyeri slams Chennithala TPuram: CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has scoffed at Opposition leaders Ramesh Chennithalas call for total Army deployment. The Opposition leader is calling for the Army to take over the states administration, which will not happen, Kodiyeri said. Meanwhile, Chennithala told reporters he had never called for the Army taking over the administration. Instead my suggestion is that Army takes command of the rescue and relief operations, with the state government monitoring the situation, he said. Dr P Raveen Sakalya By Express News Service When rain happens in our country, the most commonly used terminologies are the monsoon, deep depression, low pressure both by the scientific community and the common man. But what is the exact reason behind the incessant rain? In Kerala, rains started from April 25 and continue till now. I attribute this continuous rainfall to a phenomenon called Solar activity. The time scale fluctuations happening in sun over a period of years can be termed as solar activity. Solar activity has a cycle called solar cycle comprising 11 years. ALSO READ | Kochi naval airstrip to be open for commercial aircraft; SMS, data free in Kerala As we know, the sun is the pertinent force of atmospheric procedures, patterns and phenomenon, the difference in solar radiation and its subsequent changes due to Earths orbital motion affects the entire climate change scenario. Solar activity has two subdivisions or patterns. Solar Maximum: During solar maximum, we get the maximum output of solar energy and solar irradiance. It is characterised by the changes in the number of sunspots, solar flares and intensity of the solar magnetic field. During solar maximum, the Intensity of cosmic rays entering the surface will be minimum, cloud formation or cloud nuclei condensation will be minimum, whereas a rise in temperature on the surface of the earth will be maximum, thereby providing hot temperature. Solar Minimum: The activity of sun decreases leading to drastic climate change scenario. ALSO READ | Declare Kerala floods as national disaster: Congress chief Rahul Gandhi to PM Modi The solar minimum is characterised by coronal mass ejection from the sun and by the inflow of solar particles. It also causes an increase in the intensity of cosmic rays entering the Earths atmosphere, coronal holes and auras in polar areas. Besides when solar activity is minimum, the intensity of cosmic rays will be higher, cloud formation will be higher, aerosol contents will be higher leading to a fall in the temperature of the Earth and abnormal climatic variations. (The author is former project scientist, Ministry of Earth Science, Government of India, Chennai, and currently a faculty with the Department of Physics, St Thomas College, Kozhenchery) The views expressed in the article are those of the author. Rain in Kerala due to Solar Minimum Though we refer to the monsoon and low pressure for the incessant rain, I attribute it to solar minimum, which is also a factor for the continuous rainfall since April 25. The studies about the sun by leading research agencies indicate the absence of sunspots underlining the presence of Solar Minimum. It should be pertinently noted that for the past 70 days we havent had sunspots which indicate solar minimum. Besides, there is an absence of Elnino, a process happening due to the warming of the sea surface. It also indicates that we are going through the solar minimum. Kerala Floods: An aerial view of flood hit Aluva-Paravur region. Most of the houses and buildings are fully or partially submerged by water. (Photo | Albin Mathew/EPS) If this is the scenario, this temperature will prolong for a few months providing a cooler climate, provided no abnormal sunspots are happening. During Ockhi, it should be noted that we had the solar minimum. This regional cooling might be linked with a drop in the suns extreme ultraviolet radiation. The Meteorological Department and climate change study centres should concentrate more on the aspects of solar activity too for making rainfall predictions. By PTI KOLKATA: West Bengal government will contribute Rs 10 crore to the Kerala Chief Ministers relief fund in the wake of the recent rain-fed floods in the southern state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said. "My heart goes out to the people of Kerala battling #KeralaFloods In this hour of crisis, to stand beside the flood-affected people of Kerala, we have decided to make a contribution of Rs Ten Crore to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund," Banerjee wrote in her Twitter handle. She said that the state was willing to extend all form of assistance and support to the Kerala government to deal with the current flood situation there. "We are also ready to extend all other assistance and support that may be needed to tackle the calamity. We pray that our brothers and sisters of Kerala resume normal life soon," Banerjee added. In the rain-battered Kerala, 194 people have so far lost their lives since August 8. Tiki Rajwi By Express News Service THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The IAFs Thiruvananthapuram- based Southern Air Command (SAC) is poised to create three new air enclaves, of which two will be in the state: In Thiruvananthapuram and Kannur. The third enclave will come up in Andhra Pradesh, said Air Marshal B Suresh, Air Officer Commanding-in-Chief, SAC. In an exclusive interview with Express, Air Marshal Suresh who took over as SAC chief earlier this month said the enclaves is set to give the IAF a stronger presence in the state. In Andhra Pradesh, the IAF has zoomed in on Rajahmundry. This is a plan for the future. We will start the process as and when the money is available. It takes time. The gestation period is high since building an air base/enclave and bringing in the assets is a long-drawn process. And it is also capital intensive, said Suresh, who is in the rare position of being posted to his hometown Thiruvananthapuram. Air enclaves are essentially smaller facilities which allow the IAF added mobility and reach. The IAF already has the 17 Forward Base Support Unit at Shanghumugham in Thiruvananthapuram which will be expanded with additional land. The IAF will get a small enclave in Phase II of the expansion plan for Kannur (airport). In Kannur we will have 10 more helipads sought for relief efforts. As part of flood relief operations, the IAF is looking at alternate landing sites in the state other than military-held ones for its helicopters. This includes one each at Palakkad, Kollam (Asramam ground) and Adoor", Air Marshal B Suresh said. This has been necessitated by the fact Cochin International Airport remains flooded and the Navys INS Garuda in Kochi is relatively small. The SAC is currently operating choppers out of Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Sulur in Tamil Nadu. By Friday, the IAF had airlifted 47.1 tonne of relief materials. SAC has also initiated a dialogue for establishing a jointuser airfield at Minicoy in the Lakshadweep Islands. Essentially, all these plans are meant to add more teeth to SACs maritime operations and the overall strategy of warding off threats in the Indian Ocean region where Chinese activity is on the rise. Anuja Susan Varghese By CHENGANNUR: Chengannur, some 117 km north of Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, is known as the gateway to Sabarimala. The recent floods have left thousands of people, including pregnant women, children and the elderly, on rooftops begging for help. Our reporter Anuja Susan Varghese, a native of Chengannur, returned home on August 14. Though the water did not enter her house, the entire area is flooded. Heres her account: These are days of horror and heartache for the residents of Chengannur. Three days of life, death, devastation and the battle for survival. The mayhem the floods unleashed on our town is unprecedented. When a rescue boat of the Fire and Rescue Services arrived at Parambathoorpady, an elderly couple was struggling to stay afloat on the first floor of their house. They were standing in neck-deep water, struggling to breathe. They shouted and banged on the doors to attract the attention of the rescue workers, before they were rescued. #KeralaFloods: Relief materials being loaded on board Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak helicopter & Naval Sea King helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi pic.twitter.com/t2hAtwZivj ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 Independence Day being a holiday, I returned home to Piralassery, around 2 km from Chengannur town, on August 14. I was supposed to return to Kochi on Thursday morning, but it rained heavily on August 15 and the entire area was marooned. On 16th evening, the floodwater had reached 100 m from my house and most people didnt get the time to shift. The shops at Puthenkavu Junction, merely half-a-kilometre from our house, lay submerged and the flow was so heavy that it was difficult for country boats to reach the area. Also Read | Rain continues havoc in Kottayam; over 64,000 people in relief camps Places like Arattupuzha, Neervilakom, Angadickal, Malakkara, Aikattu on the southern side of river Pampa were inundated, with the ground floors of most houses submerged by evening. Neervilakom, a low-lying area, bore the brunt of the flood, with the water rising to the roof of two storey houses. A 50-member team from the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) arrived in Chengannur on August 16 morning. They had two fibre boats and a speedboat with them which they pressed into the rescue mission immediately. The Fire and Rescue Services personnel and the police also joined the rescue operation. Georgy Varghese, an agricultural officer, and his wife Bindu were staying in a two-storeyed tiled house at Malakkara. As the water entered the first floor of the house, they shifted to the wooden ceiling of their house. Also Read | Pandanad Town cries for help, water level not receeding They removed the tiles of the roof and sat on the wooden ceiling for three days waiting for help to arrive. Trees swept away by the running water crashed against the house and the compound wall collapsed. The nights were particularly frightening. Each sound was deafening and the wait for dawn looked unending. On Friday, as the water inched closer to the ceiling, the rescue workers arrived. Shifted to safety, Georgy still shivers at the recollection. There is no news of his 86-year-old father Baby, his mother and brother who stayed just two houses away. Also Read | Hilly areas in Pathanamthitta grapple with flood aftermath Elsa Mariyam, a Malakkara resident who was rescued by the NDRF team on Friday, said she kept her daughters 40-day-old child on the ceiling of the toilet as water entered the first floor of the house. There were snakes and centipedes in the water and the family kept awake all through the night to escape from the reptiles. ITBP rescue mission in Chengannur A 50-member team from the ITBP arrived in Chengannur on August 16 morning. They had two fibre boats and a speedboat with them which they pressed into the rescue mission. Chengannur has a sizeable population of the elderly staying alone, with their children having migrated seeking greener pastures. Omana, a wheelchair-bound resident of Arattupuzha with a servant to take care of her, is missing and her relatives in America have been contacting rescue workers frantically to know her whereabouts. An officer with the Fire and Rescue Department said they have been inundated with similar calls from countries like Canada, the USA, the UK and from West Asia. The power lines in the area were switched off on August 15 and there was no way to contact the flood victims as the mobile phones were drained of power. The BSNL land lines that stopped working on Thursday were revived on Friday evening which came as a big relief. A team from the NDRF also arrived and they rescued around 1,000 people by August 16 evening. Though it we was difficult to reach internal areas like Edanadu, Malekkara and Arattupuzha, the rescue workers saved around 1,000 people on Thursday. By Friday morning, two-storey houses at Edanad and Arattupuzha also lay submerged. Power was switched off on the 15th evening. It was pitch dark, with no potable water or phone connectivity. Some NGOs and local people were distributing food packets in fishing boats. On Friday, the Navy started air-dropping food packets to the stranded. Two youngsters, Binu and Ajeesh, who went to Neervilakom for rescue work went missing on Thursday and their bodies were recovered on Saturday. According to the rescue workers, three bodies were recovered from the houses in the area after water started receding. But with the met department predicting more rains, it looks like the travails of the people have just begun. Namita Bajpai By LUCKNOW: The Ram temple can wait. The Yogi Adityanath government has new plans for the holy town of Ayodhya.In order to put the temple town on the global religious tourism map, its planning to build a new, or Navya Ayodhya, a modern township with world class facilities between Ayodhya and Faizabad. The highlight of the proposed new township will be a nirvana abode or Mukti Dham a place to seek and attain moksha (salvation), and an abode for those wanting to end their days in the land of Lord Ram. After approval from the tourism department, the township project, reportedly prepared by London-based consultancy firm Pricewaterhouse Coopers, has been forwarded to the state government for its approval. To be built on a 500-acre area along Faizabad-Gorakhpur national highway, about 10 km from Ayodhya at an estimated cost of `1,200 crore, the ambitious project envisages facilities like five-star hotels, riverside resorts, multi-storey buildings both commercial and residential and underground systems for drainage and electric wiring. The work on the township is likely to begin later this year. The state governments thrust on wooing foreign tourists to Ram Nagri the fact that only 24,000 of 1.7 crore tourists who visited Ayodhya last year were foreigners.There is immense potential in Ayodhya to attract tourists from across the world for being the birthplace of Lord Ram. It needs to tapped and promoted, said a senior tourism department official, adding that Navya Ayodhya was an endeavour in that direction. Ayodhya district magistrate Anil Kumar Pathak, who is also the vice-chairman of Faizabad Development Authority, feels there is a need for a separate township because Ayodhya is too congested and densely populated to be transformed and beautified.According to highly placed sources in the Ayodhya- Faizabad Development Authority (AFDA), the work for land acquisition on the identified site has already begun. Besides Nirvana abode, studio apartments will be built along the banks of the river Saryu to facilitate the stay of those who want to leave for their last journey from Ayodhya.One studio apartment will cost `20-25 lakh. Those who cant afford it can pay some amount, say `5 lakh, for allotment of an apartment with the agreement that the unit will go back to the authority after the allottees death, said a senior AFDA official. Ramayana circuit The Yogi government started efforts to tap Ayodhyas potential soon after it came to power. A comprehensive plan of 13 development projects was put together and presented to the Centre, which approved it with a budget of D133 crore under the Ramayana Circuit. Ashwini M Sripad By BENGALURU: A Peculiar situation has lashed Karnataka, where the government has to deal with flooding in the coastal and Malnad regions along with parts of South Karnataka, while a drought-like situation continues in certain parts of North Karnataka. Authorities say if the situation continues for next one more week, they might have to conduct crop damage assessment due to drought as well as flooding in these regions. In the last few days, there has been heavy rainfall in the coastal and Malnad regions along with Kodagu, Mysuru and other parts of Karnataka. At the same time, there is no rain in Ballari, Raichur, Koppal, Kalaburgi, Yadgir and Bidar, leading to a peculiar situation. Official sources say that they are focussed on the flooding and rescue operations. The drought management will be done later. Gangaram Baderia, Principal Secretary, Revenue department (Disaster Management) said right now they are handling the flooding situation with sufficient men and machinery. He explained that it is considered a drought if the rainfall deficit is 60 per cent of normal or below. But at present it looks like it is 40 per cent. We have time till August-end. If the same situation continues, we might need to take a call. We are seeking Ground Water Drought index, River Flow Drought, Normalised Difference Vegetative Index from various agencies including Indian Space Research Organisation, Minor and Major Irrigation Departments. If the situation heads towards a drought-like situation, then we might need to go for crop loss estimation, and a survey has to be done, he said. On flooding, Baderia said that currently, infrastructure facilities like bridges, roads, buildings and others have been damaged. There has been human and cattle life loss, but not crop loss. If the situation and rainfall continues, we will have to assess crop loss too, he added.The state has 13 major reservoirs including Linganamakki, Supa, Varahi, Hemavathi, KRS and other dams. With heavy rain over the past few days, for the first time in the history, all 13 major dams in Karnataka are full and overflowing. This might cause crop loss around dams. UN chief saddened over destruction caused by flood United Nations: UN chief Antonio Guterres has expressed sadness over the flooding and extensive damage and displacement caused in rain-battered Kerala. The state is witnessing the worst flooding in 100 years. About 80 dams have overflowed and more than 300 lives have been lost. Over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. Our humanitarian colleagues as well as the country team in India have been following the recent floods very closely, said Stephane Dujarric, the UN Secretary-Generals spokesperson. Aishik Chanda By KOLKATA: By brokering a peace deal with the Jomi Jibika Poribesh o Bastutantra Raksha Samiti, the West Bengal government scored a strategic win by not only ending a two-year agitation at Bhangar but also denying the Opposition a chance to attack the Trinamool Congress in 2019. It is another story that Bhangar agitators are claiming victory after the government truncated the power grid there to a sub-station, reduced transmission wires from 16 to four and announced a `12 crore package to land losers and families of two protestors killed in the police firing in January last year. The Trinamool is relieved that the agitation ended peacefully. With BJP president Amit Shah frequenting the state and attacking Didi, and CPI-M and Congress unifying in 2017 over the Bhangar agitation, ending this stir was very important to deny the Opposition an attacking point, a TMC leader says. Preparations for the peace deal began before the panchayat elections in May. While CM Mamata Banerjee signaled peace by ordering arrest of TMC strongman Arabul Islam before polls, victory of five of the nine agitation committee candidates in Polerait II gram panchayat polls gave an official seal to the agitators strength. The government gained the upper hand after it arrested the agitations face Alik Chakraborty in May. Medical treatment and bail of the agitation leader paved way for the peace deal. We tracked the movements of a doctor visiting Chakraborty at his hideout. Before he was being taken to Bhubaneswar, we got to know that he had a new phone and tracked it which led to his arrest, a senior police officer said. Agitators were brought to the negotiating table after Chakraborty was allowed to meet agitation leaders Mirza Hassan, Ali Mohammad, Sajarul Islam and Mosharraf Hossain. Pressure was also created on them to broker a peace deal or else Chakraborty would be prosecuted. Some 70 cases, including those under the UAPA, had been pressed against him. This is Bhangar agitations victory. Due to our agitation, the government has scaled down the power grid to a sub-station. We also succeeded to ensure a `12 crore package, Hassan says. Back at Bhangar, not all the agitators are happy with the peace deal. Everyone has to agree what the committee has decided, says Mostakin Mollah, brother of Alamgir Mollah who was killed in the police firing in 2017, after receiving `8 lakh from the government. Will one feel good if someone gives `10 after slapping someone? Siddique Mollah of Machibhanga asks. Aliks arrest put Mamata ahead The government gained the upper hand after it arrested the agitations face Alik Chakraborty in May. Medical treatment and bail of the agitation leader paved way for the peace deal. The police arrested him just before he was being taken to Odisha. By PTI NEW YORK: The US has said that it was looking forward to work with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in the country and in the region as it welcomed the swearing-in of Imran Khan as the new Prime Minister. Khan, 65, was sworn in as Pakistan's 22nd prime minister at a simple ceremony in Islamabad yesterday. "We recognise and welcome the newly elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on taking the oath of office," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement. It said that for over 70 years, the relationship between the US and Pakistan has been a vital one. The relations between Pakistan and the US nose-dived after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists. The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan's defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year. "The US looks forward to working with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and the region," it added. Meanwhile, Spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, congratulated Khan on becoming Pakistan's Prime Minister. "The Secretary-General and the UN system looks forward to working with Khan in his new capacity as Prime Minister of Pakistan," Dujarric said. By ANI WASHINGTON: United States President Donald Trump on Saturday defended his recent meetings with foreign dignitaries such as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying it was "not a bad thing." In a video posted on Twitter, Trump said, "Many people ask why I meet foreign leaders and waste my time. It is very important that if you are the president, you should be with the foreign leaders. There is nothing to lose and there is a lot to gain." He recalled his summit with Kim at Singapore in June, saying that North Korea had returned the remains of the US war troops killed in the Korean War. "Nobody is shooting out missiles and there are no nuclear testings and other things going on that were terrible earlier," Trump stressed in reference to North Korea. Trump and Kim had met in Singapore and 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. Although Kim had vowed to give up developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, a confidential report by the United Nations revealed that the country is reportedly continuing to pursue its nuclear weapons programme. Calling his meeting with Putin at Helsinki in July as "tremendous", the US President asserted that a "lot of things were accomplished." Trump continued, "The meeting with foreign leaders is a good thing, it is not a bad thing. Nothing bad can happen. It is only going to be positive, especially if your president knows what he is doing." Trump had touched off a major political controversy following his comments on the alleged meddling of the 2016 US presidential election by Russia at the joint press conference with Putin in Helsinki. The US President had endorsed his Russian counterpart's stance on Moscow's non-involvement in the presidential poll, insisting that he ran a clean campaign and there was zero collusion. Later, Trump attempted to walk back his comments and blamed Putin for the alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election. By AFP MECCA: More than two million Muslims from around the globe started the hajj pilgrimage today in Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest annual gatherings in a country undergoing unprecedented change. The ultra-conservative kingdom -- where religion remains a guiding force amid dramatic social and economic reforms -- has mobilised vast resources for the six-day journey, a pillar of Islam. "It's the dream of every Muslim to come here to Mecca," said Frenchman Soliman Ben Mohri. "It's the ultimate journey. What worries me is the return to my normal life. For the moment, I am in a dream," the 53-year old told AFP. Every Muslim is required to complete the hajj journey to Islam's holiest sites at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so. Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed for the pilgrimage, which was struck by its worst ever disaster three years ago when around 2,300 worshippers were crushed to death in a stampede. This year, the Saudis have launched a "smart hajj" initiative, with apps to help pilgrims with everything from travel plans to medical care. The interior ministry said on Saturday that the number of pilgrims arriving in Mecca had already surpassed the two million mark, mostly from abroad including large contingents from Egypt, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Wearing the simple white garb of the pilgrim, most of the faithful began moving on Sunday from Mecca to the nearby Mina valley. They will spend the night there in fire-resistant tents in the desert, where temperatures top 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Thousands of buses and vehicles carrying the pilgrims lined the eight kilometre (five-mile) road from Mecca to Mina. Many pilgrims made the journey walking under the scorching sun, some carrying white or blue umbrellas. For the Muslim faithful, hajj retraces the last steps of the Prophet Mohammed and also honours the prophets Abraham and Ishmael. It ends with the Eid al-Adha feast, which is marked by the slaughter of sheep, a tribute to Abraham's sacrifice of a lamb after God spared Ishmael, his son. Earlier in Mecca pilgrims performed a ritual walk seven times around the Kaaba, a black masonry cube wrapped in a silk cloth embroidered in gold with Koranic verses at the centre of the Grand Mosque. The shrine is the point towards which Muslims around the world pray. "I feel so fortunate to be here," said Nazia Nour, 36, who came to Saudi Arabia from Auckland. Pushing her father on a wheelchair, she added: "I can't believe he (God) chose me. " On Monday, pilgrims will climb Mount Arafat for the climax of the hajj, praying and reading the Koran. The prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon from the rocky hill to Muslims who had accompanied him on his final hajj, according to Islam. After sunset, pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, where they stay at least until midnight. They gather pebbles to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil on the eve of the Eid al-Adha feast. Although the kingdom's young de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has spearheaded change in the kingdom, religion remains a key force in Saudi Arabia. The oil-flush kingdom ended its ban on women driving in June and has boosted female employment in a male-dominated society. But the reforms have been accompanied by a widening crackdown on dissent, with more than a dozen women's rights campaigners detained in recent weeks. Some have been released. The hajj also comes more than a year into the worst political crisis to grip the Gulf, pitting Saudi Arabia against Qatar. Saudi Arabia -- the world's largest exporter of oil -- and its allies accuse Qatar of cosying up to both Sunni Islamist extremists and Shiite Iran, Riyadh's main rival. They have cut all ties with Qatar -- which denies the charges -- and banned all flights to and from Doha. Qatar said Sunday that its citizens were unable to take part in the hajj because of the diplomatic dispute. Saudi authorities have said Qatari pilgrims are still allowed into the kingdom for the hajj. By PTI ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has announced his Cabinet comprising 21 members, the majority of whom previously held key posts in the regime of former military dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. Out of the 21 names announced, 16 will be ministers while five others will perform their duties as advisers to the prime minister, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) spokesman Fawad Chaudhry said yesterday. According to the list shared by Chaudhry on his Twitter account, Shah Mahmood Qureshi has been appointed as foreign minister, Pervaiz Khattak as defence minister and Asad Umer as finance minister. Qureshi, the vice president of the party, was the foreign minister from 2008 to 2011 under the Pakistan Peoples Party government. Asad Umar is the son of former Lt Gen Mohammad Umer who was part of the Pakistan Army during 1971 war with India. Khattak served as the chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province from 2013-18. The newly-announced Cabinet is expected to take oath tomorrow at the President's House. At least 12 members of Khan's Cabinet served under General (retd) Musharraf, The News reported. The new Cabinet includes a former spokesperson of Musharraf, his attorney and several members of his cabinet and core team, the paper said. It said that five of the new Cabinet members, including Khattak and Qureshi, had served as ministers in past Pakistan Peoples Party governments. Sheikh Rashid from Rawalpindi has been appointed as the railway minister. He previously held the same portfolio under the Musharraf regime. Three women including Shireen Mazari, Zubaida Jalal and Fehmida Mriza are also part of the cabinet. The five advisors who have status of ministers include known faces like former banker Ishrat Hussain, businessman Abdul Razzak Dawood and Babar Awan. According to the Pakistan's Constitution, the size of the federal cabinet should be not more than 11 per cent of the total strength of the National Assembly and Senate. Khan, the chairman of PTI, was administered the oath of office by President Mamnoon Hussain at a simple ceremony held at the Aiwan-e-Sadr (the President House) in Islamabad yesterday. His government is the third consecutive democratic government in Pakistan since 2008 when Gen Musharraf announced elections after serving as president from 2001 to 2008 following a bloodless coup in 1999. The PPP formed the government in 2008, followed by the PML-N led by jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2013. Pakistan's powerful military has ruled the country through various coups for nearly half of the country's history since independence in 1947. By Associated Press BERLIN: Russian President Vladimir Putin made a flying visit to Austria to attend the wedding of the country's foreign minister Saturday before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern border with Slovenia, where Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl married her partner Wolfgang Meilinger, a businessman. Kneissl, an independent, was nominated by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party, whose leaders also attended the wedding. Photos showed Putin dancing with the bride, who was dressed in a traditional Austrian costume. According to Austrian public broadcaster ORF, Putin also brought a small Cossack men's choir along to entertain about 100 guests at the wedding. Austrian lawmaker Joerg Leichtfried of the opposition Social Democratic Party criticized Kneissl's decision to invite Putin to the wedding, saying it called into question Austria's role as a neutral intermediary in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed rebels are battling government forces. Austria currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that the Russian president spent about an hour at the wedding. Putin gave the newlyweds a cold press oil machine, a traditional Russian samovar and a landscape painting that "depicts the place where the groom hails from," according to Peskov. Peskov said Putin said "quite a long toast in German in which he said he was thankful and happy that he got a chance to visit the hospitable Austria." Speaking hours later alongside Merkel before the two leaders held bilateral talks at the German government's guesthouse in Meseberg, north of Berlin, Putin said they would discuss bilateral ties, economic cooperation and Russia's Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline beneath the Baltic Sea. The United States and some European countries have criticized the pipeline, saying it could increase Europe's energy dependence on Russia, harm Ukraine currently a major gas transit country and pose an environmental risk. Germany imported 53 billion cubic meters of Russian gas last year. "Nord Steam 2 is purely an economic project and it doesn't close the door to shipping gas through Ukraine," Putin said. Transit fees for Russian gas are an important item contributing to the Ukrainian budget. With protesters audible Saturday outside the guesthouse in Meseberg, Putin also raised the issue of humanitarian aid and funding for international reconstruction in Syria. "It's important to help those areas that the refugees can return to," he said. "I think it's in everyone's interests, including Europe's." Germany, which has taken in hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees fleeing the war, has in the past insisted it wouldn't contribute to the reconstruction of Syria before a political settlement to end the war has been reached. Merkel said the talks would also touch on the possibility of establishing a United Nations mission to help bring about peace in Ukraine. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. One of Editor & Publishers 10 That Do It Right 2021 The 38th Sadc Summit of Heads of State and Government ended yesterday with a call for the international community to lift all sanctions on Zimbabwe. The call by Sadc, contained in a communique, comes after the United States renewed its economic embargo on Zimbabwe on August 8, despite significant strides by President Emmerson Mnangagwas administration to entrench democracy, open up the economy, respect human rights, and hold free, fair, transparent and credible elections. SADC said: Summit urged the international community to lift its sanctions against Zimbabwe, and support the Republic of Zimbabwe in her economic and social development efforts. The country has been under Western economic sanctions for 17 years. The embargo prevents Zimbabwe from accessing lines of credit from multilateral financiers like the IMF and World Bank Group in which the US has substantial shareholding. Government, however, said it would turnaround Zimbabwes economy despite the sanctions. In an interview with the Namibian Broadcasting Corporation yesterday, which will be published in The Herald tomorrow, President Mnangagwa said Zimbabwe would leverage its domestic resources and cross-cutting relations with non-Western countries in the Brics group and Asia, among others, to transform itself. Zimbabwe enjoys good relations with global economic giants like China, Russia, India and Brazil; as well as across Africa and Latin America. President Mnangagwas administration has made engagement and re-engagement with the international community a key priority for turnaround.Sunday Mail If You Want to Avoid Vampires, Here's Where You Should Go (Newser) The New York Times reports on a sad story illustrating something that may come as a surprise to many: No federal oversight exists of US amusement parks. The incident at the center of the story took place three years ago at AJ's Family Fun Center near Grand Rapids, Michigan. Mother-of-two Rachel Gibbs was zipping around on a go-kart when her scarf got caught in an axle. The freak accident snapped her windpipe and deprived her of oxygen, and she is now in a vegetative state without higher brain function. Her British husband, Luke, visits her once a month at her London care facility, after being informed that daily visits were useless. One doctor at the very early stages said once you are in a permanent vegetative state, youre in that level of consciousness, it wouldnt matter whether I visited constantly, or whether I visited once every 10 years, or 100 years. story continues below The story focuses on Gibbs' surprise discovery that American amusement parks are exempt from federal oversight. Instead, states regulate the parks, though six (Alabama, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Utah) have no oversight of their own. Gibbs settled for an undisclosed amount with a holding company connected to the park, though he is considering further legal action against its owners. In a statement to the law firm hired by the family, an eyewitness who performed CPR said the park seemed ill-prepared to handle an emergency. The story notes, however, that the state concluded the park fulfilled its obligation to warn riders about the dangers of loose clothing. Im confident that accident would not have happened here," said Gibbs, referring to Britain. "I think we have more stringent regulation." (Read more amusement parks stories.) (Newser) Tameika Lovell's case is harrowingbut isn't the only one of its kind. The 34-year-old was returning from a quick jaunt to Jamaica in 2016 when Customs and Border Patrol officers at JFK International allegedly took her into a secure room, squeezed her breasts, searched her vagina with "four gloved fingers," and had Lovell part her buttocks "for viewing." Now Lovell, who is black, has filed a lawsuit claiming the CBP violated her constitutional rights and ignored agency rules about invasive body searches, the Washington Post reports. Her experience is one of about a dozen the Center for Public Integrity has examined over the past few years (including a particularly scary one)all brought by women, including two minors, who say the CBP conducted demeaning body searches but found no contraband. story continues below Lovell's case is pending, but six of the lawsuits were settled for $1.2 million and one lost in a courtroom. At issue are CBP rules, which allow federal border officers to make people disrobe for rectal or genital searches and give observed bowel movements as drug checks, all without a warrant. But the agency handbook requires officers to note a substantial justification for each step and respect people's dignity. Other issues include raceeach case highlighted by the Post involves a woman of colorand possible pressure exerted by President Trump's administration on border officers, per the Washington Examiner. For Lovell, it all amounts to a daunting legal battle: "Even though you are the victim," she says, "there's always that shadow of a doubt that people have about you." (Read more airport security stories.) (Newser) Palestinian postal workers in the West Bank are sifting through eight years' worth of undelivered mail held by Israel, the AP reports. In recent days the Palestinian postal staff in Jericho has been sorting through tons of undelivered mail in a room packed with letters, boxes, and even a wheelchair. The Palestinians say Israel has withheld delivery of post shipments to the Palestinian territories through its national postal service since 2010. According to Palestinian postage official Ramadan Ghazawi, Israel did not honor a 2008 agreement with the Palestinians to send and receive mail directly through Jordan. Mail was indeed delivered through Jordan but was denied entry by Israel, causing a years-long backlog. story continues below "It was blocked because each time [Israel] used to give us a reason and an excuse. Once they said the terminal, the building that the post was supposed to arrive to is not ready and once [they said] to wait, they're expecting a larger checking machine [security scanner]," he says. Israel says the sides came to an understanding about a year ago on postage delivery but that it has not yet resulted in a "direct transfer," according to Cogat, the Israeli defense body responsible for Palestinian civilian affairs in the West Bank. Cogat says in a statement that the one-time release of the ten and a half tons of mail was a "gesture." The development highlights the tight controls Israel maintains over many aspectseven the mundane like postal deliveryof Palestinian life. (Read more Israel stories.) Bengaluru: Bolstered by the Army, Navy and Air force, the state government on Saturday intensified relief operations in Kodagu district, as six people were killed in rain-related incidents during the last 24 hours. Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy undertook an aerial survey of the district which has been experiencing heavy rain for the past three days. Deputy chief minister Parameshwara tweeted on Saturday six people have been killed in Kodagu due to floods and landslides during the last 24 hours. Government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the next of kin of each of the deceased, he said, adding that the government would take care of the treatment of the injured. Also Read | Monsoon floods devastate Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat; heavy rain alert in Goa Landslides were reported from some places in the district and authorities have stepped up efforts to rescue stranded people, officials said. There is a severe situation for the past three days. Now the central and state rescue teams are working on a war footing, Kumaraswamy told reporters here. An M17 Air Force helicopter has been deployed to provide food packets to the marooned and to airlift them, the chief minister said. The government has deployed as many as 948 personnel from the army engineering task force, Dogra regiment, Indian Navy, national disaster response force, fire and emergency services, home guards and civil defence, Kumaraswamy said. In addition to this, 200 NCC cadets have also been deployed, he added. About 50 earthmovers have also been working round the clock to clear debris caused by the landslips. Boats are also being used in the rescue operations. More than 2,500 people have been rescued.. in Jodupal village alone, 348 people have been rescued, he said. The state government has sanctioned Rs 100 crore for undertaking relief work in Kodagu district. A sum of Rs 200 crore was announced as grant-in-aid to the affected districts for relief work a few days ago. A committee, comprising senior administrative officers led by chief secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar, has been constituted to monitor relief operations, Kumaraswamy said. Read More | Rainfall intensity in Kerala to reduce from August 20: IMD In Jodupal village, about 300 acres of land are lost in landslides. As many as 39 relief camps have been set up in the state, of which 30 are in Kodagu alone and the rest are in Dakshina Kannada district, he said. Revenue officers and doctors from Mysuru, Ramanagar, Mandya, Hassan and Chamarajnagar have been deployed in large numbers in Kodagu district. Government has supplied 2.5 lakh litres drinking water for Kodagu district and efforts are also on to restore power supply in rain-hit areas, he said. Kumaraswamy said he has directed officials to identify those who have lost their houses. At least 800 houses have been completely damaged in Kodagu due to rain..I have directed district authorities to identify those who have lost their houses and prepare a list. Considering them as special cases, Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh will be given as compensation to them, he said. New Delhi: Humanity has not lost its touch in the cultural capital of India, Kolkata. A brain dead 15-year-old has brought a string of happiness in the lives of at least five people who received her kidneys, liver, corneas and skin graft in Kolkata. Mallika Majmuder was declared brain dead on Friday by the state-run Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (IPGMER), SSKM Hospital, revealed a spokesman on Saturday. Mallika was diagnosed with a brain lesion after being admitted on July 23 which later slipped her to coma on August 14, added the spokesman. Her father Manik Majumder said over the phone from Siliguri, We were told by the doctors that there is no possibility of our daughter returning to life once she was declared brain dead. We were then convinced that if her organs could be transplanted on other persons she will continue to live among others. And that is our biggest consolation. Also Read | Special prayers conducted for rain-hit Keralas well-being The humane gesture has revived the soul of humanity. Mallikas kidneys were successfully transplanted to two patients at SSKM Hospital on Friday midnight, state nodal officer on organ transplantation Aditi Kishore Sarkar said. IPGMER sources suggest that the two kidneys brought a hope of joy to the lives of Moumita Chakraborty of Khardah and Sanjib Das of Sodepur in North 24 Parganas district. The girls cornea has also been donated to a patient at SSKM and part of her skin was grafted on a burn patient. While all the other organs could be successfully transplanted within the IPGMER SSKM compound, the liver was taken to a private hospital off E M Bypass through the green channel corridor facilitated by Kolkata Police early on Saturday. The liver was successfully implanted after a five-hour long operation to a 44-year-old person from Hyderabad who was flown into the city on Friday at midnight, a statement from the private hospital said. Also Read | Kerala Flood: Here is how you can donate towards Kerala CM Distress Relief Fund The statement did not hold back on complimenting the pro-active efforts of the state health department which is working with the Regional Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (ROTTO) to raise awareness about transplant. This incident will set an example about donating organs of brain-dead patients and raise public awareness, said Shankar. A relative of Das, who was a recipient of one of the kidneys, said, I will not belittle Mallikas parents and the doctors by thanking them. Words fail to express our emotion. The last organ donation in the city had taken place over four months ago, in April. Port Louis: India and Mauritius on Sunday discussed measures to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in the field of maritime security as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with the countrys top leadership. Swaraj, who was here to attend the 11th World Hindi Conference, called on Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and discussed bilateral ties. Connecting with a maritime neighbour! EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. Discussed further deepening our special ties, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Also Read | Mauritius cyber tower to be named after Atal Bihari Vajpayee PM Jugnauth hosted a banquet lunch in honour Swaraj which was attended by prominent dignitaries from both sides. Swaraj also met the countrys Opposition leader Xavier Luc Duval, former prime ministers Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Paul Berenger on the sidelines of the three-day World Hindi Conference that began here on Saturday. In the meeting, Berenger conveyed his condolence on the demise of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and recalled the role played by him in strengthening our bilateral relations. In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, had met Jugnauth and talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties. In 2017, India had announced a $ 500 million line of credit to Mauritius as the two countries decided to firm up cooperation in the field of maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. Read More | The two sides also signed a maritime security agreement. Earlier, Swaraj inaugurated Panini Language Laboratory at Mahatma Gandhi Institute. The language laboratory, gifted by the Indian government, deploys ICT-enabled methods to teach Hindi. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Union Health Minister JP Nadda on Sunday said the ministry was extending all support to the relief measures in flood-hit Kerala, where 3,757 medical relief camps had been set up. We are monitoring the flood situation in Kerala on a regular basis. Secretary (Health) is in Regular communication with the state health functionaries and monitoring the situation daily through the disease surveillance network, Nadda said. The minister said that he had spoken to Kerala Health Minister K K Shailaja and was personally monitoring the situation. Also Read | Kerala Floods: Here is how you can donate and help flood-hit people As many as 3,757 medical relief camps had been set up and as requested by the state government, 90 types of medicines in the requested quantity were being sent to Kerala, according to an official statement. The first tranche of medicines would reach Kerala on Monday. The Health Ministry was also co-ordinating with other states which had committed to providing medicines, so as to augment supplies. Health advisories on infectious disease prevention and control, safe drinking water, hygiene measures and vector control had been prepared and shared with the state government, the statement added. Also Read | Kerala Floods in Pictures: When nature releases its fury While no outbreak of communicable disease had been reported so far, health experts opined that once the flood water start to recede, the environment would be conducive for epidemic prone diseases. Kerala had been given instructions to switch to daily surveillance and monitoring for epidemic prone diseases for detecting early warning signs of an outbreak, the statement said. In consultation with the state government, the centre will deploy teams for rapid health assessment, taking appropriate public health measures to prevent and control outbreak of epidemic prone diseases. Considering the additional burden of disease in the aftermath of the floods, quick response medical teams will also be sent to Kerala to provide emergency medical care, the statement added. (With PTI inputs) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The total death toll in the worst ever deluge in Kerala has reached 357, as 33 more reports of deaths were confirmed by the officials on Saturday. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has revised its red alert advisory, withdrawing it from eight districts in Kerala. The IMD said that the rainfall intensity is expected to reduce in the next couple of days. "Kerala is not expected to receive heavy rainfall from August 20," said Mritunjay Mohapatra, IMD Additional Director General. ALSO READ: Beautiful God's Own Country, now a picture of governments apathy Earlier on Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey around Kochi following a review meeting with Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Meanwhile, the Centre has announced an immediate aid of Rs 500 crore in addition to the Rs 100 crore assistance by the Union Home Ministry. The Kerala government had requested final assistance of Rs 2,000 crore with the overall damage in the flood-hit state being around Rs 20,000 crore. ALSO READ: Monsoon floods devastate Kerala, Karnataka, Gujarat; heavy rain alert in Goa "We are in the middle of a disaster. We need to unite as one to tackle it," said Kerala CM Vijayan, adding that the state is experiencing its worst floods in a century. Congress president Rahul Gandhi said that the financial aid by the Centre for flood-ravaged Kerala was nowhere near enough and asked the situation to be declared as national disaster. "Dear PM, increasing funds allocated for Kerala relief to Rs 500 crore is a good step but nowhere near enough. It is critical you declare the floods as a National Disaster. Please do not vacillate as the people of Kerala are suffering," Gandhi said in a tweet. Meanwhile, the NDRF has rescued over 10,000 people from flood-affected areas of Kerala, in what is being called its biggest-ever rescue operation in the country till date. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The situation in flood-ravaged Kerala has improved and water has started receding in some areas after rain alleviated on Sunday. Over 350 people have died so far in Kerala, facing centurys worst flooding. With over 6 lakh people taking shelter in nearly 3,000 relief camps, the government has asked the officials to focus on providing food, medicine and fuel in the southern state. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that most of the affected people had been rescued and the government will now focus on rebuilding. With the state government shifting focus on rehabilitation, the fear of disease outbreak in the relief camps has arisen. So far, no reports of any disease outbreak surfaced in the area but the Health Ministry has set up over 3,500 medical camps across the state. While no outbreak of any communicable disease has been reported, health experts opine that once floodwaters start to recede, the environment will become conducive for epidemic diseases. The state has been asked for daily surveillance to detect early warning signs of any outbreak, the ministry said in a statement. Also Read | Kerala Floods: 'We need to unite as one to tackle it,' says CM Vijayan Taking precautionary measures, three people with chickenpox in Aluva town of the state have been isolated. High-range Idukki district, Malappuram and Ernakulam are the worst hit areas which saw its mighty Mullaperiyar Dam and Idukki reservoirs being opened. As the Gods own country struggles with the deadly disaster, United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar along with several other Indian states have extended helping hands to the people of the flood-hit state. Qatar Prime Minister Abdullah bin Nasser bin Khalifa Al Thani on Sunday took to Twitter and extended his condolences to the flood-hit state and its people and announced that Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani has allocated 5 million dollars for the flood relief. Also Read | Kerala Flood: Qatar, UAE help 'God's Own Country' with $5 Million Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday announced that all the MLAs and MPs of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) will donate their one months salary to help the people of flood affected Kerala. Earlier, the Delhi CM had announced Rs 10 crore funds for Kerala. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also announced Rs 20 crore as immediate assistance for the flood-affected people of Kerala. Fadnavis informed that around 11 ton of food dry food packets will be sent for the people of the state. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of the flood-hit areas and announced Rs 500 crore package for the state. Modi assured Kerala CM Naveen Patnaik of all the possible help from Centre. (With inputs from agencies) For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on Saturday announced the cyber tower which Atal Bihari Vajpayee had helped to set up in the country will be named after the late former Indian prime minister. Jugnauth made the announcement during the World Hindi Conference held in the country and paid a tribute to Vajpayee in presence of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. The former Indian PM had passed away on August 16 after a prolonged illness. He was cremated at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal on August 17 with full state honour. In an unprecedented gesture, Mauritius had on Friday kept its flag at half-mast in honour of Vajpayee. Also Read | Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ashes immersed in Haridwar's Har Ki Pauri Ghat Condoling the death of the late BJP leader, the Mauritian prime minister had said that Vajpayee shaped the destiny of India through his bold leadership and his deep-rooted empathy for the common man. Recalling Vajpayees visit to the Indian Ocean island nation, Jugnauth had said, We were honoured to receive him in March 2000 as chief guest at the National Day celebrations and whenever he visited Mauritius. Also Read | An Era Ends: Atal Bihari Vajpayee Laid To Rest Mauritius mourns the loss of a man who stood not only for India but also for Mauritius, he added. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has registered Bihars former social welfare minister Manju Verma and her husband under Arms Act following the recovery of 50 live cartridges from her house during a raid in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. An FIR was registered against Verma, a JDU leader and her husband Chandrashekhar after the recovery of live cartridges from her house in Arjun Tola village during the CBI raid, PTI quoted Cheria Bariarpur police station SHO Ranjit Kumar Rajak as saying. Earlier on Friday, the CBI, investigating the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case, had conducted raids at nearly a dozen places in four districts of Bihar, the former ministers residences in Patna and Begusarai. Read More | Muzaffarpur Shelter Home Case: CBI raids Manju Verma's residence Vermas husband Chandrashekhar is accused of having close ties with Brajesh Thakur the key accused in Muzaffarpur shelter home rape case. Opposition RJD had even claimed that he used to visit the shelter home frequently. Verma was forced to resign as social welfare minister in Nitish Kumars cabinet after agencies disclosed that her husband had spoken to Thakur 17 times between January and June 2018. At least 34 girls, as young as seven, were raped for several years in the government-run shelter home in Muzaffarpur. The girls were forced to sleep naked, raped and scalded with boiling water if they opposed. The shelter home was owned by Thakur, a well-known name in Patnas power corridors. Also Read | Brajesh Thakur shifted to high-security ward inside Muzaffarpur jail The incident of the mass rape had surfaced two months ago FIR was lodged by the social welfare department following a social audit report submitted by Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences which mentioned sexual abuse of girls lodged in the shelter home. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Bakra Eid or Eid Ul-Adha is celebrated on every 10th day of the Islamic month of Dhu al-Hijjah. It is marked by special prayers on the first day of the festival early in the morning. Bakra Eid lasts for about three days. Muslims across the world celebrate it by sacrificing an animal and feast on it to celebrate the sacrifice of Prophet Ibrahim towards God and Gods compassion towards him. ALSO READ | Benefits of fasting: Scientists reveal new facts It is the second of two Islamic holidays celebrated worldwide each year and considered the holier of the two. The festival marks the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca - a pilgrimage all Muslims must make at least once in their lifetimes. Story of the sacrifice This festival is a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahims great test of obedience to Allah. Once Ibrahim saw a dream in which Allah ordered him to sacrifice his most precious thing. He kept seeing the dream for many days. Then he described the dream to his wife that Allah wants him to sacrifice his most precious thing. After much discussion, Prophet Ibrahim and his wife decided to sacrifice their only son for the sake of Allah because their son was most precious for both of them. Then he asked his son, Ismail for his consent. Ismail readily agreed to be sacrificed for the sake of Allah. Prophet Ibrahim was all set to sacrifice his son at the gallows. As he put the sword at his sons throat, Prophet Ismail disappeared and he was replaced by a sheep. Then there was a prophecy that Allah was only testing Ibrahims faith. He need not sacrifice his son and he could sacrifice a ram or a sheep instead. ALSO READ | Over 1.28 lakh Indians' pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia for Hajj Bakra Eid 2018 date: This year Bakra Eid will be celebrated on August 23. "All central government administrative offices located at Delhi/New Delhi shall remain closed on 23rd August, 2018 on account of Id-ul-Zuha (Bakrid) holiday (in place of 22nd August, 2018)," the Department of Personnel and Training said in the statement. For all the Latest Lifestyle News, Religion News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Traveling as an experience itself is a luxury not everyone can afford which is why these cheapest countries should be in the search of your ticket booking websites. From experiencing a whole new culture of food, tradition, music, monuments these are the top cheapest counties you can visit without having to empty your bank account. Vietnam One among the cheapest countries to visit for people wanting to explore the rustic side. The mountain resort of Da Lat in the central highlands are the perfect feast. Untouched and undeveloped Vietnam is a super cheap travel destination, as well as a beautiful country of lush mountain scapes and sweeping white sands. Other places to visit while in this beautiful country can be included Hanoi, the former headquarters of French Indochina. The place also retains some of the Frenchas food culture where you will find some great patisseries producing croissants. Have a pint of Vietnamas most popular brew, Bia Hoi and stop over in one of the eccentric fairytale rooms of the Crazy House. Bolivia One of only two landlocked countries in South America Bolivia the other being Paraguay is a relatively remote hideaway. A country perfect for adventurers who seek beyond the usual. Wander along Calle JaAn, in Boliviaas administrative capital, La Paz, to witness a history back in time of South American life under Spanish control . The street presents a picturesque view for monument lovers as the street is home to some of the cityas best preserved colonial buildings, whitewashed faAades and ornate black-grilled balconettes. Be a part of the La Paz Revolution of 1809 led by Pedro Domingo Murillo who led the forces while the rest became history which the cluster of museums will tell. Bolivia is also another cheapest country where food and drinks easy as it goes, so you will never have to fear of going hungry. Greece The countryas ongoing economic difficulties ironically has proven to be a blessing for holiday goers. There is so much to explore than the much-visited pricey Santorini or Mykonos. Why not pick a less footed, quieter place like Paros or Skiathos and benefit the serenity and food for half the price. You can also give your trip to Greece a touch of the Arabian cuisine Settle. A day trip to the Sardonic Gulf island of Hydra, just one and a half hours by catamaran from Athens and relish some of the best souvlaki (kebabs) youall find anywhere else in the Aegean Sea. Then for dinner you can sail across to Kefalonia for a slab of traditional pie with an oozing filling of meats and gravy. Ferries run regularly between the islands, meaning you can schedule you visit to the many islands once you check the boards for the prices and schedules. Ireland After watch PS I love You, Ireland sure must be ultimate country to visit. The small island country is nature at its finest. Lucky for you, flight prices to Ireland have tumbled over the past few years, meaning you can get to Dublin for less than you might think. Visiting the Chester Beatty Library is a must do if you are a fan of literature. This library holds a world famous, dazzling collection of rare books and manuscripts. Then by the evening you can give your lungs the breath of air it has been so desperately wanting by and talking a walk with the deer herd in Phoenix Park. This park is also the largest enclosed recreational space in any European capital so thereas plenty to explore. Then before dinner you can some budget friendly budget clothes to your wardrobe at the weekend Blackrock Market, Dublinas oldest. Cambodia Another cheapest country so cheap you might rather feel guilty for paying so little. Cambodia is such a cheap place to go on holiday that you can feel guilty for paying so little. A country once feared to tread, Cambodia is now a paradise for backpackers and hikers. When visiting Cambodia the journey would be incomplete without including the famous Angkor Wat Temple. Named after the temple you can have a splash of the Cambodian Water at the Angkor Wat Archaeological Park. And of course, how will the visit even be complete visiting Angkor Vat itself. This UNESCO World heritage Site preferably best visited at dawn just costs 28 Euro for the whole day. If temples are your thing Cambodia is a must visit. New Delhi: Orbit of Mars gets closer to earth every two years or so. For astronauts, this is an ideal time to execute missions toward Mars. Robots, for now, are doing the job for astronauts with future crew planning doing rounds for mission Mars. Generally, if Mars is closer, probes are more efficient. Missions spend less time in transit, they require less fuel and dont cost much comparatively. From Odyssey in 2001 to Insight in 2018 missions took advantage of this window. ALSO READ | Humanoid Justin gearing up for 'realistic potential exploration' of Mars NASA is keen to put manned Mars mission on its calendar during this period. This could get astronauts there and back safely. It is the most efficient way of this mission say experts. However, Japans Martian Moons Exploration (MMX) program, slated to launch in 2024, will be the first robotic sample return mission to Phobos. Such a mission could pave the way for human exploration of these moons. Earlier, NASAs Curiosity rover confirmed the presence of surface organics and seasonal releases of methane. Also notable is the fact that Mars hosts two tiny moons, Phobos and Deimos, potato-shaped bodies that may be important to understanding how planets form and even how they may become habitable. ALSO READ | Aditya-L1: ISROs reply to NASAS Parker Solar Probe As of now, NASAs plans are focused more on moon landing than Mars. But we can expect the next close approach in 2020 will see lots of robot travellers. NASA, the European Space Agency, China and the United Arab Emirates all plan to launch unmanned missions by then. For all the Latest Science News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kabul: Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared a provisional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban in a televised broadcast on Sunday, but said the truce would hold only if the insurgents reciprocated. The announcement followed a bloody week of fighting across Afghanistan which saw the Taliban launch a massive assault against the provincial capital Ghazni. Anticipation had been mounting ahead of Ghanis speech following mixed signals from the presidential palace over whether the government would offer a fresh truce, following a brief, unprecedented one earlier this year. I once again announce a ceasefire from tomorrow until the prophets birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate, said Ghani, referring to the Prophet Mohammeds birthday which Afghanistan celebrates on November 21. Also Read | Dawood Ibrahim's financial manager Jabir Moti arrested in London Ghani said his administration removed all obstacles to peace with the announcement following consultations with religious scholars, political parties and civil society groups. We call on the leadership of the Taliban to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long lasting and real peace, and we urge them to get ready for peace talks based on Islamic values and principles, he said. The presidents announcement was immediately welcomed in neighbouring Pakistan, which has long been accused of fostering links with the Talibans leadership and providing sanctuary to its fighters. It was also welcomed by NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, who tweeted: I encourage the Taliban to demonstrate their concern for Afghans by respecting it. An earlier, three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday in Junethe first such truce in the country since the 2001 US invasionsaw thousands of insurgents pour into cities across Afghanistan, eating ice cream and posing for selfies with security forces. Read More | Usman Buzdar elected chief minister of Pakistan's Punjab province It spurred hopes that a new path was opening for possible peace talks in the country to the end the nearly 17-year-old war, but violence has surged in the weeks since. The days-long fight for Ghazni, which concluded on Wednesday killed hundreds and saw Taliban fighters ransack the provincial capital, torching buildings and destroying infrastructure. That battle coincided with blistering attacks on government installations across the country. Analysts have suggested the Taliban were seeking to demonstrate strength ahead of any possible talks. Ghani did not mention any cease in fighting with the Islamic State group, which has expanded since it first emerged in the region in 2014, or any of the other militant groups plaguing Afghanistan. Read More | Over 1.28 lakh Indians' pilgrims reach Saudi Arabia for Hajj Afghan security forces, beset by killings, desertions and low morale, have taken staggering losses since US-led NATO combat forces pulled out at the end of 2014. But it is ordinary Afghans who have taken the brunt of the violence in the grinding conflict, especially in Kabul, which the United Nations has said is the deadliest place for civilians in the country. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: A top finance manager of underworld don Dawood Ibrahim has been arrested in London, UK. Jabir Moti, a Pakistani national was arrested by the London police from the Londons Hilton Hotel, according to ANI. After a long interrogation by the London Police regarding financial link-ups between Moti and Dawood Ibrahim, the finance manager was arrested. ALSO READ: BJP must submit expenses details of Gaurav Yatra: Rajasthan High Court Jabir Moti holds a ten-year UK visa and has been a key figure in executing Dawoods investment plans across the UK, Europe, Africa, Pakistan, and the Middle East. Dawoods main earnings from these businesses are from illegal activits such as narcotics trade, extortion rackets, arms business, and the returns are mainly used to finance the terror-related activities. ALSO READ: Kerala Floods: 'We need to unite as one to tackle it,' says CM Vijayan Moti owns a residential property given to him by Dawoods family in Karachi and this capture is a major boost for Indian agencies. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Swedish-founded multinational group IKEA is all set to open its largest regional store in Salmabad next month. The store is spread over an area of 37,000 square meters making it the largest IKEA store in the region. The furniture retail giants popularity is so high that many residents often embark on long drives to Saudi Arabia just to go shopping at the store there. The store, which is in its final stages of construction, will also house the biggest restaurant in the Kingdom with a capacity of 650700 seats. In an interview with Tribune, Store Manager Fatima Gustafsson explained how IKEA aims to cater to the current need in the Bahraini market. At the opening, 7,500 products will be available at the store. These will be spread across two levels and will include the bedroom, living room, dining room, kitchen, kids area, secondary storage, and accessories, Gustafsson said. Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize winner was optimistic that the opening of the Bahrain United Nations House would further not only the integration and coordination of the UN activities in Bahrain, but also would serve as a tribute to the close bonds between the organisation and the Kingdom. While inaugurating the UN House in Bahrain in 2000, the Ghanaian diplomat had said that the beautiful building - so steeped in the history and culture of Bahrain would be dedicated to advancing the goals of the United Nations in a new century. Commenting on the demise of the charismatic diplomat, the United Nations Information Centre (UNIC) Director Samir Imtair Aldarabi told Tribune that Kofi Annan provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue and a path to a better world. When I was at sea, very long time back, I read a story about one Indian town of Malihabad, which I believe there is a botanical wonder that holds a lesson for all humankind. The Miracle Tree of Malihabad is a mango tree that has been lovingly nurtured by a traditional mango farmer. The wonder of this tree is that it nurtures and brings forth over 300 different varieties of mangoes, all because of this farmers skilled horticultural knowledge. Since he started this magnificent idea, he has devised new and advanced grafting techniques and continues to add new varieties to the tree and to his orchard. As the man who has won multiple awards says, If 300 different mango varieties can coexist peacefully in one tree, then why cant we? Now that is a question we all need to ponder especially in these fragmented times. If we do not practice a firm commitment to harmony and to peace, we are going to be overtaken by technology and shall find ourselves in the middle of a street fight only, this street fight will take place across national highways! Take the example of the recent scare we all got about 3D drawings of guns that could be downloaded off the Internet and printed. Before you know it, tenyear olds will be printing ammunition in their home 3D printers as birthday party favours and quite unknowing about the potential for death and destruction. True, the US Supreme Court ordered the inventor to pull back the information but there is no guarantee that somewhere someone has not already safely saved the plan on a USB for future distribution! The only real weapon we have against destruction and war is our own ability to avoid injustice and fighting. However, we have to be realistic. Can we stand by with folded hands when pirates rage across the seas? Can we look on when despots decimate innocent civilians? Of course not, because the future of the human race depends on the strong protecting the weak. What we should not do is provoke a fight whether between communities, neighbourhoods or countries. The US has recently announced the first steps it will take to create a fourth wing of its army to protect its space satellites and space ships. The Space Force branch, will, experts say, be largely manned by new technology inter-stellar drones that will patrol and disarm attacks. The world is watching with interest and the battleground may soon shift and become battleskies. As far back as 2012, Havard Hegre, a professor in the department of Political Science at the University of Oslo, carried out a series of statistical analyses to come to the conclusion, in collaboration with the Peace Research Institute Oslo (PRIO). The study reveals that in five years time India, Ethiopia, the Philippines, Uganda and Burma will be at the greatest risk of conflict, while in 40 years time it will be India, Nigeria, Sudan, Ethiopia and Tanzania. The good news? Those conflicts ongoing in 2011, including in Iraq, Libya, Tajikistan, Syria, Senegal, Ivory Coast and Mauritania, will most likely be over. Before we pat ourselves on the back for maturity, let me tell you, that the study predicted that peace would come because war would just become financially pointless and not because we humans realised our foolishness in killing each other. Moreover, education would increase and the worlds youth populations becoming smaller. And thats really the key, isnt it? We older generation have always sent our children to the front to bite the bullet. Peace, when it comes, will be the result of these youth refusing to fight our wars. According to a Pentagon report on China's military and security developments released on Thursday, China is pursuing a nuclear capability of its long-range bombers and the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) is likely training for strikes against US and allied targets. The report also claimed that the PLA is also likely preparing a contingency to unify Taiwan with the Chinese mainland by force. Any army needs to be prepared for the worst scenario that the nation might face. If China releases a report on the US military developments which details US army's attacking ability against China, the report must be even more alarming. As the world's second largest economy facing significant strategic risks, China will certainly develop its nuclear triad capability. Its nuclear deterrence serves not only as a cornerstone of China's national security but also as a key balance to ensure world peace. The nuclear capability of a big country represents the nation's military strength and its political strength. China's nuclear capability is not designed for use in war but for preventing the possibility of war. China initially only had land-based nuclear capability before developing nuclear-powered submarines. Replenishing its airborne nuclear capability is only a necessary next step and a direction of nuclear power building for which China does not need to conceal. The PLA will surely develop its air force with long-range strike capability. The Pentagon suspects that the PLA is training for strikes against US bases in the Pacific region. It shows that the US bases in the region are very likely training for actions against the Chinese mainland and are worried that the bases will face retaliation during wartime. There are many other countries and targets within the radius of Chinese air force's long-range operations, but none of them show signs of worry. Why is it that only the US bases in the Pacific are worried about PLA's potential threat? The US' guilty conscience is self-evident. As for reunification of Taiwan with the Chinese mainland by force, it is the last resort of the mainland for solving the Taiwan question but also one of the top strategic tasks of the PLA in its capability building. The prerequisite for peaceful reunification of Taiwan is the mainland's capability of using force to launch the action. Otherwise all wonderful wishes are reduced to empty talk. The more unquestionable the mainland's capability of reunification of Taiwan by force is, the less likely the "Taiwan independence" forces are able to stir trouble. Conversely, "Taiwan independence" forces are likely to take risks. This is evident to the mainland as well as to the US and Taiwan. In the 21st century, China's top priority is uninterrupted development and realizing rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. It would be perfect for China to avoid war. During the past three decades, China has never had any major military conflict with other countries and regions. It is our hope that peace can continue for another three decades or more. The military capability building of the Chinese mainland is primarily for preventing war. While China is developing its strategic nuclear capability, the country is also honoring the principle of no first use of nuclear weapons. If all countries that have nuclear weapons announce no first use of nuclear weapons, the world would be different. The US' technical analysis of the PLA capability is one thing, the Pentagon's publication of the analysis to hype the "China threat" is another. As a big power with by far the biggest defense budget in the world, the US does not hold moral ground allowing it to hype the military threat of other nations. When the US appears so bold to hype the threat, it proves Washington has totally lost its moral high ground and conscience. By Ding Ziyi HONG KONG, August 19 (ChinaMil) -- The Hong Kong Garrison of the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) organized its 21st voluntary blood donation in the Gun Club Hill Barracks in Hong Kong on August 16, 2018. A total of 450 PLA officers and soldiers (435 men and 15 women) attended the blood donation and donated about 180,000 ml blood for Hong Kong residents. The PLA Hong Kong Garrison has organized 21 voluntary blood donation events since 1998, reaching the total number of 8450 donor attendances and successful blood collection of 3.72 million ml. The blood donation event started at 9:15 a.m. Under the guidance of Hong Kong Red Cross staff, donators registered their personal information andhad their blood tested prior to the individual blood collection. Chen Yading, deputy political commissar of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison, said in his speech that the garrison would continue to participate in voluntary blood donations and other public service activities.The garrison always cared for Hong Kong and their residents, and would contribute more to the prosperity and stability of Hong Kong, he said. Li Zhuoguang, administrative and medical supervisor of Hong Kong Red Cross Blood Transfusion Service, expressed his gratitude to the garrison for their care for Hong Kong residents and said that the PLA Hong Kong Garrison donated blood for local residents every year, which helped countless patients restore heath. The Hong Kong Red Cross also presented a commemorative plaque to the PLA Hong Kong Garrison to express thanks to the donators on behalf of the blood receivers and their families. It is learned that soldiers of the PLA Hong Kong Garrison were actively participating in the blood donation. To ensure the blood quality, the health department of the garrison has conducted the health screening on all donors prior to the blood collection. The donation volume this time was 400 ml for each male donator and 350 ml for each female donator. DALIAN, Aug. 19 (ChinaMil) -- Organized by the Staff of the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy and hosted by the PLA Dalian Naval Academy, the Strait Warriors-2018 sampan invitational across the Bohai Strait kicked off August 16 at Laohutan in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province. A total of 112 young navy contestants will steer eight non-powered sampans to cross the Bohai Strait. These contestants are from colleges and training institutions such as PLA Naval University of Engineering, PLA Dalian Naval Academy, Naval Aviation University, Bengbu Naval School for Non-commissioned Officers of the PLA Navy, a training base under the navy of the PLA Northern Theater Command and a training base under the navy of the PLA Southern Theater Command. In the next four days, the 112 contestants of eight teams will row 138 sea miles under harsh condition such as high humidity to cross Lvshun Port, Nanhuangcheng Island, Tuoji Island and four rough waterways including Laotieshan in order to reach Yantai, a coastal city in east Chinas Shandong Province. The competition alternates between speed and endurance race, and the race is scored based on international rules. During the event, the contestants will also conduct naval training on subjects such as formation, communications, survival, and maritime rescue. According to the a PLA Dalian Naval Academy official, the academy has hosted the sampan invitational across the Bohai Strait for 23 consecutive years during the summer vacation and the race has become a featured mass training event. All major Nepali and English broadsheet dailies published from Kathmandu on Sunday have given the top priority to Prime Minister KP Sharma Olis address to the Province 2 Assembly. His statement that the government is ready to amend the constitution has received significant coverage as Madhesh-centric parties, which hold a majority in the province, have been demanding amendments to some significant constitutional provisions. Excessive taxation at various levels of government and provisions of new civil and criminal codes, which became most discussed topics throughout last week, continue to be highlights for some broadsheet dailies. Likewise, few other issues from sociocultural, political and economic issues have been significant featured on the front pages of major newspapers today. Most of the newspapers have covered the death of former United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan on the front pages. Important PM assures statute amendment Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, as he addressed a meeting of the Province 2 Assembly in Janakpurdham on Saturday said he was ready to amend the constitution if it was deemed necessary, according to newspaper reports. He said the constitution was not a sacred book that could never be revised, but a dynamic political document, adding the government was ready to amend it on the basis of peoples sentiments and needs, Gorkhapatra reports in its lead story. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister stated that he was not anti-Madhesh leader and expressed his commitment to prioritising infrastructure developments in the province, according to Nagarik. Bodies to coordinate between centre and provinces yet to be formed A three column box story in Kantipur reports that the government is yet to bring various mechanisms envisioned by the constitution to maintain harmonious ties between local, provincial and federal governments have not been formed yet though it has already been three years since the promulgation of constitution. Of late some disputes have surfaced between different levels of governments over various issues including taxation, but the mechanisms are not yet formed, according to the report. The constitution has imagined a fiscal commission to recommend taxation system in the federal structure and an inter-province council to solve various issues; but none of them have been formed. Instead, the government has begun mulling over forming other kinds of panels and committees to resolve the issues, the report informs. Ignored Govt to form mechanism to regulate non-banking financial sector Quoting Minister for Finance Yubaraj Khatiwada, Abhiyan reports on its cover page that the government is preparing to establish a separate mechanism that will regulate non-banking financial institutions like Employees Provident Fund and Citizens Investment Trust. A bill to introduce the new body has already been drafted by the Ministry, according to the report. Lack of leadership affects constitutional bench functioning The constitutional bench of the Supreme Court, which is responsible to resolve constitutional disputes, has not held its meeting for past two weeks as incumbent Acting Chief Justice Deepak Raj Joshee stayed on a leave after the Parliamentary Hearing Special Committee rejected his name for the top judicial position, according to Nepal Samacharpatra. After Joshee took leave, Om Prakash Mishra has been leading the judiciary; but he has not made any effort to resume functioning of the constitutional bench, the report adds. Bike without pollution control standard being imported illegally The lead story of Karobar reports that Runner motorbikes manufactured in Bangladesh are being imported to Nepal for past three years without any suspicion though the company is yet to implement a pollution control standard as it has implemented in Nepal. For past six years, Nepal has been implementing Euro 6 standard of pollution in vehicles including bikes, but it is allowing people to bring in and use the bike that does not meet any criteria, according to the report. Press Council illegally interrogated journalists Press Council Nepal, the body formed to monitor the media sector of the country, tried to illegally interrogate its Chief Editor Guna Raj Luintel and Annapurna Post Editor Akanda Bhandari on Friday, according to a two column story in Nagarik. Chief editors of the two daily broadsheets were called to discuss the journalists code of conduct in the new context, but the staff tried to interrogate, the report claims. Northern Kathmandu to receive more drinking water A three-column story in The Kathmandu Post reports that some areas in northern part of Kathmandu district will receive more drinking water from Kathmandu Upatyaka Khanepali Limited from now onwards. Consumers in Kapan, Saraswatinagar, Bouddha, Jorpati, Chabahil, Handigaun, Gyaneshwor, Naxal, Baneshwor, Anamnagar, Putalisadak, Dillibazaar, Bagbazaar, Maitighar, Triputeshwor and New Road will be supplied with drinking water five times a week, two hours at a stretch. Earlier, tap water was received only once a week. Interesting Buffalo pregnancy allowance in Kavre town Panauti Municipality in Kavre district has decided to provide buffalo pregnancy allowance to farmers so as to promote animal husbandry, according to a brief story in Republica. The third municipality assembly of the local government has made the decision as the conservation of buffalo, also known as black gold, would bring commendable changes in the living standard of the farmers, according to the report. Classy Kiwi mare sends strong signal on Spring prospects Former top three-year-old filly La Bella Diosa ended an eighteen-month absence from the winners enclosure when she produced a devastating burst of speed to claim victory over 1100m at Caulfield on Saturday. Having just her second start from the Lindsay Park operation of trainers David and Ben Hayes along with Tom Dabernig, the now five-year-old put a welcome smile back on the faces of her patient connections who held firm in the belief she could return to her best in this campaign. La Bella Diosa returns to winning form at Caulfield Photo: Quentin Lang Raced in New Zealand as La Diosa, the daughter of So You Think was a star of spring racing during her three-year-old campaign where she took out the Gr.1 New Zealand 1000 Guineas (1600m). She later added the Gr.2 Surround Stakes (1400m) in Sydney during the autumn on a heavy track, with that performance an anomaly for the mare who has a preference for firmer footing. Things began to unravel for La Bella Diosa after that, with a succession of unsuitable wet tracks frustrating her remaining efforts as a three-year-old before she failed to fire in three starts as a four-year-old back in New Zealand. Acting on the advice of former trainer Mandy Brown, her connections sent her to Lindsay Park where the mare has thrived in preparation for her new campaign. Mandy recommended we send her to the Hayes operation as she believed she still had the potential to get back to her best, part-owner Gordon Calder said. We cant thank her enough as Mandy had her in top condition when she went over there and the reports we had been getting from the stable were that she had settled in well and was thriving. They were confident of a good run on Saturday, although the common thinking was the distance might be a bit sharp for her. To see her produce that closing speed we know she has was just wonderful and there were plenty of smiles on our faces after the race. Many would have sent the valuable breeding prospect into an early retirement following her loss of form, but Calder said her syndicate of owners were convinced she was not a spent force on the track. Her breeding suggests she could race well as an older mare and we believed that she still had what it took to compete at the top level, he said. The wet tracks she struck at the end of her three-year-old season didnt help her and I think we saw that when she didnt shape up that well in her next few starts. Now she has struck form again I think she can go on and have a really good spring, as do the team at Lindsay Park, who have been very encouraging with their opinions about her. While he wasnt on track to witness Saturdays triumph first-hand, Calder has plans to be in Melbourne next month for her next run. We got a call to say she had bounced through the run well so the plans are to target the mares features during the Melbourne spring carnival, he said. Her next run is likely to be in the Lets Elope Stakes (Gr.2, 1400m) on September 15 and Im hoping to get over there for that one. The ultimate goal is the Myer Classic (Gr.1, 1600m) in November, but we will be trying not to get ahead of ourselves although it would be a real thrill to get to a race like that. NZ Racing Desk Home Just In Indian army colonel trying to board plane with bullets in luggage arrested in Kathmandu Kathmandu, August 19 An Indian Army colonel has been arrested with 20 rounds of 22mm bullets at the domestic terminal of Tribhuvan International airport, police said. Colonel Bal Bahadur Pun (41), who lives in Samakhusi, Kathmandu, was heading to Pokhara when security personnel found bullets in his luggage. He was going to board a Buddha Air flight to the Lake City. Pun is currently in the custody of Metropolitan Police Circle, Gaushala. Kathmandu, August 19 A preliminary feasibility study conducted by a Chinese company has concluded that extending a railway line from Kyirong of Tibet to Kathmandu of Nepal will cost around Rs 257 billion. Likewise, the project will take around nine years to complete, according to the report. Senior engineer of the Department of Railways, Prakash Upadhyaya, constructing one kilometre track will cost Rs 3.55 billion. The railway will be 72.25 kilometre long. The study conducted by China Railway First Survey and Design Institute has further concluded that 98.55 per cent section of the railway will be covered by tunnels and bridges. The Chinese government had covered all costs of the preliminary feasibility study that lasted for around one month. Before that, in May, the two countries had agreed to launch a feasibility study. Another study conducted by China had earlier concluded that developing railway routes from Kyirong to Kathmandu, from Kathmandu to Pokhara and from Kathmandu to Lumbini would be possible. Currently, the Beijing government is working to extend the Lhasa-Shigatse railway route up to Kyirong. Meanwhile, Nepal and China are yet to discuss which modality will be adopted for the project. China has expressed its interest to construct the railway with subsidised loans. However, Nepal has been insisting that China do the project as a grant. Kathmandu, August 19 The Supreme Court has refused to issue an interim order to reinstate Nepal Telecom Managing Director Kamin Rajbhandari, who was recently relieved of her position by the government. Rajbhandari, who moved court following her dismissal last week, claims that she was removed illegally and urged the court to reinstate her to the post. A bench of Justice Cholendra Shamsher Rana, however, issued a show-cause, to the government asking it to clarify its stance on the case. Rajbhandri was dismissed from her post by a meeting of the Cabinet last week saying that her performance as the head of the countrys biggest telecom company was not satisfactory. 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. Kofi Annan, a former United Nations Secretary-General, has died, Peacefmonline.com can confirm. He was 80 years old. Peacefmonline understands that the global statesman died at a hospital in Switzerland, early Saturday morning after a short illness. According to a statement copied Peacefmonline from the Kofi Annan Foundation, "his wife, Nane and their children Ama, Kojo and Nina were by his side during his last days." The statement further adds that "the family requests privacy at this time of mourning. Arrangements to celebrate his remarkable life will be announced later." It however, stopped short of indicating whatever ailment the noble statesman was afflicted with. May he rest in Perfect Peace. Biography Kofi Atta Annan was born in Kumasi on April 8, 1938. After receiving his early education, Annan attended the College of Science and Technology in Kumasi. At the age of 20, he won a Ford Foundation scholarship for undergraduate studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he studied economics. Even then he was showing signs of becoming a diplomat, or someone skilled in international relations. Annan received his bachelor's degree in economics in 1961. Shortly after completing his studies at Macalester College, Annan headed for Geneva, Switzerland, where he attended graduate classes in economics at the Institut Universitaire des Hautes Etudes Internationales. Early career Following his graduate studies in Geneva, Annan joined the staff of the World Health Organization (WHO), a branch of the United Nations. He served as an administrative officer and as budget officer in Geneva. Later UN posts took him to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and New York City, New York. Annan always assumed that he would return to his native land after college, although he was disturbed by the unrest and numerous changes of government that occurred there during the 1970s. Annan became the Alfred P. Sloan fellow at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. At the end of his fellowship in 1972, he was awarded a master of science degree in management. Rather than return to Ghana upon graduation, he accepted a position at the UN headquarters in New York City. Work with the UN In 1974 he moved to Cairo, Egypt, as chief civilian personnel officer in the UN Emergency Force. Annan briefly changed careers in 1974 when he left the United Nations to serve as managing director of the Ghana Tourist Development Company. Annan returned to international diplomacy and the United Nations in 1976. For the next seven years, he was associated with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva. He returned to the UN headquarters in New York City in 1983 as director of the budget in the financial services office. Later in the 1980s, he filled the post of assistant secretary-general in the Office of Human Resources Management and served as security coordinator for the United Nations. In 1990, he became assistant secretary-general for another department at the United Nations, the Office of Program Planning, Budget, and Finance. In fulfilling his duties to the United Nations, Annan has spent most of his adult life in the United States, specifically at the UN headquarters in New York City. Annan had by this time filled a number of roles at the United Nations, ranging from peacekeeping to managerial, and the 1990s were no different. In 1990 he negotiated the release of hostages in Iraq following the invasion of Kuwait. Five years later, he oversaw the transition of the United Nations Protection Force (UNPROFOR) to the multinational Implementation Force (IFOR), a UN peacekeeping organization. In this transfer of responsibility, operations in the former Yugoslavia were turned over to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). In recognition of his abilities, Annan was appointed secretary-general, the top post of the UN, by the UN General Assembly in December 1996. He began serving his four-year term of office on January 1, 1997. Joining him was his second wife, former lawyer Nane Lagergren of Sweden. She is the niece of the diplomat Raoul Wallenberg (1912c.1947), who saved thousands of European Jews from the German Nazis during World War II (193945), when American-led forces fought against Germany, Italy, and Japan. Annan and Lagergren were married in 1985. The couple has one child. Annan's code of soft-spoken diplomacy was given a boost by the outcome of his talks with Saddam Hussein in 1998. UN observers wait to see how additional crises will be handled by the gentle but determined man from Ghana. In the summer of 2001, the United Nations unanimously appointed Kofi Annan to his second five-year term as secretary-general. On October 12, 2001, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to the United Nations and Kofi Annan. The Nobel citation pointed out that Annan had brought new life to the peacekeeping organization, highlighted the United Nations's fight for civil rights, and boldly taken on the new challenges of terrorism and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS; a disease of the immune system). 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 The Convention People's Party (CPP) has described the sudden demise of Mr Kofi Annan, former United Nations Secretary-General, as a big blow to Ghana, Africa and global peace. Professor Edmund N. Delle, the partys chairman and leader, said "globally we have lost a great, wonderful man of peace and principles, whose works transformed and contributed to global peace. "The leadership of Mr Annan as the UN Secretary-General has raised the profile of the global body, created numerous platforms for peace and deepening of democratic pillars across the globe", he added.. Prof. Delle, on behalf of the CPP, conveyed heartfelt condolences to the family and people of Ghana, adding May his death be marked with peace and sense of togetherness ". The CPP Chairman said the late Annan had an enduring legacy which all must be proud of. Kofi was a man of peace, who never gave up his identity as a Ghanaian and African. We must project our identity across the globe. May his soul rest in peace." Born on April 08, 1938 in Kumasi, he died at the age 80. Adored by all as a true national hero here in Ghana, news of his passing has brought enormous pain and grief to many. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Reverend John Azumah, an HIV Ambassador with the Ghana Aids Commission (GAC), has called for a holistic system of care for the over 38,000 Ghanaian children who are currently living with HIV in the country. He said many of these children who are living with their grandmothers, caregivers and other relatives as well as in a few orphanages, lack adequate care in the areas of proper monitoring of the intake of their antiretroviral drugs, regular medical check-ups, proper food intake and the essential multivitamins needed as supplements to the Antiretroviral drug. Rev Azumah, who is also the founder of the Motherly Love Orphanage located at Kwabenya in Accra, made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on Friday when he received on behalf of the Orphanage, a donation of food items and some toiletries donated by the David Owusu Ministries (DOM), an International and Inter-Denominational Organization, Head quartered in London, United Kingdom. The food items included bags of rice, gari, beans, maize, sugar, cartons of biscuits, some soft drinks, detergents and toiletries, and it was presented by Prophet David Owusu, President of DOM, together with Ms Marie-Paulie Owusu, Administrator of the DOM Ghana. Rev Azumah thanked Prophet Owusu and his team, for showing the act of love for the 32 orphans in his care, 70 per cent of whom are living with HIV while the other 30 per cent are without HIV infection but are affected by the passing way of their parents through AIDS. He said because many of the HIV infected and affected children were living with their grandmothers and also face stigmatisation, their care was not properly being monitored. Many of them dont take the antiretroviral drug consistently and develop drug resistance, some of them are not taken for regular check ups and the health system also lack adequate mechanisms for proper follow ups. This is leading to the deterioration in the health of some of the children and even death of a number of them, who most of the time do not understand why they should take medicine every day of their lives, Rev Azumah said. According to the HIV Ambassador, the issue of acceptance of the HIV affected children in homes was still a problem, and therefore the need to intensify education that would kill the stigma surrounding living with such children. Rev Azumah said because of the dwindling donor support towards HIV activities in Ghana, government had reduced the bit on education but rather prioritising the supply of the antiretroviral medication which was very much needed to suppress the virus in people. While commending the government for leading in the training of specialised health professionals who would be ready to care for Persons living with HIV and AIDS across the country, Rev Azumah said continuous education on ending stigma should be ongoing, without which stigmatisation of persons would continue, and could lead to the spreading of the disease. He appealed to the government to absorb the laboratory fees of children who visit the health facilities for their regular lab test through the National health insurance scheme. He said a proper mechanism should be put in place for the nurses to do follow ups on children living with HIV, and make sure they were being monitored well as is done in the cases of TB patients. Rev Azumah also urged the government to make adequate supply of the paediatric antiretroviral drugs at the facilities all the time since the periodic shortages frustrate the children and their care givers. Source: GNA Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video An International Public Relations Expert, Dr Vladimir Antwi-Danso, has called on the youth and African leaders to emulate the diplomacy traits of the former United Nations Secretary General, Mr Kofi Annan, in order to make Africa and the world a peaceful place to live. He said Mr Annan was an honest, truthful and bold diplomat who was the sole voice that criticised the United States of Americas decision to attack Iraq, while other world leaders kept mute. He urged Ghana and the rest of the African Continent to champion his legacy of ensuring world peace and stability, instead of violence and war. Dr Antwi-Danso, who is also the Dean of the Ghana Armed Forces Command and Staff College, said this to the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Saturday as part of his tribute to the former UN Secretary-General. He said Mr Annan was a source of great inspiration not only to Ghanaians, but to the citizens of the world and described him as an epitome of peace who led reforms at the United Nations system to ensure unilateralism and principle of the rule of law and human rights. The demeanour of the former UN Secretary-General, Mr Annan, is a representation of peace and preached peace throughout his life and we must champion his legacy, Dr Antwi-Danso said. Mr Kofi Annan passed on peacefully in the Swiss Capital, Berne, on Saturday morning after a short illness, Dr Antwi-Danso also acknowledged the role Mr Annan played in ensuring world peace, rule of law and principles of peace as well as helping to curb diseases that plagued some African countries. 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 Those under the impression that they have seen the best of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration must quickly revise their notes because President Akufo-Addo has promised to roll out more pragmatic programmes to improve the lives of the citizens in the coming years. According to the President, his administration mainly used the initial months in office to assess the mess that the previous administration left behind after eight years in power. The president disclosed that the investigation, which was carried out by the NPP administration, led to the exposure of corruption in the banking sector of the country. President Akufo-Addo, who was very confident, emphatically stated that his administration, despite introducing several positive policies, has a lot of programmes to improve the lives of the people. My NPP government is focused more on investigating how our predecessors, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) government, managed the country when they were in political office for eight years. Otumfuo, some of the outcome of the thorough investigations conducted by my government during our first-year in office is the canker that was recently unearthed in the financial sector, he indicated. The president, who was addressing a durbar at the Manhyia Palace in Kumasi, as part of his tour of the Ashanti Region, said now that investigations are almost over, the time has come to roll out more policies to improve the lives of the people. My government, as we approach the end of the second-year in office, is going to focus mainly on fulfilling most of our campaign promises in our manifesto, which are programmed to help accelerate national development and create wealth. President Akufo-Addo, who spoke fluent Twi, said hopefully by the time he completes his first term in office, the citizenry would have experienced positive changes in their lives. In just 18 months, the NPP administration has introduced several positive policies, including the free Senior High School (SHS), One District, One Factory, Planting for Food and Jobs, among others. The event was attended by chiefs and some ministers of state such as Dr Matthew Opoku-Prempeh, aka Napo, Yaw Osafo Marfo, Alan Kyeremanten, Amoako Atta, Kan Dapaah, Hajia Alima Mahama and several others. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Vermilion Lakes, Banff National Park is shown during a sunrise photo tour in this recent photo. Smoke from wildfires that's blanketing parts of Alberta does more than just irritate the eyes and throats of visitors to the province's mountain parks -- it obscures the spectacular scenery that many have travelled thousands of kilometres to see. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Banff Photography-Craig Douce *MANDATORY CREDIT* Accountants are bracing for unusual confusion in this year's federal income tax season, with millions more people than last year learning they have underpaid or way overpaid before the April 15 deadline. The Government Accountability Office and the Internal Revenue Service issued warnings last week that Americans need to update their tax withholding forms W-4s by the end of this year, because of changes in President Trump's tax law. As passed by Congress, the law cut taxes significantly for corporations and wealthy people, but also reduced some familiar deductions used by millions of Americans. The GAO estimates that this year's guidelines have resulted in 73 percent of the 138 million Americans who pay federal income taxes now overpaying, enduring a kind of forced no-interest savings until they get refund checks up from 70 percent last year. At the other end, 21 percent are likely underpaying and will end up owing the government a check up from 18 percent. Add it up, and that works out to more than 10 million more Americans this year whose withholding doesn't reflect what they will owe at the end of the year, on top of tens of millions who were out of synch in previous years. "This year end is going to be so painful everyone needs to get looked at," said Paul Adelizzi, CPA, director at Citrin Cooperman in Center City. "There was an adjustment in the beginning of the year on all wage earners' withholding. The issue this year is that for the first time, all tax projections need to be done on a case by case basis, because of the little quirks in the new law. " For example: According to the GAO, a family claiming the Child Tax Credit, with two children and two parents, one of them earning $75,000, the other at home, and using this year's government withholding guidelines with last year's personal income data, is likely to be withholding nearly double their actual tax obligation and may be due for a big refund when filing next spring. But the same sized family, with a parent earning $180,000, and claiming $20,000 in tax deductions, will likely be underpaying its taxes over the year by nearly 20 percent, and may be socked with a large tax bill next spring. The changes happen to be timed so that many taxpayers won't realize they owe until after November's midterm congressional elections, notes David L. Zalles, a veteran tax practitioner in Blue Bell. In his practice, Zalles said he's finding that "taxpayers with two or more children don't realize that the well-publicized doubling of the Standard Deduction has been more than offset by the elimination of the personal exemptions." "Consider a family with three kids," he added. "The five personal exemptions with a $20,250 deduction [in 2016] has been replaced by a $11,300 increase in the Standard Deduction. That is an increase of $ 8,950 in their taxable income. At a 22 percent tax rate, this is an increase in their taxes of $2,000." The family could offset part of that tax increase with the new $2,000 child tax credit, but only for kids under 17. For older kids, including costly college students, the credit is just $500, Zalles adds. Due to the Trump tax law, this is the first year the Treasury and IRS, rather than Congress, set withholding targets. The GAO says Treasury, headed by Secretary Steve Mnuchin, failed to document how it came up with the withholding guidelines it imposed earlier this year, so it's been tough to figure out why withholding projections are less accurate than last year. Treasury for its part complained it was unable to tell the difference between workers with multiple jobs at the same time, and those who change employers during the year, which can change the impact of dependents on the tax bill at each employer. So Treasury's "lack of data" meant "its withholding estimates were subject to considerable uncertainty," GAO concluded. An IRS advisory warning last week said it "urges taxpayers who haven't yet done a 'Paycheck Checkup' to take a few minutes to see if they are having the right amount of tax withholding following major changes in the tax law." It plans to add advice on its Web site and YouTube channel, and to hold "special sessions" with tax professionals to warn what to watch for. The IRS offers a withholding calculator here: There are 68,000 professional tax preparers in the U.S., according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and 138 million taxpayers, according to federal tax data. The IRS YouTube channel has 25,000 subscribers. The tax law's changes include an increased standard deduction, the elimination of personal exemptions, a higher child tax credit and limits on deductions, along with new rates and brackets. "The changes are extra likely to affect two-income families, workers with more than one job, Child Tax Credit claims, families with college-aged dependents, and high-income people, among other groups," the IRS said. Zalles said "the IRS is doing its best to get the word out on this." "For many taxpayers who were used to getting average refunds of $ 2,800 when they filed their tax returns, they will be in for a rude awakening when they do not get much." Paychecks rose starting in February, when withholdings were cut due to the new tax law. "On the other hand, high-income taxpayers, especially those who file estimates, may find a significant increase in their overpayments, because their taxes will be reduced greatly in 2018," Zalles adds. "Employees living or working in Philadelphia will be hurt" if their state and local income and real estate taxes total $10,000 or more [or $5,000 for married people filing separately.] I have a high income client whose total of these taxes is $70,000, which will be limited to a $10,000 deduction. However, because of the reduction in the tax rates, their taxes will be reduced by $ 25,000. Therefore, I had them reduce their withholdings by $3,000 per month for the remaining 8 months of the year." "Most professional tax practitioners are doing these projections for clients," Zalles told me. "But taxpayers who do their own taxes, or who use 'retail preparers', will have significant difficulty in making these determinations themselves." Pa.'s legislature lags behind other states in defense of child-abuse victims. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke) Read more There's an ugly irony in last week's release of a statewide grand jury report on decades of sex abuse of children, and its cover-up, by Catholic clergy. Turns out the state with the fullest examination of the globally troubling problem is also the state offering some of the nation's weakest recourse for those who've been abused. And you can guess why: Pennsylvania's legislature. It has long lagged in helping victims ease at least some suffering endured at the hands of evil. Just one more category in which we trail most states. And, in this case, not by a little. >> READ MORE: Pa. Catholic Church sex abuse report names hundreds of priests, accuses leaders of cover-up After announcing the grand jury's horrific findings last Tuesday, state Attorney General Josh Shapiro pointed to grand jury recommendations on reforming state law, especially regarding statutes of limitations in child-sex cases. That brought an immediate response from Child USA, a University of Pennsylvania-based nonprofit pushing public policy to fight child abuse. It monitors related laws in all 50 states. Child USA issued a statement saying, in part, that the grand jury report "actually understates how far behind the rest of the country" Pennsylvania's statutes of limitations are. It's a case of lack of aid in a state with no lack of victims. The grand jury found detailed accounts of more than 1,000 abused children, but said 'the real number" likely was multiple thousands. And since the report's release, an abuse hotline (888-538-8541) run by the AG's office has gotten hundreds of calls. Yet Pennsylvania ranks among the worst states in allowing child sex-abuse victims who commonly keep the abuse to themselves well into adulthood to seek legal redress by filing criminal charges or civil suits against their abusers later in life. Child USA's 2018 national report, for example, shows that 41 states have eliminated criminal statutes of limitations for at least some child sex-abuse felonies. Pennsylvania is not among them. In Pennsylvania, a criminal complaint of child sexual abuse must be filed by the time the victim is 50 years old. If that seems reasonable, consider this: Child USA cites research showing that most victims who disclose they were assaulted as a child do so only in adulthood. And the average age of disclosure is 52. It's almost as if those seeking to minimize complaints in this case, the state's Catholic dioceses, and their lobbyists and insurers who, combined, spend millions of dollars in their efforts were familiar with such research. The state also has a statute of limitations for civil lawsuits. A bad one. A victim of child sex abuse seeking to sue an abuser must file a suit by age 30. Child USA's report says this about Pennsylvania: "The civil SOL (statute of limitations) at age 30 is increasingly short in comparison with the developments in the rest of the country." There are nine states, for example, with no civil statutes of limitations for at least some claims. This includes Illinois and Maine, which have no civil statutes of limitations for child sexual abuse, period. The report also notes, "Yet, with all the activity in states since 2002, no state has reached the pinnacle of SOL reform, which is to simply eliminate the civil and criminal SOLs backward and forward. Only Guam has done that." Still, the report says our state lags in reforms, "despite the fact Pennsylvania has generated the most grand jury reports on child abuse in the country." In other words, we know a lot but decline to act. Child USA's founder, CEO and Penn law professor, Marci Hamilton, says "lobbying" keeps state statutes where they are, and adds, "For Pennsylvania to still be stuck on an age number shows it's well behind the curve." State Victim Advocate Jennifer Storm agrees. She says the disconnect makes no sense: "We've had enough cases, seen the most evidence. We know the stories, the statistics. We've been through the [Penn State] Sandusky case, grand juries, now the dioceses." It's time, she says, to change the law. She's right. Eliminate the criminal statute of limitations. End, or at least broaden, the civil statute. After all the investigations and findings in every Catholic diocese, it's time the legislature concedes that it's done too little for too long and move to right its wrongs and complicity in the abuse of children by anyone at any time. Lawmakers will return to session next month in an election year for all the House and half the Senate. We'll see whether they continue to stand with monied interests. Hopefully, all voters (and victims) will be watching. Law enforcement officials and Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson (right) released photos Friday of the 3 men wanted in connection with the attempted murder of 2 Camden County undercover detective. Juan Figueroa (far right on wanted poster) was arrested Saturday. Read more Camden County police have caught one break in their pursuit of three young men who stand accused of shooting two detectives in an unmarked police cruiser earlier this month. Juan Figueroa, 20, was arrested Saturday night in Gloucester City, N.J., according to Camden County Police Chief Scott Thomson. The development came just a day after authorities identified Figueroa and two others, Alexander DeJesus and Ammar Hall, as the suspects in the brazen Aug. 7 shooting, which coincided with National Night Out. Thomson encouraged DeJesus, 19, of Philadelphia, and Hall, 26, of Camden, to surrender peacefully. A $60,000 reward is still being offered in exchange for information that leads to their arrests. Authorities have said the three men were in a white van when they pulled behind the detectives, who were sitting in their car while they worked a surveillance detail in Camden's Bergen Square neighborhood. Two of the men stepped out of the van and fired 10 to 25 rounds from semiautomatic weapons at the detectives in just seven seconds in what appeared to be an unprovoked attack. The detectives, whose names have not been released, were wounded, but one managed to return fire as the suspects fled. Both detectives were treated for their injuries at a local hospital and released. Thomson described Figueroa, DeJesus, and Hall as "homicidal maniacs" during a Friday news conference. "These folks don't need to be walking the streets of society," he said. The three face attempted murder, aggravated assault, and weapons possession charges. Coffee and cured meats? At the new Bower Cafe (263 S. 10th St.), you can get your espresso or latte with a pastry and order a half-pound of, say, chorizo secco or guanicale. Thane Wright, a coffee-industry veteran for many years with La Colombe and Bluestone Lane, is bringing in dry-cured meats from Ends Meat Co. in Brooklyn, which he displays in cases next to those housing pastries and other coffee accompaniments. For now, he's selling sliced meats, but is planning to offer toasts and sandwiches soon. (See photo of menu.) Why meat? It's a tribute to his father, Lester, who passed in 2011. "I wanted to do something that was bringing my story and his story together, which was meat and coffee," Wright said. "He did a bunch of pig roasts growing up. He introduced me to a bunch of styles of meat not necessarily cured meat but smoked meats and barbecued meats and stuff like that. Since I didn't want to do open flame or hoods in the coffee shop, I just decided to do cured meat instead." He is a longtime friend of Ends Meat founder John Ratliff hence the connection. Hours, for now, are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekends. To explain names here: Thane's mom dipped into her love of Shakespeare to name him; "thane" is a title of royalty in medieval Scotland (Macbeth is Thane of Glamis and later Thane of Cawdor). And "Bower" comes from the Australian bowerbird, whose males build a nest decorated with bright objects to lure a mate. Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa (D., Allegheny), pictured above, was first told about sexual assault allegations against a senator in his caucus nearly a year before launching an investigation into them. Read more The mystery attack had everything: international intrigue, crypto currency, cyber-terrorists, and wait, what? Pennsylvania politicians. Last year, Democrats in the state Senate were victims of a computer ransomware attack that locked them out of their emails and other files. Hackers promised they'd return control in exchange for a five-figure ransom. Democrats refused. Now, Clout has found out how much the siege cost taxpayers. Sort of. State Sen. Vincent Hughes, a West Philly Democrat, said the state government (read: you and me) had to spend "six figures" to recover from the strike, which he said appeared to have "foreign" origins. How much, exactly? Hughes referred that question to Senate Minority Leader Jay Costa, whose spokesperson declined to cite a specific number. So, somewhere in the ballpark of $100,000 to $999,999. Some ballparks are bigger than others. (And some elected officials are more transparent than others.) In this attack, the hackers asked for 28 bitcoin, a crypto-currency sum that would have been worth nearly $36,000 at the close of business on the first day of the attack. "After consulting with law enforcement and cyber-security experts, we agreed to not give in to the demands of the cyber-terrorists," Democratic Senate caucus spokesperson Brittany Crampsie told us. That's an expensive lesson. But Hughes noted an up side: Republicans helped the Democratic caucus rebuild its computer files, sharing information and support. A rare sighting of bipartisanship in Harrisburg. "We lost damn near everything, and had to go through a very deliberative process of rebuilding our system," Hughes said. "The best nature of everybody kind of came out. I think they realized this could have easily happened to them." Will Sheet Metal Workers union boss run against Kenney in 2019? Gary Masino, head honcho of the local Sheet Metal Workers' union, is thinking about challenging Mayor Kenney in the 2019 mayoral race. His son, Gary Jr., said he told union members at a meeting this week that he is "definitely considering" a campaign. Other rumored potential candidates who run the gamut from serious contenders to mere flirts include City Controller Alan Butkovitz, State Sen. Anthony Williams, and businessman Tom Knox. Top officials in Local 19 have been floating the idea of a Masino ticket on social media. "MASINO FOR MAYOR," wrote business agent Tony Iannucci III on Facebook. "THE MAN OF THE WORKING PEOPLE." But is Masino really interested in the job? Or does he have an ulterior motive? Masino sat on the powerful Zoning Board of Adjustment, which holds sway over development projects, until Kenney took office in 2016. Kenney appointed Anthony Gallagher, an ally of Electricians union leader John "Johnny Doc" Dougherty, to replace him. Masino and Dougherty have a history. Last year, Masino accused another union in the building trades of "raiding" his members' work. Sources said he was referring to the Electricians. Does Masino want to leverage a rumored mayoral run into a ZBA comeback? Are these the first shots of a proxy war with the Electricians? Masino Jr. said that his father resigned from the ZBA voluntarily, and that "there wasn't any bad blood between him and the mayor at the time, and there still really isn't." He also denied that there is any ill will between the Electricians and the Sheet Metal Workers, noting that they teamed up in a recent state House campaign. He said his dad simply "thinks he can do a better job" than Kenney: "He's well-suited for the position and he genuinely cares about the city. He's lived here his entire life." The Mayor's Office, meanwhile, swiftly released a letter on Thursday demonstrating that Masino had been shown the door at the ZBA. Kenney aides next move: Anti-Trump group Jane Slusser, one of the two "power women" behind Kenney's 2015 campaign, left her job as the mayor's chief of staff last Friday. She said at the time she was going to work for an unnamed group charged with "mobilizing voters" during the midterm election campaigns. This week, she gave Clout more details. Slusser is the new organizing director for a campaign founded by Tom Steyer, the billionaire Democratic megadonor who wants to impeach President Trump. At "Need to Impeach," she's hoping to mobilize the 5.5 million people who've signed on to Steyer's petition to boot Trump from office. "The focus is taking voters who don't normally turn out in midterm elections and getting them to turn out in really competitive races," she said. Need to Impeach has already dipped its toes in the water on that front. Via email, text and ads, the organization urged petition-signers to vote in the 2018 special House election that Democrat Conor Lamb won in a district that Trump carried by almost 20 percentage points. Seventy-eight percent of those voters cast a ballot, according to lead strategist Kevin Mack. "Our voters turned out at a rate 30 percent higher than Democrats in the district who did not sign our petition," said Mack. Slusser was known as one of the Kenney administration's top progressive voices. Her legacy also includes reining in Kenney's jasmine-loving, Chris Christie-hating, no-holds-barred Twitter feed with fellow "power woman" Lauren Hitt. Hitt left the Kenney administration earlier this year and is now working for Cynthia Nixon's New York gubernatorial campaign. So if Kenney starts tweeting again about "smokin'" 60 Minutes journalist Lesley Stahl, you know why. The iconic main line music store Gold Million records is closing, and they are selling their entire inventory in Bryn Mawr, Friday, August 17, 2018. Owners Max Million and Harold Gold behind an Edison Victrola. Read more Gold Million Records formerly known as Plastic Fantastic has hosted the Ramones, Blondie, Talking Heads, Lene Lovich, Joan Jett, the Jam, the Thompson Twins, the Alarm, Chubby Checker, Todd Rundgren, and countless others since it opened in 1976. Now, after 42 years, the Bryn Mawr music mecca is closing. The owners, Harold Gold and Max I. Million, are responsible for amassing the store's 50,000-odd LPs and 45s, as well as extensive music memorabilia that goes well beyond the last four decades of music and culture. On Friday, they announced the closing with an eBay ad as bright and eclectic as their store "LeGeNDaRY PHiLLY RoCK 'N RoLL ReCoRD SToRe iNVeNToRY 4 SaLe," it reads. Everything in the store from records to memorabilia is on sale for 33 percent off (in honor of the RPMs). They want to sell most of their merchandise before they close for good. Gold Million had already downsized once, in 2004 when it moved from Ardmore to Bryn Mawr and changed names. This will be a long undertaking, considering the extent of their collection. Though the store seems packed with vintage goods (it doesn't sell new releases), Gold and Million have even more merchandise and records at their apartment above the store, and the basement. Gold and Million plan on continuing to sell their wares online once they retire, but they look forward to spending more time traveling and with family. The store has a floor-to-floor collage of photos and newspaper clippings, many signed, which document the store's illustrious guests. "He's eating a can of dog food and then he spit it out into the crowd, and he signed the wall, 'Iggy eats here,'" said Gold, describing a photo of a young Iggy Pop towering over a rapturous crowd in the original shop in Ardmore. The room is packed with long-haired teenagers. "Right after we opened, this whole New Wave thing kicked in, and I worked in record companies, so I had contacts," Gold said of his famous visitors. Million said they hosted most of their guests prior to the artists' careers taking off. She recalled, "They were babies at the time. The record company said, 'We have a brand-new artist, her name is Joan Jett, she's, like, sort of punky and wild. Would you consider having her come to sign some records?' I said, sure. We didn't even know who she was." Although Gold Million served the Main Line and beyond, some of the customers included the artists who visited. "When the Runaways came with Joan Jett, they all bought Saturday Night Fever," said Gold, "and we had the police in here, they all bought jazz records." In the pre-internet era, the shop was vital to music culture, a place where fans' idols became real. The owners said most record stores have a specialty, but their shop has it all. Along with the records, amassed mostly from private collectors and meticulously combed through, cleaned, and organized, the shop sells a variety of artifacts. These includes racks of "new old stock" T's and sweatshirts, which Million said are the excess stock of vintage concert merchandise, preserved in their original condition by clothing companies and eventually sold off. The shop also sells "anything counterculture" among the gems is a plastic-sleeved People magazine noting the death of John Lennon, several gold records, signed posters, art, and guitars, clocks, and other trinkets that Million creates from scratched records. On their plans to close, Gold acknowledged, "It's surreal, a little, it's making us a little nervous." "We don't really feel it yet, but just the thought of it makes our stomachs tingly," Million added. "I think it was really huge for the community because a lot of the older community they're still listening to records," said Million. "And their kids are now our customers," said Gold, pointing out a woman and her son who were browsing through some Beatles albums. People climb up the rocks to the trail after police informed folks that swimming was not allowed in Devils Pool in the Wissahickon Valley Park in Phila., Pa. on Aug. 18, 2018. Officers were very friendly and explained that they could stay in the park but that there is a $100 fine for swimming there. ELIZABETH ROBERTSON / Staff Photographer Read more In theory, Devil's Pool should be unbothered this weekend. The popular destination inside Wissahickon Valley Park has been ordered closed for weekends from now through September. The Department of Parks and Recreation said Wednesday that the new policy was a "public-safety" matter. However, I faced little opposition as I took a longer route. I sat on a boulder overlooking the water basin and had the scene to myself for nearly an hour in the early afternoon. The sought-after location sits just before where Cresheim Creek finds the Wissahickon, with a natural pool collecting near the confluence. According to a widely shared local legend, the Lenni-Lenape believed that the area was not only the meeting of the two creeks, but a meeting point for good and evil. Boulders that surround the area have sinuous, wavy folds that are not only unique to the valley, but also make for "one of Pennsylvania's outstanding scenic geological features," as one researcher said. Taking to the top of the rocks and jumping into the pool is common, despite reports describing the hazard of the leap and the unsanitary state of the water. The closure follows complaints in the neighborhood that visitors coming to the illegal swimming hole were committing lewd acts in the park and leaving unsightly trash behind. Karen Daroff, who lives near the pool, said that while she wasn't among the people who complained, she has been disturbed by visitors, especially in the last two years. >>READ MORE: Neighbors want crackdown on Devil's Pool adventure-seekers Daroff has many concerns after seeing near-accidents between racing cars, public urination, and lots of broken bottles that she has gone to routinely clean up. Chief among her concerns, though, are a lack of respect for the environment and the perils of cliff-jumping. Daroff said that she's administered first aid or called an ambulance for injured pool visitors several times. "When there's very humid weather and people are looking for some relief, they look at this as an opportunity for recreation," she said. "I'm hoping and I'm thinking that there are alternate places for families to go and have a good time. But this one is just dangerous." Police were stationed Saturday at both Livezey Lane and Valley Green Road. Officers were also seen near the historic Livezey House. But let's say one took a more southern entrance to the park. A potential visitor unswayed by clinging August humidity could easily take a trail headed toward the destination, as I did. Mount Airy-based writer Bradley Maule also posted on Instagram from the spot Saturday. My winding path measured roughly a mile and a half. While there were police at the entrance of Livezey Lane, I just hiked there. From Livezey, I found an unguarded trail leading to Devil's Pool, marked with signage that the route was closed. I ignored this for journalism. Nearer the pool, I saw a few cyclists. One kindly gave me directions when I felt unsure which way to go at a fork in the trail. Her advice was spot on. I arrived at the rocks above the water and found no visitors, no rangers, and no officers. To take in Devil's Pool alone is a serene experience, for the most part. The trash is still out there. I tried to block out that a wet pair of underwear was left on a rock near my chill spot, but obviously the sight has lingered. An officer eventually appeared and called up to me. I was the only person he'd seen at the spot. He informed me that the area was closed and asked for my name. I gave it to him and shared that I'm a reporter. He took down my name, said there wouldn't be a ticket, and escorted me out. Police said swimmers there could face a fine of $100. As I left I met Nicolas Malabett-Pineda, who had sneaked inside with a friend. They took a side trail near Livezey that was a much faster shortcut than what I followed. Malabett-Pineda was visiting from Miami. In his work as an activist, he encourages exploring public spaces to consider the effects of climate change, and enjoys finding such areas himself when he's traveling. (He made it to the pool later, but with officers in sight, he didn't stick around long.) The activist is concerned that some bad apples may be hampering access for everyone. "People who are trying to experience nature have this issue," he said. "To have these struggles, it's disappointing. It's frustrating." Federal authorities say Shawn Christy threatened to kill President Trump and Northampton District Attorney John Morganelli on Facebook earlier this year. Read more Shawn Christy was ready to introduce himself to the world. Dressed in a camouflage shirt and hat, his green eyes hidden behind a pair of aviator sunglasses, Christy stared into a camera and delivered a short message that he posted on YouTube in January. "I kind of have a lot of survival information, mixed with tactical," he said with a noticeable lisp. "Pretty much like all different environments, whether it's the desert, the mountains, or the urban environment that I'm in now." He promised to share more videos about survivalist topics on his YouTube channel, Backwoods Bushcraft and Tactical, but didn't generate much interest; the channel attracted just 15 subscribers. But if it was attention that Christy craved, he now has more than he can handle. The 27-year-old is the focus of a massive manhunt led by the U.S. Marshals, the FBI, and the Secret Service, with agents following his trail from Canada to Pennsylvania to Kentucky. >> UPDATE: Pa. 'survivalist' who threatened to kill Trump spotted in Maryland, authorities say Christy a self-styled survivalist from McAdoo, a small town in Schuylkill County's coal country is wanted for threatening to shoot President Trump and Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli. The Marshals on Saturday announced a $20,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of Christy, who allegedly stole three handguns from an uncle in Luzerne County earlier this summer. Investigators believe Christy stole a 2001 Jeep Cherokee in Greensburg, Ky., earlier this month, after abandoning a Toyota Tundra in the area. The Jeep has a steering wheel on the passenger's side, a black front hood, and "U.S. Postal Service" and "Rural Carrier" magnets on the front and side. His backstory is tangled, filled with arrests and threats and, in 2010, a restraining order involving former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin. "It's hard to explain," said Supervisory Deputy Robert Clark of the U.S. Marshals. The reason federal authorities are now trying to track down Christy is a June 12 Facebook post he wrote: "Keep it up Morganelli, I promise I'll put a bullet in your head as soon as I put one in the head of Donald J. Trump. Remember where you came from punk." It was not the first time Christy had mentioned the president on Facebook. According to a recent Newsweek story, Christy complained about Trump in a lengthy message in May that also referenced Palin and Morganelli. "I'm not a snowflake, but I still say Trump is a fake," he wrote. "I mean I voted for him, but here in 'Murica we got sold a lemon." Christy shared photos of men and women he claimed were U.S. Marshals, and referenced trying to figure out where a relative of one agent lived; he also vowed to use "full lethal force on any law enforcement officer that tries to detain me." "We don't want some unsuspecting officers pulling him over when they don't know what they're getting into," Clark said, adding that Christy has written in the past about Eric Frein, a survivalist from Canadensis who shot and killed a Pennsylvania state trooper in 2014, and led authorities on a 48-day chase. "Maybe he feels like that's a role model for him," Clark said. Court records show that Christy was charged with making terroristic threats in March 2017 after threatening to kill a tax clerk in Bangor, Pa., north of Allentown, and blow up the building where she worked; he pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 12 months of probation. That same spring, he was charged with aggravated assault for allegedly swinging a four-foot-long stick at Stephan Holly, McAdoo's mayor. Clark said Christy is also wanted on a probation violation in Schuylkill County, and for failing to appear at a court date as part of the Holly case. But the local matters pale next to the federal warrant that was issued on June 19 in response to the Facebook threats. Morganelli didn't respond to a request for comment but told Newsweek he could be on Christy's radar simply because his name might have appeared on court documents related to the Bangor tax clerk case. "I haven't been thinking about him much," he told the magazine. In 2010, an Alaskan judge granted Palin a restraining order against Christy, who reportedly admitted to threatening to rape the former vice presidential candidate, and flooding her office with emails and messages. Christy and his father were later arrested by the FBI for harassing Palin's attorney, who worked in Allentown. "He's unpredictable," Clark said. "He's the type of guy who does not need human contact. We hope we can get him peacefully." Tipsters can contact the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-926-8332. GULU Gulu High Court Resident Judge Stephen Mubiru has ruled that the Gulu Chief Magistrates Court should go ahead and listen to the case against the 33 people, including Members of Parliament, arrested over the campaign violence in Arua Municipality last Monday. Gulu Chief Magistrate Francis Matenga Dawa had on Friday, August 17 written to Justice Mubiru, seeking advice on the matter which he said doesnt fall under his jurisdiction and should be referred to Arua High Court Circuit where the offences against the accused were allegedly committed. However, this website has seen Justice Mubirus letter written on the same day (Friday), explaining that handling the case at Gulu Chief Magistrates case, although out of the territorial area of where the offences were allegedly committed, does not affect its outcome. In accordance with section 50 (2) of The Criminal Procedure Code Act, I have listened to the submissions of the learned Resident Senior State Attorney Mr. Omia Patrick, representing the prosecution and those of Hon. Medard Lubega Seggona appearing together with Hon. Asuman Basalirwa and Mr. Acellam Paul Ocaya, Counsel for the accused persons. I have further considered the averments contained in the charge sheet, Justice Mubirus letter to Mr Dawa reads in part. The letter adds: I have also addressed my mind to the law regarding personal and geographical jurisdiction of Magistrates Courts, the transfer of criminal cases, the powers and jurisdiction of the High Court and I find that although there are some procedural irregularities leading up to the Chief Magistrates courts at Gulu taking cognisance of the case, they are not fatal to the proceedings and can be rectified by an order of this court ratifying the exercise of jurisdiction. The proceedings of the Chief Magistrates Court are accordingly ratified. The accused persons are to continue to appear before that court for the mention of their case in accordance with the law. A ruling explaining in detail the reasons behind this decision is to be delivered on Monday, 20th August 2018, he adds. In his letter to the High Court, the Chief Magistrates Court had expressed doubts as to whether or not it has geographical jurisdiction over the accused persons, in that case, considering that the particulars of the charge sheet indicate that the overt act for which they stand charged took place in Arua, which is a different magisterial area outside the territorial boundaries of the Chief Magistrates Court of Gulu. The above matter came before me on 16th August 2018 for mention. I have examined the particulars and found the same matter falls with territorial jurisdiction of Arua Magistrates Court and Arua High Court Circuit. The Registration of the same in Gulu, in my opinion, is an error, Matenga pointed out. Related By Ivan Okuda KAMPALA Musician and MP Mr Robert Kyagulanyi aka Bobi Wine continues, as does MP Zaake, to wallow in pain after they were beastly butchered by Ugandas perennially rascal security agencies. Libraries of ink have been written about everything wrong with what happened. Personally what I find shocking and disappointing is the Presidents unwritten approval, condoning and abetting of this barefaced criminality. In all his statements on the Arua election, the president has neither expressed remorse, empathized with families of victims nor promised to take action on his officers who undoubtedly acted with more force than was necessary from the facts emerging. This isnt so surprising especially seeing how Mr Museveni loves to chest thump after every murderous episode as we saw with Kasese, Kayunga, Walk to Work, the war in the North and East wherein the army admittedly committed gross violations of human rights of civilians. That mistakes may have been made isnt a matter of concern for the Old Man with the hat. Perhaps, the president is happy with the actions of his officers which in a country of violent politics achieve the shock doctrine mission of scaring lesser people from taking on the state while also breaking the spirit of rising stars like Bobi. In his calculation, the cost of bad publicity measured against the long-term aim of beating opponents to submission while sending a message to their followers is bearable. After all, he has previously hailed the NRM as masters of violence. For a regime that got power through violence and hasnt been shy to apply doses of the same to maintain a grip on power, forcefulness is a time-tested method. Students of Ugandas political and constitutional history will appreciate that the character of the Ugandan state and its attitude towards opposition hasnt fundamentally changed right from colonial time. This perhaps calls for a deeper study of the evolution of Ugandan, nay, post-colonial African state. That is beside the point though. Its humbling that Ugandans across the political divide have voiced their concern and demanded fair treatment of the two MPs. I am intrigued though by the continuance of the trend of silence, oh dear, sorry, I meant less concern, about the plight of SMALL people who become collateral damage in these episodes of violent political processes. My acquaintance the indomitable Mr Higenyi Kemba of the Uganda Peoples Congress this week brought to our attention the plight of women and men who are rotting away in West Nile. They were among those battered by security officers. One reportedly is in dire need of surgery. Except for a few mentions in the media, none of these people has got the kind of attention the two MPs received. Understandably so, though. No hashtag. No mention on the big radio and TV talk shows in Kampala. No parliament suspended to establish their condition. No Prime Minister statement on their fate. No twitter and Facebook campaign. Just a mention in passing in our news pages. No headline. Therein lies the crisis of our society. A society where the house of justice has private wings, VIP rooms and commoner sections. Of course, we dont expect everyone to get the same attention for the world isnt equal or even fair but I dare say we fall short of the bare minimum when it comes to the SMALL people. A few anecdotes will suffice. A few years ago, a source in the FDC got me rare access to Ndolo Military Prison in DR. Congo where activist Sam Mugumya is to this day detained without charge. We did the interview that got published in Sunday Monitor. Sam, however, is one of the most selfless people of our generation. He, at the end of the interview, requested that I look into the situation of other Ugandans detained with him because the media and NGOs were speaking about his issue as though it was an isolated case. I asked him to compile names and get a little more detail. He did. We published a story, 37 Ugandans rot away in Congo jail. That is almost the most a journalist can do. There hasnt been mention of the plight of these Ugandans, many of them Baganda Muslims. They continue to languish in Congo. Some have been there for 6 years. Before Sam was detained there these Ugandans had spent up to three years in the military facility. Not FDC, not the media, not our human rights NGOs, not our diplomatic officers had, at least in public, raised voice. Sams arrest attracted media attention, key opposition figures matching to the DRC embassy in Kampala and constant efforts in and out of Uganda to secure him. The other 37 Ugandans, who had no name recognition, werent as lucky. Who, I ask, will speak out for people like those? Who will start a Twitter campaign for them? Oops! Tweets about them wont attract 1,200 retweets. A tweet about Sam will. An effort to fight for the rights of these 37 Ugandans wont get you a media mention or catch the eye of the donor. If you are a journalist, perhaps, their story wont get you a headline. Sams story will. If you are Ugandas Ambassador to Congo, visiting these 37 Ugandans wont catch the eye of Amnesty International. Visiting Sam will. He is a recognizable quantity. Therein, lies the moral crisis of our society. Does every life matter? Another example. Last year we at the Monitor investigated a spate of killings in Teso sub-region, mainly inspired by land conflicts, politics and business and published a series titled: Blood, Guns and Politics in Teso. For the tens of days, I camped in Soroti speaking to people, I touched, felt and smelt the monster of injustice inbuilt in our society. There was a high profile family which met the president to discuss the murder of their elderly mother. We in the media gave the case attention. Human rights lawyers did their best to get justice. Uganda Human Rights Commission made visits to the family. NGOs too. Then reality dawned. The reality of SMALL people. There were families that had more scary tales of injustice, murders with impunity and state officials covering up or even involved. None of them had caught the attention of the president, media, NGOs. Yes, no Twitter campaign for them. No hashtag. No Free Okello tee shirts. No mention in the inside pages of our papers. Who, I dare ask, will speak out and act for these people, the SMALL people? Does every life matter? I could give 1993 more examples but these drive the point home. And so, as I listen to our talk shows, retweet tweets and imbibe passion on Facebook about our beloved MPs paying the price of third world politics of violence, my heart and mind go out to the SMALL people who arent part of this conversation. That woman, mother, sister, aunt, spouse to someone who was reportedly was bleeding from her private regions while in court in Gulu or the young man Mr. Kemba reports, has a bullet lodged in his body. Or the orphans of Bobis driver and their widowed mother who wont be lucky to have Bishops, social media influencers, NGOs, lawyers, journalists and MPs speaking about justice for them. The many who have suffered the brunt of injustice with no one to talk to, no one to profile their plight are an indictment on us, as a society. I must, as a matter of disclaimer though, hasten to add that I know a few people in our media, NGO, human rights law and even government who will do anything possible, and do so whenever duty to humanity calls, to extend a hand to our SMALL people. Maria Burnett at Human Rights Watch, my mentor and friend Mr. Rwakafuuzi, nduggu Nich Opiyo, the golden-hearted Jackie Asiimwe, Eunice Musiime, Andrew Karamagi, Eron Kiiza, police officers like Mr. Asan Kasingye, my colleagues Stephen Kafeero, Abubaker Lubowa at Monitor and so many others who have their hearts in the right place and recognize that all lives matter, and each day, in the course of their jobs, try to do something, however small, to make a difference. Thing though is, the culture of our media, NGOs, human rights law practice, opposition politicians, social media campaigns, is constructed around recognizable quantities. The SMALL people, by and large, are out on their own, living like birds in space, lucky to get a tree to perch on when dawn strikes. Does every life matter? Lets look in the mirror. There lies the answer. ==================================================================== Ivan Okuda is a Ugandan writer and political commentator in Uganda and the East African region Related 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 Welcome Guest! You Are Here: IMAGE: Sachin Prakasrao Andure, the main accused in Dabholkar murder case being presented at a court in Pune on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo The alleged main shooter arrested in the Narendra Dabholkar killing case received 'shooting training' at various places in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the Central Bureau of Investigation told a court in Pune on Sunday. Sachin Prakasrao Andure, who was arrested on Saturday evening by the CBI, was remanded on Sunday in the CBI custody till August 26. He was produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) A S Mujumdar at Shivajinagar amid heavy security. While seeking his custody for 14 days, CBI counsel (public prosecutor) Vijaykumar Dhakane said the investigation revealed that Andure had received 'shooting training' at various places in Maharashtra and Karnataka before executing Dabholkar's killing. "The CBI needs to investigate where he underwent the shooting training and also people who provided the required infrastructure to both the shooters," he said. The probe agency told the court that Andure is one of the two assailants who shot at Dabholkar at Omkareshwar Bridge here on August 20, 2013. "The entire conspiracy was hatched by Dr Virendra Tawde along with this accused and this (conspiracy) needs to be unearthed for which his custodial interrogation is needed," the CBI counsel told the court. The CBI had arrested Hindu Janajagruti Samiti member Tawde in June 2016 from his house in Panvel in the neighbouring Navi Mumbai township and in the charge sheet, he was mentioned as the main conspirator. Defence counsel Prakash Salsingikar raised questions over the arrest of Andure and said that after arresting Tawde, the CBI in its charge sheet mentioned the names of Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar as Dabholkar's killers. He said the CBI claimed that sketches prepared on the basis of descriptions given by seven to eight witnesses resemble with the photos of Akolkar and Pawar. "Now suddenly, the CBI has come out with this new theory that it was Andure who shot at Dabholkar. The sketches have no resemblance with Andure's facial characteristics," he said. In the charge sheet also, there was no mention of Andure, Salsingikar said, and opposed the prosecution's demand for his 14-day custody. He said the court should direct the prosecution to submit a copy of the charge sheet filed against Tawde in the case. Dhakane, however, said the CBI never named Akolkar and Pawar as the main killers and that the charge sheet only speaks about resemblance of sketches with Akolkar and Pawar. "The resemblance is only 50 to 60 per cent and nowhere in the charge sheet the CBI mentioned them as the accused," he said. The CBI also said that it has to seize the weapon and the vehicle used in the commission of the crime. After hearing the arguments, JMFC Mujumdar remanded Andure in CBI custody till August 26. Sachin Andure's brother Pravin Andure, who was present in the court during the hearing, told reporters later that his sibling was innocent and 'falsely implicated' in the case. Andure was believed to be one of the shooters who fired at Dabholkar while he was on a morning walk on the Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune on August 20, 2013, the CBI spokesperson said on Saturday. He was arrested on a tip-off from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had last week arrested three persons for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to carry out blasts in the state. One of the arrested accused gave the input about Andure's involvement in Dabholkar's murder, which the ATS shared with the CBI, the spokesperson said. During the questioning of the accused in police custody, one of them revealed about his direct participation in Dabholkar's murder, the ATS said in a statement. In June 2016, the CBI had filed a charge sheet against Tawde under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 302 (murder) of the Indian Penal Code, among other charges. Tawde was allegedly the mastermind of the killing, the CBI had said. The Bombay high court had, in May 2014, handed over the Dabholkar murder case to the CBI. Dabholkar's killing and communist leader and rationalist Govind Pansare's killing in a similar manner in February 2015 had sent shock waves throughout the state. Meanwhile, a former Shiv Sena corporator has also been detained in connection with the killing of Dabholkar in Jalna district, CBI sources said on Sunday. Shrikant Pangarkar, a former member of the Jalna Municipal Corporation, was detained on Wednesday night by the CBI after interrogation of Andure, they said. Braving inclement weather and risky conditions, a young Air Force officer dramatically winched up a toddler to safety from the roof-top of a marooned house in rain-battered Kerala where thousands of people are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. IMAGE: Army personnel conduct rescue and evacuation drive in flood-affected regions of Kerala on Sunday. Photograph: Courtesy Indian Navy/Twitter Wing Commander Prashanth slid down a rope to the terrace of the two-storey house which seemed from above like a toy floating on the yellowish murky waters. TV visuals showed the officer airlifting the two-year-old boy with care, pressing him to his body and winching him to safety. The proud officer later handed over the baby to his anxious mother waiting inside the chopper. The woman, who was almost in tears, was all gratitude and smiles as she received her bundle of joy in her hands. Wing Commander Prashanth is one among many unsung heroes who have brought smiles to the faces of anxious and panic-stricken people of Kerala, reeling under the worst floods of a century. IMAGE: A child being airlifted by an Indian Air Force personnel. Photograph: Courtesy Indian Air Force/Twitter Another TV grab showed some girls, trapped in their hostel room for days without food and water, making a lucky escape after an Indian Air Force helicopter came to their rescue. They cried and hugged each other after all the stranded were safely pulled up into the copter on Saturday. Commander Vijay Varma, who saved a pregnant woman in labour by winching her up in a helicopter from a stranded building, was later happy to hear that she had successfully delivered a baby boy. "This was a very challenging task. We got an SOS and we traced them out...There is tremendous satisfaction, both professionally and personally," the officer said later. The social media was all praise for the exceptional courage shown by the Indian Navy's Captain P Rajkumar who airlifted over 25 persons battling challenging conditions. IMAGE: Army holds rescue and evacuation drive in Thiruvilla on Sunday. Photograph: Courtesy Indian Army/Twitter The visual of a man kneeling down in muddy waters to help women step on to him to get into rescue boats went viral on Sunday. The man in a blue shirt was seen kneeling, with his face hardly a few inches above the flood waters, and women stepping onto his back to climb up to a rescue boat. The act of Indian Administrative Services officers M G Rajamanikyam and N S Umesh who unloaded rice sacks at the Wayanad Collectorate for distribution at relief camps was also celebrated by netizens. As soon as news of the devastating floods and the plight of the stranded came out, 600 odd fishermen immediately turned up with their country and mechanised boats to help rescue those marooned in various parts of the state. IMAGE: Social media is abuzz with heroic tales of these unsung heros, braving extreme weather and risking their lives to rescue stranded people. Photograph: Courtesy Indian Navy/Twitter Thousands of people, including women, children and college students are tediously working at various centres across the state free of cost to gather essential materials, including food, medicines, cloths to send to relief camps. Union Tourism minister K J Alphons, who visited some relief camps in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday, said they are the 'unsung heroes'. Many people are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them at various places in Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. The maximum death toll has been reported from Idukki district, where 43 people have lost their lives so far, as per official estimates. IMAGE: People walk past a damaged road caused due to heavy monsoon rainfall in Kodagu on Sunday. Photograph: PTI Photo More than 3,500 people have been rescued till Sunday in Kodagu district of Karanataka, where six people have lost their lives in floods and landslides following heavy rains in the past several days. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke over phone to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who is camping in the rain-battered district, over phone and enquired about the situation. Modi assured to extend all required assistance to the state to face the situation, the Chief Minister's office said. 'Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas,' the PM tweeted. Kumaraswamy informed Kovind that the district administration was managing the rescue-and-relief work efficiently, along with the army, National Disaster Response Force and other agencies, and have rescued more than 3,500 people so far, the CMO said in a statement. As many as 317 people, including a two-month-old infant, were rescued and shifted to relief centres since Saturday and rescue operations were on in and around Makkandooru and other affected areas on Sunday, they said. Food and basic amenities have been arranged at all the 31 relief shelters. Nearly 1,000 personnel from the Armed Forces, National and State Disaster Response Forces, Civil Defence Teams, Fire and Emergency Personnel have been pressed into the rescue work since August 15. Local youths and volunteers of various organisations are also assisting in the operations. Kumaraswamy undertook aerial survey of affected areas for the second day on Sunday. He also assessed the situation in a few other areas of the district by visiting them. Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said the government was taking steps so that relief, especially food reached every one, even in the remotest places. Describing the situation as a difficult time, he said the governments intention is to bring people out of fear and anxiety that they are going through, by rescuing them first. Later speaking to people at a relief camp at Suntikoppa, Kumaraswamy said his government would take all steps for rehabilitation of the people of Kodagu. He held a meeting with the district administration and senior officials and reviewed the rescue and relief work. Karnataka Bharatiya Janata Party unit president B S Yeddyurappa also visited Kodagu district and assured to get required assistance from the party-led central government. BJP legislators from Bengaluru and partys Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (city civic body) corporators have pledged their two month salary to the Chief Ministers relief fund for the relief work. Several good samaritans, organisations and Kodava communities from various parts of the state, especially from Bengaluru, are collecting relief materials like food, drinking water, medicines and other things to be dispatched to the flood-hit areas in the Kodagu district. There were also reports about flooding and landslides in a few districts of coastal and Malnad region, especially in Chikkamagaluru district, affecting road connectivity. Several districts of coastal and Malnad regions like Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkmagaluru, Kodagu, parts of Hassan and Uttara Kannada, have been battered by incessant rains in the last few days. A Kashmiri man, suspected to be a sympathiser of the banned Islamic State terror group, was recently deported to India from the United Arab Emirates, officials said in Srinagar on Sunday. Irfan Ahmad Zargar, 36, a resident of Chattatabal area on the outskirts of Srinagar, was deported from the Gulf country on August 14 and subjected to questioning by various security agencies, including the National Investigation Agency, they said. He was then handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir police who were carrying out detailed investigations. However, there was no case pending against him in the state. Zargar, an engineer, is alleged to have been 'quite active' on social media and had been expressing his liking for the activities of ISIS in Syria, they said. The NIA, the central probe agency tasked with investigating terror cases, questioned him for over two days before handing him over to the state police. Zargar was picked up by the authorities in Dubai on April 28 this year when he was entering into the Gulf country from Oman, they said. He was subjected to intensive questioning by Dubai sleuths about his activities on social networking sites, especially his appreciation of ISIS activities in Syria and Iraq. Working with a telecom company in Dubai, Zargar maintained that he had travelled to Oman for setting up a business of handcrafts. The Dubai officials had carried out thorough search of his apartments in Sharjah and later whisked him away to an undisclosed location. He was deported to India on August 14. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had been approached by one of his kin on her Twitter handle asking for help. The minister had assured them help and the Indian Consulate General in Dubai had initiated a hunt for the man. However, the Dubai authorities had refused to entertain any plea until they had not completed their own investigation in the case. Zargar is a third Kashmiri to have been deported for allegedly being sympathisers of the terror group. Srinagar-resident Afshan Parvaiz was deported from Turkish capital of Ankara on May 25. Parvaiz had left home after an argument with his father, who wanted him to join a college while he was interested in religious studies. He booked himself a seat on a flight to Teheran on March 23 and was later deported after he crossed into Turkey. Another youth from Ganderbal, Azhar ul Islam, was deported from the UAE last year for being an alleged ISIS sympathiser. IMAGE: Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's Daughter Namita and son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharya immerse his ashes in the Ganga at Har ki Pauri, in Haridwar on Sunday. BJP president Amit Shah, Union minister Rajnath Singh, UP CM Yogi Adityanath, Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat and others are also seen. Photographs: PTI Photo The ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were on Sunday immersed in the Ganga at Har ki Pauri in Haridwar by his family members amidst chanting of Vedic hymns with thousands joining in as the urn was carried in a flower-bedecked truck. Led by senior Bharatiya Janata Party leaders including party chief Amit Shah and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the convoy with the urn moved from the Bhalla college ground to Har ki Pauri through a narrow 2-km stretch. Other top leaders who were in attendance included Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat. Several Uttarakhand ministers were also present. The urn was carried by Vajpayee's foster son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharya accompanied by the former prime minister's adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya. A platform was especially erected at Brahmakund below the stairs leading to the river where the rituals were performed under the supervision of 'teerth purohit' Akhilesh Shastri. As the ashes were immersed into the river, an emotional Namita leaned against the shoulder of her husband. IMAGE: Ranjan Bhattacharya with the urn carrying Vajpayee's ashes. Photograph: PTI Photo Earlier, people could be seen on balconies and rooftops to take a glimpse of the urn being carried in the truck. They showered flower petals on the vehicle. It was during his Vajpayee's prime ministership that Uttarakhand got statehood in the year 2000. As the Prime Minister, Vajpayee also ensured the newly created hill state got a special status to facilitate its speedy industrialisation and growth. "Atalji amar rahein", "Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Atalji ka naam rahega" and "Vande Matram" rent the air as the convoy passed through the lanes. The rituals lasted around 20 minutes with a huge crowd waited at the ghats on either side of the river. Elaborate security arrangements were made right from Jolly Grant Airport to Har ki Pauri in view of the VIP movement along the route with the deployment of over 1,000 police and PAC personnel to maintain vigil. Earlier, family members and BJP brass arrived at the Bhalla College ground with the former prime minister's ashes and left for the Ganges. IMAGE: The convoy started from Bhalla college ground and went to Har ki Pauri with a host of party leaders and family members in attendance. Photograph: PTI Photo There was reportedly some differences among party leaders over the place from where the 'kalash yatra' (procession of the urn containing ashes) should commence. It was decided that the procession would begin from the Bhalla college ground. Meanwhile, Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Lal Saini said in Jaipur that the ashes of Vajpayee will be immersed at three places -- Beneshwar Dham in Dungarpur, Chambal river in Kota and Pushkar Sarovar in Ajmer -- in the state. The ashes will be then taken for immersion in Beneshwar Dham in Dungarpur, Chambal river in Kota and Pushkar Sarovar in Ajmer, Saini said in a statement. The ashes of the former PM will be immersed in the river Ganga in Patna on August 22, a senior BJP leader said. "As part of the party's decision to immerse Atal ji's ashes in nearly 100 rivers across the country, Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai will arrive in Patna from New Delhi on August 21 with Atal ji's 'asthi kalash'," Bihar BJP vice president Devesh Kumar told PTI. He said 'an all party prayer meet will be held at 3 pm at S K Memorial hall where people, workers from all political parties, social organisations and common men have been invited'. The 'asthi kalash' will be kept at Beerchand Patel Path, the BJP's state unit headquarters, where common men and party men can have the glimpse of the 'kalash' and pay their respect, he said. "Atal ji's ashes will be immersed in the river Ganga on August 22 in Patna," Kumar said. The party has also decided to take out 'ashti kalash yatra' from August 22 onwards in order to immerse ashes into major rivers of Bihar, he said. Rascal Flatts were forced to abruptly stop their concert early in Indianapolis last week after receiving a bomb threat. The country group walked away from the stage as they were near the end of their concert at the Ruoff Home Mortgage Music Center on August 9, leaving fans unaware. The police ordered the crowd to leave the concert site. The Hamilton County Sheriff Mark Bowen said in a statement Monday that authorities took the action considering the threat as "credible danger." He would not disclose details about the threat as it is under probe. Jay DeMarcus gave a brief explanation on Twitter about the evacuation: "Indianapolis, 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 safety of our fans, band and crew is always the top priority for us, sorry for anyone that was disappointed," he added. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Entertainment News The Congress on Saturday said that it will launch a month-long nationwide agitation from next week on what it said was "Rafale scam" of the Modi government and other issues. Congress sources said that the party will hold around 80 press conferences, to be addressed by its Spokespersons and senior leaders, across the country on the Rafale aircraft deal inked with France and other issues. The Rafale deal came up for discussion at a meeting of Congress General Secretaries, party in-charges of states, legislative party leaders and state unit chiefs, which was presided over by Congress President Rahul Gandhi. The meeting discussed the party's preparations for the Assembly polls this year in Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Mizoram. Briefing reporters later, Congress Communications incharge Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the meeting discussed "political challenges in the election-bound states". He said the Congress will launch an agitation to highlight "bhrashtachar ka khel, Rafale" (corruption in Rafale deal) that allegedly caused a loss of Rs 41,000 crore to the exchequer. "It was decided that the scams of the Modi government, particularly the Rafale scam, will be taken to the people of India. In the next 30 days, Congress workers will fan out and hold district and state-level demonstrations," Surjewala said. He alleged that a contract in the Rafale deal had been "snatched away" from Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, a public sector undertaking. Surjewala said that party leaders, including Congress Working Committee members, General Secretaries and Secretaries, will approach people at block, district and state levels and "ensure that a fair and independent probe and a JPC (joint parliamentary committee) probe into the Rafale deal is constituted immediately." "We will push the government. We will not stop, we will not be deterred," Surjewala said. Party sources said that a team has been formed to coordinate the efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday assured Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of help in the rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit Kodagu district, said an official statement. "Modi called up Kumaraswamy and assured him of all help in rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kodagu district," said the statement from the Chief Minister's camp office at Madikeri, about 270 km from Bengaluru. Kumaraswamy, who has been camping in the district since Saturday to supervise the operations, briefed Modi on the flood situation in the rain-hit district and how the Army, Navy and National Disaster Response Force were coordinating the efforts. Modi earlier tweeted that he spoke to Kumaraswamy from New Delhi on the flood situation in the affected district. "Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas," the Prime Minister said in a tweet. Kumaraswamy also briefed President Ram Nath Kovind on the rescue work in the district when the latter called on him from New Delhi earlier in the day. "The Chief Minister informed the President that the Indian Army, Navy and other state and central agencies have rescued over 3,500 people so far," the statement noted. Around 4,225 marooned people were rescued till Sunday evening from towns and villages across the district despite incessant rains hampering the operation. Of the rescued, 3,601 are staying in 36 relief shelters in the district and efforts were on to reach others stranded on hilltops. Located in the southern Western Ghats mountain range, the coffee-growing district is the worst-hit by the monsoon rains since June's first week. The incessant rains have caused flooding and landslips across the region, damaging the arterial roads. Local cafes are taking steps to become plastic-free and use alternative products in line with the looming ban on plastics by the Government. Krush Smoothie and Juice bar in Motootua have gone beyond a plastic straw ban and have applied a plastic tax in a bid to encourage their customers to bring in their own cups to take away their smoothies. The smoothie and Juice bar now charges 70 sene for a takeaway cup and paper straw, which at first was a shock to their regular customers. According to the Manager Sofia Paul, the change is slowly being welcomed and they have noticed that peoples eating habits are changing as an effect of their plastic policy change. For our regulars, it was a big shock but when we explain why, they accept it and its just a matter of getting used to it, she said. But the tourists are really happy that we have this policy and they want to see more of it. On our signage we let all our customers know about it and why we are doing it. Often when we tell people about the extra costs they just end up staying in at the cafe to eat. Most of the time when people request a takeaway cup its because they think they might not finish it so now they opt to sit in and eat their food. As well as bringing in paper straws for their takeaway customers, Sofia said now they use steel metal straws which have been cost effective for their business and a novelty for their customers who have the option of buying their own to reuse. For takeaway we give out paper straws but if you stay in we now serve people with metal straws and chopsticks, which we can then wash and clean then reuse. We also sell them so people can carry them where ever they go. Its 10 tala for one and our first lot all sold out - they come in fun colours now which people will love. We are buying a lot less takeaway stuff because before we were going through so much and then on top of that we now have less waste. Before when people go they leave their rubbish behind as well as their plastic straws, But using metal straws we are able to clean them and reuse them, its so much better. Krush management has also gone another step further by using paper box takeaways for their noodles and they also encourage people to bring their own containers to take away their food. Owner of Kofe Haus in Vaitele, Beatrice Ott says they have started to implement their plastic ban by getting rid of plastic straws and intend to take a slow and steady pace in making sure that their customers get used to the idea. The cafe got rid of their plastic straws on the first of June and according to Ms. Ott, the customer feedback has been mainly positive People have been very supportive and very happy that we went that way, she said. At first we were reluctant because we didnt know how our customer would react because there are a lot of people who like using straws because theyre convenient and sanitary. Ms. Ott says they are looking to take it up a notch in purchasing alternatives but she pointed out that one of their cafes main attraction are their reasonable prices on coffee and food. The cost of purchasing new alternatives may then have to be reflected in their prices. I know other cafes use paper straws and we will definitely be looking to adopting that too but I was looking at the price difference and they are quite pricey in comparison. Were also looking at adding wooden cutlery for take away. I know that a local lady makes them so thats an option for the near future. We will be taking it slow because if we do decide to go the whole way in supporting a shift to being totally environmentally friendly then we will have to look at changing our prices which may affect our customer base. Its just about trying to find a happy balance between the two things. In taking steps to become more environmentally responsible, Co-owner of Coffee Bean, Andrew Pedrana says the public need to also be more proactive and understanding of what it means to be plastic free. I stopped buying plastic straws months ago and weve opted to using thee paper coffee cups for takeaway smoothies, Pedrana said. However my staff sometimes pops out to the shop to buy a packet of plastic straws to satisfy an irate customer who feels inconvenienced. I dont blame my staff for doing that because of the whole the customer is always right philosophy but our customers also need to start asking for straw-less because then we wont buy straws. It would also be good if they could have a better understanding of why we are beginning to take steps towards a plastic free environment because in the long run the long term benefits far outweigh the small inconvenience. LONDON (AP) The condom, the pill and now, the smartphone? Natural Cycles, a mobile fertility app, this month became the first ever digital contraceptive device to win FDA marketing approval. Women take their temperatures and track their menstrual cycle on the app, which uses an algorithm to determine when they're fertile and should abstain from unprotected sex or use protection. In effect, it's a form of the rhythm or calendar method. The Swedish startup says it's effective and lets women avoid side effects common with other methods like birth control pills. But reports of unwanted pregnancies and investigations by authorities in two countries in Europe, where it received EU certification in 2017, have raised questions about marketing what is essentially a health monitor as a contraceptive. Natural Cycles boasts more than 900,000 users, and such fast growth underscores risks for regulators and concerns among health professionals as they grapple with the rapidly emerging market for mobile and digital health applications. "Apps are incredibly popular and there's nothing inherently wrong about using tech to support our health," said Bekki Burbidge, deputy chief executive of the Family Planning Association, a British sexual health organization. "But they're also an area that is fairly unregulated and it can be hard to sort the good, evidence- and research-based apps from the bad." The app is similar to hundreds of other period trackers already available, most of which are aimed at helping women conceive. But FDA approval means it can be marketed as a mobile contraceptive, giving it an edge in the mobile medical apps market, which is forecast to grow to $11.2 billion by 2025, up from at $1.4 billion in 2016, according to BIS Research. The makers of Natural Cycles acknowledge it's not 100 percent effective and some women might still get pregnant even if used perfectly. The Food and Drug Administration regulates apps and gadgets that collect or track medical information as medical devices, though it doesn't scrutinize many more that merely perform simple tasks like tracking calories. Marketing of contraceptive apps needs to be extremely careful to ensure that women understand exactly what they're signing up for and the limitations, the Faculty of Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists said in a statement. The FDA gave its approval based on data from Natural Cycles involving 15,570 women who used the app for an average of eight months. The FDA said that if the app is used correctly all the time, 1.8 percent of women would get pregnant over one year. The "typical use" failure rate, which factors in human error, was 6.5 percent. The birth control pill's failure rate is 9 percent, while for condoms it's 18 percent and 24 percent for fertility-awareness methods , but those figures are backed up by much more long-term data. The company's founders, Elina Berglund and Raoul Scherwitzl, are a married couple who are both former physicists. Berglund was part of a team of scientists looking for the Higgs boson particle at the European Organization for Nuclear Research, or CERN, in Switzerland. They pivoted from science to startups when they wrote the algorithm to help them have a baby and then developed an app to tap broader demand. The app is free to download but the company charges $10 a month to use it. Its claims were called into question in January, after Swedish regulators started investigating reports that 37 women who used it became pregnant anyway. The Swedish Medical Product Agency said it's looking into whether the number of unwanted pregnancies falls within the app's claimed effectiveness rate, and the investigation is expected to wrap up in September. Natural Cycles said that as a condition of EU certification, it must continue monitoring user data, which it says show that the typical-use effectiveness rate remains at 93 percent. "We care deeply each and every time one of our users becomes pregnant," the company said in a statement. "One of the ongoing challenges with all forms of contraception is that there is always a statistical chance of unintended pregnancy, since no method is 100 percent effective." FDA spokeswoman Deborah Kotz said the agency was aware of the Swedish reports but felt they were consistent with its knowledge of risks associated with the app. "An increase in the absolute numbers of unintended pregnancies is expected with a growing number of users," she said. Britain's Advertising Standards Authority, meanwhile, says it's looking into whether paid-for Facebook posts that claim Natural Cycles is a "highly accurate contraceptive app" and "clinically tested alternative to birth control methods" are misleading. "We have launched a formal investigation and will publish our findings in due course," the authority said. Burbidge said more outside research into fertility apps is needed because "at the moment there's not enough independent evidence" on their reliability. She added that women using such apps need to be motivated and aware of factors that can make it less effective, such as travel, alcohol, stress or not getting enough sleep, which can all affect temperature readings. "There's so much you can do that makes it not perfect," she said. CHENGANNUR, India (AP) Some 800,000 people have been displaced and over 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century in southern India's Kerala state, officials said Sunday, as rescuers searched for people stranded in the worst-affected areas. The downpours that started Aug. 8 have triggered floods and landslides and caused homes and bridges to collapse across Kerala, a picturesque state known for its quiet tropical backwaters and beautiful beaches. Thousands of rescuers were continuing efforts to reach out to stranded people and get relief supplies to isolated areas by hundreds of boats and nearly two dozen helicopters, said P.H. Kurian, a top disaster management official in Kerala. He said weather conditions had improved considerably and expected the nearly 10,000 people still stranded to be rescued by Monday. An estimated 800,000 people have taken shelter in some 4,000 relief camps across Kerala, Kurian said. Weather officials have predicted more rains across the state through Monday morning. In several villages in the suburbs of Chengannur, one of the worst-affected areas, carcasses of dead cattle were seen floating in muddy waters as water began receding. However, vast rice fields continued to be marooned and many vehicles were submerged. In some villages, floodwaters up to 3 meters (10 feet) high had entered homes. Rescuers in a motorboat reached a hamlet where they tried in vain to persuade an 80-year-old woman, Bhavani Yamma, to be taken to a government-run shelter from her partially submerged single-story house. "I will not come. This is my home and I will die here," said Yamma, who lives alone. The team later rescued a 61-year-old kidney ailment patient, Raveendran, who needs dialysis twice a week. One of the rescuers, Rajagopal, a police constable who uses only one name, said initially "we didn't anticipate it would be such a big disaster." But he said that by Wednesday, "we realized it's really big." Officials have called it the worst flooding in Kerala in a century, with rainfall in some areas well over double that of a typical monsoon season. At least two trains carrying about 1.5 million liters (400,000 gallons) of water moved to the flooded areas from the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra on Sunday, Indian railway official Milind Deouskar said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. After one of the trains arrived, Kurian, the disaster management official, said authorities had largely restored the state's water supply systems. "What we need right now is bottled water, which is easy to transport to remote and isolated places, where some people are still stranded," Kurian said. Officials estimate that more than 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) of roads have been damaged. One of the state's major airports, in the city of Kochi, was closed this past Tuesday due to the flooding. It is scheduled to remain closed until Aug. 26. The Indian government said a naval air base in Kochi would be opened for commercial flights starting Monday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspected the flooded landscape from a helicopter on Saturday and met with the state's top officials, promising more than $70 million in aid. While the central government has dispatched multiple military units to Kerala, state officials are pleading for additional help. Officials have put initial storm damage estimates at nearly $3 billion. At least 250 people have died in the flooding in a little over a week, with 31 others missing, according to Kurian. More than 1,000 people have died in flooding in seven Indian states since the start of the monsoon season, including over 350 in Kerala. In Vatican City on Sunday, Pope Francis held a moment of silence during his noontime blessing to pray for Kerala flood victims. "I am close to the church in Kerala, which is on the front lines in providing aid to the people," Francis said. He called for solidarity and "the concrete assistance of the international community." Kerala has a sizeable and ancient Christian community. Francis had hoped to visit India last year when he visited Bangladesh, but preparations fell apart in New Delhi and the Vatican added Myanmar to his trip instead. TAIPEI, Taiwan (AP) Taiwan is responding to China's arms buildup by developing missiles and interceptors of its own that could reduce Beijing's military advantage over the self-ruled island, defense experts say. Since President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016, Taiwan has deployed one set of missiles, perfected another and sped production of a third, the analysts say, in the latest sign of how it's handling a Chinese military threat that is raising the chances of an armed confrontation. Chinese President Xi Jinping has taken a hard line against advocates of independence for Taiwan and has sent warships, bombers and fighter planes on training missions circling the democratic island in a show of strength. While Beijing has an increasingly overwhelming military advantage, Taiwan's missile systems advance its odds of holding off China in asymmetrical warfare, said Alexander Huang, strategic studies professor at Tamkang University in Taiwan. The term refers to effective resistance of an enemy with targeted firepower rather than overwhelming force. "Taiwan with limited resources can only invest in the area that would create some kind of asymmetrical advantage, which would dissuade the Chinese from taking actions," Huang said. "President Tsai has committed more or at least expressed willingness to invest more in the asymmetrical capability." The two sides have been separately ruled since the Chinese civil war of the 1940s, and China still claims sovereignty over Taiwan. Beijing has not ruled out using force to unify the sides, a threat it has highlighted amid Tsai's continuing rejection of its demand that both interact as parts of a single Chinese nation. Hsiung Feng IIE missiles built in Taiwan have been deployed to hit military bases in China up to 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) away, said David An, senior research fellow with the policy incubator Global Taiwan Institute in Washington, D.C. Those missiles also underwent a "substantial upgrade" last year to increase their effectiveness against ships, An said. Meanwhile, Taiwan has stepped up production of its indigenous Wan Chien air-to-ground cruise missiles by about 100, An added. Backing up those improvements, the locally developed Tien Kung system can now intercept Chinese missiles at ranges of up to 200 kilometers (124 miles), An said. PAVE PAW, a U.S. long-range early warning radar system located in Taiwan's high central mountain range, would track incoming missiles or aircraft. Taiwanese Defense Ministry spokesman Chen Chung-chi declined to confirm deployment of the Hsiung Feng IIE missiles after the military news website Kanwa Defense Review posted photos indicating they were situated about 50 kilometers (31 miles) west of the capital, Taipei, near the island's major international airport. Kanwa did not answer requests for comment. China's Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comments on Taiwan's missile program. "They are looking more at building their land-based military capabilities," said Collin Koh, maritime security research fellow at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. To pressure Tsai into meeting its demands, the communist leadership has flown military aircraft near the island a dozen times and passed China's only functioning aircraft carrier through the 160-kilometer (100-mile) ocean strait separating them. China has a powerful arsenal of missiles targeting Taiwan and raised its military budget by 8.1 percent this year, compared to Taiwan's increase of about 2 percent in 2017-2018. China is building warships at a world-setting pace, while also developing stealth fighters and bomb-delivering vehicles that travel at up to six times the speed of sound. Military experts call the deployment of the Hsiung Feng IIE missiles likely. "It has been successfully developed," said Andrew Yang, a former Taiwanese defense minister and current secretary general of the Chinese Council of Advanced Policy Studies think tank. "They've test fired many times and called it successful." China and Taiwan have never fought a full-scale war, though in the late 1950s, China shelled outlying islands controlled by Taiwan without taking them. Former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou eased tensions during his 2008-2016 term by allowing talks with China on Beijing's terms, but frictions have resumed under Tsai. Success in an asymmetric war would hinge on Taiwan's budget, the ability of its hardware and China's attack strategy, military analysts say. Taiwan's current crop of missiles can probably hit ships and sink transport vessels, An said. Taiwan should also focus on resisting an amphibious landing, which China's People's Liberation Army Navy "has not demonstrated the ability to do without significant cost," he said. Taiwan still lags in submarines and stealth aircraft, An said. It looks to the United States for much of its air force fleet and hopes Washington will license it diesel-electric submarine technology. China routinely denounces defense cooperation between Taiwan and the U.S., but has been unable to prevent what limited arms sales and exchanges have occurred. Last Monday, President Donald Trump signed the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act, which among its clauses calls for a "comprehensive assessment of Taiwan's military forces" with an eye toward helping them. "Taiwan's greatest promise is the hope that the United States and its allies could decide to assist Taiwan if and when Taiwan is under threat," An said. CITY COUNCILS CARLSBAD The Carlsbad City Council will meet in closed session to discuss litigation at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday in council chambers, 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive. In regular session at 9 a.m., the council will consider amending its short-term vacation rental ordinance, and acknowledge receipt of the California Coastal Commissions resolution of certification including suggested modifications to its zoning ordinance and local coastal program. A report is scheduled by SANDAG and Caltrans representatives on the I-5 North Coast Corridor Program Phase 1. The council will also hear an update on the license plate reader program and consider a resolution to contract with Vigilant Solutions LLC. Residents are invited to a free showing at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Schulman Auditorium in the Dove Library of the State of the City video presentation, highlighting major city topics and projects. Afterward, there will be an opportunity to talk to council members and staff and ask questions about city topics and projects. RSVP to help@carlsbadca.gov or (760) 434-2820 Advertisement DEL MAR Developers of the Del Mar Resort, proposed for blufftop property on Border Avenue at Camino del Mar, are hosting a Citizens Participation Program from 4 to 6 p.m. Aug. 27 at the Del Mar Civic Center Town Hall, 1050 Camino del Mar. Representatives from Zephyr Development and the Robert Green Company will provide details on the blufftop resort, where 251 hotel rooms and 76 villas are proposed. Attendees can ask questions and offer comments to the development team. Contact Matt Bator, principal planner, at (858) 755-9313, ext. 1158, or mbator@delmar.ca.us. ENCINITAS The Encinitas City Council is scheduled to meet at 6 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers, 505 S. Vulcan Ave. ESCONDIDO The Escondido City Council will meet at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday in council chambers, 201 N. Broadway, to consider a request for an average $20.10 rent increase for Casa Grande Estates at 1001 S. Hale Ave. The council will also consider a request for proposal to be released for acquiring affordable housing, including authorization to commit federal funds up to $139,000 to Community HousingWorks for the rehabilitation of six affordable rental units at 1203 S. Maple St. OCEANSIDE The Oceanside City Council will meet in closed session to discuss labor negotiations at 3:30 p.m. Wednesday at City Council Chambers, 300 N. Coast Highway. In regular session at 5 p.m., the council will hold a hearing on a request to negotiate a development agreement with NRF Project Owner LLC Inc. on the proposed North River Farms development project. The council will also consider an ordinance repealing, amending and adding changes to the zoning ordinance. POWAY The Poway City Council will meet at 7 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers, 13325 Civic Center Drive, when it will hold hearings on requests for conditional use permits for 15-person residential senior care facilities at 13612 and 13608 Aubrey St. A closed session will follow to discuss property negotiations. SOLANA BEACH The Solana Beach City Council will meet in closed session to discuss litigation at 5 p.m. Wednesday in City Council Chambers. In regular session at 6 p.m., the council will hear a Phase II update on its Lomas Santa Fe Corridor improvement project. SCHOOL DISTRICTS FALLBROOK The Fallbrook Union Elementary School District board will meet in closed session to discuss litigation at 5:30 p.m. Monday in Room 106 of the district office, 321 N. Iowa St. In regular session at 6 p.m., the board will consider adding four elementary teachers because of increased enrollment at Fallbrook Street, La Paloma, Live Oak, and William H. Frazier schools. laura.groch@sduniontribune.com CITY COUNCILS ENCINITAS The Encinitas City Council met Wednesday and approved a resolution to submit an initiative petition on commercial cannabis activities to voters in the 2020 election. The initiative was not submitted in time for the 2018 ballot. If it passes in 2020, it would allow four retail marijuana storefronts in commercial zones, cultivation in agricultural zones, and manufacturing and production in business parks and light industrial zones. Staff was also directed to bring back a draft timeline for completing a report on the initiative, and other information. The council reviewed and approved the proposed ballot rebuttal argument for its Housing Element. A donation of wayfinding signs and monuments from Encinitas 101 Mainstreet Association, valued at $15,000, was accepted. ESCONDIDO Advertisement The Escondido City Council met Wednesday in closed session to discuss property negotiation and litigation. In regular session, the council held a hearing and approved the rezoning and subdivision map for the Wohlford subdivision, which comprises 55 residential lots and eight open space lots on 40.62 acres on the east side of Bear Valley Parkway. The council also held a hearing and approved changing the zoning code to allow drive-thru restaurants in the Gateway Transit and Centre City Urban districts, and approved a conditional use permit for a drive-thru restaurant at 350 W. Valley Parkway. SAN MARCOS The San Marcos City Council met Tuesday to discuss a resolution authorizing time-restricted parking in the Rosemont neighborhood to two hours from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, excluding holidays. The area is west of Twin Oaks Valley Road, along Village Drive, about a mile from Cal State San Marcos. The council agreed to take up the issue again on Oct. 23 and directed staff to bring back more information, including cost recommendations for a permit system. The council then went into closed session to discuss litigation. VISTA The Vista City Council met in closed session Tuesday to discuss labor negotiation. In regular session, the council heard a report from the Vista Village Business Association, and discussed two new code enforcement positions that were to patrol city parks and open space. After a request for a sheriffs deputy to be hired instead of one of the park ranger positions, the council agreed to discuss the matter at another meeting. The council approved a no-parking zone on Emerald Drive between Thomas and Galbar streets but agreed to look at other intersections along Emerald. The council appointed several people to city commissions: Brent Reyes, CDBG Citizens Advisory Committee; Carl Redding, Community Safety Commission; Leana Bulay, Parks and Recreation Commission; Roger Mayton, Traffic Commission; Edward Matheus, Traffic Commission. About a dozen members of the public spoke against the vote taken at the last council meeting to support SB 54, the California Values Act, and suggested that the council reconsider its vote. SCHOOL DISTRICTS CARLSBAD The Carlsbad Unified School District board met in closed session Wednesday to discuss litigation. In regular session, the board reviewed and accepted its Comprehensive Safety Audit, and approved changes to the updated Facility Use Fee Schedule. A Management Safety Simulation Training was conducted by the Carlsbad Police Department, and a Welcome Back Kickoff is scheduled for Aug. 27 that will include additional safety training for all staff. ENCINITAS The Encinitas Union School District board met in special session Tuesday to approve an affiliation agreement with CalState Teach University. A closed session followed to discuss ligitation and the superintendents evaluation. ESCONDIDO The Escondido Union School District board met in closed session Thursday to discuss litigation and personnel. The board heard an update on the summer school program. Contracts for various services were approved, including partnerships with the San Diego Food Bank and Feeding San Diego for weekend food backpack services at certain schools. Yesenia Chavez was announced as the Program Specialist. The board presented the districts Public Education Champion Award to Richard Powers for his service on the Independent Citizens Oversight Committee for the Prop E bond program and on the superintendents Declining Enrollment Task Force. OCEANSIDE The Oceanside Unified School District board met in closed session Tuesday to discuss litigation and labor negotiation. In regular session, the board approved a California Energy Commission School Bus Replacement Grant that will allow the district to buy seven electric school buses, and provide up to $60,000 per bus or electric vehicle charging stations. RAMONA The Ramona Unified School District board met in closed session Thursday to discuss personnel, property negotiations and litigation. In open session, the board approved several revised board policies, including on class assignments and free and reduced-price meals. SAN MARCOS The San Marcos Unified School District board met in closed session Tuesday to discuss litigation. In regular session, the board approved budget revisions, and revised job descriptions for groundskeepers. SOLANA BEACH The Solana Beach School District board met in closed session Aug. 9 to discuss litigation and personnel. In regular session, the board approved contracts for various services for the district, including replacement of skylights at Solana Santa Fe School. VALLECITOS/RAINBOW The Vallecitos School District board met Tuesday and approved a board policy update in response to immigration enforcement, and adopted the 2018-19 instructional calendar. The board recognized the San Diego Foundation, which donated $25,000 to the new playground and at the meeting pledged an additional $15,000. The board also recognized the San Diego Regional Fire Foundation for its $10,000 donation to the playground project. Live Well San Diego made a presentation seeking the districts partnership. The board will further discuss this next month. A closed session followed to discuss litigation and personnel. VISTA The Vista Unified School District board met in closed session Thursday to discuss litigation. In open session, the board heard a report on Vista High School and the Vista Cares program there. laura.groch@sduniontribune.com The one thing 5-year-old Amaya Lopez wanted for her 6th birthday was a cat. That wish came true on Saturday. Amaya got to pick out her present at the countys animal shelter in Bonita during the fourth annual Clear the Shelters campaign, a nationwide effort to find forever homes for animals. Amaya found what she was looking for when she met Butters, a 1-year-old tabby. Advertisement She had a cute collar and a cute face, Amaya said just before she, her 1-year-old sister and their mother walked away from the shelter with their new family member. Butters was one of about 608 animals that were adopted across San Diego County as part of the Clear the Shelters initiative, which was sponsored by NBC 7 and Telemundo 20. An estimated 75,000 animals were adopted nationwide as of early evening. In San Diego County, a dozen shelters waived adoption fees for dogs, cats and rabbits as part of the campaign. Its a good day, said Dan DeSousa, director of San Diego County Animal Services, which participated in the campaign. Any day an animal leaves here, its a good day. DeSousa said the first prospective owner to show up at the county shelter in Bonita arrived around 5:45 a.m. hours before the facility opened its doors at 9:30 a.m. It is truly exhilarating to watch all these people here so eager to adopt, and to see some of these animals walk out our gates today, DeSousa said. Waves of people visited the Bonita shelter all day from young couples to families with children eager to find a pet. Some looked for their first dog or cat, while others hoped to find a companion for a pet at home. They peeked at dogs in outdoor kennels and at cats in so-called condos. Before each adoption, staff and volunteers reviewed an application, spoke with the prospective owners about the pet and gave them the opportunity to meet and interact in a designated play area. Our goal is to find the animals here the perfect home, DeSousa said. Most animals were spayed or neutered and microchipped before Saturday and ready to go to their new homes. Robert Zuniga walked out of the shelter with his wife, 19-year-old son, 16-year-old daughter and the new addition to their family: Scarlet, a 3-year-old red and white Siberian husky. Were very happy, very excited, said Zunigas son, Diego. The family from Chula Vista had confirmed Scarlet was the dog for them when they interacted with her in the play area, where at one point, while Diego Zuniga sat on his knees, Scarlet jumped on him, placing her paws on his shoulders. It was a great connection from the start, he said. Edna Cabrera, of Chula Vista, left work early to find a companion for her dog, a Chihuahua mix named Alaska. She found Keith, a 5-year-old Mexican hairless dog/terrier mix that was shy in his kennel but later warmed up when Cabrera got to play with him. I really liked him, said Cabrera, who re-named her new dog Chucho. By the end of Saturday, about 70 animals were adopted at the Animal Services two shelters in Bonita and Carlsbad. DeSousa said the main challenge of finding a home for animals in shelters is simply that not enough people show up to adopt. Theres so many (animals), and not enough people who want to adopt, he said. Fourtunately, shelters in San Diego County are not overcrowded, DeSousa said. No shelter in San Diego County has euthanized for (issues related to) time or space in ages, he added. He said county shelters only euthanize an animal if it is suffering from a severe medical condition. Other agencies that participated in the Clear the Shelters Campaign in San Diego County include the Chula Vista Animal Care Facility, El Cajon Animal Services, Rancho Coastal Humane Society and the San Diego Humane Society. Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez UPDATES: 4:05 p.m. on Aug. 21: This article was updated to remove statements from an Animal Services volunteer who erroneously said Leslie, a 4-year-old pit bull at the shelter in Bonita, was adopted as part of the Clear the Shelters campaign. This article was originally published at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 18. Mara Altman knows many interesting facts about the human body. Her book Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the Front (and Back) dives deep into issues like sweating, social grooming norms and body noises. This isnt for the faint of heart. She questions her own embarrassing situations and seeks advice from the experts. Altman has published eight best-selling Kindle Singles, including Bearded Lady, which has been downloaded over 30,000 times. Her debut book, Thanks for Coming, has been optioned by HBO. Shes a native San Diegan and lives here with her family. Shell be at The Book Catapult on Aug. 24 at 7:30 p.m. Q: Why does the human body fascinate you? Why did you want to write about it? A: : I think the fascinating thing is that we all have a body in some ways it is the most essential part of being human yet there exists so much discomfort in many facets of owning and operating these vessels. Advertisement I was drawn toward writing about those parts and functions that seem to cause unease, confusion and shame, because I have found that the more I talk openly about subjects such as sex sounds, or in my case, the lack of them the less angst I feel about them. By using research, interviews and personal anecdotes, my goal was to reframe our shame into something more positive and maybe even find a way to take pride in these grosser, parts of ourselves. Q: Why is it important to talk about body functions, warts and all? A: Its so important. One reason is that because of the taboo nature of some body parts, people dont feel comfortable seeking the medical attention they may need. Theresa Porrett, a colorectal nurse I interviewed, explained it poignantly. People literally die of embarrassment, she said. Talking about these issues will hopefully defuse the stigma and allow people to find the healing and comfort they need. Ill explain my second reason via my chin hair. I have chin hair, but before writing about it, its existence was a secret. I even hid it from my husband. Every time he was talking to me or came in for a kiss, I wasnt engrossed in the conversation or the smooch, but was doing everything to conceal a potential hair sighting. My energy and focus was wasted, literally, on something superficial. When I researched my essay about body hair, not only did I learn about the evolution of hair and other interesting facts, but also that many other women felt the same shame. When we are all hiding, we dont realize that were all in such good company and when we talk about these taboos, we desensitize ourselves and realize that its not such a big deal. We dont have to spend our energy hiding some aspect of ourselves, whether it be hair, a scar, a roll of fat, an armpit scent, etc., we can instead spend that energy being present with our friends and present with the world. When I finally told my husband about my chin hair, he could not have cared less. It turns out that I was the one who had to get past the superficiality of it. Q: Please describe being a hair-positive family growing up in relation to shaving. A: It was a catch-22. When hairy, my peers looked at me disapprovingly, yet to my parents, shaving was akin to stomping on freshly planted tulips why would you destroy something so natural that your body took the time to grow? So either way hairy or not I was going to be a disappointment to some segment of important people in my life. Ultimately, the experience was informative and was what led me to write this book. Because shaving wasnt a given in my family, when pressured to be hairless, I was in the position to ask, But why? Q: Are people shocked by your frank body writing or topics? What is the funniest reaction youve gotten from someone? A: My last book was about orgasms, so this book actually feels rather tame in comparison. When issues in the book like camel toes and hemorrhoids come up, most people act really nice and interested in the whole thing. Humans are great at holding it together in social situations. Seriously though, everyone so far has seemed to take a lot of delight in these conversational topics. They know they can put their guard down and get a little raw themselves, at least thats my projection. They tend to want to share their own fun fact, experience or bodily struggle. I hear a lot of pimple-popping stories. I also get a significant amount of gross articles forwarded to me. My favorite thing and this does happen, which is so wonderful is when someone writes to tell me that they resonated with the material, feel a little bit more comfortable in their body because of it and even laughed in the process. Q: What are two societal beauty norms youd do away with? Why? A: I really dont enjoy the societal beauty norm of being dry. It goes against my body chemistry. Id love it if it were OK to sport sweat marks under my armpits. Not only would it be liberating, but I could also expand my wardrobe to include more colors than black. I would also love it if we could expand our views on desirable body shapes. I hate that so many smart, talented, generous, charming, hilarious and charismatic women dont feel valuable and worthy simply because of a little extra back fat or because they arent a size 2. Frankly, its ludicrous and dangerous. Q: Why is sweat icky? A: There is a whole chapter on sweat that goes into historical perspectives and some other cool psychological theories, but in short, I wouldnt say that sweat is solely icky, though it certainly has its icky moments. Sweat is complicated because it can mean so many different things depending on its context. Among other physiological and mental states, sweating can connote that someone is ill, anxious, turned-on, physically active, hot, embarrassed and/or lying. Sweat is confusing because when we see someone sweating, we have this bevy of adjectives we can apply to him or her, but we are often doing it without truly knowing why the physiological reaction is occurring. I like to wear running shoes and workout clothes everywhere so that no matter why Im sweating, people will think its because I just worked out. Q: What is the takeaway for readers and acceptable societal pressure, if any, for our bodies? A: There is shame around so many parts of our bodies that are totally natural, like body hair, and in many cases, even essential, i.e. sweat, but its been our job to pretend we are as smooth as a dolphins underbelly and as dry as a brushfire. Just like women are finally speaking about the heretofore invisible but rampant harassment theyve experienced, I think we are also ready to be unapologetic about the realities of our bodies. We are gross and great. ... In many ways, this book is about revealing the reality, attempting to take pride in it and figuring out why weve been trying to hide it for so long. Itd be awesome if people who read this enjoy the read you know, laugh a bit and felt a little more comfortable with and empowered to be themselves. Im not saying everyone should stop their hygiene routines or not get that filler they were planning on or anything, but you know, just have some peace with their bodies and some appreciation for what they do for us in all of their heinous glory. Q: What body ideas do you want to pass on to your children? A: I have boy and a girl twin who just turned 1. They recently graduated from their grubworm phase and are now more or less sentient, so I appreciate that youre making me think about this. When someone says, Your hair is beautiful, to my daughter, I want her to be able to say, Thank you, instead of pointing to her head and saying, Oh, this rats nest? In other words, accept a compliment without feeling like she has to put herself down. I dont want them to feel less than anyone else simply because of the body they inhabit. There are plenty of other good reasons to feel bad about yourself, but the body you have isnt one. If they alter their bodies, I hope it is because they believe that the change brings them closer to who they feel they are rather than doing it to try to fit into some body ideal. I want them to feel at home in their bodies and appreciate all the things their body allows them to do in the world. In other words, concentrate on its strength, not its size. I want to guide them, but not tell them definitively what is right or wrong. I want them to find their own boundaries, comfort zones and way to show up physically in this world. Thats all Ive got so far. Q: Do you feel overexposed or vulnerable in writing about your body? Why or why not? A: Believe it or not, even though I discuss my genitals, I have strong boundaries. I feel very comfortable with what I put on the page. More than what I write about the subject matter I feel most vulnerable about putting my writing the sentences, structure and humor out there. Will they like it? Will they like me? Will they get it? Will it resonate? In other words, I would be more sensitive about someone responding with, I hate Altmans writing. Id prefer to read an Ikea assembly manual than Altman is so disgusting did you know that her dog is always whiffing her crotch? I wouldnt mind if people think Im gross because my dog likes to whiff my crotch, yet Id hope theyd think I wrote artfully about how my dog likes to whiff my crotch. Q: While growing up in San Diego, what are a couple of favorite places/memories you recall? A: I loved going to Balboa Park and climbing the massive Banyan Tree in front of the Natural History Museum. It is now protected by a fence, which I understand is for the health of the magnificent tree and probably the safety of kids, but Im really nostalgic about being able to shimmy up those branches. In this particular case, I find myself bummed that people are now so respectful of their environment and cautious about the well-being of our youth. Another fun memory was being in 4-H and Future Farmers of America. I raised and showed several pigs Bernie, Ziggy The Wonderful Piggy, Kiwi and LMNOP at the Del Mar Fair. Each summer, wed stay in an RV in the stable area. For a week, Id smell like manure and eat nothing but cinnamon rolls. I also accidentally ate a taco made from my brothers pig, Bob, which was traumatic at the time, but is kind of funny in retrospect. Q: Anything youd like to add? A: I recently recorded the Gross Anatomy audiobook at a sound studio in San Diego. It was a gem of a place hidden in a strip mall. Santana has recorded there. Blink-182 apparently did all their albums there as well. The sound engineers are talented and it was right next to a Rubios. What Im saying is, if so enticed, you also have the option of listening to the book in what people have told me is a surprisingly tolerable high-pitched elven voice. Gross Anatomy: Dispatches from the Front (and Back) by Mara Altman, Penguin Random House, 320 pages. Conversation with Mara Altman When: 7:30 p.m. Aug. 24 Where: The Book Catapult, 3010-B Juniper St., San Diego. Phone: (619) 795-3780 Online: thebookcatapult.com Mara Altman will be participating in The San Diego Union-Tribunes Festival of Books on Aug. 25. 2:10-2:55 p.m., Foyer at Liberty Station. sdfestivalofbooks.com Davidson is a freelance writer. Further evidence that Shakespeare did not actually write all those plays: Much Ado About Nothing is clearly derived from the diaries of the mean girls (and boys) at Stratford Middle. Witness all the mash notes and romantic backstabbing and gossip gone wild that drive this much-loved comedy, which just opened an entirely swoon-worthy staging under the Broadway ace Kathleen Marshalls direction at the Old Globe. Honestly, the plays most famous set piece involves a strenuous effort to get two people who claim they dont want to be near each other to finally kiss something that actually happened to me in sixth grade, only with less iambic pentameter. And when the shows alpha guys hit the stage of the Globes outdoor Davies Festival Theatre, they arrive by bike. Perfect. Advertisement Much Ado, of course, gets very grown-up very quick. The electric interplay between those sworn frenemies Beatrice (an effortlessly sharp and funny Sara Topham) and Benedick (Michael Hayden, a comic paragon of arrogance knocked off his high horse by love) is actually a secondary thread to the much more bedeviled bond between the dashing young Claudio (Carlos Angel-Barajas) and his sweet fiancee Hero (Morgan Taylor). She will be declared dead before plays end, because sometimes Cupid just cant shoot worth Shinola. Not to worry, though: Theres much more to that than meets the eye, which is something that can be said of pretty much everything about Much Ado. The play is all but obsessed with deception, and particularly with peoples apparent abject eagerness to be duped something still very much with us more than 400 years after the play premiered. When Benedick in the middle of a signature comic sequence that Marshall and her cast pull off masterfully exults, This can be no trick!, hes talking about an episode that is exactly that. The upper-crusty bachelor, recently returned to the shows 1930s Italian Riviera setting from some seemingly very well-appointed war, has just been bamboozled by friends and military compatriots into believing that Beatrice has confessed her love for him. Beatrice will shortly be hornswoggled in a similar manner by her own circle of family and friends, including her cousin Hero. Both scenes are rendered with winning comic zip, as Benedick and Beatrice reveal themselves to be the worlds worst eavesdroppers: The matchless Topham even has her Beatrice popping bon-bons as if shes watching a soap opera. She swallows all the fakery with equal aplomb. A scene from the Old Globes Much Ado About Nothing. (Jim Cox) Self-delusions take on a much more sinister hue when Claudio, the nobleman Don Pedro (a suave Michael Boatman) and Heros father Leonato (regal and passionate Rene Thornton Jr.) are fished in by a plot to shame Hero. That nasty scheme is launched by the bastard Don John (Manoel Felciano, in magnificent bad-guy mode), the plays DJ of doom who cues up all kinds of nasty chaos alongside pals Borachio (Eric Weiman) and the posturing, street-talking Conrade (Yadira Correa). Felcianos canny and memorable take on the character is much more fun than the usual glowering portrayal and the actor plays a mean fiddle besides. (Look for him in the splashy finale, which also showcases the three-time Tony Award-winner Marshalls choreographic savvy.) The shows gorgeous pink-villa setting, as designed by John Lee Beatty, is a place you want to step right into, and its inhabitants in their elegant linens and loungewear (courtesy of costume designer Michael Krass) are serenaded by everything from Irving Berlins Puttin on the Ritz to Charlie Chaplins Smile, performed in fine style by Abigail Grace Allwein on violin and James Michael McHale on guitar. The vibe is so easygoing that it spawns a perhaps too laid-back Dogberry (Fred Applegate), the comically bumbling constable who, with his slightly more competent watchpersons, stumbles upon Don Johns plot. It feels as though his character ought to peacock a bit more with misguided pride. Or maybe its just that the play leaves you wanting someone to stick it to Claudio and his fellow tormentors of Hero more forcefully something Much Ado ultimately doesnt do. As the Bard laments in the lyrics to his own Sigh No More, which are set to a pretty and wistful new melody here by the Broadway composer Stephen Flaherty: Sigh no more, ladies, sigh no more. Men were deceivers ever. Much Ado About Nothing When: 8 p.m. Tuesdays-Sundays, through Sept. 1. Starting Sept 2: 7 p.m. Sundays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays; 8 p.m. Thursdays-Saturdays. Through Sept. 16. Where: Lowell Davies Festival Theatre, Old Globe, Balboa Park. Tickets: $30 and up Phone: (619) 234-5623 Online: theoldglobe.org jim.hebert@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @jimhebert The story of Saartjie Baartman is horrific. A Khoikhoi woman who lived in southwestern Africa around the turn of the 19th century, she would leave her native country upon a British traffickers promise of making money for a better life, only to become a victim of exploitation, degradation and all manners of abuse. She would be turned into a sideshow humiliation: the Hottentot Venus. Baartmans body, in particular her backside, were sexualized for the titillation and gawking of white Europeans. Even after her premature death, Baartmans body would be victimized, turned into another kind of exhibition that demeaned her physicality and her soul. Fittingly, Lydia R. Diamonds 2006 Voyeurs de Venus, which launches Moxie Theatres 14th season, opens with a nightmare: not one to torment Baartman, who must have endured many, but young Sara Washington, who awakens terrified. For the 21st-century cultural anthropologist (Cashae Monya), this is a premonition, dramatized onstage like all of her bad dreams to come in a feverish dance sequence choreographed by Michael Mizerany. Voyeurs de Venus reunites three principals from Moxies powerful production of The Bluest Eye five years ago. Diamond wrote the stage adaptation of Toni Morrisons 1970 novel; Moxie co-founder Delicia Turner Sonnenberg directed; and Monya fronted a stellar cast. With Voyeurs de Venus, Turner Sonnenberg, Moxies former artistic director, has conceived an uncompromising, visceral theater experience that is very much in keeping with the pain and tumult that inhabited Baartmans tragic life. Advertisement Diamonds lengthy play flits back and forth in time, telling Baartmans story in the early 1800s and that of Sara, an exuberant, scrupulous academic who is offered a lucrative book deal to tell the Venus Hottentot story in an entertaining fashion. Her anguish and (though shes loath to admit it) guilt over the possibility of exploiting Baartman are exacerbated to dramatic effect by the spirit of the Khoikhoi woman (Joy Yvonne Jones), sometimes literally over her shoulder, by the recurring dance nightmares (most, but not all, essential to the narrative), and by an affair with her publisher (Cortez L. Johnson). When Sara isnt navigating these internal and interpersonal riptides, shes speaking directly to the audience (once, with the house lights up), providing a window into this conflicted characters intelligence and conscience. Monya renders a fearless, charismatic performance, with Jones a mesmerizing presence as Baartman. The 1800s flashback scenes are stagier. Fred Harlow has the one-note role of the trafficker Dunlop, while Justin Lang, who in the contemporary scenes plays Saras supportive husband, holds nothing back as the odious Georges Cuvier, the founding father of paleontology who would later reduce Baartmans remains to a scientific freak show. As commentary, Voyeurs de Venus aspires to indictments on race, objectification, identity, cultural appropriation and even gentrification a daunting order, to be sure, for one play. As stark drama told with urgency, Voyeurs de Venus is a reminder of mans inhumanity to woman, and indeed to all who are devalued and disrespected for nothing more than being human. Voyeurs de Venus When: 7:30 p.m. Thursday; 8 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays. Through Sept. 9. Where: Moxie Theatre, 6663 El Cajon Blvd., Rolando District Tickets: $18-$44 (discounts available) Phone: (858) 598-7620 Online: moxietheatre.com A trio of executive orders signed by President Trump in May to take on what he considers a bloated and inefficient federal workforce are working as intended, administration officials say, although Department of Veteran Affairs workers and union members say the implementation is hurting workers and veterans. The workers and union members say the orders, in combination with a new VA accountability law signed by Trump last year, are creating choas and hurting morale. A VA spokesman said the new rules are holding employees accountable for their performance or lack thereof. The president touted the success in comments to the Veterans of Foreign Wars national convention in July, pointing to the number of fired employees as a benchmark for progress. Weve gotten rid of a lot of people over the last year, he said. Only the bad ones. The good ones we cherish. Advertisement On July 20, the VA announced it had implemented one of the three orders orders Trump signed restricting union leaders from doing union business on official time, funded by taxpayers. The VA said the changes are freeing up employees to spend more serving for veterans rather than union bosses. Union leaders say they are serving their members and the agency at large with the union work they do on official time by performing human resources-related functions such as contract disputes, leave requests and filing grievances. A change in the law In June 2017, Trump signed the Department of Veterans Affairs Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act into law, changing the process by which the VA reviews employee performance deficiencies as well as the time frames within which the agency must address them. The department, which serves the nations roughly 20 million veterans, had been under pressure to shorten the wait times in claims processing and at its medical centers. Although Trump promotes the firings made possible under the law, VA employees speaking in their capacity as union leaders said they have hurt morale throughout the agency. Anthony Gallagher, the president of the San Diego chapter of the union, reviews disability claims at the Veterans Benefits Administration. He serves about 625 VA workers. Gallagher described an agency at war with its own employees. He said that since the accountability law was passed, hes been in a constant battle to protect his members. Theyre taking away our rights for due process that are in our (union) contract, he said. Basically, the (law) has turned us into at-will employees. Another benefits rating specialist, Jim Rihel, serves as the AFGE president in Philadelphia. He said it is as though the VA is determined to fire as many employees as possible. Were spending more time worrying about our jobs than doing them, he said. Thousands fired The VA employs more than 300,000 people. According to the latest numbers from the VA, as of the end of June, 2,743 employees have been fired since Trump took office. David Cox Sr., the national president of the 700,000-member American Federation of Government Employees, said the firings are harming veterans and not improving the agency. I dont know any business that has fired its way to success, he said. Of the fired employees, 60 held supervisory job titles, including former department secretary David Shulkin, who was fired in March. The agencys press secretary, Curt Cashour, said restructuring under the new law has resulted in improved performance in the benefit administration. When it comes to compensation and pension rating claims, VA has reduced the average completion time from 113 days to 99 days, he said in an email. Lee Blackmon, the federal director of the National Association of Government Employees another federal workers union said the firings were affecting morale and patient care. Employees are under stress, tension increases (and) call-outs go up, she said. Its not a happy or good place to work right now. If you feel threatened, what kind of care can you give? The new accountability law simplified the process for terminating VA employees and, according to Gallagher, the agency is not acting in good faith in its assessment of employee performance. Gallagher said workers they represent had their job descriptions changed without being notified, then were written-up for not performing up to those new standards. Theyll change the standard without telling you, without testing it, Gallagher said. If you change the (job) description, you change the requirement that you had...or they make it so high that you cant do it. Cashour denied the agency changed workers job descriptions without notification. Thats false, he said in an email. An agency in chaos The three executive orders Trump signed in May directed federal agencies to aggressively negotiate labor contracts, further streamlined the firing process and put strict limits on official time taxpayer funding of union work done at the agency, which was authorized in the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978. More than a dozen unions have sued the Trump Administration, claiming the orders violate the 1978 law. Arguments were heard in July, and a judge is expected to rule Aug. 24. Previously, employees in leadership positions in the union might devote up to 100 percent of their workdays performing union-related work. Under the new rules, no more than 25 percent of official time may be used for union business. In an email, Cashour said the Trump administration is protecting taxpayers and ensuring more paid VA time is spent serving veterans. Prior to this executive order, VA employees spent more than a million hours a year doing taxpayer-funded work for union bosses instead of taking care of veterans, Cashour said. This policy will expand VAs ability to provide patient care by ensuring employees will be spending more of their time placing veterans not union bosses first in everything they do. Gallagher, who until recently was one of those 100 percent official time employees, said his work conducting union business focused on serving VA employees, not union bosses. A lot of work is in reporting deficiencies in health and morale, he said, adding that he used to help employees union and non-union file grievances, but that the new orders now forbid him from doing so. Gallagher also said the VA had botched implementation of the order. They have no plan, he said. Its causing chaos. Cashour disagreed. The implementation is going very well, he said, noting that guidance was sent to VA facilities as recently as July 17. A red herring A recent report by ProPublica detailed how three members of Trumps Mar-a-Lago club in Florida were secretly shaping policy at VA by communicating with officials daily on policy and personnel decisions. Democrats in Congress condemned the report, saying they would investigate private interference in the agency. The liberal veterans organization VoteVets on Thursday sued the Trump Administration, claiming that the Mar-a-Lago Council is violating federal laws that regulate the ability of private interests to shape federal policy. Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America, a veteran advocacy nonprofit, supported last years accountability law and supports the firing of bad-performing employees, but a spokesman said the group has noticed the departments current chaotic conditions. We see that, said Tom Porter, IAVAs legislative director. A lot of employees (are) leaving, the result of that hurts vets. We need stability at the VA to help vets, not meet a political agenda. Porter said that agenda is privatization of the VA. Former Secretary Shulkin told NPR in March that there were political forces at work in the department, and that his firing was connected to his resistance to privatization. The VA has posted a statement on its website saying there is no such push. There is no effort underway to privatize VA, it says, and to suggest otherwise is completely false and a red herring designed to distract and avoid honest debate on the real issues surrounding Veterans health care. Contact Andrew Dyer via email or Twitter. August 19, 1967 The San Diego Union 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. Saturday, August 19, 1967 In 1967 San Diego Marine Gunnery Sgt. Jimmy Howard was awarded the Medal of Honor for a June 16, 1966 battle in which his 18-man platoon outlasted a much-larger Viet Cong force. Thirteen of his 18 men returned alive. Four received Navy Crosses, and the rest received Silver Stars. It made Howards reconnaissance troops the most highly decorated Marine unit for decades. Howard died at home in San Diego in 1993. In 2001 a Navy destroyer was named for him. Here are the first few paragraphs of the story: S.D. Marine Wins Medal Of Honor Gunnery Sgt. Jimmie E. Howard of San Diego, who led 17 Marines through a desperate all-night battle against an enemy battalion on a hilltop in Vietnam last year, will receive the Medal of Honor Monday in Washington. President Johnson will present the nations highest award for heroism to the graying, 38-year-old Marine. Howard, who lives at 1933 Chatsworth Blvd. on Point Loma, will take his wife and six children with him to Washington for the White House ceremony. I cant describe how it feels the company it puts me in when Ill wear that medal, Howard said in an interview yesterday at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot. Howard, a native of Burlington, Iowa, who has made his home in San Diego during much of his 17-year Marine Corps career, has been serving as gunnery sergeant for the headquarters and service battalion at MCRD since he recovered from his battle wounds at the San Diego Naval Hospital. The exploit of his platoon on a hilltop near Chu Lai on June 16, 1966, is becoming a Marine Corps legend. One official history published recently refers to it as the battle of Howards Hill. Howards 18-man platoon part of the 1st Reconnaissance Battalion, 1st Marine Division was manning an observation post on a hill within enemy territory when North Vietnamese regulars at least 250, possibly more surrounded the hill and tried vainly to take it. By the time the platoon was relieved the next day, the Marines had run out of hand grenades and were throwing rocks at the North Vietnamese. Six members of the platoon were killed and the rest wounded. I dont know what excites me the most the idea of meeting the President of the United States, or the fact Im going to get together with my platoon again, Howard said yesterday. All surviving members of the platoon will attend the medal presentation. I havent seen most of them since we were med-evacked off the hill, Howard said. Veteran Marines at MCRD say Howard and his men may rank as the most decorated platoon in Marine Corps history. Four were awarded the Navy Cross and 13 the Silver Star medal, two of the highest awards for valor after the Medal of Honor itself. Two members of the platoon will be going to Washington from Southern California. R.J. Fitzpatrick, a hospital corpsman 1st class who received the Silver Star, is still a patient at the Naval Hospital here, convalescing from his wounds. Sgt. Robert L. Martinez, another Silver Star winner, is assigned to the Headquarters and Service Company of the Staging Battalion at Camp Pendleton. My wife has met Fitzpatrick and Martinez and shes anxious to know the others, Howard said. And, of course, the whole family is pretty thrilled about meeting a President. The Howard children are Jimmie Lee, 16; twin daughters, Yvonne and Yvette, 14; Barbara, 9; Linett, 8, and Darlene, 6. Even Darlene understands who the PResident is so shes as excited as the rest, Howard said. The Howards will fly to Washington Sunday and expected to return to San Diego next Wednesday. Howard said the most meaningful thing to him about Howards Hill was not the medal he earned but what the experience demonstrated about teamwork. I mean the way my guys stuck together and the way the others got us out of there, he said. You can talk about teamwork all you want, but I never saw such a perfect example. He said that during the long night on the hill The longest night there ever was the thought never crossed his mind that he might emerge as a Marine Corps hero. Only six Marines have the received the Medal of Honor in Vietnam, and only 248 Marines have received it since it was instituted as the Congressional Medal of Honor in 1862. I never met a Marine who thought about medals when the fighting was going on, he said. All I could think about was keeping my men together and getting them off that hill. The Medal of Honor citation which Howard will receive signed by the President spells out in official language the measure of his personal heroism after his heavily outnumbered platoon came under fire from all sides. 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. The deputy sheriffs union pulled a stunning move recently by withdrawing its endorsement of Bonnie Dumanis and giving it to Nathan Fletcher in the high-profile county supervisor race. The action was widely seen as a group jumping to a candidate with momentum and, at the moment, seemingly better odds in November. Fletcher did finish first in the primary, has outraised Dumanis and is a Democrat running in a heavily Democratic district against a Republican. But the motivation behind the decision by the Deputy Sheriffs Association of San Diego County is more complicated than that. The shift came after a sharp disagreement between the union and the county government over changes in the pension system that would apply to future deputies. Advertisement San Diego County, like many public agencies, faces a big shortfall in its pension system and in recent years has been ratcheting back benefits and increasing employee contributions. The association says it has accepted past pension changes, but opposed this one. We believe it will severely damage the Departments recruitment and retention efforts, especially in the context of the large number of retirements anticipated over the next few years, union President Gary Moore wrote in a June 26 letter to Helen Robbins-Meyer, chief administrative officer for the county. In an April 25 letter to supervisors, Moore said that pension benefit would be lower than any other major law enforcement agency in California, and lower than any . . . being utilized by any local law enforcement agency in San Diego County. The union offered a counter-proposal that would have its members, including current ones, pay a slightly larger pension contribution. The county declined. Complicating matters is the pension benefit must apply to other employee unions. Despite the disagreement, the deputy sheriffs union eventually signed the overall contract. In discussing their positions on issues with the union, both Fletcher and Dumanis sided with the deputies on this pension matter. So why would this factor into the endorsement switch? The union has supported both Fletcher and Dumanis in the past, though it has declined to endorse Dumanis at times. The union went with Dumanis, the former district attorney, early this year after being pressured to do so by some incumbent supervisors, all of whom are Republicans. She has received endorsements from numerous other law enforcement organizations. Its unclear whether the change in endorsement to Fletcher was a message to the supervisors in the wake of the pension dispute or whether the union now deems Fletcher as the better candidate, or something else. The union declined to comment beyond a statement from Moore lauding Fletcher when the new endorsement was announced by his campaign on Aug. 10. There was no mention of the unions earlier endorsement of Dumanis. The organization hasnt said publicly why it initially picked Dumanis in this race. The Dumanis campaign didnt return phone calls seeking comment. The union, which represents more than 2,500 members, has supported Fletcher throughout his political metamorphosis as a Republican, independent and now Democrat, so it seems they had good relations in the past. The organization supported him in the 2012 mayoral race over Dumanis. There has been no indication that the union and Fletcher had a falling out, a notion underscored by their recent endorsement. Fletcher, a former Assembly member, has widespread backing from other labor groups and has expressed support for union goals on compensation and benefits. While peace officer associations have broad concerns about law enforcement policy and frequently support Republicans they still are unions that negotiate contracts and are always looking for a sympathetic ear. Still, the deputy sheriffs shift jolted San Diegos political world. Seasoned political consultants said they could not recall another instance locally where an organization made a move like this in the middle of a campaign. Regardless of the reasoning, its something no candidate wants to have happen just before the fall campaign, let alone one who had been the countys top law enforcement official for more than 14 years. There has been no sign that other law enforcement groups or other Dumanis backers are jumping ship. A lot of eyes are on the Lincoln Club, the largely Republican business organization that has spent big and campaigned hard to keep Fletcher out of office since he left the GOP during the 2012 mayors race. The club will never support Fletcher and continues to back Dumanis, though it is assessing its level of commitment for the fall campaign. Its best shot at defeating Fletcher in the central San Diego District 4 was in the primary, but that doesnt mean he has clear sailing to November. The possibility of losing one seat to Democrats on the currently all-Republican, five-member Board of Supervisors may not seem like a big deal. But the view down the road has to be troubling for the GOP. In 2020, the heavily Democratic District 1 in the South Bay will be open, as longtime Republican incumbent Greg Cox is termed out. Also that year, first-term Republican Kristin Gaspar is up for re-election in North Countys District 3, which she barely won against a scandalized Democrat in 2016. Maybe the Republicans hold on to those seats. If not, and Fletcher wins, the board that has been dominated by Republicans for more than two decades would have at least a 3-2 Democratic majority in just two short years. No doubt the Deputy Sheriffs Association is well aware of that. Tweet of the Week Goes to Union-Tribune Ideas (@sdutIdeas). Her father told her she would sing for kings and queens. Then she became one. R.I.P., Aretha Franklin. The Grammy Awards ceremony has never suffered a shortage of drama during the annual telecast. But there probably was never a more heart-stopping turn of events than on the night of Feb. 25, 1998, when the 40th Grammys were put on at Radio City Music Hall in New York City. The shows longtime executive producer Ken Ehrlich often cites that evening among the most memorable, if not the highlight, of his long association with the affair. Opera superstar Luciano Pavarotti had been scheduled to represent the classical music nominees that year by performing the aria Nessun Dorma, from Puccinis Turandot, an emotional and technical showcase for which the celebrated Italian tenor had become internationally renowned long ago. Advertisement But about 30 minutes after the show had begun , a production assistant answered his phone and heard an Italian voice on the other end. I dont feel well. I cant come. I sing for you next year, co-producer Tisha Fein recalled to Billboard, telling the publication of the phone call her assistant, Gary Simmons, fielded from Pavarotti in a trailer outside the venue. RELATED: When Aretha sang opera at the Grammys, she renewed a beloved aria that had become a cliche Aretha Franklin was booked to appear that evening in a Blues Brothers-themed number, along with Dan Aykroyd, John Goodman and Jim Belushi, the brother of Aykroyds original Blues Brothers partner, John. I remembered she had sung Nessun Dorma two nights before for MusiCares [the Recording Academy philanthropic wing] and Pavarotti, Ehrlich told Billboard shortly after the show. I just ran up to her dressing room and asked her if she would do it. She said she wanted to hear the dress rehearsal. In those days, we had a boombox with a cassette. And I brought it to her and played it for her. When she heard it, she said, Yeah, I can do this. Ehrlich has often credited Franklin with saving the show, and, in the process, creating an indelible memory with one of the great performances in the history of the awards. It was amazing, amazing what she did, said Jeff Scheftel, then the academys media productions director. Personally, I thought, Yknow, theres still time if youre gonna ask Aretha Franklin, let her do Natural Woman. Everybody would love that; she can do it in her sleep! But [her Nessun Dorma] was amazing, and shes an extraordinary performer, and she rose to the occasion on gameday like no one else. randy.lewis@latimes.com Follow @RandyLewis2 on Twitter.com For Classic Rock coverage, join us on Facebook In this weeks Back Story, reporter Peter Rowe discusses his recent visit to the FBIs Regional Computer Forensics Laboratory. Q: How did you hear about this lab? A: The FBIs San Diego field office runs a citizens academy, introducing small groups of civilians to aspects of the agencys work. My editor, Mark Platte, was enrolled in a recent academy and he was fascinated by the work done in the lab. Q: What happens there? Advertisement A: A lot of cyber sleuthing. Today, criminal prosecutions are built with electronic, as well as physical, evidence. Q: Like what? A: Cellphone records can pinpoint when a suspect was in a certain location the scene of the crime, say. Social media posts have contained precise details about felonies. A computers search history can shed light on someones intentions. Q: For example? A: When local FBI agents retrieved the search history of a murder suspects computer, for instance, they found how do i dispose of a dead body. Q: Is it easy to gain access to that information? A: No. The most common electronic devices cellphones, computers, tablets are often protected by passwords. While the FBI can run programs that race through all possible combinations, 10 or so incorrect guesses can trigger the destruction of all information inside the device. Q: Why does that sound familiar? A: This was the dilemma facing FBI agents after the 2015 San Bernardino terrorist attacks. One of the killers left behind a password-protected iPhone. When Apple decIined to break into the device, the FBI was stymied for while. Eventually, they broke in. Q: Do you know how? A: There are rumors that the agency hired an outside cyber security firm that uncovered a flaw in the iPhones programming, allowing investigators to slip past the password without erasing any data. Q: Were you assigned this story because of your advanced cyber skills? A: Actually, Im something of a cyber dunce. Hans Frank, the supervisory special agent in charge of the lab, was very patient with me. Still, his level of expertise is so great I was often baffled. Eventually, I asked him treat me like a reasonably intelligent fifth-grader. Q: Did that work? A: Most of the time. But I also contacted independent cyber security experts to help gain some clarity. Steven Andres, who teaches at San Diego State University, was a big help. Q: What other difficulties did you encounter while telling this story? A: Encryption is the double-edged sword at the heart of this story. Law enforcement often have legitimate needs to the information stored inside electronic devices. Government entities, including the current White House, favor laws requiring manufacturers to install back doors allowing detectives easy access to electronic devices. Q: Whats wrong with that? A: Where to start? There are privacy concerns; cases of law enforcement abusing its powers; and the fact that we all need online security. Consider all the times you log into personal accounts banking, retirement, health. If a tool grants law enforcement access to all this data, this same tool could be wielded by criminals. Q: Anything else you took away from this story? A: Most of us, it seems, take unnecessary risks online. The FBI says many people use ridiculously simple passwords. Dont use your birthday, anniversary or a simple set of consecutive numbers (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6) or letters (a, b, c, d, e ,f). Random passwords are tougher to remember, but the extra effort can provide a greater degree of safety. In 2016, a witness testimony against four West Coast Crips charged with homicide and other crimes was cancelled. With a bullet. They shot one guy in the head a day or two before he was to testify, said Assistant U.S. Attorney Todd Robinson, who prosecuted the gang members in San Diegos federal court. The case, though, would turn on bulletproof testimony. Cyber clues text messages, locations gleaned from cell phone records, photos posted on social media helped guarantee the gang members convictions. Advertisement Its critical, Robinson said of digital evidence last week. I do a lot of gang prosecutions and they are on Facebook, everybody is on their phones. Im typing up an affidavit right now and it includes a picture they sent each other of the dope they were going to sell. Uncovering these clues, though, is like finding a virtual needle in a million electronic haystacks. Cracking the encryption systems of suspects cell phones, tablets and laptops is a daunting task, one often entrusted to the FBIs national network of computer forensics laboratories. If it stores data, said Hans Frank, the supervisory special agent in charge of San Diegos lab, our guys will figure out how to get it. In the high-stakes chess match between cyber criminals and law enforcement, this FBI lab is a grandmaster. Since 1999, its team of computer experts has used digital evidence to convict murderers, child abusers, even a Border Patrol agent who used a hidden camera to film his female colleagues undressing in an agency restroom. The work you are doing is changing lives, Frank tells his digital detectives. Sleep well knowing you are serving your fellow man. Still, this work raises privacy concerns. While the Trump administration argues that law enforcement needs built-in back doors allowing entry to electronic devices, critics say these would expose law-abiding citizens financial and social media accounts to criminals. If there is a back door into the encryption, it is not just available to the good guys, said Steven Andres, who teaches in San Diego State Universitys homeland security program. If there is a back door, it is a weakness, and it is a weakness that is available to bad guys. Even without a back door, the local FBI analysts stay busy. In 2016, the year with the most current statistics, the lab examined 1,276 electronic devices, sifting through a mind-numbing 570 trillion bytes of information. That number is always growing, Frank said. It never goes down, it always goes up. 10,000 Guesses Not every investigation requires the skills of a computer-savvy Sherlock Holmes. Among criminals, there may be more dunces than masterminds For instance: A man waiting to cross the border opened his iPad to a page of child pornography. An attempted murder suspects social media pages included posts about, yes, the attempted murder. On a suspects computer, analysts found a search history that included how do i get rid of a dead body. There are times, though, when breaking into a suspects electronic device is a nerve-wracking ordeal. A famous instance came after the December 2015 terrorist attack in San Bernardino, when the FBI seized slain shooter Syed Rizwan Farooks iPhone 5c. The cell phones four-digit password was one of 10,000 combinations, but agents couldnt make random guesses or program a computer to try every possibility. The phones built-in encryption system would eliminate all information after 10 incorrect guesses. Apple refused FBI requests to unlock the phone. While the FBI will not comment on how it eventually opened the phone, civilian cybersecurity experts believe the agency took advantage of a vulnerability in the mobile operating system. In San Diego, the suspect in an attempted murder case had another locked phone. In the lab, technicians used a hair-thin wire to connect to the motherboard, bypassing the encryption system and allowing detectives to find descriptions of the crime. On another occasion, investigators cracked the locked phone of a suspected child molester. We used techniques to get around that, Frank said. We were able to find new victims of child abuse because of that. Investigators need an arsenal of password-cracking methods. What works on one electronic device usually doesnt work on another. All of these devices are unique, Frank said. We have to figure out ways to exploit all of them. Our people have to know the difference between Apple and Android and those knock-off Chinese items. Theres no brand loyalty. The FBIs San Diego lab maintains a library of cell phones, representing various makes iPhones, Nokias, Samsungs and models. Recently, Frank said, we were given a flip phone. People still use those, so we have to have them. Dissecting these phones, analysts search for vulnerabilities, design flaws that allow outside parties to slip past passwords and other barriers. Thats valuable information for law enforcement and, for better or worse, others. Some private hackers alert companies when they find a vulnerability, agreeing not to publicize the discovery until the company engineers a fix. But theres a whole industry of selling pre-release vulnerability information, said SDSUs Andres. They weaponize the vulnerabilities, creating something like a screwdriver that allows people to open that device. Bugs and Hashes Not all digital detectives work for law enforcement. Theres a growing corps of civilian cyber-sleuths, some inspired by the promise of lucrative bug bounties. Those are payments made to hackers who find and report vulnerabilities in computer programs. In 2012, for instance, Microsoft paid $200,000 to one successful hunter, a Columbia University graduate student, Vasilis Pappas. United Airlines, on the other hand, awarded 2 million miles to a pair of hackers who found holes in the airlines web site. The federal government also sponsors bug hunts. This April, the fifth annual Hack the Pentagon program unearthed 65 vulnerabilities in the web site for the militarys internal travel system. The Defense Department paid out $78,650. There are even bounty brokers, like HackerOne, a San Francisco company whose network of 100,000-plus hackers is credited with finding and fixing more than 44,000 vulnerabilities. There are good reasons to eliminate these flaws, Frank acknowledges. Countless law-abiding people rely on the internet to manage their finances, order medications, conduct business deals. In some countries, online expressions of political dissent can lead to prison terms, or worse, if the government is able to identify the messenger. In those cases, robust encryption is a must. But an iPhone, when you cant get in to find the child porn, Frank said, thats a bad thing. At the FBI lab, exploiting vulnerabilities to gain access to a suspects electronic devices is the first step. Investigators then scour files for criminal evidence, ferreting out hidden files and retrieving those that were ostensibly deleted. When you click delete on the computer, that doesnt necessarily mean its gone, Frank said. Any time you do something, the computer keeps a record. Investigators also hash the computer. Using whats known as a hash function, agents create a forensic image of all the data on the device. Its like a fingerprint, Frank said. The whole point is to be able to present in court, beyond a reasonable doubt, that what we did is accurate. The hash, in other words, shows that those incriminating emails, graphic videos and other damning data were there before the FBI began poking around. Beyond Geekdom Found inside the FBIs Sorrento Valley high-rise offices, the local lab is an investigative cooperative. From the El Cajon Police Department to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, 17 law enforcement agencies provide staff for the labs task force. The team also includes more than a dozen FBI agents. While most dont have computer degrees, all start their tenure here with what Frank called A-plus certification. Thats equivalent to the Geek Squad members, he said. Training is ongoing theres a classroom outside the lab, for lectures and briefings that pushes investigators well beyond Geekdom. Staying ahead of the latest developments on the electronic frontier is a never-ending job. Frank was reminded of this early last year, when he moved to San Diego from the Bay Area. To relocate his family, he scouted out suitable neighborhoods, scanned homes on the market, applied for a loan, made an offer and closed on the deal. I did the whole process on my phone, he said. If Im doing all that on the phone, how much are the bad guys doing on the phone? More than 10 months after a gunman opened fire on a country music concert in Las Vegas the worst mass shooting in the nations modern history one of the victims has returned home to San Diego, according to a GoFundMe page set up to assist with her recovery costs. Tina Frost was 27 years old when she was shot in her right eye during the Oct. 1 attack that killed 58 people and injured hundreds of others. Frost was among those attending the Route 91 Harvest music festival when a gunman on the 32nd floor of the nearby Mandalay Bay hotel rained more than 1,100 bullets into the crowded open-air venue. Frost was carried from the scene by her boyfriend and a second man. She was taken to a hospital in a pickup along with other victims, the Las Vegas Review-Journal reported last year. Advertisement An update posted Aug. 6 on a GoFund page for Frost states that she and her boyfriend had returned home to San Diego a day earlier. Tina has a new team of therapists and will start her new routine states the update, attributed to Frosts mother. She also said Frost faces more surgeries on her eye, and it will be a long and lengthy process because of the severity of the damage. The surgeries, the update stated, will take place in Maryland, where Frost an accountant had been receiving continuing treatment. Her journey is moving from the east coast to the west coast, but is not over by far, the GoFundMe page started by a family friend states. Initially, Frost had been in a coma and on a ventilator at a Las Vegas hospital. About two weeks after the attack, she was moved to her native Maryland to continue her recovery. Within two weeks of the shooting, the crowd-sourcing account had raised more than $550,000 toward her recovery costs. People still continue to donate, and as of Friday it had raised more than $615,000. teri.figueroa@sduniontribune.com (760) 529-4945 Twitter: @TeriFigueroaUT He cant handle the truth. President Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani said truth isnt truth to a stunned Chuck Todd on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday as they discussed special counsel Robert Muellers ongoing Russia investigation. The former mayor made the bizarre claim as he stated the case for President Trump not sitting down with Mueller. He believed such an interview would not reveal anything of note because of the faulty nature of witnesses recollections. Its somebodys version of the truth, not the truth, Giuliani told Todd. Advertisement Truth is truth, Todd responded. Truth isnt truth, Giuliani contended. The comment appeared to throw Todd for a loop. This is going to become a bad meme, he correctly predicted. Sure enough, the Internet immediately seized on Giulianis unfortunate choice of words. Truth isnt truth Rudy Giuliani. Well not in this White House, tweeted Virginia Congressman Gerry Connolly. Conservative commentator and Weekly Standard editor Bill Kristol repeated Todds assertion tweeting Truth is truth. Former New York federal prosecutor Preet Bharara, who was fired by the Trump administration, sarcastically offered legal advice for Giuliani. Rudy Giuliani: Truth isnt truth. Try that one with a jury, he wrote on Twitter. Sundays awkward moment of television was reminiscent of Todds now infamous January 2017 interview with Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway where she used the term alternative facts to justify former White House speakers Sean Spicers demonstrably false assertions about attendance at the Presidents inauguration in Washington. Alternative facts are not facts theyre falsehoods, Todd incredulously told Conway. Giulianis startling assertion also appeared to be in line with a statement the President made during a visit to Kansas City last month, where he essentially told followers not to believe their own eyes. What youre seeing and what youre reading is not whats happening, Trump said, repeating the refrain that the fake news is to blame for his troubles. Muellers team is investigating whether Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election won by Trump. Giuliani admitted that the reason for the June 2016 Trump Tower meeting between Trump campaign aides and a Russian lawyer, arranged by Donald Trump Jr., was that they had been promised dirt on Hillary Clinton. However, Giuliani told Todd that nothing from the meeting could lead to any charges against Trump. It turned out to be a meeting about another subject and it was not pursued at all, he said. Any meeting in regards to getting information about your opponent is something any candidates staff would take. The Trump team had previously asserted the June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower was about Russian adoptions. The President has also tried to distance himself from that sitdown, though according to CNN, former Trump fixer Michael Cohen told investigators his boss knew about the meeting before it happened. The President of the United States wasnt at that meeting, he didnt know about that meeting, he found out about it after, Giuliani told Todd. By the time he found out about it, it was nothing. If this is their case for collusion, good luck, Mueller. On Saturday, it was revealed in The New York Times that White House counsel Don McGahn has been cooperating with the special counsel. Giuliani told Todd that Trump didnt raise executive privilege or attorney-client privilege because his team believed that fully participating would be the quickest way to bring the investigation to a close. The President encouraged him to testify, is happy that he did, is quite secure that there is nothing in the testimony that will hurt the President, Giuliani insisted on his Meet the Press appearance. Trump ripped the Times story in a series of tweets earlier Sunday. The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type RAT, Trump wrote. But I allowed him and all others to testify I didnt have to. I have nothing to hide . With News Wire Services 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. Press Release August 18, 2018 Dispatch from Crame No. 365: On Duterte's rejection of his constitutional successor 8/18/18 As if his own presidency is the benchmark of good governance, Duterte again belittles the capability of VP Leni Robredo to succeed him as President. He said he would only resign if Bongbong Marcos or Sen. Chiz Escudero would succeed him, and that even a junta is preferable over VP Leni. Aside from revealing once again his disdain of the Constitution and the rule of law, Duterte has this hallucination that his presidency is a tough act to follow. Well, it is not. It is one of the worst, if not the worst presidency ever. After him, Marcos might even be surpassed as the most murderous and corrupt president the country ever had. But how is it so difficult to perform better than Duterte? I imagine that it won't be. Upon succession to the presidency, VP Leni would certainly end all the killings and bring the killers to justice; she would immediately stop the policy of mendicancy to China and once again fight for our Spratlys territories through the maximum use of the landmark ruling of the UNCLOS Arbitral Tribunal; she would restore decency and civility in our damaged society; she would promptly bring back respect to the country in the international community, simply by not being obnoxious or offensive to the world like Duterte was. Most importantly, she will put an end to the culture of impunity in government where we see Duterte appointees and allies robbing the people in broad daylight while at the same time having the gall to be self-righteous about it. After Duterte, it is not really all that hard to be a better President. The real challenge to the next President is fixing all that Duterte has broken, which is almost everything that was good about this country and its people. Press Release August 18, 2018 De Lima seeks probe on BI's loss of P869 M in 'express lane' charges Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has sought a legislative inquiry into the Bureau of Immigration's (BI) misinterpretation of Mr. Duterte's veto on the use of the funds to pay for its employees which resulted to its loss of P869.24 million last year. De Lima filed Senate Resolution No. 839 urging the appropriate Senate committee to inquire into the agency's apparent failure to collect "express lane" charges from June to December 2017. "There has to be a level of accountability from the officials who committed this gross misinterpretation of law, less we continue to suffer from imprudence or intentional misfeasance by our public officials tasked with implementing our laws," she said. In 2016, Mr. Duterte vetoed the proposed use of express lane charges collected by the BI for the salaries of its casual, contractual, confidential and job-order personnel, which include payment for overtime and for health insurance premium. Misinterpreting the executive veto, the BI stopped collecting express lane charges effective June 2017. In its 2017 audit report, the Commission on Audit (COA) found out that the BI lost P869.24 million for misinterpreting Mr. Duterte's veto message and stopping the imposition of express lane charges. The COA emphasized "it is only the use of express lane charges collected that was vetoed by the President and not the collection from express lane charges." The former justice secretary pointed out that BI's gross misinterpretation of the President's veto message costs the government a substantial amount in revenues which could have been translated into programs and projects. The Senator from Bicol also underscored the importance of crafting legislation to ensure accountability for gross misinterpretation of the law by public officials who are tasked to enforce them. "There is a need to look into the current laws and regulations among our revenue generating offices to ensure that there are sufficient safeguards against losses brought about by misappreciation of laws and similar acts or omissions," she said. The BI collected P568.52 million between January and May 2017, but the COA noted that only P56.85 million of that amount was recognized in the General Fund, contrary to the President's instruction. Meanwhile, the remaining P511.67 million was recorded under the Trust Liabilities account. Press Release August 18, 2018 De Lima optimistic on Bachelet's appointment as UN rights chief Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has expressed confidence in the recent appointment of former Chile president Michelle Bachelet as the new United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights succeeding Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein of Jordan. De Lima, a known human rights defender here and abroad, said she has high hopes in the appointment of Bachelet because the latter is known to be a strong defender of human rights and social justice. "Like her predecessor, Bachelet promises to be fearless and uncompromising in the defense of human rights and in the fight against human rights violators," she said in her recent Dispatch from Crame No. 360. The United Nations General Assembly in New York has recently appointed Bachelet, the first woman to serve as Chile's president, as High Commissioner for Human Rights, effective on Sept. 1. After the announcement of her appointment, Bachelet reportedly said she was "deeply humbled and honoured" to have been entrusted with "this important task." De Lima, a former chairperson of the Commission on Human Rights, said Bachelet is an ideal figure to occupy the UN High Commissioner post especially because of her experience and knowledge concerning human rights. "I expect her to be unyielding in her convictions. She will not be easily intimidated by the world's dictators and tyrants like Duterte," she said. Political pundits have claimed that Bachelet is no stranger to human rights issues. The next U.N. human rights chief and her family were victims of human rights violations under Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet. "[Bachelet] also suffered arbitrary detention, torture, and exile," De Lima recalled. "Despite this, she went on to join the fight for the restoration of democracy in Chile, and eventually become its first woman President." As a single mother of three and a moderate socialist politician, Bachelet has also been a pioneer for women and women's rights. 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. Press Release August 18, 2018 Drilon condemns arrest of, filing of charges vs lawyers in bar raid, calls it 'patently unlawful' Senate Minority Leader Franklin M. Drilon on Saturday called the filing of charges against lawyers of a raided bar in Makati by police authorities "a manifestation of a worsening culture of impunity in the Philippine National Police (PNP)" and "patently unlawful and arbitrary." "As a lawyer and former justice secretary, I condemn in the strongest terms the intimidation of the legal profession. The arrest of the three lawyers is not only an assault against the country's legal profession, but also a blatant display of disrespect against our entire justice system," Drilon said. "If they can arrest, intimidate and threaten lawyers who are merely performing their sacred oath of protecting the rights of their clients, then we can just imagine what they do to ordinary citizens and the likes of Kian Delos Santos," Drilon said. "Such action poses threats on the rule of law, a basic pillar of our democracy," Drilon stressed. On Friday, the Makati police filed charges for "constructive possession" of dangerous drugs against the three lawyers, namely Jan Vincent Soliven, Lenie Rocel Rocha and Romulo Bernard Alarkon, who they earlier arrested during a raid of a bar suspected of being a drug den. "It is very troubling to see law enforcement arresting and detaining lawyers who were legitimately exercising their duties as officers of the Court," Drilon said. He said there is no law nor jurisprudence which authorizes the arrest of lawyers for "pressuring" policemen during the conduct of a search warrant. Drilon said: "It is very disturbing that the police's behavior has become brazen each day, which seriously erodes the public's trust on our criminal justice system. The minority leader said he fully supports the Integrated Bar of the Philippine in its defense of the members of the legal community. "I completely support all efforts by the Integrated Bar of the Philippines and other parties in defending and in fighting actions that weaken our justice system," Drilon said. Drilon then asked the PNP leadership should reflect on their role and behavior in order to restore the trust of the people on the institution. Press Release August 19, 2018 De Lima wary of excessive use of gadgets among children Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima has expressed concern over the excessive and protracted use of electronic gadgets among Filipino children which affects not only their vision but also their general health condition and development. De Lima said the recent health warning that visual impairment due to excessive use of gadgets among children is growing at epidemic proportions should compel concerned government agencies to re-examine the impact of technology to children. "If we look around, our children spend most of their valuable time on their mobile phones or tablets. Not only does it impair their vision but also it negatively affects their physical and social development," she said. "While modern technology has tremendously brought us free and easy access to vast information, our excessive and protracted use of gadgets and internet is weighing down on our physical development and social interactions," she added. The Department of Health (DOH) has earlier raised an alarm over the growing number of children in developed cities like Metro Manila and Metro Cebu who are now suffering from myopia or near-sightedness due to constant use of electronic gadgets. According to Health Undersecretary Eric Domingo, the rise in visual impairment among school-age children can be attributed to excessive use of gadgets which have been tapped as "babysitter" to keep the children occupied. Domingo, who is also an ophthalmologist, claimed the excessive use of gadgets can hamper the development of a child's eyesight. Other health experts claimed the excessive use of gadgets may also lead to focal seizures and other mental health problems. De Lima, who now chairs the Senate Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development Committee, said she hopes that her fellow senators will heed the health experts' warning by prioritizing Senate Bill (SB) No. 1709, or the "National Sight Strategy Plan Act", which she filed last February. "Considering that sight is one of the most valued senses, the rise in visual impairment among children poses a serious public health issue," she said "I hope that after the DOH raised the alarm on what it described as 'epidemic' of near-sightedness among children, my colleagues in the Senate will be compelled to expedite the passage into law of my proposed bill," she added. Under De Lima's proposed measure, DOH is mandated to formulate a National Sight Strategy that would address the collection, collation, organization and publication of data and statistics on the incidence and prevalence of vision abnormalities. Moreover, the DOH shall lead in the formulation and implementation of a comprehensive national strategy to address vision health issues, including the conduct of public education promoting and improving vision health at all ages. "Now that children can easily have an access to different devices at any time of the day, there is a higher tendency that they can suffer from near-sightedness. We do not want them to diminish not only their vision but also, most importantly, their general well-being," De Lima added. The proposed measure also mandates the DOH to take the lead in the development of the study and practice of vision health-related professions and the undertaking of studies and consultation to formulate recommendations on the inclusion of vision care services in national health programs. Limited oversight of the Financial Markets Authority has let the watchdog drag its heels on investigations into listed company failures such as CBL Corp and Wynyard Group, New Zealand Shareholders' Association chair John Hawkins says. The retail investor group held its annual meeting in Auckland on Saturday, where Hawkins was re-elected to the role. He had planned to vacate the position but has put that off until a replacement is locked in. He lauded efforts by NZX management under new chief executive Mark Peterson to improve the core function of the stock market operator, noting the "irony" that while NZX faces "significant oversight", the FMA itself effectively self-reports. "It publishes many different documents about what it does and how that compares with former years. The problem, as far as I can see, is nowhere are there any detailed performance standards that investors can look at regarding the investigation role that FMA has," Hawkins said. "There are lots of generalities of course, but they allow plenty of scope for investigations to drag on in deepest secrecy. It seems to me that where serious concerns are raised, these disappear into a black hole only to surface years down the track or not at all." Hawkins highlighted the lack of retail investor representation on the FMA's board and questioned whether the weighting of directors from the "big end of the market" may have caused the watchdog to lose sight of what ordinary investors expect of the organisation. "If we consider the Wynyards and CBLs of the world, it is obvious change is needed when it comes to policing poor behaviour," he said. Hawkins was more optimistic the lack of new listings on the stock market was a short-term lull and will improve over time, echoing sentiments from Direct Capital managing director Ross George earlier in the day. Direct Capital has taken several companies public, including New Zealand King Salmon Investments and Scales Corp. George said the stock market operator itself was looking more broadly at the private economy - which dwarves the listed market - and was more open to smaller companies than it has been in the past. "I think it's a very live issue and yes we do have businesses we're invested in that we think will be great listing candidates," George said. The NZSA has been more active in casting proxy votes on behalf of shareholders. Hawkins said a long-running project, supported by Chapman Tripp partner Roger Wallis, received legal advice the lobby group will be able to have a standing proxy for voting in an investors' entire portfolio. Previously, investors have needed to make an independent direction for each meeting. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: General Capital Limited (NZX: GEN) Subsidiary General Finance Update Geo Limited (NZX: GEO) Shareholder Placement Offer Move Logistics Group Limited (NZX: MOV) Completion of Institutional Entitlement Offer and Bookbuild 29th October 2021 Morning Report 28th October 2021 Morning Report Wellington Drive Technologies Limited (NZX: WDT) Performs Strongly in Q3-2021 Ryman Healthcare Limited (NZX: RYM) Acquires Extensions to Two Existing Victorian Sites Promisia Healthcare Limited (NZX: PHL) Banking Covenant Update Pictor Limited Announces Start of US Clinical Trials for SARS-CoV-2 Serology Test Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Opening of Rights Offer Finance Minister Grant Robertson says next year's review of the KiwiSaver default providers will look at ways to attract the remaining million Kiwis not in the state-sponsored scheme, but he's reluctant to make it compulsory. A bill currently before Parliament would add two new contribution rates and let people 65 and older join the scheme. The government will also use next year's review of the default providers, who are automatically allocated new KiwiSaver members, to assess what can be done to sign up more New Zealanders, Robertson told the New Zealand Shareholders' Association annual meeting in Auckland on Saturday. "As part of that process, we want to work on how we register the remaining million or so New Zealanders who arent in KiwiSaver," Robertson said. "Despite very generous incentives to join the scheme, many of those people didnt take that up during that period." The government wants KiwiSaver funds to invest more heavily into New Zealand and to increase the uptake of the savings scheme, which has beat predictions since its establishment a decade ago. Robertson told the meeting he was reluctant to make KiwiSaver compulsory given many people who haven't signed up are on lower incomes. "I'm not sure a compulsion regime works for them," he said. The upcoming review of the providers prompted New Zealand First MP Fletcher Tabuteau to withdraw his private member's KiwiFund Bill, which seeks to set up a working group to investigate a government-owned and operated KiwiSaver provider. On Friday, Tabuteau said the default provider review and a separate request for the Retirement Commissioner to consider KiwiSaver fees and investment practices in the 2019 review of retirement income policies will canvass issues he had hoped to address. Ministers Kris Faafoi and Grant Robertson have asked me to be involved in the preparatory work on the review, and I look forward to collaborating with Ministers during the review as we work through this important task," Tabuteau said in a statement. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: General Capital Limited (NZX: GEN) Subsidiary General Finance Update Geo Limited (NZX: GEO) Shareholder Placement Offer Move Logistics Group Limited (NZX: MOV) Completion of Institutional Entitlement Offer and Bookbuild 29th October 2021 Morning Report 28th October 2021 Morning Report Wellington Drive Technologies Limited (NZX: WDT) Performs Strongly in Q3-2021 Ryman Healthcare Limited (NZX: RYM) Acquires Extensions to Two Existing Victorian Sites Promisia Healthcare Limited (NZX: PHL) Banking Covenant Update Pictor Limited Announces Start of US Clinical Trials for SARS-CoV-2 Serology Test Arvida Group Limited (NZX: ARV) Opening of Rights Offer Three top Russian space industry execs held for 'fraud' Moscow, Aug 19 (AFP) Aug 19, 2018 Three top executives of the Russian space company Energia, which designs and manufactures the Soyuz and Progress spacecrafts, have been arrested for alleged fraud, investigators said on Sunday. "Energia's deputy director Alexei Beloborodov and two of his subordinates were arrested and charged with attempted fraud," the Investigative Committee of Russia said in a statement. The arrests come as part of a probe conducted "with the active assistance" of the main Russian intelligence agency, the FSB, the statement added. At the end of July, the FSB carried out several searches targeting the Russian space industry as part of an investigation into "high treason", according to Russian media. The raids were at the Central Research Institute of Machine-Building (TsNIImash), Russia's leading research institute for the space industry, and one of its employees, Viktor Kudriavtsev, was arrested. According to the Russian daily Kommersant, a dozen Russian space industry employees are suspected of having sent classified information about Russian hypersonic weapon projects to Western security services. 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Privacy Statement In 2017 Poland decided to adopt the American GMLRS (GPS guided MLRS) rocket system. Poland wanted to get GMLRS into action quickly and at the lowest possible cost. Now there is a change in plan and Poland is ordering the American made HIMARS (High Mobility Artillery Rocket System) vehicles rather than building its own version of the American HIMARS rocket launchers. For several years Polish defense studies had shown that the state-owned Polish defense industries could accomplish this. The Americans were willing to allow for license built systems, which is quite common when it comes to fellow NATO members. But in early 2018 American and Polish technical experts got together to work out the details and it was discovered that the Polish manufacturers expected to handle adapting the American tech to existing Polish truck-mounted rocket launcher systems would require more time and higher costs than earlier believed. Some of the American tech to be transferred was going to require the construction of new manufacturing facilities and that use of these facilities beyond the HIMARS contract were not guaranteed. The delays alarmed Polish military planners who increasingly saw the precision firepower provided by GMLRS, a combat proven system, becoming more urgent as the Russian threat seemed to grow. A quick recalculation determined that it would now cost about the same, even be a little cheaper to order the HIMARS vehicles rather than integrating HIMARS technology into the existing, and similar Polish Homar (Lobster) rocket system. The Homar plan looked good on paper as it involved HIMARS launchers mounted on Polish 6x6 truck rather than the standard HIMARS system mounted on the 6x6 U.S. Army vehicle system that nearby Romania and other export customers purchase. The Homar plan involved buying 25 GMLRS rockets as well as 61 ATACMS rockets, 34 practice rockets 1,642 GMLRS guidance systems to be fitted to Polish made rockets as well as GMLRS guidance system test and maintenance systems. This $250 million sale was to enable Poland to build a Polish version of HIMARS launchers under license and integrate the Polish HIMARS with Polish artillery fire control systems using NATO standards. Most export customers find that the American made $5 million HIMARS truck mounted MLRS (Multiple Launch Rocket System) is already a bargain. Thats what the U.S. Army and Marines found when they adopted HIMARS, which carries only one, six MLRS rocket pod instead of two in the original larger, tracked, MLRS vehicle. Initially, a major attraction was that the 12-ton truck could fit into a C-130 transport (unlike the 22 ton tracked MLRS) and was much cheaper to operate. The first HIMARS entered service in 2005, about a year after GMLRS (GPS guided MLRS rockets) did. The two new innovations worked well together and were a major reason for the success of the GMLRS and the HIMARS rocket launcher. The U.S. no longer buys the tracked MLRS or unguided MLRS rockets. Poland, like most HIMARS and MLRS users, are now only buying guided rockets. Poland had originally planned to integrate longer range (150-499 kilometer) Homar guided rockets it was already developing into the American HIMARS system. Poland was a major weapons manufacturer during the Cold War when it was occupied by Russian military forces and secret police. During that period Poland produced Russian weapons under license and gradually developed improved versions of the Russian designs. It turned out that the tech the HIMARS used was pretty powerful, enabling HIMARS to operate (move, receive a target order and launch the GMLRS) using as few as one of the normal three man crew. All that tech is great and Poland would still like to build it under license but the army needed the HIMARS capability now, not later. Since joining NATO in 1999 Poland has largely replaced Russian weapons with Western ones or upgraded Russian systems to NATO standards. That alone created a new business opportunity for Polish defense firms and Poland is again becoming a major arms producer. Thus it was no surprise that Poland wanted to build its own version of the guided MLRS rockets, a weapon that had been in service since 2004. This was the GMLRS (guided multiple launch rocket system). Like the unguided version, the GMLRS is packaged and used in containers (pods) holding six rockets each. The fire control system was upgraded to handle precision targeting rather than just a general area. Poland already builds several truck-mounted rocket systems but these still use unguided rockets. Moving up to HIMARS type launch vehicles and GMLRS type rockets was seen as the future and it still is. Getting there just turned out to take longer than the Polish Army thought necessary. Since 2004 over 3,000 GMLRS rockets have been fired in combat. GMLRS rockets cost about $100,000 each and have been very successful. That has meant even less work for tube artillery, which had dominated the battlefield since the 17th century. The Polish GMLRS rockets will be based on existing Polish rockets and eventually be cheaper to manufacture. Meanwhile, the U.S. manufacturer has had to resume production of the M142 American HIMARS vehicle system for the growing number of export customers. The 309 kg (680 pound) GMLRS missile is a GPS guided 227mm rocket. It was designed to have a range of 70 kilometers and the ability to land within meters of its intended target, at any range. This is possible because it uses GPS (plus a backup inertial guidance system) to find the target location it was programmed with. In 2008 the army tested GMLRS at max range (about 85 kilometers) and found that it worked fine and this is the design Poland will use. This enables one MLRS/HIMARS vehicle to provide support over a frontage of 170 kilometers, or, in places with wide open spaces, like the Eurasian Plains Poland shares with Russia, HIMARS can provide precision fire support over an area of about 20,000 square kilometers. This is a huge footprint for a single weapon (an individual MLRS/HIMARS vehicle), and fundamentally changes the way you deploy artillery in combat. By way of comparison, Excalibur (GPS guided 155mm shell) has a max range of 37 kilometers, and 120mm GPS guided mortars about 7.5 kilometers. Until recently most of the GMLRS rockets were fitted with an 89 kg (196 pound) M31A1 high explosive ("unitary") warhead. About half of that is actual explosives. That's twice as much explosive as the U.S. Air Force 130 kg (285 pound) SDB (Small Diameter Bomb). A 155mm artillery shell has 6.6 kg of explosives, and the 500 pound (227 kg) bomb has 127 kg of explosives, which produced an excessive blast for many urban combat situations. The GMLRS seemed to be just right most of the time. In 2014 an M30A1 warhead was introduced in 2016 and it used less explosive but added 180,000 tungsten pellets which were effective against personnel and unarmored vehicles over a much larger area. The GPS guided ATACMS rocket has a range of 300 kilometers and a 230 kg (500 pound) warhead. GMLRS has been used with great success in Iraq and Afghanistan, where most have been fired so far. The guided rocket is much more effective than the older, unguided, version, and has replaced it for most users. No more of the unguided rockets are being purchased by the U.S. The accuracy of GMLRS means that one rocket does the job that previously required a dozen or more of the unguided ones. That's why HIMARS is so popular. While HIMARS only carries six rockets, that's often enough to last for days in places like Afghanistan, even when there's a lot of combat. Because of precision weapons like GMLRS and smart bombs, since the end of the Cold War in 1991, the U.S. Army has drastically reorganized and reduced its artillery force. At the end of the Cold War most artillery was conventional tube artillery. That meant towed 105mm, 155mm, 203mm howitzers and self-propelled 155mm howitzers. The MLRS, a 12 tube 227mm unguided rockets was just entering service when the Cold War ended. In the 1990s it became obvious that smart bombs (JDAM) first used in the 1991 Gulf War, were more effective than artillery and that led to a major shift away from using artillery. By 2004 over 40 tube artillery battalions had been disbanded. Noting the success of GMLRS, Russia and China have developed and put into service their own GPS guided rockets. Russia has long led in the design of new rocket systems was is playing catchup when it comes to using guided rockets. The multiple rocket launcher was first developed by the Russians before World War II as a cheap alternative to massed artillery fire by individual guns. Long seen as a supplement to regular artillery, the introduction of the high tech U.S. MLRS rocket system in the 1980s began to make a lot of conventional artillery obsolete even before GMLRS came along. Of course, artillery has always been ripe for innovation. The U.S. 175mm gun, introduced in the 1960s, was rendered obsolete in the 1980s with the introduction of special long range ammo for the 203mm (8 inch) howitzer. The U.S. Army stopped using the 175mm gun in the 1970s. When the MLRS entered service, one of the three batteries in each division's 203mm howitzer battalion was equipped with MLRS units instead. But MLRS proved so effective that the 203mm howitzer battalion became an MLRS battalion and the 203mm gun was dropped by the U.S. Army. There were always non-divisional MLRS battalions, as the MLRS was seen, from the beginning, as an ideal weapon for massed artillery fire. The Gulf War allowed the MLRS to show off what a potent weapon it could be. The larger rockets also provided room for more complex payloads (cluster and "smart" munitions) and guidance systems. This was another example of how technology can transform an old weapon. While the Russians have been using rocket launchers for over 70 years, they never got around to enhancing their effectiveness with a lot of technology until recently and then only because they noted others were doing so and succeeding. Now everyone is changing their artillery forces and adapting to the use of many fewer guided projectiles. Coconut prices to consumers soar View(s): Coconut prices to consumers are soaring and three times that of the farmgate price. While the farmgate price is Rs. 23 per nut, prices on the street is around Rs.68-69 per nut, a coconut producer said adding that the middle-man was fleecing the consumer. The industry is also facing a crisis in the form of spurious imports of palm oil in the form of palm olien which is then mixed with coconut oil and sold as pure coconut oil. This is a serious problem we are facing, he said. In a related development the dessicated coconut exports have also dropped due to less demand from the confectionary industry owing to less sugar consumption. Last year Sri Lankas coconut exports fell to 466 million nuts from 765 million in 2016. Kantale sugar factory revival becomes a distant dream By Bandula Sirimanna View(s): View(s): The Kantale Sugar Factory revival is now embroiled in legal issues, a scrap iron tender and bribery scams delaying the project indefinitely with the relevant line ministries grappling to trace missing documents and files owing to the change of the subject from the Lands Ministry to the Ministry of Public Enterprise and Kandy City Development, officials said. The Ministry of Public Enterprise has sought the opinion of the Attorney General to find out as to how they are going to tackle the issues and revive the Kantale sugar industry despite court cases pending in Colombo and Singapore, a senior official of the Ministry disclosed. The Lands Ministry has handed over all available documents relating to the 500 acre land deal and obsolete machinery tender deal, he said adding that some of the important documents and files have gone missing making impossible to carry out a proper investigation. A Cabinet paper has been submitted to make payments to 33 workers who are looking after the land and factory during the past seven months but the Ministry has been directed to find money internally to pay salaries of workers, he disclosed. The deposit of Rs. 35 million paid by Meerigama Lanka Co. to purchase the movable property including discarded machinery and scrap metal at a price of Rs.540 million had been transferred to the public account of the Treasury. This company had been awarded this tender in July 2017 by the then Secretary to the Lands Ministry I.H.K. Mahanama who is in remand prison for his alleged involvement in a bribery scandal. He was accused of allegedly blocking the transfer of machinery, scrap metal and other assets belonging to the Kantale Sugar Factory to a joint venture company that had signed a US$100 million deal to revive the facility. Meerigama Lanka Co, the highest bidder in the tender, is now in dire straits as they have been deprived of removing the machinery, scrap metal owing to legal and administrative issues and their deposit of Rs. 35 million is lying in a Treasury account. The Finance Ministry has written a letter to the company informing it of the current situation; a senior Treasury official said adding that it cannot refund the money immediately due to legal obligations. Several attempts were made by the present and previous governments to revive the Kantale factory which was closed for around 25 years due to labour disputes and political administration issues. The scrap metal tender bending and bribery scam have blocked the present governments initiative to hand over the factory and the land to an Indian investor for sugar production. It was nearly three years ago, in July 2015 that the BOI signed an agreement with MG Sugars Lanka Pvt Ltd to revive the Factory. The company, a partnership between Bangalore-based Shri Prabulingeshwar Sugars Chemicals Ltd and Singapores SLI Development Pte Ltd, had agreed to invest $100 million inclusive of a Swiss Bank guarantee of $10 million. The company had then conducted a $2 million feasibility study on the project through a German Company Bosh. The 30-year lease agreement was signed with the investor and the project would run on Built, Operate and Transfer (BOT) basis in the basis of shareholding of 51 per cent held by the Government of Sri Lanka and 49 per cent by the foreign investor. In 2017, the then BOI Chairman Upul Jayasuriya had announced to the media that the then Ministry of Lands had failed to clear the defunct machinery on the property and handover the buildings as well as release the lands to the investors, long after the agreement was entered into between the Government of Sri Lanka and the Indian company for the sale. I.H.K. Mahanama, in his previous role as Secretary to the Ministry of Lands had secured Cabinet approval to auction the assets, which M.G. Sugars Lanka (Pvt) Ltd was claiming under the agreement. The company then filed arbitration proceedings in a Singapore tribunal to stop the Government of Sri Lanka from selling the machinery and scrap metal. In October last year, the Singapore International Arbitration Centre granted M.G. Sugars Lanka an interim award preventing the Ministry of Lands from disposing of the machinery and other assets pending a final decision. Investigations have revealed that Mr. Mahanama allegedly solicited a bribe from the investors to hand over the land and machinery using his high influence as the Presidents Chief of Staff, informed sources said. The revival of this factory now appears to be a distant dream. Rooms in Colombo now cheaper View(s): Sri Lankas commercial capital Colombo is likely to have its room rates drop by about 20 per cent this year in the wake of the minimum prices set by authorities not being implemented this year. Sri Lankas Hoteliers Association President Sanath Ukwatte said that the gazette pertaining to the imposition of minimum room rates in Colombo hotels expired in March this year. He noted that currently the hotel prices were heading towards a reduction in prices of rooms by about 20 per cent and the only advantage that hoteliers gain is that they could compete with the home stays and hostels. Prices have been dropping since April, and the industry is worried it could affect staff service charge and altogether the total earnings of employees could be impacted, Mr. Ukwatte said. This is a dangerous sign, so I hope the hoteliers will not drop (prices) continuously to the earlier level of $50, he said. Mr. Ukwatte explained that this regulation was imposed at a time when the prices of rooms in Colombo were dropping drastically to as low as US$50 at one time. Undercutting and a lack of cooperation among hoteliers has given rise to this issue and it is also evident that this is clearly due to the fact that everyone is fighting to get any traveller into their hotel at any cost. This is a clear indication of the lack of tourists visiting the country and especially since Colombo city hotels are mostly patronized by businessmen and conference delegates with only about 20 per cent staying for leisure. (SD) Catholic Bishops Conference affirms Popes stance on death penalty issue Whatever the crime, taking of human life is inadmissiblePresident Sirisena announced last month on July 11th his intention to restore the death penalty for those drug traffickers who, having already been convicted by the courts and sentenced to death row, still continue to operate a drug trade behind prison bars. Whilst it made the anti death penalty lobby stand up and roar in unison their vehement opposition to President Sirisenas new change of heart and new fangled creed to kick the bucket kept under the feet of those sentenced to swing and make them dangle on the rope with their necks throttled in its noose, the Presidents declaration received a response of support from a most unexpected quarter. Surprisingly it came from the confessional box of a forgiving catholic church, which beseeches those who transgress to pay penance and atone for their sins and thus be redeemed, It came from the pulpit of the Archbishop of Colombos Palace where its reigning local monarch His Grace Cardinal Malcolm Ranjith invited a few journalists the following day to hear him deliver his sermon; and, instead of condemning the Presidents decision as being contrary to the catechism of the Catholic Church as stated by His Holiness Pope Francis ten months ago that whatever the crime, however the seriousness of it, the death penalty is inadmissible His Grace Cardinal Malcolm chose to clap his hands in cheer and extend his support to the Presidents rash declaration that the gallows were the answer to prevent people already in government custody, in high security death row, from making cell calls from their prison booths and continue drug trafficking. Three days later the Sunday Punch of July 15th questioned the propriety of the Archbishops advocacy on the death penalty confined as it was to those already on death row but who still dealt in the trade and asked whether or no it went against the catechism of the catholic church as expounded last year in October by His Holiness Pope Francis, the supreme head of the Catholic Church. The Archbishop had the grace to answer back and his right of reply was duly published in the Sunday Times of July 22nd. It referred to the Sunday Punch. It stated My attention has been drawn to a comment that has been published in the Sunday Times on the 15th of July 2018 under the heading Execute them, says the Archbishop. Though in this column, the columnist Don Manu seems to give the impression that I welcome the death penalty in toto, that is a conclusion erroneously arrived at as a result of partial reporting of an interview I gave, by the Daily Mirror newspaper on 13th July 2018. DON MANUS ANSWER: Firstly, nowhere in the article referred to by His Eminence has it ever been suggested that he was for the death penalty to be implemented for all crimes carrying the death sentence. It was confined to his agreement with President Sirisenas declaration that he will sign the death warrant on those convicted to death by the courts for trafficking in drugs and who still persisted in running a drug operation behind close Welikada walls and make them swing on the gallows. Secondly, the Archbishops statement Don Manu seems to give the impression that I welcome the death penalty in toto. DON MANUS ANSWER: In toto? Even if I was under the impression and I was not that he welcomed the death penalty in toto, doesnt the Archbishops phrase that he is in favour of the hangmans noose around a humans neck to tighten and snuff the life out of a man in certain cases of the Archbishops choice and delicacy alone where he deems the punishment merits the crime, violate the cardinal principle of the Vatican Church which Pope Francis recently reaffirmed when he said that It is, in itself, contrary to the Gospel, because a decision is voluntarily made to suppress a human life, which is always sacred in the eyes of the Creator and of whom, in the last analysis, only God can be the true judge and guarantor. On July 29th the Sunday Times published in its Letters to the Editor page a letter from a reader, a certain B. Joseph of Wattala addressed specifically to Don Manu. In defense of the Archbishops advocacy of the death penalty to those still dealing in drugs behind closed walls, the reader wrote: Dear Don Manu, I read your Sunday punch in the Sunday Times of July 15. I am writing this, to prove the comments by our Archbishop, Ranjith Malcolm as reasonable and correct on the death penalty issue. You seemed to have really got upset, just because these comments came from none other than the Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Church. You have made a storm-in-a-teacup over this. It is a pity you have not grasped the deep thinking of a person who agrees with implementing the death penalty. Those who agree with the death penalty are those who have a deep feeling for humanity. And then he went on to advocate that human beings have the right to take the life of another human if that human being is doing wrong to society.: Obviously, from the local Shepherd right down to his domesticated lamb there was confusion as to what the new catechism of the catholic church as expounded by the Shepherd of all Shepherds, the Servant of the Servants of God, His Holiness Pope Francis had expounded in October last year at the 25th anniversary of the Catechism of the Catholic Church at the Vatican. And the air had to be cleared. To make the flock know that the Pope words were beyond question. That even as the Almighty was omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent in the eyes and faith of his believers, the dictates of his elected representative on earth the Popes judgment was infallible and his dictates were the last words on the matter. On Thursday the 2nd of August, Pope Francis thought it fit to repeat his stance on the death penalty, perhaps, for the benefit of those who had not harked his message delivered last October the catechism of the Catholic Church. This is what he reiterated. ? There is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption. The Church will now work with determination for the abolition of the death penalty worldwide, In a statement the Holy See issued and which the BBC reported, The text of the catechism was first set by Pope John Paul II in October 1992. The teachings had earlier stated that the death penalty was an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good. However, the new text says there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. This week, the Catholic Conference of Bishops, which is the sole body representing the Catholics of Lanka, assembled on Tuesday to discuss the matter of the death penalty and delivered the following statement making specific reference to the issue whether the death penalty should be doled out to drug traffickers operating on death row. It stated: We the Members of the Catholic Bishops Conference in Sri Lanka wish to make the following statement with regard to the issue of the Death Penalty. The supreme Pontiff Holy Father Francis has approved a new revision of number 2267 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church. We wish to reiterate the following teaching given by the Universal Shepherd on this matter. Recourse to the death penalty on the part of legitimate authority, following fair trial was long considered an appropriate response to the gravity of certain crimes and an acceptable, albeit extreme, means of safeguarding the common good, Today however, there is an increasing awareness that the dignity of the person is not lost even after the commission of very serious crimes. In addition, a new understanding has emerged of the significance of penal sanctions imposed by the State. Lastly, more effective systems have been developed, which ensure the due protection of citizens but at the same time, do not definitively deprive the guilty of the possibility of redemption. Consequently the Church teaches in the light of the Gospel that the death penalty is inadmissible because it is an attack on the inviolability and dignity of the person, and she works with determination for its abolition worldwide. The statement was signed by Rev. D. J. Winston S. Fernando, S.S.S. President, Catholic Bishops Conference in Sri Lanka. Bishop of Badulla, Rev. Dr. Joseph Ponniah Vice President, Catholic Bishops Conference in Sri Lanka. Bishop of Batticaloa, Rev. Dr. D. Valence Mendis Secretary General, Catholic Bishops Conference in Sri Lanka. Bishop of Chilaw, Rev. Dr. J. Vianney Fernando Bishop of Kandy, Rev. Dr. Harold A. Perera Bishop of Kurunegala, Rev. Dr. Norbert M. Andradi, O.M.I. Bishop of Anuradhapura, Rev. Cletus C. Perera, O.S.B. Bishop of Ratnapura, Rev. Dr. Raymond K. Wickramasinghe Bishop of Galle, Rev. Dr. Noel C. Emmanuel Bishop of Trincomalee, Rev. Dr. Justin Bernard Gnanapragasam Bishop of Jaffna, Rev. Dr. F. L. Emmanuel Fernando Bishop of Mannar, Rev. Dr. Maxwell G. Silva Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo and Rev. Dr. J. D. Anthony Auxiliary Bishop of Colombo and by Malcolm Cardinal Ranjith Archbishop of Colombo, With Pope Francis reiterating his stance and the Catholic Conference of Bishops affirming the new catechism of the Catholic Church by their statement dispelling the air of a doubting Thomas, this Sunday Sabbath morn Lankan Catholics can trudge to their churches and hear the morning mass without confusion in their conscience; and be rest assured that the Holy See of their beliefs remains intact and remains standing as pontificated by His Holiness Pope Francis not once but twice that the death penalty is inadmissible for what ever crime, however serious it might be. And be gladdened to know that the errant sheep who strayed from the flock, has safely returned to the fold. And God Bless His Soul. Increasing traditional agricultural exports vital in national strategy View(s): While the National Export Strategy (NES) to enhance exports in information technology services, boat building, tourism, new manufactures and several agricultural exports is commendable, the neglect of the three traditional agricultural exports would be a serious flaw in an export increasing strategy. The enhancement of tea, rubber and coconut production for export is also essential to boost exports. The countrys comparative advantage in agricultural exports must be exploited by increasing agricultural export surpluses, improving productivity and increasing value addition of agricultural exports. The neglect of tea, rubber and coconut production would be a serious error in economic thinking and policy. Parallel drive While the NES to enhance exports is being implemented, there should be a parallel thrust to expand key agricultural exports. Production of tea, rubber and coconut should be increased to expand their export surpluses. Production of three crops has had setbacks and is below their potential. Rubber In the case of rubber, almost all the countrys rubber is used in manufactures, mainly for exports. While the value of natural rubber exports was only US$ 40 million, exports of rubber manufactures were US$ 835 million. This is a favourable development, but an increase in rubber production could generate a higher export surplus to earn significant export earnings. Coconut Similarly coconut exports have decreased owing to reduced coconut production with the area under cultivation diminishing amid increased domestic consumption. As a large proportion of coconut produce is domestically consumed, coconut production has to be increased substantially to increase the export of coconut produce. Both natural rubber and coconut oil have a robust international demand. Therefore, generating export surpluses would benefit the countrys export earnings. The export strategy must not undervalue the importance of these agricultural exports. They have a high domestic value addition. Importance Agricultural exports have diminished in importance after the post-1980 diversification of the economy. Until then tea, rubber and coconut were the countrys main exports. They were also the mainstay of the economy. Since the 1980s, tea, rubber and coconut have diminished in importance owing to the increase in manufactured exports and due to sluggish production of these crops. In 1977, as much as 80 percent of the countrys exports were agricultural produce. There was a sharp increase in manufactured exports from the 1980s. In 2017, manufactured exports accounted for 75 percent of total exports with agricultural exports amounting to only 24 percent of total exports. Among agricultural exports, tea was by far the most important agricultural export in 2017. Tea exports were 13.5 percent, while natural rubber exports declined to as little as 0.3 percent and coconut exports to 3.1 percent of total exports last year. Tea There has been a lesser focus on the tea industry after the diversification of exports from the 1980s. In 2017, tea exports accounted for only 13.5 percent of exports, while industrial exports contributed 75 percent of total exports. Garments, the main manufactured export, accounted for 44 percent of total exports. These statistics have tended to consider tea as of lesser export significance. Trade statistics deceptive However, these statistics are deceptive and distort the importance of the tea industry. Tea production has a much larger domestic value addition than manufactured exports. It is estimated that the domestic value addition in tea is around 70 percent, while most manufactures, including garments, have a value addition of only about 30 percent. Therefore, the importance of tea exports is much higher than the export figures suggest. On the basis of domestic value addition, tea exports are the highest single merchandise export earner. Misinterpretation This interpretation of export values should not be taken as implying that manufactured exports are of not much significance. As pointed out in an earlier column, much of the future of Sri Lankas exports lie in contributing to value chains with low value addition. Countries that have advanced in exports have been those that have exported vast volumes of low value added commodities. This is the case with China, Vietnam, Malaysia, South Korea and Singapore. Highest importance It is important to realise that tea is of the highest importance for the countrys exports and the economy. Tea has been Sri Lankas highest export earner from the latter part of the nineteenth century and is still the countrys highest domestic value added export earner. Despite this importance of tea for the economy, the seventy post-independent years have been characterised by a neglect of the tea industry. Consequently, the country has lost its preeminent position in global tea production and exports, although it remains among the highest producers and exporters of tea. Challenges in tea A new resolve to enhance productivity and increase production of tea to increase exports could be of immense benefit to the economy. This is, however, a challenging task as much of the tea lands in the estates are senile and require replanting with high yielding vegetative propagated seedlings; there are severe labour shortages; inadequate replanting and under-planting; and research is underfunded. Rubber Similarly rubber cultivation on estates and smallholdings face severe problems that have to be met. The Rubber Master Plan that has been formulated has to be effectively implemented to achieve the expansion of natural rubber production. Expansion of the area under cultivation in new areas is an urgent need. Coconut The extent under coconut cultivation has to be expanded to increase coconut output significantly. The identification of the East and the North for extensive new cultivation is a move in the right direction. However development of coconut lands will take time. An increase in coconut exports is a medium and long term objective, but sooner it is begun the better. Bottom-line In the quest for increasing new avenues for increasing exports, there should not be a neglect of the countrys traditional agricultural exports. There must be also a serious effort to increase production of the countrys traditional agricultural exports. These crops have high domestic value addition and a comparative advantage in international markets. Increasing their production and productivity is challenging but necessary. Let us not defer it or neglect it. Top SriLankan Airlines official faces arrest View(s): A onetime top official of SriLankan Airlines under the previous regime is now facing arrest. The move comes as the net is closing in on him after an investigation that is nearing completion by the Financial Crimes Investigation Division (FCID). The FCID probe has revealed that the official concerned, whose name and alleged irregularities had already surfaced at the Commission of Inquiry now probing SriLankan Airlines, had amassed foreign currency to the tune of nearly ten million rupees in a foreign bank account. FCID officials remained tight lipped about the country where the bank is located or how he had made large amounts of money. However, the Sunday Times has learnt that the top official concerned had favoured a single party in several business transactions. For the help he extended, the parties involved had rewarded him with liberal foreign currency handouts. Sources aware of the transactions say that the company in question which has been making payments has been identified, and proof of the funds lying in the bank has been obtained. The official concerned is to be taken into custody and produced in court. This investigation is independent of the probe the Commission of Inquiry is now conducting on both SriLankan Airlines and Mihin Lanka. Rajapaksa claims witch-hunt against his family Former President Mahinda Rajapaksa declared on Friday that deliberate attempts were being made to implicate former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the abduction and assault of Keith Noyahr, Associate Editor of the now defunct Nation newspaper. In a three-hour long statement he made before an Assistant Superintendent and an Inspector of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Mr Rajapaksa alleged there was a vicious campaign against members of his family. Ravi Samaraweera, the senior DIG in charge of the CID, and Director Shani Abeysekera, SSP, turned up at Rajapaksas official residence at Wijerama Mawatha on Friday morning. They introduced the ASP and the Inspector who were to question the former President and later left. Large crowds, including members of the Buddhist clergy, opposition parliamentarians and lawyers were present. At the centre of the questioning were telephone calls Rajapaksa had received on May 22, 2008 and in the early hours of the next day after Mr. Noyahr was abducted. Two calls had come from Lalith Allahakoon, the then Editor of the Nation. Another call had come from Speaker Karu Jayasuriya. CID detectives told Mr. Rajapaksa that according to Mr. Allahakoon, he (former President) had agreed to send the then senior DIG Anura Senanayake to inquire into the abduction. They had said that Speaker Jayasuriya had also spoken to him. Those telephone calls had lasted two to three minutes. The former President said he could not recall receiving those calls since it was now ten years since the incident took place. Asked by the detectives whether he was aware that Army personnel, including a Major, had carried out Mr. Noyahrs abduction, Mr. Rajapaksa had replied I dont believe this. He had, thereafter, insisted on the inclusion in his statement of his claim that the CID and the FCID were carrying on a campaign of political victimisation against him and his family. He has also said in his statement that senior DIG Senanayake had warned him that plans were afoot to implicate Gotabaya Rajapaksa in the Noyahr abduction. CID sources said yesterday that a further statement is to be recorded from former Defence Secretary Gotabaya Rajapaksa. He is currently in the United States and is due to return next month. Former President much in demand for weddings As the presidential and parliamentary elections draw near, former President Mahinda Rajapaksas daily activities are increasing. Other than political events, one of the demands on him is to sign as witness for weddings. One day, weeks ago, he had to go for 13 different wedding ceremonies signing either on behalf of the grooms or the brides side. There were two different requests last month from two different places. On Mr. Rajapaksas suggestion, two different nekath (auspicious) times were found. He signed the wedding register with a time gap at his official residence at Wijerama Mawatha. SriLankan pilots clarify issue of media leaks SriLankan Airlines pilots fear they are being accused of leaking to the Sunday Times a report on fatigue among pilots and crew members. The report appeared in these columns last week. In a bid to dissociate themselves, Captain Ruwan Vithanage, President of the Airline Pilots Guild of Sri Lanka (ALPGSL), has written to SriLankan Chairman Ranjith Fernando. The report in these columns quoted Civil Aviation Director H M C Nimalasiri as warning that a considerable percentage of flight and cabin crew members of SriLankan Airlines seemed to be suffering silently from the cumulative effects of residual fatigue which influenced badly on their medical fitness in the long term. Mr Nimalasiri is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Airports Authority of Sri Lanka (AASL). ALPGSL President Vithanage in his letter said, We write with reference to the meeting held between the Company, NYRAS and all Union leaders, on the 10th of August 2018 at WTC where there was some media present to cover the same and an article regarding fatigue which was published by the Sunday Times, on the 12th of August 2018. We have been made to understand that there has been some speculation that the ALPGSL had organised or initiated the media attention on both occasions and wish to state the following for a better understanding on the stance of the ALPGSL on this matter. Whilst reserving our rights as a responsible and independent body representing the welfare of our members, to utilise or communicate with any and all segments of society, media and Government; we wish to place on record that such communications made, or communiques issued, will be conducted after first and foremost taking into consideration the integrity, image and the best interest of our Airline. Therefore, the ALPGSL wishes to categorically state that there has not been any involvement by the ALPGSL EXCO in the above stated incidents of media attention to the Airline. Prisons spokespersons mouth locked up The Prisons Departments official spokesperson has been told to shut up and not to speak to any media. The gag order has come from none other than Justice Minister Thalatha Athukorale. Spokesperson Thushara Upulwardeniya is now telling media personnel that he is debarred and not to get in touch with him. Minister Athukorale has decreed that the media should either get in touch with her or those in her ministry. It is not always that journalists are lucky in reaching Minister Athukorale. On occasions when she does answer her telephone, they are curtly told she could not speak. And the officials keep passing the buck. The Minister, however, has confirmed that such an order has gone out to the Prisons spokesperson. So much for transparency! JO putting politics before country View(s): The Joint Opposition (JO) is all but flogging a dead horse calling for Provincial elections in the midst of so many other outstanding issues in the country knowing only too well that the chances of these elections taking place are as unlikely as a snowballs chance in hell. They ought to know, if they dont already, that a bigger election is scheduled any time after January 8 next year, but not later than January 2020 and therefore, given the bitter lesson this Government received from the electorate at the recent Local Government elections, it is not going to chance another defeat so close to the impending Presidential and/or Parliamentary poll. A new legal theory has also sprouted this week that the populist former President Mahinda Rajapaksa can contest another Presidential election adding to the worries of the incumbents in office. Whether this interpretation will stand the scrutiny of a Constitutional Court, if ever tested, is another matter. The entire thrust of the JOs latest campaign overdrive for Provincial Council elections is a short-sighted selfish approach to a national issue which is whether the Provincial Councils system is in fact, the best form of devolution for the country seeing how it has worked for 30 years on the trot. The JO merely wants a stepping stone to propel its wider campaign for an electoral victory at the larger national polls to follow. In short, a better footing to return to power; politics before country. The entire exercise of the JO therefore revolves around elections which the Government is trying to avoid by hook or by crook so that it could avert embarrassing itself in the face of a national election. Neither side seems to care two hoots whether Provincial Councils serve man or beast in the country. The Northern PC, for which the Provincial Council system was originally introduced in 1987 amidst virulent opposition from those now clamouring for elections to it, is in total disarray. The Chief Minister has sacked his Ministers who have got stay orders from Court; the Governor says they have more Ministers than they could have under the law; and the party (TNA) that runs the Council is willing to postpone elections to the Council to get rid of the Chief Minister. In the Western PC, they are purchasing a chair for councillors to sit on costing Rs, 650,000 each. In other PCs study tours abroad are the first thing undertaken by all the parties except the JVP. All they seem to do is duplicate the work of the Central Government, overlap with the work of Local Government councils, and merely pass resolutions which mean nothing to the people. Next week, Parliament is to debate the report of the Delimitation Committee that has carved out electorates within the PCs, so the emphasis is still on elections rather than on geographic prudence. It should not be an exercise for merely having elections and for political parties to flex their muscle and show off their voter base. It is now time for the Central Government to undo the mistake of 1987 and rethink devolution of power in a Sri Lankan context; rethink re-introducing District Councils, or something that is genuinely in the best interest of the people, not something we have to live with merely because it was forced down the nations throat. A case for Contempt of Court Law The recent string of Contempt of Court cases against some public persons, and the recent conviction of a vociferous monk draw attention to the absence of a codified law on the subject. Not that the conviction of the monk was bad in law. He was found guilty of disrupting court proceedings. In fact, he was trespassing on a court case in which he had no role and tried to intimidate the Magistrate. His behaviour was found to be contemptuous and coercive. It would appear that the Courts have finally done what the monks seniors have been unable to do in restraining him. Similarly in the media spotlight, there are three others facing the music of Contempt of Court; a lawyer, a Chief Minister and a ruling coalition MP. A Contempt of Court Law is a longstanding requirement in the country so that the public know the parameters of what is Contempt. In some cases, they should be obvious to any reasonably prudent citizen. Scandalising Court is what is at the root of Contempt, but what really amounts to Scandalising Court? The Law Commission, the Bar Council and The Editors Guild have provided drafts towards such a law that is found in Britain, India and many other countries, but not in Sri Lanka. The media have expressed concern, especially over the protection of their sources but with exceptions where Court can demand the naming of a source. We have had the instance where two High Court judges hearing almost the identical case in separate courts gave diametrically opposite interpretations to the protection of sources. In the 1970s, a deputy editor of the Daily News was sentenced to six months when he criticised the Criminal Justice Commission (Foreign Exchange) which had required witnesses to be properly dressed. Was that Scandalising Court? In 1991, a newspaper was found guilty of publishing an Opposition MPs comment on an ongoing Presidential election petition. And so, following a demand of the Colombo Declaration on Media Freedom and Social Responsibility of 1998 calling for a Contempt of Court Law, the then UNP Government appointed a Parliamentary Select Committee chaired by the then Opposition MP, Lakshman Kadirgamar PC to draw up such a law. Unfortunately, that Parliament was prematurely dissolved in 2004 with the Committees work half done and never was it resumed. The Right to Information Law that suffered the same fate then, however, was revived by this Government and passed into law, but not the Contempt of Court Law. What are the avenues through which the public can scrutinise, comment and dissent with judicial pronouncements an inherent aspect of a vibrant democracy? Fair criticism of judgments is part of the democratic commitment to free speech. Truth is a valid defence to contempt in many countries. But these principles are not protected with certainty in Sri Lanka. Recent public discussion over judges recusing themselves from hearing particular cases has led to calls for a Code of Conduct for the judiciary itself. Judges and legal institutions cannot claim exclusive rights to be exempt from public scrutiny. The Government must look at enacting a Contempt of Court Law that protects the due administration of justice when individuals behave scandalously but at the same time protects the public against the capricious and arbitrary wielding of contempt powers that muzzle the right to dissent and the right to know. Rather than the simplistic construct of an all-powerfully indignant judiciary on one side versus a cowering populace on the other, a more complex far reaching and enlightened discourse on Contempt of Court must evolve. Free footwear for 648,151 rural schoolchildren View(s): Cabinet this week approved a proposal submitted by Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam to provide gift vouchers for shoes for 648,151 schoolchildren in rural areas and living under difficult conditions, for which Rs 853 million has been allocated. The Cabinet nod was in consequence to the success of this project introduced last year, to protect the Educational rights of low-income schoolchildren and encourage them to continue schooling, despite hardships faced by their families. The Ministry of Education (MoE) has identified 648,151 economically underprivileged schoolchildren in government schools. Under this initiative, schoolchildren in very difficult situations, from 4,469 schools, will be gifted shoes. Kandy in festive mood By D. C. Ranatunga View(s): View(s): Poson Poya attracted devotees from all over the country to Anuradhapura and Mihintale to commemorate the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BC. In the month of Esala (July/August) the accent shifts to Kandy, the last capital of the Sinhalese kings which still carries the name Mahanuwara (main city) in Sinhala, for the annual cultural pageant paying homage to the Sri Dalada, the sacred Tooth Relic of the Buddha. Continuing a tradition dating back to the 4th century AC when King Sirimeghavanna (Kit Sirimevan 301 328 AC) started the annual festival of the Tooth Relic for the people to pay homage to the Tooth Relic, this year the Perahera customs begin on Sunday August 12, with the Kapsituweema when a branch from a hallowed young jak tree is cut and planted in the premises of each of the four devales Vishnu, Kataragama, Natha and Pattini, the last being the devale dedicated to goddess Pattini. This is followed by processions within the precincts of each devale until Thursday, August 16 when the Kumbal Perahera begins. The Kumbal Perahera is held covering a few streets of the city until Monday, August 20. The Randoli Perahera when the procession gets more glamorous, starts on Tuesday, August 21. The Perahera takes a longer route covering different streets each day. This is when crowds begin to flock. The final Randoli Perahera in all its splendour is held on Saturday, August 25 the Nikini Poya day with the water-cutting ceremony and the Day Perahera the following day. The Perahera The Perahera begins with whip crackers announcing its arrival, the flag bearers follow in single file on either side of the road carrying the provincial and temple flags. The key Dalada Maligawa officials ride on gaily decorated elephants, the first being the Peramune Rala carrying the Lekam-mitiya a manuscript with the names of the Maligawa lands and names of the service staff. Next come the Gajanayaka Nilame, chieftain in charge of elephants and Kariya Korala officer planning Maligawa ceremonies next in command to the Diyawadana Nilame, the lay custodian of the Tooth Relic. Dancers and drummers from different schools perform throughout the Perahera while thousands await the arrival of the tusker carrying the gold casket symbolising the Tooth Relic. A canopy is held over the tusker, who walks majestically on the pavada, the white cloth spread over in front as a mark of respect to the Relic. On either side are two elephants with two assistants riding each sprinkling flowers in veneration. Going in front are members of the Kavikara Maduva detailed to sing verses in praise of the Relic. Next comes the Diyawadana Nilame clad in his traditional Kandyan dress accompanied by the vidanes the chiefs of the Ten Villages. Symbolic weaponry including muraauda and sesath are carried on either side with the best of dancers performing in front. History To briefly trace the origin of the Tooth Relic, during the reign of King Kit Sirimevan, Princess Hemamali, the daughter of the king of Dantapura in Kalinga in India was sent to Sri Lanka in order to protect the Tooth Relic from falling into the hands of a rival king. Accompanied by her husband, Prince Danta and disguised as a female Brahmin she brought the Relic hiding it in her hair and found her way to the capital, Anuradhapura. They reached the Meghagiri (Isurumuni) Vihara and when the king was informed, he was overjoyed and arranged to place it in a beautiful casket and bring it in procession to be carefully kept in an enclosure built by King Devanampiya Tissa during whose reign (250 210 BC) Buddhism was introduced. Successive kings ensured that the Tooth Relic, which was the symbol of kingship, are securely kept in the places from where they ruled. Due to foreign invasions the Relic was hidden from time to time mainly in temples until King Wimaladharmasuriya I (1592 1604) brought the Relic to Kandy from the Delgamuwa Vihara in Sabaragamuwa and housed in a Dalada Maligawa built adjacent to the palace. A break in tradition is not seen thereafter. A passion for the classics View(s): Recently at the Colombo Bike Show our photographer Amila Gamage came across an unusual corner hosted by the Ceylon Scooter Club. The club had started as a meeting of four classic model scooter enthusiasts who had one concern: a scarcity of parts. We had difficulty in finding parts. So we formed a network to help each other out, said Janithra Chathuranga, 31, from Kaduwela. This was in 2004, and thereafter the group formed the Ceylon Scooter Club and set up a Facebook account to reach out to other enthusiasts. To date they are 121 members strong. They claim to be the only classic scooter club in Sri Lanka. The registered members own classic scooter models from 1960 onwards. Our attempt to network has now developed in to a strong friendship. We have an annual meet where we discuss our problems and we help each other out in any way possible. Janith explains that the club is an affiliation of many small groups that have no commercial intent, only a passion for classic scooters. The club is currently helping one of its older and impoverished members build a house. We are keen about doing the right thing. For example a majority of us are passionate about the environment. On a trip to Devundara, we saw how dirty the beach was and we immediately started a clean-up. After which, we enjoyed ourselves as we had set out to. The group has affiliations with an Italian and a Vietnamese club. For more information about the Ceylon Scooter Club log onto ceylonscooterclub@gmail.com or https://www.facebook.com/groups/www.ceylonscooterclub.lk Charitha Atak updated version View(s): The latest updated version of internationally acclaimed actor and versatile director Wilson Gunaratnes Charitha Atak will go on the boards at the Bishops College Auditorium on September 8 at 6.30 pm. Charitha Atak, a popular political satire, is the only play in the country where one actor plays eight different roles with eight different voices. The September 8 show is organised by the YWCA as a fund raiser. For details, call 0722251865 Good Market Movement By Hiranyada Dewasiri Favouring the earth and its beings View(s): View(s): The Good Market is no new experience for Colombos public. Bringing its customers organic fruits and vegetables, clean and healthy prepared food, eco-friendly crafts and much more from small local businesses, the Good Market Movement aims to develop new economic systems that favour earth and its beings. Many global actors are working towards achieving Sustainable Development Goals and as a young group of volunteers in Sri Lanka, the Good Market wanted to do its part said Achala Samaradivakara, Co-founder. Good market is a movement that tries to resolve social and environmental issues through social entrepreneurship, she said. Like an incubator, Good Market is a place for school leavers or university graduates to discover their interests and a place for even children to be inspired to innovate, she added. Social enterprises are profit making ventures. But unlike the corporate sector, they address social and environmental issues and unlike NGOs who talk about such issue, social enterprises are not dependent on donor funds. Social enterprises make money by helping the world. As a company we not only audit our finances, we audit for environmental and social impact, said the co-founder of Good Market. The team at Good Market refrain from the use of single use plastic. The vendors are encouraged to use eco-friendly options such as paper and reusable cups. We are trying to create a social trend by encouraging people to bring their own cups and cutlery, Ms. Samaradivakara explained their plans towards sustainability. Currently experimenting on alternatives for plastic straws, all 660 registered vendors of good market leaves no harmful waste at the end of a market day. Promoting healthy lifestyles, Good Market provides organic, healthy and safe food solutions. Refraining from the use of refined sugar, refined salts, preservatives colouring and any other artificial additive, vendors use very less oil in preparing food. The co-founder said that vendors are accountable for what they serve their customers. We dont make huge profits, but we are glad to bring traditional and healthy dishes to the city, said Disna Jayanthi. Bringing traditional Sri Lankan food, Disna Foods joined Good Market in 2013. Ms. Jayanthi has her special recipes that people come for and her polos rotti and mushroom rotti tops the list. Disna Foods use banana leaves and other natural alternatives for lunch sheets. The movement encourages farmers to engage in traditional farming using organic fertilizer and eco-friendly farming methods. We are a movement that protects the organic farming industry by a certification system to ensure one hundred percent that we giving our customer a quality organic product, Samaradivakara emphasized. Binuka Organics is a collective effort of a group of organic farmers from the Southern province of Sri Lanka. I had friends who grew organic produce but they did not have a market said W. G. S. Upul, a vendor. He is a member of a team of 12 farmers that found a market for their produce through the good market. The business is quite costly given that our harvest has to travel a long distance to come here but people love our fruits so we try to serve them the way we can, he told the Mirror. Good market is an example for a self-financing business model. We only run on our earnings and we use the profit we earn to develop another vendor, Ms. Samaradivakara explained. Every Saturday, local and foreign customers visit the Good Market in numbers. Impressed by what they see, The co-founder added that the foreign customers were wanting to replicate this model in their home countries. We have the good market global platform that aims to spread the message, she explained. On a good day, the Saturday event will see a turnout of about 2500 customers. The profit making however, depends on the type of stall. The highest demand is for prepared food. Organic vegetables have a very good demand too. For craft vendors Good Market is a place for networking, said Achala Samaradivakara. Bio degradable areca leaf and cotton cloth footwear are a go to option for people who are allergic to PVC or rubber, said Mr. M. Edirisuriya of Sena Eco, a family business that handcrafts eco-friendly footwear. Although they dont have high sales at Good Market, this is the place that allows them to secure foreign orders for their products. Orilka Plant Nursery started as a domestic business that grew ornamental plants with organic fertilizer. Good Market has helped Sriyani Wickramasinghe identify the community specific demand for plants. She now supplies indoor potted plants for offices and other small spaces in Colombo. Good Market is a community effort. When trying to replicate Good Market events at different locations, we always work with the entrepreneurs, farmers and producers, leaders and educated individuals of that community, the co-founder explained. The team at Good Market is eager to take the movement to other parts of the country but the lack of resources to do so remain an obstacle. Achala thinks that if the government is willing to assist the movement will be able to widen its reach. The movement for change has already begun. We just have to propel it forward, she noted with excitement. The Good Market retail outlet and community deli is now open at Lakpahana, Reid Avenue. To join the movement visit www.goodmarket.global. If its laughter youre looking for, youre at the right play! By Yomal Senerath-Yapa Head to the Lionel Wendt on August 31 and Sept. 1 and 2, when Silent Hands brings to stage Ray Cooney and John Chapmans Move Over, Mrs. Markham View(s): View(s): Switch over to the 80s the glorious 80s with the big hair, the miniskirts, and the bold colours- and dip your head into a domestic fiasco where sheer coincidence makes the conniving characters plunge into hilarious situations. It all happens in a small apartment with just one bedroom. Against his better judgment, Mr Markham allows his friend, Mr Lodge, to borrow the bedroom for one evening to engage in a romance with Miss Wilkinson. Against her better judgment, Mrs Markham allows Mrs Lodge to borrow the bedroom for an evening with Walter. Against her better judgment, the maid allows the interior decorator to persuade her to spend an evening with him in the Markhams bedroom. It happens to be the same evening. Move Over, Mrs. Markham is directed by Jehan Bastians and Neidra Williams of Silent Hands. Neidra is also Mrs. Markham, who is at the centre of it all, and good-naturedly tries to cover up for everyone. She holds the reins and attempts to stop the chaos mushrooming. Neidra played the same character nine years ago with Jehan as director, and enjoys the touch of Ray Cooney and John Chapman playwrights who give characters lines that simply trip off the tongue. Its a chance for the audience to let their hair down and laugh out loud, says Neidra. Naresh Anthony is Mr. Markham- the male counterpart of his wife in being an honest, hardworking man who takes his duty seriously- whether it is his family, the office or friends. Naresh enjoys the rehearsals, as a farce means constant laughter; but apart from the hilarity, he finds that portraying many different relationships is a serious task. Jehan himself is Mr. Lodge, of the roving eye. Though Markhams business partner, he is carefree and cheats on his wife constantly. He is also going through a mid-life crisis, with a paunch bulging out and maybe not as attractive as he once was. Jehan found the play calls for much physical exertion. He says that the play will tickle everyone: those who come in ready to laugh, those who need slapstick and those who enjoy the bon mots and wit in the dialogue. Trudy Herft is the long suffering Mrs. Lodge who has decided that she will not be cuckolded any more, and is finally out to have her share of fun. Trudy has taken to the character with enthusiasm, and has applied her own bubbly, mischievous personality into the fickle, frivolous and impulsive Linda Lodge. Jehani Muthukuda plays Ms. Wilkinson, Mr. Lodges date. Jehani, more tomboy by temperament, found playing a former debutante- feminine, sensual, flirty- quite novel. She enjoys the subtlety of British comedy which does not have the all-out American frankness. Devinda de Silva plays Walter, the older man with whom Linda Lodge has chosen to tryst. Though the youngest in the cast, Devinda has got to play the oldest, which poses a great challenge. But Devinda enjoys the way the play is constructed, all of it tightly, satisfyingly, locked together. Juilan Anderson is Alistair, the young interior decorator Mrs. Markham has hired to bring avant garde taste into the apartment, and prances around the stage scattering colour. The flamboyant, handsome and artsy man is secretly carrying on with Sylvie, the Markhams au pair girl. Julian would intrinsically prefer to fade to the background but finds the colourful central role quite enjoyable. The hard thing about farce, he says, is that it is necessary to feed off your co-actor, and spontaneity takes over the act of memorizing the lines, as timing is crucial in the dialogue. Trinushka Perera has come across a stumbling block in that her character Sylvie the au pair girl has a major Swiss accent, though she otherwise fits into the young, ebullient girls role effortlessly. Sulo Perera plays Olive Harriet Smythe, the eccentric, dog-loving, imposing spinster- rigid and austere though with a butterfly mind. She is a bestselling childrens author who comes into the publishing house run by Lodge and Markham. If you want to make your evening froth over with lots of sparkling hilarity, head to the Lionel Wendt where the Markhams small flat will be invaded by a sublimely fun comedy of errors. The play will be staged on August 31 and September 1 and 2, from 7.30 p.m. to 9.30p.m., and tickets are available at the Silent Hands Facebook and Instagram pages, and at the Lionel Wendt. 4,000 people affected, 1,000 houses damaged in provinces lashed by rain and wind By Chris Kamalendran View(s): View(s): More than 4,000 people were affected and 1,000 houses damaged, and several reservoirs were spilling over as heavy rains and strong winds lashed the Central and North Western Provinces, officials said yesterday. A motorcyclist in the Central Province town of Panwila became the first casualty of the current spell of bad weather, they said. He was killed when a tree fell on his motorcycle. His brother who was riding pillion was injured. The officials said that elsewhere in the province, several houses had their roofs blown off while several small dams had collapsed in the Kurunegala, Eppawala, Hatton, Talawakele, Maskeliya, Nuwara Eliya, Kotmale, Walapane and Ambagamuwa areas during the past several days. Nuwara Eliya District Secretary M.P.R. Pushpakumara told the Sunday Times that the affected people in the district were being sheltered in several schools and given cooked meals. He said although they were warned of rains, the heavy winds were unexpected. The worst affected were the daily paid estate workers. Their houses had been damaged and they could not go to work and earn their daily wage, the official said. Transport was disrupted due to landslides on the Colombo-Hatton Road and the Hatton-Nuwara Eliya Road. At Watawala, 14 kilometres from Hatton town, the collapse of a sandbank blocked traffic for several hours. Residents said that, in some areas, sand mounds had come crashing down despite the wire mesh the authorities had erected to mitigate the danger. The adverse weather, ironically, has also caused a drinking water problem in the estate areas. Residents said several streams from where they took water had turned muddy. We usually draw water from the streams and springs, but now we only get muddy water, Norwood estate worker Sinniah Palaniandy said, adding that, in the past few days, they had no work, no food and no water to drink. Motorists travelling upcountry have been warned to take precautions due to the misty and slippery conditions. Meanwhile, in the Kalutara, Nivithigala and Matugama areas, falling trees and branches have damaged several estate houses and disconnected power supplies in several areas. The Meterological Department has predicted that the prevailing weather conditions will continue for a few more days. Fishermen have been warned that strong winds would be experienced in the the coastal areas from Pothuwil to Galle and from Puttalam to Negombo. Action against Vijayakala: AG advises Speaker By Ranjith Padmasiri View(s): View(s): The Attorney General has advised Speaker Karu Jayasuirya to examine whether under the current Standing Orders action can be taken against former State Minister, Jaffna District Parliamentarian Vijayakala Maheshwaran over a controversial statement she made recently. If this was not possible, the AG has asked whether the Standing Orders could be amended or let the House decide the procedure to be followed to pursue action against her. The AG has sent his opinion on this possible course of action after the Speaker sought legal advice on how to deal with allegations levelled against Ms. Maheshwaran, after she, when addressing a public meeting in Jaffna, called for the return of the LTTE to bring back discipline to the North and East. Opposition MPs, mainly from the Joint Opposition (JO) group, have called for strong action against Ms. Maheswaran for calling for the return of a proscribed separatist terrorist group and acting in violation of the Constitution. Meanwhile, in response to the complaints lodged by several groups against Ms. Maheswaran at Police Headquarters, an investigation was conducted by the Special Investigation Unit of the Police and its report has been submitted to the AG. A team led by an Additional Solicitor General is studying the report, the Sunday Times learns. If she has acted in violation of Article 157 (a) of the Constitution, action will be taken against her according to the laid down procedure in the Constitution, the Sunday Times learns. This Article in the Constitution prohibits any person of directly or indirectly, in or outside Sri Lanka, from supporting, espousing, promoting, financing, encouraging or advocating the establishment of a separate State within the territory of Sri Lanka. Any person contravening this provision can be charged before the Court of Appeal and, if convicted, will be subject to civic disability for seven years and if a Member of Parliament, will cease to hold such office. Another 500 acres of military-occupied North-East lands to be released By Chris Kamalendran View(s): View(s): Some 500 more acres of military-occupied North-East private lands, including those located in the High Security Zones, are to be released a senior official said. The Rehabilitation and Resettlement Ministry Secretary P. Suresh told the Sunday Times the Government would allocate Rs 780 million to relocate the existing military camps and release the military occupied private lands to their rightful owners before December. He said that at a meeting on Friday, Treasury officials agreed to release the funds to complete the relocation of the camps. The military has demarcated the lands to be released to the civilians and readjusted their defence lines, the Sunday Times learns. The lands identified to be released are in Achchuveli, Myliddy North, Thenmararchchi, Kilali, Pallai and Muhamalai in the North and at Murakottanchenai in Batticaloa in the East. Divisional Secretaries of these areas would contact the land owners to verify ownership, officials said. Some 27,000 acres of privately owned lands have been occupied by the military since 1990. With the end of the separatist war in May 2009, the Government, in consultation with the military, have released, from time to time, military-occupied privately owned lands to their owners, without compromising national security. In April this year, 650 acres of privately owned lands in a high security zone in the north were released.. More than 80 percent of the military-occupied private lands in the north has been given back to their owners, leaving only 3,500 more acres to be released. Disaster response: US PACANGEL outreach to the Indian Ocean Region View(s): The Indian Ocean Region (IOR) is well known for its share of natural disasters. According to the United Nations Economic & Social Commission for Asia-Pacific (ESCAP) Report of 1995, 50% of the worlds natural disasters occur within the IOR. It is fittingly titled the Worlds Hazard Belt. The region, particularly its island nation States and littoral countries are vulnerable to a variety of natural disasters, due to highly populated coastal areas. As such, humanitarian operations in the form of disaster response, assistance and rebuilding has become a core peacetime duty for many armed forces, regionally and internationally. The United States (US) has been proactive in conducting many Humanitarian Assistance & Disaster Response (HADR) training programmes, exercises and engagements with militaries, governments and NGOs in the region. The latest of which kicked off on August 6, in the Anuradhapura and Vavuniya Districts. Named Pacific Angel 2018 (PACANGEL2018), this engagement is an annual joint HADR effort organized by the United States Air Forces Pacific Command and the Sri Lanka Air Force (SLAF), with multinational partners from Nepal, Bangladesh and the Maldives. PACANGEL is in its 11th year and has been conducted in Sri Lanka 4 times. Speaking to the media at the Medical outreach site in Alagalla, US Charge dAffaires in Sri Lanka, Robert Hilton said PACANGEL affords the US, Sri Lanka and regional partners to build interoperability, to work together better as partners and be better prepared for natural disasters and humanitarian operations. He thanked the US military personnel, the SLAF, partnering nations, the government and NGOs who took part in PACANGEL 2018. building those bonds between people which we think is so important.. he added. Sixty-five military personnel from the USAF, USNavy, USMarines and USNational Guard trained with their SLAF counterparts and shared best medical practice with government medical professionals, Non-governmental organisations and volunteers. A Health Outreach programme in the form of Clinics was held at Alagalla MV, Vavuniya, which drew a large number of villagers. The clinics were jointly staffed and included Dental, Optometry, Paediatrics, General and Family Health Services. H.M.D. Senarathna, a resident of Katuwella, Madawachchiya, claimed that, many of those who visited the Clinics were from rural communities, who did not have adequate access to specialist care in their locality. He was one of the many waiting in line to seek treatment. According to USAF Maj. Sierra Nunez, the Medical Outreach programme had treated more than 1,000 patients on Saturday (18), many of whom sought Optometry services.While several thousand have been treated throughout the week. The patients were given prescriptions, a pair of spectacles to those in need, medicine and an oral care package, Maj Nunez added. The US team also included subject matter experts on Vector Borne Diseases (VBD). VBD surveillance and water surveillance was conducted at the SLAF bases in Anuradapura and Higurakgoda with the participation of experts in both fields from USAF, SLAF and the Ministry of Health. Speaking to the Sunday Times, USAF Maj. Lisa Griffith noted that, the Subject Matter Experts Exchange (SMEE) had been beneficial to the US personnel, as they got the opportunity study to and discuss diseases not normally found in North America. A sentiment echoed by Capt. Dr. Pratik of the Nepalese Army, who spoke of medical conditions not usually found in landlocked Nepal, which he had encountered at the Clinics. The SMEE programme engaged Medical and Health professionals in the exchange of current theories, techniques and practices for the effective control and management of potable water sources. This will lead to resilience and mitigating the impacts of future natural disasters, humanitarian crises and potential kidney diseases. In parallel to the Health Clinics, US personnel, along with their SLAF counterparts, worked to renovate and uplift a hospital and school infrastructure. In all 6 sites, 3 each in Anuradhapura and Vavuniya, were renovated which included plumbing, electrical work, improving sanitation and water supply facilities. Addressing the media, SLAF Group Capt. Lasitha Sumanaweera said it was good opportunity for the SLAF to work with the US and partnering nations, building interoperability and serving more than 4,500 patients in both districts. We look forward to the exercise in 2020 he added. Speaking on PACANGEL, Maj. Gen James O. Eifert of the US Air National Guard, Pacific Air Forces, said, working with the SLAF to organise the exercise has been a perfect partnership and commended all the personnel who took part for their effort. These efforts come in the backdrop of the US trying to rebalance its strategic focus to the IOR and the Pacific region. Re-naming the US Pacific Command as the Indo-Pacific Command highlights the importance the US has placed on the Indian Ocean. Last week the US State Department announced a sum of US$ 39 million, pending Congressional approval, as foreign military financing for Sri Lankas military. The US funding comes as a part of a broader funding initiative to strengthen the security relationship with South and South East Asian States. One of the main focus of the funding will be to enhance maritime security, humanitarian assistance, and disaster response, peacekeeping capabilities and countering transnational crime capabilities of countries in the Bay of Bengal and broader IOR. The US is also in the process of handing over an Ex US Coastguard Cutter to the Sri Lanka Navy later this year. Mega windmill power project by Danish company View(s): A Danish company has been selected for a US$ 200 million project to generate power by installing windmills in Mannar, Power and Energy Ministry Secretary Suren Batagoda told the Sunday Times. This will be the first of three major projects of the Ceylon Electricity Board (CEB), which has decided to boost its supplies from wind and solar power and hopes to generate 300 megawatts of electricity by the end of next year. Dr Batagoda said the Asian Development Bank (ADB) would provide a soft loan for the project to be awarded next week to the Danish company selected from a bidding procedure. Under the project, 39 towers will be installed to generate about 100 Mw of power. The project is expected to be completed faster than other projects as the equipment is pre-fabricated and takes less time to install. The project is expected to be completed by the end of next year and ready to generate power, he said. Two other solar power projects are expected to come up in Pooneryn in the North and in Monaragala. Through these projects, the CEB expected to generate 200 Mw of power. He said that under the project the Government would be leasing out only 500 acres of land at each locations for independent power producers to put up the projects. The Government would be calling for international tenders next month for the other two projects which should be ready by the end of next year. In addition to these project, the Secretary said the Cabinet had approved several other projects including a barge-mounted project to generate about 100 Mw of power and four projects which could generate 25 Mw each. These four projects would be handled by the private sector. The CEB would enter into an agreement to buy power for 10 years from the producers. Currently, Sri Lankas average daily power consumption is around 2,400 Mw. Appreciations View(s): She was not just an excellent teacher, but one who cared for her students too Prof. Chandra Jayasuriya The most unconventional, caring, simple and excellent teacher, Professor Chandra Jayasuriya, a former Dean and Head of a Department of the Faculty of Education, University of Colombo passed away three months ago. The news of Professor Jayasuriyas death was quite unexpected to most of her friends and former students. Unfortunately her funeral took place on the first day lectures commenced after a prolonged non-academic trade union action. Hence many academics from the University of Colombo could not attend the funeral but had paid their last respects at her home the previous day. At the Mount Lavinia cemetery on that Saturday morning I was sad to note that there were only a handful of people. Mostly her relatives and workers from her estate. However, a week later when I posted a comment about her death on Facebook, I was surprised and happy that many of her past students had shared my comment and from the responses I understood that in spite of the obituary appearing in the daily newspapers many had missed it. I was fortunate to be a student of Professor Jayasuriya thrice over. She first taught me in the Post Graduate Diploma in Education (Teaching of English as a Second Language). The group was small and a majority were experienced teachers who had done their first degree in Arts. Professor Jayasurya taught Measurement and Evaluation which requires a mathematical knowledge and was difficult for students to grasp. Aware of this, she made it very simple. Further, before teaching a difficult concept she would spend half the period talking of quite unrelated sometimes personal anecdotes which resulted in much laughter in the class. It was later only we realized that was a technique she was using to put us at ease. Then she would teach a difficult concept in the most simple and clear manner. Finally, she would ask me and another colleague who had done A/L science whether we understood. Then she would entrust us to help our colleagues. This was peer teaching and both groups benefitted immensely. Professor Jayasuriya also taught me Research Methods in two Masters Degree Courses. The second course comprised a diverse group such as doctors, teachers and psychologists. She used the same unconventional way of teaching and they all enjoyed it. Her teaching style was referred to a student friendly style. She was also a caring academic. When I first joined the Faculty of Education as a probationary lecturer, she was the Dean of the Faculty. Due to the shortage of space in the Faculty there was no cubicle for my personal use. Even before I noticed this she told me you can use my cubicle as I hardly go there because I am in the Deans office. However, I am not going to be here for long as I am not going for a second term. Then we can share the room without fighting with each other! This statement showed how caring and simple she was. Had I shared the room with her it would have been an unforgettable experience Im certain. But I lost the opportunity as very soon I had my own cubicle. When I become the Dean of the Faculty years later I often thought about this statement and tried my best to cater to the needs of my junior colleagues. Below are two comments from her students to exemplify her caring and simple nature. I am so sad that I could not pay last respect to a teacher who was like a mother. I was in Sri Lanka yet did not know about her death. I do not know the reason for that. Her simple qualities are an example to all especially to people who are swollen headed due to their position. I first learnt from her that more than the position simplicity shines. Dear madam thank you very much for all you did for thousands of students who in turn may be imparting this knowledge to many more. Rest in peace madam! This is the wish of your students May you attain nibbana! Marie Perera She created a chain of love Shanthi de Abrew Many Sri Lankans of yesteryear knew Shanthi. She participated in a sport that was frowned upon by the older generation as a sport not fit for women hurdles. I did not know Shanthi then, but my husband, who was a freelance journalist knew Shanthi, and had pictures of her clearing the hurdles at the University of Peradeniya. Her sporting achievements are recorded on the walls of Methodist College, her alma mater. This I was told by a past pupil of Methodist College. I came to know Shanthi when she joined YAH, the Young at Heart Seniors group of the Methodist Church Mount Lavinia, more than 20 years ago. Shanthi was an active participant and livewire. Every Monday morning she made the senior ladies go through routine exercises, exercises that kept our senior bodies and minds alert. She made us march to Jack built. Shanti was an animal lover, cats were her favourites. She had cats on the bed, on the couches, on the tables , practically everywhere. She loved dogs too, and one concern she had when she was hospitalised a few months ago was her pet dog: who would feed it? Handicraft was another interest. She would collect scrap material and turn out beautiful pot holders. She shared this talent with the house bound residents of the Cheshire Home. She spent time every week with the residents of this Home. The Sunday market at Mount Lavinia was her favourite pola for bargains. A few weeks ago Shanti Benjamin (another member of YAH ) and I took her a lovely arrangement of white flowers that was used at the worship service. They were fresh and beautiful and almost talked to us. The joy and glow on Shantis face when she saw the flowers was beyond description. She in turn gave the arrangement of flowers to her favourite nephew, who took it to school and so the flowers brought joy to many. That was typical of Shanti. A chain of love and care. She loved animals and worked with groups that cared for them, making generous donations to these organisations. The members of YAH and I were blessed to know her. Suji Imparting Dhamma since 1918 amidst the bustle of the city By Chandani Kirinde Siri Vajiraramaya Dhamma School that saw its beginnings during the Buddhist Revivalist movement in the country, marked 100 years yesterday View(s): View(s): The Siri Vajiraramaya Dhamma School, one of the countrys foremost centres imparting the teachings of Lord Buddha to students, marked 100 years yesterday, August 18. The Dhamma School came into being following the activism of leading revivalists such as Anagarika Dharmapala and Henry Steele Olcott who began to exert more influence in the country. Exasperated by centuries of colonial rule, Buddhists were looking to break free from the shackles of the colonizers and amidst this new found fervour, the Siri Vajiraramaya became a place that drew both adults and children eager to learn more of the Buddhas teachings. From a Dhamma School which began with a small group of students gathering under the shade of trees to learn the Dhamma from the most erudite and scholarly monks in the country at the time, the Siri Vajiraramaya Dhamma School has grown to a Dhamma School with over 2000 students who gather each Sunday in a more formal setting to further their knowledge of Buddhism. The Dhamma School at Vajiraramaya started on August 18, 1918 under the auspices of the Most Venerable Palane Vajiranana Maha Nayaka Thera. It was a time when there was a thirst to acquire knowledge of the Buddhas teachings. By then colonial power was facing a tide of opposition while the fiery oratory skills of Anagarika Dharmapala , Venerable Hikkaduwe Sri Sumangala Thera and Venerable Migettuwatte Gunananda Thera whose debating skills had gripped the people after the Panaduravadaya (Panadura debates) had strengthened the Buddhist revivalist movement in the country, Venerable Tirikunamale Ananda Mahanayaka Thera of the Vajiraramaya said. The story of the Vajiraramaya Dhamma School is tied to Most Venerable Palane Vajiranana Mahanayaka Thera. In the 1880s, the Buddhists living around the Bambalapitiya area had formed a Dharma Samagama or Dhamma Society and later built a Dharma Salawa, a hall for preaching the Dhamma and constructed a small room with basic facilities. In 1901 they invited a young monk, Ven. Palane Vajiranana Thera to come and reside there. He had been brought in a procession from the Siri Suvisuddharamaya in Wellawatte where he was residing temporarily. As the temple became popular and more people began to flock to it, the need for a Dhamma School was discussed and it was set up in 1918, Ven. Tirikunamale Ananda Thera said. Venerable Vajiranana Thera was succeeded by Venerable Narada Mahanayaka Thera who was known for his mastery of the English language, and under his guidance the Siri Vajiraramaya Dhamma School grew further in strength. The Most Venerable Madihe Pannasiha Maha Nayaka Thera who followed, played a major role in inculcating Dhamma education in students. He formulated the five principles that the Dhamma School should be based upon. These were: to observe the five precepts always and endeavour to observe the Eight Precepts on Poya (Full moon) days, endeavour to respect the Sangha, parents, teachers and elders, train to sustain a simple lifestyle and to promote good neighbourliness, develop restraint , good behaviour and a sound knowledge of the Dhamma and produce a generation of students who are kindled by devotion to the Buddha-Dhamma , inspired by what is indigenous, motivated by national pride and enlivened by the love for ones language. Venerable Meegoda Subuthi Thera who manages the Dhamma School at present said that the teachings of the Dhamma have evolved over the years and at present knowledge is imparted in a manner that captures the attention of the students. The Dhamma School has also gone beyond its traditional role and devotes time to students so that those who may encounter psychological challenges that come with the fast paced lifestyle of today can overcome them through the knowledge of the Dhamma. Siri Vajiraramaya Dhamma School has had many illustrious students including Dudley Senanayake, J.R. Jayewardene and other prominent personalities. It remains an oasis in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the busy city where students can come and learn the Dhamma with no distractions, Venerable Tirikunamale Ananda Thera said. Centenary anniversary event today The ceremony to mark the 100th anniversary of the Siri Vajiraramaya Dhamma School will be held under the patronage of President Maithripala Sirisena, today Sunday (August 19) at the BMICH from 2 p.m. onwards.The keynote speaker will be the Vice Chancellor of the Sri Jayewardenepura University Professor Sampath Amaratunge. Former UN chief Kofi Annan dies aged 80 By Dianne Apen-Sadler View(s): View(s): Former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan has died at the age of 80 after a short illness. Mr Annan spent his final days at his home in Geneva, Switzerland, with his wife Nane and children Ama, Kojo, and Nina. He was the first black African to become UN Secretary-General, a role he held between 1997 and 2006. Mr Annan was the chief architect of what became known as the Millennium Development Goals, and played a central role in creating the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the UNs first counter-terrorism strategy. In 2001 the celebrated diplomat, who was born in Kumasi, Ghana, was a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize with the UN for prioritising human rights in the role. The committee also praised Mr Annan for his efforts to help contain the spread of the HIV virus in Africa as well as opposition to international terrorism. Ghanas national flag will fly at half-mast across the country for an entire week from Monday in tribute to Mr Annan. Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good, current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said today. It is with profound sadness that I learned of his passing. In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination. Tributes have poured in for Mr Annan from across the world. Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana, paid tribute to Mr Annan on Twitter. He wrote: The Government and people of Ghana, First Lady Rebecca and I are deeply saddened by the news of the death, in Berne, Switzerland, of one of our greatest compatriots, Mr. Kofi Annan. He brought considerable renown to our country by this position and through his conduct and comportment in the global arena. He was an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanaian to chart his or her own course onto the path of progress and prosperity. Mr Annan took on the top UN post six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and presided during a decade when the world united against terrorism after the September 11 attacks. I think that my darkest moment was the Iraq war, and the fact that we could not stop it, Annan said in a February 2013 interview with TIME magazine to mark the publication of his memoir. Could you imagine if the UN had endorsed the war in Iraq, what our reputation would be like? Although at that point, President Bush said the UN was headed toward irrelevance, because we had not supported the war. But now we know better. Mr Annans uncontested election to a second term was unprecedented, reflecting the overwhelming support he enjoyed from both rich and poor countries despite challenges from the outset. During his tenure as Secretary-General, Mr Annan presided over some of the worst failures and scandals at the world body, one of its most turbulent periods since its founding in 1945. His enduring moral prestige remained largely undented, however, both through charisma and by virtue of having negotiated with most of the powers in the world. When he departed from the UN, he left behind a global organization far more aggressively engaged in peacekeeping and fighting poverty, setting the framework for the UNs 21st-century response to mass atrocities and its emphasis on human rights and development. After stepping down from his role in the United Nations Mr Annan set up the Kofi Annan foundation, a not-for-profit organisation that aims to promote better global governance. He also chaired The Elders, a group of elder statesmen founded by Nelson Mandela that promote global peace and human rights. In his memoir, Annan recognized the costs of taking on the worlds top diplomatic job, joking that SG, for secretary-general, also signified scapegoat around UN headquarters. As secretary-general, Annan forged his experiences into a doctrine called the Responsibility to Protect, that countries accepted at least in principle to head off genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and war crimes. ( Daily Mail, London) Justice must be done or seem to be done without fear or favour By B. Anton Jeyanathan View(s): View(s): The sentencing of the controversial Buddhist monk by a two-judge bench of the Supreme Court to six years rigorous imprisonment was a welcome message to law-abiding citizens. In their verdict, the judges did not flinch or show any sympathy for the accused because he was a monk. Their verdict sent a message to all and sundry that justice in this country is not tinkered with or collapsed. It is well known that this particular monk had been at the centre of many racial and communal incidents during the past many years and, at times,challenged the law-enforcement authorities too. But, like the proverbial woodpecker, he made the mistake of daring a magistrate while he was neither a complainant nor a witness and learnt a bitter lesson. Contempt of court case In a particular case which was heard by the Homagama Magistrate, the monk, without obtaining permission, addressed the court and even cast aspersions on the magistrate and the State Counsel. He intimidated the Magistrate and the Court Officials and attempted to use undue influence to disrupt the smooth functioning of the administration of justice. In the judgement, it was said that there was overwhelming evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt that the conduct of the accused before the Homagama Magistrate was deliberate and he had the intention to intimidate the Magistrate to obtain an order he desired. The judges stated that the Court takes the contemptuous act by the accused very seriously and it cannot be condoned by any yardstick. In their judgment, the Court of Appeal judges also commented on the evidence given by another Buddhist monk claiming that the accused did not behave in a contemptuous manner in the Homagama courts. The judges remarked that the monks evidence was not true. One should commend Homagama Magistrate and the State Counsel for their courage to make a police complaint against the accused. Based on the complaint, the Police investigated and brought a charge of contempt of court against the monk and he was found guilty and sentenced. The monk appealed against his conviction and the two judges who heard the appeal found the monk guilty of the charges preferred against him and sentenced him to six years rigorous imprisonment. Amidst the claims by certain political parties and personalities that there is no law and order, and they have no faith in the judicial system in this country, the action by the Police in bringing the monk before the court of law, the Homagama Magistrates action and the verdict of the Appeal Court judges make it patently clear that there is no political interference in maintaining law and order and in the administration of justice. Strikes and demonstrations This country is now going through a series of strikes, demonstrations and protests, day in and day out, inconveniencing the people. Students who should be attending lectures in the universities and demonstrators garbed in yellow robes are visibly seen defying the law and engaging in criminal activities. The students and the monks may have legitimate grievances, but they must not cause inconvenience to ordinary citizens or break the law. The law enforcement officers, instead of looking the other way, when these protesters intentionally break the law, should take legal action and physical action to bring them to justice. Enforce the law The law is not a respecter of a persons race, religion, language or status. The law should be enforced without fear or favour on the wrongdoers whether they wear a cassock or robe, or any other religious garb. This will send a clear message to those who are making use of such students and religious personalities to create chaos in the country to achieve their political ambitions. If the Police had taken stern action against this controversial monk during the 2014 Aluthgama communal clashes, last years attack on Muslims in Ampara and Kandy would not have happened. Those who engage in such racial and communal activities will think twice and desist from joining the mobs which incite racial and communal disharmony. Let law and order and justice prevail! (The writer is a retired Deputy Inspector General of Police) 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 ... #Moon-EU leader Moon, EU leader agree to bolster vaccine supplies for developing nations South Korean President Moon Jae-in and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen agreed Saturday to step up efforts to boost the supply of COVID-19 vaccines to developing ... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin David Ramli (Bloomberg) Beijing, China Sun, August 19, 2018 20:55 1168 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df53d7fe9 2 Business Mahathir,China,Malaysia,Trade,deficit Free Chinese investors can help reduce the countrys trade deficit with Malaysia, the Southeast Asian nations prime minister said in Beijing on Sunday at an event alongside Alibaba Chairman Jack Ma. During a question and answer session with Chinese executives who expressed concerns about investing in Malaysia given its recent change in power, Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad insisted it still welcomed companies willing to do deals that help employ the countrys workers and improve its efficiency without harming local manufacturers in industries like steel production. Malaysia wants to learn from Chinese manufacturers, Prime Minister Mahathir said, as he encouraged Chinese businesses to invest in his country. He welcomed investment in the paper industry, citing rising opposition to the use of plastics. Mahathir recently revived the Look East Policy from the 1980s, which sought to take Japans industrialization as a road map for the countrys development. Mahathir said Malaysia borrowed money from China it could not repay and used it on unnecessary infrastructure. He has suspended billion-dollar infrastructure projects backed by Chinese state companies, and sought to renegotiate terms of the contracts if he cant cancel them entirely for being too costly. Following this, Ma was asked a question about Chinese counterfeiting by a Malaysian businesswoman who said her products had been affected. He responded by calling for "harsh and firm" measures to protect intellectual property by Chinas government and companies, saying that Chinese innovation will never appear without this. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 19, 2018 16:57 1168 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df53ce281 1 National Jokowi,Asian-Games,Asian-Games-2018,#2018AsianGames,#AsianGames2018,2019-presidential-election Free The opening ceremony of the 2018 Asian Games has received praise from Indonesians and visitors for its spectacular show in which a man who resembled President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo rode a Presidential Security Detail (Pasampres) motorcycle to enter the stadium on Saturday night in Senayan, Jakarta. On his Instagram account, @jokowi, the President posed a playful question: Who flew a Paspampres members motorcycle, swerved in traffic, made a stoppie and arrived on time at Gelora Bung Karno Stadium last night? Hehehe, he wrote. At the start of the ceremony on Saturday, a video showed Jokowi, wearing a full suit, get out of his car and take a black motorcycle owned by a member of the Paspampres because he was stuck in traffic on his way to the Gelora Bung Karno stadium. The man who wore a full black helmet later jumped a ramp, maneuvered his way between cars and narrow alleyways and even did a stoppie as he almost crashed into a bajaj (three-wheeled motorized vehicle) before finally arriving on time at the stadium, waving to the audience. Apparently inspired by the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony, where an actor who resembled Queen Elizabeth II skydived out of a helicopter with Daniel Craig, the latest James Bond, Jokowi ostensibly tried to avoid the notorious Jakarta traffic to arrive on time at the ceremony by taking a Paspampres motorcycle to make a dramatic entrance at the stadium. Many people praised Jokowi for making such an entrance to the stadium, calling him "cool" and "awesome". Some pointed out that Jokowi could not do all the stunts himself and likely had a stuntman do some of the tricks for him. Others attacked the stunt and accused it of being political. The ceremony's creative director, Wishnutama Kusubandio, denied allegations that it was politically motivated, saying he was the one who had the idea. "Jokowi is a fun guy, relaxed, so we discussed and explored many ideas," Wishnutama said. He said he was summoned to the Presidential Palace several times, talking only to Jokowi himself, and later he proposed the idea to Jokowi. "There is no particular message. It was purely a creative concept nothing to do with politics," said Wishnutama as quoted by Antara on Sunday. Many believe Jokowi really entered the stadium using the motorcycle, but the presidential press bureau has yet to confirm whether or not it was actually Jokowi. A Thai stuntman, on his Instagram account @suddum, posted a picture of him on a motorcycle similar to the one in the video, hanging in the air, suspended by several cables. He wrote "Behind the scenes" as the caption. His post sparked speculation that he was the stuntman in the video and the one who entered the stadium on Saturday night. His post was later removed. (ris) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 19, 2018 11:06 1168 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df53c2889 1 Sports athletes,#2018AsianGames,#AsianGames2018,Asian-Games-2018,Asian-Games,2018-Asian-Games,jusuf-kalla,INASGOC,Olympics Free Vice President Jusuf Kalla has expressed hope that the 18th Asian Games can serve as a lesson for all participating athletes. I also hope that this event will give encouragement [to all athletes] for further competitions especially for the next Olympic Games in Tokyo in 2020, he said in his opening remarks at the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) General Assembly at Hotel Mulia Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Sunday. Kalla emphasized the spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play during the quadrennial event, which will run until Sept. 2. Indonesia was an alternate choice of host for the Asian Games after Vietnam withdrew. It only had three years to prepare. Jakartas Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) complex and Palembangs Jakabaring Sport City complex were chosen as the main venues for the event, along with several other stadiums on the outskirts of Jakarta. But we witnessed a success in the opening ceremony last night, OCA president Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah said. Indonesian Asian Games Organizing Committee (INASCOG) CEO, Erick Thohir, wished the guests a good time during their stay in Indonesia. (yan) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 19, 2018 17:51 1168 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df53d128d 4 City Tangerang,Banten,protest,school-building,Education Free The parents of students enrolled at SD 15 state elementary school in Tangerang, Banten, have announced plans to stage a protest on Monday to get Tangerang Mayor Arief R. Wismansyah to renovate the school building, saying the dilapidated structure put their childrens safety at risk. Approximately 100 people, most of whom are women, will join in the protest, said the schools principal, Lina Nurlia, as quoted by wartakota.tribunnews.com on Sunday. The parents contend that the school building is in poor condition with many holes seen in the classroom ceilings. Parts of the roof are also reportedly heavily damaged. Moreover, many classroom windows are broken. Although the students and teachers still carry out teaching activities inside the classrooms, they have to stay alert at all times to anticipate unwanted things, Lina added. She added that Arief, who was reelected as mayor in June, had promised to renovate the school building, located next to TangCity Mall, two years ago. However, no progress had been made by the administration regarding the matter. They plan to ask the mayor to fulfill his long overdue promise. The protest will take place at 10 a.m. on Monday, she added. (vla) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Primastuti Handayani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Sun, August 19, 2018 14:30 1168 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df53c7663 2 Sports Asian-Beach-Games-2020,Sanya,China,host,Olympic-Council-Asia Free The General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) has unanimously approved Sanya, a city on Hainan Island, China, to host the 2020 Asian Beach Games from Nov. 28 to Dec. 5. Around 5,500 athletes are likely to complete in the city, which has gained fame as a new tourist destination because of its tropical climate. Sanya is also the training camp for the Chinese national beach volleyball team. The Asian Beach Games were first held in Bali in 2008, followed by Muscat in Oman in 2010, Haiyang in China in 2012, Phuket in Thailand in 2014 and Da Nang in Vietnam in 2016. This time, Sanya was the sole candidate to bid to host the biennial event. Cambodia, India, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan had previously been tipped as potential hosts. (yan) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Jerusalem Sun, August 19, 2018 20:10 1168 b147f6715e2195e5246e701df53d66bb 2 World Israel,US,trump,peace,negotiation Free US President Donald Trump's national security adviser arrived in Israel on Sunday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a time of shared concerns over Syria, Iran and the Gaza Strip. John Bolton said on Twitter he was "looking forward to meeting with PM Netanyahu and other officials beginning today to discuss bilateral concerns and a range of national security issues". Just arrived into Israel. Im looking forward to meeting with PM Netanyahu and other officials beginning today to discuss bilateral concerns and a range of national security issues. John Bolton (@AmbJohnBolton) August 19, 2018 Bolton's trip will also take him to Ukraine and Geneva, where he will meet with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev. The meeting in Geneva is a follow-up to Trump's highly controversial July summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, according to the White House. Few details were released on Bolton's itinerary or his agenda for talks with Israeli officials. A meeting with Netanyahu was set for Monday morning. A US embassy official said the discussions with Netanyahu and other Israeli officials would include "regional security issues". Israel and Trump's White House have shared concerns over Iran and its involvement in Syria, where Tehran is backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad along with Russia. Netanyahu has pledged to prevent his country's arch foe Iran from entrenching itself militarily in neighbouring Syria, and a series of recent strikes that have killed Iranians there have been attributed to Israel. Israel has also lauded Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers along with the subsequent return of US sanctions on Tehran. Netanyahu has held a series of recent talks with Putin on Iran's presence in Syria, pressing Moscow to guarantee that Iranian forces and their allies, such as the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, will be kept far away from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Bolton's visit comes as speculation increases over efforts by Egypt and UN officials to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip. Months of tension along the Gaza border have led to fears of a fourth war between Israel and Hamas since 2008. On Sunday, Israel closed its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip over border clashes at the weekend, the latest tightening of its blockade of the Palestinian enclave. Despite the closure, the past week has been notably calmer along the Gaza border. As part of our article on shopping and the search for Spanish style, here are some suggestions for travelers covering logistics, gastronomy and recreation in the three cities we visited in Spain. Nuts&bolts A Schengen visa is needed for Indonesians. While ATMs are plentiful in the cities we visited, call your bank before leaving to ensure cards, both magnetic strip and chip, will work. Ancient wine In Malaga, search out the unassuming, narrow and typically full Antigua Casa de Guardia. Barrels over the bar hold sweet, family-made raisin wines, made from 2,000-year-old recipes dating to the Phoenicians. Rooftop Popular at sunset, Azotea del Circulo is better at night, when Madrid glows. On the menu are affordable comfort dining, tapas and romantic, panoramic views of the city. Vamonos! Explore Madrid on the back of a Harley-Davidson. Listen to Spanish metal while passing architectural delights like the twin sloping skyscrapers of Puerta de Europa. !Vamonos! Lets roll! 'Mercado A clean, sleek take on traditional markets, mercados are where to go for speciality produce or to stand and drink a glass of wine with fresh oysters and tapas. Look for Madrids famous Mercado San Miguel and Malagas centuries-old Central de Atarazanas. Read also: How to get around in Barcelona, Spain Testing tapas Russian salad, a.k.a, potato salad, is how locals gauge a taverns tapas. In Andalucia, ensadilla ruse is typically served with shrimp and tiny pico breadsticks. If its good, odds are all else will be. Destination dining Renown chef Dani Garcia offers memorable meals at his casual, Michelin-Bib-Gourmand-rated Bibo Andalusian Brasserie & Tapas in Marbella, brilliantly teasing out exquisite creations from well-sourced local ingredients like oysters and pork. Must try in Malaga Secluded on a slope behind Malagas Muslim Alcazaba fortress, El Ambigu de la Coracha boasts gorgeous Mediterranean views, a world-class take on fine dining and a seemingly endless (and delicious) local wine list. ***** The author was a guest of Turespana. ___________ This article was originally published in the Apr. 2018 edition of J+ by The Jakarta Post with the headline "Travel Intel: Spain". Intelligence is of an abstract nature, yet we have come up with a rather simple way to quantify it. We call it IQ, or intelligence quotient, which is a dividend of a persons mental age taken from a series of intelligence tests, and chronological age. We use this number for educational placements, assessment of intellectual disability, job applications, and perhaps even as a measure of worthiness, but can IQ predict success and if so, what kind of success is it able to predict? There are a few theories simplifying intelligence. The one general intelligence theory suggests that all subclasses of intelligence are linked in a way that people who score well on one aptitude test also tend to score well on another. Some of us are better at mathematical rather than verbal reasoning. This is because different people specialise in different disciplines relative to themselves, but relative to other people they are approximately on the same level in all aspects of intelligence. Studies show that this tends to be true in practice. There is also support for the multiple intelligences theory. Analytical intelligence is one leg of it. It is what we might call school smarts which helps us solve well-defined problems like the ones given in math class. Then, there is creative intelligence, which allows us to adapt to new situations and have unique ideas. Lastly, there is practical intelligence, which aids us in everyday problems requiring critical thinking. Yet, another theory suggests that there are two types of intelligence: fluid and crystallised. The former is a measure of our speed in understanding and evaluating hypotheticals while the latter is simply the knowledge we gain through experience or study.However one defines intelligence, essentially what intelligence quotient measures is how well one recalls and relays information. Skills like spacial ability, math comprehension, verbal and written skills, and memorisation are tested to determine this. There are substantial associations of IQ with morbidity and mortality. It has also been studied as a predictor of job performance, income, and social mobility, so it clearly has some power and deserves our attention. Despite this, many critics claim that while IQ examines some aspects of intelligence, it neglects social skills, self-awareness, empathy, and motivation which also influence our ability to live productive, consequential, and fulfilling lives. While IQ can predict certain achievements, its not the whole truth. Character is higher than intellect. A great soul will be strong to live as well as think, said Ralph Waldo Emerson. This idea of a pursuit of happiness is entrenched in modern society, but as many note today, neither a high IQ nor the success that a high IQ can predict is always able to deliver that kind of satisfaction. Clearly, another form of intelligence must play a role. Daniel Goleman, a journalist, popularised the emotional intelligence theory in his 1995 bestseller. This kind of intelligence is where self-awareness, healthy interpersonal relationships, and ability to empathise comes from. There remains a question of whether intelligence, may it be analytical or emotional, can be cultivated. This is the old nature versus nurture question. Its somewhat uncomfortable to consider intelligence as a fixed, acquired trait since the belief in heritability of intellect and Henry Goddards intelligence tests that followed were approved and used by the eugenics movement to sterilise and push discriminatory legislation against the feeble-minded and the poor. Studies like one published in Psychological Science suggesting that the IQ of children adopted at birth is not well correlated with that of their adoptive parents but strongly correlated with that of their biological parents tells us that nature is part of the equation. When in the 1960s the Norwegian government added two extra years to their compulsory education programme, researchers concluded that each additional year of education added three point seven points to their IQ score upon examining soldiers' IQ scores. Stuart Ritchie and his colleague at the University of Edinburgh agree, concluding that each year of schooling adds one to five points to ones IQ score. While this effect must eventually plateau, it suggests that there is a way to cultivate intelligence. While the Mozart effect might not hold true long term, people are capable of change and progress, and those with a growth mindset are much more likely to achieve it. An intelligence test cant measure a persons potential or their worthiness but rather where they are in the advancement of particular skills, and thats what it should be used for. Verdict: A dreamy coming-of-age romantic comedy that will make even the coldest heart melt. Following the success of Set it Up (2018) and The Kissing Booth (2018), Netflixs newest highly anticipated rom-com arrived in the shape of To All The Boys Ive Loved Before (2018) and its most definitely their best release yet. Based on the 2014 Jenny Han novel of the same name, To All the Boys Ive Loved Before follows teenage protagonist Lara Jean Covey (Lana Condor). When Lara Jean falls in (often unrequited) love, she writes a letter to the boy in question and then puts that letter away in a box at the top of her wardrobe. One day these letters are mysteriously sent out, and the film follows Lara Jean as she navigates life and love in the aftermath. Once you get past the initially slightly cringe-worthy premise of the film, it really is worth watching. Directed by Susan Johnson, To All The Boys is well and truly a figment of the female gaze. Narrated by Lara Jean in a truthful and relatable way and full of her own romantic fantasies, it will ring true for many teenage girls as well as adults who can look back fondly on both the ridiculousness and the utter painfulness of falling in unrequited love. Both the romantic comedy and the teenage coming of age genres are infamously whitewashed. When was the last time you watched a classic romantic comedy where the two main characters were anything other than white? To All The Boys centres around an Asian main character and her family, but there is no tokenism in this film. These characters are exactly that - characters. They are three-dimensional with their own stories, thoughts and feelings and are an accurate representation of 2018 teenage America. Netflix are really leading the way in terms of diversity in both film and television, and To All The Boys is another of their brilliant own productions. Although To All The Boys is loosely centred around a main love triangle, it really isnt the focus of the story. The who will she choose question is more of a background plot rather than the main premise. The film echoes back to the days of the John Hughes teenage dramas of the 1980s, in an appreciative way rather than parody. Lara Jeans only experience of real love is through watching Sixteen Candles (1984) and she finds it hard to accept that life is not a John Hughes film. You cant talk about To All The Boys and not talk about Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo). As far as leading men in teenage rom-coms go they are usually completely unimaginative and one dimensional; Peter however has his own story going on and despite the film being completely from Lara Jeans perspective, he does not exist purely as an extension of her romantic fantasties. He is charming and dreamy but is also problematic and can be selfish in parts hes flawed, but he's real. The most important relationship in To All The Boys is not the one between Lara Jean and the boys, but instead between her and her sisters. Eldest sister Margot (Janel Parrish) moves away to Scotland for University at the beginning of the film, and their relationship becomes strained after its revealed that one of the letters has been sent to her boyfriend Josh (Israel Broussard.) Often in rom-coms the repercussions of love are overlooked, and love is instead seen as the be all and end all of a girl's life. To All The Boys shows love in a realistic(ish) light. Love is messy, love isnt easy and love can have difficult consequences. To All The Boys Ive Loved Before is available to watch on Netflix now. There is little doubt that the past few decades have seen considerable improvements in world hunger levels. In 2017, the Global Hunger Index announced malnutrition was 27% lower than in 2000. This is principally due to investments in food security brought about through co-operation via global governance organisations including the United Nations. However, the problem is far from fixed. 815 million people globally remain undernourished. This means individuals cannot lead healthy, fulfilled lives and manifests on a macro level in weakened education systems, poor healthcare and choked economies. World Humanitarian Day presents an opportunity to reflect on food shortage and what still needs to be done to achieve Zero Hunger one of the foci of the UNs 2015 Sustainable Development Goals . Here are three countries with some of the worst food insecurity threats in the world along with outlines of the current state of the aid designated to ease the crises. 1. Afghanistan Image Source: Unsplash A shortage of rainfall over winter has caused devastation to the agricultural sector in Northern and Western Afghanistan as droughts have suffocated the country. This has crippled the yearly harvest and caused mass death of livestock meaning 1.4 million citizens are facing a critical food shortage. Desperate circumstances have driven many families in the agricultural business to sell their precious livestock to raise capital for food. Unsurprisingly, this has introduced a heavy burden for financially-vulnerable Afghans who now have fewer assets from which to profit in the longer-term. Despite the critical situation which has been evolving over the past few months, developed countries seem to be grasping the severity of the food shortage only in the last couple of weeks. On July 29th, the UK government became one of the first countries to collaborate with the UN on the crisis, announcing a 10 million aid budget to ease the Afghan food shortage. International Development Secretary Penny Mourdant said on the issue: We have taken decisive action to step in early before the worst of the drought strikes to help prevent needless pain and suffering. The aid strategy will include nutritionally-dense foods to combat the ever-growing rate of malnutrition in the affected regions. 2. South Sudan. Image Source: Unsplash The South Sudanese food crisis is reaching ebullition as enduring civil conflict continues to impact trade links and public access to foodstuffs. Some 60% of the population now face acute food insecurity in the wake of four years of civil war. Violent conflict has caused economic calamity which has driven up food prices, leaving families without access to the bare minimum nutrition necessary to lead healthy lives. Displacement in violent regions has caused chaos for families in the agricultural business farmers no longer having access to their stock means a decimated supply chain come harvest time later this year. This problem is compounded by disruption to transport due to violence and the monsoon. Things are only due to worsen with ongoing widespread political turmoil. One major stumbling block that humanitarian organisations have come up against when attempting assistance is the alarming frequency of attacks on aid workers in the country. Kenyi Alison, an Oxfam Emergency response officer, says : I have seen a lot in the past seven years in South Sudan, and things are getting worse. Our major concern now is gaining access to locations where people need our help. In some areas, we even have to swim to reach them. Despite the risks, it is crucial that developed countries persist in encouraging long-term solutions for South Sudan. Oxfams bilateral approach of providing short-term aid (nutritionally-dense emergency food supplies) and long-term solutions (providing families with agricultural assets and education to urge them to produce food themselves) could be taken as a model aid plan for smaller humanitarian organisations, depending on the initiatives success this summer. 3. Bangladesh. Image Source: Pexels Incessant rainfall during the monsoon season has meant destruction to farmland and devastation for the Bangladeshi agricultural industry. An influx of Rohingya refugees this year has put further pressure on the region in which 91% of the refugee population is dependent on humanitarian aid organisations for food. A recent report by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) has described emergency-level malnutrition in Coxs Bazar Rohingya camps. Earlier this year, the WFP claimed they needed urgent support to provide food assistance to the region. Their Joint Response Plan (JRP), launched in March, aims to invest 951 million USD into humanitarian assistance for Rohingya refugees during 2018. Under the plan, the WFP have established an e-voucher programme which allows refugees more nutritious consumption choices the organisation hopes to expand this initiative to all Rohingya refugees by the end of the year. Their Enhancing Food Security and Nutrition project has also been set up with the aim of providing education and investment funds to women to pull them out of poverty for good. What more needs to be done? Despite advances in the state of global hunger, international organisations and governments clearly still have far to go to eradicate persistent food shortage problems. The most practical approach to food crisis aid is twofold and is exemplified by Oxfams South Sudan strategy above: encourage long-run institutional shifts through education, female empowerment and asset provision whilst offering necessary emergency short-term aid to plug the gaping hole in food supplies to prevent further unnecessary mortalities. It is crucial for developed countries to follow in the footsteps of the UK government vis-a-vis Afghanistan and step up to help close this food gap. The onus is on us to pressure our governments that this is our priority, however many thousands of miles away these famines occur. follow After a few months out in 2017 to focus on other matters (such as fatherhood and a shoulder surgery) Isaac and Laurie didnt waste too much time before getting back in the studio and producing album number three. The 30-minute long album, following their Beastie Boys produced record 'Take Control', has a funkier feeling that you might not imagine a punk band could or should possess. However, album three appears to have combined their two previous albums and merged them together into a pure beauty that is Acts of Fear and Love. Touching on politics, social issues, with a couple of token ballad-like anthems; Slaves prove their place in the industry with another banger of an album. Once again, they have produced an album that tells us a story, each track portrays a different thought-provoking topic that gets your brain ticking. The Lives They Wished They Had holds some of Isaacs best lyrics to date that make your head spin with the ugly truth. Is it praise you're after? Or is it something more? Like a desperate need for acceptance that you just can't ignore projects modern social decay due to social media. Popularity, online currency, insularity, everybodyme. Bugs is one hell of a heavy track, grilling and raw with repetitive lyrics; Bugs takes us back to the days of Are You Satisfied? with a refined, mature approach. But its not all quite so angry, Cut and Run offers a much more comedic, light-hearted classic Slaves track, along with the opening lyric to Magnolia, Did you know / 65% of UK homes contain at least one magnolia wall / I bet you didnt. Its these casual elements to a Slaves track that keep us coming back for more. titled Five tracks in and Daddy explores the observation of a mid-life crisis from a vulnerable and innocent mind. Slowing down the album, Laurie takes control with a guitar and vocal-only number. Isaacs softer vocals accompanied by Ellie Rowsell (Wolf Alice) provide a more sentimental and pure track to break up the record. The album flows brilliantly from track to track, but with no ambiguity in where one starts and ends, even when it comes to the slower songs such as Daddy and Photo Opportunity. Photo Opportunity particularly, radiates a vulnerable side to Isaac as opposed to the usual boisterous presence he brings to Slaves. This track, in particular, shows a personal growth in terms of the band; reflecting on the past and the future of Slaves. Artificial Intelligence emanates a gloomy grunge tone, before bringing it back down with Acts of Fear and Love. Album closer andtrack, Acts of Fear and Love kicks off with a stripped-back bluesy guitar chug. Isaac chants variations of the title, acts of fear and love, while Laurie harmonises in the background. Its a perfect track to end an album on - reflective spoken word supported by precise guitars and drums wrap up Acts of Fear and Love in the most impeccable way possible. 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 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 Recognized for its top quality programming and multidisciplinary focus, POP Montreal announces its complete program, spanning 5 days of music, art, talks, cinema, and creativity of all kinds from September 26 to 30. As always, the POP Montreal festival remains non-profit and artist-centered, prioritizing diversity, creativity, and authenticity. Today POP is pleased to unveil new artists35% of which were selected via an open submission processin addition to its full segment programming, including Art POP, Film POP, POP Symposium, Kids POP, Puces POP, and Record Fair. Music This year, on the musical side, there are inspiring international artists revolutionizing pop music like SOPHIE and JPEGMAFIA; new figures in feminist rap like CupcaKke, Dounia, and Kilo Kish; and the best of international indie music from Palm, Molly Nilsson, Equiknoxx, Zola Jesus, Bodega, and more. In terms of legends, look no further than Wanda Jackson, who played with Elvis himself. Iconic U2 producer Daniel Lanois returns to team up with Venetian Snares for a collaborative project of experimental electronica. POP Montreal also welcomes Drag City troubadour Bill Callahan and the Governor General Award winning Abenaki filmmaker Alanis Obomsawin for a one-time-only presentation of her classic album "Bush Lady" at Monument National. "Bush Lady" was originally self-released in 1988 and is getting a proper reissue and remaster by Montreal label Constellation. Other highlighted Canadian artists include: U.S. Girls, King Khan and The Shrines, littlebabyangel, Homeshake, and Wolf Parade playing 4 nights at Sala Rossa. Quebec artists premiering breathtaking new creations include: Thus Owls at the Phi Centre presenting a multi-disciplinary show with Karl Lemieux (Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and dancer / performer Hanako Hoshimi-Caines; Elisapie will welcome special guests for a performance at the Monument National; the soulful musical force TiKa presents her Iverna Island Fest for Women of Colour; and Gypsy Kumbia Orchestra will bring their Bal Dansant en Famille to the Rialto Theatre as part of a multi-floor family-friendly tropical takeover of the Rialto Complex. POP Montreal will also offer a series of special and intimate shows at the mythical Cinema LAmour. Lydia Kepinski and Leif Vollebekk present one time only special performances, Socalled will premiere The Housesitter, an art school indie gay porn that critics are already saying is "Call Me By Your Name with more action!" POP Montreal is also happy to announce the premiere of Elle Barbaras Bosom Confidante Spectacle de Varietes, an original event that Elle Barbara describes as a variety talk show on the subject of sex and music! Lets not forget Koriass who will present his new album "La Nuit des Longs Couteaux" at MTelus, accompanied by Fouki and Zach Zoya. This year's edition will also include showcases by some of the best independent Canadian labels, including Secret City Records, Ghost Club Records, Dare to Care, Paper Bag Records, Royal Mountain, and more. The full program for all the shows and all the artists https://popmontreal.com/en/ POP Montreal AB SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: 'I was duped,' says Barry Middleton. 'Why are groups like that not regulated by the authorities? 'Why has no one investigated diligently, given what we now know? It staggers me that this guy could blatantly get away with this.' Mr Middleton, 74, is a retired RBS bank manager. He is one of 7,000 small investors who signed up to the Royal Bank of Scotland Shareholders Action Group. The 'guy' he refers to is an Irishman called Gerard Walsh with a documented record of fraud and deception, who co-founded the group in 2009. Claim: Barry Middleton, pictured, invested 12,000 in RBS The action group portrayed itself as a public-spirited organisation that would lead an army of aggrieved small investors in a battle for compensation from RBS. In itself, that was a worthy cause: the bank, then run by disgraced chief executive Fred Goodwin, had misled its own shareholders into investing in a doomed 12 billion attempt to bolster its balance sheet in the financial crisis. So when the action group won a 200million settlement last summer, it seemed like a cause for celebration. In fact, it was the start of a new nightmare for Barry and his fellow investors. They were about to find out they had been taken in twice: not only by the bank but also, they say, by the man behind the action group supposedly helping them. The action group presented itself as a white knight, acting for small shareholders against big bad RBS. I hope the full weight of the law comes down on that guy's head But the victims now believe Walsh used the group to concoct a scheme for his own enrichment. A court heard that he attempted to take 3.75million for himself from the settlement, to be funnelled to him through a separate company set up to pay millions of pounds to beneficiaries whose identities were not disclosed to investors. But no one in authority seems to care. The glaring question at the heart of the case is this: Why are regulators, politicians and officials unable or unwilling to investigate? This failure is particularly shocking as the affair involves very large sums of taxpayers' money. On top of the 200million settlement, RBS spent more than 100million on legal fees defending itself. As it is still majority-owned by the Government, it means the case has consumed 300million of taxpayers' funds. Scheming: Gerard Walsh Over the course of a ten-month investigation, this newspaper has exposed the ugly saga behind the RBoS Shareholders Action Group. It is a cautionary tale for anyone tempted to sign up to an action group without first checking out the organisers' bona-fides. Astonishingly, Walsh was able to co-found the RBoS Shareholders Action Group apparently without any checks from the authorities on whether he was a fit and proper person to do so. And during the course of our inquiries, our journalists have been subjected to a campaign of intimidation and abuse including malicious and baseless allegations of anti-semitism and attempts by deception to find a reporter's home address. Again, this raises worrying questions about the conduct and credibility of those behind the action group. Communicating with the group's administrators is like entering a hall of mirrors. Emails are signed off in a variety of names - some of which lawyers involved in the case suspect to be false. But when Barry Middleton signed up to the group, he had no reason to suspect anything was amiss - he just wanted compensation for his losses after investing 12,000 of his modest savings in RBS in 2008. He sent a cheque for 50 on October 1, 2009, to join the group, and estimates he paid up to 2,000 in subscriptions in the following years. Alert: The Mail on Sunday warned of Walsh's 'get rich' bid last April Small investors like Barry, from Inverurie in Aberdeenshire, are still waiting for full payment of their claims. In a High Court case this spring, the judge described the situation as 'absolutely extraordinary'. He added that consideration should be given to 'whether the action group should be delivered into other hands because its direction is unclear and its compliance with [court] orders lamentable'. Walsh was also accused in the High Court - in a case relating to the running of the action group - of being responsible for registering 130million 'phantom shares', which would have inflated the value of the claim against RBS. The court heard that if true, this could constitute the 'criminal offence of fraud'. The action group denies this. In any event, when Walsh cofounded the action group in 2009 he already had a history of dishonesty and fraud. In two civil cases - one of which came to court later, in 2014 - he has been found to have cheated a wealthy family and a businesswoman out of hundreds of thousands of pounds. In 2011, he was made bankrupt. It begs the simple question of how the authorities ever let a man with this track record set up a group at all, let alone one in which thousands of RBS small shareholders invested their hopes - and thousands of pounds of subscriptions. Why, given the size and importance of the case, did no one check Walshs background? And why is no one in officialdom prepared to look into the case even now? The group appears to have fallen through the cracks. Commercial claims management firms are supervised by the Claims Management Regulator, which is part of the Ministry of Justice. However, not-for-profit action groups are not covered. The CMR decided last year that the RBoS Shareholders Action Group did not fall under its remit, despite the fact Walsh hoped to make large sums for himself, as did other individuals and firms. Liberal Democrat MP Norman Lamb met with the CMR last month to urge it to reconsider. Law firm Signature Litigation, which now represents the 7,000 investors who signed up to the group, also attended at the request of Lamb. It would be a criminal offence if the MoJ finds the group was not regulated when it should have been. The City of London Polices Action Fraud unit has been asked to probe the group by at least four small investors. The Financial Conduct Authority, the top City regulator, is taking over claims management regulation from the MoJ next year. Decades of deception: How Walsh has cheated victims out of millions 1997 In civil proceedings the High Court of Ireland finds Gerard Walsh guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation by posing as a Lamborghini salesman. Along with others, he had persuaded antiques dealer Amanda Forshall to part with 677,000 in 1990 for nine Lamborghini Diablo cars that were never delivered. Evidence given by Walsh was rejected by the court as neither accurate nor credible. Ms Forshall was awarded 677,000 in damages. 2008 He is stripped of an honorary fellowship at Cardiff University after failing to pay a 2.5million donation he had promised. The university has reformed its rules on accepting donations and awarding honorary fellowships. Duped: Walsh induced the Nolans, a wealthy Irish haulage family, into making millions of euros worth of investments that failed 2009 Walsh co-founds the RBoS Shareholders Action Group. 2011 He steps down as a director of the group after being made bankrupt but is subsequently accused in court of having continued to act as a shadow director. 2014 The Jersey Royal Court describes Walsh as a fraudster after he induced the Nolans, a wealthy Irish haulage family, into making millions of euros worth of investments that failed. He spent large amounts of their money on himself, including 210,000 towards a 10 per cent deposit on a luxury flat in Londons Belgravia. A source close to the Nolans, who were awarded damages but have never seen a penny of it, said the family see him as a predator. Tory MP Nicky Morgan, chair of the Treasury Select Committee, has been alerted by several MPs but has declined to intervene. Supporters of Walsh deny any wrongdoing and argue he is entitled to the 3.75million for his work. He does not have a criminal conviction for fraud, but has been named as a fraudster by a judge in two civil cases. Mouthpieces for him have also made a barrage of unsubstantiated claims against other parties in the RBoS affair. These include property tycoon Trevor Hemmings, who made large losses on RBS shares and signed up to the action group. Hemmings has now taken control of the 200million settlement via one of his investment vehicles, Manx, and a law firm, Signature, which is acting on behalf of the investors. The action group has attacked this newspaper for declining to print allegations against Hemmings, Manx and Signature. We asked for evidence but none was forthcoming. Founded after credit crisis: The Royal Bank of Scotland Shareholders Action Group portrayed itself as a public-spirited organisation that would lead an army of small investors aggrieved with RBS In emails under the name of Margaret Hewitt, the action groups administrators have circulated malicious and false accusations against Mail on Sunday City Editor Ruth Sunderland, without a shred of evidence, including allegations of anti-semitism, conspiracy and attempts to pervert the course of justice. On Friday the MoS received an email from the group which threatened to publish a leaflet detailing our allegations against her and said it would be distributed at tube and train stations. So far, Walsh has been thwarted in his efforts to get his hands on the 3.75million. The action group says Walsh has a contract setting out the terms of his consultancy. It added he is unable to comment because he has been in a bike accident. As for Mr Middleton, he has asked Action Fraud and his local MP to investigate. I still feel there ought to be a reckoning, he says. And I hope that in due course the full weight of the law will come down on that guys head. A former submarine scientist has entered the race to build Britain's first privately funded railway. George Bathurst wants to connect the train lines running through Windsor by building a new stretch of tunnel under the Royal Berkshire town. Windsor's two stations remain unconnected since they were built in 1849, despite being only 300 metres apart. The 370million link would improve connections for people living in the 'M3 and M4 corridors', opening up a new direct route from Slough through to London Waterloo. Connected: The home of Harry and Meghans wedding A second phase, costing around 1billion, would create direct rail links to Heathrow from the west and south of the airport, amid plans for a third runway. Bathurst believes the scheme would be the first new rail line to be fully privately funded since the railways were nationalised in 1948. His Windsor Link Railway consortium is backed by Swedish construction giant Skanska and the 6.2billion French investment fund Meridiam. They plan to recoup their investment through fares revenue and building a 'significant number' of new homes in Windsor and nearby towns. Transport Secretary Chris Grayling invited rail bids from private firms to 'relieve the burden on taxpayers and farepayers'. The DfT is expected to make a decision in the autumn. Bathurst said: 'The new links will create new rail journey opportunities in these economically important areas of the UK and complement connections to Heathrow.' No one deserves to be raped, posted Khensani Maseko on Instagram before she killed herself. The death of this 23-year-old Rhodes University student, who killed herself two months after an alleged rape has left millions of people in general and women in particular angry over sexual violence against women in our society. On August 3, the day she took her own life, Maseko posted this message No one deserves to be raped. As one would imagine, Khensani was a sister, daughter, cousin, friend, niece and colleague to some. She was highly valued, not only by her family and close friends, but also by society as a whole. She had a bright future too. Khensi your tragic passing left a gaping and bleeding hole in my heart. You were my pride and joy from the moment I held you for the first time. I loved you with every fibre in me her mother Thembi Thobile Maseko is reported to have said at the funeral. You were my child and yet the little sister I never had. We had a wonderful life together. We shared the highs and the lows, she continued. While some people may approach this with endless speculation, the bottom line is: the young woman reported rape and later on took her life after warning the rest of us that no one deserves to be raped. Period! Now, the bigger question is: how safe is our African society? sexual violence How safe are our friends and relatives in the face of such persistent rape in our African society? Statistics show that sexual violence against women is a serious problem in the African continent. According to estimates released in June by the National Statistical Service of South Africa, 138 out of every 100 000 women in that country were raped in 2016 and 2017. This figure is among the highest in the world. For this reason, some have labelled South Africa the rape capital of the world, it said. Coming closer to home, it is reported that violence against female children is highly prevalent in Eswatini. Approximately one in three females experienced some form of sexual violence as a child; nearly one in four females experienced physical violence as a child; and approximately three in 10 females experienced emotional abuse as a child (Centres for Disease Control and Prevention and Swaziland United Nations Childrens Fund, 20017). This is also reflected in the numerous media reports on sexual offences and domestic violence in our country. urgent action When you go to neighbouring Mozambique, there is a huge problem as well. In 2016, Women in Mozambique described the countrys rape statistics as alarming and demanded that the Mozambican authorities take urgent action. This was after startling reports by media; one involving a 35-year-old woman who was raped and killed by five individuals in Maputos Xipamanine neighbourhood, and the same week, a 16-year-old was raped by four men in the Guava neighbourhood in the outskirts of Maputo, and also died on the spot. Shocking, isnt it? In Kenya, At least 86 cases of sexual and gender-based violence were either reported or documented in Nairobi in the run up to last years election and after. What is more painful in this case is that 62 per cent of the sexual violence cases were perpetrated by police while 38 per cent by civilians (Kenya National Commission on Human Rights, 2017). Among the many painful incidences was that of a 27-year-old woman in one of the informal settlements of Nairobi, who was interviewed by Human Rights Watch last year. She was raped by a man she said wore combat trousers in the presence of her 12-year-old son. According to Human Rights Watch, this woman did not report the sexual assault to the police because she did not know the attackers and feared retaliation. Many of the women Human Rights Watch interviewed described the perpetrators as mostly police officers or men in uniform who often carried guns, batons, tear gas canisters, whips, or wore helmets and other anti-riot gear. Some women who reported sexual violence were sent back to their homes without police taking statements, or they ridiculed them, verbally abused them, or failed to follow up on complaints (Human Rights Watch, 2017). If you go to the western part of our continent in Ghana approximately six women are likely to be raped every week, according to six-year statistics (2011-2016) from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) of the Ghana Police Service. gang-raped by soldiers. Recently, Al Jazeera reported that thousands of women fleeing the conflict in South Sudan have been raped and sexually assaulted. It is said that many women who survived described how their husbands were killed before they were gang-raped by government soldiers. Up north, the situation is also terrible. In 2013 The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women published a report showing the most recent statistics of sexual harassment in Egypt. The study shows that 99.3 per cent of Egyptian women have experienced some form of sexual harassment. The study indicates that 96.5 per cent of women in their survey said that sexual harassment came in the form of touching, which was the most common manifestation of sexual harassment. barbarism ACT Now, how do we get out of such barbarism and backwardness as a continent? We need to look at rape as an extreme end point of a whole continuum of sexually aggressive male behaviours, beginning with sexual harassment and ending in rape and in some cases murder. Look at it this way: women undergo verbal and emotional abuses on a daily basis along the streets, in diners and office parks and these are usually dismissed as being minor or simply normal until these behaviours build up to a rape or murder. Looking at such harassments as being seriously offensive could be a useful reminder that sexually aggressive behaviours are often just an extension of what frequently passes for normal sexual behaviour. When it happens, sexual harassment is often dismissed as being just an acceptable act, which denies its relevance to rape. The origin of rape lies in sexual harassment. Therefore we need to confront the traditional and/or cultural habits that undermine women dignity and begin to look into bad sexual behaviours such as harassment with disgust and shame, so that we can uproot rape at its origin. We must confront and put to an end certain looks, improper touches and unpalatable words that are aimed at making women feel uncomfortable in their own society. That is one step towards getting rid of rape. Prevention is better than cure. Of course there are other ways through which we can defeat this animal called rape and do so at its origin, but today I make an appeal to consider harshness against its cousin called sexual harassment because it builds up to rape. If I were to rephrase Khensanis words I would say: no one deserves sexual harassment! Qatar on Sunday said its citizens were unable to take part in the annual hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia as the two countries remain bitterly locked in a diplomatic dispute. "There is no chance this year for Qatari citizens and residents to travel for hajj," a government official told AFP. "Registration of pilgrims from the State of Qatar remains closed and residents of Qatar cannot be granted visas as there are no diplomatic missions," added the official. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been locked in a political feud for more than a year, with Riyadh banning all flights to and from Doha and severing diplomatic and trade ties with its neighbour. Saudi authorities have said Qatari pilgrims were welcome at the hajj and last week denied it was blocking them from travelling to the kingdom\s holy sites. The Qatari official said the border closure and the lack of diplomatic missions and direct flights between the two countries effectively meant that no Qataris could undertake the pilgrimage. The row over hajj is the latest frontline in a highly fractious 14-month long diplomatic dispute between the two states. Qatar has been isolated since June 2017, accused by Saudi Arabia and its allies of supporting terrorism and being too close to Riyadh\s archrival, Iran charges Doha denies. Sanctions imposed by Riyadh as part of the dispute stop Qataris from travelling to Saudi Arabia. However, an exception was made for hajj, according to official Saudi statements. Under a quota system established by Saudi Arabia, some 1,200 Qatari citizens should be able to attend the hajj which attracts two million Muslims from around the world each year. But many Qataris have complained that registration on a Saudi Arabian ministry website specifically for the pilgrimage has proved impossible. SOURCE: AFP I want to enable Intel virtualization on my laptop but every time I change the bios settings and restart, the changes revert back. I took my Lenovo z50 70 to a repair guy and he told me there wasn't any problem with the cmos battery as the dates were working fine. What do you guys think is the problem and what should I do? System is dual booted. Bios version : 9BCN25WW The rounded white pebbles, which locals call Lalaria (from the ancient Greek word las meaning stone) can only be located in a specific area on the beach, and can only be accessed by sea Residents of the Greek island of Skiathos along with the Culture Association of Skiathos are appealing to tourists to Take a picture, not a pebble from one of their most beautiful beaches that is being destroyed. The rounded white pebbles, which locals call Lalaria (from the ancient Greek word las meaning stone) can only be located in a specific area on the beach, and can only be accessed by sea. Visitors to the picturesque Lalaria beach, now encounter a sign that tells that removing pebbles is strictly prohibited. A boat that takes tourists to the location displays the same message. The campaign by the local Cultural Association in cooperation with the Port Authority of Skiathos has worked hard to introduce a ban on removing the characteristic pebbles and calls on tourists to comply. Strict fines ranging from 400 to 1000 euros will be issued for the removal of Lalaria pebbles for noncompliance. 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: Harout Arabian License: CC-BY-SA Aluminium Bahrain (Alba), the Bahrain-based aluminium smelter, received a high-level delegation from General Electric (GE) Power on August 15 at Al Dana Hall, Alba. Led by the president and chief executive officer of GE Gas Power Systems (GPS) Chuck Nugent, the delegation comprised the chief executive officer of GE Turkey Canan Ozsoy, President and chief executive officer of GE GPS Projects MEI Mohamad Ali and the chief executive officer of GAMA Holdings Evren Unver, said a statement from Alba. The delegates were received by Albas deputy chief executive officer Ali Al Baqali; chief marketing officer Khalid A Latif; chief power officer Amin Sultan; chief administration officer Waleed Tamimi along with other officials from Alba, it said. The delegation was briefed about Albas historical background, its achievements and importance to Bahrains economy then accompanied in a tour to Power Station 5 site, it added. Al Baqali said: Our flagship project, Line 6 Expansion Project, is under way especially as we have on-boarded the last batch of new recruits in June. We are pleased to share the progress made-to-date on the Power Expansion Project with GE officials; we also trust that our EPC contractor, GE-GAMA, will continue their intensive commissioning effort to meet the pouring of First Hot Metal on January 1, 2019, he added. Nugent said: We have a strong and long-term partnership with Alba, which has set a global first by deploying GE Powers advanced H-Class turbine, the worlds largest and most efficient gas turbine for the first time in the region and in the aluminium smelting industry. The H-Class technology will help Alba increase its power capacity to support its smelter expansion, and we will work alongside the team providing maintenance coverage, onsite support, digital remote support and other efficiency measures, he added. We are also committed to advancing Albas vision to become the worlds largest single-site smelter. We are progressing Power Station 5 to support Albas goal of First Hot Metal by January 1, 2019, Nugent concluded. In line with the Kingdoms 2030 Economic Vision, the Line 6 Expansion Project has created around 500 permanent direct jobs in Alba and will boost the downstream cluster by creating indirectly few thousand job opportunities. To-date, the company is proactively training the new hires to be ready to operate Line 6 smelter and PS 5 facilities as the construction nears completion. Line 6 Expansion Project will bring Albas total production capacity to 1.5 million metric tonnes per year making it the worlds largest single-site aluminium smelter, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Etihad Etisalat (Mobily), a mobile network operator in Saudi Arabia, has joined forces with Ericsson, a world leading telecoms technology provider, to show 5G capabilities in a demo held at the Mall of Arabia in Jeddah, in the western region of Saudi Arabia. Ericsson supplied a standalone end-to-end 5G system including a prototype 3.5GHz radio, baseband and prototype UE device to support Mobilys 5G demo, said a statement from the company. During the event, Mobily and Ericsson showcased 5G throughput, targeting speeds up to 1Gbps, it said. The demo is part of Mobilys plan to highlight the benefits that 5G will bring for both consumers and industries across Saudi Arabia. On the consumer front, 5G will deliver high data speeds and low latency, which will enhance the user experience for Mobily customers. In addition to this, 5G is one of the primary enablers for new and emerging use cases in industries such as autonomous fleet management, robotics and critical machine-to-machine communication in healthcare. Mazid Al Harbi, chief technology officer, Mobily, said: We are wholly supportive of Saudi Vision 2030 and the push towards enhancing our digital economy. Our investment in 5G is demonstrative of our commitment to improving network performance and enhancing the customer experience across Saudi Arabia. Our partnership with Ericsson enables us to provide a state-of-the art scalable network to serve consumers and industries across Saudi Arabia now and in the 5G future, he said. Globally, the first commercial 5G networks and devices based on the 3GPP standards are expected in 2018, and regional operators are pushing to meet this timeline. According to the Ericsson Mobility Report, June 2018 edition, first-generation, 5G data-only devices are expected from the second half of 2018. The first commercial smartphones supporting 5G in the mid-bands are expected early next year, while support for very high spectrum bands is expected in early to mid-2019. Ericsson estimates the number of 5G subscriptions will reach one billion by the end of 2023, it said. Rafiah Ibrahim, head of Ericsson - Middle East and Africa (MEA), said: For our long-term partner Mobily, 5G unlocks the potential for new and better customer experience while improving revenue streams. We look forward to achieving this together today and in the future. Ericssons 5G platform across radio, core and transport networks enables operators to evolve to 5G capabilities at a speed that matches their own business strategy. This transition takes place while also enhancing current 4G business by reducing risk and making best use of current infrastructure. Ericssons network technology enables evolution to full 5G deployment through natural, step-wise implementation one that balances investment, new revenue streams and competitiveness, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Bahrain government has announced a four-day holiday for the public sector to mark Eid Al Adha, which will be celebrated on Tuesday (August 21). His Royal Highness Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa the Prime Minister issued a circular stipulating the official holiday for Eid Al Adha, reported BNA. On the occasion of Eid Al Adha, all ministries, departments and public institutions will be closed on Monday (Arafah Day), Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, the three days of Eid. Egypt's Swiss Inn Hotels & Resorts has unveiled plans to expand its presence in the country with the addition of three new hotels over the next year, said a report. Citing the groups chairperson Anton Good, Daily News Egypt reported that the first hotel is expected to be inaugurated in Sharm El-Sheikh within three or four months, while the two other hotels will be opened in Marsa Alam and south Hurghada in one year. The group is currently managing 10 hotels in Egypt, it said. Furthermore, the Swiss Inn Hotels also plans to open three new hotels outside of Egypt, with two expected to open in the Ethiopian capital Addis Ababa and one set to open in Amman, Jordan. Founded in 1994 by Anton Good, Swiss Inn Hotels & Resorts has evolved into a highly regarded niche hotel management company with over 10 hotels and resorts existing or under construction in the core markets of Egypt and the Middle East. Despite all the hardships and uncertainty in new places, our colleagues are solely devoted to serving those in run from violence, persecution and other danger both coming from human and nature. South Sudan, Iraq, Chad, DRC, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Jordan, Djibouti, Myanmar, Libya is just a small list of locations where UNHCR staff provides life-saving assistance, safeguards the rights and well-being of refugees as well as seeks ways to reduce situations of forced displacement. By these stories, we want to bring you closer to our work, celebrate the spirit that inspires humanitarian work around the world, and to support global call for action to protect humanitarian workers, as they are #NotATarget. Please, get to know some of our colleagues: Hanifa Karimi, worked in Iraq and has been based in Amman, Jordan, since 2014 as an Associate Resettlement Officer. Hanifa is a Head or Pre-Resettlement Section and manages a team, which is responsible for assessment and screening of identified cases for resettlement. Mainly her team works on resettlement of Syrian and refugees of other nationalities from Urban and Camp settlements in Jordan. When asked about most memorable moments for her, Hanifa tells about the time when she was conducting resettlement and refugee status determination interviews with Syrian refugees. Listening to the stories and experiences of refugees from their own perspective is very special even though not easy. Often the experiences refugees go through are extremely painful and saddening. However, seeing the courage and strength of a refugee sharing his/her pain and story with a smile is very exceptional. It makes me feel blessed and more encouraged for having the opportunity of working for refugees and being able to bring at least some smallest positive change in the lives of some of them. On this photo Hanifa counseling a refugee in Registration center in Amman office, year 2018. Oksana Olifirovych, now working for UNHCR in Kigali, Rwanda, reflects on her time in Chad from January 2013 until April 2015 working on the resettlement of Central African refugees to the US and Europe. Working in Spartan conditions out of a remote field office Oksana faced many challenges, including not having an office in the camp and conducting resettlement assessments in the open air or using local refugee accommodation. UNHCR realized there was little chance to safely repatriate the CAR refugees who had fled conflicts as far back as 2002 or for them to successfully integrate into Chadian society and that the only possible and durable solution was third country resettlement. Oksana worked on establishing strong cases for resettlement and facilitation of departures and capacity building with local partners. Oksana spoke of the emotional scenes on departure days as refugees left loved on es for a new life in very different countries. Despite the challenges, Oksana spoke of her excitement about her work, her love of Chad and her fond memories of life in the village charmant de Belom. On the photo: Oksana waiting for the counselling to start under the resettlement tree in the middle of the Belom refugee camp in Chad, 2013-2015 Sergii Lavrukhin, finished his assignment in Jordan several weeks ago and is expecting a new one, in Kabul, to start in the beginning of September. He was serving in Jordan for 2.5 years at Sub-Office Mafraq, specifically covering Zaatari Refugee Camp. He was a Protection focal point for the camp, running case management, CP/SGBV and field protection response along with a team of 15 national colleagues. The most memorable experience throughout all his time in Zaatari Sergii recalls the amazing resilience of Syrian refugees, their unbeatable desire to return home, the dignity and perseverance they showed on the daily basis in exile living in very difficult conditions at the camp for refugees and their families. Another feature that Sergii names among things he will remember is how welcoming and supportive the Jordanian people and the government are towards the refugees. On the photo: Back in 2014 in South Sudan, on the way to Adong area in Upper Nile to assess the needs of IDPs and returnees there. Yet sometimes all the team had to work collectively to push vehicles through! Tetiana Burkat, has worked with the UNHCR mission to the Democratic Republic of Congo since December 2017 facing a varietyof challenges in one of the most complex and challenging humanitarian crises in the world. The UNHCR at the place ensures international protection and provides multi sectoral assistance to IDPs, returnees and refugees from neighbouring countries. Tetiana has performed varied tasks since her arrival, starting with preparing detailed Supplementary Budget Appeals including for IDP Emergency Response, developing project partnerships in Bukavu and managing a Sub-office in Kanaga. Tetiana then took up a permanent position at the Head Office in Kinshasa coordinating and supervising the work of other staff. Reflecting on her time in DRC Tetiana outlined the challenges facing many expatriate UNHCR staff and the importance of mutual support, community and friendship to help dealing with difficult environments, not least having to communicate mainly in French, said Tetiana with a smile. This is Olena Turchyn, she was as a Team Leader at the Attica Field Office in Greece, working with refugees in the Eleonas camp, which accommodated over 2,000 asylum seekers. The team supported Greek authorities who managed the camp. UNHCR provided cash based interventions, individual counselling, registration and ensured arriving refugees reached the camps safely. Olena has many memorable experiences from her staying in Greece, but highlights the following: I was generally impressed at how humane and well organized local communities in Greece are. Their openness, compassion, self-organization and ability to mobilize themselves during crisis is truly impressive. These are only five stories from the many similar ones shared by the UNHCR staff worldwide, which we publish to highlight the commitment of UNHCR to helping refugees and other people at risk of displacement all over the world as well as to acknowledge the selfless contribution of all our colleagues, UNHCR partners, other humanitarian actors focused at easing the plight of the worlds most vulnerable citizens. Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Odisha to launch month long summary revision of electoral roll : Lohani 31 Oct 2021 | 3:12 AM Bhubaneswar, Oct 30 (UNI) The Election Commission will launch a month long special summary revision of Electoral roll from November 1 to include all eligible people above the age of 18 in the voter list. see more.. Rail Heritage Museum inaugurated in Bhubaneswar 31 Oct 2021 | 3:11 AM Bhubaneswar, Oct 30 (UNI) East Coast Railway (ECoR) on Saturday opened it's Rail Heritage Museum at Chandrasekharpur here. see more.. Meghalaya records more recoveries than new cases 31 Oct 2021 | 3:10 AM Shillong, Oct 30 (UNI) Meghalaya recorded 67 more cases of recovery from COVID-19 related complications that surged the number of recovered cases to 81,695 and 46 new cases of infection, which added up to 461 active cases on Saturday, health officials said. see more.. Arunachal CM praises SSB 31 Oct 2021 | 3:09 AM Itanagar, Oct 30 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has complimented the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), one of the border guarding forces, for their commendable work in promoting the spirit of nationalism among the local people residing along the international border, apart from ably discharging their duty of securing the countrys frontiers. see more.. Islamabad, Aug 19 (UNI) In a major relief to former president and Pakistan People Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali Zardari, Islamabad High Court (IHC) has granted protective bail in a money laundering case. Mr Zardari was issued arrest warrants by a banking court on Wednesday. According to a report published in Dawn on Sunday, IHC Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb on Saturday accepted the plea seeking protective/transitory bail to the former president in the case registered with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). As per the FIA, 29 accounts were opened in the name of seven people. They said that 18 to 19 of the fake accounts were opened in the Summit Bank alone. The FIR registered against Lawai Summit Bank vice chairman Hussain Lawai said billions of rupees were deposited into the said fake accounts and subsequently transferred to different accounts, including that of Zardari and his sister Talpurs company - Zardari Group - which is shown to have received Rs 15 million. In his petition, the former claimed that FIA director general Bashir Ahmed Memon, whose brother had contested the General Election last month on a ticket of the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) an anti-PPP alliance in Sindh and FIAs additional director general Najaf Mirza against whom the petitioner had lodged an FIR in 2005 for a murder assault dragged him in the controversial case despite the fact that his name was not among those nominated in the FIR. Mr Zardaris sister MPA Talpur had been granted bail by a lower court against a surety bond of Rs2 million and submission of her passport. UNI XC PS 0935 Islamabad, Aug 19 (UNI) The Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has sacked its chief operations officer as according to national carrier the officer he could not perform his duties according to work standards. According to a report published in Dawn on Sunday, chief operations officer Zia Qadir Qureshi contract was terminated by the PIA on August 17. Sources in PIA said that Mr Qureshi failed to achieve objectives for which he had been hired. The sources said Mr Qureshi, said to be a blue-eyed boy of adviser to the former prime minister on aviation Mehtab Abbasi, was hired on a contract at Rs 1.5 million per month on June 5, 2017. Mr Qureshi was just three months short of reaching the age of superannuation (October 2017) at the time of his appointment. The Auditor Generals office termed Mr Qureshis appointment an undue favour. It called for the immediate termination of his services and an action against those who had hired him. The termination letter said, continuation of your appointment beyond the age of superannuation in Oct 2017 was subject to bi-annual review of your performance. The sources said Mr Qureshi was absent in performance review meetings. UNI XC PS SB 0936 By Ashok Upadhyay and Shivaji Goswami Tulsidas Nagar (Mauritius), Aug 19 (UNI) External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Sunday inaugurated Panini language laboratory here in Mauritius for Hindi to become the "In-language" amongst the young generation. She launched the lab with the purpose of promoting "reading and writing" Hindi amongst the young and its further development. Ms Swaraj inaugurated the lab in the presence of Mauritius education minister Leela Devi Dookun -Luchoomun and Arts and culture minister Mr Prithvirajsing Roopun at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute here. The minister while dedicating the Panini language lab to the Mahatma Gandhi institute said that the lab would serve as a medium to generate more interest in learning Hindi amongst youngsters thereby strengthening the language. She expressed elation over Hindi's safe future in Mauritius saying that "I am extremely happy and proud that Mauritius will 'serve' Hindi well." Pertinently, the Panini language lab has been established in Mauritius with support from the Indian External Affairs ministry. In this lab, apart from 35 computers, equipment to be used in a language lab have also been made available. Advanced software of various Indian languages have been installed in this labs by Indian IT professionals which will aid students of junior, middle and high schools imbibe new techniques of language learning by getting acquainted with four mantras--- HEARING, PROUNCIATION, READING and WRITING through easy and scientific ways. UNI AU SJ SY SHK1954 Photo: Tina Rowden/Netflix/Tina Rowden/Netflix Netflixs new dark comedy Insatiable isnt as bad as you thought its worse. Revolving around an overweight high school girl who suddenly becomes svelte and beautiful over a summer thanks to her jaw getting wired shut, she seeks revenge on every single person whos ever wronged her while she was fat. Insatiable is riddled with a medley of problematic themes an equal-opportunity train wreck, if you will so much so that the shows creator believes the backlash its experiencing is equal to censorship. Debby Ryan, the former Disney Channel star who plays the lead, hasnt discussed any of Insatiables criticism until now, speaking with Teen Vogue about how shes always supported the shows central message since day one. We knew that this conversation needed to be had. We knew that this societal brokenness needed to be addressed, but we didnt know how badly it needed to be addressed, she explained. My friend, a few days before the trailer hit, in reference to something else, said, The size of the reaction is the size of the wound, and it stayed with me. A major point of contention for viewers has been the use of Ryan wearing a fatsuit in flashback scenes, a creative decision that Ryan admits made her skeptical at first, mostly because she feared it would almost be done in parody like in Friends. (If youve never seen Friends, the character of Monica, played by Courteney Cox, was overweight in her formative years. Cox dons a fatsuit in a few flashback scenes to signify that weight change.) There was a point where [the showrunner] and I are like, If at any point this is funny, if at any point people laugh, were not doing it. Were not doing the show that were trying to do, Ryan explained. Were just trying to portray an origin story. Were trying to showcase that. Besides, Ryan adds, being able to experience weight prejudice was super educational and really eye-opening. Too bad she couldnt do it with a better show. Photo: Netflix If you snuggled into your couch and turned on Netflix over the past few days, theres a chance you mightve experienced a new phenomenon with the streaming service. Specifically, if you were watching multiple episodes of a certain series in a row, a video advertisement would appear and encompass the screen when an episode ended, encouraging viewers to check out a different Netflix series with more XYZ Show up next, but first, check out XYZ Show language. (This writer, for instance, was encouraged to watch the Netflix original A Very Secret Service while rewatching a few IT Crowd episodes.) These ads feature a short trailer of whatever Netflix wants you to watch, and while theyre skippable after a few seconds, theyre a goddamn nuisance. In a statement to Ars Technica, Netflix confirmed the company is indeed testing out this new ad experience for users, although its not a done deal. We are testing whether surfacing recommendations between episodes helps members discover stories they will enjoy faster, the statement said. A couple of years ago, we introduced video previews to the TV experience, because we saw that it significantly cut the time members spend browsing and helped them find something they would enjoy watching even faster. Netflix didnt confirm how long this testing period would last, or the likelihood of these ads becoming a permanent thing. The company, though, is being mindful of chatter on social channels on how users are reacting to the change. So if you hate it, go and complain on Reddit, we guess. So far this year, the opioid crisis has been a deadly epidemic in North Alabama. The Not One More organization in Alabama held its second annual 'End Heroin in Huntsville' walk. This comes after Mayor Tommy Battle signed a proclamation declaring August 18, 2018 'End Heroin Day.' Not One More supports families who's lives have been impacted from drug abuse. They said many people take opioid for pain after an injury. The drug makes them feel good but eventually, they want something stronger. Many take heroin as a drug of choice because it's cheap and accessible. "She had something within her. I used to tell her all the time, use your power for good girl because she had a power," said Cindy League. Cindy League lost her daughter Alexis Perreault three years ago from a drug overdose. But it was something the family kept a secret until a year ago. "It was very painful but it was very needed," League said. League said Perreault was an honors student but became addicted to drugs in grade school, eventually, she got into heroin. "It was so strong and it had such a control over her life. She said there was no hope and this is what she has to do," League said. By the time League saw something was wrong with her daughter it was too late. "She used to tell me, 'mom, you don't know what I've done.' I told her, 'I don't care what you've done," League said. Not One More in Alabama told WAAY 31 From January 1, 2018 to August 5th HEMSI responded to 2 drug overdose calls a day. So far they've had to resuscitate 232 people with Narcan. In Madison County so far there have been 46 drug overdose deaths. Roy Antonio Hampton died in February. "I knew something was going on from his weight loss and everything," said Crystal Davis. Hampton was like a brother to Crystal Davis. She said in 2010 he started to take painkillers after he was stabbed. Eventually, he wanted heroin because it was stronger. He went to rehab. "He was finally beating it. Then he had a relapse and it took him from us," Davis said. Davis, League and others are now able to share their stories and encourage each other. Davis now uses Perreault's clothing to make 'Lexi bears' out of. It gives her friends and family comfort. "This is one of the original Lexi bears. It's made out of her pajama pants and her robe. This isn't just for our families, but for hundreds of families out there in memory of their past loved one," Davis said. Cindy League also shared with WAAY 31 that by the time Perreault became sober, her friend influenced her to do drugs again. Two weeks later, she died. "They are still running late a little bit but i think that's to be expected we are only 3 weeks in," Ember Hancock. Ember Hancock has two children; she told us the new bus contractor seems to have some glitches to work out. "We don't really have a bus driver we have a few subs which is a bit of an issue because they don't really know the routes," Hancock. Overall, she says shes gotten used to the new contractor. "Other than that I do like them," Hancock. The new bus company will be around for years to come. Huntsville City Schools signed a 5 year, 11 million dollar-a-year deal with the Apple Bus company. Hancock told WAAY, now that she's taken a bite, she likes apple. "At the beginning I didn't like it i didn't think it was user friendly, but its become easy for me to use," she said about the bus app. The Huntsville school district says since the beginning of the school year the apple buses have improved their efficiency each week. . I-5 . . ... The first black African secretary-general and Nobel Prize winner Kofi Annan died at the age of 80 today. Annan died this morning at a hospital in Switzerland. His foundation announced his death in a tweet saying he died after a short unspecified illness. The United Nations flag at its headquarters in New York is flying at half staff to pay tribute to Annan. Annan began his career in the UN in 1962. In 1997, he was elected to the organization's top post, a position he held until 2006. He was also awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his work in revamping the organization in 2001. Several politicians and organizations are sending their condolences including former President Barack Obama, who called Annan "a diplomat and humanitarian who embodied the mission of the United Nations." By Paul Schaumburg, Graves County Schools Aug. 19, 2018 | 10:36 AM | MAYFIELD The Graves County Truck and Tractor Pullers Association began the second decade of its annual truck and tractor pull at the Mayfield-Graves County Fairgrounds Saturday night. The "Pulling for Kids" event drew numerous entries to the track and large crowds to the grandstand. As has been the case for the past decade, gate receipts and concession stand proceeds benefit the Mayfield and Graves County school districts' family resource centers, the Graves County youth services centers, and their Community Christmas Connection. That project helps families in need to celebrate Christmas through a program that combines educational opportunities concerning parenting and money management. Friends Larry Wooley, Kenny Wiggins, Kenneth Wiggins, and Ricky Wilson comprise the sponsoring organization informally known as the Graves County Pullers. After the first event unexpectedly made a profit, the four decided to seek a charity to benefit from future events. They realized each of the friends had at least one family member working for the Graves County Schools. So, they chose the district as a beneficiary. They didn't want to leave Mayfield out simply because it has a its own school district, so it was added as a recipient. "That's when we got the schools' family resource and youth services centers involved so we could help kids in need," Wooley said a few days before the event. "All the money goes to their Community Christmas Connection. The more the parents are involved in learning about being a parent through these centers, the more points the parents get to pick out things they can buy with this money for their kids at Christmas. The only thing we told these resource center directors is to use the money to help the kids in need in Mayfield and Graves County. We didn't want this money to go to kids who could afford a lot of things, we wanted it to go to kids who need something to eat. The way we do with the money is to divide between the schools in the city and the county." The event has drawn statewide recognition. The Mayfield-Graves County Truck Pullers Association was honored in 2017 at the annual Fall Institute conference in Lexington of the Kentucky public schools' Family Resource and Youth Services Centers. Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. By Jim Waters, Bluegrass Institute Jul. 27, 2018 | 08:14 PM | LEXINGTON First, the good news: Kentucky's unemployment rate is among the lowest ever. Then, bad news: Kentucky's unemployment rate is among the lowest ever. How can historically low unemployment rates be bad news? While more job opportunities than ever exist across the commonwealth with tens of thousands of positions unfilled in the commonwealth, more Kentuckians fail to take advantage of them, relying instead on government-run programs like Medicaid for their incomes. Gov. Matt Bevin's administration from Inauguration Day has made getting able-bodied adults who aren't pregnant women, full-time students, medically frail or primary caregivers off Medicaid or at least requiring them to work, train or volunteer a top priority. The Trump administration agrees and in January made Kentucky's Medicaid waiver request the first approved in the nation. But federal Judge James Boasberg in far-away Washington, D.C., recently ruled against the decision, calling approval of the wavier "arbitrary and capricious," even though Bevin's team was very careful to mandate work requirements only for able-bodied adults who aren't indigent or caregivers. Boasberg, of course, has the luxury of offering such rulings from his black-robed ivory tower without the responsibility of determining how Kentucky is going to pay for hundreds of thousands of additional Medicaid recipients without affecting other government programs. Talk about "arbitrary and capricious." An expansion created by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) resulted in a half-million additional Kentuckians enrolling in Medicaid far above the 188,000 anticipated by then-Gov. Steve Beshear's administration. The cost of providing benefits to able-bodied adults without dependents or disabilities who became Medicaid recipients as a result of that expansion increased from $667 million in 2013 to more than $4 billion in 2015 as enrollment ballooned from 133,000 to 633,000. Both supporters and opponents agree that around 95,000 recipients who enrolled in Medicaid as a result of the expansion would likely lose coverage under Bevin's reforms. This means fewer than one in six able-bodied adults now receiving taxpayer-funded health insurance would drop off the rolls. Many would cease receiving government benefits by landing real jobs with traditional insurance. This also means those for and against the reforms acknowledge: even most of the able-bodied adults now in the program will continue receiving Medicaid benefits. How much more generous can reform get? Some opponents of the waiver mistakenly believe many Medicaid recipients who enrolled as part of the ACA's expansion are working dead-end jobs and just don't have the income to make ends meet. However, the President's Council of Economic Advisers discovered the following regarding able-bodied adult Medicaid recipients in a report released earlier this year: 53 percent don't work any hours 60 percent work fewer than 20 hours per week 69 percent work fewer than 30 hours 78 percent work fewer than 40 hours Add to this data from the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services indicating nearly half of all expansion enrollees have no earned income. All these able-bodied adults lounging around is especially tragic considering the opportunities to work and start a career perhaps have never been greater in the Bluegrass State. There's more bad news in that according to the BLS, Kentucky's labor force participation rate of 59 percent is the nation's lowest. But there's plenty of good news, too. About 84,000 job openings are expected annually in Kentucky during the next decade, nearly three-quarters of which will demand a high school education or less and 87 percent will require no prior experience. Past welfare reforms that involved work requirements helped millions of Americans return to the labor force, fill open jobs and even increase the nation's Gross Domestic Product, making the overall economy stronger and more productive. That, indeed, is good news. Let's give history the chance to repeat itself in Kentucky. Jim Waters is president and CEO of the Bluegrass Institute for Public Policy Solutions, Kentucky's free-market think tank. Read previous columns at www.bipps.org. He can be reached at jwaters@freedomkentucky.com and @bipps on Twitter. CELL PHONE USE, TEXTING, DISTRACTED DRIVING A BIG AND GROWING PROBLEM HERE AND THROUGHOUT NORTH CAROLINA We all have to work together to address what has proven to be a big issue for ou state and nation A WHKP.com News Special Report Texting while driving is against the law in North Carolina, but a lot of people do it. Some motorists unfortunately die or suffer serious injuries because of it. WHKP News spoke with Sgt. Chris Knox with the North Carolina Highway Patrol Public Information Office...and he says that law is being enforced by state troopers, ...but it is hard to observe someone texting while driving. And we have to prove that they were texting. Sgt. Knox could not say how many tickets have been given to motorists in the Tar Heel state in any given period of time...but we do aggressively enforce that law along with our partners in law enforcement who are looking for violators. He pointed out what when motorists see that black and silver patrol car pull up next to them, if they were texting, they usually stop texting...so visibility on the part of law enforcement is a good deterrent. Sgt. Knox said troopers are relying on education too to help with the problem, with troopers going all over the state talking to as many groups as possible about the issue, and the danger, of texting while driving. We share some of the stories of families who have lost loved ones who were texting while driving that led to fatal accidents. We kow that we cant just rely on enforcement, so educations is a big part of what we do, said Knox. Knox said that its so hard to prove in a traffic stop, a motorists ...would really have to inform us that they were texting.. We cant physically take a phone from a motorist in a traffic stop...that is their property. I can say that our collision numbers show that distracted driving is continuing to be a problem, Knox said. He said troopers are seeing decreases in the number of impaired and speeding drivers in fatal collisions ...but our number of distracted drivers in fatal collisions is going up. The law is what it is...it says no texting, no e-mailing while driving> and we know that distracted driving has a lot to do with cell phones, says Knox. He points out that in the interest of safety, many companies do not allow cell phones to be used in company-owned vehicles. And many families have made the rule against texting while driving among themselves.. We all have to work together to address what has proven to be a big issue for ou state and nation, said Sgt. Knox. And in this special report for WHKP News, Sgt. Knox said We often see a crash where someone has crossed over the center line and hit another vehicle, or they slowly drift off the roadway and hit a ditch and overturn and someone is killed.. He adds that its hard to say for sure what made the driver do that......but now we can check cell phone records and determine that a phone had a big part in causing that crash. The numbers, he said, in our state and in the nation are showing a better picture of cell phone use while driving being a really big problem, said Sgt. Knox. By Larry Freeman and Tippy Creswell EMMY NOMINATED TV SERIES GETS GRANT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION EMMY-NOMINATED TV SERIES DAVID HOLTS STATE OF MUSIC RECEIVES GRANT FROM THE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION OF HENDERSON COUNTY The Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the Community Foundation of Henderson County to help fund Season 4 of David Holts State of Music, an Emmy-nominated public television series distributed nationally by PBS. David Holts State of Music is proud to bring the musical heritage and beauty of our Southern mountains to a national audience, said Will McIntyre, series producer and chairman of the Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation, which is based in Henderson County. Shot entirely on location in southern Appalachia, David Holt's State of Music showcases young performers as well as veteran masters of traditional music. David Holt, the four-time Grammy winning host, is a musician and storyteller who toured for a dozen years with the late Doc Watson. He says Our series features some of the finest performers of bluegrass, folk, gospel, and roots music. Many of these musicians arent known to the general public: some are young, some are older but overlooked. Were helping raise awareness of these artists by presenting them to the PBS audience. The first two seasons featured Rhiannon Giddens, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Wayne Henderson, the Kruger Brothers, Dom Flemons, Amythyst Kiah, Jeff Little, Alice Gerrard, Rayna Gellert, Laurelyn Dossett, the St. John AME Zion Unity Choir, Balsam Range, Josh Goforth, the Branchettes, Bryan Sutton, Mipso, and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Season 3, which will premiere in November, will present Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle, Jerron Blind Boy Paxton, Joe Newberry, April Verch, and Jerry Douglas. The series premiered on North Carolina Public Television (UNC-TV) in 2015. Nashville Public Television (NPT) is the presenting PBS station for David Holts State of Music, which is carried in nearly 90% percent of PBS markets in the United States. In addition to the latest grant, the Community Foundation of Henderson County and its component Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund have supported the production of David Holts State of Music from its first season through previous grants to the Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation totaling $60,000. The Community Foundation of Henderson County is a nonprofit, public charity that helps people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter by building permanent endowments and other philanthropic funds and by being strong stewards of donors gifts. The Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation is a 501(c)(3), charitable nonprofit that was established in 2009 to raise the profile of the arts and educational organizations through the creation of videos, books and photography for websites and related media. It is the prime fundraising entity for David Holt's State of Music. To learn more about David Holts State of Music, visit DavidHoltTV.org and follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. Find out when you can watch David Holts State of Music by checking your local PBS stations schedule. To help celebrate and preserve the traditional and modern musical heritage of Appalachia, please consider supporting the production of David Holts State of Music by making a tax-deductible contribution to the Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation at WillandDeni.org. 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. Joel Arrona was heading to a San Bernardino, California, hospital with his pregnant wife for a planned cesarean section when Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers detained him, forcing his wife to complete the journey and deliver the baby without him. Arrona, 35, is "a citizen of Mexico illegally residing in the United States" and has an outstanding warrant for homicide charges in Mexico, ICE said in a statement. Business and industry sectors Business, economy and trade California Continents and regions Health and health care (by demographic group) Health and medical Health care Health care facilities Hospitals Immigration Immigration, citizenship and displacement International relations and national security Maternal and child health Medical fields and specialties North America Obstetrics and gynecology Pregnancy and childbirth Southwestern United States The Americas Undocumented immigrants United States Women's health Government and public administration Government bodies and offices Government organizations - US US Department of Homeland Security US federal departments and agencies US federal government US Immigration and Customs Enforcement Latin America Mexico Arrest warrants Crime, law enforcement and corrections Criminal law Law and legal system Law enforcement Arrests His wife, Maria del Carmen Venegas, 32, says the charges are "a misunderstanding" in Mexico. His detention took place Wednesday, when Arrona was driving to the 10 a.m. appointment and decided to stop for gas. In an interview with CNN on Saturday, Venegas said people who "looked like security" knocked on her window. "I never imagined they were from ICE," Venegas said, adding that the officers didn't identify themselves as ICE and that she was unaware of their presence before they came knocking. The officers then asked for identification from both Arrona and his wife. Venegas says she is undocumented, but was able to provide a driver's license. Arrona, however, had left home "in a hurry," according to his attorney, Emilio Amaya Garcia, so he was unable to present ID. Venegas said she began pleading with officers because the couple was three blocks from their home and were on the way to the hospital. She started worrying when the officers cuffed her husband. "I was going crazy," she said. The agent reassured her not to worry and that her husband would be able to join her at the hospital in two hours and gave her a business card. That's when she realized it was ICE, she said. The encounter was captured on the gas station's security camera. Venegas waited at the gas station for a while, she said. Then she decided to leave, and pick up and drop off her children with someone, before heading to the hospital around 5 p.m. She had her baby boy, the couple's fifth child, on Friday, Garcia said. The couple has five children, three of whom were born in the US. She said she went back home Saturday night. "I'm well healthwise, but emotionally bad," she said. The whole ordeal for her has been a nightmare, she said. "I had wanted it to be a dream." ICE said in a statement that Arrona is in custody pending removal proceedings with the Executive Office for Immigration Review. "ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement in compliance with federal law and agency policy," the statement said. "ICE will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement. All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States." Saturday was the first day Venegas spoke with her husband since his detention. Both she and her husband are from Guanajuato, Mexico, she said. They knew each other as kids and got married in Mexico. Her husband came to the US 12 years ago, and she followed him two years later. UPDATE- Ohio State Highay Patrol confirmed Paul D. Randall Jr. is now in custody. They said they performed a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Guernsey County Ohio. They said Randall was a passenger in the car, and they believe the person driving the car was Randall's girlfriend. Randall was taken into custody and the driver of the vehicle was detained for further questioning. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- UPDATE- According to the State Highway Patrol in Ohio, Paul Randall Jr., who has a Dolgeville mailing address has been captured. Officials with the Ohio State Highway Patrol said he was found in Guernsey County in Ohio about two hours away from Cleveland. We are working on getting more details. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- CLEVELAND, OH. Authorities in Ohio are looking for a man from Herkimer County who they believe killed another man in Summit County Ohio on Friday night. Authorities said he could be on his way back to New York. Authorities are looking for Paul D. Randall, 34, from Herkimer County. Ohio State Patrol said they were called to an area in Bath Township to investigate a fatal traffic crash involving a pedestrian. Witnesses told troopers they saw two men, Randall and another man named Scott Reichard, 42 , having a verbal altercation. They said Randall got into Reichard's vehicle, knocked him down, ran him over, and fled. Later, authorities found Reichard's truck abandoned in a parking lot in downtown Cleveland. Randall was last seen wearing blue jeans and a black or red shirt. Police say he is considered dangerous and are asking people to avoid him. New York State Police and local authorities have been notified of the incident. They're asking anyone with any information to contact them at (315) 366-6000 or call 911. New Hartford, N.Y. - Oneida County Sheriff's officials say 32 year old Frank Bommarito Jr. of New Hartford was arrested at 2:30 Sunday morning after they say he made phone calls to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office threatening to kill law enforcement officers that attempted to make contact with him on Saturday. Bommarito Jr. is charged with Making a terroristic threat, a class D felony. Sheriff's officials say Bommarito Jr. was transported to the Oneida County Jail where he is being held and awaiting arraignment at the Oneida County CAP Court. The Oneida County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the New Hartford Police Department with the arrest. 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 One year after Sierra Leone suffered a devastating mudslide that wiped out entire communities in its capital, survivors say they are are struggling to afford meals and decent accommodation. Survivors who lost their livelihoods say they have no source of income to rebuild their lives. Accidents, disasters and safety Africa Continents and regions Floods and flooding Landslides Natural disasters Sierra Leone Western Africa Children Demographic groups Families and children Family members and relatives Population and demographics Severe weather Society Weather In the aftermath of the disaster, the government provided temporary accommodation for survivors. They also gave cash to others who opted to find alternative housing for their families. Pawa Koroma, 58, said he was given the equivalent of $300 by the government to rent a home for his family of nine. But despite that intervention, challenges remain. His rent is coming due, and he fears his family could be out on the streets again. "We are stranded again, and I have no source of income to renew this rent. We can barely afford a meal a day," he said. On Wednesday night, families and survivors dressed in symbolic black-and-white clothing returned to the areas where thousands of homes were washed away Hundreds of people gathered to pray during a candlelight memorial held for those who died in one of the worst natural disasters to hit the West African nation. Emotions ran high as a children's choir sang at the service organized by the Movement for Restoration for Mudslide Victims Organization. Families wept as victims' names were read out during the memorial. More than 1,000 people were declared dead or missing following the disaster on August 14 last year. The mudslide happened after torrents of mud water triggered by heavy rains and flooding brought the side of Mount Sugar Loaf crashing into shanty towns below the hillside. Koroma says the horrors of that fateful day still haunt him. He barely managed to get his wife and eight children to safety before the flood water buried his home. The carpenter said he was preparing for prayers in the early hours of that day when he saw torrents of muddy water charging toward his home in Lumley, one of the areas most affected by the disaster. "I have never seen that much water, people were screaming while it carried them. I was shouting to wake people up; unfortunately, many were sleeping," he said. He lost his younger sister, Fatu, who lived in the same community. Koroma believes she was swept away in the landslides that tore through thousands of homes. "I tried to get to her house, but everybody was running to get away from the water. I searched mortuaries after the incident. I did not find her. I went back to her house, it was no longer there," Koroma said. Aminata Bissa was asleep as deadly floods headed toward her house on the base of the hill. "Water is coming, water is coming, get out," she heard and quickly dragged her two children out of bed. Regent, a Freetown neighborhood, has witnessed many devastating mudslides caused by years of deforestation and flooding. Bissa, 29, said her home and shop, where she sold groceries to the community, were buried in the landslides. She has since resettled with her family in Kamayama, a community close to areas affected in last year's landslides. Like Koroma, she may soon become homeless. "My rent expires next month, where do I go with two children? Everyone I know has lost either their home and businesses in the mudslide," Bissa said. The government is addressing housing challenges facing those displaced by the floods, but requests have been overwhelming, a lawmaker told CNN. "The level of destruction by the mudslides is shocking, and we are still working every day to get people back on their feet," Ibrahim Conteh said. But none of these challenges compares to the loss suffered by those who lost family members. "Till now, I have not seen my elder sister and her two children. I have checked mortuaries, and I have not set my eyes on her body," Bissa said. Sierra Leone has endured many tragedies, but the August mudslides brought a new low to the country still reeling from an Ebola crisis that claimed 4,000 lives in 2014. Around 20,000 people were displaced, including 5,000 children, according to government officials. The desolation suffered by those affected drew humanitarian responses from around the world. International agencies and NGOs opened shelters across the country to house thousands of affected families. Sierra Leone is prone to natural disasters, especially recurring floods and landslides, provoked by climate change. The country ranks among 15 countries most vulnerable to disaster globally. Experts say while heavy rainfall triggered the mudslide, decades of unchecked development in the outskirts of the mountainous area of Freetown laid the ground for the disaster. OXFORD, Miss. (WTVA) - An Army ROTC cadet from Ole Miss earned an honor at Fort Knox, Kentucky over the summer in which 200 other cadets from across the nation were also up against. "Basic camp was just an intro into ROTC and a basic understanding of what the Army core values were and what they stood for," Matthew Schulman said. Schulman is going into his senior year at Ole Miss. Schulman spent part of his summer at Fort Knox and it was near the end of his time there when his drill sergeant told him he had good news and bad news. "He said well you're going to be in charge of about 250 to 300 cadets," Schulman said. "And I was like well that sounds like good news. So I was excited and he told me I was going to be the Commander of Troops for the graduation ceremony." "It is a great honor for Cadet Schulman as well as individually, but it goes beyond individual recognition because you know we are all part of a team," Lieutenant Colonel Joshua Taylor said. Taylor is the Professor of Military Science and Department Chair for the Army ROTC program at Ole Miss. Taylor along with other cadre members said Schulman has natural abilities that set him apart from other cadets. In three words, Sergeant Anthony Douglas said Schulman is "dependable, reliable, responsible." Douglas is the National Guard recruiter for the Army ROTC program at Ole Miss. Although classes begin Monday, the Army ROTC program has already begun training its freshmen class to become leaders like Schulman. For the last week, upper-class cadets have been working with freshmen cadets and preparing them for the new school year. On Thursday, freshmen cadets took their first physical test. "It was really cool to see how I was my first week and just how excited they are," Logan Kirkman, a sophomore cadet, said. "I really want to serve the United States Army so I felt like this was the best fit for me," Alexa Brown, a freshman cadet, said. "This new class has the most potential of any in the past three or four years," Douglas said. (RNN) - A former doctor who was convicted of raping a heavily sedated patient won't serve any prison time. A judge in Texas sentenced Shafeeq Sheikh to 10 years of probation on Friday, according to USA Today. He is also required to register as a sex offender. Sheikh was a physician at the Baylor College of Medicine. In 2013, a patient dealing with wheezing and shortness of breath checked into Houston's Ben Taub Hospital. She was sedated and kept overnight. Police said Sheikh sexually assaulted the victim in her room several times throughout the night. The nurses button in her room had been unplugged, so the victims calls for help went unheard. Security cameras captured him on the same floor as the victim and a rape kit tied him to the crime. Sheikh claimed the contact was consensual, but The Houston Chronical reported that the victim was not assigned to his care. Two years after the incident, Sheikh was arrested and charged. He was convicted on Thursday. He no longer works at the hospital and the Texas Medical Board revoked his medical license in 2015. The victim told KHOU she believes there are other victims. "Of course, yes, and the reason I think so is because this person had everything very organized," she said. I represent lots of women, women who've been raped and mistreated. Copyright 2018 Raycom News Network. All rights reserved. , , , ? "" . , . : . , ? ? . : , 38- , , , . 10 2-3 . , , . , , , . , , 1000 , , 23 . . . . , , , , , . . , , , . , - . : , , ? , ? . : , , . 1018 . 1018 . 1767 . , . - . . - . . , ? , , . - "". . ". " . " 1863 .", "" . , . , , . , , 5 , , . ". " . , . . I. , , , ". ". , ". ". ". " . - , I . , . , 19 , , I . , ", ". .. . " ", " , 500 , ". 500 , ", . ". : ? ? . : . , 471 . , - 505, - 471 . 1966 ., , 2-3 , - . , , . 2-3 . , , 100 . , , , , , , , , , . , , , , , , . - , . - , , . . , . . . . , , . , . . - . , , , , . . . , , , , . . . , , , , . , , 71 , , 25 . . , , , , . . - . , , . . , , 66 . , . , . , , . , 200 . : ? . : . . , . , . . - 18 . . . , 52 . , 2. . : , ? . : , , , . , . , , . , , 15 - , . . , , 1948 , , , , , , . , , , .. . , , . , -. , . , . . : ? . : , . . , , . ? : ? . : , . , , " ", " " " ". . , . . , , . . : "" , . . : , , . , , . " , . ." , . , . , . , . . . , , , , - " . . ." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 00:36:34|Editor: yan Video Player Close by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou ATHENS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Faced with the hardships of an acute debt crisis which brought Greece at the brink of default, Greeks "invested" among others in their pets to find moments of joy. As the circle of the eight-year bailout era closes on Aug. 20, Chryssa Chatzipavli, will hit the road with Vallie, her three-year old Dachshund who just got her wheelchair. After a recent serious spinal injury and a gloomy prognosis by vets, Chatzipavli wanted to offer the best solution to her four-legged friend who stood by her side in difficult moments. She turned down the idea of an expensive and painful operation with uncertain results and called Vassilis Tzigouras, a manufacturer of wheelchairs for pets in Athens. "After the accident we kept her inside and she was sad... Now she is doing fine... I chose this safe solution which will offer her a happy life," she told Xinhua on Friday. She did not think twice about the 150-250 euros (171 to 285 U.S. dollars) cost of the custom built wheelchair. Despite the austerity, even during the years of the crisis, Greeks spent on average 50-80 euros per month on their pets, according to a recent survey carried out by Keeppet, a local portal for pet owners. Six in ten Greeks who currently have pets adopted them in the past seven years, according to the survey. They are mainly dogs, cats, birds, but also fish and rabbits. Hundreds of these pets who had a major injury or suffered of illnesses leaving them handicapped, became Tzigouras' clients in the past three years. PET WHEELCHAIRS BUILDER A plumber in profession, who grew up with a cat or dog sitting constantly on his lap, Tzigouras is one of the three to four Greeks building wheelchairs for disabled animals. After watching videos on the internet on dog wheelchairs made of water supply tubes and seeing advertisements by owners of disabled pets on social media seeking "affordable and good quality wheelchairs", Tzigouras decided to try to build one in the summer of 2015. After consulting vets he made a wheelchair for Lupo, a 16-year-old German Shepherd suffering of degenerative myelopathy. Within the next few weeks he was bombarded with calls to make more and more such carts. So far, Tzigouras has designed and constructed tailor made wheelchairs for dogs, cats, a goat, a guinea pig, a turtle and a bear, he told Xinhua during an interview at his workshop. It took him six months to design and built the wheelchair for the bear cub which is hosted in a sanctuary in northern Greece. With the assistance of experts he had to study the way healthy cubs move and how the handicapped bear was struggling. It takes Tzigouras about a week to meet his four-legged clients at their place so that they feel less anxious, take measurements, design solutions to match their body shape and disability, gather the materials, build and deliver each wheelchair. He uses mainly lightweight aluminum and his friend Periklia Antonopoulou is working on the handmade anatomical pillow parts. They have clients all over Greece, Cyprus as well as other European countries. Although he was also hit by the crisis and now he is earning enough to cover his family's needs, he is not in pet wheelchair manufacturing for the money, but for the happiness he spreads, he stressed. "The moment I see an animal getting up again and being overwhelmed with joy, that moment I tell to myself that I will build another one and another one and another one. I love this thing," he said. He shares the tears of joy of people who were devastated seeing their friends suffering. "Some of them are crying when they come here. They are in a bad condition... They shed tears again when we go out for the first walk, but tears of happiness. People are so happy seeing their pets being happy again. The 99 percent of the animals run happy once they have the wheelchairs fitted," he said. Most of his customers were left disabled by illnesses rather than abuse, he noted. "There is more work to be done in Greece (in animal protection). There are people who abuse animals in rare cases, there are people who buy animals, get bored and throw them away, but there is also a tremendous effort on the other hand by people who love animals and make, let's say, the impossible possible to give animals a good life," Tzigouras stressed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 00:56:37|Editor: yan Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Shah Mahmood Qureshi was appointed as Pakistan's foreign minister on Saturday as Prime Minister Imran Khan approved a 20-member cabinet, Information Minister-designate Fawad Ahmed, who is also known as Fawad Chaudhry, said. The ministers will take oath on Monday morning, he said on his official Twitter account. Qureshi, who is a senior leader of the ruling Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party, served as foreign minister from March 2008 to February 2011 when the Pakistan Peoples Party was ruling the country. The prime minister also appointed five advisers, he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 01:36:43|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close CHICAGO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Human waste is full of nutrients that can be recycled into valuable products to promote agricultural sustainability and better economic independence for some developing countries. Researchers at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UI) have developed a model to clarify what parts of the world may benefit most from re-circulation of human-waste-derived nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus from cities and back into farm fields. They examined 56 of the largest cities across six continents to assess the feasibility of human-waste-derived nutrient recirculation, and looked at factors like transport distance, population and cropland density, crop nutrient requirements and what types of products would do best. Treated wastewater is an option for places where crops grow close to cities, such as many parts of Africa, Asia and Europe. However, water is challenging to transport because of its weight and relatively low nutrient content, so it is not a good option when nutrients must travel longer distances to reach farmland, the researchers said. The study shows that a variety of cities throughout the world could benefit from this proposed sustainability approach, not only for helping grow crops, but also for their economic independence. "We found, for example, that in Cairo, Egypt, if all of the nitrogen resources from wastewater were utilized, the city could cut Egypt's nitrogen fertilizer imports by roughly half," said John Trimmer, a UI graduate student and lead author on the study. "This type of approach could also help smallholder farmers in places like Sub-Saharan Africa gain better access to fertilizer than what is currently available." The study also identifies parts of the world where nutrient recirculation may have less impact. "Most of the population centers we looked at throughout the U.S. don't appear to be the best candidates," Trimmer said. "For example, places like New York and Boston are too far from intense agriculture areas. However, the Midwest - Chicago in particular - did a bit better in our analysis." The researchers acknowledge that there are limitations to this type of exercise. "The results of this exercise should be taken as estimates of nutrient transport distances and are useful for identifying broad trends and locations that may warrant further investigation into reuse strategies," said Jeremy Guest, a civil and environmental engineering professor and study co-author. The findings have been published in the journal Nature Sustainability. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 01:51:46|Editor: yan Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- China will increase funding to support weak links in the country's infrastructure, the banking and insurance regulator said Saturday. The country will step up credit support for infrastructure projects with sound capital base and good operation, on the condition that the funding won't add up to the hidden debt burden of local governments, the China Banking and Insurance Regulatory Commission said in an online statement. Insurance funds should support key projects via various financing channels including debts, stocks, or the combination of both forms, the statement said. Based on analysis of ongoing infrastructure projects, banks and insurers should meet reasonable financing demand in accordance with principles for market orientation and give necessary support to unfinished projects. The regulator also asked banks and insurers to step up financing for various sectors in the real economy, with favorable policies to be given to export-oriented companies and the private sector, according to the statement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 01:56:46|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta on Saturday directed Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) to step up fight against rampant corruption and economic crimes in the country. Kenyatta who held talks on anti-corruption fight with the EACC leadership in Nairobi, said he was pleased with the agency's progress in the recovery of assets and assured the EACC top leadership of his full backing. He urged the commission to work harder to support the achievement of Kenya's development goals. Kenyatta also advised the anti-graft agency to work closely with other agencies mandated to fight the vice, adding that the war against graft should not be a source of competition within government. He said the anti-corruption fight will bear more fruits if it is conducted through the multi-agency framework which brings together the Directorate of Criminal Investigation (DCI), the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) and the EACC as well as other security agencies. The renewed anti-corruption drive has led to unprecedented arrests of graft suspects and arraignment in court of senior government officials suspected of involvement in the theft of public resources. The suspects include wealthy businesspersons, senior government officials and politicians. Kenya Railways Corporation Managing Director Atanas Maina and Land commission chief Muhammad Swazuri are the latest high-profile individuals to be arrested in the East African nation following corruption in their organizations. Analysts said the war against corruption is part of Kenyatta's efforts to provide universal healthcare, create more industries, enhance food security and offer affordable housing under his Big Four Agenda. In the last financial year, EACC recovered illegally acquired assets and cash worth 4.9 million U.S. dollars from individuals and institutions through court proceedings and out-of-court settlements. Of the 4.9 million dollars collected, 760,000 dollars were cash recoveries while 4.1 million dollars were in form of assets comprising of land and other immovable assets. EACC chairman Eliud Wabukala informed Kenyatta that his agency has acted proactively and disrupted 12 suspected cases of corrupt dealings and in the process saved the country an estimated 47 million dollars that would have otherwise been lost. He added that the EACC is continuously and closely monitoring the use of funds in the counties and is working with citizens to ensure that public resources are used prudently. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 02:06:48|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- World Food Program (WFP)'s Ethiopia Country Director, Steven Were Omamo and United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) Representative in Ethiopia, Gillian Mellsop on Saturday called for scaling up of efforts to those affected by unrest in Somali regional state located in eastern part of Ethiopia. In a joint press statement, the two UN agencies said during the two officials' visit to Somali regional state earlier this week, they've witnessed the setting up of a humanitarian coordination committee comprising of government and humanitarian partners to identify food distribution points in the region. The statement however said despite the security situation in Somali regional state showing signs of stabilizing, children and women face enormous challenges in accessing basic services such as water and health. "The people here are facing enormous challenges, and we have been doing all we can to support them through food distributions over the past few days," said Omamo. "Children and women still face enormous challenges in accessing basic services such as water and health," said Mellsop. "Working with the regional government and our partners, we are doing our best to ensure that support continues to reach them even as we restore currently-suspended programmes for other vulnerable populations." Several cities in Somali regional state were scenes of deadly violence earlier this month after soldiers were dispatched to Jijiga city, capital of Somali regional state reportedly to arrest high level officials including Abdi Omar Mohammed, President of Ethiopia Somali regional state. The army intervention came amid reports of tension between the Ethiopian federal government and Somali regional state president over allegations of grave human rights abuses by Mohammed's administration. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 02:21:50|Editor: yan Video Player Close NAIROBI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Charles Kuta has been out of school for the past two years since a fire gutted his school deep in the sprawling Mathare slums in the Kenyan capital of Nairobi. The 17-year-old was hoping to sit for the final exams in primary school in 2016 but was forced to defer his dream of joining secondary school. Caso Upendo Primary School located at the heart of Mathare slums was burnt to the ground after a fire broke out in the neighboring temporary structures. Due to congestion and lack of roads through the informal settlement, county firefighters were unable to reach in time to save the school. As a result, about 400 students were sent home while their peers in more upmarket localities continued with their studies. So when Chinese charity organization, Dream Building Service Association (DBSA), funded the reconstruction of the school, students were elated at the prospect of rejoining formal education. The DBSA partnered with Chinese firms including KEDA ceramics to rebuild the school at a cost of 55,000 U.S. dollars. The school which has since been renamed KEDA DBSA School reopened its door on Friday, making it one of the few permanent structures in the sprawling slums associated with violent crime. Liu Yimenghan, director of the DBSA, told Xinhua at the school that the aim of his organization is to play a role in uplifting the lives of the less fortunate members of Kenyan society. Liu said in Nairobi that through his charitable work he hopes to change the perception of Chinese in Kenya. "We want to show that Chinese are in Kenya for benefit of Kenyans so as to achieve win-win relationship," Liu added The DBSA which was formed four years ago also has a school feeding program in Nairobi slums. "We are currently feeding 1,700 students in slum schools to help them keep in school," he added The DBSA has partnered with the China Red Cross Foundation and the Chinese Welfare Society Foundation to make the dreams of Kenyans come true regardless of their social economic background. Liu came to Kenya as an 11 year old after his mother relocated to Kenya to pursue business. He said the DBSA is already operating two other schools in Mathare slums and plans to expand its philanthropic activities to rural areas. Sammy Nyatota, the principal of KEDA DBSA School, said the Chinese donors are "a light" that has come to the Mathare slums. Nyatota said that without the help of the Chinese, the school would not have been rebuilt. "We did not have funds required to finance construction of new school buildings," he said. "We expect to attract even more students now that we have a school with modern infrastructure," he added. The principal added that children in slums are denied access to quality education and this affects their future. He noted that Chinese are now seen as genuine friends of Kenya due to the transformation they have carried out in the slum. He observed that through the Chinese help, the transition rate from primary to secondary school is likely to improve. Ryan Ochieng also hopes to rejoin class courtesy of the new KEDA DBSA School. The 14-year-old has been out of school since the school was razed to ground in 2016. He told Xinhua that both his parents are casual laborers with inconsistent income and therefore could not afford to join another school. "I never thought I would have an opportunity to purse my dream of becoming a doctor. Now with the help of Chinese help, I am one step closer to realize my goals." Ochieng said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 02:46:54|Editor: yan Video Player Close ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Saturday warned that vigilante violence in various parts of the country is endangering the rule of law of the country. Speaking during an inauguration event for Ethiopian Defense Forces staff in Addis Ababa, Ahmed said vigilante violence based on wrong information is costing the lives and properties of Ethiopians. Ahmed said the increasing tendency to use vigilante violence has the potential to destroy the country and the government is working to put those who resort to mob violence to attack others to justice. Ethiopia is reeling from a week of vigilante violence in various parts of the country, with photos of lynching, beatings and burning of religious institutions, shocking many in the east African country of around 100 million people. The vigilante violence mostly based on ethnic and religious lines have put into question the stability of Ethiopia which already hosts around 2.8 million Internally Displaced Persons. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 02:51:55|Editor: yan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The International Organization for Migration (IOM) on Saturday provided essential aids to the internally displaced from Libya's Tawergha in the capital Tripoli, one week after they were forcefully evicted from their camp by gunmen. The UN migration agency distributed "essential items to displaced Tawerghan families evacuated from Trig Al Matar" in coordination with humanitarian and local partners, IOM said. Last week, gunmen stormed Tawerghan displaced people's camp in Tripoli, kidnapped dozens of men, and forcefully evicted their families, according to the Association of the Families of Martyrs, Missing Persons, Detainees and Victims of Tawergha. The UN Support Mission in Libya on Friday condemned eviction of the Tawerghans, calling on the Libyan authorities to "provide shelter and protection for the evicted displaced, save those arbitrarily detained, and bring those suspected of having committed crimes to justice without delay." 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 City. 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. Earlier in June, Misurata and Tawergha, only 40 km apart, signed a peace treaty which allows nearly 40,000 Tawerghans to return home after seven years of displacement. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 03:42:03|Editor: yan Video Player Close TORONTO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Canadian Chinese began a series of events in Richmond Hill, Canada Friday to mark the 120th anniversary of late Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai's birth, with hundreds of people attending the opening ceremony. The events, including a large-scale concert, a photo exhibition and forums, will last six days to commemorate Premier Zhou Enlai who led establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Canada in 1970. Zhou Enlai's grandniece Zhou Rong rushed to Toronto from China to participate in the event with a book entitled "My Seventh Dad Zhou Enlai" written by her father Zhou Erliu, showing Zhou Enlai's unknown stories. "I've felt very much impressed and grateful. Lots of local Canadian Chinese people do so much contributions to make it happen, to make it successful," said Zhou Rong, who was a student in Canada and worked in Toronto in 1980s. "I felt this really is something special. As far as I know this is the first time for overseas Chinese to celebrate to memorize premier Zhou in countries other than in China," she added. Together with other founders of the People's Republic of China (PRC), Zhou Enlai played a significant role in the revolutionary years toward establishing the PRC in October 1949, and served as the premier until his death in January 1976. He had made unremitting efforts to develop the national economy, and shape foreign policies such as the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence in international relations, according to the organizers. Zhou, born in March 1898, is respected and commemorated in China and around the world. He is regarded as a major contributor to China-Canada diplomatic ties, according to the organizers of events. Rebel fighters from the Suqur Al-Sham brigades take a position in the countryside of the northern Idlib province on August 17, 2018. (AFP Photo) MOSCOW, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Russia has registered 27 cease-fire violations in three Syrian provinces over the last 24 hours, the Russian Defense Ministry said Saturday. The breaches were recorded in the provinces of Aleppo (13), Latakia (13) and Idlib (1), the ministry said in a daily report. Turkey has registered one cease-fire breach in Idlib, one in Aleppo and one in Hama during the same period of time. Both Russia and Turkey are guarantors of a nationwide Syrian cease-fire regime which came into force on Dec. 30, 2016. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 04:12:08|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close Flowers are placed under a portrait of the late former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the UN headquarters in New York, on Aug. 18, 2018. Officials from across the UN system paid tribute to Kofi Annan, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 80 in a Swiss hospital. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The flag at the UN headquarters in New York is flying at half-mast this Saturday as the organization marks the death of former Secretary-General Kofi Annan. Officials from across the UN system have been paying tribute to the man who led the global body for a decade, starting in January 1997. He was Secretary-General during what has been described as one of the darkest days in the organization's history: the Aug. 19 2003 bombing of the UN premises in Baghdad, Iraq, the first mass attack targeting the UN that killed 22 members of its staff. Incumbent UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres praised Annan as "a guiding force for good," saying "in these turbulent and trying times, his legacy as a global champion for peace will remain a true inspiration for us all." Guterres recalled being selected by Annan to serve as UN High Commissioner for refugees, saying he felt "deeply honored by his trust" and Annan was "someone I could always turn to for counsel and wisdom." "He provided people everywhere with a space for dialogue, a place for problem-solving and a path to a better world," he added. For Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, the outgoing UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Annan is simply "irreplaceable." "Kofi was humanity's best example, the epitome, of human decency and grace. In a world now filled with leaders who are anything but that, our loss, the world's loss becomes even more painful," he said in a statement. Before taking the reins of the organization, Annan held various senior level positions at the headquarters and in the field. At one point he was Zeid's immediate boss. The UN rights chief recalled a man who was ever courageous and though direct in speech, never discourteous. "Later, when I was an ambassador at the UN he inspired us, by being a dynamic and charismatic leader in his capacity as Secretary-General," Zeid continued. "And most of all, he was a friend and counsel -- to me and to so many others. Whenever, as UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, I felt isolated and alone politically I would go for long walks with him around Geneva, and listen." For Lise Kingo, CEO and Executive Director of the UN Global Compact, Annan is remembered as the visionary founder of her office, the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative. As the world embarked on the new millennium, Annan inspired the world's top business leaders to join governments in lifting the poorest nations out of poverty by adopting a more responsible and sustainable approach to business, producing this office. In creating the UN Global Compact, Annan asked corporate leaders to publicly commit to 10 principles based on UN agreements in the areas of human rights, labor, the environment and anti-corruption. "Some 18 years later, the concept of corporate sustainability is firmly established," Kingo said. "More than 9,000 of the world's leading private sector chief executives have joined the UN Global Compact and are driving new approaches to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals," in reference to the goals set in the UN's 2030 Agenda. She said as a result of Annan's vision, the UN Global Compact is attracting new participants on a daily basis. In addition, The Elders, an independent group of global leaders advocating peace and human rights where Annan was a founding member, expressed shock and sadness at his passing. Annan assumed the chair of The Elders in May 2013 and had been holding the position until his death. Gro Harlem Brundtland, deputy chair of The Elders, said "Kofi was a strong and inspiring presence to us all, and The Elders would not be where it is today without his leadership." He pledged on the group's behalf to "continue to uphold his values and legacy into the future." Annan was the seventh of nine men appointed secretary-general since the UN was established in 1945. He was the first to emerge from the ranks of UN staff and the second to come from the African continent. Annan and the UN were jointly awarded the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 05:12:16|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close LONDON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Scotland Yard on Saturday said that the suspect who slammed his car into security barriers outside the British Parliament on Tuesday was charged with the attempted murder of members of the public and the attempted murder of police officers. Salih Khater, the 29-year-old British citizen of Sudanese origin, was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after the car crash. He allegedly drove his Ford Fiesta into commuters and towards police officers before hitting a security barrier outside Parliament on Tuesday morning. A man and a woman were taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries. They have now been discharged. Another man was treated on the scene. Police have been granted a warrant to hold Khater in custody until Monday after his arrest on suspicion of preparing an act of terror. The suspect was unknown to MI5, according to the Metropolitan Police. The British Parliament is not far from the Westminster Bridge, where a terrorist attack took place in March 2017 when a man ploughed a car into crowds, killing five people. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 05:22:17|Editor: yan Video Player Close LISBON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said on Saturday that former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan was a "strong supporter of dialogue and cooperation among nations, the dignity of the human being and the basic principles of the Charter of the United Nations." Annan will be remembered as a tireless fighter for peace, as recognized by the Nobel Prize Committee and the United Nations, Rebelo de Sousa said in a message of condolences sent to the current UN chief Antonio Guterres. Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa also paid tribute to Annan. "Honor Kofi Annan, now deceased. As UN secretary-general, he was a world leader in the cause of peace, development and human rights. He was also one of the personalities who contributed most to the independence of East Timor," said Costa on his Twitter account. The Portuguese government took note with deep regret of the death of the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan, the Foreign Ministry said in a statement. Annan was an indefatigable defender of causes that guided his previous action as diplomat for his country Ghana, and as an official of the United Nations, the statement said. Portugal will remember him as an important secretary-general of the United Nations who exercised his mandate in a period of great changes in the international political order, the statement concluded. Annan died on Saturday at the age of 80 at a Swiss hospital. 17-year-old Hanin Jibai, who had survived an attack by Islamic State militants on her village, looks out through the window of her house, in the village of Shibki in the eastern countryside of Sweida Province in southern Syria, on Aug. 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) SWEIDA, Syria, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Hanin Jibai, 17, woke up one night to the sound of gunfire outside her house. Not knowing what was happening, she saw her mother holding a stick and fighting to prevent gunmen from breaking into the house. It was not a bad dream, but anyone's worst nightmare, as the gunmen who were militants with the Islamic State (IS) outside her house after storming her village of Shibki in the eastern countryside of Sweida province in southern Syria. This teenage girl went to bed without a clue in mind that her peaceful village would be overrun by IS before daybreak and her loss was huge. "I woke up to the sound of bullets whizzing through our door, the militants entered the house and killed my mother. They wanted to take me with them and I told my other two sisters to jump into a water tank inside our house," she told Xinhua. Jibai said there was no other way for her but to jump to encourage her two other sisters, both under 12, to follow her in the hope that they could survive. "I threw myself in front of them but they were scared as IS fighters saw us and one of them grabbed my hand as I was trying to hide inside the half-filled tank. I managed to jerk my hand out of his grip, but he grabbed my two sisters and didn't let them jump behind me," she recounted. Hiding inside the water tank has saved her life as the IS assailant thought she drowned, but he hustled the two sisters out of the home and killed them. The girl remained in her hiding place until she heard no more gunshots. She climbed out the tank and looked around, the first thing she saw was the body of her mother near the door. "When I left the water tank, I rushed to the place where my mother's medicine was, and swallowed many pills as I wanted to die, fearing the militants would come back inside," she said. Thankfully, the girl did not die but fainted under the impact of the pills before waking up on a hospital bed. Remembering her mother and two sisters, the girl, who lives now with her uncle, said she had never imagined her life without them, but "life must go on." "I accepted the fact that they are gone not kidnapped because at least I have a closure," she said, wearing a black sweater and pants as a symbol of grief. "Now I want to continue my education to fulfill the dream of my family of becoming a doctor," she said. The girl did not visit her house in the village after the attack, saying she cannot live there anymore alone after losing her family. But she said that she will only visit to take a look at her belongings in the simple village house, which is only a one-floor house with little furniture as her family was poor. No beds are inside the house, but a few mattresses on the ground. The blood of her mother is still near the front door along with the wooden stick she was holding desperately to defend herself and her daughters. Even empty bullet cases are still scattered on the front yard. The holes in the walls and the metal door are the evidence of the ferocious attack. Shibki village is one of the five villages the IS militants attacked on July 25 in Sweida countryside near the desert region. The attack was the largest in Sweida since the beginning of the Syrian war more than seven years ago, and 260 people were killed in village attacks and suicide bombings. The IS militants stormed houses in Shibki and other towns, kidnapping people while shooting dead others. The attack was a surprise by the IS, as no one thought a handful of IS militants in the desert would dare to launch such an attack before daybreak when all people were asleep. At the time of the attack, Jibai's cousin was at home with his father just a few meters away from Hanin's house. The IS militants also stormed his home and immediately shot dead his father who woke up to the sound of gunfire outside and fumbled to hold his rifle. The attackers spotted his cousin, a 34-year-old law graduate, and they yelled at him to surrender when a bullet fired from another near house distracted the IS fighters for a few second enough for him to escape the house. He found a rifle and joined other neighbors in defending their homes. The man was curious and worried about Jibai's house, whose father died long time ago. He inched closer but could not enter the house from its door. He and other villagers knocked down a rear window in Jibai's house and entered to save what could be saved. "After a period of clashes, I managed to reach the house and I was among the first to be there but snippers were near the house so I got engaged with them in a gunfire," her cousin said. The first thing he saw was the body of Jibai's mother on the ground. "We found Jibai inside the wooden body of the couch trembling unconsciously that's when we rushed her to the hospital," he narrated. The man said that IS militants retreated after the reinforcement of the Syrian army, he entered the house where several bodies were burned including Hanin's sisters, fired by the IS fighters. After the attack, he and other men in the village remained on alert, making patrols around the clock in case of IS attack, even though the Syrian army pushed back IS and besieged its fighters in an area called Tulol al-Safa in the remote eastern countryside of Sweida. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 05:32:18|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close File photo taken on June 30, 2012 shows then UN and Arab League Envoy to Syria Kofi Annan during a press conference in Geneva, Switzerland. Former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate Kofi Annan passed away at the age of 80 on Saturday, the Geneva-based Kofi Annan Foundation announced. (Xinhua/Xie Haining) GENEVA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- UN and European leaders on Saturday paid their tributes to former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Kofi Annan, who passed away on the day at the age of 80 in a Swiss hospital. In a mourning statement issued immediately after Annan's passing, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described Annan as "a guiding force for good", saying that "in many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations". Michael Moller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, said that with the passing of Annan, "Humanity has lost its strong moral voice, and I lost my mentor, my role model and great friend". "He was an exceptional human being, with an amazing balance, infallible political instinct and ever present compassion, always caring for others, particularly the less fortunate of us," he said. Joining the UN system in 1962 as an administrative and budget officer with the World Health Organization in Geneva, Annan has spent much of his life in this Swiss city, including being as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and later as the head of the Kofi Annan Foundation. "Since the 1980s, when he worked in Geneva until his last years he remained an enduring voice on behalf of refugees and all who are oppressed," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said. In him, the millions worldwide forced to flee wars and persecution had a constant champion at the highest international levels, Grandi added. For UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, Annan was "irreplaceable" and "humanity's best example and the epitome of human decency and grace". Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, called Annan as "a great defender of peace", saying that he was the very embodiment of peace and of a resolutely modern vision of the United Nations. "His conviction that a culture of peace should be developed was fully in line with the mandate and daily commitment of UNESCO," she said. While mourning Annan, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that Annan, as an old friend and inspiration for him, had devoted his life to making the world a more peaceful and united place. "His achievements as UN Secretary-General were rightly recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize and many other accolades throughout his life. But the greatest recognition we can give Kofi Annan is to keep his legacy and his spirit alive," he added. French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday also paid tribute to the former UN chief, saying that the world will never forget his calm and resolute approach to matters, nor the strength of his commitments. "France pays tribute to him," Macron wrote on his twitter account. A statement released by the office of Italian President Sergio Mattarella said that with Annan's demise, the international community lost a landmark figure, and the United Nations lost a former leader of peace, human rights and sustainable development. British Prime Minister Theresa May also expressed her sadness at Annan's death. Saying that Annan was a great leader and reformer of the UN, the British prime minister said that Annan had made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into. Describing Annan as a great peace builder, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Saturday that with the passing of the former UN chief, the world has lost "a most staunch supporter of the rule-based international order". "It was with great regret that I received information about the death of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; in our memory he will remain as a person who worked tirelessly to protect human rights and improve living conditions in Africa," Polish President Andrej Duda wrote in a condolence telegram. Born in Ghana in 1938, Annan was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, served from 1997 to 2006 and was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations staff. As Secretary-General, one of Annan's main priorities was a comprehensive program of reform aimed at revitalizing the United Nations and making the international system more effective. He was a constant advocate for human rights, the rule of law, the Millennium Development Goals and Africa, and sought to bring the Organization closer to the global public by forging ties with civil society, the private sector and other partners. Annan was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize for Peace, jointly with the UN. Profile: Former UN chief, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 05:42:20|Editor: yan Video Player Close RIYADH, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- The Saudi government on Sunday announced its full readiness for the Hajj season starting on Sunday. More than two million pilgrims will mark the Day of Tarwiyah, the first Hajj ritual, in Mina, a neighborhood of the holiest Islamic city of Mecca. Afterwards, pilgrims will leave Mina at dawn on Monday for Arafat to mark the Day of Arafat, the most important Hajj ritual. To ensure the safety of pilgrims, a comprehensive security and safety plan has been set up to transport people between ritual sites. Meanwhile, the Saudi Health Ministry announced a plan to protect pilgrims with the allocations of 25 hospitals and 155 health centers at all sites, with a capacity of 5,000 beds, 180 ambulances and 100 vehicles converted into mobile medical units. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 06:27:26|Editor: yan Video Player Close DUBLIN, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Irish Prime Minister Leo Varadkar on Saturday described the deceased former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Kofi Annan as "a true multilateralist". Varadkar made the remark in a statement issued after the announcement of the death of the former UN chief at a hospital in Switzerland earlier in the day. "I was very sorry to hear of the passing of Kofi Annan. He was a man I had the opportunity to meet earlier this year," said Varadkar in the statement. "He was a true multilateralist, at a time when we need multilateralism, and a tireless advocate for world peace," he said. "He remained involved in public life after his retirement and will be long remembered for his commitment to the betterment of the global community," said Varadkar. Irish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs, Simon Coveney, also expressed his condolences on the death of Annan. In a statement published on the website of the Irish foreign ministry, Coveney said: "Kofi Annan was an exceptional international statesman who worked tirelessly for a more peaceful and equal world, both during his long and illustrious career in the United Nations and since his retirement, championing the cause of peace and reconciliation, in particular on his own beloved continent of Africa." "With the sad passing of Kofi Annan, the international community has lost one of its greatest champions for these causes," he said, adding that Annan "was a dear friend of Ireland". Born in 1938 in Ghana, Annan served as the seventh UN Secretary-General from January 1997 to December 2006. He was also the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 07:07:30|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Governments and leaders across Latin America on Saturday mourned the death of former United Nations secretary-general and Nobel Peace Prize winner, Kofi Annan. Annan, who has died aged 80 after a short illness, was a widely respected diplomat, holding the position of UN secretary-general from 1997 to 2006. He was also chair of The Elders, an independent group of world leaders founded by Nelson Mandela that sought peace and the respect of human rights around the globe. In an official communication, Argentina's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Culture said that "In the course of his years at the United Nations and after his retirement, Kofi Annan demonstrated his profound commitment to peace and his tireless humanitarian calling." Bolivian President Evo Morales on Twitter said, "We are very sad for the passing of Kofi Annan ...Our condolences to his family." The President said Bolivian will always remember with gratitude Annan's acknowledgement of Bolivia's demand for sea access, and his efforts to further the dialogue with Chile. Former Chilean president, Michelle Bachelet also tweeted her sympathies, stating "Today the world lost a promoter of peace and dialogue. We will miss his leadership and human quality." Similarly, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, due to leave office November 30, said via Twitter that Annan was a "Great leader and extraordinary human being. His contributions to peace and and human rights are his legacy." Annan passed away in the early hours of Saturday morning in a hospital in Bern, Switzerland surrounded by his wife and three children. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 07:17:31|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has ended the development fund for Syria, urging "rich countries" to pay instead. In a tweet, Trump said "the United States has ended the ridiculous 230 Million Dollar yearly development payment to Syria." "Saudi Arabia and other rich countries in the Middle East will start making payments instead of the U.S.," he said. "I want to develop the U.S., our military and countries that help us!" Earlier on Friday, the U.S. State Department said that the fund, which was targeted to support the stabilization initiative in Syria, has been ordered to be redirected, ramping up speculation that it would be withdrawn from the country. U.S. former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced on Feb. 13 that the United States pledges 200 million U.S. dollars in support of the anti-IS coalition efforts and recovery commitment in Syria. However, Trump reportedly ordered in March a hold on the funds, demanding more information on how the money is being used, and urging other countries to step up to the plate and pay more. He also said that his country will withdraw its troops in Syria "very soon," triggering speculation of the U.S. possible retreat from Syria. Syria has always denounced the U.S. military action in the country as uninvited aggression. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 07:22:32|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close SAN FRANCISCO, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Researchers from the University of California at Riverside (UC Riverside) are studying reasons why doctors at some U.S. hospitals are not happy at work, an element that contributes to growing physician burnout in recent years. Andrew G. Alexander, an associate clinical professor of family medicine, and Kenneth A. Ballou, an assistant clinical professor of family medicine, who are both from the UC Riverside School of Medicine, found that physician burnout in American hospitals has increased from 45.5 percent to 54.4 percent in three years. In their research paper published in the August 2018 issue of the American Journal of Medicine, the two researchers found that U.S. doctors are more likely to feel depressed and unhappy at work than at home. They attributed the physician burnout to three major reasons, namely, the distorted doctor-patient relationship, feelings of cynicism on the part of patients who did not choose continuity of care, and the lack of enthusiasm for work. They said doctors are not pleased with their work because their relations with patients have been distorted into an insurance company-client relationship, which limits doctors' treatment to their patients. On the other hand, the physicians are often dismayed at patients who often frequently change doctors and disrupt the care that they should have received in a stable, continuous way. The two UC researchers also found that doctors have spent two much time on electronic health records (EHRs), which took away the time that doctors should have stayed with their patients. "Go into any hospital and look for the nurses and the doctors. You will find them sitting in front of computers. They are not happy, and their patients are not healthier," Alexander said. When doctors spend more time with EHRs than they do with patients, they are often busy on computers finishing EHR records and doing unreadable and meaningless cloned patient notes, which eventually turned them into "overworked robots," Alexander noted. He said doctors should oppose EHRs that occupy valuable doctor-patient time, and computerized notes should be templated for meaningful patient care notes. "Doctors have a wonderful job, yet they are inundated with numerous extraneous burdens that collectively rob them of the joy of medicine," said Alexander. U.S. President Donald Trump arrives aboard Air Force One for campaign fundraising events in Southampton, New York, U.S., August 17, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS) WASHINGTON, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has ended the development fund for Syria, urging "rich countries" to pay instead. In a tweet, Trump said "the United States has ended the ridiculous 230 Million Dollar yearly development payment to Syria." "Saudi Arabia and other rich countries in the Middle East will start making payments instead of the U.S.," he said. "I want to develop the U.S., our military and countries that help us!" Earlier on Friday, the U.S. State Department said that the fund, which was targeted to support the stabilization initiative in Syria, has been ordered to be redirected, ramping up speculation that it would be withdrawn from the country. U.S. former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced on Feb. 13 that the United States pledges 200 million U.S. dollars in support of the anti-IS coalition efforts and recovery commitment in Syria. However, Trump reportedly ordered in March a hold on the funds, demanding more information on how the money is being used, and urging other countries to step up to the plate and pay more. He also said that his country will withdraw its troops in Syria "very soon," triggering speculation of the U.S. possible retreat from Syria. Syria has always denounced the U.S. military action in the country as uninvited aggression. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 09:52:55|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close XI'AN, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Police in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, arrested three suspects for stealing about 600 million yuan (around 87 million U.S. dollars) worth of virtual currency by hacking, local police said. Police in Xi'an received reports in March from a man claiming his computer was illegally intruded and more than 100 million yuan worth of bitcoin and ether were stolen. After an initial investigation, police found the suspects had remotely hacked the virtual currency account. Police tracked down the suspects after three months with the help of several Chinese internet companies and arrested the hackers two months later on August 15. Further investigation is underway. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 09:57:56|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Chairman of Libya's High Council of State Khaled al-Meshri said Saturday that fees should be imposed on the purchase of foreign currencies in Libya in order to boost the exchange rate of the local currency. Al-Meshri made the remarks during a meeting with Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General in Libya Stephanie Williams in the capital Tripoli. Al-Meshri said that "the current stage requires imposition of fees on purchase of foreign currencies, in order to reach a balanced price (of foreign currencies)," according to a statement by the council's information office. The two sides discussed political and economic developments in Libya, the constitution referendum law, as well as means to solve internally displaced people. The council is an advisory body for the Libyan government. It plays an important role in making state policies and choosing candidates for some key offices. Oil-rich Libya has been plagued by insecurity and political division since the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Libya's economy has since been suffering a lack of liquidity in banks and a dramatic drop in the exchange rate of the local currency against foreign currencies. Photo taken on Aug, 9, 2018 shows submerged houses due to heavy rains in Idukki, the southernIndian state of Kerala. (Xinhua/Stringer) NEW DELHI, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- As the southern Indian state of Kerala reels under a massive flooding, several state governments across the country have announced aid as their contribution to the relief fund. The Indian government has pressed in dozens of boats and helicopters to evacuate people from the flooded areas. Hundreds of Indian troops stepped up efforts to rescue thousands of people stranded in the deluge. Chief Minister of southern Telangana state K Chandrashekar Rao has announced a relief of over 3.5 million U.S. dollars to aid Kerala. The chief minister has instructed chief secretary to handover the aid to Kerala government, a government spokesman said. State governments of Punjab, Bihar, Haryana, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and some other states have also announced assistance. On Saturday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi carried out an aerial survey of the flood-hit Kerala and announced a relief of 71.6 million U.S. dollars for the battered state, in addition to 14.3 million U.S. dollars announced earlier. Authorities said the floods have destroyed over 10,000 km of roads and thousands of residential houses. Disaster management officials said it will take some time to make a proper damage assessment. The airport in Kochi has been shut at least till Aug. 26 and flight operations have been shifted to state capital Thiruvananthapuram. Indian Meteorological department officials said until Aug. 16 actual rainfall recorded in the state was 619.5 mm, compared to the normal 244.1 mm. Officials in Kerala described the flood as the worst in a century. According to the local government, the flood claimed 324 lives and displaced thousands of people. "Kerala is facing its worst flood in 100 years. 324 lives lost and 223,139 people are in over 1500 relief camps," a government statement said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 10:12:59|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close People evacuate from a flood-striken area in Kochi of Kerala State in India, on Aug. 18, 2018. (Xinhua) NEW DELHI, Aug 19 (Xinhua) -- The death toll in India's floods-hit southern state of Kerala has risen to 357, even as rescue and relief work is being carried out on a war footing. Banana and paddy crops spread over 850 acres of land have been destroyed, said unofficial estimates. Nearly 250,000 people have been shifted to over 1500 relief camps set up across the state, and many more are being rescued from their submerged houses. All the three wings of India's defence forces -- army, navy and air force, have been pressed into service to save lives in the devastated state witnessing worst ever floods in a century. Directly suprervised by the country's Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the rescue and relief work is being carried out by as many 67 helicopters, 24 aircraft, 548 motorboats, and thousands of personnel from the Indian Air Force, Indian Navy, Indian Army and the Indian Coast Guard in the flood-affected areas. While rescuing, priority is being given to those taken ill, the old, women and children. Meanwhile, situation is slowly returning to normalcy even as the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) on Saturday night withdrew the red alert from as many as eight of the 13 districts affected by the deluge. Rains have been predicted on Sunday as well. A meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) is held in New Delhi on a daily basis to take stock of the situation and review the rescue and relief operation depending on the requests from the state government. Basic necessity items like food materials, medicines, clothes, etc., are being air dropped among the affected people with the help of choppers. Financial and other aid have been committed by several sources. Several Indian states have announced financial assistance and other relief materials for the people in the state. Prime Minister Modi had announced on Saturday an immediate financial assistance of five billion Indian Rupees (around 75 million U.S. dollars) for the floods-ravaged southern state of Kerala. This was in addition to 15 million U.S. dollars announced by the Center government earlier a few days ago. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 10:25:40|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close People watch lanterns during the indoor Lantern Festival of the 2018 Canadian National Exhibition(CNE) in Toronto, Canada, Aug. 18, 2018. In celebration of the 2018 Canada-China Year of Tourism, this year's 18-day fair feasts visitors with a spectacular indoor lantern festival that features "larger-than-life exotic lanterns, stories-high in stature," creating a luminous kaleidoscope of colors. The designs of the 17 picturesque Chinese lanterns on display are based on legends and myths associated with the ancient Silk Road, creating an exploratory experience for all. (Xinhua/Zou Zheng) Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 12:08:13|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close BUENOS AIRES, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- River Plate continued their lethargic start to the Superliga Argentina season with a goalless home draw against Belgrano on Saturday. The result at the Monumental Stadium followed River's 0-0 draw at Huracan in the previous weekend's opening round of fixtures. It left the Buenos Aires giants 11th in the 26-team standings while Belgrano occupied 10th spot ahead of Sunday's matches. Meanwhile, former Ajax and Nice striker Dario Cvitanich converted a first-half penalty as hosts Banfield defeated Gimnasio La Plata 1-0. In other matches on Saturday, Atletico Tucuman drew 1-1 at Defensa y Justicia and Argentinos Juniors were held 0-0 at home to Godoy Cruz. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 12:43:18|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Flowers are placed under a portrait of the late former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the UN headquarters in New York, on Aug. 18, 2018. Officials from across the UN system paid tribute to Kofi Annan, who passed away on Saturday at the age of 80 in a Swiss hospital. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- World leaders have been mourning the death on Saturday of Kofi Annan, the Ghanian diplomat who was secretary-general of the United Nations (UN) from 1997 to 2006. In a statement issued immediately after Annan's death, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described him as "a guiding force for good", saying that "in many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations." Michael Moller, director-general of the UN Office at Geneva, said: "Humanity has lost its strong moral voice, and I lost my mentor, my role model and great friend." "He was an exceptional human being, with an amazing balance, infallible political instinct and ever present compassion, always caring for others, particularly the less fortunate of us," Moller said. "Since the 1980s, when he worked in Geneva until his last years he remained an enduring voice on behalf of refugees and all who are oppressed," said UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi who hailed the charismatic international statesman as an "international leader, wise mentor, valuable adviser, good friend, role model." Joining the UN in 1962, Annan spent much of his time engaging in humanitarianism-related work. He worked for the World Health Organization's Geneva office while in Switzerland, and went on to serve as UN under-secretary-general for peacekeeping operations between 1992 and 1996. Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, UN high commissioner for human rights, said Annan was "irreplaceable" and "humanity's best example and the epitome of human decency and grace." Audrey Azoulay, director-general of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), called Annan "a great defender of peace," saying that he was the very embodiment of peace and of a resolutely modern vision of the UN. "His conviction that a culture of peace should be developed was fully in line with the mandate and daily commitment of UNESCO," she said. "Mr. Annan spent his life advocating for peace and human dignity during his long career at the United Nations," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement expressing his sadness over the death of Annan. "Even after leaving his post as Secretary-General he embodied the mission of the United Nations, by sowing the seeds of peace as Chair of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders committed to advancing the cause of peace and promoting human rights around the world," he said. In a statement carried by the Russian presidential press office, Russian President Vladimir Putin was quoted as saying: "I sincerely admired his wisdom and courage as well as his ability to make balanced decisions even under the most dire and critical circumstances." "Russians will keep the memory of him forever," Putin added. European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that Annan, as an old friend and inspiration for him, had devoted his life to making the world a more peaceful and united place. "His achievements as UN Secretary-General were rightly recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize and many other accolades throughout his life. But the greatest recognition we can give Kofi Annan is to keep his legacy and his spirit alive," he added. German Chancellor Angela Merkel said in a statement that Annan shaped the UN "like hardly anyone before him." "He knew how to spark enthusiasm, particularly among young people." Merkel added that "in our present time, in which the common search for solutions to global problems is more urgent than ever, we will greatly miss Kofi Annan's voice." French President Emmanuel Macron said the world will never forget his calm and resolute approach to matters, nor the strength of his commitments. "France pays tribute to him," Macron tweeted. Italian President Sergio Mattarella said in a statement that with Annan's passing, the international community lost a landmark figure, and the UN lost a former leader of peace, human rights and sustainable development. British Prime Minister Theresa May wrote on Twitter: "Sad to hear of the death of Kofi Annan. A great leader and reformer of the UN, he made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into. My thoughts and condolences are with his family." Describing Annan as a great peace builder, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said the world has lost "a most staunch supporter of the rule-based international order." "It was with great regret that I received information about the death of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; in our memory he will remain as a person who worked tirelessly to protect human rights and improve living conditions in Africa," Polish President Andrej Duda wrote in a condolence telegram. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also expressed his sorrow. "We express our profound sorrow at the passing away of Nobel laureate and former UNSG Kofi Annan. The world has lost not only a great African diplomat and humanitarian but also a conscience keeper of international peace and security," he tweeted. "My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace," he added. In Annan's home country of Ghana, President Nana Akufo-Addo declared a week of national mourning starting on Monday, during which flags in the country and at its diplomatic missions would fly at half-staff. "He brought considerable renown to our country by his position and through his conduct and comportment in the global arena ... He was an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanian to chart his or her own course onto the path of progress and prosperity," Akufo-Addo said in a statement. "In this moment of sorrow, I condole with his family, relatives and friends. My thoughts and prayers go out to them as they come to terms with this sad news," Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta said in a statement. Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the African Union Commission, said Annan was "a great man, a dear brother." Annan was widely recognized for his role in advancing African agendas not only within the UN, but also after his retirement from the secretary-general's post. For example, he has for many times called on the international community to step up efforts to combat HIV/AIDS, especially in sub-Saharan Africa where the epidemic was pandemic. He urged fresh funding to fight the disease at an African leaders summit in 2001. Annan founded the Kofi Annan Foundation in 2007 to continue to promote better global governance and strengthen people's capacities to build a fairer and more peaceful world. The Elders, an group gathering former leaders founded by late South African President Nelson Mandela, said they were "shocked and deeply saddened" by the death of Annan, who they said represented "a voice of great authority and wisdom in public and private." "His quiet advice on how best to defuse impending crises was in constant demand from all corners of the globe, in particular from Africa," the group's deputy chair Gro Harlem Brundtland said. An advocate for human dignity and international development, Annan, the first black African to head the UN, navigated the world body through one of its most testing times. He was awarded along with the UN the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001, shortly after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on the United States. The Geneva-based Kofi Annan Foundation announced the former UN chief's death in Swiss capital Bern on Saturday. He was 80. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 13:18:25|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close by Raul Menchaca HAVANA, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Cuba's Havana Carnival kicked off Friday with music, dances, floats as well as food and drinks, with an expanded program to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the city's founding in 2019. The carnival, which emerged during the island's Spanish colonial period, is an expression of the diversity of the Cuban culture and is deeply connected with the local population. During the next two weekends, Havana's broad avenue and seawall, the Malecon, will be the setting of a gigantic party as thousands sing and dance to the beats of 14 floats and 18 "comparsas," or dancing groups. "The festival is a Cuban tradition, passed from generation to generation," Orlando Betancourt, who has led the dance group "Los Jovenes del Este" (Youth of the East) for over a decade, told Xinhua. Cuba's capital, Havana, and the country's second most important city, Santiago de Cuba, often argue over who throws the most lavish parties. The general consensus among the party goers on the Malecon is that the Havana Carnival is the premier Cuban festival. "Santiago de Cuba's festivals are good, but Havana's are great," said Adisvinda Vinagera, a dancer from the 110-year-old "El Alacran" (The Scorpion). The festivals are influenced by the island's religious history and the mix of African and Spanish heritage. The roots of the carnival can be traced to the celebrations of the annual Catholic feast day, Corpus Christi, on which African slaves brought to the island in the 16th century by the Spanish were allowed to celebrate the songs and dances of their native homelands. The Haitian, French, and later Chinese immigrants have also had an impact on Cuba's culture, which can also be seen during the Havana Carnival. The very first carnival in the Cuban capital was held Feb. 24, 1895, and was run every February until the early 1960s. After the Cuban Revolution, it was moved to the summer to coincide with the end of the sugar harvest and other important historical dates. With the sea breeze offering a respite from the persistent heat of the Havana summer, the carnival continues to attract Cubans of all ages. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 13:43:29|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close by Carina Lopez MEXICO CITY, Aug. 18 (Xinhua) -- Massive quantities of Sargassum seaweed are invading Caribbean beaches mostly thanks to global warming and countries should work closely with scientists for a sustainable solution, said a researcher at a leading Mexican university on Saturday. Brigitta Ine Van Tussenbroek, an expert on tropical marine vegetation, is from the Netherlands and is now working as a senior researcher at the Institute of Ocean Sciences and Limnology in the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). "The original Sargasso Sea was located close to the Bermuda Islands, and the rising sea temperature in the last decade has allowed the seaweed to grow enormous amounts in northern Ecuador," she told Xinhua. According to the Dutch expert, the presence of Sargassum could alter the local ecosystem. "If this crisis continues and is not managed properly, it will permanently change the ecosystem; this is a very serious problem," she said. Sargassum has already become a nuisance on beaches in the southeast Mexican state of Quintana Roo, where major holiday resort Cancun is located. The seaweed's brown color and unpleasant smell is a negative factor for tourism, which according to government data accounts for 8.5 percent of the Mexican economy. "This crisis is an indicator of growing contamination and the damage caused directly by human activities, 100 times worse than before, in the seas and coasts of the Caribbean," Ine Van Tussenbroek said. To counter this threat, the head of the Seagrass Laboratory of the UNAM wants to create a comprehensive management plan that combines science, legislation, economic investment and the participation of local people. The UNAM and the Mexican government have also formed a scientific committee to provide solutions. Following advice from the university, the initial step will be to improve seaweed collection systems. The effectiveness of the three-mile (about 4.8 km) ocean barrier already installed around beaches in Quintana Roo will be evaluated, and plans for a sustainable removal of the seaweed will be moved forward. Seaweed arrival warning systems will be tested, to be supported by satellite technology from UNAM's Geography Institute. Lastly, a feasibility study is underway on the industrial-scale use of seaweed so that an economic value can be extracted from the organic waste. Experts are already considering the use of the Sargassum in food, pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, or as a biofuel. "Extensive studies are needed to stop the Sargassum crisis in Mexico," said Ine Van Tussenbroek, "but the international scientific community has been consulted and we have already had a very important exchange of information." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 13:53:31|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations' (UN) Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) supported relief operations in 36 countries with some 420 million U.S. dollars dedicated to life-saving actions for millions of people in need throughout 2017, according to a recent report issued by the fund. CERF's 2017 annual report details how CERF and its partners ensured the strategic use of 418.2 million dollars in donor contributions to deliver aid of the highest priority, where and when it was needed the most. "In 2017, I saw how CERF changed the lives of many ... it is without question, one of our most important tools to reach people quickly and save lives," UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs Mark Lowcock was quoted as saying by the report. Highlights in the report include support for displaced families across the world, including the Rohingya refugees crossing borders from Myanmar to Bangladesh in search for safety. The report also demonstrates the impact of early CERF funding following the warning signs of famine in northeast Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan and Yemen. It noted that CERF acted as a lifeline for people facing the consequences of natural disasters throughout the Caribbean region and for those caught up in the world's most underfunded crises, such as in Afghanistan, Chad and Sudan. Furthermore, through a 20-million-dollar loan from CERF, the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) was able to avoid a disruption in critical humanitarian services for the most vulnerable refugees across its fields of operation, the report said, citing UNRWA's chief Pierre Krahenbuhl. Meanwhile, CERF's donors helped the fund raise a total of 514.6 million dollars in funding in 2017, setting a record and reaching well beyond the 450-million-dollar target for the year. The top three donors are Britain (102.6 million dollars), Germany (82.8 million dollars) and Sweden (76.0 million dollars). "We need a larger CERF so that more people will be reached with life-saving aid at the earliest stages of crises," Lowcock said. He added that "a strong CERF able to deliver on its mandate is every member state's responsibility, and a step towards our commitments to leave no one behind and reach the furthest left behind first." CERF was introduced in 2006 to deliver funding quickly to humanitarian responders and better balance global distribution of emergency assistance. It has provided over 5 billion dollars worth of assistance to some 100 countries and territories across the globe. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 14:53:40|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close CANBERRA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Australian farmers struggling with the worst drought in decades will have access to a 1.8 billion Australian dollars (1.3 billion U.S. dollars) for relief, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced on Sunday. Under the significant funding boost, 60 drought-affected councils on Australia's east coast will be handed one million Australian dollars each to be spent however they see fit on drought relief. Of the 60 councils, 36 are in New South Wales where the entire state is affected by drought, 22 in Queensland and two in Victoria. "This is really important, to get some more cash into these communities, to do long overdue work of the type the councils are always attending to," Turnbull told reporters on Sunday. "That's going to provide some more jobs and some more income into the town." Of the 1.8 billion Australian dollars (1.3 billion U.S. dollars), 250 million Australian dollars (182 million U.S. dollars) was announced as new funding by Turnbull on Sunday. A majority of the relief funding will be distributed in the form of low-interest loans which will have to be paid back and do not affect the Federal Budget. Turnbull announced on Sunday that the amount farmers can borrow in low-interest loans would be doubled to two million Australian dollars (1.46 million U.S. dollars) and the amount available for loans would be doubled to 500 million Australian dollars (365 million U.S. dollars). Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 15:08:42|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close Afghans celebrate Afghan Independence Day in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Afghanistan, Aug. 19, 2018. Afghanistan on Sunday marked the 99th anniversary of its independence from the British Empire occupation amid deteriorating security situation.(Xinhua/Rahmat Alizadah) KABUL, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Afghanistan on Sunday marked the 99th anniversary of its independence from the British empire occupation amid deteriorating security situation. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani laid a wreath at the Independence Minaret during an official celebration held Sunday morning inside the country's Defense Ministry compound after inspecting guards of honor. The president paid tribute to security forces who have sacrificed their lives for stabilizing peace and security as the country, especially Kabul, has witnessed waves of terror attacks by the Islamic State (IS) outfit and Taliban insurgents over the past few months. Earlier in the day, Afghan teenagers and youths marched by cars and bikes through the streets of Kabul while carrying national flags. "As we are celebrating Independence Day Sunday, I am calling on Afghan politician to put an end to the political differences and get the country out of poverty," resident Azizullah told Xinhua. "It is natural for all Afghans to think of their safety and security but we are suffering from bloody militancy and terrorist attacks in big cities and countryside. We want an end to this situation. We want a secure, prosperous and strong country," he added. "Afghanistan's security must be the top priority. Afghanistan is capable of ensuring its own security and strong enough to defend against any threats against the country. I praised our strong security forces. But the politician and government must support the soldiers and police as they suffer from lack of supplies and food in far districts," another resident Mohammad Sijad told Xinhua. Earlier on Sunday, two rounds of rockets were fired into eastern side of Kabul city, leaving no casualties or damage. Afghan people under the leadership of then king Amanullah Khan regained independence from Britain on Aug. 19, 1919. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 15:43:47|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close By Yoo Seungki SOKCHO, South Korea, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Min Byung-hyun, an 85-year-old South Korean grandfather, showed up in wheelchairs at a hotel in the country's northeast coastal city of Sokcho Sunday to reunite with his younger sister from the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) he has never met since the Korean War broke out in 1950. Two of his younger sisters ended up in the DPRK since the war ended three years later with armistice that left the Korean Peninsula divided. Min recently heard from the South Korean Red Cross that one of his sisters was still alive though the other passed away 25 years ago. Min lost both of his parents during the war. While fleeing southward, he was separated from the sisters when they were six and eight years old each. The sense of guilt that he failed to look after his young sisters has weighed down on his entire life. "I'm a sinner. I alone fled to the south failing to take care of my little ones. I want to say I'm sorry' to her (when I meet her). But it will not be enough (to expiate my sin)," Min told Xinhua with tears in his eyes. Min was among 89 South Koreans who will cross the heavily armed border into Mount Kumgang in southeast DPRK for the first reunions of war-separated families in nearly three years. The latest was held in October 2015. The South Koreans gathered here to register for the reunions, get their health checked and take lessons in what to do and what not to do in the DPRK. They will leave for the venue Monday morning to stay there for three days. The second session of three-day reunions, involving 83 DPRK families who applied for gatherings with South Korean relatives, will begin from Thursday at the same venue. The two Koreas agreed in June to hold the reunions. Lee Chun-ja, 88, told Xinhua that the war shouldn't have erupted as she never saw two of her elder brothers after the war. She was separated from her brothers by an air strike while fleeing. Lee gave her brothers up for dead, but she heard from the Red Cross that the children of her brothers were alive in the DPRK. "(When I meet them), I'll say thanks to them because they are still alive," said Lee sitting in wheelchairs. Since the fratricidal war was halted by armistice in 1953, the separated families have been banned from exchanging letters and phone calls, much less meeting each other. A combined 20 rounds of face-to-face reunions have been arranged since the first-ever inter-Korean summit was held in 2000, but the reunions have been limited to about 200 separated families from each side. Over half of South Koreans on the waiting list for reunions are in their 80s or older. Im Eung-bok, 78, brought an old photograph of his whole family taken before the war. Im told Xinhua he will show it to the wife and the son of his elder brother, who only ended up in the DPRK out of his five siblings. Im recently heard that his brother passed away in 2001 though the brother's wife and son were alive. After hearing their being alive, Im wrote letters by hand to convey those when he meets them. He wrote in the letter, "I hope the day would come soon when people of the South and the North come and go freely. On the day, let's live happily hugging each other as there are many siblings alive in the South." Their meeting, arranged after decades of separation, will be painfully short. They will be granted permission to meet for only 11 hours in group and private gatherings during the three-day reunions. It could be the only chance for the separated families to meet face-to-face. The eldest South Korean participant for the first session of reunions is a 101-year-old Baek Sung-gyu who will meet his daughter-in-law and granddaughter from the DPRK. South Korean separated families brought old prewar photographs to show those to the long-lost DPRK relatives as well as household items, including underwear, toothpaste, soap and others, as a gift. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 15:48:48|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TORONTO, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Tesla Motors Canada is taking Ontario's new government to court, claiming it was "singled out for unfair and arbitrary treatment" after the government cancelled an electric vehicle rebate, local media reported. The new Ontario Premier Doug Ford has cancelled several policies including the Electric and Hydrogen Vehicle Incentive Program, which was brought in by his predecessor. Aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the province, the program offered rebates of up to 14,000 Canadian dollars (about 10,700 U.S. dollars) for people who bought electric vehicles. During the transition period, the government promised anyone who bought electric vehicles through a dealership before Sept. 10 can still get rebates. Tesla Canada claimed the company was singled out unfairly because it sold vehicles directly to customers instead of through dealerships. However, people buying electric vehicles from other brands were unaffected during the transition period, the lawsuit of Tesla alleged. "The Minister of Transportation's decision suddenly left hundreds of Tesla Canada's Ontario customers in the unfair position of no longer being eligible for the rebate they had expected to receive when they ordered their vehicles," said Tesla Canada in its lawsuit. The lawsuit asked the province's superior court to quash the "arbitrary and entirely unreasonable" decision. A spokesperson for Ontario's Ministry of Transportation said it would be inappropriate to comment the lawsuit because "this matter is before the courts." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 16:03:52|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close RIYADH, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Saudi Arabia will introduce free sleeping capsules to this year's Hajj season starting Sunday, to modernize the centuries-old practice of the Hajj, a Saudi charity said recently. Between 18 and 24 modern hotel capsules will be offered to pilgrims to nap in for free in the coming six days, said the Haji and Mu'tamer's Gift Charitable Association. These free nap pods -- each less than three meters long and just over one meter high -- will be placed in Mina, a western city near the Holy city of Mecca, said Mansour Al-Amer, head of the charity. The pods provide a space in which pilgrims can change their clothes, take a shower and store their luggage and valuables, Al-Amer said. It is a solution for pilgrims of limited means who cannot afford to book hotels on site but need a quick rest during the Hajj, he said. Each napper has three hours of access to the pods. When the pilgrim wakes for prayer time, workers will clean the pod before handing it over to the next pilgrim, he said. "The capsules work through a share economy, like bicycles that you can rent for an hour and then leave for someone else," he said. Hajj, an annual Islamic pilgrimage to the Saudi city of Mecca, the holiest city for Muslims, is expected to draw two million people from around the world this year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 16:08:54|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese companies are confident in securing overseas supplies of soybeans and soybean meal substitutes to counter the fall in imports of U.S. soybeans, according to industry insiders. A survey of related firms points to widespread readiness and proactiveness in the industry as Chinese firms turn to more competitive suppliers from South America and other parts of the world. During the May-August period, over 36 million tonnes of South American soybeans arrived in China, with more to come in November. State-owned grains trader COFCO has made inquiries on canola, cottonseed and sunflower seed meals with countries including India, Canada, and Ukraine to fill in the gap left by reduced U.S. imports, said Zhao Changjiang, an official with the company. Canadian canola meal could be an option for Chinese animal feed demands as it is cheaper, according to Liu Yueshu, deputy general manager of operations at Zhongken Guobang, a major soybean processing enterprise based in Tianjin. "Canadian canola meal set to arrive in December is priced at about 2,300 yuan (about 334 U.S. dollars) per tonne, 150 yuan cheaper than that traded under the January 2019 futures contract at the Zhengzhou Commodity Exchange," Liu said. The industry is also adopting nutritionally equivalent soybean meal substitutes thanks to technological advances. "Soybean meal is not the only source of protein in animal feed," said industry analyst Wang Changmei. "Meal from canola, cottonseed, sunflower seed, peanut and palm kernel can all be substitutes." Peanut meal, for example, contains more crude protein than soybean meal, Wang said. Current reserves of soybeans are also sufficient. A price drop in pork has seen a dampened demand for soybean meal since May, with 400,000 tonnes less per month than expectations. China's reserves of imported soybeans are expected to increase by 3 million tonnes from the same period last year by the end of September. The country's soybean processing firms will have relatively ample supply of raw materials before next January, industry estimates showed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 16:39:02|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close NANJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Police have busted a transnational internet gambling ring involving around 7.8 billion yuan (1.1 billion U.S. dollars). Some 56 suspects, who allegedly earned illegal profits of 650 million yuan, have been arrested, according to police in east China's Jiangsu Province. An investigation into the case was launched in January 2016, after police received information about a gambling website. The online platform had been opened in the Philippines and had more than 114,000 users. Police identified four prime suspects through bankcard information. Two website technicians, who had been operating the website in the Philippines, were arrested in Shanghai in 2017. Police then gained access to backend data and the structure of the group. As of August, 50 suspects had been arrested in Shanghai and Fujian, Zhejiang, and Guangdong provinces. Six others returned to China from the Philippines and turned themselves in. The suspects are being transferred to the local procuratorate for prosecution. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 16:59:04|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israel said on Sunday it had closed its crossing for people with the Gaza Strip following violence along the fence during the weekend. Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a statement he decided to temporarily shut down the Erez Crossing, except for humanitarian cases. On Friday, Palestinians renewed the protest near the border between Israel and Gaza. Israel said Molotov cocktails and explosives were hurled towards Israeli forces during the rally. The Israeli army responded with tear gas and live fire, killing two people and injured 60 others. The violence occurred amidst stalled Egyptian-brokered cease-fire between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian organization that runs the besieged enclave. In recent weeks, the escalation between Israel and Hamas have reached almost a full-fledged war. It came after months-long protests against the 11-year long blockade that Israel and Egypt have imposed on Gaza. Since March 30, Israeli forces have killed at least 166 Palestinians, including 123 protestors. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 17:29:09|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close HANGZHOU, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- When doctor Li Xinwei first set foot in Namibia in southwest Africa, he felt disoriented. "It is a place you have difficulty finding the right direction; I always felt as if the sun rose in the west," this is the first sentence Li wrote in his new book about his experiences in Africa. Li works in a traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) hospital in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province. He went to Namibia with his medical team on an international aid mission in 2004 and stayed there for four years. In the northern hemisphere, the sun shines longer on the south side of a building. However, in Namibia, the sun shines longer on the north side, and the difference confused Li. During his stay in Namibia, Li worked in Katutura Hospital in the country's capital Windhoek as an acupuncture and moxibustion therapist. "Many locals were curious about what I did," Li recalled. Li worked differently compared with other medical staff in the hospital. He often used long needles, but without tubes at the end. He burned herbs in the room and heated bottles on an open fire. Oliwa was one of his patients. He was treated in the hospital for a broken bone, and after an operation, he felt pain in his thighs and bottom. One day, he was attracted by the smell of burning herbs in Li's office. After a consultation, Li invited him to try the TCM therapy. In just one session, Oliwa's pain was greatly relieved. "He asked whether I used secret potions in the needles," Li said, "And I explained to him the theory of TCM." TCM believes that Qi and blood circulate through the body and pain happens where the Qi-blood circulation is blocked, Li said. "Oliwa was very interested in the theory." Oliwa was finally cured after a few sessions, but Li's quest to spread TCM did not stop there. Zuleka, who opened a hospice to provide care for terminally ill patients became one of Li's students. "Zuleka wanted to help those suffering great physical and psychological pain in her hospice, and I taught her some basic skills of acupuncture and moxibustion," Li said. After learning for several weeks, Zuleka gave the therapy to his patients. Many said they have a better appetite, sleep easier, and have less pain after being treated. Li met his wife on holiday back in China, and the two maintained their long-distance romance for several years. They communicated primarily through e-mail, sharing their daily adventures with each other. The e-mails Li wrote to his wife about Africa later became part of his new book. Li also named his son "Yuan Fei," meaning romance with Africa. Now back in Hangzhou, Li still pays attention to the news in Africa. He invites African interns in his hospital to experience acupuncture and moxibustion in his office and talks about the continent with them. "Over the years, I wrote my thoughts about Africa in my notebooks and mobile phone whenever I was inspired," Li said, "Life in Africa is a journey of personal growth." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 18:09:19|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), speaks at a CMC meeting on Party building in Beijing, capital of China. The meeting was held from Aug. 17 to Aug. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Gang) BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to comprehensively strengthen the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Party building in the country's armed forces to ensure a solid political guarantee for the building of a strong military. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks at a CMC meeting on Party building, which was held from Friday to Sunday in Beijing. Noting that strengthening CPC leadership and Party building in the military is a requisite for advancing the "great new project" of Party building and the building of a strong country with a strong military, Xi said the whole military should comprehensively implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 18:14:19|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israelis have vandalized Palestinians' vehicles and spray-painted hate slogans in East Jerusalem in an apparent hate crime, the police said on Sunday. A police spokesperson said in a statement that the overnight incident took place in Issawiya, a Palestinian neighborhood of East Jerusalem. Some 15 vehicles were sabotaged and their tires were slashed, the spokesperson said. Hate slogans were widely reported in local media as a "revenge" for the killing of an Israeli woman outside the West Bank settlement of Havat Gilad in a car accident on Thursday night. The police said an investigation was launched but no suspects have been apprehended yet. Residents of Issawiya told Xinhua that several Jewish youths were seen in the neighborhood during the night. The incident was the latest in a string of hate crimes carried out by ultra-nationalist Israelis in East Jerusalem and the West Bank. Ultra-nationalist Israelis sabotaged eight vehicles in the village of al-Mughayyir in the central West Bank on July 30, a few days after settlers from Havat Gilad torched 150 dunams (0.15 square km) of farmland in the village of Immatin. According to B'Tselem, an Israeli human rights organization, at least 2,000 agricultural trees belonging to Palestinians, mainly olive trees and vines, were vandalized between May 1 and July 7. Far-right Israelis have been carried out thousands of attacks over the past years. The attacks include violence against Palestinians in the West Bank and Israel and vandalism of mosques, churches, cemeteries, and personal property. Most of the incidents remain unsolved as the law enforcement authorities usually fail to arrest and charge any suspects. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 18:39:23|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close LONDON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A call for a relaxation of rules on e-cigarettes was made Friday in a report by politicians who described conventional cigarette smoking in Britain as national health crisis. If used correctly, e-cigarettes could be a key weapon in the stop-smoking arsenal for Britain's National Health Service (NHS), the House of Commons Science and Technology Committee concluded. In a major report on e-cigarettes, the committee said they should not be treated in the same way as conventional cigarettes. The report said e-cigarettes, estimated as 95 percent less harmful than conventional cigarettes, are too often being overlooked as a stop smoking tool by the NHS, especially in mental health units where patients are often banned from using them. Committee members want regulations relaxed relating to e-cigarettes' licensing, prescribing and advertising of their health benefits. Their level of taxation and use in public places must be reconsidered, the report added. Around 2.9 million people in Britain currently use e-cigarettes, and it has been estimated that about 470,000 people are using them as an aid to stop smoking, the report said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 18:54:25|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A new regulation on the application and granting of residence permits for Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan residents living in the Chinese mainland was published Sunday. The regulation, published on the official website of the State Council, will take effect on September 1. It was promulgated to provide more convenience in terms of study, work, business operation, and life for residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan living in the mainland, and ensure their rights and interests, the document said. Applicants must have lived in the mainland for more than six months and be able to show proof of either a legitimate and stable job, a legitimate and stable residential address, or ongoing school attendance. Eligible applicants may apply for the permit on a voluntary basis. The new residence permits will carry ID numbers beginning with 810000, 820000, and 830000 for residents from Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan respectively, following the national standard for ID numbers, according to the regulation. The residence permits will be issued by the public security departments of county-level governments and will be valid for up to five years. The regulation asked public security organs at all levels to actively coordinate with authorities in charge of education, civil affairs, judicial administration, social security, housing, health care, and other areas to safeguard the rights and interests of the permit holders. According to the regulation, holders of the new residence permit will be able to use it to register vehicles, apply for driver's licenses, and take professional qualification exams. They will also be able to purchase tickets online, check-in at hotels, and use financial services. The regulation also stipulated the duties of confidentiality of related authorities and staff regarding the privacy and other information they obtain from permit holders. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 18:59:29|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KATHMANDU, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Women and girls uprooted by war or disaster are at heightened risk of rape, exploitation and abuse, according to a statement issued by United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) Nepal on Sunday. According to a statement issued on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day, UNFPA called on all humanitarian actors to meet the shared obligation to protect the vulnerable from harm, and especially to protect the rights, safety, health and lives of women and girls. "UNFPA is doing its part by providing life-saving reproductive health care to women in crisis-affected countries, safe spaces for women and girls, and services for survivors of sexual violence," Natalia Kanem, UNFPA Executive Director, was quoted as saying in the statement. According to the UN agency, a poorly lit lavatory or a water pump that is out of view of security officers can be dangerous places where women and girls can become targets for sexual violence. "A pregnant woman who is about to give birth may face an impossible choice: deliver on her own or risk being attacked as she seeks the help of a nearby midwife or clinic. No woman should have to make such a decision," read the statement. UNFPA said that with the support of the entire humanitarian community, the risks faced every day by millions of women and girls can be reduced dramatically. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 19:14:33|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina addresses at a ceremony after inaugurating the work for construction of China-funded "Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant Project" in Dhaka, Bangladesh on Aug. 19, 2018. The construction of the China-funded mega sewage treatment plant started in Bangladesh's capital of Dhaka on Sunday. (Xinhua) DHAKA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The construction of a China-funded mega sewage treatment plant started in Bangladesh's capital of Dhaka on Sunday. The sewage treatment project agreement, named the "Dasherkandi Sewage Treatment Plant Project," was signed between Dhaka WASA (Water Supply & Sewerage Authority) and Hydro China Corporation. The project includes sewage treatment plants, pumping stations and a sewage pipe network with a sewage treatment capacity of 500,000 cubic meters of sewage a day. The project is being funded by the Export-Import Bank of China. On Nov. 23, 2014, Dhaka WASA entered into an engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contract with Hydro China International Engineering Co. Ltd, a subsidiary of Hydro China Corporation, for the construction of the plant. After the project is completed, the Chinese side will be responsible for operation and maintenance for one year. "With the implementation of this project, it will be possible to provide modern sewerage service to about 5 million people of Gulshan, Banani, Baridhara, Bashundhara, parliament and adjoining areas including Hatirjheel of the city," Bangladeshi Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina said while declaring the groundbreaking of the project at a ceremony in Dhaka. "We've taken initiatives to ensure environment friendly water management by reducing the dependence on ground water and soon the citizens will get benefit of it," she said. The project is funded by the Chinese Government Concessional Loan and will help improve environment of Dhaka, Chinese Ambassador Zhang Zuo said at the launching of the project. "The cooperation between our two countries in various sectors has brought tangible benefits to the people which sets a good example of South-South cooperation," he said. Bangladesh's highest economic policy-making body, Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) chaired by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has already approved the project. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 19:14:33|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close by Xinhua writers Zhu Sheng, Xu Yang MUNICH, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The opening-up is an important policy and German carmaker BMW Group will make use of it as best as it can, one company executive told Xinhua in a recent exclusive interview in Munich. "If you look at those big collaboration projects with Chinese companies, like Great Wall, Baidu, which we announced in Berlin in July. Those all demonstrate that we are keen on making use of all the options of collaboration and engaging us in China," said Thomas Becker, vice president of governmental affairs with BMW Group. Becker said that the original objective used to be produce combustion cars in China and for the Chinese market when the Bavarian company firstly entered China in 1994. "However, when you look at our industry in which direction it is going, all have fundamentally changed," Becker emphasized, adding that BMW is investing a lot in the electrification in order to take forward. China is the market where this development will be among the very fastest around the world, according to him. Meanwhile, BMW factory in China used to make cars only for the Chinese market in the past. But today it is increasingly seeking to make the production facilities in China as an integrated part of its global network that also supplies other markets. According to Becker, BMW X3 electric vehicle is going to be made in China not only for Chinese customers, but also for export to third markets. "Therefore, we think that the Chinese government is absolutely right to redefine the overall rules of industrial policy in general and the automotive policy specifically," Becker continued. The Chinese government announced to remove foreign ownership limits for special vehicle and new energy vehicle manufacturing starting on July 28 this year, while those for passenger car manufacturing will be lifted by 2022. "Opening up for new shareholder ratios allows more flexibility in the way Chinese companies work with foreign manufacturers, and it allows them to have tailormade arrangement not only on shareholder ratios, but also on how to produce, how to export and how to work together. It is absolutely right and we are strongly supporting this," Becker said. Being asked whether BMW will increase its stake in BMW Brilliance Automotive to at least 75 percent from its current 50 percent holding, Becker said currently he cannot comment on the details. "For us it is clearly an important discussion and it needs to be done carefully. We move forward carefully and seriously," Becker said. "The change in the political framework is an important signal for opening up. For us, it means lots of opportunities that we want to make use of," he concluded. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 19:19:33|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MAIMANA, Afghanistan, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Taliban militants following heavy fighting have overrun Bilchiragh district in the northern Faryab province, head of Provincial Council Tahir Rahmani said on Sunday. After days of fierce fighting and besieging the security checkpoints, the official said the Taliban militants overran the troubled district early Sunday. Rahmani added that 50 security personnel had handed over their weapons to the Taliban fighters and their whereabouts were still unknown. According to local observers, the capture of Bilchiragh, 70 km south of the provincial capital Maimana city, helped Taliban militants mount pressure on Maimana and the neighboring Gurziwan district. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 19:29:36|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close PARIS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A car hit several people in front of a nightclub early Sunday in the town of Cambrai in northern France, injuring seven, before it crashed into a pylon, local media reported. A car hit seven customers of a nightclub and a security guard after an alleged quarrel with the guard at about 4:00 a.m.(0200 GMT), according to local newspaper La Voix du Nord. Two of the wounded were in critical condition and have been sent to the hospital by helicopter while five others who had sustained minor injures were taken to the Cambrai hospital, the newspaper reported. The driver has been arrested and placed in custody. An investigation is underway. Several witnesses said the driver had been quarrelling with the guard. A police source told the French channel LCI that the incident of the two people bickering could have led to this tragedy. Chinese doctor An Jing (R) practices acupuncture treatment on a patient at the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) in Paola city, Malta, Aug. 17, 2018.(Xinhua/Yuan Yun) VALLETTA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Despite having studied and practiced Western medicine for many years, Charles Savona Ventura, a professor of obstetrics and gynaecology at the University of Malta, has dedicated the past four years to promoting the teaching of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) in Malta. "2014 was exactly the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malta. We had wanted to conduct academic cooperation with Chinese universities," he told Xinhua. Savona Ventura recalled the moment that it all began: "On the flight to China, I raised it with the (university) rector: Why can't we try to carry out academic cooperation in Chinese medicine?" Savona Ventura's idea did not occur in a vacuum. In 1994, China established the first traditional Chinese medicine center in Europe, the Mediterranean Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine, in Malta. Then, in 2008, the center set up a Chinese medicine clinic in the newly-built Mater Dei national hospital in Malta. For the first time, Chinese medicine featured at an EU national hospital in the form of an independent department. Chinese doctor Wang Fei practices cup therapy on a patient at the Mediterranean Regional Center for Traditional Chinese Medicine (MRCTCM) in Paola city, Malta, Aug. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Yuan Yun) The influence of TCM in Malta is increasing. But the clinic at Mater Dei often has more patients than it can handle. When Savona Ventura saw this situation, he came up with the idea of training more local Chinese medicine professionals. This idea was the start of the close relationship between Savona Ventura and TCM and was the preface to the cooperation between the University of Malta and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. In May 2015, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Malta to establish a TCM clinic and offer a master's degree program in traditional Chinese medicine and culture. Nothing worth having is easily obtained, however, Savona Ventura found challenges at every turn. The first challenge Savona Ventura faced was adapting TCM courses to the European curriculum system. "This was not an easy task. We had no other examples to refer to," Savona Ventura could only study with his colleagues and communicate with the teachers in Shanghai. Eventually, they were able to design a more suitable course system. Seven students enrolled in the initial course. Six teachers were dispatched from Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine to teach courses in Malta. Meanwhile, two doctors were sent to the clinic which used to treat patients and provide clinical practice to students. "The feedback we have from the professors, they said that students were very good, very interested, they do very well, they scored very high marks," Savona Ventura told Xinhua. Nevertheless, the second challenge came soon: the course required applicants, but as it is based in Malta, which is one of the smallest countries in the world, the numbers of students in each intake are modest. To attract more students from around the world, Savona Ventura and his colleagues spared no effort. As a result, seven students from Malta, Germany, Serbia, Brazil, Saudi Arabia, and other countries have signed up for the 2018 master's degree program. "In addition to recruiting Masters students, we also have the task of promoting the culture of Chinese medicine," Savona Ventura said. To this end, the TCM center provides medical services to all, organizes medical lectures, and has opened its TCM course to the general public. "We have achieved our target and purpose, but we could always do better," said Savona Ventura, hopeful for the future of teaching Chinese traditional medicine in Malta. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 19:59:43|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Iraqi federal court on Sunday ratified the final results of May 12 parliamentary elections, marking the first step toward forming the new Iraqi government. Ayas al-Samouk, spokesperson of the Federal Supreme Court, said in a statement that the court's members held a session in the morning to consider the request for ratification of the final results of the elections of the Iraqi Council of Representatives. "After reviewing and deliberating the names (of parliament members) that received from the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), the Federal Supreme Court issued this afternoon its decision to ratify the names," Samouk said. The approval confirmed the preliminary results of May 12 elections which showed the Sairoon Coalition backed by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was the front-runner and won 54 seats in the upcoming 329-seat parliament. The ratification of the results will widely open the door for Iraqi politicians to form the next government and would give a push for the tough negotiations by the political blocs to form the largest alliance before the first session of the new parliament. According to the Iraqi constitution, the ratification of the results entails the outgoing President Fuad Masoum to call on the new parliament to hold its first session under the chairmanship of the elder parliament member within two weeks, to elect a president of parliament and then the president of the republic, who will ask the largest alliance to form a government within 30 days. On May 12, millions of Iraqis went to 8,959 polling centers across the country to vote for their parliamentary representatives in the first general election after Iraq's historic victory over the Islamic State militant group last December. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 20:04:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Europeans' measures to save Iran's 2015 international nuclear deal should "go beyond declarations to take pragmatic steps," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, according to Tasnim news agency report on Sunday. The European parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) have taken a series of measures after putting forward a package for saving the nuclear deal, Zarif was quoted as saying. "These measures (by Europe) have been an announcement of stances rather than operational measures. Though they (Europeans) have moved forward, we believe that Europe is not still ready to pay the price," Zarif said. Earlier, the Iranian foreign minister said that Tehran expects European Union to compensate for the U.S. "illegal measure" over the 2015 international nuclear deal. The European countries should take on their responsibilities to compensate for the relapse of U.S. sanctions following Washington's exit from the deal, Zarif said. The JCPOA, or the nuclear deal, restricts Iran's nuclear activities in exchange for the easing of the sanctions on the Islamic republic. On May 8, U.S. President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the deal and vowed to reinstate sanctions against Tehran to make the latter "change behavior." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 20:04:44|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close MANILA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Philippine Navy said on Sunday that it will send a 300-man contingent to participate in Australia's premier multilateral naval war games, Exercise Kakadu 2018, which will kick off on Aug. 31 and end on Sept. 15. Philippine Navy spokesman Commander Jonathan Zata said a Philippine Navy ship is scheduled to leave on Monday for Australia to ferry its sailors participating in the maritime exercises. Kakadu 2018 is the 14th iteration of the exercises hosted biennially by the Royal Australian Navy. "It represents an opportunity for invited navies to participate in multinational maritime activities in a manner which promotes greater levels of military cooperation and understanding amongst nations," Zata said in a statement. Zata said the participants will conduct a wide range of naval activities, including humanitarian assistance and disaster response and maritime search and rescue operations. In June, the Philippine Navy sent a navy ship and 700-man contingent to participate in the U.S.-hosted Rim of the Pacific, the largest international maritime exercise, held in Hawaii. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 20:24:50|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close GARISSA, Kenya, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government has warned commuter bus companies and other transporters against aiding aliens from neighboring Somalia to make their way to Kenyan capital, Nairobi. Northeastern Regional Commissioner Mohamed Birik told journalists in Garissa on Sunday that the government is closely monitoring the bus companies and the transporters with a view of taking stern measures against them. Birik said it has been established that bus companies and transporters in the region play a significant role in the matters of transit of aliens. "We want to ask all the bus companies not to engage in this illicit business of transporting aliens in this region. We know and understand that some of these aliens are indeed possibly members of the al-Shabab terror group," Birik said. The administrator said to curb the vice, the government will increase and enhance the road blocks and in particularly the Modigar and Tana Bridge. Cases of human smuggling have been on the rise in the region with hundreds of young men from neighboring countries finding their way into South Africa through Kenya in search of employment. The authorities said several aliens who find their way into the Kenyan police cells have tripled in the past few weeks over stretching the capacity of the cells in the East African nation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 20:24:50|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A new book offering detailed historical facts about "comfort stations" during World War II has been released at the ongoing Shanghai Book Fair. "Comfort station" is a euphemism the Japanese occupation forces used to describe a military brothel. Based on historical documents and accounts of witnesses and victims, the book provides readers with a detailed look at the 172 comfort stations in Shanghai during the WWII. "Over the past 25 years, we discovered the evidence that there were at least 172 comfort stations in Shanghai, the most of any city worldwide," said Su Zhiliang, the book's author and a leading expert on "comfort women," girls and women forced into sex slavery by the Japanese during WWII. Some 400,000 women across Asia were forced to become comfort women for the Japanese army, and nearly half of them were Chinese, according to the Research Center for Comfort Women at Shanghai Normal University. "I have been researching the issue for 25 years and will continue to ask for justice for the 400,000 Asian victims," said Su, who is the director of the center. There are only 15 known surviving comfort women on the Chinese mainland. They have an average age of over 90. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 20:39:53|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close ANKARA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United States is not interested in solving bilateral problems with Turkey, said Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu on Sunday. "It seems that the U.S. doesn't want to solve our bilateral problems. They prefer to exploit and prolong these issues until the upcoming (midterm) elections," he told reporters in Antalya, southern Turkey, state-run Anadolu new agency said. The top Turkish diplomat argued that his country has adopted a "constructive" approach to resolve the row between the NATO allies over the detention in Turkey of an American clergyman, but failed in return to receive a similar stance from the U.S. administration. "The U.S. administration has preferred to use the language of threats rather than resorting to diplomacy," said Cavusoglu, claiming that "Turkey has no problems with the American people, which have also saw the realities." Cavusoglu also stated that the U.S. cannot annul "unilaterally" its agreement with Ankara on the F-35 fighter planes, in reference to plans by the U.S. Congress to block Turkey from receiving planned deliveries of the modern jets as part of a multinational joint development program. The Turkish currency lira has plunged to record lows in recent weeks over the spat with the United States over the detention of Andrew Brunson, charged with espionage and terrorism. His case has become the focal point of a trade conflict between Washington and Ankara. U.S. President Donald Trump imposed sanctions on Turkish metal products and two governments ministers. Ankara retaliated by steeply hiking tariffs on some U.S. products. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 20:44:53|Editor: mym Video Player Close PALEMBANG, Indonesia, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Lin Yingshin and Lu Shaochuan combined to win the first gold for Chinese Taipei at the Asian Games as they triumphed in the 10m air rifle mixed team final on Sunday. Lin/Lu beat their counterparts from China with a narrow margin in a fierce competition and won with a total of 494.1 points. China took silver after Zhao Ruozhu and Yang Haoran gained a total of 492.5 points. The bronze medal went to India after Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar gained a total of 429.9 points. South Korea ranked fourth with a total of 389.4 points, while Mongolia had to settle for fifth place with 346.6 points. The final result was quite surprising as Chinese Taipei had only ranked fifth in the qualifying round. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 20:59:56|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close TEHRAN, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iran's defense minister put developing deterrent missile power as the country's top priority, Press TV reported on Sunday. The minister Amir Hatami hailed the country's military achievements, and vowed to continue enhancing missile capabilities. "Our focus has been on priorities, with the top priority being the missile issue," Hatami said. "We are in a good position in this field, but we need to develop it." He further touched on the recent unveiling of precision-guided Fateh Mobin missile, stressing that Iranian missiles are good in terms of diversity and thus most attention has been paid to their agility, anti-radar capability, high precision and sustainability in different environmental conditions. Hatami pointed out that "we have never sought and will never seek weapons of mass destruction and nuclear weapons due to our religious beliefs." Meanwhile, he announced that Iran plans to unveil a new fighter jet on Wednesday on the occasion of Iran's Defense Industry Day. "A plane, which has passed several stages, will be presented on the Defense Industry Day and people will see the fighter jet flying from a close distance as well as the equipment used for its manufacture," he was quoted as saying. "We will spare no efforts to preserve the defense power and will develop it ... We have no other way because they (the enemies) want to disarm us," he stressed. Iran has dismissed the western concerns over its ballistic missile program. Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman said earlier that the Islamic republic's missile program is completely conventional and defensive, and Iran, like all independent countries in the world, is entitled to have all conventional defense programs. Bahram Qasemi added that Iran's regional policy favors cooperation and dialogue within the region and with its neighbors. "Iran believes none of the crises in the region has a military solution," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 21:55:08|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DUBAI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Sunday decided to airlift core relief items to Sudanese people affected by the recent torrential rains and flash flooding in the country, state news agency WAM reported. The order by President Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan signals "UAE's determination to extend hand of help to all peoples and countries in need around the world," WAM said. Much of Sudan including the capital Khartoum was recently hit by unprecedented rain, which has left scores dead and thousands of others displaced, while destroying power grids, houses and inflicting serious damage on public utilities and infrastructure. The Emirates Red Crescent, the UAE affiliate of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, recently carried out an emergency relief operation in the flood-stricken areas in Sudan, providing the affected communities with essential shelter material and food rations, according to WAM. The UAE was the world's largest donor of official development aid in 2017, relative to its national income, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. With a total contribution of 19.32 billion dirhams (5.26 billion U.S. dollars) of development aid in 2017, the UAE spent 1.31 percent of its gross national income on foreign development aid, almost twice the global target of 0.7 percent set by the United Nations. Notably, the UAE donations in 2017 represent a 23.72 percent increase from the year prior, when the Gulf country contributed 15.57 billion dirhams. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 22:10:10|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), speaks at a CMC meeting on Party building in Beijing, capital of China. The meeting was held from Aug. 17 to Aug. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Li Gang) BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- President Xi Jinping has called for efforts to comprehensively strengthen the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the Party building in the country's armed forces to ensure a solid political guarantee for the building of a strong military. Xi, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks at a CMC meeting on Party building, which was held from Friday to Sunday in Beijing. Noting that strengthening CPC leadership and Party building in the military is a requisite for advancing the "great new project" of Party building and the building of a strong country with a strong military, Xi said the whole military should comprehensively implement the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the spirit of the 19th CPC National Congress. The Party's thinking on strengthening the military for the new era must be fully implemented, Xi said. Also, the absolute Party leadership over the armed forces must be upheld, the full and strict Party governance must be exercised, and the military's war preparedness and combat capability must be highlighted, Xi said. Since the 18th CPC National Congress, the CPC Central Committee and the CMC have been working on building the military and keeping hold of it from a political perspective, Xi said, citing a conference on the army's political work convened in 2014 in Gutian Township, Fujian Province. Comprehensive and profound changes regarding the Party leadership and Party building in the military have taken place, giving a strong political underpinning for the historic achievements and changes in the cause of building a strong military, Xi said. Xi noted that the CPC leadership and Party building are essential to the construction and development of the military and matter to the success of the cause of building a strong army and the enduring peace and stability of the Party and the country. He said the primary task is to uphold the absolute CPC leadership over the armed forces. The political building of the Party should be intensified to make sure that the whole military resolutely upholds the authority of the CPC Central Committee and its centralized, unified leadership, and resolutely obeys the command of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC. Efforts should be made to arm the military with the Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and the Party's thinking on strengthening the military for the new era, Xi said. Also, measures should be taken to ensure that all kinds of work are placed under the unified leadership of the Party committees and all important issues are discussed and decided by the Party committees, he stressed, adding that the system for the Party's leadership over the military should also be improved. To fulfill the primary duty of war preparedness and combat capability, more efforts are needed in improving the system of Party organizations in the armed forces and strengthening their leadership, organizational and executive capacity, according to Xi. Xi highlighted the crucial role and responsibility of Party committees of units at or above corps-level in the military's Party organization system, and called on them to take a clear political stand and a firm political stance, maintain a correct political direction, hold a strong political conviction, improve their political capability, and ensure that they stay politically strong. Stressing the prominent importance in cultivating cadres and talent, Xi called for efforts in training high-calibre cadres who are loyal to the Party, have moral integrity, and demonstrate a keen sense of responsibility, and gathering talent in various areas who are committed to building a strong military and winning combat. The training of talent in joint operations command, new combat forces, high-tech innovation, and high-level strategic management should be improved, said Xi. He also urged efforts to improve Party conduct and combat corruption in the armed forces. "The anti-corruption fight must be carried forward with firmness, and there will be no deviation," said Xi. At the meeting, Xu Qiliang and Zhang Youxia, both members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC's vice chairmen, raised their requirements on implementing the spirit of Xi's speech and strengthening the Party leadership and Party building in military. CMC members Wei Fenghe, Li Zuocheng, Miao Hua, and Zhang Shengmin also attended the meeting. Chinese doctor Li Xiushan checks the eyes of a boy at the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located in Akaki at the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 17, 2018. The 20th batch of the Chinese medical team, which constitutes 16 medical professionals, is based at Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital, also known as the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital. China issued the first Medical Workers' Day on Aug. 19.(Xinhua/Lyu Shuai) ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Workayehu Begi, 50, has been suffering from a severe back injury since she fell down the stairs about a month ago, despite having received several rounds of medical treatment from various health facilities in Addis Ababa, capital city of Ethiopia. Begi said her pain however has largely reduced over the last two weeks ever since she was referred to the Chinese-backed Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital for an acupuncture treatment, an ancient Chinese method of treatment in which fine needles are inserted in the skin at specific points to treat various physical and mental conditions. "I was injured in a fall in my house, and doctors referred me to 15 days' acupuncture treatment and I see visible difference now," said Begi. Photo taken on Aug. 17, 2018 shows the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located in Akaki at the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.(Xinhua/Lyu Shuai) Emphasizing that acupuncture is not just a medical treatment, but a guide to a healthy lifestyle, she said Chinese doctors working at Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital is also giving her advice on how to stay healthy to prevent future ailments. "They advise me to avoid frequent up and down movement of my body, to correctly seat on chairs, avoid standing still for long time or sitting for long time, eat vegetables and do frequent physical exercise." she said. "This is a treatment many have been cured with, I've also witnessed my bodily improvements and now I'm giving lessons to my society on acupuncture benefits," Begi said. Chinese doctor Jia Ruizhi practices acupuncture treatment on a patient at the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located in Akaki at the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Lyu Shuai) While patients like Begi is grateful for receiving Chinese medical treatment for their pains, for Anemaw Workineh, 30, a nurse at Tirunesh- Beijing Hospital, the partnership with Chinese doctors has enlightened him on the Chinese ethics of fast, efficient, and hard work. "Chinese doctors are fast reactors when you call them for help and they are diligent in their work," Workineh told Xinhua. "There was a moment when one of our staff received an injury on his chin from a beating he received, our specialists were not able to operate on the injured colleague, but the Chinese specialists performed successful maxillofacial surgery on the injured staff...I've witnessed much change when we work together with Chinese specialists, in fact we've not used their full potential," he said. The 20th batch of the Chinese medical team, which constitutes 16 medical professionals, is based at Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital, also known as the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located in Akaki at the outskirt of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa. Chinese doctor Zhao Cheng (2nd L) talks about the patient's condition with other doctors at the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located in Akaki at the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 17, 2018.(Xinhua/Lyu Shuai) The team, deployed at Tirunesh-Beijing Hospital, is the continuation of China's medical mission to Ethiopia that has been serving the people of the east African country since 1974. Consisting of 15 doctors and one translator, specializing in thirteen different medical majors including cardiology, eye treatment, acupuncture and pathology treatment, the Chinese medical team has been treating Ethiopians regardless of their background, and in the process, imparting their medical knowledge to Ethiopian colleagues. Speaking to Xinhua, Zhao Cheng, Team leader and Cardiologist of the 20th Chinese Medical Team, said his team has been giving their medical services to Ethiopian patients since August 2017, despite the noticeable differences in prevalence of medical ailments between what they saw in China and Ethiopia. "Chinese patients have many kinds of cardio diseases and suffer from tumors besides normal disease, for African people there is a prevalence of infectious diseases and traffic accident injuries." he said. Zhao also said his medical team has also been working hard to treat Ethiopians and Chinese expatriates who have not been able to come for various reasons to Tirunesh Beijing Hospital. Chinese doctors Zhang Tianpeng (front L) and Du Chunfang (2nd R) and local medical staff perform an operation at the Ethio-China Friendship Hospital, located in Akaki at the outskirts of Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Aug. 17, 2018.(Xinhua/Lyu Shuai) "Besides our daily work at Tirunesh Beijing Hospital, we've done medical treatments in more than 73 clinics and two Chinese companies treating Ethiopians and Chinese alike," said Zhao. He is optimistic the Chinese medical mission will continue to serve thousands of Ethiopians in need of medical care while helping train a new group of Ethiopian medical professionals. According to Zhao, their dedication and service manifests the growing people to people relations among the two brotherly countries, more than four decades after the first Chinese medical team arrived in Ethiopia. A Chinese doctor examines a kid at the Mudany Orphanage in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Nov. 12, 2017.(Xinhua) Notably among the previous Chinese medical personnel in Ethiopia is the deceased doctor Mei Gengnian, who led the first Chinese medical mission to Ethiopia more than 40 years ago. Mei Gengnian died in 1975 in a car accident while he was serving local communities in Jimma town of Oromia regional state, where he was still remembered and receiving homage from local community members. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 22:15:11|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A powerful explosion caused by a collision of two oil tankers burned four vehicles to ashes on Sunday on the Tanzania-Rwanda border, according to Tanzanian police. Abeid Maige, a police officer in Ngara district, said the explosion, which occurred at Rusumo customs clearance point in Ngara district, Kagera region, was caused when one oil tanker failed brakes and hit the other tanker in the morning. The explosion also burned two other cars that were parked in the area. Maige said no one was hurt by the explosion. "Following the explosion police worked hard to disperse the crowd and towed the debris of the vehicles away," said him. Crispin Kamugisha, an eyewitness, said there is a steep slope when entering the parking lot of the Rusumo customs clearance point that causes accidents. "Surprisingly there is no fire and rescue brigade stationed in the area," said Kamugisha. Ngara District Commissioner Michael Mtenjele said he has communicated with authorities in Rwanda who promised to bring in a helicopter to extinguish fire in the area. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 22:25:12|Editor: xuxin Video Player Close KHARTOUM, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- With the approach of Eid al-Adha, or the Islamic "Festival of Sacrifice," the markets in Sudan's capital Khartoum are unexpectedly witnessing a relative decline in the prices of sacrificial sheep, impacted by the recent market recession and the greater provision of sheep. In some of the sheep markets on Sunday, the sheep prices this year range between 3,000 Sudanese pounds (165 U.S. dollars) to 5,000 Sudanese pounds. It should be noted that one U.S. dollar equals 40 Sudanese pounds in the grey market. Abdalla Abdul-Ghader, a sheep dealer at a market in eastern Khartoum, told Xinhua that the decline in the prices of sacrificial sheep could be attributed to their oversupply and the economic recession from lack of liquidity. However, "this means everybody can afford a sacrificial sheep, including low-income people," he noted. Despite being a businessman, Abdul-Ghader urged the government to further revise the fees and taxes on livestock trade to stimulate "more decline in the sheep prices." "The government taxes and fees together with the high transport fees are the reasons behind the rise in the sheep prices," he explained. Omer Al-Amin Al-Siddiq, a sheep buyer, told Xinhua that he is happy to see the sheep prices kept within a reasonable range. Besides the greater supply, he also pointed to the success of the government initiative for selling sheep by weight in reducing prices. Last year, the Khartoum authorities implemented an initiative for selling the sheep by weight by fixing the price of live sheep by one kilogram. This year, a live sheep weighed 1 kg is set at 88 Sudanese pounds. Omer Mohamed Izzeddine, another sheep buyer, also commended the government initiatives for contributing to stability of sheep prices and limiting the speculations by market brokers. "There are measures taken by the government, including selling sheep by weight, unifying sale markets and providing sheep in installments. All these measures have resulted in the decline in the prices and enabled the citizens to buy their sacrificial sheep," Izzeddine told Xinhua. According to official statistics, Sudan boasts more than 130 million heads of cattle. During the past three years, the Sudanese government has relied on exports of goods including livestock and gold, in order to compensate the loss of three quarters of its oil revenues taken by South Sudan when it separated with the north in 2011. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 22:25:13|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close SHANGHAI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Mexico, a major global food and beverage exporter, will showcase 28 food brands and 10 companies from the service sector at the first China International Import Expo (CIIE) to be held in Shanghai in November, Mexican trade officers have said. In a space of 400 square meters, the companies will exhibit products such as fresh and processed foods, as well as services in sectors such as logistics, transportation and education. Most of the products and services are new to the Chinese market, according to Alejandro Salas, the trade and investment commissioner of ProMexico Shanghai. ProMexico is a Mexican governmental agency in charge of promoting domestic exports and attracting overseas investments. "ProMexico, as a promotion agency, is quite excited about CIIE," Salas told Xinhua. He said the event is a clear message about the huge demands in China and an opportunity for companies interested in the lucrative market. Salas said he has witnessed the increasing trade between China and Mexico since he became the commissioner in 2015. China is Mexico's second largest trading partner. Last year, exports from Mexico to China grew by 24.2 percent. "Given the challenges, like language or distance, Mexico's exporters are not familiar with the business potential that China can bring to them," Salas said. "We hope that Mexican companies can better understand the potential of China through CIIE." The event is also expected to help Mexican companies become more known in China and enhance ties with the Chinese market, he noted. Chantal Abrajan Pena, deputy trade and investment commissioner of ProMexico Shanghai, hopes the country's food industry can expand further in the Chinese market. "As the biggest supplier of avocados in the world, we'll bring agri-products like avocado oil to CIIE this year, which is likely to be a big seller in China," Pena said, adding that she expects Mexican berry chia seeds and other healthy foods will be welcomed by Chinese consumers as they look for fresher and more nutritious food. "This time we'll stick to our strengths and showcase our rich culture, high-quality foods, and fresh and healthy products to Chinese consumers. For future CIIE events, we will include other sectors and players from Mexico," Salas told Xinhua. He believes that CIIE will be a new bridge that links Mexico with China and help both sides be more aware of the benefits of greater and deeper cooperation. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 22:55:19|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close by Eric J. Lyman ROME, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Italian government's debt ticked lower in June, the Bank of Italy reported positive news for one of the European Union's most debt-ridden countries, though analysts warned any downward trend could be reversed by proposed government policies. Friday's Bank of Italy report showed the government's total debt was 2.323 trillion euros (2.659 trillion U.S. dollars) in June, about 4 billion euros (4.6 billion U.S. dollars) less than in May, when it reached its all-time high in euro terms. The debt is equivalent to around 132 percent of the country's gross domestic product, the second highest level in the European Union in GDP terms, behind only Greece. Before June, the value of Italy's government debt climbed for six consecutive months up to the peak in May. "High debt levels create two kinds of problems," Carlo Altomonte, an economist specializing on European economies with Milan's Bocconi University, told Xinhua. "First, it creates problems with the European Union rules on overall debt and on government deficits. But more importantly, it drives up the cost of borrowing money by making investors worry about whether the country can continue to pay the debt." Altomonte went on: "Higher yields on government bonds make the government spend more, that adds to the debt, makes investors more nervous, raising yields further," he said. "It can be a difficult spiral." Ugo Arrigo, economics and statistics professor at Bicocca University in Milan, said in an interview that Italy is walking a narrow line on debt. "Right now Italy has to sell an average of 7 billion euros (8 billion U.S. dollars) every day in order to keep the government running and also pay off debt it has already accumulated," Arrigo said. "The more expensive it becomes to finance the debt the more difficult that balance becomes." The slightly lower debt levels for June are considered a small victory for the government of Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, which took power on June 1. But that same day, the yield on Italy's benchmark 10-year bonds, on secondary markets, reached 3.17 percent, their highest level in more than four years. That is because investors fear the debt will soon start climbing again. In the wake of the deadly bridge collapse near the northern port city of Genoa, Interior Minister Matteo Salvini said the government was mulling a request for the European Union to give the country more flexibility with EU deficit limits in order to pay for increased investment in transport infrastructure. Even before that, the Conte government has said it would champion other policies most economists have said would add to the debt. Among those proposals: a flat tax on business profits and, later on, for personal income that would almost surely reduce tax revenue, and a basic income for Italians that would increase government spending. "A lot of investor decision making is emotional or based on some level of speculation," Altomonte said. "There is probably no immediate danger for Italy in terms of economic trouble, but it needs positive news to help settle investor worries. A tiny reduction in debt for one month is not going to be enough." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 23:10:22|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi holds talks with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Ding Lin) BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday met with Uruguayan Foreign Minister Rodolfo Nin Novoa. During Nin Novoa's stay in China, the two sides will sign cooperation documents on the Belt and Road Initiative, service trade and other fields. Wang said this demonstrates Uruguay's strategic vision on developing ties with China. The two sides should maintain all-round exchanges and continue to support each other on issues involving their respective core interests and major concerns, Wang said. China hopes that Uruguay will continue to exert its positive influence and promote China's dialogue and cooperation with the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) to achieve new progress, he said. Nin Novoa said Uruguay is the first country in the Mercosur that signed a memorandum of understanding on the Belt and Road Initiative with China, and Uruguay is ready to take this as an opportunity to help China and the Mercosur countries to build closer ties. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 23:15:23|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Parliament on Sunday assured tribal chiefs of their leadership in traditional initiation. Parliament's ongoing process to pass the Customary Initiation Bill (CIB) "is not intended to usurp custodianship of traditional initiation," said Richard Mdakane, Chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Cooperative Governance and Traditional Affairs. Parliament is currently holding public hearings into the CIB. At its first hearing in Rustenburg, North West Province, people emphasized the difference between medical circumcision and traditional initiation, as well as the role of tribal chiefs in the tradition. Some tribal chiefs have expressed concern that the CIB, once becoming law, would deprive them of their leadership in traditional initiation. Responding to the concern, Mdakane said tribal chiefs' authority in traditional initiation is guaranteed in the Constitution. The CIB, tabled in Parliament on April 5 this year, has provoked discussions throughout the country. The bill aims to provide for the effective regulation of customary initiation practices and provide for the establishment of a National Initiation Oversight Committee and Provincial Initiation Coordinating Committees to supervise initiation practice. "Through this piece of legislation, we're doing something for the nation. We can't have a culture that brings tears to the people," Mdakane said. Every year dozens of boys die and many more are hospitalized in South Africa as a result of botched initiation. In the last 10 years there have been more than 1,000 penile amputations. Given this situation, there have been growing calls for introducing a law to strictly regulate circumcision. Circumcision is viewed a sacred practice in African cultures, marking a male's transition from child to adulthood. According to the tradition, young males have to be circumcised as the passage to manhood. Traditionally tribal chiefs act as custodians of initiation. Quack doctors take advantage of the tradition to force teenagers to go to illegal initiation schools to be circumcised. It concerns Parliament when culture gets distorted, Mdakane said, adding that distortion causes havoc. It is important for society to understand what is being taught at initiation schools and the content of the schools should be proper so as to ensure that parents feel at ease when their children are at initiation schools, he said. "Culture is about development of society we want to return better man and women from these school," Mdakane said. He said tribal chiefs and kings will be invited to Parliament once the current process is finalized to get their input on how best to practice the tradition. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 23:25:28|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close KABUL, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday announced a conditional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban starting on Monday. "As we approach Eid-ul-Adha ... we announce a ceasefire that would take effect from Monday, the day of Arafa, till the day of the birth of the prophet (PBUH), Milad-un-Nabi, provided that the Taliban reciprocate," Ghani told a gathering celebrating the Independence Day. The Afghan leader also called on Taliban leadership to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long lasting and real peace. "We urge the Taliban leadership to get ready for peace talks based on Islamic values and principles," Ghani said, adding that the Afghan government has removed "all obstacles for a long lasting peace through these unprecedented steps." However, the Taliban group, which has repeatedly rejected an offer for peace talks with the Afghan government, has yet to react to President Ghani's offer for ceasefire. In June, the Afghan government announced a 17-day ceasefire to encourage the Taliban group to support the national reconciliation process. Reciprocating the government step, the Taliban announced a three-day truce during Eid-ul-Fitr which marked end of fasting month. Carolus was in the first group of Papua New Guinean journalists to train with the ABC in 1962 and became Director of Programs in the new National Broadcasting Commission in 1974. And so an illustrious, sometimes turbulent and high-achieving life is over. Ill remember Carolus as a great journalist, an enthusiastic jazz musician and a good bloke. Carolus, who became Minister for Works in the Autonomous Bougainville Government after a long and distinguished career as a journalist, had been ill for some time and recently returned from a period in hospital in Port Moresby. CAROLUS (CHARLIE) KETSIMUR who died at Pamets village near Tinputz in Bougainville on Sunday evening at 69 - was a man of the finest calibre. He was also a talented musician composing and recording the hit album Koitaki Cowboy and a gifted jazzman, recording with Independence era musicians like Phil Charley and Doug Fyfe. Early in his career, he married an Australian a contract uncommon in those colonial days and had two lovely children. Like so many of those sixties marriages, mine included, the original did not last. Nor did the journalism. He left journalism to pursue a business career, becoming chairman of the PNG Cocoa Board. In the late 1980s, with Bougainville falling deeper into civil strife and despair, Carolus returned home to be with his people, building a home outside the small town of Tinputz on the north-east coast. Here he married again, this time to a young Bougainville woman who died tragically. Carolus started a small business, a music store, and a long personal struggle began with an island divided, an economy in tatters and his own health in bad shape. With his life under threat from political opponents, he left his home and retreated to the bush. On a visit to Sydney a few years ago, he told me how - fearing his house would be torched while he was absent - he had wrapped his precious hi-fi equipment and record collection in plastic sheeting and buried in a hole in the ground. When he returned home two years later, everything was intact but, ironically, the items he had hidden had been destroyed by water and mould. Bougainville rose from its despondency and so did Carolus. He was one of the architects of the Bougainville Peace Agreement; he restored his business enterprises; became chairman of the Tinputz Council of Elders and a respected company director; and was appointed Minister for Commerce and Communications in the Interim Bougainville Provincial Government. He won, lost and then regained the seat of Taonita-Tinputz in the Autonomous Bougainville Government and was serving as Minister for Works at the time he died. Carolus was the driving force behind the establishment of New Dawn FM in north Bougainville, a project I was delighted to be able to work with him to bring to fruition. He also founded the Tinputz Cocoa Festival. Caroluss body has been taken to Buka and funeral arrangements are expected to be announced soon. I miss this charming, charismatic and humorous man. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 23:30:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Maria Spiliopoulou, Valentini Anagnostopoulou MATI, Greece, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Almost a month after the destructive July 23 wildfire which swept through this seaside resort, 30 kilometers east of Athens, and killed 96 people, those left behind are struggling to return to normality. As the state hands out financial assistance to over 4,000, according to the latest official data, and volunteers lend a helping hand to survivors to clean up the mess and set up homes from the start, the Hellenic Red Cross helps heal wounds, physical and psychological. Mobile units of Hellenic Red Cross medical experts visit at least 50 fire-stricken locals at their homes every day to treat burns, respiratory problems, chronic diseases and provide psychological assistance to people who are still mourning for the loss of relatives, friends, neighbors and a peaceful paradise. Ligeri Panagiotopoulou, 78, is one of the people receiving medical care from the nurses of the Hellenic Red Cross. She suffered burns during the wildfire, as she was escaping the flames with one of her daughters and neighbors inside a car. The trauma was infected, because in the first hours after witnessing the deadliest tragedy in over a decade in Greece, she did not pay attention, until a Red Cross expert examined her. Panagiotopoulou is happy her family lost just a car and their home suffered minor damages. "If I had lost this house I would be homeless, but it still would be ok, since we are fine," she told Xinhua on Saturday. Her second daughter was stranded on the beach with hundreds of other people for hours, while her son was assisting people to escape. "He rescued many people and I am so proud of him," she said. The house at Mati is the family's main residence after her children lost their jobs during the eight years of debt crisis. The electricity supply has still not be restored, the yard and the entire neighborhood is black, but she stays home to fill in applications for aid and open the door to technicians for repairs. "Nobody comes here anymore. People who lived here left, because they have small children and they cannot stand this smell," she said. She is grateful that Red Cross medics stop by every day to check on her. She feels she is not left alone. Ilias Karvounopoulos and his family live a few meters further. He considers himself also extremely lucky for escaping with burns and not losing a loved one. His home, also a main residence, has suffered minor damage. "Several persons died and many homes were destroyed. I believe I am blessed and lucky," he told Xinhua reporters. He managed to escape on his motorbike following the car of his neighbor who had picked up his elderly mother. They fled surrounded by flames. Karvounopoulos had taken off his shirt to cover his nose, because he couldn't breathe due to the smoke. He suffered burns and was transferred to hospital for the first aid. "I saw once images of a tsunami. It was similar, but instead of seawater it was the blaze burning everything. The temperature was unbearable, but thanks to adrenaline and the will to survive I managed to - excuse me - I managed to do what I did..." "The temperature was extremely high. Car rims melted. This is how I suffered burns," he recalled. The doctors who treated him the first night told him that his wounds would most likely not heal before October. He already feels much better. "I wish these people the best. I am grateful. They are great people... I owe the improvement of my health to a large extent to the Red Cross," he said. Nurse Lina Tsitsou is the coordinator of the Hellenic Red Cross relief program for the fire-stricken in Attica. Emergency crews of the Greek branch of the international humanitarian organization rushed to Mati from the first hours to assist in rescue operations and offer medical aid. "From day one until today we continue to provide medical care and psychological and social support to people in need," she said, noting the progress made so far. "The change is obvious. They have somehow started returning to normality. In the first days physically and psychologically they had serious problems and the image was different," she said. "Initially they hesitated to ask for help and we had to try hard to get the information. They would say 'what can I say, people we knew are gone? I cannot say a thing. I am alive.' Yet they had serious health issues which needed to be addressed. Now they gradually start focusing on their needs," Tsitsou explained. Locals opened their homes and their hearts to Tsitsou and her colleagues, experienced medical experts who had to try hard to stand strong to provide help and not be affected by the catastrophe. "The site is harsh. Imagine how hard it gets, when you start talking to people and they narrate what they have been through," she explained. She feels happy the Hellenic Red Cross has the means to assist with the assistance of donors. The Red Cross Society of China donated 100,000 U.S. dollars to the Hellenic Red Cross to support relief efforts in Attica. Although many wounds have been healed, there is still much work to be done. "Many people have still not returned, because they cannot cope with the comeback to the place where they lived so tragic moments. In September we expect a spike in needs, because they will return for the children to go back to school," Tsitsou said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 23:30:30|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Winners of the 11th Chinese Physician Prize take an oath during a celebration event of China's first Medical Workers' Day in Beijing, capital of China, Aug. 19, 2018. More than 80 medical doctors across the country won the prize. (Xinhua/Zhang Yuwei) BEIJING, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Activities were held and promotion videos released for the celebrations of China's first Medical Workers' Day, which falls on Sunday, to call for respect from society for the country's 11.7 million medical and health workers. The State Council last year approved an application from the health authorities on designating Aug. 19 every year as the country's Medical Workers' Day. Zhang Yanling, president of the Chinese Medical Doctor Association, said the day will be remembered as a milestone in the history of China's health cause and the country's doctors. He also expected activities to observe the day may promote the professional spirit and ethnics among the medical workers. Yao Yufeng, a prestigious Chinese ophthalmologist, sees the celebration of the Medical Workers' Day as a "special glory" bestowed by the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the people. He said that he and his colleagues are inspired to carry forward the life-saving spirit and break new ground in medical field. "The profession of medicine serves the fundamental and ultimate interests of human being, and the medical workers... must be fully aware of this," Wang Chen, president of the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and the Peking Union Medical College, said last month at the graduation ceremony for this year's graduates. Wang Yimin, a 32-year-old respiratory physician, agreed. "We will take the baton from our predecessors and carry on our duties." The report at the 19th CPC National Congress pledged to carry out the Healthy China initiative, which includes measures to improve community-level healthcare services and strengthen the ranks of general practitioners. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 23:30:31|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close DUBAI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) top diplomat on Saturday questioned Lebanon's policy of dissociation from regional affairs, just after the leader of Lebanon's Hezbollah met with a delegation of Yemen's Shiite Houthi rebels. "How is the policy of disassociation that Lebanon needs to be consistent with its political and economic balance and its Arab and international position, with Hassan Nasrallah receiving a delegation from Houthi rebels?" Anwar Gargash, UAE minister of state for foreign affairs, expressed the doubts on his twitter account. "Lebanon can not be a logistical or political station for Houthis," he noted, referring to the Yemeni crisis as "priorities intrinsically linked to the future of the security and stability of the Gulf." The UAE is part of the Saudi-led Arab coalition that has been fighting the Shiite Houthi rebels since March 2015 to support the internationally-recognized government led by President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi. The coalition accuses Iran of arming the Houthis, who have fired scores of ballistic missiles on Saudi troops and cities since the outbreak of hostilities. In November 2017, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait urged their citizens not to travel to Lebanon after the Saudi government slammed Hezbollah's influence on Lebanese politics. The United Nations has invited both the Yemeni government and Houthi rebels for peace talks in Geneva to be held on Sept. 6. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-19 23:55:41|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Premier Sun Chunlan (R) meets with Puan Maharani, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture, in Jakarta, Indonesia, on Aug. 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Du Yu) JAKARTA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping's special envoy and Vice Premier Sun Chunlan on Sunday met with Puan Maharani, Indonesia's Coordinating Minister for Human Development and Culture. Sun, on behalf of the Chinese government and people, extended warm congratulations to the successful opening of the 18th Asian Games and expressed condolences over the strong earthquake occurred in the country's island of Lombok. This year is the fifth anniversary of the establishment of China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership, she said, adding that with the guidance of the two countries' leaders, China-Indonesia relations have achieved rapid development by actively aligning their development strategies and fully promoting mutually-beneficial and practical cooperation. Citing the complicated and sensitive global political and economic situations, Sun said China and Indonesia actively take responsibilities as major countries and maintain communication and coordination on regional and global affairs to jointly promote peace, stability and development in regions as well as the world. Sun said people-to-people exchanges serve as the bond and bridge in enhancing the two peoples' friendship and mutual trust. China is willing to work with Indonesia to deepen cooperation in people-to-people exchanges to help the development of China-Indonesia comprehensive strategic partnership, she noted. The two countries should consolidate cooperation in education, especially in such fields as higher and professional education and training of skills, she suggested, adding that China and Indonesia should also push forward cultural exchanges and promote cooperation in sports. Sun said the two countries need to work together to expand cooperation in tourism industry to boost personnel exchanges and strengthen cooperation in tourism security to avoid serious accidents. She also called for closer communications among the two countries' youths, saying that China welcomes more young people from Indonesia to visit to and study in China. In addition, China and Indonesia should enhance cooperation in sanitation sector and promote cooperation in such areas as public health, overall health, training and health education. For her part, Puan Maharani welcomed Sun attended the opening ceremony of the Jakarta Asiad as President Xi's special envoy and thanked China's support and the importance it attached to the sport event. The Indonesian government and people thanked China's valuable assistance after the strong earthquake hit the Lombok Island, she said, adding that it showcased the friend relationship and profound friendship between the two peoples. The Indonesian side pays great attention to Sun's proposals on the two countries' people-to-people exchanges and looks forward to working with China to further push forward China-Indonesia cooperation in education, science and technology, culture, sanitation and sports, so as to promote the development of bilateral ties and bring tangible benefits to the two peoples, she said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 00:05:44|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close by Mohamed al-Azaki SANAA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- While more than 25 million Yemenis are preparing to celebrate Eid al-Adha, or Islamic "Festival of Sacrifice" starting on Aug. 21, millions of them have been suffering from destitution amid more than three years of civil war. Among them were more than tens of thousands of civil servants who have remained unpaid for nearly 24 months due to the conflict. The main reason was that the internationally recognized government moved Yemen's Central Bank from the rebel-held capital Sanaa to the government-run southern port city of Aden in August 2016, Abdulkawi al-Mualimy, a pro-government official at the central bank, told Xinhua. "The government has accused the armed Houthi rebels of using the bank money to finance their military deployment," he said. However, the accusations were denied by the Houthi group. In Souk Al-Milh, the most busiest popular market in the Yemeni historic UNESCO-listed Old City at the heart of Sanaa, many people are struggling to afford their Eid shopping. "I pass through the market and just look to the new clothes and candies but I'm not able to buy because I have not been paid for many months," said Ali Awfan, 45, a government employee in the old city of Sanaa. "It pains me to admit that I'm not able to buy new clothes for my children in this Eid," the father of six told Xinhua. The Yemeni war has so far killed more than 10,000, mostly civilians, and displaced around three million others, according to recent reports by the United Nations humanitarian agencies. The war pitted the Sunni exiled government, backed by the Saudi-led coalition, against Iran-allied Shiite Houthi rebels who control much of the north, including Sanaa. Several unique tall buildings near the Souk Al-Milh market have been destroyed to the ground by bombing. Lined with small shops on each sides of zigzag paths floored with polished black stones, the market is full of imported and local goods, including clothes, shoes, sweets, walnuts, almonds and peanuts. The residents say the prices have gone through the roof and very few people can afford to buy. "Traders, shoppers and all people have been badly affected by this war. There were no much in sales," said Mohamed Abu al-Arabi, an owner of a shop in the Souk Al-Milh. "The people have become very poor to afford Eid shopping. They have neither salaries nor other income, as the prices go high due to the war," he lamented. The Yemeni local currency has been sinking faster in recent months. The exchange centers are trading one U.S. dollar for 550 riyals, more than doubling from the 215-riyal rate set before the war. Years of conflict has devastated Yemen and created the largest food insecurity emergency in the world, according to the UN aid agencies. Even before the war erupted in early 2015, almost half of the Yemeni people had lived below the poverty line with two thirds of the young people unemployed and social services on the verge of collapse. The war has so far left more than 18 million people in need of humanitarian assistance, according to aid agencies. Fortunately, the UN special envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths said formal invitations were sent to the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi and Houthi rebels for peace talks in Geneva on Sept. 6. Hasan al-Ahlawan, an owner of a shop in Al-Milh market, expressed his high expectations of the peace meeting. "My letter to the coming meeting between all Yemeni rival parties in Geneva is that we want a comprehensive peaceful solution to end the war and economic crisis," said al-Ahlawan. "All Yemenis and all hopes will eye Geneva meeting," he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 00:30:50|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close ISLAMABAD, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Pakistan on Sunday welcomed the Afghan government's declaration of a ceasefire during the upcoming Muslim festival of "Eid ul Azha." Pakistan made the response after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced a three-month conditional ceasefire with the Taliban that will start from Monday. "Pakistan fully supports all such efforts that contribute to achieving durable stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan deserve it. Coinciding with the Independence Day of Afghanistan, the announcement has an even greater significance," a Foreign Ministry spokesman said. The spokesman said in a statement that Pakistan considers "Eid ul Azha" as an appropriate occasion for all parties to make a commitment to ceasefire. "We also call upon all parties that in defense to the holy tradition of sacrifice during Eid ul Azha to implement a ceasefire in hostilities - preferably for a more extended period of time," the Pakistani spokesman said, adding the ceasefire would allow the people of Afghanistan to celebrate the festival in comfort and peace. The spokesman said that Pakistan expects such steps will create an environment of enduring peace and stability. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 00:35:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TIRANA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Albanian National Food Authority (NFA) has blocked a container of about 27 tons of chicken meat coming from Brazil whose samples resulted in salmonella presence, local media reported. NFA directorates across Albania have continued with the strict controls of cargoes of animal products from imports during the summer season, when there is an increase of the volume of trade. During 2018, NFA has blocked and returned back to their country of origin a total of seven containers, with 180 tons of meat. The total number of cargoes imported from Brazil during this period of the year is 259 containers, each of which is checked and rigorously analyzed. According to NFA, the efficient controls associated with the quality of analysis are a complete guarantee the safety on the products entering the Albanian market. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 00:45:55|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- With more police stations being attacked, Parliament warned on Sunday that criminal syndicates are targeting police stations to obtain firearms for criminal activities. "Police management should move with speed and determination on this matter," said Francois Beukman, chairperson of Parliament's Portfolio Committee on Police. He was speaking after two more police officers were shot dead respectively in Delft and Khayelitsha near Cape Town on Friday evening. "It is again a confirmation that a group of criminals in the country do not subscribe to the rule of law and a constitutional state, and law enforcement agencies must ensure that these criminals are arrested and brought before the courts," Beukman said. Tactical training of police officers and proactive crime intelligence are key to addressing the current worrying situation, he said. Furthermore, the deployment of sufficient members during the weekend and night shifts is also paramount, and station and cluster commanders should monitor the effectiveness of security measures at police stations, Beukman said. There has been an increase in attacks on police stations across South Africa, which has one of the highest crime rates in the world. Early this month, armed men attacked a police station in Kareedouw, Eastern Cape Province, and held an officer on duty at gunpoint, made off with a number of firearms from the safe. In February, gunmen attacked a police station in Nqcobo, also in Eastern Cape Province, killing five police officers and an off-duty soldier, and stealing weapons and a vehicle before fleeing. Police stations in the Free State and Western Cape provinces have also come under attack. In most of the attacks, criminals took off firearms and ammunition from the police stations. It is evident that the driving force for criminals to attack police stations is to obtain firearms, Beukman said. There have been concerns that firearms stolen from police stations will add to the pool of firearms to be used in criminal activities. Berkman urged community members with information on the location of the perpetrators and the stolen firearms to contact and inform their nearest police stations. National Police Commissioner Kehla Sitole will be summoned to Parliament next week to brief the Portfolio Committee on Police on measures to increase security at police stations, according to Beukman. The effectiveness of measures introduced by the South African Police Service (SAPS) management to ensure the safety at police stations and SAPS members in general will be under scrutiny in Parliament, Beukman said. South African lawmakers have blamed the SAPS for the failure to implement effective safety strategy to protect police stations from attacks. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 01:10:58|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAR ES SALAAM, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- President Ali Mohamed Shein of the Zanzibar archipelago on Sunday urged Tanzanians living abroad to support the island's development by investing in economic and education sectors. "Tanzania diaspora can play a vital role in boosting economic development," Shein told the opening the 5th Tanzania Diaspora Conference in Chake Chake. The Zanzibar government has completed preparations for the formulation of the diaspora policy of Zanzibar, aimed at ensuring better development strategy in collaboration with Tanzanians living abroad, he said. The government will provide full support to Tanzanians living abroad who wished to invest in Zanzibar, Shein said. Tanganyika and Zanzibar merged in 1964 to form the United Republic of Tanzania. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 01:25:59|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close CAPE TOWN, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's major opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), vowed on Sunday to fight any hostile takeover of the country's central bank, whose independence it said must be safeguarded. There can be no meaningful public interest motive in nationalizing the South African Reserve Bank (SARB) but only the furtherance of private political interests, the DA said. This came after another opposition party, the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), submitted the SARB Amendment Bill to Parliament earlier last week, proposing to do away with private shareholders and "make the state the sole holder of the shares in the bank." To nationalize the SARB "is a hostile move in a long game of the EFF political maneuvers" to influence the mandate and operations of the bank and ultimately South Africa's banking system as a whole, the DA said in a statement. This is also an electoral game for the EFF because whether or not the bill is passed, the EFF hopes to dominate the ruling African National Congress' radical agenda, and position itself as the authentic party of the left, said the DA. The SARB's nationalization has become a focus of attention as South Africa head to the 2019 general elections. The ANC, which proposed nationalizing the bank before, is lukewarm to the EFF's bill. On Friday, the ANC refrained from neither supporting nor opposing the bill but said it will scrutinize it. Unlike most central banks in the world, the SARB has been privately owned since it was established in 1921, but its shareholders have no control over monetary policy, financial stability policy or banking regulation. As a result, the bank has been criticized for failing to help boost the economy and create jobs. The debate on nationalizing the SARB has been going on for quite some time. There has been a growing call, even within the ANC, to nationalize the central bank. At its 54th national congress in December last year, the ANC proposed nationalizing the SARB so as to allow the government to own 100 percent of the bank's shares, replacing current arrangement, where the shares are held by a number of private shareholders. The ANC later softened its stance on the SARB due to growing jitters among investors. Nationalization will mean that the finance minister will have the ability to appoint every board member from a list of nominees that are confirmed by a panel also largely appointed by the minister. Coupled with greater ministerial involvement in the bank, this would give the government enhanced ability to influence its rules in a market in which it also competes, investors say. The SARB insists that changing the ownership structure of the bank could raise the level of risk and uncertainty for the country in both the financial and economic policy sense. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 01:56:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya Maria Ribiero said on Sunday that 130 civilians in Libya have been killed as a result of hostilities since the beginning of this year. "According to the UN, in 2018, hostilities in Libya have already resulted in at least 130 civilian deaths and many injuries, including children," Ribiero said in a statement on the occasion of World Humanitarian Day. Libyans struggle to meet their basic daily needs, amid difficult educational and medical situations, Ribiero said. The UN official called for a safe work environment for all humanitarian staff "so that life-saving assistance can reach people in need without delay in every part of Libya." She also called on all parties in Libya to do everything in their capability to protect those most vulnerable, especially people caught up in conflict, and to ensure access for humanitarian assistance. Sunday marks the World Humanitarian Day, which pays tribute to humanitarian workers and those lost their lives in doing humanitarian work. Libya has been suffering escalating violence, chaos and political division ever since the 2011 uprising that toppled former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 03:01:15|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TRIPOLI, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Libyan UN-backed Ministry of Justice on Sunday rejected foreign opposition to a court sentence of 45 former regime supporters to death. "The Ministry of Justice confirms the fairness, integrity and independence of the Libyan judiciary, especially that the defendants of the case had received fair trial with all legal guarantees, and that they were able to defend themselves," the ministry said in a statement. "The ministry calls on all parties, particularly international organizations and missions, to refrain from interference in Libyan sovereign affairs, especially judiciary," the statement added. Libya's Court of Appeal on Wednesday sentenced 45 supporters of former leader Muammar Gaddafi's regime to death over the killing of demonstrators in the capital Tripoli during the 2011 uprising. UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) on Thursday expressed concern over the court's death sentence, opposing "the imposition of the death penalty as a matter of principle." The case goes back to Aug. 21, 2011, when supporters of the Gaddafi regime killed a number of civilian demonstrators near the highway in the capital Tripoli. Video footage circulated showed Gaddafi supporters forcing the demonstrators to kneel before killing them on the spot. A Syrian soldier works to perfect a sculpture on the wall of a formerly rebel-run underground tunnel in the Jobar neighborhood in the Eastern Ghouta countryside of the capital Damascus on Aug.14, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) DAMASCUS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- In an underground tunnel that had been used by rebels to transfer weapons east of the capital Damascus, 18 Syrian artists carved the walls and shaped them into lively sculptures. The sculptures, most of which glorified the Syrian army, depicted children or hailed peace, were perfectly carved on the walls of one of the main tunnels of the rebels dug under a school in the Jobar neighborhood in the Eastern Ghouta countryside of Damascus. Walls of a formerly rebel-run underground tunnel are seen turned into sculptures by Syrian artists with scenes of battle and bravery in the Jobar neighborhood in the Eastern Ghouta countryside of the capital Damascus on Aug.14, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) One of the sculptures was a soldier raising the Syrian flag, while his comrade was facing a mortar shell, implying the sacrifice the army has made for the country. Another one featured a mother embracing her child with her hair covering him, while flowers and pigeons flew around. A Syrian artist works to perfect a sculpture on the wall of a formerly rebel-run underground tunnel in the Jobar neighborhood in the Eastern Ghouta countryside of the capital Damascus on Aug.14, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) Muhannad Mualla, a Syrian soldier, came up with the idea of turning the walls of the tunnels into sculptures. He created the first sculpture work on a wall in the tunnel while the war was still raging in Eastern Ghouta. Since the Syrian government forces recaptured the entire Eastern Ghouta earlier this year, more artists joined Mualla and created a beautiful set of sculptures in the tunnel. Mualla told Xinhua that the artworks conveyed a message that Syria will rise again from the ruins. "We have tried our best to tell the public opinion that Syria is impossible to die even if it got hurt," he said. A Syrian artist works to perfect a sculpture on the wall of a formerly rebel-run underground tunnel in the Jobar neighborhood in the Eastern Ghouta countryside of the capital Damascus on Aug.14, 2018.(Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) Mualla said the idea was born when he wanted to express and share his feelings about the sacrifice of the soldiers in the war in his own way. "We tried to tell the story of the sacrifice of the Syrian army, the mother of the martyrs, the homeland and to highlight the humanity of the Syrian army about the hope in the near end of the war in Syria and about old-new Syria," he said. The tunnel was once called "the tunnel of death," as the ultra-radical militants used such tunnels to transfer weapons previously used to kill civilians in residential areas. It took these artists a month to finish 20 sculptures on the walls of the tunnel, nine meters underground. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad recently visited the tunnel with his wife Asma, hailing the efforts of the artists. "Darkness, destruction and death are their (rebels) culture while creation, light, art and life are our culture," said the president. Anas Qatramiz, a sculptor and head of the artists, said the artists came from different areas and were united by their love of art. Amina al-Na'san, one of the artists, said the idea of the artwork is turning the tunnel from a place threatening people and civilization to a place that presents works of beauty and love. Palestinians gather at a livestock market ahead of the Muslim festival Eid al-Adha in the central Gaza Strip, on Aug. 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Wissam Nassar) GAZA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- On the eve of Muslims' al-Adha feast, livestock markets in the Palestinian Gaza Strip has witnessed a low customer turnout due to the severe economic deterioration caused by the ongoing Israeli blockade which has been in place for more than a decade. "Less people are buying sacrificial animals ahead of the feast because of the difficult economic conditions and the high rates of poverty and unemployment," livestock merchant Saed al-Batniji complained. Eid al-Adha, the feast of sacrifice, is celebrated by Muslims worldwide in memory of Prophet Abraham's near-sacrifice of his own son as ordered by God. It comes at the end of the pilgrimage rituals in Saudi Arabia as Muslims slaughter sheep, goats, camels or calves as a means of getting closer to Allah (God). Al-Batniji told Xinhua that the market is packed with livestock of different kinds, "but people do not have money to buy." "The long years of the Israeli blockade have decreased the purchasing power of the population. So far I have sold less than one-third of what I used to sell in recent years," he added. The coastal enclave has been also suffering from a political division that has resulted by Hamas violent takeover of Gaza. According to the latest data of Palestinian Central Bureau of Statistics, unemployment in Gaza Strip reached 53.7 percent compared with 19.1 percent in the West Bank. The blockade has pushed Gaza's two million populations deeper into poverty as economists in Gaza point out that extreme poverty hit 53 percent in 2017 compared with 37 percent in 2011. This year, the average price of lamb in Gaza is 350 U.S. dollars, while the price of a share in a calf stands at 450 dollars, which exceeds the capacity of a large proportion of Palestinians in Gaza, making the markets experiencing an unprecedented recession. Livestock sellers say a large proportion of people are buying animals in installments because of the limited salaries of Palestinian Authority employees who receive 50 percent of their salaries or Hamas employees who are paid 40 percent of their payments. In recent years, Gaza residents have adopted a sharing system to buy a sacrifice due to the worsening financial situation of the majority of the population. Through this system, consumers can buy shares in a cow or a calf and also can pay on installments after agreeing with livestock merchants. Rafat Ashour, an engineer from Gaza, went to join six other people in buying a sacrifice this year. Ashour told Xinhua that he is keen to sacrifice every feast since it is an important Islamic ritual for all financially capable Muslims. According to the feast rituals, the meat is divided into three thirds, one distributed to less fortunate families, another for relatives and the last for the family to cook during the four-day feast. Gaza's local production of livestock during the past few years covered 40 percent of the domestic market needs. However, most of the livestock in Gaza now are imported from Europe and enter the blockaded territory through Israel. Head of livestock in Gaza's agriculture ministry, Taher Abu Ahmed, said the needs of the Gaza Strip of sacrificial cattle annually are estimated at 8,000 calves and around 20,000 sheep, adding that Gaza consumed 14,000 calves and 30,000 sheep during last year's sacrifice holiday. Abu Ahmed stressed that this year's demand is low because of the higher rates of poverty and the inflating prices of livestock globally in addition to the costs of growing and transporting the animals. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 04:16:26|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close VALLETTA, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Sunday defended the country's position on refusing to rescue a migrant boat at sea, saying that "Our position is legally and morally correct". Muscat made the comment in a radio interview. The boat, carrying 171 migrants, transited international waters which Malta is responsible for with regard to rescues, according to him. A Maltese patrol boat had approached the vessel and asked whether it needed assistance, but it was not in distress, the Prime Minister said. "International law stipulates that once a vessel is not in your territorial waters ... you cannot tell it to stop or take a particular course," Muscat explained. The information which the Maltese received was that the vessel was not in difficulty and wanted to carry on to the southern Italian island of Lampedusa. But when the vessel left the Maltese Search and Rescue (SAR) area of international waters and entered that of Italy, an Italian boat intercepted them and loaded the people on board. "The Italians told us to request they be brought to Malta. We said no," Muscat said, clarifying that the Italian state was responsible for the migrants. Secondly, he said, the interception took place much closer to Lampedusa than Malta. Malta and Italy have been at loggerheads recently over the issue of migrant rescue, with both sides attempting to shift the burden of responsibility onto the other. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 04:21:28|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RABAT, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan King Mohammed VI granted his pardon to 450 inmates, including 22 individuals convicted in extremism and terrorism cases, the Moroccan Justice Ministry announced on Sunday. The pardon came on the occasion of the anniversary of the Revolution of the King and the People, which marks the revolution launched by Moroccan people on Aug. 20, 1953 after French colonial authorities exiled the late king Mohammed V and the royal family. According to a statement from the ministry, the pardoned people, who were convicted in extremism and terrorism cases, participated in the program known as "Reconciliation," which aims at reintegrating the prisoners into society. The pardon decision was made only after the prisoners proved they had revised their ideological orientations and officially announced their rejection to all forms of extremism and terrorism, the statement pointed out. A total of 17 prisoners were exempted from the remaining terms, while two had their prison terms reduced and three commuted from life imprisonment to fixed prison terms, the same source noted. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 04:26:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close PARIS, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- A total of 19 people were injured in a massive fire on Sunday night at a building in the Aubervilliers commune, the northern suburb of Paris, local media reported. Five children and two women were in serious conditions, according to the Europe1 radio station. Police officers were also hurt in the fire. Many people were saved from the huge fire, the firefighters of Paris said on twitter. This was the second fire in a month at Aubervillers. On July 26, a mother and her three children were killed in a fire of their apartment. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 04:31:30|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close JERUSALEM, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton in Jerusalem on Sunday to discuss issue of Iran. According to statement from Israeli Prime Minister's Office, Netanyahu discussed with Bolton "Iran's aggression in the region and to make sure that they never have nuclear weapons." Bolton echoed Israel's accusation, saying that "Iran's nuclear weapons and ballistic missile programs are right at the top of the list." The hawkish adviser has called for the cancellation of the nuclear deal between Iran and the world powers, from which the U.S. backed out earlier this year. Bolton will also visit Ukraine and Geneva, where he will meet Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 04:56:33|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close TORONTO, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- The popular China Brand Show will be introduced again at 2018 Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada (ATSC) exhibition Monday, according to ATSC. The three-day international trade show ATSC is to begin Monday at the International Center in Toronto where China Brand Show occupies roughly one third of space with a range of high-quality and environmentally-friendly "Made in China" goods. Chinese models provide a wonderful fashion show at the center Tuesday China Brand Show made its Canadian debut as part of the Apparel Textile Sourcing Canada (ATSC) exhibition last year, drawing thousands of visitors from a wide variety of industries. China Brand Show has also seen huge success in the United States after launching in 2002. 2018 ATSCT show will double in size from 2017 to include additional categories such as accessories, giftware, home electronics, footwear, luggage and housewares and general merchandise. Almost 600 booths, including will line the show floor, featuring the latest and greatest trends and unique offerings in apparel and textile from more than 20 countries, including Canada, China, Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, the U.S., the U.K., Turkey, Switzerland, Spain, Nepal and Ukraine. The event provides the thousands of expected attendees with unprecedented networking and business opportunities with international suppliers on Canadian turf. It is also a major feat for local businesses that are poised to benefit from making unprecedented connections and securing deals with top-rate international suppliers. During the exhibition, more than 20 lectures and forums will be held, and world-renowned industry experts expected to explain business knowledge, fashion trends and trade trends to the audience. In a good will gesture, ATSC has teamed up with leading Chinese clothing manufacturer Changshu Garment Town to donate at least 500 pieces of winter outwear to Brands for Canada - a national organization that provides new, donated clothing, personal care and houseware items at no cost to Canadians living in poverty - during the show. Show managers have also announced their involvement in the first China Import EXPO, which takes place November 5-10 in Shanghai. "This event provides an unprecedented opportunity for Canadians to introduce their brands into the Chinese market," said Jason Prescott, CEO of JP Communications, ATSC producer and North America's leading publisher. ATSC is supported by many international governments and associations, headed by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Textile and Apparel (CCCT). Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 05:01:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Sabaa, a new Lebanese political party, placed Sunday billboards and posters on some beaches in the country to warn citizens against swimming in contaminated coastal water, local media reported. "We will not keep quiet while people are getting sick from swimming in contaminated water with the absence of real measures by the government," Sabaa said in a statement, according to Elnashra, an independent online newspaper. Sabaa is based on a scientific study by the Lebanese Center for Marine Sciences. A series of reports were released earlier about Lebanon's coastal water pollution, the first of which was published by Al-Akhbar newspaper in June, saying that no region in the country is free from pollution and advising people not to swim in the sea anymore. These reports were confirmed by head of Lebanese Agricultural Research Institute (LARI), Michel Efram, who said in June that Lebanon's water is mostly contaminated in varying degrees. Tests conducted by American University of Beirut in early August showed that Sidon's sea in South Lebanon is clean, safe and suitable for swimming. Also, head of Tyre municipality Hassan Dbouk said Tyre's sea is free of contamination, adding that "the rumors aimed at destroying tourism in this city." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 05:36:42|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BAGHDAD, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Iraq's prominent Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, outgoing Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi and two other parliamentary blocs formed a core of the largest alliance on Sunday ahead of the new parliament session. The parliamentary blocs of Sadr-backed Sairoon, Abadi's Nasr, Hikma led by Shiite cleric Ammar al-Hakim and Wataniyah, led by Shiite secular Ayad Allawi, in addition to smaller Sunni parliamentary blocs, held a meeting in Baghdad to discuss forming the largest alliance that would form a government for the next four years, a joint statement by the blocs said. "We agreed today to form a core for an alliance seeking to form a parliamentary alliance that can form the government. We have decided at this meeting to open up to our other partners to contribute together in the formation of this (largest) alliance," the statement said. Earlier in the day, Abadi called in a televised speech on President Fuad Masoum to invite the new parliament to hold its first session as soon as possible, and called on the political blocs to accelerate their negotiations to agree on the program of the next government. Abadi's speech came hours after the Federal Supreme Court ratified the final results of May 12 parliamentary elections, marking the first step toward forming the new Iraqi government. The approval confirmed the preliminary results of May 12 elections, which showed the Sairoon Coalition backed by Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr was the front-runner and won 54 seats in the upcoming 329-seat parliament. The ratification will widely open the door for Iraqi politicians to form the next government and would give a push for the tough negotiations by the political blocs to form the largest alliance before the first session of the new parliament. According to the Iraqi Constitution, the ratification of the results entails outgoing President Masoum to call on the new parliament to hold its first session under the chairmanship of the eldest parliament member within 15 days from the court's ratification. It will also elect a president of parliament and the president of the republic, who will ask the largest alliance to form a government within 30 days. On May 12, millions of Iraqis went to 8,959 polling centers across the country to vote for their parliamentary representatives in the first general election since Iraq's historic victory over the Islamic State militant group last December. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 05:56:44|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. National Security Advisor John Bolton said here on Sunday that U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will leave for a trip to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) for the fourth visit since he assumed the current office. In an interview with ABC's "This Week," Bolton said that "I think Secretary Pompeo will be returning to Pyongyang soon for his fourth visit." "I think the timing will be announced at an appropriate point by the State Department," he said, adding that the U.S. sides expects Pompeo to meet with the DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un. "To move on with the process of denuclearization remains our highest priority," said Bolton, adding that "it's important that they (the DPRK) demonstrate seriousness" in this regard. He noted that the DPRK has one year to follow through from making "the strategic decision to denuclearize." However, he did not give more details on the timeline. "We're counting on North Korea following through on the commitments," he added. Bolton said earlier last month that Washington has had a plan to dismantle the majority of the DPRK's nuke and ballistic missile programs, and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be discussing it with Pyongyang while visiting the country. However, State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert said the State Department will not provide a timeline for Pyongyang's abandonment of nuclear and missile program. Pomeo has visited the DPRK for three times, respectively in April, May and July. Nauert also said on Aug. 14 that inter-governmental talks between the United States and the DPRK will become a "regular course of business" with denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula as the focus. Saying that Washington supports building a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula "by which countries can move forward toward peace," she added that "our main focus is on the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula." Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 06:01:45|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close by Mahmoud Fouly CAIRO, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Yemen has become a theater for conflicting regional interests and ambitions that led to a devastating civil war whose settlement is in the hands of concerned regional parties rather than the Yemenis themselves, said Yemeni and Egyptian experts. Yemen has been engaged in an internal fighting since the Iran-backed Shiite Houthi rebels, who helped overthrow internationally-recognized President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi, seized most of the Yemeni northern provinces in September 2014 including the capital Sanaa. Meanwhile, the pro-Hadi forces supported by a Saudi-led Arab military alliance controlled the rest of Yemen, including the southern major city of Aden. Since March 2015, the military coalition led by Saudi Arabia has been launching airstrikes against the Houthis in Yemen in support of Hadi. More than 10,000 Yemenis, mostly civilians, have been killed in the war and more than three million others displaced, according to UN reports. REGIONAL INFLUENCE The conflict in Yemen between the Houthis and the internationally-recognized government represents a larger conflict between the regional backers of both sides, namely Iran and Saudi Arabia, the two major rivals in the Middle East region. "The crisis is complicated, for it includes massive regional interventions. Iran interferes from one side and Saudi Arabia from the other. Thus, it has become not just a Yemeni crisis but a regional one," said Wedad al-Badawi, a Yemeni journalist and activist. Despite its massive anti-Houthi air raids for more than three years, the Saudi-led coalition could not resolve the situation in Yemen. The Yemeni government officially complained to the United Nations Security Council in July about the presence of Lebanon's Shiite Hezbollah militant group, Iran's key regional ally, in Yemen, claiming that the group provides the Houthi fighters with military training and planning. "These regional parties talk about the Yemeni issue as if it's their own affair, whereas none of them is concerned about the sufferings of the Yemeni people who face poverty, famine, cholera and other fatal epidemics due to the ongoing war," Badawi told Xinhua. She noted the growth of "war economy" in the conflict-stricken country where the Houthis buy large properties, make arms deals and control taxes and humanitarian aids to expand their financial and economic influence in the northern parts in general and in the capital Sanaa in particular. "The legitimate forces and the pro-legitimacy coalition couldn't limit the Houthis' economic influence that expands to currently control Hodeidah Red Sea port in the west that provides them with huge resources," she lamented. Although not directly involved, the United States remains in the background of the Yemeni picture, for U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew from a Western-Iranian nuclear deal and restored sanctions on Iran, supports Washington's major regional ally Saudi Arabia in its military campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. RED SEA SECURITY Bordering the Red Sea from the west, the Gulf of Aden from the south and Bab al-Mandeb Strait in between, war-torn Yemen has a strategic significance for the national security of the states sharing the Red Sea and the security of trade and navigation there. Egypt, one of the Red Sea partners and a main Saudi ally, provides logistic support for the Saudi-led coalition to restore the legitimate government in Yemen but it is not directly involved in the coalition's military actions. Egypt has repeatedly rejected Iran's regional expansion and intervention in Arab conflicts including those of Syria and Yemen and condemned the Houthis' occasional launch of ballistic missiles against Saudi territories. "We will not allow Yemen to become a vehicle for the influence of non-Arab forces, or a platform on which to threaten the security and stability of Arab nations or the freedom of navigation in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb," Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi said last week in a joint press conference with his Yemeni counterpart Hadi in the Egyptian capital Cairo. The Egyptian president also underscored the vital importance of Yemen's security and stability not just for Egypt's national security but for the security and stability of the whole region, reiterating his country's support for Hadi's government. Ahmed Eleiba, a political researcher and a writer at Egyptian state-run Al-Ahram newspaper, stressed that Egypt is an integral part of the security of the Red Sea navigation although it is not the only player. "Egypt's recent joint naval military exercise with the United States, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates in the Red Sea, dubbed 'Eagle Response 2018,' has strategic significance as it involved training on removing naval mines like those Iran threatens to use in response to U.S. sanctions," the researcher told Xinhua. SOLUTION OVERSEAS The Yemeni various factions suffer a state of domestic division and growing sectarianism that doesn't see a settlement in the near future, yet hope is still there. Most experts believe that the solution for the Yemeni crisis is no longer in the hands of the Yemenis alone but has to be initiated by involving regional and international parties. In early July, UN Special Envoy to Yemen Martin Griffiths visited Riyadh as a key player in possible future settlement, and he met later in the same month with Houthi leaders to convince them of withdrawing from Hodeidah port as part of a UN-sponsored peace plan. "The crisis is complicated and I don't see a near settlement except through international efforts, such as a breakthrough in the U.S.-Iranian conflict over the nuclear issue and UN-backed peace initiatives like that of Al-Hodeidah," said Eleiba. He explained that the United States could influence Saudi Arabia's position and Iran could affect that of the Houthis. For her part, Badawi agreed that there has to be a quick "regional-oriented settlement with international guarantees" as the only hope to put an end to the Yemeni crisis. "The procedures for building trust among the Yemenis should start from now through international players, the UN special envoy, the concerned Gulf countries and the ambassadors of peace-sponsoring states," the Yemeni journalist told Xinhua. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 06:01:45|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close MEXICO CITY, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- Mexico deported a Salvadoran citizen who the International Police (Interpol) was seeking for extradition back to El Salvdor, the National Migration Institute (INM) said on Sunday. Salvadoran authorities said the man, identified only as Ramon "N" was sought on various charges and was believed to be a member of the MS-13 street gang. He was deported after he was located in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas by Mexican authorities, INM said in a news release. "He was facing various charges in his country for committing numerous acts including homicide, sexual assault, theft, extorsion and the sale of drugs," according to the release. He is also allegedly responsible for inciting violence in the municipality of Yayantique. Ramon "N" was handed over to Salvadoran authorities by immigration agents. Source: Xinhua| 2018-08-20 06:41:48|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Aug. 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said here on Sunday that the United States welcomes the announcement by the Afghan government of a ceasefire, and urged the Taliban forces to participate. In a statement, Pompeo said "the United States welcomes the announcement by the Afghan government of a ceasefire conditioned on Taliban participation." "This plan responds to the clear and continued call of the Afghan people for peace," he said. "The last ceasefire in Afghanistan revealed the deep desire of the Afghan people to end the conflict, and we hope another ceasefire will move the country closer to sustainable security." "The United States and our international partners support this initiative by the Afghan people and the Afghan government, and we call on the Taliban to participate," said the U.S. top diplomat. "The United States supports President Ghani's offer for comprehensive negotiations on a mutually agreed agenda." Pompeo noted that Washington remains ready to "support, facilitate, and participate" in direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban. "There are no obstacles to talks. It is time for peace," he said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani earlier on Sunday announced a conditional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban starting on Monday, calling on Taliban leadership to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long lasting and real peace. The Taliban group, which has repeatedly rejected an offer for peace talks with the Afghan government, has yet to react to Ghani's offer for ceasefire. In June, the Afghan government announced a 17-day ceasefire to encourage the Taliban group to support the national reconciliation process. Reciprocating the government step, the Taliban announced a three-day truce during Eid-ul-Fitr which marked end of fasting month. 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... Trump is right to cancelling security clearance for ex-government workers who publically complain to the media about their personal negative .views about POTUS. We just have to look back at the American revolution it started by government workers complaints because they had access to sensitive government information. POTUS has to be confident that everyone is on the same page on his team if not they have to be let go and security clearance cancelled or else chaos will rule in the White House. We have to remember that the free and democratic election chose this leader and if they want a new leader then they can vote him out at the next elections. What do you think? New homeowner Lois Napper (right) talks with Rita Calicat (left), a social worker with Habitat for Humanity, and HOW volunteers and board members Anthony and Dominique Delgott in her new kitchen as they help prep the house for move in. Read more For two years, Lois Napper prayed daily for a house that she could call her own. She prayed for something better for her two children Jade, 3, and Cameren, 9 than the too tight, rundown apartment in West Philadelphia of the last four years, where she says mold has taken over the closets and aggravates her son's asthma, the roof leaks, and cockroaches run roughshod every winter. On Tuesday, the 30-year-old single mother closed on the first house she has ever purchased. The 1,300-square-foot rowhouse in the Carroll Park neighborhood has three bedrooms, one bath and, of course, no mold. Jade cannot wait to move into her own bedroom for the first time; she plans to decorate the walls with princesses. Cameren's room overlooks a small backyard perfect for cookouts and a kiddie pool. The porch has a shiny coat of gray paint and a new roof that extends to the neighbors, whose own has seen better days. The kitchen has granite countertops and brand-new appliances. Throughout, there is laminated hardwood. It's a beaut. "I've literally been praying for two years to get a home in West Philly," Napper said, a few days before last weekend's fanfare-filled dedication. "God answers prayers." So does How Charities, which bought and rehabbed the rowhouse its first project. An arm of the Conshohocken-based How Group, which develops properties, the nonprofit was established in 2017 with the goal of providing affordable housing. "We have it in our core values, giving back," said Gary Jonas, managing member of the How Group. The company has long raised tens of thousands for nonprofits, provided hundreds of Thanksgiving meals, and supported holiday toy drives. It still will do much of that. But, Jonas said, How wanted to "better leverage the money it was giving away. It became super clear that to do that, we needed to do what we're really good at. That's developing properties." For this inaugural house, How partnered with Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia, part of the international nonprofit that builds affordable housing, to select a family. Napper is enrolled in Habitat's Homeownership Program, which prepped her through 350 hours of "sweat equity" at other Habitat properties and classes on all things related to buying and keeping up a house, said Rita Calicat, director of family services for Habitat Philadelphia. "We believe in homeownership," Calicat said, "that everyone deserves a decent, comfortable place to live. "This," she said, taking in Napper's house, the 213th that Habitat Philadelphia has dedicated, "means stability, security, a place to call home. The kids can make lasting memories." When the How Group launched its charity with a $280,000 budget, its goal was ambitious: By 2020, it wanted to rehab and turn over the keys to 10 homes a year. The charity, though, bumped into reality. "It's way harder and more complicated than we thought it was going to be," Jonas said, noting the lengthy process for attaining nonprofit status. How's partnership with Habitat helped smooth the way. Next year, it plans to work with Big Brothers and Big Sisters to identify needy families for two homes. Now, Jonas said, the aim is to deliver 10 homes a year by 2023 putting it on the path to being a significant player in meeting housing needs. By comparison, Habitat Philadelphia built 13 homes in fiscal year 2017, according to its impact report. "There is so much poverty in the city," said Mary Pack, coordinator for How Charities, "so many people struggling to keep a roof over their heads. It's time for us to help out." Nineteen contractors who work with How Group volunteered time and materials to remake the rowhouse, purchased by the charity for $46,000. "They took the house to the bare bones and redid everything," Pack said. Essentially, it is brand new. Pack added that Napper, whom she has gotten to know, "is a wonderful role model for her children and others. It is well-deserved." Harte Electric in Wynnewood handled all the electric work, contributing an estimated $6,000 in labor and materials, owner Turlough Harte said. "I thought it was the right thing to do for Gary and his company. He's always done the right thing by me." A few days before the dedication, several How employees gathered to scrub windows, clean the bathroom, and wipe down the countertops. Katie Donovan, project coordinator for How Charities and senior coordinator for How Group, sprayed a pane and rubbed at a spot with a rag. She said this project differed from How's past community service efforts. "Rather than just donating [money] or showing up to help out, you make it happen," she said. "This being in-house, you really get to see it through, from start to finish." Napper took a break from polishing the doorframe to show off the house her home. "I love the kitchen. I love the backyard. I love the bathroom," she said. She pointed out a large mirror framed in dark wood that hangs over the bathroom vanity. "I love the mirror." Napper walked into the master bedroom. "This is my room," she said, proudly, "and I have two closets." As part of its agreement with Habitat, How sold Napper the house by way of an interest-free mortgage provided through Habitat. Napper said she would pay about $250 a month a total of $600 when taxes and insurance are added. Her apartment, she said, rented for $900 a month. (How Charities will get the mortgage portion each month to help fund future projects.) Napper, who has an associate's degree in human services and works for Habitat's home repair department, allows that she's nervous over the responsibilities of owning a house. She is determined, though, to find success. Her children motivate her. Napper knows from her college studies that children raised in homes owned by parents fare better. She tells her children, "We need to own our home so you guys can be more successful. You all get older, you get up and go wherever you want to go, and you still have a foundation." To that end, Napper says she plans to keep a separate bank account dedicated to home repairs and include reminders for annual maintenance in her calendar. She also talks about building equity exactly the word that Jonas likes to hear. He envisions homeowners such as Napper using that equity to invest in a second property as a rental, a way to "get out of a cycle of just getting by and into a cycle of building wealth." For now, Napper's goal is more modest: Settle in, save toward new furniture, make a home. "I'm going to be cooking, baking," she said, standing in her new kitchen, "and barbecuing while the kids are in the pool." Contact Lini S. Kadaba at LKadaba@gmail.com. Follow @KadabaLini Philadelphia Media Network is one of 19 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city's push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at https://brokeinphilly.org This story has been updated to correct the number of "sweat equity" hours Lois Napper served with Habitat for Humanity and the financial arrangement between How Charities and Habitat. ISLAMABAD: Newly sworn-in Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan would address the nation on Sunday evening, Geo News quoted sources as saying. During the televised address to the nation, Khan is likely to elaborate on how he intends to rescue his country from the current economic crisis, tackle rampant corruption and create more job opportunities for the unemployed Pakistani youths. Khan is also likely to reshuffle the bureaucracy and the provincial governments across Pakistan. On Saturday, the PTI chief took oath as the 22nd Prime Minister of the country at the President House in Islamabad. He was administered the oath of office and secrecy by Pakistan President Mamnoon Hussain. The ceremony was attended by former cricketer and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu, legendary pacer Wasim Akram, top officials from the Pakistan Army, Air Force and Navy, among a host of other high-profile dignitaries. The ceremony was also graced by his third wife and spiritual healer Bushra Maneka. In a major victory on Friday, Khan was elected as the new Prime Minister of Pakistan by the lawmakers of the National Assembly during the confidence vote. He defeated his rival Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) candidate Shahbaz Sharif. Bilawal Zardari's Pakistan People's Party abstained from voting due to lack of consensus over Shahbaz Sharif's candidature for the top post. While the 65-year-old cricketer-turned-politician bagged 176 seats, Sharif, the PML-N president and the brother of jailed former Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, managed to secure just 96 seats, The Dawn reported. After being elected as the Prime Minister, Khan pledged to bring a change, which according to him "the country was waiting for the last 70 years." He assured to identify the people accountable for "looting the country." Recounting his journey of 22 years from a cricketer to a politician, the 65-year-old leader asserted that no "military dictator nurtured him and had reached this height with his own struggle and accord." Interestingly, Khan fumbled while taking oath as the PM and said 'sorry' for mispronouncing certain words during his speech. (With ANI inputs) The Indian Air Force is gearing up for its first ever bilateral air exercise with the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) after the completion of Exercise Pitch Black in Australia on August 18. The exercise in Malaysia will be called Ex Elang Shakti, however, there is no official announcement about the program so far. The IAF contingent which landed at the Subang Air Base in Malaysia comprises of C-17, C-130 and Su-30 aircraft. The IAF's contingent is scheduled to depart for India after the completion of the exercise on August 23. #PictureOfTheDay : Glimpses of IAF C-17 & Su-30MKI at Subang Air Base, Malaysia for conduct of first ever Bilateral Air Exercise between Indian Air Force (IAF) & Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF). pic.twitter.com/YqVyQYk0h4 Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 19, 2018 The IAF had earlier said that after completion of exercise Pitch Black, on its return leg from Darwin to Subang, Su-30 MKI will be refueled in air for the first time by RAAF KC-30A. #ExPitchBlack18 culminated in Darwin, Australia. Indian Air Force C-17 and 4 Sukhoi Su-30 MKI arrived at Royal Malaysian Air Force Base Subang. IAF and RMAF will carry out #ExElangShakti till 23 Aug 2018- #IAF_MCC Image courtesy @DzirhanDefence pic.twitter.com/2A3VtGzwID British and Commonwealth Military (@BritComMil) August 18, 2018 The IAF earlier participated for the first time in Exercise Pitch Black 2018 from 24 July to 18 August in Australia. Exercise Pitch Black was a biennial multi-national large force employment warfare exercise hosted by the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). #ExPitchBlack18 : Glimpses of Indian Air Force & Royal Malaysian Air Force interaction. We are working together as a Team - Learning & Complementing Each Other!!! pic.twitter.com/mUsfPSvRxe Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 16, 2018 The IAF contingent for Exercise Pitch Black consisted of 145 air-warriors including Garud team, 04 X Su-30 MKI, 01 X C-130 and 01 X C-17. The IAF team was led by Group Captain CUV Rao VM with an aim to undertake simulated air combat exercises in a controlled environment and mutual exchange of best practices towards enhancing IAF operational capability. Participation in multinational air exercise assumes importance in view of the continued engagement of the IAF with friendly foreign countries. Over the last decade, IAF has been actively participating in operational exercises hosted by various countries, wherein collaborative engagements undertaken with the best air forces in the world. During the transit to Australia, IAF contingent will also have constructive engagement with Indonesian and Malaysian Air Forces. New Delhi: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's daughter Anita Bose-Pfaff has renewed her appeal to the governments of India and Japan for bringing her father's mortal remains back home. According to her, Netaji died in an air crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945, and his remains are preserved at Tokyo's Renkoji temple since September 1945. "On the 73rd anniversary of my father's passing away, I renew my appeal to the governments of India and Japan to facilitate a transfer of his mortal remains from Japan to India for a final disposal," she said. "It was my father's ambition to return to a free India. This was unfortunately not fulfilled. Therefore, it would be appropriate if at least his remains touch the soil of Independent India. My father was a devout Hindu. Thus, it is perhaps befitting as per custom to immerse at least part of his remains in the river Ganga," she added. Hiroshi Hirabayashi, president of the 115-year-old Tokyo-based Japan-India Association, also requested the Indian government to facilitate the return of Netaji's mortal remains. In a statement, Hirabayashi, a former Japanese ambassador to India, said, "The ashes of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose kept at Renkoji Temple (in Tokyo) have long been waiting for the official confirmation, already overdue, by the government of India as authentic." The Renkoji Temple held its annual memorial service yesterday to honour and pay homage to Netaji. Some purported documents giving evidence on how Netaji died after a plane crash in Taipei and the transportation of his remains to Tokyo have been published recently in a book by Ashis Ray. In her foreword to the book, "Laid to Rest: The Controversy over Subhas Chandra Bose's Death", published by Roli earlier this year, Bose-Pfaff wrote that "the only consistent story about Netaji's demise remains his death in a plane crash on 18 August 1945." She had also said that a DNA test of the remains of Netaji would put to rest the doubts of people over his death. "For most of those people who continue to doubt Netaji's death in Taihoku in August 1945, one possible option for proof would be a DNA test of the remains of Netaji - provided DNA can be extracted from the bones remaining after his cremation," Bose-Pfaff wrote. According to Bose-Pfaff, if the state of general information available in the later 1940s is considered, it is understandable that at the time, an uncertainty prevailed regarding what had happened to Netaji. "After all, some documents had not been made public at that time. When Sarat Chandra Bose died in 1950 he could still cling to the hope that his beloved brother had not died. And his belief also upheld Emilie's hope that her husband had survived," she said. "However, as evidence became available from the mid-1950s, the only consistent story about Netaji's demise remains his death in a plane crash on 18 August 1945. "For me personally, this fact was brought home most strikingly when I had the opportunity to be present during the interview of one of the survivors of the plane crash by Professor Leonard Gordon in Tokyo in 1979," Bose-Pfaff wrote. NEW DELHI: In a big breakthrough for India, the authorities have detained a close aide of fugitive underworld don Dawood Ibrahim in London, said reports on Sunday. Jabir Moti, who is believed to be Dawood's right-hand man, was arrested from the Hilton Hotel on Friday. He was produced before a court later. He was arrested by the officials of the Charring Cross Police Station in London. Moti is believed to be managing Dawoods investments in the UK, UAE and other countries. #FLASH: Key Dawood Ibrahim aide Jabir Moti detained by UK security agencies in London. Moti is a Pakistani National and is believed to be in charge of D-Company finances. pic.twitter.com/B0dXZUZ6Jw ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 The Government of India has earlier made several requests to the UK authorities regarding Moti's arrest. Jabir Moti is also believed to be involved in drug smuggling, extortion and other criminal activities. Jabir Siddiq alias Jabir Moti is known as Dawood's finance manager in the underworld circuit. He is likely to be grilled by the UK authorities over his association with Dawood, his family members and his henchmen. Moti, a Pakistani national, has been very close to Dawood and his wife Mahajabeen, who are presently lodged in the upmarket Clifton locality in Pakistan. Moti used to manage Dawoods investments spanning across the Middle East, UK, Europe, Africa, countries of South East Asia and Pakistan. The arrested Pakistani national also looked after Dawood's other interests like narcotics trade, illegal arms movement, printing of fake Indian currency, extortion rackets and the real estate business. Known to be an important member of the 'D Company', Moti also owns some valuable property in the residential compound owned by Dawood's family in Karachi. If intelligence sources are to be believed, Moti was trying to obtain dual nationality status in Barabudur and Antigua and the Dominican Republic and a permanent resident status in Hungary. Jabir Moti also possesses a ten-year visa in the UK. (With Agency Inputs) Thiruvananthapuram: The deadly monsoon rains that savaged Kerala claimed 13 more lives on Sunday, taking the toll to 210 in the last ten days as Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said most of the marooned had been rescued and the focus would now be on their rehabilitation. In a big relief, there was respite from the rains in most parts of the state today after nearly two weeks of virtually non-stop downpour and the red alert has been lifted in several districts. President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and enquired about the situation and acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people in coming together in this trying hour. "Assured the people of the state that entire nation was with them," the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted. The deadliest deluge in close to a century has claimed 210 lives since August 8 and over 400 since May 29 when the south west monsoon set in over Kerala. More than 80 dams were opened, leading to floods while the rains also triggered landslides. High-range Idukki district, Malappuram and Thrissur are among the worst hit. Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday undertook an aerial survey of monsoon ravaged areas and announced an immediate assistance of Rs 500 crore. In good news, the rainfall intensity over Kerala has decreased over the past two days, the meteorology department said today, adding there is no alert of heavy precipitation for the next four days in the state. The number of those displaced in the torrential rains was today put at 7.24 lakh by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who said most of the affected had been rescued and the government's focus would now be their rehabilitation. Thirteen people lost their lives today and 7,24,649 lakh people were in 5,645 relief camps, he told reporters after a review meeting. Around 22,000 people were rescued today in the operations launched by the defence personnel, national and state disaster response forces, fishermen and local people. He was all praise for the efforts put in by personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, NDRF, fishermen and local people in rescuing people. The Chief Minister said in each panchayat six health officers would be deployed to ensure there was no outbreak of any communicable diseases as the flood water recedes. Vijayan said the state government would distribute 36 lakh textbooks free of cost to school children who had lost their books in the floods. Commercial flight operations from Kochi, hit following the closure of its international airport due to flooding, would resume tomorrow from the Naval airport to Coimbatore and Bengaluru, bringing some relief to travellers. Meanwhile, as flood waters receded in some areas, people in relief camps have slowly started returning to their homes. The railways cancelled at least 18 trains, partially cancelled nine others and diverted Kanyakumari-Mumbai CST express train via Nagercoil today. Skeletal services were run between Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram and on Alapuzha-Kottayam routes. The trains were packed with flood affected people moving to the houses of their friends and relatives. Efforts are on to restore power and water supply in areas where the power systems have been completely destroyed. The government also decided to pay Rs 3,000 per day each to the fishermen who participated in the rescue operations. Amid horrors of the torrential rains, the wedding of a woman inmate today brought cheers to a relief camp in northern Malappuram district. Twentyfour-year-old Anju, the bride, staying with her family members at the camp for the last three days after her house was submerged in flood, entered into wedlock with Shaiju at a nearby temple. Meanwhile, several people who reached their houses found it difficult to control their tears seeing their dwelling in total disarray. Muddy homes, utensils strewn all over and furniture turned upside down greeted some of them as they come back. Many buildings have developed cracks and pillars were seen perched precariously after water receded in some places. "Our life has been destroyed. My pension book has gone," said an elderly woman near Kochi. Near the Nedumbassery airport, bodies of at least 20 animals could be seen floating in the waters. As per a preliminary estimate, there was Rs 4,441 crore loss to the government following the damage to roads and bridges. At least 220 bridges have been damaged and 59 were still under water, officials said. Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) leader Hardik Patel was on Sunday arrested by the police in Ahmedabad ahead of the hunger strike called by the Patidar leader. According to the police, Patel was organising the protest and hunger strike without prior permission from the authorities. A total of 140 people have reportedly been arrested ahead of Hardik Patels hunger strike in Ahmedabad. As many as 26 people, who were on their way to Ahmedabad from Rajkot, were also arrested by the Gujarat Police. Nineteen Patidar convenors were also detained by the police, even as some members of Patidar outfit indulged in clashes with police personnel. Hardik Patel had announced that he would hold the fast from August 25, and had written to Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, seeking the latters intervention for necessary permissions. Patel has announced that he will launch an indefinite hunger strike at a ground in Nikol area in Ahmedabad to press the demand of reservation for the Patidar (Patel) community from August 25. Patel had on Saturday declared that he and his supporters would on August 19 observe a fast sitting in their cars in the parking area in Nikol if an alternative place was not made available for his August 25 gathering. Patel said protesting is citizens' "fundamental right under Constitution" and referred to the fast observed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, BJP president Amit Shah and others over the logjam in Parliament on April 12, 2018. "We have given a guarantee to the administration that the protest will not affect law and order and will be Gandhian in nature," he said. "Not granting permission and a ground for the planned protest indicates government's helplessness," Patel claimed. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: A joint "Maitree Exercise" between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army, designed to strengthen the partnership between the two forces, ended on Sunday in Thailand, the Defence Ministry said. The annual two-week-long platoon level exercise started on August 6. Srinagar: 2 week long platoon level joint military exercise b/w Indian Army & Royal Thai Army culminated today.Exercise Maitree is an annual event designed to strengthen the partnership b/w Royal Thai Army & Indian Army. Exercise commenced on 6th Aug in Thailand. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/yqyL9dOJUf ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 "The exercise culminated with a 72-hour joint exercise on planning and execution of series of tactical operations like raid, pursuit, establishing military check post and cordon and search operations. "Both the armies benefited immensely from each other's expertise and experience in the conduct of tactical level counter-terrorist operations," a Ministry statement said. "The exercise helped in enhancing the cooperation between the two armies and bonhomie between the troops," it added. The statement said the exercise began with a "cross-training period involving familiarization training between the two armies to evolve drills and procedures involved in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in urban, rural and jungle terrain under the UN mandate. "The initial days of field training focused on familiarizing with each other's modus operandi, basic manoeuvres and evolving joint drills. "The second phase included practising of various drills and tactical scenarios in the counter-insurgency environment, execution of tactical operations like search and destroy operation, house intervention and survival techniques," said the statement. NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bernstein Liebhard LLP, a nationally acclaimed investor rights law firm, announces that it has filed a new securities class action lawsuit on behalf of those who purchased or acquired the securities of Farmland Partners Inc. (Farmland or the Company) (NYSE: FPI; FPI-PB) between March 16, 2016 and July 10, 2018, both dates inclusive (the Class Period). The lawsuit, which expands the class period asserted in the recent lawsuit filed against the Company concerning the revelations made by the Rota Fortunae report, seeks to recover Farmland shareholders investment losses. To join the Farmland class action, and/or to discuss your legal rights and options, please visit please visit Farmland Shareholder Class Action Lawsuit or contact Daniel Sadeh toll free at (877) 779-1414 or dsadeh@bernlieb.com. According to the lawsuit, throughout the Class Period Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose: (1) that Farmland artificially increased revenues by making loans to related-party tenants who round-tripped the cash back to Farmland as rent; (2) that as a result, Farmlands earnings during fiscal year 2017 were materially overstated; (3) the true extent and effect of Farmlands non-arms length transactions; and (4) as a result, Defendants statements about the Companys business, operations and prospects were materially false and misleading and/or lacked reasonable bases at all relevant times. On July 11, 2018, Rota Fortunae published a report stating, among other things, that FPI is artificially increasing revenues by making loans to related-party tenants who round-trip the cash back to FPI as rent; 310% of 2017 earnings could be made-up. The report further stated that FPI has neglected to disclose that the majority of its loans have been made to two members of the management team, including Jesse Hough, CEO Paul Pittmans long-time business partner, and [w]e found evidence that strongly supports FPI has significantly overpaid for properties. On this news, Farmlands stock fell $3.37 per share, or over 38%, from its previous closing price to close at $5.28 per share on July 11, 2018, damaging investors. The new class action is pending in the United States District Court for the District of Colorado, under docket number 1:18-cv-02104. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than September 10, 2018. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. Your ability to share in any recovery doesnt require that you serve as lead plaintiff. If you choose to take no action, you may remain an absent class member. To join the Farmland class action, and/or to discuss your legal rights and options, please visit https://www.bernlieb.com/cases/farmland-partners-inc-fpi-class-action-lawsuit-73/ or contact Daniel Sadeh toll free at (877) 779-1414 or dsadeh@bernlieb.com. Since 1993, Bernstein Liebhard LLP has recovered over $3.5 billion for its clients. In addition to representing individual investors, the Firm has been retained by some of the largest public and private pension funds in the country to monitor their assets and pursue litigation on their behalf. As a result of its success litigating hundreds of lawsuits and class actions, the Firm has been named to The National Law Journals Plaintiffs Hot List thirteen times and listed in The Legal 500 for ten consecutive years. ATTORNEY ADVERTISING. 2018 Bernstein Liebhard LLP. The law firm responsible for this advertisement is Bernstein Liebhard LLP, 10 East 40th Street, New York, New York 10016, (212) 779-1414. The lawyer responsible for this advertisement in the State of Connecticut is Michael S. Bigin. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. Contact Information Daniel Sadeh Bernstein Liebhard LLP http://www.bernlieb.com (877) 779-1414 dsadeh@bernlieb.com Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday evening reiterated the demand to declare Kerala floods as a national disaster. Taking to microblogging site Twitter, the Congress chief appreciated the move by the central government to allocate Rs 500 crore for the rescue and relief operations in the coastal state, but added that the same was nowhere near enough. Addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul said that the government should not vacillate as the people of Kerala are suffering. Rahul Gandhi tweeted, Dear PM, Increasing funds allocated for Kerala relief to Rs.500 Cr is a good step but nowhere near enough. It is critical you declare the floods as a National Disaster. Please do not vacillate as the people of Kerala are suffering. Dear PM, Increasing funds allocated for Kerala relief to Rs.500 Cr is a good step but nowhere near enough. It is critical you declare the floods as a National Disaster. Please do not vacillate as the people of Kerala are suffering. #KeralaFloodRelief https://t.co/AxabEOHftR Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 18, 2018 The remark did not go down well with the government as Minister of State for Home, Kiren Rijiju, responded saying there should not be any politics in the time of disaster. He further mentioned the steps taken for rescue and relief operations in the state battered by floods and incessant rain. In time of disaster we all are one.. no politics please Hundreds of rescue teams aided by more than 90 Aircrafts & 500 motorboats, NDRF, Army, Navy, Para-military forces are engaged in massive rescue & relief operations along with the Govt & people of Kerala. https://t.co/3RiQFzA1BW Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) August 18, 2018 Taking to Twitter, Rijiju said, In time of disaster we all are one.. no politics please. Hundreds of rescue teams aided by more than 90 Aircrafts & 500 motorboats, NDRF, Army, Navy, Para-military forces are engaged in massive rescue & relief operations along with the Govt & people of Kerala. At least 368 people have lost their lives in the Kerala floods despite war-level rescue operations being conducted by state and central forces, including the Indian Army, Coastguards and National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF). Over 58,000 people have been rescued across the state till now. However, the situation is expected to worsen with the Indian Meteorological Department forecasting heavy rains in Kerala on Sunday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Saturday conducted aerial survey of flood-affected areas in Kerala and taken stock of the relief and rescue operations. New Delhi: The central government has directed the withdrawal of over 7,000 CRPF personnel from their long drawn deployment in four states, the maximum being from West Bengal. These armed troops, part of seven battalions, will subsequently be re-deployed for conducting operations in Naxal-hit regions of south Bastar in Chhattisgarh, a recent government order has said. The force was deployed to carry out anti-Naxal operations in West Bengal, Bihar and Jharkhand whereas for internal security-related duty in Uttar Pradesh. As per the directive issued, the Union Home Ministry early this week informed the respective states enumerating that the maximum of three battalions are to be withdrawn from West Bengal, two from Bihar and one each from Uttar Pradesh and Jharkhand. Official sources said the move to take out the Central Reserve Police Force battalions from these states has come after a long time and the Home Ministry ordered for their marching after the paramilitary made a demand to it that it requires more battalions in Chhattisgarh in order to open more bases in the Maoist hotbed in Chhattisgarh. As the biggest Left Wing Extremism (LWE) combat challenge is now in south Bastar, that borders Odisha, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra, it is required to enhance the number of CRPF boots in these areas, they said. The districts of Sukma, Dantewada, Bijapur, Kanker and Kondagaon witness the maximum movement and activity of the armed Maoist cadres and since the last year, the CRPF has begun opening camps in the interior areas to penetrate into the core Naxal areas, they said. The LWE theatre in all the states from where the battalions have been ordered to be taken out, except Uttar Pradesh, have seen a marginal dip in the strength and control of Naxals and the forces are now in the dominating position, a senior official supervising anti-Naxal operations for the CRPF explained. Uttar Pradesh has one LWE affected district - Sonebhadra - and the lone CRPF battalion proposed to be taken out from this central Indian state would come from a group centre of the force under which eight-nine battalions operate, he said. These states are the only places from where the CRPF could take out few battalions as there is not much scope to withdraw units from either Jammu and Kashmir or the north east, the two other internal security theatres where the paramilitary is deployed thickly. We expect the withdrawal to begin by this month end and their re-deployment in Chhattisgarh to be completed by the year end, he said. The Home Ministry, under the same order, has asked the Chhattisgarh government to provide "adequate logistics and accommodation" for these new incoming units. The CRPF, country's largest Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) with over three lakh personnel in its ranks, has about 30 battalions deployed in Chhattisgarh at present. A CRPF battalion has over 1,000 troops. (Reported by Sumit Kumar) NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) chief, Alok Verma has been asked to depose for the Supreme Court bench hearing a batch of petitions relating to extra-judicial killings in the northeastern state of Manipur. According to reports, the CNI chief will appear before the top court bench led by Justice Madan B Lokur and Justice UU Lalit, which is hearing the petitions in connection with some alleged fake encounters in Manipur. The bench will take up the case around 2 PM on Monday. During the previous hearing in the case, the bench had asked Verma to explain the progress made by the agency against those accused of involvement in alleged fake encounters in Manipur. During the hearing, the CBI chief submitted that the agency is still collecting evidence against those accused of involvement in fake encounters in Manipur since a lot of times has passed. Responding to the CBI chief's submission before the top court, the bench chided the central probe agency for slow action and referred to the accused as 'murderers' who were roaming freely on streets of Imphal. The apex court bench asked why no arrest has been made in this regard by the central agency. On August 14, in an unprecedented move, at least 300 armed forces personnel had moved the Supreme Court challenging the FIRs registered against them in connection with military operations in the areas where the Armed Forces Special Powers Act (AFSPA) is in force. In their petition, the petitioners claimed that the registration of cases against those serving in highly disturbed and insurgency-hit areas and the subsequent probe by the civil police or the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is a big setback for them and a major detriment for the armed forces. Lawyer Aishwarya Bhati, who filed the petition before the top court bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar, alleged on behalf of the petitioners that the registration of FIR and prosecution of armed forces personnel was against the provisions of AFSPA, which grants immunity to them against prosecution for actions performed during official duties. The plea said that such prosecutions lower the morale of the military and para-military forces and pose a grave threat to the country's internal security. Several armed forces personnel are facing prosecution for alleged excesses and fake encounters in states like Manipur where AFSPA is in force. Prosecutions in some of those cases have been initiated following a direction from the apex court, especially in Manipur. According to PTI, the bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice AM Khanwilkar considered the submissions of lawyer Aishwarya Bhati that Army personnel are being prosecuted for performing duties in disturbed areas and agreed to hear the case on August 20. It is to be noted that military and non-military personnel can be prosecuted only after obtaining permission from the Ministry of Defence in connection with cases of alleged excesses and fake encounters. However, the ministry has so far denied permission for the same. It is to be noted that AFSPA is currently in force in Kashmir and parts of the North-east. (With Agency Inputs) NEW DELHI: Punjab Minister and Congress party leader Navjot Singh Sidhu is facing severe criticism over his Pakistan visit during which he was seen hugging the neighbouring country's Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and spotted sitting beside the President of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) at the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan. The BJP has demanded Sidhu's immediate suspension from the Congress party. Launching a scathing attack on the Congress party over Sidhu`s Pakistan visit, the BJP said that his visit was "no less than a crime". Patra also cornered Sidhu for hugging Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa and sitting next to President of Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) Masood Khan. "Navjot Singh Sidhu is not just an individual but also a member of a political party and a cabinet minister in the Punjab government. The Congress needs to answer some serious questions in this regard,'' Patra said. Patra also cornered Sidhu for hugging Pakistan Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa. "Hugging General Bajwa is a bigger crime. General is known for the fact that his intervention has caused multiple deaths of innocents in India,'' the BJP spokesperson said. The BJP used the opportunity to attack the Congress party over statements made by some of its leaders during their visits to Pakistan and asked Congress President Rahul Gandhi whether Sidhu had his permission to go there and whether he would suspend him immediately. "Salman Khurshid, one of the former minister and diplomat went to Pakistan on 13th November 2015 and said that Pakistan is working towards peace whereas India is hindering the process. On 17th November, Mani Shankar Aiyar gave an interview in Pakistan and asked for bringing down the Modi government. On 21st June 2018, Ghulam Nabi Azad also made a similar controversial statement by claiming that when Indian Army tries to kill terrorists, it hardly kills one terrorist and eliminates 20 civilians,'' Patra said. ''Initially, Masood Khan was sitting at the back but was later brought to the front and made to sit with Sidhu. Navjot must have known that this man is the alleged President of PoK. He should have objected from sitting next to him," Patra added. Firing salvos at the Congress President, Patra said, "Rahulji, did you grant permission to Sidhu to go to Pakistan? Will you suspend him before his arrival in the country?". "Sidhu's visit to Pakistan is shameful," Punjab BJP chief Shwait Malik said. The Shiromani Akali Dal too slammed Sidhu for breaking the "decorum" by visiting Pakistan. "The whole nation is observing seven-day mourning in the wake of the death of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. At this point in time, it becomes necessary that no minister should attend ceremonial functions. By visiting Pakistan, Sidhu has broken the decorum," said SAD spokesperson Daljit Singh Cheema. The Aam Aadmi Party also did not spare Sidhu for hugging Pakistan Army chief. "Though it is Sidhu's personal visit to Pakistan, if he hugged Pakistan Army chief then it is condemnable," AAP MLA and Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said. Haryana Health minister Anil Vij termed Sidhu's participation in the ceremony as an "act of disloyalty" towards India which "will not be endorsed by any patriotic citizen" of the country. The critical remarks from the BJP spokesperson and other parties came after images of Sidhu hugging Gen Bajwa and sitting next to PoK president and later giving interviews to the Pakistani media were flashed on news channels. Praising Imran Khan while speaking to the state-run PTV, Sidhu said, "A new morning is here in Pakistan with a new government which can change the destiny of the country." He hoped that Khan`s victory would be good for the peace process between the two neighbours. Protests and agitations against Siddhu were also reported from various parts of India. "How could he (Sidhu) attend Imran Khan`s oath-taking ceremony and hug Pakistan`s Army Chief being Punjab`s cabinet minister when India is mourning the death of former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee," the protesters shouted in Ludhiana. (With Agency inputs) NEW DELHI: Rahul Gandhi-led Congress party is not in a mood to spare the Narendra Modi -led NDA government at the Centre over the controversial Rafale fighter jet deal with France and has now formed a task force to take on the ruling party. According to ANI, the six-member task force constituted by Rahul Gandhi will look into the alleged wrongdoings in the Rafale scam, ahead of the 2019 general elections. The party has also prepared a strategy to expose the Modi government on the 'scam'. According to sources, the members of the task force have been personally selected by the party president. It will be headed by senior Congress leader Jaipal Reddy and supervised by national spokesperson Randeep Surjewala. Other members of the task force include Arjun Modhwadia, Shakti Singh Gohil, Priyanka Chaturvedi, Jaiveer Shergill and Pawan Khera. The task force has been directed to build a narrative against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) based on the allegations against the deal. Party sources were quoted as saying that the task force will cover 160 districts across the country in a time period of six months to reach out to people on the issue of Rafale deal in addition to 100 conferences to be held in various cities. The first phase of the task force operations is expected to start on August 25. Team Rahul has been attacking the ruling BJP on the Rafale deal in the recent past and has sought an explanation over the alleged escalation in the deal price. At a rally in Hyderabad on August 14, Rahul Gandhi said that he was willing to engage in a debate with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the alleged scam. Rubbishing Congress party's allegations, the Centre has accused it of trying "to malign the image of the ruling party". "All allegations being levelled in various press conferences are already answered on the floor of Parliament. A recent attempt, in the House, to malign the government through baseless charges collapsed. Today's was yet another attempt at repeating fabricated facts," Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tweeted on August 9. In 2008, India had signed a deal with France based Dassault Aviation to purchase 36 Rafale jets, which is slated to be one of the world's biggest military procurement in recent history and could cost the Indian government USD 15 billion. (With Agency inputs) Islamabad: It is important to change the direction of Pakistan or else it will head towards disaster, said Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday. Addressing the country, the new Prime Minister said, "If we do not change our direction we will head towards disaster." In his maiden speech after taking over as Pakistan's Prime Minister, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief further said that they want to improve ties with all their neighbours, on their foreign policy. "On our foreign policy, we want to improve our ties with all our neighbours," Imran Khan said. Further hitting out at the corrupt politicians of the country, he said that his government will fix the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP). "The corrupt people will make a lot of noise when we target them. They might come onto the streets or say that democracy is under threat. Either Pakistan will be saved or these corrupt people," he added. Underlining the economic condition of Pakistan, Khan said that it is essential to create investment opportunities for overseas Pakistanis. He also pledged to make a high-powered task force to recover money stashed out of Pakistan 'illegally', saying that the people indulged in such acts are the real criminals of the country. The 22nd Pakistan Prime Minister further stressed on improving the health care system and condition of government schools in the country. Further raising concern on the cases of child abuse in the country, Khan assured strict action against the perpetrators and also pitched for better law and order situation in the country. "I am happy about the change in the police system in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. This was a major reason for our election victory in the province. Nasir Durrani will be given an advisory in the Punjab cabinet to fix the police in the province. We will work with the Sindh government to also do this," Khan said. 65-year-old Imran Khan took oath as the Prime Minister of the country on August 18. Imran Khan's PTI emerged as the single largest party with 116 seats in July 25 elections. Its number increased to 125 after nine independent members joined it and final tally reached 158 after it was allotted 28 out of 60 seats reserved for women and five out of 10 seats reserved for minorities. Khan's government is the third consecutive democratic government in Pakistan since 2008 when military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf announced elections after serving as president from 2001 to 2008 following a bloodless coup in 1999. The PPP formed the government in 2008, followed by the PML-N led by jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2013. (With inputs from agencies) Pakistan on Saturday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner JP Singh, alleging that Indian forces resorted to "unprovoked ceasefire violations" along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in the death of a civilian. The Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said that a 65-year-old man was killed while a boy was injured in Indian firing on August 18 in Dana Sector along the LoC. "The Indian forces along the Line of Control and the Working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons," Director General at the South Asian desk of the Foreign Ministry Mohammad Faisal, who summoned the Indian diplomat, said. Faisal also serves as spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Pakistani Foreign Ministry claimed that in 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 1,900 ceasefire violations along the LoC and the international border, resulting in the deaths of 31 innocent civilians while injuring 122 others. "This unprecedented escalation in ceasefire violations by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations," he said in a statement. The spokesman said the "deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas" is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, international human rights and humanitarian laws. "The ceasefire violations by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," Faisal told the Indian deputy high commissioner. Pakistan and India had declared ceasefire in 2003, however, both accuse each other of skirmishes. The spokesman urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary. He urged that the Indian side should permit UN Military Observer Group in India and Pakistan to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. NEW DELHI: In order to improve connectivity to people in the worst flood-hit Kerala, several major airlines have announced special flights to the southern state. According to reports, the Alliance Air a subsidiary of the government-run Air India - will commence operations from the Kochi Naval base to aid the rescue operations in flood-hit Kerala, commencing from August 20. The announcement and schedule regarding special Air Alliance flights was made by Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu. The minister, in one of his tweets, said that more destinations, including Madurai, will be added soon. In view of disruption of flights from Cochin airport due to floods, a joint team sent by @MoCA_GoI has approved starting of scheduled commercial flights using ATRs by Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, between Bangalore and Cochin Naval Air base. #KeralaFloods Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 18, 2018 The flight operations between Bangalore and Cochin Naval Airbase will be starting from 20th August morning. More destinations such as Coimbatore, Madurai are also in the pipeline. Other airlines are likely to join this effort too. All possible steps are being taken #KeralaFloods Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 18, 2018 The Naresh Goyal-led Jet Airways will also operate additional domestic flights to Thiruvananthapuram from Mumbai, Bangalore, Dubai and Dammam with effect from Sunday, August 19. Along with the schedule for additional flights, Jet Airways also put out a list of flights cancelled/rescheduled: As the Kochi airport is closed due to floods in Kerala, Air India WILL operate from Kochi Naval Base to evacuate stranded people from flood-affected areas. In a statement, Air India said, "As an exemplary initiative to fly out stranded people, AI's subsidiary Alliance Air operated a non-commercial "proving flight" on an ATR (turboprop) to Kochi's naval base with a team of DGCA, AAI and Flight Safety officials. Flight 9I 105 landed at Kochi at 1240 hrs from Bangalore and the return flt 9I106 took off from Kochi at 1345 hrs." "This whole exercise is aimed at confirming the feasibility of having Alliance Air operate more flights to Cochin's defence airbase with turboprops to evacuate passengers," the statement further read. On the other hand, in a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) pilots on the Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 in Air India, announced that it will fly planes without payment to support Operation Madad and Operation Sahyog to help the people in Kerala. The state of Kerala has been hit by severe rainfall over the past few weeks, causing acute flooding and landslides. So far, 368 people have lost their lives due to the floods. (With Agency Inputs) As rescue and relief work in flood-ravaged Kerala is underway, Indian Navy Chief Admiral Sunil Lanba called the state the Janmabhoomi of the naval force. "If IOR (Indian Ocean Region) is our Karmbhoomi, then Kerala is our Janmabhoomi," the Navy chief said. A frontline Delhi class Destroyer INS Mysore is being readied for dispatch to Kochi. Relief material and provisions are also being loaded in Mumbai. INS Deepak reached Kochi on Sunday and disembarked rations, fresh water and mineral water at South Jetty Naval Base. Indian Navy's Operation Madad has been scaled up to meet the increasing requests for rescue from more parts of flood-hit Kerala. Southern Naval Command (SNC) rescue teams have been augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the Indian Navy. Relief materials are being loaded on board Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak Helicopter and Naval Sea King Helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi. 72 diving teams were deployed on August 18 as part of Operation Madad. Eight newly inducted teams were sent out to various locations to augment those already in place. 42 teams with one Gemini boat each are deployed in Ernakulam district at various places. A massive rescue and relief operation has been launched in Kerala. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been asked to mobilize additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations. The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala has gone up to 370 on Sunday. 33 more deaths were reported on Saturday even as around 58,000 people were rescued in different parts of the state. The authorities have withdrawn the red alert for all districts in Kerala. More than six lakh people have been moved to over 3,000 relief camps so far. KOCHI: Spelling more trouble for the worst-flood hit Kerala, the state is expected to receive more rainfall on Sunday, which is likely to aggravate the misery of thousands who still await help and need to be rescued. The India Meteorological Department has forecast that widespread rains, with heavy rains at some isolated places, are likely to continue over Kerala following a low-pressure area which is likely to develop over the northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood during the next 24 hours. The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala has now gone up to 370 on Sunday. 33 more deaths were reported on Saturday even as around 58,000 people were rescued in different parts of the state. In some good news, the authorities have withdrawn the red alert for all districts in Kerala. More than six lakh people have been moved to over 3,000 relief camps so far. Here are the latest updates about Kerala floods and the relief and rescue operations being carried out there:- -Community kitchen set up at Kochi Naval base catering to nearly 7000 people affected due to floods. Kochi: Community kitchen setup at Kochi naval base catering to nearly 7000 people affected due to floods. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/XyAQ1YI9C0 ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal-led AAP govt to send water and dry food flood-hit parts of Kerala. Held a meeting wid Resident Commissioner of Kerala to find out requirements. Del govt will send water n dry food. All SDM offices will act as collection centres for clothes, bedsheets n blankets Arvind Kejriwal (@ArvindKejriwal) August 18, 2018 -An Indian Air Force chopper drops relief material to people in flood-hit areas in Kerala. -58 of our NDRF teams are deployed across 8 districts of the state. They're carrying out rescue & evacuation work & extending medical emergency aids. Now that rain has subsided to some extent, our teams are being relocated partly to worst-affected areas: NDRF DG 58 of our NDRF teams are deployed across 8 districts of the state. They're carrying out rescue & evacuation work & extending medical emergency aids. Now that rain has subsided to some extent, our teams are being relocated partly to worst-affected areas: NDRF DG. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/93Cl9aAJ6y ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -Road clearance work underway in Nelliyampathy hill station after multiple landslides damaged the roads. #KeralaFloods: Road clearance work underway in Nelliyampathy hill station after multiple landslides damaged the roads pic.twitter.com/tUvSOyWqe9 ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -President Ram Nath Kovind expresses satisfaction over rescue and relief operations in Kerala, hails relief agencies such as NDRF and public officials at the state and central level for their response and commitment. -Government school converted to a relief camp for #KeralaFloods in Chengannur, total 115 people have taken shelter at the camp. Alappuzha: Government school converted to a relief camp for #KeralaFloods in Chengannur, total 115 people have taken shelter at the camp. pic.twitter.com/4C4EHAVMSl ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -The death toll due to floods and the rain-related incidents in Kerala has reached 370, reports IANS. -Alliance Air, Jet Airways to operate special flights to flood-hit Kerala; here's the schedule -People from Mumbai gather essential commodities to be sent to flood-hit Kerala. People from Mumbai gather essential commodities to be sent to flood-hit Kerala. #KeralaFloods. pic.twitter.com/HnxYff0r6r ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -At 10 am today, the water level in the Idukki reservoir was 2402.28 ft; water flow into Periyar river is 913 cusecs per hour. Two shutters have been closed. Kerala: At 10 am today, the water level in the Idukki reservoir was 2402.28 ft; water flow into Periyar river is 913 cusecs per hour. Two shutters have been closed. #KeralaFloods (File pic) pic.twitter.com/YWqfzZj2DA ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has restored all its services to Kerala's Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palghat, Kozhikode, Kannur and Trivandrum. First service to start at 4 pm to Trivandrum from Bengaluru. Services to Kasaragod not restored. #KeralaFloods: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has restored all its services to Kerala's Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palghat, Kozhikode, Kannur and Trivandrum. First service to start at 4 pm to Trivandrum from Bengaluru. Services to Kasaragod not restored. ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -RAF team recovered one body from Nemmara landslide area in Palakkad district early morning today. Dy Commandant RAF Coimbatore unit, says,"We have recovered total 10 bodies from the area. Landslides are still occurring in the area,it was a tough task to recover the bodies" #Kerala:RAF team recovered one body from Nemmara landslide area in Palakkad district early morning today.Dy Commandant RAF Coimbatore unit, says,"We have recovered total 10 bodies from the area. Landslides are still occurring in the area,it was a tough task to recover the bodies" pic.twitter.com/hISfBI1EEy ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -The red alert has been withdrawn for all districts of Kerala today. Orange alert issued for 10 districts, yellow alert for 2 districts. Meanwhile, rescue operations underway across the state. -Anbodu Kochi member Girish S Pradeep says, ''we started helpline on August 16. We have 3 rescue numbers''. Another member Saratha says, ''we are closely associated with District Collector's team. We take requirements of callers & cater the same to respected departments.'' Anbodu Kochi member Girish S Pradeep says, 'we started helpline on August 16. We have 3 rescue numbers. Another member Saratha says, 'we are closely associated with District Collector's team. We take requirements of callers & cater the same to respected departments' pic.twitter.com/gTMy28Tn28 ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -"Anbodu Kochi", a team of volunteers, has established collection centres to collect relief materials for Kerala Flood victims. The team has also started a call centre to help victims; around 40 people are on mobile & laptops to receive calls and communicate callers' needs to concerned depts, reports ANI. "Anbodu Kochi", a team of volunteers, has established collection centres to collect relief materials for #KeralaFlood victims.The team has also started call centre to help victims;around 40 ppl are on mobile&laptops to receive calls & communicate callers' needs to concerned depts pic.twitter.com/piKXQs8ziG ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -Relief materials being loaded on board Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak helicopter and Naval Sea King helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi. #KeralaFloods: Relief materials being loaded on board Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak helicopter & Naval Sea King helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi pic.twitter.com/t2hAtwZivj ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 -Air India to carry rescue operations from Kochi Naval Base, reports ANI. -Navy's 'Operation Madad' scaled up in flood-hit Kerala, reports ANI. -240 fire service personnel have been sent from Odisha's Bhubaneswar to the flood-affected areas of Kerala by a special Air Force plane. 240 fire service personnel have been sent from Odisha's Bhubaneswar to the flood-affected areas of Kerala by a special Air Force plane. #KeralaFloods (18.08.18) pic.twitter.com/sZnUrBd5h6 ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018 -Visuals of relief operations conducted by Air Force at Chengannur. Squadron leader V Joshi says, ' the situation is quite bad. We are trying to rescue people. Right now we are giving them food & water so that they can at least survive till water recedes'. Visuals of relief operations conducted by Air Force at Chengannur. Squadron leader V Joshi says, ' the situation is quite bad. We are trying to rescue people. Right now we are giving them food & water so that they can at least survive till water recedes' #KeralaFloods (18.08.18) pic.twitter.com/xliwch5vEc ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018 -Around 7 Lakh litres of water has been loaded in the wagons for flood victims in Kerala. Each wagon contains around 50,000 litres of water. This train will go to Kayamkulam. The distance will be covered in about 25 hours: #Mahrashtra: Around 7 Lakh litres of water has been loaded in the wagons for flood victims in Kerala. Each wagon contains around 50,000 litres of water. This train will go to Kayamkulam. The distance will be covered in about 25 hours: M.Deoskar, DRM Pune #KeralaFloods (18.8.18) pic.twitter.com/6e9W1RNfo2 ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018 -Visuals of rescue operations being conducted at flood-hit Alangad village near Kochi city. Visuals of rescue operations being conducted at flood-hit Alangad village near Kochi city. #KeralaFloods (18.08.18) pic.twitter.com/vsdxVf4IjI ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018 The Kerala Floods Story So Far Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, while giving the latest figures, told the media late on Saturday that the flood relief work is going on in full swing and things are slowly coming under control and more helicopters and personnel would be engaged in the rescue and relief operations on Sunday. The 33 deaths were reported from Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts on Saturday. Rejecting a demand from the Congress-led opposition and Kerala BJP to hand over the rescue operations to the Army, he said, "In a rescue operation, the most important thing is that it should be done only by the local authorities who are well-versed with the locality, and the Army and other agencies' help is sought and a combined operation is done." While more than 58,000 people were rescued in districts like Ernakulam, Chengannur, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur, there are still many more waiting to be rescued. Vijayan said that the red alert has now been limited to Ernakulam, Idukki and Pathanamthitta districts only. The worst affected places include Aluva, Chalakudy, Chengannur, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta, where massive rescue operations were on as scores of persons were rescued. Media houses continued to be flooded with requests from friends and relatives of those stranded in the affected areas. Earlier on Saturday morning, CM Vijayan told Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a review meeting in Kochi that the death toll since May 29 had climbed to 357 and over 3.53 lakh affected persons had been lodged in over 2,000 relief camps. PM Modi sanctioned Rs 500 crore to the flood-battered state, apart from Rs 100 crore announced earlier by the Centre on August 12, before returning to Delhi after an aerial survey of the flood-ravaged areas. Vijayan the media that the situation is "very serious and grave". Meanwhile, anger mounted across Kerala as coordination of rescue work went haywire due to the magnitude of the calamity. "There are many people waiting to be rescued in areas like Pandanad (near Chengannur) and I saw two bodies floating in the water. If there is anymore delay in, things will taken a turn for the worse. We are drinking rain water to keep us going...," said a resident of Pandanad. On Saturday night, a 150-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team started rescue operations in and around affected areas of Chengannur. Congress legislator VD Sateeshan, who was spearheading the rescue operations in Paravur in Ernakulam district, said that he stood before a rescue boat team with folded hands and they obliged and rescued several people. National award-winning actor Salimkumar, after remaining holed up in his house along with 45 others for three days, was finally rescued by a fishing boat on Saturday evening. Flaying the state for "failing in the endeavour", Leader of Opposition Chennithala said, "I have been flooded with calls from the affected persons. Even now, thousands of people are stranded. The Chief Minister dismissed with contempt when I said this week that rescue and relief should be handed over to the Army. I do not want to blame anyone but it has been proved beyond doubt that the state government has failed." More fishing boats from various places reached the affected areas during the day. Alappuzha District Collector S Suhas said since morning 150 boats including house boats have been engaged in rescuing people and "today (Saturday) we evacuated about 75 percent of people who were waiting to be rescued". The situation in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Wayanad inched towards comparative normalcy as rains slowed and water level receded, with many living in crowded relief camps awaiting to return home. However, a landslide near Nelliyampathy in Palakkad district has left around 1,000 people cut off from the mainland and the Army is working to clear the debris. At several places in waterlogged areas, banks could not function normally since staff failed to report for the duty due to flooding. Railway services between Ernakulam and Thrissur remained suspended on Saturday with long-distance trains diverted via the Nagercoil route. A special train will be back on the Kottayam sector on Sunday, after all services on this route were suspended for the past two days. Certain blockades on the Thrissur-Palakkad-Aluva highway was cleared for traffic. Army personnel worked hard to clear the roads to Munnar. Kerala is facing the heaviest rains and consequent widespread floods and destruction since 1924, which the state estimates have caused a loss of over Rs 19,500 crore. (With Agency inputs) I am offering the solution to a problem most Republicans don't know they have -- that they can be outmaneuvered and thrown on the defensive endlessly, on nearly any issue, because they accept as true Democrat lies about the Republican Party. To correct that misperception and to help the Republican Party get 'back to basics' is why I'm a man on a mission. A few years ago, after one of my speeches, a man told me "Do you know what your problem is? You're too far ahead of your time!" My efforts to show Republicans how they would benefit from celebrating the heritage of our Grand Old Party have been arduous, but if this were easy someone else would have already done it. Among my speech topics are Reconciling the Tea Party and the GOP; Barack Obama, the Worst President Ever; Socialism, the new Slavery; Appreciating the Heritage of our Grand Old Party; Returning to the Founding Principles of the United States; The Womens Rights Achievements of our Grand Old Party; Abraham Lincoln, Republican; Frederick Douglass, Republican; Martin Luther King and the Republican Civil Rights Legacy. NEW DELHI: President Ram Nath Kovind on Sunday spoke to Kerala Governor P. Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan to take stock of the flood situation and relief operations in the state. "He acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people of Kerala in coming together in this trying hour. Assured the people of the state that entire nation was with them," the President of India said in a tweet. In his call, the President expressed satisfaction on how the Union and state governments were working together for the rescue and relief operations in the state. "He praised relief agencies such as NDRF and public officials at state and Central level for their response and commitment," the tweet said. Meanwhile, the red alert issued in the state was withdrawn for all districts on Sunday. However, orange alert remains in place in 10 districts of the southern coastal state while yellow alert has been declared for two other districts. The Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) has maintained that heavy rains are likely in several districts of Kerala on Sunday. The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has restored bus services to Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palghat, Kozhikode, Kannur and Trivandrum districts of Kerala. At least 368 people have died in Kerala, of which 33 lost their lives on Saturday itself. More than 58,000 people have been rescued from across the state so far. The Indian Army, Coastguards, Indian Navy and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), among others, have been conducting rescue and relief operations across the state. Over 3.53 lakh affected persons had been lodged in over 2,000 relief camps. Places which are the worst affected include Aluva, Chalakudy, Chengannur, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Saturday said that the situation in Kerala is very serious and grave. The death toll would have been higher, but for the work we did. Things are under control, he said. Rescue operations are in full swing in flood-ravaged Kerala. A large number of people, including senior citizens, women and children have been airlifted from isolated buildings. rescue operations are being carried out through army boats, large fishing vessels and makeshift yachts also. Packed houseboats and rafts moving through inundated roads could be seen in all the flood-hit regions of the state. In a video shared of the rescue operation shared by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Wing commander Prasanth of Garud Special Force of the Idnian Air Force (IAF) can be seen airlifting a baby from a rooftop in the flood-affected Alappuzha district and handing it over to the mother. "Wg Cdr Prasanth of Garud Spl Force of IAF saved a toddler from rooftop in flood hit town of Alappuzha, Kerala. Smile on the face of mother, Priceless. IAF committed in Defence of Skies & Saving Precious Lives on Ground," the IAF tweeted. #OpKaruna#KeralaFloodRelief Garud Commando from @IAF_MCC safely handing over the rescued baby from the flood affected Alappuzha district to the mother. pic.twitter.com/as53fBYCal PRO Defence Trivandrum (@DefencePROTvm) August 18, 2018 Indian Navy's Operation Madad has been scaled up to meet the increasing requests for rescue from more parts of flood-hit Kerala. Southern Naval Command (SNC) rescue teams have been augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the Indian Navy. Relief materials are being loaded on board Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak Helicopter and Naval Sea King Helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi. 72 diving teams were deployed on August 18 as part of Operation Madad. Eight newly inducted teams were sent out to various locations to augment those already in place. 42 teams with one Gemini boat each are deployed in Ernakulam district at various places. A massive rescue and relief operation has been launched in Kerala. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been asked to mobilize additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations. IAF Garud Commando carried out rescue operations by winching children from the roof top & evacuated in IAF helicopter to rescue camps. 3/3 #KeralaFloodRelief pic.twitter.com/kgZ4AoqOWU Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 18, 2018 Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on Saturday visited Kochi to survey the flood-affected areas by helicopter. He took a review of the rescue operations being undertaken by various agencies, including the Indian Navy and announced an immediate assistance of Rs 500 crore. The rains have so far claimed 194 lives since August 8. The Chief Ministers of various states have also come forward to help Kerala cope with the huge-scale devastation and have extended financial aid. Mumbai: Filmmaker Priyadarshan and actor Akshay Kumar have donated money to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund towards the flood-ravaged Kerala. Priyadarshan on Saturday tweeted a photograph of himself handing over a cheque to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and urged people to unite to save the state. "Handed over mine and Akshay Kumar's cheque to Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. Let's together build back Kerala back to its glory again. No politics, no religion only humanity. Let's stand together to save Kerala. Kerela floods," Priyadarshan captioned the image. The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala increased to 370, with two more deaths reported on Sunday. New Delhi: Another most desirable actress in Bollywood Priyanka Chopra is no longer single, she is taken and how! Like she had said that the world will know about her relationship when there is a ring on her finger and that's exactly how it has happened. Both PeeCee and Nick took to their Instagram handles to make their relationship official. A video from their engagement bash has surfaced on the social media. In the video, Priyanka can be seen dancing with VJ Anusha Dandekar while Nick records their video. Check out the video right here: Priyanka and Nick had a traditional roka ceremony at her bungalow in Mumbai. Both were seen in traditional Indian outfits, Priyanka wore a yellow outfit while Nick donned an off-white kurta pyjama. The ceremony was attended by their family members including Parineeti Chopra. Later, her close friend Arpita Khan and writer Mushtaq Sheikh were also spotted at her residence. Priyanka and Nick met at the Met Gala in 2016 but their relationship rumours began in May this year. The duo started to make headlines after they got snapped in each other's company on several occasions. In June, they arrived together in India on a short holiday where Nick was introduced to Priyanka's mother Madhu Chopra and her family members. They then left for a brief vacation for Goa. During his stint in India, Nick also attended the pre-engagement bash of Akash Ambani and Shloka Mehta. Priyanka and Nick have been travelling across the world to be with each other. After her return from Goa, Priyanka left for Brazil and later to Singapore, where Nick was scheduled to perform at the VillaMax festival. She was also seen cheering for him at one of his concerts. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said he was hopeful that if the need arose and there was no way out, the Centre could opt for the legislative route in Parliament for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, when it has adequate numbers in both Houses. "When such a need arises that there is no way out except bringing a Bill, I am fully confident that in such a situation and when we have adequate strength (in both Houses of Parliament), remember these two things", he said without elaborating. "At present, in Parliament, we do not have adequate strength. Because even if we bring the matter in Lok Sabha, our strength in the Rajya Sabha is less, and it will definitely be defeated. Every devotee of Lord Ram knows this. The court will soon give its judgement. "The day we have the strength, it will be constructively used and not misused (Lekin Jis din hamare paas takat hogaa, uss takat ka sadpuyog hoga, durpayog nahi hoga)," Maurya told PTI. He said the matter was being heard in the Supreme Court. Maurya said if the grand Ram temple was built, it will be a "true tribute" to VHP stalwart Ashok Singhal, Mahant Sri Ramchandra Das Paramhans (former head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas in Ayodhya) and karsewaks who sacrificed their lives. The deputy chief minister was also asked whether the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill will anger BJP's core vote bank. Maurya said: "The intention of the government is to not cause any harassment to anyone by bringing in the bill. As a deputy CM of the state, I can say that in UP, no fake case will be registered and no one will be harassed unnecessarily. But, anyone doing any wrong to SC/ST people will not be spared." On August 9, Parliament had passed the bill to overturn a Supreme Court order concerning certain safeguards against arrest under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe law. The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote, had got the nod of the Lok Sabha on August 6. On the party's poll preparations, Maurya who had represented Phulpur in the Lok Sabha said, "Our party is working to get at least 51 per cent vote share at every booth, and we are working in this direction." Taking a jibe at rival political parties, the UP deputy Chief Minister said, "Who is actually nervous can be clearly revealed by the expressions of (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadav and (BSP supremo) Mayawati". Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an MP from Uttar Pradesh, and the mass crowd which had turned up at the programmes addressed by him drop ample hints that our political rivals have been shaken... There is a special attachment for Modiji among the people. They are in fact complementary to each other." Over 20 lakh pilgrims started the annual Haj yatra in Saudi Arabia on Sunday. At the break of the dawn, the pilgrims reached Mecca, following which they began circling Kaaba Islams holiest site. After paying homage at the Kaaba, the pilgrims go to Arafat mountains where Prophet Muhammad gave his first sermon. Special arrangements have been made in Saudi Arabia for Haj this year. In a first, there will be a provision of sleeping pods for the pilgrims. The pods will be functional in Mina from August 18 to August 24. The pods, built using fibre glass, can be used by the pilgrims without paying any tariff. Each air-conditioned pod comprises one mattress, bedsheet and a mirror. Pilgrims can stay in them for three hours each. More than 1.28 lakh people from India have reached Saudi Arabia for Haj. A total of 1,28,702 Indian pilgrims are facilitated by the government to undertake the pilgrimage through the Hajj Committee this year. As many as 466 flights took the Indian pilgrims to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage and the last flight landed in Jeddah on Friday morning, according to the Indian consulate. A record 1,75,025 Muslims from India are going to Hajj this year. More than 47 per cent of the total number of pilgrims going for Hajj this year are women, which is the highest ever representation of women in Hajj from India. Till last year, it was mandatory for a Muslim woman to be accompanied by her husband or a mehram (a person with whom marriage is unlawful) for pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. For the first time this year, Indian women are going on the holy pilgrimage without the company of a male relative. This is also the first year when Hajj pilgrimage is taking place without being provided any subsidy. (With PTI inputs) Open source Two shelling from the side of the militants reported in Donbas conflict zone. This was stated by the Joint Forces Operation headquarters on Facebook. "The invaders opened aimed fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms at the positions of the Joint forces in the areas of settlements Lebedynske and Luhanske," the JFO HQ reported. It is noted that during the current day, none of the Ukrainian servicemen were injured. Earlier we repirted that soldiers from 18 countries will participate in the parade for the Independence Day. Stepan Poltorak, Minister of Defense claimed this on Facebook. 'In the following days, we are expecting 18 foreign delegations from different countries of the world, which will participate in the parade,' the Head of the Ministry of Defense claimed. The crews who have participated and are participating in the hostilities in the east of Ukraine will be given and awarded honorary titles and combat flags. We recall that in the military parade on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of Ukraine's independence 4,500 servicemen and 250 units of equipment will take part. This was said during the rehearsal of the event, by Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak. Related: Gas supply to be restored in Avdiivka Open source On August 18, as a result of the fighting in Donbas, one member of the Joint forces was killed and one was injured. This is reported on the page of the Joint Forces Operation HQ in Facebook. The Russian occupation forces violated the ceasefire 10 times, including one time from heavy weapons. The invaders opened fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms at positions of the Joint forces in the areas of settlements Zolote, Popasna, Novooleksandrivka, Hnutovo, Pavlopil, Lebedynske and Shirokine. Along with this, in the area of Avdiivka, the enemy fired our defenders from 82 mm mortar. The situation in the area of the Joint forces operation remains controlled. As reported, over the past day, August 17, in the area of the operation, two Ukrainian servicemen were wounded. Related: Anti-aircraft gun crashes into business center during rehearsal of Independence Day parade The document will come into force the day after the official publication Open source President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko signed the law No. 6049-d on collective ownership of land. This was reported by the press service of the head of state. The document defines the features of the use of land plots located in an array of agricultural lands, as well as field-protective forest belts, which limit such an array. So, the document assumes the right of owners, land users of land plots for agricultural purposes, intended for personal farming, farming located in an array of agricultural land, to use them also for conducting commercial agricultural production without changing the purpose of such sites. In addition, owners of land plots of all forms of ownership were legally allowed to exchange such land plots. The document specifies the features of the disposal of lands that remained in collective ownership after the distribution of land plots between the owners of land shares. In particular, the lands of collective agricultural enterprises that are terminated are recognized as the property of territorial districts (except for land plots in private ownership). We recall that the Verkhovna Rada adopted this law in July with 236 votes of people's deputies. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has discussed the release of the Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov as the press service of the Ukrainian leader reported. According to the message, Poroshenko and Merkel coordinated the positions before the meeting of the German Chancellor and Russian President Putin on August 18. Also, the leaders discussed the situation in Donbas and further efforts for the provision of the progress in the peaceful settlement of the conflict. During the talk, Poroshenko put special attention to the release of the Ukrainian prisoners and political prisoners illegally detained at the temporarily occupied territories in Russia, particularly Oleg Sentsov. Poroshenko and Merkel have discussed the security issues connected with the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and agreed on the schedule of the next contacts within the development of the bilateral dialogue. 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. Related: Gas supply to be restored in Avdiivka In Ukraine, there is no money to compensate for lost property as a result of military operations in Donbas, only international donor organizations will be able to compensate losses. This was stated on 112 Ukraine by political expert Vsevolod Stepanyuk. "When the war is over, let's hope for the creation of some station of international donors who can finance at least restoration of infrastructure. There is no money in Ukraine and there will not be in the near future, "he said. "The claims for compensation for the lost property legally have every reason to be satisfied. The only question is whether Ukraine has the funds to pay this money, which these people claim, because Ukraine now has such finances that it is unlikely that a bankrupt can give something. That property that was destroyed after the introduction of a state of emergency in these territories, it most likely can not be repaired, since a state of emergency is a restriction of the actions of the law. The fact is that the armed forces were used without the introduction of martial law, this fact can prove the need for compensation for the Ukrainian authorities, but, again, there will be no funds, "he added. Answering a question about why lawsuits are filed against Ukraine, Stepaniuk answered that the authorities are responsible for everything that happens in the state. He also noted that no international organization has recognized that Russia is an occupier. Earlier it was reported that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) received a large number of applications from residents of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. So, first of all, these complaints are about material damage. We recall, the European Court of Human Rights confirmed the lack of possibility to pay Ukrainian pensions in the ORLO. Sport India and New Zealand look to keep semi-finals hopes alive with win in crucial T20 WC game Both New Zealand and India were defeated by Pakistan, which has put their semi-final chances in peril. India and New Zealand are paired with Afghanistan, Namibia and Scotland along with Pakistan. Pakistan, who have won all their three matches, are almost certain to play in the semis. The three other teams in the group are underdogs, two of them are not even Full Members. A monthly action in support of Ukrainian prisoners was held in Moscow yesterday on Tverskaya Street. Krym.Realii reports. 'We have held traditional pickets in the support of Crimean Tatars, Oleg Sentsov, Balukh and all Ukrainian prisoners of the Kremlin. The action went without arrests. Perhaps, the Putin regime decided to take it easy because of the forthcoming tough the U.S. sanctions, which will be introduced against the Kremlin on August 22,' one of the activists said. Related: Italy requests Russia to report on Sentsovs condition The activists from Saint Petersburg and Moscow united in an indefinite action called Strategy-18, dedicated to the day of the deportation of Crimean Tatars on May 18, 1944. On the monthly basis on the 18th day, the activists go out on the streets of the city to tell about the situation in the annexed Crimea, to inform the Russian society about the facts of the violation of human rights and freedoms. Related: Poroshenko, Merkel discuss release of Sentsov Reportedly, sentenced to 20 years of imprisonment for allegedly organizing terrorist acts in the annexed Crimea, Ukrainian political prisoner Oleg Sentsov is on a hunger strike for 98 days now. His main requirement for the Russian Government is to release 64 Ukrainian political prisoners detained in Russian prisons. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif accused the US of creating an "Action group", which will have to carry out a coup d'etat in the country. The head of the Iranian department wrote this on his official Twitter page. "65 years ago today, the US overthrew the popularly elected democratic government of Dr. Mossadegh, restoring the dictatorship & subjugating Iranians for the next 25 years. Now an Action Group dreams of doing the same through pressure, misinformation & demagoguery. Never again," the minister said. Before the meeting, Putin and Merkel came out to the reporters to point out the topics of the upcoming negotiations The meeting of Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel lasted 3.5 hours. The leaders of the countries discussed Ukraine and Syria. Interfax reports. 'According to the shots on the TV, Putin and Merkel had a long-lasting conversation face-to-face. TV channels showed how the leaders of the countries were talking without interpreters in the gazebo in the park of the residence,' reads the message. Related: From refugees to Russia: Angela Merkel's foreign policy problems Before the meeting, Putin and Merkel came out to the reporters to point out the topics of the upcoming negotiations. They discussed Syrian resolution, Ukrainian situation, Iranian nuclear program, joint great economic projects including the Nord Stream gas pipeline. German Chancellor also stated on the willingness of discussing the human rights with the President of the Russian Federation. Related: Merkel claims she does not expect great results from talks with Putin The meeting was held in a Governmental residence Meseberg near Berlin. Angela Merkel claimed at the meeting that Ukraine should remain the participant of the gas transit process to Europe. Related: Poroshenko, Merkel discuss release of Sentsov Ukraine news on 112.international Buk anti-aircraft system crashed into the wall of the business center "Astarta", which is located on the corner of the Nyzhnyi Val and the Naberezhno-Khreshchatitska Street in Kyiv. This is reported by the witness of the incident on Facebook. According to the witness, before the accident, the tank that was driving in front of the anti-aircraft system almost hit him. "What a parade! At first the tank almost drove into me, but managed to stop. The next one entered the office building," the witness said. As can be seen from the photographs, the anti-aircraft installation crashed into the wall, resulting in cracks on the tile. The construction of the gas pipeline started last year. The start date has been repeatedly changing. The residents of Avdiivka left without a gas the last heating season The restoring of the gas supply for the residents of Avdiivka and seven villages of Yasunuvata District is scheduled for August 20. Oleksandr Kuts, Chairman of the Donetsk Regional Military-Civil Administration claimed this on Facebook. 'On Monday, work will begin on the gas supply to the residents of Avdiivka and seven villages of Yasunuvata District: Tonenke, Netailove, Krasnohorlivka, Lastochkyne, Orlivka, Vodiane and Pervomaiske,' Kuts claimed. Related: Merkel: Ukraine should remain participant in process of gas transit to Europe According to him, the specialists of the regional gas company are working on the filling of operating distribution networks for the second day. He also added that Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko personally controls the restoring of the gas supply to the residents of Avdiivka and seven villages of Yasunuvata District. Reportedly, the gas to Avdiivka is being supplied through the main gas pipeline Makiivka-Avdiivka. As a result of the shelling of the militants, a part of the gas pipeline was damaged in the summer of 2017. Therefore, 20 thousand residents of Avdiivka and settlements of Yasunuvata District left without the gas. There is no information on how long the checkpoint won't work Israel has closed the checkpoint for people on Erez crossing with Gaza Strip. Deutsche Welle reports this with a reference to the words of the Representative of the Israel Ministry of Defense. It is noted that since now the Ezer crossing can only be used for the transport of humanitarian aid and medical assistance. For people, it is closed for an unknown period of time. The information is confirmed by the Representative of Israel Ministry of Defense, as well as by the Civil Affairs Department of the Palestinian Authority in Gaza. It is recalled that the checkpoint was closed against the backdrop of a worsening situation on the border between Israel and the Gaza Strip over the past few months. Related: Israel performs counterattack at Hamas in Gaza It should be recalled that clashes occurred due to the opening of the U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem, as a result of the clashes, dozens of Palestinians deceased. As it was reported earlier, the Army of Israel conducted two bombardments of the Gaza Strip, as a result of which two people suffered. After some time, the Gaza Strip launched about 150 missiles at Israel. Honorary titles will be given and combat flags awarded during the celebration Soldiers from 18 countries will participate in the parade for the Independence Day. Stepan Poltorak, Minister of Defense claimed this on Facebook. 'In the following days, we are expecting 18 foreign delegations from different countries of the world, which will participate in the parade,' the Head of the Ministry of Defense claimed. Related: Antonov An-178 to be presented at Independence Day parade The crews who have participated and are participating in the hostilities in the east of Ukraine will be given and awarded honorary titles and combat flags. We recall that in the military parade on the occasion of the 27th anniversary of Ukraine's independence 4,500 servicemen and 250 units of equipment will take part. This was said during the rehearsal of the event, by Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak. Related: Rehearsal of parade for Independence Day: transport movement to be restricted in Kyiv Reportedly, Rehearsal of the military parade for the Independence Day of Ukraine took place in Kyiv on Khreshchatyk street, yesterday. However, the rehearsal didn't go without incidents. Buk anti-aircraft system crashed into the wall of the business center "Astarta", which is located on the corner of the Nyzhnyi Val and the Naberezhno-Khreshchatitska Street in Kyiv. A Fortuitous Partnership Food meets fitness at Pocai. by Sabine Bickford From the August, 2018 issue What do you get when you put together two gym owners, a barbecue food truck chef, and a 280-square-foot former coffee shop? A takeout operation serving up trendy bowls--with a health-food twist. Pocai (pronounced Po-SA-ee) is a collaboration between Ricewood barbecue cofounder and chef Frank Fejeran and local Orangetheory Fitness owners Bret Borock and Matt Grabowski. The small outer corner of the building at Woodlawn and Packard, formerly Coffee Works A2, has been painted a fresh berry blue, and simple slatted chairs and tables line the nearby sidewalk. Words like "salmon" and "kale salad" painted on the wall gives passersby a preview of the menu inside. The name combines the two trends at the center of the restaurant's menu. Poke bowls, Ann Arbor's trend of the moment, are a Hawaiian dish of rice, sauce, vegetables, and raw fish. Acai bowls are a smoothie-like Brazilian concoction with a base of pureed frozen acai berries topped with granola and other fruit. Pocai serves both "bowls" in clear plastic drink cups, with ingredients added one by one to create colorful layers. (Don't worry, the cups are compostable.) Also available are salads, avocado toast, ("you can't open a place without avocado toast!" says Fejeran), and "ABC toast" with acai, banana, peanut butter, and chia seeds. Since the tiny space barely has room for two two-person tables, the main focus is takeout. Orders are accepted by phone or online, and Fejeran, Grabowski, and Borock hope to add curbside pickup soon. "You're gonna be able to just [text] your name and car make ... and we're gonna bring it out to you," says Borock. The partnership started fortuitously, when the gym owners and chef began patronizing each other's businesses. Fejeran says Grabowski is a regular at Ricewood, and "after I went to Nashville to do hot chicken research [for Ma-Lou's in Ypsi], I felt really fat, so I joined a gym. The day after my first session, Matt comes up and is like, 'Hey I ...continued below... heard you were gonna join this gym Orangetheory,' and I was like 'Yeah, how'd you know that? It was literally yesterday.' And he was like, 'I own it!'""Wefood," says Borock. "When Matt and I started the whole Orangetheory thing, we thought 'Oh, it would be super cool to start a restaurant.'"After making the connection, they asked Fejeran to help develop a healthy menu based on the acai bowls that Borock had seen on a trip to California. "I think we just all clicked," Fejeran says. "Then this space came up.""We want to be a destination where people really enjoy going," says Borock. "It's a healthy option. You can feel good about what you're eating and feel good about where you're going."[Originally published in August, 2018.] Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared a provisional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban in a televised broadcast Sunday, a move welcomed by Washington but yet to receive a reply from the militants themselves. The announcement followed a bloody week of fighting across Afghanistan which saw the Taliban launch a massive assault against the provincial capital Ghazni. Anticipation had been mounting ahead of Ghani's speech following mixed signals from the presidential palace over whether the government would offer a fresh truce -- following a brief, unprecedented ceasefire earlier in June. That three day pause in the fighting saw thousands of insurgents pour into cities across Afghanistan to celebrate. "I once again announce a ceasefire from tomorrow until the prophet's birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate," said Ghani, referring to the Prophet Mohammed?s birthday which Afghanistan celebrates on November 21. Ghani said his administration removed "all obstacles" to peace with the announcement following consultations with religious scholars, political parties and civil society groups. But he said the truce would hold only if the insurgents reciprocated. "We call on the leadership of the Taliban to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long lasting and real peace, and we urge them to get ready for peace talks based on Islamic values and principles," he said, in an announcement as Afghans celebrated their independence day. - 'Time for peace' - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed Ghani's announcement and called on the Taliban to participate. "We remain ready to support, facilitate, and participate in direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban," he said in a statement. "There are no obstacles to talks. It is time for peace." NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg tweeted: "I encourage the Taliban to demonstrate their concern for Afghans by respecting it." Ghani's announcement was also swiftly welcomed in neighbouring Pakistan, which has long been accused of fostering links with the Taliban's leadership and providing sanctuary to its fighters. However the offer drew mixed responses among Afghans, with some slamming the idea of welcoming Taliban fighters back into their cities to eat ice cream and pose for selfies like they had during the three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday in June. ?We should not be begging for peace with the Taliban. I promise, if I see any Taliban eating ice cream in Kabul, I will hit him with a stone,? wrote Facebook user Rahman Ahmadi. Others seemed more optimistic if the deal ensured an end to fighting. ?Now it is up to the Taliban to make this best ever opportunity for peace & security in Afghanistan,? tweeted analyst M. Shafiq Hamdam. ? - Desperation? - The June ceasefire -- the first such truce in the country since the 2001 US invasion -- spurred hopes that a new path was opening for possible peace talks in the country to the end the nearly 17-year-old war. But violence has surged in the weeks since as talk of a new ceasefire continued. The days-long fight for Ghazni, which concluded on Wednesday killed hundreds and saw Taliban fighters ransack the provincial capital, torching buildings and destroying infrastructure. That battle coincided with blistering attacks on government installations across the country. Analysts have suggested the Taliban were seeking to demonstrate strength ahead of any possible talks. Ghani did not mention any cease in fighting with the Islamic State group, which has expanded since it first emerged in the region in 2014 and was not included in the June ceasfire, or any of the other militant groups plaguing Afghanistan. Kabul-based analyst Haroon Mir said the move might be perceived as an act of desperation by the government following mounting battlefield pressure from insurgents. ?I doubt the Taliban would reciprocate given their past stance and recent gains on the ground,? said Mir. Afghan security forces, beset by killings, desertions and low morale, have taken staggering losses since US-led NATO combat forces pulled out at the end of 2014. But it is ordinary Afghans who have borne the brunt of the violence in the grinding conflict, especially in Kabul, which the United Nations has said is the deadliest place for civilians in the country. The Taliban did not immediately respond to the offer but in a message from its leader published over the weekend to mark the upcoming Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha the group continued to push for direct talks with the US. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. Last month, however, Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar, though little is known about the details of the meeting. Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is keen to pursue peace talks with the Taliban "We live like sardines while white farmers live on hectares of land. Bring back our land!" declared Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, a black civil servant. Her intervention prompted enthusiastic applause at a public hearing organised by parliament on the hugely sensitive issue of reforming land ownership in South Africa. "Our forefathers were robbed of their dignity through brutal colonialists" who seized land, she said. "The majority of the people in this country are black. Yet they are the poorest. Let's expropriate without compensation!" said the mother with her fist raised. As elections due in 2019 approach, President Cyril Ramaphosa has intervened to accelerate land reform in order to "undo a grave historical injustice" against the black majority during colonialism and the apartheid era that ended in 1994. Twenty-four years on and the white community that makes up eight percent of the population "possess 72 percent of farms" compared to "only four percent" in the hands of black people who make up four-fifths of the population, according to Ramaphosa. To remedy the imbalance, the president recently announced that the constitution would be altered to allow for land to be seized and redistributed without compensation to the current owners. Many black voters welcomed the announcement that provoked unprecedented concern among the white minority that has been aired at a series of public hearings across the nation this June, July and August to debate the combustible issue. In a public hall in Vereeniging, a town an hour south of the commercial capital Johannesburg, more than 1,000 people turned out to make their voices heard. In the front row sat a group of women wearing traditional Sotho dress. - 'We never stole land' - "Why should we compensate people who didn't acquire the lands rightfully?", asked Tsabeng Ramalope, a 30-year-old black nurse. "Are we waiting for a civil war for this matter to be resolved?" she asked, speaking into a microphone, referring to several illegal land occupations seen in mostly urban areas in recent months. A lawmaker who mediated the debate, Vincent Smith, will on September 28 submit to parliament a report either recommending or rejecting the proposed constitutional change, considering feedback from the local consultations. "What the Zimbabwean experience is telling us is that expropriation without compensation is a catastrophically bad idea," warned white 37-year-old Carley Denny. Carley spoke on behalf of her father who owns a farm of 100 hectares (245 acres) that has been in her family for five generations. "The Zimbabweans might have seized land without compensation, but they are still paying for it through years of economic decline," she added, referring to the disastrous legacy of land reform launched by former leader Robert Mugabe in 2000. The smattering of white audience members applauded her point. "We all paid for our properties. We never stole our land," said another of their number, animal breeder John Knott. Land reform was a potent issue before the dawn of non-racial democracy and the election of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). - 'Time bomb' - The party had long promised to redistribute land more equitably but has never delivered on its election promises. "The land reform has been a huge failure because of corruption and lack of political will," said Edward von Bodenstein passionately as he challenged the president's proposals. In a recent report former head of state Kgalema Motlanthe -- an ANC member -- highlighted the grindingly slow process of past efforts to reallocate land more fairly. "You are sitting on a time bomb," said Khethisa Khabo, a local organiser for the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party. "We are not advocating for a white genocide. But the land belongs to us. We will do everything we can to get it back," he said, encouraged by the majority of those at the Vereeniging hearing. His party, which has wooed voters disillusioned by the ANC, has kept pressure up on the liberation party of Nelson Mandela. And at the end of July, Ramaphosa took to the airwaves to announce the constitution would be changed to fast-track land reform in favour of the black majority -- even before the nationwide land hearings had concluded. Constance Mogale of the Alliance for Rural Democracy -- a network of associations supportive of land expropriation without compensation -- has described the proposed change to the highest law in the land as a mere "election ploy". The constitution already allows for land to be expropriated without compensation, she said, echoing the view of several experts in the field. "Amending the constitution is going to take forever, it is not going to bring the land to the people," she said. Roselyn Seaga, 67, was in tears as she spoke to the assembled local residents. "Since I was born, I never had a piece of land that I can call home," she said. Roselina Seaga, who attended a public meeting on reforming land ownership in South Africa, says "Since I was born I never had a piece of land that I can call home" Maselo Motana and fellow activists and artists take a stand against former regional leaders who were beheaded by Boer and British colonialists for their land Public land hearings were held in July on South African land reforms A timeline of the apartheid years in South Africa Brazil will send troops to its border with Venezuela on Monday after residents of the Brazilian border town of Pacaraima drove out Venezuelan immigrants from their improvised camps, amid growing regional tensions. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have crossed the border into Brazil over the past three years as they seek to escape the economic, political and social crisis gripping their country. The latest show of tensions began early Saturday, hours after a local merchant was robbed and severely beaten in an incident blamed on Venezuelan suspects, in Pacaraima, where an estimated 1,000 immigrants are living on the street. Dozens of locals then attacked the two main immigrant makeshift camps and burned their belongings, leading Venezuelans to cross the border back into their home country. Shots were fired, stores were shuttered and debris littered the streets. "It was terrible, they burned the tents and everything that was inside," said Carol Marcano, a Venezuelan who works in Boa Vista and was on the border returning from Venezuela. "There were shots, they burned rubber tires." Marcano said that some Venezuelans reacted to the attack by destroying a car with Brazilian license plates. She and her companions were among many who took refuge at checkpoints on the Venezuelan side of the border. Three Brazilians were hurt in the clashes, a spokesman for military police said. No information was immediately available on the state of the Venezuelans involved. The merchant who was attacked "is known, he is a neighbor, and there was indignation when it was learned that he had been robbed," a local told AFP on condition of anonymity. "People began to expel Venezuelans who were in the center of the city, forcing them to return to their country." Roraima state Governor Suely Campos made a plea to temporarily close the border and asked Brazilia to send security reinforcements to "face the increase in crime" she links to Venezuelans in the region. In turn, the public security ministry vowed to send a contingent of 60 troops due to arrive Monday to join teams in the area. - Venezuelan immigrants reviled - Tensions are rising in Latin America over migration triggered by the crises in Venezuela and in Nicaragua, where President Daniel Ortega has led a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters. Peru and Ecuador are halting immigrants at the border by requiring would be border-crossers to show their passports -- which many lack -- instead of simple identity cards. Last week alone, 20,000 Venezuelans entered Peru, authorities say. The restrictive measures there go into effect August 25. Colombia has said it fears that Ecuador's border controls, which went into effect Saturday after the country declared a migration emergency, will leave thousands of Venezuelans stranded in Colombia. An estimated 3,000 people cross every day from Colombia to Ecuador in the border town of Rumichaca. The United Nations estimates that 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled the crisis looking for work and to escape poverty, while Colombia has given temporary residence to more than 800,000. -'Guarantee safety'- Many Venezuelans are aiming further afield to settle in Peru, Chile, Argentina or even Uruguay. Peru said 5,100 Venezuelans crossed into the country on August 11, a record for a single day. In Costa Rica, hundreds of people took part in sometimes violent protests Saturday using Nazi symbols to repudiate Nicaraguan migrants. Some demonstrators, carrying swastikas and shouting anti-immigrant slogans, tried to attack Nicaraguans gathered in the central La Merced park in San Jose, and clashed with police who tried to contain them, Security Minister Michael Soto said, adding that there were only some minor injuries. The clashes in Brazil took place amid an increase in robberies and violent incidents in the city of 12,000 people that locals blame on immigrants, while the government points to a lack of resources to address the situation and calls for the closure of the border. In response to the latest violence, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry urged Brazil to "guarantee the safety of Venezuelan nationals and take measures to protect and safeguard their families and belongings." By nighttime, the streets were quiet again, authorities said. Brazilian federal police, in charge of immigration, estimates that about 500 Venezuelans cross over to Brazil every day. In January alone, around 900 and 1,200 Venezuelans came to Brazil -- a peak so far. In the first semester of this year, around 56,740 Venezuelans sought to legalize their situation in Brazil requesting refuge or temporary residence. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have crossed the border into Brazil over the past three years to escape the economic, political and social crisis gripping their country The deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has now claimed 49 lives since the start of the month, the government has said, and the World Health Organization expects more cases. The gradually increasing death toll, with a further 2,000 people feared to have come into contact with the virus, adds to the woes of a country already facing violence, displacement and political uncertainty. First reported on August 1 in the North Kivu province, the current outbreak has killed 49 of the 90 cases reported, according to the latest health ministry bulletin on Saturday. It said of the 49 deaths from the haemorrhagic fever, 63 were confirmed and 27 were probable. Confirmed cases are verified through laboratory tests on samples taken from patients. The cases treated as "probable" often concern sick people with a close epidemiological link to confirmed cases, but who have not been tested. Most deaths -- 39 -- were recorded in the agricultural village of Mangina 30 kilometres (some 20 miles) southwest of the city of Beni. Three deaths occurred in the neighbouring province of Ituri. Field teams also identified 2,157 "contacts" -- people who may have been in contact with the virus -- according to the health ministry. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters on Friday from the UN agency's Geneva headquarters that it "expects more cases". "We do not know if all the chains of transmission have been identified," he added. The outbreak is the 10th to strike the DRC since 1976, when Ebola was first identified and named after a river in the north of the country. Ebola has long been considered incurable, though swift isolation and the rapid treatment of symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration has helped some patients to survive. The quest for a vaccine grew increasingly urgent during an Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,300 people in the West African states of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in 2013-15. The current Ebola outbreak was first reported on August 1 Greece will formally turn the page on its debt saga this week, but the eurozone remains vulnerable to further crises, with economists particularly worried about the situation in Italy. After eight long years and three austerity-heavy bailouts, Athens will on Monday formally leave the financial rescue umbrella of its creditors from the EU and International Monetary Fund. But while both European and Greek politicians have hailed its return to the markets as "historic" good news, serious challenges remain for the 19 countries that use the single currency. - The Greek boomerang - "The Greek crisis has not been solved, it has just been postponed," said Charles Wyplosz, Professor of International Economics at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Athens will not even start to repay until 2032 the bulk of its huge debt, which remains at a colossal 180 percent of Greece's gross domestic product. In the meantime it is impossible to say where the country will be politically and economically. The IMF has in recent months issued a series of warnings about the long-term sustainability of Greek debt despite the eurozone's latest arrangements to reduce it. Wyplosz criticised the EU's "spectacular cynicism" during the crisis. "The problems weren't solved but they pretended to believe they were." "One way or another it will explode. Greece will be in crisis again well before 2032." - Europe's debt mountain - "We have in no way resolved the problem of public debt, which remains large in Italy, Greece and Portugal, despite their efforts," warned Anne-Laure Delatte, deputy director of the French global economy research body CEPII. European heavyweights France and Spain also have significant debt, which could further weigh down the eurozone. "Debt is a factor in vulnerability, which can be so violent that it passes onto the markets," added Delatte. But other countries that have adopted the euro have seen their debt fall and so the single currency area is increasingly polarised between the "good students" and the others, with diverging interests. The first group back budgetary rigour and spending controls -- the second call for more solidarity. - Italian threat - Italy is becoming a serious risk for the eurozone because of its debt, its fragile banks, and above all because of a populist government that seems bent on confrontation with Brussels, say economists. "You've got a country with debt at 130 percent of GDP, serious internal problems, a dirty banking system, and now it's led by people who don't know what they're going to do. The threat is very clear," said Charles Wyplosz. The new Italian government's economic strategy is still fluid, with contradictory signs coming from Rome. But the deadly collapse of a motorway bridge in Genoa last week saw clashes between Italy -- especially its far-right interior minister Matteo Salvini -- and the EU over its spending limits. "The eurozone doesn't have the tools or the institutions right now to deal with a serious Italian debt crisis," said Philippe Martin, a professor at the prestigious Sciences Po university in Paris, who is close to French President Emmanuel Macron. - Future of the eurozone - The debt crisis has allowed the eurozone to strengthen itself, particularly with the creation of the European Stability Mechanism, the bloc's bailout fund, and the reinforcement of so-called banking union, which sees the same rules for all banks. But the reforms remain unfinished and a push by Macron for further steps -- including a dedicated budget for the eurozone -- still face hostility from the austerity-minded north, which fears paying for the debt-ridden south. "I am not sure there will be agreement on what the euro should be," said Nathalie Janson, from the NEOMA business school in Rouen, France. "The euro has finally become a chaotic currency with permanent turbulence, whereas it was originally designed to guarantee stability." Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras announced his country was 'turning a page' after eurozone ministers declared its crisis over in June EU countries with the highest levels of public debt (2017) French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing for a dedicated budget for the eurozone A manhunt is underway for some of Australias most wanted criminals, with top investigators fearing they may be hiding in plain sight in communities around the country. Wanted for murder, sexual assault, drug trafficking and theft, these are some of the fugitives who have continuously flown under the radar of authorities and are now the subjects of a major Crime Stoppers investigation. Among them are a father who is convicted of a serious assault on his two-year-old stepdaughter, a man wanted in relation to the murder of his brother with a sword and a karate instructor who is accused of sexually assaulting a boy under the age of 16. These criminals may appear to be leading a normal life; they may be your work colleague, neighbour, or a new person that has moved to your area, hiding in plain sight, Crime Stoppers Chairman Trevor OHara said. As a result of last years campaign, Yahoo7 News assisted Crime Stoppers in apprehending 63 per cent of the nominated fugitives. Pictured below are the individuals being targeted in this years Operation Roam Rogue Radar campaign. Members of the public are urged not to approach them under any circumstances. If you see them while out and about call triple-0 immediately, otherwise report to Crime Stoppers and you may be eligible to receive a cash reward. Jonathan Dick Jonathan Edward Dick Victorian man Jonathan Dick sparked a nationwide manhunt after his 36-year-old brother David was found brutally murdered outside a Doncaster shopping centre on February 3, 2017. Police believe Jonathan was the man seen on CCTV footage at the scene of the crime, making him a person of interest in his brothers death. He was last seen in Ivanhoe East, Victoria where he abandoned his blue 1997 Ford Fairmont sedan. Considered dangerous and possibly armed with a knife, police believe the 39-year-old has fled interstate and are now calling on the public to provide information on his whereabouts. Paul Brent Steadman Paul Brent Steadman Paul Brent Steadman was working as a karate instructor in the Bathurst area in 2015 when he was charged with offences relating to the sexual assault of a boy under the age of 16. Story continues He failed to appear at Bathurst local court resulting in a warrant being issued for his arrest. His vehicle was later located in bushland, but he has never been found. Police believe he has left the Bathurst area but are also considering the possibility that he is deceased. The 50-year-old has an olive complexion, brown eyes, black hair and is of a medium build. Pham Nguyen Pham Nguyen Pham Nguyen remains on the run after allegedly hiding in a womans vehicle, who drove off without realising he was in the backseat. He is then accused of splashing petrol over the victim and assaulting her, causing the woman to drive off the road and into a pole. The 62-year-old fled the vehicle and is now wanted by police for the offence of conduct endangering life. Nguyen is 152cm tall and of a medium build with brown eyes and black hair. Graham Gene Potter Graham Gene Potter The 60-year-old is wanted for two counts of conspiracy to murder in Victoria back in 2008. Graham Gene Potter, who also goes by Josh Lawson or Peter Anderson, was arrested and charged but failed to appear when granted bail. He has been subject of many media appeals over the past decade but despite various sightings across the country, he remains on the run. Potter has brown eyes, brown hair and is of a medium build. Jonathan Robert Simmons Jonathan Robert Simmons The 36-year-old is accused of obtaining more than $50,000 from a fraudulent punters website in Adelaide. He is now wanted by South Australian police for 10 deception offences. Jonathan Robert Simmons is also known as John Robert Griffiths, Tristian Simmons and John Simmons. He is of a medium build, has brown eyes and black hair. Members of the public with information about any of the individuals on the Rogue Radar list, should contact Crime Stoppers 24/7 on 1800 333 000 or use the Crime Stoppers online reporting page. Israel closed Sunday its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip except for humanitarian cases after weekend border clashes, the latest tightening of its blockade on the Palestinian enclave despite truce efforts. The move could prevent Gazans from travelling via the crossing for this week's Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which runs from Monday night until Thursday night, but Israeli officials did not say how long the closure would last. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a statement the closure was due to "violent incidents on the border last Friday". The Palestinian Authority civilian affairs office in the Gaza Strip also confirmed the closure except for medical cases and Palestinians seeking to cross back into the enclave. Border protests and clashes on Friday saw two Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire. Israel's army said firebombs and improvised explosive devices were also hurled at the border fence, while a number of Palestinians briefly crossed into Israeli territory. No Israelis were reported wounded. The closure and border incidents occurred despite attempts by Egypt and UN officials to reach a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the blockaded Gaza Strip. Israel has enforced an air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip for more than a decade, but grants permission to a limited number of people to cross for various reasons. The two sides have fought three wars since 2008. Israel had just last week reopened its only goods crossing with Gaza after closing it to most deliveries for more than a month over border tensions. Gaza's only other border is with Egypt but the Rafah crossing with the enclave had largely been kept closed in recent years. Cairo opened it in mid-May and it has mostly remained so since. Separately on Sunday, US President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton arrived in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a time of shared concerns over Syria, Iran and the Gaza Strip. - 'A big step forward' - Protests and clashes began on the Gaza border on March 30 and have continued at varying levels since then. At least 171 Gazans have been killed by Israeli fire during that time. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July. There have also been several severe military flare-ups, including three since July. The latest was on August 9, when Israel responded to some 180 rockets and mortars fired from Gaza with widespread air strikes. UN officials and Egypt have been seeking to secure a long-term truce between Hamas and Israel to allow for humanitarian issues in the impoverished enclave of two million people to be addressed. Israel is demanding calm and a return of the remains of two soldiers Hamas is believed to be holding. Two Israeli civilians, both said to be mentally unstable, are also believed to have entered Gaza and to be held by Hamas. Israel is also seeking their return. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya told AFP on Friday that he believed a durable truce with Israel was near. He said that UN and Egyptian talks taking place in Egypt with various Palestinian factions have "taken a big step forward towards understandings with the occupation... and the possibility of restoring calm". An Israeli official said on condition of anonymity Wednesday that an initial set of "understandings" had been reached with the help of the UN and Egypt, leading to several days of calm on the border last week and the opening of the goods crossing. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has however expressed concern over any agreement that bypasses the Palestinian Authority. Hamas and Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank, have been deeply divided for more than a decade. Palestinian Hamas security forces stand at the Palestinian side of the Erez pedestrian crossing with Israel after it was closed on March 13, 2014 A picture taken on August 17, 2018 shows tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces raining down on Palestinian protesters during a demonstration along the border of the Gaza Strip Italy's far-right interior minister threatened Sunday to send "back to Libya" nearly 180 people stranded for three days on an Italian coastguard ship if the EU did not step in to resolve another migrant row with Malta. The 177 people have been sat off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa since Thursday after being saved by the coastguard's Diciotti vessel, and Italy is battling with Malta over who should take them in. "Either Europe decides to seriously offer Italy some concrete help, beginning with for example the 180 immigrants on board the Diciotti ship, or we will be forced to do what will definitively end the human traffickers' business. That means taking the people saved in the sea back to Libya," Salvini said in a statement. Numerous human rights abuses have been reported in detention centres that hold migrants hoping to make the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean and arrive in Europe. The Diciotti has been stood off Lampedusa while Italy's populist government, in power since June, demanded that Malta take in the passengers. Earlier on Sunday the Maltese government, which on Wednesday allowed 141 migrants aboard the Aquarius vessel to dock after an agreement to distribute them to a number of European countries, underlined its refusal of Italy's demands. - 'Not in distress' - Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the migrants? boat was not in distress and that they also refused help, while interior minister Michael Farrugia wrote on Twitter that "the only solution" was for the people, saved in waters between the countries, to be taken to Lampedusa or another Italian port. Farrugia added that the Diciotti picked up the migrants inside the Maltese search and rescue area "without any coordination from the competent RCC (Rescue Coordination Centre), just to stop them arriving in Italian waters". "An interception of a boat that exercises its right to free navigation in the high seas is not considered a rescue operation," said Farrugia. Malta's refusal to take in the migrants has infuriated the Italian government, already angered by an operation that Salvini says was carried out by the Italian coastguard without the approval of Rome. "Malta's behaviour is once again unqualifiable and deserves sanction," Italian Minister of Transport Danilo Toninelli said on Twitter on Sunday. "The EU needs to step forward and open its ports to solidarity, otherwise it has no reason to exist." The spat between Italy and Malta is the second in just over a month. It follows the battle over 450 people rescued from a fishing ship and taken aboard two EU border agency vessels who were eventually allowed to disembark in Italy after five European countries agreed to take 50 each. In June, Malta was forced to take the German NGO boat Lifeline carrying over 234 migrants, just days after a standoff between the island nation and Italy led to the French rescue ship Aquarius being diverted and taking 630 people to Spain. 177 people have been sat off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa since August 16, 2018 after being saved by the coastguard's Diciotti vessel, seen in July 2018, and Italy is battling with Malta over who should take them in Map locating the Italian island of Lampedusa where nearly 180 migrants are stranded on a coastguard ship as Italy and Malta argue over who should take them. Photographer Ron Amir spent years visiting African migrants in the Israeli desert to understand the new world they had created. He came back with a provocative set of pictures -- without people in them. The human-less photographs include objects such as a makeshift bench and gym or a mud oven, composed in a way that hints at the migrants' desperation and their attempts to manufacture new lives. The exhibition, previously on display in Israel, is set to move to the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, where it will open on September 14 and run until December 2. Amir said recently at the Israel Museum, where the exhibition appeared in 2016, that keeping people out of the pictures was a way to stimulate questions about what the viewer sees. It was a means to "open another channel of observation that enables developing broader connotations on these sites," the Israeli photographer said. In one, a plank of thin metal sits atop three stones, wild shrubs behind it leading to a cloudless sky and a red ball attached to power lines. The understated photograph, its yellowish desert shades punctuated by red flecks of garbage, is named "Hamed Alnnil's Bench." Alnnil, one of the thousands of African migrants who were held at the Holot detention centre near Israel's border with Egypt, had ventured out of the open facility's boundaries to create his much-needed personal space. Amir had visited Holot over the years 2014-2016 and befriended some of the facility's residents, who showed him the spaces they had created -- most of them hidden away in the desert land surrounding Holot. Those held at the now-shuttered facility were allowed to leave during the day. - 'Time to kill' - Amir created a series of photographs of the special spaces, with some of them serving clear functions, such as the gym, an oven for baking bread or a row of stones delineating the outline of a small mosque. Others, such as a line of empty water bottles half-buried in the hard desert ground, give no hint as to their purpose. The 30 photographs show "what happens when people have a lot of time to kill," Amir said. The oven ultimately "tells more about us, about Israel, about the system, about the limitations it imposes -- and less about the people who came from Africa," he said. His decision to keep the migrants unseen in some ways matched what they were facing. At the time of Amir's work, the Israeli government was seeking a way to make the approximately 42,000 African migrants in the country vanish, with religious and conservative politicians portraying the presence of Muslim and Christian Africans as a threat to Israel's Jewish character. Many of the migrants, predominantly from Eritrea and Sudan, arrived in Israel illegally through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. They settled in a number of poor neighbourhoods in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, the country's economic capital. Others were eventually sent to Holot. In April, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled an agreement with the UN refugee agency aimed at avoiding forced deportations of thousands of the migrants. Under the deal, some 16,000 migrants were to be transferred to Western countries, with Israel giving residency to an equal number of them. Netanyahu faced heavy pressure to cancel the deal from his right-wing base, who want to see all the migrants expelled. Their fate now remains in limbo. - 'Expand the limits' - Accompanying Amir's photographs are six videos from outside Holot which do contain people -- migrants chatting, posing for a picture, making coffee or listening to music and waiting. "In Ron's videos, nothing happens," said Noam Gal, the curator for Amir's exhibition in Jerusalem and Paris. "That's just the point -- you can see what's happening at Holot only if you take upon yourself to sit and kill time from your day, and understand that what happens to the people there is the same time as yours," he said. The exhibition arrives in Paris as France and other European states also seek ways to deal with an influx of migrants. To Gal, the Israel Museum's curator of photography, the exhibition is also "an opportunity to draw public attention to the phenomenon (of asylum seekers) from the artistic perspective," he said. Doing so could even "expand the limits of the discourse so that it's not just between decision-makers of the high political and diplomatic echelons, but maybe there's room here for other voices," Gal said. Israeli art photographer Ron Amir visited African migrants in the desert, but his pictures have no people in them, he says, to stimulate questions about what the viewer sees. Art photographer Ron Amir (L) and curator Noam Gal flank a picture from "Somewhere in the Desert" at the Israel Museum storage room in Jerusalem. The show moves to Paris in September Noam Gal, curator of photography at the Israel Museum, says Ron Amir?s exhibition is also "an opportunity to draw public attention to the phenomenon (of asylum seekers) from the artistic perspective" Rescuers searched submerged villages in southwest India on Sunday in a desperate hunt for survivors after floods killed at least 370 people and drove more than 700,000 from their homes. Entire villages in Kerala have been swept away in the state's worst floods for a century. Rescuers fear the death toll will rise as they reach areas almost entirely underwater. Thousands remain trapped -- often without food or water -- in towns and villages cut off by the floods, and heavy rain forecast in coming days threatens to compound the disaster. Nearly 725,000 people have taken shelter in relief camps, state government spokesman Subhash T.V. told AFP on Sunday. Bedraggled survivors massing at evacuation centres have described desperate scenes after days without food or water. "They were the scariest hours of our life," 20-year-old Inderjeet Kumar told AFP at a church doubling as a relief shelter in the hard-hit Thrissur district. "There was no power, no food and no water -- even though it was all around us." The overall death toll in the state since the start of the monsoon on May 29 had reached 370, the spokesman said. Forty-six of them were found dead in just the last 24 hours. In Thrissur, rescuers searching inundated houses discovered the bodies of those unable to escape as the floodwaters quickly rose. "They didn't think that it would rise this high -- 10 to 15 feet at some places -- when the initial warnings were issued," said Ashraf Ali K.M, who is leading the search in the small town of Mala. "Some of them later gave distress calls when the water rose high and fast," he told AFP at the scene Sunday as the carcases of cattle and other livestock floated past. Among the dead was a mother and son whose home collapsed around them late Saturday. Another was a local man who volunteered for the search and rescue mission. His body was retrieved by comrades early Sunday, said Dibin K.S, a Kerala firefighter, in a grim reminder of the perils facing rescuers. - 'Pray for Kerala' - Thousands of army, navy and air force personnel have fanned out across Kerala. The army said Sunday that 250 people had been evacuated from Pathanamthitta district, many of them sick after days in the pounding monsoon rain. Food, medicine and water has been dropped from helicopters to isolated areas. A train from Pune in Maharashtra state headed south on Saturday for Kerala laden with more than one million litres (two million pints) of drinking water. Roads and 134 bridges have been damaged, cutting off remote areas in the hilly districts of Kerala which are worst affected. Rising torrents of murky brown water swallowed the only remaining road into the town of Mannar, where an estimated 10,000 residents are trapped, The Times of India newspaper reported. The state's Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan vowed Sunday "to save even the last person stranded". Fishermen have sailed inland from Kerala's coast to join the search, as volunteers erected soup kitchens and appeals went out worldwide for donations. At St Peter's Square in the Vatican on Sunday, worshippers held aloft signs reading "Pray for Kerala", a state with a large Christian population. "Our solidarity and the concrete support of the international community should not lack for our brothers," said Pope Francis on Sunday. Many panic-stricken flood victims have resorted to appeals on social media, saying they cannot get through to rescue services. In Mala, desperate villagers had to improvise as the floodwaters rose, using kitchen pots as rafts to reach their stricken neighbours. "They used these huge cooking pots to rescue around 100 people in the first wave of flash floods, as no one was prepared (for a rescue)," one local rescuer told AFP. There have been moments of cheer amid the tragedy. In the hilly district of Idukki, rescuers told the Press Trust of India of working through the night to save a newborn boy and his mother from the rising waters. - Rain forecast - But dam levels remain dangerously high, swollen by monsoon deluges, and more rain is forecast. The Indian Meteorological Department has warned of rain until August 23 across Kerala, including heavy downpours in the districts of Kozhikode, Kannur and Idukki. Idukki has received more than 321 centimetres (126 inches) of rain since June and is now virtually cut off from the rest of the state. The floods have caused an estimated $3 billion in damage but the bill is likely to rise as the scale of devastation becomes clearer. Vijayan, the chief minister, has requested extra funding as well as 20 more helicopters and 600 motorised boats to step up the rescue efforts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a brief air inspection tour of the state Saturday and announced an immediate grant of $75 million. A flooded area in the north part of Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala thousands remain trapped in towns and villages cut off by the floods amid growing shortages of food and water The floods have caused an estimated $3 billion in damage The state chief minister has requested more funding as well as 20 more helicopters and 600 motorised boats Crisis-torn Nicaragua must hold elections to return the country to democracy after four months of protests against President Daniel Ortega's rule, the head of the Organization of American States said Sunday. OAS secretary general Luis Almagro said the Central American country -- where over 300 have died in the unrest, according to rights groups -- "needs to be re-institutionalized, re-democratized." "Nicaragua needs elections," he told Chile's El Mercurio newspaper. "Nicaragua is today a victim of violence, repression and assassinations, the consequences of which have been absolutely disastrous for the country." Almagro added that he would continue to support dialogue between Ortega's Sandinista government and the opposition. "It is a question of political will and we will continue insisting on returning to dialogue through all possible means," he said. Ortega, a 72-year-old former guerrilla who has been in power for the last 11 years, has refused to step down and instead cracked down on opponents to try to extinguish protests that have rocked the Nicaragua since mid-April. Violence by police and armed paramilitaries have contributed to the death toll -- and the UN says some 23,000 people have sought asylum in neighboring Costa Rica. Asked about the Venezuelan crisis, meanwhile, Almagro stressed the need to maintain "international pressure" on the Maduro government and "increase sanctions". The OAS chief expressed reservations over the alleged attack orchestrated against Maduro on August 4. Almagro said the incident "leaves many questions, especially the lack of credibility of the Maduro regime." "In any case, the OAS general secretariat will always condemn the use of violence as a political tool," he added. "We hope that the facts are not used as an excuse to trample even more on the rights of Venezuelans, to increase the number of political prisoners or to harass the members of the opposition." Organization of American States secretary general Luis Almagro said he would continue to support dialogue between President Daniel Ortega's government and the opposition A teenage girl who shot her mothers abusive partner dead has been commended for saving the life of her family, police have said. The 15-year-old drew upon gun training from her late father to fatally shoot the man who was strangling her mother earlier this month, a prosecutor said Friday. Police who responded to the call about a shooting at the house in the North Carolina foothills, west of Charlotte on August 8, found Steven Kelley, 46, dead. Steven Kelley, 46, was shot dead after abusing his partner Chandra Nierman, 44, and threatening to kill the mother and her three children. Source: Facebook / Chandra Nierman He was shot twice and killed after he attacked the teens mother and threatened to kill her and her three children in the home they all shared, the Rutherford County Sheriffs Office said. Kelley was strangling the woman and threatening to cut her throat when the womans 12-year-old son retrieved the revolver, according to the news release. Authorities say the boys 15-year-old sister took the gun from him and fired it twice into Kelleys chest. The third sibling, a 16-year-old girl, was grazed in the leg and treated at a hospital and released. The mother also had significant bruises from the assault by Kelley, the sheriffs office said. District Attorney Ted Bell said Kelleys office determined the shooting was justified and that no charges are warranted against the children. It was absolutely clear that the moms life was in jeopardy, as well as potentially the children, and so in that situation we absolutely support the right of somebody to defend themselves and others with deadly force. I commend the 15-year-old for doing a very difficult thing by saving her moms and siblings lives and showing an amazing amount of maturity, he said. Police say the actions of 15-year-old girl who shot her mums partner dead had saved the life of her family. Source: Facebook / Steven Kelley Dad had taught the children how to shoot The childrens late father had taught the girl and her siblings how to shoot and safely handle guns, allowing her to effectively use the single-action Colt .45-caliber revolver that had to be cocked between shots, Mr Bell said. He said the mother had hidden guns around the house for protection when the boyfriend started acting dangerously in recent weeks. He believed the revolver was one of those firearms, but the boyfriend also kept guns in the house. Story continues A history of domestic violence Authorities say Kelley was a convicted felon originally from Indiana with a history of domestic violence accusations. Kelley, the woman and her three children had recently moved to North Carolina from Indiana. Kelley had previously attacked the woman on August 4 and fired multiple rounds from a firearm inside the residence to threaten and terrorize her, according to a news release by the sheriff and district attorney. He had also threatened her multiple times before, and faced active domestic violence protection orders sought by two different women in Ohio and Indiana, the release said. US President Donald Trump on Sunday angrily denounced the federal probe of Russia's 2016 election meddling as "McCarthyism at its WORST!," insisting he had authorized his White House counsel to testify to bring the matter to a close. Trump's Twitter storm was set off by a front-page report in the New York Times that said White House counsel Don McGahn had provided Special Counsel Robert Mueller with an unusually detailed account of Trump's thinking during key episodes under investigation. Trump -- who had already addressed the issue late Saturday -- stepped up his attacks on the story and the probe in a series of angry morning tweets, slamming The New York Times for implying that McGahn had turned on him. "I have nothing to hide ... and have demanded transparency so that this Rigged and Disgusting Witch Hunt can come to a close. "So many lives have been ruined over nothing - McCarthyism at its WORST!" Mueller is investigating whether the president sought to obstruct justice as well as whether his campaign colluded with Russia's covert effort to sway the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor. In more than 30 hours of testimony over the past nine months, the Times said McGahn laid out for investigators Trump's fury over the probe and the ways in which he asked McGahn to respond to it. Among the episodes he testified to were Trump's firing of former FBI director James Comey, and his obsession with putting a loyalist in charge of the probe, according to the Times. It noted that McGahn played a key role in stopping Trump from firing Mueller, who was made special counsel after Comey's firing. Trump called the story a "Fake piece" and seemed particularly incensed at the suggestion that McGahn was a "RAT" like John Dean, the former White House counsel who testified against president Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal. "The Failing New York Times wrote a story that made it seem like the White House Councel [sic] had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite - & the two Fake reporters knew this. This is why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People. So bad for America!" "Study the late Joseph McCarthy, because we are now in period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Rigged Witch Hunt!" US President Donald Trump has stepped up his attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, likening it to "McCarthyism" US National Security Advisor John Bolton on Sunday singled out China, North Korea and Iran as countries who could possibly meddle in American elections -- as President Donald Trump railed about a probe into Russian interference in 2016. Trump himself pointed the finger of blame on Saturday, tweeting: "All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China." When asked about the tweet, Bolton also mentioned Beijing, which is currently at an impasse with Washington on trade talks. "I can say definitively that it's a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that we're taking steps to try and prevent it," Bolton told ABC News. "So all four of those countries, really." When pressed for further details, especially with relation to China, Bolton was vague, saying he could not offer details. "I'm telling you (that) looking at the 2018 election, those are the four countries that we're most concerned about," he told the network's "This Week" news program. Trump has intensified his attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, and whether his campaign team colluded with Moscow to sway the contest in the Republican's favor. On Sunday, the president called the probe "McCarthyism at its WORST!" US National Security Advisor John Bolton, who will meet with his Russian counterpart later this week, pointed at China when asked about possible future meddling in American elections The battle for control of the state Senate could be decided by a race in central New York pitting a top elected official in the region against a political newcomer. In the 50th Senate District race, Onondaga County Comptroller Bob Antonacci, a Republican, will square off against Democratic candidate John Mannion, an Advanced Placement biology teacher at West Genesee High School in Camillus. Antonacci and Mannion are vying to succeed retiring state Sen. John DeFrancisco, a Republican who has represented the 50th district since 1993. DeFrancisco announced last spring that he wouldn't seek another two-year term in the state Senate. Before DeFrancisco represented the district, it was held by former state Sen. Tarky Lombardi, a Republican, for more than a quarter century. Antonacci, who was elected Onondaga County comptroller in 2007 and won re-election in 2011 and 2015, said his priorities if elected to the state Senate would be affordability and opportunity. He would focus on lowering taxes and reducing costs for businesses. He wants to address the population decline affecting upstate New York and the Syracuse area. "I think if we bring back economic vitality, a lot of this other nonsense we're arguing over solves itself," he said in a phone interview Thursday. Mannion, who has worked as a teacher for 25 years, wants to address economic revitalization and would use his expertise to tackle education issues. He wants more equitable state funding for school districts, especially for high-need districts that have been short-changed due to an out-of-date formula. "I am an outsider that has spoken many times to elected officials about keeping them to their word," Mannion said at his campaign launch in April. "We cannot let that get out of the limelight." The candidates disagree on many issues. Mannion supports the New York Health Act, a bill that would establish a single-payer health insurance system statewide. Antonacci opposes the proposal to have "government-run health care" in the state. Mannion also supports the Reproductive Health Act, which would codify the Supreme Court's Roe v. Wade decision into state law and decriminalize abortion by repealing portions of the state penal code. Antonacci opposes the bill. The two measures are significant because both could pass the state Senate if Democrats control the chamber. The bills have been approved by the Democratic-led state Assembly. Mannion could be the deciding vote on both bills. But Antonacci wants to avoid that scenario. "When Democrats took over the Senate in 2009, spending went up over $14 billion and taxes went up over $14 billion," he said. "I really think that this is about the future of central New York and upstate New York, and that's why I'm the better guy." Mannion believes his status as a newcomer will help in the state Senate race. The district was represented by one person (DeFrancisco) for more than 25 years. Antonacci is a known commodity in central New York. He has not only served as county comptroller for more than 10 years, but he has been a candidate for other political positions. In 2014, he ran for state comptroller. In his conversations with voters, Mannion said they tell him they want a "fresh face" representing them in Alabny. "I believe we need a transformation in Albany and I think someone who has served the community for a long time but not served in a political capacity can bring that voice that voice of reform to Albany," he said. The 50th district race is a top priority for both parties. The district includes a sliver of Syracuse, 13 towns in Onondaga County, most of Auburn and the towns of Brutus, Cato, Ira and Sennett in Cayuga County. While DeFrancisco had a stranglehold on the seat for many years, there are nearly the same number of Democratic and Republican voters in the 50th. As of April, there were 61,498 active Democrats and 62,316 active GOP voters in the district. State Sen. Michael Gianaris, who chairs the Senate Democratic Campaign Committee, views the 50th district as a great pickup opportunity for Democrats. With Democratic momentum this year, the expectation is that there will be a so-called "blue wave." The 63-seat Senate has 31 Democratic members, 31 Republicans and a Democrat (Sen. Simcha Felder) who caucuses with the GOP. Gianaris likes the Democrats' chances this year. There are 10 Republican-held seats they believe they can win, including five seats open due to the retirements of GOP senators. One of the open seats is the 50th. "I think we're very well-positioned for success in a year when Democrats are winning all over the country," he said. Like the Democrats, the top Senate Republican also views the 50th as a high priority. Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan said the race is "definitely in the top five, maybe even top three." "Every seat is important, including my own," he said. "Everyone is important. we have a great big diverse broad state, but everyone is important ... What happens in Syracuse and what happens in that whole area of the state is incredibly important to the well-being of the people I represent." Both parties are high on their candidates in the 50th district contest. Flanagan offered high praise of Antonacci, comparing him to his potential predecessor, DeFrancisco. DeFrancisco has been deputy majority leader of the state Senate since 2015, when Flanagan was elected to lead the Senate Republican Conference. Flanagan named DeFrancisco his number two. "(Antonacci) reminds me a lot of DeFran," he said. "He is strong, he's hardworking, he's pugnacious. He is very committed to what he wants to do. And for us, for me, he's a great fit." On the Democratic side, Gianaris lauded Mannion and reiterated that the 50th district race is a "very important" contest for Democrats. "We drew a top-notch candidate in John Mannion and we expect it's going to be a hard-fought race that we're going to win," he said. Antonacci will appear on the Republican, Conservative and Independence ballot lines. Mannion will have the Democratic, Women's Equality and Working Families lines. Mannion was endorsed by the state Reform Party, but lost the ballot line after a judge tossed out his petition last week. There will be a primary for the Reform Party line on Sept. 13. Republicans filed an opportunity to ballot, a mechanism which allows voters to write in a candidate for the party's nomination. The primary will determine who will appear on that ballot line for the Nov. 6 general election. Online producer Robert Harding can be reached at (315) 282-2220 or robert.harding@lee.net. Follow him on Twitter @robertharding. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 1 Sad 0 Angry 0 St. James' Episcopal Church in Skaneateles will hold an open house from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 22, to celebrate the completion of its five-year capital renovation project. The event will include tours, food, music and a dedication ceremony at 3 p.m. at the church, 96 E. Genesee St., Skaneateles. The main renovations are a new roof, an enlarged worship space, a more flexible chapel space and the addition of an entrance to the parish hall that's more accessible to people with disabilities, as well as an elevator to the lower-level fellowship spaces. "It is vital to share God's outrageous welcome to everyone who enters this church and these renovations make that possible," the Rev. Dr. Rebecca Coerper said in a news release. For more information, visit stjamesskan.org or call (315) 685-7600. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 In 1841, a boot-maker named John Augustus bailed out a common drunkard in Boston, believing he could be rehabilitated through community supervision rather than jail. Three weeks later, he returned to court for sentencing a sober man, and Augustus began an 18-year career as the nation's first true probation officer. Since that time, the probation system has grown significantly throughout the United States, including in Cayuga County. In the past six months, The Citizen observed multiple home and office visits with the Cayuga County Probation Department and spoke with several officers about the difficulty of dealing with an abundance of case loads and an overall lack of resources. Probation practice Earlier this year, Cayuga County senior probation officers John Murley and Joanna LoBisco were seated in their car, eyes locked on a woman pacing aimlessly outside her residence. But with their attention placed roughly 100 feet in front of them, neither officer noticed the masked man who approached their car from behind. With his car door open, Murley was preparing to exit the vehicle when the first two shots were fired. "Call 911 I got shot," Murley shouted. "Tell them to send medical. I got shot in the stomach." Fortunately, the bullets weren't real, as it was all part of a training exercise with the department. However, Cayuga County Director of Probation Jay De Wispelaere said that wasn't the case for probation officers in Monroe County who were attacked in a similar manner in the past. In that case, De Wispelaere said, two female officers were observing an offender's residence when a person came out of an alley and fired at the officers seated in their car. The shooter then fled the scene and was never found. "Things can happen," De Wispelaere said. "We spend a lot of time in and around our cars, which become our office when we're out in the field ... and if someone were to suddenly threaten you or if you perceive something wasn't quite right, getting out of your vehicle under stress can be tricky." That's why this spring the Cayuga County Probation Department decided to do drills surrounding a vehicle, something many of the officers had never done. All of the drills were based on actual events that happened to probation officers in the field, and all of the officers were given a "simunition gun," a training replica of a Glock pistol that shoots wax bullets. "As far as training goes, to be able to come out and use or replicate levels of force as close to reality as we can get is something you can't do in classroom training or in just standard firearms training," De Wispelaere said. "The more we can practice these things and predict what may happen, the easier it will be for officers to respond to those things in the field if it actually does." Still, De Wispelaere said, the level of probation training has changed over the years and often varies among departments. In the past, he said, New York state actually had an academy for probation officers, but now, the peace officers go through a five-week training cycle called the Fundamentals of Probation Practice. Prior to training, probation officers must also obtain a graduate degree in social science or a bachelor's degree and two years experience in counseling or casework, and must pass a civil service exam. Then, in addition to the state-mandated training, De Wispelaere said, there is sometimes special training for departments like Cayuga County, which issues handguns, ballistic vests and radios to its officers. He estimated that roughly half of the state's departments actually provide their officers with such defensive tools. "Probation in New York state is not a uniform type of service," he said. "Every county is set up somewhat differently. ... It's a county-by-county option and those options extend to how counties want their officers to enforce the orders of the court." For example, in Tompkins County, De Wispelaere said, probation officers are not armed. Rather, the department takes a more therapeutic approach focused on community engagement. "Some departments are very, very social work-oriented in their approach and their training while other departments tend to be more on the law enforcement end," he said. "I see probation as a spectrum because we have both law enforcement and social work imperatives, and I think you need to be willing to slide back and forth on that spectrum." Cayuga County Probation Supervisor Kelly Murphy agreed. "When you knock on that door, you never know what's on the other side," she said. "So you have to be prepared and use your skills you learn in training, just like any other law enforcement, to prepare for anything on the other side of that door." Search and seizure On a Saturday in May, Cayuga County Probation Officer Nick Flanigan was conducting a routine visit in the town of Niles when he came across several illegal weapons in the home. And suddenly, he said, the visit was far from routine. In January 2016, Michael Podolak, 33, of 4469 Twelve Corners Road, was convicted of fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon and sentenced to three years probation in Onondaga County. At the time, he admitted to possessing a long gun near school property in Skaneateles, claiming he forgot to remove his hunting gear from his vehicle. As a result, Podolak was not allowed to possess weapons while he was on probation. However, according to the Cayuga County Probation Department, officers found weapons at his home on at least two occasions. During a court appearance in July, Podolak admitted to illegally possessing five shotguns and two rifles, violating the terms and conditions of his probation. And Flanigan discussed the dangers of finding weapons in a home. "As a probation officer, guns are the most dangerous thing we can run into," he said in court. Guns, he said, and drugs. Flanigan, who started with the Cayuga County Probation Department in February, said heroin has become a particularly big problem for probation officers, and he recalled another home visit when he walked in on a person injecting drugs. "Just as police officers have risks every time they pull a car over, the same can be said for probation and parole personnel who walk into houses," he said. "Walking into a house, we don't know who or what is behind closed doors." Of course, the same can be true at the office, De Wispelaere said, as probation officers never really follow a set schedule. In fact, he said, there's nothing really routine about it. "No two days are usually alike," he said. "You're not always here to do the same thing day in and day out, and the fact that something totally unexpected can happen can give you an adrenaline rush or take you in a different direction. It helps keep things fresh and helps keep you motivated." However, while home visits are a regular part of the job, many of the officers said more and more of their time is now being spent in the office. Crushing caseloads When Officer LoBisco started with the Cayuga County Probation Department in 1994, she was assigned around 50 cases. Now, she said, that workload has doubled. On average, LoBisco said, each Cayuga County probation officer is assigned 90 to 100 cases at a time. The county currently employs eight full-time probation officers, one supervising officer and one director. Compare that to Tompkins County, where Officer Flanigan worked prior to coming to Cayuga County this year. In Tompkins County, he said, there are 27 probation officers and the average work load is roughly 40 to 50 cases. "Tompkins County has ample resources and they have a lot of funding in their budget," he said. "There is a significant lack of resources here (in Cayuga County). ... The numbers here, they're too high, and it's hard to adequately supervise that many people." Then, add in the piles of state-mandated paperwork and, Officer Murphy said, there is very limited time for field work. "Unfortunately, the state is mandating us to do more and more (paperwork) ... and the problem is it takes people off the road," she said. In the past, Murphy said, officers could conduct surprise home visits every afternoon, allowing the department to better observe and interact with clients. Now, she said, officers primarily schedule home visits usually one day a week and they are typically reserved for high-risk offenders. "It's more scheduled visits than it used to be," De Wispelaere said. "For probation to really be meaningful, we need to have that element of surprise or the potential to show up anywhere at anytime." Probation Officer Jay Mastroianni added, "Most of our time is spent behind a computer now doing paperwork, where before it wasn't. ... It's taken away from the flexibility to be in the community as much as we should be. The community wants us out there." Probation priorities When Cayuga County Administrator J. Justin Woods addressed a report on county government efficiency earlier this year, he said he had two priorities: one of them was hiring new probation officers. In March, the Center for Governmental Research compiled a report highlighting areas in which Cayuga County could become more efficient, and Woods said there was a large focus on fixing the probation department. At the time, he said the department had long been understaffed and there was a growing urgency to address the issue. Late last year, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced new legislation to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 16- and 17-year-olds to 18, and De Wispelaere expressed concerns about Cayuga County's ability to comply with the new law. He estimated that Raise the Age could add nearly 100 cases to the probation department's workload. In April, Woods said he'd like the Cayuga County Legislature to hire two new probation officers now with two more slotted down the road. "My recommendation is that because we expect to request two new probation officers to handle the caseload related to Raise the Age, we should look at hiring now to get our new people into the hiring (and) training cue," he said in an email to The Citizen. "The state is just now rolling out information about our local plans and how to submit for reimbursement, and once we have that information, we will present it to the Legislature." De Wispelaere added, "Without help to deal with Raise the Age, our ability to be in the community and be proactive and intervene in our cases and keep that spontaneity and element of surprise is going to continue to get eroded. ... Of all the changes we have seen in the course of our careers, this (Raise the Age) is probably the biggest. It's kind of a neat time to be in the profession, but it's a little scary at the same time. We simply need more support." Love 11 Funny 5 Wow 7 Sad 7 Angry 6 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. Sean Gallup/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) -- President Donald Trump's National Security Adviser John Bolton floated the possibility of reviewing longstanding policy of maintaining security clearances of former government officials. In the wake of Trump's revoking the clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, Bolton told ABC News' This Week Co-Anchor and Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz in an exclusive interview Sunday that he doesn't see "anything wrong" with the possibility of reviewing whether former officials should have access to classified information. I think it's certainly appropriate in a time when we're seeing what I believe are unprecedented leaks of highly classified information to look at the question of how many people have clearances, how many people receive this very sensitive information, both inside the government and in the case of former officials, Bolton said. I don't see that there would be anything wrong if it were determined to go that way to review the policies about former officials having clearances. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders announced the president's decision to end Brennans access to classified information, reading a statement from Trump on Wednesday about "risks" posed by Brennans "erratic conduct and behavior." The president's move drew fire from 15 former top intelligence officials, including some who served under Republican presidents, who signed a letter asserting that Trump was using security clearances "as a political tool." "Decisions on security clearances should be based on national security concerns and not political views, they wrote in defense of Brennan, who headed the CIA under President Barack Obama, and was national counterterrorism director under President George W. Bush. Raddatz on This Week asked Bolton, "Brennan has been a strong critic of the administration. But what does this have to do with protecting classified information?" Bolton said career intelligence officials who come out of the government need to "keep that wall of separation" between intelligence and politics. "And I dont think Brennan has followed that and, you know, whether he actually used classified information, I think people will be able to determine. But I think thats a serious problem." Raddatz asked if there were specific examples of Brennan politicizing classified intelligence in his criticism of Trump. "No," Bolton said. He then added that there "is a line and somebody can cross it." "But let me be clear here," Raddatz said. "Youre not sure whether John Brennan used classified information? You have no specific examples." Bolton said, "I think a number of people have commented that he couldnt be in the position hes in of criticizing President Trump and his so-called collusion with Russia unless he did use classified information. But I dont know the specifics." He also said he believes Brennan politicized his handling of national security issues while he was CIA chief under Obama. "It was my view at the time that he and others in the Obama administration were politicizing intelligence," Bolton said. "I think thats a very dangerous thing to do." Bolton, who served as U.N. ambassador under President George W. Bush, was a Fox News contributor during Brennans tenure as CIA director. He said that, in general, it may be appropriate at times for former government officials to retain their clearances, citing his own time out of government as a member of a board of directors of a company that did classified work for the government. It was felt important that some of the directors be able to access that information, Bolton said. He added that, at other times, he was a civilian and his clearance was dormant. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. State Supreme Court candidate Chris Anglin got a temporary restraining order Monday afternoon in Wake County Superior Court, potentially restoring his Republican Party label for the Nov. 6 general election ballot.Anglin sued earlier that day to block Senate Bill 3 , which became law Saturday, Aug. 4, over Gov. Roy Cooper's veto. It stripped his partisan affiliation from the ballot. Anglin claimed in his lawsuit the Republican-led General Assembly violated rights enshrined in a provision added to the state Constitution in 1776. He said the new law overturns a provision in the state Constitution's "Declaration of Rights" that protects against encroachment by state officials and shifting political majorities. He sought a temporary and permanent injunction.Anglin said in a written release after being notified of the TRO.Holt scheduled a full hearing Monday, Aug. 13.He said removing the party label deprived him of the same rights exercised by his election opponents - GOP incumbent Justice Barbara Jackson and Democratic challenger Anita Earls - and violated the Declaration of Rights' guarantee that elections shall be free from interference or intimidation.Defendants are Senate leader Phil Berger, R-Rockingham; House Speaker Tim Moore, R-Cleveland; the state of North Carolina; the N.C. Bipartisan State Board of Elections and Ethics Enforcement; and Kimberly Strach, the elections board's executive director.Anglin said in a Sunday news release.Anglin said.Republicans contend Anglin is a Democratic operative who switched parties at the 11th hour. His intent was to split the Republican vote between Jackson and him, Republicans claimed. Earls, the only Democrat, would benefit.Berger spokesman Bill D'Elia said in a response to Anglin's lawsuit.Moore spokesman Joseph Kyzer said in a written statement.Kyzer also noted that Anglin's attorney, John Burns, is a Democratic Wake County commissioner.Anglin's suit contends Republicans called a special session two weeks ago to target his candidacy by initially passing S.B. 3. Cooper then vetoed the bill.Anglin said he submitted his paperwork to run on the last day of the filing period properly, but S.B. 3 retroactively changed the law after he filed as a Republican. It bars candidates who switch parties less than 90 days before the filing period. S.B. 3 violates his rights and denies due process, he claimed.Republicans defended the change, saying all other elected offices have 90-day requirements, and that the legislation affects three District Court candidates. Two Democrats switched to Republican, and one Democrat changed to unaffiliated.Anglin noted in his lawsuit voters already had been informed of his candidacy as a Republican.Buncombe and other counties, along with the state elections board, have listed Anglin as Republican on official notices complying with the Federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act. Those notices go to military personnel and other out-of-country U.S. citizens who wish to cast ballots by mail. In North Carolina politics, Democrats dominate urban areas while Republicans win suburban and rural voters. Outcomes are determined largely by which counties have the highest turnout in a given election.If you follow state politics, you've heard some version of this explanation many times. As a sort of shorthand version of political analysis, it provides useful insights. But like all forms of shorthand, it has the potential to be misread or misinterpreted.Imagine you assembled in a hotel ballroom 100 people who cast ballots in 2016. Imagine you asked them to stand on one side of the room if they voted for Hillary Clinton and on the other side of the room if they voted for Donald Trump. Voters who marked their presidential ballots for someone else could stand in the center or in some other corner of the room as desired.If 57 of the 100 people ended up on the Democratic side, 37 people stood on the Republican side, and six stood elsewhere, that would reflect the presidential vote in Wake County, which cast the most votes of any urban North Carolina county in 2016. Hillary Clinton would be the choice of the majority, but it would be exceedingly odd to pretend you didn't see the other 43 people.Flipping the scenario around, if 58 of the 100 people stood on the Trump side of the room, 38 people on the Clinton side, three people held up "Gary Johnson for president" signs, and one person wrote her own name on her sign, that would comport with the 2016 presidential vote in Cabarrus County.Both places have unmistakable partisan leans. And both places contain political diversity. Indeed, counties don't vote - people do. A gubernatorial vote for Roy Cooper in deep-red Randolph County or for Pat McCrory in bright-blue Orange County had just as much weight in 2016 as votes cast according to majority sentiment.As you can see, I just employed some partisan shorthand in the previous paragraph. It has its uses. But if we forget that it's shorthand, that there are lots of Democratic voters in "red" counties and Republican voters in "blue" ones, we run the risk of exaggerating the extent of the partisan divide and oversimplifying conditions that are actually complicated and interesting.For example, what is the "suburban vote"? For his blog OldNorthStatePolitics.com , Catawba College political scientist Michael Bitzer recently took a closer look at North Carolina's current party registrations. Rather than apportioning voters according to just three geographic categories - urban, suburban, and rural counties - Bitzer subdivided the urban counties by more specific locations.In Mecklenburg County, for instance, Bitzer classified registrants within Charlotte itself as "central city" voters. Those residing in other municipalities such as Matthews, Pineville, or Huntersville, or in unincorporated areas, were classified as "suburban area" voters within the urban county. He did the same thing for Guilford voters outside of Greensboro, Forsyth voters outside of Winston-Salem, Buncombe voters outside of Asheville, and so on.Bitzer's analysis revealed that while 48 percent of central-city voters across North Carolina were registered Democrats, vs. 20 percent registered as Republicans, the gap disappeared for urban voters outside the central cities: 33 percent were Democrats and 33 percent were Republicans.Those "suburban area within urban county" voters, in turn, differed from voters just over the line in suburban counties such as Union (next to Mecklenburg) and Johnston (next to Wake). Statewide, the suburban counties had 39 percent Republican registration to 29 percent Democratic. As for rural counties, their average partisan registrations (41 percent Democratic and 30 percent Republican) were close to the statewide totals, which illustrates another important complication: party registration and voting behavior aren't the same things.Millions of right-leaning North Carolinians live in blue or purple places. Millions of left-leaning North Carolinians live in red or violet ones. Even as we use shorthand to describe electoral campaigns and political debates, let's not forget that. Let's not ignore those people standing elsewhere in the room. Real communities aren't politically monochrome. Tom Campbell When the courts rule against laws our legislature has passed, which they often do, it never seems to enter lawmakers' minds that those rulings are because of their own wrongheaded notions. Nope. Republican leadership is convinced those rulings are the result of too many Democratic judges. The solution is to get more Republicans on the bench. But sometimes they outsmart themselves.Let's go back to 2015, when Supreme Court races were nonpartisan and there were four Republicans and three Democrats on our high court. How could Republicans maintain that margin since the only Supreme Court election was that of Republican Bob Edmunds? The legislature concocted a "retention" election, meaning Edmunds would not face direct candidate opposition, merely an up or down vote to retain his seat. That law was challenged and overturned; the state Constitution specifically calls for the election of judges. Caught up in all the resultant publicity and, placed second on the list of candidates, Edmunds lost to Democrat Mike Morgan, swinging the political makeup to 4-3 in favor of Democrats. Oops!In the closing hours of the 2017 legislative session a measure was introduced to redistrict the state's prosecutorial districts; some believed it an effort to reduce minorities and increase Republicans on the bench. In the 2018 short session that redistricting prospect prompted lawmakers to "postpone" judicial primary elections. Additionally, the Assembly restored party affiliation labels to all judicial candidates and jimmied with the order in which they were listed on the ballot. There was a proposal to appoint rather than elect judges, but that concept never got traction. At session's end a proposed constitutional amendment would take away the power of the governor to appoint judges to vacant positions and essentially give it to lawmakers, a measure every living governor has publicly denounced.Talk of dirty tricks filled the air, specifically the suggestion that a party might arrange candidates to file against incumbents from the opposition party in order to split the votes and help elect their party's candidate. The talk became reality when Chris Anglin, previously a Democrat, changed his political affiliation to Republican and filed to run against justice Barbara Jackson for the Supreme Court.This wouldn't have been a problem had Republicans not insisted on attaching party labels to each candidate, then eliminated the judicial primaries. Chris Fitzsimon, on the TV talk show NC SPIN, said Republicans were "hoisted upon their on petards," meaning they got trapped by their own efforts to defeat Democrats. Not to worry. In a special session (overturning Governor Cooper's separation of powers vetoes) they passed legislation that removed the party affiliation designation from any candidate who changed parties within 90 days of filing. This would force Anglin to run without a designation and make Jackson the only Republican running, however Anglin sued and won a verdict that negated the "after the fact" maneuver. He will run as a Republican.Is this deja vu 2016? All this publicity might hurt Jackson as it did Edmunds in 2016. If Democrat Anita Earl wins our Supreme Court could have a 5-2 Democratic split instead of the current 4-3. Look for more shenanigans in the 2019 legislative session.Lawmakers, be careful what you ask for, because you just might get it. Only sometimes your maneuvering backfires. Should Beaufort County's commissioners be resolved to ask the federal government to defend our Southern Border by ending the Biden /Harris Open Border policy in regards to that one border that is intentionally made OPEN? Yes, Illegal Migrants are a huge expense to local governments. No, the cost of Undocumented Immigrants is insignificant in our providing a pathway for the "Browning of America". The September National Geographic cover story follows Katie Stubblefield as she is given the face of 31-year-old donor Adrea Schneider, a woman who died of a cocaine overdose. 21-year-old Katie had been waiting three years for a donor face after a self-inflicted rifle injury and, last year, she became the youngest person ever to get a face transplant. Her procedure took 31 hours to complete and many more operations and months of rehabilitation are still required. After surviving her suicide attempt, Katie Stubblefield hopes to help people who are struggling. For Americans her age, suicide is the second leading cause of death, and the overall rate increased 28 percent from 1999 to 2016. "Whatever is going on in your life, I would say that it's only temporary," Katie says. "And no matter what it is, there's always someone you can talk to." If you think you can stomach the graphic images of the surgery, head over to National Geographic to get the full story. They documented Katie, her family, and her doctors before, during and the year following the surgery: How a Transplanted Face Transformed Katie Stubblefield's Life. Previously: Amazing face transplant gives firefighter new mug (Neatorama), screenshot via Nat Geo - What seems to be the first expropriation case is already proving to cause problems - The owners of Akkerland Boerdery are fighting the land claims on their land - The government offered the owners R20 million, but they want R200 million PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! It seems that Limpopo is the first province to have land expropriation happen. 2 game farms are reportedly targeted for expropriation. It is believed that Akkerland Boerdery, who owns a luxury hunting farm in Makhado, Limpopo, received a letter that informed them that their farms would be inspected. This letter said the inspection would be held in April of this year already, according to a report by News24. The owners of the 2 farms are expected to fight the land claims on their property and they demand R200 million for the land. The government decided to offer the owners R20 million. The Akkerland Boerdery owners got an urgent interdict in the Land Claims Court to prevent being evicted from their land. In 1996, the Musekwa tribe submitted land claim against the Akkerland Boerdery, as reported on by a 2006 Government Gazette. But according to the owners, this claim was never proven. This decision to expropriate comes after the ANC decided to start with test cases to see if land expropriation can be successful. The Ministry of Rural Development and Land Reform is dedicated to set land reform in motion in South Africa. According to Mashile Mokono, head of the land reform office, Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane has signed two other orders for expropriation. READ ALSO: ANC plans to take serious action against its corrupt members Mokono added that courts will provide more information on what would be fair compensation for the landowners. Annelize Crosby, AgriSA's legal adviser, stated that the Akkerland Boerdery case is distinctive because the owners weren't given a chance to content against the claim against their land, which is still what should have happened, legally. Court papers indicate that the government did give the owners of Akkerland Boerdery notice in October 2017 that they plan to expropriate. Do you have news that might interest us? Message us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Enjoy the African Proverbs and Their Meanings video and take a look at what else is new on Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel. Source: Briefly.co.za Beautiful Simz Ngema and her closest friends travelled to Mozambique for a break from the cold winter here in South Africa and it looks like she had a glorious time. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! San Martinho Beach Club in Bilene, Mozambique played host for Simz and her besties as they escaped from the frosty South African weather. Simz looked steaming hot in her bikinis on the beach as she always does. Her fans are happy that she took a little break and time to relax after the year she's had. For Simz, this trip is part of her journey of recovering and picking up the pieces. The South African beauty wants to learn to live again. READ ALSO: 2 game farms in Limpopo could be the first expropriated land Judging by the photos, Simz had fun unwinding and enjoying the Mozambican sun. Do you have a good (or bad) story that needs to be told? Let us know on our Facebook page and we could be telling your story. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Watch the Animated Joke: You Will Not Believe What Happened To This Young Man and take a look at what else is happening on Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel. Source: Briefly.co.za While Sbahle Mpisane was fighting for her life after the horrific car accident she was involved in, an unknown woman stole her weave right off her head. The woman witnessed the accident and instead of helping the injured Sbahle, she snatched off her hairpiece and ran off. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Popular fitness bunnie Sbahle Mpisane has been in the news a lot lately as concerned South Africans are kept updated on her health while she recovers from the accident she had in Durban. Now it has come to light that an unknown woman has stolen her weave rather than trying to help her as she lay unconscious and fighting for her life. This is what Brian Dube told the media, according to a report by IOL News. Brian heard the crash and saved Sbahle's life. He saw the car in flames and grabbed a fire extinguisher and ran to her rescue, as reported on earlier by Briefly.co.za. Brian didn't realise who the woman was that he had saved. He remembers that before he reached the crash site, a woman ran to the scene, grabbed the weave off the injured person's head and took off. Brian, who is also a fitness instructor, did not recognise Sbahle without her weave because he only ever saw her with it on. He said he was in disbelieve that the woman stole the weave and didn't offer help. Two days ago, Briefly.co.za reported that the fitness gurus family will be holding a fitness and prayer session in her honour. She has opened her eyes and is breathing on her own. South Africans are eagerly awaiting good news from her family. For now, her father says she will be remaining in the ICU. She has no idea she is in hospital. She has been in for surgery which was successful and we are hoping for better recovery in due time as she is critically injured. The workout and prayer session is planned for 19 August: Do you have news that might interest us? Message us on our Facebook page and we could feature your story. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Watch the African Proverbs and Their Meanings video and check out what else is going on at Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel. Source: Briefly.co.za A dying dad was determined to accompany his daughter down the aisle on her wedding day and not even cancer or the fact that he was too weak to walk could stop him. PAY ATTENTION: Click See First under the Following tab to see Briefly.co.za News on your News Feed! Charlotte Villarin had a dream wedding - 15 bridesmaids, a beautiful dress and a lovely ceremony. All she needed to make her big day an event she would never forget was her dad at her side as she walked towards her future husband. Sadly, Charlotte's father was dying and very weak on the day of her wedding. But it didn't stop him from being there for her. Charlotte's father lay on a stretcher and was wheeled as he held his daughter's hand on what must have been a bittersweet day for her. The groom, Maku, was tearful as he saw his bride and her father and it was an emotional moment for everyone in the church. Charlotte shared her story on social media, telling about the horrible time her family had as her dad was in and out of hospital. About the wedding, she wrote: This is not your ordinary wedding, not a fairytale and not as happy as it should be. Thank you to all my family and friends who showed love not just to me and to Maku yesterday, but most especially to my PAPU. You made his dream come true. Charlotte's father passed away four days after her wedding but she will always have the beautiful memory of the day he accompanied her down the aisle. READ ALSO: Kofi Annan's family, foundation provide details on his last moments Do you have an inspiring or beautiful story to tell South Africa? Let us know on our Facebook page and we could be telling your story. To stay up to date with the latest news, download our news app on Google Play or iTunes today. Enjoy the TOP-5 Miracles by African Pastors and take a look at what else is happening on Briefly South Africa's YouTube channel. Source: Briefly.co.za News / National by Staff reporter Police "cooked up" documents used to drag MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti from Zambia, where he had sought asylum, a court heard yesterday.This was revealed by Biti's lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa who appeared together with Alec Muchadehama and Harrison Nkomo during the continuation of the former Finance minister's trial.Biti is challenging the court's authority to prosecute him.Mtetwa proved to the court that the investigating officer, Jealous Nyabasa, did not have deportation documentation authorising Biti's extradition fromZambia.She also accused Nyabasa of ignoring a court order showing that the Lusaka High Court was due to hear Biti's asylum petition on August 8.According to Mtetwa, a preamble to the warned and cautioned statement compiled by Nyabasa was dated August 8, to purport as though it had been issued before the Zambian order since Biti only signed it on August 9."Is it correct that the accused person gave you an order from the Zambian court and you kept it? The date on the statement shows that it was recorded on August 8, but Biti was given that same document the following day and I put it to you that you deliberately backdated (it) to look like it was recorded before the Zambian court order had been issued?"Did the accused person not write three pages protesting his arrest and referred to that court order asserting his rights to be taken to the Lusaka court? Why then did you not ask to see the deportation certificate?" queried Mtetwa.Nyabasa said the date was a mistake and told the court that he had not breached any deportation laws because he arrested Biti on Zimbabwean soil.He said Zimbabwean Immigration officials were the ones who handed Biti over to him and said he was not bound by any Zambian law or court order issued beyond Zimbabwe's jurisdiction.He then said he had a handover document which Mtetwa disputed saying it was endorsed as a handover document of "items" not people.The arguments continue on August 20.Biti is arguing that Zimbabwean courts do not have authority to prosecute him arguing that he was "abducted" from the Zambian government where he sought asylum under unconstitutional means.Prosecutor Gerald Uladi said the State had acted legally because there was a warrant of arrest authorising Biti's detention.He said Biti was arrested on Zimbabwean soil by local police officers hence disputing any violations of International Law. News / National by Staff reporter Zambia Social Forum, a movement of civil society organisations, last week petition President Edgar Lungu highlighting the deteriorating human rights situation in Zimbabwe following the disputed July 30 harmonised elections.The civil society organisations, through a statement issued by their national coordinator Gershom Kabaso, say they are concerned with the deployment of the military in the towns such as Harare and Bulawayo."The Zambia Social Forum, a social movement working with civil society organisations, community groupings and individuals, condemns in the strongest terms the reported human rights violations on our sisters and brothers in Zimbabwe in the aftermath of the July 30 harmonised elections."As a movement we are deeply concerned with the use of brute force on unarmed citizens by the military which even lead to the death of some people in Harare. We would like to call upon the leadership in Zimbabwe to respect the citizen's rights and de-militaries the major cities. The military should be confined to the Barracks so that citizens can freely enjoy their freedoms."We call upon President Edgar Lungu as the incoming Southern African Development Community (Sadc) Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation to take a keen interest in the rights violation of citizens in Zimbabwe. We are equally concerned that the Government of President Emerson Mnangagwa is now targeting opposition figures."The stability of Zimbabwe is not only important for the citizens of that country but for the region as a whole. It is in the best interest of Zambia to support peace initiatives in Zimbabwe as the socio-economic effects will also negatively impact all its neighbors."As a social forum we will petition President Lungu and the other Heads of State in the SADC region to ensure that people's rights are respected in Zimbabwe. Never again should SADC and indeed Africa tolerate any form of dictatorship that abuses citizen's human rights," the statements reads.Zambia has come under severe criticism for defying a court order and deporting MDC Alliance principal and newly-elected Member of Parliament (MP) for Harare East, Tendai Biti, back to Zimbabwe. News / National by Staff reporter The election mood in the country seems to be very much still with us despite President Emmerson Mnangagwa's calls for the country to move on.This is in light of MDC Alliance leader, Nelson Chamisa filing a Constitutional Court application, challenging the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (Zec)'s declaration of Mnangagwa as the winner of the July 30 elections.The court challenge has seen Mnangagwa's inauguration, which would have been held on July 12, being put on hold pending the jury's findings.This has heightened expectations especially among citizens who are sympathetic to the opposition, with many of them hoping for Chamisa to be declared winner or, at least, for the results to be nullified to give way for a rerun.Some people who spoke to TellZim News said they were confident that Chamisa will prevail."He has a strong case. There is overwhelming evidence that will make it impossible to dismiss the case without seriously damaging the image of the judiciary," said one opposition sympathiser from Mucheke.Another one said he agreed with Chamisa's claims that he won the presidential election with over 2.6 million votes."I trust his claims that he won the election with over 60 percent of all genuine votes cast. Zec colluded with Zanu-PF to cheat him of his victory and I hope the court will do the right thing without fear or favour," she said.A resident of Rujeko said Chamisa had a solid case against Zec but she did not trust the country's judiciary."This is just waste of time because the court will rule in favour of Zanu-PF. The court is under their implicit control, just like Zec is doing their bidding," she said.When contacted for comment, political analyst Dr Takavafira Zhou, however, expressed confidence in the judges' capacity to deliver a fair ruling."The judges have to make history and that history can only be made by considering the voluminous evidence that was submitted. Unless there is pressure from some individuals, they will be objective because the evidence is very glaring," said Zhou.A team of judges led by Chief Justice Luke Malaba is expected to hear the merits of the case and make a decision in the next fortnight although Mnangagwa's lawyers are fighting for the case to be dismissed on several technical grounds they have raised including that the case was purportedly filed later than the Constitution allows.The court's decision will be final, and in case that no rerun is ordered, the winner will be inaugurated by August 25. News / National by Staff reporter Three Zanu-PF youths accused of violence during primary elections in Mvuma have applied to have their case transferred to the Constitutional Court after accusing the presiding magistrate of threatening to fix them.Dadirai Methie claimed before the court that former Mvuma Resident Magistrate Tayengwa Chibanda approached her outside the courts while she was doing community service for another case and told her that she had not been punished enough.She claimed that Chibanda made the threat while her case of political violence was before him. Methie's lawyer Tinomudaishe Chinyoka of Gunje Legal Practitioners has since applied to have the case transferred from Mvuma to the Constitutional Court where he says that his clients would get fair hearing.The accused are Dadirai Methie, Maidei Dume and Fanuel ThamiThe three went before new Mvuma Resident Magistrate Tafadzwa Mhlanga two weeks ago and applied to have their case moved to Harare. Chibanda had since been transferred to Chinhoyi on promotion.The three pleaded not guilty to assaulting Tremendous Musara who was campaigning for prominent Mvuma businessman Chrispen Thomu in his bid to represent Zanu-PF in primary elections.Chinyoka told the court that sometime in 2017, Magistrate Chibanda approached Methie who was performing community service at the Mvuma Courts and told her that she had not been sufficiently punished.The court heard that Methie was later transferred to Mvuma District Hospital to complete her community service following the incident, hence if found guilty, the incident might influence the trial magistrate on passing the sentence.He further argued that Magistrate Chibanda should have recused himself from the matter because he resided at the same residential address with Musara's friend, Simon Ngundu. He argued that Musara frequently visited his friend, thereby interacting with the trial magistrate.The case against the three is that on April 16, 2018 while campaigning for Prosper Machando who has since been elected MP for Chirumanzi-Zibagwe, they sang and chanted slogans at Spar Complex in Mvuma.They vandalised a motor bike which was under the custody of Musara, the campaign manager of Thomu.The motorbike had its gear box damaged.On the same day, Thami, twisted Musara's hand while trying to get a cell phone which had videos of him chanting slogans at the supermarket. Musara sustained a swollen hand and filed a police report. News / National by Staff reporter Re-elected Buhera South MP Joseph Chinotimba created drama at the Buhera District Heroes' Acre in Murambwi under Chief Nyashanu on Monday when he chased away six war veterans for being sell-outs.The war veterans had to run for dear life after Chinotimba declared that anyone who supported an independent candidate was a sell-out and therefore did not deserve to be present at a function led by Zanu-PF.Ironically Heroes' Day events are for all Zimbabweans regardless of political affiliation.The 'sell-outs' were pursued by the youth. The war veterans were attacked for supporting an independent Ngonidzashe Mudekunye who stood against Chinotimba in the national elections on July 30 2018.Moffart Gondowe is one of the war veterans who ran for dear life."MuZanu-PF hatidi vatengesi nevapanduki even war veterans who go against the party are sell-outs and should be treated as such. People like Gondowe should not be seen on events like these because they support opposition," said Chinotimba.Chinotimba also instructed the youths to attack Chief Chamutsa and they almost took away his chieftainship badge and tried to block him from attending the Heroes' Day celebrations.The function was also marred by low turnout. Opinion / Columnist It is the argument of the present piece that in the history of the world Africans have and still can produce, independent of Europe and America, political and economic ideas that can save the world. For this argument to be justiciable, some backgrounding is due.The philosophical field of idealism feeds on the strong belief that all what we see and experience of the world is appearance and exists in the perception of our senses and not in concrete reality. The idealists are that tribe of philosophers, therefore, that is sceptical of the reality of matter and things; they take seriously the power of illusions that trick our perceptions and senses.The realists are those philosophers that believe that what we see and experience and which our senses perceive is reality and it is therefore true.The appearance of things and their reality, the truth and the falsehood of matter, have occupied the energy of western philosophers for centuries. Many great philosophers spent their entire lives and philosophical missions battling to prove the falsehood or truthfulness of this and that idea.Greater, better and much more relevant philosophers however, have spent their productive years investigating and articulating how certain ideas lead to certain actions and shape the world in what way for better or for worse. Such philosophers have investigated and articulated themselves on power, justice and liberation, and not wasted time on such important but outlandish subjects as the question of whether there is life or not after death.Such philosophers have also been categorised and called existentialists because they invest their philosophical energies and passions in understanding and elaborating on the existence of people, their life conditions and experiences in a changing world.Instead of joining what Linda Martin Alcoff has called "civil wars" of Western philosophy, the existentialists and philosophers of liberation in the Global South have no time for luxuries. Philosophers of liberation battle the problem of slavish and colonial domination that visited peoples of the South.They delve into how racial, gender, class, ethnic and national differences led into dominations and exploitations of one by the other. Such titanic philosophical figures as Aime Cesaire, Jean-Paul Sartre, Frantz Fanon and Cheik Anta Diop were invested in the colonial and racial problem that weighed down on the black people of Africa in their historical contact and relations with whites and the western world.Other philosophers have come up to investigate and articulate on gender and sex oppression and domination, on the rights and justice for people with disabilities, minority rights and social justice for marginalised groups and individuals.Clearly, the vocation of the philosophy of liberation and the mission of the philosophers of liberation are much too weighty for the kind of school boy silliness that most western philosophers have occupied themselves with. In their naivete and playground simplicity that is also accompanied by blinding racism, some western philosophers have gone as far as to argue that there is no philosophy or are there philosophers outside the West.They have ignorantly and mistakenly took western philosophy, which is one philosophy of one province of the world, to be the definition of philosophy itself. This bigotry of Eurocentrism has prevented these provincial philosophers from learning from philosophies and philosophers of Latin America, Asia and Africa that have produced some powerful ideas that can solve the core problems of humanity in the planet.Most problems that African polities and economies face today originate from mistaken and evil ideas from Europe and America that Africans have practised and implemented as unquestionable wisdom. For African politics and economics to find its own feet and achieve prosperity some Euro-American ideas that are in force and in practice in the continent should be decolonised.The Coloniality of Eurocentric Political PhilosophyKarl Marx and Friedrich Engels were right on that the ruling ideas of any day tend to be the ideas of the ruling class. For the reason that the West has dominated the world politically and economically since slavish and colonial conquest, most western ideas have been taken to be the norm in the Global South, even if the ideas are pure wind and canned nonsense.Political and economic weight of the West gives ideological stamina even to the nonsense in western ideas. Neoliberal democracy with its representative parliamentarism has been accepted and practised in Africa as unquestionable wisdom. A close look shows that representative democracy is a myth as elected politicians do not actually get to truly represent the populations that elected them.In reality representation has frequently become misrepresentation and its model of democracy been the cause for conflicts, divisions and wars in Africa. African communalist and consultative politics have, without being engaged, tried and tested, been discarded as primitive and old fashioned.Scholars and politicians, except in Asia, have not courageously experimented with how African consultative political villagism could be translated into parliaments and council chambers. The easy and also lazy path has been to simply imitate and parrot what is done by the conquerors in Europe and America, all to catastrophic ends.Capitalism as an economic system that was conceptualised by such philosophers as John Locke and Adam Smith in different western historical and geographical contexts has, after the end of the Cold War, been accepted as the only economic system that works. Yet capitalism has led to evil inequalities in the world where one percent of the world's population owns property and consumes goods and services for the rest all of humanity. In the world, the same people that hold economic power tend to be the same that monopolise political power.Exemplified in Donald Trump politicians in the New World Order are tycoons that have become richer than their countries and continents, to protect their ill-gotten money they seek political power and to gain and keep political power they also hoard money. In that way the evil politics of greed and inequalities have become the model of politics that have been normalised and naturalised the world over.Western democracy and capitalism have combined to make the whole world a violent and unequal place. African traditional modes of navigating and negotiating power, sharing resources and keeping peace have been rejected for the evil political and economic ideas that the conquerors have taught us.In the Global South, precious farm lands, mineral resources and other God-given means of life are now prevalently owned by local politicians, business tycoons, and multi-national corporations at the dear expense of the poor multitudes. These evil inequalities lead to political unrest and civil wars in the Global South which western politicians and political scientists blame on lack of democracy and poor implementation of capitalism.In actuality western democracy and capitalism, with their monopolisation of political power and money in the hands of a few politicians and business tycoons, are the cause of poverty and war in the South. In that way, western democracy and capitalism represent the coloniality of power, knowledge and being in the Global South. The world over capitalism and democracy are now enforced using the military might of NATO and financial muscle of the USA and allies.Huge donor money is spent in the world media and academy to sponsor thinkers and their ideas that advance capitalism and democracy as holy ideas.The two ideas and systems are presented with so much physical and persuasive force such that to challenge them is made to sound like true insanity and idealism. Whenever democracy and capitalism fail in any country the country is blamed for failing to implement them and the ideas are not critiqued or problematised as bad ideas.Is another World Possible?Ideas begin as perceptions that are constructed by human senses. Perceptions can circulate for some time as simple opinions.From perceptions they grow into concepts which are ideas that can be tried and tested, can fail or succeed. Once concepts become practicable, they have been tried but have still not confirmed they are called theories that continue to be tried and tested.When theories have been tried and tested and have achieved some power as usable models of practicing economics or politics they become what the philosophers call paradigms.Paradigms have forceful currency and purchase in the marketplace of ideas. Capitalism and western democracy are powerful paradigms that have been so marketed with much military might and propaganda in the media and the world academy that they have become commonsensical, convincing and compelling at the same time.Western democracy is however, not the only form of democracy in the world, that is the rule of the people by the people is not a uniquely western idea; there are many other democracies in ancient Africa, Asia and Latin America. Capitalism is not the only economic system under the sun but there are many economic models that have not been given a chance to grow into world economic paradigms.African political and economic ideas, because they are not given much support and epistemic privilege, most of them die as opinions and theories.African political and economic philosophies by Africans are not received with much currency and purchase in Africa because intellectuals and politicians are mainly colonial subjects that lack confidence in themselves and in Africa. Some Asian countries, however, have given so much import to their languages, cultures and ideas to the extent that their ideas have grown from perceptions to serious political and economic paradigms.China, for instance, has managed to domesticate capitalism and give it a strong neo-Confucian face and actuality. In Africa Rwanda has managed to employ some local Gicaca principles of reconciliation and healing to overcome the bitter legacy of a biblical genocide and cultivate economic development and prosperity that have become, not perfect, but still a wonder of the whole world. Philosophers of liberation frequently speak of a world in which other worlds are possible.The western world is not the only world and western political and economic paradigms are not the only ones under the sun. Africa and the Global South are able to produce and present powerful political and economic paradigms that can save humanity from the evil political and economic tyranny of the Euro-American Empire.For the avoidance of intellectual fundamentalism, it is important to note that there are a great many western philosophers in the past and in the present that have questioned Eurocentrism and projected decoloniality in its philosophy of liberation expression. In 1754 Jean-Jacques Rousseau condemned the origins of inequality in the West as evil and recommended the idea of the social contract as a rule of sharing power, resources and responsibility within and among nations.A just exchange of political ideas between African and Western philosophers can produce economic and political philosophies that can rescue the planet and humanity from the present economic and political nihilism that has turned the whole world into a crime scene and made the whole of humanity evidence of the power of evil and victory of the Devil on earth.Through the decolonial concepts of pluriversity and transmodernity the philosophy of liberation encourages the decolonisation of political philosophy in the Global South through a just exchange of ideas that respects the thinking of the people of the South and their experiences of Euro-American modernity thus far.-----Cetshwayo Zindabazezwe Mabhena is a founding member of Africa Decolonial Research Network (ADERN). He writes from Sunnyside, Pretoria in South Africa: decoloniality2016@gmail.com. Opinion / Columnist A number of Zimbabweans in London with HIV have died after they stopped taking lifesaving drugs on the advice of their Evangelical Christian pastors. Pastors have taken advantage of the respect they get from the church members and have started abusing their faith by claiming to be able to heal AIDS. It sounds like a very old story but it is very painful.Cecilia Marange died of HIV after a pastor in her evangelical Pentecostal church told her that she has been healed of the entire HIV virus. She was asked to bring all her medication and bin it in front of the shocked congregants as a show of faith. The evil pastors have the verses to support their blood spitting venomous mouths. The churches compete to be recognised and they take it a step further and claim to have powers to heal people with HIV.Angela Matapi not her real name passed on after the Well-known Zimbabwean pastor in the UK claimed that she has been healed and she can dump her medication. What makes things so sad is the fact that Angie was a nurse by profession. The pastor made sure he took all her earnings and savings before abandoning her in her last few days.One wonders why people are so gullible. They are in the medical field and yet they are fooled by a grade one drop out who claims to have holy fire. Why is God silent while his people are killed." asked Shanduka with pain in his eyes.Many Zimbabweans have died after attending churches in London where they were encouraged to stop taking the antiretroviral drugs in the belief that God would heal them, their friends and a leading HIV doctor said. Responding to the BBC London investigation, Lord Fowler, the former health minister responsible for the famous Aids awareness campaign of the 1980s, condemned the practice. "It's just wrong, bad advice that should be confronted," said the Tory peer, who chaired .2011 House of Lords committee into HIV.Elias Masakadza, 48, from Newham, east London, described one case, saying: "I know of a friend who had been to a pastor. She told her to stop taking her medication - that God is a healer and has healed her.""This lady believed it. She stopped taking her medication. She passed away," said Masakadza who has HIV himself.BBC London spoke to a second woman from east London who told of a friend who died after taking advice from her pastor who told her to stop taking her antiretroviral drugs.Meanwhile, the director of a leading HIV research centre in east London said she had dealt with a separate case in which a person with HIV died as a result of advice from a pastor."I've only seen that once, but it has happened," said Prof Jane Anderson, director of the Centre for the Study of Sexual Health and HIV, in Hackney."We see patients quite often who will come having expressed the belief that if they pray frequently enough, their HIV will somehow be cured," she added."We have seen people who choose not to take the tablets at all so sometimes die." Lord Fowler condemned pastors giving this advice, saying: "It's dangerous to the public and dangerous in terms of public health.""It's irresponsible," he said, suggesting pastors should instead "come off the air on it, look at things much more seriously, and not give this completely wrong advice to the public".HIV prevention charity African Health Policy Network (AHPN) says a growing number of London churches have been telling people the power of prayer will "cure" their infections."This is happening through a number of churches. We're hearing about more cases of this," AHPN chief Francis Kaikumba said. The saddest thing is that Zimbabweans so believe, they believe anything with a mike and a bible. They are so scared of challenging a pastor. Many people in the UK who are known of buying cars for their pastors and buy houses and even discard their relatives because of their churches are Zimbabweans who have become Pentecostal. The most difficult person to convince is a Zimbabwean who is a believer of a man of God. they do not mind about God, but they so much love the man of God.When approached by BBC London, leaders of the church described themselves as Evangelical Christian pastors.The church's website, which was set up in Lagos, Nigeria, shows photos of people the church claims have been "cured" of HIV through prayer. Their Pastor is a Nigerian money spinner called Pastor Chris. But his victims are Zimbabweans who are very ready to believe and trust any spiritual proclamation.The level of buffoonery is shocking.Some people who are fooled into believing these healing powers are medical doctors and nurses. Some educated people find themselves being stripped off their hard earned coins by this unscrupulous man of the cloth.In one example, TB Joshua church's website claims: "Mrs Badmus proudly displays her two different medical records confirming she is 100% free from HIV-Aids following the prayer of Pastor T B Joshua." in the same website several Zimbabweans come out claiming healing. few months after the claim their health takes a nose dive."Because these pastors have realised that Zimbabweans believe that anything written is true they have put HIV-Aids healing" on the church's website among "miracles" it says it can perform. "Cancer healing" and "baby miracles" are also advertised. A person with all senses believes such nonsense.Most Zimbabwean churches in the UK promote a monthly "prayer line" for which it says: "If you are having a medical condition, it is important you bring a medical report for record and testimony purposes." They form WhatsApp groups claiming cancer healing and HIV reversal. One wonders why those who look clever are stupid.My heart bleeds; I lost a very beloved friend and niece last month after she was fooled by the devil claiming to be a pastor to abandon her medication. It took her just few days to meet her grave. It is still a pain and a painful pain. The grief does not end.The idiotic pastors will say we pray for free but just a bring a gift as big as your blessing. Can you imagine a gift being brought by the one who believes that he has been healed of aids?A friend of mine is inconsolable after he learnt that his sister died after she spent all her money on badges and anointed waters. The magic water was supposed to heal aids."All the money we sent him would be spent on buying anointed water or booking prayer rooms where this pastor would go and 'pray' for him."You have been cured," our relative was told sadly, she died of. HIV last month. it sounds like fiction but yes people are dying and nothing is being done" lamented Matimba Jabius.These Zimbabwean pastors prey on vulnerable people. They used prayer as a preying tool.Our hearts are still heavy; those who listened to these false healing prophets are now in the cold soil. Their spirit went out, their families left in tears. Yet the prophet, pastor Bishop is moving on to the next Zimbabwean believer.God have mercyvazet2000@yahoo.co.uk Opinion / Columnist Don Chigumba is a mixed methods research specialist can be found on twitter @Donchigumba There is no doubt that Judge Chigumba has lost both legal, moral and witchcraft authority to lead ZEC and Zimbabwe elections in future. Judge Chigumba is the first ever elections chairperson on earth and in heaven to host presidential elections on 'Zimbabwe Stock Exchange'. According to the latest results Nelson Chamisa's performance has been positive and promising while ED's has been on red. This piece therefore seeks to support the view that Justice Chigumba should not only relinquish her duties as a ZEC chairperson but also her title of a judge.In 1996, the then minister of education, sport and culture Edmund Garwe relinquished his position as a minister after leaking the Zimbabwe Junior Certificate exams to his beloved daughter. Garwe later committed suicide the following year because of the alleged stress imposed by humiliation. I am very happy that Garwe did the best thing by accepting to resign.I won't be surprised if Justice Chigumba is to follow the footsteps of Edmund Garwe because she has tarnished the image of Zimbabwe on earth and in heaven. Right now, no one knows the actual presidential results i.e. the ones announce on television or the ones on ZEC website/CD (published in Herald) or the recently deflated and inflated ones. I do not know how the ZEC and ZANU PF teams are going to argue on this in court? If the court is going to avoid this misnomer, then allegations that the Zimbabwe's judiciary is not independent will be confirmed.There is no law that gives Judge Chigumba and team mandate to deflate and inflate the announced results according to the law without the approval of the party agents (who were involved) and the constitutional court. Komichi told the entire world that the presidential results were nor verified but ZANU PF government decided to arrest him. Why should we trust results when those announced on Television and the ZEC's CDs are different? This kind of evidence and behavior of ZEC in enough to nullify the announced presidential results. The Zimbabwean Constitutional Court Judges are now under the spotlight. Just watch the space.There is no doubt that Judge Chigumba has just joined the league of Charles D.B. King who broke the rigging record in the presidential elections of Liberia of 1927. Out of a total number of registered voters of 15,000 King of True Whig Party got 243,000 votes while his close contestant Thomas J. Faukner of People's Party got 9,000 votes to make it 10+4=40. The voter turnout recorded was 1,680% he broke the earthly and heavenly record. However, Judge Chigumba has just broken a new record of its own kind by posting the presidential results on 'Zimbabwe Stock Exchange' and they are still fluctuating since the day they were announced.Zimbabwe has just lost an opportunity of reengagement with the international community because of the way Judge Chigumba handled the 2018 elections. United States of America has just signed ZIDERA into law because of Judge Chigumba and Chiwenga. I want serious Zimbabweans to blame the two for ZIDERA because America signed it into law after observing the way Judge Chigumba mishandled 2018 elections. The ZANU PF government unleashed the army to kill 6 if not 10 innocent civilians and injured more than 4 crates.America is already convinced that Zimbabwe is now under military rule. I therefore want Judge Chigumba to accept her potion of blood from the 6 innocent civilians murdered by the army just soon after elections.ConclusionThe 2018 elections were supposed to be the benchmark of Zimbabwe's reengagement with the international community but because of Judge Chigumba, nothing is likely to change. The conduct of Judge Chigumba of inflating and deflating presidential results (at night) in ZANU headquarters should be condemned by the living and dead spirits in Zimbabwe. There is no doubt that ZIDERA was signed into law because of Judge Chigumba's mishandling of elections and the killing of 6 innocent civilians.I am now calling upon Judge Chigumba to resign from her positions as a ZEC's chairperson and a high court judge. If ZANU PF government managed to sent Levi Nyagura on suspension, they should also remove the title of a judge bestowed on Judge Chigumba.There is no difference between Judge Chigumba and Edmund Garwe, Charles King and Morrison Nyathi who sold out at Chimoio and Nyadzonya. If the genuine PhD of Doctor Amai is to be removed, I will also urge the responsible institutions to consider recalling the law degree certificates of Judge Chigumba. She has betrayed the future of the generations, she provoked the deaths of 6 innocent civilians, she forced America to sign ZIDERA into law. Opinion / Columnist Tendai Ruben Mbofana is a social justice activist, writer, author, and speaker. He is the Programmes Director with the Zimbabwe Network for Social Justice (ZimJustice). Please feel free to contact him - (calls ONLY): +263782283975, or email: zimjustice@gmail.com. Please also 'Like' the 'ZimJustice' page on Facebook. As Zimbabwe lays to rest another ZANU PF - declared national hero, the late Thokozile Angela Mathuthu, one can not help but be bewildered as to why this regime pays more respect to human heroes more than it does Jehovah God.As much as we truly respect and honour these gallant men and women who fought and lost so much in order for this country to be free from colonial rule, we need to always acknowledge that there is a greater power who has sovereign reign over this great nation.I personally also have my own heroes in my life, such as my mother who carried me for nine months in her womb and sacrificed so much in raising me, as well as my father who played a pivotal role in moulding me into the man I am today, and then my wife who is my best friend and the pillar of my life.However, no matter how much I love, respect and honour these very important people in my life, there is someone else I regard even more highly, and has sovereign rule over all aspects of my life - Jehovah God, through His Son Christ Jesus.In all things that I do, think or say, God has be at the forefront, and my works should show His unparalleled glory and greatness at all times.Without Jehovah, even all these people in my life that I so dearly love, respect and honour would mean nothing.The same principle should apply to any nation, especially our very own Zimbabwe.Any right thinking person would greatly appreciate the work and sacrifice our gallant heroes put into the attainment of this country's independence, and what ever role they played in its development.Of course, the officially declared heroes are just but a small portion of this country's heroes, as most of them have been deliberately wiped out of the nation's history - especially the bulk of ZAPU and ZIPRA forces, whose role has been gravely belittled, as well as mostly rural folk who bore the brunt of the liberation struggle, even more than the combatants - since the whole selection process is partisan and clearly biased.Additionally, those who have contributed significantly to a post-independence Zimbabwe's development, such as Jairos Jiri - whose work with the disabled is unsurpassed - and Solomon Mutsvairo - who penned the words for our national anthem - and many others, were conveniently ignored.Nonetheless, no matter what feat any human being has achieved, the greatest honour, respect and worship should be accorded to the Almighty Jehovah God, who is the true author and finisher of anyone's, or any country's, destiny - for no one can achieve anything noteworthy without His blessings and anointing.As such, what type of a nation would want to move forward and be prosperous - in peace and unity, where there is justice and genuine equality - without giving the Alpha and Omega, the author and finisher of our race in life - Jehovah God, through His Son Christ Jesus - the highest honour in the land?As we witness in Zimbabwe, there is no genuine recognition of Jehovah's supremacy over all things in this country.In fact, despite a half-hearted mentioning of a nameless 'Almighty God' buried somewhere towards the end - in the 10th and 12th paragraphs - of the Preamble of our country's constitution, there is hardly any reference to God in the Founding values and principles (Section 3).However, liberation struggle heroes and heroines are honoured at the very top of both the Preamble and the Founding values and principles.In fact, the call for the nation to respect veterans of the liberation struggle is mentioned several times in the constitution.As the regime seeks to deminish the role and place of Jehovah God in our nation, one wonders just how serious we are in wanting Zimbabwe to move on the right path - or will we forever move blindly into peril after peril?What is more bewildering is that these so-called men and women of God - prophets, apostles, pastors and priests - seem to see nothing wrong with this anomaly - as they would rather endorse those in power, as they dine and wine with them, without expressing any reservations on the status quo.Maybe, it should not be that shocking after all, as these charlatans are merely self-appointed men and women of God, who have no desire at all of truly serving Jehovah, but are there to enrich themselves by stealing from the already suffering people of Zimbabwe, and also endearing themselves with those in power so as to receive favours.As much as we do have globally recognised holidays Christmas and Easter - themselves rituals of pagan origin, which were merely sanitized to make them appear Christian - Zimbabwe needs a regime that seriously honours Jehovah God by having our own national days set aside specifically to honour and worship Him as a nation.If president Emmerson Dambudzo Mnangagwa truly wants to portray himself as God sent, then he needs to show it - as, Jehovah does not anoint anyone for their own personal glory, but everything that leader does should be for the glory of God.Leading a nation towards God is more than just inviting a pastor or priest to give a Bible reading and prayer at some state function!Just as in biblical times, kings appointed by Jehovah had to lead their entire nation towards God - and that involved activities, laws, rituals, and others that were meant to glorify God, and God only - not for a leader or a political party.Similarly, we need to see a truly God-anointed leader in Zimbabwe who actively leads the people into fearlessly and boldly worshipping and honouring Jehovah in its national agenda and programs.Why are so-called Christians so weak and cowardly in proclaiming that Jehovah is God, and leading nations towards Him?Moslems worship their Allah far much more genuinely and zealously than us Christians, as they even declare their countries to be 'Islamic republics' whose every aspect is based on the Koran.If we do not want Jehovah God to be the sovereign leader over our nation, then let us be open and honest, and cease being hypocritical by always hiding behind, and abusing, His name for political expediency.Without making a deliberate decision for the nation to be truly led by Jehovah, we would all be wasting our time with all sorts of prayers that we may make for Zimbabwe.Jehovah needs to at the centre of our nation, or else the problems we are facing today will never end.Without a truly God anoited leader - who leads the whole nation towards Him - injustice and suffering will always be the order of the day - as a nation not led by Jehovah is led by someone else - Satan the Devil - who is there to steal, kill and destroy. By Noel Randewich SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A steep downturn in heavyweight Chinese internet stocks and recent weakness in half of the so-called FANG group have some investors worried that a key component of Wall Street's near-decade long rally may be low on fuel. Outstanding gains in Facebook , Amazon , Netflix and Alphabet have underpinned much of the U.S. stock market's rally in recent years, along with the broader tech sector, but the group is widely viewed as overbought and valuations remain expensive. Backed up by strong earnings growth and investor confidence in Silicon Valley's innovation track record, the S&P 500 technology index <.SPLRCT> is up 16 percent in 2018, making tech Wall Street's top performer. But a recent slump in China's own superstar technology stocks, brought into sharper focus after Tencent Holdings <0700.HK> reported its first profit drop in almost 13 years on Wednesday, has increased worries about Wall Street dependence on a handful top-shelf growth companies. Shares of Tencent, China's largest social media and gaming company, have fallen over 6 percent in the past two days and are down by nearly a third from their record high close in January. "Tencent is a good proxy for global growth and risk. Nowadays, with everything being so momentum driven in the market, if one thing goes, everything can go," said Wedbush Securities senior trader Joel Kulina. Also unnerving tech investors: Netflix and Facebook, which along with Amazon and Google-parent Alphabet make up the FANG stocks, have fallen sharply since their June-quarter reports. With Netflix down 22 percent from its record high close in early July, and Facebook down 19 percent since July 25 due to fallout from privacy scandals, some investors are questioning whether "FANG" may be turning into "AG". Even with those worries, investors continue to make the group a centerpiece of their portfolios. Story continues The FANGs. (Photo: Reuters) Amazon has surged over 60 percent in 2018 and on Tuesday closed at a record high. Alphabet is up 17 percent year to date. "FANG will continue to play a huge role over the next two to three years," said Jake Dollarhide, chief executive officer of Longbow Asset Management in Tulsa, Oklahoma. "They're expensive, but you have to hold your nose and buy them." The S&P 500 in recent days has struggled just short of its January record high and is up 6 percent year to date. Even after recovering from a steep sell-off in February, the S&P 500 is trading at a relatively inexpensive 16.5 times expected earnings, compared to 18.6 times earnings in January, according to Thomson Reuters data. The S&P 500 technology index is trading at 18.7 times earnings, compared to its high-point of 19.6 in late January. The FANG stocks, plus Apple and Chinese stocks Baidu, Alibaba and Tencent, in August were the most crowded trade on Wall Street for the seventh straight month, according to survey of fund managers by Bank of America. In crowded trades, most investors share the same opinion, increasing the potential for a volatile sell-off if sentiment changes. Shares of U.S.-listed Chinese technology companies in recent years have been caught up Wall Street's tech rally, but changes in their prices can also reflect the outlook for China's economy and government regulation. With China investors also worried about potential fallout from a trade war between Beijing and Washington, Chinese internet heavyweights Baidu and Alibaba have fallen 11 percent and 7 percent since the end of June, respectively. U.S.-listed shares of Baidu and Alibaba both rose more than 1 percent on Thursday following selling earlier in the week. Facing losses on China tech trades, global investment funds that own those stocks may be tempted to sell some of their U.S. tech stocks to lock in profits. "Over time, the breadth of the market tends to narrow, you have smaller leadership groups and once they begin to roll over, which perhaps Tencent is telling us is about to happen, then the broader markets have more of a reason to sell off," said Peter Cecchini, managing director and chief market strategist at Cantor Fitzgerald in New York. Amazon recently traded at 87 times expected earnings, its lowest in over a year. But many investors focus on the Internet retailer and cloud infrastructure company's explosive revenue growth. By that measure, Amazon appears expensive, at 3.5 times expected revenue, its highest level ever, according to Thomson Reuters data. (Reporting by Noel Randewich, additional reporting by Sruthi Shankar in Bangalore; Editing by Alden Bentley and Nick Zieminski) A few decades ago, there was hype around hydrogen because of how one day it may replace gasoline and diesel as the fuel most use to fill up their tanks. And while the use of hydrogen is still in its infancy, it's growing in Canada. The potential is significant for how the most abundant element in the universe could change the country's transportation, electricity and energy sectors. The interest in hydrogen vehicles is largely because they are considered emission-free, with only water vapour coming out of the tailpipe. Toyota began investing in hydrogen back in the 1990s, and in 2014, unveiled its first fuel cell vehicle: the Mirai. The Quebec government will have 50 of those cars by the end of this year. Hyundai, meanwhile, will start selling its fuel cell SUV, the Nexo, in 2019. In Canada, the vehicles face the same obstacle confronting electric cars the need to build refuelling stations. That's why automotive experts say conventional gasoline-fuelled vehicles will dominate the Trans-Canada Highway for years to come. The first such retail hydrogen-fuelling station opened in June in Vancouver, but many more are needed to allow for normal commuting, let alone a summer road trip. Under the hood of one of these hydrogen vehicles, electricity is produced from the chemical reaction when hydrogen combines with oxygen. The electricity powers the engine and the only tailpipe emissions are water vapour. Hydrogen heating For years, hydrogen fuel cells were hailed by scientists as a breakthrough technology to cut traffic pollution. Those same environmental benefits are why companies in other industries are also investing in hydrogen. Calgary-based companies ATCO and Enbridge are both spearheading separate projects aimed at using hydrogen to store electricity. ATCO is building a new facility in Australia that produces electricity with solar panels and any excess energy is stored. "What it really does is it enables us to provide backup for our renewable business operations when you see the clouds or it's not windy," said Patrick Creaghan, head of ATCO's operations in Australia. "You're not seeing blackouts or brownouts." Story continues The solar electricity powers several buildings and charges a battery backup. The remaining electricity is used to separate water into hydrogen and oxygen through an electrolyser. The oxygen goes into the air, while the hydrogen is stored as electricity backup and also pumped into the company's natural gas distribution system for home heating or electricity production, among other uses. Just like in Alberta, ATCO has a large network of pipes in western Australia to supply natural gas to communities. "I do look at the gas distribution network as equivalent to a battery, but a battery that is already connected to every house," Creaghan said. The project is still in the early stages and the technology is still a few years away from being commercialized, according to the company. Hydrogen is already starting to be mixed with natural gas for home heating in the United Kingdom. If the whole of the U.K. uses blended hydrogen and natural gas, it's estimated it could save six million tons of carbon emissions every year, the equivalent of removing 2.5 million cars from the roads. The big disrupter One of the drawbacks of producing hydrogen is that whenever you convert one form of energy into another, some energy is lost. "It still remains to be seen whether the cost and efficiencies of producing hydrogen can be brought down to be viable on a commercial scale," said Nick Martin, a Toronto-based policy analyst with Canada West Foundation. "There's a lot of challenges out there in figuring out how can we use energy in a less environmentally impactful way. It's a big challenge, and hydrogen is one way to do that." Last month, Enbridge began operating what the company calls the first major energy storage facility using hydrogen in North America. The facility in Markham, Ont., is a partnership with Hydrogenics. The power-to-gas facility was chosen by the Independent Electricity System Operator of Ontario since the facility can produce hydrogen when there is excess electricity production on the grid. That hydrogen can then be used to produce electricity when it's needed or be used for other purposes, such as fuel for hydrogen vehicles or building heating. Some provinces, like Alberta, are investing in large renewable energy projects, while also searching for ways to overcome the sporadic production of solar fields and wind farms. As it stands, traditional power plants are needed to make sure the electrical grid is reliable. Developing large utility-scale batteries could be one answer to the problem, while hydrogen may be another. "I think it's part of this broader energy transition going on everywhere, and it's a combination of climate-driven policy pushing us toward cleaner options and costs technology driving costs down," said Blake Shaffer, a Calgary-based economist and post-doctoral scholar studying climate policy and electricity markets at Stanford University. "We're getting this sort of disruption in what was really a pretty stable, monotonous electricity system for a long time. We're getting this disruption of cheap, intermittent renewables, so we're having to turn on our head the way we think about managing our system." Renewables have already started turning the electricity system upside down in North America. Resolving the reliability issue would overcome an important obstacle for further development, Shaffer said. Angel's Cafe is a Calgary pathway institution, and this fall it will be moving to a new and improved home, just metres from where it's stood for the past 21 years. But for owner Cathy Jacobs, the small move has been host to some big problems. Jacobs was told by the City of Calgary in 2015 that the Montgomery cafe had to relocate because the building was too close to a power pole. The old building couldn't be moved, so she invested $350,000 to build a new, modular structure that would be placed just nine-metres away from the existing cafe, which is near the pedestrian bridge that connects to Edworthy Park. 'We lost it all' It was nearly finished when the builder backed out, the landlord won the rights to it, and Jacobs lost everything. "We lost it all. In January I walked away with my head between my knees. It was just a horrifying experience. We guaranteed our whole life against this project," she said. "We didn't have recourse. To say I was on the brink of suicide would not be a stretch. I had risked our whole family's life, our family home, every asset we own as a family, my business of 21 years, everything." To say Angel's Cafe means everything to Jacobs is no exaggeration. When she founded the business, she had gotten out of a women's shelter three years earlier. "This was the do-over. I met my husband here, we married right here on the bridge," she said, gesturing to Harry Boothman Bridge, which crosses the Bow River right next to where the cappuccino and ice cream shop stands. "I don't even know how to be without this place, and that's not an understatement." Jacobs thought the building was gone for good, but learned seven months later that it hadn't yet gone to auction. On Monday, she came to an agreement to buy it back, sinking another $70,000 into the cafe and she said it will likely require another $150,000 before the project is complete. Story continues But, she's had some help. The roof for the new building was donated, and she said the rest of her team is going to do whatever it takes to get the new cafe built. "We've never been a big moneymaker. Because money is not the reason we do what we do. It's taking care of people that's our main goal," she said. The new, 1,600-square-foot cafe will be filled with custom-built furniture that's sitting in storage ready to go. She said she hopes it will be ready for city inspectors by Nov. 1, and the old building will stay in operation until the new one opens. While the whole process has been a headache, Jacobs said as a family business owner, it's been a good lesson to pass on to her kids and grandkids. "I've been knocked down more times in my life and I've gotten up every single time," she said. "Life is hard. That's a fact. But it's not so hard that you can't find a way to get yourself back up on your feet, even if it means grabbing the hands of people beside you to get back up." - MORE CALGARY NEWS | Calgary man pleads guilty, admits to dropping murder victim's phone in acid - MORE CALGARY NEWS | Ian Tyson cancels appearance due to 'unexpected and serious medical situation' - 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 . With files from Terri Trembath FILE - In this March 29, 2017 file photo, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C. speaks to reporters about his panel's investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election, on Capitol Hill in Washington. In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, the North Carolina Republican opened up about the investigation that has now consumed 19 months of his life. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) WASHINGTON (AP) For much of the last two years, Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Richard Burr has been the Russia investigator who is seen but rarely heard on Capitol Hill. In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press, the North Carolina Republican opened up about the investigation that has now consumed 19 months of his life. He says it has been "frustrating as hell" and much more difficult than he originally envisioned. But he says the integrity of the investigation and its importance to the institution of the Senate is something he has labored to protect. "Nothing in this town stays classified or secret forever," Burr said. "And at some point somebody's going to go back and do a review. And I'd love not to be the one that chaired the committee when somebody says, 'well, boy, you missed this.' So we've tried to be pretty thorough in how we've done it." Burr said there is "no factual evidence today that we've received" on collusion or conspiracy between Russia and President Donald Trump's campaign. But he said he's still open on the issue and hasn't personally come to any final conclusions, since the investigation isn't finished. The Senate investigation is the last bipartisan congressional probe of Russia's interference in the 2016 election and connections to Trump's campaign. Working with the panel's top Democrat, Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, Burr has so far managed to keep the investigation free from the extraordinary acrimony that has plagued work on the House side of the Capitol. The House Intelligence Committee bitterly fought through its entire Russia investigation, which ended earlier this year despite the objections of Democrats. "From an institution standpoint I want the American people to understand that the Senate can function, even on the most serious things," Burr said. Normally a self-described creature of habit, Burr says his schedule has been upended. He says he has had "no life" since January 2017, when Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell asked him to start the investigation, and as the panel has chased leads and leads that came from those leads in the United States and abroad. He says the international aspect of the probe, the sheer number of players connected to one another and the many lawyers that they have to deal with have made the work more challenging than originally expected. Story continues Still, he says he doesn't think the committee should rush to wrap up the work, saying "the worst thing we can do is to prematurely try to end" the probe. He says the panel still has a handful of people to interview behind closed doors and some who they may want to interview again, though he isn't making any commitments on bringing witnesses forward publicly. "If the intent is to have a show trial, I'm not a participant," Burr says on public hearings. He says "I don't see a reason today" to bring back Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, who participated in a meeting with a Russian lawyer at Trump Tower during the election. That meeting has been a focus of the committee probe and special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Trump Jr. spoke to committee staff at the end of 2017. The committee is also still talking to lawyers for former British spy Christopher Steele, who compiled a dossier containing allegations of ties between Trump, his associates and Russia during the election, and lawyers for WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange in hopes of gaining closed-door interviews, Burr said. WikiLeaks released hacked emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign in 2016. Burr won't give a timeline for the end of the investigation or a final report, which could create fissures in the panel's so-far bipartisan unity. Many Democrats are likely to disagree that there is no evidence of collusion, if that is the committee's final conclusion. "I am sure there will be people at the end of this who feel that we came to a conclusion that they vehemently disagree with," Burr said. "I know that from a committee's integrity standpoint we've got to prove what we find. And if you can't prove it then we can't make the claim." By putting off the final report, Burr and Warner have so far been able to maintain the bipartisan tenor. "I have confidence in Richard Burr that we together, with the members of our committee, are going to get to the bottom of this," Warner said last year. "And if you get nothing else from today, take that statement to the bank." Unlike many of his Intelligence Committee colleagues, Burr has eschewed cable television appearances and refrained from visiting the White House and interacting with Trump. Republican Sen. Jim Lankford of Oklahoma, who sits on the intelligence panel and is close to Burr, says Burr started every meeting at the beginning of the probe by asking senators not to talk to the media "until we get additional facts and we put things out together." Lankford says it's possible the final report will split the committee. "The hardest part is when staff starts going through all of the details and writes the last report," Lankford says. "And then we start having people say, I won't say that. That's the threat." For now, Burr says, the committee is preparing to put out two reports by the end of September: one on the Obama administration's response to Russia's election interference, and a second on Russia's election meddling on social media. The committee is also expected to hold a hearing with Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey in the first week of September. Burr says the investigation has yielded information outside the boundaries of the probe that the committee will likely look into for years to come, including the social media manipulation. "I don't think any of us when we started understood just how coordinated the disinformation and societal chaos campaign was. I think what probably will be shocking is how early it started much earlier than the parameters that people have put on the 2016 election," Burr says, teasing information that will come out in one of the future reports. He wouldn't give any additional details. The Grand Marshal of the 2018 Kelowna Pride March is proud to lead the parade, but more important, he's just proud he can be himself. Anas Qartoumeh is a gay Syrian refugee who fled his country in 2015 to escape the civil war, which has killed hundreds of thousands and displaced millions. Qartoumeh also wanted to flee Syria's ultra-conservative culture, which forced him to keep his homosexuality a secret. He now lives in Kelowna and for the first time, he told Daybreak South host Chris Walker, "I am me now." "It's a very different feeling. It took a long time for me to be out, gay," Qartoumeh, 34, said. "This is the word that has given me the most shame in the Middle East and now I have made it my identifier in Canada. "It means a lot to me." Secret life Qartoumeh described his life in Damascus, Syria's capital, as one of secrecy. He said he pretended to be straight both because of rampant homophobia in that country and also the threat of being jailed. "[It's a] very conservative culture," he said. "They would never accept these things." He said the only people he could confide in were Western visitors or women friends who he said also felt like second-class citizens there. His father, he said, knew for a long time that he was gay because of his mannerisms as a young child. He did tell his mother, who died in 2014, and while she was supportive, she was overwhelmed and wanted his identity kept a secret. When Qartoumeh faced being drafted to the Syrian army, he fled the country, first to Lebanon and Iraq, and then to Canada in late 2017 after he was sponsored by the Central Okanagan Refugee Committee. Diversity The Kelowna Pride Society said Qartoumeh was chosen in part because of the diversity theme of 2018's march. "He reminds us of what is still unfortunately happening to LGBT2Q+ people in some parts of the world," said Dustyn Baulkham, past president of Kelowna Pride. Story continues "At Pride, we march for those who are not able to live as their authentic selves." Qartoumeh says he hopes his story will show other LGBT people living in repressive societies that they are valued, even if not in their home countries. He wants Canada to keep advocating for human rights abroad even if some countries take umbrage to criticism. The 2018 Kelowna Pride March takes place Saturday at 1 p.m. in Stuart Park. Listen to the full story: With files from CBC Radio One's Daybreak South 'I can't do this': Why Nova Scotia's social workers are burning out A lack of staff and an increase in complex cases, which require a large amount of paperwork, mean many social workers in Nova Scotia are burning out, says the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers. But the province says improvements are coming, in the form of new positions and hiring strategies, as well as technological solutions. The college posted a press release on Thursday reacting to a report by the Canadian Association of Social Workers released the same day, which paints a troubling picture of the state of the child welfare system across Canada. Based on a survey of 3,200 Canadian social workers and a series of expert interviews, the report points to unmanageable workloads and burdensome administrative duties across the country, which take away from quality time with clients. Debbie Reimer, a social worker and executive director of the Kids Action Program in Kentville, N.S., told CBC's Information Morning the findings hit close to home. "There are days when I think I can't do this job for one more second," Reimer said, "and then I think about the families that I work with and I can't leave." Alec Stratford, executive director of the Nova Scotia College of Social Workers, said the college did its own consulting with social workers in the province last spring. He said the findings were "absolutely aligned" with those in the national report. The result is that social workers in Nova Scotia are simply jumping from one crisis to the next, Stratford said, without taking the time to "sit down and really understand a family situation." At the end of the day, that approach is "harming kids," he said. Reimer agreed that she and her colleagues spend a lot of their time "policing." "They aren't really doing social work," she said, "because there isn't time to do that." The amount of paperwork required to push cases through the court system doesn't help, Reimer said. Story continues She added that more staff are needed to ease the burden, but said "not one child welfare office in the province" has a full staff. Nancy MacLellan, associate deputy minister of community services, said that summer vacations do put extra pressure on the system, but "to suggest that we don't have any offices that are fully staffed is a bit extreme." She said the department has introduced a number of new positions, set up hiring pools and expedited the hiring process to ensure vacancies are filled quickly, and also added float teams to provide assistance around the province when needed. MacLellan said the department is working to ensure that any tasks that can be completed by somebody other than a social worker are reassigned. When it comes to paperwork, Wendy Bungay, the director of placement services for community services, said the department is trying to strike the right balance. She said "accountability is necessary" to ensure the department is making "good decisions involving families." That said, there are some technological improvements that might help social workers save time on that aspect of their workload, she said. The department recently distributed 200 laptops to social workers in the field, she said, and staff are working on incorporating voice-activated dictation into the workflow. Read more articles from CBC Nova Scotia The wildfire situation across B.C. largely held over the course of the day despite fears that strong winds would whip up the flames, but smoke from the sheer volume of fire has left virtually all of the province in a haze. Every area aside from the far north, west coast and the tip of Vancouver Island is under a special weather statement because of poor air quality as of 3 p.m. PT on Saturday. Local levels of smog may differ based on wind and characteristics of the closest fires, but a "significant" clearing isn't expected for several days unless the weather changes drastically. Allan Coldwells, a meteorologist with Environment Canada, said smoke from the wildfires in the U.S. will also be making their way north into the province. "There is more smoke tonight and into tomorrow as we get smoke coming in from Washington as we head into the next system," Coldwells said. "The smoke is going to be an issue for the next five days." Fire information officer Kyla Fraser said the B.C. Wildfire Service isn't anticipating any catastrophic weather this weekend. Winds are expected to soften and there isn't any lightning in the forecast, but there's still no sign of rain which is what crews have hoped for. "That could increase fire activity, just due to the dry conditions, but no big weather events in the forecast," the information officer said. "That's about as good as it gets, I think." The southern halves of Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba as well as a chunk of western Ontario are also under advisories. Children, infants, the elderly and people with pre-existing health conditions are more likely to feel adverse effects from smoke exposure. At-risk individuals should stay inside and take it easy. Shovel Lake fire still a concern Strong winds and dry weather threatened to whip up flames in many parts of the province on Thursday and Friday, but the situation held overnight in most areas. Story continues Despite the apparent reprieve, Fraser said there are still "quite a few fires of concern." The Shovel Lake fire the province's largest has scorched 78,000 hectares between Burns Lake and Vanderhoof. The Bulkley-Nechako Regional District issued an evacuation alert and order for parts of the region after the B.C. Wildfire Service put out a warning about the blaze earlier this week. Dozens of evacuees have since arrived in Prince George, which has opened an emergency reception centre. Some under evacuation order, however, have refused to leave. Jim Fehr runs the Noralee Resort on Francois Lake, south of Burns Lake. He and several others ex-loggers and machine operators stayed behind despite an evacuation order for the area earlier this week. "We'd like to do what we can to help," he said. "I'm not on a suicide mission at all here. I'll pull out when I have to ... but I'll fight as long as I can." Doug Donaldson, B.C.'s Minister of Forests, has repeatedly urged those under evacuation orders to comply. "We don't want situations where people are compromised by advancing fires and have to be rescued or us not being able to get to them," the minister said Thursday. Kimberley on alert In the southeast corner of the province, thousands of people living in Kimberley are entering their second day on evacuation alert. People living at three dozen properties to the west have already been ordered to leave due to a cluster of wildfires in the area. The B.C. Wildfire Service said the nearby Meachen Creek wildfire stayed relatively the same size Friday night, but residents under the alert still need to be ready to leave at a moment's notice should the situation worsen. Mayor Don McCormick said he was vigilant, but hopeful. "Seeing the strategy that's in place, I feel very confident that the fire service will be able to get this in hand," he said Friday. "When they start to panic, I'll start to panic." Laurel Unger is visiting Kimberley in her RV. She said the weather is a bit better than expected, but the city is muted. "It just looks like a hazy day to me ... but it's very, very quiet," she said. On Friday, the province announced it would match donations to the Red Cross for people affected by wildfires up to $20 million. The B.C. Wildfire Service said its cost for fighting fires so far this season has topped $242 million. More fire information: - B.C. is in its fourth day of a province-wide state of emergency. There are more than 560 wildfires burning across the province. - People living in more than 2,800 properties have been forced to leave, while 11,300 more properties are under evacuation alerts. - A local state of emergency has been declared in Zeballos northwest of Tahsis on northern Vancouver Island as several fires threaten the only road in and out of the area. An evacuation order was issued for six properties in the area at 4 p.m. PT. - The Regional District of Central Kootenay has issued evacuation alerts for all of Syringa Provincial Park and along Lower Arrow Lake which includes 26 properties and 100 campsites as well as another area south of Deer Park which covers 77 properties. - Highway 93 South through Kootenay National Park may be affected by wildfire smoke this weekend. Traffic has been reduced to 50 km/h through the area of the Wardle wildfire. - Around 100 Canadian Armed Forces personnel were deployed early Thursday to an area west of Kelowna, working on the mop-up of contained fires. The Department of National Defence said it's working with the B.C. Wildfire Service to determine where and when to send other troops. - Twenty-two new fires started Thursday, bringing the total to 565 as of Saturday at 8:30 a.m. PT. - Wildfire smoke over western Canada is visible from NASA's DSCOVR satellite which is about 1.6 million kilometres away. B.C. wildfire map: B.C. evacuation map: With files from Anis Heydari, Allison Dempster, Zahra Premji and The Canadian Press Read more from CBC British Columbia The day after city officials and police dismantled Camp Cloud, residents of Burnaby ventured to the now empty-looking site, expressing both relief and dismay that the area has been cleared. The camp, which sits across the street from the Kinder Morgan tank farm on Burnaby Mountain in protest of the Trans Mountain pipeline, evolved over nine months into a small shantytown of semi-permanent structures. Until Thursday, it featured a two-storey wooden structure, a cabin, tents, trailers and an outdoor shower. Now, all that is left of the spot that some protesters called home is patches of grass and gravel lined with a concrete barrier. On Aug. 10, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Geoffrey Gomery granted the city an injunction ordering all camp structures, shelters and vehicles to be removed from outside the Kinder Morgan tank farm within 48 hours. Protesters were also told to extinguish a ceremonial "sacred flame" because it presented a fire hazard. Five protesters were arrested Thursday morning as city officials and police dismantled the encampment. A family of four living at the camp is now being assisted by social services to secure emergency shelter. Protesters are still allowed to peacefully protest on the site, as long as they don't build any more structures. 'Really unsightly' Laurel Bell, who lives in the neighborhood, said she was happy to see the structures and protesters were no longer there. "I love it, to me it looks beautiful. They seemed to have covered up the graffiti that was along here," she said. "It doesn't bother me that people come up here to protest, but that was not necessary and it was really unsightly. And I was really worried about fire, there's nothing but forest around here." Bell said that despite her relief, she was not impressed with how the city of Burnaby handled the campers, adding she felt the site should have been cleared much earlier. Dipak Dattani with the City of Burnaby said the dismantling operation went smoothy. Story continues "We were able to complete it in one day, so we're glad about that," he said. Dattani said the protesters' belongings have been carefully catalogued and accounted for, and can be retrieved from city staff until Sept. 21. Others still support camp Not everyone is happy to see the protesters gone. Cathy Griffin, who lives down the road from the site, said she supported the protesters. "I have donated money to them as I drove by," Griffin said. "That's what I did because I believe they should have been heard." Sarah Ross, who also said she is a Camp Cloud supporter, expressed disappointment that the camp is gone. "Coming up here today and seeing that there's no camp the one thing that I do notice is that the gates are still here," Ross said. "And Kinder Morgan is still working. And that's why I came. Because we need to watch them now that the camp's not here to do the work for us." With files from Rafferty Baker and Alex Migdal Read more from CBC British Columbia Premier Doug Ford slammed Toronto Mayor John Tory in an open letter Saturday afternoon saying once again that Tory has refused to bring the issue of guns and gangs before city council. In his latest letter to Tory, Ford reiterated the provincial government's investment of $25 million in funding, which will help in providing tools and resources to combat gun violence, but added that more needs to be done. "As Mayor you have the power to bring this issue before City Council and match our investment, a move that would further assure Toronto residents that their municipal government takes the fight against guns and gangs as seriously as the Province of Ontario does," Ford said. The premier also took jabs at Monday's city council meeting that will look at legal options available to fight Ford's Bill 5, which will cut the number of city councillors from 47 to 25. "The fact that the special meeting you have called will focus on saving the jobs of politicians, instead of addressing options to deliver more resources to the fight against guns and gangs is telling," Ford added. "Once again I implore you to bring the issue of new funding before City Council, on August 20th or shortly thereafter. As mayor you have the power to call a special meeting of Council, within 24 hours, to address the fight against guns and gangs in Toronto." Tory responds to Ford's latest letter Asked about Ford's letter during the Taste of Manila festival on Saturday, Tory said he has already addressed the issues raised by Ford, both publicly and personally when he saw the premier on Friday. "We are, of course, going to match the money. I had said that a week ago when it was announced for community safety and for additional help for our police service, who do such a great job for us," Tory said. "And the other thing I told him, unfortunately, is that we can't debate gun violence at the special council meeting on Monday because the special council meeting, under the rules, can only debate one topic. That's the way they're set up." Story continues The mayor said city council will discuss the cut in the number of councillors and legal advice obtained, and council is "committed to moving forward to match the money for the guns and gangs that the province provided to us." Saturday's letter comes after other open letters sent between the mayor and the premier. Special meetings address 1 issue, mayor says Tory said in his own open letter Friday afternoon that he's committed to matching the $25 million funding by the provincial government, but also reminded the premier that changing the agenda for Monday's special meeting agenda isn't possible. "As you would remember from your time on City Council, special meetings are confined to the issue for which they were called, so as to ensure their efficiency, accountability and transparency on behalf of the people of Toronto," Tory wrote. Ford closed Saturday's letter saying he was looking forward to a response by Tory and hinted at possible changes that may come due to the upcoming municipal election. "The residents of Toronto should not be forced to wait until after the next municipal election to see real action against the menace of guns and gangs." The ferry ride across Victoria Harbour gives an eyeful of Hong Kong's iconic skyline, with bank towers up to the clouds. And if you ask, the commuters on board provide an earful on what's happened to their city the high cost of housing and living, the hassles of traffic congestion. But raise politics and you're likely to get an exasperated sigh. "Hong Kong used to be special," said a man who only gave the name Yu. "The Chinese government is deleting everything special. They control." Another passenger, Clara Hu, lamented the threats to the democratic freedoms that once set this former British colony apart from China, including freedom of speech and the right to vote. And yet, the tone in Hong Kong today is one of resignation, not rebellion a far cry from the mass protests four years ago triggered by outrage over perceived heavy-handedness by the Chinese. This, despite newspaper headlines that talk of democracy activists being jailed and political parties banned. Andy Chan knows all about that. His small National Party is under threat of being outlawed by the police, who call it a "threat to national security" because it openly advocates independence for Hong Kong. "The ultimate goal is to preserve the Hong Kong people," Chan said. "We want to protect our language, our culture, our tradition, our living style. And they [Chinese authorities] are afraid of democracy." There is no law that specifically bans separatism, but the Hong Kong government would use a section of its so-called Basic Law Hong Kong's de facto constitution that was originally intended to target criminal gangs and triads. "Before 1997, we were a colony of the U.K. And after 1997, we are now a colony of China," he said in an interview with CBC on the street, as a couple of men approached to listen in. One of them took pictures before both slipped away. "Possibly, we are facing prison," he said. "But somebody has to stand up and speak out." Story continues Chan said he's regularly followed by police and has come under pressure to stay quiet. The Foreign Correspondents' Club of Hong Kong was asked by both the Chinese and the Hong Kong governments to withdraw an invitation for Chan to speak this past Tuesday, but refused. Chan's speech went ahead amid a heavy police presence and pro-Beijing demonstrators outside. Police have formally asked the Hong Kong government to ban Chan's party and authorities are considering it. They are scheduled to hear the party's defence in September. Ronny Tong defends the proposed ban of the National Party. He's a member of Hong Kong's Executive Council, its cabinet. "A line has to be drawn," he said. Any party that promotes separatism is not only illegal, he said, but is likely to offend Beijing, something Hong Kong cannot afford to do if it wants to keep a special status called "One Country, Two Systems." That was part of the compromise offered by China when it took control of Hong Kong from the U.K., promising to respect the former colony's more lenient political system for at least 50 years. Tong says that compromise requires Hong Kong to give China what it wants as part of a process of "gives and takes." "And if some of the give and take is that we must not offend national security of China," he said, "I don't see it as too high a price to pay for the rights and freedoms that we continue to enjoy." But many in Hong Kong say Beijing is taking away those rights and freedoms regardless, and it's using Hong Kong's own legal system to serve its purposes going after pro-democracy activists in the courts and using legal procedures to disqualify candidates and parties it dislikes. Appeals are possible but they are drawn out and expensive. Chinese authorities "are clever in the sense that it all seems to have a facade of rule of law," said Ma Ngok, a professor of government and public administration at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. "China is getting more and more autocratic and it seems they are getting more interventionist in Hong Kong affairs." 'Red line' And yet, Ma said, few Hong Kongers are ready to challenge China on the streets anymore. They are "disillusioned," he said, and "they don't feel they can do something about it." Or perhaps, they are frightened off by Beijing's threats that it won't put up with much dissent from Hong Kong. Last year, during his only visit to Hong Kong while in power, Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a tough speech, warning against "provoking confrontation" with Beijing. "Any attempt to endanger China's sovereignty and security, challenge the power of the central government or use Hong Kong to carry out infiltration and sabotage activities against the mainland is an act that crosses the red line, and is absolutely impermissible," he said. Joshua Wong has been a target of the well-organized, well-funded and well-connected Beijing forces in Hong Kong. Four years ago, at 17, he was a leader of the so-called Umbrella Movement that saw tens of thousands of protesters block Hong Kong's main roads for two months in an attempt to win more democratic rights. "With our umbrellas to protect ourselves, we show that we aren't afraid of those tear gas, pepper spray from police," he said, standing on the same street corner where he was confronted by riot police. Along with other student activists, Wong spent months in jail for his role in that sit-in and other demonstrations. He's out on bail, awaiting the verdict in an appeal of another protest-related charge. He concedes it would be difficult to get as many people on the streets now. "Even if we can't mobilize people to block the roads tomorrow, the day will come," he said. "I believe in the next three decades, there will be a movement even larger than the Umbrella Movement. Hong Kong people will fight for democracy." GENEVA (Reuters) - Kofi Annan, the former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate who died on Saturday, will be remembered as a dedicated humanitarian whose career was tarnished by ugly conflicts that spun out of control. Annan was unable to bring peace to Syria and bring to rest the failures of diplomacy in Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, Cyprus, Somalia and Iraq, which are likely to drown out the plaudits for his softly spoken mediation and efforts to eradicate poverty and AIDS that won him the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. Annan was brought up in an ethnically divided culture in his native Ghana, but one where dialogue was prized and outright conflict rare. It was a time of optimism and confidence as Ghana headed for independence from Britain. "He's driven by the idea of 'don't think no', always looking for the best outcome," Fred Eckhard, Annan's spokesman during his time as secretary-general, once told Reuters. His reputation as a mediator was burnished by his success in halting a spiraling conflict in Kenya in 2007, when rival claims to the presidency caused ethnic massacres in which more than 1,200 died. Annan put the rivals in a room and told them: "There is only one Kenya". He helped persuade one of them to accept the post of prime minister in a joint government. The violence ended. But earlier in his career, Annan's record was less successful. He was head of U.N. peacekeeping in 1994, when he acknowledges he should have done more to help prevent the slaughter of 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The greatest reproach was that Annan failed to act on a telegram from the U.N. peacekeeper commander, General Romeo Dallaire, urging a move against arms caches being built up by Hutu extremists as they prepared mass murder. "I believed at that time that I was doing my best," Annan said years later. "But I realized after the genocide that there was more that I could and should have done to sound the alarm and rally support." In a book scathing about the world's failure to act, Dallaire had only praise for Annan, describing his "humanism and dedication to the plight of others". When his U.N. career ended in 2006, he listed his main achievements as establishing the concept of a responsibility to protect civilians when their rulers will not or cannot. But his tenure was littered with diplomatic disasters. BLOODSHED His worst moments, Annan said, included not being able to stop the bloodshed in Sudan's Darfur, the oil-for-food debacle and the Iraq war, after which he lost his voice for months. The oil-for-food scandal broke in early 2004 when it emerged that Saddam Hussein had cheated the $64-billion program designed to relieve the pain of U.N. sanctions on the Iraqi people. The sanctions were imposed after Baghdad's troops invaded Kuwait. While few U.N. officials were accused of enriching themselves, the world body was blamed for lax management and not blowing the whistle on Saddam's tactics. Although Annan was cleared of wrongdoing, his son Kojo was found to have used U.N. contacts to his improper advantage. Then came the most painful event - the bombing of U.N. headquarters in Baghdad on Aug. 19, 2003, that killed 22 people after Annan had decided, at the urging of the United States, to send senior U.N. staff back to Iraq, including his envoy Sergio Vieira de Mello, who was among the victims. "It hit me almost as much as the loss of my twin sister," Annan told his last news conference as secretary-general, his voice choking. Efua Annan died of an illness in 1991. Annan was also at the helm at the time of the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in Bosnia, where insufficient U.N. peacekeeping forces again failed to stop the killing, and during a fiasco in Somalia that preceded Rwanda. His defenders say he tried to get enough troops and the big power support to make a difference in Bosnia and Rwanda. Critics argue that he was held back by respect for the limits he had learned in decades as a U.N. functionary. At an event in April to mark his 80th birthday, Annan was defensive about his role in Rwanda, joked wryly about being mistaken for actor Morgan Freeman after retiring, and decried a lack of strong leaders to help handle crises. "We have had difficulties in the past but in some cases leadership has made a difference," he said, ending on an upbeat note: "I am a stubborn optimist, I was born an optimist and will remain an optimist. The moment I lose hope all is lost, I encourage you to keep hope as well." (Reporting by Tom Miles, Matthew Tostevin and Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Janet Lawrence) CBC A man is dead after a shooting in Scarborough early Friday, Toronto police say. Officers were called to the area of Ellesmere and Kennedy roads around 4:30 a.m. for the sound of gunshots. The victim, who police say was in his 30s, had made his way to an Esso gas station after being shot on the sidewalk outside a nearby plaza. His dog was with him at the time. The man was rushed to hospital, where he died shortly after. The dog was taken by the city's animal services department. A homicide detect One hundred years after a wooden ship set sail from Norway with the hopes of reaching the North Pole, the vessel has finally returned to its country of origin. The Maud, a historic vessel named for Queen Maud of Norway, crossed into Norwegian waters earlier this month, marking the beginning of the end of a longtime dream to return it to Vollen near Asker. That's where the ship was built in 1917 by Christian Jensen. - PHOTOS | Ship that sank in Cambridge Bay 87 years ago finally on journey home to Norway - FROM 2017 | The Maud goes home: Norwegians will float the long-sunken ship halfway home this summer The Maud was last in Norway when explorer Roald Amundsen set sail from Kristiana, now Oslo, in July 1918 for the North Pole via the Northwest Passage. Amundsen was the first expedition leader to sail the Northwest Passage and the first person to reach the South Pole. Amundsen never reached the North Pole on the Maud. Running into financial troubles, he sold the vessel to the Hudson Bay Company in 1920, which used it as a floating warehouse before it sank. In 2016 the Maud was rescued from the shallow coastal waters of Cambridge Bay, Nunavut, by a team of four Norwegians who launched the 'Maud Returns Home' initiative. They began their quest to recover the ship six years prior. The Maud had sunk there in 1930 and, partially above water, was a longtime local landmark and tourist attraction. A seven-foot high structure made of rocks called a cairn now takes its place on the shore. The Maud began its journey home in late August 2017 when it was towed on a barge, named Jensen for the architect, to Aasiaat on West Greenland in September, where it stopped for the winter. After the water opened, the team left Greenland in late June 2018, setting course for Norway. The team has documented each step of the journey on the project's Facebook page. From Greenland to Iceland to Norway Twenty-eight days after leaving Aasiaat, the Maud stopped for a rest on one of Vestmannaeyjar's small islands off the south coast of Iceland to wait for windy weather to pass. Story continues "Maud is doing well across the big seas and we look forward to arriv[ing] in Norway in not so long," project manager Jan Wanggaard wrote on Facebook. The "100-year-old queen of the Arctic" reached Farsund on Monday. The crew stopped in Arendal, a municipality in southeastern Norway, on Wednesday. "It was joyful to make a short stop in Arendal today. Lots of people and great enthusiasm for the return of Maud after 100 years," Wanggaard wrote. MEXICO CITY (Reuters) - Mexican marines on Friday said they had discovered an underground drug lab in the mountains outside the capital of Sinaloa state where they destroyed 50 tons of methamphetamine. Marines found the lab after intelligence reports indicated that tons of drugs were being produced in the area of Alcoyonqui municipality, about 12 miles (19 km) outside the state capital of Culiacan, the ministry of the navy said in a statement. In photos provided by the ministry, two marines in hazmat suits can be seen examining dozens of plastic containers in a mountain forest. The statement said the drugs were hidden underground in two areas along with barrels of the chemicals used to produce meth. The drugs were incinerated on site due to the difficult access to the remote location, the ministry said. Mexico is a major supplier of methamphetamine to the United States and it the top source of heroin, which is fueling a surge in opioid addiction. The country is also the principal highway for cocaine trafficked north. Sinaloa is the seat of the powerful cartel formerly run by Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman, who is facing trial in the United States later this year. (Reporting by Michael O'Boyle; Editing by Sandra Maler) Nearly 400 respiratory therapy students from across Canada are considering suing the company responsible for a software meltdown during their critical final accreditation exam last month. Joshua Oelsner took the test in Ottawa, where he said students had already sat through four hours of the six-hour exam when their computer screens began displaying the message: "Cannot save your answer." "It was extremely frustrating," Oelsner said. "It takes weeks of preparation. We have to take time off every time you do this." The exam is given twice a year, in January and July, and is the last step before students can become registered respiratory therapists (RRTs). Professional RRTs work mostly with patients in hospitals and long-term care facilities. But when 388 students sat for the exam July 9, the exam software suffered a massive failure across all time zones. Company reneges on refund Initially, Yardstick Assessment Strategies, the software company responsible for the exam program, took full responsibility for the failure. The company added two free retake dates and promised to refund each student the entire exam fee of $899. But as the retake dates approached, the company instead offered each student a refund of just $290. "We had hoped to refund the entire exam fee, but since the remaining portion of the fee is money that we collect and remit for others, we are not able to refund those amounts," the company stated in a letter to students last week. The president and COO of the company, Isabelle Gonthier, told CBC the company is not "in a position to refund the amount." Gonthier said the company has conducted at least five tests over the past three years for The Canadian Board for Respiratory Care (CBRC), the body that regulates the therapists, and this is the first failure. "We want to apologize for this and the stress to students because we didn't deliver, and we're doing what we can to address situation," Gonthier said. Story continues But that's not good enough for Oelsner, who said students are organizing online and have decided not to cash their refund cheques while they decide on potential legal action. "We'd rather just get our money back," Oelsner said. Oelsner said students now face not just the inconvenience of having to retake the exam and a delay in accreditation, but also lost wages while they study all over again. Consequences mount for Yardstick CBRC chair Julie Brown said the board has talked with its lawyers to discuss the possibility of ending its contract with Yardstick. "I understand mistakes happen. I'm OK with that. What I have a problem with is how they deal with it after the fact," Brown said. The board will meet with Yardstick next Wednesday to make the case for a full refund for students. Brown said the board will stand behind students if they decide to take legal action. Oelsner said the whole experience has left many students feeling angry. "It's just disrespectful," he said. Time to let Tina Fontaine rest, cousin says, 4 years after grim discovery A family member of Tina Fontaine's says it's time to stop visiting her memorial site. "I was told by an elder that it is time to let her rest now," said Kattie-Lee Fontaine, on the fourth anniversary of the 15-year-old's girl body being pulled from the Red River in Winnipeg. The number four, she said, holds great significance in Indigenous tradition. On Friday, four years after the grim discovery, the Fontaines wanted to usher in healing for their family and held a feast to bring the community together. Afterwards, they marched. Dozens walked that evening from the Indigenous Family Centre on Selkirk Avenue to Tina's memorial site along the former Alexander Docks, where they laid wooden butterflies, flowers, candles and teddy bears as nightfall draped over them. Melissa Stevenson helped organize the potluck and walk, which was the idea of four of Fontaine's cousins. She met Tina herself when the "bubbly girl" was just four years old, then enjoying the children's group at the Indigenous Family Centre in Winnipeg. Her death, which galvanized calls for a national inquiry into the plight of murdered and missing Indigenous women, needs to represent something more, she said. "Because it continues to happen, our native women are disproportionately susceptible to violence every day," she said. "Out of my group of 12 kids, I've lost four kids of my beginning [children's] group. That's a little detail on how many actually go missing, how many actually lose their life to violence that's too much." In 2007, the body of 17-year-old Fonessa Bruyere was found on the outskirts of Winnipeg. Her murder is still unsolved. In 2011, 15-year-old Clark Stevenson was stabbed to death by another youth. Four years ago, Tina's 72-pound body, wrapped in a duvet cover and weighed down by rocks, was pulled from the Red River. In February, a jury acquitted Raymond Cormier in the 15-year-old's death. That sparked rallies across the country. Story continues Another murder left the small group of family and friends utterly devastated. Last year, 29-year-old Jeanenne Fontaine, Tina's cousin and a mother of three, was shot dead. Her body was found in her home which had been set ablaze. Three men have been charged. Born out of Tina's death was one positive, the re-emergence of the Bear Clan Patrol in the city. Members of the street patrol joined the walk Friday with Tina's family, friends and supporters. "It's almost like renewing our commitment to make sure that Tina's passing was not in vain," said Mario Cueto, a director with Bear Clan Patrol. Otherwise, Kattie-Lee Fontaine says, not enough has changed in the years since Tina was found, wrapped in a duvet cover. Too many Indigenous women die at the hands of violence, she said. Justice sought She clings to hope that someone will be held responsible for Tina's death. The family is haunted by a jury's decision earlier this year that the man accused in her death, Raymond Cormier, is not guilty of second-degree murder. "Hopefully they get enough guilt to see how much my family is hurting, because it takes a lot out of us," she said. "We want justice. I want to know what's happened because it's still breaking me." "The killer is still out there," Tina's sister, Samantha Fontaine, added. "He could be hurting another little girl." By Matt Spetalnick and David Brunnstrom WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States on Friday imposed sanctions on four Myanmar military and police commanders and two army units, accusing them of "ethnic cleansing" against Rohingya Muslims and widespread human rights abuses across the Southeast Asian nation. The sanctions by the Treasury Department marked the toughest U.S. action so far in response to Myanmar's crackdown on the Rohingya minority, which started last year and has driven more than 700,000 people into neighboring Bangladesh and left thousands of dead behind. But the Trump administration did not target the highest levels of Myanmar's military and also stopped short of calling the anti-Rohingya campaign crimes against humanity or genocide, which has been the subject of debate within the U.S. government. The measures were announced as Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, according to U.S. officials, prepares to issue the findings of an intensive U.S. investigation of alleged atrocities by Myanmar authorities against the Rohingya in Rakhine state. The release of the report, compiled from interviews at refugee camps in Bangladesh, is expected to be around the August 25 one-year anniversary of the bloody crackdown. Burmese security forces have engaged in violent campaigns against ethnic minority communities across Burma, including ethnic cleansing, massacres, sexual assault, extrajudicial killings, and other serious human rights abuses," said Treasury Under Secretary for Terrorism and Financial Intelligence, Sigal Mandelker, using an alternative name for Myanmar. "Treasury is sanctioning units and leaders overseeing this horrific behavior as part of a broader U.S. government strategy to hold accountable those responsible for such wide-scale human suffering, Mandelker said. The sanctions were imposed on military commanders Aung Kyaw Zaw, Khin Maung Soe and Khin Hlaing and border police commander Thura San Lwin, in addition to the 33rd and 99th Light Infantry Divisions. The measures call for freezes of any U.S. assets the individuals hold, a prohibition on Americans doing business with them as well as bans on travel to the United States. A Reuters special report in June gave a comprehensive account of the roles played by the two infantry divisions in the offensive against the Rohingya. The military in Buddhist-majority Myanmar, also known as Burma, has denied accusations of ethnic cleansing and says its actions were part of a fight against terrorism. Myanmar's embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. "LONG OVERDUE STEP" Critics have accused President Donald Trump of being slow in his response to the Rohingya crisis. Human rights groups noted that while Friday's sanctions list included generals, Myanmar's powerful army chief, Min Aung Hlaing, was spared. Rich Weir, Myanmar researcher at Human Rights Watch, called the sanctions "an important but long overdue step." "The avoidance of the top military leaders is striking," he added. "The likelihood that they did not know what was happening is close to infinitesimal." In the Treasury statement, Mandelker said: "The U.S. government is committed to ensuring that Burmese military units and leaders reckon with and put a stop to these brutal acts." In November, following the lead of the United Nations and the European Union, then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson declared that the Rohingya crisis constituted "ethnic cleansing," a designation that increased pressure on its civilian leader, Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi. Pompeo has yet to decide whether, once he releases the State Department's Rohingya atrocities report, to ratchet up characterization of the violence as crimes against humanity or genocide or to avoid any such label, the officials told Reuters, speaking on condition of anonymity. Such terms could commit the United States to stronger punitive measures or help set the stage for charges at the International Criminal Court in the Hague. Some within the administration worry that this could complicate Suu Kyi's relationship with the powerful military and push Myanmar closer to China, Washington's regional rival. Until Friday's announcement, the United States had only sanctioned a single Myanmar commander and had scaled back already-limited bilateral military ties. On Friday, U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, a Democrat from Washington state, called on social media companies to better protect vulnerable communities by regulating hate speech on their platforms, citing a Reuters report that found more than 1,000 examples of content published on Facebook that attacked the Rohingya and other Muslims in Myanmar. ( https://www.reuters.com/investigates/special-report/myanmar-facebook-hate ) "Facebook and other technology companies must find the means to address these problems head on and invest in solutions," said Cantwell in a statement. Two Reuters reporters, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, are on trial in Myanmar on charges of violating a state secrets law after being arrested in December while reporting on the massacre of 10 Rohingya men. Both have pleaded not guilty and have told the court how they were "trapped" by police officials who planted documents on them. This month Pompeo called for the immediate release of the two reporters. (Reporting by Matt Spetalnick, Tim Ahmann and Makini Brice, David Brunnstrom; editing by Clive McKeef) The Gold Cup & Saucer race has it all: colourfully-dressed ambassadors in shiny cars, horses and sulkies in the spotlight and even the words of P.E.I.-born writer Lucy Maud Montgomery, author of Anne of Green Gables. The race takes place at two minutes to midnight every year, as part of Old Home Week, an annual celebration of all things Prince Edward Island that draws home Islanders from around the world. Depending on the weather, Saturday night's final race attracts anywhere from 10,000 to 25,000 people, filling the grandstands and along the railing, as far as the eye can see. 'Steeped in tradition' The Gold Cup & Saucer race, which started in 1960, is now the pinnacle of 10 days of harness racing and attracts horse owners, trainers and drivers from across North America. "It's a presentation that is seen at no other racetrack in North America," said Lee Drake, marketing manager for Red Shores. "They don't do anything the way it's done here, it's steeped in tradition." The Gold Cup ambassadors were added in 1961, then known as Gold Cup girls, dressed in racing silks, each driven in a colourful convertible. Each ambassador draws a horse and the one representing the winning horse gets to share the winner's circle. Before the big race, the lights are dimmed and the horses come onto the track in darkness. New Brunswick driver Gilles Barrieau has won the Gold Cup & Saucer four times, second only to P.E.I.'s Mike MacDonald, who has won it five times. "The atmosphere, under the spotlight, it's just a big thrill," said Barrieau, who had a come-from-behind victory in 2017 with Shadow Place. "It's the biggest crowd I've ever witnessed, especially around here in the Maritimes. You don't witness that many people in front of a grandstand other than this particular race." Hear a pin drop Once the horses are on the track, the crowd stands for the singing of The Island Hymn, with lyrics written in 1908 by Lucy Maud Montgomery. Story continues Kerri Wynne MacLeod has performed P.E.I'.s anthem on Gold Cup night for the last 15 years. She still remembers the first time. "I really didn't know what it looked like from centre field and it's so different, everybody just gets so quiet for the singing of The Island Hymn," said MacLeod. "When I turned around and saw all those people for the first time, my heart just sunk but it went well." The singing of the anthem is also the time when organizers are often making the decision whether or not the race will proceed. MacLeod has had to come back on Sunday to sing The Island Hymn after the race is postponed because of weather. Spectacular moment "To be among all the pomp and circumstance one night and then just about ready to sing and then they've had to cancel it because of unsafe track conditions and then go again the next day," MacLeod said. "It's fantastic doing it the next day as well but of course in the daytime, it's just not as much drama as there is at nighttime." MacLeod is looking forward to her 16th Gold Cup performance. "Even though it's only one song, it is The Island Hymn and it is a tradition," MacLeod said. "I still get nervous every time those lights go down, it's just a very honourable spot to be, facing all those people, it's a pretty spectacular moment." Worldwide audience The Gold Cup & Saucer is now broadcast around the world, via satellite and online, and is expected to reach more than 100,000 people in 2018. And, as usual, it will start at two minutes to midnight. "It's part of the tradition, we don't mess with what's made this race so great and that's part of it," Drake said. "A race going at two minutes to midnight, there's just something about it that always adds to the appeal. It's just a great show." More P.E.I. news I have often stated in an earlier Chicago Boyz columns on Gen Douglas MacArthur that: One of the maddening things about researching General Douglas MacArthurs fighting style in WW2 was the way he created, used and discarded military institutions, both logistical and intelligence, in the course of his South West Pacific Area (SWPA) operations. Institutions that had little wartime publicity and have no direct organizational descendant to tell their stories in the modern American military. Todays column is on another of those forgotten institutions, the New Guinea Air Warning Wireless (NGAWW) company, and the US military leader who saw to it that its story was forgotten in the institutional American military histories of World War II. DESPERATION & INNOVATION In January 1942 after the Fall of Rabaul and before the Japanese Carrier Strike on Darwin the Australian military recognized it needed a system of radio equipped ground observers in New Guinea to warn Australian outposts of incoming air attacks. Thus was born the New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company (NGAWW), which was a inspired combination of innovation and desperation using the organizational templates (and Amalgamated Wireless Australasia (AWA) Teleradio series wireless sets) of the Australian Royal Navy Coast watchers and the Royal Air Force Wireless Observer Units used in North Africa. [1] [2] The NGAWW was born as a secret wireless unit in January 1942, give a status as a commando unit in 1944 and was officially disbanded in April 1945. [3] In early Jan-Feb 1942 some 16 air warning ground observer stations were established. There were positions set up along the Papuan coast as well as in the mountains near Port Moresby. By Dec. 1942 the New Guinea air warning network had quadrupled in size and was maintaining 61 operational stations with a strength of 180 men.[4] The NGAWW at its peak in late 1944 included more than 150 spotter stations deployed on islands and mainland territories throughout Papua, New Guinea and Dutch New Guinea. To support this expanded network the companys headquarters had moved to Nadzab in June 1944, (See map below) by which time stations had been established as far as Hollandia. [5] Many NGAWW company air warning ground observer stations operated behind Japanese lines watching air bases. Thus they were at risk of being captured by the Japanese due to the nature of their operations. These stations were minimally armed one Owen sub-machine gun for the lead NCO and a rifle for enlisted observers and lived off what they could pack in or obtain locally after travelling by foot for up to six weeks. A number of the air warning outstations operating near Japanese air bases were over-run and the men manning them killed. THE POLITICS & LOGISTICS OF THE HOLLANDIA LANDING In 1944 Australian ground forces captured a Imperial Japanese Army code book code. General MacArthur used this break in reading the previously unreadable mainline Japanese Army code to launch Operation Reckless, the invasion of Hollandia in then Dutch New Guinea. [6] This operation on New Guineas north coast ran into several logistical and political issues between the Australian Labour government of Prime Minister John Curtin and the US military. [7] Hollandia was in Dutch New Guinea and more than two days air travel from Southern Australia. Effectively MacArthurs forces at Hollandia would be closer to American forward bases in Admiral Nimitzs Central Pacific theater than Australia. In addition, PM Curtin had made political promises to the Australian people that only Australian Imperial Forces (AIF) would serve outside Australia and Papua New Guinea. The NGAWW company was on the wrong side of that organizational line. So in September 1944 the Australian military refused MacArthurs requests for the unit to serve outside the Australian area of operations. DISAPPEARING GROUND OBSERVERS IN US NEW GUINEA HISTORIES While the Australian air warning ground observers faded from MacArthurs order of battle. The US Armys Signal Aircraft Warning Battalions maintained the mission with a company of ground observers assigned to every lightweight radar SAW battalion in the theater.[8] These signal air warning ground observer company units owed their existence to then Captain Claire Chennaults 1933 Ft. Knox air Defense Observer Network that so embarrassed the Bomber Mafia. [9] The success of both the General Chennaults and General MacArthurs radio air warning ground observers in China, New Guinea and especially in Leyte in the Philippines was ruthlessly purged from the USAF institutional histories. General H.H. Hap Arnold set the tone for future USAF historians. This is how he put it in his autobiography, Global Mission: General Chennault, by his long years of experience with the Chinese, and his uncanny sense of anticipating what the japs would probably do, was able to adopt formations and techniques for the Tenth Air Force which could not be used in any other theater.[10] As the Australian New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company (NGAWW). American SAW companies and RAF wireless observer companies showed. This was far from the case, but General Arnolds anti-Chennault institutional narrative must be repeated, whatever its truth. And now you know why another of General Douglas MacArthurs military institutions was forgotten. -End- Sources and Notes: [1] See respectively: New Guinea Air Warning Wireless From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/New_Guinea_Air_Warning_Wireless The Coastwatchers 19411945 https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/australia-and-second-world-war/resources/coastwatchers-19411945 A small Australian army signals unit, the New Guinea Air Warning Wireless Company (NGAWW), also existed as a single entity between February 1942 and 1945. In October 1942, the unit was officially renamed New Guinea Air Warning Wireless (Independent) Company as part of New Guinea Force and later, as part of the Corps of Signals in October 1943. These Army spotters served in the valleys, highlands and around the coastline of New Guinea and nearby islands as signallers. All members of the unit were volunteers and their unit colour patch was a double diamond, being the independent unit (later commando) insignia. By 1943-1944, the NGAWW had 75 outposts in New Guinea and surrounding islands in the South-West Pacific Theatre of Operations. The unit was disbanded in 1945 and its members have been commemorated with a plaque in the grounds of the Australian War Memorial in Canberra. ROYAL AIR FORCE OPERATIONS IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, 1939-1943 https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205208912 [2] VK2DYMS MILITARY RADIO AND RADAR INFORMATION SITE. THE 3BZ COAST WATCHERS WIRELESS SET. http://www.qsl.net/vk2dym/radio/3BZa.htm [3], [4], [5] Ibid opening paragraph of the Wikipedia article in note [1] [6] See the following for Ultra code breaking and Reckless operational considerations: Pages 104 115 of Edward J. Drea, MacArthurs ULTRA: Codebreaking and the War against Japan, 1942-1945 (Modern War Studies) University Press of Kansas; Fourth Edition edition (December 20, 1991), ISBN-10: 0700605762, ISBN-13: 978-0700605767 Battle of Hollandia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Hollandia [7] Curtin Government From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtin_Government [8] See the following on SWPA SAW Battalions: Braxton Eisel, Signal Aircraft Warning Battalions in the South West Pacific in Workd War II, Pages 14 24, AIR POWER History, Fall 2004 No author The SAW Battalions: Their Pacific Record, Radar No. 11, Pages 26 28, 01 October 1945, Office of Air Communications Officer, USAAF [9] History Friday: Claire Lee Chennault SECRET AGENT MAN! Trent Telenko on December 20th, 2013 https://chicagoboyz.net/archives/40740.html [10] Page 376, General H. H. Hap Arnold Global Mission Tannenberg Publishing (January 18, 2016) ASIN: B01AYP67E8 https://www.amazon.com/Global-Mission-General-Hap-Arnold-ebook/dp/B01AYP67E8 Evangelical Christians in Italy have launched an appeal fund in aid of victims of the bridge collapse on Tuesday that killed at least 39 people. The catastrophic collapse of the Morandi bridge saw vehicles falling 50 metres to the ground during a torrential rainstorm. Authorities say between 10 and 20 people are still unaccounted for. Firefighters and rescue workers at the site of the collapsed Morandi Bridge. (Reuters) According to the Italian Evangelical Alliance, among the dead was the sister of an evangelical pastor, identified by Evangelical Focus as 24-year-old Stella Boccia, whose brother is an Assemblies of God pastor in the region of Pisa. She died with her fiance Carlos Jesus Erasto Trujillo, 27, from Peru, as they were returning from a holiday. More than 600 people had to leave their apartments below the remaining spans of the bridge for fear of further collapse. Officials have decided the buildings will be demolished as it would be too dangerous to leave them there. The Italian Evangelical Alliance said that at least one evangelical family was among them. Its statement said: 'For these brothers and sisters in Christ our prayer is that the Lord will provide consolation and what they need immediately and long-term.' Funds raised via the EA will go to churches in Genoa to help with relief and spiritual work. Coffins with the bodies of the deceased are resting at the Genoa Trade Fair and Exhibition Centre. (Reuters) The statement continued: 'Our prayer is for the city of Genova as a whole, for its people, families, economic activities, its political authorities in this time of grief and research of what caused the collapse. We pray for the relaunching of "normal" social and economic life in the city after such a tragedy. It is essential that what happened will be accounted for and responsabilities will be ascertained so that tragedies like this will no longer happen.' It concluded with an appeal to 'take advantage of what happened to receive afresh the invitation to repent from our sins and believe in the gospel (Luke 13:4-5) trusting the only "way" that is open and reliable, Jesus Christ, who will never collapse and who will certainly lead to the Heavenly Father (John 14:6) all those who trust him.' A state funeral for most of the victims is due to be held on Saturday morning at the port city's Exhibition and Trade Centre, led by Genoa's archbishop, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, and attended by President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. But some families have said they will boycott the event and hold their own private services, as a sign of protest against what they say was negligence that caused the bridge to collapse. The government has declared Saturday a national day of mourning. The state funeral will be televised live and state broadcaster RAI said will not air any advertising as a sign of respect for the victims. This article was originally published in Christian Today and is re-published here with permission. Going into the 2018 IPCPR, it was a big year of change for the brands of Rafael Nodal and Hank Bischoffs Boutique Blends. The changes saw a massive restructuring of their portfolio, probably the biggest restructuring weve seen from any company at this years IPCPR. It was one that saw the company restructure its lines into four pillars under a single brand, Aging Room Cigars. It has been six years since Nodal and Bischoff re-organized Oliveros Cigars into Boutique Blends, and the moves made this year appear to position the company well for the next six years. Back in 2017, Boutique Blends would enter into a strategic partnership with Altadis U.S.A. Under the partnership, Altadis U.S.A. would now handle distribution, sales, and marketing for Boutique Blends. At the same time, Nodal would come on to Altadis U.S.A. as Head of Product Capability, where he would be responsible for product innovation. From my point of view, the restructuring would definitely help position Boutique Blends more strongly as a value proposition with Altadis U.S.A. The big change was not only the consolidation of the portfolio under Aging Room Cigars, but more of an emphasis on regular production offerings. Since joining Altadis, Nodal has emerged as a face and de-facto ambassador for the company, and with the Aging Room lines, his presence and visibility continues under that line. There are some other changes. The unique naming system for blends consisting of a letter for day of the week and number for day of the year the blend was created (e.g. F55 stood for Friday and 55th day of the year) has been abandoned. The consolidation under Aging Room has meant that brands like Swag, La Boheme, and the recently resurrected Oliveros brand have been put on hold. Aging Room by Rafael Nodal This gives the Aging Room portfolio a core line of blends. This new line consists of three blends. Each of these cigars is produced at Boutique Blends long-time manufacturing partner, Tabacalera Palma. While the names are more mainstream, the vitola names still reflect Nodals passion for music. The Aging Room by Rafael Connecticut adds a core offering Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade blend over Dominican binder and filler. For all practical purposes, it seems it is replacing the old Aging Room Havao line. It is packaged in 20-count boxes and available in three sizes: Rapido (5 x 48), Vivase (6 x 50), and Adante (7 x 50). The Aging Room by Rafael Habano is a 100% Dominican puro featuring a Habano seed Dominican wrapper. It is packaged in 20-count boxes and available in three sizes: Rondo (5 x 50), Mezzo (6 x 54), and Major (6 1/2 x 60) Finally, the Aging Room by Rafael Nodal Maduro is a cigar featuring a San Andres Maduro wrapper over Dominican binder and filler. It seems this cigar is replacing the old Aging Room Maduro line. It is packaged in-20 count boxes and available in three sizes: Rondo (5 x 50), Mezzo (6 x 54), and Major (6 1/2 x 60). Aging Room Quattro by Rafael Nodal. Aging Room Quattro by Rafael Nodal is positioned as a box-pressed pillar. The Aging Room Quattro F55 and Aging Room Quattro Maduro F55M move into this pillar. Both blends remain the same and get new names and new packaging. The Quattro pillar will also add a Connecticut and Nicaraguan blend while the Aging Room Quattro F59 has been retired. Aging Room Quattro F55 now becomes Aging Room Quattro Original. Production remains out of Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic. The blend remains the same, consisting of a Sumatra wrapper over Dominican binder and filler. The line is streamlined to four sizes: Espressivo (5 x 50), Vibrato (6 x 54), Concerto (7 x 50), and Maestro Belicoso (6 x 52). Each size is presented in 20-count boxes. Aging Room Quattro F55M now becomes Aging Room Quattro Maduro. Production remains out of Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic. This line went national last year and no changes have been made other than the name and packaging. The blend remains the same consisting of a San Andres Maduro wrapper over Dominican binder and filler. The line keeps the same four sizes: Espressivo (5 x 50), Vibrato (6 x 54), Concerto (7 x 50), and Maestro Belicoso (6 x 52). Each size is presented in 20-count boxes. New to the Quattro pillar is the Aging Room Quattro Connecticut. Production comes out of Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic. The blend uses an Ecuadorian Connecticut Shade wrapper over Dominican binder and filler. Consistent with the other Quattro blends, the Quattro Connecticut comes in four sizes: Espressivo (5 x 50), Vibrato (6 x 54), Concerto (7 x 50), and Maestro Belicoso (6 x 52). Each size is presented in 20 count boxes. Finally, there is Aging Room Quattro Nicaragua. This is a 100% Nicaraguan puro. While the other Quattro offerings come out of Tabacalera Palma in the Dominican Republic, Quattro Nicaragua comes out of Tabacalera Fernandez in the Esteli, Nicaragua. Consistent with the other Quattro blends, the Quattro Nicaragua comes in four sizes: Espressivo (5 x 50), Vibrato (6 x 54), Concerto (7 x 50), and Maestro Belicoso (6 x 52). Each size is presented in 20-count boxes. Aging Room Solera The Aging Room Solera cigars, which were first introduced in 2016 have their own pillar. The story of the Aging Room Solera goes back 14 years ago when back in 2004, Nodal and his wife Alina were visiting Andalucia, Spain. Nodal (who is now a citizen of Spain) became impressed with a method of aging sherry wine and Brandy called Solera. This involves combining different vintages of wine together, thus the finished product is a combination of wines of different ages. The more Nodal learned about the Solera process, the more he thought it could be applied to the aging of tobacco. By applying this process to tobacco, tobaccos from different vintages are combined into bales and aged resulting in a marriage of the tobaccos before rolling a cigar. There are four blends in the Aging Room Solera line: Ecuadorian Connecticut, Maduro, Sun Grown, and Corojo. Aging Room Specialty Line This wasnt positioned as an official pillar, but essentially this fits the limited editions and special projects. The Aging Room Bin No. 1 and Aging Room Pelo de Oro lines have been moved into this pillar. The recently released Aging Room Puro Cepa has also moved here. Puro Cepa is a Nicaraguan puro produced at Plasencia. It utilizes tobaccos from the four main growing regions of Nicaragua: Condega, Esteli, Jalapa, and Ometepe. It is produced at the Plasencia S.A. factory in Esteli, Nicaragua. The cigars come in three sizes (Rondo 5 x 50, Mezzo 6 x 54, and Grande 6 1/2 x 56) each packaged in 20 count boxes. 2018 Product Reports Photo Credits: Cigar Coop, except where noted. In an ongoing effort to disprove the good-intentioned but flawed Rum has no rules sentiment, a number of rum experts have repeatedly and forcefully worked to shoot it down. Specifically, by highlighting actual legal documents defining exactly what the standard of identity is for various rum producing countries. Here, well look at the regulations for Jamaican Rum. In a nutshell, countries can choose to define a set of regulations that must be followed if a product is to legally include specific wording on their labels. For example, Scotland defines rules that must be followed for a bottle to be labeled single malt scotch whisky. Likewise, France has rules for Cognac and Armagnac. In the rum world, the most famous regulations are the Appellation dOrigine Controlee for Martinique rum. Different countries have different formal names for their regulations. However, in general usage, theyre known as Geographical Indications, or GIs, which is what I will use here. The geographical part of the name refers to the fact that the regulations have geographical scope, e.g. Cuba for Cuban rum, Brazil for Cachaca, and so forth. Ive written about many cane spirit GIs The full list is here: Geographical indication Archives In this article, Im digging into Jamaicas recently approved rum GI. Mercifully, its already in English so I dont have to translate it first! (Disclaimer: The documents Im working from appear to be from 2016. Its entirely possible that the Jamaican producers have evolved the GI since then.) Typically, GIs are long, boring, and filled tons of details not relevant to the casual reader. As such, I have prefaced the full text with my summarized version. The full text is found at the end of this article. Overall Commentary Jamaicas rum regulations arent particularly onerous or restrictive. They follow common sense best practices that most top tier rum producers already use. Compared to Cuba and Martiniques regulations, Jamaicas seem less restrictive, but still cover all important points. However, a very interesting point is that there are no specific reference to post-distillation sugar, sweet wine, or other additives. That is, the document does not specifically disallow what some call adulteration. However, the Jamaican Excise Duty Act does have this to say: 34. -(1) Except as may be otherwise permitted by the Commissioner, nothing shall be added to any spirits in a distillery save colouring matter or water. (Reference 17/1971 S.8. 12/1985 Sch.) A hat tip to Richard Seale for finding that one. Jamaican Rum The Simplified Rules Article 1 In order for a label to bear the wording Jamaica Rum, the rums production must be as follows: The rum wash (mash) must be made using naturally filtered limestone water from the region defined in article 2 (below). Besides water, the fermented rum wash may contain: sugar cane molasses juice of sugar cane crystallized cane sugar sugar cane syrup a mixture or combination of the above. Commentary: Note that theres no requirement to use Jamaican-grown sugar cane. Jamaica has needed to import some of its molasses in recent years. Article 2 Fermentation and distillation must occur in the territory of the limestone Aquifer water basins shown in Annex 1 (below). Commentary: Like Martinique, Jamaica limits production to certain areas of the island. However, the allowed areas are roughly 50% of Jamaicas land area. Article 3 The rum wash must be made with the raw materials used in Article 1, with filtered limestone water from the geographical area. Commentary: This seems to be restating Article 1 in a different way. Article 4 Fermenting agents are limited to Saccharomyces type yeasts. Inoculation of the wash may only be carried out by cultured yeast, commercial yeast or naturally occurring yeast in the environment. Commentary: Both commercial yeast and open natural fermentation are allowed. Article 5 Pot and column stills are allowed. Pot stills must be copper, and the rectifier portion of the column still must be copper. Article 6 All rums must be made available for analytical and sensory examinations by the JRASTA technical committee, which issues certifications annually. Rums must conforms to the specifications of sensory tests, supported by gas chromatography or mass spectrometry. Commentary: While these requirements sound vague, there is a mind-numbing document describing the specific chemical analysis and organoleptic tests to be done. We shall not go down that rabbit hole. Also: JRASTA Best committee name EVER! Article 7 After distillation, rums with the Geographical Indication Jamaica Rum be in one of these categories Non-aged rums Rums aged in small wooden oak barrels. Rum shall have no color except for coloring from oak wood aging or from cane sugar caramel. Commentary: Note that only oak is specified, without regard to subtype, like American oak or French oak. This provides substantial leeway in cask selection. Also note that both new and previously used casks are allowed. Article 8 An age statement must be certified by the Jamaican Excise Officer. Article 9 Rum can only be moved to a rum store or excise warehouse, and must be under excise supervision. Article 10 GI compliant rums must say certified Geographical Indication on the label and all other related documents. The labels age statement must be in terms like ___ years old. When an age is stated, it must be the youngest rum in the blend. Article 11 Producers of rum who sell Jamaica GI labeled rum that doesnt meet the requirements will be prosecuted. If GI-compliant rum is blended with non GI-compliant rum, the resulting rum cannot use the GI labeling. Article 12 Immediately after these regulations go into effect, producers have a window for which they can apply to have their existing stocks labeled with the Jamaica Rum designation, assuming certain documentation procedures are followed. The unabridged Jamaica Rum Regulations Jamaica Rum Code of practices Art. 1. Definition: Only rums obtained by distillation using wash produced with naturally filtered limestone water obtained from the geographical area defined in Article 2. The fermented wash shall be produced using sugar cane molasses, juice of sugar cane, crystallized cane sugar, sugar cane syrup and or a mixture or combination of the above which comply with the conditions of the present code are entitled to the Geographical Indication Jamaica Rum. Art. 2. Geographical area: The region for the fermentation and distillation of rums entitled to the Geographical Indication Jamaica Rum is limited to the territory of the limestone Aquifer water basins, as figured in the map in annex 1. Ageing is entitled to the protected geographical indication Jamaica Rum which complies with the conditions of production defined in the subsequent articles 7 & 8. This shall be carried out in Jamaica, and approved by the GI Jamaica Rum and Spirits Traders Association (JRASTA) Art. 3. Raw material: Sugar cane wash is prepared by reducing any of the raw materials used in Article 1 with filtered limestone water from the geographical area. Art. 4. Fermentation: Fermentation takes place in designated vessels termed as fermenters. The addition of fermenting agents is limited to the yeasts of Saccharomyces types only. The inoculation of the prepared wash may only be carried out by cultured yeast or by commercial yeast or from naturally occurring yeast in the environment. GMO yeasts are strictly prohibited. Fermentation is complete when all fermentable cane sugars referred to in Article 1 have been converted into component parts. Art. 5. Distillation stills: Pot stills must be copper. Column stills rectifier must be copper. Art. 6 Product Analysis: All Rums (Marks or Brands) must be presented for analytical and sensory examinations prior to the issuance of an approval certificate. Chemical and sensory examinations are performed according to the procedures specified in the Control Handbook. The certificate of approval is issued annually by the Jamaica Rum and Spirits Traders Association (JRASTA) Technical Committee, where the Rums (Marks or Brands) conforms to the specifications of Organoleptic Tests, supported by gas chromatography (GC) or mass spectrometry (Mas Spec). Art. 7. Finished product: At the end of distillation, the rums which claim to Geographical Indication Jamaica Rum should fit into one of the following categories: non aged rums requires no ageing. aged rums are aged in small wooden oak barrels and warehoused under the Jamaican Excise office supervision. Rums must be produced in accordance with the distillation certificate. Rum shall be colourless except where the colour is derived from oak wood during maturation or from caramel produced from cane sugars. Art. 8. Rum stored in oak wood minimum aged: The minimum age of these rums being stored in a barrel made of oak wood must be certified by the Jamaican Excise Officer. Art. 9. Transportation: The rums for which the Geographical Indication Jamaica Rum is claimed, must be moved in accordance with the excise law All rums manufactured are moved to a rum store or an excise warehouse under excise supervision. Art. 10. Labelling: The rums for which, in the terms of the present code, the protected Geographical Indication Jamaica Rum is claimed, cannot be declared for production, offered to consumers, dispatched or sold without the designation being clearly and visibly noted and accompanied by the words certified Geographical Indication on the declaration of manufacture, the transport documents, prospectuses, labels, invoices and any receipts and any other document used in the trade of the products.. A statement of age may be given on the label in terms such as ___ years old. Where a statement is given, the age stated shall be that of the youngest rum in the blend. Art. 11. Misuse: The use of any indication or sign which may cause a buyer to believe that a rum has the right to use the protected Geographical Indication Jamaica Rum, although it does not satisfy all the conditions defined in the present decree, will be prosecuted according to the general legislation concerning fraud and the protection of the designations of origin, irrespective of fiscal sanctions if such exist. Once rum with a right to the use of the protected GI designation Jamaica Rum is blended with a non GI component that end product loses the right to use the GI Jamaica Rum Art. 12. Transitory measures: The producers and owners of stocks of rum with the Geographical Indication Jamaica Rum may, within a period of four months after the publication of the present decree, apply for the approval of their production and stock with Geographical Indication Jamaica Rum from the date of certification. All Jamaica rums in storage outside of Jamaica will require independent audit verification by International Auditors (For e.g. PricewaterhouseCoopers, KPMG and SGS) prior to approval as Jamaica Rum G.I. For Bulk Jamaica Rums evidence of the following documents must be made available for scrutiny: Distillation Certificate Country of Origin Transfer control Document (document that allowed movement of rum into bulk stores) For Blended (finished) Jamaica Rums, evidence of the following documents must be made available for scrutiny: Excisable goods received form noting receival of goods into the blending hall/stores Document allowing movement of product into bottling hall (production) Document allowing movement of product from bottling (production) into Finished Goods Excise Warehouse The certificate of approval will be issued by the Government of Jamaica Excise Officer after these rums have satisfied the demands of the analytical examinations, according to the procedure defined by the code relating to the approval of rums with Geographical Indication. Former United Nations General Secretary and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan passed away in Bern, Switzerland. He was 80. He had served as seventh Secretary-General of UN for two terms reigning from 1997 till 2006. He was first black African to become Secretary-General of UN and also the first to be elected from UN staff itself. About Kofi Annan He was born on 8 April 1938 in Kumasi, Gold Coast (now Ghana). After completing his education, he had joined UN in 1962 as Budget officer for World Health Organization (WHO) in 1962. He went on to work in various capacities at UN, which included serving as Under-Secretary-General for UN Peacekeeping from 1992 to 96. Later he had served as UN Secretary-General for two terms reigning from 1997 till 2006 (He was succeeded by South Korean diplomat Ban Ki-moon in 2007). As the Secretary-General, he had reformed the UN bureaucracy. He was passionate advocate of human rights and had played major role in the formation of two new intergovernmental bodies in 2005 within UN: Peacebuilding Commission and Human Rights Council. He also had played pivotal role in creation of Global Fund to fight AIDS, malaria, tuberculosis during his term at UN. In 1999, he had launched UN Global Compact initiative, which is now worlds largest effort to promote corporate social responsibility (CSR). He was also founder and chairman of Kofi Annan Foundation and chairman of The Elders, an international organisation founded by Nelson Mandela. He was co-recipient of 2001 Nobel peace prize along with the United Nations. In September 2016, he was appointed to lead UN commission to investigate Rohingya crisis in Myanmars Rakhine province. Kofi Annans famous quotes Meanwhile, other Congress leaders also demanded more help from the Centre and other states for the flood-hit state. (Photo: File) New Delhi / Kerala: The Congress on Saturday demanded the Centre to declare Kerala floods a national disaster. Congress President Rahul Gandhi tweeted, "Dear PM, Please declare #Kerala floods a National Disaster without any delay. The lives, livelihood and future of millions of our people is at stake." Dear PM, Please declare #Kerala floods a National Disaster without any delay. The lives, livelihood and future of millions of our people is at stake. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) August 18, 2018 His statement comes an hour after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced Rs 500 crore interim relief to the state following a review meeting with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Union Minister KJ Alphons. This is in addition to Rs. 100 crore announced by Home Minister Rajnath Singh on August 12. Also Read: 324 die in Kerala floods: PM grants Rs 500 cr immediate relief after survey Meanwhile, other Congress leaders also demanded more help from the Centre and other states for the flood-hit state. Speaking to ANI, Congress leader PC Chacko said that "Thousands of people are marooned and facing a very severe, critical situation and more emergency evacuation operation is needed. What is being done is appreciable but we need more help from the Centre and other states as Kerala is in distress". Resonating similar views, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala reasoned out that the state could get more resources from the Centre if the calamity was declared a national disaster. Also Read: Save us: Chengannur MLA breaks down, pleads for 50,000 stranded "Kerala flood is a heart-rending sight to see. If the calamity is declared a national disaster, it may help the state to access more resources from the Centre such as defence apparatus for rescue operations, money for rehabilitation works, and more food grains," Surjewala said. However, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) rejected the idea of such classification as a national disaster for Kerala floods. BJP leader Subramanian Swamy asserted, "Kerala floods is a serious matter. It is sad to see the pictures and the images. They are shocking. But floods do happen, not just in India but in other countries too. I think the central government is doing its best in all possible ways. Now it is the municipality level officials who have to work on further orders." On Friday, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh announced Rs 10 crore worth of immediate relief. Besides him, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal have also announced immediate financial help for the relief works. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is on a two-day visit to Kerala, conducted an aerial survey of the damages caused due to flash floods and took stock of the situation. New Delhi: A 62-year-old woman known as the "godmother of crime" in south Delhi's Sangam Vihar, who was wanted in connection with the killing of a man, has been arrested, police said on Saturday. The accused identified as Basiran was declared a proclaimed offender, they said. A total of 113 criminal cases including that of bootlegging, murder, robbery, contract killing and snatching have been registered against Basiran and her family members, police said. Acting on a tip-off, the accused was arrested from Sangam Vihar where she had come to meet her family members to decide further strategy in connection with the seizure of her property, said Romil Baaniya, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (south). In September 2017, a partially decomposed body was recovered from the jungle of Sangam Vihar. A case was registered in connection with the murder following which a juvenile was apprehended in this case in January 2018, he said. The juvenile then disclosed the name of his associates namely Aakash, Vikash, Neeraj, Munni Begum and Basiran, he added. After the co-accused was arrested, Basiran fled away and was evading her arrest since then, the DCP said. On May 25, Basiran was declared proclaimed offender in connection with the case. Subsequently, her property attached and sealed, he said. Meanwhile, the accused also filed an application seeking anticipatory bail at Delhi High Court and also sought the release of her property at Saket Court. However, the Delhi police strongly objected to it, giving her previous criminal background following which both applications were then dismissed by the court, the senior officer said. During interrogation, Basiran admitted that she had taken a contract of Rs 60,000 to kill Miraz who was a step-brother of one of the accused Munni Begum, he said. Basiran along with her associates hatched a conspiracy to kill Miraz. As per the plan, on the intervening night of 8 and 9 September 2017, Munni Begum took Miraz to Basiran's house and from there, her associates took Miraz to a jungle in Sangam Vihar's K block where they intoxicated him and strangulated him to death using a leather belt. The accused then burnt the body to hide his identity and buried it in the jungle, the officer added. It was learnt that Basiran did not have any permanent source of income and so she started selling illicit liquor. The accused even motivated her eight sons including a minor to commit the crime, the DCP said. Once, she acquired dominance in the area, with the help of her sons, she captured government water borewells in Sangam Vihar and was running a water supply mafia, he said. She was absconding since last eight months and was hiding in cities like Allahabad, Ahmedabad, Mainpuri and Firozabad, he added. Police said a case of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA) has been registered against her son Shamim. She along with other family members will also be booked in connection with the case for amassing wealth from crime proceeds, the police said. Municipal agency says preventing flooding at the Tan Son Nhat Airport is an urgent and vital task. Tan Son Nhat Airport is submerged after a heavy downpour, as seen in a file photo by VnExpress The Ho Chi Minh City Urban Flood Control Steering Center has asked the municipal administration to allocate VND150 billion ($6.7 million) from the city budget for upgrading the Hy Vong Canal in Tan Binh District, which lies to the city's northwest and home to the country's largest airport. It has also asked the Department of Transport to speed up finalization of procedures for the channel upgrade project. The Hy Vong Canal upgrade project was originally approved by HCMC authorities in 2013. In 2014, the project received funding from the World Bank as part of a bigger flooding management project for HCMC as a whole. The Hy Vong Canal upgrade was expected to cost VND110 billion. However, the World Bank later stopped funding the big project, and the Hy Vong Canal upgrade was put on hold, awaiting new sources of funding. Trash clogs the Hy Vong Canal outside Tan Son Nhat Airport in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo by VnExpress/Huu Nguyen The Hy Vong Canal, along with the A41 and Nhat Ban Canal, are the three drainage canals for the Tan Son Nhat Airport. Residents have been throwing garbage into them for years, and they have become clogged and unable to drain rainwater from the airport effectively, resulting in flooding during heavy rains. The Tan Son Nhat International Airport is a frequent victim of flooding. In 2015, heavy rains flooded several parts of the airport, with water rising to as high as 20 centimeters, threatening to compromise the airports power generators, and prompting employees to barricade the area with sand bags. Littering that blocked a two-kilometer long drainage canal had caused the flooding. Lam Cam Loan (L) and Nguyen Thi Gioi are held at a police station for pickpocketing from a group of foreign tourists. Photo by VnExpress/Quoc Thang Police have detained two women caught pickpocketing a group of foreign tourists in downtown Saigon. During a patrol on Friday night, police officers spotted and followed the women who were loitering suspiciously in front of the Saigon General Hospital near Ben Thanh Market in District 1. They pounced on the women after they stole an iPhone from a Belgian tourist. Police said the women pretended to collide with the group of foreign tourists walking towards the Ben Thanh Market and one of the two quickly picked up the phone from the Belgian woman's handbag. The phone has been returned to the owner, police said. The two suspects, Nguyen Thi Gioi, 57, and Lam Cam Loan, 45, have carried out numerous petty thefts targeting foreign tourists, and are on the the polices blacklist, officers said. A police official returns the stolen phone to a Belgian tourist. Photo by VnExpress/Quoc Thang Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnams largest metropolis, welcomed four million foreigners in the first half of 2018. Yet the citys rising popularity is often undermined by tourist traps, street crimes, traffic chaos and pollution. Kim Bong-eoh from South Korea arrives at a hotel before the reunion. Photos by AFP Dozens of elderly and frail South Koreans are going to meet their family members in North Korea for the first time in 70 years. The South Koreans gathered excitedly Sunday on the eve of the three-day reunion -- the first for three years -- which begins Monday at the Mount Kumgang resort in North Korea, following a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula. Millions of people were swept apart by the 1950-53 Korean War, which divided brothers and sisters, parents and children and husband and wives and perpetuated the division of the peninsula. Among them was Lee Keum-seom, now a tiny and frail 92. She was waiting to see her son for the first time since she left him behind in the turmoil of war. She lost her husband and four-year-old son as their family fled, and boarded a ferry headed for the South with only her infant daughter -- who was accompanying her to the reunion. The son is now 71 and Lee has been told that he will bring his daughter-in-law to the meeting. "I don't know what I'm feeling, whether it's good or bad," Lee told AFP. "I don't know if this is real or a dream." She raised seven children after remarrying in South Korea but always worried about the son she left in the North. Now there are many questions to ask. "Where he lived, who he lived with and who raised him -- because he was only four," she said. Because the conflict ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, the two Koreas have remained technically remain at war. All civilian exchanges -- even mundane family news -- are banned. Time running out Since 2000 the two nations have held 20 rounds of reunions but time is running out for many ageing family members. More than 130,000 Southerners have signed up for a reunion since the events began but most of them have since died. Most of those still waiting are over 80 and the oldest participant this year is 101. With a few people dropping out at the last minute for health reasons, 89 elderly South Koreans -- accompanied by relatives -- gathered in Sokcho city on South Korea's northeast coast to spend the night before heading to the heavily-fortified border that has taken them decades to cross. Lee Keum-seom is one of the few parents reuniting with a child. Some of those selected for this year's reunions dropped out after learning that their parents or siblings had died and that they could only meet more distant relatives whom they had never seen before. But Lee Kwan-joo, 93, said he would meet his nephew and niece to get a sense of the life that his parents and six siblings had led in the North before they died. Lee in 1945 went to school in Seoul, away from his family in Pyongyang, and the war made the separation permanent. "I was delighted to hear about my nephew and niece, even though I don't even know their faces," Lee said. "I just want to ask them how my brothers, sisters and parents passed away." Over the next three days, the participants will spend only about 11 hours -- mostly under the watchful eyes of North Korean agents -- with their relatives in the North. Korean Red Cross workers register participants arriving at a hotel before the reunion. And on Wednesday the families will be separated once again -- in all likelihood for a final time. Families at previous reunions have often found it a bitter-sweet experience. Some complained about the short time they were allowed to spend together. Others lamented the ideological gap between them after decades spent apart. TEHRAN, Iran (AP) The band gathers in a small carpentry shop on the outskirts of Iran's capital, with sawdust still in the air but the buzzing of the jigsaws now exchanged for the soft feedback of an amplifier. A drummer strikes his snare four times and Hakim Ebrahimi opens with the first dreamy notes of "Afghanistan," the sound of their Metallica-inspired rock ballad filling the air. The four rockers that make up the band, known as Arikayn, are Afghan refugees, and their struggles mirror those of millions of other Afghans who have fled to Iran during decades of war. They once had to sneak through a Taliban checkpoint to pay a gig in their home country, and they face discrimination in Iran, but they say that hasn't stopped them from playing the music they love. "This is very hard for all of us, but when we play a song, we become the person that we want to be," bassist Mohammad Rezai said. Iran is home to one of the world's largest and most-protracted refugee crises. More than 3 million Afghans, including over 1 million who entered without legal permission, live in the Islamic Republic, according to United Nations estimates. Afghan refugees began arriving in Iran in 1978, following their country's Communist military coup and the subsequent Soviet occupation. The occupation ended in 1989, giving way to years of civil war and ultimately a Taliban-controlled government. Then came the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks on New York and Washington, and the subsequent U.S.-led invasion targeting al-Qaida leader Osama bin Laden, whom the Taliban harbored. Three of the band's four original members were born in Iran, including female guitarist and vocalist Soraya Hosseini, drummer Akbar Bakhtiary and Rezai. Ebrahimi came to Iran as a child. They formed the band Arikayn, which is Dari for "Lantern," in 2013. "When I was a child, we used Arikayn to find our way in dirt alleyways at night," Ebrahimi said during a recent practice session at the carpentry studio. Arikayn's music recalls Metallica, not the speed-metal shredding of "Master of Puppets" but rather the introspective ballad of "Nothing Else Matters." Ebrahimi, who said his icon is Metallica frontman James Hetfield, evokes his guitar work in the band's song "Afghanistan." "Here is Afghanistan, human's life is cheap; the way to heaven is from here, killing a human is easy here," he sings. By day, Ebrahimi works in the carpentry shop to support himself. Other band members have day jobs as well, though Hosseini relies on help from her mother. Like other Afghans, they face challenges in finding work in a country that had high unemployment even before President Donald Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal and began restoring sanctions. Afghans also face discrimination in Iran. The band says they were turned away from a once-popular Tehran concert series because they were immigrants. Like others in Iran's vibrant arts scene, they must contend with hard-liners who view Western culture as corrupt and object to women performing in public. At one of only two Tehran concerts the band gave, at Tehran University, Hosseini said she was not allowed to play her guitar on stage, and was only able to sing background vocals. "They did not tell me directly that I cannot play the guitar on stage, but they made me understand," she said. "I felt strange because it was my first time on stage. I was stressed out that I might ruin it." That stress only multiplied when the band decided to play a show at a July 2015 music festival in Bamyan, Afghanistan, where Ebrahimi lived until age 10. They had looked forward to performing beneath the ruins of the great Buddha statues of Bamyan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site destroyed by the Taliban in March 2001. To get to the area, some 130 kilometers (80 miles) west of Kabul, however, the band had to cross through Taliban-held territory. They described passing through various Taliban checkpoints, keeping their eyes down. But at one, an accompanying Afghan documentary filmmaker's errant glance caught the attention of a Taliban fighter. "At the checkpoint, we were shocked, and I lost my mind," director Hassan Noori said. "I directly looked into (the gunman's) eyes, but when he saw Soraya in the car, he let us to go." They made it safely to the concert. "It was wonderful, and words cannot describe our feelings when we performed in a large plain in front of the statues of Buddha and more than 2,000 Afghans," Hosseini said. In the time since, however, reality has come crashing down on the group. Some Afghans in Iran are beginning to leave the country over its economic problems. Bakhtiary, the band's drummer, left Iran along with other Afghan migrants hoping to reach Europe. After a time in Turkey, he made it to Italy, where he is now jobless. Rezai, the band's bassist, prefers his work at a nearby tailor shop to practicing. "I need this money so that my family and I can have an easier life," he said. For now, Arikayn's only audience is those who work in Ebrahimi's carpentry shop. On a recent night, the band tore into its song "Stand Up," which challenges the Taliban. "Stand up and don't let the city be full of burqa-wearing women again," Ebrahimi sang. "And stop the sky from turning black from being full of lead." Corruption in Iran has spread and extended to a number of top state officials, the Islamic Republics Vice President has declared. While visiting the governments official news agency, IRNA, Eshaq Jahangiri said on Saturday, August 18, At a time when combatting corruption was possible, it was ignored, and some top officials were lured and drawn in. Expanding on the issue of corruption, Jahangiri said, Fight against corruption needs impartiality, free from factional interests. Implicitly referring to former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and his cabinet (2005-2013), Jahangiri maintained that some top officials were involved in corruption in the past. Apparently, Jahangiri was referring to Ahmadinejads VP, Mohammad Reza Rahimi as well as his deputy for Executive Affairs, Hamid Baqaei, who are currently kept behind bars for financial corruption. However, some of the closest allies of the incumbent, President Hassan Rouhani and his VP have also been detained for corruption, including Rouhanis brother, Hossein Fereydoun and Jahangiris brother, Mehdi. Meanwhile, close relatives of the Judiciary head, Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani and his elder brother, the Speaker of parliament Ali Larijani have also been accused of corruption in the past. In February 2013, President Ahmadinejad played a video in parliament showing Fazel Larijani, brother of Ali and Sadeq Larijani, meeting with one of Ahmadinejads top officials, Tehrans former Prosecutor Saeid Mortazavi, and allegedly seeking a bribe from him. The money allegedly sought was in exchange for gaining Ali Larijanis support for a business deal involving a company linked to Mortazavi. Ali Larijani, presiding over the session, dismissed the video and its content. A day later, Saeid Mortazavi, then the head of Social Security Organization, was detained. Ahmadinejad strongly condemned Mortazavi's arrest, accusing the judiciary of being run as a family institution. Talking about systematic financial corruption in Iran is hardly new. Jahangiris Saturday comments echoed his earlier remarks, immediately after anti-ruling system widespread protests broke out last December-January. At the time, Jahangiri described corruption as a termite that has attacked the countrys body. Several MPs have also repeatedly joined the chorus, denouncing corruption and corrupted officials. We have been corrupted. Corruption brings along more corruption; as poverty is followed by more poverty, Tehrans outspoken MP, Mahmoud Sadeqi lamented on December 17, 2017. The representative of Rasht in parliament, Gholam Ali Jafarzadeh Eiman Abadi also reiterated last April that corruption has infiltrated the infrastructure of the country to the extent that fighting it through legal channels is not possible, anymore. It will be a good idea to start fighting corruption at the leaders (Ayatollah Ali Khamenei) offices, Jafarzadeh Eiman Abadi suggested. Former President Ahmadinejad has also become vociferous in the last few months, accusing the Islamic Republics top officials of financial corruption. Following the footsteps of hardline Ahmadinejad, a prominent reformist, Mostafa Tajzadeh, has also ventured more blunt remarks, calling the Supreme Leader corrupt in practice. Tajzadeh, 61, is a former deputy interior minister and advisor to President Mohammad Khatami, who was in office from 1997-2005. In an open letter addressed to Ahmad Tavvakoli, a prominent conservative former MP from Tehran, Tajzadeh wrote that the Supreme Leader is the flag bearer of the campaign against corruption only in his remarks and speeches, but he and the authorities appointed by him are engaged in corruption. Tajzadeh also singled out the judiciary and the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC), which is directly under Khameneis control, saying the IRGC engages in corruption related to its business interests. Nevertheless, the Islamic Republics Supreme Leader, Khamenei and the head of judiciary, Ayatollah Amoli Larijani have repeatedly denied that corruption has turned into a systematic procedure in the country. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif said on Sunday that a new Iran Action Group in the U.S. State Department aimed to overthrow the Islamic Republic, but would fail. He was speaking on the 65th anniversary of a U.S.-backed coup that overthrew a democratically elected Iranian prime minister, an occasion when the Iranian regime tries to whip up sentiment against the U.S. Comparing fresh U.S. sanctions on Tehran imposed by President Donald Trump with the 1953 coup that ousted nationalist Iranian Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh, Zarif said Tehran will not let history repeat itself. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on August 16 named senior policy adviser Brian Hook as special representative for Iran in charge of the Iran Action Group to coordinate Trump's pressure campaign against the Islamic Republic following Washington's withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal with Tehran. President Trump argues that the nuclear agreement is weak and cannot prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. He also says Iran must stop meddling in the affairs of regional countries, support militant organizations and destabilize the Middle East. Zarif tweeted: "65 years ago today, the US overthrew the popularly elected democratic government of Dr. Mossadegh, restoring the dictatorship & subjugating Iranians for the next 25 years. Now an Action Group dreams of doing the same through pressure, misinformation & demagoguery. Never again." The United States and Britain played a major role in the removal of Mossadegh after he acted to nationalize Iran's oil industry, restoring to power Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi. The Western-backed shah was toppled in Iran's 1979 Islamic Revolution. This was also a time of heightened Communist agitation in Iran that worried the Western powers. Iranian Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani said the coup was the best historical lesson that Americans cannot be trusted. "How dare you talk about the freedom of the Iranian nation with your dark record of the Aug. 19 coup, and the appointment of a puppet totalitarian regime," Larijani was quoted as saying by state news agency IRNA, referring to the shah's rule. "Americans are imposing sanctions but they claim they are supporting freedom, human rights, and global and regional security," Larijani said. The 1953 Anglo-American coup remains an open wound in Irans relations with the West. In March 2000, then-U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright became the first senior American official to acknowledge the American role in the coup, calling it "a setback for Iran's political development". With reporting by Reuters Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 19 Trend: Over the past 24 hours, Armenian armed forces have 87 times violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian troops, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said August 19. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 19 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to provide funds for the construction of Piran-Hamarat-Vijaker road in Lerik region. Under the presidential order, 11.3 million manats will be allocated to the Azerbaijan Highway State Agency for the construction of the road connecting 28 residential areas with a total population of 9,000 people. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 19 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: The Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC) under the US government is resuming activity in Uzbekistan, the Uzbek media reported. This statement was made during the meeting in the Senate of the Parliament of Uzbekistan with the OPIC delegation. The parties stressed that as a result of the visit of Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev to the US in May 2018, a joint statement "The United States and Uzbekistan: Launching a New Era of Strategic Partnership" was adopted. Presently, bilateral "road maps" are being realized to implement the agreements worth about $5 billion. The US delegation stressed that OPIC is resuming activity in Uzbekistan and will help the US business in investing in the Uzbek market through the provision of loans and guarantees. The corporation also renders support in the creation of private and managed investment funds. Besides providing capital, OPIC helps developing countries gain access to management skills and financial expertise, which are key factors in expanding economic development and creating new opportunities for entrepreneurs in developing countries. OPIC representatives stressed that the Uzbek market is considered as promising for making investments, which is primarily contributed to the stability of the political and economic situation in the country, as well as ensuring reliable investor safety. Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 19 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Kazakhstan will be able to state about the completion of the legal formalities for the boundaries, sovereign rights for subsoil use in the Caspian Sea after the location of the junction of the lines of delimitation of the sea-bed segments is determined in the trilateral format with Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan, the official website of the Kazakh prime minister cited Ambassador at Large of the Kazakh Foreign Ministry Zulfiya Amanzholova as saying. The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea regulates the whole range of issues related to the rights and obligations of the coastal countries with respect to the use of the Caspian Sea, including its waters, the bottom, subsoil, natural resources and air space above it, she said. "The issues of delimitation of the water area have been clarified, Amanzholova said. The boundaries of the territorial waters with a width of 15 nautical miles have been determined. Their external borders acquire the status of state ones. Ten-mile fishing zones are adjacent to the territorial waters, where each country has exclusive rights to fishery." Fishery will be carried out on the basis of the agreed national quotas, she added. There is a common water area outside the fishing zones. Outside the sea borders, there will be freedom of navigation for ships with flags of coastal countries." The ambassador also stressed that Kazakhstan has determined the state border along the entire territory because if before the signing of the Convention the country had legally stipulated land borders, the Convention also allows Kazakhstan to determine the limits of sovereignty at sea. As for the delineation of the Caspian seabed for subsoil use, according to the document, each country enjoys sovereign rights for subsoil use within its bottom sector. Up till now, the seabed and subsoil of the Caspian Sea in its northern and central parts have been delineated. Kazakhstan entered into a corresponding agreement with Russia in 1998, as well as a protocol to it in 2002. The demarcation of the seabed between Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan was fixed in the agreement of 2001 and the protocol to it in 2003. There is also the Kazakh-Azerbaijani-Russian agreement on the point of junction of the lines of delimitation of adjacent sections of the Caspian Sea bottom, signed in 2003. The agreement of Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan on the delimitation of the seabed was fixed by an agreement in 2014. Moreover, great attention at the summit was paid to environmental issues. On the basis of general approaches to the preservation of the natural environment of the Caspian Sea, in 2003 the parties concluded a framework convention on the protection of the natural environment of the Caspian Sea, the so-called Tehran Convention. According to the Aktau Convention, any activity that damages biodiversity is prohibited in the Caspian Sea. The parties also agreed on the rules for the implementation of scientific research in the Caspian Sea. The signing ceremony was held on August 12 at the 5th Summit of the Heads of State of the Caspian Countries in the Kazakh city of Aktau. The Convention on the Legal Status of the Caspian Sea was signed by President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, President of Kazakhstan Nursultan Nazarbayev, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov. Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 19 By Matanat Nasibova Trend: Azerbaijan plans to send two export missions to the UAE by the end of 2018 in order to expand the geography of exports of its products to the Persian Gulf markets, the Trade Representative of Azerbaijan in Dubai Elnur Aliyev told Trend. "In particular, negotiations continue on the export of fruits and vegetables, fruit juices, honey, milk powder, meat, tea, nuts to the Persian Gulf and access the trade networks in the region," Aliyev said. He noted that the main purpose of export missions with the participation of local producers is to promote the national brand "Made in Azerbaijan" in the markets of the UAE and other Persian Gulf countries. The trade representative reminded that last year the export missions of Azerbaijan were sent to Dubai and Saudi Arabia. "Now the parties are negotiating in order to finally determine the place and date of the meetings. Last year, the export missions were sent in November and December, and most likely this year the visit of the missions will fall on the same period," the trade representative said. He said today there are many medium and small enterprises in Azerbaijan that want to enter the Dubai market, so more than 10 Azerbaijani companies are expected to participate in the upcoming export mission to Dubai. The trade representative noted that the quality of Azerbaijani agricultural products, which are exported to Dubai, is very high, but given that the Dubai market is very developed, in addition to quality, a lot of attention is paid to the stability of supply. "In my opinion, this an important criterion for the successful promotion of goods and products in the markets of the UAE. And our companies must catch up with the rest in order to achieve the desired results. Azerbaijan has done serious work by stating its export potential, and agreements have been reached not only with the UAE, but also with the leading European countries. It is planned to hold negotiations in order to expand the geography of exports of products, in particular in the markets of the Persian Gulf countries," he said. Elnur Aliyev noted that Azerbaijani products have already been demonstrated at exhibitions in Dubai (Gulfood 2017) and Germany (Prowein), where two dozen Azerbaijani companies participated. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 19 Trend: Director general of Durian Energy Inc. said the private German firm plans to maintain its presence in Iran despite new US sanctions against Tehran as it is working on a major solar farm project in the country. "Despite the sanctions, we have no intention to leave Iran and we will stay in Iran," Uwe Jorg Kuhnle said, Tasnim news agency reported. He added that Durian has invested $27 million in the sector of renewable energy to build a 20-MW solar farm in Iran and for this reason they will not halt their work in the Islamic Republic. "We are opposed to any unilateral and personal decision," the senior official stressed, apparently referring to US President Donald Trumps decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers and impose new sanctions. "The US sanctions have created a confusing situation for foreign investors, particularly in the sector of renewable energies," Kuhnle said. "We have currently a 100-MW solar farm project underway in the country," he further said. Iran is one of the most energy-intensive countries in the world, where inefficient energy use amid consumer subsidies has resulted in a per capita energy consumption that is 10 times greater than that in the European Union. According to the Renewable Energy Organization of Iran, there are only 15 wind farms in Iran, where 100,000 megawatts of potential capacity from wind alone exists. On May 8, the US president pulled his country out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a nuclear agreement achieved in Vienna in 2015 after two years of negotiations among Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany). After Donald Trump withdrew the US from the deal, his administration moved to re-implement the previous sanctions against Iran. The United States reimposed stiff economic sanctions on Iran on Monday, ratcheting up pressure on the Islamic Republic despite statements of deep dismay from European allies. A first set of reimposed US sanctions affect financial transactions that involve US dollars, Iran's automotive sector, the purchase of commercial planes and metals, including gold. A second batch of US sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector and central bank are to be reimposed in early November. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 19 By Anvar Mammadov Trend: Azerbaijan's tourism potential will be presented at exhibitions in Asia, Chairman of the Azerbaijan Tourism Association (AzTA) Nahid Bagirov told Trend. He noted that currently the Association together with the State Tourism Agency is preparing to participate in two exhibitions in Pakistan and Singapore. "In October [2-4], we will jointly take part in a tourism exhibition in Pakistan [Pakistan Travel Mart]. Then, in the middle of the month [October 17-19] we will participate in an exhibition in Singapore [ITB Asia]. I think the participation in these exhibitions will significantly increase attention to Azerbaijan in Asian countries," Bagirov said. He added that currently a lot of work is being done to promote the tourism potential of Azerbaijan. "Our offices are functioning intensively in different countries. The State Tourism Agency of Azerbaijan has also joined this action very arduously, doing a great job to promote Azerbaijan as a tourism destination together with us and separately," Bagirov said. In January-June 2018, 1.325 million foreigners and stateless persons from 189 countries visited Azerbaijan, which is 10.2 percent more than in the same period of 2017. Baku, Azerbaijan, Aug. 19 Trend: Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan reaffirmed intention to bring the mutual trade turnover to $1 billion, Kyrgyz national mews agency Kabar reported. During a meeting of the Kyrgyz-Kazakh intergovernmental council in Astana, Kazakh Prime Minister Muhammedkalyi Abylgaziev expressed opinion on the prospects for cooperation in the trade sphere between the two countries. "Trade relations are a promising and profitable direction in cooperation, he said. I think that it is necessary to apply all effective mechanisms to bring trade turnover between our countries to $1 billion. In his turn, Kazakh Prime Minister Bakytzhan Sagintayev stressed that the interaction between the two countries on the state border is developing steadily. Sagintayev added that the Kazakh government always pays much attention to strengthening of economic and good-neighbourly relations with Kyrgyzstan. "Today, we see a positive trend in our trade and economic relations, he said. In 2017 mutual trade increased by 13 percent. I think that it is necessary to ensure further intensification of trade relations based on mutually beneficial supplies and establishment of joint ventures." Sagintayev emphasized that the implementation of the road map will undoubtedly lead to an increase in mutual trade between the countries. "The newly created Kazakhstan-Kyrgyzstan business council should become one of the most effective tools for resolving the tasks, he added. Its first meeting will be held by the end of this year. We pay special attention to the development of inter-regional trade and economic relations between the two countries. As part of the Almaty-Bishkek subcommittee for economic development, we started to implement joint projects to create modern agricultural wholesale markets." Abylgaziev said that the governments of the two countries should focus on eliminating all obstacles that affect the level of trade turnover between the two countries. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 19 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: Turkmenistan is preparing to hold a summit of the heads of the founding states of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) in Avaza national seaside tourism zone on August 24, Altyn Asyr TV channel reported. The meetings of the IFAS Interstate Commission on Sustainable Development, the Interstate Commission for Water Coordination and IFAS Board are planned to be held on the eve of the forum. During the recent governmental meeting, Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov said that as IFAS chairing country, Turkmenistan sets the full assistance in strengthening and developing effective cooperation in improving the socio-economic and environmental situation in the Aral Sea, as well as rational use of water resources and environmental protection as a priority, according to Neutral Turkmenistan newspaper. The Aral problem affected northern Turkmenistan. Its Dashoguz region has been adversely affected by the environmental disaster, big problems arose there in regard with providing the population with drinking water, combating salinization of cropland. The salt sand storm from the Aral Sea covered Turkmenistan and reached even its capital at the end of May this year. Regional media report that a salt sand storm came from Uzbekistan from the Aral region. Reportedly, the dust particles contained nitrogen fertilizers, which accumulated for decades at the bottom of the Aral Sea. Established in the 1990s by Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, IFAS aims to finance joint projects and programs to save the Aral Sea and improve the environmental situation in the Aral Sea region. IFAS was granted an observer status in the UN General Assembly in December 2008. Ashgabat put forward earlier an initiative to develop a special UN program for the Aral Sea. Ashgabat, Turkmenistan, Aug. 19 By Huseyn Hasanov Trend: The preparation for the state visit of Kyrgyzstans President Sooronbay Jeenbekov to Turkmenistan scheduled for the next week is underway, Turkmen Dovlet Khabarlary (TDH) state news agency reported. President Jeenbekov is expected to attend the summit of the heads of the founding states of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea (IFAS) in Avaza national seaside tourism zone on August 24. A wide range of issues of interstate relations will be on the agenda of the next high-level talks. Following the visit, a number of documents, aimed at bringing the Turkmenistan-Kyrgyzstan cooperation to a new level that meets modern realities and the existing potential were signed. President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov stressed that one of the key vectors of Turkmenistans foreign policy is the strengthening and expansion of a fruitful dialogue with neighboring countries, including Kyrgyzstan. Today, there are new perspectives and opportunities for mutually beneficial bilateral relations that meet the interests of common prosperity, the Turkmen president said. Kyrgyzstan was interested in import of Turkmen liquefied gas, Kyrgyzstans representatives said at the meeting of the Turkmen-Kyrgyz intergovernmental commission in Ashgabat. Kyrgyzstan is negotiating with the State Commodity and Raw Materials Exchange of Turkmenistan to find ways to increase trade turnover. Turkmenistan is ready to consider the possibilities of joint mining and processing of minerals in Kyrgyzstan. The parties also discuss the prospects for partnership in the field of industry and transport. Turkmenistan holds a key position in the region for natural gas supplies. China is a big importer of Turkmen gas. Ashgabat and Bishkek are involved in a major project to deliver Central Asian gas to China, primarily from Turkmenistan. China's CNPC company has been purchasing natural fuel in the region since 2009, after launching the first two gas pipeline branches (A and B) beginning from Turkmenistan and passing through Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan. The third branch (C) was put into operation recently, which also runs along the same route. A project is being developed currently for the construction of an additional fourth branch (D) along new transit route - through Uzbekistan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. Baku, Azerbaijan, August 19 Trend: Europe must do more and take more practical measures to save the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underscored. Europe has repeatedly said that the nuclear deal with Iran is crucial for the security of the region, Europe and the entire world, Zarif said on August 19, according to ISNA. He added that if the Europeans are concerned about their security, they should do more and invest to save the deal. They must pay for it, but are not prepared yet, he said. Europe has taken some measures like endorsing the update of the blocking statute annex on the nuclear deal with Iran, Zarif said, calling on Europe not just to take a stance and show a more pragmatic approach to the JCPOA. The "blocking statute" forbids EU firms from complying with US sanctions, allowing them to recover damages from such penalties and nullifying any foreign court rulings against them. The blocking statute went into effect on August 6 after the first set of US sanctions took effect. The second set is due November 4, just before US legislative elections. Iranian authorities will introduce protectionist measures to support the nation's tourism industry in the wake of unilateral US sanctions on Iran, Mehr news agency reported. Iranian media outlet cited Ali Asghar Mounesan, the Iranian vice president and head of Iran's Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization (ICHTO), who announced that passports of foreign tourists visiting Iran will not have to be stamped. Proposed legislation for the move has been drafted and approved by the head of ICHTO and main the country's Ministries. "While the statistics provided by immigration police of Iran show that the number of foreign tourists visiting Iran has increased by 38 percent in the first four months, the number of European visitors show a slight decline which has affected the functionality of our 4- and 5-star hotels," Ali Asghar Mounesan was quoted as saying by Mehr news agency. Mounesan stressed that the move will allow an easing of "tourists' concerns about visiting Iran because of US sanctions." Last year, Russia and Iran signed an agreement on visa-free travel for tourist groups from five to 50 people. Moscow and Tehran have simplified visa rules in place for their nationals business people, scientists, educators and several other categories of travelers that has been in force since February 2016. The resumption of sanctions against Iran by the administration of US President Donald Trump began in May when the US withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), more commonly known as the Iran nuclear agreement. On August 7, Trump imposed the first package of sanctions against Iran, targeting the country's purchase of US dollar banknotes, trade in gold and other metals, as well as transactions involving its national currency. A second package is set to be introduced by Trump on November 4 that, among other things, aims to hit Iran's energy sector and oil exports. On Monday, Iran Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ruled out the possibility of either waging a war or engaging in negotiations with Trump amid escalated Tehran-Washington tensions. Tehran has noted that in order to pave the way for talks with Iran, the Trump administration must return to the JCPOA Iran nuclear deal. Other signatories to the JCPOA, including China, France, Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the European Union, have agreed that the historic agreement must be preserved. A conflagration at Aubervilliers on Sunday left at least 19 people seriously injured, including five children who were in a "life-threatening" condition, Sputnik reported citing AFP. Several police officers were also hurt in the huge fire near Paris, which was later brought under control, a Paris fire service spokesman was quoted by AFP. The blaze started near the City Hall, according to the Europe1 radio station. Nearly a hundred firefighters have fought against the blaze in the attic of a building with two floors at Aubervilliers. Seven individuals, including five children, are reportedly in a serious condition. Local authorities launched an invisitigation into the cause of the blaze. According to AFP, a fire in a housing complex nearly a month ago in Aubervilliers killed a mother and her three children, leaving nine others injured. At least 23 children rescued from Boko Haram terrorists in restive northeast Nigeria's Borno state have been handed over to the United Nations children's fund (UNICEF) for rehabilitation, the Nigerian army said on Saturday, Xinhua reported. The exercise was in conformity with international best practice, Abbah Dikko, theatre commander of Operation Lafiya Dole, said at a brief ceremony in northeastern city of Maiduguri. The gesture was in line with the commitment of the army to promote civil military relationship toward achieving lasting peace in the northeast, he added. In his remarks, Geoffrey Ijumba, UNICEF chief of field office in Borno state, who received the minors, welcomed the release of the 23 boys and girls aged between 12 and 17 years from the military custody. He said UNICEF was working with the military and Borno government through the ministry of women affairs to provide medical attention, psychological and social supports to victims displaced by the Boko Haram conflicts. Pernille Ironside, UNICEF's Nigeria acting representative, stressed that the UN would continue to work with the military and other authorities to support the reintegration of all children released by the military. Ironside stressed the need to support these children to fulfill their hopes and aspirations, saying the organisation will not relent until there are no more children in custody. The West African nation has lost more than 20,000 lives in the northern region since 2009 to the Boko Haram insurgency. Malta has rescued a group of 61 migrants who were on board a boat in distress in the Mediterranean, the Maltese army said Saturday, Daily Sabah reported. "Their dinghy is drifting and the motor isn't working. The boat is also showing signs of deflation," a government spokesman said earlier, noting that one of the migrants had been unconscious. The rescue came hours after Italy's deputy prime minister uploaded a picture of the packed dinghy heading north in the Mediterranean. "Exclusive images of a dinghy with 70 immigrants in a boat with a powerful engine, in Maltese waters. Will someone do something to intervene or will they send them once again towards Italy?" Salvini said in a tweet. Italy and Malta have been at loggerheads over who should assume responsibility for migrants rescued at sea. The incident occurred on late Saturday when unknown gunmen opened fire at people in five saloons, Sputnik reported citing Excelsior media outlet. Within recent several years Mexico faced a wave of violence caused by clashes between drug cartels struggling for control over the transit of cocaine to the United States. Since the beginning of 2018, almost 16,000 people have been killed in Mexico, which is 18 percent more than in the same period of 2017. On Wednesday, the US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) announced the creation of the special US-Mexico joint team that will be based in Chicago to investigate and target drug lords and cartel financing. Over the past months, Mexico has also seen a number of cases of attacks on local mayors and politicians. In one of the recent cases earlier in July, two politicians from the young Morena party founded by Mexicos leftist president-elect were killed were shot dead. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo expressed condolences over the death of Former UN Secretary-General, Sputnik reported. I am saddened to hear of the passing of former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan and express my condolences to the Annan family and to the people of his home country of Ghana, Pompeo said in a statement, as quoted by the US Department of State. The US official pointed out that Annan had spent his life advocating for peace and human dignity. Even after leaving his post as Secretary-General he embodied the mission of the United Nations, by sowing the seeds of peace as Chair of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders committed to advancing the cause of peace and promoting human rights around the world. I join the international community in remembering his remarkable service to the world, Pompeo added. Annan was born in 1938 and served as the head of the United Nations in 1997-2006, winning the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. In 2007, Annan founded the Kofi Annan Foundation, a non-profit focused on support for democracy, fighting hunger and drug trafficking, and nurturing youth leadership. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed a Muslim Eid holiday ceasefire announcement by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, saying that Washington is ready to facilitate direct peace talks between the authorities and the Taliban, Sputnik reported. Afghan President declared the latest ceasefire in a televised broadcast on Sunday on the condition that the Taliban reciprocated. "I once again announce a ceasefire from tomorrow until the prophet's birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate," Ashraf Ghani said in a statement quoted by AFP. The announcement of the three-month ceasefire followed a week of a violent fighting across the country which saw the Taliban launch a massive assault against the provincial capital Ghazni. "The last ceasefire in Afghanistan revealed the deep desire of the Afghan people to end the conflict, and we hope another ceasefire will move the country closer to sustainable security," Mike Pompeo said in a statement quoted by AFP. "The United States and our international partners support this initiative by the Afghan people and the Afghan government, and we call on the Taliban to participate," Pompeo said in a statement. Meanwhile, the Taliban reportedly promised to release hundreds of Afghan prisoners, but did not respond to Kabul's unilateral declaration of ceasefire. Particularly, the Taliban militants said that they would release the prisoners so that "they can share the happiness of Eid [Eid-al-Adha, an Islamic holiday, Festival of Sacrifice], with their families and friends," according to the TOLOnews broadcaster. The KSEBL plans to generate 163 MW of electricity by constructing a dam 5km above the Athirappilly Waterfalls on the Chalakudy river. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. BEIJING, Aug 19 (Reuters) - BMW will give the possibility of raising its stake in its Chinese joint venture careful consideration, China's official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday, citing a company executive. Potential for the German carmaker to boost its Chinese stake was opened up when the National Development and Reform Commission said in April that the country would scrap foreign ownership limits on commercial vehicle manufacturers in 2020 and lift restrictions on passenger vehicle companies in 2022. "For us it is clearly an important discussion and it needs to be done carefully. We move forward carefully and seriously," Thomas Becker, vice president of governmental affairs at BMW, was quoted as saying by Xinhua in response to being asked if the company would increase its holding in BMW Brilliance Automotive from 50 percent to at least 75 percent. Becker told Xinhua that Beijing's new policy "allows more flexibility in the way Chinese companies work with foreign manufacturers". BMW and its partner in the Shenyang-based joint venture, Brilliance Automotive Group Holdings, last month agreed to expand production capacity at the venture's two Chinese sites to a total of 520,000 BMW brand vehicles in 2019. (Reporting by Tom Daly Editing by David Goodman) TOKYO, Aug 17 (Reuters) - * Japan has widened its stricter quarantine to travellers from China's Henan and Heilongjiang provinces after its Asian neighbour's second case of African swine fever (ASF) was reported in those areas, an official at Japan's ministry of agriculture, forestry and fisheries said on Friday * China found its second case of ASF on Thursday at a slaughterhouse in Zhengzhou in Henan province, stirring concerns about the spread of the deadly infection across the world's largest pig herd * Japan had already tightened quarantine operations at airports and seaports earlier this month, especially for travellers from Liaoning province and surrounding areas, where China's first case of ASF was reported * Japan also temporarily suspended imports of heat-treated Chinese pork right after the first outbreak of ASF, but it has resumed imports after confirming that Chinese processing facilities which export their products to Japan were complying with the required conditions * Japan already bans raw pork imports from China due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease (Reporting by Yuka Obayashi; Editing by Tom Hogue) Hypersonic technology -- weapons and interceptors able to travel at least five times the speed of sound -- are a top Pentagon priority and an area where China and Russia are perceived to be ahead of U.S. military efforts. The Defense Department has committed to spend aggressively to catch up. Based on initial contract awards, it's becoming clear that Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) is outpacing the competition in the battle to win the lion's share of those awards. Lockheed Martin earlier this month was awarded a $480 million contract to develop a hypersonic air-launched, rapid response weapon (ARRW). The award could be worth as much as $780 million over five years, assuming the company is authorized to move into low-rate initial production. Lockheed beat out Boeing (NYSE: BA), Raytheon (NYSE: RTN), and Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) for the award. It's the second major hypersonic win for Lockheed Martin in recent months, following a $928 million award back in April to develop a separate hypersonic conventional strike weapon (HCSW). Lockheed has also been working with NASA since 2014 to create a hypersonic version of its SR-72 spy plane, an award worth $892 million, and is developing a high-speed commercial prototype. Hypersonic spy plane rendering. A rendering of a hypersonic spy plane design created by Lockheed Martin. Image source: Lockheed Martin. The Air Force views the HCSW approach as using existing technologies that have not been integrated for air-launched hypersonic weapons, while the ARRW approach is focused on developing new technologies. A clear leader If the awards offer the impression that Lockheed Martin is out ahead of its rivals in hypersonic development, the commentary accompanying the decision leaves little doubt. In a "justification and approval" document announcing the latest contract, military officials said that Lockheed alone is already far along in developing the air-launched booster and ordnance subsystems necessary for the ARRW program, adding that "Lockheed Martin has also already overcome industrywide staffing challenges." Story continues In short, "no other contractor has this level of design maturity," according to the document. The government concluded it would have had to absorb up to $118 million in duplicate development costs had it selected a company other than Lockheed Martin. Secretary of the Air Force Heather A. Wilson, in a statement announcing the latest award, made it clear that contractor readiness is an important factor. "We are going to go fast and leverage the best technology available to get hypersonic capability to the warfighter as soon as possible," Wilson said. Is there time to catch up? All is not lost for the other contractors. Northrop, for example, is a subcontractor on the Lockheed Martin Tactical Boost Glide program that is now part of the ARRW. And while the exact size of the potential opportunity for the industry is not yet known, these awards that Lockheed Martin has won are likely to be just the beginning. The fiscal 2018 omnibus spending bill passed by Congress included more than $16 billion for munitions, about $2 billion more than requested, and fiscal 2019 spending will rise to $20 billion. Only a fraction of that is for hypersonic research and development. But with Russia claiming to have already deployed a hypersonic system, and China said to be nearing that point, it seems like a mini arms race has begun. It's likely the Pentagon will do what it can to make sure the domestic hypersonic competition does not become a one-horse race. Military officials in the documentation supporting the ARRW award said that "potential competition may become available" as other contracts are awarded in hypersonics, suggesting that there are still opportunities for Northrop, Raytheon, and Boeing to get involved. More than just the F-35 Regardless of whether others catch up, hypersonics should go a long way toward making a bull case for shares of Lockheed Martin. Hypersonics are part of a broader missile and missile-defense operation that is developing into a powerful second leg for the company. Its growth should help counter fears over the company's reliance on the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, which currently accounts for about 30% of total company revenue and is only now beginning to ramp toward maturity. Lockheed Martin's THAAD anti-ballistic-missile system is the deterrent of choice for the United States and its allies for dealing with potential hostile ballistic launches from North Korea and elsewhere. Lockheed also was recently awarded up to $2.9 billion to develop and begin manufacturing a fleet of infrared satellites to replace an existing system put in place to provide early detection and warning. The company's second-quarter results came in ahead of expectations in part because, the company says, it is currently winning a lot more competitions than it had forecast. During the conference call to discuss results, management said that some of those wins were in classified areas, which likely include a healthy amount of missile and missile defense work. Combine missiles with the F-35 ramp and add in other opportunities --including the potential for increased sales from its Sikorsky helicopter unit, an F-22 update, and even continued interest in the aging F-16 -- and it's clear Lockheed Martin is working on a powerful arsenal. Its shares aren't cheap, up more than 50% over the past three years and trading at a defense-high 35 times earnings. But it increasingly appears the company's operations have the growth potential needed to justify its share price. Expect shares of Lockheed Martin to maintain cruise velocity. More From The Motley Fool Lou Whiteman 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. state of the union address Charles Rex Arbogast/AP History suggests that the Republican Party would lose control of the House but keep the Senate in the midterm elections, according to Steve Rattner, the CEO of Willett Advisors. "Every single arrow points to a significant Democratic victory in the fall," he said. Rattner is basing his forecasts on the historical relationship between a president's approval ratings and the number of seats his party keeps at the midterm elections, and the number of Republican lawmaker retirements. The implication for Trump's economic agenda, which has so far produced the biggest tax overhaul in decades, is that his administration would lose its ability to achieve any similar feat through legislation, Rattner said. The pollsters, the pundits, the betting sites, and even President Donald Trump's Twitter account are just a few of the sources for predictions for the 2018 midterm elections. But Steve Rattner is transfixed on his charts. The former private-equity investor and lead adviser to the Presidential Task Force on the Auto Industry is predicting that Democrats will take control of the House of Representatives while the GOP retains the Senate. "The data just seems unbelievably compelling," Rattner told Business Insider in a recent interview. The implication for Trump's economic agenda, he said, would be a glass-half-full-half-empty situation that would paralyze Trump's ability to achieve anything through the legislature. "He would not be able to get a bill passed essentially, all legislation would probably stop," Rattner said. "If this were a couple of decades ago, the two sides would recognize that they have to work together and they'd produce a bunch of compromise legislation. In this environment and this is what you saw under Obama after he lost control of Capitol Hill I think it's more likely that legislation would just simply stop." Story continues Trump, however, would still have administrative apparatus under his control. The Environmental Protection Agency, for example, has moved to roll back fuel efficiency rules enacted by the Obama administration. Trump would also retain the power of his pen, through executive orders. The flipside is that a future president could undo those actions with strokes of their own pen. So far, Trump has signed 54 executive orders on average per year, the highest number since Jimmy Carter was president, according to data compiled by the University of California Santa Barbara. The charts First is the correlation between a president's approval rating and the number of seats his party loses during the midterm elections. The lower the approval rating was, the more seats were lost. And, only three times since the Civil War has a president's party gained seats during a midterm election. The red boxes on the chart below represent a midterm election, plotted by the president's approval rating and the number of House seats gained or lost. Based on Gallup's approval rating, at 39%, Rattner sees the GOP losing as many as 60 seats. 5b6b23ca2154a321008b4c95 750 stevenrattner.com The other factor that Rattner believes plays to Democrats in this election cycle is the number of resignations from the Republican Party. The chart below shows that Republicans are exiting Congress not just in greater numbers than Democrats, but at a rate not seen since at least the mid-1970s. Rattner further observed that the majority of incumbents 85% on average are reelected, adding to his view that the exodus of Republican lawmakers would be costly in November. 5b6b23e1959f342d008b4d2b 750 stevenrattner.com "Every single arrow points to a significant Democratic victory in the fall," Rattner said. "Trump will be able to continue to try to do things administratively," he said. "But his ability to do anything legislatively to pass another tax bill, for example will be zero." See also: NOW WATCH: How LeBron James makes and spends his millions See Also: (Repeats story published Thursday to widen distribution) By Stephen Nellis Aug 17 (Reuters) - Nvidia Corp dominates chips for training computers to think like humans, but it faces an entrenched competitor in a major avenue for expansion in the artificial intelligence chip market: Intel Corp. Nvidia chips dominate the AI training chip market, where huge amounts of data help algorithms "learn" a task such how to recognize a human voice, but one of the biggest growth areas in the field will be deploying computers that implement the "learned" tasks. Intel dominates data centers where such tasks are likely to be carried out. "For the next 18 to 24 months, it's very hard to envision anyone challenging Nvidia on training," said Jon Bathgate, analyst and tech sector co-lead at Janus Henderson Investors. But Intel processors already are widely used for taking a trained artificial intelligence algorithm and putting it to use, for example by scanning incoming audio and translating that into text-based requests, what is called "inference." Intel's chips can still work just fine there, especially when paired with huge amounts of memory, said Bruno Fernandez-Ruiz, chief technology officer of Nexar Inc, an Israeli startup using smartphone cameras to try to prevent car collisions. That market could be bigger than the training market, said Abhinav Davuluri, an analyst at Morningstar, who sees an inference market of $11.8 billion by 2021, versus $8.2 billion for training. Intel estimates that the current market for AI chips is about $2.5 billion, evenly split between inference and training. Nvidia, which posted an 89 percent rise in profit Thursday, hasn't given a specific estimate for the inference chip market but CEO Jensen Huang said on an earnings call with analysts on Thursday that believes it "is going to be a very large market for us." Nvidia sales of inference chips are rising. In May, the company said it had doubled its shipments of them year-over-year to big data center customers, though it didn't give a baseline. Earlier this month, Alphabet Inc's Google Cloud unit said it had adopted Nvidia's inference chips and would rent them out to customers. Story continues But Nvidia faces a headwind selling inference chips because the data center market is blanketed with the CPUs Intel has been selling for 20 years. Intel is working to persuade customers that for both technical and business reasons, they should stick with what they have. Take Taboola, a New York-based company that helps web publishers recommend related content to readers and that Intel has touted as an example of how its chips remain competitive. The company uses Nvidia's training chips to teach its algorithm to learn what to recommend and considered Nvidia's inference chips to make the recommendations. Speed matters because users leave slow-loading pages. But Taboola ended up sticking with Intel for reasons of speed and cost, said Ariel Pisetzky, the company's vice president of information technology. Nvidia's chip was far faster, but time spent shuffling data back and forth to the chip negated the gains, Pisetzky said. Second, Intel dispatched engineers to help Taboola tweak its computer code so that the same servers could handle more than twice as many requests. "My options were, you already have the servers. They're in the racks," he said. "Working with Intel, I can now cut back my new server purchases by a factor of two because I can use my existing servers two times better." Nvidia has been working to solve those challenges. The company has rolled out software this year to make its inference chips far faster to help overcome the issue of moving data back and forth. And it announced a new family of chips based on a technology called Turing earlier this week that it says will be 10 times faster still, Huang said on the analyst call Thursday. "We are actively working with just about every single Internet service provider in the world to incorporate inference acceleration into their stack," Huang said. He gave the example that "voice recognition is only useful if it responds in a relatively short period of time. And our platform is just really, really excellent for that." (Reporting by Stephen Nellis; Editing by Peter Henderson and Lisa Shumaker) Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. President Donald Trump has used tariffs as a weapon to negotiate better trade arrangements. It hasnt worked, so far and many economists say it never will but at least Trump is addressing an economic problem with an economic tactic. He veered outside those guard rails, however, when he doubled tariffs on imports of Turkish steel and aluminum. Turkey is suffering a self-made financial crisis, with its currency plunging and foreign investors bailing out. Trump piled on with tariffs that will hurt Turkish manufacturers but not because it can plausibly generate some economic benefit to the United States. Instead, Trump seems to be trying to use tariffs to settle a personal score with Turkeys tough-guy president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and to score points with a political constituency Trump deems crucial to his base. Tariffs are dangerous enough as an economic tool. Its abusive and reckless to use them for political purposes. For that reason, this weeks Trump-o-meter reads WEAK, our third lowest rating. Source: Yahoo Finance Heres the backstory on the Turkish tariffs. Turkey is the worlds eighth-biggest steel producer, and it ships about $1 billion worth of steel to the United States each year, along with a small amount of aluminum. So the Trump tariffs now 50% on Turkish steel imports, and 20% on aluminum will hurt Turkey. And Trump knows it. Story continues American relations with Turkey have been deteriorating for some time, for a variety of reasons. Erdogan is irate at the United States for providing safe harbor to a Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, he blames for helping foment the 2016 coup attempt that almost swept Erdogan from power. Erdogan wants the U.S. to extradite the cleric, which it has refused to do. After the 2016 coup attempt, Turkish forces arrested an American pastor who lives in Turkey, Andrew Brunson, and charged him with participating in the plot. Brunsons supporters say he had nothing to do with the uprising and is a pawn Erdogan thinks he might be able to exchange for Gulen. Evangelical groups in the U.S. have taken up Brunsons cause (even though he has lived in Turkey for more than 20 years), and pressured Trump to find a way to free him. Trump regards evangelicals as a key part of his political base, so he has worked the problem with Erdogan. In July, Trump apparently thought he had worked out a deal to free Brunson, and appease his evangelical supporters. But the deal never materialized. An angry Trump responded by ordering sanctions on two Turkish government ministers, and threatening worse. Worse arrived on August 10, when Trump ordered the doubling of the steel and aluminum tariffs on Turkey not even bothering to cite any economic reason for the move. He even seemed to gloat about Turkeys economic freefall, tweeting that the Turkish lira, slides rapidly against our very strong Dollar! The United States isnt responsible for Turkeys economic problems but it is now responsible for making them worse. Erdogan is one of the Middle Easts more repressive strongmen, charged with rampant human-rights abuses. But Turkey is also a NATO ally and an important customer of European banks. If anything, its in Americas interest to help stabilize the Turkish economy, rather than further weakening it. Turkey should free Brunson, but tariffs arent the right way to apply leverage. Diplomacy is. The tariffs, in a way, even help Erdogan, by giving a legitimate reason to blame Turkeys woes on the United States. Trump should holster his tariffs altogether, because there are better ways to address problems with trade. But if hes going to wield tariffs, he should at least limit them to economic disputes, not political ones. Confidential tip line: rickjnewman@yahoo.com. Click here to get Ricks stories by email. Read more: Rick Newman is the author of four books, including Rebounders: How Winners Pivot from Setback to Success. Follow him on Twitter: @rickjnewman Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) has raised the death from a suicide bombing at an education center in Kabul to 40. Afghan authorities initially reported 48 were killed in the August 15 attack but revised the number down to 34. But in a statement on August 18,UNAMA said it had verified that 40 students were killed and 67 wounded after a suicide bomber detonated his explosives inside a classroom in the Mawoud Academy in Dasht-e Barchi, a predominately Shiite neighborhood in western Kabul. An attack deliberately targeting students can only be described as a cowardly act of terror, said Tadamichi Yamamoto, the UN secretary-general's special representative for Afghanistan and the head of UNAMA, in a statement on August 18. This atrocity not only robbed these young women and men of their futures but also deprived Afghanistan of all the benefits that their education and potential would have brought this country, he added. The Islamic State (IS) extremist group claimed responsibility for the attack. IS extremists have carried out similar attacks in the past, hitting Shi'ite mosques, schools, and cultural centers. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close Yazidi refugee, Ashwaq Haji Hami, 19, says she has returned to Iraq for fear that her alleged Islamic State tormentor could harm her in Germany. The Rev. Darrell Scott speaks inside the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City in December 2016. Denver-based Frontier Airlines on Tuesday began a fare sale with one-way ticket prices, tax included, from Colorado Springs Airport to eight d 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. City Editor Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids. Steam rises from cooling towers at the American Electric Power Co. coal-fired power plant in Winfield, W.Va., on July 18. The city of Colorado Springs announced Thursday it received a $35,000 grant to help complete the Legacy Loop, the long-envisioned trail connecting residents to the heart of town on foot or bike. The sum, the largest among six grants issued nationwide by the Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, will help fill a key gap in the vision of a 10-mile path that avoids roads. At the top of the Legacy Loop's phase-one priorities is the concrete build-out of the Rock Island trail on the city's north side. Extending the east-west trail roughly 1.5 miles would connect it with the Pikes Peak Greenway and Shooks Run Trail spanning south to downtown, said Sarah Bryarly, the project lead with Colorado Springs Parks, Recreation and Cultural Services. The mood was light as attendees enjoyed hot dogs, cold drinks and a tractor pull during the fourth annual Hanover Days on Sunday. The festivities belied the recent hardships residents in the area experienced in mid-April, when the 117 fire scorched 42,000 acres in the Hanover area, destroying 18 homes and causing $1.3 million in losses, El Paso County officials said. Soon after the blaze erupted, residents began helping each other. They offered to put up displaced neighbors places to sleep, help building fences, picking up debris and caring for pets, in addition to a community yard sale and auction in late May with proceeds going to the Hanover Fire Department. Hanover Days helped with moving forward. Lili Valis attends the University of Colorado at Boulder and is an energy researcher in the Future Leaders program at the Independence Institute, a free market think tank in Denver. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin speak before a meeting at the government guest house Meseberg in Gransee near Berlin on Saturday. Re: In a certain state, hunting permits require the hunter to be at least [ #permalink GetThisDone wrote: valid drivers license or state identification, and have completed a safety program within the past 5 years. The hunter must also sign a legal document pledging not to consume alcohol while hunting. Which of the following can be correctly inferred from the above statements? A) All states have the same requirements for hunting permits. b) Hunters under the age of 21 dont need to sign the alcohol pledge because they are not legally allowed to drink alcohol under any circumstances. c) If a person last completed the safety program six years ago, he will have to complete the program again before he can be eligible for a permit. d) Someone who isnt 18 years old cannot obtain a hunting permit in this state. e) Hunting is such a dangerous activity that state controls and requirements are necessary to ensure that nobody gets hurt. Main CR Qs link - Main link - In a certain state, hunting permits require the hunter to be at least 18 years old, possess avalid drivers license or state identification, and have completed a safety program within thepast 5 years. The hunter must also sign a legal document pledging not to consume alcoholwhile hunting. Which of the following can be correctly inferred from the above statements?A) All states have the same requirements for hunting permits.b) Hunters under the age of 21 dont need to sign the alcohol pledge because they are notlegally allowed to drink alcohol under any circumstances.c) If a person last completed the safety program six years ago, he will have to complete theprogram again before he can be eligible for a permit.d) Someone who isnt 18 years old cannot obtain a hunting permit in this state.e) Hunting is such a dangerous activity that state controls and requirements are necessary toensure that nobody gets hurt.Main CR Qs link - Main link - cr-qs-600-700-level-131508.html We dont know about laws of other states from stimulus. Cannot be concluded from argument. Correct, as req of safety program within last 5 yrs is cited in argument. It does not clarify about the group >18 yrs & <18 Yrs. Out of scope. IMO correct answer is choice C.A) All states have the same requirements for hunting permits.B) Hunters under the age of 21 dont need to sign the alcohol pledge because they are not legally allowed to drink alcohol under any circumstances.C) If a person last completed the safety program six years ago, he will have to complete the program again before he can be eligible for a permit.D) Someone who isnt 18 years old cannot obtain a hunting permit in this state.E) Hunting is such a dangerous activity that state controls and requirements are necessary to ensure that nobody gets hurt. SANNIDHYAB wrote: To set context - I am an Indian male working in marketing field with a B tech degree (GPA=3.7). I gave my GMAT on 28th July and scored 650. Because of the low score I will be giving it again on 29th August. I am able to consistently score from 700 to 720 in my mocks. Currently, I am facing a hurdle with the selection of B schools. I have 1 year of work experience and since score is valid for 5 years I want to get done with the GMAT ASAP. My whole Work Experience has been in Digital marketing. I have around all the certificates which google has listed for digital marketing. Because of my presence in the marketing agency my company was able to endorse Google adwords certified. Along with that I have been used as a filler for my company where I have done modelling for the products which the company endorses. Also, I was involved in various outreach and strategy development programmes like convincing the local businesses to incorporate affiliate marketing. There are a lot of other things as well but I hope this paints a picture. In addition to this I am now the manager in the company so will be leading a team of 7 to 11 people singlehandedly for all the marketing campaigns. In college I was the founder of an NGO club which head raised funds around Rs45,000 in a year. I addition to that I was the coordinator(head position) of the astronomy club in the college and was responsible for various activities. I have been in town hall and sang on auspicious occasions like Republic day in front of high dignitaries like city collector etc. Keeping in mind the score and my profile till now can you suggest me some B schools across US, Canada and Europe (mentioning all the three because I don't know which one to choose) which can be targeted in this range. I don't want to be too ambitious and fill the universities which are out of my scope. Also, I don't want to be blinded by the rankings which are available in the market for the B schools. Since GMAT allows us to choose 5 schools of our choice for free, I don't want to waste that opportunity. But I don't have enough information to take a wise decsion. Therefore I am seeking for help. It would also be really beneficial if you could also let me know what should I do in order to further strengthen up my profile. -Sannidhya Baweja mbaMission Senior Admissions Consultant Chicago Booth Alum, 60 5-star reviews on GMAT Club Sign up for a free 30-minute consultation at https://www.mbamission.com/consult/mba-admissions/ Read our Insider's Guides to the top b-schools: http://www.mbamission.com/guides.php?category=insiders Kate RichardsonmbaMission Senior Admissions ConsultantChicago Booth Alum, 60 5-star reviews on GMAT ClubSign up for a free 30-minute consultation at https://www.mbamission.com/consult/mba-admissions/Read our Insider's Guides to the top b-schools: http://www.mbamission.com/guides.php?category=insiders Signature Read More Hi Sannidhya,Sounds like you're off to a strong start in your digital marketing role. The certifications and team lead experience are great. Keep that up, and aim to have even more leadership exposure (also possibly any international work?) before you apply.Also seems like you were involved in activities during college, but less so recently, so recommend you pick up some of those again or restart new ones, to improve that side of your profile and show a track record of community involvement by the time you apply.It's tough to advise on specific schools without knowing your final GMAT score and your post-MBA goals too. You've got plenty of time to do that research, so recommend you focus first on getting the highest GMAT score possible and then deciding what's realistic based on your score. It would help to at least begin narrowing by region (US, Canada, Europe) and for that I would consider your post-MBA goals / job opportunities in each region plus where you'd like to live eventually too!Best of luck,Kate_________________ The synagogue in Gothenburg, Sweden was firebombed on December 9, 2017. (Image source: Lintoncat/Wikimedia Commons) "At the synagogue in Malmo, the Jewish congregation has set up poles to prevent attacks with vehicles. In addition, the building is protected by a high fence around the building. The area has been guarded for a long time by the police. As soon as the congregation holds a service, the premises are guarded by the police." "They talked about there being checkpoints everywhere in the country [Israel] and that Arabs are constantly being stopped and beaten down, killed. They also said that the Palestinians lived in concentration camps, kind of like the Second World War. And that Israel sees and hears everything. Like they had cameras everywhere and observed everything. I mean there was a lot of bullshit that they said. Towards the end, everybody was forced to take pictures with their flag. I had to pretend to go to the bathroom to avoid it. Really sick!" "The most controversial thing that was mentioned was that Jews control the United States and the media." "...the refugees wishing to return to their homes and live at peace with their neighbours should be permitted to do so at the earliest practicable date, and that compensation should be paid for the property of those choosing not to return and for loss of or damage to property which, under principles of international law or in equity, should be made good by the Governments or authorities responsible..." Large-scale immigration from countries where anti-Semitism is normalized. A strong pro-Palestinian engagement among Swedish politicians that has resulted in a totally inaccurate and surreal debate about the Israel-Palestine conflict, in which Israel is unjustly demonized. A desire among political parties in Sweden to win the votes of immigrants. A Swedish multiculturalism that is so uncritical of foreign cultures that it cannot differentiate between culture and racism. A fear of sounding critical of immigration. Important Swedish institutions, such as the Church of Sweden, legitimizing anti-Semitism by endorsing the counter-factual Kairos Palestine document. "The fact is that there is no Israeli prime minister throughout history that has had so little blood on his hands as the Iranian president." Nima Gholam Ali Pour is a member of the board of education in the Swedish city of Malmo and is engaged in several Swedish think tanks concerned with the Middle East. He is also editor for the social conservative website Situation Malmo. He is the author of the books "Darfor ar mangkultur fortryck" ("Why Multiculturalism is Oppression") and "Allah bestammer inte i Sverige" ("Allah Does Not Decide in Sweden"). As major Swedish cities such as Malmo have become known as places where Jews are threatened, anti-Semitism in Sweden has attracted international attention . Does Sweden, however, really deserve this bad reputation or is there some misunderstanding?In December 2017, when US President Donald J. Trump recognized Jerusalem as the capital of Israel, demonstrations broke out in Malmo. Protesters, often people with an Arab background, shouted , "We want our freedom back and we're going to shoot the Jews", and a chapel at the Jewish cemetery was attacked with firebombs. In Gothenburg, the city's synagogue was also attacked with firebombs.The local newspaper in Malmo,, described how the Jewish congregation in Malmo -- not Israelis; Swedish Jews -- tries to protect itself:One could fairly say that the Jews in Malmo are under siege. Reports also note that Jews in Malmo cannot wear any Jewish symbols in public without the risk of being attacked.Only the most brazen and explicit anti-Semitic acts are reported by the Swedish media.Many organizations that spread implicit anti-Semitism receive no attention from either the Swedish media or the so-called "anti-racist" movements. The group Youth Against Settlements (YAS), for example, which has its base in Hebron, visits high schools and holds lectures in Sweden, and is conducting a campaign against the Jewish residents of Hebron. One student described what was said when YAS visited the Glokala Folkhogskolan school in Malmo on February 28, 2018:Another student said about the YAS visit:These interviews with the students were conducted by a Swedish blogger, Tobias Petersson, who published them on his blog. That public high schools received visits from an organization that demonizes Israel and makes false and outrageous anti-Semitic statements should, at the very least, have been investigated by the media. But the Swedish media ignored the defamation and neither verified nor repudiated the information.Instead, the two individuals who represented YAS and were touring in Sweden, Zleikha Al Muhtaseb and Anas Amro, were described as "peace activists". On their Facebook pages , however, knife attacks, martyrdom and intifada are celebrated. YAS also supported the recent riots at the border between Israel and Gaza, despite these riots having led to more Palestinians being killed, worsening the conflict between Israelis and Palestinians, and having been organized by Hamas , an anti-Semitic terrorist organization that outspokenly seeks to destroy Israel YAS was invited to hold lectures for public institutions in Sweden; and the foreign minister of Sweden, Margot Wallstrom, met with YAS when she visited Ramallah in December 2016. As such, YAS became an organization legitimized by the Swedish government. When organizations such as YAS visit Sweden and are received unquestioningly, with open arms, by high schools and other public institutions, this kind of welcome legitimizes the type of anti-Semitism that is presented, no matter how false, as a supposedly reliable view of Israel.Another organization that clearly has anti-Semitic tendencies and is supported by public institutions in Sweden is Group 194. Its name, which derives from United Nations General Assembly Resolution 194 , adopted on December 11, 1948, during the 1948-49 Arab-Israeli War that followed the founding of Israel. Resolution 194 says, among other things:The resolution is used by many Palestinians to try to prove international recognition of a "right to return" to what is today the heartland of Israel, to erase Israel, as maps of "Palestine" openly display, and ostensibly to reclaim homes that 70 years later are likely no longer there.Group 194, a pro-Palestinian political organization, has close ties with the Democratic Front for the Liberation of Palestine ( DFLP ), a terrorist group that has murdered at least 36 Israeli civilians, and which supports the Assad regime in Syria. That is why it seemed strange when the Labor and Social Services Board of the Municipality of Malmo, on October 27, 2017 granted 132,000 kronor (roughly $15,000) to Group 194 and two other organizations, so they could patrol the suburb of Rosengard at night, supposedly in order to make the area safe. For full disclosure, the author, as a member of this municipal board, and a few of his fellow party colleagues voted against this proposal; the majority of the board, however, supported it. Today, it is a fact that pro-Palestinian organizations are funded by the municipality of Malmo.Group 194 supports violent extremism . On their Facebook page one can see pictures of minors holding Kalashnikov rifles. There also have been anti-Semitic images on Group 194's Facebook page, such as a defamatory cartoon portraying a Jew drinking blood and eating a child. Why does the municipality of Malmo support such an organization with taxpayers' money? The reason is that Malmo and Sweden have serious problems in dealing with imported, Middle Eastern anti-Semitism. When Swedish politicians -- because of ignorance or tolerance for intolerant behavior -- accept anti-Semitism in an important Swedish city as Malmo, that is an unacceptable problem. It is also unacceptable when a majority of local politicians in Sweden's third-largest city support taxpayer money going to a pro-Palestinian organization that has made anti-Semitic statements and promoted violence. It reveals that too many Swedish politicians apparently cannot even recognize what anti-Semitism looks like and when and how to take a stand against it. What are Swedish Jews to think?Group 194 was also given an award by the municipality of Malmo at a gala it organized , and has received contributions from various municipalities in Sweden for several years, including Sundsvall and Landskrona , where the municipality has a close cooperation with Group 194. When Landskrona had its official summer party, one of its organizers was Group 194.Ship To Gaza is an organization that usually gets a lot of media publicity. When one of its activists, Ferry Saarposhan, stated that Israel's treatment of Palestinians "is worse than the Holocaust," the Swedish media stayed silent. The video clip of his statement is posted on the official Facebook page of Ship to Gaza-Sweden, a page that has more than 35,000 "likes". But no one has yet responded to his slander.Different factors end up reinforcing each other, as this author has already noted . They create an echo chamber that then leads to a situation where Arab and Muslim anti-Semitism becomes accepted by Swedish authorities. These factors include:Today this process has gone so far that many in Sweden seem to have totally internalized this imported, Middle Eastern anti-Semitism and made it an integral part of their ideology.Today in Sweden, supporting organizations that demonize Israel and spread anti-Semitism is considered completely normal. It is not even the subject of discussion -- unless an extreme statement is uttered. Oldoz Javidi, a parliamentary candidate for the feminist party, Feminist Initiative, for instance, said that all Israeli Jews should move to the United States so "the Palestinians can live in peace and rebuild the country that once was theirs". Only after theand other non-Swedish media outlets wrote articles about this incident did some Swedish mainstream media outlets start writing about the incident and describe the candidate's statements as anti-Semitic. The criticism from Swedish media outlets forced Javidi to withdraw her candidacy.When it comes to confronting imported Middle Eastern anti-Semitism, there seems to be simply a fear of conflict, and especially of being called "racist" or "anti-immigrant." These fears seem to lead at best to a wish to try to paper over problems by holding " dialogues " to find "compromises."In August 2017, Bassem Nasr, a representative for the Green Party in Malmo's municipal council, wrote an op-ed that criticized anti-Semitism within pro-Palestinian organizations. Strangely enough, Nasr was embraced by the Swedish establishment, which often brands anyone who criticizes Arab and Muslim anti-Semitism as racists.Nasr, however, has a history that the media failed to mention. In 2006, he invited the anti-Semitic terrorist organization Hamas to Malmo. The visit never took place, only because one of the Hamas representatives was denied a visa to enter Europe. Nasr, however, never explained why he invited Hamas representatives in the first place; he never even apologized.In 2008, Bassem Nasr wrote -- incorrectly -- in an op-ed At the time Nasr made this statement, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, who denied that the Holocaust ever happened, was president of Iran. The fact that Iran is an Islamist dictatorship and second only to China for most executions in the world -- and even executes minors -- makes Nasr's statement even more bizarre.What seemed to have suited the Swedish establishment was that Nasr had no suggestions on how to counter anti-Semitism in Malmo and Sweden, except that it was "the task of the teachers". That Nasr had once invited Hamas to Malmo and been active in pro-Palestinian organizations for several years evidently created the feeling of comfortable, non-confrontational "dialogue" that many policy-makers in Sweden seem to imagine can fight anti-Semitism.One source of Middle Eastern anti-Semitism is the messages that come from Sweden's mosques. In April 2017, a mosque in the Swedish city of Boras invited a speaker who had been convicted in Germany for calling for the murder of Jews. In July 2017, an imam at a mosque in the Swedish city of Helsingborg said that Jews were the descendants of apes and pigs.When the government, after several scandals related to extremism in Muslim religious communities, wanted to investigate the criteria for financial support from the state, Ulf Bjereld, who has a history of defending Islamists in different contexts, was appointed to head the investigation. Bjereld is also chairman of the Religious Social Democrats of Sweden. This organization has been criticized several times for excusing and legitimizing anti-Semitism, and is part of the Social Democratic Party -- Sweden's governing party.Appointing someone such as Bjereld for this investigation shows that the Sweden's national and local governments are not ready to confront Arab and Muslim anti-Semitism, but would much rather have a nice, quiet "dialogue" about it.In Sweden, imported Middle Eastern anti-Semitism is funded by taxpayer money, so when scandals occur, they are often addressed by the same people who have participated in spreading its message.No effective actions are currently being taken against the spread of anti-Semitism in Sweden.In December 2017, this author submitted a motion to the Malmo municipal council to map and analyze anti-Semitism in the city. It is a measure that would give the politicians a clear picture of why anti-Semitism has increased there, so that corrective measures could be taken. But this proposal is unpopular, because such an analysis of anti-Semitism in Malmo would force the authorities to realize that Arab and Muslim anti-Semitism is a huge problem.Just as European anti-Semitism was defeated by rejecting and condemning the ideology after World War II and isolating its proponents, so must Sweden's "new" anti-Semitism be defeated by isolating its advocates and marginalizing all organizations spreading its ideas. This means that all direct and indirect government funding of these organizations has to end. As long as this does not happen, Jews in Sweden will continue living in fear and insecurity. 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 Nepals ship will reach Kolkata via Province 2: PM Oli Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said that a ship that will leave from Nepal to Kolkata of India will be operated from Province 2. Oscar Olson did not seek higher education after completing high school because he had a strong wish to earn a college degree. The Massachusetts native says the main reason he decided to go to college was because most of the people he knew were doing so. Olson began studying communications at Bridgewater State University in Bridgewater, Massachusetts in 2004. He made good friends and enjoyed many of his experiences there. But, Olson says he often felt unsure about why he was there or what he was doing. He successfully completed the first three years of his study program. But by the time Olson reached what would have been his final semester in spring of 2008, he lost interest in the work his program required of him. By the end of that school year, the friends he began the four-year college process with were graduating. Olson, however, failed to complete his final class. His parents were not pleased. Olson says they expected him to try harder. So he returned to Bridgewater to try to complete the few requirements he had left. But, he told VOA, I already kind of knew that it wasnt going to happen. By the start of his fifth year, Olson had to begin repaying the loans he had used to pay for the costs of his education. He struggled financially. Also by that time, the friends he had made were gone. And his academic advisors had changed several time. Olson began feeling less connected to his educational experience. So he decided to leave Bridgewater without earning his degree. Olsons story is not unusual. The United States Department of Education reports that, between 2014 and 2016, millions of college and university students left school without a degree. Recent research now suggests that many U.S. college students who drop out have actually already completed most of their program requirements. The organization Civitas Learning studies and supports the growth of higher education in the United States. In May, it released a study of 30 two-year and 23 four-year colleges and universities. The study included more than 300,000 degree-seeking students. The study found that on average, nearly one in five students who left school without a degree had completed at least 75 percent of their program requirements. And nearly one in 10 had completed at least 90 percent. Mark Milliron is the chief learning officer at Civitas. He says there are many reasons why students choose to leave school before graduating. As with Oscar Olson, cost can be one reason. However, it is far from the only reason, Milliron says. He notes that in recent years, many U.S. colleges and universities have aimed to improve access to higher education. This means schools have tried to find ways to include minorities, low-income students and students who would be the first in their families to go to college. There also has been a push to help older students enter or return to higher education. These efforts are good for the students, the schools and the country, Milliron says. But he says schools need to do more to help those students succeed once they are at college. It is not that these newly represented groups are not able to perform well in a college environment, Milliron says. In fact, earlier Civitas studies suggest that many students who drop out are actually performing well in school. Milliron suggests the real issue is that traditional and non-traditional students have different levels of support in place. Life can create barriers to any students completion. Students may deal with health problems, full-time work requirements, or childcare needs. But traditional students those who have family members that have attended college or have enough money to pay for school usually have support systems in place. The people around them often understand the struggles of getting a college education. They can offer the students advice. And they also can offer financial help. However, poor or first-generation students are less likely to have people around them who can help deal with these barriers, Milliron says. So, it has become the responsibility of the schools to provide those supports. Students have to be college ready, but colleges have to be student ready, especially for the students of today, whohave a lot of different kinds of wants and needs, Milliron says. What does that mean, exactly? Take the efforts of Del Mar College, a community college in Corpus Christi, Texas, as an example. Del Mar serves a mainly Hispanic population. So in 2016, the Department of Education awarded the school with money to help its minority population by employing special academic advisors. Del Mar also partnered with Civitas to determine what else it could do to increase its graduation rate. Civitas shared special software with Del Mar. The software helped the school identify 3,000 of its students who were likely to drop out. Administrators then used this information to increase the amount of contact they had with these students. The more likely the students were to drop out, the more communications the students received from the school. The communications included reminders of the requirements the students still needed to meet, as well as invitations to special advisory events. Improving the lines of communication seemed to help, says Rito Silva, Del Mars vice president of student affairs. Through its efforts, Del Mar was able to increase its number of students who successfully graduated by almost 74 percent in 2017. Both Silva and Milliron agree that there is no single solution to the problem. Every college and university is different; it is their responsibility to research and experiment with what works best for their students, they say. But Silva argues that schools must work just as hard on ensuring students succeed in college as they do on getting them to college in the first place. I really think those two go hand-in-hand, he said. It would be kind of a false hope that were giving them if we just give them access without the opportunity to succeed. Im Pete Musto. And I'm Dorothy Gundy. Pete Musto reported this story for VOA Learning English. Ashley Thompson was the editor. We want to hear from you. How common is it for people to leave higher education without earning a degree? What do colleges and universities in your country do to solve this problem? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Quiz Quiz - Study: Many Students Who Leave College without a Degree Are Close to Completion Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story degree n. an official document and title that is given to someone who has successfully completed a series of classes at a college or university semester n. one of two usually 18-week periods that make up an academic year at a school or college graduating v. earning a degree or diploma from a school, college, or university academic adj. of or relating to schools and education drop out p.v. to leave school without completing the educational program access n. a way of being able to use or get something income n. money that is earned from work, investments, or business determine v. to learn or find out something by getting information invitation(s) n. a written or spoken request for someone to go somewhere or to do something hand-in-hand adv. closely connected opportunity n. an amount of time or a situation in which something can be done A leading scientist says researchers in Florida are close to developing a way to control the algae known to cause deadly red tide. Michael Crosby heads the Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota, Florida, a leading research organization. A 10-month-old red tide has been killing ocean life along Floridas southwestern coast. Huge numbers of dead fish have washed up on beaches from the city of Naples up to Tampa. Red tide can cause problems for humans too. Contact with the algae can cause breathing difficulties, burning eyes and skin pain. On Monday, Governor Rick Scott ordered emergency measures to deal with the crisis. Crosby said he welcomed the move, which releases more money and resources to solve the problem. Scientists field-testing solutions The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission suspects the red tide caused the deaths and strandings of hundreds of sea turtles this year. The agency also blames it for at least some of the 68 deaths of manatees. Other sea mammals killed include porpoises. The body of an almost eight-meter-long whale shark also washed up on Sanibel Island, Florida, late last month. Crosby said, scientists are currently testing a process that would pump red-algae-filled seawater through an ozone-treatment system. Then the purified water would be pumped back into the ocean or waterway. Crosby said the experiments were carried out in huge 25,000-gallon tanks. He said all succeeded in removing the poisonous algae. Crosby said the water chemistry returned to normal within 24 hours. Scientists also are studying the use of seaweed, parasitic algae and other organisms to fight the red tide. A bad bloom Red tides happen almost yearly in Florida. They start in the Gulf of Mexico, where microscopic algae cells called Karenia brevis feed on deep-sea nutrients. Ocean currents carry the algae close to the coast, usually in autumn. The current Gulf Coast Florida bloom is the worst in more than ten years. It began last October and has spread across more than 80 kilometers of coastline. Its a bad bloom, said Richard Stumpf, a scientist who studies red tides for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). Stumpf said strong northerly winds that normally end red tides failed to form last winter. He said it is not clear why. And he said scientists are not sure if the winds will fail to form again. Natural phenomenon Scientist Michael Crosby said the red tide happened during the reproductive season for snook. The fish are important for both the environment and economy in Florida. Part of the emergency money ordered by the governor will be used to examine the red tides effects on that fish. Im Phil Dierking. The Reuters News Agency reported this story. Phil Dierking adapted it for Learning English. Caty Weaver was the editor. Have any environmental changes affected the oceans near your home? Write to us in the Comments Section or on our Facebook page. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story algae - n. simple plants that have no leaves or stems and that grow in or near water ozone - n. a form of oxygen that is found in a layer high in the earth's atmosphere parasite - n. an animal or plant that lives in or on another animal or plant and gets food or protection from it seaweed - n. a type of plant that grows in the sea strand - v. to cause (something, such as a boat or a sea animal) to become stuck on land Seherli Tandir, in Baku, Azerbaijan is now on my list, but let me first explain the criteria. This is not about the best restaurants, it is about the ones that give you the most consumer surplus. For most of the next door restaurants, as I shall call them, you want them to be inexpensive, to offer some healthy options, to satisfy some of your cravings, to offer unique dishes, and not to take too long serving you. It is not a mistake, if you are visiting Baku, to simply have each and every one of your meals at Seherli Tandir the other restaurants in town are dominated assets. The menu allows you to order three different types of cherry jam. Get the one in the middle, the sour one (dont let them tell you that you should not be ordering a jam, and dont put it on anything, just eat it). Have I had better yogurts and rices? Order the little dumplings with sumac (gurza), asking for yogurt sauce on the side. The qutabs thin breads stuffed with either pumpkin or meat are the surprise knock-outs. The soups, the stews, the dolmeh. Did I mention the pilaf with the chestnuts? The tandir bread-baking oven in the middle of the restaurant? The typical entree costs about $4-6. And the staff is friendly and helpful. The restaurant is located in the old city, on the restaurant street, near four or five other excellent but nonetheless inferior options (when in doubt in those order dishes with pomegranate seeds). Go to the tower, and start walking up to the right, maybe 5-7 minutes. No taxi can take you there, as it is in a pedestrian zone. Simply ask when you get lost, as the restaurant is quite famous. You cant make a reservation and may need to wait out in the sun, thus another reason why it should be next to my home In general, Azerbaijani food lies in the space between Persian and Georgian cuisines, a double yum. Which other restaurants should be in the top ten you want right next to your home? And why arent those restaurants simply the best period? p.s. watermelon jam tastes better than you think. NOTICE: TO BE CLEAR: WE HAVE OUTLINED UNDER OUR RECORD MAINTENANCE POLICY WHAT WE BELIEVE TO BE A FAIR PROCESS FOR ALL. SIMPLY PUT: IF THE COURT SAW FIT TO EXPUNGE YOUR RECORD,SO WILL WE, FREE OF CHARGE. ARRESTS DO NOT IMPLY GUILT AND CRIMINAL CHARGES ARE MERELY ACCUSATIONS,EVERYONE IS PRESUMED INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY IN A COURT OF LAW AND CONVICTED. 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OUR CONTENT REVOLVES AROUND CRIME, ARRESTS AND THE FIRST AMENDMENT. WE BELIEVE IN THE CONSTITUTION AND OUR FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHT TO PUBLISH UNPOPULAR SPEECH. OPEN RECORD LAWS WERE WRITTEN TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC; BY INFORMING THE PUBLIC OF ARRESTS AND TO HOLD LAW ENFORCEMENT ACCOUNTABLE FOR THE HUMANE TREATMENT OF ARRESTEES. MOST OF, IF NOT ALL MUGSHOT LAWS WERE CRAFTED TO PROTECT THE PUBLIC FROM FEES FOR REMOVAL OF ONLINE MUGSHOTS AND TO FURTHER PROTECT THE PRESS FROM THOSE VERY SAME "MUGSHOT LAWS".WE DO NOT ACCEPT PAYMENT FOR REMOVAL OF ARREST INFORMATION AND/OR BOOKING PHOTOGRAPHS. MORE... Shocking images of mass overdose in Yale park as number of victims hits SEVENTY SIX and cops raid homes to try to stop the bad batch of synthetic marijuana spreading No deaths were reported and most brought to hospitals have been discharged Some of the New Haven victims tested positive for the powerful opioid fentanyl It's unclear whether Thursday's overdoses involved the same batch of 'K2' Police said that the illnesses were blamed on a batch of synthetic marijuana Social workers and mental health professionals responded to the New Haven Green, where most of the overdoses happened Wednesday More than 76 people were transported to hospitals this week in Connecticut My research into my great-grandfather began in 2003. In U.S. Census records, I discovered that he came to the United States via Boston. In the 1900 census, he was listed as Luke Biele, fisherman, from Dalmatia, Austria. I joined an Austrian message board. Within a couple of days, someone on that message board referred me to a Croatian message board telling me the Dalmatian Coast was in Croatia. I learned that Dalmatia is the southern part of the Croatian Adriatic Sea coast and that the preserved records go back several centurie. A genealogist named Niko Kapetanic had done research into Konavle, a region in Dalmatia. My great-grandfathers name in Croatia would have been Luka. Austria had been reported on the 1900 census because Dalmatia, Croatia, was under Austrian administration in the 19th century. Lukas surname in Croatian was Bjele, pronounced the same as Biele. Bjele means white in Croatian. This surname was changed to Bianchi when Croatia was under Italian rule. In the 1920 census, my great-grandfather was listed as Louis Beale, age 24, lodger, residing on Wood Street, Oakland, California, with his daughter Alice, my grandmother, and Chris, my great uncle. (All are listed as lodgers to the head of household). Louis was divorced. He was naturalized in 1890 in Pennsylvania; he was native to Dalmatia; his mother tongue was Slavonian. His occupation was retail fishmonger. I continued my research and, eventually, with the help of Kapetanic, learned there was a restaurant, Leut, in a small fishing village named Cavtat. He believed the restaurant owners were from a Bianchi Family and offered to go to the restaurant. Coincidentally, my yet unknown cousins son was working on construction at the restaurant. When asked if his mother belonged to the same family as my great-grandfather, he replied yes. Once I knew the name of the the restaurant, I found an address and sent off all of my family information. Some time in November 2004, my cousin called me to say that she had taken all of my information to the local parish, where records have been kept for hundreds of years. In the margin of the page in the book about my family, it was written that in 1895 my great-grandfather had gone to America. The records indicated he was born Luca Bianchi in October 1875. Family lore indicated he came to America when he was 16, but these records proved otherwise. It is possible that he came with a John Bianchi to the United States. He changed his name to Biele, and then later to Beal, when he married a Portuguese woman who wanted to Americanize the name. I had never been to Europe, but when I saw a picture of Cavtat, I was determined to go. This little fishing village is 12 miles south of Dubrovnik, just on the border of Croatia and Montenegro. When I found a Croatian Society in San Francisco, I learned that both my great-grandfather and a man named John, both from Cavtat, Croatia, were members of this society. I found a little information about them and came across a book from which I learned that his fathers name was Kristo. Wondering why the Croatian immigrants never spoke about their original homeland, I wrote to someone who specialized in Croatian genealogy. In reply, she said, Maybe it was too painful. Their mom and dad would never see them again. Friends, uncles, aunts, all vanished. There were no telephones to hear their voice, no cameras to get their picture, and certainly no money to go and visit them. And, believe me, even with the current ready phone emails, the distance still could be painful. Genealogists often discover that their relatives may have gone by many names. In the California Death Index, my great-grandfather is listed as Luca Christopher Biele; in the 1890 census, he was Luke Biel; in the 1910 census he was Louis Beal. His tombstone reads Louis Biele. By the end of 2004, I was in disbelief about all I had learned in only a year of researching my great-grandfather. After the help of people on the Internet, I received phone calls from other distant relatives. By 2006, I was finally planning my dream vacation to Cavtat with my parents. I drafted a letter to the church in Cavtat and let them know I would be coming that fall to look at records. I also contacted my newfound cousin to let her know we would be there. We were welcomed with open arms by numerous relatives. We were taken to special destinations, including a 500-year-old monastery (where we stayed) and the house where my great-grandfather had lived. I even got to meet the genealogist, Niko Kapetanic! I made many lifelong friends who, along with relatives, with whom I remain in regular contact. I traveled to Croatia again by myself in 2007 and in 2009. A new diagnosis of multiple sclerosis prevents me from ever going back, but the sights and sounds are with me forever. After my visits, a gentleman I met, whose father was born in Croatia, asked me to try and find family in the same fishing village. This man worried because he only knew his grandfathers name and birthplace. I assured him I could find information for him, and with my contacts now in Cavtat, we were able to find his relatives. One of my cousins is a tour guide in Cavtat and in Dubrovnik. She has since toured several of my friends. I would encourage anyone to do the same. Contact me at dprsjacksn@aol.com. Hundreds of supporters walked through the streets of Yountville on Saturday morning to spread a simple message: be kind. The Be Kind Napa movement, spearheaded by Talulah and Ruby Finkelstein of Napa ages 11 and 9 respectively continued its mission to make the world a kinder place with the second annual Be Kind Walk that took demonstrators from the steps of the Yountville Community Center to the Napa Valley Museum at the Veterans Home of California Yountville property nearly a mile away. Ruby led walkers in a chant as they moved through downtown Yountville just after 10 a.m. When I say be, you say kind. Be! Kind! responded the parade of people following the bright red Be Kind banner that has been seen throughout Napa Valley over the past year. As walkers reached the Napa Valley Museum, they pooled into the patio area in front of the museum where they were greeted with live music, bottled water and treats. Im so glad to see so many people, Ruby said as she watched people file into the patio area. I love this crowd. And theyre all wearing their Be Kind buttons. The Be Kind Napa movement has one goal: remind people to treat each other with kindness. To do so, the Finkelstein sisters dole out red Be Kind buttons wherever they go. Its really easy, Ruby explained. You wear your button to remind other people and yourself to be kind. If someone sees your button and says they like it, then you take it off and give it to them. You tell them to wear it and to pass it on to the next person who compliments it. Being kind is really easy, but some people need reminders. Talulah echoed her sister about the effortlessness of kindness. I think its just important for people to be aware of their actions. Kindness is as easy as giving a compliment or smiling at someone. But at the same time, its easy to be mean without realizing that what you are doing or saying might be hurtful to someone. Like you might burn (insult) someone behind their back just to make your friends laugh or to impress someone, but thats not OK. You wouldnt want people talking about you like that, and being mean to get a laugh isnt worth it. Holly Finkelstein, mother to Talulah and Ruby, said she couldnt be more proud of what her daughters have started. The girls were inspired by family friend Laurie Phillips from New York. Phillips noticed that people in New York City could be cold and unfriendly, so she created the Be Kind button as a way to start a conversation and offer a dose of kindness to anyone who commented on her button. When Talulah and Ruby heard Phillips story, they asked their parents if they could do something like that in Napa, and Holly and husband Judd decided to embrace their daughters mission with open arms. We talked about it during this eight-hour car ride from Los Angeles back to Napa, Holly said. We spent the whole ride brainstorming, and I wrote down all their ideas. They wanted to do the buttons, but they were very adamant about having an event where they could walk through the streets with a banner singing and chanting and reminding people to be kind to one another. And that is how the Be Kind Walk came to be. Holly said the crowd of well-wishers and walkers increased from last years debut event, and she hopes the Be Kind Walk and the Be Kind Napa movement will continue to grow. She said the girls have given talks at schools locally and as far as Hawaii. She said the girls are also working with a young girl in Chicago who heard about their movement and wants to replicate it in the Windy City. Ashley Diener brought daughter Millie Diener-Malarek, 5, to the Be Kind Walk. We saw the girls (Talulah and Ruby) give a talk at the library and they gave Millie a button, Diener said. I wanted to bring her to the walk today because the message is something we should all take to heart. We could all use a little more kindness in our lives. During the Be Kind celebration, Millie drew a heart on a large Be Kind banner that participants were encouraged to sign and decorate. Following the event, the banner was to be hung inside the Napa Valley Museum. As Millie colored in her heart, she paused only to say being kind is doing nice things. Holly said the Be Kind Napa movement resonates with children because the message is easy to understand. To a kid, the message Be Kind is so obvious. Of course, you want to be kind and be nice to people because you want people to be nice to you. Im really proud to see so many kids here today who support that message and want to spread it throughout the community. As the celebration was winding down, Talulah took to the stage to offer parting words of wisdom to the crowd: Everyone is who they are meant to be. Thats just who they are, so dont judge anybody or dont comment about anybody even if they might look different or talk different or whatever. They might be a really nice person, so just be kind to them. If you dont, that is where hate and prejudice come in, and we dont want that at all. We just want you to be kind, she continued. Kind people go way up high, but the mean people go way down low, and you dont want to be down on the ground, so come back up and be kind, OK? Earlier in the morning during a rally before the walk, Napa County Supervisor Brad Wagenknecht read a proclamation declaring Aug. 18 as Be Kind Day in Napa County. To learn more about the Be Kind Napa movement, visit bekindnapa.com. 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. Busy Soscol Junction where highways 29 and 221 meet near the Grape Crusher statue could end up with one large roundabout or two smaller ones to ease rush-hour congestion. No roundabouts would be on Highway 29 itself. The highway would rise up on an overpass, no longer burdened with the traffic signals that cause long backups. Underneath the overpass is where the roundabout or roundabouts would be. They would control traffic as it enters Highway 29 either northbound or southbound or travels between Soscol Ferry Road and Highway 221. It should work and would solve a big problem that everybody experiences at this location, Caltrans Senior Environmental Planner Wahida Rashid said. Caltrans and the Napa Valley Transportation Authority asked for opinions at a Thursday evening meeting attended by a couple dozen people. Whether this version of Soscol Junction begins construction in a couple of years at a cost of $35 million or more depends partly on the response. We are testing the waters do you like it? Do you not like it at all? Rashid said. Consultant Heather Anderson of GHD Inc., citing a federal study, said 68 percent of people tend to dislike roundabouts before one is installed. After the roundabout is in, 73 percent said they like it. American Canyon resident Jason Kishineff is among those skeptical 68 percent, at least for the moment. Im really cautious, he said after the meeting. It makes me nervous. He drives through the Soscol Junction intersection about twice a week. He sees a better way to improve travel time between Napa and American Canyon. Hed rather see money spent on adding lanes to Highway 29. It would make a bigger difference, Kishineff said. Steven Miller of Napa grew up with roundabouts in New Jersey. There were large ones and small ones, fast ones and slow ones, Miller said. You do get used to them. Hes still trying to figure out if he wants roundabouts at Soscol Junction, Miller said. He noted someone traveling from Soscol Ferry Road to northbound Highway 29 would have to cross two lanes of Highway 221 roundabout traffic. Kelly Hirschberg of Caltrans said traffic counts done a few years ago found Soscol Junction rush-hour backups of 90 seconds to two minutes. If nothing is done, the waits by 2039 at the traffic signal could reach seven or eight minutes. Caltrans and local transportation officials have searched for a Soscol Junction solution for about 15 years. Their original idea was to build a flyover that would take Highway 221 traffic on a curving, aerial trip before having it merge with southbound Highway 29 traffic. The idea proved controversial when Caltrans announced details in 2015. That 35-foot-tall concrete flyover was too ugly to be a Napa Valley gateway, some said. Cyclists would face danger alongside vehicle traffic on a flyover, others said. We heard you loud and clear, Hirschberg said. Napa County Bicycle Coalition Executive Director Patrick Band came to Thursdays meeting and looked at the roundabout proposals. He prefers roundabouts with slow-moving traffic to a flyover with traffic moving at 55 mph. I think its a significant improvement, Band said. Not many cyclists pedal through todays signalized Soscol Junction, Band said. Perhaps a handful of cyclists make the trip every day as they commute. Part of that is the rest of the corridor is not designed for bikes, Band said. Napa County isnt going to see the entire Highway 29 corridor made bike-friendly immediately, Band said. But a bike-friendly Soscol Junction would be a start. He noted the cyclists will eventually be able to use a Napa Valley Vine Trail segment planned for the adjacent airport industrial area. Miller said the planned Highway 29 overpass could impair the view, an echo of the complaints over the now-jettisoned idea of a flyover. Anderson said Highway 29 drivers wouldnt see the side of the structure, though drivers on Highway 221 would. The overpass would be about 25 feet tall, about 10 feet lower than the flyover. Transportation officials realize they might have to sell the roundabout idea to the public. Anderson made the case, saying roundabouts have 37 percent fewer collisions than signalized intersections because traffic moves slower in them. Fatal accidents fall 90 percent. California created Soscol Junction in 1981 as part of its Southern Crossing project when it opened the nearby Butler Bridge for Highway 29. Before that, highway traffic traveled up the east side of the Napa Valley, took Imola Avenue west and then continued on to Sonoma County or Upvalley. The original idea in the 1970s was to have an interchange from the start at Soscol Junction. But money for the project proved tight and transportation officials settled for the cheaper solution of traffic signals. By 2002, Napa County officials were talking about the flyover solution. Now the idea has turned into roundabouts, with the two possible configurations. Whats going to drive which project is selected is the community and feedback we receive from you, NVTA Executive Director Kate Miller said at Thursdays meeting. People can send comments on the proposed roundabout to Rashid at Wahida.Rashid@dot.ca.gov or to Caltrans District 4, Office of Environmental Analysis, attention Wahida Rashid, 111 Grand Avenue Mail Station-8B, Oakland, CA 94612. Whatever happens at Soscol Junction, drivers will apparently have to get used to roundabouts. Roundabouts are to be build at First Street and California Boulevard and at the five-way Silverado Trail intersection in the city of Napa. Caltrans plans to build one at highways 12 and 113 in Solano County near Rio Vista. Anderson said the state highway system has 31 roundabouts and another 47 are planned. 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. As the grade-school sisters from Napa lead their supporters from Yountvilles Veterans Memorial Park through the town and up toward the Napa V Continued smoke from Northern California wildfires, along with pollution from cars, has prompted the Bay Area Air Quality Management District to issue a Spare the Air Alert for Sunday. Air quality is forecast to be unhealthy around the region on Sunday and officials with the district warned that if the smell of smoke is present, Bay Area residents should stay inside if possible. The district also urged the public to stay off the roads this weekend. "The millions of vehicles on Bay Area roads during these hot summer months create unhealthy air quality and make breathing more difficult for many," said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the air district. The alerts are issued when ozone pollution is forecast to reach unhealthy levels. Ozone, or smog, can cause throat irritation, congestion, chest pain, trigger asthma, inflame the lining of the lungs and worsen bronchitis and emphysema. The Spare the Air alert for smog on Sunday is the eighth issued this year by the district. An alert had also been issued for Saturday. Last week, hundreds of newspapers ran editorials simultaneously defending the freedom of the press and denouncing attacks on the media by Donald Trump and his allies. The Register didnt run such an editorial on Thursday for a simple reason We didnt hear in time about the Boston Globes campaign to get other papers to join them in an editorial. But we have previously editorialized about the need to speak out in the face of the presidents conduct, particularly his outrageous behavior in policy and foreign affairs. Editor Sean Scully and others have written personal defenses of the media and the people who work every day to bring you the news. There is simply no question that the press is not the enemy of the people or the opposition party, as the president termed us the day the mass editorial ran. Individually, we are members of the community. We live here, shop here, sometimes even grew up here. We are moved by the same passion that moves elected officials and entrepreneurs and anyone who serves the public interest: to make our communities better places to live. The journalists who staff your news organizations work hard in an often thankless and occasionally dangerous environment to provide information, uncover the truth, and tell stories that inform and entertain. Institutionally, news organizations are also important parts of any community, whether it be a small town or the entire nation. We provide a common point of reference, a set of stories that weave together the community and shine a light on how it works or doesnt work. Our job, our most important mission, is to tell the truth. It is not to be adulatory to the president or anyone else. It is not our job to make the president or his administration look good hes got a highly paid staff of experts to carry out that mission. If the presidents conduct is honest, ethical, and competent, the media coverage is likely more favorable than if he is dishonest, feckless and incompetent. But that is not because the press is out to get the president any president. It is that our mission is to tell the truth. If the president and his administration behave badly, it is our job to tell that truth. The press in general is far from perfect. We do get things wrong. We do sometimes miss the larger story. But we have set a very high set of principles for ourselves to make sure that we are serving the truth to the best of our ability. When we get it wrong, we correct it. When there is additional information, we update it. When the public wants to know how we gather and disseminate the news, we are transparent about our process. When the president and his allies attack and delegitimize the press, brands us liars, partisans, and fake news, they are trying to make sure we cannot do our jobs. They are trying to make sure we cannot tell the truth when the powerful and corrupt take advantage of their position or hurt the public interest. They are trying to destroy your ability to hear the truth. The Founding Fathers themselves had contentious relationships with the press if youve read any of the history of the rowdy and scurrilous papers of the day, you know that the Revolutionary era was an insanely partisan news environment and yet they understood that a free press is a cornerstone of democracy, so much so that they enshrined it in the very first amendment to the Constitution. We reject and condemn the presidents attacks on the press. People of good will, regardless of party or ideology, should join us in telling Mr. Trump that, at long last, enough is enough. The Napa Valley Register Editorial Board consists of Interim Publisher Davis Taylor, Editor Sean Scully, and public members Cindy Webber, Ed Shenk, Mary Jean Mclaughlin and Chris Hammaker. Signs, signs, everywhere the signs. When the Five Man Electrical Band wrote that song in 1971, they were speaking to class divisions and property rights, but those same lyrics could apply to many cities during campaign season. Often there is no regulation or enforcement of campaign signs placed in public rights of way or on private property without permission. With primary elections in June and general elections in November, this can result in visual blight for much of the year, every two years. Fortunately, the candidates for elected office in Napa, including city council, county supervisor, Napa school district, and the Napa Valley College Board over the past 20 years or so have followed an unwritten rule of only placing political signs on private property with full permission. We have a beautiful community we are proud of, so lets keep it that way. We agree to only place our political signage on private property with the permission of the property owner. If you see our signage on the Wine Train right of way, chain link fences, empty lots, or anywhere that seems strange, please know we have full permission. We also commit to removing all signage within two weeks after the election. Peter Mott, Liz Alessio, Mary Luros, Bernie Narvaez, Ricky Hurtado, Jeff Dodd, Kyle Iverson Editors note: Several candidates were offered a chance to sign on to this letter, but declined. The Register asked them why. Here are their responses: Amy Martenson, NCV trustee: "I did not sign onto Peter Mott's letter, because the current sign ordinance allows candidates to put signs in parking strips in front of peoples homes, and I feel that is completely appropriate, since homeowners must maintain them. Also, even though I have chosen not to put signs in public rights of way, I do not have an issue with other candidates doing so. James Hinton, Napa City Council candidate: I did not add my name to this letter, because it would suggest that I voluntarily (pinky swear) relinquish rights granted by the 1st Amendment. I'm surprised Peter Mott duped so many other candidates to agree to modify the rules to benefit himself as the incumbent. I'm not worried about where anyone is putting their campaign signs. I'm concerned about where the City Council is putting housing, hotels, and wine bars in Napa. I'm very thankful to my team for designing my campaign signs, and I'm flattered by the positive responses they are generating from the community. Napa County is known for its premium winesand premium housing. Which makes it an unlikely candidate for one of real estate's most ignominious titles. We usually don't see grand, French-inspired estates in Northern California falling into the hands of creditors, but Villa Vigne is the exception. The nearly 40-acre spread is on the market in St. Helena for $5.5 millionmaking it the most expensive foreclosure in the country as of Aug. 13, according to realtor.com. Even though the home, located at 130 Auberge Road, been repossessed, the views remain. You have a 180-degree view in the center of Napa Valley, said listing agent Julie Larsen, broker associate in the Napa Valley office of Pacific Union. All you see is the valley and vineyards below. And the location is without parallel: It's on one of the most expensive roads in Napa Valley, according to Larsen. The estate at 130 Auberge Road is less than a mile from the acclaimed Auberge du Soleil resort. According to online listings, a home at 40 Auberge Road was previously listed for sale at $11.25 million. A home at 50 Auberge Road sold for $6.5 million. The land alone is worth about $5 million, but the house will require repairs, she said. Its in original condition and 20 years old, Larsen says. Its in need of updating to todays standards. The agent updated the exterior paint and cleaned up the landscaping to boost its curb appeal. The main level features five suite-style bedrooms, 8.5 bathrooms, along with a host of luxe amenities, including a fitness center with steam room, an outdoor kitchen gazebo, an infinity pool and spa, two laundry rooms and a gated entry. And there are those views. Almost every room in the house has a phenomenal view, Larsen noted. But for all that beauty, there was trouble in paradise. How a beautiful home in an ideal location became tangled up in foreclosure isn't entirely clear. We do know the broad strokes behind the home's ownership. About 20 years ago, a developer from the Reno area named Nathan L. Topol paid $1 million for the parcel and built this home, which was completed in 2000. Larsen believes it was designed as a secondary property, and at one point the home was available as a vacation rental. In 2012 Topol filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. He died in a car accident in 2013. The home was foreclosed almost a year ago and is now for sale by bank JP Morgan Chase. If you think bank ownership means you can make a lowball offer to score a deal, dont get your hopes up. Larsen notes that both she and the bank carefully researched the right price for the property. They are not into the idea of giving properties away, she said. The home is being sold as is, and is probably in need of at least $500,000 in repairs, the agent estimated. The high-end kitchen appliances, such as a Viking range and wine fridge, were all removed as part of the foreclosure and would need to be replaced. It's currently priced with a renovation in mind, according to the agent. The right offer will likely appreciate the propertys potential and spectacular setting. Someone could come in and make it one of the most magnificent properties around, Larsen said. "With the view you can't go wrong. Register reporter Jennifer Huffman contributed to this story. Acting on a tip off, the personnel of 37th Battalion of the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), Mangaldai stationed at the border outpost in Samrang along the Indo-Bhutan border in Udalguri nabbed two drug peddlers on Saturday. The SSB personnel also seized a huge consignment of 35 kg cannabis (ganja) along with a Bolero Pickup van registered in Bhutan near the Forest IB post in Samrang. The nabbed drug peddlers have been identified as Lekjay and Meto Tshering. As per reports, both of the nabbed drug peddlers are Bhutan nationals. The consignment was transported from Bhutan side and was supposed to be delivered in the Udalguri district. The seized items have been later handed over to the Dimakuchi Police Station in Udalguri district for further legal action. Meanwhile, the Dimakuchi police have prepared to hand over the Bhutan nationals and the seized items to Bhutan police, informed in-charge of Dimakuchi Police Station, Maheswar Sarmah. Meghalaya Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tyngsong along with NPP candidate Martin M Danggo on Friday visited Rangthong to seek the mandate of the people for the by-poll to Ranikor constituency to be held on August 23, 2018. Addressing a rally, Tyngsong said that it has always been the policy of the NPP under the leadership of Conrad Sangma to never indulge in mudslinging or negative campaigning during elections. The party stands for positivity and fairness and it fights elections based on principles and issues that concern the common people. Prestone Tynsong was drawing attention to a recent newspaper report that came out in some local newspapers about a leader from a political party who branded Danggo a defector. Tyngsong clarified that under the Constitution, an MLA, who resigns from his post to re-contest the seat is not a defector. Danggo cannot be called a defector because he first resigned from the post of MLA and from the Congress party and then joined the NPP, said Tynsong. Tynsong also dismissed claims by the same leader that Danggo was tempted to join the NPP because of the granting of Ranikor civil sub-division. He said that Danggo sacrificed the seat for the sake and betterment of the people of Ranikor constituency. He recalled that in 2013, Danggos opponents called for his defeat for failing to get Ranikor a civil sub-division. But today those same opponents are calling for his defeat because of the flimsy reason that the by-election is causing an inconvenience to the people, said the Deputy CM. He went on to elaborate that the Ranikor civil-sub division is a blessing to the people of the region because it will bring the government closer to the people. Talking about agenda of the NPP under the leadership of Conrad Sangma, Tyngsong said that various projects are already on the anvil to further improve infrastructure and livelihoods of the people of the region which includes the SARDP road project and the re-opening of border haats, stated an NPP communication cell communique. Ex-MLA of Ranikor constituency and NPP candidate Martin M Danggo recounted the struggles that he undertook to get the civil sub-division for Ranikor when Dr DD Lapang and Dr Mukul Sangma were chief ministers of the State. He said, despite numerous requests and prayer, both of them refused to consider the case for many years. In desperation, he and his party workers decided to approach Chief Minister Conrad Sangma demanding upgradation of Ranikor as civil sub-division this year. Taking into consideration the genuine needs of the people of the constituency, the MDA Government under the leadership of Conrad Sangma granted the request. Danggo said he resigned from the post of MLA as a mark of gratitude to Chief Minister Conrad Sangma and said he believed that NPP is the only party that can bring real development to the people of the region and the State as a whole. The rally was attended by NPP State president Dr W Kharlukhi, Minister of Industries Sniawbhalang Dhar, Williamnagar MLA Marcuise N Marak, Mawshynrut MLA Gigur Myrthong and MDC of Sohryngkham, Pyniaid S Syiem, it added. Contraband gold pieces in rectangular form, weighing around 3.6 kg and valued around Rs 1.06 crore, were seized from suspected smugglers in Manipur, informed customs officials in Imphal. Four persons, who were travelling to Dimapur in Nagaland in a passenger vehicle (Tata Winger), were arrested from Koirengei Bazar along the Imphal-Dimapur Highway around 4 pm on Friday for allegedly trying to smuggle 16 gold pieces in rectangular form with a marking which read Fine gold 999.9 worth Rs 94.55 lakh from their shoes and stroller bags, said Ningombam Meiraba, Superintendent of the Imphal Customs Divisions anti-smuggling unit while speaking to reporters on Saturday. The gold pieces weighing 3206.2 grams appeared to be of foreign origin supposed to be smuggled from Imphal to Dimapur and further to Mumbai by train, he said. The four persons have been identified as Sanjay Kumar Krishnani (32), Jayram Parbati Manglani (40), Harish Nanikram Shringi (44), all from Ulhasnagar in Thane district of Maharashtra and Umesh Laxmandas Darda (32) from Aurangabad in Maharashtra. At the same time, officials of the customs also seized 2 gold pieces in rectangular form with a marking which read Fine gold 999.9 weighing 399.9 grams valued at Rs 11.79 lakh from one suspected smuggler from North AOC area in Imphal. One Dilip Rajkumar Laljani (29) also from Ulhasnagar in Thane district of Maharashtra was arrested in this regard. The customs official informed that the collective weight of the seized items came up to 3606.1 grams valued at Rs 1,06,34,389, adding that the cases have been registered for necessary steps. So far, the Imphal Customs Divisions anti-smuggling unit has seized Rs 8 crore worth contraband gold weighing around 30 kilograms and booked 22 individuals under 21 cases since April 1,2018. Besides, the unit also seized 1 lakh WY Amphetamine tablets worth around Rs 3.05 crore in the international market from the possession of four persons during the period. On March 9, 12 Assam Rifles personnel seized 97 gold bars amounting to Rs 4.8 crore from a Maruti van that was plying from Moreh in Tengnoupal district to the state capital. Air Asia X flight halted for non payments Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) was forced to halt the scheduled flight of Malaysian-based low-cost carrier Air Asia X for 40 minutes on Friday after it deferred payment of its dues totalling Rs220 million, airport officials said. Air Asia X refutes TIA's claim of deferring due payments Malaysias low-cost carrier Air Asia X on Sunday claimed that it has consistently made monthly payments to the Civil Aviation Authority of Nepal (Caan) in response to Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) claims that the carriers flight was halted for 40 minutes on Friday for non payments. Constitution not scripture can be revised, says PM Oli Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has said the government is ready to amend the constitution in accordance with the needs of the country and the people. CPN spokesperson Bishwakarma remanded to 3-day custody The Kavre District Court has remanded Netra Bikarm Chand-le Communist Party of Nepal (CPN) spokesperson Khadga Bahadur Bishwakarma, to three day police custody on Sunday. electronic arts hack cryptocurrency A man who stands accused of illegally accessing the secure network of well-known gaming company Electronic Arts (EA) was arrested in San Francisco National Airport on Aug. 8 attempting to board a flight to Serbia. EA is responsible for games like FIFA, Battlefield, and Star Wars Battlefront and manages assets in excess of $8.5 billion. Martin Marsich, 25, made an initial appearance in court on Aug. 9 over a criminal complaint charging him with crimes related to the illegal intrusion of the computer network, according to U.S. Attorney Alex G. Tse and FBI Special Agent in Charge John F. Bennett. Marisch was last known to live in Italy and has both Serbian and Italian citizenship. An FBI affidavit read out in court stated that a Bay area video game company learned that they had been hacked and that the intruder had gained access to 25,000 accounts that allow customers to purchase items for use in video games. According to the Daily Post, that company was Electronic Arts. Marsich allegedly used some of the information he obtained from the computer system to obtain in-game currency, which is used to buy and sell in-game items. He is accused of selling access to online games on black market websites, and the losses sustained from closing the compromised and stolen video game accounts are tallied at approximately $324,000, according to the gaming company. bitcoin Magistrate Judge Corley ordered Marsich released to a half-way house on the condition that he post the equivalent of $750,000 in cryptocurrency for bail. The bail can be paid in BTC or altcoins as Marisch sees fit. While it may seem like an unusual decision, U.S. judges can set bail terms at their own discretion based on what assets the defendant has access to property can also be used to post bail charges. Marisch apparently has access to a large sum of cryptocurrency, enabling him to potentially foot the bill for what seems to have been a cyber-robbery gone wrong. The incident is the highest profile case of bail being paid in crypto, but crypto has certainly been used to raise bail money in the past. As reported by Motherboard, the Bronx Freedom Fund is an initiative allowing people to dedicate CPU power to crowdfund bail money for people who cant afford it by remotely mining and donating cryptocurrency to the cause and prevent people from being imprisoned while awaiting trial. Story continues However, Marischs case may be the first incident of someone paying for bail in cryptocurrency directly without converting it first. Due to the volatile nature of cryptocurrencies, the sum required for bail in BTC or altcoins changes daily to accommodate for price fluctuation. Notably, EA co-founder Jeff Burton joined the Dragonglass crypto mining venture earlier this year. Images from Shutterstock The post EA Hacker Ordered to Post $750,000 Bail in Cryptocurrency appeared first on CCN. Culling not a solution Killing the salt water crocodiles is going to have no effect on the human-crocodile conflict Police in Mityana used live bullets, tear gas to disperse angry protestors who took to the streets to demonstrate against the alleged torture of their area MP Francis Zaake. Zaake was arrested on Monday, alongside other 34 individuals, among them, MPs Robert Kyagulanyi, Gerald Karuhanga, Paul Mwiru, MP-elect Kassiano Wadri and former Makindye East MP Mike Mabikke following the alleged stoning of the president's convoy in Arua. It is alleged that a group of supporters under the People Power pressure group, led by Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, obstructed the president's motorcade and smashed the hind windscreen of one of the vehicles in the convoy. More than 30 people were arrested in the aftermath and subsequently charged with treason. But Zaake never appeared in court. Instead, grisly pictures of him were circulating on social media, showing a swollen face and smashed fingers reportedly resulting from torture while under police custody. The residents burnt tyres in the road to show their dissatisfaction His whereabouts remained unknown until when he resurfaced on Friday when he was checked into Lubaga hospital by a group of people, which, according to his lawyers, comprised of military personnel. He has since been on life support. The Uganda Human Rights Commission released a report on Friday indicating that Zaake had sustained multiple injuries on the head, arms and legs and that he was great pain. Today, Sunday residents of Mityana municipality took to the streets, in a demonstration that paralyzed business in the area. They burnt car tyres and blocked access to all major roads, including the Kampala-Mityana-Mubende highway paralysing traffic flow. Scores of youth were arrested in the ensuing running battles with police. The charged residents are demanding that the government provides the best medical care to the legislator or free him to seek advanced medication abroad. They are also demanding for the unconditional release of Kyagulanyi. Last year, Zaake was admitted at Mercy hospital in Minnesota, USA, after sustaining injuries on the skull, during a fracas in parliament when opposition MPs engaged in a fight with presidential guards during the debate to lift the presidential age limit. The United States is upping the ante in its effort to sanction Iran, and its efforts may further complicate its ongoing trade war with China and affect the flow of oil worldwide. On August 16, the head of the new Iran Action Group, Brian Hook, announced that the U.S. would sanction any country that purchased oil from Iran after the November 4 deadline. China has shown no indication that it plans to cooperate with the U.S., and Hook did not rule out imposing secondary sanctions on China if it continues its purchases of Iranian oil. While other importers of Iranian crude, including Japan and South Korea, had scaled back their purchases, China has actually increased its imports from Iran. In August China announced a round of tariffs on U.S. goods, including some oil products, though it exempted U.S. crude from the list. Nevertheless, Chinese imports of U.S. energy products has been on the decline. A ship-tracking report noted that not a single U.S. tanker has departed for China in August. Should the U.S.-Chinese trade war worsen, China may turn towards alternative sources of energy, including Russia or Iran. That would be a real blow to U.S. energy suppliers like Cheniere Energy Inc., which ships LNG to China. China is the second-largest market for U.S. energy goods. In May it averaged 427,000 bpd of U.S. imports, surpassing Canada, which imported 289,000 bpd, according to the EIA. Right now, Chinese importers like Unipec have adopted a wait and see attitude towards buying US crude, despite the fact that it was left off the Chinese governments tariff list. For China, the situation may involve choosing between Iran and the U.S. American energy products have been attractive for Chinese importers, but the geopolitical advantages of cozying up to Tehran may outweigh the economic benefits of sticking with U.S. crude. Related: The One Oil Industry That Isnt Under Threat The U.S. decision to withdraw from the 2015 nuclear deal and adopt a more aggressive policy towards Iran, one that may be aimed at toppling the Islamic Republic and replacing it with a new government, has altered the geopolitical calculus. The European Union, which signed the nuclear deal, has been attempting to maintain ties with Iran and shield it from U.S. sanctions. Theyre hoping to preserve the agreement, as Iran is still complying with its terms. But European efforts will likely end in failure. European businesses like Total SA have been cutting ties with Iran before sanctions kick back in on November 4. It simply isnt worth it to invest in Iran if it means losing access to the United States and the largest economy on earth, particularly at a time when the US government is using economic sanctions, tariffs and other protectionist measures for political ends. As Europe draws away from Iran, China and Russia are likely to slip into the void, investing more in Iranian crude and buying more Iranian exports. Some analysts have predicted Chinese purchases of Iranian crude could increase after sanctions snap back in November. China is Irans biggest customer and already accounts for 35 percent of Irans exports. As South Korea and Japan begin to reduce their purchases and India, another big purchaser, trying to maneuver between the two sides, the opportunity for China to grow closer to Iran and take advantage of the open supply could be too great to pass up. Related: Trade War May Push China To Russian Energy The Iranian government will be hard-pressed to pass up Chinese help. Irans currency has plummeted, internal dissent has spiked, and a new U.S. sanctions regime will make the situation even worse. China, by choosing to ignore U.S. sanctions and decrease its purchases of U.S. oil, is sending a fairly clear signal: it wont be coerced into cooperating with the U.S. policy and is willing to help Iran, provided it gets something in return. For two countries that have grown closer in recent years, the changing situation is likely to promote stronger ties and stiffen Irans resolve to resist the U.S. Iran and China, along with Russia and Turkey, are drawing closer due to the intertwined issues of geopolitics and energy. As U.S. pressure on Iran mounts and the international oil supply situation tightens, its likely that these ties will grow even stronger in coming months. This calls the efficacy of the U.S. strategy to pressure Iran (and perhaps facilitate regime change) into question: new sanctions could only push Iran further into the arms of China, pushing Chinese purchasers away from U.S. energy exports and setting back U.S. ambitions of energy dominance. By Gregory Brew for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: In 2007, following Venezuelas expropriation of billions of dollars of assets from U.S. companies like ExxonMobil and ConocoPhillips, I suggested a potential remedy. Since Venezuelas state-owned oil company, PDVSA (Petroleos de Venezuela, S.A.) owns the Citgo refineries in the U.S., the companies that had lost billions of dollars of assets should target these refineries for seizure as compensation. These refineries have the same vulnerabilities as the U.S. assets in Venezuela that were seized. They represent infrastructure on the ground that cant be removed from the country. Citgo has three major refining complexes in the U.S. with a total refining capacity of 750,000 barrels per day. Recognizing the vulnerability from asset seizure, PDVSA tried to sell these assets in 2014, and valued them at $10 billion. That value may be grossly overstated, considering that Venezuela subsequently pledged 49.9 percent of Citgo to Russian oil giant Rosneft as collateral for a $1.5 billion loan. In recent years, PDVSA has lost a series of arbitration awards related to expropriations, and companies have been looking for opportunities to collect. In May, ConocoPhillips seized some PDVSA assets in the Caribbean to partially enforce a $2 billion arbitration award for Venezuelas 2007 expropriation. Related: Indonesias Oil Sector In Jeopardy As Elections Loom ConocoPhillips had sought up to $22 billion the largest claim against PDVSA for the broken contracts from its Hamaca and Petrozuata oil projects. The company is pursuing a separate arbitration case against Venezuela before the World Banks International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). The ICSID has already declared Venezuelas takeover unlawful, opening the way for another multi-billion dollar settlement award. Last week, a court ruling has opened the door for Citgo assets to be seized to pay for these judgments. Defunct Canadian gold miner Crystallex had been awarded a $1.4 billion judgment over Venezuelas 2008 nationalization of a Crystallex gold mining operation in the country. A U.S. federal judge ruled that a creditor could seize Citgos assets to enforce this award. This ruling is sure to set off a feeding frenzy among those that have won arbitration rulings against Venezuela. Until the legal rulings are settled, its hard to say which companies will end up with Citgos assets. But its looking far more likely it wont be PDVSA. By Robert Rapier More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The oil market has suddenly gone south in recent weeks, with cracks in the global economy starting to drag down oil. The U.S.-China trade war is one of the drivers of the souring climate. But that conflict could get a lot worse in the months ahead. The latest flashpoint is the lira crisis in Turkey, which is dragging down other currencies and sparking fears of an emerging market crisis. But the problems have been building for some time. The IEA warned last week that the oil market has been cooling down, which was partly the result of a restoration of outages in Libya, but also a slowing of demand in the second and third quarters. The return of some supply and the slowdown in demand has depressed prices in July and August. Brent is thus facing its third consecutive weekly loss. WTI even looks set to be down for the seventh week running which would be its longest losing streak in three years, Commerzbank wrote in a note. Other negative signs have become more visible. Fuel markets are showing signs of trouble. Oil demand in Asia is slowing down. Timespreads in the oil futures market are throwing up some bearish signals. From here, it is unclear which way we go. The outages in Iran loom, but so does a potential further knock on demand. One main factor to consider is that trade tensions might escalate and lead to slower economic growth, and in turn lower oil demand, the IEA warned, clearly referring to the escalating trade conflict between the U.S. and China. If this does happen, it might dampen to some extent the impact on prices of any supply pressures. Related: Caught In The Crossfire: The Unintended Victim Of Iran Sanctions Intriguingly, however, those two issues could soon become intertwined, whereas up until now they have mostly been separate issues. More specifically, China may defy the U.S. demand that it stop buying oil from Iran, which could heighten the tension between Washington and Beijing. The United States certainly hopes for full compliance by all nations in terms of not risking the threat of U.S. secondary sanctions if they continue with those transactions, Brian Hook, the U.S. point person on Iran sanctions at the State Department, said a few days ago. We are prepared to impose secondary sanctions on other governments that continue this sort of trade with Iran. The statement was a not-very-subtle threat to Beijing: Cut imports from Iran or face U.S. sanctions. Hook was recently appointed to head the so-called Iran Action Group, which seeks to apply maximum pressure on Tehran. The U.S. government has alternately said that it wants countries to cut their imports to zero while also signaling flexibility for countries that make an effort to dramatically reduce their purchases of Iranian oil. Bloomberg reported that India has considered cutting oil imports from Iran by 50 percent in exchange for a U.S. waiver on the rest. But China has indicated that it would be unwilling to comply with Washingtons demands. Thus, the Trump administration is suggesting that it would slap sanctions on China, which would amount to yet another dramatic escalation in tension between the two countries, which now spans multiple issues. Meanwhile, the trade war is also proceeding forward as before. Tit-for-tat tariffs are showing no signs of letting up, although negotiators from both countries will meet again later this month to resume negotiations, the first direct trade talks in more than two months. It is unclear if the Trump administration will move forward with the previously announced $200 billion in tariffs before then. Related: All-Time Low Spare Capacity Could Send Oil To $150 If the U.S. does move forward on those punitive measures, China will be compelled to respond. Beijing has proposed tariffs on U.S. LNG next, which would force U.S. gas exporters to look to other markets. Analysts say that instead of curtailing existing exports, the bigger impact of the tariffs will be to put new U.S. LNG export terminals on ice. Theres no way in the current environment that anyones going to be signing any deals, Neil Beveridge, senior oil analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., told the Wall Street Journal. Its causing a big overhang on what can get done. China notably refrained from putting levies on U.S. crude earlier this month, but an escalation from here opens up all sorts of uncertainties. In short, the U.S.-China conflict is a huge weight on the oil market, even as the potential for serious supply outages from Iran loom just over the horizon. Although emerging market contagion and China slowdown fears seem somewhat overstated, neither fundamental nor sentiment should provide support for higher commodity prices, Julius Baer Head of Macro and Commodity Research Norbert Rucker said, according to Reuters. By Nick Cunningham of Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com: The Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) has suspended the full implementation of the Expanded High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) Traffic Scheme along Epifanio Delos Santos Avenue (EDSA). The suspension follows the Senates filing of a resolution urging the agency to recall MMDA Regulation No. 18-005 which details the rules and regulations of the scheme and to suspend its implementation. We respect the wisdom of our senators, said MMDA General Jojo Garcia in a press briefing on August 17. We are suspending the full implementation of the policy on August 23. In Philippine Senate Resolution No. 845 of the 17th Congress, Senators Vicente Sotto III, Ralph Recto, Juan Miguel Zubiri, and Franklin Drilon urged the agency and its governing and policy-making body, the Metro Manila Council (MMC), to conduct public consultations, further study the driver-only ban, and provide for real solutions to Metro Manila traffic congestions. Now thats the good news. The bad news though is that the agency will continue with the dry run of the expanded HOV traffic scheme on EDSA until the MMC calls for its cessation. (The) MMDA has no power to stop the policy because it is a MMC resolution, Garcia added. It is also the MMC that has the last say. This means come Monday, August 20and perhaps for the rest of week until the MMC convenes and nullifies Regulation 18-005cars with only single occupants will still be prohibited from taking EDSA from North Avenue in Quezon City to Magallanes in Makati City from 7 to 10 AM and from 6 to 9 PM. According to Garcia, the scheme was meant not to inconvenience lone drivers from taking EDSA but as a short-term solution to curb traffic as numerous road repairs and infrastructure projects are simultaneously taking place under the governments Build, Build, Build program. We need to do something. We cannot just wait for these infrastructure projects that would take three to four years, said Garcia. Metro Manilas traffic problems are already decades old. There is no overnight solution, he added. The post MMDA Suspends EDSA HOV Traffic Scheme Implementation but Dry Run Will Continue appeared first on Carmudi Philippines. A file photo shows a dead basking shark on a North Sea beach in Belgium. It is the world's second largest fish but crucial details about its behaviour remain elusive to researchers. The sight of a basking shark's brooding silhouette gliding through the waters off western France is more than just a rare treat for sailorsit is a boon for scientists trying to trace its secretive migrations across the globe. It may be the world's second largest fish, growing to more than 10 metres (35 feet), but the basking shark, or Cetorhinus maximus, is an enigma for scientists eager to help preserve the plankton-eating giant after centuries of overfishing. Hunted voraciously for its massive finhighly prized for sharks' fin soup in Chinaas well as its oily liver and meat, global populations of basking shark declined precipitously during the 20th century. The species has struggled to recover because of slow reproduction rates. While the sharks have captured the imagination of sailors for hundreds of yearssome think early seafarers mistook the massive sharks swimming in single file for sea monsterscrucial details about their behaviour remain elusive to researchers. "It's a shark that remains very mysterious," said Alexandra Rohr of the research group APECS, which is based in the Brittany town of Brest and dedicated to the study of sharks, skates and rays. Even population estimates, the age of sexual maturity and where and when the sharks reproduce are not known for certain, Rohr said. They are spotted more frequently during the summer months while in winter they all but vanish from view, leading to theories that they migrate to warmer regions or dive down into the ocean depths. Using new tracking technology, APECS researchers monitoring sharks when they are near the water's surface have discovered evidence of a much greater migratory range than previously thought. One tagged female was tracked off the coast of northern Scotland on September 20, 2016, and then resurfaced four months later south of the Canary Islands. By May 2017 the shark was back in the Bay of Biscay, south of Brittany. APECS also relies on crowd-sourced information from divers, sailors and other members of the public. Alain Quemere sighted a basking shark during a fishing trip in the Glenan archipelago off the south coast of Brittany and reported details to APECS, enabling a research team to find the shark and fit it with a satellite tracker. "I just saw the tip of his fin," said Quemere, still enraptured by the memory of his five-hour encounter. "One moment it grazed the front of the boat, which made me laugh because my boat is barely five and a half metres and the shark was eight." 'Wise old grandfather' APECS has tagged four sharks so far this year with its new tracking devices, after deploying three in 2016. Some 77 basking sharks were spotted in 2017 from February to September, with most seen in the Bay of Biscay and around 24 spotted in the Mediterranean. "You have the impression of seeing a wise old grandfather, it is beautiful," said Frederic Bassemayousse, a diver and photographer who has spotted the sharks three times. Like the world's largest fish, the whale shark, and the smaller megamouth shark, the basking shark is not a predator. It earned its common name for its languid movements near the surface of the water, and it eats plankton, which it filters through ribbed gill slits encircling its head. A single individual is thought capable of sieving nearly an Olympic swimming pool's worth of water every hour, according to APECS. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) now lists it as "vulnerable" across the world and "endangered" in the North Pacific and Northeast Atlantic. Basking sharks and whale sharks were in 2003 put onto the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) "Appendix II", which bans all trade in parts, unless under stringent conditions. Following the last CITES meeting in 2013, a total of eight species of sharks and all manta rays were included. Overall an estimated 100 million sharks are killed every year, according to an authoritative 2013 study, an amount that conservationists say threatens the survival of many shark species. Explore further New shark species could be swimming toward UK as seas warm 2018 AFP Dhalkebar substation goes online Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA), the state-owned power utility has completed charging its Dhalkebar substation, enabling it to import more electricity from India via Dhalkebar-Muzaffarpur cross-border transmission line during the next dry season. EPG report will be implemented at any cost: Foreign Minister Gyawali Foreign Minister Pradip Gyawali said the differences expressed on the joint report prepared by Eminent Persons Group (EPG) on Nepal-India relations will have no effect against the desire of nations current political leadership to implement it. 2 hours ago US, EU reach agreement to settle rift over Trump-era tariffs ROME (AP) The U.S. and European Union have reached an agreement to settle their diplomatic rift over Trump-era steel and aluminum tariffs, the White House announced Saturday, as President Joe Biden is in Rome attending the Group of 20 summit. The Trump administration had placed taxes on EU steel and aluminum in 2018 on the claim that the foreign products produced by American allies were a threat to U.S. Read Article Floods destroy 19 homes in Nuwakot Floods and landslides triggered by heavy rains destroyed 19 houses in separate incidents in Nuwakot district on Friday night. Prithvi Man Shrestha is a political reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering the governance-related issues including corruption and irregularities in the government machinery. Before joining The Kathmandu Post in 2009, he worked at nepalnews.com and Rising Nepal primarily covering the issues of political and economic affairs for three years. Joshee extends his leave by six days Supreme Courts senior-most justice Deepak Raj Joshee, who was rejected by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC) for the top judiciary position, on Sunday extended his leave by six more days. Shirley Contreras lives in Orcutt and writes for the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society. She can be contacted at 623-8193 or at shirleycontreras2@yahoo.com. Her book, The Good Years, a selection of stories shes written for the Santa Maria Times since 1991, is on sale at the Santa Maria Valley Historical Society, 616 S. Broadway. Joshee likely to extend leave Supreme Courts most senior justice Deepak Raj Joshee, rejected by the Parliamentary Hearing Committee (PHC) for the top position, plans to extend his leave. Security experts have observed increasing cyber espionage activity related to Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The alarm was launched by the experts from cybersecurity firms FireEye and Recorded Future. Chinas Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) is a development project for the building of an infrastructure connecting countries in Southeast Asia, Central Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and Africa. For this reason, the project is considered strategic for almost any intelligence Agency. FireEye defined it as a driver of regional cyber threat activity, experts warn of a spike in espionage operations aimed at gathering info in the project. Cyber spies are already targeting organizations from various sectors that are involved in the project. Cyber espionage activity related to the initiative will likely include the emergence of new groups and nation-state actors. Given the range of geopolitical interests affected by this endeavor, it may be a driver of emerging nation-state cyber actors to use their capabilities, reads a report published by FireEye. FireEye uncovered an espionage campaign carried out by the China-linked APT group dubbed Roaming Tiger. The Roaming Tiger campaign was discovered by experts at ESET in 2014, in December 2015 experts uncovered a cyber espionage campaign aimed at Russian organizations. The APT group targeted entities in Belarus using specially crafted documents that referenced the Chinese infrastructure project as a bait. FireEye observed the use of several malicious codes against organizations involved in the BRI project. Chinese hackers used the TOYSNAKE backdoor to target several European foreign ministries. According to FireEye, another malware tracked as BANECHANT was used to target Maldives, a strategic center for financial investments related to BRI, meanwhile the LITRECOLA malware was used in attacks against Cambodia and the SAFERSING malware was involved in campaigns against international NGOs. Experts also mentioned the recent attacks powered by the TEMP.Periscope group on the maritime industry. We expect BRI will also highlight the capabilities of emerging cyber actors across Asia and the Middle East and under what norms such nation-states sponsors will employ their capabilities, FireEye said in its report. Prior FireEye iSIGHT Intelligence reporting has noted that rising regional cyber actors, such as Vietnam, have been willing to employ their espionage capabilities against foreign corporations conducting business inside their borders. Similarly, there may be a willingness for other nation-state actors to aggressively target private sector organizations contributing to BRI. Researchers at Recorded Future also reported several attacks originating from China, precisely from the Tsinghua University. The hackers targeted Tibetan community and many governments and private sector organizations worldwide. The attacks launched from the Tsinghua University targeted Mongolia, Kenya, and Brazil, that are key investment destinations as part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. During the course of our research, we also observed the Tsinghua IP scan ports and probe government departments and commercial entities networks in Mongolia, Kenya, and Brazil. Each of these countries are key investment destinations as part of Chinas Belt and Road Initiative. states the report published by Recorded Future. We assess with medium confidence that the consistent reconnaissance activity observed from the Tsinghua IP probing networks in Kenya, Brazil, and Mongolia aligns closely with the BRI economic development goals, demonstrating that the threat actor using this IP is engaged in cyberespionage on behalf of the Chinese state, The appendix in the PDF report published by Recorded Future includes a full list of the associated indicators of compromise. Pierluigi Paganini ( Security Affairs Chinas Belt and Road Initiative project, cyberespionage) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On The North Korea-linked Dark Hotel APT group is leveraging the recently patched CVE-2018-8373 vulnerability in the VBScript engine in attacks in the wild. The vulnerability affects Internet Explorer 9, 10 and 11, it was first disclosed last month by Trend Micro and affected all supported versions of Windows. The flaw could be exploited by remote attackers to take control of the vulnerable systems by tricking victims into viewing a specially crafted website through Internet Explorer. The attacker could also embed an ActiveX control marked safe for initialization in an application or Microsoft Office document that hosts the IE rendering engine. A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the way that the scripting engine handles objects in memory in Internet Explorer. The vulnerability could corrupt memory in such a way that an attacker could execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. reads the security advisory published by Microsoft. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could gain the same user rights as the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could take control of an affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. The analysis of the exploit code for the CVE-2018-8373 revealed it shared the obfuscation technique implemented for another exploit triggering the CVE-2018-8174 flaw. The CVE-2018-8174 was first discovered by experts at Chinese security company Qihoo 360 and it was fixed in May by Microsoft. The similarities in the exploits suggest that were developed by the same threat actor. We found this exploit using heuristics, which led to a more in-depth analysis. Interestingly, we found that this exploit sample uses the same obfuscation technique as exploits for CVE-2018-8174, a VBScript engine remote code execution vulnerability patched back in May wrote Trend Micro. We suspect that this exploit sample came from the same creator. Our analysis revealed that it used a new use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability in vbscript.dll, which remained unpatched in the latest VBScript engine. A similar theory was proposed by experts from Qihoo that collected evidence that linked the use of the CVE-2018-8373 exploit to Dark Hotel. The experts discovered that domain name embedded in Office documents in latest attacks is the same used to download Double Kill exploit code in previous attacks linked to the North Korea-linked APT group. The 360 Threat Intelligence Center first obtained the IOC address after Trend Micro coding through the big data analysis association: http://windows-updater[.]net/realmuto/wood[.]php?who=1?????? Associated homologous 0day attack sample states Qihoo And found an attack time and trend technology found in the wild double kill 0day attack on the same day suspected of using the 0day attack of the office document sample, the domain name embedded in the Offce document sample and the domain name format given by Trend Micro (http ://windows-updater[.]net/stack/ov[.]php?w= 1\x00who =1) In the analysis published in May by Qihoo 360 the researchers associated the CVE-2018-8373 exploit with Dark Hotel based on TTPs associated with the threat actor (e.g. the decryption algorithm that malware used is identical to Dark Hotels one). Experts speculated that the CVE-2018-8373 was used in a cyber espionage campaign aimed at China. Pierluigi Paganini ( Security Affairs Dark Hotel, APT) Share this... Linkedin Share this: Twitter Print LinkedIn Facebook More Tumblr Pocket Share On Medical commission will not hold common entrance test The common entrance examinations for the MBBS and BDS courses, as recommended by the Kedar Bhakta Mathema-led commission, will not be held this year. Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivers National Day Rally speech at the Institute of Technical Education Central in Ang Mo Kio on 19 August, 2018. (SCREENCAP: Prime Ministers Office, Singapore/YouTube) Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong delivered his National Day Rally 2018 speech on Sunday (19 August) evening. Among other things, the prime minister tackled the issues of 99-year lease of HDB flats, flat upgrading and older estate redevelopment, unveiled a Merdeka Generation Package for those born in the 1950s, and touched on the water agreement with Malaysia. About the cost of living, he noted that the government cannot completely prevent prices from increasing, and he urged Singaporeans to manage their lifestyles. On healthcare, he said the Community Health Assist Scheme (CHAS) would be extended to Singaporeans with chronic conditions regardless of income. Meanwhile, he disclosed that the government has nominated hawker culture for UNESCO listing. In his 15th NDR speech as Singapores leader, Lee spoke in Malay and Mandarin (6.45 pm to 7.30 pm) and English (8.15 pm to 9.30 pm) at the Institute of Technical Education Central in Ang Mo Kio. Slovenia's Matej Mohoric won the BinckBank Tour in the biggest win of his career on Sunday after Australia's Michael Matthews claimed the sixth and final stage. Mohoric's landmark World Tour stage triumph came at the main expense of Matthews who took second in the overall standings. The Sunweb rider fended off Belgian's Greg Van Avermaet (BMC) and Zdanek Stybar of the Czech Republic to land the closing day's honours in a bunch finish to the 209.5 kilometre ride. Mohoric began Sunday's stage from Lacs de l'Eau d'Heure to Grammont half a minute clear of Matthews. He had led approaching the final climb but his challenge faded, crossing 14sec behind Matthews who picked up bonus points to cut the gap in the general classification to five seconds. PM Lee Hsien Loong (left) delivering his 15th National Day Rally speech on 19 August, 2018, and Malaysian prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad. (PHOTOS: Screenshot/YouTube and Getty Images file photo) Singapore views the 1962 water agreement with Malaysia as sacrosanct, and both countries must proceed strictly in accordance with its terms, said Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong on Sunday (19 August). Speaking at the annual National Day Rally, which was held at the Institute of Technical Education (ITE) Central, Lee said that Singapores stance on the issue was recently reiterated by Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan in Parliament. Balakrishnan told the House in July that neither country can unilaterally change the terms of the agreement. Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad recently said that he wants to increase the price of water sold to Singapore by 10 times. The Republic currently pays 3 sen per thousand gallons to Malaysia. Lee noted that Mahathir, who was previously Prime Minister from 1981-2003, has also said that he wants to renegotiate the terms of two projects with Singapore: the High Speed Rail (HSR) and the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link to Johor. Malaysia has a new generation of leaders, a combination of young talents and experienced hands, said Lee, who met his Malaysian counterpart in Putrajaya in May. He acknowledged that the 93-year-old and his team are determined to review and change many of the policies of the previous regime. However, the fundamentals of the relationship with Singapores northern neighbours have not changed, given the close ties of kinship, history, geography and economy. I told Dr Mahathir that I wanted to work with him to take our bilateral relationship forward. He agreed that we should, because we are each others closest neighbours, said Lee. Related stories: NDR 2018: More HDB flat owners to benefit from redevelopment before leases expire NDR 2018: Eligible HDB flats to be upgraded twice over their lifespan NDR 2018: HDB flats leased for 99 years to prevent social division, says PM Lee NDR 2018: Healthcare package launched for Singaporeans born in 1950s NDR 2018: CHAS extended to all Singaporeans with chronic conditions Story continues NDR 2018: Singapore to nominate hawker culture for UNESCO listing NDR 2018: Singaporeans must manage lifestyle changes to cope with cost of living, says PM Lee NDR 2018: Government cannot completely prevent prices from increasing, says PM Lee LIVE BLOG: PM Lee delivers National Day Rally 2018 speech Malaysia lost its right to revise water agreement in 1987: Vivian Balakrishnan Singapore shouldnt over-react to every articulation by Mahathirs government: Ng Eng Hen My VS Naipaul Exploring questions of identity and place, Naipaul showed how writers of different native origins have changed English writing Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari attends a reception at the closing session of the Commonwealth Business Forum at the Guildhall in London, Britain on April 18, 2017. Daniel Leal-Olivas/Pool via Reuters/Files ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari returned to the country on Saturday evening after two weeks of leave in Britain, according to the presidency's official Twitter account, which on Sunday shared pictures of the leader disembarking from his plane. A presidential aide had said on Saturday that the Nigerian leader would return, easing concerns over his health in the run-up to elections in early 2019. Presidency spokesmen have declined to say whether or not Buhari had any medical appointments during his absence. After Buhari spent five months in Britain last year being treated for an undisclosed ailment, opposition critics said he was unfit for office and his administration was beset by inertia. Buhari will be seeking a second term in February's elections. Although the main opposition party has yet to select a candidate, the president's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been beset by a series of high-profile defections. (Reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by David Goodman) Robots that can diagnose diseases, play badminton and wow audiences with their musical skills are among the machines China hopes could revolutionise its economy, with visitors to a Beijing exhibition offered a glimpse of an automated future. The popular stars of this year's World Robot Conference, which ends Sunday, were undoubtedly the small, amateur-made "battle bots" which smashed, hammered and sawed their way through their opponents to a cacophony of cheers and shouts from a rapt audience. "With this robot, I can fully express myself. I love the sparks," said Huang Hongsong, one of around a dozen Chinese youths whose creations went head-to-head. But while the battle bots are designed largely to entertain onlookers, China is deadly serious about riding the robotic wave with an eye on its economy. Cheap manufacturing propelled the populous giant to become the world's second largest economy in just a few decades. But the country's population is ageing, leaving it facing a double whammy of a worker shortage and increased labour costs as it gets wealthier. Automated machines offer a possible way out with President Xi Jinping in 2014 calling for a "robot revolution". Under the ruling Communist Party's road map for its industrial future -- dubbed "Made in China 2025" -- state subsidies are pouring into the sector. And at the robot show, a vast array of machines demonstrated how technology may eventually replace human workers. In one corner, a mechanical arm -- designed to teach children -- painted an elegant Chinese character while a robotic fish explored its tank and a bat flapped its mechanical wings overhead. - Delicate balance - By 2020, China is aiming for half of the industrial robots sold in the country to be made by Chinese companies, up from 27 percent currently -- with a target of 70 percent by 2025. "Robots are the jewel in the crown for the manufacturing industry... a new frontier for our industrial revolution," said Xin Guobin, China's vice minister of industry, as he opened the conference. But it is a delicate balancing act for Chinese policy-makers due to the potential for human job losses -- a 2016 World Bank report said automation could threaten up to 77 percent of jobs in China's current labour market. Nonetheless a great robotic leap forward has already been made. China is now the world's number one market for industrial robots with some 141,000 units sold last year, accounting for a third of global demand, according to the International Federation of Robotics, which says demand could rise an additional 20 percent per year until 2020. "China has huge opportunities to increase the level of its industrial automation (and) industrial robotisation," said Karel Eloot, an expert at consultancy firm McKinsey. He notes that China still has huge room for growth given that competitors like Japan and Germany have four times the level of robotisation in their factories compared to the Asian giant. Qu Daokui, president of local firm Siasun, which was showing off a snake-like robot that can operate in narrow passages, said China needs to increase the quality and sophistication of its robots, particularly in the field of AI. "We used to focus on the accuracy, reliability and speed of robots -- now it's their flexibility, intelligence and adaptability that makes the difference," he said, adding robots needed to interact and adapt to their environments and "make independent decisions". - Doctor Bot - Outside China's factories, robots are becoming a more visible presence, deployed in restaurants and banks and even delivering parcels. China's iFlytek, a specialist in speech recognition systems, presented a new "medical assistant" robot at the Beijing show which it said was able to help identify up to 150 diseases and ailments -- even passing a national medical qualification exam with a high score. The robot, which operated in conjunction with a doctor, asks patients a series of diagnostic questions and can also analyse X-rays. "It's already being used in hospitals since March and has made some 4,000 diagnoses," company president Liu Qingfeng said, adding such a device could be particularly useful for clinics in more remote parts of China. Chindex, a subsidiary of the conglomerate Fosun, also distributes the "Da Vinci System" in China, an American built robot with arms and high-tech cameras to aid surgeons in the operating theatre. "It transcends the limits of the (human) eye," chief operating officer Liu Yu enthused. But like the diagnostic robot, it still needs a helping human hand. "It only helps the doctor, it cannot replace them. It would not be ethical, the human body is still too complicated," he said. New laws require six regulations to implement fully At least half a dozen of new regulations are required to implement the Civil and Criminal Codes that came into effect on Friday. The Pentagon is preparing to dispatch a hospital ship to Colombia and possibly other parts of South America to help relieve strain on health care systems overloaded by an influx of hundreds of thousands of Venezuelans who have fled that crisis-racked nation, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Friday. It is absolutely a humanitarian mission, he told reporters returning with him to Washington after a six-day tour of South America. Mattis would not say when the USNS Comfort would arrive off the coast of Colombia, but it apparently will not be in the next few weeks. Dana W. White, the chief Pentagon spokeswoman, said it would be in the fall, but she would not be more specific. As a result of a dire economic and health care situation, rising numbers of Venezuelans are joining an exodus that has set off alarms across Latin America. The United Nations said earlier this week that an estimated 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled the crisis-torn country as of June, mainly to Colombia, Ecuador, Peru and Brazil. (AP) See more news-related photo galleries and follow us on Yahoo News Photo Twitter and Tumblr. Parts of Capital to get water five times a week Residents of several parts of Kathmandu will get a much needed respite as the water utility makes supply more regular. In the northern parts of the Capital, water will now be supplied five times a weektwo hours at a stretch. Earlier, tap water was received only once a week. Here are some thoughts on Blackkklansman. This contains spoilers, so read no further if you dont want the film spoiled. This is not as much an aesthetic critique of the masterful craftwork of this film as it is a political critique of the content and timing of the film. I also want to say, as I tweeted last week, that Spike Lee has been a huge influence on me. Hes the reason I went to film school so many years ago. Hes the first person I sent a demo tape of my music to when he had 40 Acres and a Mule Musicworks, and he has inspired me as a cultural critic as well. He never held his tongue about what he thought of Tyler Perry films or any other films he happened to see and be displeased with. Spike doesnt hold his tongue. Although Im gonna lay out my disagreement, I hold him in highest respect as a filmmaker. I should also add that many people who helped make this film are folks who I know personally, and who I think are amazing folks with great intentions, and since they know me, they know Im not gonna hold my tongue. First, Blackkklansman is not a true story. A story not being true is not necessarily a problem for meI have no interest in telling them myself at this timebut this is being pushed as a true story and it is precisely its untrue elements that make a cop a hero against racism. When I voiced some criticism before, a few people said but its a true story! Its not. Its a made up story in which the false parts of it try to make a cop the protagonist in the fight against racist oppression. Its being put while Black Lives Matter is a discussion, and this is not coincidental. There is a viewpoint behind it. Here is what we know: The real Ron Stallworth infiltrated a Black radical organization for 3 years (not for one event like the movie portrays) where he did what all papers from the FBIs Counter Intelligence Program (Cointelpro) that were found through the freedom of information act tell us he didsabotage a Black radical organization whose intent had to do with at the very least fighting racist oppression. Cointelpro papers show us that these police infiltrators of radical organizations worked to try to disrupt the organizations through things like instigating infighting, acting crazy to make the organizations look bad, getting physical altercations happening, and setting them up to be murdered by police or others. Ron Stallworth was part of the cointelpro. Cointelpros objectives were to destroy radical organizations, especially Black radical organizations. Cointelpro papers also show us that when White Supremacist organizations were infiltrated by the FBI and the cops, it was not to disrupt them. They werent disrupted. It was to use them to threaten and/or physically attack radical organizations. There was no directive to stop the rise of White Supremacist organizations. The directive was to stop radical organizations. The White Supremacists were infiltrated to be more effective tools of repression by the state. In some cases, it was the undercover cops who came up with plans and literally pulled the trigger on assassinations. This happened in church bombings of Civil Rights movement associated Black churches in Birmingham, the assassination of Civil Rights organizer from Detroit in Selma, the Greensboro Massacre of Communist Workers Party members in 1979, and more. The events of the film all take place in 1979 and after. Stallworth wrote a memoir to put himself in a different light, but lets look at what else we know. There was no bombing that Stallworth or the police thwarted. This was not in Stallworths memoir. That was made up for the movie to make the police seem like heroes. There was no cop that got recorded and/or arrested due to saying things at a bar while drunk about how hes ok with shooting Black folks. This also was not in Stallworths memoir. This was put in the movie to make Ron and the rest of the police look like they were interested in fighting racism, like they dont all protect whatever racist and abusive cops are in there. This is a scene where the whole police forcechief and allwork together with the fictional Black radical love interest to set the one racist cop up. Never happened. Never would, and someone saying that something vague while drunk wouldnt be able to be arrested for that. But makes the cops look like they care. His partner that did the physical infiltration of the Klan was not Jewish and did not look Jewish to people. This was a made up thing to raise the stakes and make it seem like the cops were sacrificing more than they were. Add that to the false notion that they were doing it to fight racism and it endears you to the cops more. This means there was no scene where Stallworth had to go throw a rock through the window or whatever. Ive met Kwame Ture two or three times, and heard him speak more than that. By the time he was calling himself Kwame Ture, he had formed the All-African Peoples Revolutionary Party (AAPRP) and was living in Africa most of the time. The program of the AAPRP for Black folks in the US at the time was to help create a revolutionary Black intelligentsia. They did this through an immensely long reading list and rigorous study groups. He came back to the US and toured colleges to talk to Black folks for this reason. At SF State in 1989/90, I took part in a few of these study groups. If you really went up to Kwame Ture and asked him what we should do right nowas Ron Stallworth does in the filmhe would have said what he usually saidStudy!!! But, it made the Black radical group look more dangerous to have Ture say something that sounded like he was calling for armed insurrectionwhich they were not calling for in the US at the time. I mean, this movie is trying to make a Cointelpro operative into a hero. It needs every little piece of help it can get. With these fabricated story notes that Blackkklansman hits upon Ron Stallworth looks like a hero, and so does his partner and the police force. Without the made up stuff and with what we know of the actual history of police infiltration into radical groups, and how they infiltrated and directed White Supremacist organizations to attack those groups, Ron Stallworth is the villain. Everything else is simply unverifiable stuff that ex-cop Ron Stallworth wrote in his memoir. We dont know what happened because files were destroyed. We have to trust the word of a cop who infiltrated a Black radical organization for 3 years. This is probably why it was only able to be published by a publisher that specializes in books written by cops. At the end, the radical girlfriend says shes not down with him being a cop, then Stallworththe guy who weve been following and made to care about and who is falsely shown to have risked his life to fight racismsays that hes for the liberation of his people at the same time as being a cop. All the fake stuff we just showed him go through argues his point for him. And then they hear something and go, guns drawn, to investigate. They go down the hall together with the signature Spike Lee dollythe one that tells us its him, the one that took Malcolm down the street, the one that took Dap across campus yelling Wake Up! They go forward into the future, side by side, in symmetrical composition, to fight the burning cross of racist terror. This is the penultimate shot before the film goes to news coverage of current White Supremacist attacks. Awww hayull no. Lookwe deal with racism not just from physical terror or attitudes of racist people, but in pay scale, housing, health care, and other material quality of life issues. But to the extent that people of color deal with actual physical attacks and terrorizing due to racism and racist doctrineswe deal with it mostly from the police on a day to day basis. And not just from White cops. From Black cops too. So for Spike to come out with a movie where a story points are fabricated in order to make Black cop and his counterparts look like allies in the fight against racism is really disappointing, to put it very mildly. Much of the call to challenge police brutality and murder brought to light by the Black Lives Matter movement has been met by right wing cries of But what about Black-On-Black violence? Some of us, like Spike Lee have bought into that. Two years ago, I wrote an article in the Guardian about the myth of Black-On-Black violence and prove through statistics exactly how that idea is false, mentions how Spike Lees Chiraq plays into that myth, and how that myth is used against movements for social justice. Its titled, Black culture isnt the problemsystemic inequality is. In the context of the political debate happening around the polices role in racist attacksthis new film is a political brother of Chiraq. The two films say together: Black folks need to stop worrying about police violence and worry about what theyre doing to each otherplus the police are against racism anyway. By now, many folks know that Spike Lee was paid over $200k to help in an ad campaign that was aimed at improving relations with minority communities. Whether it actually is or not, Blackkklansman feels like an extension of that ad campaign. My Dearest Ivanka Trump, Hello! How are you? I am fine. According to excerpts from Omarosa Manigault-Newmans memoir Unhinged, published in People, you really, really hated the Saturday Night Live sketch where Scarlett Johansson played you, Ivanka The Vank Trump, in an ad for a perfume called Complicit. You know which one I mean, right? Just to be clear, its this one: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Heres what Manigault-Newman had to say about it, more or less: At the senior staff meeting, [Count Vankula] couldnt stop bemoaning it, how offensive it was, how ridiculous it was. Wed all been subject to SNL attacks Wed all been hit, many of us in that same weeks show. But [Vank This Way, by Aerosmith] would not stop talking about being ribbed. Like her father, [A Closer Vank With Thee] was thin-skinned and could not seem to take a joke. To reiterate, the sketch that supposedly bothers you, Ivanka Trump, is the one with Scarlett Johansson, which you can watch right here: Advertisement If you havent seen the sketch that Omarosa is claiming annoys you so much, here it is: Advertisement Advertisement Before anyone says the sketch is fake news, its right here: Advertisement Advertisement Another fabrication from Omarosa? Hardly. Check the video evidence: We fact-checked Omarosas statement, and it turns out the sketch is real: Advertisement Advertisement Anyway, Vank-A-Roni, the San Francisco Treat, its been great catching up and reminding you about that sketch you dont like. Do you know which sketch Im alluding to? This one! Advertisement Heres hoping the rest of your summer is kind of a drag. Advertisement Yr. pal, Matthew Dessem P.S.: Shows that involve tricking their guests usually like to boss their viewers around too. They tell you how to respond through editing or sound effects or voice-over. At one extreme, shows like Candid Camera encouraged viewers to laugh at people caught in staged scenarios that usually end with a Youre on Candid Camera! reveal. At the other, James OKeefes Planned Parenthood sting videos elicit outrage by providing inflammatory commentary that connects the dots for you. But Sacha Baron Cohens controversial new Showtime series, Who Is America?, doesnt quite fall in either camp. This is arguably its weakness: The show offers an assortment of scenes so startling in their developmentand so baroquely difficult to explainthat the viewer is left not just speechless but unsure how to respond. When a luxury-yacht salesmanBaron Cohens targetblithely greenlights a millionaires project for a yacht that could traffic humans and kill refugees, the segment ends and the show moves onto a fresh premise before youve had a chance to process your horror. That ambiguous quality has cost the show slightly. Its not clear whether its comedy, or gotcha journalism, or some deeply fraught mix. Who Is America? isnt quite bossy enough. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement In other words, a perfectly valid criticism of the show is that its just too bizarre for its revelations to matter. But the show has achieved some real-world consequences, even if were not sure what precisely caused them. Georgia state Rep. Jason Spencer, the author of a failed bill that would have banned Muslim women from wearing veils, had to resign after appearing on camera impersonating a Chinese tourist (using phrases like sushi, Ho Chi Minh City, and Red Dragon) in order to up-skirt a woman in a burqa to determine whether shes a terrorist. He also bared his rear end while threatening to infect a hypothetical ISIS terrorist with homosexuality and screamed a racial epithet at the top of his lungs. No one knows which part of this sorry spectacle forced his resignation; most likely it was the horrifying aggregate. But the point is that Sacha Baron Cohens comedy has indeed ended one political career. That means it deserves some serious attention. Advertisement Morad exposes those who already share his worldview by providing them a safe space to revel in it. Many of the figures hes targeted have tried to argue that Baron Cohen duped them (this was Spencers argument) or that they were indulging him out of a very American sense of courtesy. If this second defense feels like it might succeed, thats because its deeply plausible. Plenty of scenarios in Cohens oeuvre fit this exact description: Target is confronted with a zany obnoxious character, flails, and tries to make an anxious situation better without being rude. If the result is a kind of well-meaning tolerance of the intolerablelike Borat getting a crowd of Americans to sing Throw the Jew Down the Well along with himwell, maybe they were just trying to make a foreigner feel at home. Cohen, after all, has long been criticized for preying on peoples manners and acting like hes revealed their true beliefs. Christopher Hitchens argued in these pages over a decade ago that Cohens earlier character, Borat, revealed little save that Americans are almost pedantic in their hospitality and politesse. Critiques of Who Is America? follow on similar lines: that the show is constrained by its method, and ultimately whats revealed isnt inherent depravity but rather, as Emily VanDerWerff wrote in Vox, that most of us are too polite to call people on their bullshit. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement But the unusual thing about Who Is America? is that it actually runs on two extremely different strands of cringe comedy, and extorted courtesy is only one of them. Yes, Baron Cohen plays a number of characters whose basic schtick is being so stupid and insufferable that you cant help but feel a bit sorry for them. A great example is when a Republican couple hosts Cohen as a pussy-hat-wearing liberal named Dr. Nira Cain-NDegeocello. The couple comes off quite well: Theyre perfectly polite, for example, as Cain-NDegeocello informs them that his teenage daughter free bleeds onto an American flag. The bit works because even though hes exactly the kind of liberal bogeyman bubble-trapped Republicans believe in, he seems well-intentioned. Billy Wayne Ruddick, an alt-right redneck conspiracy theorist, is another Cohen creation whose main function is to elicit horror mixed with pity. Hes not especially persuasive (Bernie Sanders just finds him bizarre), but the manners theory holds: Even Corey Lewandowski, the guy who said Womp, womp about a separated immigrant child with Down syndrome, appears to be in agony as he tries to respond to Billy Waynes theory that the Rastafarians are running PBS. Advertisement Advertisement But theres another kind of Cohen character, and its a much more dangerous one. Cohens winnersa billionaire Italian fashion photographer named Gio Monaldo and an Israeli colonelKrav Maga instructorex-Mossad agent named Erran Moradare lethal in ways his losers never can be. What these characters do is smash the alibi that Cohens targets were victims of their own politesse. The sketches with them are genuinely revealing in ways the others arent; theyre agents of disinhibition who give his targets an opportunity to show what they really are. Advertisement Because the Monaldo and Morad characters are aspirationalthe targets see them as successful and strong and want to benefit from thempity isnt a tool they rely on. Gio Monaldo is always doing great, and his interlocutors are almost invariably superficial, grasping, and vain. His fashion subjects will agree to anything if it makes them look good, including being green-screened into a photograph of African orphans being fed to get credit for charitable work they didnt do. The luxury-yacht salesman mentioned above will overlook anythinghuman trafficking, murder, and a blowjob being performed right in front of him as he pitchesif it means making the sale. This isnt courtesy; its naked, shameless self-interest. (Its also, as Willa Paskin observes, a high tolerance for crazy things on camera.) Advertisement Advertisement But Cohens real trump card is Col. Erran Morad, an Israeli anti-terrorism expert who plays into every fantasy American conservatives seem to have about Israel. Many of the shows targets show an admiration for him as uncritical as it is unstinting; for the most part, theyre putty in his hands. But I would argue thatunlike pitiable Baron Cohen characters, who tend toward absurdism in ways that frequently absolve the targetsMorad does reveal some pretty unsavory things about the American right. For one, the miasma of fear in which it simmers. This was Spencers excuse: He claimed he feared for his life and that Cohen exploited my state of mind for profit and notoriety. Shaun McCutcheonan Alabamian Republican activist whose main achievement until now was helping to eliminate limits on aggregate campaign contributionswas similarly fearful, telling Morad that he has a large concern about terrorism and the fact that terrorism is possibly coming to the United States more than it already has. Three conservative men who decided to throw a fake quinceanera in order to entrap illegal Mexicans expressed similarly paranoid sentiments: One claimed that the purpose of the traditional coming-of-age party was to rape young girls. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement You might think that marinating in fear like thishowever manufactured the threatwould make these subjects want to display traditionally soldierly heroism, the kind Col. Morad embodies. Instead, Morad exposes these worshippers of military masculinity as almost parodically antiheroic. Theyll do anything as long as its called training, no matter how humiliating it is in their eyes, and if it will save their own skin. Theyll strip, photograph womens genitals, display gay porn, mouth a dildo strapped to Morads groin. Theyll dress up as 15-year-old girls, lace guacamole with Rohypnol, dress up as what they understand Muslims to be in order to evade detection. One guy even throws a doll representing a baby with a suicide diaper in the trash. We prefer to remove the bomb and put that away and save the baby if we can, Morad has to tell him. These people, to a man, are motivated not by manners but cowardice. Their only goal is self-preservation. Advertisement Morad exposes those who already share his worldview by providing them a safe space to revel in it. Morad invites his targets into a Trumpian locker room where they can let loose. Joe Walsh may have felt discomfort with the pitch to arm children that he was asked to read off a teleprompter, but he was given an award to do it. Gun advocates like Larry Pratt are shown positively relishing Morads joke about spousal rapePratt has to wipe his eyes from laughing after Morad tells him that his wife shot him for raping her. Advertisement None of these guys are being polite. And the structural genius of Who Is America? is that it pops that excuse by airing these compromising segments next to sketches that feature Cohens more familiar courtesy-extraction gags. One result, intended or not, is that the viewer can clearly see the difference. Whether its Republican anti-porn crusader David Pyne firmly rejecting Dr. Niras reclamation of the word pedophile or even Joe Arpaios bizarre but mostly bewildered encounter with Finnish Youtuber OMGWhizzBoyOMG!, viewers see plenty of examples of people gamely coping with an obnoxious character. And yes, that can expose the ugly outer edges of what humans are willing to do in the name of accommodating the people in front of them. But Morads character exposes something quite different. The problem isnt that our national character is too invested in civility. Its that a certain segment of our population is desperate to be freed from it. On Saturday, New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Michael S. Schmidt broke a blockbuster story explaining that the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, cooperated extensively with Robert Muellers investigation. According to the Times, McGahn spoke to the special counsels office for as much as 30 hours, on at least three separate occasions. Although what he said remains unknown, Haberman and Schmidt report that his testimony was sparked, at least in part, by the fear that Mr. Trump was setting up Mr. McGahn to take the blame for any possible illegal acts of obstruction after Trumps (now former) lawyers, John Dowd and Ty Cobb, encouraged McGahn to talk to Mueller as part of their open-book strategy. (Near the end of the piece, Haberman and Schmidt notewrylythat as the months passed on, it became apparent that Mr. McGahn and [his lawyer] had overestimated the amount of thought that they believed the president put into his legal strategy.) Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement There is one obvious historical parallel here, which the story mentions: Worried that Mr. Trump would ultimately blame him in the inquiry, Mr. McGahn told people he was determined to avoid the fate of the White House counsel for President Richard M. Nixon, John W. Dean, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice in the Watergate scandal. Dean did, however, help prosecutors near the end of his White House tenure, and served as a witness against the Watergate conspirators. After the Times story broke on Saturday, I spoke by phone with Dean, who is now a CNN contributor and author. During the course of our conversation, which has been edited and condensed for clarity, we discussed McGahns motivations, what the role of the White House counsels office should be, and the similarities and differences between Donald Trump and Richard Nixon. Advertisement Isaac Chotiner: What did you think when you read the Times story today? John W. Dean: I guess the first impression I had was that I was surprised that Dowd and Cobb wanted to send McGahn over so willingly to talk to the special counsel. But I guess that was part of their philosophy. And it makes me wonder: Did they know what was going on? Because I am not sure Trump is the kind of client that is terribly forthcoming and fully forthcoming. Advertisement My second reaction is that Don McGahn is doing exactly the right thing, not merely to protect himself, but to protect his client. And his client is not Donald Trump; his client is the office of the president. That is one of the things that was cleared up as a result of Watergate. The American Bar Association reissued a code of ethics and dealt directly with representation of an organization and who the client is. And the client, in this instance, would not be the man who holds the office, but the office. And that is a huge difference. Advertisement Advertisement When you started your job as White House counsel, whom did you think you were representing, and how did you conceive of it by the end of your tenure? Throughout my tenure, it was totally confused as to who the client was. Nixon thought I was his personal lawyer and had me doing such things as coordinating two different law firmsone in New York and one in Californiato do his estate plan, which couldnt be anything more personal. [H.R.] Haldeman and [John] Ehrlichman, the chief of staff and top domestic adviser, thought they were my clients too, because I communicated to the president through them. Advertisement So did that ever switch in your mind? By the time I go in to tell the president that there is a cancer on the presidency, I am worried not just about the man, but the office. This was as fuzzy for all organizations as it was for the White House. It was one of the lasting reforms that came out of Watergate. It is why, for example, Bill Clinton had private counsel represent him in the Lewinsky matter. And he also had the White House counsel representing the office. It has been cleaned up and cleared up, and McGahn is doing exactly the right thing. He is representing the office. Advertisement Do you think he should resign? Resign? Why? I was just curious. No. That hadnt occurred to me. More likely he would be fired than resign. Trump does not like people doing the right thing, like recusing when you have a conflict and you are attorney general, or representing the office when you are White House counsel. The Times story posits the idea that McGahn was cooperating, in part, because he was worried that Trump would try to blame him for any obstruction Mueller might find. What do you think of that as an explanation for McGahns behavior, which seems slightly less honorable than what you are talking about? And secondly, do you think there is any comparison to your situation? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I think there is good reason for McGahn to believe that Trump would throw him under the bus, since Trump throws almost everyone under the bus. So I dont think it is a reach to have that in your consciousness. And the article does say that he and his lawyer, once they were told to go talk to the special counsel, indeed did so, and were relieved to be able to do so, to explain McGahns position and involvement in these things. Self-preservation is a real motive. At times, I felt it. When I first tried to go in and blow up the Watergate cover-up, I was really worried about the president and the office. When it got back through the grapevine that they were planning to have [former Attorney General] John Mitchell take the rap for the break-in, and me take the rap for the cover-up, I wasnt very keen on the idea. The first time I ever talked to the press during my tenure in government was when I dictated a couple sentences for my secretary and had her read it to the AP, the New York Times, and the Washington Post, to communicate to my superiorswho were not sharing this with methat I would not be the scapegoat, and they were making a mistake if they were suiting me up for that. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Is there anything in the story that makes you think McGahn provided Mueller with damning evidence? You cant really tell. I dont think he was motivated to provide damning evidence. I think he was explaining what he knew. He was a fact witness, and trying to explain the facts as he understood them. I dont think he could even evaluate the importance of some of his testimony that later times and circumstances fit into a bigger pattern. We dont have all that information now. But I saw that occur in Watergate, where people were providing information, not necessarily for any sinister or other motive, that turned out to be very important and damning for Nixon. Advertisement When you read stories like this that display aspects of the presidents relationship to the investigation swirling around him, what similarities and differences do you see between Trump and Nixon? Advertisement We wouldnt know the full degree of Nixons similarities to Trump but for the taping system, because Nixon is a very different person behind closed doors than he is in public or on stage. For Trump, there may be some differences, but he is pretty much what you see is what you get, Im told. He can be charming if he wants to be charming; he can be nasty if he wants to be nasty. You see the same things publicly with him. Nixon had a clear public persona that was much more pleasant than he could be behind closed doors. [Laughs] Advertisement The similarities I seeand this is a little bit counterintuitive, because everybody thinks Nixon was extremely competent. There is no question he was. He understood the presidency very well. He had been a member of the House, the Senate. He had been vice president. He had actually been acting president. He was trained as a lawyer and argued cases before the Supreme Court. Unlike Trump, he knew that justices dont sign bills; they write opinions. So there is no question there is a different level of sophistication. But, having said that, I see a lot of similarity in the bungling. Watergate was not a carefully planned crime and cover-up. It was one bungled event after another. I see the same thing happening with Trump. If you enjoyed reading this interview and wish to learn more about the history of Watergate, check out Season 1 of our podcast Slow Burn. Slate Plus members can listen to an exclusive episode featuring an interview with John Dean. Read more from Slate: White House Lawyer Cooperating With Mueller, Fears He May Be Used as Scapegoat Truth Isnt Truth!: Rudy Giuliani Puts Trumps Problem With Facts Into Words Trump Rages Against Mueller on Twitter: He Makes McCarthy Look Like a Baby White House counsel Donald McGahn has cooperated extensively with special counsel Robert Muellers investigation, sharing key details that investigators say they would not have known about otherwise, the New York Times reveals. McGahn sat down for at least three voluntary interviews with investigators that totaled 30 hours, providing detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the inquiry into whether President Trump obstructed justice. Shortly after the story was published, the president acknowledged the cooperation from the White House counsel, but characterized it as part of his effort to be transparent. In a tweet, Trump said he allowed McGahn and all other requested members of the White House Staff, to fully cooperate with the Special Counsel. He also noted his staff readily gave over one million pages of documents. Most transparent in history. No Collusion, No Obstruction. Witch Hunt! Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement I allowed White House Counsel Don McGahn, and all other requested members of the White House Staff, to fully cooperate with the Special Counsel. In addition we readily gave over one million pages of documents. Most transparent in history. No Collusion, No Obstruction. Witch Hunt! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 Such extensive cooperation from a lawyer is very unusual to say the least. But in this case it seems it started organically and then turned into strategy. McGahns cooperation with the investigators came about because the commander in chiefs first legal team decided to cooperate fully with Mueller. They said that was a reflection of how the president didnt have anything to hide. But then McGahn and his lawyer apparently started to get worried, they couldnt quite understand why Trump wouldnt be concerned about the White House counsel speaking so freely to investigators. So they started to think maybe Trump was setting up McGahn to take the blame for any possible illegal acts of obstruction, reports the Times. Thats when McGahn and his lawyer decided that their strategy would be to cooperate as much as possible with investigators. Advertisement Advertisement The president seems to have wrongly believed McGahn was going to act like his personal lawyer and defend his interests. But even though he made clear he hadnt seen the president take any action that goes beyond his legal authorities, some of the information he shared was not so favorable to the president. Advertisement The White House dismissed the idea that there was tension between Trump and McGahn. The president and Don have a great relationship, the White House press secretary, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, said in a statement. He appreciates all the hard work hes done, particularly his help and expertise with the judges, and the Supreme Court nominees. John Dean, who was White House counsel under President Nixon, wrote on Twitter Saturday that he thought McGahn was on the right path. McGahn is doing right! he wrote. Advertisement The future is urban Development has focused on rural areas for decades; it is now time to go urban President Donald Trump took to Twitter Saturday and railed about an issue that has been gaining traction on Fox News and other conservative outlets: censorship. In a string of tweets, the commander in chief said social media is totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices. The president insisted that we wont let that happen. His tweets came at a time when the issue is being increasingly talked about in right-wing circles after some social media platforms removed certain content from conspiracy theorist Alex Jones. Advertisement Social Media is totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices. Speaking loudly and clearly for the Trump Administration, we wont let that happen. They are closing down the opinions of many people on the RIGHT, while at the same time doing nothing to others....... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The president said the platforms are closing down the opinions of many people on the RIGHT, while at the same time doing nothing to others. Ultimately, Censorship is a very dangerous thing & absolutely impossible to police, added the president. If the goal is to get rid of fake news then there is nothing so Fake as CNN & MSNBC, & yet I do not ask that their sick behavior be removed. Advertisement .....Censorship is a very dangerous thing & absolutely impossible to police. If you are weeding out Fake News, there is nothing so Fake as CNN & MSNBC, & yet I do not ask that their sick behavior be removed. I get used to it and watch with a grain of salt, or dont watch at all.. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 Trump also seemed to suggest social media shouldnt have any control over its content and everyone should be allowed because the alternative is much worse. Too many voices are being destroyed, some good & some bad, and that cannot be allowed to happen, Trump wrote. Who is making the choices, because I can already tell you that too many mistakes are being made. Let everybody participate, good & bad, and we will all just have to figure it out! Trump tweeted about the issue shortly after Tucker Carlson mentioned it on his Fox News show. Advertisement ....Too many voices are being destroyed, some good & some bad, and that cannot be allowed to happen. Who is making the choices, because I can already tell you that too many mistakes are being made. Let everybody participate, good & bad, and we will all just have to figure it out! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey vehemently denied his company was discriminating against any political views in particular during an interview with CNN that is set to air in full on Sunday. Are we doing something according to political ideology or viewpoints? We are not. Period, Dorsey said Friday. We do not look at content with regards to political viewpoint or ideology. We look at behavior. The president woke up angry on Sunday. Very angry. The two main sources of his ire? Special counsel Robert Mueller and the New York Times. President Donald Trump is insisting he has nothing to hide and any implication otherwise is nothing but fake news. Trump is drawing historical comparisons, calling on his supporters to study the late Joseph McCarthy. But even that wouldnt be an apt parallel because we are now in in period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Advertisement Study the late Joseph McCarthy, because we are now in period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Rigged Witch Hunt! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The commander in chief began his Sunday morning Twitter tirade by blasting the New York Times and its Saturday bombshell report that White House Counsel Don McGahn had been cooperating extensively with the Mueller probe. (Despite having evidently read the piece, Trump repeatedly misspells counsel as councel). Advertisement The Times revealed McGahn has sat for some 30 hours of interviews with the special counsels team. Trump was evidently not a big fan of the implication that the White House counsel may be turning on him. The president said that while the failing @nytimes wanted to imply that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type RAT, nothing could be further from the truth. I allowed him and all others to testify, he wrote, insisting he has nothing to hide. The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type RAT. But I allowed him and all others to testify - I didnt have to. I have nothing to hide...... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 Advertisement ....and have demanded transparency so that this Rigged and Disgusting Witch Hunt can come to a close. So many lives have been ruined over nothing - McCarthyism at its WORST! Yet Mueller & his gang of Dems refuse to look at the real crimes on the other side - Media is even worse! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 Advertisement The Times story evidently bothered the president quite a bit because he went back to the issue a little while later. The Times story made it seem like the White House Councel had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite - & the two Fake reporters knew this. The story is exactly why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People, he added. The president even went on to claim that some members of the media are very Angry at the Times piece and actually called ot complain and apologize. Advertisement Advertisement The Failing New York Times wrote a story that made it seem like the White House Councel had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite - & the two Fake reporters knew this. This is why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People. So bad for America! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 Some members of the media are very Angry at the Fake Story in the New York Times. They actually called to complain and apologize - a big step forward. From the day I announced, the Times has been Fake News, and with their disgusting new Board Member, it will only get worse! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 Advertisement Advertisement In the middle of his complaining about the Times, Trump also went on the offensive against the special counsels investigation, which has led to lives ruined over nothing while Mueller & his gang of Dems refuse to look at the real crimes on the other side, Trump wrote. Even though the people who have really carried out collusion and obstruction were Crooked Hillary and the Democrats, Mueller refuses to even look in that direction. No Collusion and No Obstruction, except by Crooked Hillary and the Democrats. All of the resignations and corruption, yet heavily conflicted Bob Mueller refuses to even look in that direction. What about the Brennan, Comey, McCabe, Strzok lies to Congress, or Crookeds Emails! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 Advertisement Trump is raging against Mueller at a time when many of his allies are doubling down on pressuring the special counsel to wrap up his investigation. Time for Mueller investigation to file report, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani wrote on Twitter on Saturday. We will release ours. Dont interfere with election like Comey. Advertisement Advertisement President Donald Trump is set to continue his administrations methodical effort to dismantle the Obama administrations signature measures to combat climate change, this time by delivering a gift to the coal industry. On Tuesday, Trump is expected to propose a broad nixing of regulations on emissions from coal plants as part of an effort to keep them operating for longer rather than phasing them out. The new rules would replace the so-called Clean Power Plan for the electricity sector in a move that would hand more power to the states and could very well lead to a sharp increase in greenhouse gas emissions. Advertisement The change in rule that the administration will put forward is projected to release at least 12 times the amount of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere compared with the Obama rule over the next decade, reports the Washington Post. The proposed rules would give more power to the states to set their own standards in what could very well amount to the Trump administrations broadest effort to help the coal sector as a whole. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When combined with the proposal earlier this month to roll back car-efficiency mandates, the two measures represent a significant retreat from the fight against climate change by a president whos already vowed to pull the U.S. out of the Paris agreement, notes Bloomberg. Joseph Goffman, executive director of Harvard Law Schools Environmental Law Program tells the Washington Post that the way the White House doesnt seem to care about the higher emissions that would be produced as a result of the proposed rules illustrates just how low of a priority the issue is for the administration. These numbers tell the story, that they really remain committed not to do anything to address greenhouse gas emissions, said Goffman. Advertisement The New York Times details that the man who leads the Environmental Protection Agencys clean air office has been key to delivering these proposed changes that favor the companies that employed him when he was in the private sector. For many environmental experts, the role of William L. Wehrum in loosening requirements that were meant to combat climate change has been key. They basically found the most aggressive and knowledgeable fox and said, Here are the keys to the hen house, said Bruce Buckheit, an air pollution expert. Michelle Bloodworth, president of the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, which represents coal-fired generators and mining companies, celebrated the new proposed rules, saying they would provide the flexibility to states to develop emissions guidelines that recognise the important role that our nations coal fleet plays. Environmental groups are expected to challenge the new proposed rules in court. Every once in a while, Trumps allies give us the gift of phrases that seem to succinctly illustrate the problem that the commander in chief has with truth and facts. First came the infamous alternative facts, courtesy of Kellyanne Conway. Then, Trumps lawyer Jay Sekulow explained with a straight face that over time, facts develop. And now we have another gem, this time courtesy of Rudy Giuliani. Truth isnt truth! yelled Giuliani at one point during his interview on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday as he tried to explain why the president shouldnt testify for special counsel Robert Mueller. Advertisement The phrase came about as Giuliani complained that Mueller was taking too long to end his investigation. NBC host Chuck Todd pushed back against those assertions wondering whether Trumps team couldnt speed things along by just having the president sit down with him. Giuliani countered that Muellers team was taking a long time to even respond to a letter. Todd insisted on the point of why not just have the president answer questions directly from the special counsel. Thats when Giuliani explained why he wouldnt want to rush the presidents testimony. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement WATCH: Rudy Giuliani tells Chuck that he doesnt want President Trump to be caught in a perjury trap by speaking with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. #MTP #IfItsSunday Giuliani: Truth isnt truth" pic.twitter.com/6ykVzaSqmx Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) August 19, 2018 Advertisement I am not going to be rushed into having him testify so that he gets trapped into perjury, Giuliani said. When you tell me that, you know, he should testify because hes going to tell the truth and he shouldnt worry, well thats so silly because its somebodys version of the truth. Not the truth. Todd decided to interject: Truth is truth. Giuliani then went for the gold: No, it isnt truth. Truth isnt truth. To his credit, Todd seemed to recognize right away what he was hearing. Truth is truth, Todd shot back. This is going to become a bad meme. And for a split second it seemed Giuliani realized he had uttered words that were bound to become viral: Dont do this to me! Read more from Slate: What John Dean Has to Say About the NYTs Blockbuster Don McGahn Story Trump Rages Against Mueller on Twitter: He Makes McCarthy Look Like a Baby Omarosa Laid a Series of Traps for the White House, and Theyre Starting to Go Off Two Russian cars stuffed with cabbages prompted Dusan Daucik and his wife Maria to leave occupied Czechoslovakia. There was an unusual noise above Bratislava on the night of August 20, recalls Dusan Daucik, one of the thousands of Slovaks who left their homeland after the 1968 occupation. The morning after he walked on todays Stefanikova street and found it hard to tell if what he saw was reality or a nightmare. Tanks ruthlessly rolled over the parked cars and broke electricity poles. Daucik and his wife rushed to Hviezdoslavovo square where soldiers built their nest on the roof of the Carlton hotel. At one point, they opened fire on the people who gathered there. People fled in all directions like mice, Daucik told The Slovak Spectator. He managed to crawl up to the Chempik company opposite the hotel. There were several people lying on the ground at reception, waiting for the situation to calm down. Luckily, nobody was hurt. Dangerous media Daucik went to work in fear. He worked at Slovak Cartography, a modern well-equipped printing house publishing maps and atlases. In the days following the occupation, his office turned into a printing workshop producing posters with anti-Russian texts and mottos and slogans to support the Czechoslovak government. Read also: Read also: The story of a woman from a 1968 protest poster Read more They went on producing posters for several weeks. Meanwhile, many people he knew considered leaving the country: some left in the chaos of the first days. For those who were afraid to cross the Austrian borders without an invitation, they readily printed fake invitations in Dauciks office. Slovak Cartography had worked on posters for ten days when a sudden cry resounded in the building: The Russians are coming! The company director ran from machine to machine to dismantle them and cover the materials they had been printing. Fear filled the printing house. The unit had apparently followed a wrong lead, because they passed the building and headed to the forest behind it. Their strategy was to occupy everything that had something to do with the media. 120 shillings and schnitzels from home One day, Dauciks wife saw two Russian cars stuffed with cabbages. It occured to her that the Russians were not leaving anytime soon. So the Dauciks made their decision, bid farewell to their parents and left for Vienna. It was the last time I saw my parents, Daucik said. When they died he was not allowed to attend their funerals. If he returned, he would face prison time and a fine as punishment for leaving without permission. Read also: Read also: August 1968: After a temporary thaw, the Czechoslovak borders were sealed Read more On their way to the West, the Dauciks felt insecure on the train, fearing that they might be checked by the regime. Daucik first hid his money in his shoe, then he changed his mind and put it behind the mirror in the WC. Their property consisted of 120 shillings and schnitzels from his mother. The first moment, they did not know what to do or where to go. They started looking for accommodation, but those that were not full were too expensive for them. They ended up in a military camp, sleeping on straw mattresses. During the day, they visited embassies in Vienna. There were long queues in front of them, sometimes for two days of waiting. We were lucky. Our straw-mattress neighbours told us about Sweden. We had never thought about it before, Daucik remembers. Sweden opened its borders to refugees after the UN and the Red Cross insisted. Daucik and his wife were the second couple to request asylum there. Saved by Sweden At the embassy, one man approached them in Slovak and helped them to fill in the required documents. The answer was to come in about two weeks, but when Daucik offered a small bottle of borovicka, they got their answer in four days: Sweden took them in. Charity provided train tickets for them and after 23 hours on a train, the Dauciks got off at the Malmo railway station. Due to a misunderstanding with the Swedish police they spent the first night at a police station. Later, they moved to a camp for language training. In a short time, 50 more people from Czechoslovakia showed up. Both Daucik and his wife soon found jobs: he went to work in a printing house where he later became the production manager; she found a job as a developing designer of buses. Read also: Read also: Our emigrants stories: lessons in humanity Read more Looking back today, Daucik is very thankful to Sweden for accepting and giving them the possibility for self-realisation. Still, Slovakia remains forever in his heart as his home country. Today, he serves as the honourable president of the Swedish-Slovak society and first vice-chairman of the World Association of Slovaks Living Abroad. He also founded the magazine Svensk Slovak Info for expats. Slovaks do not value their freedom and the success of Slovakia, Daucik opined. Slovaks have a short memory when only 50 years after the occupation they are allowing history to be attacked and subverted again. Those who experienced hard times in prison and interrogations or paid for freedom with their own lives could testify. 19. Aug 2018 at 9:02 | Nina Hrabovska Francelova Sensible policies would have urged more infrastructure spending in the south We can not pretend that EU policies addressing southern Europes various liquidity and budgetary crises did not contribute to the collapsing infrastructure in southern Europe. The collapsed bridge in Genoa (Source: AP/TASR) Top stories Beachgoers are being warned to avoid the water in a Bay of Plenty estuary where potentially toxic algae are blooming. The health warning was issued on Friday August 17, for the Waihi Estuary in Pukehina, with Dr Neil de West, Medical Official of Health saying that shellfish are not to be collected from anywhere in the Waihi Estuary or the estuary mouth. The Ministry for Primary Industries has extended the public health warning against collecting shellfish on the west coast of the North Island in Taranaki, Waikato, Whanganui, Manawatu and Horowhenua. The warning now extends from the mouth of Port Waikato southward to Te Horo Beach in the Wellington region. The algae are forming mats in the shallow areas of the estuary and these may float free and spread through the estuary. Contact with toxic algae can cause asthma, hayfever attacks and skin rashes. If swallowed it may cause stomach upsets, headaches, tingling around the mouth, and in severe cases, muscle paralysis and difficulty breathing. The health warning means that people should avoid any activity which involves contact with the water in Waihi Estuary at Pukehina, says Dr de Wet. Algal mats may also accumulate along the shoreline of the estuary and around its mouth and so its especially important that parents ensure that children avoid contact with these mats as they may be toxic. Up-to-date information on this health warning and others for the Bay of Plenty and Lakes districts is available through these channels: Phone: 0800 221 555 Website: www.toiteora.govt.nz/health_warnings Facebook: www.facebook.com/toiteora Twitter: www.twitter.com/toiteora Email alerts for subscribers: www.toiteora.govt.nz/alert 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 Sunday, August 19, 2018 Melissa Cruz for Immigration Impact reports on the impacts of an immigration raid on a Nebraska farm town. The introduction:. "A small town in Nebraska was rocked last week when Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) agents raided multiple businesses, arresting 133 undocumented immigrant workers in an operation which has already created upheaval in the community and its local agriculture industry. This raid is the latest amid a series of enforcement operations conducted by the Trump administration, including raids in Tennessee and Ohio. In addition to the workers, 17 employers were served arrest warrants last week for allegedly exploiting undocumented labor, among other crimes. An official with HSI notes that the ONeill, Nebraska operation was one of the largest in the agencys 15-year history. Witnesses say that the arrested individuals were detained in buses and tents without air conditioning while waiting to be transported to an ICE facility." The raid has posed challenges to the local labor force: "Affected businesses include a tomato greenhouse, cattle company, potato processing facility, grocery store, and numerous farms and ranches. According to community members, the aftermath of the operation caused an immediate shortage to the workforce. The greenhouse, which handles over 250,000 pounds of tomatoes each week, lost two-thirds of its employees due to the raid. 20 workers from the cattle feedlot company were also detainedanother dozen failed to show up for work the following day, fearing they would be rounded up too. Now the feedlot is relying on volunteers to assist the remaining employees in feeding, herding, and loading and unloading the cattle. But it isnt enough. The population decline in rural towns like ONeill has made it hard to come by workers. In recent years, it has become even more difficult to find ones willing to perform the strenuous labor required by agriculture jobs." KJ https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/immigration/2018/08/immigration-raid-in-nebraska-devastates-local-agriculture-industry-and-families.html Founded in 2015, Trappers have quickly become a fixture of Luxembourg's music scene. Their latest single, 'Rainbow Coloured Stone', features a music video directed by Lea Giordano and Joe Birchen. Having won Rock the South in 2016, Trappers is far from an unknown name for anyone familiar with Luxembourg's vibrant music scene. They describe their new single, 'Rainbow Coloured Stone', as a mix between old and new sounds, in a style that is uniquely Trappers. Mountain Shadows in Wayanad is just the place for a dreamy vacation Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 1 Vote(s) - 1 Average 1 2 3 4 5 The treasonous filth of the left and right use russia as their scapegoat LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 457368 08-19-2018 09:20 AM Post: #1 The treasonous filth of the left and right use russia as their scapegoat Advertisement all of the trash in government and Business and media that have been betraying america for decades and therefore the true cause of all division in the nation both blame russia for their own crimes and nonexistent crimes...neither have had the spines to stand up and call out any of the filth making billions shitting on our constitution LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 457551 08-19-2018 09:22 AM Post: #2 RE: The treasonous filth of the left and right use russia as their scapegoat Scapegoat huh? *grabs club* LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 423870 08-19-2018 09:41 AM Post: #3 RE: The treasonous filth of the left and right use russia as their scapegoat Meanwhile they are busily selling out everything they can to Communist China! Grubby little traitors--we see you! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 457529 08-19-2018 09:46 AM Post: #4 RE: The treasonous filth of the left and right use russia as their scapegoat Russia should slowly infiltrate the US Government, like ISRAEL did ! I would guarantee the American people would welcome their new Overlords ! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 431273 08-19-2018 09:46 AM Post: #5 RE: The treasonous filth of the left and right use russia as their scapegoat Don't trust the media and don't trust who is on what side, or even what the purpose might be... right now I think that it is a huge mistake to buy into any single one narrative regardless of how pretty the bow is the scapegoat is wrapped up in... An example from History, in the 1930s Britain and Russia where at a state of bumping heads worse than they are now, Russia orchestrated the Invergorden Mutiny (Royal Navy) which led to Britain being kicked off the gold standard, Britain accusing Russia of interfering in it's elections (which turns out was probably fake) and in general the pair supported different factions around the world against each other, then within a few years that same Royal Navy was protecting the Russian flank, RAF planes flew over Russian lines helping to protect them from invaders, Britain sending the latest battlefield tech, arms and sh*t to Russia free of any charge and the pair invaded Iran (again) and split the country between them... The shift in a single motion meant that the Axis countries where surrounded by allied countries, obviously without the addition of the US the allies would have been hard pressed to close in much further, but single shifts like that change the world dynamic dramatically... and it is those shifts to look out for.. Indeed you can also look at another relationship and see the opposite, Britain and Japan had a mutual defence pact (the Anglo-Japanese alliance) and within a decade they where at each others throats in WW2, and it took until 2016 for the 2 airforces to fly together and not be shooting at each other... Trying to define anyones relationship right now in relation to the changes that are happening and who will or might end up on what side is risky.... history shows how quickly these things change, and the objectives of one decade are dramatically different in the next.. And we are in one of those periods of dramatic change where one enemy becomes a friend and where friends become enemies... Kinda fascinating to watch it unfold, but also kinda worrisome to as these periods tend to lead to major conflict.. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 423870 08-19-2018 10:17 AM Post: #6 RE: The treasonous filth of the left and right use russia as their scapegoat LoP Guest Wrote: (08-19-2018 09:46 AM) Russia should slowly infiltrate the US Government, like ISRAEL did ! I would guarantee the American people would welcome their new Overlords ! They DO seem to be on the way to having more freedom. Not bending over for the Globalist NWO. Not sure why they would want to. Seems like more hassle than it's worth. They DO seem to be on the way to having more freedom.Not bending over for the Globalist NWO.Not sure why they would want to.Seems like more hassle than it's worth. All week TV Tonight will be seeking your feedback on TENs Pilot Week, starting with Skit Happens by CJZ. You can vote for each show, or better yet leave some feedback for the network. What did you like? Who did you like? What could be improved? And would you watch it again if new episodes were made? Skit Happens is a return to classic Aussie sketch comedy with larger-than-life parodies, bursting with catchphrases, visual gags, stunt casting and funny sendups. Prepare to discover Matt Prestons biggest secret; meet Waleed Alys emergency stand-in; Sophie Monks latest reality franchise, Cat Island; and go behind the scenes of reality shows Married At First Sight and My Kitchen Rules. Meet the biggest new characters: Juan the handyman, a fridge whisperer whose aim is to liberate all the worlds whitegoods; Angelica, the bitter beauty blogger; the Worlds Biggest Jockey who believes a conspiracy and not his obesity is stopping him from winning races; the Gap Year Girls, who are backpacking through Europe but are too afraid to leave their van; the Too Easy Plumber, who will unblock anything; plus, the enigmatic Rashid, aka the Whispering Cabbie. Starring some of the nations top comedians including Vita Carbone, Heath Franklin, Jenna Owen, Neel Kolhatkar, Janis McGavin, Josh Glanc and Stuart Daulman, nothing is safe from a Skit Happens parody. Would you watch more of Skit Happens? Yes Maybe No Didn't see it. View Results Lunaticoutpost.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program , anaffiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com.Amazon, the Amazon logo, MYHABIT, and the MYHABIT logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.Don't be a pest to the forum.No profanity in thread-titles or usernamesNo excessive profanity in postsNo Racism, Antisemitism + HateNo calls for violence against anyone..This website exists for fun and discussion only. The reader is responsible for discerning the validity, factuality or implications of information posted here, be it fictional or based on real events. The content of posts on this site, including but not limited to links to other web sites, are the expressed opinion of the original poster and are in no way representative of or endorsed by the owners or administration of this website. 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The material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes.In accordance with industry accepted best practices we ask that users limit their copy / paste of copyrighted material to the relevant portions of the article you wish to discuss (no more than 50% of the source material) provide a link back to the original articleIf you are a legal copyright holder or a designated agent for such and you believe a post on this website falls outside the boundaries of "Fair Use" and legitimately infringes on yours or your clients copyright please contact [email protected] This website is owned by :Marco ZwaneveldDrijfriemstraat 522516 XR The HagueNetherlands.I will not rent, sell, share or otherwise disclose your personal information to any third party.We might contact you from time to time regarding your purchases or the services (like forums and announcement lists) you have subscribed to.Some of the 3rd party advertisers on lunaticoutpost.com may use cookiesto track peformance and/or to serve relevant ads.If you wish to read more and/or opt out of such cookies, please visit: http://www.networkadvertising.org/choices/ Nadiem Makarim, founder of the Indonesian ride-hailing and online payment firm Go-Jek listens during an interview with Reuters at the Go-Jek offices in Jakarta, Indonesia, August 15, 2018. REUTERS/Darren Whiteside By Fanny Potkin JAKARTA (Reuters) - Go-Jek, Indonesia's first billion-dollar startup, is "extremely close" to achieving profitability in all its segments, except transportation, its founder and CEO Nadiem Makarim told Reuters. Launched in 2011 in Jakarta, Go-Jek - a play on the local word for motorbike taxis - has evolved from a ride-hailing service to a one-stop app allowing clients in Southeast Asia's largest economy to make online payments and order everything from food, groceries to massages. "We're seeing enormous online to offline traction for all of our businesses and are close to being profitable, outside of transportation," said the 34-year old CEO. The startup is expected to be fully profitable "probably" within the next few years, Makarim added. Already a market leader in Indonesia, where it processes more than 100 million transactions for its 20-25 million monthly users, Go-Jek is now looking to expand in Southeast Asia. Ride hailing services in Southeast Asia are expected to surge to $20.1 billion in gross merchandise value by 2025 from $5.1 billion in 2017, according to a Google-Temasek report. Go-Jek said in May it would invest $500 million to enter Vietnam, Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, after Uber [UBER.UL] struck a deal to sell its Southeast Asian operations to Grab - the bigger player in the region. Go-Jek is seeing strong funding interest from its backers as it targets an aggressive expansion, Makarim said. "Since its Aug. 1 launch, the app has already grabbed 15 percent of market share in Ho Chi Minh," Makarim said. The firm this week opened recruitment for motorcycle drivers in Thailand. The startup expects anti-monopoly concerns swirling around the Grab-Uber deal, which Singapore said had substantially hurt competition, to help clear a path for its expansion. "We're bringing back choice. The Singapore government is particularly eager to bring back competition," Makarim said, adding that the order of overseas rollouts had not been set. Story continues OVERSEAS PUSH Go-Jek's offshore push comes at a time when Singapore-based Grab is stepping up funding to expand in Indonesia and transform itself into a consumer technology company, starting with a partnership with online grocer HappyFresh. "Mimicking Go-Jek's strategy is the highest form of flattery," laughed Makarim. Grab told Reuters in a statement, "The super app strategy has been around for a while now and no Southeast Asian player can claim to have pioneered it." The company also said Grab has not lost market share in Ho Chi Minh since August, but declined to provide market share data. Makarim believes Go-Jek's understanding of food merchants will give it an edge over Grab, which counts investors such as Chinese ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing and Japan's SoftBank Group Corp among its backers. Makarim, who sees food delivery as Go-Jek's core business, said he was not concerned about funding, without giving details. Go-Jek was reported in June as being in talks to raise $1.5 billion in a new funding round and was valued at about $5 billion in a prior fundraising, sources have told Reuters. The firm had said in March it was considering a domestic IPO https://www.reuters.com/article/us-go-jek-ipo/indonesias-go-jek-considering-ipo-timeframe-undecided-idUSKBN1GH0U6. Makarim noted Go-Jek's backers were sharing both capital and expertise. The company is collaborating with Alphabet Inc's Google on platform mobility, Tencent on payments strategy, JD.com on logistics operations, and Meituan Dianping on merchant transactions and deliveries. Go-Jek has set up a venture capital arm, Go-Ventures, to invest in startups in Southeast Asia "with strategic importance to our business", the CEO said. (Reporting by Fanny Potkin, additional reporting by Patpicha Tanaksempipat and Anshuman Daga, editing by Ed Davies and Himani Sarkar) The logo of Russian aluminium producer Rusal is seen on a board at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum 2017 (SPIEF 2017) in St. Petersburg, Russia, June 1, 2017. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's sanctions-hit aluminum giant Rusal said on Friday its board had discussed and approved a change of domicile from Britain's Jersey to Russia in order to take advantage of new special tax regulations. Rusal, which was hit with U.S. sanctions in April that seriously disrupted aluminum supplies, said the relocation was still subject to shareholder approval. The announcement comes a day after En+ Group (ENPLq.L), which is also subject to U.S. sanctions on the two companies' tycoon co-owner Oleg Deripaska, said it was considering re-domiciling to one of Russia's new offshore zones. Russia has created two special administrative regions where companies enjoy benefits such as a zero tax on profits received by way of dividends - an arrangement similar to foreign offshore tax havens. Rusal said its board had decided that a change of domicile might be "in the best interests of the company and its shareholders as a whole" and entrusted the management with developing a detailed action plan. Shares in Hong Kong-listed Rusal, the world's largest aluminum producer outside China, are down 54 percent since the sanctions were imposed on April 6. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova; Editing by Tom Balmforth; editing by David Evans) Venezuelan migrants queue in line to register their entry into Ecuador at the International Bridge Rumichaca, Ecuador August 18, 2018. REUTERS/Luisa Gonzalez Thomson Reuters By Steven Grattan IPIALES, Colombia (Reuters) - Tears welled up in Gabriel Malavolta's eyes on Saturday as he realized his dream of a new life in Peru was over, at least for now. The 50-year-old mechanic fled Venezuela three days ago. He had hoped to make the overland crossing into Ecuador and then on to Lima, saying the deepening economic crisis in his homeland had left him without the basic means of survival. Traveling by bus with his fiance Yenny to the border town of Ipiales in southwest Colombia, Malavolta said he heard on the final leg of the trip that their plan had been ruined. As of 12 a.m. on Saturday, new regulations put in place by Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno prohibit Venezuelans from entering Ecuador without a valid passport. Previously, they could enter with no other document than their national ID cards. Malavolta has a passport, but his fiancee only has an ID card. They arrived at the Rumichaca border crossing outside Ipiales just six hours after the new regulation took effect. "I don't know what we're going to do, but we can't go back. I'm not sending my fiancee to go back and go hungry," he said as he sat in a Red Cross tent in Ipiales. "You've no idea what it's like, whole families eat from the trash," he said of the desperate situation back home. More than a million Venezuelan migrants have entered Colombia over the last 15 months, according to official estimates, but Ecuador has also received many refugees until now. About 300 Venezuelans were lined up at the border crossing early on Saturday. Like Malavolta's fiancee, many indicated they had no passports to gain entry to Ecuador. Peru's government announced immigration measures similar to Ecuador's on Friday, with passport requirements for Venezuelans beginning on Aug. 25. In Ipiales, Venezuelan mirgrants who said they had hitchhiked for days were huddled under blankets in tents when a team of Reuters arrived there late on Friday. Exhausted and hungry from their travels, some had scraped a few pesos together to buy food. Story continues "I understand why Ecuador's doing this, it's for security, but we have to understand this is a particular phenomenon, given Venezuela isn't issuing IDs to people leaving the country, Jorge Enrique Quinonez, deputy representative of UNICEF Ecuador, told Reuters. Over the last two years, especially, many Venezuelans have struggled to obtain passports amid the OPEC nation's political and economic chaos. Waiting in line for her passport to be stamped, 43-year-old Berta Castenada, a Venezuelan math teacher, said she knew people who had been waiting for the prized documents for years. "It takes forever," she said. Sitting on the floor outside a public toilet with her head in her hands, Adrianil Blanco sobbed. She said she had spent two weeks hitchhiking and walking to reach the Rumichaca crossing. Her tattered canvas shoes were a testament to hardship. Blanco had arrived at the border at 11 p.m., with an hour to spare. She said she had no passport and her national ID card, a piece of laminated paper, was damaged so Ecuadorian border officials would not accept it. "They don't understand what it was like getting here. We got wet, we were sleeping on the streets," she said. Christian Kruger, head of Colombia's migration authority, said on Friday Colombia has been bending the rules on migration issues to give a "helping hand" to Venezuelans. "We're taking about 3,000 people a day. If they start to accumulate we'll see a large population around this area." He did not elaborate, but a buildup of refugees in and around Ipiales now seems unavoidable. This year alone, 423,000 Venezuelans have entered Ecuador through the Rumichaca border. But for Blanco, Malavolta and his fiance, the lack of passports means having to look elsewhere to make a new start. (Additional reporting by Alexandra Ulmer in Caracas and Nelson Bocanegra in Bogota; Editing by Helen Murphy and Tom Brown) See Also: YEREVAN, Armenia (AP) Armenia's new prime minister has marked his first 100 days in office by calling a rally that has attracted about 100,000 enthusiastic supporters. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian took office in May after spearheading weeks of protests that forced the resignation of his predecessor. The 43-year-old former journalist had tapped simmering public discontent over the anemic economy and rampant corruption in the impoverished ex-Soviet nation. Pashinian told the jubilant crowds that converged on the capital's main square Friday that they represent the ultimate source of power. He promised that he would call such rallies in the future to seek public approval for any major policy move. Pashinian also rejected claims of a chill in Armenia's relations with Russia, its main sponsor and ally, pledging that ties with Moscow will remain strong. See Also: FILE - In this file photo taken on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to media at a polling station after voting during the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko has appointed a new prime minister Saturday Aug. 18, 2018, and carried out a significant reshuffling of the government. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, FILE) MINSK, Belarus (AP) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has fired his Cabinet, emphasizing the need to strengthen the economy to preserve the nation's post-Soviet independence. Lukashenko said he fired Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov's Cabinet for failing to execute his orders and for paying too little attention to the country's social needs. He appointed banker Sergei Rumas to succeed Kobyakov. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for 24 years, maintaining rigid Soviet-style controls over the economy and showing little tolerance for dissent or independent media. He said Saturday that Belarus won't turn into a "vassal" of its giant neighbor, Russia, even though he underlined the importance of close ties with Moscow. Belarus has long depended on cheap energy and other subsidies from Russia, which is facing its own economic woes and warned that it would scale down assistance to its ally. Lukashenko criticized Russia for failing to honor its agreements with Belarus. "We will never become a vassal to anyone," he said, warning against any attempts to encroach on Belarus' independence. "We will remain independent for as long as our economy develops as needed," the Belarusian leader said, adding that "we won't be able to maintain our independence if we ruin the economy." Observers noted that the Belarusian leader was facing pressure to reform the economy as Russia's assistance dries up. "It doesn't mean that the country is going to have full-fledged free-market reforms, but some movement is possible," independent Minsk-based analyst Alexander Klaskovsky said. "Lukashenko hasn't turned into a reformer, but he realizes that Moscow is turning off the taps and he needs to raise money himself and turn to the West." BEIJING (Reuters) - Police in eastern China have busted a 7.8 billion yuan ($1.1 billion) online gambling ring and arrested 56 suspects, the official Xinhua news agency reported on Sunday. The suspects are accused of making illegal profits of 650 million yuan from the Philippines-based platform, which had more than 114,000 users, Xinhua said, citing police in Jiangsu province. The investigation into the gambling website was launched in January 2016 after a tip-off, the report said, adding that four of the prime suspects were traced through bank card information. Calls to police in Jiangsu seeking comment went unanswered. Casino gambling is illegal in mainland China, with budding punters having to travel to the special administrative region of Macau that borders southern China's Guangdong province. Fifty suspects in the online gambling case were arrested in Shanghai, Fujian, Zhejiang and Guangdong, Xinhua said, while another six returned to China from the Philippines and handed themselves in. They are now being transferred for prosecution. ($1 = 6.8740 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reporting by Tom Daly; Editing by Darren Schuettler) SHANGHAI (Reuters) - China said on Saturday it has sacked six senior officials at its food and drug regulator after a safety scandal at vaccine maker Changsheng Biotechnology Co Ltd revealed failings at the government body including inadequate supervision. In a posting on its website, the State Administration for Market Regulation said that among officials dismissed were Ding Jianhua, who headed two departments at the China Food and Drug Administration (CFDA). The same statement was posted on the CFDA's website. Changsheng was accused in July of falsifying data for a rabies vaccine and manufacturing an ineffective vaccine for babies, sparking widespread public anger and multiple probes including police investigations. The Changsheng case exposed that the CFDA officials "did not provide sufficient supervision, strong enough oversight, nor were they strict enough in their inspections", the posting said. While there were no known reports of people being harmed by the vaccines, regulators ordered Changsheng to halt their production and recall the rabies vaccine. Changsheng has apologized and said it is cooperating with investigations. On Friday, Beijing said it had sacked a senior provincial official and was probing a former top drug regulator. Xinhua also reported that more than 40 government officials, including seven at the provincial level, have been held accountable for the scandal and some have been sacked. In a separate Saturday report, Xinhua said the central province of Hubei has removed six government officials from their posts in relation to another inferior vaccines case involving Chinese company Wuhan Institute of Biological Products. The company on Friday said on its website that it has dismissed its deputy general manager in charge of production and warned or fined eight other employees. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) See Also: China's President Xi Jinping looks on during the BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, July 26, 2018. Gulshan Khan/Pool via REUTERS Thomson Reuters SHANGHAI (Reuters) - Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit Pyongyang next month at the invitation of North Korea leader Kim Jong Un to attend the celebrations of the 70th anniversary of North Korea's founding, Singapore's Straits Times newspaper reported. It will be the Chinese leader's first visit to the North Korean capital since he took power in 2012, and 13 years after the last visit by a Chinese President, when Xi's predecessor Hu Jintao visited in 2005, the newspaper said on Saturday. The Straits Times did not say where it obtained the information and the Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. North Korea's celebrations are set to take place on Sept. 9 and the Straits Times said that Xi's visit could still be subject to last-minute changes. China is the reclusive country's most important trading partner and Kim has visited China three times so far this year during which he has held talks with Xi on improving cooperation between the two countries and economic reforms. The United States has stepped up sanctions on North Korea to pressure Pyongyang to give up its nuclear program. This week, the United States imposed sanctions on Chinese firms for exporting alcohol and cigarette products to North Korea in breach of those sanctions. (Reporting by Brenda Goh; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore) See Also: BERLIN (Reuters) - At least one police officer was injured in Berlin on Saturday when around 500 activists shouting "Nazis out" clashed with an equal number of far-right activists marking the 31st anniversary of the prison suicide of Nazi convict Rudolf Hess. Many of the far-right activists, clad in red and white, hoisted the red, white and black flag of Hitler's Third Reich. One group carried a sign that proclaimed, "I regret nothing: National Socialists Berlin." "There were reports of injuries when some stones and bottles were thrown by counter demonstrators at the far-right demonstrators," Berlin police spokesman Thilo Cablitz told Reuters. "At least one police officer was injured. But the event is still going on and we're still compiling the numbers." About 2,300 police officers were on duty to prevent violence at the Berlin event and a separate march by less than 50 people in the Berlin suburb of Spandau, where Hess, a former deputy of Germany's wartime dictator Adolf Hitler, served a life sentence handed down at the Nuremberg war crimes trials. A broad mix of counter demonstrators staged non-violent sit-ins at intersections along the march route in the Berlin neighborhood of Lichtenberg, while others gathered to shout at the neo-Nazi demonstrators. Germany has tough laws that ban use of symbols of the Nazi regime, such as the swastika flag, but the far-right has grown stronger in recent years after the arrival of more than a million mostly Muslim migrants beginning in 2015. While far-right activity remains a fringe phenomenon in Germany, it has been behind high-profile crimes, most recently 10 murders committed by the so-called National Socialist Underground (NSU), whose sole surviving leader was sentenced to life in prison in July. The clashes took place about 65 km (40 miles) south of the town of Meseberg, where Chancellor Angela Merkel is meeting Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday evening. Story continues (Reporting by Andrea Shalal; Editing by Andrew Heavens) See Also: Storyful A Galapagos tortoise who was flown to Australia from Germany several months ago to meet her new boyfriend marked her first Halloween in a new country by chowing down on a jack-o-lantern pumpkin.Footage released by the Australian Reptile Park on October 29 shows Estrella munching on the pumpkin and some hibiscus flowers.After a long journey across the world and months in quarantine, Estrella is settling in well to her new home, the park said in a statement.We always get into the Halloween spirit at the Australian Reptile Park, and we thought it was only fitting to feature Estrella as she celebrates her first Halloween in Australia, said head of reptiles Daniel Rumsey.Most Galapagos tortoises enjoy hibiscus, but Estrella absolutely loves them. We decided to use hibiscus to decorate her special Halloween pumpkin and it went down a treat, Rumsey said.Earlier this month, Estrella was introduced to her new boyfriend, Hugo, and the pair have been getting along great, Rumsey said.Its wonderful to see the pair finally interacting after such a long courtship. Theyre definitely the reptile parks hottest couple, he said. Credit: Australian Reptile Park via Storyful FILE PHOTO - Cho Hyun-min, also known as Emily Cho, a former Korean Air senior executive and the younger daughter of the airline's chairman Cho Yang-ho, arrives at a police station in Seoul, South Korea, May 1, 2018. REUTERS/Kim Hong-Ji/File Photo By Heekyong Yang SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea's Jin Air escaped the worst of regulatory wrath on Friday when it was allowed to keep its business licence in the wake of public outrage over the behaviour of members of its founding family. The country's No.2 budget carrier's licence was put under review after it was found that family member Emily Cho - in the spotlight after reports of an angry tantrum earlier this year - held U.S. citizenship while serving as board director in violation of South Korean law. Although Jin Air kept its licence, it will be restricted from registering new aircraft and routes for a "certain period of time", the transport ministry said in a decision that pared initial sky-high gains for its stock. Cho, a member of the family which controls Jin Air and parent Korean Air Lines Co Ltd , provoked a storm of anger after she allegedly threw water at an advertising agency manager. The incident came four years after an infamous "nut rage' scandal in which her sister Heather delayed a flight because she objected to the way nuts were served. Emily Cho later issued an apology but did not specify her actions. The family's latest misconduct came amid widespread public anger over the behaviour of South Korea's business and political elite, and prompted government agencies and prosecutors to launch probes into the Cho family and its businesses. "Although the current administration would like to present their action as a measure to alleviate public anger, I do not think that should be the government's role - creating avenues for public catharsis," said Park Ju-gun, head of corporate analysis firm CEO Score. The ministry said it will keep its restrictions in place, until Jin Air implements measures to prevent violations of aviation laws and to improve its corporate culture. The carrier has proposed "cracking down on its top-down, authoritarian culture", increasing the number of its outside board directors, and creating a system that will protect whistleblowers, the ministry said. Story continues Jin Air said in a statement that it welcomed the ministry's decision. The scandal has seen Emily Cho resign from her position at the airline and her father, Cho Yang-ho, resign as co-chief executive although he remains chairman of Korean Air. Jin Air's employees have also been vocal about their outrage and the damage to airline's reputation and on Friday, the carrier's union lambasted the founding family for "not speaking a word about the current situation." Shares in Jin Air initially soared as much as 24 percent after news broke that its business licence was intact but later pared gains to stand 9 percent higher, giving it a market value of about $620 million. The stock is still down 28 percent from levels before the scandal broke. "The ministry's somewhat punitive measurement will inevitably have consequences for Jin Air's business expansion but it will be for a limited time only," said Kim Ik-sang, chief analyst at BNK Securities. "But at the same time, it will give other budget carriers the opportunity to seek business advantages," he added. Plans to lease four Boeing B737-800 aircraft from Korean Air this year have been put on hold, pending the government's decision on its restrictions, a Jin Air spokesman. (Reporting by Heekyong Yang, Additional reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) FILE PHOTO: Fire engines line a road as smoke rises in the background from a bushfire in New South Wales, Australia, August 16, 2018, in this picture obtained from social media. Fire and Rescue NSW/via REUTERS Thomson Reuters By Will Ziebell MELBOURNE (Reuters) - Strong winds intensified bushfires burning across much of the Australian state of New South Wales on Saturday, with the Rural Fire Service (RFS) upgrading warnings on three of more than 70 fires to emergency level. Residents of Tabulam, a town in northeastern New South Wales about 780 kilometres (485 miles) north of Sydney, were told to shelter in a solid structure as it was too dangerous to try to escape the blaze. People living close to an out-of-control fire near Port Stephens, a town about 180km (111.85 miles) north of Sydney, were told to put their bushfire survival plans into action. "If your plan is to leave early, leave now," the RFS said on Twitter. Nearly 800 firefighters were battling 73 blazes across the state on Saturday afternoon, the RFS said. While the fires posed no immediate threat to any major population centres, bushfires are rare during the Australian winter and have been fanned by above-average dry conditions. Almost all of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, is facing drought conditions. On Thursday, the Bureau of Meteorology forecast more warm, dry weather across large parts of Australia for the next three months, and raised the possibility of an El Nino weather event developing during the Southern Hemisphere's spring. Investigations also began on Saturday into the death of a helicopter pilot, who died when his aircraft crashed on Friday while dropping water to fight fires near the town of Ulladulla about 180 kilometres south of Sydney. The fire near Ulladulla had been raise to emergency level on Saturday afternoon, but was later downgraded to "watch and act". (Reporting by Will Ziebell; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell) See Also: By Tuqa Khalid ABU DHABI (Reuters) - U.S. forces will stay in Iraq "as long as needed" to help stabilize regions previously controlled by Islamic State, a spokesman for the U.S.-led international coalition fighting the militants said on Sunday. "We'll keep troops there as long as we think they're needed ... The main reason, after ISIS (Islamic State) is defeated militarily, is the stabilization efforts and we still need to be there for that, so that's one of the reasons we'll maintain a presence," Colonel Sean Ryan told a news conference in Abu Dhabi. The number of American soldiers could go down however, depending on when other forces from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation deploy to help train the Iraqi army, he said, adding that about 5,200 U.S. troops are currently based in Iraq. NATO defence ministers agreed in February to a bigger "train-and-advise" mission in Iraq after a U.S. call for the alliance to help stabilise the country after three years of war against Islamic State. "Possibly, there could be a drawdown, it just depends on when NATO comes in and they help train the forces as well," Ryan said. Iraq officially announced victory over the militants in December, five months after capturing their stronghold Mosul. The United States also has about 2,000 troops in Syria, assisting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) clear pockets still under the control of Islamic State along the border with Iraq. "We're starting to see a lot of collaboration between the SDF and ISF (Iraqi Security Forces) because it used to be that they would just come to the coalition, but now, we have them talking to each other as well," said Ryan. The Iraqi military has carried out several air strikes against Islamic State in Syria since last year, the last of which a few days ago, with the approval of President Bashar al-Assad and the U.S.-led coalition. SDF operations to finish off the militants on the Syrian side have been delayed by hundreds of explosive devices planted by Islamic State, according to Ryan. (Reporting Tuqa Khalid; Writing by Maher Chmaytelli; Editing by Mark Heinrich) DoubleDragon Properties Corp. plans to expand its hotel business in Southeast Asia and is now scouting for properties in Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia. DoubleDragon chairman Edgar Sia II said in an interview during the stockholders meeting the company was preparing to bring its home-grown hotel brand Hotel 101 to other Asean countries. We are considering to bring our own hotel brand Hotel 101 outside the country. We are hopeful that it will be the first home-grown hotel chain outside the country. We are now looking at three properties in Vietnam, Phuket and Bali, Sia said. Sia said other countries like Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore have their own international hotel brands operating around the world. We always bring in other international hotel brands but we dont bring our hotels outside. So internally we have decided that it is about time that we bring our own hotel brand outside. We think there is an opportunity for that. Sia said. Sia said he was hoping to secure the first site for overseas expansion over the next few months. So where ever we go, we dont have to check in at other peoples hotel brands and we will just support our own brand, Sia said.DoubleDragon plans to develop 5,000 hotel rooms in the Philippines under Hotel 101 and Jianjiang Inn by 2020 as it aims to be one of the leading players in the hospitality sector. DoubleDragon had 866 rooms across its hotel portfolio as of end-2017. It plans to develop Hotel 101 in Taguig, Boracay, Davao, Bohol and Cagayan de Oro. Sia said that in its overseas expansion, the group planned to adopt the same condotel concept. it was using in the Philippines. Under this concept, DoubleDragon will presell the hotel units to investors which will enable the buyers to earn income from it. DoubleDragon is a 50:50 joint venture between Sia and Jollibee Foods Corp. chairman Tony Tan Caktiong. It aims to be one of the top five largest property companies in the Philippines by 2020 through the buildup of 1.2 million square meters of leasable space. QC bags most competitive city award posted August 19, 2018 at 08:15 pm by Manila Standard August 19, 2018 at 08:15 pm For the third time in a row, Quezon City was hailed as the countrys Overall Most Competitive City in the highly urbanized category of the Cities and Municipalities Competitiveness Index 2018. The award was given during the 6th Competitiveness Summit at the Philippine International Convention Center last week. Aside from overall competitiveness, Quezon City was also recognized as the most competitive on Economic Dynamism and Infrastructure. The recognition was earned by the combined efforts of all city government workers, City Administrator Aldrin Cuna said in accepting the award.This award is for all the residents of Quezon City. Your local government is working hard for you. I also share this award to all the employees of Quezon City. Their hard work and dedication is a testament of Quezon Citys dream in becoming the most competitive city in the country, Cuna said. The National Competitiveness Council ranks the competitiveness of cities and municipalities in terms of economic dynamism, government efficiency, infrastructure, and resiliency. 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. David Bromwich in the London Review of Books: A seasonal report on the Trump presidency had better begin with a disclaimer. Anything one says is sure to be displaced by some entirely unexpected thing the president does between writing and publication. This has happened once already, with the Putin-Trump press briefing in Helsinki and the strange spectacle it afforded: the almost physical manifestation of Trumps deference to Putin. It may happen again, whether as a result of the volume of sabre-rattling or the onset of war with Iran; a decision to sack Robert Mueller, the special counsel who is investigating meddling in the 2016 election; a shutdown of the federal government to extort funds for the wall with Mexico; a sudden intensification of the presidents attacks on his political enemies and accusers in pending court cases. These eruptions of breaking news are not only possible but certain to occur, because Trump comports himself not as a president or even a politician, but as a reality TV host. He is a showman above all. In a process where the media are cast as reviewers, and voters as spectators, the show is getting bad reviews but doing nicely: the clear sign of success is that nobody can stop talking about the star. He keeps up the suspense with teasers and decoys and unscheduled interruptions, with changes in the sponsors and the supporting cast and production team. The way to match the Trump pace is by tweeting; but that is to play his game a gambit the White House press corps have found irresistible. Much of the damage to US politics over the last two years has been done by the anti-Trump media themselves, with their mood of perpetual panic and their lack of imagination. But the uncanny gift of Trump is an infectious vulgarity, and with it comes the power to make his enemies act with nearly as little self-restraint as he does. The proof is in the tweets. More here. [Thanks to Ali Minai.] NSU football holds off late surge from MSU Moorhead to win 33-27 on the road Northern State kept their playoff hopes alive on Saturday, when they defeated MSU Moorhead 33-27 to improve to 3-1 in the NSIC North Division. David V. Holtbys new history book, Lest We Forget World War I and New Mexico, is an achievement of scope and detail. Holtby, an Albuquerque-based historian, probes the lives of New Mexicans soldiers overseas and civilians on the home front before, during and after the Great War. His years of research produce a motherland of fascinating recollections. Though many of the stories are about the soldiers of the American Expeditionary Forces on the frontlines, Holtby also explains how death and shell shock, later known as PTSD, affected New Mexicans years later. In the book, New Mexico becomes the template for understanding how the war heavily influenced the country. Holtby digs up remembrances by New Mexicans who were doughboys in the trenches, support staff behind the lines and civilians at home. Homemakers sent food to men in uniform, ordinary people were embroiled in politics, and others were involved in the governments domestic surveillance policies to root out disloyalty. Holtby explains his purpose: Its my job to engage in the collective process of bringing forward and into the present these forgotten stories and voices from the war and post-war, and into 1941. Indeed, he accomplished that. One of the first pre-digital files he read at the New Mexico State Archives was an account by Adolph Abeyta, a heavy-equipment operator from Tucumcari who was working for a railroad in Las Vegas, N.M. Abeyta was the second document I looked at, and it opened up the whole war, Holtby said. Also spurring the historians research was access to information in newly created digital files. Abeyta volunteered for the Army after Gen. John J. Pershing asked Americas railroads to release all their men to build thousands of miles of railroads in France. Abeyta and hundreds of other New Mexicans were sent to the town of Toul. They built railroad cars and engines and railroad lines to transport troops, ammunition and food to fighting units, Holtby wrote. Abeytas narrative continues after his return stateside. He talks about being gassed, Holtby said. He started getting (veterans) benefits in the 1920s, but FDR started slashing federal pensions to disabled World War I soldiers. It was part of the Depression-era budget cuts. In the 30s, Abeyta served as Quay County sheriff. In the chapter on Volunteers, Holtby shines a light on Tura A. Hawk, who came to New Mexico in 1916 to work as a suffrage advocate. She joined the Agricultural Extension Service to help promote domestic food conservation to provide more food for men in uniform. At a conference in Albuquerque, Hawk and home-demonstration agents from various counties delivered lectures and conducted hands-on cooking sessions to support the campaign (by preparing meatless meals), Holtby writes. Another figure Holtby writes about is Lt. Harry Rogers of Lakewood, south of Artesia. He was given command of a depleted platoon, knocked out a machine-gun nest and captured 30 German soldiers in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Days later, a sniper killed Rogers. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for his calmness in keeping his men in order and helping repel counterattacks. Patriotism or the lack of it was a critical subject at home in wartime New Mexico. Federal agents looked into alleged violations of laws regarding the draft, alien enemy registration and espionage. Post offices were authorized to open and censor mail as a way to expose disloyalty. One case targeted Walter Dillon, the head of the Socialist Party of New Mexico, who apparently sent mail urging draft resistance. A postal inspector read Dillons letter and termed it very vitriolic, Holtby writes. A challenge for the general reader is the many interlaced names, places, institutions and issues. Perhaps a way to better understand the book is to attend one of Holtbys lectures. Photo by Bert Esposado ILOILO CITYTrekkers are temporarily prohibited from climbing Mt. Napulak, a popular hiking destination in Igabaras, Iloilo. Mayor Vicente Escorpion said the municipal police station and the Philippine Armys 61st Infantry Battalion are on heightened alert following the Aug. 15 encounter in Antique, where seven suspected members of the New Peoples Army were killed in a clash with government troops. The closure would ensure safety among the trekkers, Escorpion said, adding that they also want to avoid confusion because some rebels might pretend to be trekkers.The closure of Mt. Napulak was recommended by its municipal tourism office and the 61st IB, he said. Escorpion said he recognizes the mountainous towns insurgency problem. Earlier, the Iloilo Police Provincial Office named Igbaras as among 15 municipalities whose police stations are at high risk of being attacked by rebels.Policemen were reminded not to leave their posts and to be vigilant against possible attacks. Escorpion is planning to conduct a meeting with the police and the army to discuss the closure of Mt. Napulak to determine when it would reopen to local and foreign climbers. We will analyze the situation, he said. An average of 50 trekkers flock to Mount Napulak during weekends, especially during summer. RUIDOSO DOWNS The inexperienced Pilot Points Moon topped the qualifiers on the second of two days of trials to the Grade 1, $3,000,000 All American Futurity on Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs. However, Rainbow Futurity winner Mm Fourinthemorning, the nations number-one ranked two-year-old, was a stunning winner of his trial and ranks the probable favorite on Labor Day in the 440-yard All American Futurity. The top-five fastest horses from Saturdays 16 440-yard trials join the five-fastest horses from Fridays 16 trials to complete the field in the All American Futurity, which has the largest purse in quarter horse racing. The horses with the next five-fastest times gain priority gain priority to the $200,000 All American Juvenile. Racing resumes on Sunday at 1 p.m. with the trials to the Grade 1, $1,200,000 All American Derby. The All American Derby finals will be held on September 2, the day before Labor Day. The five qualifiers on Saturday and their 440-yard times are Pilot Points Moon (21.520 seconds), Mm Fourinthemorning (21.648), Badhabit Jess (21.664), No Mires a La Luna (\21.680) and Rustys Miracle (21.695). Trainer Blane Wood and jockey Ricky Ramirez qualified Mm Fourinthemorning and Badhabit Jess on Saturday. They also combined with first-day fastest qualifier Apocalyptical Jess. Grant Farms, LLCs homebred Pilot Points Moon posted the days fastest qualifying time in just his second start and his two starts have been within two weeks. The gelding by First Moonflash won his maiden on August 4 with a neck win in a Ruidoso Downs maiden race. The Wes Giles-trained gelding took a monumental step forward in his All American Futurity trial when he pulled away from his rivals like an experienced professional to win by one-and-one-half lengths under Adrian A. Ramos. We just waited for him to mature, said Giles. Hes a nice horse and should step forward in the finals. Grant Farms also bred third-fastest qualifier Badhabit Jess. They sold the Mr Jess Perry-sired gelding for $25,000 in the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale to La Felix Montana Ranch, LLC. He won his maiden in his third start by taking the 16th and final All American Futurity trial. Mark and Annette McCloys homebred Mm Fourinthemorning, also a Mr Jess Perry-sired gelding, comes into the All American Futurity as the total package. He is a Grade 1 futurity winner after winning the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Rainbow Futurity in his previous start and dominated his All American Futurity trial. Mm Fourinthemorning opened up a lead by the halfway mark of his trial as the 1-10 favorite and then stretched his advantage to two-and-one-quarter lengths at the finish line. Jockey Ramirez said that he just waits until Mm Fourinthemorning finds his extra gear when he passes the casino, about 150 yards from the finish. The McCloys offered Mm Fourinthemorning in the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. I wanted $150,000 for him, but if he got to $100,000, I would have thought about selling him, said Mark McCloy. When the final bid was $50,000, there was no question I was going to buy him back. McCloy is certainly glad he took him back home. Its been great. It couldnt be better, said McCloy. Hes special. David Valdezs and Byron Woodards No Mires a La Luna, sired by First Moonflash, finshed second to Badhabit Jess in the final trial. The gelding is still a maiden after seven starts, however he was a close third in the $346,000 Mountain Top Futurity and reached the finals of the $410,000 Zia Futurity. Each of those futurities is for New Mexico-breds. Owned by J & SM Inc., Rustys Miracle overcame a troubled start to go on and win her trial by a neck as the 11-10 favorite. The experienced filly from the Fred Danley barn was making her seventh start and raced to her fifth win. The Valiant Hero daughter raced in the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile and then won the $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile in her start before the All American Futurity trials. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal The New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department has revoked the license of a not-for-profit that places high-risk children with foster families after discovering the business continued to house young girls with a family that was accused multiple times of sexual abuse and misconduct spanning nearly two decades. In the past few months, CYFD investigators found that since 2000 at least eight girls, ranging in age from 6 to 16, had accused the foster father of some sort of sexual misconduct. And, investigators say, Familyworks had been aware of the allegations and continued to contract with the family. In an interview with the Journal, CYFD Secretary Monique Jacobson said: When I look at this, my heart just breaks for the fact that they had been foster parents for 20 years. One of the cases a rape allegation from 2000 was investigated by the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office and turned over the District Attorneys Office. A DA spokesman said during the investigation that the victim recanted her statement and the prosecutor closed the case due to insufficient evidence. Law enforcement agencies are now investigating both the foster family and the not-for-profit Familyworks. Jacobson said the department began an audit of Familyworks after a 10-year-old girl reported that her foster father had touched her sexually last April. An investigator talked with two other young girls staying in the home at the time, ages 6 and 8, who said the man was bad and learned that one of them had previously reported abuse to a Familyworks therapist, according to court documents. That therapist is quoted as saying they didnt report the disclosure to CYFD because it was hearsay. We feel like they were not providing adequate leadership and oversight, Jacobson said. They were not reporting serious incidents, and we uncovered concerns regarding supervision and treatment that was supposed to be occurring there. Really they were not taking the necessary steps to inform us and therefore prevent abuse from occurring. In mid-June while the home was under investigation the director of Familyworks continued to ask if other children could be placed with the family. When she was told no, she asked if boys could be placed there, since only girls were making allegations, according to court documents. That was also declined. As for possible criminal charges, the Albuquerque Police Department has opened an investigation into accusations of sexual assault against the foster father, although a spokesman said he could not comment on it. And the District Attorneys Office executed a search warrant on Familyworks to determine whether proper notifications of child abuse or neglect were made by the employees of Familyworks per state law, if Familyworks employees knew that this home was dangerous for children but continued to place the children into a dangerous place, and if documentation related to the care, treatment and safety of the children contains information about abuse or neglect that was not reported to CYFD or law enforcement or about a failure to comply with state regulations or state law relating to the safety of foster children. The DAs investigator is also looking into whether there are other victims. A spokesman for the DAs Office said he could not comment on possible criminal charges against Familyworks. This is an active and ongoing investigation, Michael Patrick wrote in an email. We take these allegations extremely seriously. It would be inappropriate to discuss the details of this investigation until its complete and a determination is reached. Troubling history The investigations began in mid-April when a 10-year-old girl told her school counselor that her foster father had touched her inappropriately while they were in his Northwest Albuquerque home, according to the search warrant affidavit filed in 2nd Judicial District Court. The school counselor told a CYFD investigator, and that investigator began digging. What CYFD found was troubling. The foster father, who had been licensed to receive children since 1997, had been accused of a range of sexual misconduct dating back 18 years. Jacobson said they could not say how many children had been placed in the home over the years but he and his wife are now barred from taking in other children. The couple declined to comment. CYFD licenses businesses like Familyworks which also has a business agreement with Desert Hills residential treatment center to place children with families. In return, the families receive between $40 and $70 a day. An employee at the drab stucco Familyworks building off Coors still in the process of transferring foster children to other providers referred all questions to Desert Hills. The CEO of Desert Hills did not respond to requests for an interview. The DA investigator found that, in some cases, even when allegations of sexual abuse were reported to Familyworks by the children or the family, the business had not made a report to CYFD or law enforcement, according to the affidavit. In other cases CYFD was notified but the allegations werent substantiated, according to the affidavit. Jacobson said CYFDs preliminary review found that investigators followed procedures and policies in their dealings with the children and business. We will do a more formal critical incident review, Jacobson said. We have a process called the critical incident review process to look in a much deeper way into every action that we took as an agency both in terms of prior investigations as well as in terms of our licensing and certification oversight areas within CYFD. But, she said, shes pushing for more thorough investigations into prior allegations and histories in all cases, even if reports havent been substantiated. Thats something we are working really hard on within CYFD is to remind our investigators that when they get an allegation they need to look at all prior allegations so that they are looking at this holistically and making a determination about what is happening in that house, Jacobson said. And she commended the employees who followed up on the April incident, questioning what would have happened had they not been so persistent in uncovering the years of allegations. I do believe if it werent for the way CYFD investigators did handle this most recent case, just looking at all the steps that were taken and their level of persistence, I do believe this (alleged abuse) could have gone on for another 20 years, Jacobson said. Being recertified Jacobson said her agency is still investigating how many children had been with the accused foster family over the years and how many children were placed into homes by Familyworks a mid-sized facility. Currently, CYFD is working with 28 families and more than 40 children placed through Familyworks, a CYFD spokesman said. All of the Familyworks homes are now under the process of recertification, Jacobson said. If the homes are determined to be safe for children, then the foster family and children will be moved to another treatment care provider. If the families are not clearing that process, then we would move the child into a different home under a different provider, Jacobson said. The families would need to be re-licensed under these new providers. Jacobson said CYFD is not necessarily worried about other families or treatment foster care providers, but that it is always working to improve and increase oversight over every part of the system. Bryce Pittenger, the director of behavioral health services for CYFD, said the audit of Familyworks found there were numerous policies and procedures the business was not following in addition to not reporting every allegation. They were not providing adequate treatment, in terms of treatment that matched that childs needs as well as treatment that addresses ongoing incidents, Pittenger said. If a child suddenly has a new behavior or if something is happening that treatment plan has to adjust and the therapist and team have to work in a slightly different way. A fraudulent dog breeder who has been using an Albuquerque address has been ripping off local residents by pretending to sell puppies over Facebook, according to the Better Business Bureau. The male breeder charges hundreds of dollars in upfront costs for shipping, shots and pet insurance, and asks customers to pay in the form of gift cards, says the regional BBB, which covers New Mexico and southwest Colorado. The BBB cites the example of an Albuquerque woman who complied with the gift-card payment request to purchase a corgi. The seller then asked for more money for a dog crate and shipping, but the woman said she couldnt afford the additional expense and would pick up the dog herself. The man gave her the address of a supposed shipping company in Albuquerque, but the BBB says it has not been able to verify the address as a shipping company. Also, the woman never got her dog. Shes not alone. A BBB study published last year says that 80 percent of the sponsored advertising links that appear in an internet search for pets may be fraudulent. Most victims lose anywhere between $100 and $1,000, and the most fraudulent breeds offered are French bulldogs and Yorkshire terriers, the study says. Recommendations: The best way to avoid fraud is to see the pet and meet the prospective seller in person before purchasing. Most legitimate breeders will welcome the visit, the BBB says. Make a copy of the online photo of the pet and do a web search to see if the image turns up on other sites. If you see it on multiple websites, you might be dealing with fraud. The same is true for duplicate ad text and testimonials. (To search an image on Google Chrome, place the cursor over the photo and right click to enable an internet search. The website tineye.com also searches photos, and Google has an image search function at Google images.) Never pay a stranger with a money order or through Western Union, Moneygram or gift cards. Always use a credit card in case you need to dispute the charges. Research prices for particular breeds. If someone is advertising a purebred dog for free or at a deeply discounted price, you could be dealing with a fraudulent offer, the BBB says. If youre an Instagram user, beware of a new con in which phony companies are trying to hook people into posting product photos in exchange for a commission or free products. The scammers contact people through their account or blog and make the pitch using the term brand ambassador, the BBB says. But those who fall for it and agree to post photos of themselves with the particular product, must first buy the items, anything from sunglassses to jewelry to cosmetics. The items cost at least $50 and arrive broken. In some versions, the upfront payment is supposed to cover the victims background check. In any case, the promise of a commission or other freebies never materializes, and the Instagram users are out the money, the BBB says. A few tips about job scams: Approach with great skepticism any job that asks you to hand over money. Scammers will often use the guise of running a credit check, setting up direct deposit or paying for training, the BBB says. If an offer looks suspicious, search for it in Google. If something is a scam, victims are likely to have posted something about it online. Ellen Marks is assistant business editor at the Albuquerque Journal. To report a scam to law enforcement, contact the New Mexico Consumer Protection Division toll-free at 1-844-255-9210. Homelessness in Bernalillo County is a complicated, serious and intractable issue. Improving how we address homelessness will require collaboration by community and government partners, embracing best practices and service-delivery models that have proven to work at reasonable scale, and a commitment to closing critical gaps in how we serve people experiencing homelessness. At the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, our extensive engagement in this issue leads us to believe our community faces two predominant problems in how we address homelessness. First, we have very limited around-the-clock sheltering services. Numerous organizations provide services to people experiencing homelessness, but day-and-night sheltering is severely lacking. Consequently, people experiencing homelessness have little other option than to wander through our streets during the day and sleep wherever they can. This is a real problem for many residents and businesses in Bernalillo County particularly in Downtown Albuquerque. People feel less safe, contributing to our Downtown core being less welcoming to visitors, and can increase business costs and hamper economic development. This problem is not made up, and it is not overstated. In fact, a recent scientific survey commissioned by the Chamber found residents would like to see new, game-changing investments in our Downtown, but crime and homelessness need to be mitigated first. Our second major problem is that law enforcement officers are dispatched by the public to address disturbances involving homeless people, but they have no place to take these individuals many of whom struggle with addiction and mental health challenges other than to the local jail or an emergency room for treatment, often detoxification. This simply delays their return to the streets for a few hours. This is costly for taxpayers, an unhelpful strategy for police officers and not in the best long-term interest of people experiencing homelessness. These problems are not unique to our city or county, but other cities have made great progress. The Chamber has conducted best-practice visits to some of these communities, including Oklahoma City and San Antonio. Last month, the Chamber hosted alongside Mayor Tim Keller and Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins a nearly 30-person delegation to San Antonio for a fact-finding trip to a successful homeless center called Haven for Hope. The delegation included government, social services and law enforcement leaders from both the city and county, in addition to leaders from Albuquerque businesses and the UNM Health Sciences Center. It was an impressive group that embodied collaboration in action. There are a few key features of the model that are compelling. First, the center provides a 24/7 shelter called The Courtyard that houses 700 homeless individuals each day. It is a clean, safe and supportive place for people experiencing homelessness. Second, nearly 70 partner organizations have a physical presence at Haven for Hope to bring coordinated care to the homeless. Third, Haven for Hope built a behavioral health facility called the Restoration Center across the street from its shelter to help individuals in need of detoxification and mental health crisis intervention. The results in San Antonio speak for themselves. The citys downtown homeless population decreased by 66 percent within two years of Haven for Hope opening. In addition, there were 3,300 fewer jail bookings one year after Haven for Hope opened, and the city saved over $96 million in jail, emergency room and court costs with a single location for homeless people to be taken to receive help. This kind of convincing success cannot be ignored. To be clear, the Chamber does not believe Albuquerque should simply mimic what San Antonio or any other community has done. We also know that no strategy is perfect. We are a unique place, and we deserve an approach that is both feasible and meets our unique needs. However, there are lessons that can be applied as the city, county and their numerous partners including the business community work on an Albuquerque solution. Coupled with a long-term focus on expanding affordable and permanent supportive housing options, the importance of around-the-clock sheltering, the co-location of homeless service providers to improve coordination of care, and the integration of behavioral health treatment cannot be overemphasized. We have a moral obligation to improve our care for people experiencing homelessness and an opportunity to dramatically improve our citys prospects for growth and development. Its time to move forward together. A man is in custody and the bomb squad is investigating after police say he threatened gas station employees with explosives during an armed robbery on Saturday night. Albuquerque police spokesman Tanner Tixier said the suspect walked into the Circle K, at Wyoming and Constitution NE, with two backpacks he claimed were explosive devices. The entire area has been cordoned off while our (Explosive Ordinance Disposal) unit renders the backpacks safe, Tixier said. UNM Professor of Art and Ecology On July 24, BioScience published a letter Nature Divided, Scientists United: USMexico Border Wall Threatens Biodiversity and Binational Conservation signed by more than 2,500 scientists from 43 countries. By devaluing conservation investment and science and bypassing environmental laws like the Endangered Species Act and National Environmental Policy Act the proposed expansion of the wall by the Trump administration will devastate wildlife by eliminating, degrading and fragmenting critical habitats, the letter highlights. This letter is the latest in a series of acts of resistance from scientists, scholars, environmental justice advocates and indigenous peoples living in the U.S.-Mexico borderland. All three of us live in this borderland and teach at the University of New Mexico (UNM). We have intimate knowledge of the ecological and human rights issues affected by the wall. Last year, UNM hosted Decolonizing Nature, an international conference on environmental justice, resistance, resilience and revitalization. At stake was the entangled future of humanity and nature in North America. Nellie Jo David, a Tohono Oodham scholar-activist, spoke against visions of a border wall and the militarization of her homeland, which straddles the Arizona-Sonora border. They are going to fight back the animals, the plants, the earth, she insisted. If we build a wall, the earth would do its part in taking that wall down. Two months later, the American Society of Mammalogists adopted a resolution opposing the wall, noting negative impacts on at least 56 mammal species, including four of international conservation concern: Mexican wolves, jaguars, ocelots and desert bighorn sheep. Worldwide, more than 80 percent of wild mammal populations have been lost in the last century and 50 percent of all mammal species are projected to go extinct in the next century, largely due to human destruction and fragmentation of habitats. With nearly 700 miles of barriers already built, the proposed nearly 1,300 miles of additional border walls built through one of the most biodiverse regions of the continent will further cripple ecological connectivity and wellbeing, just as it will partition indigenous homelands, devastate communities and endanger binational cooperation. The wall will also endanger families. Separating families at the border just like partitioning indigenous homelands is a basic human-rights issue. The well-being of America, moving forward, will be tied to the morality of our actions and our ability to imagine common cause with others. The United Nations high commissioner for human rights proclaimed child separation unconscionable. The next day, Trump withdrew from the United Nations Human Rights Council. We can and must do better than this, if we are to make Americas values matter to the world. Borders divide, but they also connect. And in their most fundamental inter-relationships, animals and humans know no borders. We can take a telling example from another North American borderland. The range of the Porcupine River Caribou Herd and homelands of the indigenous Gwichin people, who have relied on the caribou for millennia, overlap and straddle the Alaska (U.S.)-Yukon (Canada) border in the Arctic. Erecting a wall there is unthinkable, unconscionable. Likewise, in the middle of a sixth mass species extinction, throwing up new walls in the U.S.-Mexico borderland makes little sense. We must continue to speak up for both our human and nonhuman relatives with whom we share this earth. We call on our government to do the right thing to take an active role in taking that wall down and getting on with the challenges that face humanity. By working to take back those ecological, spiritual, political and cultural values that have historically connected people and nature across the U.S.-Mexico border, we might use Americas borderlands to envision a more resilient, more just and more humane planet. It is a story that shocked the nation. Five adults and 11 malnourished children taken into custody, along with a cache of semiautomatic firearms and ammunition, from a filthy Taos area compound where the adults had secreted themselves to practice their Muslim faith. Among the weapons was a loaded AR-15 rifle. The alleged leader, Siraj Ibin Wahhaj, is the son of a prominent New York imam, who happens to be among the unindicted persons who may be alleged as co-conspirators in the 1993 World Trade Center bombing further thrusting the story into the national limelight. When authorities finally moved in, they were searching for the missing 3-year-old disabled son of Wahhaj a child whose mother said Wahhaj kidnapped from his home in Georgia. Remains identified this week as the boys were found buried at the compound. The next major development in the story also sent shock waves around the country. District Judge Sarah Backus of Taos refused a prosecution request to hold the defendants in custody pending trial on child-abuse charges, ruling that prosecutors hadnt met their burden to show community danger by clear and convincing evidence. That despite the fact that a childs body was found, the other children were malnourished and one of the children told an FBI agent they had received firearms training and training on how to commit school shootings and kill as many people as possible. Backus also found insufficient evidence of child abuse, although she acknowledged being troubled by some of what she heard. There is no indication that outside medical attention was sought despite the boys health problems. In fact, prosecutors alleged the child died during a ritual to remove bad spirits. Backus even raised the spectre that perhaps the defendants were somehow being prosecuted for their religious beliefs. That hardly squares with the deliberate approach taken by law enforcement reacting to complaints about the compound. If anything, they were, perhaps, too cautious in responding. The judges ruling triggered yet another round of news coverage, as people outraged by her decision made threats against her, forcing a lockdown of the courthouse. That, of course, is unacceptable. Mob rule isnt how things are done, and the courts arent supposed to buckle under public intimidation. Anyone guilty of threatening a judge should be prosecuted. But neither are judges nor the system exempt from second guessing and criticism. And there has been plenty of that. Gov. Susana Martinez and the state Republican Party weighed in. Judge Backus has put New Mexicans at risk by releasing suspected terrorists back into the community, the state GOP said. Both U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, Republican nominee for governor, and U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Democrat nominee for governor, have weighed in, criticizing the judges actions and her implementation of new pre-trial detention policies. Pearce wants to rescind the Constitutional amendment that led to the new policies, while Lujan Grisham wants to re-examine the policies, but says changing the Constitution would take too long. Indeed, there has been a push for that from other quarters since New Mexico is still in the early stages of applying a constitutional amendment that gave judges the authority to hold defendants pending trial if they determine that is appropriate for community safety. The state Supreme Court, which pushed for the amendment that was overwhelmingly approved by voters, has given judges like Backus great discretion in considering all pertinent circumstances not just those specifically charged in making that decision. Meanwhile, none of the defendants has been released. Wahhaj is being held in connection with the Georgia case, and his wife at the compound was taken into custody by federal immigration authorities. The others have yet to find suitable living conditions, since Backus said they could not return to the compound. But that doesnt go to the important legal and systemic questions here. District Attorney Donald Gallegos has said he might appeal the decision to the Supreme Court, and its important that a decision be expedited. You cant run a legal system by polls and popular opinion but neither can you make decisions that seem to fly in the face of reality and expect public confidence in the judicial system. Its a fair bet that the strong majority of those who supported the constitutional amendment would never have expected that result based on publicly available facts. Whether or not the releases wind up before the Supreme Court and justices have to decide whether Backus was right or wrong, they need to explain their decision by using this case to illustrate just exactly how this system promoted as a way to keep us all safer is supposed to work. This editorial first appeared in the Albuquerque Journal. It was written by members of the editorial board and is unsigned as it represents the opinion of the newspaper rather than the writers. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Congratulations Deputy Josh Marchand. Youve already done a great job for this office. We are glad to have you here and look forward to whats ahead for you. The December 2016 post on the Otero County Sheriffs Departments Facebook page showed Marchand during graduation ceremonies at the Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. At age 36, he was following the storied career of his late father, Al Marchand, a retired Alamogordo police lieutenant who was the only New Mexican to die in the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001. Even though Josh Marchand wasnt state-certified during his first year on the job, records show the deputy was responsible for busting at least 35 alleged drug traffickers as an undercover detective in the Otero County narcotics unit. Some of the covert drug buys occurred at his Alamogordo tattoo parlor. But now Marchands law enforcement career has gone bust. His 35 trafficking cases, involving mostly methamphetamines, have been dismissed by the 12th Judicial District Attorneys Office after some 20 suspects accused Marchand of using methamphetamine or other drugs with them when he worked undercover, said District Attorney John P. Sugg of Alamogordo. Defense attorneys raised allegations of entrapment, and Marchand wouldnt take a polygraph test. That fostered doubts about whether he would testify as an essential witness if the cases went to trial, Sugg said. The case dismissals came after more than a year of an FBI investigation and at least six federal grand jury subpoenas seeking information from Otero County and the Law Enforcement Academy. The FBI wouldnt acknowledge an inquiry last week, and its unclear if it has concluded. Otero County Sheriff Benny House told the Journal that the FBI was also looking into other issues beyond Marchands actions, including false allegations about the sheriff himself. To date, no criminal charges have been filed in connection with the inquiry. Its ugly down here, House said. I havent done anything illegal. They (the FBI) are mad at me because of a bunch of false reports. Earlier this year, the FBI uncovered conflicting statements Marchand gave about his drug use before joining the southern New Mexico sheriffs agency in 2016, according to court dismissal records. Marchand, 37, couldnt be reached by the Journal for comment last week. But Sheriff House on Friday defended Marchands actions with alleged drug traffickers as ethical and legal. After learning that Marchand simulated smoking methamphetamine during one undercover assignment, House said he had him take a drug test, which came back negative. House said the Otero County manager ordered Marchand terminated, effective July 18, because of issues related to inconsistencies in his employment records. House, whose term as sheriff ends Dec. 31, said he may be a defense witness for Marchands appeal of his termination. I dont think he wants his job back. I think he wants to clear his name, House told the Journal. He did great work, and Im proud of him. I love him to death. Marchand took to social media last week to deny the allegations, but his comments were deleted by Friday morning. I didnt do drugs with all those dope dealers he (DA Sugg) just released back into the streets! Marchand wrote on his Facebook page. This justice system is a joke. Good lie though it worked. He contended that others from his undercover team were nearby during his drug buys from suspects. And to the supposed 20 other defendants I apparently did drugs with magically while my team was ready (sic) present Id like to see the proof! Oh wait, there isnt any because it never happened. Take a lie detector test, stated one person who responded to his post. I am following the advice of my attorney, he replied. Victim of 9/11 Al Marchand retired after 21 years as an Alamogordo police officer, opting for a new career as a flight attendant. His Boston to Los Angeles United Airlines flight 175 was hijacked and was the second plane to be flown into the World Trade Center on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001. Several of us at the (Otero County Sheriffs Office) were lucky enough to work with Al and call him our friend. His loss is even more significant to us this year because his son, Josh, has followed in his dads footsteps in law enforcement, said a September 2017 Facebook post by the Otero County Sheriffs Office. May Als family and friends know that we will never forget that tragic day and we will never forget the impact Al had on so many people. Todd Holmes, an Alamogordo defense attorney, had nine clients whose drug trafficking charges were dismissed last week. Though he had made the drug buys months earlier, most of Josh Marchands 35 cases were brought as part of a massive drug bust announced in May 2017. In Otero County, theres a lot of undercover operations, and every couple of years they always have a press release that they arrested 70 or 80 people. I was born and raised in Alamogordo, Holmes told the Journal, And throughout all the raids, this is the first time theres been a huge problem like this. I had a handful of clients and at least half of them had similar stories, and I dont think they all got together and said, Hey, lets cook up this story. Holmes said his clients told him that Marchand would take us in the bathroom in his tattoo shop because theres no cameras in there and then wed go get high. And then later on hed be like, Can I get some? One defendant contended he saw Marchand go into the bathroom with a methamphetamine pipe and saw smoke coming from the mirror an allegation Marchand on Facebook said is wrong because he was smoking a cigarette at the time. Holmes said he has known the younger Marchand for years. Josh was a good kid growing up and he ran a tattoo shop and I think he was kind of happy at the prospect of being a law enforcement officer just to maybe fill some of those issues with the dad passing away. Holmes said he has a lot of sympathy for all sides because Ive known Josh for a long, long time and so I do feel sorry for the situation he was in. Sometimes, you cant put folks like that into the middle of all this with meth all around. Under state law, new officers can work up to 12 months without undergoing the 16-week training course at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy and obtaining certification. Hiring agencies are responsible for background investigations of their staff, including drug testing and disclosure of prior illegal drug use. Josh Marchand started at the Sheriffs Office in June 2016. To avoid violating the certification requirement, he worked at the courthouse for several months before attending the law enforcement academy last fall, House said. Sheriff House said Marchand, once on the job, was instructed how to handle undercover narcotics assignments and volunteered to use his tattoo parlor for potential drug deals. Applications contradict The FBI found that Marchand had revealed on one Otero County employment application that he used dangerous drugs a few times, as recently as 2011. But on his law enforcement academy questionnaire, he denied all drug use, except for marijuana a few times in 2001, according to the DA dismissal statements. The FBI also had difficulty obtaining his Sheriffs Office employment applications. Initially, the FBI was told the application was lost. He filed a second application in August 2017 at the Sheriffs Office, but it wasnt turned over to the FBI until this April, the dismissal notice said. Then the Otero County Human Resources Office had Marchand file an employment application in May of this year. But after completing the form, he returned to the HR office and asked to make changes. The portion on the application regarding prior drug use had been altered when amended and contained numerous scratched through answers, the DAs dismissal said. The scratched through answers are also inconsistent with the prior applications, the notice said. DA Sugg said he doesnt know whether Marchand used illegal drugs with suspects. If he had submitted to a polygraph examination, Sugg told the Journal, we would have had more confidence and perhaps we would have pursued the matter further. For his part, Marchand wrote on Facebook last week, What a blessed day it is! Gotta love my haters. Ill pray for all of you. WHITE SANDS MISSILE RANGE Pilots flying across New Mexico sometimes refer to the WSMR shadow. White Sands Missile Range, the Department of Defenses largest open-air land test range, covers more than 3,400 square miles. It also commands 10,020 square miles of restricted airspace, expandable to 11,130 square miles the largest in the continental United States. The range includes the Trinity site, where the first nuclear weapon was detonated in 1945. The size of the range both on and above the ground and its varied terrains make it a testing ground for both military capability and civilian technology. Requests from the Pentagon are engineered and tested here. Branches of the armed forces jointly test assets and train units here. Adjacent to White Sands in the Jornada del Muerto desert region near Truth or Consequences is Spaceport America, where research and testing has been underway for commercial space travel since it opened in 2011. Two years ago, Brig. Gen. Eric L. Sanchez assumed command of this facility, which touches several New Mexico counties, and where thousands of military and civilian employees and contractors work, day and night. On Aug. 10, Sanchez retired from the military after 35 years of service, and Brig. Gen. Gregory J. Brady took over as commanding general. Another change in leadership this summer was the arrival in June of a new commander for the White Sands Test Center, which manages testing operations at the range. Col. David R. Cheney assumed command of the test center from Col. Eric C. Rannow, who had been in the job for three years. The Missouri native came with a background as a pilot and maintenance officer with additional experience in logistics, serving in Bosnia and Afghanistan among many assignments internationally and domestically. Cheney said he actively sought the unusually complex assignment at White Sands. Referring to collaborations between military branches and federal agencies, Cheney said, White Sands is probably the most joint, and arguably the most interagency, of all the Armys major test ranges. Some of the missions that we do here are affecting things going on in central command or Pacific command, Sanchez said. Things that four-star generals are asking for come here and were testing it within 90 days. Next thing you know, thats in the soldiers hands and they are using it. To keep up that pace, White Sands keeps an eye on recruiting talent from the civilian sector for the future by hosting extended training opportunities for students in the sciences and technology. A lot of people dont realize its mostly civilians that operate White Sands, Sanchez said. Moreover, the civilian workforce often reports to work at midnight or 1 a.m. to prepare for missions that have to execute at 7:30 in the morning. Both Sanchez and Cheney refer to the ranges community as customers, serving a clientele that includes private sector interests. Cheney said the needs of various customers create a complex day-to-day process of managing priorities. Complex testing involving expensive equipment, with unpredictable mechanical failures or changing weather and atmospheric conditions, present unexpected problems every day, he said. After growing up in Santa Fe, Sanchez began his military service in Las Cruces as a Distinguished Military Graduate of New Mexico State University and spent nearly 32 years on active duty. Returning to southern New Mexico when he assumed command of White Sands in 2016, Sanchez had to adjust from working in operational environments to an enormous test and evaluation facility. Sanchez said that White Sands is of tremendous strategic but also commercial importance, and that the scope of its mission is misunderstood even by people who commute to various parts of the range every day. We have people who have been on White Sands for 30 years in their own little niche that dont even know what other organizations on White Sands are doing, he said. Days away from retiring to Mesilla, the general said he has known incoming Brig. Gen. Brady for 10 years and felt that White Sands would be in good hands. He said, Those soldiers will be down there doing what they do every Monday. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Wildfire smoke obscured the usually spectacular view of the Sandia Mountains on Sunday, prompting the city of Albuquerques Environmental Health Department to issue a health alert. According to the National Weather Service office in Albuquerque, smoke from wildfires burning over California, Oregon and Nevada moved southeastward into New Mexico on Sunday, which impacted air quality over much of central and western New Mexico. East winds developing in the Rio Grande Valley late Sunday were expected to help force smoke westward out of the area but meteorologists expected smoke impacts to likely continue over western New Mexico this morning. The citys health alert is in effect until 6 a.m. today due to blowing dust. The National Weather Service on Sunday issued a wind advisory in effect until 6 a.m. today for the Middle Rio Grande Valley including metro Albuquerque, especially below Tijeras Canyon. According to meteorologists, a gusty backdoor front was expected to surge through gaps in the Sandia and Manzano mountains during the overnight hours, producing strong east winds and bringing blowing dust into the area. Filipino flavors debut in New Zealand food show posted August 19, 2018 at 06:15 pm by Manila Standard Lifestyle August 19, 2018 at 06:15 pm Mama Sitas brand of Philippine sauces and mixes presented its line of favorite Filipino dishes to an international audience at the biggest food show in Auckland, New Zealand on July 26-29. Guests trying out Filipino dishes at Mama Sitas booth in Auckland Food Show. Filipino chef showing off how Pinoy dishes are cooked. labuyo barbecue. Mama Sitas Caldereta Mix and Mama Sitas Sinigang Mix also took the spotlight with the publics enthusiastic reception of the sample dishes, Beef Caldereta and Corned Beef Sinigang. Mama Sitas brand of Philippine sauces and mixes presented its line of favorite Filipino dishes to an international audience at the biggest food show in Auckland, New Zealand on July 26-29.The local food brand offered a sample of different selections of barbecue using Mama Sitas Barbecue Marinade, Pang Inihaw, Inasal, and Fiery Labuyo.The locals who visited Mama Sitas booth at the ASB Showgrounds in Epsom loved the taste of Mama Sitas barbecue, even the hotbarbecue. Mama Sitas Caldereta Mix and Mama Sitas Sinigang Mix also took the spotlight with the publics enthusiastic reception of the sample dishes, Beef Caldereta and Corned Beef Sinigang.The Auckland Food Show gathers the best food from New Zealand. The event explores regional delights and the latest food trends as well. 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. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Prev 1 of 4 Next A man shot by Albuquerque police after opening fire Sunday afternoon is in critical condition but is expected to survive, according to a department spokesman. Officer Tanner Tixier said Sunday evening that police were dispatched around 1:45 p.m. to the 200 block of Dallas NE, near Central and Pennsylvania, in response to reports that a man armed with a rifle was banging on doors of an apartment complex telling occupants he was going to kill them. Officers spent nearly two hours attempting to de-escalate the situation, but the suspect refused their commands. He later went into his apartment before re-emerging and firing shots. Tixier said it was not yet clear whether the man had been shooting at police. Until we get forensics back, I dont know if shots were fired directly at officers, but I do know that the subject fired his firearm, Tixier said. Officers at that point returned fire. Tixier did not say how many officers fired nor how many shots were fired in the exchange. Tixier said the name of the suspect will be released at some point after his family is notified. Officers closed off an entire block of Dallas NE between Chico and Domingo as the Multi-Jurisdictional Metro Shoot Team investigated. Numerous police vehicles sat parked near the scene, which is close to the Potters House Christian Center and Fire Station Number 5. Tixier said all officers involved in the incident had lapel cameras on them, but its unclear whether the actual shooting was recorded on those cameras. We approached this slowly, he said. We approached this methodically, and unfortunately we still had an (officer-involved shooting Sunday). Officers were in the process of obtaining a search warrant for the suspects apartment, Tixier said. The investigation was ongoing as of late Sunday. 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. Five boxes of transuranic waste were recently shipped from the Savannah River Site to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico. An SRS press release announced the news Thursday. Transuranic waste usually consists of clothing, equipment and other items used in relation to spent nuclear fuel or plutonium. WIPP a geologic repository resembling a sprawling mine was primarily designed to house transuranic waste. Michael Budney, the SRS manager, said he was "pleased" waste is headed to WIPP. SRS manager: NNSA's review of role at SRS 'routine' "We routinely do this at all the places where DOE has a shared site between EM and NNSA," he added. "This has been an important mission for SRS," Budney said in a prepared statement, "and our employees are committed to ensuring safe, secure and efficient removal of transuranic waste from the state." WIPP, first opened in 1999, stopped accepting waste shipments in 2014 following several accidents; shipments were reinstated in 2017. Since then, SRS has made 10 deliveries, according to the press release. For our legacy waste that had already been packaged, characterized and certified, we took the time needed for a thorough review to ensure the waste was acceptable under the new criteria," said Kerri Crawford, the Savannah River Nuclear Solutions solid waste manager. "Since shipments have resumed, we have been able to ship 86 cubic-meters of waste to WIPP and continue preparations to ship more. In July, Budney told the Savannah River Site Citizens Advisory Board a "TRU-waste shipment" was scheduled "very shortly." "We're working closely with WIPP to make those things happen," Budney told the board. THE Supreme Court has ordered the Department of Budget and Management to immediately issue a special allotment release order to compensate the claims of retirement gratuity differentials of 28 retired Court of Appeals justices amounting to P23.02 million. In a 17-page en banc decision penned by Associate Justice Presbitero Velasco Jr. prior to his retirement last Aug. 8, the high court unanimously granted the petition for mandamus filed by the Association of Retired Court of Appeals Justices Inc. led by retired Associate Justice Teodoro Regino against the DBM. The retired CA justices were prompted to ask for relief from the SC after the DBM denied their request for the recomputation of their respective retirement gratuities and the granting of differentials in light of the series of salary increases brought about by the implementation of Salary Standardization Law 2 and SSL 3 between 2007 to 2011. Since the retirement gratuity they received was computed solely on the basis of their salary at the time of their retirement, the retired CA magistrates sought the payment of said differentials anchored on the salary increases given to incumbents of similar rank during the five-year-old period after their retirement. But the DBM insisted that their claims must be sourced from the Special Allowance for the Judiciary and not from the governments Pension and Gratuity Fund. The DBM also argued that compelling the department to issue SAROs for the SAJ component of the retirement gratuities of the concerned CA justices will be in violation of the Article VI, Section 29 (1) of the 1987 Constitution which mandates that no money shall be paid out of the Treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation made by law. Besides, the DBM said from the 2007 General Appropriations Act to the 2014 GAA, the law has specifically, clearly, and consistently provided that the SAJ component of the retirement benefits should be sourced from the SAJ fund, and not elsewhere. In ruling against the DBM, the high court noted Section 10, Article VIII of the 1987 Constitution provided that from the time a member of the Supreme Court or Court of Appeals retires and for the entire five-year period following said retirement and continuing on during the residue of his or her natural life, he or she should not receive an amount less than what an incumbent receives as salary and RATA.The tribunal also rejected the argument of the DBM that if ever there is basis for the claim, it should be sourced from the SAJ Fund. DBMs position is confined solely to SAJ allowances, but the claim of the petitioners is mainly based on the adjustments to the salaries of justices by reason of SSL 2 and SSL 3 and not from the said SAJ allowances, the SC stressed. While SAJ allowances were sourced from the SAJ Fund pursuant to Republic Act 9227 or An Act Granting Additional Compensation in the Form of Special Allowances for Justices, Judges And All Other Positions in the Judiciary With the Equivalent Rank of Justices of the Court of Appeals and Judges of the Regional Trial Court, the high court stressed that SAJ allowances were fully converted to basic monthly salary of the justices as of Jun 1, 2011. Any increase that has been implemented after that date forms part of basic salary as there is no more SAJ component to speak of, the SC decision said. Even assuming that there is a portion in the retirement gratuity that had not been fully converted to BMS [basic monthly salary], such component can still not be sourced from the SAJ Fund, owing to the nature of the SAJ Fund as a special fund, the SC ruled. Moreover, this Court had already ruled that the SAJ component of the retirement gratuity and other terminal leave benefits should not be sourced from the SAJ Fund, but from the Pension Gratuity Fund, it said. The SC warned that the refusal of the DBM to issue corresponding SARO to pay for the claims of the retired CA justices is tantamount to grave abuse of discretion. Iraq's central government in Baghdad and the Kurdish Regional Government (KRG) in Erbil agreed to establish a joint security checkpoint on the main Erbil-Kirkuk road, which is being repaired. The agreement marks the first such arrangement between the two sides since the Iraqi army reclaimed the disputed Kirkuk area from the Kurdish peshmerga (militia) in bloody confrontations in October. The Aug. 9 agreement is part of a larger deal that includes a temporary iron bridge just completed Aug. 16 in the town of Altun Kupri on the Erbil-Kirkuk road, to replace the structure that was heavily damaged in the Oct. 16 clashes. Completing the bridge now allows further repairs to the road, which authorities expect to open in time for Eid al-Adha (the Festival of Sacrifice) holiday that begins Aug. 21. There have been several meetings between the Kurdish and the federal sides in the cities of Kirkuk, Baghdad and Altun Kupri to reach a common [security] agreement in the area," Maj. Gen. Salar Timor, commander of the Kurdish elite forces in Kirkuk, told Al-Monitor. It's been agreed that Kurdish forces will inspect vehicles and individuals coming from Kirkuk to Erbil, while the federal forces will handle the inspection of individuals and vehicles leaving Erbil en route to Kirkuk, he added. Timor said that under the agreement, only local and federal police will control the area. The Kurdish side insisted that no Iraqi army forces, counterterrorism forces or the Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) be present in the area. The Kurdish side was also assured that the area won't be turned into a military base, and will remain a security checkpoint only. Some media have reported that the United States is pressing Baghdad to begin military cooperation with the Kurdish side, including allowing peshmerga forces to return to the Kirkuk area because of deteriorating safety conditions there. The Iraqi government denied these reports. Michael Knights, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, told Al-Monitor, There is no pressure from the US in this direction." However, Knights, who advises the US Department of Defense on Iraq, does think it likely the peshmerga will be allowed to return. The Defense Department and the United Nations estimate there are still 20,000 to 30,000 Islamic State (IS) fighters in Iraq and Syria who could be regrouping. "There is a lot of pressure on Iraqi forces," Knights said. "Therefore, the Iraqi leadership intends to withdraw the Golden Division [counterterrorism forces] from Kirkuk, because this highly efficient force could be more useful in other areas, where needed, he said. Then, the peshmerga forces [can step] in to help restore security there." Several terrorist attacks have recently rocked the areas south of Kirkuk, making the road connecting Kirkuk to Baghdad highly insecure. According to Timor, security in the area deteriorated with the withdrawal of the Kurdish forces, which had a strong grip on the area before the events of October. In a surprising turn of events, the Badr Organization, the largest segment of the PMU, announced its conditional approval for the peshmerga to return. The PMU, which has ties to Iran, fought against the peshmerga in October. The Badr Organization in the north axis doesn't mind the return of the peshmerga force to Kirkuk province, provided that they remain under federal government control and under the supervision of the leadership of the operation in Kirkuk and the commander in chief of the armed forces, Mahdi al-Bayati, an official of the northern branch of the organization, said Aug. 14. The return of Kurdish forces to Kirkuk and its outskirts is likely to face considerable opposition from several parties in the country. Arshad Salehi, head of the Turkmen Front, said it categorically rejects the peshmerga's return. Some PMU factions consider the idea a betrayal, especially since the announcement of the joint coordination between the Iraqi government and the KRG in Altun Kupri, which came in tandem with the central government's announcement that it is withdrawing the PMU from Ninevah province. I have already told you. We were betrayed by our own people. The peshmerga are coming back. This is treason to Iraq, said Ayyub Faleh Hassan al-Rubaie, a prominent leader in the PMU's Imam Ali Brigades. The leader, better known as Abu Azrael (Angel of Death), spoke in video footage that was shared Aug. 13 on social media. All these changes are likely to affect the balance of power in the disputed areas, after the scales were tipped in October in favor of the central government. The strong opposition of several parties to the return of the Kurdish forces doesn't bode well for peace in the disputed oil-rich city of Kirkuk. IDLIB, Syria Cautious calm prevails over Idlib province following the bloody escalation on Aug. 10 that left 53 dead and dozens injured in several towns. When Al-Monitor visited the scene on Aug. 14, civil defense crews were still working in cooperation with locals to remove the rubble and open the roads. Ahmed Barakat gathered what remained of his destroyed home in the town of Urum al-Kubra, west of Idlib city. All of the residential neighborhood's houses turned into piles of rubble when Russian airstrikes targeted the town on Aug. 10. A layer of dust covered Barakats hair and face, his eyes sad and tired. As he was leaving in a car with what is left of his belongings, he told Al-Monitor, In one moment, your life can turn into hell. Just before sundown, an aircraft flew over and attacked our neighborhood. I thought I was dreaming, but it was a living nightmare. Dozens of my neighbors were killed or injured. The entire Al-Abboud family was killed. He added, Although my house was not completely destroyed, I cannot live here anymore. I will move in with my relatives until I find a place of my own. Thirty-six people, half of them children, were killed in Urum al-Kubra. Shock was still evident on peoples faces as they walked past the site of the massacre, as locals call it. Russia, Turkey and Iran have been overseeing the de-escalation agreement in Idlib since Sept. 15, 2017. The violence has dropped but bombings and raids have yet to completely stop. Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov arrived in Ankara on Aug. 14 to discuss Idlib and other topics. Speaking at a joint news conference with his Turkish counterpart, Lavrov expressed hope that the Idlib issue would be solved through cooperation to defeat all terror groups, including Jabhat al-Nusra. Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said during the press conference, It would be a massacre to bomb Idlib's civilians, hospitals, schools just because there are terrorists. The Urum al-Kubra massacre came as heavy fighting with warplanes and artillery fire escalated, reaching a climax on Aug. 10. A series of raids targeted several towns and cities in Idlib province, killing nine people in the southern town of Khan Sheikhun and causing dozens of casualties and injuries in several other towns. Opposition factions control the province of Idlib along with small areas in the countryside of Aleppo, Hama and neighboring Latakia. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad announced that retaking the area was his armys next priority after having retaken Daraa and Quneitra in the south of the country. The director of Syria Civil Defense (known as the White Helmets), Raed al-Saleh, warned that an attack on the province could create the largest disaster of its kind in Syria. He told Al-Monitor in an online interview, We are ready to do our job and save lives. Over the past years, we have responded to many crises in Syria, but Idlibs population density is the largest we are yet to encounter. Idlib is home to 3.6 million residents. The Syria Civil Defense evacuates victims and rushes them to hospitals following each bombing. In Idlib, the White Helmets have about 80 rescue and fire-fighting centers, according to Saleh. Other humanitarian organizations, such as Ihsan Relief and Development, Violet Syria, Maram Relief and Development, Syria Charity and many others, are working to establish camps and provide food in preparation for a mass displacement. Each month, the Coordinators for Humanitarian Response in northern Syria meet with organizations to exchange statistics and draw up plans. Director of Coordinators for Humanitarian Response in northern Syria Mohammad Shami told Al-Monitor, Organizations operating in Idlib cannot contain the humanitarian crisis that could be caused by a possible large-scale attack. There is no way that these organizations can handle this. The situation would require international effort and support. Shami pointed out that displacement has already begun in areas close to the line of contact between the opposition and the regime south of Idlib, explaining that 3,000 families were displaced on Aug. 14 by clashes in the area. Fouad Sayed Issa, a member of Violet Syrias leadership, told Al-Monitor, We started considering a range of possible scenarios in cooperation with many humanitarian organizations. However, nothing is concrete yet. We are only discussing what may take place in Idlib. Issa added, We did not erect camps in anticipation of an attack. We do not have the capacity to do so. We cannot afford a new humanitarian disaster, because we and other organizations have not yet been able to absorb the previous disasters that resulted from the displacement of residents from Ghouta, Homs, Daraa and other areas. Idlib province is now home to many of the displaced who rejected a settlement with the regime in other areas of the country. They now have nowhere else to go. Capt. Naji Abu Hudeifa, a spokesman for the National Liberation Front (NLF), the largest coalition of opposition factions in Idlib, told Al-Monitor, We do not trust the regime, we do not trust the Russians and we are preparing for a probable attack. We have stepped up defense lines on all fronts and our defensive and offensive plans are all set. He added, We may agree with the regime politically if our goals are achieved. ALEPPO, Syria Syrian refugees living in Turkey have been entering Idlib, in northern Syria, for the Eid al-Adha holiday. The administration of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing started to allow people in through on Aug. 6 and will continue to do so through Aug. 19. Within the first two days, 5,000 people had crossed. On Aug. 9, their number reached 8,000. The crossing administration expects the number of people crossing into Syria to spend the holiday to reach 40,000. The crossing administration announced that Syrians who wish to pass through must register and book their date on the crossings website, provided that they meet certain conditions. In a live Facebook video on July 28, two days before registration opened, Capt. Qassem al-Qasem, the head of the immigration and passports department at the crossing, explained the process and the conditions for crossing into Syria for the holiday. Mazen Alloush, the director of public relations and information at Bab al-Hawa crossing, told Al-Monitor that by Aug. 16, 30,000 had crossed. Alloush noted, The crossing administration has tried to provide all the needed facilities to Syrians wishing to enter Syria. We provided free buses and have tried to facilitate the process. Everything has been organized from the moment they exit Turkish territory until they leave the Bab al-Hawa crossing station. Several buses wait for them at the crossing in addition to workers and carts to carry luggage. Water, free internet access and other services are offered in the crossing. There are 500 workers in the crossing working around the clock to facilitate the process and secure the area. We clearly explained the conditions that must be met so that Syrian refugees coming from Turkey can enter the Bab al-Hawa crossing and spend the Eid holiday inside Syria without any problem, Alloush said. Alloush explained that visitors must have a Kimlik card, which is an ID card for refugees living in Turkey. Syrians with Syrian passports and Syrians with Turkish citizenship are all allowed to enter. Children are not allowed to cross into Syria unless accompanied by parents or relatives, Alloush noted. Omar Ahmad, another official at Bab al-Hawa crossing, told Al-Monitor, Upon their arrival to Bab al-Hawa, visitors have to clearly state how long their holiday is inside Syria. Many Syrians do not wish to stay long as they are committed to their jobs in Turkey or to their studies in university. These peoples visits are designated as short visits. We have been taking the necessary security measures to organize the process and to prevent any emergency or overcrowding. The Eid holiday is an opportunity for thousands of Syrian refugees living in Turkey to visit their hometowns and villages they left years ago, and a chance to meet friends and relatives after having been separated for a long time. Some Syrians have not visited Syria for four or five years. Displaced Syrian Samer Maari told Al-Monitor, My family and I are very happy that we were able to cross into Idlib to spend the holiday with our family and friends. My children missed their grandparents. My family and I have been living in Turkey since 2015 and we are staying there for the meantime. But we will spend the next month in Idlib before we return to Turkey, as my children must be there before the start of the school year. Syrian refugees residing in Turkey were allowed to enter Syria for the Eid al-Adha from two other crossing points in the Euphrates Shield area in northern and northeastern Aleppo countryside. One of them, the Bab al-Salama crossing, has been open since Aug. 1. By Aug. 16, it had processed 300,032 visitors. The Jarablus crossing opened on the same date and by Aug. 15, 13,194 people had passed through. Alloush explained, Many families are coming from Turkey to spend the Eid holiday wish to remain in their hometowns and cities and will not return to Turkey of course, if the security situation remains stable and the regime does not attack the area. But heavy shelling on Idlib and other areas under the Syrian opposition's control could change many of those optimistic plans. The Trump administration last week cut $230 million in stabilization assistance for northeastern Syria, instead choosing to rely on hard contributions of $300 million from anti-Islamic State coalition partners, including $100 million from Saudi Arabia, as reported by Bryant Harris. The shift in funding should perhaps spark a broader discussion about how the United States and its coalition partners plan to stabilize, and then reconstruct, northeastern Syria without buy-in from Damascus and Ankara. Old school post-conflict stabilization usually involves a host government partner, and that is not in the cards for Washington as long as Bashar al-Assad is Syrias president. US-Turkey relations are in free fall because of the Turkish detention of an American pastor and seemingly irreconcilable differences over US support for the Syrian Democratic Forces, which is made up primarily of the Peoples Protection Units, which Ankara considers a terrorist organization linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party. Given that Syria and Turkey are unlikely to be silent bystanders in northeastern Syria, post-conflict stabilization and reconstruction plans will ultimately need to be reconciled with Russian President Vladimir Putins efforts to broker an understanding between his Turkish and Syrian counterparts the outliers in the American-led approach. Although Turkey publicly appears to sustain its anti-Bashar al-Assad stance on Syria, it is actually getting ready for a new Syria that will allow Assad to stay on as the country's president, writes Fehim Tastekin. While a termination of the de facto Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria seems to be the first precondition for a possible normalization between Ankara and Damascus, there is another unspoken condition as well: the allotment of a share in Syrias reconstruction. The Assad administration does not have the intention to allot any share to Turkey, which is accused of supporting anti-regime military groups that have destroyed the country and looted Aleppo's industrial zones, Tastekin continues. However, Turkeys control of a sizable territory in northern Syria and its cooperation with Russia make it difficult for Damascus to exclude Turkey from these calculations. Turkeys influence over opposition groups that could have a bearing on the Geneva process cannot be dismissed. Turkey has been able to preserve its most important trading partner position with Syria despite the 7-year-old conflict. Its geographical proximity to Syria, logistical superiority and advanced capacity of its construction sector encourages Turkey to seek a substantial role in the reconstruction process. Moreover, Turkey is currently organizing local entities in al-Bab, Jarablus, Azaz, Cobanbey and Afrin that are de facto under its control. It is also setting up systems for security, education and religion and even issuing ID cards to residents. Al-Monitor has provided unmatched reporting and analysis of Russian diplomacy to prevent an escalation between Syria and Turkey over Syrian plans to retake Idlib and on the Russian efforts to broker an arrangement between Damascus and the Syrian Kurds that would ultimately mitigate Ankaras concerns. For the reconstruction of Aleppo, Ankara relies on its negotiations with Russia, adds Tastekin. An operation in Idlib and potential withdrawal of Turkish troops from there may well determine the outcome of those negotiations. Ankara hopes that an agreement with Russia on these two issues may overcome the reluctance of Damascus to deal with Turkey. If the Idlib operation is completed as foreseen and the Kurdish-Damascus dialogue produces positive results, the reconstruction issue will become much more prominent. Although political normalization may take longer, practical cooperation models on the ground are possible. Saudi Arabia's role Because Russia, Syria and Turkey will ultimately be the deal makers or breakers of stabilization in northeast Syria, the US decision to cut aid could nonetheless allow Saudi Arabia a second wind for its flagging Syrian policies. The preferred Saudi local partners in Syria have been the Jaish al-Islam and Ahrar al-Sham armed groups. Despite their public relations makeovers in recent years, and their undistinguished lumping by most media with any and all Syrian rebels, both groups are unabashedly Salafi and deeply sectarian proponents of Islamic law. Jaish al-Islam has been accused of torture, filmed executions and use of human shields and chlorine gas. This column has for years called out the mainstreaming of Ahrar al-Sham, which has been an on-again, off again partner with Jabhat al-Nusra and affiliated groups in Syria, and has been accused by Amnesty International and others of war crimes. And Riyadh is hardly on a roll in the region. Erratic diplomacy, Bruce Riedel explains, is hurting the kingdom. The first tough decision of the new [Saudi] leadership is still their worst, to intervene in the Yemeni civil war. Operation Decisive Storm turned into the worlds worst humanitarian catastrophe of our times. The Saudi bombing of a school bus this week is symptomatic of the Saudi coalitions difficulties in avoiding civilian casualties in launching airstrikes against targets in a poor, backward country. Two American presidents have colluded in the war, providing political and military support for the Saudi coalition a black mark on our country. So has the United Kingdom. The war has no end in sight, and the total collapse of the poorest nation in the Arab world is an increasingly likely outcome, according to the United Nations, Riedel writes. With regard to Qatar, Riedel continues, As in Yemen, the Saudi leadership had no concept of how to implement its decision; Riyadh and its allies had a goal but no serious scheme to achieve it. Some reliable evidence suggest that they were planning a military invasion of Qatar but US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson vetoed the plan (probably without President Donald Trumps knowledge). While the kingdoms relationship with the White House appears strong, Riedel writes, Congress, on the other hand, is turning against the kingdom, as is the press and the public. [Saudi Crown Prince] Mohammed [bin Salman] is increasingly seen as an autocrat who can't tolerate any dissent, rather than as a modernizer opening up the country. Criticism and dissent is not tolerated, even if it is the dissenting opinion of women who fought for the right to drive in the only country in the world that ever made driving a gender-based issue. ... Foreign direct investment in the kingdom dropped 80% from over $7 billion in 2016 to $1.4 billion in 2017, according to the United Nations, and down from over $12 billion when King Abdullah was still on the throne. Jordan and Oman each attracted more foreign investment last year than Saudi Arabia. The number of companies also fell significantly. Concerns about the rule of law and arbitrary detention are also encouraging capital flight. The Saudis have gotten little concrete support from their Arab allies in the Canada boycott. Deborah Stuckey of Thomasville doesn't want women with breast cancer to feel alone. A photo of her body post double mastectomy was published on National Geographic's website. Her eyes stare defiantly into the cameras lens. Something she said she did on purpose. She survived. Dr. Huey Kidd, Stuckey's doctor, took photos of her after her surgery to document her new body. With Stuckey's permission, Kidd posted the photo to National Geographic's Your Shot, the site's community-generated photo gallery. This week, it became the site's Your Shot of the week. "Wow, Huey. Her courage and dedication to spreading awareness of this disease shines through brilliantly. Thank you so much for sharing such an impactful, evocative portrait of a strong woman. I have a great deal of admiration for her and her willingness to share her story with us," Kristen McNicholas, a National Geographic photo editor wrote. Stuckey was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer in April 2017. She had a double mastectomy that August, but was not prepared for how her body would change. Stuckey said she always wished there were more photos of women with mastectomies so she could have been better prepared. "If it can help one person, one woman, it will be worth every bit of it," Stuckey said of her portrait's internet prominence. She said she wants other women to be prepared for what their new bodies will look like after surgery. "My husband left me in the middle of my radiation and I finished my radiation by myself. Dr Kidd took care of me every day. If it hadn't been for him I don't know where I've been today." Stuckey's most recent PET scan revealed a mass on her kidney, but she doesn't yet know if it is cancerous. "I want women to go get there mammograms. Dont skip it. I skipped mine for a couple months," Stuckey said through tears. "We could have caught it faster. Just be safe." Escambia County voters backed Republican Roy Moore in last year's special Senate election and overwhelmingly supported Donald Trump for president in 2016. But the county's offices are represented mostly by Democrats: Probate judge, district attorney, circuit clerk, the retiring sheriff and four of the five county commissioners. It's an interesting dichotomy for the small South Alabama county located outside the traditionally Democratic "Black Belt" region. On Saturday, during a gathering of Democrats inside a former theater in downtown Brewton, talked about what they believe is an "organic" energy within the party they hope leads to wins in Escambia County and other rural areas of the state which traditionally back Republicans. The gathering occurred one week after the Alabama Democratic Party, in a tight vote that illustrated sharp divisions within the party, backed the re-election of Nancy Worley as state chair. "It's counties like this our message resonates," said Tuscaloosa Mayor and Democratic governor's candidate Walt Maddox, referring to issues like rural health care and backing an educational lottery. "What you see is people coming together, and a lot of cases, the first-time Democrats who are tired of the status quo and Alabama not working," said Maddox. "They want to see change. This event is organic. It's energetic." More than 50 people showed up to the Ritz, a banquet hall located inside a building that once housed a theater and a drug store. Candidates such as Robert Kennedy Jr., who is running against U.S. Rep. Bradley Byrne for the 1st District Congressional seat; and Miranda Joseph, who is running against Jim Zeigler in the auditor's contest, mingled with visitors. It was a similar event that has occurred in cities throughout the state, with one the more recent occurring in Mobile during the opening of Democratic Party campaign headquarters. Other events have occurred in which multiple Democratic statewide candidates showed up at the same venue with others who are running statewide. Republicans in Alabama, who control all of the state offices and hold supermajority status in the Legislature, claimed that Democrats -- predicting a "blue wave" of congressional victories elsewhere -- are not going to make political gains in Alabama. "It's extremely important to show unity statewide," said Joseph. Kennedy said he's been to "four or five" of the joint events. He said they are crucial for Democrats who are campaigning to get their names better known. "With Alabama historically being such a deep red state, there has not been an understanding that we do have Democratic candidates," he said. Gretchen Carlson, the former Miss America turned director of the organization's board, has responded to bullying claims by current title holder Cara Mund. "I want to be clear that as a proponent of women my entire life, I have never bullied Cara Mund," Carlson told People. "We have supported Cara for her entire year and we will continue to support her. It's just disappointing that she chose to air her grievance publicly and not privately." The organization also posted a message to its social media pages. Carlson's remarks were made in response to a scathing letter released by Mund in which she claimed she had been "silenced...reduced...and marginalized" by the pageant's leadership. Mund's letter came just three weeks before the Sept. 9 Miss America telecast where she is set to hand over her crown. Thirteen former Miss Americas, including Alabama's Heather Whitestone McCallum, launched a petition calling for the removal of Carlson and Hopper. The petition has garnered more than 16,500 signatures in less than a week. In July, representatives from 22 state pageants, including the Miss Alabama board, called for the resignation of Carlson and CEO Regina Hopper, citing "failed leadership." Carlson joined the Miss America board of directors late last year after the then-CEO reportedly used sexist and demeaning language in emails. She quickly garnered controversy after she announced the elimination of the swimsuit portion of the pageant as part of the "Miss America 2.0" revamp. Carlson told people she plans to reach out to Mund "shortly." Some Rohingya men are increasingly getting involved in peddling yaba, a popular methamphetamine in Bangladesh. Coxs Bazar, Bangladesh Bangladesh has for years struggled to cope with a surging drug epidemic, at the heart of which is a wildly popular meth pill smuggled into the country from neighbouring Myanmar. Known as Yaba, or crazy medicine in Thai, the highly-addictive stimulant is a mix of methamphetamine and caffeine that usually comes in the form of colourful, candy-like tablets. Use of the drug has risen at an alarming rate, with authorities struggling to stem the flow of tens of millions of pills pouring in from Myanmar where theyre manufactured and ripping through Bangladeshs cities and villages. The illicit trade has long relied on drug trafficking cartels smuggling yaba across the border and more recently, men living in the Bangladesh camps hosting vulnerable Rohingya refugees have also been recruited as drug mules. Since the arrival of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fleeing a brutal crackdown by Myanmars army in August 2017, authorities in Bangladesh have seized more than 10 million yaba pills from local drug peddlers and the Rohingya living in makeshift camps in Coxs Bazar, according to the Dhaka Tribune, a Bangladeshi daily. At the beginning of the influx, we couldnt search every Rohingya man for possession because of the miserable conditions of the camps, said Md Saiful Hasan, senior assistant to the special commissioner of Coxs Bazars district. We gave them open access to our borders, and thats why some drugs have come in. Md Saiful Hasan, senior assistant to the special commissioner, Coxs Bazar district [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] I cannot lead a fair life Last year, Bangladeshi authorities seized almost 15m yaba pills and arrested 649 people, including 15 Myanmar nationals. A. was not one of them. The 35-year-old fidgeted in his seat uncomfortably, only relaxing after dragging on his cigarette, his thin body dwarfed by the large chair he sat on. A. is a carrier of yaba, receiving 5,000 Bangladeshi Taka ($60) for every 1,000 pills he manages to move from Kutupalong camp to Coxs Bazar, a popular tourist destination 40km away. I carry yaba to survive, he said, speaking in a measured tone. I am compelled to do this job because I have to provide for my family. Since I am suffering financially, I cannot lead a fair life. In October 2016, A., his mother, wife and three sons fled to Bangladesh, taking only a few clothing items with them like many others from the long-persecuted, mostly Muslim, minority did before and after them in their bid to escape the violent campaigns against them in Myanmars Rakhine state. Despite having lived for centuries in the majority Buddhist Myanmar, the Rohingya are not considered one of the countrys 135 official ethnic groups and have been denied citizenship since 1982, effectively rendering them stateless. Today, more than one million Rohingya have taken shelter in Bangladesh. They live in bleak conditions in overcrowded camps, rife with sanitary woes and at risk of dangerous landslides during torrential rains. Upon arriving in the Ukhiya upazila (sub-district) almost two years ago, A. and his family were prevented from entering Kutupalong camp by the Bangladeshi soldiers manning its entrances. We hid at different local peoples residences, he said. Once we were allowed to settle in the camp, we found life to be very difficult. We were hit with water shortages and shelter crises. His family, A. said, struggled a great deal to cope in their new environment. There was no money and only enough food for one meagre meal a day. Without any belongings, they had nothing of value to sell to buy sustenance. A. is a Rohingya refugee and yaba carrier [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] A. said he tried to open a small shop, but that failed as no one would loan him the money he needed. More desperate by the day, he decided to meet a group of men in the camp who he knew transported yaba pills to Coxs Bazar. I was compelled to engage with them, he said, his eyes expressionless. When I sat with them, I found how they collect yaba, how it is consumed and how they deliver it to other parts of the country. Bringing in yaba was cheap and selling it was lucrative. A. confirmed that some Rohingya men, especially those fluent in Bengali, cross the border from the southern sub-district of Teknaf to Myanmar. They return with the drugs, which they then supply to Bangladeshi peddlers. A. said that at the beginning of the year he travelled with around two dozen men to the border to see how the operations ran. We knew which checkpoints we would be searched by police, so we travelled separately, either on foot or motorcycles or bicycles, he said. But if you travel in a microbus or three-wheeled rickshaw, you would definitely be checked. Yaba trend increase According to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, yaba was first introduced to East Asia during World War II to boost the performance of troops. Since then, the strong stimulant has grown in popularity across the region, including in Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam and Myanmar, where Bangladeshi authorities believe there are more than 50 drug factories. Although concrete figures are hard to come by, in 2012 it was estimated that there were 4.6 million yaba users in Bangladesh, with numbers increasing by the day. In 2014, the Department of Narcotics Control said consumption of the drug had jumped by 77 times over the course of a six-year period. According to Bangladeshi police, some of the Rohingya involved in drug-peddling work under the banner of some NGOs or independent workers [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] Nongovernmental organisations, however, have compiled their own figures, with DNC Director General Md Jamal Uddin Ahmed stating in May 2018 that according to [the NGOs], the number of drug addicts is about seven million five million of them hooked on yaba. Drug abuse has been on the rise in Bangladesh since early 2000, prompting Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in May to launch an anti-drug campaign. Since then, more than 17,000 drug traffickers have been arrested by the police and the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), a paramilitary body. The yaba trend has increased in Coxs Bazar, but law enforcement agencies are working on a 24/7 basis on this issue, Hasan, the assistant SP, said. Shahriar Alam, Bangladeshs state minister of foreign affairs, said the government has taken on a more holistic approach to tackling the drug issue. The NGOs [in Coxs Bazar] are feeding information to the law enforcement agencies if there are any suspicious activities going on, he said. However, Hasan said that some of the Rohingya involved in drug-peddling are working under the banner of some NGOs or independent workers. A small market outside Nayapara camp, Bangladesh [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] Smuggling pills out of the camp A. has been moving yaba for about a year now. But its far from regular work, sometimes it is weekly, other times bi-monthly, or even less frequent. On average, if the supply is flowing, I make between 8,000 to 10,000 taka ($94-$118) a month. But in dry spells, I dont earn any money, he said, adding that the proceeds are spent on paying back loans, grocery shopping and health expenses. He went on to describe how the operation is run. The drug peddlers would drop off a batch of pills either at his shelter or at an undisclosed location deep within the camp. At times, the delivery would contain the maximum 1,000 pills, while other times it was smaller quantities. Sometimes we hide the pills inside our shoes, A. said. Or we cover them with polythene and stick them on the inside of our belts. If the pills are a small amount, like 100 or 200, we carry them in our hands. We fold them in paper and place our mobile phones on top of them. That way, people will think we are only carrying our phones in our hands. The refugee camps operate on a curfew basis, with no Rohingya allowed to leave after dark. Those caught outside are penalised, which makes the journey from Kutupalong to Coxs Bazar all the more challenging. For A., returning to the camp is easier than leaving. I exit the camp and take the hilly routes, not the roads, to Marine Drive, he said, referring to the road along the Bay of Bengal that stretches 80km from Coxs Bazar to Teknaf. After that, its fairly easy going to Coxs Bazar. I have heard of some carriers being caught at flying check-posts, where they got found out because they dont speak Bengali fluently. But I always managed to escape. Once in town, A. would deliver yaba to the locations specified beforehand by the peddlers, usually in the Baharchara area near the airport or the fishery ghat (landing station/fish market). He would then board a bus bound to Teknaf, and get off in Kutupalong. To stave off questions from the camps guards, who interrogate everyone coming in late, A. would buy a few goods before entering. That way, if anyone asks me where I am coming from I tell them I had to do some emergency shopping, he said. Balukhali refugee camp [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] Penalties, imprisonment and lack of choice A. estimated that there are some 400 to 500 yaba carriers in the Rohingya camps, but they do not know each other for security reasons. We are not connected, otherwise we would risk bringing attention and unwanted surveillance from the law enforcement agencies, he explained. If we all knew each other, then the police can easily arrest us all. According to Hasan, Bangladeshi law enforcement agencies have arrested more than 600 Rohingya over the past year for their role in the drug business. Carriers or peddlers who are caught with a small number of yaba pills, between 20 and 50, go through a summary or instant trial. We dont prosecute them because its a lengthy process, and sentence them up to six months in jail or a fine, Hasan said. The highest penalty is hanging, but the government is thinking of amending this, he added. 600 Rohingya have been arrested over the past year for their role in the drug business, authorities say [Sorin Furcoi/Al Jazeera] There have also been cases of shoot-outs, with at least 211 people killed across the country since the launch of the anti-drug drive. Law enforcement agencies have been accused by the victims families of using the drug war as a cover to get rid of political activists. A. admitted he is afraid of being caught. I heard about those killed in gunfights or caught in crossfires, he said, expressing his worry of being suspected or people from his community bad-mouthing him. I also heard about imprisonments. Fear is on everyones mind. But what choice do I have? If I had money, I would not do this work or be engaged in such crimes. If I had money, I could live out my life in a nice way and ethical way, open a small shop. Nothing else. In November last year, the governments of Myanmar and Bangladesh reached a repatriation deal for the Rohingya, but A. said he is not hopeful that this will take place. If it really happens, I will go back to my country, he said. Here, we are restricted. There we have lands and properties where we can farm and grow crops. Here we cannot farm even a chicken. Follow Linah Alsaafin on Twitter: @LinahAlsaafin When natural disasters claim the lives of men, it is women in Indian villages who suffer the most. Uttarakhand, India Haruli Devi sat on the ground in front of her new two-room house in Singhali village in the hilly northern state of Uttarakhand. For early winter, the afternoon sun was unusually strong as the 65-year-old removed her sweater and wiped her eyes. My husband was killed in the landslide, she said, remembering the day she became a widow in July two years ago. Her 72-year-old spouse died in a cloudburst in the nearby village of Bastari. She now lives alone, while her two sons work in New Delhi. The rain didnt stop, even for a minute. Thunderous lightening made us deaf all through the night, she said. The following day at about four in the morning, a neighbour woke the villagers, calling them to help save a family from the deluge. As everyone gathered, there was a huge explosion. Dust and debris flew in the air. The rain continued unabated. It was as if a bomb went off, said Haruli Devi, wiping her tears with an end of her sari. Pillars came out from houses. A huge surge of water came down from above, carrying boulders, engulfing trees, houses and people. Nonexistence for society The state government announced that nine people had died, they had been submerged in the soil along with their houses. They were never found. The soil was like quicksand that sucked them along with it, said Haruli Devi. Since that day, Bastari has become known as a ghost village. Disaster management officials declared the land uninhabitable and relocated 24 families to Singhali. The government compensated Haruli Devi $6,200 for her husbands death and gave her $4,700 to build a new house in Singhali. But the cost of constructing the house was higher $15,600 a sum she arranged with the help of bank loans and money from relatives. Haruli Devi says the widows have become as lifeless as the ruins of Bastari village [Arpita Chakrabarty/Al Jazeera] She now lives on a monthly widows pension of $15. The land she owned in Bastari, on which she grew vegetables to feed the family, is now barren. She remembers a spring where enough water for everyone in the village could be drawn. Now, in Singhali, she buys water from the government. She is one of five Bastari women who lost their husbands in the landslide. We are now turned into a life of nonexistence for society, said Haruli Devi. A man who lost his entire family in the same disaster has now remarried, she said. Men are allowed to do everything. Its easy for them. Dozens of natural disaster deaths a year Two days before tragedy struck in Uttarakhand, the Meteorological Department had warned of heavy rainfall and flash floods. The state recorded more than 100 mm of rainfall in just two hours on July 1, leaving 48 people dead in the districts of Pithoragarh and Chamoli. Natural disasters in the state kill dozens every year. Cloudbursts, landslides and floods are common, and large companies are often called in to manage evacuation and rescue efforts. Extreme rainfall, geological scientists have warned, weakens the mountains. Meanwhile, construction in the hills in the name of development has also increased the number of casualties and amount of damage. Haruli Devis old house [Arpita Chakrabarty/Al Jazeera] According to disaster management officials, more than 800 people died in the state from 2010 to 2017 due to events triggered by heavy rainfall. Hundreds of people have been injured or gone missing. But this death toll doesnt include the flash floods of June 2013, which killed more than 5,700 people and wiped away entire villages. Locals who survived the floods disputed the official number, saying more than 15,000 people died. Piyoosh Rautela, who heads Uttarakhands disaster mitigation and management department, said the state is witnessing the fury of climate change. There will be phases of severe rainfall in years to come. We are aware of the vulnerable zones and, we know, sooner or later, landslides will strike at these places, Rautela told Al Jazeera. Village of widows Women suffer most in the aftermath of a disaster, and those from unprivileged castes face further exclusion with limited access to resources. The 2013 catastrophe left hundreds of women alone, after their husbands and sons died. The district of Rudraprayag alone has 296 widows. In some sections of Indian society, widows are discouraged from leaving their houses or meeting people. {articleGUID} Rita Devi not her real name is from the village of Deoli-Bhanigram, home to 32 widows. She was six months pregnant when her husband, a priest, died. Widows like us are cursed. We bring shame to the family, she told Al Jazeera, explaining that she rarely gets a good nights sleep on account of her anxiety about the future. Being a widow is difficult. Who will look after my son? I have no income. When I am alone, some men make dirty remarks at me, she continued. A recent graduate, she is now studying for a masters degree. She wants a government job in the city, where she believes she wont be labelled as cursed. Sitting with her mother-in-law, she said: Remarrying is a taboo in the community of upper-castes. If I get a job, I can spend the life with my son. At least I wouldnt be a burden to this family. Most of the compensation she received after the disaster has dried up. Deoli-Bhanigram is known as Uttarakhands village of widows. Opportunities amid the wreckage Several non-profit organisations attempted to support the women of Deoli-Bhanigram after the June 2013 floods, providing them with work to become self-sufficient. Ranjana Devi, another widow, is among those who received help. She now works at Mandakini Women Weavers in Deoli-Bhanigram as a handloom weaver, earning a monthly salary of $28. She used the compensation money for her daughters marriage and looks after her two sons, one of whom is physically disabled. God willing, my sons and I will survive, she said. Houses are partly submerged in the flooded River Ganges in Uttarakashi district, in the northern Indian state of Uttarakhand, India, June 18, 2013 [AP] Another NGO, Sulabh International Social Service Organisation, paid $31 a month to disaster-affected families for three years. Sewing machines and flour mills were also distributed to some women. However, NGOs and the government offered little assistance to women outside Deoli-Bhanigram. Rautela argued that the state governments budget was limited. We dont have enough funds for counselling and rehabilitation efforts of disaster-impacted people, especially women. Our work ends when the disaster ends, he said. The struggling women, who say the state government had promised them jobs, are left to deal with the prospect of more unpredictable weather and an uncertain future. We arent their vote banks, said Rita Devi, commenting on the lack of support from the state government. We dont feature in their policies. Mokhtar was one of the few survivors rescued from the mangled wreckage of a bus targeted by Saudi Arabia. Dahyan, Yemen The bandage wrapped around Mokhtar al-Jaradis head is still soaked in blood. There are cuts and grazes to his arms and face. But its the anguish etched in his dark brown eyes that really speaks of the massacre that unfolded in north Yemen last week. The eight-year-old was laughing and playing with a group of friends at the front of his school bus while on a day-long field trip organised by a pro-Houthi Islamic seminary. Some of the older boys who arrived late were made to stand in the aisle. The younger ones jostled for the few seats available. Mokhtar says all of the 50 children on board the bus that morning appeared to be in high spirits. Mokhtar al-Jaradi says he does not want to go to school after so many of his friends were killed [Ahmad Algohbary/Al Jazeera] A video taken by one of the boys on the bus, Osama al-Hamran, showed the children excited for the day ahead. In one clip, the children recited verses from the Quran. In another, they were smiling and giggling. When the bus sped off, passers-by heard joyful screams as it veered through the dusty, pot-hole ridden roads of Saada province. After stops at a graveyard for local fighters and a nearby shrine, the bus was supposed to take its young passengers to Saada city for a visit to the ninth-century al-Hadi mosque, a historical site which is venerated by Yemens Houthi rebels. But the children never made it. What Mokhtar remembers next is a loud explosion, bright red-and-orange colours, then the grisly sight of charred young bodies. I saw the explosion, then my ears started ringing, he told Al Jazeera. His eyes welled up with tears. I saw blood, then smoke. And once I saw my friends dying, I began crying. Mokhtar lost several friends in the August 9 air raid, which killed 40 children as they stopped for food in Dahyan. Eleven bystanders were also killed in the attack, which sent shockwaves across the country. Large protests erupted in the capital, Sanaa, and elsewhere. Local newspapers called the attack one of the worst days in Yemens three-year war. I didn't find any of him. Not his finger, not his bone, not his skull, nothing. Abdelhakim Amir, father of one of the victims Childrens shoes, sandals and bloodstained UNICEF rucksacks were still at the scene of the air strike [Ahmad Algohbary/Al Jazeera] The screams kept getting louder and louder Ahmed Jaran, owner of a small clothes shop near the site of the blast, said he was greeted by scenes of sheer horror as he rushed to help the wounded. As I ran through the smoke, the screams just kept getting louder and louder, he said, standing just metres away from the bombed-out carcass of the school bus. Human remains were thrown everywhere, mixed with debris from the explosion. I took as many children as I could to the hospital but it was 14km away. Along with several bloodied children, Jaran picked up Ali, one of his coworkers who was badly injured by the attack. When we reached the hospital, several of the children were pronounced dead. So, too, was Ali. I still cant believe what happened. It feels like a bad dream. Im still struggling to absorb the events. Among the boys who died was Osama, who had been using his smartphone to record a video diary throughout the religious trip. The videos were found on his phone, which survived the blast, according to the Houthis who sent the footage to Al Jazeera. I am filming! Osama can be heard yelling in one of the videos, surrounded by children wearing coats over their thobes, a traditional dress for Arab males. Light-blue UNICEF rucksacks carried by the children could also be seen. A child stands near the mangled wreckage of the bombed-out school bus [Ahmad Algohbary/Al Jazeera] Never seen anything like this But videos shot in the aftermath of the raid showed a smouldering heap of twisted metal and the lifeless bodies of two boys on the ground. I was shocked when I saw the victims, said Mohammed Ahsan, a 35-year-old doctor at al-Talh hospital in Saada where most of the survivors are being treated. I had never seen anything like this before. They were really badly wounded. Three days after the attack, victims families continued to throng to the scene of the attack, hoping to find the remains of their loved ones {articleGUID} I didnt find any of him, said Abdelhakim Amir as he searched the wreckage for his son, Ahmed. Not his finger, not his bone, not his skull, nothing. Saudi Arabia, which, along with the United Arab Emirates, has been bombing Yemen since March 2015, said it would carry out an investigation. But out of the 16,000-plus raids they have launched since the start of the conflict, only a handful have been investigated, despite nearly a third of all bombs hitting civilian targets. The UN blacklisted the Saudi-UAE alliance last year, for the majority of child deaths and injuries reported in Yemen. But on the day of the bus attack, Colonel Turki al-Malki, a spokesperson for the alliance, defended the raid, saying his forces hit a legitimate military target, which included operators and planners. The Houthis have used the area to launch attacks on the Saudi border and fire missiles into the kingdom and the UAE. However, on August 10, the alliance said the bombing had been referred for an internal probe after the US which provides substantial support to the alliance, including intelligence sharing denounced the killings and called for a thorough and transparent investigation. Fragments of the MK-82 bomb were found close the wreckage [Ahmad Algohbary/Al Jazeera] I hate buses A few days later, Al Jazeera received an image suggesting a US-made MK-82 bomb was used in the raid. A metal fin, bearing the serial numbers of Lockheed Martin, was found nearby. The photo has not been independently verified, but fragments of the MK-82 bomb have surfaced repeatedly amid the ongoing war. The 500-pound bomb was used in a 2016 attack on a community hall hosting a funeral in Sanaa. At least 140 people were killed in that attack. The Trump administration says it has little control over the targets the alliance chooses to attack, but human rights groups have told Al Jazeera that Washington should stop selling aerial bombs to the kingdom in the absence of serious investigations into alleged war crimes. In the wake of the attack, individual members of Congress called on the US military to clarify its role in the war and investigate whether support for the air raids could render American military personnel liable under the war crimes act. But any investigation will do little to pacify the victims families, residents told Al Jazeera. I will take revenge on Salman, Mohammed Bin Zayed and Trump, said Fares al-Razhi, referring to the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the US, after his 14-year-old son was killed. The parents of some of the survivors were also inconsolable. Im waiting on my son to get better, and once he does I will take my revenge on the Saudis, said Mokhtars father. We will never leave Saada. Close to him, his son crouches near the bomb site, still haunted by memories of the attack. My father says he will buy me toys and get me a new school bag. But I dont want a new school bag. I hate school bags, said eight-year-old Mokhtar before adding that his education ended the day his friends died. I dont want to go anywhere near a bus. I hate buses, I hate school and I cant sleep. I see my friends in my dreams begging me to rescue them. So, from now on, Im going to stay at home. Follow Al Jazeeras Faisal Edroos on Twitter: @FaisalEdroos Social and economic isolation of the Iranian people makes it even easier for hardliners to hold on to power. From the free fall of the Iranian rial, to street protests demanding regime change, to the death sentence pronounced by the US towards normalised trade following the abandonment of the JCPOA known as the Iran nuclear deal, there is no shortage of news reports detailing the myriad existential crises the Iranian regime is currently facing. Therefore, the state must be on the verge of collapse, correct? The problem is that none of these crises is a new phenomenon for the regime. Since the 1979 revolution, which toppled the Shah and instated an Islamic government, the Iranian state has proven to be one of the most resilient in the region. It has survived a plethora of social, economic and political crises, including an eight-year war with its neighbour Iraq starting only one year after the revolution and ending in 1988 unilateral sanctions by the US in 1979 and joined by the UN in 2006 and the EU in 2016, the 2009 Green Movement protests where hundreds of thousands questioned the legitimacy of then-President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, to name but a few. {articleGUID} In this regard, heightened pressure on the regime by the US and regional allies such as Saudi Arabia and Israel not only threatens an already politically fragile region but also misses the mark on the appropriate policy to be implemented. As a matter of fact, isolating the Iranian economy and society only fosters mistrust from the Iranian community and damages any political goodwill that would help in future negotiations with the state. Not just that, but prolonged isolation has only worked to legitimise the hardliners stance within the Iranian government while sowing doubt in the reformist agenda, which, since the presidency of Mohammad Khatami in 1997, called for normalised diplomatic and trade relations with the rest of the world and extended personal freedoms. Although current President Hassan Rouhani is a centrist, he was supported by the reformists during his reelection in 2017 and he has renewed efforts to rejoin the international community, with his administration carrying to completion the JCPOA. In light of this, strengthening trade and investment relations with Iran instead of imposing sanctions to isolate and weaken the leadership would improve the negotiating stance of the moderate current in Iranian politics as well as provide stability and economic growth in Iran and beyond. In addition, scholarship on international trade policy suggests that increased trade could have a positive impact on democratisation by instilling human rights norms and principles and the promoting their institutionalisation. This approach not only ensures the welfare of all civilians; including Iranians, those in the region and elsewhere; but would also give its people a chance at pursuing an organically homegrown sustainable democracy instead of adding further to the instability in the Middle East. Irans civil society is active and sophisticated. It elected the secular democrat Mohammad Mosaddegh in 1951 with his agenda of reclaiming national resources. It is the same civil society that expressed dissatisfaction with the despotic rule of a Shah reinstated through a joint CIA-MI6 plot in 1953 and eventually rebelled against him, ending his rule. Today, Iranians are still grappling with an autocratic regime. Opening channels of trade and investment would allow for a politically mature civil society to gradually transform the nature of this regime by empowering civilians and local businesses who in turn could exert pressure on the government and organically demand change. Iranians are capable of shaping their political landscape, the international communitys role is to provide the tools for them to pursue their wellbeing. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial stance. There are more trees in Mogadishu than you might expect, at least in August. From above, the city is knots of green punctured by blue, red and beige roofs rolling into a strip of bright white sand before falling into the sea. In August, the air in the city is cool and a crisp ocean breeze clears the humidity so that it is actually quite pleasant to sit outside in the afternoon, sipping coffee while thinking about the latest cabinet reshuffle. These are things I know because I spent a week in Mogadishu at the fourth edition of the Mogadishu Book Fair, a pioneering event that uses literature to inspire and motivate particularly young people in Somalias capital city. War is a complicated thing, and the war in Somalia is perhaps one of the most complicated. Since the overthrow of the Said Barre administration in 1991, the country has collapsed into ever more complicated cycles of violence and reprisals. The fighting has been attributed to a broad range of political motivations and actors: money, power, ethnicity, clan, respect, territory, history, religion, age, migration all of which have some explanatory power but clearly not enough to capture everything. Meanwhile, the killing continues. In the week before the book fair, a car bomb in Mogadishu killed a number of people, while a popular young entrepreneur named Mo Sheikh Ali was assassinated in broad daylight. What does it mean to hold a book fair in the middle of so much uncertainty? For one, it is a reminder that behind each number or statistic that we see flashing on our screens every evening when we see news from Afghanistan, Iraq, the Central African Republic or Somalia is a person who had a family, hopes, and dreams a life. War is devastating, not because it destroys economies or fractures political alliances but because it steals people from their communities and makes it impossible for those who are left behind to live full lives. Events like the book fair allow us to focus on Somali people outside the context of war and to see the people behind the numbers. The mythology of Somalia has in some ways overgrown the reality of the place, and for outsiders, the narrative of violence sprints around the world and punches you in the face long before the kindness and hospitality of Somali people has had a chance to put on its shoes. Yet in several important ways, Mogadishu is the same as any other place: filled with people who just want to get on with the business of being alive. The young people at the book fair are so excited to be surrounded by literature especially in their own language. They are grateful for the handful of outsiders who confront fear to come and speak to them as people rather than subjects of study. And while it is impossible to escape the reality of conflict and insecurity, the large hall packed to the rafters with over a thousand pairs of eager eyes and happy smiles, is a testament to how welcome this event is. A large part the audience is young and part of a generation that has never known anything but war, and the book fair is one of the many initiatives launched by this generation to define themselves beyond war. Much of this work is being done online as young Somalis take stunning photographs and videos of what is unquestionably a beautiful corner of the world filled with hardworking survivors, showcasing a different side of Somalia. You can almost feel them willing a renaissance with little more than their drones and DSLRs, fuelled by hope and determination. The late Mo Sheikh Ali was part of this diffuse movement. He was the leader of the Mogadishu Start-Up Grind, as well as a judge on a televised entrepreneurship competition, the founder of the first florist and the first dry cleaner in Mogadishu since 1991, and a vocal champion of the power of youth to recast the citys fortunes. He was as far away from the stereotype of the baby-faced militiaman as you could get. The circumstance of his death underscores both the senselessness of war and the perverted logic of the hidden interests destroying anyone who wants things in Somalia to change for the better. And so this book fair, so soon after the young man was killed, is both an emblem of resilience as well as a major act of defiance to those interests. The Mogadishu Book Fair is also a reminder that life persists. War is upheaval and uncertainty but life persists because people often dont have a choice: all human beings suffer from that instinct to keep moving. Despite the perennial threat of random violence, people in Mogadishu still wake up every morning, get dressed and go about their business, because life persists. This resilience shouldnt deter action to stop conflict the trauma and suffering of war is real. Rather, it is another call back to our shared humanity. With the exception of sociopaths, most of us want the same things to be able to eat, drink, provide, sing, dance and smile and there is a universal obligation to create space so that people can keep moving. Nevertheless, in Mogadishu, the reality of war is never so far away that those attending the book fair can forget it altogether. At eye-level, far below the range of drone photography, the trees are hidden from the street by thick concrete blast walls. Cars weave through security barriers along pavements patrolled by men in uniform brandishing automatic rifles. Meetings are cancelled because security warnings lead to insurmountable traffic. A five-minute walk elsewhere is a 30-minute security effort in Mogadishu. There are body scanners at every turn, invasive pat-downs to enter restaurants and coffee shops, and the constant background hum of military helicopters and regular shooting drills. There is constant tension in the air a deep gnawing consciousness that this event is a plaster on a gaping wound in a deeply injured society. War is real, present and toxic, but hope and determination are a start to pushing back. The book fair and the cluster of efforts by young Somali people to reclaim the story of their country are an unexpected and welcome knot of green in the desert of conflict. The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy. Following a surge in violence in Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani calls for a three-month truce with the Taliban. Afghan President Mohammad Ashraf Ghani has declared a conditional ceasefire with the Taliban ahead of Eid al-Adha, effective from Monday. In a televised address on Sunday, Ghani said the truce would be until the prophets birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate, referring to the Prophet Muhammads birthday which is celebrated on November 21 in Afghanistan. Ghani, who was speaking during a ceremony to mark the 99th Independence Day of Afghanistan at the iconic Darul Aman palace in the capital, Kabul, said the decision was reached after extensive consultation with different segments of the Afghan society and Islamic scholars worldwide. The Taliban did not respond to requests for comment immediately but released a statement saying that they planned to free hundreds of prisoners on the occasion of Eid. Ghanis ceasefire announcement was limited to the Taliban and excluded other armed groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS). It was immediately welcomed in neighbouring Pakistan. Pakistan fully supports all such efforts that contribute to achieving durable stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan, a spokesperson for Pakistans ministry of foreign affairs said in a statement. The people of Afghanistan deserve it. Coinciding with the Independence Day of Afghanistan, the announcement has an even greater significance. Record number of civilians killed The Afghan government had previously announced a ceasefire with the Taliban during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in June. That truce, the first formal, nationwide ceasefire since the 2001 US invasion. was indirectly accepted by the Taliban for three days, but the group later rejected a call by the president to extend it, with attacks resuming shortly after. Ghanis announcement follows a bloody week of fighting across Afghanistan which saw the Taliban launch a massive assault against the provincial capital Ghazni just a two-hour drive from Kabul. At least 150 soldiers and 95 civilians were killed in a five-day siege, which eased last week when Afghan soldiers backed by US forces pushed back the groups heavily armed fighters. Blasts, suicide attacks and clashes between the Taliban and Afghan forces killed over 1,600 civilians in the first six months of the year, the highest number in the past decade, despite Junes truce, the United Nations said in a statement on Sunday. Published by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, the report attributed 42 percent of civilian casualties to the Afghan Taliban and 18 percent to the ISIL, noting a fourfold increase in deaths and injuries caused by both the armed groups. Afghan security forces have struggled to battle the Taliban and ISIL since the US and NATO formally concluded their combat mission in the country in 2014 and shifted their focus to a support and counterterrorism role. Meanwhile, pro-government forces, including Afghan national security troops and international military forces, caused a fifth of the civilian casualties so far this year. Government comes under new pressure to increase infrastructure maintenance spending after bridge collapse in Italy. About 840 bridges across France are suffering from serious damage and are at risk of collapse in the coming years, according to an audit commissioned by the French government. President Emmanuel Macrons government had already promised new infrastructure spending but is coming under new pressure after a bridge collapse in neighbouring Italy on Tuesday killed 43 people. The audit, published on Sunday by the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, said a third of the 12,000 government-maintained bridges in France need repairs. About seven percent, or about 840 bridges, present a risk of collapse in the coming years if spending is kept at current levels, the audit said. The audit did not address thousands of other French bridges maintained by private companies or local authorities, which have seen budget cuts in recent years. The government released a summary of the audit last month, blaming previous administrations for inconsistent and inadequate road funding. It also said the growth in traffic and increasing episodes of extreme weather have worsened the problem. The Transport Ministry did not respond to The Associated Press news agencys requests for comment on Sunday. {articleGUID} Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne told broadcaster Franceinfo last week that bridge maintenance is our priority and announced plans for a 1bn euro ($1.14bn) plan to save the nations roads, including bridges and tunnels. She reiterated plans for a new infrastructure law after the summer holidays. The Genoa bridge collapse shone a spotlight on road maintenance in Italy. Italian investments in roads sank most dramatically among the top five European economies after the 2008 economic crisis and have never fully recovered, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development. Seif el-Din Mustafa was transferred to Egyptian custody and flown back to Cairo late on Saturday, authorities said. An Egyptian man who hijacked an EgyptAir flight and ordered it to land in Cyprus has been extradited after giving up a drawn-out legal fight, authorities have said. Cyprus Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou told The Associated Press news agency (AP) that Seif el-Din Mustafa was transferred to Egyptian custody and flown back to Cairo on Saturday where prosecutors were investigating the incident. Nicolaou said the extradition went ahead after Mustafa dropped a three-year court battle to avoid extradition. The 61-year-old had previously challenged extradition on the grounds that he could face torture or an unfair trial in Egypt. He hijacked the flight an EgyptAir domestic flight from Alexandria to Cairo in March 2016, using a fake suicide belt. {articleGUID} He surrendered to Cypriot authorities nearly six hours after landing, having gradually released all 72 passengers and crew unharmed. A member of the cabin crew and a passenger by the name of Ben Innes even took a photo with Mustafa, which was later posted on social media. Fascist regime Mustafa told a Cypriot court that he didnt mean to harm anyone and was trying to help secure the release of 63 female dissidents being held in Egyptian prisons and expose what he called the fascist regime of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi. But prosecutors said Mustafa admitted in a written statement to police that he only carried out the hijacking in order to be reunited with his Cypriot family, from whom he had been estranged for 24 years. Mustafa dismissed the written statement as purposeful misinformation by the Cypriot and Egyptian governments put out to discredit him. Doros Polycarpou, with the migrant support group KISA that assisted Mustafa, told AP that the Mustafa decided of his own accord to return to Egypt and face prosecution there, despite fears that he may be tortured. Egypt and Cyprus have a 1996 extradition treaty. Polycarpou said Mustafa told his legal team he was willing to take the risk of suffering mistreatment at the hands of Egyptian authorities because he could no longer take his holding conditions in Cyprus prison complex. He said Mustafa had complained that he was being held in isolation and put under psychological strain because authorities kept him away from the prisons general population. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights blocked Cyprus from extraditing Mustafa until it could rule on whether doing so would violate its prohibition on returning individuals to countries where they may face torture or inhumane treatment. Facing criticism from her own party over her conservative positions on mainstream Democratic issues, Miami state Senator Daphne Campbell explained her views on gay rights during an appearance Sunday on CBS Miamis Facing South Florida. They have their rights. I have my rights, she said. Appearing on the program to debate her primary opponent, Jason Pizzo, Campbell defended her vote in 2015 against gay adoption and her decision to co-sponsor a so-called bathroom bill widely interpreted as an attack on Floridas transgender community. Campbell, a former state Rep. who was first elected to the Senate in 2016, represents a district that includes Miami Beach, which hosts a substantial and vocal gay community. The gay people have their rights. I have my rights, Campbell said when host Jim DeFede mentioned her votes on LGBTQ issues. Of course, I took an oath to serve everyone. I dont discriminate. I have gay people who work in my office. I have gay friends. But they have their rights. I have my rights. On the bathroom bill she co-sponsored, Campbell explained: Everywhere you go it says womens bathroom, mens bathroom. If youre a woman in the bathroom do you want somebody else in the bathroom? Is this a problem that needed to be legislated? DeFede asked. This is still, again, thats their rights, Campbell answered. Campbell, who is deeply religious, explained her positions as she and Pizzo, a former prosecutor who lost to Campbell in 2016, argued over who is the better Democrat. Campbell took a shot at Pizzos sparse voting record during the decade that he's lived in Miami-Dade County and pointed out that he wasnt registered to vote as a Democrat until he decided to run against her two years ago. Pizzo said he was registered without party affiliation until after he left he Miami-Dade State Attorneys Office in order to avoid the appearance of a conflict. Records show he voted twice in 2016. I am a Democrat. There is a stark division and contrast in our policy ideas, in our ideologies as it relates to a womans right to choose, gay adoption, same-sex marriage, Pizzo said, adding that Campbells repeated assertions that he hasnt voted in eight years are inaccurate. We are diametrically opposed. Any voter in the 38th Senate district can vote in the race regardless of party affiliation, since the election is the one and only vote that will be needed to decide who represents the district. But the vote is a Democratic primary, and when they werent slamming each other over their ethics, the two candidates argued over who is the better Democrat. On charter schools, Campbell said she has been inaccurately cast as an ardently pro-charter-schools lawmaker. She said she has previously supported efforts to boost Floridas expanding charter school network, but voted against the budget this year over her objection to the states handling of the education budget. When I found out how public schools are being treated Campbell changed positions, she said. As you can see, on my agenda for next year, its to make sure we have adequate funding for public schools. On abortion, DeFede pointed out that Campbell has voted repeatedly for legislation that would create roadblocks to abortion, and at one point supported a bill that would restrict Planned Parenthoods access to funds. DeFede asked her if her opposition to abortion was absolute. Let me make clear. Yes. Women have the choice. They have the right to choose. Thats their body, said Campbell. Ive stated over and over why. I have a child who is 25 years old. When I was pregnant with the child, when she was three months [gestation] I went blind and I spent six months at Bascolm Palmer. When they asked me to have an abortion I said No way. That was 1992. Campbell added: I would never prevent women from doing whatever they want to do to their own bodies. Pizzo, however, said Campbells statements about respecting the rights of women who choose to have an abortion ring hollow when placed next to her voting record. The irony is that Senator Campbells very personal experience speaks to the idea that its very personal. But her legislative, her votes on abortion legislation would seem to abridge and curtail the ability of a woman to do that, to have that choice, he said. Campbell fired back. I dont understand why my opponent is talking about votes. He hasnt voted in eight years. The two face each other in the Aug. 28 Democratic primary for Campbells district. Death toll since end of May reaches 370, as fishermen aid rescue operations for the southern states worst floods. More than 800,000 people have been displaced in Kerala, as the death toll from the worst flooding to hit the southern Indian state jumped to at least 370, with losses to infrastructure pegged at almost $3bn. As the rains subsided on Sunday, relief efforts focused on rescuing those marooned in isolated places for days and airdropping supplies to others, police and officials said. Kerala has been lashed by torrential monsoon rains since the end of May, triggering landslides and flash floods that have swept away entire villages. Incessant downpours since August 8 have killed more than 190 people and left thousands more stranded. In a matter of three to four days, we have been able to move nearly 850,000 people to shelters, TM Thomas Isaac, Keralas finance minister, told Al Jazeera. I think the total number of displaced persons, including those who have been moved to relatives or friends houses, would be well over 1.5 million, he added in a phone interview from Alappuzha, Kerala. On Sunday alone, 22,000 people were evacuated from their homes, but a large number of people continue to voluntarily live in flooded houses. We saw many people whose ground floors of their homes were knee and waist-deep in the water, said Al Jazeeras Andrew Thomas, reporting from Andoor. They are living upstairs because they want to stay where they are, he said, So, the overall figure of people whose homes have been flooded and have been affected by this disaster is in the millions, Thomas added. It really is a huge disaster in this part of India. Unsung heroes Thousands of army, air force and navy troops, along with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), are undertaking the search and rescue operations. Fishermen from across Kerala have also come together to aid the relief efforts. The fisherfolk have played a very remarkable role, said Isaac, Keralas finance minister. About 500 fisheries boats have been at the forefront of the rescue and shifting operations. The fisherfolk have been able to move to interior lakes systems and rivers to help the people. On Saturday, fisherman Jaisal KP, a 32-year-old resident of Tanur, rescued three stranded women one with an infant in the Malappuram area. Putting his back into it. Quiet literally. Jaisal KP a fisherman in Vengara puts himself in water so women and children can use his back as a step into the boat. 600 fisherman helping out in #KeralaFloods the unsung heroes. #Salute pic.twitter.com/DXo1CbKIs2 Shreya Dhoundial (@shreyadhoundial) August 19, 2018 NDRF personnel who were leading the rescue operations informed us they wont be able to reach the place where these women were stranded, Jaisal told Al Jazeera. I, along with my co-workers [fishermen], helped them. We have no safety guards or any equipment. We are risking our lives to rescue these people. Anunand, 22, who was trapped for four days in Paravoor, was also saved by the fishermen. If it wasnt for them [fishermen], I wouldve died inside the flat, the graduate student told Al Jazeera in a phone interview. On Monday, the military will continue to fly helicopters in order to drop aid materials in the more remote communities, Al Jazeeras Thomas reported. People wait for aid next to a make-shift raft at a flooded area in Kerala state [Sivaram V/Reuters] Rebuilding As of Sunday, two districts out of the states 14 were still under red alert. The Indian government has pledged $71m for flood victims, but Isaac said the state will have to re-negotiate to get a better deal. One-third of the roads have been completely damaged and the cost of rebuilding them would come over 1bn rupees ($14.3m), so this is a very serious matter. Around 100,000 houses will also have to be rebuilt and large amounts of plastic rubbish comprising mostly water bottles provided in aid packages and washed away by the floodwaters will have to be cleared out, he added. The state government will reach out to multinational agencies to rebuild the water systems, Isaac said. This calamity also points to some serious imbalance in development and the environmental consideration, the finance minister added. Hope this disaster will prompt us to pick a more sustainable development path. The amount of rain that has fallen is unexpectedly high this year, according to Al Jazeeras senior meteorologist Steff Gaulter. Normally, by this point in the monsoon season, we expect to see about 1,649mm of rain. But this year it was 2,344mm. This is well over what wed expect in the entire monsoon season, and we still have another month to go, she said. Additional reporting by Aslah Kayyalakkath in Kozhikode, Kerala Haitians resurrect honour for historic heroes Newer generation reminded of roots by statues of iconic figures that went unnoticed for long time. Tremors hit Lombok just two weeks after another earthquake killed more than 460 people on the holiday island. A second earthquake has jolted the Indonesian island of Lombok just hours after an earlier tremor triggered landslides and damaged buildings. The US Geological Survey measured Sundays quake, which was centred in the islands northeast, at magnitude 6.9 with a depth of 20km. It followed a separate 6.3 magnitude tremor recorded earlier in the day which rocked the same region of the beleaguered tourist island. Lombok is struggling to recover from a series of powerful earthquakes which have hit the island in recent weeks, killing hundreds of people and damaging tens of thousands of homes. About 350,000 have been displaced as a result of the tremors. Earlier tremors Sundays first quake caused landslides on Mount Rinjani, a popular tourist spot which has been closed to visitors following an earthquake last month that killed 16 people. It was also felt on the neighbouring island of Bali and was preceded a few minutes earlier by a magnitude 5.4 quake, also in Lomboks northeast, residents said. I was driving to deliver aid to evacuees when suddenly the electricity pole was swaying. I realised it was an earthquake, East Lombok resident Agus Salim told AFP news agency. People started to scream and cry. They all ran to the street, Salim added. An Associated Press reporter on Lombok said the tremor caused landslides on the slopes of Rinjani and panic in surrounding villages. {articleGUID} The shaking toppled motorcycles and damaged several buildings in the Sembalun subdistrict, including a community hall that collapsed. The hall had sustained damage in earlier quakes, said National Disaster Mitigation Agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. Homes and a mosque were also affected, he added. He said so far there have been no reports of injuries or fatalities, but information was still being collected. Ring of Fire Al Jazeeras Scott Heidler, reporting from the Indonesian capital Jakarta, said that many residents of the area were still psychologically recovering from previous earthquakes. Where this earthquake struck today, there had also been a weaker earthquake at the end of last month so they were rattled to begin with and with this new one they are even more so, he said. Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago that straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire in the Pacific Ocean, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. In 2004, a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.3 undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra, in western Indonesia, killed 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 in Indonesia. Many Iraqis, including those from the Kurdish and Sunni Arab communities, had complained of electoral misconduct. Iraqs Supreme Court has ratified the results of the countrys May parliamentary election, setting in motion a 90-day constitutional deadline for the top parties to form a coalition government. A nationwide recount of votes showed on August 10 that populist Shia leader Muqtada al-Sadr retained his lead, positioning him to play a central role in the government negotiations. Many Iraqis, including Kurdish and Sunni Arab groups, had disputed the results of the vote, alleging widespread electoral misconduct. In June, a huge fire destroyed a warehouse housing boxes containing ballots from the May 12 vote. Iraqi officials, including Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi, said that the blaze was started deliberately with the aim of harming the countrys democracy. The fire came just days after parliamentarians ordered the recount of all 11m of the votes cast. MPs also sacked the nine-member independent electoral commission that oversaw the process and replaced the body with judges. The recount did not change the number of seats Sadrs bloc won. According to the commission, only one seat from Iraqs Baghdad Coalition had moved to the second-placed Al-Fatih bloc, giving it 48 instead of 47 assembly seats. {articleGUID} A coalition government needs a majority of parliamentary seats at least 165 out of a total of 329. As things stand, Sadrs Sairoon Alliance which brings together his Sadrist movement and the Iraqi Communist Party would have the most with 54. Abadis bloc once seen as a frontrunner came in third, with just 42 seats. On June 13, Sadr, who opposes Iranian involvement in Iraq, and Hadi al-Amiri leader of the Iran-backed al-Fatih bloc, which is part of a Hashd al-Shabi-led coalition announced a surprise alliance in Najaf. Ahmed al-Assadi, a spokesperson for Fatih, however told Al Jazeera in August that an official partnership has not yet been reached, saying instead that the alliance announced in June only amounts to preliminary talks. He said the group is in discussions with all political parties equally. Incoming MPs will now hold a first session to elect a new assembly speaker. Within 30 days of that first session, the assembly will elect by a two-thirds majority the countrys next president. The president will then task the largest bloc in parliament with drawing up a government, which must be referred back to parliament for approval. Italy mourns Genoa bridge collapse victims While rescue efforts continue, death toll from Morandi Bridge disaster rose to 43 people Saturday, as some of the dead were honoured in Genoa with a state funeral. North Korea to host meet-and-greet reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. Seoul, South Korea North Korea is set to host a temporary reunion of families separated by the Korean War, the first such event in almost three years. From Monday, a total of 93 people from the South and 88 from the North will be able to meet their family members for three days each. For most, it will be the first meeting since the 1950-53 war. Nearly 20,000 people have participated in 20 rounds of face-to-face reunions since 2000. Given the nature of ties between the two countries, it could also be the last time they see each other. On Sunday, the families started gathering for the registration process, many having had no contact with who they are about to meet since the war. Lee Geum-shim was separated from her son in 1950 when he was four. She doesnt remember what he looked like. Im not sure if Ill be able to recognise him, Lee told Al Jazeera. I dont even remember his face when he was four. I cant believe I will be meeting him. It feels like a dream. Since 1988, more than 132,000 people have registered with the Red Cross in South Korea for the reunion programme. Over half of them have since died. Almost 36,000 out of the 57,009 people that registered who are still alive are aged 80 and above. More than 12,000 are over 90. The programme was also created in a way that minimises walking for participants, as this is difficult for many of them and some are in wheelchairs, said a Unification Ministry official. The families will be able to have private lunch sessions unlike in previous events where a group event was held. Since the end of the war, both Koreas have banned ordinary citizens from visiting relatives on the other side of the border or contacting them without permission. This weeks reunions come after a three-year hiatus during which North Korea tested three nuclear weapons and multiple missiles that demonstrated the potential of striking the continental US. At past meetings, elderly relatives some relying on wheelchairs or walking sticks have wept, hugged and caressed each other in a rush of emotions. There are three people aged 100 or above at the reunion [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters] Hwang Woo-seok, 93, will be meeting his daughter who was three years old when he had to flee. I left my hometown in a major retreat. If I knew Korea would be divided for this long, I wouldnt have left her alone. We all didnt know it would last this long, said Hwang. I applied for the family reunion more than 30 years ago. Since then, my father died when he was 60, my mother died when she was 77, and my sister died two years ago. Im so sad thinking about all that Ive lost. Behind the raw emotions, the meetings are tightly coordinated events where participants are closely watched by North Korean officials and dozens of South Korean journalists. For me, there isn't much time left. Five of the nine people I fled North Korea with are dead already. Nam Gyu-hyeong, 80 As in previous reunions, South Koreas Red Cross, which organises the events with its North Korean counterpart, has issued a guidebook telling South Koreans what to do and what not to do. Political comments such as criticism of the Norths leadership and the state of its economy could put your [North Korean] family members into a difficult situation, it says in the green book. If a North Korean family member sings a propaganda song or makes a political comment, restrain them appropriately by naturally changing the subject of the conversation. While Lee and Hwang are lucky enough to be selected, for thousands of other Koreans, time is running out. I signed up for a reunion 30 years ago but have yet to be picked for one, 80-year-old Nam Gyu-hyeong had said earlier this year. While I would still like to be part of a reunion, I think the Red Cross and the authorities shouldve done something earlier. For me, there isnt much time left. Five of the nine people I fled North Korea with are dead already. With additional reporting by Sookyoung Lee Libyas financial squeeze is casting a shadow over the annual Eid celebrations. More video clips from the story Pilgrims gather in Mina valley, just outside Mecca, for start of annual pilgrimage. More than two million Muslims have started the annual Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. The pilgrimage must be performed by all Muslims, who are financially and physically able, at least once in their lives. On Friday, pilgrims started gathering in Mina valley, on the outskirts of Mecca, for the start of the Hajj. In temperatures reaching up to 40 degrees Celsius, pilgrims will perform rites in the Mina valley, mount Arafat and in Mecca. Male pilgrims wear two white unstitched pieces of cloth that cover their body, known as the ihram, while women wear loose-fitted clothing. Pilgrims are not allowed to cut their hair, wear perfume, or engage in sexual acts. The ritual ends with men trimming their hair. The climax of the Hajj includes the Eid al-Adha festival, which is one of Islams two major festivals and involves the sacrifice of an animal, usually a sheep, goat or cow. Roughly 54 million pilgrims have attended the Hajj over the past 25 years, according to official figures. Almost 14,000 international and domestic flights have so far transported pilgrims with approximately 21,000 buses also used. Safety In recent years, Saudi Arabias management of the Hajj has courted controversy over its record on safety and political rivalries with several of its neighbours. In 2015, a crane collapse at the Grand Mosque in Mecca killed 111 people. A stampede the same year in Mina killed more than 2,000 people, although Saudi Arabia put the official death toll at 767. {articleGUID} The following year, the Iranian government, which lost 464 nationals during the stampede, banned its citizens from attending the pilgrimage in protest. Iranians were allowed back the following year. Qatari officials have also complained that their nationals have been prevented from performing the Hajj following a blockade imposed by Saudi Arabia and its allies the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Bahrain, and Egypt since June 2017. However, some Qataris appear to have made their way to Mecca this year. Indian government pledges $71m for victims of the worst floods in 100 years to hit southern Kerala state. The death toll from the worst flooding to hit Indias Kerala state in a century has jumped to 357 with losses to infrastructure pegged at almost $3bn. The idyllic tourist hotspot has been badgered by torrential monsoon rains since the end of May, triggering landslides and flash floods that have swept away entire villages. Since May 29, when the monsoon starts in Kerala, a total of 357 people have lost their lives until now, a statement from the states information officer said on Sunday, with 33 losing their lives over the last 24 hours. According to preliminary estimates, Keralas losses due to the floods is 19,512 crore rupees ($2.9bn). Actual losses can be estimated only after the water recedes, the statement said. {articleGUID} More than 350,000 people have taken shelter in 3,026 relief camps as thousands of army, navy and air force troops fan out to help those still stranded. Roads and 134 bridges have suffered damage, isolating remote areas in the hilly districts of the state which are worst affected. The state chief minister has requested more funding as well as 20 more helicopters and 600 motorised boats in order to step up the rescue efforts. Al Jazeeras Andrew Thomas, reporting from Venmony in Kerala state, said the makeshift shelters needed clean drinking water. The thing that is really needed, ironically, is water. Clean drinking water is much needed, he said. They also need medicine for diarrhoea, rehydration powders and wipes to clean things. The Indian government has pledged $71m for victims of what state chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan called the worst floods in 100 years. Randeep Kumar Rana of the national disaster response force told Al Jazeera the state government is working in coordination with the central government, and that the situation has increased significantly compared to two days ago. It has been very hectic. The flood situation is unprecedented in the history of India, but now the situation is improving in almost every affected area, Rana said. The number of people who are yet to be evacuated has gotten very low, and if the situation continues to improve than maybe today there might not be any requirement for further evacuation. Rana could not provide a specific number of people that are still affected by the floods. More rain than average The amount of rain that has fallen is unexpectedly high this year, according to Al Jazeeras senior meteorologist Steff Gaulter. Normally, by this point in the monsoon season, we expect to see about 1,649mm of rain. But this year it was 2,344mm. This is well over what wed expect in the entire monsoon season, and we still have another month to go, she said. This would obviously cause major issues. The rainfall during the last few monsoons has been below average: 2017 had nine percent less rain than average, 2016 had 34 percent less rain and 2015 had 26 percent. This means that the difference between the amount of wet weather that has been seen in recent years and this year is even more marked than it would be otherwise and the result is plain to see. Rescue efforts have been impeded by the monsoon rains that continue to batter the region. Residents were seen swimming and wading through chest-high waters past partially submerged homes. The international airport in Kochi is also flooded and closed temporarily. According to Indias weather bureau, since the beginning of June, more than 321cm of rain has fallen on the hilly central district of Idukki, which is now virtually cut off from the rest of the state. The Kerala government has said it faces an extremely grave crisis and Vijayan warned of further torrential rainfall hitting the region over the weekend. The gates of dozens of dams and reservoirs across the state have been opened as water levels reach dangerous levels, inundating many other villages. On anniversary of US-led 1953 putsch, foreign minister says Washington action group wont topple government in Tehran. Mohammad Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, has said any US effort to overthrow the Islamic Republic of Iran was bound to fail, just days after Washington announced the creation of a group to coordinate and run the countrys policy towards Tehran. Zarif made the comments in a Twitter post on Sunday, on the anniversary of a US-backed coup that toppled Irans first democratically elected government in 1953. {articleGUID} 65 years ago today, the US overthrew the popularly elected democratic government of Dr. Mossadegh, restoring the dictatorship and subjugating Iranians for the next 25 years, Zarif said. Now an Action Group dreams of doing the same through pressure, misinformation & demagoguery. Never again. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Thursday announced the creation of the Iran Action Group (IAG), whose stated goal is to change the Iranian regimes behaviour. The IAG will ensure that the Department of State will remain closely synchronised with our interagency partners, Pompeo said, adding that the group will also lead the way in growing efforts with nations which share our understanding of the Iranian threat. The US decision to back Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadeghs overthrow 65 years ago in concert with the United Kingdom has cast a lasting shadow over relations between Washington and Tehran. In May 1953, about three months before his overthrow, Mossadegh ordered a government takeover of the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, now British Petroleum (BP), after contending that an earlier oil exploration deal was not favourable for the Iranian people. The move angered the UK government, which sought the help of the US to carry out a plan to force Mossadegh out of office with the tacit approval of the Iranian monarch, Mohammad Reza Shah Pahlavi. After his overthrow, Mossadegh was imprisoned for three years on charges of treason. He died in 1967 under house arrest upon the order of the shah. Washington and Tehran have had no diplomatic relations since the shahs fall in 1979. In March 2000, then-US Secretary of State Madeleine Albright became the first senior American official to acknowledge the American role in the coup, calling it a setback for Irans political development. Decades of hostility eased somewhat with the 2015 nuclear deal signed by six world powers, including the US, and Iran. {articleGUID} But high tensions resumed after US President Donald Trump pulled Washington out of the deal in May, calling it flawed in Irans favour, and reimposed sanctions. Ali Larijani, Irans speaker of parliament, said on Sunday the 1953 coup was an indication that the US cannot be trusted. How dare you talk about the freedom of the Iranian nation with your dark record of the August 19 coup and the appointment of a totalitarian regime, Larijani was quoted as saying by the official IRNA news agency. Americans are imposing sanctions they claim they are supporting freedom, human rights, and global and regional security. Tehran has accused the Trump administration of pushing for regime change in Iran, deepening distrust. The US has denied the allegations, despite its ties to the Iranian exile group, the Mujahedeen-e-Khalq (MEK). @alextdaugherty @greggordon2 Florida election officials said Saturday they are seeking more information to combat any possibility of ongoing hacking efforts on county voting systems, as support mounted over the weekend for Sen. Bill Nelsons recent claims that Russian operatives have penetrated some county voter registration databases in Florida ahead of the 2018 elections. A U.S. government official familiar with the matter confirmed to McClatchy on Saturday an NBC news report that Nelson was right when he said Russian hackers had penetrated some of Floridas county voting systems. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter. Leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee told Nelson recently that operatives working for Russia penetrated some county voter registration databases in Florida. That appears to represent new information about fallout from a Russian hacking operation nearly two years ago and not evidence of a fresh attack, the government official familiar with the matter said. And on Saturday, Nelson defended himself against claims by Gov. Rick Scott, his likely opponent in a hotly contested U.S. Senate election, that he was careless with classified information. I did exactly what the leadership of the Senate Intelligence Committee both the Republican chairman and the vice-Chairman asked Marco Rubio and I to give that warning. And to give it to the supervisors, which we did, Nelson said at a campaign stop in Tampa. I think now that Marco Rubio and I have brought it to everybodys attention, despite the attempts at politicization of it by Gov. Scott, I think now that its out there on the open on what is the potential threat, I think the supervisors will make sure that their systems are secure. However, the U.S. government official who spoke to McClatchy said Nelson overstated the threat in saying on Aug. 7 that, after penetrating county voter registration databases, Russian cyber operatives now have free rein to move about. Nelson since has voiced concerns that the Russians could tamper with voter registration databases, suppress votes and create chaos at the polls on Election Day. Details of the extent of any election security threat from the Russians penetration of Florida counties are classified, and the limited information that has leaked presents a confusing picture. Florida officials faced with the prospect of ongoing hacking attempts say theyve seen no evidence of voter information being altered as early primary voting continues in counties around the state. Paul Lux, the supervisor of elections for Okaloosa County and the president of the state Association of Supervisors of Elections, said county-level election officials have not been informed of concrete steps they should take to inoculate themselves from the specific threat of ongoing Russian hacking attempts that Nelson has alluded to. Florida officials who do have access to classified information regarding the states voting systems typically receive briefings from the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI. Read more here. One in three Afghans is going hungry and more than half a million people have been displaced by conflict since January. Joe Biden, the first Catholic US president since JFK, says he does not believe in abortion but can not impose his views. A South Korean court has fined him for his illegal use of a sedative that he said was on a doctors prescription. After an exhaustive and thorough rebuttal of all arguments presented by the dissenting judge, the opinion by O'Scannlain reads: On July 24, 2018, federal 9th Circuit (Circus) Court judge Diarmuid O'Scannlain published his opinion for the 2-1 majority of a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Court in the case of Young v. State of Hawaii, United States Ninth Circuit United States Ninth Circuit No. 12-17808 that struck down Hawaii law and ruled that a citizen has the right to open carry a sidearm for personal protection and defense outside the home. His opinion confirmed the intent of the 2nd Amendment of the U.S. constitution: "A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed." But, for better or for worse, the Second Amendment does protect a right to carry a firearm in public for self-defense. We would thus flout the Constitution if we were to hold that, "in regulating the manner of bearing arms, the authority of [the State] has no other limit than its own discretion. The news of the Young opinion rekindled my memories of Diarmuid O'Scannlain, an icon insightful, eloquent, sensible, conservative. In January of 2017, two former O'Scannlain law clerks wrote a tribute to him in National Review on the occasion of his decision to take senior status on the 9th Circuit. The author-attorneys, who were his clerks and knew him well, said: Judge O'Scannlain has participated in more than 10,000 cases and written hundreds of published decisions, concurrences, and dissents. In vivid prose, those opinions reflect a careful respect for the limited scope of judicial power in a democracy. Many of Judge O'Scannlain's opinions, including his dissents, pointed out when the Ninth Circuit veered from Supreme Court precedent. Indeed, Judge O'Scannlain dissents included footnotes that sent messages to the Supreme Court on the latest 9th circuit departure from sensible interpretation of the law and constitution. Judge O'Scannlain's high rate of Supreme Court affirmations and concurrences is well known. SCOTUS has agreed with O'Scannlain much more often than with any of his colleagues of the 9th Circuit during his active service but that pride is consistent with his advocacy of the restrained role appellate judges must play in the judicial system. In one dissent, he pointed out that the 9th was in conflict with the 6th Circuit in what is called by commentators an O'Scannlain "dissental": "Circuit split" perhaps does not fully describe the resulting state of affairs. It is more like we have spun out of the known legal universe and are now orbiting alone in some cold, dark corner of a far-off galaxy, where no one can hear the scream "separation of powers." A native of New York City, O'Scannlain earned his B.A. from St. John's University in 1957, his J.D. from Harvard Law School in 1963, and his LLM from the University of Virginia School of Law in 1992. He served in the U.S. Army as an attorney in the JAG Corps from 1955 to 1978. Judge O'Scannlain was nominated by President Reagan and approved for the Ninth U.S. Federal Circuit Bench in 1986. He elected senior status (decreased workload) in December of 2017. He is widely recognized as a brilliant legal analyst and writer, courtly and polite to all a judge's judge. He is a traditionalist and considers natural law an important factor in his work as a close reader of the U.S. Constitution, asserting the importance of a limited government of enumerated powers by consent of the governed, with separation of powers and a federal structure that assures a balance between national and state sovereignty. O'Scannlain on redefining marriage O'Scannlain's dissent on the redefinition of marriage pointed out that the Supreme Court had already denied hearing in the case of Baker v. Nelson in 1971 that challenged a Minnesota law that declared marriage as between a man and a woman. No provisions in the constitution or previous law allowed for an attempt to redefine marriage to include same-sex couples. O'Scannlain on interpreting laws and statutes Judge O'Scannlain opined in a criminal marijuana case for the unanimous panel that judges should read the text of a law and not search for an opportunity to "find congressional intent, or impose a judicial preference." He condemned the tendency of judges to find "meaning" that corresponds to their preferences and jump at the opportunity to be grand legislators. O'Scannlain on natural law principles O'Scannlain lectured on "Natural Law and American Tradition" (2011) at a colloquium on natural law at the Fordham School of Law and provided his in-depth and insightful analysis of how judges must respect the laws and be humble in their efforts to impose their understanding of what's right, even their efforts to impose their preferences on natural law. So, we find the natural law under attack from both sides. To the left, it is an invention of mystics and religious conservatives. To the right, it is a dangerous invitation for judges to impose their own sense of justice on the country. ... I believe that, in many important respects, the natural law is woven into the fabric of the Constitution, and, therefore, is relevant to originalist constitutional interpretation. The Declaration explicitly appeals to the natural law. ... "[W]e hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." ... When it came to writing a Constitution, the Framers aimed to create a positive law that would protect pre-existing natural rights. ... [T]he very purpose of civilian governments was to protect natural rights[.] [Emphasis added.] The freedom of the press also derived from the natural right to speak, to write, and to publish one's thoughts. And the freedom of assembly was derived from the natural right to associate with other human beings[.] To make the point more formally, natural law is by its nature a moral law accessible to all human beings through reason. I will leave it to the reader to consider: how is it that federal judges legislate by fiat and court orders all kinds of preferences and policy positions, collude with federal agencies on policy matters, ignoring the clear cut authority of the congress to write the laws, exercising judicial power that invades executive power? In his Joseph Story (Supreme Court justice, 1811-45, and respected legal scholar) Memorial Lecture, February 3, 2014 at the Heritage Foundation, "Natural Law and Modern Jurisprudence," Judge O'Scannlain discussed natural law principles. The modern idea of a malleable and socially constructed human nature is alien to Story, his view of man's nature was cast aside by our own Supreme Court as it exited the 20th century and entered the 21st. How different our constitutional jurisprudence would be today had this not been so. The 1992 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey Its implications are profound, because if the law cannot protect an objective view of human nature, it necessarily protects a subjective one. Casey thus places a malleable conception of human nature at the heart of the liberty protected by our Constitution. Lawrence v Texas , the sodomy case Story chose to illustrate the connection between natural law and positive law was marriage. ... Having adopted the subjectivist assumptions of Casey, Lawrence extends them to protect a relativistic conception of human sexuality. On the question of same-sex marriage in United States v. Windsor Windsor says that the conjugal view has been discarded by some states in favor of "a new perspective, a new insight," and that these states had "enlarge[d] the definition of marriage." But if marriage has a fixed meaning derived from man's nature, then it cannot be "enlarge[d]." Justice Joseph Story poses a similar challenge to us. We must ask whether the denial of our past is the denial of ourselves. We must ask whether the abolition of nature is the abolition of man. I leave the answers to these questions to your own reflections. Heller and the 2nd Amendment. Thus, to the Heller Court, although the need to protect militias was the reason that the natural right to bear arms had to be codified, it was not the primary purpose of the underlying natural law right; self-defense was[.] O'Scannlain on religious freedom, from "Religion and the Courts in the 21st Century," a speech for the Board of Governors Retreat, Thomas Aquinas College, October 28, 2017 (emphasis added): The bitterness of our current religious-freedom debates struck particularly close to home for me, as a federal judge, just a couple months ago during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing over the nomination of Notre Dame Law Professor Amy Barrett to the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. ... Professor Barrett appears to have committed a grave sin in these anti- religious times: she is, proudly and publicly, a devout Catholic. I am, too, of course, as are many other federal judges, but most of us had the good fortune to come onto the bench at a time when our identity as such was not deemed worthy of front-page news. The role of religion in public life is, dare I say, of urgent current concern. ... The debates are pervasive, and I am struck by their strident often, quite nasty tone. In Obergefell v. Hodges, a five-Justice majority of the Court held that the United States Constitution includes a fundamental right to same-sex marriage. For those, like myself, who subscribe to an originalist understanding of our Constitution, this was a startling proclamation of an unenumerated and previously unheard of right[.] If I were making federal judges in my garage, I would certainly consider making a Diarmuid O'Scannlain model and stamping out about 200 for a first run. Great man, great judge, scholarly, well read, big brain, proper judicial temperament, the right attitude and mindset. John Dale Dunn is an emergency physician and inactive attorney in Brownwood, Texas. The two big stories this week are interrelated: the utter collapse of the Russian Collusion Fantasy and the conclusion of the Manafort case, a case of selective and apparently not very persuasive prosecution which flows from that fantasy. This week marked the end of the trial of Paul Manafort. The jury is now deliberating his fate. I cannot with certainty opine on the prosecutions handling of the case. I cant because all we know -- in the absence of transcripts of the trial -- is what reporters have told us. In my experience they often lack the background to adequately apprise us of what went on. Reporters also give more weight generally to salacious details -- in this case Manaforts wardrobe and Gates affairs -- than they do to the more significant documentary evidence. Finally, as I learned in covering the Libby trial as an observer, even the best reporters have deadlines, which means their stories are often filed before the cross-examination of key witnesses and begin the next day with the direct examination of the next witness, which means half of what occurred -- often the most important part to my mind -- is unreported. Nevertheless, from even those accounts, it would appear that the prosecution was hardly a slam dunk, and Manaforts lawyers obviously thought so in closing without presenting any case. In closing arguments, they hit upon those weaknesses. As predicted, they argued that Manaforts former aide, Rick Gates, (who received an exceptionally generous immunity agreement which violated Justice Department standards) was not credible. Admittedly he lied to the FBI, his wife, forged documents, embezzled from Manafort and others, including the Trump Inauguration Committee, suggesting, asserted defense counsel, that this was a weak reed upon which to prosecute someone. Richard Wesley, a lawyer on Manafort's team, called the government's bank fraud evidence against his client 'selective.' 'Clearly the goal was to stack up the counts,' said Wesley. 'And to give you a sense that the evidence is so overwhelming to draw one conclusion.' 'There is not a single bit of evidence that any of these banks came to the government and complained about these frauds,' added Wesley. He said none of the banks seemed concerned 'until the special counsel showed up and starting asking questions.' Throughout the trial, Manafort's attorneys have suggested Gates was responsible for falsifying bank and tax records -- even implying he forged Manafort's signatures on foreign bank records. They claimed he did this to cover up for millions of dollars he embezzled from Manafort's businesses. In testimony last week Gates said he committed tax and bank fraud crimes under orders from Manafort -- but also admitted to embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from his former boss while carrying at least one extramarital affair. Downing told the jury that Gates was a 'liar' who 'tried to get one over on you.' 'How [Gates] was able to get the deal he got [with Mueller's team] I have no idea,' said Downing. 'He gets to walk out of here on probation because [prosecutors] were so desperate to try to make the case.' After the jury began deliberations, there was a mysterious pause and after recessing the trial the judge inexplicably left the courtroom through the door reserved for jurors. That mystery was apparently solved on Friday when CNN, the Washington Post, BuzzFeed, POLITICO, the New York Times, NBC Universal, and the Associated Press filed a motion to obtain the names and addresses of the jurors. Judge Ellis then revealed that he had received death threats and is being accompanied by federal marshals. He said the jury had expressed to him their fears for their own safety and he denied the request, as he should. Ellis said he has no reason to believe the jurors wouldnt also be exposed to threats if their names were revealed. I had no idea this case would excite these emotions, I will tell you frankly, he said. Had the jurors been told at the outset of the case that their names would be revealed, Ellis said he likely would have seen some requests to be excused. The harassment of jurors who are not sequestered would surely have followed the grant of this motion. After the trial, one can imagine that they, like the judge, would receive threats on their lives. This is the first real test of the Mueller team -- and though it still has nothing to do with the fake collusion theory, it seems the notion has taken on some kind of religious fervor among the left, still smarting from their loss in 2016 who are determined to bring the infidels to heel. After the jury submitted several questions to the judge, the trial was recessed until Monday. (Please note I have not followed the usual conservative commentary on the trial which begins with distancing myself from Manafort and then heading into but Its a kind of virtue signaling I despise. Were the defendant Anthony Podesta, with whom Manafort worked, would PBS or NPR or any news organization begin with a distancing from him followed by but? The man is entitled to fair and equal treatment under the law, and I see no reason to prejudge the defendants character while making that point.) The Ohrs As the selective prosecution of Paul Manafort draws to a conclusion, the villains of the Russian collusion fairy tale that was the impetus for the appointment of a Special Counsel who brought this case, are being further unmasked. Reputable accounts reveal that former associate deputy attorney general Bruce Ohr and his wife Nellie (an undisclosed employee of GPS Fusion) continued to receive reports from Christopher Steele, author of the now discredited dossier. They did so after Steele was terminated as an FBI source because of Steeles leaks to the press and lying to the agency about them. Ohr and his DOJ and FBI cohorts in this stove-piping operation apparently operated outside the chain of command, misled their bosses (and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court) and concealed evidence from Congressional oversight committees. And they did this work even after Trump was elected and inaugurated. The evidence to date suggests that Rod Rosenstein, who is tasked with supervising Robert Mueller and his team, was kept in the dark about Ohrs continued work with Steele when he signed the last FISA warrant application, post inauguration, in June 2017. The Ohr-Steele exchanges which have made it to public view suggest that Ohrs boss, now fired but then Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, most likely received the stove-piped reports, okayed this channel of information gathering, and even oversaw it. John Solomon at The Hill broke the story about the Ohr-Steele work-around. Ohrs own notes, emails and text messages show he communicated extensively with Steele and with Fusion GPS founder Glenn Simpson. Those documents have been turned over in recent weeks to investigative bodies in Congress and the DOJ, but not reviewed outside the investigative ranks until now. They show Ohr had contact with Steele in the days just before the FBI opened its Trump-Russia probe in summer 2016, and then engaged Steele as a confidential human source assisting in that probe. They also confirm that Ohr later became a critical conduit of continuing information from Steele after the FBI ended the Brit's role as an informant. doubtless a sad and crazy day for you re- SY, Steele texted Ohr on Jan. 31, 2017, referencing President Trumps firing of Sally Yates for insubordination. Steele's FBI relationship had been terminated about three months earlier. The bureau concluded on Nov. 1, 2016, that he leaked information to the news media and was not suitable for use as a confidential source, memos show. The FBI specifically instructed Steele that he could no longer operate to obtain any intelligence whatsoever on behalf of the FBI, those memos show. Yet, Steele asked Ohr in the Jan. 31 text exchange if he could continue to help feed information to the FBI: Just want to check you are OK, still in the situ and able to help locally as discussed, along with your Bureau colleagues. Im still here and able to help as discussed, Ohr texted back. Ill let you know if that changes. Steele replied, If you end up out though, I really need another (bureau?) contact point/number who is briefed. We cant allow our guy to be forced to go back home. It would be disastrous. Investigators are trying to determine who Steele was referring to. FBI officials now admit they continued to receive information from Steele through Ohr, identifying more than a half-dozen times its agents interviewed Ohr in late 2016 and 2017, to learn what Steele was saying. That continued reliance on Steele after his termination is certain to raise interest in Congress about whether the FBI broke its own rules. Bruce Ohr is scheduled to testify on August 28 before a joint committee of Congress (House Oversight and House Judiciary) in a closed hearing. As more information has finally been made available to Congress, the possibilities for selective disinformation become narrower. And forces other than Congress are lifting the veil on the dirtiest official wrongdoing in U.S. history. Judge Amit O. Mehta of the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia has issued a ruling which must frighten the FBI miscreants who have to date manage to conceal their actions from public scrutiny. ...the FBI can no longer hide behind the we can neither confirm nor deny response in order to stonewall records requests regarding how they may have tried to determine the validity of the synopsis of the dossier that raised concerns President Donald Trump might be compromised by Russia, pee tapes and all.[snip] In this case, the court must decide whether the February 2018 public release of two congressionally drafted memorandapopularly known as the Nunes Memo and the Schiff Memo -- vitiates Defendants Glomar responses to Plaintiffs demand for records concerning a two-page synopsis of the Dossier, the judge began, noting that he had previously sided with the government. Judge Mehta said that the disclosures in the Nunes and Schiff memos constitute a public acknowledgement of the existence of the records sought by Plaintiffs from Defendant Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and that the FBI therefore may no longer maintain its Glomar responses. (Glomar responses are the means by which, in order to protect national security or privacy, official agencies can refuse information requests by answering they can neither confirm nor deny the existence of the information requested, the synopsis of the dossier.) Since the existence of the information requested was made known in the Nunes and Schiff memos, the Judge properly reversed his earlier decision. The case before Judge Mehta concerns BuzzFeed's suit against GPS fusion. (BuzzFeed is being sued by Aleksej Gubarev for allegations about Russian collusion, specifically hacking the DNC computer, in the dossier which it published, and is seeking to find out how the DOJ and FBI verified the allegations in the dossier. Judge Mehta explained: The DOJ also sought to distinguish between the Steele Dossier and a synopsis of the dossier presented to both Trump and then-President Obama in 2016, however Mehta rejected the attempt, writing "That position defies logic," while also rejecting the government's refusal to even say if the FBI has a copy of that synopsis. "It remains no longer logical nor plausible for the FBI to maintain that it cannot confirm nor deny the existence of documents," Mehta wrote. It is simply not plausible to believe that, to whatever extent the FBI has made efforts to verify Steeles reporting, some portion of that work has not been devoted to allegations that made their way into the synopsis. After all, if the reporting was important enough to brief the President-elect, then surely the FBI thought enough of those key charges to attempt to verify their accuracy. It will be up to the FBI to determine which of the records in its possession relating to the reliability of the Dossier concerns Steeles reporting as discussed in the synopsis. This ruling represents another incremental step in revealing just how much the FBI has been able to verify or discredit the rather personal allegations contained in that synopsis derived from the Steele dossier, said Brad Moss, a lawyer pressing the lawsuit for the pro-transparency group, the James Madison Project. It will be rather ironic if the presidents peripheral actions that resulted in this ruling wind up disclosing that the FBI has been able to corroborate any of the salacious allegations. Things seem finally to be moving, glacially, but at last more rapidly than before. Like the army of white supremacists the media is always trumpeting, the Russian collusion evidence seems to be based on a media-induced hallucination. My friend porchlight observes, Charlottesville proves once again that the demand for racism far outstrips the supply and theres much evidence this week for that. There must have been a million or more pixels expended per participant in the scare reporting about the Unite the Right rally in D.C. this week. As it happens the rally drew maybe two-dozen nutters and countless reporters and photographers. Gut wrenching images of screaming Jews being carried away from their homes were all over the media. Soldiers were being cursed. It was an unimaginable scene of Jew against Jew. Israel was almost brought to its knees, coming close to civil war. By September 12 none of the 8,000 Jews who lived in Gaza remained. The night of August 14, 2005 remains firmly in the memory of many Israelis. For thousands it was their last night at home in the Gaza Strip. The following day was the deadline for all Jews to evacuate. August 15 saw those who remained being forcibly evicted by Israeli soldiers. After 38 years Israel unilaterally turned this small enclave over to the Arabs. Residents were promised financial compensation, homes and employment by the Israeli government. Ten years on the government had failed to honor its promise to many hundreds of the forced evacuees. Why would Israel take such an unprecedented step, which severely divided the nation? For one reason: because Israel sincerely desires peace. Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, once a lion who himself championed the development of Israeli communities in Gaza and Judea/Samaria, made an unprecedented and bold move in an effort to bring stability and coexistence with Israels Arab neighbors. However, instead producing a path to peace, the situation only got worse. Subsequent to Israels withdrawal Hamas and Fatah engaged in a power struggle. In June 2006 Hamas abducted IDF soldier Gilad Schalit and held him prisoner for five years. In June 2007 after months of violent clashes Hamas forcibly ousted Fatah, took over the Gaza Strip and has maintained an iron-clad grip ever since. Repeated Conflict Eleven years, six military operations and 20,000+ rockets later, peace appears further away than ever. Approximately 33% of children in Sderot suffer from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder). Recent attacks included a barrage of 200 rockets and mortars in one 24 hour period. Thus far, the number of attacks in 2018 is on track to surpass any year in recent history. In spite of such incessant attacks, the UN, EU and most world leaders remain silent in the face of such abhorrent behavior by Hamas. Yet, when Israel has endured enough terror and takes responsive measures, most of the media quickly vilifies Israel as the aggressor, using disproportionate force. A recent example is the BBC. After relentless rocket attacks from Hamas Israel responded. The BBC headline read Israeli air strikes kill woman and toddler. Nothing was included about Hamass attacks. BBC changed the headline after Israels justifiable complaint. Hindsight In hindsight, what has Israel gained since its bold gesture toward peace by withdrawing from Gaza in 2005? Has Hamas given any indication it accepts Israels right to exist and a willingness to coexist in peace? Is there any international pressure to force Hamas to turn away from terror and refrain from their murderous tactics? Has the UN convened an investigation into Hamass ongoing reign of terror against Israels civilians? Have they condemned the terror tunnels, which are designed specifically to infiltrate into Israel for the single purpose of murdering civilians? Have they criticized Hamas for constructing the tunnels from material meant for humanitarian purposes? The horrific anti-Israel bias of the UN was driven home by UN Ambassador Niki Haley, speaking at a Christians United for Israel event on July 23rd, when she revealed the following stunning comment: in the history of the UN General Assembly there has been over 600 resolutions on the Israel-Palestinian issue. Not one of these has ever mentioned Hamas, not a single one. Is peace any closer? Since Hamas took over Gaza there has been an oft repeated cycle of terror attacks to which Israel responds. This continues to a point when Israel decides theyve had enough and launches a limited military operation designed to bring calm. When Hamass leadership (safely protected several stories below ground) as its civilians die, decides its time to halt the battle, they announce they are ready for a cease fire. Israel always accepts the cease fire and calm prevails... temporarily. This scenario has repeated itself again and again. Lives are lost, property in Gaza lie in ruin, yet Hamas raises the flag of victory because they still exist and have withstood the mighty Israeli army. They long to live for another day of martyrdom. With all due respect to Prime Minister Netanyahu this sick cycle needs to stop. The folly of it is only exceeded by its tragic legacy. Time to Change the Rules Time has come for Israel to change the rules. The repeated cease fires have solved nothing. Its like treading water. At some point you must sink or swim. Something has to change. Hamass charter requires the destruction of Israel. Theyve made it abundantly clear they have no intention of stopping their terror tactics. Plus, they have repeatedly stated they will never accept Israels right to exist. This eliminates any negotiable solution that allows peaceful coexistence. No civilized nation should have to endure such uncompromising conditions. Israel would welcome pressure on Hamas from the international community to change their tactics and embrace peace. However, there is none. Add Irans persistent supply line of smuggled weapons, I believe its up to Israel to take proactive measures. Israel should stop allowing Hamas to dictate the course of events. Whats the solution? The reality is there is no simple solution. However, at a minimum Israeli civilians deserve to live in peace, free of the constant reign of terror from Hamas. Given the repeated cycle of terror/cease fire/terror/cease fire, Israel should take a new direction. Israel should let Hamas and the world know that it will not be the one to break the cease fire. However, they should also unequivocally state that if Hamas breaks it, Israel will not respond in kind as they have been doing for years. This solves nothing. The time has come for Israel to put Hamas on notice they are prepared to mount an operation into Gaza designed to root out the terror once and for all. This will be painful and may very well cost lives on both sides. Many will cry foul. However, Israel cannot and should not have to endure ongoing terror. With no prospect of Hamass willingness to compromise or accept Israels right to exist, a long term military operation appears to be the best option. No one wants this. However, what choice does Israel have? Hamass charter calls for the destruction of Israel and annihilation of the Jewish people. Their goal is clear for the entire world to see. Their apocalyptic theological views eliminate any practical negotiated solution which allows Israel to exist. No civilized nation should be forced to make compromises with such an uncompromising enemy. If Israel informs Hamas how they will respond if they break the cease fire, maybe, just maybe the civilian population of Gaza might rise up. Maybe they will send a message to Hamas they are sick and tired of living with destruction and violence. If there are peaceful Muslims let them speak up and send a message to the terrorists theyve had enough. Change the rules, by giving Hamas a clear warning, they need to stop terrorizing Israel or there will be a heavy price to pay. Put the ball squarely in Hamass court. Should Gazans rise up, the question becomes will Hamas listen? Given the history, what does Israel have to lose? For this and more of Dan Calic's articles please visit his Facebook Page. Franken was driven from office over accusations of sexual abuse far less serious than the charges against Ellison. Yet, now that the #MeToo passions have cooled from their level right after allegations of Harvey Weinsteins grotesque behavior inflamed passions, Minnesota Dems primary voters and the partys bigshots are both comfortable with an accused abuser running on their ticket. Feminists who demanded the ouster of former Senator Al Franken and their victim, Franken himself, must both be seething over Minnesota Democrats endorsing Congressman Keith Ellison for that states attorney general. The Associated Press reports: Minnesota Democrats are standing behind U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison and his bid for state attorney general, with the state party giving him an endorsement Saturday amid an allegation of domestic abuse from an ex-girlfriend. Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party Chairman Ken Martin said in a statement that Ellison "will be a champion for families and fight to hold powerful interests accountable." Ellison received 326 votes, or 82 percent of delegates on hand at the party's state executive committee meeting Saturday, the Minneapolis Star Tribune reported. The endorsement comes after Ellison won the Democratic primary just days after Karen Monahan said Ellison had once dragged her off a bed by her feet while screaming obscenities. Ellison has denied the allegation. Monahan has said she has video footage of the 2016 encounter, but has declined to release it. Ellison says the video does not exist. The National Organization for Women has called for Ellison to quit the race in which Ellison faces Republican Doug Wardlow. National Democrats are counting on an enthusiastic turnout from all of the identity group factions to power a blue wave. But now women, by far the largest identity group, are being in effect told to calm down, that accusations of abuse by a woman against a man are not necessarily to be believed. Implicitly, this position also admits that injustice may have been done to Franken and a host of others driven from positions of prominence by the #MeToo mob. The potential for intra-party strife is high. 2009 photo via Wikimedia Commons Of course, it is possible that the charges against Ellison are untrue. The video may or may not exist, and if it does exist, it may or may not be released before Election Day. My preference would be for it to be released just prior to voting but after it is too late to switch candidates, Well, turns out that last miserable talking point, that one they hoped to use to turn America blue at the midterms, is about to go out the window. For the Democrats, the booming Trump economy has always been a nightmare. The tax cut was derided as a ' scam .' The company bonuses that came of it in the hands of workers were just ' crumbs .' The jobs boom was blasted as ' reckless .' And the biggest silk purse attempted from this sow's ear of arguments has been the claim that 'wages are stagnant.' The Democrats' socialist 'it girl,' Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, made a valiant effort to use that ' narrative ' in her calls for 'a living wage.' Here's the final blow from the New York Post: Workers will finally be bringing home the bacon salaries are about to break out of a decade-long slump. US professionals nationwide will soon be taking home their biggest paychecks, as the tightening labor market and economic recovery will spur companies to confidently raise salaries and pay bigger bonuses, according to a new study by Willis Towers Watson Data Services. Employers tend to pay more when they feel confident about the future, said Murray Gunn, an analyst at Elliott Wave International. This survey certainly reflects an ebullient mood among business leaders. Employers havent paid an increase like this since 2008, when the financial crisis torpedoed company coffers. Since 2008? You know, the year Obama got elected? That's a lot of years with stagnant wages, given that Obama lasted eight years in office. And more to the point, it identifies the party responsible for all those stagnant wages. Because up until now, Democrats have been yelling and yelling about stagnant wages as the reason for voters to reject Republicans and President Trump. Get a load of what so many of them have been saying: You can see the left has beat this point like a rented mule. The reality is, now wages are going up, and that can be explained by something entirely foreign to Democrats: Free market economics. Basically, when you have jobs up, which is what President Trump has accomplished through tax cuts and deregulation, you have businesses with more cash to hire people and give them bonuses instead. Instead of sending more money to Obama's many, many bureaucrats, what we see now is money going to workers instead. And with unemployment sliding into the 3% and 4% range, which is what we have now (San Diego, for one, has 3.2% unemployment), it starts getting harder to find workers. What do employers do when they want to find more workers, and when they want to keep the ones they have? They raise wages to compete for workers, and best their competition for the best workers they can find. That's the knock-on effect (and note that it didn't take long following those tax cuts) that shows the biggest worker paycheck increase since the pre-Obama days. Sorry, Dems. You've just lost your last talking point. Think workers are going to embrace more of that socialism you're offering them in place of these paycheck raises now? Be prepared for a surprise. Image credit: John Lambertson Pearson, via Flickr // CC BY-SA 2.0 Governor Rauner, veto HB 2624 Illinois HB 2624, introduced by Representative Laura Fine, limits the duration of short-term health insurance plans to 181 days. The intent of HB 2624 is to ensure that healthier people do not enroll in the short-term health insurance plans that will be able to last up to 36 months without new underwriting under the new Health and Human Services guidelines, thus preserving the Illinois exchange. This is a significant event for those who do not have access to employer-sponsored group health insurance such as sole proprietors (hairdressers, business startups, realtors trying to find home buyers, consultants, skilled tradesmen, etc.) in Illinois. According to the IRS, there are 974,303 sole proprietors in Illinois. Many are covered via their spouse, some via the exchange, some elect to be uninsured. Allowing people to purchase up to 36 months of health insurance coverage (albeit not as comprehensive as the ACA, as short-term policies typically have a pre-existing conditions exclusion, do not cover maternity, offer limited to non-existent mental health coverage, offer limited prescription drug coverage) and allowing them to enjoy lower premiums that allow them to enjoy the fruits of their labor or commit more resources to growing their business by seeing a reduction in their health insurance premiums must be seen as a good idea against a backdrop of a 32% increase in income tax rates, leadership in state outmigration (number two behind New York according to the Chicago Business Journal) and $250 billion in unfunded pension liability (Moodys). In Illinois, 339,740 residents signed up for the Affordable Care Act taxpayer exchange in 2018. 83% of those signed up for coverage on the exchange received substantial taxpayer subsidies that shielded the insured from the actual cost of their health insurance (healthinsurance.org). Those earning more than 400% of Federal Poverty Level had to pay the actual cost of their insurance. For example, a family of four in Belvidere, ages 50, 49, 22 and 20, all non-smokers with a $3,750 deductible and a $7,350 out of pocket will cost you $2,449.26/month if you earn more than 400% of the Federal Poverty Level. Yes, you read that right. $7,350 out of pocket and your premium will be $2,446.26/month. Governor Rauner needs to stand up for the nearly one million sole proprietors, veto HB 2624 and give residents of Illinois access to affordable health insurance that never materialized under the Affordable Care Act. To afford these residents six months of short-term health insurance coverage (and the resultant nearly 70% reduction in premium costs -- for six months) when neighboring states will be following the Health and Human Services 36-month guideline (and the nearly 70% reduction in premiums for 36 months) is a gut punch to the sole proprietors of Illinois who are the engine of new business creation in our state. Lets not drive away more of our most productive citizens. Lets have a functioning health insurance market that serves the interests of the middle class. According to a 1989 leaked video, Khamenei was selected to a one-year caretaker period as supreme leader. The 20-minute footage, posted on social media by exiled Iranian journalist Shahed Alavi, reveals that Khamenei said he was not qualified enough for the post. Ayatollah Khamenei has repeatedly stated that he will never follow the path of the late shah of Iran and leave the country peacefully. Instead, he has insinuated that he would stay and massacre the enemies of Islam: the Iranian people. The illegitimate mullahs presently ruling Iran have been blatantly violating the sacred covenant of human rights by attacking large numbers of peaceful demonstrators demanding nothing more than their God-given right to liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The mullahs and their mercenaries are wasting precious human life to maintain themselves in power while terrorizing the Iranian population and giving away the wealth of the nation to numerous terrorist organizations. According to the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, Iran's regime spends $16 billion annually to support terrorists and rogue regimes. It goes without saying that our hearts bleed to watch how brutally the government agents attack, assault, and beat up peaceful demonstrators. Regretfully, the ruling regime sees these actions as part of their sacred duty. They see any defiance directed at the supreme leader as defiance to Allah. After all, Ayatollah Khamenei sees himself as the representative of the Hidden Imam, al-Mahdi, hence the custodian over the people. Iran's rulers have turned a wealthy country with a rich history and culture into an economically depleted rogue state whose chief exports are violence, bloodshed, chaos, and terrorism. Mullahs Are Panicking Now the mullahs are in a state of panic. They know that the current protests across Iran are very different from the 2009 Green Movement. The current protests show the working-class and lower-middle-class Iranians in small towns and medium-sized cities within Iran calling for the overthrow of the Islamic Republic and chanting in support of the monarchy and the exiled Prince Pahlavi. For many demonstrators, the wretched state of the Iranian economy and corruption provided the perfect vehicle for pent up expressions of Persian nationalism. For centuries, Iran has been a driver of change: "Where Iran goes, so goes the region." The 1979 Iranian revolution ushered in a period of intense sectarian conflict and unrest in the area. But most Iranians are tired of Khomeini-style Islam. Younger Iranians are embracing and reasserting their Persian national identity, almost in reaction to the regime, and in ways that I think will impact the region for decades to come. Now we can confidently assert that the post-1979 chapter in regional history has ended, and a new chapter has begun. If present trends continue, I see Iran heading for a major change toward a Western way of life. The current protests by millions throughout Iran is a clear signal that the Islamic theocracy is in irreversible decline. The overwhelming majority of the people are no longer willing to settle for a vote recount or reformists' deception and a less repressive Islamic rule. They are determined to establish a fully secular democracy with complete separation of mosque and state. They demand regime change. Moreover, deep cracks are popping up in the system and among the contending factions. Realistically speaking, there is perhaps 10-15 percent of the population that still supports the clerical system to various degrees. Many in this group are government employees, mullahs, and hired elements such as Basiji. Also, the regime has some backers from its proxies' elements from several countries in the region such as Afghanistan, Iraq, Lebanon, and Syria. The best strategy that stands the greatest chance of success and entails the least risk of starting a cataclysmic chain reaction is for a "coalition of the willing," to borrow a phrase, to rally behind Prince Reza Pahlavi and the Iranian people. It is the democracy-seeking secular Iranians who are thoroughly capable of dislodging the tyrannical mullahs. Unlike with Obama, the call of the opposition has been resoundingly answered by President Trump, some of his Cabinet members, and U.S. lawmakers. The recent protests are just the beginning of the end for the Iranian rulers. It may take several months, but the main concern now is how to ensure a smooth transition from Islamic radicalism to a secular democracy. In short, the Iranian people are happy to grant the mullahs' death wish. They object, however, to their design of taking us along together with some sons and daughters of the "Great Satan." After all, the heavens they fantasize are exclusive to the rabid believers of Muhammad, and that fortunately excludes us all. For picture posts from 2010 and earlier, see the Earlier Picture Posts Page Outrageously, a McSally ad claims that Dr. Ward has crazy and dangerous ideas. Since the birth of the Tea Party, GOP establishment elites and leftists have been calling us crazy, dangerous, and extreme for believing in following our Constitution, putting America first, and traditional principles and values. Folks, the GOP establishment fix is in against Dr. Kelli Ward versus Martha McSally in the primary for U.S. Senate, Arizona. I cannot believe what I am seeing on TV here in Arizona. Millions of GOP dollars have been spent to deceive Arizona voters into believing that fake conservative McSally is the real conservative and brand real conservative Dr. Ward the fake. McSally seems to want to take Dr. Ward's record of conservatism and claim it as her own. McSally is the candidate who undermined Trump's agenda and refused to say whether or not she voted for Hillary. McSally is the one who voted for amnesty. She maintains an F rating at the Conservative Review a score even worse than "Fake" Jeff Flake and John McCain! FreedomWorks gave McSally an "F" rating. Folks, I'm a Tea Party guy from its beginning been a speaker and have sung my "American Tea Party Anthem" at over 500 Tea Party rallies nationwide on numerous bus tours Tea Party Express and other PACs. I know who is and who is not Tea Party sharing our principles of limited government and following the Constitution. This is why my wife Mary and I are in Arizona with the Conservative Campaign Committee campaigning for Dr. Kelli Ward. Suddenly, Arizona TV is flooded with McSally ads spreading outrageous lies against Dr. Ward. Despicably, McSally claims that Dr. Ward is anti-Trump, supports amnesty, and is not a conservative. What is so frustrating is that the GOP establishment has deep, deep pockets to dominate the airwaves with lies portraying fake conservative McSally as the conservative. Meanwhile, Dr. Ward is the candidate who has a proven record of fighting for conservatism. If Dr. Ward is not a conservative, why is she endorsed by prominent conservatives Sean Hannity, Laura Ingraham, and Mark Levin? Dr. Ward has been endorsed by Gun Owners of America, the National Association of Gun Rights, and Citizens for Trump. These national voices on board with Trump's agenda have endorsed Dr. Kelli Ward: Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) Rep. Tom Tancredo (R-Colo.) Ed Rollins, campaign manager for Ronald Reagan (1984) Dr. Sebastian Gorka, White House strategist Dick Morris, political consultant Major General Bentley Rayburn, USAF (retired) Excited about her helping Trump drain the swamp, these locals endorse Dr. Ward: State senator Sonny Borrelli State senator Sylvia Allen State senator Warren Petersen State senator Nancy Barto State senator David Farnsworth State representative Travis Grantham State representative Jill Norgaard State representative Bob Thorpe Russell Pearce, former Senate president Former state senator Barbara Leff Former state senator Al Melvin Cal Sheehy, vice mayor of Lake Havasu City Maricopa County treasurer Royce Flora Jake Hoffman, Queen Creek City Council Emilena Turley, vice mayor of Queen Creek Mohave County supervisor Hildy Anguis Mayor of Bullhead City Tom Brady Phoenix City councilman Sal DiCiccio https://bit.ly/2MuKjBo Mayor of Apache Junction Jeff Serdy With this extremely impressive long list of endorsements under Dr. Ward's name, you can see how outrageous it is for the McSally campaign to claim that Dr. Ward is not conservative and does not support Trump. Patriots, we cannot allow McSally and the GOP establishment to get away with their shameful scam against Dr. Ward, Arizona voters, and America. Our Conservative Campaign Committee team remains here in Arizona, committed to doing everything in our power to get the word out that Dr. Kelli Ward is the real-deal conservative in the August 28 GOP primary the best candidate for America. Here some history is in order: Ellison was an active supporter and local leader of the Nation of Islam in Minneapolis before his election to Congress. (I set forth this history in some detail in the October 9, 2006 issue of The Weekly Standard.) Ellison has baldly dissembled about this history since 2006. In his 2014 memoir My Country, 'Tis of Thee, for example, Ellison simply omitted it and presented himself as a critic of Farrakhan and the Nation of Islam. This past June, Ellison told Jake Tapper on CNN, "I worked on the Million Man March and I was proud to do so. That's it." But that wasn't it. Ellison first sought office as a Democrat in 1998 as Keith Ellison-Muhammad, a self-avowed member of the Nation of Islam. (Ellison-Muhammad is just one of three Nation of Islam names Ellison has used over the years.) Fortunately for him, Ellison's 5th District constituents haven't much cared about his history and the Minneapolis Star Tribune has almost entirely let it rest exactly where Ellison wants it. But seeking the top law enforcement job in Minnesota and running for statewide office should be a more daunting challenge because Ellison is an extraordinarily poor fit for the job. Among the troubling threads that run through Ellison's career: support for cop killers. RealClearPolitics reporter Caitlin Huey-Burns was criticizing Trumps communication strategy when she called him "the leader of the free world." Goldberg interjected to say that, actually, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is the leader of the free world. "Hes not the leader of the free world, but, sorry," Goldberg said. "By default hes the leader of the free world," Commentary magazine editor John Podhoretz replied. "Angela Merkel is the leader of the free world," Goldberg said, while Podhoretz laughed. "Well, he is the most important person in the world in politics right now," Huey-Burns said, looking at Goldberg. MSNBC's Katy Tur asked if Goldberg meant European countries dont see Trump as a leader, but Goldberg went further than that. "Hes a sort of junior player in a bloc of authoritarian countries," she said. "Hes part of a bloc that includes [Russian President] Vladimir Putin, [Philippine President Rodrigo] Duterte." Both leaders she referenced have faced steep criticism for violence against their own citizens, prompting Tur to push Goldberg to clarify. "[Trump] is not rounding people up and murdering them without any due process," Tur said. "He would certainly like to," Goldberg replied. "I dont think you can say that definitively, Michelle," Tur said, steering the conversation to Podhoretz. Remember how Brazil, Ecuador and Peru condemned Arizona over illegal immigration? Remember how Arizona Governor Jan Brewer got piled on by 17 Latin American nations in 2010, condemning her state for attempting to enforce federal immigration law based on the reality that Arizona was being overrun by illegals and the Obama administration was doing nothing? It was bad enough that the Obama administration sued her state to end the law, something it only did with partial success. But then Latin states such as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador joined the fun, piously weighing in to sign on to a highly questionable Friend of the Court brief led by Mexico, condemning Arizona for trying to enforce U.S. immigration law. That offended us, and amounted to foreign interference in our internal affairs, because here was a state being flooded with illegals and cartels, and there they were rooting for the lawbreakers. Click here and you can see all their names laid out, condemning Arizona. Now the shoe is on the other tootsie. Remember how Brazil, Ecuador and Peru condemned Arizona over illegal immigration in 2010? Remember how Arizona Governor Jan Brewer got piled on by 17 Latin American nations in 2010, condemning her state for attempting to enforce federal immigration law based on the reality that Arizona was being overrun by illegals and the Obama administration was doing nothing? It was bad enough that the Obama administration sued her state to end the law, something it only did with partial success. But then Latin states such as Brazil, Colombia, Peru, and Ecuador joined the fun, piously weighing in to sign on to a highly questionable Friend of the Court brief led by Mexico, condemning Arizona for trying to enforce U.S. immigration law. Scroll forward to 2018. Now the shoe is on the other tootsie. .....Censorship is a very dangerous thing & absolutely impossible to police. If you are weeding out Fake News, there is nothing so Fake as CNN & MSNBC, & yet I do not ask that their sick behavior be removed. I get used to it and watch with a grain of salt, or dont watch at all.. Social media giants can swear on a stack of bibles that they don't attempt to undermine alternative voices. They only target "hate speech" and "fake news" they claim. The truth of the matter can be found in the numerous experiences of conservative posters whose copy has been deleted or blocked. One such poster, Doug Wead, relates an extraordinary story for which Google, owner of YouTube, has no defense. Wead served two Republican presidents and is a respected commentator. He writes in The Federalist: Almost a year ago, an employee noticed a YouTube video at the top of a Doug Wead search and wondered how it got there. It wasnt related to the date, the view count, or anything else that they could determine. But since it was there, at Googles omniscient discretion, we decided to do something we had never done before: buy an ad to promote it. Thats when our troubles began. Within days, Google blocked my ad and informed my team that we had violated their policies. I called Google. The problem, they explained, was that the video had hate speech. It was a Fox Business News video with Trish Regan interviewing me about the Russian collusion investigation. The Google employee could not find the exact offending words, but referred me to various other supervisors up the ladder. It took much of the day listening to elevator music as I waited, playing Civilization V interspersed by brief conversations with successive employees reciting Google policies that they admitted explained nothing. We concluded I should re-submit the ad and whoever was offended at Google would be forced to surface. Once again my ad was blocked, and this time my Google account was suspended. I felt like Roseanne Barr. Once again I called Google and spent a day trying to figure out what was wrong. This call may be monitored, they announced, and I announced back that I would do the same. So the discussion began. Was I too nice to President Trump? Should I have been more critical? Was it something Regan had said? She seems to fairly cover all sides of an issue. Why would they have a problem with her? Google employees appeared to be baffled. Could they call me back tomorrow, they asked? The next day, Nurse Ratched at Google finally emerged. I was never given her name, but conversations with her employees indicated her sex. It was nothing that I or Regan had said in the video, her team explained. Huh? No, no, the problem, I was told, was in the crawler of words along the bottom of the video. It was a quote of Trump declaring that the Robert Mueller investigation was a witch hunt. This was apparently hate speech. As fantastical as that sounds, it apparently happens with regularity. John Stoessel of ABC News relates another example on YouTube: .@YouTube has added a disclaimer to my global warming video, saying: "evidence show[s] that the climate system is warming." I say that in my video, too. But does YouTube really need to inject its opinion? Is there no room for nuance?https://t.co/yvSuiUj6j6 John Stossel (@JohnStossel) August 15, 2018 It should be noted that as private companies, social media sites can censor, discriminate, edit, or delete any content they wish. They don't need to explain or justify any decision they make in this regard. So "bias" is not the problem. The issue is how they market themselves as virtuous, autonomous, non-political entities. The towering hypocrisy of Facebook, Twitter, and Google in defining themselves as white knights only becomes more nauseating the more you understand the personal political leanings of management. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said on Saturday that he "fully admit[s]" Twitter employees share a largely left-leaning bias after facing accusations that conservatives are discriminated against on the social media platform. In an interview that aired Saturday on CNN, Dorsey said his company has a responsibility to be open about its political viewpoints, but to operate without bias when applying content policies to users. "We need to constantly show that we are not adding our own bias, which I fully admit is...is more left-leaning," Dorsey says. "But the real question behind the question is, are we doing something according to political ideology or viewpoints? And we are not. Period," he added. This reminds me of FBI officials solemnly assuring us that even though they hate Trump and supported Hillary Clinton, there was no bias in their investigations. Dorsey's assurances ring hollow when placed against the growing evidence that there is a deliberate, conscious effort afoot by social media platforms to silence conservatives - especially if they support Donald Trump. No one believes their denials - not even Bill Maher, who said on his sho w Friday, Thats free speech for the speech you hate. Thats what free speech means. Were losing the thread of the concepts that are important to this country." If people like Dorsey can't recognize the problem, there is no solution. What the ANC is calling "land reform" would be "catastrophic" according to one lobbying group. Even black farmers are saying any plan to take land without compensation would be "unrealistic." White South African farmers find themselves under the gun as the ruling ANC party prepares plans to sieze farms from whites without compensation. Sunday Express: Tensions among the countrys white farming community have been rising since the election of Cyril Ramaphosa assumed office earlier this year and committed his African National Congress (ANC) to land expropriation. And ANC chairman Gwede Mantashe sparked panic last week when he said: You shouldnt own more than 25,000 acres of land. Therefore if you own more it should be taken without compensation. People who are privileged never give away privilege as a matter of a gift. The group representing white farmers reports that a record number of farms are up for sale - but no one is buying: Omri van Zyl, head of the Agri SA union, which represents mainly white commercial farmers, said: The mood among our members is very solemn. They are confused about the lack of any apparent strategy from the government and many are panicking. So many farms are up for sale, more than weve ever had, but no one is buying. Analysts warn the move could undermine property rights and deter investment. In neighbouring Zimbabwe, violent land seizures authorised by Robert Mugabe in the 1990s sent the country into a spiral of decline from which it has never recovered. Analyst Henrik Gullberg said: Markets are sensitive to anything perceived to be Zimbabwe-fication on the land-reform front. Black farmers - the supposed beneficiaries of expropriation - are dubious of the plan: The National African Farmers Union (Nafu), which represents the countrys black farmers, said the scheme would lead to job losses. Nafu president Motsepe Matlala said: From a practical and economical point of view it will not work. Political analyst Marianne Merten said: The narrative that expropriation without compensation is the silver bullet is simplistic and unrealistic. "Land will be a central issue in the looming 2019 election year, and rhetoric is always easier than transformative action. It isn't only land that whites fear losing. The lesson of Zimbabwe is that there is a chance of a complete breakdown in law and order with roaming gangs of blacks slaughtering white farmers. The government has yet to address the issue of law and order in rural South Africa as there is already rampant crime to contend with. To watch transfixed as a semi-modern nation self destructs before our eyes is horrifying. It's possible that cooler heads in government will prevail and some kind of land reform can be implemented without such drastic measures. But ANC politicians continue to go out on a limb and up the ante every time they open their mouths about land reform without compensation. They already may have gone too far to pull back. Amsterdams Schiphol Airport, located just 9 km southwest of the city, is the third busiest airport in Europe and one of the busiest in the world. In an average year, more than 63 million passengers pass through Schiphol in as many as 479,000 flights to and from various international destinations. Thats an average of about 1,300 flights every day, or nearly a flight every minute. In other words, Schiphol is very busy and very loud. When the Dutch military first built a landing strip here in 1916, they chose the site because it was a polder a broad and flat lowland that used to be the bed of a vast lake. Over the decades the flat expanse of the Haarlemmermeer polder became one of the most densely populated areas of the country, and the noise produced by the airport became an annoying problem for the residents. For years, residents complained about the incessant rumbling din produced every time an aircraft took off. This type of noise, called ground-level noise, propagates across the flat and featureless Haarlemmermeer landscape that has nothing in betweenno hills, no valleys to disrupt the path of the sound waves. When the airport opened its longest runway in 2003, residents could hear the din more than 28 km away. To tackle the noise problem, the airport brought in an unlikely candidatean architecture firm called H+N+S Landscape Architects and artist Paul De Kort. The idea to engage a landscape artist to solve a technical problem was born out of an accident. In 2008, after a failed attempt to control noise, the Schiphol Airport officials discovered that after the arable land between the runway and the surrounding settlements were ploughed, the noise dropped. So Paul De Kort dug a series of hedges and ditches on the southwest of the airport, just past the edge of the runway. The distance between the ridges are roughly equivalent to the wavelength of the airport noise, which is about 36 feet. There are 150 perfectly straight and symmetrical furrows with six foot high ridges between them. These simple ridges have reduced noise levels by more than half. Paul De Kort drew on the experiences of an 18th century German physicist and musician named Ernst Chladni, whose research into the physics of sound laid the groundwork for modern acoustic science. He is sometimes referred to as the father of acoustics. In one of his most famous experiments, Chladni sprinkled salt or sand across a metal plate and subjected it to vibration causing the grains to arrange themselves into geometric patterns and ridges. Today, we call them Chladni figures. Paul De Korts landscaping work around Amsterdam Airport Schiphol eventually became a 36-hectare park called Buitenschot. Various paths run through the park area. Theres a paved bicycle lane in the center and a paved footpath crosses the park. The most informal network is created by the grassy and cut paths between the ridges. De Kort also incorporated a number of art pieces within the park, such as the Listening Ear, a parabolic dish that amplifies sound coming from far away, and Chaldnipond, a diamond-shaped pond with a bridge and a mechanism underneath it which can create waves in the water. The airport is trying to cut down noise even further by changing when certain planes can take off and requiring airlines to update their fleets. The plan is to achieve a noise reduction of up to 10 decibels. All photographs courtesy Paul De Kort and H+N+S Landscape Architects. Related: Australian Farmer Fights Soil Erosion With Land Art Sources: Gizmodo / Smithsonian / Landscape The Journal / Works That Work COP26 may be a cop-out in the making COP26 is just about a month away. Delayed for a year by the Covid-19 pandemic, the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference has built up even more expectations and momentum during the intervening months Met in 2011, asked her out in 2012 (late teen age) Got serious about spending life together in 2015 I moved to Australia on October 2017 Travelled back to my birth country for two weeks and got married in June 26 Went on a short honeymoon and then I returned back to Australia one week after the wedding. Online visa form Currently filling out the online sponshorship form Made a mistake in Wife's form that both the witness are non- australian PR/ Citizens Applicant- Passport, Citizenship, form 80, form 1221, Citizenship certificate Sponsor - Passport, Visa grant letter, Citizenship certificate, birth certificate, medicare card, Proof of address (Bank statement, gym membership and a few letters adressed to me), Social Marriage registration certificate Pictures from 2015-2017 of a few places we visited and dates we went to (google drive backup shows the dates), facebook post of 2015 showing us together as a couple Facebook posts of her and her family seeing me off when I first flew to Australia and when I came back after the wedding Photos from the wedding and google drive link to other photos/ video if CO is interested (I doubt it though) Statement from both the people whom we have included in the application (although both are non Australians/PR) One additional statements from PR who did not attend the wedding but has met her a few times in that country when we were dating One additional statement from a citizen whom I work with and has not met her but vouching that I went back for the wedding as I talked about it a lot at work My travel arrangements- flight tickets and application for leave to go back for the wedding Household She currently lives with my parents on the same house where I grew up- her bank statement that shows my passport's address is attached We never lived together before marriage (cultural stuff) and after wedding we barely lived together for a week. So this one is tricky Financial Aspect My bank statement showing a few instances where I have transferred money from my Australian account to her account My Superannuation statement showing her as beneficiary Her Bank statement showing me as her beneficiary Nature of Commitment I'm currently compiling our chat history and internet call log/ chat history over different apps and several phones- trying to include as many months as possible within 5-10 pages Guys I'd like your opinion on my wife's submitted 309 case and evidence coz I feel there's something missing (mainly in financials and household): One of Indias largest airports will be closed until at least Aug. 26 after torrential rains put ramps and runways under about three feet of water. Cochin Airport, in the southeastern state of Kerala, has had almost three times the normal rainfall this monsoon season and the airport was closed last Thursday. The airport, which ironically is the countrys only 100 percent solar-powered facility, has about 70,000 movements a year and more than 10 million passengers go through. Closing the main airport for more than a week is a big hardship so airlines and local authorities are now looking at setting up a temporary international airport at a nearby navy base. Kochi Naval Base hosted commercial traffic until 2000 and Air India was reported to have flown a test flight there on Saturday. Other carriers have moved operations to Thiruvananthapuram, about 130 miles south of Kochi. More than 100 people have been killed by the unprecedented flooding over the past few weeks. Operations at Manila Airport in the Philippines have returned to normal almost two days after a Chinese airliner left the runway on landing late Thursday. The Xaimen Airlines Boeing 737 ended up in a muddy infield after a second landing attempt in heavy rain. None of the 165 people on board were seriously hurt in the incident and subsequent evacuation but the travel plans of tens of thousands of people going through the countrys busiest airport were disrupted. The location of the disabled aircraft blocked a main runway and resulted in 165 cancellations on Friday and Saturday. It will be later this week before everyone affected has gotten where they were going. Authorities said the ground was too soft to support the cranes needed to lift the aircraft out of the mire but they managed to get it done about noon on Saturday local time. Darren Beattie, a former White House policy aide and speechwriter, attended the H.L. Mencken Club Conference, which is frequented by white nationalists, in 2016, CNN reports. Between the lines: The White House declined to tell CNN the date of Beattie's departure after asking the network to hold off on the story last week, but the report notes that his work email worked until late Friday. And The Washington Post's Robert Costa stated on Twitter: "This story raises many questions. What kind of vetting is being done of staffers in terms of links to extreme events/groups? How did Kelly and POTUS respond when told of this development?" President Trump told King Abdullah of Jordan that a one-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict might lead in a few years to someone named Mohammed becoming prime minister of Israel, according to several sources briefed on the meeting. Why it matters: The White House "peace team" is still discussing when and how to launch the Trump administration's peace plan. It's still unclear whether the plan is based on a two-state solution or on a different paradigm. Trump has said he would support whatever solution the parties can agree to. His remarks to the King of Jordan, made in their White House meeting on June 25, might suggest he thinks a one-state solution is a threat to the future of Israel as a Jewish state. Behind the scenes: On August 2nd, King Abdullah hosted French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian in Amman. During the meeting, the king briefed the French minister on his meeting with Trump a month earlier. French diplomats told me about the king's description of that meeting. The king said he warned Trump during their meeting in June that "many young Palestinians dont want the two-state solution anymore, but would rather live together with the Israelis in one state with equal rights for all." The king added he told Trump: "The result will be that Israel will lose its Jewish character". The king told the French foreign minister Trump answered sarcastically half joking, half serious: "What you say makes sense. [In a one-state scenario,] the prime minister of Israel in a few years will be called Mohammed". The king said he stressed to Trump that, in order for the peace plan to be acceptable, it must be presented first to the relevant European and Arab states in order to get their input, and complained that this still hasnt happened. According to the French diplomats, King Abdullah said he asked Trump not to rush to present his peace plan "because there are too many difficulties at the moment." The king said Trump's answer was that he still wants to pursue Middle East peace and remains committed to the issue. The king added that Trump stressed that, if his administration can't get a deal between Israel and the Palestinians, then no U.S. administration ever will. An Israeli source and a former U.S. official who were both briefed on the meeting between Trump and the Jordanian king confirmed this account. The Jordanian embassy in Washington declined to comment. The White House also declined to comment, saying it will not disclose private diplomatic conversations between the president and foreign leaders. Get more stories like this by signing up for our global newsletter, Axios World. Hundreds of veiled demonstrators gathered in Copenhagen earlier this month to protest against Denmark's "burqa ban," a law enacted in May that allows police officers to fine women who wear the Muslim niqab or body-length burqa in public areas. Between the lines: Denmark joined France, Belgium, Bulgaria, Austria and the Netherlands as European countries that have instituted some form of a nationwide ban on face veils, per the WashPost. Justifications for the burqa ban range from it being a matter of female dignity to a matter of public safety, as the wearer's identity would be concealed in the event of a security threat. But critics say the ban is being used as a pretext for discrimination against Muslims amid growing resistance to Europe's liberal immigration policies. The backdrop: There are several types of headscarves worn by Muslim women, but all are generally considered to be symbols of modesty and privacy, per the BBC. The hijab commonly refers to a headscarf that covers the head and neck but keeps the face clear. commonly refers to a headscarf that covers the head and neck but keeps the face clear. The niqab is a face veil that leaves the eyes clear. is a face veil that leaves the eyes clear. The burqa is the most concealing of all Islamic veils, covering the entire face and body and leaving only a mesh screen for the wearer to see through. By the numbers: France, which has the largest Muslim population in Europe, became the first country to implement a nationwide ban in 2011. At the time, there were 4.7 million Muslims living in France, accounting for 7.4% of the population, according to The Conversation. Research documents used to support the law stated that 1,900 women wore burqas in 2011, comprising .04% of the French Muslim population. But a report from the U.K.'s Channel 4 found that the original number was actually 367, or .001% of the Muslim population, and that the internal security services were asked to count again because the figure was deemed too low. This raises the question of why legislators would bother to pursue a ban that affects so few people. At the time France's law was enacted, then-president Nicolas Sarkozy declared what has since become a major point of contention among those involved in Europe's immigration debate: that certain Islamic practices are fundamentally incompatible with Western values. "The problem of the burqa is not a religious problem, it's a problem of liberty and women's dignity. It's not a religious symbol, but a sign of subservience and debasement. I want to say solemnly, the burqa is not welcome in France. In our country, we can't accept women prisoners behind a screen, cut off from all social life, deprived of all identity. That's not our idea of freedom." French President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2011 The big picture: Legally-mandated assimilation has become a trend in Europe, with the latest example being Denmark's plan to force "ghetto" children to undergo lessons in Danish values for 30 hours a week. It's a response to the challenges faced by countries who are seeing a large influx of immigrants cross their borders and one that could become more mainstream given the rise of far-right populism across the continent. Federal investigators are in a battle with Facebook trying to force the tech company to unlock end-to-end encryption on its Messenger app so they can eavesdrop on a specific user as part of an investigation into the MS-13 gang. The big picture: Despite Facebook's effort to thwart the government's access to private data, it isn't uncommon for agencies to request similar data from tech companies including giants like Google and Apple. Between the lines: Though this particular data request is larger than average, tech companies are queried for data thousands of times per year from federal agencies. In the second half of 2017, the government issued more than 32,000 Facebook user data requests in the United States according to data gathered by Statista. The government made just over 16,000 user data requests to Google in that same time period. Flashback: A similar situation arose with Apple and the Federal Bureau of Investigation in 2016 when investigators requested Apple help gain entry into an iPhone used by Syed Rizwan Farook, who carried out the 2015 San Bernardino shooting that resulted in the deaths of 14 people. The company denied the request, citing the precedent it would set moving forward and potential ethical issues that could arise from it. Apple asserted that forcing the company to write a new software code allowing it to unlock the phone would violate freedoms protected by the First Amendment rights. Investigators were worried that they wouldn't be able to figure out the phone's four digit passcode without using all of the allotted 10 tries and wiping its data. The FBI eventually paid hackers to get into the phone, which allowed the bureau to drop the case against Apple. The bottom line: The government requesting access to protected data is a regular occurrence for the tech industry and most often play a role in a larger investigation. However, the tech industry has vigorously protected its rights and the rights of users and that is unlikely to change any time soon. As students prepare to go back to school this fall in a post-Parkland America, so are armed marshals in Texas who have been trained to prevent the next school shooting, reports NPR's Austin affiliate station KUT. Why it matters: Texas isn't the only state that will see an increase in security measures this school year. Districts around the country are substantially beefing up security in fear of the next attempt at a school shooting, but critics argue the measures taken can make schools feel more like prisons and can't guarantee students' safety. The details: There are nearly 165 armed marshals trained as part of the school marshal program overseen by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement. The program allows school employees including teachers to carry concealed weapons on campus. Members must have a carrying license, 80 hours of training and pass a written test on carrying. Funding for the program doubled after the school shooting at Santa Fe High School where 10 people were killed in May. Yes, but: Texas isn't unique in taking such measures. There are already eight states that allow teachers to carry weapons in all primary school settings, the Wall Street Journal reports. Teachers in Arkansas and South Dakota have been allowed to carry for years. Legislators in Oklahoma, Wyoming and Kansas passed bills allowing staff to carry last year after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. The big picture: Though all states haven't gone as far as Texas has, many around the country are increasing security measures in different ways. Schools in Lockport, New York have installed security cameras with facial recognition systems. Parkland High School students returned to new locks on doors, guards, and 52 new security cameras at their school, USA Today reports. Be smart: Though Parkland is an important marker, schools were increasing security measures before tragedy hit Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School such changes, however, haven't always helped. Schools have been installing security cameras and metal detectors for years with uneven application to communities with heavy minority populations. Student resource officers have also always been present, though their effectiveness has been questioned. Opponents to the measures, including MSD's David Hogg, argue increased security makes school more like prison. The bottom line: Overall, schools are safer. 29 students per 1,000 between the ages of 12 and 18 were victimized during the 2016 school year as opposed to nearly 200 in 1992, according to data from the National Center for Education Statistics. Beefing up security has helped, but it hasn't stopped the school shooting problem. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro told CNN on Sunday that Cardinal Donald Wuerl, the archbishop of Washington, has lied to defend himself after a shocking grand jury report detailed decades of systemic sexual abuse by hundreds of Catholic priests in the state. "Cardinal Wuerl is not telling the truth. Many of his statements in response to the Grand Jury Report are directly contradicted by the Church's own documents and records from their Secret Archives. Offering misleading statements now only furthers the cover up." Why it matters: The report specifically alleges that Wuerl, who served as Pittsburghs bishop for 18 years, helped to cover up abuse and protect accused priests. Wuerl defended his actions in an interview with Fox 5 DC last week, saying, "I think I did everything that I possibly could." President Trump's personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani said that the 2016 Trump Tower meeting was "originally for the purpose of getting information about ... [Hillary] Clinton" during an interview Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." Why it matters: Along with Trump's shocking tweet on the subject earlier this month, it marks a huge reversal in the Trump team's narrative about that meeting as Trump's initial statement said it was primarily about the adoption of Russian children, rather than opposition dirt from a Kremlin-linked lawyer. More from Giuliani: " That was the original intention of the meeting. It turned out to be a meeting about another subject and it was not pursued at all. And, of course, any meeting with regards to getting information on your opponent is something any candidates staff would take. If someone said, I have information about your opponent, you would take that meeting." That was the original intention of the meeting. It turned out to be a meeting about another subject and it was not pursued at all. And, of course, any meeting with regards to getting information on your opponent is something any candidates staff would take. If someone said, I have information about your opponent, you would take that meeting." "All they knew that a woman with a Russian name was going to meet with them, they didn't know she represented the Russian government." Reality check: Getting opposition information that potentially comes from a foreign government isn't a normal action during a presidential campaign. And the initial email sent to Donald Trump Jr. from Rob Goldstone that set the meeting into motion said it was meant as "part of Russia and its government's support for Mr. Trump." By Trend: The Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway project may be continued, Turkish Ambassador to Turkmenistan Mustafa Kapucu said, the Turkish media reported Aug. 18. He said that the relevant projects have already been prepared by the Turkish side. The ambassador noted that this route may be used by Turkmenistan to export energy resources extracted there to world markets. We have plans to extend the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars project, Kapucu said. This route is of strategic importance for both Turkey and Turkmenistan. Ashgabat exports oil and gas and they want to increase their revenues. Turkmenistans gas reserves are estimated at 26 billion cubic meters. The official opening ceremony of the BTK railway was held in Baku Oct. 30 last year. The BTK railway was constructed on the basis a Georgian-Azerbaijani-Turkish intergovernmental agreement. The railways peak capacity will be 17 million tons of cargo per year. At an initial stage, this figure will be one million passengers and 6.5 million tons of cargo. Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed an order to provide funds for the construction of Piran-Hamarat-Vijaker road in Lerik region. Under the presidential order, 11.3 million manats will be allocated to the Azerbaijan Highway State Agency for the construction of the road connecting 28 residential areas with a total population of 9,000 people. Heres a cool idea for Texas prison officials frustrated by their continuing inability to hire more guards despite pay increases and bonuses air conditioning. It would make prisons more bearable for guards and head off the growing number of lawsuits by prisoners who say the heat is a form of cruel and unusual punishment. Thats not just a theory either. According to one officer, who asked not to be named because he wasnt authorized to speak on the record to The Houston Chronicle, If they would air-condition every unit across the state, they would keep more people. If you as a corrections officer tell your lieutenant, Look, Im hot, I need to go cool down, theyre gonna laugh you off the unit. Most state prisons are not air-conditioned, except for a few units that house elderly inmates or those under special medical care. Not surprisingly, this has led to a seemingly endless series of lawsuits by inmates seeking more humane treatment. For now, the state has been fending off most of them, even though temperatures in prisons can soar to triple digits and make life inside an ordeal for people on both sides of the cells. It seems like a losing legal battle. Eventually, a judge is likely to order air conditioning for the entire system. Keep in mind that federal judges ordered vast changes in the prison system years ago to make it less barbaric. Extending that concept to air conditioning is not far-fetched. Taxpayers must realize that the goal of prison is not just punishment but also correction. Virtually all inmates are paroled, and when they get out they should have the skills and education to get jobs and become productive members of society. If they are treated like animals while in prison and thrown back into the neighborhoods they came from, theyll likely victimize more law-abiding Texans and wind up back behind bars. That helps no one and costs a lot. For years low pay was the biggest barrier to keeping prisons fully staffed, and often it still is. New guards now start at $36,000 per year instead of $32,000, and new employees are eligible for hiring bonuses of $4,000 and $5,000 at 29 particularly understaffed units. Despite these efforts, the states vacancy rate has remained at about 14 percent , a shortage of 3,675 corrections officers. Some prisons had bigger shortages, and the Dalhart unit once was down to 51 percent staffing. Chronic staff shortages make prisons less safe for guards and inmates and undermine efforts to provide basic education and skills training to inmates who often lack both. If the shortages become worse, state officials may be force to close some prisons or release more inmates on early parole. As Lance Lowry, a Huntsville corrections officer and former union president who now runs a criminal justice nonprofit, put it, Weve never had a problem getting people in the door the problem is getting those employees to stay. Air conditioning wont turn Texas prisons into five-star hotels. Theyll still be pretty basic institutions, but the biggest complaint about conditions would be gone. When the Legislature convenes this January, it should get ahead of this problem for once. Alliance Party councillor David Armitage has been found after being reported missing on Saturday. Writing on Twitter on Sunday, Alliance Party leader Naomi Long confirmed he had been found. To everyone who helped search for @davidaalliance Thank you. He has been found, is with me and getting the help he needs. All of you have proven how powerful Twitter can be and I am forever grateful. Naomi Long MLA (@naomi_long) August 19, 2018 Mrs Long extended her thanks to everyone who had helped in the search. Earlier in the day Mrs Long issued an appeal asking for help in locating Mr Armitage. The PSNI confirmed on Sunday it had received a missing person report and was in the process of making enquries. A 29-year-old man has been arrested after a metal bar assault on a woman in Ballycastle. A 29-year-old man has been charged after a metal bar assault on a woman in Ballycastle. The 27-year-old victim sustained a number of injuries after being attacked with a metal bar on Fairhead Street at around 1.45am on Sunday morning. Police from the PSNI's Public Protection Branch are investigation the incident and have appealed for witnesses. They are keen to speak to three men who are believed to have been in the area at the time. Police can be contacted on the non-emergency number 101, quoting the reference 189 with the date 19/08/2018. The Free Presbyterian Church has called on its followers to avoid next week's Papal visit to Ireland. Pope Francis will address a gathering at Phoenix Park in Dublin next weekend, with 250,000 people also expected to attend events at the RDS, Croke Park and Knock. It will be the first visit by a pope to Ireland since John Paul II in 1979. Ahead of his arrival, the Free Presbyterian Church has said a "love for the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ" should prevent any Bible believer "from union or communion with a Roman Catholic Church that remains as contrary to Holy Scripture today as it ever has been". The Free Presbyterian objection to the Pope's visit is based on its recognition of Jesus Christ as the only head of the church, and the rejection of the Catholic Church having a supreme head of the church on earth. Its statement reads: "As long as it proclaims its leader as the supreme head of the church on earth, denigrates the work that Christ completed on Calvary by the pretentious teachings central to its mass, refuses the scriptural way of salvation that justification is by faith alone in Christ alone, fleeces its adherents by means of an imaginary purgatory, and offers indulgences with as much aplomb as Tetzel managed in Martin Luthers day, no true Christian should engage in fellowship with this system, never mind travel to welcome its Pope." The statement also takes aim at the decision by the Moderator of the Presbyterian Church to attend the visit and meeting with the Pontiff. "How can the Presbyterian Church of Ireland present its recent vote in favour of its Moderator participating in the upcoming Papal visit as anything other than a betrayal of our Lord Jesus Christ?" the statement reads. The Free Presbyterian Church was founded by former DUP leader Ian Paisley in 1951 after a split with the Presbyterian Church, and has around 15,000 members, holding conservative positions on a number of social issues including same-sex marriage. In 1988 Ian Paisley, then serving as the Church's moderator, was infamously dragged from the European Parliament chamber in Strasbourg while heckling Pope John Paul II. HMS Repulse was sunk by Japanese aircraft of the coast of Singapore (PA) The Government is investigating fresh reports that a number of British Second World War wrecks in Asia have been plundered by grave robbers. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said he was very concerned to hear allegations that remains of four ships lying off the Malaysian and Indonesian coasts have been looted. It comes after six wrecks, including Royal Navy battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, were feared to have been damaged or destroyed by scavengers. Altogether the wrecks are thought to be the final resting place for hundreds of Royal Navy sailors and civilians. Mr Williamson said the Government absolutely condemns the unauthorised disturbance of any wreck containing human remains. Expand Close Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson condemned the reports (Andrew Matthews/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson condemned the reports (Andrew Matthews/PA) I am very concerned to hear any allegations of incidents of Royal Navy wrecks being plundered in the Far East, he said. We will work closely with the Indonesian and Malaysian governments to investigate these claims. The Mail on Sunday said wrecks of HMS Tien Kwang, HMS Kuala, HMS Banka and SS Loch Ranza had recently been targeted by thieves for their metal. HMS Tien Kwang, a submarine chaser, and HMS Kuala, an auxiliary patrol vessel, were carrying hundreds of evacuees when they were attacked by Japanese bombers near the Indonesian Riau Islands on February 1942. Earlier that month the SS Loch Ranza, a cargo ship, had been set on fire in a Japanese air raid off the Riau Islands and exploded, killing seven men. It came after HMS Banka, a minesweeper, sank after hitting a mine off the coast of Malaysia in December 1941, killing its crew of four British officers and 34 Malay sailors. Looters are said to favour targeting the Second World War-era wrecks because of the ship steels properties. Built before the advent of atomic weapons, the metal has absorbed little background radiation, making the material suitable for sensitive instruments. Royal Navy battleships HMS Prince of Wales, where Churchill and Roosevelt signed the Atlantic Charter, and HMS Repulse both sank off the Malaysian coast, on December 10 1941. In 2014, the ships, the last resting places of more than 830 Royal Navy sailors, were found to have been damaged by scavengers. Getting ready: A stage is constructed around the papal cross in Phoenix Park for the visit of Pope Francis to Ireland It was reported during the week that the Irish branch of the Society of Jesus - the religious order of which Pope Francis is a member - is donating three large Victorian houses in Dublin to accommodate homeless families. Whether it's homework clubs for children from challenging backgrounds, halfway houses for released prisoners, or residential care for the elderly, the Church continues to be in the forefront of providing vital services for vulnerable individuals and communities. It is a far cry from the often lazy caricature of the Church in Ireland, which paints the institution as a power-hungry monolith that has brought nothing but misery to these shores. Next week's visit of Pope Francis has brought out some very ugly commentary - particularly online - against the Catholic Church and an event that some 750,000 people, all said and done, will enjoy. Don't get me wrong: often people protest against the Church with good reason. There's much to criticise. Those who have experienced abuse, or felt let down by the Church, have every reason to be angry. Many survivors will tell you that the abuse they suffered was compounded by the fact that when they found the strength to report their experiences to someone in authority in the Church, their pain was minimised, or even ignored. And yet, Catholics go on finding solace and inspiration in a Church that is so deeply compromised and mired in scandals of its own making. A Church that has hurt and disappointed so many people. It gets harder and harder to explain to my friends who have long since left the Church why I stay. And yet the Church remains a huge force for good in Ireland and throughout the world. It is also, for many people, a place where they find space to mark their joys, hopes, sorrows and despairs. Roughly a third of Irish Catholics say they attend Mass every week. No one defends the indefensible. They are as offended by abuse and cover-up as anyone outside the Church. But they know that the current crisis engulfing the Church is part of the story of the Church, but not the entire story. Nor is it the final word. The Bishop of Limerick, Brendan Leahy, spoke for many this week when he said: "It is good for us to recall with a grateful heart just how much the Church contributed to Irish society. But to acknowledge with gratitude the good can never eclipse recognition of sin, criminality and evil. "Catholics can be downbeat today, because it is painful to acknowledge in our family story that we have wounded people. It isn't easy, not least for those who are proud of their Church and the good work that it does and they do in it, to hear our own Catholic identity pilloried daily in one way or another." Many of those currently lining up to criticise the Church for both real and perceived wrongs should have the honesty to admit that they are really just hostile towards what the Catholic Church stands for. Abuse becomes a convenient pretext in which to veil dislike and hostility. Whether it is same-sex marriage, or abortion, the Catholic Church in Ireland today finds itself considerably out of step with current thinking and many people just can't stand it. Yet, Catholics are entitled to be enthusiastic about the visit of Pope Francis. They are entitled to celebrate their faith with joy, humbly acknowledging the Church's failures, but proud, too, of the Church's huge positive impact on so many lives. They don't deserve to have the crimes of clerical abusers and their enablers hung around their necks. The history of Catholicism in Ireland is a complex one - it is a story of both grace and sin, often sitting side-by-side. Any fair reading of the facts will reveal a Church that has let people down, but also a Church that has hugely enhanced people's lives. The history of the Catholic faith in Ireland has not been all glorious - but it hasn't been all bad, either. Michael Kelly is editor of the Irish Catholic 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 "That's the only way", Israeli Regional Cooperation Minister Tzachi Hanegbi, a member of Netanyahu's security cabinet, said on Thursday when asked if a broad arrangement depended on the return of the soldiers' bodies. Abbas added that he believes the U.S.is trying to promote Gaza aid projects to serve its own interests. President Donald Trump has promised to pursue the "ultimate deal" between the Palestinians and Israel. A report in the Arabic daily newspaper Al-Hayat claimed that Egyptian Major General Abbas Kamel was in Tel Aviv on Wednesday, reportedly to discuss finalizing a truce agreement to head off further violent rioting, arson attacks and rocket strikes orchestrated by the Hamas terror group, which rules the Gaza Strip. In October 2017, the cabinet passed a decision that Israel would not conduct diplomatic negotiations with a Palestinian government of which Hamas was a part unless a number of conditions were met, including: Hamas must recognize Israel and stop its terrorist activity; Hamas must disarm; the bodies of fallen Israeli soldiers and the Israeli captives being held in Gaza must be returned; the PA must be placed in full charge of security in Gaza, including control of the border crossings and responsibility for preventing weapons smuggling; the PA must continue to eradicate Hamas terrorist infrastructure in Judea and Samaria; Hamas must cut ties with Iran; and humanitarian aid and supplies must be transferred to Gaza through the PA and the mechanisms established for that objective. "It is in light of these understandings that the Kerem Shalom crossing was opened and the Palestinian fishing zone was expanded", continued the official. The limit is six nautical miles in the north, which borders Israel. On July 9, Israeli authorities closed the crossing to most deliveries, partly in response to kites and balloons being flown across the border carrying firebombs to burn Israeli farmland, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in damage. Only food, medical and limited fuel deliveries were allowed in. All other goods were turned away. Fuel shortages in Gaza have contributed to chronic power outages that have left its 2 million residents with just a few hours of electricity a day. Israel says it is necessary to stop Hamas from obtaining weapons or materials that could be used for military purposes. Gaza's only other goods crossing is at Rafah on the Egyptian border. "Hamas has basically no intention of achieving reconciliation", Abbas said. Since March 30, 167 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire. At least 170 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip by Israeli fire in weekly border demonstrations. An Israeli soldier was killed by a Gaza sniper during this same period. The efforts by Egypt and United Nations officials to reach a long-term truce face major hurdles. Officials from Hamas and its allies Islamic Jihad travelled to Egypt on Tuesday for talks, a Hamas source said. Chilean police arrested two men over bomb threats that grounded nine commercial airplanes in Chile, Peru and Argentina on Thursday. "They did not return it to him and since he was annoyed with the [airline] companies and with the entire air traffic control system, it seems like he made these calls", Rojas said. Hundreds of passengers and their luggage were grounded at airports around the region after threats were made toward planes operated by LATAM airlines, a major regional carrier, and Sky, a low-priced Chilean airline. Police patrol with dogs near the LATAM airlines gates in Jorge Chavez airport in Callao, Peru, August 2018. In two cases, the bomb threat was obviously a hoax, because the caller spoke about non-existent flights. All of the planes were declared free of explosives, and at least one plane was later allowed to resume its flight, he said. The telephoned threats were made to a ticket counter, a LATAM operations centre in Colombia and civil aviation authorities. Latam flight 433 from Mendoza, Chile to Santiago was evacuated on the runway due to another bomb threat, while Latam flight 800, coming from Auckland, New Zealand, performed an emergency landing at its destination of Santiago. "The affected passengers will be transferred by LATAM onto other flights", it said. "The authorities have not at this moment found any evidence that might put passengers at risk". Police are investigating the incidents. "But another dimension to it is that majority of those affected are passengers of the travel agencies and, as you know, NAHCON will consider all pilgrims from states first as a matter of priority". Approximately 125,000 Bangladeshis are among this year's pilgrims. Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, the spokesman of the Saudi Interior Ministry, told journalists Saturday that over 2 million Muslims from overseas and inside the kingdom would be taking part in this year's hajj. But for hajj, which takes pilgrims across Makkah and Mina - two cities in western Saudi Arabia home to the holiest sites of Islam - the pods were also inspired by the rising popularity of car- and bike-sharing. The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God in Islam. "War destroys everything. Life in Turkey is hard and I barely earn enough". A translator helps pilgrims find information on a poster displaying helpful smartphone applications in the Saudi holy city of Makkah. While rituals like Sa'ee and Tawaf are not strictly related to Prophet Mohammed, the one practice that follows the prophet is climbing Mount Arafat. The hajj is seen as a chance to wipe clean past sins and start fresh. Those on the hajj said they hoped for better relations across the Muslim world. The hajj also features a symbolic stoning of the devil ceremony, marking the start of Eid al-Adha, a three-day feast. With the latest, 37,746 Nigerian pilgrims have now joined about 1.6 million pilgrims worldwide performing the Hajj in the Holy land this year. - Some 18,000 civil defence employees, among tens of thousands of security personnel, are helping safeguard pilgrims, officials say. - Twenty-five hospitals backed by 180 ambulances and more than 30,000 health practitioners have been mobilised to provide emergency services to pilgrims, according to the hajj ministry. - Around 14,000 worldwide and domestic flights have so far transported pilgrims, according to official figures. Many walk, while others use buses. - Eight million copies of the holy Koran and their translations as well as other religious books will be handed out to pilgrims, official figures show. Providing accommodation for two million pilgrims is no small feat, with travellers staying in everything from five-star hotels to tents pitched in empty lots. Although 1,200 Qataris are eligible to perform the hajj under a quota system, Qatar says it has become impossible to get permits, blaming the campaign by Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt to cut trade and diplomatic ties with the country. This year's pilgrimage comes with the oil-flush kingdom witnessing unprecedented change, including an end to a ban on women driving. One of Brandons leading grocery stores has been renewed, with the 15-year-old Heritage Co-op location at 1035 Richmond Ave. marking its grand reopening on Friday. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/8/2018 (1169 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Advertisement Advertise With Us One of Brandons leading grocery stores has been renewed, with the 15-year-old Heritage Co-op location at 1035 Richmond Ave. marking its grand reopening on Friday. Mayor Rick Chrest is one of the stores regulars, and spoke during the ribbon-cutting ceremony, during which he commended the organizations ongoing investment in the community. He noted that it was 20 years to the week that Heritage Co-op marked the groundbreaking for a $1.2-million gas bar to replace a 60-year-old facility at 646 Sixth St. The grocery store at 1035 Richmond Ave. was constructed 15 years ago, board president Ken Jenner said, adding that the local organization initially leased it from Federated Co-operatives Ltd. as a means of guarding local members from risk. Since then, he said that the grocery store has experienced steady growth, prompting Heritage Co-op to purchase it in 2011 and subsequently plan for its renovation. Heritage Co-op general manager Lorne Zacharias said that within the context of Brandons competitive marketplace, remaining modern remains top of mind, and their 15-year-old building wasnt reaching its potential. "The local marketplace is actually very competitive," he said. "We have a lot of players there, who do bring modern stores and do a good job, so we need to keep up and give our people all of the tools to be able to offer a great shopping experience for our members and customers. "It needed a bit of an update, and in looking around at some of the stores in our system at other Co-ops in Western Canada we identified some needs that we thought consumers would really appreciate." TYLER CLARKE/THE BRANDON SUN Heritage Co-op general manager Lorne Zacharias speaks during the reopening on Friday. The entire interior has been renewed, he said a process that Chrest said has made shopping a bit of a treasure hunt during recent weeks. By making greater use of their 38,000-square-foot building, Zacharias said that theyve been able to add some things that were previously unable to offer. The biggest area of change is their deli area, he said, adding that theyve added fresh sushi, a popcorn kitchen and an olive bar, among other things. A popcorn kitchen is an area that sells flavoured popcorn, which Zacharias said is "surprising just how popular it is." The fresh meat area is now able to offer a wider selection of speciality meats and the bulk foods area has also been expanded. "There are a number of areas where we have a lot more selection and a wider variety of products," Zacharias said. Although Heritage Co-op is situated in a competitive marketplace, Zacharias said that theyre able to set themselves apart, mainly through their business model, which is locally based and community owned. "Were aiming at being a right-sized store; being able to offer a full-service pharmacy and being able to offer all the things we do in the store thats still easy enough to get around," he said. "Were not the largest store in Brandon, but we feel that were a very comfortable store to shop in." tclarke@brandonsun.com Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB Khater, a 29-year-old British citizen of Sudanese origin, was arrested at the scene of the Tuesday Aug. 14, 2018 vehicle crash outside the Houses of Parliament on suspicion of "the commission, preparation and instigation of acts of terrorism", police said. Salih Khater, of Highgate Street, Birmingham, will appear in court facing two counts of attempted murder, following the incident outside the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday. Three people were injured in Tuesday's incident. It then roved around Westminster for more than 90 minutes before crashing into the barrier just before 7.40am on Tuesday. Prosecutors will be treating his case as terrorism, the Metropolitan police said after charging him on Saturday. The news came the day after Sir Mark Rowley, the former head of anti-terrorism policing, revealed that 14 terrorists plots had been thwarted a year ago, 10 of them triggered by warped Islamist ideology and four... He will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday 20 August. Salih Khater, 29, from Birmingham, is alleged to have swerved his vehicle into cyclists and pedestrians shortly after 07:30 BST on 14 August. Khater is being charged under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981. He was arrested on suspicion of terrorism and later re-arrested for attempted murder at the south London police station where he was being quizzed. One injured person was treated at the scene and two were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated and released. The steady separation of church and State in recent years is good for both, the Agriculture Minister has said ahead of the Pope's visit to Ireland. Speaking at the Beal na Blath annual commemoration today, Michael Creed said the "dark chapter" of abuse within the church has seen a "deep rift" emerge. Mr Creed praised former President Mary McAleese, for taking the Vatican head on over their attitude towards women and the LGBT community. It comes after Ms McAleese, revealed that she has made a canonical complaint to Pope Francis about Cardinal Kevin Farrell's decision to ban her speaking at an International Womens Day conference in the Vatican last March. Having received neither an acknowledgement nor a reply to date, I can only presume the Pope is his immediate superior, that this was done with his approval. They claim there is a process for dealing with such complaints, Im six months down the road of that complaint and I havent had the letter back that says weve received your complaint," Ms McAleese told RTE radio. Mr Creed said that many people like him who are "closer to the back door than the front door" in the church are "encouraged to find ourselves in such exalted company on matters of faith". But the Cork North-West TD said the public should still welcome the Pope to Ireland this weekend. "It is in the context of this discomfort that I believe that we should extend a Cead Mile Failte to Pope Francis; a Pope named after Saint Francis who himself often took the road less traveled and gave church authorities a difficult time." Trocaire is hitting out at the Government for not responding after a horrific attack on a school bus in Yemen just last week. Twenty-nine children were killed in the bombing. Alfredo Morelos proved he is invaluable to Rangers as his hat-trick sent Steven Gerrard's men into the Betfred Cup last eight with a 3-1 win at Kilmarnock. The little striker was the subject of a 3.75million bid from Bordeaux earlier this week but Gerrard warned it could take three times that figure to prise him away from Ibrox. And the asking price is likely to rise even further after the Colombian stunned Steve Clarke's men at Rugby Park with his first Light Blues treble. It could have been four had the officials not missed the 22-year-old's early strike which TV replays showed had crossed the line. Borna Barisic briefly gave Killie hope with an own goal just after half-time but apart from that and a worrying knee injury sustained by Jamie Murphy it was a stress-free afternoon for Gerrard's team. Both sides made changes in goal as Gers stopper Allan McGregor was given a rest following his Europa League heroics against Maribor, with Wes Foderingham returning for his first start of the campaign, while Clarke handed a debut to Daniel Bachmann. It took the visitors just seven minutes to beat the Watford loanee as Morelos got a toe to Ryan Kent's cross from the right. The striker should have left no room for doubt by bursting the net but he certainly did enough to get it over the line before Stephen O'Donnell could hook away. But the goal was missed by referee Nick Walsh and his assistant Daniel McFarlane who waved play on. There was a further blow when the visitors lost Murphy early after he appeared to twist his left knee on Killie's plastic pitch and was stretchered off with head in hands as Daniel Candeias took his place. Morelos was again frustrated as Bachmann blocked well with his legs, while former Ibrox wideman Chris Burke sparked a fine save from Foderingham with a free-kick from out wide. But there was no denying Morelos on 28 minutes as he grabbed the opener. Scott Arfield, Andy Halliday and Candeias led a counter-attack as James Tavernier was found out wide, whose cross was bulleted home at close-range. Killie were almost level five minutes later as Kirk Broadfoot smacked a header off the bar but it was Gers who doubled their lead on 43 minutes. Tavernier's long ball down the right-hand channel should have been dealt with by Scott Boyd but he allowed himself to be rolled by Morelos, who made the defender pay as he angled a low finish past Bachmann. The jubilant Light Blues faithful were quick to dig out the oles as their side started the second period by spraying the ball about. It was home support who were cheering on 51 minutes though as Barisic diverted Jordan Jones' cross into his own net. But it was game over with 16 minutes left as Ovie Ejaria, Arfield and Tavernier worked together to lay on Morelos one last time as he tucked home his hat-trick from close-range. Tension is mounting ahead of this year's All-Ireland senior hurling final. This afternoon Limerick will take on Galway in Croke Park for their first final clash since 1980. Galway are the defending champions, while Limerick have not won since 1973. The Tribesmen bid to retain their title for the first time since 1988 and they are bolstered by the return of Gearoid McInerney who starts at centre back. Meanwhile, Limerick are unchanged to the side which saw off Cork in the semi-finals as they aim to lift the Liam McCarthy Cup for the first time in 45 years. Limerick fans are looking forward to it. Limerick supporters Naoise Ahern, left, aged 8, and his cousin Sean Ahern, aged 8, from Abbeyfeale, Co Limerick, ahead of today's All-Ireland Final. Pic: Sportsfile. One said: "You can really start to feel the buzz growing now that it's getting closer. Limerick crowd off to get the bus to Dublin this morning for the All Ireland Hurling Final against Galway. One back from London and one back from New York specially! Luimneach Abu #AllIrelandHurlingFinal pic.twitter.com/LQwMJF2ZHc Michelle Fox (@Michelle_Foxx) August 19, 2018 "I think the Limerick team we have there now can go up against anybody." Phibsborough so far is about 70% Green, 30% Claret so far - and the Limerick team bus has just arrived. Great buzz here! #LIMGAL #limerickvgalway #AllIrelandHurlingFinal pic.twitter.com/atusB62rft David Scott (@davescottsings) August 19, 2018 Another fan said: "I'm from Ballybrown and it's very exciting at the moment and I remember 1973 when they won. The boys have been fantastic, fair play to them, we're very proud of them." This supporter was hoping to get a ticket for the match. He said: "I'm from Patrickswell, the buzz is great, you can't be any more hurling than Patrickswell. I'm praying I'll get a ticket." Rising numbers of Australians are dying from accidentally overdosing on prescription drugs morphine, codeine, oxycodone and fentanyl, the latest drug deaths data shows. Australia has so far been spared the magnitude of the opioid "epidemic" in the US and its emerging fentanyl crisis, but drug experts were closely monitoring the creeping death rates linked to the synthetic drug. A total of 1045 people from 15 to 64 years old died from opioid overdoses in Australia in 2016, according to the report released on Monday by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC). The rate of opioid induced deaths almost doubled in 10 years, from 3.8 to 6.6 deaths per 100,000 Australians between 2007 and 2016. A man been charged with a range of offences following a robbery and assault on the Gold Coast. About 7pm on August 13, a woman was standing outside a Broadbeach unit complex when a man struck her in the face and tried to restrain her, police say. She managed to break free and get to a nearby police station, with officers arresting a 29-year-old man just under a week later. He's been charged with offences including robbery with violence and assault occasioning bodily harm, and is expected to face Southport Magistrates Court on Monday. AAP Queensland Police are appealing for help to locate two teenage girls missing from the Kingaroy area west of the Sunshine Coast, who may be travelling towards Rockhampton. The 14-year-old girl. Credit:Queensland Police The girls, aged 14 and 16, are travelling in a black 2013 Toyota Corolla hatchback with the Queensland registration number 801 SXM. The girls were last seen in Dalby about 10pm on Sunday, August 19. Police believed the teens might be heading to the Mount Morgan or Rockhampton areas and were asking anyone who saw the vehicle or had information about the girls' whereabouts to contact police. A motorbike pillion passenger is fighting for life and the rider has been charged with driving under the influence of alcohol after a crash in far-north Queensland on Saturday night. A 73-year-old Cairns man sustained critical head injuries when he fell off the motorbike about 8.50pm on Ray Road in Mareeba, about 60 kilometres west of Cairns. The motorbike rider, a 54-year-old Mareeba man, has been charged with driving under the influence of liquor and failing to provide a specimen of breath for analysis. He was due to appear in Mareeba Magistrates Court on September 3. Forensic Crash Unit investigations were ongoing and police have appealed to any witnesses or anyone with dashcam vision to contact Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000 or Policelink on 131 444. "Will tax cars if we can't make a deal!" The Trump administration doesn't have the legal authority to sideswipe Canada and sign a bilateral trade deal with Mexico, Quebec's chief NAFTA negotiator said August 13. U.S. officials have indicated that if the deal can be agreed by the end of August it would be possible to win congressional approval for the new NAFTA before Mexico's President-elect Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador takes office December 1. Guajardo is leading a Mexican delegation comprised of negotiators from the current administration and a transition team from the new administration that takes office in December. If so, the US would then turn to negotiate an agreement with Canada, but some market access differences remain a sticking point when it comes to dairy. Quebec's premier said he had breakfast with the eastern premiers and New England governors and they "almost exclusively" talked about NAFTA. One of the major risks to the world economy is escalating trade disputes, the board of directors of Mexico's Central Bank said on Thursday. There is of course the obvious, and that is that Canada is not going to simply accept what the USA and Mexico agree to, as they have their own agenda. Guajardo has stressed that the most hard issues had been left to the end, including the USA demand that NAFTA be approved every five years, a provision known as a sunset clause. After the election, USA and Mexican officials began meeting again without the third member of the pact - Canada - in an effort to tackle bones of contention, including revamped automotive sector rules and a sunset clause that could kill NAFTA after five years. The key issues the USA and Mexico are working on include what percentage of auto industry components need to be made in North America to avoid tariffs, and how many cars and trucks need to be made in factories paying higher wages. "If you don't have a breakthrough, as you call it, don't do the deal because it's a lousy situation for the United States", he told Lighthizer. Mexico exports roughly $46 billion in auto parts to the US, while the USA exports an estimated $20 billion in auto parts annually to Mexico. So, they are actually all "Made in North America". USA congressional rules on trade require that there be a 90-day period between the administration's notification of a deal and the actual signing of an agreement. Even if Canada signs on by month's end and there's a three-way preliminary agreement, in the U.S., that would only begin a lengthy process that includes a period of public review and economic assessment by the U.S. International Trade Commission. The POTUS at the time of this writing is committed to keeping the NAFTA together, but that of course remains to be seen. Labor's proposed legislation to decriminalise abortion in Queensland could play a key role in deciding the fate of MPs at the next state election, according to a new Galaxy poll. YouGov Galaxy conducted an "independent mark research" poll, which was commissioned by Cherish Life Queensland and the Australian Family Association, and asked a representative sample of 1000 Queensland voters a total of 21 questions around the issue of abortion. Labor MPs supporting abortion reform: Mark Bailey (second from right), Di Farmer (third from right), Stirling Hinchliffe (fourth from right), Yvette D'Ath (fifth from right), Shannon Fentiman (sixth from right) and Jackie Trad (second from left). Credit:Toby Crockford - Fairfax Media Participants were asked: "If your local Member of State Parliament voted in favour of the Queensland Labor government's Termination of Pregnancy Bill, which effectively would allow abortion for any reason until birth, would you be less or more likely to vote for your Member of Parliament at the next state election?" A total of 39 per cent of voters said they were "less likely" to vote for their MP, 15 per cent said "more likely", 32 per cent said "neither" and 14 per cent were unsure. The "less likely" response obtained 43 per cent support from female participants and 35 per cent of male voters. Just under nine degrees now ahead of a predicted top of 13. Keep an eye on Canberra where the weather is heated and rumbling ahead of a possible leadership spill. Back on the roads, there's delays on the Monash after a single-car collision at Narre Warren. There's also a crash blocking three lanes inbound just before Eastlink on Ferntree Gully Road at Scoresby. And there's a smash on the Hume Freeway at Oherns Road in Epping. On the trains, delays galore including lengthy ones on the Pakenham line due to an earlier ill passenger. Check Metro Trains for more information. Have a great day. Stay warm. We'll be back from 6am tomorrow. A 51-year-old man is in custody after a fight between neighbours ended in an alleged stabbing in Byford overnight. It's understood an argument on Binshaw Avenue broke out on Saturday evening, and a 35-year-old man was stabbed. A man is helping police in regards to the incident. Credit:Fairfax Media Police and St John Ambulance attended, and he was taken to Royal Perth Hospital with a serious laceration to his shoulder and a wound to his thumb. Police say they believe his injuries resulted from a weapon. There is growing speculation Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's leadership could be threatened should he not successfully steer a politically difficult climate and energy policy through a deeply divided Coalition party room. There are a range of scenarios that could play out over the coming days, weeks and months: 1) A challenger asks for a spill The last decade has seen six spill requests where a sitting prime minister was directly challenged by a rival for the top job. There were only four in the 50 years previously. A spill would be triggered if a motion that declares the leadership vacant is moved by one MP and seconded by another. Some 43 out of 85 members at the Liberal Party room meeting would then have to vote in favour of the spill. Contenders would put up their hands to be considered for the leadership. If there are more than two, they would face off in rounds, until one secures the majority support of the party room and becomes prime minister. New Zealand's Minister for Women, Green Party MP Julie Anne Genter, has cycled to the hospital to have her first baby. The 38-year-old who is the Minister for Women and Associate Minister of both Health and Transport posted a series of snaps to Instagram on Sunday. New Zealand's Green Party MP and Minister for Women Julie Anne Genter posted this picture of her cycling to the hospital for the birth of her first child. Credit:Instagram "Beautiful Sunday morning for a bike ride, to the hospital, for an induction to finally have this baby," she wrote. "This is it, wish us luck!" Latest News Inside the 'tech arms race' to bring down turnaround times How lenders are competing against each other to balance risk, compliance and speed for brokers Reaction as inflation spike causes RBA interest rate rethink The RBA is again under pressure as inflation jumps 0.8% in a quarter, putting ultra-low rate era in firing line Vienna has ended Melbournes seven-year reign as the worlds most liveable city, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit. Cities in Australia and Canada took six of the top 10 spots, with the U.S. again missing out. The latest ranking ends Melbournes record seven consecutive years at the head of the survey, with the Austrian capital inching out Melbourne by just 0.7 of a percentage point. Meanwhile, Sydney placed 5th while Adelaide ranked 10th. According to the latest data from CoreLogic, the median house price value in the Victorian Capital stood at $716,774 in June, 1% higher than a year before, and the second highest in the country next to Sydneys $870,554. Melbourne rise comes despite tighter lending conditions and less investment activity driving weaker market conditions across the country. Melbourne is also Australias largest property auction market. Preliminary CoreLogic data shows a 61.3% clearance rate recorded across 718 auctions this week. Sydney and Melbourne have also driven a rise in national re-sale profits to $14.82bn during the first quarter this year, as nine in 10 individual residential properties re-sold attracted a gross profit. Major global financial centres such as London (48th) and New York (57th) suffer from their own success, according to the EIU, with overstretched public transport, higher levels of crime and congestion denting their appeal. Hong Kong (35th) just edged out its local rival Singapore (37th) on the index after improving on stability scores. Elsewhere in Asia, Osaka (3rd) and Tokyo (7th) both climbed the rankings to their highest position in more than a decade on consistent declines in crime rates and improvements in public transport. Most of the best-performing spots are mid-sized cities in wealthier countries with relatively low population density. Honolulu is the topped ranked US city in 23rd place. At the bottom end of the table of 140 cities, the lowest-scoring is war-torn Damascus. Those suffering from inadequate infrastructure such as Harare, or in the case of Dhaka, severe pollution, also fare badly. With a report from Bloomberg Related stories: Dwelling costs rise over decade Brig. Gen. Mohamed Laamiri, armored squadron commander of the Royal Armed Forces is on a visit to the US to explore cooperation prospects on armor capabilities and exchange of information concerning training and support. In Idaho, Gen Laamiri met Commanding General Brig. Gen. Michael J. Garshak, adjutant general, Idaho National Guard, US military outlet, Defense Visual Information Distribution service said. The visit comes as Morocco has been reinforcing its land forces with batches of M1A1 Abrams tanks. The Moroccan armed forces have received so far no less than 127 M1A1 Abrams Tanks from the US, said infodefensa, a defense news agency. Infodefensa reported earlier this month that 127 M1A1 are already in use by the Moroccan army. The Donald Trump administration has approved the shipping of 162 Abrams tanks to Morocco last year to help the kingdom respond to regional challenges. The deal was approved last September in a move to endow Morocco with US military equipment worth more than $115 million. Land forces are key to the Moroccan army, which has fought a guerilla war by the Algerian-backed separatists until the UN brokered a ceasefire in 1991. The reception of the advanced US tanks would also help Morocco redress the armament balance with Algeria, which invested heavily its oil money on Russian arms. Designed for modern armored ground warfare, Abrams tank is the main battle tank in the US Army and Marine Corps. After The Education Wars: How Smart Schools Upend the Business of Reform Andrea Gabor The New Press 373 pages; $27.99 In 2009, Time magazine hailed School of One, an online math programme piloted at three New York City public schools, as one of the years 50 best innovations. Each day, School of One software generated individualised math playlists for students who then chose the modality in which they wished to learn software, a virtual teacher or a flesh-and-blood one. A different algorithm sorted teachers ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Kingfisher Airlines went bankrupt. Air India is finding it hard to pay salaries. Jet Airways is in similar trouble as well. Elsewhere, Lufthansa is not in the pinkest of health financially. Nor is United Airlines. Nor are a whole host of other airlines. The list is altogether too long. But then thats the airline business for you glamorous, though not as much as it used to be; cyclical; beset by excessive competition; plagued by unpredictable short-run costs; and, therefore, always yielding low returns to the investors. It is a sobering thought that in any ten-year ... Limited has said it will be investing $2.3 billion towards capex on its oil and gas activities in the 'near-term' to increase the reserve base by around 375 million barrels. According to its latest annual report, aims to increase production from the current 200,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to 300,000 boepd over the next few years. "In the near-term, we are investing gross capex of $2.3 billion to increase our resource and reserve base by around 375 million barrels. Our rich project portfolio is comprised of enhanced oil recovery projects, tight oil and gas projects and exploration prospects. As well as boosting production, this investment will generate sustainable employment opportunities, directly and indirectly and bring cutting edge solutions to community needs," the metals and mining giant said. For FY2019, it expects to achieve a significant growth in production with total volumes in the range of 220-250 kboepd through executing growth projects, with opex of sub-$7/boe (Barrel of Equivalent). "We estimate the net capex commitment at $600-800 million (for FY 19)," it said. Kuldip Kaura, Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta, said the company's vision was to contribute 50 per cent of the countrys domestic crude oil production by increasing their gross production to 500,000 boepd. "Working towards this goal, we announced growth projects, including Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), tight oil and gas projects, upgrade of liquid handling facilities and exploration, for which key contracts have been awarded to world-class partners. These projects, along with an exit run rate of 200,000 boepd in March 2018, will pave the way to achieve 300,000 boepd in the near-term and 500,000 boepd in the medium-term," he said. As the largest private sector producer of crude oil in India, and with a strong track record and growth pipeline in exploration and development, is well positioned to benefit from the Governments desire to boost domestic production and to leverage Indias oil and gas resource potential, it said. Vedanta had recently bid for all 55 blocks on offer in the first round of oil and gas auctions under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) auction. The Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta is likely to bag as many as 40 oil and gas exploration blocks in India's maiden open acreage auction, official sources had earlier said. Aaney wali naslein hum par Fakhr kareingi, hum asaro, Jub unko yeh khayalaayega Humney Atal ko dekha thaa (By way of poetic license I have replaced Firaq with Atal) "Coming generations will remember us with awe, When it dawns on them that we had actually seen Atal Bihari Vajpayee" I can claim a little more. I knew him. I say so with utmost modesty because there were many journalists who knew him better. But he had a knack of making a chosen few feel special with a smile here and gesture there. Confronting him was always a renewal because your opening question was generally greeted with stony silence, bordering on lack of recognition. Then would come a well thought through response to a question asked five minutes ago. There was no unprocessed response. Exuberance was not his style but when moved by an idea, he could be demonstrative as at the Hyderabad House banquet when he put his arms around me. "Mainey aap ka lekhparha; kaeebaarparha. Maen aapsesahmat hoon." (I read your column several times; I agree with you.) It was not just a Prime Ministerial approval of a column but the warmth with which the appreciation was communicated. It would have been most unlike him to react to a dry piece on foreign affairs or politics. What moved the sentimental lyricist in him was a taboo I had broken by placing Hindu-Muslim issues in a context readers were unfamiliar with. Communal riots had broken in Moradabad in 1982. I was Regional Editor for The Indian Express with headquarters in Chennai. Nihal Singh, the Editor-in-chief, asked me to "churn out" an edit on Moradabad. ALSO READ: How Atal Bihari Vajpayee won hearts, political battles with his 'tehzeeb' Instead of writing something in a jiffy, I fell back on nostalgia, my life in my village, the cultural commerce which has held society together for hundreds of years. The new political class has taken its eyes off it largely because harmony does not easily translate into votes. In my piece, I listed Mohsin Kakorwi invoking images associated with Krishna to celebrate Prophet Mohammad's birthday; Maulana Hasrat Mohani's adoration for Krishna and Radha, in verse and gesture. "Ahelia, who had turned to stone because of a curse, was restored to her former self by Your touch. From the animal kingdom You elevated an army worthy of Hanuman's leadership. You reformed a wicked Chandal. O'Lord Rama, when will You cast your benign eye on me?" This is from the Sanskrit poetry of Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana, one of Akbar's courtiers. The list is unending, particularly if you dilate on Hindu poets writing in a similar vein since the 17th century at least. The latest Noha or a dirge for Moharram is: "Kaash Hindustan mein hota janam Abbas ka, Barh ke hum Hindu utha letey alam Abbas ka" (We wish Imam Hussain's brave brother, Abbas, was born in Hindustan. Because when the enemy cut off his arms in battle, we Hindus would have raised his banner.) No, I have not veered far away from Atalji. In fact I am sharing with you a slice of social history in which he was involved. The late HR Malkani, editor of the RSS mouthpiece Organiser, was the first to write to me. "I salute you" he wrote. "Your piece brought tears into my eyes." An interview was arranged with RSS ideologue Bhaurao Deoras. Malkani invited me to 10, Ashok Road, for tea with Atalji who was shaking his head in admiration. ALSO READ: Breaking vow on labour laws: The one wrong step Atal Bihari Vajpayee took This gushing of admiration from the Parivar was unnerving. Had I by writing one column unintentionally turned my back on my progressive friends? Had I opened myself to the charge of walking the illiberal path? But everybody, and his neighbour, from the Congress to the far Left swear by our composite culture, Ganga-Jumni tehzeeb and so on. Do they like the concept only in its haziest outlines? Does the idea get tainted if the Parivar finds it wholesome? Authors like M. Mujeeb who in his masterly survey, Indian Muslims, has left no aspect of syncretism untouched. But the large body of liberal, Muslim Intelligentsia, scholars, seminarists, writers, columnists had before 1982 chosen to ignore evidence of syncretism strewn all over, the Sufi belief system that Rama and Krishna were God's prophets sent to India. This the liberal Muslims thought would expose them to the charge of "shirk" or apostasy among the wider, community. The Mullah, unencumbered by such considerations pushed his agenda diligently and with a sense of purpose. The results are there for all to see. Vajpayee, familiar with Lucknow, grasped the significance of Indian syncretism. But the practical politician in him also saw the liberal Muslim's hesitations. Not only does he have limited votes he is also intellectually uncertain. Vajpayee had a singular advantage over his peers: he was the most respected member of the Sangh and yet he had evolved along the path of modernism. He slid out of his RSS coil with deliberation; he did not shuffle out of it. If my mother's test for dependability were applied to Vajpayee, he would emerge with flying colours. "Always mistrust a man without an obvious weakness," she used to say. As he came out of the RSS shadows, the romantic in Vajpayee was given measured play. He loved the good things of life. Heaven knows where he had developed a taste for fried prawns? Towards the end of 2003 he made up his mind to resolve "regional quarrels". Of course, losing the 2004 election was a huge setback. But what rankled with him was the Pakistan, Kashmir imbroglio: a solution along the line of control was almost within grasp according his Principal Secretary, Brajesh Mishra. Did Vajpayee have a model? K.K. Katyal of The Hindu, myself and one or two others trailed him on the first day he entered his South Block office when he was appointed the Minister for External Affairs in the Janata government led by Morarji Desai in 1977. We asked him how he felt occupying his first office in South Block? He summoned up the poet in him. Misty eyed, he said he had difficulty controlling his emotions. "I cannot believe that I am about to occupy the chair which was once occupied by Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru." (A senior commentator on political and diplomatic affairs, Saeed Naqvi can be reached on saeednaqvi@hotmail.com. The views expressed are personal.) The 900MW wind farm that will be built by Brookstones Soluna firm in the southern province of Dakhla for about $2.4 billion is a trailblazing project that has been met with acclaim in Morocco, notably among the population of the southern provinces, much to the chagrin of pro-separatist organizations funded by Algeria. The project will help develop use of renewable energies to resolve the extensive and unsustainable use of electricity in cryptocurrency computing. The rise of blockchain and other cryptocurrency activities have resulted in a use of energy that equals what Ireland would consume. Soluna, a visionary in this field, has chosen Moroccos Dakhla for the abundance of wind energy but some pro-separatist outlets are already making overtures on the press warning of what they described a political risk. But the Polisario, through its mouthpiece in Norway, the Western Sahara Resource Watch (WSRW), has protested as usual whenever a key project is launched in the Sahara. Funded by Algeria, the WSRW has appointed itself a spokesperson for Sahraouis in a blatant violation of Moroccos sovereignty and the UN peace process. The organization went as far as using Polisario separatist terminology describing Morocco as an occupant in a stark bias that erodes whatsoever credibility it seeks from having a headquarters in Norway. The UN, the arbiter in the Sahara issue, refers to Morocco as an administrative power but the WSRW as a tool used by Algerian diplomacy and the Polisario is adamant on spreading lies and disinformation in a bid to keep large-scale projects away. But the good news is that Soluna and likeminded companies have actually visited Dakhla and found in Moroccan business climate an incentive to launch a pioneering project that will change the way cryptocurrency activities are powered Solunas John Belizzaire told several news outlets that the project is in line with the status of the region and will help Morocco reach its goal and produce 52% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2030. Such a project is a big victory for Morocco which made of its Sahara one of the most peaceful, stable and prosperous regions in the country if not in the whole Africa when considering the indicators of human development there. Besides, the project will employ nearly 1000 and will create excellence centers to train and develop cryptocurrency technology in the region, Belizzaire told the Independent. While the WSRW speaks of plundering of the Sahara resources, it tend to close an eye that such resources in the Southern provinces are used to develop the region as for every 1 dirham received in the region Morocco spends 7 dirhams. Morocco recently unveiled a comprehensive development project worth $7 billion where renewable energies take pride of place. WSRW has better look at the real plundering that Algeria has been doing in its own Sahara where it depleted the oil and gas of its Saharan population of Ain Saleh and Ouargla currently protesting and threatening to set themselves on fire over lack of jobs and poverty. The Sovereignty of the Sahraouis that the WSRW claims to defend is currently exercised in the southern provinces where the locals are free to choose their own representatives and where sovereignty is exercised within Moroccos unity and territorial integrity. The pro-separatist groups like WSRW should also stop portraying themselves as the guardians of resources as no one voted for them nor did they visit the Sahara to meet free Moroccans there. The WSRW propaganda amounts to hostile actions against the sovereignty of a nation-state like Morocco that didnt wait for colonial powers to define its statehood. Besides, the real interlocutor is not the WSRW but rather Algeria which has been funding trips to its southwestern province of Tindouf where thousands are kept hostage by the Polisairo, unable to return to their homeland in the southern provinces nor seek refuge elsewhere. In a nutshell, the Soluna project and other economic achievements in the Sahara are a reminder for Algeria which failed with all its oil mantra to develop its own Sahara. The Sahraouis in Morocco live much better and are free to travel, work and study compared to the Algerian Sahraouis in cities such as Ouargla where dissent is growing over exploitation of gas and oil. Not to speak of a generation of Sahraouis who are forsaken by Algiers to the firm grip of a cold war minded separatist militia. Algeria has better stop pouring its money on groups such as the WSRW and focuses on developing its impoverished south. Meanwhile, the Moroccan Sahara continues to attract leading companies to bring innovative investments that will shape the future of humanity: renewable energies and cryptocurrency. The (CBI) late Saturday evening arrested one of the two gunmen who killed Maharashtra rationalist Dabholkar in 2013, official sources said here. "Sachin Prakashrao Andure of is one of the two persons who shot at (Dr) Dabholkar. Further investigations are underway," a official said. The arrest comes just two days before the 5th death anniversary of Dabholkar, 67, who was shot dead while on a morning walk near his Pune home on August 20, 2013. The tip-off for the arrest came from the Maharashtra Anti Terrorist Squad (ATS), Thane, which had arrested three persons in a different case of explosives seizure. During custodial interrogation, one of these three made the sensational revelation that he and another person (Andure) were directly involved in the Dabholkar killing which hit headlines. The Thane alerted the of the development, which in turn summoned Andure and confirmed the information given by his accomplice. The arrested Andure during late evening hours in Pune. Dabholkar, a well-known rationalist and anti-superstition activist who founded the Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS), was shot and killed by two motorcycle-borne assailants near Omkareshwar Temple in Pune. The case was initially investigated by the Deccan police, but following a furore, it was transferred to the CBI in May 2014, with the agency increasing the reward money on the killers from Rs 10 lakh to Rs 25 lakh. Shortly after Dabholkar's murder, the state enacted the country's first legislation against superstition and black magic. The activist was posthumously conferred the Padma Shri in 2014. Since then, the All Indian Peoples Science Network (AIPSN) and others observe his death anniversary (August 20) as " Scientific Temper Day" to create awareness against superstitions. For the past couple of days, the South-Indian state of Kerala is reeling under one of the worst floods it has faced in over a century. The death toll went up to 368 as 33 more deaths were reported on Saturday. Around 58,000 people have been rescued so far and the red alert is still in place in three of the 14 districts of Kerala. The Centre has announced financial assistance of Rs 5 billion as Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kerala to take stock of the situation. The floods have inflicted a loss of around Rs 195 billion on the state's economy. The government has pushed ... The (ED) on Sunday said it will appeal against a recent order of a PMLA tribunal, asking the agency to release a "miniscule" amount of assets it had attached in connection with a multi-crore-rupee bank loan fraud probe related to the and its promoter Vijay Mallya. The appellate tribunal to hear cases filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) recently set aside the ED orders to attach two flats in Kingfisher Towers in Bengaluru, reportedly stating that they were "not linked" to the alleged money laundering and banking fraud. The agency, which is in charge of the enforcement of the stringent PMLA in the country, said the assets were attached by it after conducting a "proper verification" and that they were registered in the name of United Breweries Holdings Limited (UBHL). "During the investigation before attachment, UBHL had stated that with respect to the flats in Kingfisher Towers in Bengaluru, no sale deed was executed nor registered with the registrar of properties. "Thus, all the properties vest with UBHL and accordingly, the same was attached provisionally and the Adjudicating Authority (of PMLA), after going through the evidence, has confirmed the provisional attachments," the ED said in a statement. It added that UBHL, floated by Mallya, was a "corporate guarantor" for the beleaguered airlines, which, along with others, allegedly "siphoned off the loan amount to overseas locations under various pretexts", and hence, the assets were covered under its attachment order. "The book value of the properties was approximately Rs 60 crore (Rs 600 million), which is very miniscule as compared to the total value of property attached/seized by the ED, aggregating to the tune of Rs 12,500 crore (125 billion), in this case," it said. The statement added that the central probe agency "is filing an appeal against the orders of the Appellant Tribunal in the jurisdictional High Court". ALSO READ: Vijay Mallya extradition case: The prison cell is the bone of contention The ED, along with the CBI, is probing the case of alleged bank fraud to the tune of about Rs 90 billion and an extradition process to bring Mallya back to India is currently going on in London. The ashes of former Prime Minister will be immersed in the river Ganga in Patna on August 22, a senior BJP leader said on Sunday. "As part of the party's decision to immerse Atal ji's ashes in nearly 100 rivers across the country, Bihar BJP chief Nityanand Rai will arrive in Patna from New Delhi on August 21 with Atal ji's 'asthi kalash'," Bihar vice-president Devesh Kumar told PTI. He said "an all party prayer meet will be held at 3 pm at S K Memorial hall where people, workers from all political parties, social organisations and common men have been invited. The 'asthi kalash' will be kept at Beerchand Patel Path, the BJP's state unit headquarters, where common men and party men can have the glimpse of the "kalash" and pay their respect, he said. "Atal ji's ashes will be immersed in the river Ganga on August 22 in Patna," Kumar said. ALSO READ: How Atal Bihari Vajpayee won hearts, political battles with his 'tehzeeb' The party has also decided to take out 'ashti kalash yatra' from August 22 onwards in order to immerse ashes into major rivers of Bihar, he said. The routes, places and the rivers in which ashes will be immersed are being worked out, Kumar said adding that prominent rivers of the state in which the ashes will be immersed are - Sone, Punpun, Falgu, Baghmati, Kosi, Mahananda and Gandak. No ATM will be replenished with cash after 9 pm in cities and 6 pm in rural areas from next year even as two armed guards will accompany crisp notes in transit as per a new directive issued by the The deadline for putting money in the ATMs located in Naxal-hit areas is 4 pm while private cash handling agencies must collect money from the banks in the first half of the day and transport notes only in armoured vehicles. In a notification, the said the new Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) would come into effect from February 8, 2019 in view of the spurt in incidents of attacks on cash vans, cash vaults, ATM frauds and other internal frauds leading to increased sense of insecurity. There are over 8,000 privately owned cash vans plying across the country, operated by non- private agencies, and they handle over Rs 150 billion daily on behalf of banks. Sometimes, the private agencies keep currency overnight at their cash vaults. "No cash loading of the ATMs or cash transportation activities shall be done after 9 pm in urban areas, after 6 pm in rural areas and before 9 am or after 4 pm in the districts notified by the central government as Left Wing Extremism affected areas," the notification said. The agencies shall provide private security for the cash transportation with the requisite number of trained staff, every cash van shall have one driver, two armed security guards, two ATM officers or custodians. One armed guard must sit in the front along with the driver and another in the rear portion of the van while in transit. During loading or unloading, nature's call, tea or lunch break, at least one armed security guard shall remain present with the cash van all the time. The ex-serviceman, otherwise eligible, may preferably be appointed for providing security for cash transportation. Every cash transportation shall be carried out only in secured cash vans fitted with GPS tracking device and it must be ensured that no cash van carries cash of more than Rs 50 million per trip. No private security agency shall appoint anyone for the cash transportation unless the person has undergone thorough antecedent check like police, Aadhaar and residence verifications, previous employer check, credit history check and fidelity insurance. ALSO READ: ATM card fraud: Here's how to spot and avoid a card skimming device Each of the cash boxes shall be secured to the floor with separate chains and locks that can be opened only by using separate keys kept with different custodians. The cash van shall be provided with a small CCTV system with at least five days recording facility and three cameras installed in front, rear and inside of the cabin. A security alarm with GSM-based auto-dialer shall be provided with a motorised siren. The cash van shall be equipped with hooter, fire extinguishers and emergency lights to ensure quick reaction in case of an attack. The private security agency will ensure that all cash handling, including counting, sorting, and bundling activities shall be carried out in secured premises in accordance with specific guidelines. The premises shall be designed to include two physically independent areas, one for general office purpose and other for secured cash processing and handling activities and it shall accommodate space for cash deposit, collection, sorting, counting and delivery and dispatch of cash on secured cash vans. The Centre on Sunday said airfares for domestic direct flights to and from Kerala ranged from Rs 3,395 to Rs 6,999 on shorter routes and Rs 6,017 to Rs 10,000 on longer ones, amidst allegations that passengers were being charged exorbitantly in the state which is facing one of the worst floods in a century. The government also said that higher airfares highlighted in some social media posts were for hopping and very long-duration flights. The statement comes on a day a joint team of aviation bodies and the CISF inspected the Cochin Naval Base to assess the feasibility of operating commercial planes from there to aid rescue efforts and ease connectivity to the state. The Kochi International Airport, the seventh busiest in the country, has been shut till August 26 in the wake of the devastating floods that have claimed close to 200 lives in the past 10 days. "Monitoring of airfare carried out on 19 Aug 2018 has revealed that maximum fares on various domestic non-stop direct routes to/from Kerala and nearby airports on ranging from Rs 3395 to Rs 6999 for shorter routes and from Rs 6017 to around Rs 10000 on longer routes," the said in a statement. Earlier in the day, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said, "Scheduled domestic airlines have also been advised to ensure that airfares for flights to/from Trivandrum and Calicut airports in Kerala and nearby airports i.e. Mangalore and Coimbatore are kept at optimal level proportionate to sector distance". Meanwhile, the government approved a schedule submitted by Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, to operate 70-seater ATR aircraft from the Cochin Naval Base. It will operate two flights between Bengaluru and Kochi starting tomorrow and one flight between Bengaluru-Coimbatore-Cochin-Coimbatore-Bengaluru sector. The Centre also said a joint team of multiple aviation-related bodies and CISF inspected the Cochin Naval Base, a day after announcing operation of commercial flights from the base from tomorrow to aid rescue efforts. Prabhu also said the watch hour at Vijayawada and Begumpet airports has been extended to faciliate relief operations by IAF aircraft. Watch hours refers to the time during which the airport remains open for operation. "A Joint team comprising representatives from DGCA, BCAS, CISF, AAI and Indian Navy carried out inspection of #Cochin Naval Base today to check the feasibility of scheduled operations from there," Prabhu tweeted. Besides, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in contact with three private helicopter operators to carry out relief operations after a request was received from the The DGCA has permitted two helicopter operators -- M/s Ghodawat and M/s Devengere -- for aerial dropping of flood relief material. Prabhu said scheduled domestic airlines have started additional flights to and from Trivandrum, Calicut and Coimbatore airports to minimise passenger inconvenience. Nine foreign carriers have also rescheduled their flights to and from Trivandrum, he informed in his tweets. "Scheduled domestic airlines have also been advised to ensure that airfares for flights to/from Trivandrum and Calicut airports in Kerala and nearby airports i.e. Mangalore and Coimbatore are kept at optimal level proportionate to sector distance," he tweeted. carrier Air India has waived off cargo charges for transportation of medicine and other materials to Kerala. An Air India spokesperson said the resident commissioners of Kerala in different states would be the nodal authority through whom the relief would be dispatched via Air India flights. Eulogies have been written about the "tehzeeb" -- a Urdu word translating into etiquette -- politeness and political culture of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who died on August 16. Apparently Vajpayee -- during his term as Prime Minister 1999-2004 -- was not happy with the US pressure on India to join the Iraq war. So he invited the opposition party leaders for breakfast to his house. After the initial chitchat, the opposition leaders were keen to know why they were invited. Vajpayee told them about the US pressure on India, to which the leaders said that they will oppose it and the people's agitation was already on. Vajpayee replied that he is not hearing the noise of an agitation! The opposition leaders immediately understood the drift of the conversation -- that they had to double their efforts to raise public opinion against US so that Vajpayee could use it to stall the pressure. Contrast this with the present dispensation where a direct onslaught has been launched on the opposition to create fear. We somehow have lost the tehzeeb in the present political and other discourses. Former Defence Minister K C Pant, a very dear friend of mine, told me of another instance of such tehzeeb. Sarvapalli Radhakrishnan, the second President of India, wanted another term. He said that Rajendra Prasad got it so should he. Jawaharlal Nehru, the Prime Minister, was not keen on this. Naturally, Radhakrishnan was unhappy and used to complain about it and threatened to return to his teaching career. Nehru sent Maulana Abul Kalam Azad to placate Radhakrishnan. Azad was a very cultured person and a doyen of the Independence movement. Azad engaged Radhakrishnan in small talk but Radhakrishnan was angry and knew the purpose of Azad's visit. So he retorted that he was not interested in a second term and would go back to teaching. To which Azad asked politely: In which university? Radhakrishnan got the message. A similar story about the wit and tehzeeb of Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant was told to me by Sunder Lal, a former Member of Parliament of the Congress Party. Sunder Lal was the youngest MP in 1952 and remained an MP till 1986, the year he died. I think the incident was in the early 1950s when Uttar Pradesh was facing a tremendous drought, especially in the eastern part from where Raj Narain came. Raj Narain was quite a hooligan and believed in creating a ruckus in the assembly and was among the first to create the shouting brigades that we see today in Assemblies and in Parliament. At that time he was an MLA and Pant was the state's Chief Minister. During one of the debates, he created a ruckus in the Assembly by shouting at the top of his voice and stating that a great famine was taking place in his constituency and farmers are dying, whereas the Chief Minister was unconcerned and was only interested in his chair and hobnobbing with industrialists. Pant rose to answer Raj Narain and said he had known him for a long time and as a socialist and follower of Jai Prakash Narayan and Ram Manohar Lohia he had great regard for him and his sincerity. Then he said politely but firmly: "I also know that had the situation been really that grim, Raj Narain being a very committed worker, would not be sitting here in the assembly but tending to his poor farmers." The assembly erupted in peels of laughter and Raj Narain quietly sat down. Such wit and tehzeeb, which was also the Vajpayee's hallmark, is missing in the present parliamentary debates. I think one of the reasons of why we have lost the art of debate and discourse is that we do not teach children debating skills in school. I wish the youngsters are taught, cajoled and inspired by great discourse and debate. Unfortunately, in the present schooling systems, where the pressure of passing exams is paramount, such debates and discourse are missing. (Anil Rajvanshi is the Director, Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute in Maharashtra. The views expressed are personal. He can be contacted at anilrajvanshi@gmail.com) Describing former Prime Minister as "a genuine friend of Israel", the foreign ministry here has extended its deepest condolences to the government and people of India at the passing away of the Indian leader. "We extend our deepest condolences to the government and people of India at the loss of India's former PM Vajpayee. He will always be remembered as a genuine friend of Israel", the foreign ministry said on its official twitter handle. Israeli Prime Minister also conveyed his condolences calling the former Indian prime minister "a true friend of Israel". While diplomatic relations between India and Israel were established during P V Narsimha Rao's premiership in 1992, they started to flourish during Vajpayee's government when defence cooperation reached such a level that Israel started to be seen "as a reliable" partner by New Delhi in its hour of need. This was most vividly visible and appreciated during the Kargil war when Israel quickly responded with vital supplies at India's request. Several high profile visits from India, including those of then Home Minister L K Advani and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, happened during the BJP led government under Vajpayee. Israel's former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited New Delhi in July 2003 with Vajpayee at the helm making it the first such visit between the two countries. The second visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to India happened after a gap of fifteen years early this year in January. Netanyahu also expressed his condolences to the Indian families who lost their loved ones in the recent floods in Kerala. "Israel stands with India during this time of hardship", he said. Over 633,000 people have taken shelter in nearly 3,000 relief camps in flood-hit Kerala, where 14 districts have been ravaged by the worst deluge in a century, the Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) said on Sunday. It also said there will be no heavy rains in the flood-hit Kerala for the next four days, giving a ray of hope to the distraught people of the state. The central government has decided to give ex gratia of Rs 200,000 each to the family of those killed in the floods and Rs 50,000 to the injured. The compensation will be given from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. "A total of 633,010 people are staying in 2,971 relief camps in Kerala," the NDMA said, adding around 38,000 flood affected people have also been rescued by different agencies so far. Quoting a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD), the NDMA said, "Rainfall will further decrease during the next five days. Heavy rain at one or two places in Idukki, Konnur and Kozhikode districts likely today. No heavy rain from tomorrow for the next four days." There is no red or amber colour code warning for any district of Kerala today. A yellow warning has been issued in three districts, it said. IMD has four colour codes to signify the intensity of weather. Red means authorities need to take action and one could expect extreme weather conditions, amber means government agencies need to be prepared to handle exigencies. Yellow colour code means situation needs to be watched, while green signals the weather would be normal. So far, 129 metric tonnes of rice and 30 metric tonnes of milk powder (20 metric tonnes to Idukki and 10 metric tonnes to Wayanad) have been dispatched to Kerala, the NDMA said. The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation has dispatched necessary medicines to the affected areas, which is in addition to more than 150 truck loads of relief materials from the civil society and NGOs. Altogether 100 tonnes of food materials like biscuits, rusks and drinking water are being airlifted to Kerala from Jalandhar and Patiala in Punjab. At least 197 people have been killed in Kerala in the last 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8 as floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain have wreaked havoc in many parts of the state. (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.) As ferocious floods hit life in Kerala, India Inc too is unlikely to remain unharmed. A look at the exposure of Indian companies to the state suggests that at least one in five BSE500 companies is likely to be impacted due to the floods, which could in turn have a bearing on their September quarter (Q2) results. The impact and its longevity, however, is yet not known but experts say among the sectors most impacted are tyre and automobile, which are the first in line given Keralas monopoly in the rubber industry. Banks, general insurance and consumer discretionary and several ... Not in the mood for a lecture from John Bolton. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images Last week, a vengeful President Trump revoked John Brennans security clearance, for reasons that he didnt bother to disguise as anything other than grievance over the former CIA directors views regarding the Russia investigation. On Sunday, two of Trumps advisers went on television to justify the presidents actions by attacking Brennan in terms that were alternately hypocritical and hateful. First up was mustachioed super-hawk John Bolton, the presidents national security adviser, who pulled the classic Trump maneuver of fully projecting ones own weaknesses onto an adversary. WH national security adviser John Bolton defends Pres. Trump's decision to revoke former CIA Director Brennan's security clearance: "It was my view at the time that (Brennan) and others in the Obama administration were politicizing intelligence" https://t.co/RkvvLgGpva #ThisWeek pic.twitter.com/epBPf7Kexh This Week (@ThisWeekABC) August 19, 2018 The dubious veracity of his claim aside, one could scarcely imagine a less appropriate messenger for this line of attack. During his long career as a diplomacy-averse diplomat, Bolton has developed a reputation for prioritizing his inveterate suspicion of foreign powers over pesky facts. A thorough investigation by ProPublica found that Bolton had a nasty habit of exaggerating, minimizing or cherry-picking intelligence information to bolster his policy positions, and of retaliating to try to silence intelligence professionals with whom he disagreed. Over the years, he has swatted away evidence to play up supposed nuclear threats from Cuba and Syria. He was an enthusiastic cheerleader for the Iraq War, and still thought the decision to invade was a good one as of 2015. In his current role, his well-established enmity toward Iran informed his false claim that the country violated the nuclear deal it signed with the United States. (Bolton would have preferred bombing the country in the first place.) Politicizing intelligence is practically the mans lifes work. Still, Bolton did not lob the days most unglued attack against Brennan. That honor went to George Orwell lover and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani, who told an unskeptical Maria Bartiromo that Brennans admiration of Islam counts as evidence that he might be a political hack. Here's the video of Giuliani saying that John Brennan "claims to be a great lover of Islam, of the Islamic religion. He says the hajj was one of the most beautiful things he ever saw. So, how does all this square up?" (via Fox) pic.twitter.com/BiXHtnfkW3 Kyle Griffin (@kylegriffin1) August 19, 2018 Undisguised Islamophobia is a prominent feature of mainstream conservatism (Bolton is one of its most enthusiastic adherents), and the Rudy Giuliani who defended Islam after September 11 has long since been replaced by the one who helped make President Trumps Muslim ban more palatable. Still, the notion that Brennans character is fatally flawed because he deigned to offer a single piece of praise for a religion that almost 2 billion people practice is a stunning assertion, even here and now. As is not uncommon in this White House, Giulianis reasoning seems suspiciously close to a longtime conspiracy theory, this one holding that Brennan secretly converted to Islam while he was stationed in Saudi Arabia in the early 1990s. Their arguments may be especially unsound, but Giuliani and Bolton arent the only powerful Republicans to side with the president over Brennan. On Friday, Senator John Kennedy called Brennan a butthead (yes), and said he saw no reason why he should maintain a security clearance. Several other Republican Senators endorsed Trumps banana-republic tactics, too. Though Democratic Senator Mark Warner has said he will introduce a resolution to protect further security-clearance revocations, the likelihood of that strategy succeeding is roughly nil. And the unsurprising lack of GOP pushback likely means that President Trump will have even less compunction than he would have otherwise about yanking more security clearances from his enemies list. For his part, Brennan said on Meet the Press that hes strongly considering legal action against the president in response to Trumps bullying. If my clearances and my reputation as Im being pulled through the mud right now if thats the price I have to pay to prevent Donald Trump from doing this to other people, to me, thats a small price to pay, Brennan said. If it means going to court, I will do that. Opposition RJD and on Saturday demanded resignation of another minister over his alleged involvement in the Muzaffarpur shelter home rape cases. Without naming the minister, leader of Opposition on Saturday demanded Chief Minister Nitsh Kumar sack the minister, a BJP MLA from Muzaffarpur. Yadav held out threat that he would "expose" the minister's involvement in the case. Social Welfare Minister Manju Verna recently resigned following outrage across the country and protests by Opposition in the state over the rape of young girls at a shelter home in Muzaffarpur. The Opposition has now trained guns on state Urban Development Minister Suresh Sharma, a BJP MLA from Muzaffarpur. "If Nitish Kumar and (Deputy Chief Minister and BJP leader) Sushil Modi do not sack him, we will be forced to expose and reveal his involvement like what we did in the case of Verma," Tejashwi told media. The RJD leader alleged the minister had close links with jailed main accused Brajesh Thakur. spokesperson Premchand Mishra said Sharma should resign on his own or Nitish Kumar should force him to quit. "We will intensify our protest for his resignation," said Mishra. However, ruling JD-U spokesperson Ajai Alok rejected the resignation demand, saying that the CBI is probing the case. "There is no need for the minister's resignation. If he is found guilty in the CBI probe, he would be sent to jail," said Alok. The BJP is yet to react to the allegations against Sharma. Manju Verna had resigned on August 8 after media reports of call details revealed that her husband had spoken to the key accused Brajesh Thakur 17 times. Rashtriya Janata Dal and leaders have alleged that Verma's husband visited the shelter home run by Thakur "regularly." The Muzaffarpur case came to light when the Social Welfare Department filed an FIR based on a social audit of the shelter home conducted by the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai. The Patna High Court is monitoring the CBI probe into the shocking rape of 34 minor girls at the Muzaffarpur shelter home, a horror that has caused nationwide outrage. After successive victories chalked up by the Opposition in the recent by-elections in Uttar Pradesh, the Samajwadi Party (SP), which won three of the four by-polls, has been unusually quiet, except for issuing an occasional statement against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) or staging a protest cyclothon. There is yet no word on when the SP will cement its alliance with the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), although the partnership with Ajit Singhs Rashtriya Lok Dal (RLD) got off the ground after success in the Kairana and the Noorpur by-polls in May. The apparent dormancy has led ... Pakistan's Prime Minister today lashed out at the previous PML-N government for current debt crisis which has risen to Rs 28 trillion, saying the country had not been as indebted in its entire history as it has been in the last ten years. In his maiden address to the nation a day after his swearing in as the country's 22nd prime minister, Khan identified Pakistan's economic challenges and outlined the deficiencies in the health-care sector. "Never in Pakistan's history have we faced such difficult economic circumstances. Our debt burden is Rs 28 trillion. We haven't been as indebted in our entire history as we have been in the last ten years," he said. "The interest that we have to pay on our debt has reached to a level that we have to take more debt to repay our obligations. Our external debt obligations have reached a level that we have to contemplate how we are going to grapple with them," Khan said. He said that on one hand we are so indebted, and on the other hand our human development index ranking is very poor. Pointing out the deficiencies in the health-care sector, he said that at present Pakistan is among the five such countries where infant mortality is highest due to use of contaminated water. "We have the highest rates of mortality for pregnant women. We are unfortunately one of the countries that suffer from the highest incidences of stunting in children. We are talking about 45 per cent of this nation's children," he said. "They are not getting proper nutrition. They are not developing properly. They are automatically left behind. What must their parents go through seeing their children in such a state?" he added. He called up on people of Pakistan to team up with him to eradicate poverty, improve health-care system, provide proper nutrition to children. "We have two paths ahead of us: one is the path we have taken so far - indebtedness, poverty, no funds to help our most vulnerable. The Prime Minister pointed out the difference between the growing lifestyles of the rich and the poor, and hinted that he would adopt an austere style of governance. on Saturday summoned Indian Deputy High Commissioner J P Singh and condemned the "unprovoked ceasefire violations" by the Indian forces along the (LoC) in its administered Kashmir, resulted in the death of a civilian. The Foreign Ministry said that a 65-year-old man was killed while a boy was injured in Indian firing on August 18 in Dana Sector along the LoC. "The Indian forces along the and the Working boundary are continuously targeting civilian populated areas with heavy weapons," Director General at the South Asian desk of the Foreign Ministry Mohammad Faisal who summoned the Indian diplomat said. Faisal also serves as spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Giving update of the cross-LoC shelling, the Foreign Ministry said in 2018, the Indian forces have carried out more than 1,900 along the LoC and the border, resulting in the deaths of 31 innocent civilians while injuring 122 others. "This unprecedented escalation in by India is continuing from the year 2017 when the Indian forces committed 1970 ceasefire violations," he said in a statement. The spokesman said the "deliberate targeting of civilian populated areas" is indeed deplorable and contrary to human dignity, human rights and humanitarian laws. "The by India are a threat to regional peace and security and may lead to a strategic miscalculation," Faisal told the Indian deputy high commissioner. and India had declared a ceasefire in 2003, however, both accuse each other of skirmishes. The spokesman urged the Indian side to respect the 2003 ceasefire arrangement, investigate this and other incidents of ceasefire violations, and instruct the Indian forces to respect the ceasefire, in letter and spirit and maintain peace on the LoC and the Working Boundary. He urged that the Indian side should permit UN Military Observer Group in India and to play its mandated role as per the UN Security Council resolutions. The security forces on Sunday arrested two overground workers (OGW) of Jaish-e-Mohammed, in Handwara town of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. The OGWs, Irshad Ahmad and Feroz Ahmad were arrested in a joint operation, conducted by the Handwara Police and 30 Rashtriya Rifles. The security forces also recovered arms and ammunition from their possession. Earlier today, the security personnel foiled an infiltration bid and gunned down a terrorist in Baramulla district of the state. On Saturday, three terrorists were killed after the security forces successfully foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A massive earthquake measuring 8.2 on the Richter Scale struck Fiji Islands region on Sunday. The quake, that struck at 12:19 am (GMT) earlier measured 7.9, but the United States Geological Survey upgraded the magnitude to 8.2. The epicentre of the quake was located 281 km northeast of the Ndoi Island in Fiji at a depth of 560 kilometres. The US Pacific Tsunami Warning Center said that no tsunami was expected due to the earthquake's depth. There were no reports of casualties and damage so far. Fiji is located in the Ring of Fire, an area in the basin of the Pacific Ocean, which is vulnerable to frequent earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mukta Dabholkar, daughter of slain Maharashtra rationalist Narendra Dabholkar, on Sunday claimed that the killings of her father, Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh had a common link and that they all were killed due to ideological differences. Speaking to ANI, Mukta said, "It is an important development that a person has been arrested after the completion of five years in the case. But I think that what has happened during the investigation is not sufficient. After Dr Dabholkar's murder, three more murders took place in a similar way." "Comrade Pansare (Govind Pansare), Professor Kalburgi (MM Kalburgi) and Gauri Lankesh were shot dead, the forensic reports and the investigating agencies say that all these four killings have a common link. It is a bigger plot and it had some reason behind it. They were killed due to ideological differences," she added. Mukta said that if the murderer of her father had been arrested earlier, precious lives of Pansare, Kalburagi and Lankesh could have been saved. "If the investigating agencies reach the mastermind, then only we will be able to say that justice is being delivered. Definitely five years time is a delay because if it would have been done earlier there was a possibility that 3 precious lives could have been saved," she said. "Five years is a big period, the murderers are going scot-free. It increases their will to do much more things, if they roam around freely in the society. Justice and investigation in a short period of time are essential," Mukta added. Meanwhile, Sachin Prakasrao Andure, who is believed to be one of the shooters who shot dead the MANS founder in Pune, has been sent to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody till August 26. He was earlier arrested by the central probe agency from Maharashtra's Aurangabad. Earlier, the son of Narendra Dabholkar had hoped that the real perpetrators behind the murder of his father are nabbed soon. Dabholkar was murdered by unknown bike-borne assailants from point-blank range on August 20, 2013, in Pune, while he was returning home from a morning walk. The Bombay High Court on August 2 had pulled up Maharashtra's Special Investigation Agency (SIT) and CBI probing the case. The court cracked a whip on the investigative agencies directing them to adopt the same degree of seriousness and promptness like Karnataka Police which is probing the Gauri Lankesh murder case. Following a demand by members of Dabholkar's family, the case was handed over to the CBI for investigation. The Karnataka police while probing the killing of Lankesh found out that her murder suspects had links with the conspirators in the murders of Dabholkar, Kalburgi and Pansare. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the Kochi airport is closed due to floods in Kerala, Carrier Air India has planned to operate from Kochi Naval Base to evacuate stranded people from flood-affected areas. Air India in its statement said, "As an exemplary initiative to fly out stranded people, AI's subsidiary Alliance Air operated a non-commercial "proving flight" on an ATR (turboprop) to Kochi's naval base with a team of DGCA, AAI and Flight Safety officials. Flight 9I 105 landed at Kochi at 1240 hrs from Bangalore and the return flt 9I106 took off from Kochi at 1345 hrs." "This whole exercise is aimed at confirming the feasibility of having Alliance Air operate more flights to Cochin's defence airbase with turboprops to evacuate passengers," the statement further read. On the other hand, in a letter to the Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) pilots on the Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 in Air India, announced that it will fly planes without payment to support Operation Madad and Operation Sahyog to help the people in Kerala. The state of Kerala has been hit by severe rainfall over the past few weeks, causing acute flooding and landslides. So far, 357 people have lost their lives due to the floods. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sachin Andure, an accused in 2013 Narendra Dabholkar murder case was sent to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) custody till August 26, by a Pune court on Sunday. The CBI arrested Andure from Maharashtra's Aurangabad district on Saturday and produced him before the court today. The CBI custody of the murder accused comes a day ahead of the fifth death anniversary of Dabholkar, Maharashtra based rationalist. Speaking to ANI, Andure's advocate told ANI, "As per the CBI, Andure is the person who actually fired at Dr. Dabholkar and they (CBI) today sought further custody from the court. But in an earlier charge sheet filed by the CBI in Virendrasingh Tawde case, they have shown other two absconding persons, Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar, as the one who actually fired towards Dabholkar. Therefore this is some new theory to implicate Sachin." Hamid Dabholkar, son of Narendra Dabholkar expressed satisfaction over the arrest and told ANI, "I think this is an important step in the right direction. We urge the Central Government and State Government that they should not stop here and should go to the root of the investigation and try to get the mastermind behind this heinous act." Dabholkar, who was the founder of Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti (MANS) was shot dead on August 20, 2013, by bike-borne assailants while returning home from a morning walk. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian government on Sunday dismissed reports of David Headley's half-brother, Daniel Gilani, attending the funeral of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in New Delhi on Friday. Headley, a convict in the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack in 2008, is considered as one of the main plotters of the attack. The government also denied reports of Daniel Gilani attending courtesy meeting between Pakistan's interim Minister of Law and Information, Syed Ali Zafar and External Affairs Minister (EAM), Sushma Swaraj. The denial came after reports emerged that Gilani attended the funeral of Vajpayee on August 17, as part of the Pakistan delegation. "He (Gilani) did not go to funeral venue. He (Gilani) did not attend courtesy meeting of Caretaker Law Minister with EAM," sources said. The government further informed that Gilani was issued visa after checking blacklist, adding, there are no reports of his links to terrorism. According to the sources, Gilani is a Pakistan civil servant and director to the Caretaker Law Minister. "Daniel has publicly dissociated himself from David Headly," sources added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Giuliani ponders whether to declare war on Oceania again. Photo: Alex Wong/Getty Images Alert: another half-chilling, half-laughable Trump administration mantra is ready to add to the trophy case, in the space just beside Alternative Facts and What Youre Seeing Is Not Whats Happening. In an exchange with Meet the Presss Chuck Todd about whether President Trump will eventually sit down with Robert Mueller (he probably wont), presidential lawyer Rudy Giuliani not only disputed the special counsels tactics, but the very notion of reality. WATCH: Rudy Giuliani tells @chucktodd that he doesnt want President Trump to be caught in a perjury trap by speaking with Special Counsel Robert Mueller. #MTP #IfItsSunday Giuliani: Truth isnt truth" pic.twitter.com/SChZbfgAOX Meet the Press (@MeetThePress) August 19, 2018 The official transcript below: Look, I am not going to be rushed into having him testify so that he gets trapped into perjury, Giuliani said. And when you tell me that, you know, he should testify because hes going to tell the truth and he shouldnt worry, well thats so silly because its somebodys version of the truth. Not the truth. He didnt have a, a conversation TODD: Truth is truth. I dont mean to go like GIULIANI: No, it isnt truth. Truth isnt truth. The president of the United States says, I didnt TODD: Truth isnt truth? Mr. Mayor do you realize, what, I, I, I GIULIANI: No, no TODD: This is going to become a bad meme. Todds wry prediction was, of course, immediately proven right. In the other noteworthy section of his interview, Giuliani once again changed the Trump administrations line on its fateful meeting with Russians at Trump Tower in 2016. He now claims, confusingly, that the sitdown was all about getting dirt on Hillary Clinton (not adoptions after all!), but that Trump officials had no idea that actual Russians would be involved (which is definitely not true). But then, what is truth, when you really think about it? Bollywood actor Farhan Akhtar has urged West Bengal's Minister of School Education to replace a textbook published with an error in depiction of athlete Milkha Singh. Instead of Milkha Singh's photo, the publisher has used Farhan's picture, who played the reel Milkha Singh in the 2013 biographical-superhit 'Bhaag Milkha Bhaag'. The story was based on Singh's life, an Indian athlete who was a champion runner and first Indian to qualify for Olympic finals. The film also starred Divya Dutta, Meesha Shafi, Pavan Malhotra and Art Malik in supporting roles. The 'Rock On' star took to social media, writing, "To the Minister of School Education, West Bengal. There is a glaring error with the image used in one of the school textbooks to depict Milkha Singh-ji. Could you please request the publisher to recall and replace this book? Sincerely. " On the work front, Farhan Akhtar will be next seen in Shonali Bose's debut directorial 'The Sky Is Pink', alongside Priyanka Chopra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian Navy's Operation Madad has been further scaled up to meet the increasing requests for rescue from more parts of flood-hit Kerala. Southern Naval Command (SNC) rescue teams have been augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the Indian Navy. On the tenth day of Operation Madad which was August 18, a total number of diving teams deployed is 72, which have been distributed to multiple locations. Eight newly inducted teams were sent out to various locations to augment those already in place. 42 teams with one Gemini boat each are deployed in Ernakulam district at various places. One team is at Pizhala island, one at Edapally, three at Perumbavur, 16 at North Paravur, 14 at Aluva, four at Muvattupuzha and two at Kadangallur. In the Thrissur district, the deployment at Chalakkudy has also been augmented to 10 teams, while in Pathanamthitta district, 10 teams are deployed at Chengannur and one team each at Ayroor and Pullad. Meanwhile, the deployment at Wayanad district was scaled down as conditions have improved there and presently two naval teams with Gemini boats are deployed at Porunnannur. Altogether, rescue teams have been able to rescue more than 3375 people by boats on August 18. In addition to the aforementioned efforts, all air assets available at INS Garuda have been extensively utilised for winching up stranded personnel, transfer of stores, boats, relief material, etc. Air rescue has been carried out at various places of the three worst affected districts such as Thrissur, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta. Various aircraft including ALH, Sea King, Chetak and MI 17 (of IAF) were able to rescue more than 154 people till now. Food packets along with bottled water were also airdropped on the rooftops of various houses/ churches. Squadron leader V Joshi told ANI, "The situation is quite bad. We are trying to rescue people. Right now we are giving them food and water so that they can at least survive until the water recedes." Approximately 350 rescued people have been accommodated at the T2 hangar inside the Naval Base, which has been converted into a makeshift relief camp. Another relief camp set up by the Naval Armament Depot, Aluva catered for another 170 persons. The Naval Kindergarten (NKG) School within the Naval Base has also been converted into a relief camp and approximately 250 persons have been accommodated there. Two Kendriya Vidyalayas, close to the Naval Base and administered by SNC, have also been kept standby as additional relief camps to house more displaced persons. A community kitchen set up by INS Venduruthy at the campus of Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) is catering for 7000 people. At least 17 cooks, four officers and 13 staff are relentlessly working to serve all three meals and tea twice a day for the needy. Kerala government authorities have also contributed to this kitchen, providing condiments and other edible items for its smooth functioning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Kochi on August 18 to survey the flood-affected areas by helicopter, and take a review of the rescue operations being undertaken by various agencies, including the Indian Navy. The Prime Minister was received and seen off at INS Garuda by Governor P Sathasivam, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Vice Admiral AK Chawla, AVSM, NM, VSM, Flag Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Southern Naval Command, along with other senior state government dignitaries. Yesterday, Vijayan said that the death toll in the flood-hit state has increased to 357. The Chief Minister further informed that the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crores due to floods. The Centre has launched massive rescue and relief operations in the southern state. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been asked to mobilize additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations. Food packets and drinking water are also being rushed. The Chief Ministers of various states have also come forward to help the southern state cope with the huge-scale devastation and extended financial aid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As several parts of Karnataka are facing acute flood situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy and extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. Karnataka has been witnessing incessant rain since August 14, causing landslides and flooding in various districts. Taking note of this, the Prime Minister tweeted, "Spoke to Karnataka CM Shri @hd_kumaraswamy Ji regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood-affected areas." On Saturday, Kumaraswamy announced a compensation package of Rs. 5 lakh per family who have been affected by the rains and floods. Earlier this week, a red alert was issued in several districts including Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Shivamogga. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is constantly monitoring airfares on 32 direct routes operating to or from Trivandrum, Calicut, Coimbatore and Mangalore, and has even set up a control room - working 24x7 - to aid stranded passengers due to flight cancellations in Kochi, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said on Sunday. "Scheduled domestic airlines have also been advised to ensure that airfares for flights to or from Trivandrum and Calicut airports in Kerala and nearby airports i.e. Mangalore and Coimbatore are kept at an optimal level proportionate to sector distance. Accordingly, airlines have been advised to cap the maximum fare at around Rs 10,000 for longer routes and around Rs 8,000 for shorter routes to or from Kerala and nearby airports," Prabhu tweeted. "DGCA is constantly monitoring airfares on 32 direct routes operating to or from Trivandrum, Calicut, Coimbatore and Mangalore. Monitoring done on August 18 has revealed that maximum fares on the shorter routes range from Rs 3034 to Rs 8000 and Rs 4757 to around Rs 10000 for longer routes," he added. In another tweet, Prabhu informed that a "joint team comprising representatives from DGCA, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Navy carried out inspection of Cochin Naval Base today to check the feasibility of scheduled operations from there. "Steps being taken to start operations with ATR-72 from Monday, August 20. A Control Room has been set up by DGCA which is working around the clock 24x7 to aid stranded/affected passengers due to flight cancellations in Cochin. More than 2771 queries have been addressed by the control room till date," he added. He further said that the scheduled domestic airlines have mounted additional flights to or from Trivandrum, Calicut and Coimbatore airports to "minimise passenger inconvenience". Besides them, nine foreign carriers have also rescheduled their flights to or from Trivandrum, the minister stated. "Airlines are also displaying the status of rescheduled and additional flights on their respective websites along with the waiver of cancellation or change ticket charges. Based upon request received from the Kerala government to facilitate them in air dropping of relief material, DGCA is in contact with three private helicopter operators to carry out such relief operations. These operators are currently coordinating with the state government officials," the aviation minister added. Kerala has been facing the worst flooding in a century. On Saturday, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed that the death toll due to the floods, has increased to 357. He added that the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore due to the deluge. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Disaster Response Force (NDRF) Director General Sanjay Kumar on Sunday said that the people stranded due to the floods in Kerala should keep their calm, and assured them that help will arrive from the rescue teams deployed in the state. Speaking to ANI, Kumar said, "They (stranded people) should keep their calm and seek shelter in the most stable or safe places around them. They should wait for the rescuers to come if no communication facility is there and in case they do have access to communications, they should contact the control rooms or the state or district emergency operation center and relay their needs and definitely, some rescuer will approach them." Kumar further said that there were 58 NDRF teams deployed across eight districts of the state to carry out rescue work and extend medical emergency aids. They are also assisting the state administration in several other situations like landslides, house collapses and restoring communication facilities, essential services, and civil supplies. The NDRF DG also said that because rains have subsided in several parts of the state, the teams are being relocated to worse affected areas. "With rains subsided and things looking on the up, hopefully, the situation will start improving in a day or two and we will start focusing more on relief aspect than rescue and evacuation work," Kumar said. Upon being asked about the most challenging aspect of the rescue operations in the state, Kumar mentioned that in some very badly affected areas the water current was very strong which made it difficult to stabilize boats and reach out to people. Also, due breakdown of communication facilities many people are unable to contact their relatives, and as a result, the NDRF teams have been receiving thousands of calls from people trying to know whereabouts of their relatives. "We are trying our best to find those people and communicate their welfare and well-being to their near and dear ones. It was a difficult few days because of the continuous rains, discharge of waters from dams, but our teams have done an excellent job," Kumar added. Rescue efforts are in full swing in the state, with the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and NDRF deploying personnel with boats and helicopters to bolster relief operations. A pregnant woman was rescued in Kolam district's Alappad village by an NDRF team, while the Garud Special Force of Indian Air Force rescued a toddler from a rooftop in the flood-hit town of Alappuzha. Road clearance work is underway in Nelliyampathy hill station after multiple landslides damaged roads in the area. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan confirmed on Saturday that the death toll, in the worst floods in Kerala in over a century, has climbed to 357. He added that the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore due to the deluge. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced an additional financial assistance of Rs. 5 crores for the massive flooding in Kerala from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). This is in addition to the 5 crores, sanctioned earlier. Patnaik has also ordered 500 metric ton of polythene sheets worth about Rs. 8 crores for the southern state. 244 Fire Service Personnel trained in rescue operations, along with 65 rescue boats and other equipment have also been sent to Kerala to help hasten the rescue operations. Chief Minister Patnaik also stated that people of Odisha stand by the flood-affected people of Kerala at this hour of severe distress. He expressed his deep condolences for the lives lost in the calamity. "Odisha knows what a natural calamity of this magnitude means to the common man," he added. He further directed the Relief Commissioner of Odisha to remain in touch with the authorities and extend all the help to the people from Odisha, stranded in Kerala. Kerala has been facing the worst flooding in a century. Kerala Chief Minister confirmed on Saturday that the death toll due to the floods has increased to 357. He added that the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore due to the deluge. Central Government, Chief Ministers of various states have come forward to support Kerala and offered financial aid to the state. While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered an aid of Rs 15 crore from the Uttar Pradesh Relief Fund, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu offered a contribution of Rs 10 crore each. The calamity has also grabbed global attention. Even the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took note of the issue and formed a committee to provide relief to the affected people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Gulf firm has fired a man from Kerala after he made insensitive comments on a social media post on the plight of the flood-hit victims in the state. The company, Lulu Group International dismissed Rahul Cheru Palayattu, who worked as a cashier at the company's branch in Oman after he mocked the sanitation requirements of the flood victims in Kerala on Facebook, Dubai-based Khaleej Times reported. His termination letter by the firm's Human Resource Manager, Nasr Mubarak Salem Al Maawali read, "This is to inform that we have terminated your service with immediate effect because of your highly insensitive and derogatory comments on social media with regard to current flood situation in Kerala, India." It further added, "You are hereby instructed to handover all your official responsibilities to your reporting Manager immediately and to contact the Accounts Department for your final settlement." After facing the heat for his remarks, Rahul apologised by posting a video on Facebook on Sunday, "I am really sorry for what I did. I was in an inebriated state when I posted that message. At that time I did not know what I did was a grave mistake." In a statement, Chief Communications Officer (CCO) of Lulu group V Nandakumar said, "We took immediate steps to terminate his services and send out a very loud and clear message to the society about our stance in such issues. We as an organization have always stood for humanitarian values and highest ethical practices." Indian billionaire and owner of Lulu group, MA Yusuff Ali, who also hails from Kerala, also donated 9.23 million UAE dirhams for relief operations in the flood-hit state. Extending their support to the people affected by flash floods in Kerala, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) government on Saturday formed a committee to provide relief to the southern state. Kerala has been facing its worst flooding in a century, with nearly 400 people being killed. The state has suffered a loss of Rs. 19,512 crore due to the deluge, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Saturday. As the massive floods, caused due to torrential rains wreaked havoc, besides the Central Government, the Chief Ministers of various states have come forward to support Kerala and offered financial aid to the southern state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former United States President Barack Obama paid his rich tribute to former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who passed away yesterday, saying the latter never stopped his pursuit of a better Annan breathed his last at the age of 80 in Bern, Switzerland after a short illness, his family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announced on Saturday. In a statement, Obama recalled Annan's "integrity, persistence, optimism," while adding that the peace icon "embodied the mission of the United Nations like few others," The Hill reported. "His integrity, persistence, optimism, and sense of our common humanity always informed his outreach to the community of nations. Long after he had broken barriers, Kofi never stopped his pursuit of a better world, and made time to motivate and inspire the next generation of leaders," Obama elucidated. Annan was the first black African to serve as the Secretary-General of the UN between 1997 to 2006. He was hailed for championing peace and for his humanitarian efforts. The Ghanaian diplomat and the UN were bestowed with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. The incumbent Secretary-General of the UN, Antonio Guterres, also mourned Annan's demise and said that "his legacy as a global champion for peace will remain a true inspiration". "Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good. I join the world in mourning his loss. In these turbulent and trying times, his legacy as a global champion for peace will remain a true inspiration for us all." Guterres tweeted. Condolences from various world leaders started pouring in soon after Annan's demise. Prime Minister Narendra Modi wrote on the micro-blogging site, "We express our profound sorrow at the passing away of Nobel Laureate and former UNSG Mr. Kofi Annan. The world has lost not only a great African diplomat and humanitarian but also a conscience keeper of international peace and security." Prime Minister Modi praised Annan for his contribution to the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the global body's roadmap for eradicating poverty, halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education. "Mr. Kofi Annan's significant contribution to the MDGs will always be remembered. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace," he added. Annan played a key role in Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, and brokering peace between Tel Aviv and Hezbollah in 2006. He was also a part in the 'Global Compact' initiative in 1999, which aimed at promoting corporate social responsibility. After his tenure at the UN ended, the world peace icon founded the Kofi Annan Foundation, wherein he continued his human rights work. The longtime UN diplomat was the chairman of the Africa Progress Panel and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa, and also the Nelson Mandela-founded group, The Elders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United States President Donald Trump on Saturday defended his recent meetings with foreign dignitaries such as North Korean leader Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying it was "not a bad thing." In a video posted on Twitter, Trump said, "Many people ask why I meet foreign leaders and waste my time. It is very important that if you are the president, you should be with the foreign leaders. There is nothing to lose and there is a lot to gain." He recalled his summit with Kim at Singapore in June, saying that North Korea had returned the remains of the US war troops killed in the Korean War. "Nobody is shooting out missiles and there are no nuclear testings and other things going on that were terrible earlier," Trump stressed in reference to North Korea. Trump and Kim had met in Singapore and 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. Although Kim had vowed to give up developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, a confidential report by the United Nations revealed that the country is reportedly continuing to pursue its nuclear weapons programme. Calling his meeting with Putin at Helsinki in July as "tremendous", the US President asserted that a "lot of things were accomplished." Trump continued, "The meeting with foreign leaders is a good thing, it is not a bad thing. Nothing bad can happen. It is only going to be positive, especially if your president knows what he is doing." Trump had touched off a major political controversy following his comments on the alleged meddling of the 2016 US presidential election by Russia at the joint press conference with Putin in Helsinki. The US President had endorsed his Russian counterpart's stance on Moscow's non-involvement in the presidential poll, insisting that he ran a clean campaign and there was zero collusion. Later, Trump attempted to walk back his comments and blamed Putin for the alleged interference in the 2016 US presidential election. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A body of a three-year-old minor girl, who had gone missing since Thursday while playing outside her home in Burhanpur, was recovered in the wee hours of Sunday from a village which is a kilometre away from the region. Speaking to media, Ajay Kumar, Chief Superintendent of Police, said that the victim was suspected to have been chocked to death following the rape. "Three doctors have examined the body of the victim and surmised that there is a strong possibility of sexual assault. They have also found strangulation marks on the semi-decomposed body. We have sent the body to the forensic laboratory situated in Bhopal. It is expected that the lab report will reveal the cause of death," he added. The police is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident in order to get a clue about the accused. Ajay Raghuvanshi, the chief of District Congress Committee, condemned the incident and suggested that the police must tightened its security in and around the region to curb the menace of rape. He also added that a strict action should be taken against the accused at the earliest. On a closer look, cases of rape, sexual abuse and sexual assault with minors are rapidly increasing across India. Last month, a seven-year-old girl was raped and strangled to death in Rajasthan's Jhalawar area. The girl's body was found 200 meters away from home. In Uttar Pradesh, madrasa manager along with five other people have recently been booked for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl from Ghosi area. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The other Donald in the White House, for now. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images White House counsel Donald McGahn has cooperated extensively with special counsel Robert Mueller and his teams investigation into whether President Trump obstructed justice in his attempts to end the probe into Russias interference in the 2016 election, the New York Times reported on Saturday. McGahn did so, according to the Times sources, in an effort to protect himself from criminal liability after becoming fearful that Trump would try to pass blame for the obstruction onto him. McGahn reportedly provided investigators with details about how Trump has sought to control the Russia investigation, including the presidents comments and actions during key moments like the firing of FBI director James Comey. He also provided them with information they had not previously been aware of, including McGahns involvement in Trumps efforts to fire Mueller last December. But how much harm McGahns supposed transparency could ultimately do to Trump, if any, remains an open question. McGahn reportedly shared a mix of information both potentially damaging and favorable to the president and told investigators that he never saw Trump exceed his legal authority as president. So it sounds like there was no smoking gun, but McGahns insight might prove useful Mueller is building an obstruction case based on a series of Trumps actions, rather than just one. Its also not clear if McGahn has offered anything to help the Mueller team on the other main part of their investigation: whether or not members of the Trump campaign, transition team, or administration have colluded with Russia or if he has implicated any other members of the Trump team. And another unknown is whether the president understands how much McGahn has shared with Mueller particularly since Trump, per the Times, wrongly believed that Mr. McGahn would act as a personal lawyer would for clients and solely defend his interests to investigators, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. Trump responded to the story on Saturday night, characteristically tweeting that there was nothing to see here, other than the witch hunt in progress. (Update: The story also led to a full Twitter tirade on Sunday morning.) I allowed White House Counsel Don McGahn, and all other requested members of the White House Staff, to fully cooperate with the Special Counsel. In addition we readily gave over one million pages of documents. Most transparent in history. No Collusion, No Obstruction. Witch Hunt! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 White House spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders, meanwhile, released a statement stressing that everything was just fine between Trump and McGahn, insisting that, The president and Don have a great relationship, and Trump appreciates all the hard work hes done, particularly his help and expertise with the judges, and the Supreme Court. But the Times report additionally suggests that Trumps legal strategy has been even more dubious than was already apparent. The personal lawyers he hired following the appointment of Mueller, Ty Cobb and John M. Dowd, have said they took Mr. Trump at his word that he did nothing wrong and sold him on an open-book strategy, convincing the president that if he and the White House cooperated with Muellers team, the investigation would be over in only a few months. (And Cobb, who was overheard by a reporter in a Washington restaurant calling McGahn a leaker and spy last September, told the Times he still thinks the transparency was a good idea.) By the time Muellers office asked to interview McGahn for the investigation last fall, he had already grown concerned enough about liability to hire his own lawyer. Trump and his personal lawyers didnt object to the interview, following the open-book strategy, and allowing Muellers investigators such access unnerved McGahn: At the same time, Mr. Trump was blaming Mr. McGahn for his legal woes, yet encouraging him to speak to investigators. Mr. McGahn and his lawyer grew suspicious. They began telling associates that they had concluded that the president had decided to let Mr. McGahn take the fall for decisions that could be construed as obstruction of justice, like the Comey firing, by telling the special counsel that he was only following shoddy legal advice from Mr. McGahn. Telling others that he didnt want to end up in a cell like President Nixons White House counsel John W. Dean, McGahn decided to protect himself and supposedly began fully cooperating with Mueller. It wasnt until months later that he and his lawyer realized they had made the classic mistake of assuming Trump is capable of adhering to any kind of master plan. Or as the Times puts it, it became apparent that Mr. McGahn and [his lawyer] overestimated the amount of thought that they believed the president put into his legal strategy. Dean, for his part, tweeted on Saturday that McGahn was doing right by working with Mueller a day after urging Trumps staff to take a long view of their involvement in the administration: Memo To Trumps White House Staff: FYI. Very few people who worked at Nixons White House later included that fact on their resumes. It doesnt do much for a career to be on the wrong side of history, nor to have worked for the worst president in American history. John Dean (@JohnWDean) August 17, 2018 As commentators like Marcy Wheeler have pointed out, the Times report should also be viewed as another part of McGahns efforts to protect himself and bolster his reputation amid any potential legal fallout. This is not new territory for him; its very likely that he was somehow involved in leaking the story that he had threatened to quit in an effort to save Muellers job last year. McGahn seems to be fed up with his White House gig. He and Trump apparently never speak one-on-one, and he calls the ever-angry Trump King Kong behind his back but he has not quit. That is a strange career decision for someone who believed his boss was setting him up to be the fall guy in a historic scandal. In March, Politico reported that McGahn tried to leave the administration but had been stopped by Trump out of concern over who would agree replace him. If he has flipped on Trump to protect himself, its not clear why the story is only coming out now, or why the White House wouldnt have already figured that out and fired or sidelined him. The Times reports that McGahn correctly saw his White House counsel responsibility as needing to protect the presidency, not the president. Like most other legally challenged Trump officials before him, he also seems to have concluded that his own reputation and freedom are more important too, but just how far he went to protect them remains to be seen. Pakistan's Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa rebuffed claims from Kabul that Islamabad supported the Taliban in carrying out an attack in Afghanistan's Ghazni city. In a statement, Bajwa said, "COAS reiterates that there is no support to any terrorist activity inside Afghanistan from Pakistan side. The alleged return of injured/dead terrorists from Ghazni is incorrect." Though, the Pakistani Army Chief also stated that "there are scores of Pakistanis, mostly labourers working in Afghanistan, who periodically fall victim to terrorism acts alongside their Afghan brothers inside Afghanistan." Bajwa's denial came after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani questioned the Pakistani Army Chief that why the Taliban militants accused of carrying out the attack in Ghazni were receiving treatment in Pakistan hospitals. "General Bajwa, you signed a document with us and told me repeatedly in our conversations over the phone that when the elections (in Pakistan) are over you will pay attention to it. I need answers now..From where they came and why are they receiving treatment in your hospitals," the Voice of America quoted Ghani as saying. Bajwa, further in defence of Pakistan, said, "Moreover, different factions of TTP (Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan), hiding in many sanctuaries inside Afghanistan under Afghan identities on becoming injured/ dead are transported into Pakistan for medical help. Additionally, Afghan refugees and their relatives also resort to similar practices." Strengthening his stand, Bajwa urged Afghanistan to look for a solution within its territory, while assuring that Islamabad is making all efforts to combat terrorism in the region. "The Afghan government needs to look inward as the problem resides inside Afghanistan. The solution thus remains on making substantive progress on Afghan reconciliation efforts as well as on speedy implementation of Afghanistan Pakistan Action Plan for Peace and Stability (APAPPS)," the Pakistan Army Chief noted. Pakistan's Foreign Office also rejected reports of the Taliban militants receiving medical treatment in Pakistani hospitals. Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal was quoted by The Express Tribune as saying, "Kabul hasn't officially shared any information or evidence with us so far. In the absence of official communications through regular channels established bilaterally, such reports cannot be given any credence, and can only be viewed as malicious propaganda to vitiate the existing cooperation between the two countries." On August 13, Afghanistan confirmed that more than 100 people were killed and over 150 others injured after the Taliban launched an attack in Ghazni. The Afghan President had visited the war-affected city last week to take stock of the situation and ordered an investigation into the attacks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind on Saturday expressed contentment over the fact that Union and state governments have come together to work cohesively for the relief and rescue operations in flood-ravaged Kerala. The President also spoke to the Governor and Chief Minister of Kerala and acknowledged the grit and resilience of the state's people in coming together during these difficult times. He also assured support of the entire nation towards Kerala's people. Kovind also praised relief agencies such as NDRF and public officials at state and Central levels for their response and commitment On Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook an aerial survey of the flood-affected districts in Kerala, along with Chief Minister Pinayari Vijayan, and announced a financial assistance of Rs. 500 crore along with an ex gratia of Rs. 2 lakh to the next kin of the deceased and Rs. 50,000 to those critically injured. The state of Kerala has witnessed the worse flooding in a century. The death toll has reached 357, the Chief Minister has confirmed that the state has incurred a loss of Rs. 19,512 crores due to the deluge and rainfall. Several state governments have also come forward to stand beside Kerala, while the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officials in Andhra Pradesh also donated a day's salary to support the victims. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday criticised his cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for embracing Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during Imran Khan's swearing-in as Pakistan Prime Minister. "As far as hugging the Pakistan Army Chief is concerned I am not in its favour. It was wrong for him to have shown the affection towards the Pakistan Army Chief at a time when our soldiers are being martyred," said Singh. He further added that his own regiment lost one Major and two Jawans a few months ago. Singh also questioned casualties due to firing from the Pakistani side of the border, "Whether the man who pulled the trigger is to be blamed or the man who gives the order? Which is the chief, and the chief is General Bajwa." Amarinder Singh also distanced himself from Sidhu's decision to attend the ceremony in Pakistan, stating that the visit was made in his personal capacity. "As far as attending the swearing-in ceremony is concerned, he went there in his personal capacity so it has nothing to do with us. About him being seated next to the PoK President, maybe he (Sidhu) didn't know who he was," added the Chief Minister. The BJP also launched a scathing attack on the Congress over the issue, on Saturday the party's spokesperson Sambit Patra said that his visit was "no less than a crime". "It is no less than a crime that a Congress member and cabinet minister in Punjab government went to Pakistan for the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan and acted in a certain way," Patra added. The BJP also demanded Congress President Rahul Gandhi's stance on Sidhu's visit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Sunday announced that his party would contest the 2019 parliamentary elections in Haryana independently. The former deputy chief minister of Punjab while addressing a rally in Kurukshetra's Pipli town said that his party without the help of any ally will emerge victorious. "Shiromani Akali Dal will contest the 2019 elections independently in Haryana and emerge victoriously," he said. He further appealed to Punjabis to unite under the flag of the SAD to script a new history in Haryana. "We have promised and delivered in Punjab. Now, we are ready to take up the responsibility of working for the welfare of the people of Haryana. I appeal to Punjabis to unite under the flag of SAD to script a new history in Haryana. No one can stop you from acquiring power once you unite as one with the SAD," he added. Earlier, the SAD used to contest in Haryana in an alliance with Indian Lok Dal (INLD). The two parties however, broke up a few months back. Badal also announced that if SAD is voted to power, then, the party will provide free electricity to the agriculture sector, 400 units of free power per month to Dalits and free piped irrigation water in all fields. Along with Badal, former Punjab cabinet minister Bikram Singh Majithia and Haryana in-charge Balwinder Singh Bhunder addressed the rally, with an aim to strengthen Sikh vote bank in Kurukshetra and its neighbouring districts. Meanwhile, a group of protesters showed black flags to Badal during his speech and chanted anti-SAD slogans. However, later they were overpowered by the party workers and police on duty. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian wrestler Sushil Kumar, who was relying on repechage system after suffering a shocking first-round loss, has been eliminated from the ongoing 18th edition of the Asian Games. The result came after Adam Batirov of Bahrain, the opponent who beat Kumar in the opening round, lost his quarter-final clash in men's 74 kg freestyle category. The repechage system works as a wild card for the participants, who fail to make through the initial rounds of the competition. But now that the Bahrain wrestler lost in the quarters stage, Kumar is left with no further scope to go ahead in the tournament. Earlier, two-time Olympic medallist Kumar slumped to a shocking 3-5 defeat at the hands of Batirov, thus ruling himself out of the race for the gold medal. Meanwhile, Indian wrestlers Mausam Khatri and Pawan Kumar lost their respective quarter-final encounters in the ongoing event. While Khatri lost 0-8 to Uzbekistan's Magomed Ibragimov in men's 97 kg category, Kumar suffered an embarrassing 0-11 defeat against Hassan Yazdanicharati of Iran in men's 86 kg freestyle wrestling. Asian Games, which began on August 18, will continue till September 2 in the Indonesian cities of Palembang and Jakarta. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the massive floods have wreaked havoc in Kerala, Telangana Home Minister, Nayani Narshimha Reddy handed over a cheque of Rs 25 crore to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday. Apart from this, the Telangana administration has also airlifted 50 R.O machines worth Rs 2.5 crore to Kerala from Begumpet for drinking water. The aid was announced by the Telangana Chief Minister, K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Friday. He also expressed deep sorrow on the natural calamity and loss of lives and damage to property. Kerala has been facing the worst flooding in a century. Kerala Chief Minister confirmed on Saturday that the death toll due to the floods has increased to 357. He added that the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore due to the deluge. In this hour of need, besides Central Government, Chief Ministers of various states have come forward to support Kerala and offered financial aid to the southern state. While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered an aid of Rs 15 crore from the Uttar Pradesh Relief Fund, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu have offered a contribution of Rs 10 crore each. The states of Jharkhand and Odisha also announced a financial help of Rs 5 crore. The calamity has also grabbed global attention. Even the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took note of the issue and formed a committee to provide relief to the affected people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday said that Turkish forces would continue its counter-terrorism operations in Iraq and Syria. "The operations of the Turkish army in Jarabulus, Al-Bab and Afrin will be carried out in other Syrian regions, up to the Iraqi border. They will also be carried out in [Iraq's] Sinjar and Makhmur. We will eliminate the terrorist threat coming from the territory of Syria and Iraq. We will not let terrorists control zones near our southern borders," Erdogan was quoted by Sputnik as saying, during his address at the Justice and Development Party's Congress. Turkish troops, along with various Syrian opposition groups took part in several military operations, mostly against Kurdish militants in Syria, under Euphrates Shield and the Olive Branch operations. Damascus has castigated Ankara's military operations and condemned its actions, asserting that it had violated Syria's sovereignty. The Turkish armed forces are conducting raids against the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) in northern Iraq to clear out terror camps. The PKK has been listed as a terrorist organisation by Turkey, the United States and the European Union. Its terror campaign against Turkey is on for three decades now, which has resulted in the killing of more than 40,000 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat on Saturday condemned the alleged gang-rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl in Bhakra village of the state and assured stringent action against the accused. Taking to twitter the Chief Minister said, "The murder of a girl child after gang-rape in Uttarkashi has shaken me. There is no place for such demonic crimes in our 'Devbhumi' and I assure that all culprits in this incident will be given strictest punishment under the law." "All contractors or workmen will have to ensure that the verification of workers coming from outside has to be done. All District Magistrates are given clear instructions regarding the identification of those who have not been verified and take appropriate action," he added. A 12-year-old girl was allegedly abducted, gang-raped and killed by four men in Bhakra village of Uttarakhand's Uttarkashi on Friday night. Meanwhile, a case has been registered in this regard and internet services have been suspended in the area, following protests by locals. Uttarakhand Police said, "A Special Investigation Team (SIT) of nine officials has been constituted to probe the alleged gang-rape of the minor." No arrest has been made so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ashes of former Indian prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be immersed in various rivers across the country, beginning from Haridwar on Sunday. Vajpayee's daughter Namita Bhattacharya and granddaughter Niharika collected the ashes from Smriti Sthal in New Delhi. The former prime minister's ashes, which were carried in three urns, are being taken by road to Prem Ashram, then to Har-ki-Pauri in Uttarakhand's Haridwar for immersion. Vajpayee's immersion ceremony in Haridwar will be attended by Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat among others. After Haridwar, Vajpayee's ashes will be immersed in various rivers across the country. It will be immersed in all the holy rivers of Uttar Pradesh, including Ganga, Yamuna and Tapti, to respect his grand stature, the state government had announced on Friday. Earlier, Adityanath had said that Uttar Pradesh is Vajpayee's workplace and by immersing his ashes in all the rivers across the state, people will get a chance to be a part of his last rites. Vajpayee, the 10th prime minister of India, breathed his last on Thursday evening. He was cremated on Friday with full state honour at Smriti Sthal in the capital. The former prime minister, whose ancestral home is at Bateshwar in Agra, died at the All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) following a prolonged illness. He was 93. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Applying sunscreen on your body may be good for your skin, but not so much for the fish, a new study has revealed. Scientists have found that sunscreen from the body of bathers releases significant quantities of polluting titanium dioxide (TiO2) into the sea, which has the potential to harm marine life. TiO2 is one of the main ingredients of sunscreen and acts as a protective agent against harmful UV rays. Most major regulatory bodies consider it safe for human use at the concentrations used in sunscreens, however, concentrated TiO2 or long-term exposure could be toxic to a variety of fish and other aquatic organisms. In many sunscreens, TiO2 is present as tiny nanoparticles, which are coated with protective chemicals. Because the particle size is so small, nano-titanium dioxide does not reflect visible light but does absorb UV light, enabling a transparent barrier that protects the skin from the sun's harmful rays. The researchers have found that in water, the nanoparticles tend to lose their protective coating under the influence of UV light or seawater composition, which exposes the more toxic TiO2 to the aquatic They measured TiO2 concentrations in 3 beaches near Marseille in France, and surveyed bathers about how much sunscreen they used. The team found daily concentrations of 15 to 45 g/L of TiO2, which corresponds to several kgs of nanoparticles per summer season at each beach. The study found that with one small beach, which saw a foot fall of around 3000 people daily, the researchers calculated that around 68kg of cream could be deposited per day or 2.2 tons over the height of summer. Lead Researcher, Dr. Jerome Labille said, "If we consider reasonably that half of the creams used contain 5% of titanium dioxide, this gives 1.7 kg of titanium dioxide released per day. That comes to around 54kg in the two months of high summer, which is a significant amount." The sea is more or less continually in motion, so some of the titanium dioxide pollutants will be dispersed. Nevertheless, we anticipate an accumulation of the chemical in the seashore littoral, which could affect the aquatic life there. In recreation areas with stagnant water, such as in lakes or seawater swimming pools, there will be no such dispersion and the accumulation would be expected to be even more pronounced. "It is extremely important that sunbathers continue to use sunscreen for skin protection, the titanium dioxide pollution needs to be dealt with by the manufacturers and possibly legislation, and we've had good feedback from the manufacturers we are working with," said Labille. The researchers are currently working on developing sunscreens which are "safe by design" in which the release and toxicity of nanoparticles will be minimized. The findings were discussed in the Goldschmidt 2018 meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trump and his mentor, Roy Cohn, who was Senator Joseph McCarthys right-hand man and protege. Photo: Bettmann/Bettmann Archive President Trump launched an extended Twitter tirade on Sunday morning in response to a New York Times report that White House counsel Don McGahn has cooperated extensively with special counsel Robert Mueller in an effort to protect himself from Trump and possible prosecution. And while presidential tweetstorms are a regular feature of weekend mornings, Sundays was more revealing than most. It featured Trump siding with President Richard Nixon on Watergate, sounding like a full-fledged mobster, and comparing Mueller to one of the most disgraced figures in American history, Senator Joseph McCarthy. Trump initially responded to the Times story on Saturday with a tweet insisting that he had allowed McGahn to fully cooperate with Mueller, thus implying the White House counsel had done nothing untoward. On Sunday morning, the president decided to follow up with another six messages indicating that this story seems to have gotten deeper under his skin than others. The rant also gave away why. In the first tweet, Trump referred to the part of the Times report that compared McGahn to Nixon White House counsel John W. Dean, who helped lead the Watergate cover-up before becoming the prosecutors star witness against the Watergate conspirators. Deans testimony played a critical role in bringing down Nixon, and he continued to serve as White House counsel while he was working with investigators. He ultimately spent four months in prison after pleading guilty to obstruction of justice. The Saturday Times story implies McGahn may be acting as Dean had, for the same reasons though its far from clear if his cooperation with Mueller will do any real damage to Trump or others. President Trump a longtime friend of one of Nixons dirty tricks specialists, Roger Stone sees Dean as the villain of the Watergate scandal. In that same first tweet about the McGahn story on Sunday, the president referred to Dean as a RAT. The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type RAT. But I allowed him and all others to testify - I didnt have to. I have nothing to hide...... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 Trump, who favors personal loyalty almost as much as he does personal regard, has complained of rats before, tweeting attacks on people he presumed to be informing on others. Whether you like Obama or not, Bob Gates turned out to be one disloyal dude! Personally, I hate rats. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 12, 2014 In the end, Andy Pettitte did not rat out his friend Roger Clemens. I like him again, a lot. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 9, 2012 The paranoid Trump has also shown an affinity for Nixonian tactics as president, even compiling a Nixon-like enemies list by which he intends to seek revenge on U.S. officials who have participated in the Russia investigation or criticized him. He has additionally tried to order punishment on specific journalists, tried to demonize law enforcement officials who dont demonstrate fealty, and has earned Nixon-like poll numbers. Unlike Nixon, however, Trump seems incapable of keeping his authoritarian impulses secret. Nixon had his clandestine dirty tricks, informed by experience and a full understanding of government and politics. Trump just likes getting dirty in public, then attacks the media for not calling him clean. Nixon, generally very competent, bungled and botched his handling of Watergate. Trump, a total incompetent, is bungling and botching his handling of Russiagate. Fate is never kind to bunglers and/or botchers! Unlike Nixon, however, Trump wont leave willingly or graciously. John Dean (@JohnWDean) August 18, 2018 Also included in presidents Sunday morning Twitter tirade was yet another attack on the media, the rigged witch hunt, and Mueller only this time he compared the latter to Joseph McCarthy, another American lawmaker who once worked down an infamous list of enemies. McCarthy was, of course, the reckless leader of the Red Scare that possessed the U.S. in the 1950s. His name is the basis for the term McCarthyism, which is used to describe unsubstantiated accusations of treason that are made in an effort to destroy someones reputation and career. Trump has used the word before, accusing the Obama administration of the practice in his infamous March 2017 tweet that falsely claimed President Obama had tapped his phone in Trump Tower right before the 2016 election. On Sunday, Trump stretched the comparison to include the legitimate investigation into Russias interference in the 2016 presidential election which has already led to 32 indictments. Study the late Joseph McCarthy, Trump told his followers, because we are now in period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! To state the obvious, there is no comparison between Mueller, a competent, well-respected law enforcement official, and McCarthy, an unhinged, hateful charlatan whose name is synonymous with malfeasance and scaremongering in American politics. While Trump typically shows a tenuous grasp on history, McCarthy may be an exception. One of the presidents mentors was Roy Cohn, McCarthys ruthless right-hand-man and protege during their actual witch hunt, who fled Washington for second career as a super-shady, frequently indicted lawyer in New York. He also eventually represented and became a close adviser to Trump. In Trumps mind, despite all the harm Cohn did in his life, he was a great person because he was loyal. In The Art of the Deal, Trump championed Cohn, positively framing his self-hating homophobia as strength and his viciousness as toughness a characteristic Trump also celebrates in authoritarian strongmen abroad and points to as a kind of necessary evil while defending some of his administrations most abhorrent policies. Trump emphasized in his book that loyalty is more important than integrity or respectability. This is one of the central dogmas which has animated Trump in his life, and its the reason he thinks John Dean should have kept his mouth shut even if that meant a president who broke the law and tried to obstruct justice would have been able to stay in power. A small batch of 148 pilgrims on Sunday left Jammu for the cave shrine in the Kashmir Valley, police said. "The Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas today in an escorted convoy of eight vehicles for the Valley. The pilgrims are going to Baltal base camp no one is scheduled for the Pahalgam camp," the police said. Since it started on June 28, over 2.83 lakh pilgrims have performed this year's Amarnath Yatra. The 60-day long Yatra 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.) Actor Adil Hussain, who has won the Best Actor award at the Amanda Award or the Norwegian National Awards -- the Scandinavian countrys top national film honour, has dedicated it to Goalpara in Assam. Adil, who won the award for the film "What Will People Say" by Iram Haq, on Sunday took to Twitter and said that the award is for all those who believe that art can break boundaries. "Grateful to have Received the Amanda Awards Norwegia National Awards for Best Actor in a leading role for, brilliantly directed by Iram Haq. This award is for Goalpara, Assam, India for all those who believe that art can break all boundaries of all kinds," Adil, who grew up in the small town of Goalpara, wrote. "What Will People Say" is set in Pakistan and Norway and traces how a Pakistani immigrant family deals with its teenage daughter's affair with a local boy in Norway. --IANS dc/nv/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday announced a conditional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban starting on Monday. "As we approach Eid-ul-Adha... we announce a ceasefire that would take effect from Monday, the day of Arafa, till the day of the birth of the prophet (PBUH), Milad-un-Nabi, provided that the Taliban reciprocate," Ghani told a gathering celebrating the Independence Day, Xinhua reported. The Afghan leader also called on Taliban leadership to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long lasting and real peace. "We urge the Taliban leadership to get ready for peace talks based on Islamic values and principles," Ghani said, adding that the Afghan government has removed "all obstacles for a long lasting peace through these unprecedented steps." However, the Taliban group, which has repeatedly rejected an offer for peace talks with the Afghan government, has yet to react to President Ghani's offer for ceasefire. In June, the Afghan government announced a 17-day ceasefire to encourage the Taliban group to support the national reconciliation process. Reciprocating the government step, the Taliban announced a three-day truce during Eid-ul-Fitr which marked end of fasting month. --IANS pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government of Japan is planning to introduce English-speaking Artificial Intelligence (AI) robots in classrooms to help children improve their English speaking skills, considered one of the worst in the world. The Japanese ministry would be launching a pilot programme to test the effectiveness of the initiative in April 2019, reports Efe news. The initiative will be initially rolled out in 500 schools throughout the country with the aim of fully implementing it in two years, public broadcaster NHK reported Saturday. The programme also includes study apps and online conversation sessions with native English speakers. Japan has proposed improving English skills ahead of the surge in tourists expected during the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. According to data from the most recent EF English Proficiency Index in 2017, Japan is ranked 37th out of a total of 80 countries. The latest test and score data of TOEFL, the most popular English language proficiency test, showed that Japanese test-takers have among the worst scores as compared to their Asian counterparts, and are especially poor in speaking, along with Burkina Faso and Congo. --IANS gb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A bomb used by the Saudi-led coalition in a devastating attack on a school bus in Yemen was sold as part of a US State Department-sanctioned arms deal with Saudi Arabia, munitions experts told CNN. Working with local Yemeni journalists and munitions experts, CNN has established that the weapon that left dozens of children dead on August 9 was a 227 kg laser-guided MK 82 bomb made by Lockheed Martin, one of the top US defence contractors. The bomb was very similar to the one that wreaked devastation in an attack on a funeral hall in Yemen in October 2016 in which 155 people were killed and hundreds more wounded. The Saudi coalition blamed "incorrect information" for that strike, admitted it was a mistake and took responsibility. In the aftermath of the funeral hall attack, former US President Barack Obama banned the sale of precision-guided military technology to Saudi Arabia over "human rights concerns". The ban was overturned by the Trump administration's then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in March 2017. The August 9 bomb's impact as it landed on the bus full of excited schoolchildren on a day trip was devastating. Of the 51 people who died in the airstrike, 40 were children. The UN has called for a separate investigation into the strike, one of the deadliest since Yemen's war began in early 2015. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Industry chamber CII on Sunday said a task force chaired by its former President Kris Gopalakrishnan is working on comprehensive relief for flood-affected in Kerala in coordination with the state and district administrations. Heavy rains continue to devastate the southern state where the death toll has reached nearly 370 since May 29 when the monsoons began. "Emergency Response Centres are being set up in the CII offices in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai to coordinate and facilitate all efforts," a CII statement said here. "The CII is in constant touch with government agencies and local authorities to assess the situation and initiate most urgent relief operations in the affected areas." State-run Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) on Sunday said it has pressed into action three helicopters - two from Mumbai and One from Kakinada - to airlift relief material for the flood-hit. Four ONGC doctors have also been flown to Kerala. Industry chamber Assocham said in a statement that Kerala could have suffered losses to the tune of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 crore with a staggered impact of a few months on tourism, cash crops and trade, including international trade from Kochi and other ports. --IANS bc/tsb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) American hotelier Conrad Hilton has been formally sentenced in his theft auto case -- the same one in which he went off on a racist and homophobic rant. Conrad was in Los Angeles County Court on Wednesday where he pleaded no contest to one count of felony grant theft auto and one count of misdemeanour contempt of court. He was sentenced to three years probation and was ordered to continue with mental health and substance counseling, reports tmz.com. Hilton violated a restraining order last year against actress E.G. Daily's daughter, after he allegedly stole her father's car and drove over to her house. That led to a meltdown with cops. Hilton was also ordered to stay away from Daily and family for the next three years. According to tmz.com, Conrad was caught on camera in an incredibly racist and homophobic tirade against cops who arrested him at Daily's pad last spring. He screamed homophobic epithets, rape ... and the n-word. It was clear he wasn't well during this time. Conrad had initially pleaded not guilty in his criminal case, but had secured some much-needed professional help. --IANS nv/dc/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has signed a new law that tightens controls over the internet. The legislation on "cybercrime" means websites can be blocked in Egypt if deemed to constitute a threat to national security or the economy, the BBC reported. Anyone found guilty of running, or just visiting, such sites could face prison or a fine. Authorities said on Saturday that the new measures are needed to tackle instability and terrorism. The Cairo-based Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression said more than 500 websites had already been blocked in Egypt prior to the new law being signed. Last month another bill was passed by parliament, yet to be approved by President Sisi, that would allow any social media accounts with more than 5,000 followers to be placed under supervision. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri on Sunday said the European Union (EU) has pledged to take action before the US ban on importing oil from Iran takes effect in November, the media reported. The European countries have made this promise in an attempt to make up for the possible losses that Tehran may suffer, Jahangiri was quoted as saying by the Press TV. The US sanctions have so far not limited European countries in the economic sector, particularly with regard to oil purchases and trade, Jahangiri said, Xinhua reported. The impact has not been "very determining" despite the departure of some private companies, particularly the European ones, he added. US President Donald Trump signed an executive order August 6 to reimpose the first round of sanctions on Iran, which had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal, to levy "maximum economic pressure" on the Islamic republic. The sanctions will cover Iran's purchases of US dollar, its trade in gold and precious metals, and its automotive sector. The second round of embargo will be reimposed in early November with the aim of curtailing Iran's oil exports and shipping sectors. --IANS pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The blaze at Mount Kingiman, near Ulladulla, had burned through more than 1100 hectares. NSW Rural Fire Service inspector Ben Shepherd told AAP it was "burning in heath bush which caused it to flare up quickly". By late afternoon, attention turned to Bemboka where conditions had become "very dangerous", the RFS tweeted. NSW fire fighters work on containing an out of control bushfire in Bomaderry near Nowra, Wednesday, August 15, 2018. Strong winds and dry conditions are now making flames spread in Ulladulla and Bega Valley in New South Wales (NWS), Australia. No homes have been destroyed in any of the fires. Last week, a shocking 100 percent of New South Wales was declared to be in a drought. She had to leave after the wind picked up and she was overcome by smoke on the property. "It had been burning for a few days, but we weren't concerned at all", he said. The RFS said while the blaze is burning close to properties, crews are on scene to protect them. Australia fires Residents were told it's'too late to leave There are now "Very High" fire danger conditions, with this making it hard to bring the fire under control. Meanwhile, the Bureau of Meteorology is warning Queenslanders to prepare for the high chance of fires. with dry and windy conditions forecast for the weekend. The teens attempted to smother the blaze; however, it spread and firefighters from Fire & Rescue NSW were called to extinguish it before it spread into bushland. That contingent is helping to co-ordinate responses to huge blazes that continue to burn in California and other U.S. states. Most of the large firefighting aircraft don't typically arrive in Australia until after September, and demand for their services is likely to remain high in Europe and North America amid record summer heat in many regions. Mr Tull was quoted in a 2011 New Zealand Herald article, saying he had fought unsafe fires in Australia for more than a decade. The RFS said firefighters were taking advantage of easing conditions to conduct backburning. The NSW RFS said emergency alert messages had been sent to residents in the area, however, Kate Melzer, who lives in the danger zone, said she "had not been told anything". Trump expects to revoke Ohr's security clearance He said the only question now is whether the collusion that took place "constituted criminally liable conspiracy". He told the Journal he doesn't trust " many of those people on that list" and thinks they aren't "good people". Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday attacked the Modi government on the falling value of rupee and said the manner of implementation of the GST is an example of tax terrorism. The senior Congress leader also said that stagnant investment, fiscal deficit under pressure and the state current account deficit is having an impact on the macroeconomic stability. Asked if absence of a regular Finance Minister in the Modi government is responsible for the economic slowdown, Chidambaram said: "I thought there were three Finance Ministers -- one is de facto, one de jure, and one invisible." On the falling rupee, the former finance minister said:"The investment is stagnant at 28.5 per cent. You cannot expect the GDP to grow more than 7 per cent. "There is something known as Implemental Credited Output Ratio (ICOR). In India, we normally take four ICOR. You divide investment by Incremental Capital Output Ratio. It gives you an indication of the growth. If investment is 28.5 per cent and you divide it by four you will get a growth of only 7 or 7.1 per cent. "Fiscal deficit is under pressure. The current account deficit in 2017-18 has already touched two per cent and I am told that in the current year, it will cross 2 per cent. All this is having an impact on the macroeconomic stability," he added. On whether the Goods and Services Tax is flawed despite amendments, Chidambaram said that it proved that it was implemented in a wrong manner. "I think, there are still grievances, there are still complaints. GSTR 2 and GSTR 3 have not been notified. Tax liability is being decided by temporary GSTR form called GSTR 3A. If you speak to business persons... they still face numerous difficulties in complying with GST laws," he added. Chidambaram said that extraordinary powers have been given to various tax departments and humongous numbers of notices are sent out by every department. "It only creates fear among the individuals as well as business persons," he said. "Somebody who runs a medium-sized business gets a notice practically every third month... what is he supposed to do? Does the department have the capacity to deal with one lakh notices and two lakh notices? They don't have the capacity. Yet these notices are sent." Chidambaram said that since this government had a majority in Parliament it should have repealed the so-called Vodafone amendment to the Income Tax Act. "Far from that, they have sent Retrospective Tax demands to many other transactions. Vodafone did not turn out to be one-off case. There are several other cases where demands for tax retrospectively have been levied, which is frightening away investors. "The way the GST is implemented is an example of tax terrorism... you ask someone to file 37 returns in a year in a single state. If he has all-India business, he has to file over 1,000 returns. What else is tax terrorism?" he asked. --IANS sid/tsb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pulkit Samrat loves the power of cinema to make people laugh, cry and dance, as well as the public scrutiny that comes with being famous. But there was a time when it became disturbing for him and his family. "I have wanted to become an actor since my childhood. The fame and scrutiny was one part of it. But my main agenda was that I wanted to entertain people. I am passionate about making people believe that there is a world of which you can become a part for two hours in the theatre over popcorn," Pulkit told IANS over the phone from Mumbai. "I have always loved this experience... The expression on people's faces when they cry with you, they laugh with you and dance along with you; that is what I wanted to do from the start." The actor, who took the small screen route to get into showbiz, said that, during his growing up years, he used to stand in front of the mirror and give speeches. "I always thought that I would not wear shades when I become a star. I was like, 'Why do we have to wear glares? People should recognise you when you stop at the signal'. You want heads to turn towards you... and if it doesn't happen, it is a nightmare." But there was a phase when things turned a bit ugly for Pulkit. "Public scrutiny is a part of the profession. And I kind of enjoy it. But there was a short spell in between when I found it a little disturbing because it kind of involved my family." Pulkit -- who made headlines for his separation with Shweta Rohira followed by a rumoured relationship with actress Yami Gautam -- has learnt to deal with the public scrutiny now. "That was a little disturbing, but I have kind of learnt how to manage things; my family has learnt to balance things. We love every part of it. Why not be transparent when people want to know about you?" Pulkit made his television debut as Lakshya Virani in "Kyunki Saas Bhi Kabhi Bahu Thi" in 2006. He made a name for himself, though he quit the show soon after. He went on to do films like "Bittoo Boss", "Fukrey", "Bangistan", "Sanam Re", "Fukrey Returns" and "Veerey Ki Wedding". Some of his projects worked, and some didn't. But Pulkit says each experience taught him something. "When I look back, the innings have been really smooth so far. There have been ups and downs. The ups teach you something and when you fail in trying to do something... that also teaches you something. "I have been accumulating the teachings that I have been getting from all the ups and downs. And all those teachings have made me a much more confident and experienced person." Pulkit will soon be seen in "Haathi Mere Saathi", an animal drama also featuring Rana Daggubati, Vishnu Vishal, Zoya Hussein and Kalki Koechlin. Helmed by Prabhu Solomon, the trilingual is being shot simultaneously in Hindi, Telugu and Tamil with a different cast for each language. The movie highlights the man-animal relationship and is a story inspired by true events. On the film, he said: "I can't talk about my role. The film is about all the things happening with the elephant corridor being encroached upon by corporates in the name of developing cities, which we are witnessing all across the country... We are addressing the big problem with lot of action and drama." Pulkit says two schedules for the film are left, and he is prepping for them. "It requires insane stunts and action sequences, like jumping from heights and from a real waterfall, so I am preparing for the film." (Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in) --IANS sug/rb/vm (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With some key operational lessons learnt, an Indian Air Force (IAF) contingent has returned home on a high note after participation in the biennial multi-national military drill 'Exercise Pitch Black at Darwin in Australia, an official communique said on Sunday. This was the first time that the IAF actively participated in the large force employment warfare exercise, which was hosted by Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) between July 24 and August 18. With participation of 16 nations and more than 140 aircraft, the current edition was the largest Pitch Black ever conducted by Australia. "The IAF contingent interacted with various countries, gained first-hand experience of training patterns, employment and operating philosophies of their combat assets. The operational lessons learnt by IAF during the exercise will help it add more teeth to its overall operational capabilities," the IAF said in a release. The IAF undertook simulated air combat exercises in "near realistic environment" and exchanged best practices "towards enhancing our operational capability", it said. The IAF contingent, led by Group Captain C.U.V. Rao, consisted of 145 air warriors including commandos, Garuds, four Su-30 MKi, one C-130 and one C-17 aircraft for logistic support. "The objectives for the exercise were to foster closer relationship between the participating friendly forces and to promote interoperability through exchange of knowledge and experience," it said. In a variety of day and night time operations undertaken by the IAF during the drill, for the first time SU-30 MKi carried out air-to-air refueling with KC-30A of RAAF. The KC-30A Multi-Role Tanker Transport is a modified Airbus A330 airliner used by RAAF to conduct air-to-air refueling and provide strategic airlift. Some highlights of the exercise included exchange sorties flown by IAF pilots flying in Rafale and RAAF F/A-18 (Hornets) and RAAF crew and French crew flying in SU-30MKI. The C-130J also carried out assault landing at Dalmare, assault operations of dropping specialist vehicles in operation area and participation in Large Force Engagement missions, both in day and night time. "Certain maiden operations undertaken by the IAF during the exercise included IAF commandos, Garuds and para jump instructors jumping from C-27J Spartan in a foreign country, Container Delivery System drop by C-130 J, Engine Running Ops for dropping Ops Specialist Vehicles in combat zone," it said. Over the last decade, the IAF has been actively participating in operational exercises hosted by various countries. --IANS mak/tsb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Mauritius on Sunday discussed maritime cooperation during a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on the sidelines of the 11th World Hindi Conference here. "Connecting with a maritime neighbour!" Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted following the meeting. Both leaders discussed how to deepen special ties between the two countries, Kumar said. India and Mauritius agreed to cooperate in the Blue Economy sector in the Indian Ocean during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here in 2015. Around 68 per cent of Mauritius's population of nearly 1.3 million is of Indian descent. Many are descendants of Indian indentured labour brought to work on sugarcane plantations here in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Earlier on Sunday, Sushma Swaraj also met former Mauritian Prime Minister Paul Berenger. Berenger conveyed his condolence on the demise of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Sushma Swaraj then met Mauritian Opposition Leader Xavier Luc Duval. "Good exchange of views on furthering cooperation between our two countries," the Indian spokesperson tweeted. "Relations between India and Mauritius span across the broad political spectrum." As part of her engagements on the second day of the three-day conference that started on Saturday and is aimed at promoting Hindi, Sushma Swaraj inaugurated the Panini Language Laboratory at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute here in the presence of Education Minister of Mauritius Leela Devi Dookun and other dignitaries. The lab, gifted by India, deploys ICT-enabled methods to teach Hindi. --IANS ab/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A joint "Maitree Exercise" between the Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army, designed to strengthen the partnership between the two forces, ended on Sunday in Thailand, the Defence Ministry said. The annual two-week long platoon level exercise started on August 6. "The exercise culminated with a 72-hour joint exercise on planning and execution of series of tactical operations like raid, pursuit, establishing military check post and cordon and search operations. "Both the armies benefited immensely from each other's expertise and experience in conduct of tactical level counter terrorist operations," a Ministry statement said. "The exercise helped in enhancing the cooperation between the two armies and bonhomie between the troops," it added. The statement said the exercise began with a "cross training period involving familiarization training between the two armies to evolve drills and procedures involved in counter insurgency and counter terrorist operations in urban, rural and jungle terrain under the UN mandate. "The initial days of field training focused on familiarizing with each other's modus operandi, basic manoeuvres and evolving joint drills. "The second phase included practicing of various drills and tactical scenarios in counter insurgency environment, execution of tactical operations like search and destroy operation, house intervention and survival techniques," said the statement. --IANS rak/mag/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian naval ship, Khanjar, has arrived at Myanmar's Yangon Port, further strengthening the bilateral relations between the two countries, an official Myanmar newspaper reported on Sunday. The Indian naval ship, which arrived here on Saturday, will be in Myanmar for three days, Xinhua news agency reported. The INS Khanjar (P-47), a Khukri-class missile corvette, has a displacement of 1,350 tons, length of 91 m and is capable of doing speed in excess of 25 knots. It was commissioned into the Indian navy in October 1991. --IANS mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The DRDO on Sunday successfully flight tested the indigenously developed HELINA (Helicopter-Launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile) system at Pokhran in Rajasthan, official sources said. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the DRDO and the Indian Army for further strengthening the defence capabilities of the country with the successful test. "The weapon system has been tested for its full range. The HELINA weapon system released smoothly from the launch platform and tracked the target all through its course beforre hitting it with high precision," an official release said. The missile is guided by an Infrared Imaging Seeker operating in the Lock-on-Before-Launch mode. It is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world. Senior officials from the DRDO and Indian Army were present during the mission. --IANS mak/tsb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A militant was killed in a gunfight with the Indian Army after an infiltration bid by a group of gunmen was foiled in Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday - a day after the new Imran Khan-led government took over in Pakistan and three days after its Army promised to stop any cross-border incursion along the Line of Control (LoC). According to a Defence Ministry spokesperson, the border gunfight in north Kashmir's Uri sector erupted after three to four militants were spotted infiltrating across the de facto border in Baramulla. "The militant was killed in Kasturi Naar area in Uri sector," said the spokesperson, Colonel Rajesh Kalia. The operation continued hours after the militant's killing. The gunfight came a day after three militants were killed on Saturday on the LoC in after a group of infiltrating militants was challenged by the Army in Tanghdar Sector in Kupwara district, also in north Kashmir. Significantly, on Thursday, senior commanders of the India and Pakistan armies spoke after the two countries celebrated their independence days. The Director General Military Operations (DGMO) level talks were held at the behest of Pakistan's Major General Sahir Shamshad Mirza. The Pakistani commander promised the his Army "would take prompt action against (any) move of inimical elements in proximity to the LoC and respond to information shared by the Indian side, thereby facilitating conduct of anti-terrorist operations", an Indian Army statement said on August 16. The assurance came after the Indian DGMO Lt Gen Anil Chauhan "emphatically stated that infiltration attempts by terrorists were a major cause of concern and informed the Pakistan (counterpart) that these activities have increased in the areas north of Pir Panjal mountain ranges. "Pakistan must institute measures to prevent infiltration from the launch pads located on its side of the LoC," the Army statement said. But on Sunday, an Army source told IANS in Delhi that nothing had changed even as the Indian side would continue to strive for peace on the borders with Pakistan. "The issue of infiltration attempts was highlighted (in the DGMO level talks). Tanghdar yesterday and Uri today. In talks, we are emphasising infiltration. The issue was and remains... We are foiling infiltration bid every day. Nothing has changed," the source said. The Pakistan commander was said to have expressed satisfaction on the measures being taken along the LoC by troops to maintain border peace and tranquility. --IANS sar/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday announced a relief of Rs 2 crore for the flood-hit people of Kerala. Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra gave this information to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan while expressing sorrow over the tragic loss of hundreds of innocent lives in the unprecedented floods in the southern state. The death toll due to the devastating rains and floods in Kerala has gone up to 370 on Sunday. Vohra and members of his state administrative council have conveyed their sympathy for lakhs of families who have been rendered homeless in Kerala. The Governor has also announced that suitable arrangements are being urgently put in place to enable people of Jammu and Kashmir to contribute to Kerala flood relief fund. --IANS sq/pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kerala Chief Minister Pinaryai Vijayan on Sunday urged the people of the flood-ravaged state to use social media cautiously in order to stop the spread of false news of the devastation. "Attention: Efforts are in progress to save even the last person stranded. Many of the requests coming to helpline numbers are for people who are already rescued. Sending erroneous information can only delay rescue efforts. Kindly forward only messages that are valid," the Chief Minister's Office said in a tweet. Meanwhile, a video has gone viral showing a helicopter pilot engaged in rescue operations where people wave out to him. But when he asked the people to get in the chopper, they refused saying that it was only to get a selfie. As of Sunday, the toll from the torrential rains and the subsequent floods that has ravaged Kerala since August 9 stood at 370. --IANS sg/ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In an attachment to the motion, Merson included an e-mail in which Eikelenboom expressed his "expert opinion that DNA evidence would remain on the necks of the decedent children in spite of the fact that the remains were in oil for four days". The defense attorney for Christopher Watts, the Colorado man accused of killing his pregnant wife and two young daughters, filed a motion Friday requesting that DNA samples be taken from the recovered bodies of Shanann Watts, and daughters Bella and Celeste Watts. In an interview with 9NEWS on Tuesday, ahead of his arrest, Chris Watts said the disappearance of his wife and daughters was traumatic. Prosecutors also will ask a court to unseal the affidavit for Watts' arrest after filing formal charges, due by Monday afternoon, said Krista Henery, a spokeswoman for district attorney Michael Rourke. Eikelenboom, who also recommended taking DNA samples from the girls' hands and the hands and nails of their mother, has testified in several high-profile trials, often on so-called "touch DNA", cases in which small samples of genetic material are left on a surface. The defense motion filed Friday by defense attorney James Merson suggests that the girls were strangled, the Post reported. Defense attorneys did not indicate in the court filings what motivated them to make those requests. Mourners started lining up flowers and stuffed animals outside the family's suburban home shortly after the bodies were located, sadly just two days before Shanann was planning a gender reveal party for her unborn baby. The FBI and the Colorado Bureau of Investigation were involved in the arrest, Frederick police said. Watts confessed to killing the three missing females after first proclaiming innocence, the Epoch Times reported. "I call it a highway to heaven", said neighbour Mary Ann Bogner, 64, fighting back tears as she arranged candles in the form of a cross. A Chinese Boeing 737 has reportedly crash landed at Manila International Airport After rounding over the airport for almost an hour, the plane attempted landing at 15:55 UTC, when the accident was reported. In a picture from a local plane spotter, the plane appears to have one of the engines detached from the wing. Her husband, Chris Watts, was taken into custody Wednesday night and is being held in the Weld County Jail, north of Denver. "We are heartbroken by this, and our thoughts and prayers are with the loved ones and friends of the Watts family". The daughters stayed home with Watts in Colorado while Shanann was on the trip, she told police. They also remembered Watts' children: four-year-old Bella and three-year-old Celeste. "I love Chris! He's the best dad us girls could ask for", Shanann Watts wrote in a Facebook post sharing the text exchange with her husband. Watts originally explained that they were just ... gone. The following day, Christopher Watts stood in front of a parade of news cameras and told reporters that his children were his life. I just feel so alone in this house right now. "May Satan have mercy on his soul". Before his arrest Wednesday, Christopher Watts told reporters he missed his wife and daughters and that he longed for the simple things like telling his girls to eat their dinner and gazing at them as they curled up to watch cartoons. She lit up every room and was a joy to be around. "It's affected us all whether you do know them or don't know them". He was sacked on the day of his arrest, a spokeswoman for Anadarko said. On Aug. 17, Lauren Naumann-a close friend and babysitter of the Watts family-stopped by the Watts' house, lighted a candle at their memorial. The Kerala in the Middle East is extending help and support to those hit by the devastating floods in the state. The Kerala Samajam, Bahrain, will send the first consignment of food items, clothes and napkins on Tuesday to NGOs in Kerala for distribution, a Samajam member told IANS. The Palakkad Malayalee group in Bahrain raised Rs 2 lakh in one day. In Kuwait, Kiran Abraham, who works in the private sector, said there has been a huge interest in collecting funds and materials and this was happening in offices and various organisations. In Oman too, Keralites were raising funds and people were said to be donating liberally. "We have got support not just from Keralites but even from other Indians. Even Arab nationals have come and given their contribution. Those who are leading the drive will make the decision and send it to the desired places," said a Keralaite who hails from Kottayam. In the UAE also, the response to funds and other help has been overwhelming, said a Malayalee residing in that country. Meanwhile, several clubs and organisations in these countries have called off their Onam celebrations in solidarity with the dead and the suffering in Kerala, which is battling the worst flood disaster since 1924. --IANS sg/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As the rain fury finally abated on Sunday, 724,649 people remained in 5,645 camps in Kerala following "one of the worst ever floods" that has left about 370 dead and caused unprecedented destruction. "Our prime concern was to save lives. It appears it has been met," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the media amid signs that the most destructive phase of the floods had ended and that water overflowing numerous towns and villages had started to recede. "It is perhaps one of the worst ever tragedies. Hence the loss caused is so huge. So we will accept all help," he said, revealing the extent of a tragedy which has not hit the state since 1924. But even as Vijayan maintained that the last stage of rescue act was going on, various WhatsApp groups continued to be flooded with requests for help, especially from Alappuzha. On Sunday morning, the authorities withdrew the red alert issued in the last of the three districts: Idukki, Ernakulam and Pathanamthitta. There were only moderate rains in a few districts. Naturally, with fishermen, NCC, Navy and Air Force continuing to rescue the marooned, Sunday saw the maximum evacuation of people from Chengannur, Pandalam, Thiruvalla, several areas in Pathanamthitta district and in Aluva, Angamaly and Paravur in Ernakulam. The Chief Minister said 22,034 people had been rescued from flooded homes and buildings. The death toll began on May 29 when Kerala got the first of the monsoon rains. But the bulk of the fatalities were reported after August 9, when a tragedy of unprecedented proportion gripped the state after sluice gates of several rain-filled dams were opened. Vijayan said the next task would be to help people get back to normal life. "Rehabilitation will be done by various agencies," he said, and pledged that all towns and cities would be cleaned on a war footing. Vijayan paid special tributes to Kerala's famed fishermen who played a key role in rescuing hundreds and navigating through dangerous waters. Every fisherman who took part in the rescue act would be given Rs 3,000 each, he said. "We will always be grateful for their support and help." Students who lost their educational materials and uniforms would get new replacements. Rains in the catchment areas of the big dams in Idukki district have subsided and the authorities have shut two of the five floodgates at the Idukki dam. The outflow of water from both the Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams has also reduced. As a result, the water flow into the Periyar and its tributaries that flow through Ernakulam and Thrissur has come down. On Sunday, the Kottayam sector operated special passenger trains. The state-run Kerala State Road Transport Corp also restarted operations on the MC Road to Kottayam. But it is not as if all was going on smoothly. Health Minister K.K. Shailaja admitted that although the water level had fallen in many areas, medical facilities might not have reached certain regions due to the magnitude of the crisis. "This is because medical professionals found it difficult to reach the affected areas... We need a huge quantity of medicines. A major health drive is being planned to prevent communicable diseases," she said. And with the water level coming down, it might not be possible to operate the big boats, forcing rescuers to rely on small or rubber boats. But even as help poured into Kerala from all over the country and abroad, some vendors made a killing because of food shortages. Green chillies, even after police intervention, was selling at Rs 120 a kg in Kochi. Onions, potatoes and cabbage were sold at Rs 90 a kg. The retail cost of rice and sugar shot up by Rs 15. Some people who reached their homes in central Kerala were stunned after seeing mud and dirt accumulated on furniture, with practically all their possessions destroyed. Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury said the central assistance of Rs 500 crore was too little. "The Prime Minister should declare this crisis as a national disaster." The Kerala government has estimated the loss at Rs 19,500 crore. --IANS sg/mr/tsb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, for the second time in less than a week, slammed international sanctions on his country, state media reported on Sunday. "The hostile forces' persistent sanctions and obstructive moves come as a serious setback to the advance of our socialism," Kim Jong-un said during the inspection of a reconstruction project in the Samjiyon district, where his late father and former leader, Kim Jong-il, was born. The North Korean leader, who was accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju and senior officials of the ruling Workers' Party, said that despite the sanctions, the country was making history with "legendary miracles despite the most difficult conditions", reports Efe news. Kim's comments comes two days after KCNA published a report where the leader had described the sanctions as "brigandish" during a visit to an under-construction site at the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area. Since Kim's meeting with US President Donald Trump on June 12 in Singapore, North Korea, through state and foreign media, has criticized the sanctions imposed on the country by the US and asked that they be lifted although Kim has rarely criticised the sanctions openly. The US insists that it would retain sanctions on the regime until it takes concrete steps toward denuclearization. On Wednesday, the US government imposed sanctions against Russian and Chinese companies with alleged links to North Korea for facilitating "illicit shipments" on behalf of Pyongyang. --IANS ksk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Mexican astrophysicist has identified some of the first galaxies in our universe together with a team of researchers. The National Autonomous University of Mexico on Saturday said that the newly-identified galaxies are: Segue-1, Bootes I, Tucana II and Ursa Mayor I. All were formed more than 13 billion years ago, reports Xinhua news agency. The Mexican scientist Carlos Frenk Mora is one of the world's best known astronomers for his theories on dark matter and its role in the formation of galaxies. His discovery backs a current evolutionary model of the universe, called the Lambda Cold Dark Matter Theory, which maintains that the elementary particles that make up dark matter drive cosmic evolution. The most weak galaxies near the Milky Way were considered unworthy subject for study by scientists a decade ago, but new researches have revealed treasures for us to learn about the primitive universe, said Mora. --IANS ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Elevated pesticide levels in pregnant women are associated with an increased risk of autism among their children, says a study. Autism is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder with largely unknown causes. It is characterised by problems with communication, difficulty relating to people and events, and repetitive body movements or behaviours. "These findings provide the first biomarker-based evidence that maternal exposure to insecticides is associated with autism among offspring," the researchers said. The study, published online in the American Journal of Psychiatry, examined whether elevated maternal levels of persistent organic pollutants are associated with autism among children. Persistent organic pollutants are toxic chemicals that adversely affect human health and the around the world. The researchers, including Professor Alan Brown from Columbia University Medical Centre in the US, analysed levels of DDE, a breakdown product of the pesticide DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane). Although DDT and other persistent organic pollutants were widely banned in many countries decades ago, they persist in the food chain, resulting in continuous exposure among populations. These chemicals transfer across the placenta, resulting in potential prenatal exposure among nearly all children. The researchers evaluated levels of DDE in maternal serum samples drawn from more than 750 children with autism and matched control participants from a national birth cohort study, the Finnish Prenatal Study of Autism. The odds of autism among children were significantly increased in mothers whose DDE levels were elevated (defined as the 75th percentile or greater). In addition, the odds of children having autism with intellectual disability were increased more than twofold with maternal DDE levels above this threshold, the study said. --IANS gb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced an additional financial assistance of Rs 5 crore for the flood-ravaged Kerala. The amount would be sanctioned from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). This is in addition to the 5 crore sanctioned earlier, said a release from Chief Minister's Office. Besides, Patnaik also ordered 500 MT of polythene sheets worth about Rs 8 crore to be sent to Kerala. Two-hundred forty-four (244) Fire Service Personnel trained in rescue operations with 65 rescue boats and other equipments have already been sent to Kerala to help in the rescue operations. The Chief Minister stated that people of Odisha stand by the flood affected people of Kerala at this hour of severe distress. He expressed deep condolences for the lives lost. "Odisha knows what a natural calamity of this magnitude means to the common man," said Patnaik. He has further directed the Relief Commissioner of Odisha to remain in touch with the authorities and extend all the help to the people from Odisha stranded in Kerala. The Labour Department of Odisha has already rushed officials to Kerala to ensure the safety of Odia labourers affected by floods. --IANS cd/pgh/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Odisha government on Sunday requested the Kerala government to provide necessary support to the Odia people trapped in the devastating floods. In a letter, Shyamal Kumar Das, officer on special duty of Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Department sent a list of 187 persons who have been trapped in the recent floods in Kerala. The letter has been sent to the Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala Disaster Management Department after the Odisha government received calls for help at the state emergency operation centre at the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) office here. "It is requested to kindly make necessary arrangements for providing necessary support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to these people," said Das. Notably, the Odisha government has set up a 24-hour helpline -- 1070 and 0674-2534177 -- at the SRC office to coordinate help for the flood-affected people in Kerala. The government has also sent a team of 240 fire services personnel along with 75 power boats to flood-ravaged Kerala to carry out rescue operations. --IANS cd/mag/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan on Sunday welcomed the Afghan government's declaration of a three-month conditional ceasefire with the Taliban from Monday. "Pakistan fully supports all such efforts that contribute to achieving durable stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan deserve it. Coinciding with the Independence Day of Afghanistan, the announcement (by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani) has an even greater significance," a Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted by Xinhua as saying. "As we approach Eid-ul-Azha... we announce a ceasefire that would take effect from Monday, the day of Arafa, till the day of the birth of the Prophet (PBUH), Milad-un-Nabi, provided that the Taliban reciprocate," Ghani said. "We also call upon all parties that in defence to the holy tradition of sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha to implement a ceasefire in hostilities -- preferably for a more extended period of time," the Pakistani spokesman said, adding the ceasefire would allow the people of Afghanistan to celebrate the festival in comfort and peace. The spokesman said that Pakistan expects such steps will create an environment of enduring peace and stability. --IANS pgh/tsb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday assured Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of help in the rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit Kodagu district, said an official statement. "Modi called up Kumaraswamy and assured him of all help in rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kodagu district," said the statement from the Chief Minister's camp office at Madikeri, about 270 km from Bengaluru. Kumaraswamy, who has been camping in the district since Saturday to supervise the operations, briefed Modi on the flood situation in the rain-hit district and how the Army, Navy and National Disaster Response Force were coordinating the efforts. Modi earlier tweeted that he spoke to Kumaraswamy from New Delhi on the flood situation in the affected district. "Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas," the Prime Minister said in a tweet. Kumaraswamy also briefed President Ram Nath Kovind on the rescue work in the district when the latter called on him from New Delhi earlier in the day. "The Chief Minister informed the President that the Indian Army, Navy and other state and central agencies have rescued over 3,500 people so far," the statement noted. Around 4,225 marooned people were rescued till Sunday evening from towns and villages across the district despite incessant rains hampering the operation. Of the rescued, 3,601 are staying in 36 relief shelters in the district and efforts were on to reach others stranded on hilltops. Located in the southern Western Ghats mountain range, the coffee-growing district is the worst-hit by the monsoon rains since June's first week. The incessant rains have caused flooding and landslips across the region, damaging the arterial roads. --IANS bha/fb/mak/pgh/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Gujarat Crime Branch on Sunday detained firebrand Patidar agitation spearhead Hardik Patel from his residence, hours before he could undertake a days token fast atop vehicles in Nikol industrial suburb here. He was to hold the day-long dharna in protest against the government not giving him permission for his indefinite fast demanding reservation for his community in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC quota and loan waiver to farmers. Patel had vowed to re-launch his agitation that had lost steam after the December Assembly elections on August 25, the same day in 2015 and at the same venue, GMDC Grounds in Ahmedabad, when he addressed a mammoth public rally. A posse of police force swooped down at Patel's Ahmedabad residence in the morning and after a scuffle whisked him and several of his supporters away to the Ahmedabad Crime Branch. Along with him, the police also detained his close associates Manoj Panara, Alpesh Kathiriya and Dharmesh Malviya. The police claimed that Hardik Patel was planning to hold the fast without any official permission. Patel had earlier announced he would sit atop parked vehicles in Nikol. The police have registered cases against him under IPC section 144 and 189. The action sparked off a chain of statewide protests from the Patidar community who have threatened to disrupt the programmes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 23 if Patel was denied permission to begin his indefinite fast from August 25 at the GMDC Grounds in Ahmedabad. Angry Patidars staged roadblocks at various places across the state and police had to intervene to disperse them. Meanwhile, Gujarat Pradesh Congress President Amit Chavda and Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani condemned the police action against Hardik Patel. --IANS desai/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As one of our loyal readers, we ask you to be our partner. Topics during the bilateral talks include Ukraine, Syria and the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russian Federation to Germany to which the United States and some European countries object. Merkel said she and Putin would discuss the prospects of a United Nations peacekeeping mission in eastern Ukraine. The German chancellor also said she would raise human rights issues and bilateral relations. I think it's in everyone's interests, including Europe's, ' he said. Both leaders raised concerns about Syria and the plight of the many refugees created by the seven-year-old war there. Speaking to the media before the meeting, Ms Merkel said she would discuss the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as Iran and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project. "It's important to help those areas that the refugees can return to", said Putin, whose decision for Russian Federation to military intervene in Syria's conflict tilted the odds in favour of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. The two leaders took no questions. With Austria priding itself on neutrality, the invitation surprised many in Vienna and Moscow, particularly at a time when the European Union is at odds with Russian Federation over its annexation of Ukraine's Crimea region and other issues. Vatican breaks silence on Pennsylvania sex abuse report The report from a Pennsylvania grand jury found that 301 priests abused children in the state over the past 70 years. In response to the report , Bishop David Zubik of the Pittsburgh diocese apologized to victims . During his closed-door meeting with Putin, the USA president told his Russian counterpart that he expected meddling to stop in the 2018 election, according to the official. "I would like to stress that the main thing is that the Ukrainian transit - which is traditional for us - meets economic demands", he said. Putin stressed that Nord Stream-2 is "an exclusively economic project, and it does not close off the possibility of continuing transit supplies of Russian gas through the territory of Ukraine". Germany is facing pressure from the United States to halt work on the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project which will transport gas from Russian Federation. Its construction is being funded by Russian state-owned giant Gazprom and a group of major European energy firms who say the project will help reduce carbon dioxide emissions by providing cleaner fuel to Europe. Mr. Putin presented the bride with flowers and presents and went on to dance with her at the event in southern Austria near the border with Slovenia. "We must acknowledge that we do not have a permanent ceasefire", the chancellor said. "We need to strengthen the humanitarian effort in the Syrian conflict", he said on Saturday ahead of a meeting with his German counterpart Angela Merkel at the government retreat of Meseberg castle, north of Berlin. US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is likely to visit Islamabad in September for consultations with Pakistan's newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team on issues of mutual interests, sources told Dawn news on Sunday. Pompeo, who is expected in Islamabad on September 5, will likely be the first foreign dignitary to meet Khan, who was sworn-in as Pakistan's 22nd Prime Minister on Saturday. During his talks with Pakistani officials, Pompeo may focus on two major issues: efforts to revive once close ties between the two states and Pakistan's support for a US-led move to jump-starting the Afghan peace process, the sources said. Alice Wells, who heads the Bureau for South Asian affairs at the State Department, may also accompany Pompeo. Earlier this week, US officials urged Pakistan to help end the Afghan war, adding that recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan have not discouraged them from negotiating peace with some Taliban factions. On Saturday, the US State Department said that it recognises and welcomes the new Pakistani Prime Minister, dispelling the impression that Washington was not happy with Khan's election, reports Dawn news. In an earlier statement, a senior US official had hoped that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government would work with the US for translating tough issues into mutual achievements. "We recognise and welcome the newly elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on taking the oath of office," Nauert said. Relations between Pakistan and the US nosedived in January when President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of providing "safe haven" to the terrorists who kill American soldiers in Afghanistan while taking billions of dollars in aid from Washington. --IANS ksk/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Filmmaker Priyadarshan and actor Akshay Kumar have donated money to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund towards the flood-ravaged Kerala. Priyadarshan on Saturday tweeted a photograph of himself handing over a cheque to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and urged people to unite to save the state. "Handed over mine and Akshay Kumar's cheque to Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. Let's together build back Kerala back to its glory again. No politics, no religion only humanity. Let's stand together to save Kerala. Kerela floods," Priyadarshan captioned the image. The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala increased to 370, with two more deaths reported on Sunday. --IANS dc/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday slammed his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh for not fulfilling his 2017 Assembly election promises. Kejriwal, who also visited Pandori village in Barnala district to condole the death of the father of Aam Aadmi Party's Mehal Kalan MLA Kulwant Singh, told party leaders and supporters that the people of Punjab had lost hope in Amarinder Singh, who has been in power for over a year now. "Before Amarinder Singh, the people of Punjab were sick of the Badals' dirty politics, corruption and drug menace and that is why they had voted for Amarinder Singh," Kejriwal said. "But now, the people from Punjab come to me and say that Amarinder Singh has not fulfilled even a single promise in over a year he has been the Chief Minister." The AAP leader criticised the Congress government for allegedly failing to implement even a single scheme it rolled out for people regarding jobs, pensions or smartphones. "Punjab Congress leaders used to go to every person's doorstep and asked them to fill up forms for either job cards, loan waivers for farmers, pensions or smartphones. Did anyone get a job in all these years? Or pension? Did any farmer had his loan waived off?" he asked. Kejriwal listed the steps his government had taken in Delhi to build world-class government schools, Mohalla Clinics and ACs in government hospitals and provide cheap electricity. "I invite you all to come and see all for yourself and decide if the world should praise the Delhi government for its efforts in building Mohalla Clinics and government schools or not," he said. Kejriwal assured party leaders and supproters that he will now make frequent visits to Punjab. Kejriwal was accompanied by his Deputy Manish Sisodia and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann. Kejriwal also met party MLAs at the residence of AAP MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer in Barnala, before they went to Pandori village. Earlier, Kejriwal and Sisodia arrived in Sangrur by train from Delhi and drove to Barnala. --IANS sd/tsb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Saudi air forces on Saturday intercepted a ballistic missile fired by Houthi militias toward the border city of Jazan, the media reported. In the last two weeks, the air forces have intercepted five missiles that targeted border cities, without reporting casualties or property damage, Al Arabiya reported. Since the Saudi-led coalition intervened in the Yemeni civil war in early 2015, the kingdom has been targeted by 177 missiles, the report said. Saudi Arabia has been accusing Iran of destabilizing regional stability by providing Yemen's Houthi rebels with missiles and weapons. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sony Music has begun to distribute the $750 million in profit it collected from the April sale of 50 per cent of its Spotify shares to the artistes and distributed labels within the Sony system. Sony Music executives are calling the disbursement the "Spotify windfall", reports variety.com. Sony, which held 5.7 per cent of Spotify's stock when the streaming service went public, will not count the funds against the artists' and label's unrecouped earnings. It will be apportioned according to individual artiste and label contract terms and based on earnings over the last 10 years a" or since Sony's initial investment in the Swedish streaming upstart a" divisible against Sony's own revenues from the Spotify stock gain for that time period. The cheques will arrive by the end of August as Sony had previously stated its commitment to sharing the sum with artists and distributed labels, variety.com reported. Is this "off-cycle" payment essentially a gift? "It's a completely voluntary payment," said Maverick's Larry Rudolph, whose management clients include Britney Spears, Aerosmith and Pitbull. "In other words, had Sony not done this, nobody really could have complained. Theoretically, Sony got this equity on its own. But of course, they've recognized the fact that they couldn't have gotten it but for the artistes. "And they made a wonderful decision to voluntarily share the wealth, which is rare in the music industry. So, I commend them highly on their decision." --IANS rb/ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After lambasting certain mainstream houses for producing what he calls "fake news" for quite some time now, US President Donald Trump has now accused social platforms of discriminating against Republican and conservative voices. But the Trump administration, he said on Saturday, would not let that happen. "Social is totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices. Speaking loudly and clearly for the Trump Administration, we won't let that happen," Trump said while addressing his 53.8 million followers on Twitter. "They are closing down the opinions of many people on the RIGHT, while at the same time doing nothing to others," he said without specifying who "they" are. His tweets follow a week in which Apple, Facebook, Spotify and YouTube have removed shows and video posted by US conspiracy theorist and radio host Alex Jones, USA Today reported on Saturday. Twitter barred Jones from tweeting for a week. Trump, who appeared on Jones' InfoWars show in 2015, did not refer to the conspiracy theorist in particular. --IANS gb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US move to roll out an Iran Action Group (IAG) is aimed at toppling the Islamic regime, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday. "The US overthrew the popularly elected democratic government of Mossadegh 65 years ago, restoring the dictatorship and subjugating Iranians for the next 25 years," Zarif said on his Twitter account, reports Xinhua news agency. "Now an 'Action Group' dreams of doing the same through pressure, misinformation and demagoguery. Never again," he said. The US State Department on Thursday announced the creation of the IAG to execute the administration's Iran strategy and pressure the country to change its behaviour. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tehran has been engaged in "a torrent of violent and destabilizing behaviour" against the US and its allies for nearly 40 years. "We are committed to a whole-of-government effort to change the Iranian regime's behaviour." Iran has dismissed the allegations, citing Washington as the cause of instability in the region. --IANS mr/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's foster daughter Namita and grand-daughter Niharika collected his ashes from the Smriti Sthal here on Sunday which will be later immersed in Haridwar. The "asthi visarjan" (immersion of ashes in river) ritual of late Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be held in Haridwar on Sunday afternoon. Three urns carrying the ashes of the former Prime Minister will be taken to Prem Ashram and then to Harki Pauri for immersion. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and Uttarakhand Chief Minister Trivendra Singh Rawat will attend the ceremony. The same ritual, thereafter, will be performed in 100 other "sacred rivers" of the country. Vajpayee, who passed away here at AIIMS on Thursday at age 93, was on Friday cremated with full military honours at Rashtriya Smriti Sthal, where people turned out in tens of thousands to pay their final tributes. Vajpayee's foster-daughter Namita lit the funeral pyre amidst the chanting of vedic hymns and firing of a 21-gun salute by soldiers. --IANS sid/ksk (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The World Health Organisation South-East Asia chapter on Sunday commended humanitarian workers across the globe for their life-saving assistance and long-term rehabilitation of communities affected by acute events. On the occasion of 'World Humanitarian Day', WHO South-East Asia Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh praised these humanitarian workers for their courage and determination to operate in difficult situations. "Humanitarian workers are the backbone of every effective, life-saving humanitarian response. Though the role of a humanitarian worker is straightforward, the situations they must operate in are far from it: From natural disasters such as earthquakes and cyclones to disease outbreaks, war and even radiological emergencies, functioning effectively require a special set of skills and a deep well of fortitude," Poonam Khetrapal Singh said. "In recent years, frontline health workers have been provided critical training in mass casualty management and basic emergency protocol, while higher-level officials have engaged in risk communication training," she said. WHO's South-East Asia Region encompasses member-states of Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste. "Our region has created its own innovative mechanism -- The South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) -- to which member-states contribute funds which are then disbursed in case of an emergency," the WHO official said. "To date, SEARHEF funds have been used in nine of the region's 11 member-states and covered 37 emergency operations, with disbursements of more than $5.9 million," she added. --IANS sd/tsb/sed (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 31 child soldiers whom the Houthis claimed to have been arrested during the battles, the Houthi-controlled state Saba news agency reported. According to Saba, the child soldiers have been "recruited by the aggression forces," in reference to the internationally-recognized government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition, Xinhua reported. The handover took place at the Houthi-controlled Human Rights Ministry. Representatives of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) also attended the handover, according to the report. Officials from the ICRC and UNICEF did not immediately answer Xinhua's calls seeking comments over the handover. There have been no comments yet from the Yemeni government, which is based in the southern port city of Aden. The Yemeni warring forces, which have frequently exchanged prisoners, are set to attend a UN-brokered talk in Geneva next month to negotiate an end to the civil war. Yemen has been locked in a civil war since the Houthi rebels overran much of the country 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. --IANS ahm/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Presumption of debt in cheque cases According to the Negotiable Instruments Act, once a cheque has been signed and issued in favour of the holder, it is presumed that it was issued in discharge of a debt or liability. But if the cheque bounces for want of sufficient fund in the account, the person who signed it can escape consequences only if he can prove that it was not issued to fulfil some debt or liability but was for some other purpose like security for a loan. However, there was a difference of opinion on this point between the Madras High Court and the courts below. The high ... The on Saturday revoked the suspension of party leader from its primary membership with immediate effect. Congress president took the decision on the recommendation of Central Disciplinary Committee of the All India Congress Committee (AICC). "Congress President has approved the recommendation of the Central Disciplinary Committee of AICC for revocation of suspension of from the Primary Membership of the with immediate effect," read a statement by the Aiyar was suspended from the party in December 2017 after he referred Prime Minister as a "neech aadmi" (low-minded) for appropriating Babasaheb Ambedkar during Gujarat polls election campaign. "This person is a 'neech aadmi' (low-minded). He is not civilised and in a situation like this, there is no need to practise such dirty politics," Aiyar had said, referring to the Prime Minister. Soon after his statement, Rahul rebuked Aiyar for using "filthy language" and asked him to apologise for it. "BJP and PM routinely use filthy language to attack Congress party. Congress has a different culture and heritage. I do not appreciate the tone and language used by Mr. to address the PM. Both the Congress and I expect him to apologise for what he said," the Congress chief had tweeted. Congress President on Saturday said the financial assistance of Rs 5 billion announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for flood-ravaged Kerala was "nowhere near enough" and said the calamity should be declared a " disaster." The party declared that all its elected representatives will contribute one month's salary for flood relief and accused of "playing politics" on the issue. Hours after Modi sanctioned Rs 5 billion to the flood-battered state, apart from Rs 1 billion announced earlier by the Centre on August 12, Gandhi said that the Centre should not vacillate as the people were suffering. "Dear PM, increasing funds allocated for Kerala relief to Rs 500 crore (Rs 5 billion) is a good step but nowhere near enough. It is critical you declare the floods as a Disaster. Please do not vacillate as the people of Kerala are suffering," Gandhi said in a tweet. Dear PM, Increasing funds allocated for Kerala relief to Rs.500 Cr is a good step but nowhere near enough. It is critical you declare the floods as a Disaster. Please do not vacillate as the people of Kerala are suffering. #KeralaFloodRelief https://t.co/AxabEOHftR (@RahulGandhi) August 18, 2018 Party's communications in-charge Randeep Singh Surjewala said the amount sanctioned by the Centre was a "pittance." In a series of tweets, Surjewala said that unprecedented devastation can't be a subject matter of "partisan " "Tragic that PM Modi announced a pittance of 500 cr (Rs 5 billion) for Kerala flood relief against the State's demand of 2000 cr. (Rs 20 billion) Painful that Modi Govt is playing over flood relief merely because BJP has no presence in the state," he said. Tragic that PM Modi announced a pittance of 500 Cr for #KeralaFloodRelief against the States demand of 2000 Cr. Painful that Modi Govt is playing over flood relief merely because BJP has no presence in the state. 1/nhttps://t.co/uzrh9P29lI Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 18, 2018 "Does Modi govt comprehend that Kerala flood has left 357 dead, 4 lakh are in shelter homes, 30,000 houses destroyed & 16,000 km of roads damaged. Why is Modiji not declaring Kerala flood a 'National Calamity'? Stop punishing flood-ravaged Kerala," Surjewala said. 2/n Does Modi Govt comprehend that #KeralaFlood has left 357 have died, 4 lakh are in shelter homes, 30,000 houses destroyed & 16,000 Kms of roads damaged. Why is Modiji not declaring #KeralaFlood a National Calamity?Stop punishing flood ravaged Kerala.https://t.co/uzrh9P29lI Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 18, 2018 "Floods, human tragedy & unprecedented devastation can't be (a) subject matter of partisan politics as is being done by Modi Govt in Kerala," Surjewala said. 3/3 Floods, human tragedy & unprecedented devastation cant be subject matter of partisan politics as is being done by Modi Govt in #KeralaFlood Federalism envisages handholding & co-operation in such times. Does an autocratic Central Govt understand this foundational principle? pic.twitter.com/hBKg1B2vqu Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) August 18, 2018 Gandhi had earlier in the day urged the Prime Minister to immediately declare the floods in Kerala as a national disaster. The decision to donate a month's salary was taken at a meeting of Congress general secretaries, party in-charges of states, legislative party leaders and state unit chiefs, which was presided over by party chief Briefing reporters after meeting of Congress office-bearers, Surjewala said the should come forward to help Kerala where over 180 people have died and property worth over Rs 30 billion has been damaged due to floods. "It was decided that all Congress MPs in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha, Congress MLAs across India and party MLCs will donate one month's salary, which will be sent through the AICC for relief measures in Kerala," Surjewala said. He said it was also decided that all Congress governments will come forward to help the people of the state. Surjewala said Punjab government has already donated Rs 100 million to the Kerala Relief Fund and JD(S) and Congress- government in Karnataka has also donated Rs 100 million to the relief measures. The government in Puducherry has also donated Rs 10 million. He said special relief committees will be formed in adjoining states including Karnataka, Tamil Nadu apart from Puducherry. Material collected by Congress workers will be sent to the people of Kerala. Surjewala said the party also noted with concern the grave situation due to floods in Karnataka and some other parts of the country. A 13-year-old girl died and 12 others were taken ill due to suspected food poisoning at their residential school at a village near Mirzapur, prompting the district administration to order a magisterial probe into it today. While the incident occurred at Kasturba Gandhi Awasiye Balika Vidyalaya at Bahuar village of the district yesterday, the magisterial probe was ordered shortly after Union Minister and Mirzapur MP Anupriya Patel's visit to the school today. Patel assured the family members of deceased Naina Devi, a class 7 student, that strict action would be taken against the guilty persons. "Thirteen girls fell ill yesterday after having their afternoon meal. Efforts were made to treat the girls at the school itself, but when their conditions did not improve, they were sent to the hospital," said Chunar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Chatrapal Yadav today. "13-year-old Naina was declared dead at the hospital. She was a student of class 7," he said, adding the remaining 12 girls were discharged after treatment. The girls had been given rice, daal, roti and sabji in the lunch, said the school hostel warden Madhurani Dubey, adding of the 90 students in the school, 13 fell ill due to "food poisoning." The warden has been suspended, said District Magistrate Anurag Patel. A magisterial probe has been ordered, said Chunar sub-divisional magistrate, but no FIR has been lodged in the case so far, said the Chunar sub-divisional magistrate. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of 148 pilgrims today left for the Amarnath cave shrine from the base camp here, officials said. The pilgrims, including 49 women, boarded eight vehicles and left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in the wee hours under tight security, they said. The officials said the group is heading for the Baltal base camp to undertake the yatra from the shorter 12-km route in Ganderbal district, while none of the pilgrims opted for the traditional 36-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district. The 60-day annual yatra commenced from the twin tracks on June 28 and is scheduled to conclude on August 26 coinciding with 'Raksha Bandhan'. Till yesterday, a total of 2,81,574 yatris had visited the cave shrine for 'darshan' of the naturally-formed ice-shivlingam. However, early melting of the 'lingam' this year had badly impacted the arrival of the pilgrims at the shrine. Meanwhile, a third batch of 909 pilgrims, including 131 women, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in a convoy of 22 vehicles under tight security to pay obeisance at the Budha Amarnath temple in the mountainous Poonch district. With latest batch, a total of 3,156 pilgrims from various parts of the country had left the base camp for the pilgrimage since the start of the yatra. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 15,000 people have been evacuated from floods and heavy rains affected areas of Kerala till now and rescue operations have been stepped up in a number of badly-affected locations, the NDRF said today. The federal disaster contingency force said a total of 58 teams, with about 30-35 personnel in each team, are "working in difficult conditions and terrain to deal with the worst flood in over a century" in the southern state. "Though the condition is improving in some places as water has started receding, NDRF has scaled up its response in places which are still affected like Thiruvalla and Chengannur (Alappuzha), Aleva (Ernakulum) and parts of Idukki," a force spokesperson said. By the eleventh day of the disaster, National Disaster Response Force teams have rescued 348 people and 50 animals, he said. The spokesperson said the force has evacuated more than 15,000 people. "Medical assistance has been provided to 3,197 needy persons till now," he said. The deadliest deluge in Kerala in close to a century has claimed 197 lives since August 8. The maximum number of deaths has been reported from Idukki district, where 43 people have lost their lives so far, as per official estimates. More than six lakh people are in relief camps. Thousands are still stranded in their homes without food. The Kochi international airport has been closed till August 26 after flood waters entered the runway and other airport areas. The Centre had sanctioned Rs 500 crore as immediate assistance to the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two bike-borne men allegedly opened fire outside a restaurant in east Delhi's Geeta Colony today, police said. At least six rounds were fired by the duo outside the restaurant in the afternoon, they added. The police suspect that the miscreants opened fire to instil a sense fear in the mind of the restaurant owner. The owner and two of his employees rushed inside the restaurant on hearing the gunshots. The accused then fled the spot. The police rushed to the spot after they were informed of the incident by the owner of the restaurant. On inspecting the crime scene, they found empty cartridges. The police are scanning through the CCTV footage obtained from the area to ascertain the identity of accused. A case has been registered. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a joint operation by Narcotics Control Bureau and Border Security Force (BSF), two kilogram heroin was seized from an agriculture field along the Indo-Pak border here. Confirming the seizure here today, a BSF official said that on a specific information, a comprehensive search operation was launched at forward location of Indo-Pak border near Kakkar post where two kilogram of heroin was retrieved from the agriculture field. He said that drug consignment was smuggled to India from Pakistan and investigation was on to find out the receiver of the drug on the India side. So far, no one was arrested in this regard, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Haryana Police special task force (STF) has arrested two Nigerian nationals after 1 kg of heroin was allegedly recovered from them in Gurgaon. Acting on a tip-off that two foreigners were roaming near IFFCO Chowk to supply heroin, an STF team nabbed the two accused and recovered nearly 1 kg of heroin yesterday, a police official said today. The duo, Yao and Okelie, have revealed that they used to smuggle heroin from South Africa, Mexico and Peru and supply across Delhi, Gurgaon, Punjab and Haryana. They are presently residing in Hastsal Vihar area of Delhi's Uttam Nagar, the officer said. A case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act has been registered against the two, he said, adding that they were being interrogated to unearth other such possible cases. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two over-ground workers (OGWs) of militant outfits were arrested today from Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir, a police spokesman said. Acting on a tip-off, the police today conducted a raid in Patti Saloora area of Ganderbal in central Kashmir, he said. They were identified as Irfan Ahmad Mir and Aushiq Hussain Baba. Incriminating material was also seized from their possession, the spokesman said, adding that a case under relevant sections of the IPC was registered against them. Further arrests are expected in the case, the spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two teenagers have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a six-year-old girl in Uttar Pradesh's Ballia district, police said today. The two accused, both aged 15, had on August 15 lured the minor into a room in their village and committed the crime, said Ballia Superintendent of Police (SP) Sriparna Ganguly. A case was registered yesterday at Sukhpura police station under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, Ganguly said. The duo have been arrested and the girl was sent for medical examination, the SP added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three men were allegedly thrashed and threatened at gunpoint after they objected to vulgar gestures by a group of men towards their female friend in northwest Delhi's Vijay Nagar, police said today. Five people were arrested in connection with the incident, they said. The police received information about the incident at at 12.29 am today, but by the time they reached the spot the injured were shifted to a hospital in Delhi's Ashok Vihar, a senior officer said. The woman is said to be a member of the Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA), the officer said. The injured were identified as Sumeet Verma (23), Rishabh (23) and Ankit Pandey (23), all residents of Vijay Nagar, he said. They told police that some men in an inebriated state made vulgar gestures towards their female friend. When they objected, the accused verbally abused them and called some other men, one of whom also had a pistol. They thrashed the tiro and also threatened to kill them, the police said. Based on statements of the victims and CCTV footage, teams were formed and subsequently, the five men were arrested, he added. The accused have been identified as Gautam Sonkar (26), Kundan (23), Aayush Bhatia (24), Manish (23) and Shubham (20), while another accused Pawan (25) is still absconding, the police officer said. A case has been filed in connection with the incident at Model Town police station and investigation is underway, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five people have been arrested in connection with the killing of two sadhus in Uttar Pradesh's Auraiya district last week, police said. The incident had happened inside a temple in Kudarkot area -- around 180 km west of Lucknow -- on the intervening night of last Tuesday and Wednesday. It had triggered violence, with a mob setting some shops ablaze and pelting stones, forcing the police to fire in the air. The situation was brought under control after heavy deployment of security personnel. Five people -- Salman, Nadeem, Shahzad, Majnu and Jabbar -- were arrested late last night, while eight others are still absconding, said a statement issued by the office of the UP director general of police. During interrogation, it was revealed that the men had allegedly killed the priests as the latter had, in the past, passed off information that resulted in the arrest of the accused's family members and relatives for suspected cow slaughter, the statement said. They had also broken the lock of the temple's donation box to paint the entire incident as a loot, it added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons were arrested today on charges of assaulting and attempting to murder a retired Army officer a few days ago in a park in Sector 29 here in a case in which an additional district magistrate (ADM), his wife and son are among those booked, police said. They have been booked under the Indian Penal Code sections for attempt to murder, criminal intimidation, criminal trespass and rioting in the case registered at the Sector 20 police station, officials said. One of the ADM's gunner Rahul Nagar (28) and his household help Jitendra Awasthi (26) have been arrested, a police official said. "All necessary permissions were taken before arresting the government-appointed gunner of the ADM accused in the case," the official said. The 76-year-old retired Colonel, Virendra Pratap Singh Chauhan, was arrested on August 14 on charges of molestation levelled by the ADM's wife on the day following a spat between the two sides over alleged illegal construction by the ADM's family. The ADM's family lives on the third floor of a building, in which he lives on the ground floor, Chauhan, who served in the elite 1 Parachute Regiment (Special Forces), said. "The ADM was getting some construction done to convert his car garage, near my house, into a guest house. It was illegal and not permitted by the Noida Authority. I had raised objection against it because it was also obstructing the passage, sunlight and air flow into my house," he said in the complaint, adding that had irked the family. He claimed that the ADM has previously served in the Noida authority and used his influence to get his complaint overlooked. "On the morning of August 14, I was sitting in the park waiting for my taxi to go to railway station from where he would go to Agra when the family arrived, they were accompanied by the ADM's gunners also. His wife started hurling abuses at me and soon all the men started punching me on the chest and kicked me. "The woman soon called up the emergency police who arrived at the spot and arrested me on false charges of molestation made by her and under the ADM's pressure," Chauhan alleged in the complaint. He was also booked on charges under section 3 (1) of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for hurling caste-based abuses on the woman, according to the police. Yesterday, the footage of the closed-circuit television camera installed in the park emerged in which it was purportedly seen that Chauhan was being assaulted by the seven. District Magistrate Brajesh Narayan Singh took note of the video and instructed the police to file an FIR against the ADM and others involved in the matter. Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ajay Pal Sharma said, "We have booked seven persons including the ADM for attempt to murder and other relevant sections of assault. One person (a household help) has been arrested and we are currently interrogating him." The SSP also ordered immediate suspension of a sub-inspector of Sector 29 police post, holding him responsible for misbehaviour by policemen and lax in probe. Sector 20 police station's house officer Manoj Pant said Nagar was suspended following a departmental inquiry, which was initiated after the emergence of the CCTV footage that showed his involvement in the case." "Nagar and Awasthi were in the process of being sent to judicial custody," Pant said. Several Army veterans and the family of Chauhan had taken out a protest march in sector 29 last evening demanding the immediate release of the retired colonel from jail and arrest of the accused ADM. We want strict action against the ADM and other accused, said Indu Chauhan, wife of the retired colonel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared a provisional ceasefire with the Taliban in a televised broadcast today following a recent surge in conflict, but said the truce would hold only if the insurgents reciprocated. "I once again announce a ceasefire from tomorrow until the prophet's birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate," said Ghani, referring to the Prophet Mohammed's birthday which is celebrated on November 21 in Afghanistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared a provisional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban in a televised broadcast today, but said the truce would hold only if the insurgents reciprocated. The announcement followed a bloody week of fighting across Afghanistan which saw the Taliban launch a massive assault against the provincial capital Ghazni -- just a two-hour drive from Kabul. Anticipation had been mounting ahead of Ghani's speech following mixed signals from the presidential palace over whether the government would offer a fresh ceasefire, following a brief truce earlier this year. "I once again announce a ceasefire from tomorrow until the prophet's birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate," said Ghani, referring to the Prophet Mohammed's birthday which Afghanistan celebrates on November 21. The president's announcement was immediately welcomed in neighbouring Pakistan, which has long been accused of fostering links with the Taliban's leadership and providing sanctuary to its fighters. An earlier, three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday in June -- the first formal, nationwide ceasefire in the country since the 2001 US invasion -- saw thousands of insurgents pour into cities across Afghanistan, eating ice cream and posing for selfies with security forces. It spurred hopes that a new path was opening for possible peace talks in the country to the end the nearly 17-year-old war, but violence has surged in the weeks since. The days-long fight for Ghazni which concluded on Wednesday killed hundreds and saw Taliban fighters ransack the provincial capital, torching buildings and destroying infrastructure. That battle coincided with attacks on government installations across the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Fall Armyworm, a feared agricultural pest that was noticed in Karnataka for the first time in the country, has now been reported in neighbouring Telangana. The Fall Armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is considered deadly as it has caused massive agricultural losses in several countries in Africa. The worm has been noticed at a few places in the districts of Karimnagar, Kamareddy, Sangareddy, Medak and Gadwal in Telangana, state Principal Secretary (Agriculture) C Parthasarathi said. "It (Fall Armyworm) has been noticed at some places in these districts. The samples have been sent to Bangalore (for examination)," he told PTI. The pest has so far been found only on maize crop in the state, he said. The pest attack on maize crop is at a preliminary stage now and teams have been sent on a survey to ascertain if the worm is present anywhere else, he said. The senior official said that information on the Fall Armyworm, including on the pesticides to be used, has been circulated in the agriculture department and also agriculture scientists in the state. The worm was first found in Karnataka in the country and later spread to Tamil Nadu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) today wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing its willingness to fly planes to Kerala on a "voluntary basis" in the larger interest of the affected people in the state. "We are willing to fly the planes without payment on voluntary basis to the cause of these operations. We consider this a unique privilege that we can use to assist in such operations," the association said in the letter. "We have full faith that Sir you will surely turn your attention to the plight of Air India and Air Indians once calm is restored," the letter stated. The association's letter to the prime minister comes a day after the pilots threatened to stop operations if their flying allowance dues were not paid immediately. "ICPA pilots on the Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 in Air India are ready and committed to the cause of OPERATION MADAD & OPERATION SAHYOG. We will support the government and the PMO in the endeavour to help our fellow citizens in Kerala," the letter said. Air India has always come forward during natural calamities by operating relief flights and by evacuating Indians from war zones like Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon or Yemen, General Secretary of the association T. Praveen Keerthi said. "We are ready for any help as pilots on voluntary basis for Kerala, like we have always done in the past," the letter added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Aid trickled into Ghazni today, residents and relief workers said, days after security forces pushed Taliban militants from the eastern Afghan city following nearly a week of heavy fighting. Residents suffered food and water shortages along with rising prices for basic provisions after insurgents overran the city, torching buildings and destroying infrastructure in a battle that killed hundreds of people. "We need this aid to survive," said Gul Badshah, one of many in Ghazni who made their way to distribution centres today, who said his home had been destroyed by two rockets during the onslaught. Siraj Ahmad, another resident, said he was collecting aid for a neighbour whose husband -- a police officer -- and young son were killed by the Taliban during the fighting. "They had no one else left in their family so I decided to come here for them and get any donations to take for them," he said. Rice, oil, beans and tea were handed out after the first humanitarian convoy arrived in the Ghazni yesterday, said Afghan Red Crescent regional head Mohammad Esmail. He added that the Red Crescent hoped to reach 800 families today, followed by another 1,200 tomorrow. "The people who receive this aid are those who have either lost their loved ones or houses during the fighting in Ghazni," Esmail said. The UN estimates that at least 200 civilians died in Ghazni before Afghan forces backed by US airstrikes finally pushed Taliban fighters from the provincial capital on Wednesday. But analysts said the Taliban scored a military and psychological victory against the government, proving they have the strength to strike a strategically vital city near Kabul at will and remain entrenched there for days. The delivery of aid to Ghazni comes after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani briefly visited the the city to review the security situation on Friday. During the stopover, Ghani demanded Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan investigate reports that fighters from his country had joined the battle, which Kabul said had left at least 100 Afghan soldiers dead. The fight for Ghazni was part of an extraordinarily violent week in Afghanistan that saw Taliban militants press the fight against security forces across the country and Islamic State insurgents attack Kabul, including a suicide blast at a school that killed at least 37. The surge in violence comes weeks after Afghans marked an unprecedented nationwide ceasefire between the Taliban and government forces in June, giving some relief to war-weary civilians. Anticipation had been mounting that a second ceasefire would be announced for the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday this week. But President Ghani has since indicated there will be no truce offered to the Taliban. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To provide aid to flood hit victims, the IAS Officers Association of Andhra Pradesh ( IASOA -AP) today announced that it will contribute one day salary of its members to the CM Relief Funds of Kerala. "As a token of our shared pain with the flood ravaged people of Kerala and as a mark of our heartfelt wish for their quick recovery, the IAS Officers Association of AP resolves to contribute one day salary of its members to the CM Relief Funds of Kerala," IASOA Secretary Shashi Bhushan Kumar said in a statement. The association stands as one with the people of Kerala and the countless members of civil and military administrations as well as civil society who are working tirelessly to provide rescue, relief and rehabilitation to the flood affected people, he said. The association hopes and wishes that people of Kerala, with their undying spirit, will overcome this tragedy swiftly, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The mobile application, which tracks the work of public prosecutors in Madhya Pradesh, has begun to show results with 10 death sentences awarded in as many rape cases in the past six months, a senior official said today. One of these cases, in the state's Katni district, even found mention in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Independence Day speech last week. A 34-year-old man, Rajkumar Kol, was sentenced to death on July 27, within five days of the trial commencing, for raping a five-year-old. He was arrested on July 7, a charge sheet was filed on July 12 and hearing in the case started on July 23. Director of Public Prosecution Rajendra Kumar told PTI that as part of the "eProsecution app" introduced eight months ago, about 1000-odd prosecution officers have to keep a daily log of their work which has to be approved by their immediate superior. Kumar informed that the state has 200 prosecution offices in 50 cities and 150 tehsils and the app had made it easy to track their work and get a clarification from those whose work was not up to the mark. "About two months ago, a reward system was also introduced to motivate prosecutors to fast track the hearings and ensure quick convictions. For every death penalty, the prosecution officer gets 1,000 points and 500 for a life sentence. Other convictions also get them points as per the prescribed slab," Kumar said. The points help the government choose the best prosecutor at the state and district levels, he said. On August 3, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan had felicitated public prosecutors from across the state at a function for securing death sentences to people accused of raping minors. The Madhya Pradesh Assembly had on December 4, 2017, passed a bill awarding death to those found guilty of raping girls aged 12 and below. Affirming that the app and its reward system was creating a sense of competition among prosecutors, Kumar said, "It was earlier thought that the prosecution officers of four-five big cities were delivering results. Now, prosecutors from smaller places are outperforming others." "A sense of competition has developed and they are participating in the hearings with proper preparation," he claimed. The director said rise in conviction was also because prosecutors were participating in training sessions where they get to interact with judges. The state, in the current year, has seen 10 instances in which people tried for raping minors have been given the death penalty. In the first such case, on February 28, a Shahdol court had awarded the death penalty to Vinod alias Rahul Choutha (22) for raping and murdering a four-year-old girl on May 13 last year. The Madhya Pradesh High Court upheld the death sentence on August 8. An Indore court sentenced Naveen Gadke to death on May 12 for raping and murdering a four-month old girl on April 20 this year. On May 17, a local court in Dhar sentenced 19-year-old Karan Bheel to death for raping and killing a four-year-old girl on December 15 last year. On June 19, a court in Sagar district sentenced Sunil Adivasi (21) to death for raping and murdering a nine-year-old girl on April 13. Bhagirath Patel (40) was given the death penalty on July 7 by a court in Rehli in Sagar district for raping a nine-year-old on May 21. On July 27, a Gwalior court awarded death to Jitendra Kushwaha (25), a vendor, for abducting, raping and murdering a six-year old. The incident happened in the intervening night of June 20-21. Three more convicts were awarded death penalty in August this year. On August 6, a Chhatarpur court sentenced Touheed Musalman (19) to death for raping a two-and-a-half year old girl on April 24. On August 13, a court in Datia sentenced 20-year-old Nandkishore Gupta to death for sodomising and killing a 13-year-old boy on March 2. On August 16, a Burhanpur court sentenced Prakash Lahase (34) to death for raping and killing a 30-year old woman on May 17. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Army jawan was killed in a landmine blast near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, police said today. Police said the jawan was injured in the explosion at Gulab Post near Lashdath in north Kashmir's Kupwara district yesterday. The jawan was taken to a hospital where he succumbed later, they said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Describing former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as "a genuine friend of Israel", the foreign ministry here has extended its deepest condolences to the government and people of India at the passing away of the Indian leader. "We extend our deepest condolences to the government and people of India at the loss of India's former PM Vajpayee. He will always be remembered as a genuine friend of Israel", the foreign ministry said on its official twitter handle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also conveyed his condolences calling the former Indian prime minister "a true friend of Israel". While diplomatic relations between India and Israel were established during P V Narsimha Rao's premiership in 1992, they started to flourish during Vajpayee's government when defence cooperation reached such a level that Israel started to be seen "as a reliable" partner by New Delhi in its hour of need. This was most vividly visible and appreciated during the Kargil war when Israel quickly responded with vital supplies at India's request. Several high profile visits from India, including those of then Home Minister L K Advani and External Affairs Minister Jaswant Singh, happened during the BJP led government under Vajpayee. Israel's former Prime Minister Ariel Sharon visited New Delhi in July 2003 with Vajpayee at the helm making it the first such visit between the two countries. The second visit by an Israeli Prime Minister to India happened after a gap of fifteen years early this year in January. Netanyahu also expressed his condolences to the Indian families who lost their loved ones in the recent floods in Kerala. "Israel stands with India during this time of hardship", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Shekhar Suman, who impersonated Atal Bihari Vajpayee often on his TV talk show in the 1990s, says the former prime minister's mannerisms were so extraordinarily dramatic that he became a performer's favourite muse. Suman, who first did an impression of Vajpayee in his popular late night talk-show "Movers and Shakers", says even while performing the character he would be in awe of the leader. Among India's tallest politicians, Vajpayee, a three-time prime minister and Bharat Ratna, passed away on August 16 in New Delhi after prolonged illness at the age of 93. "I have the highest regard for Atal ji. I never mimicked him, that would be a wrong term to use. I did an impression of him. There is a huge difference as the first one borders on caricature, while the second one is an impersonation. "Though my show was an irreverent show but whenever I talked about him I was filled with awe, admiration and reverence," Suman, who is in Switzerland at the moment, told PTI over the phone. Suman, whose regular impersonation of Vajpayee made phrases like "Ye achchi baat nai hai" popular in households, says the statesman was an actor's delight. "It was fun to portray him because of his mannerisms. His style of speech, his pauses were so poetic yet dramatic and theatrical. His pauses and gesticulations were so meaningful and theatrical that it prompted me to essay him. "Also, political satire was so new to India then. I thought, as an actor, if I could turn it around and start playing these characters, it will be an interesting and entertaining thing to watch. Naturally, Atal ji became my favourite muse," he says. Suman, 55, also recalls meeting Vajpayee, when he became the prime minister and calls the rendezvous the "greatest moment" of his life. "... When he was still the prime minister, he actually stopped his cavalcade after spotting me at Nusli Wadia's son's wedding in Bombay. To everyone's surprise, he got out of his car and hugged me. "He gently patted on my cheek and said, 'I watch your show every day, you do a wonderful job of me and I laugh the loudest when you take on me... Keep up the good work,'" he says. The actor, who has also dabbled in politics, remembers Vajpayee as a selfless politician, a freedom fighter and as one above party lines and differences. "He was, indeed, a statesman who thought and fought for his country. A gentle soul and a thorough gentleman. An intense poet and a good Samaritan, erudite and a philosopher. "Atal ji lent dignity and credibility to politics which is considered to be the last refuge of a scoundrel," Suman, who was once affiliated to the Congress party, says. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) USA Secretary of State to visit Pakistan United States (US) Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is likely to visit Islamabad in the first week of September for consultations with Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team on issues of mutual interests. Pompeo, who is expected in Islamabad on Sept 5, will likely be the first foreign dignitary to meet the newly elected prime minister, who took oath of his office on Saturday. During his talks with Pakistani officials, Secretary Pompeo may focus on two major issues: efforts to revive once close ties between the two states and Pakistans support for a US-led move to jump-starting the Afghan peace process, the sources said. Alice Wells, who heads the Bureau for South Asian affairs at the State Department, may also accompany Pompeo, the sources added. Earlier this week, US officials urged Pakistan to help end the Afghan war, adding that recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan have not discouraged them from negotiating peace with some Taliban factions. "What were seeing here is, there are some factions, some elements of the Taliban that clearly are not on board with peace. Others do want to have peace negotiations and peace discussions," said State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert while commenting on this weeks terrorist attacks in Kabul that killed almost 50 people. On Tuesday, a senior US official reminded Pakistan that now was the time to peacefully end the 17-year old war in Afghanistan and encouraged Islamabad to play a leading role in this process. Apparently, Washington believes that Pakistan still has enough influence over the Afghan Taliban to persuade them to join the peace process, and wants Islamabad to help establish a political setup in Kabul that would allow a peaceful withdrawal of American troops from Afghanistan. On Monday, Secretary Pompeo telephoned Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and sought his support for arranging another ceasefire in Afghanistan. The first ceasefire on Eidul Fitr led to the first face-to-face talks between US and Taliban officials in Doha last month. Both sides are now trying to hold the second round also in Doha in September. In recent statements, US officials have also expressed the desire to restore their once close ties with Pakistan. On Saturday, the US State Department said that it recognises and welcomes the new Pakistani prime minister, dispelling the impression that Washington was not happy with Imran Khans election. In an earlier statement, a senior US official had hoped that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government would work with the US for translating tough issues into mutual achievements. "We recognise and welcome the newly elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on taking the oath of office," Nauert said. Usually, the State Department prefers to comment on such issues on a working day but Nauert released this statement on Saturday, hours after Khan took the oath of his office. "For over 70 years, the relationship between the United States and Pakistan has been a vital one," she said. "The United States looks forward to working with Pakistans new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and the region." In her speech at the Pakistan Embassy earlier this week, Wells not only welcomed Imran Khans election but also expressed the desire to work with his government for resolving difficult issues. Wells noted that the new leader had also recognised the importance of US-Pakistan relationship in his public statements and in his first meeting with US Embassy officials in Islamabad. "The issues are tough, no doubt, but together, I know we can translate these shared interests into further action that achieves our mutual objectives," she said. She also said that now was the time to peacefully end the 17-year-old war in Afghanistan and encouraged the new Pakistani government to play a leading role in this process. "A negotiated political settlement to the 17-year-long conflict in Afghanistan is a critical shared goal, and an area where we all would hope to see progress in the coming months," she said. "In order to further these shared objectives, the United States relies on its relationships with the government, businesses, and people of Pakistan." "In a similar message on Tuesday, Secretary Pompeo also stressed this point and expressed the desire to work with Pakistan to "advance (the) shared goals of security, stability, and prosperity in South Asia." Financial aid for drought-stricken Australian farmers will be increased to Aus$1.8 billion (US$1.3 billion) as they endure the driest conditions in half a century, the prime minister said today. Farmers in eastern states are struggling with extreme aridity that has turned green pastures into dust, with the economies of local towns also suffering. "I want to say to our farmers, we have your back. There is no set-and-forget," Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull told reporters in the New South Wales town of Forbes. Graziers in Forbes, some 390 kilometres (240 miles) west of Sydney, are among those battling the lack of rain. "We are constantly working to ensure that you get every support you can, and of course let's all pray for rain," Turnbull added. While droughts are not uncommon in Australia, the length and severity of the dry conditions have depleted farmers' food stocks. With grass unable to grow, some graziers have had to hand-feed their cattle and sheep, sell off stock to keep going, or even shoot their animals as they do not want them to suffer or cannot afford to feed them. Canberra has already offered Aus$576 million in assistance in recent weeks, with Sunday's announcement taking the total to Aus$1.8 billion. The extra funds will include doubling the number of low-interest concessional loans for farmers, who will not have to make any principal repayments for the first five years. Councils in the drought-affected states of NSW, Queensland and parts of Victoria will be given money to boost local facilities, with further funding set aside for water infrastructure. Recently retired senior military officer Major General Stephen Day was appointed national drought coordinator to help farmers and other organisations determine where support is most needed. There has been an outpouring of support from other parts of the vast continent. On Friday, a convoy of 23 trucks carrying 2,300 bales of hay for over 200 farmers arrived in NSW from Western Australia state more than 3,500 kilometres away. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The national health protection scheme would attract participation of big private hospitals as it offered a business opportunity of serving 40 per cent of the country's population, Ayushman Bharat Chief Executive Officer Indu Bhushan said today. The central scheme, which is to be launched on September 25, would also drive private players to open hospitals in rural areas which was not happening earlier, he said. Ayushman Bharat scheme, touted as the world's largest healthcare scheme, aims at providing a coverage of Rs five lakh per family annually, benefiting more than 10 crore poor families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his independence day address, has said his government will launch on September 25 the ambitious scheme which aims at benefiting 50 crore people. "We are in talks with a few private hospitals to be part of the scheme. A very few have already shown interest... I think, the private hospitals will not want to miss the business opportunity of rendering services to 40 per cent of the country's population," Bhushan told PTI. Replying to a question about participation of private hospitals, including corporate hospitals, he said such hospitals hitherto did not venture into rural areas since people there could not afford the high cost of treatment. But, the Ayushman Bharat scheme would 'hypothetically' encourage setting up of private hospitals because the government would make the payments, instead of poor people, he said. On tackling the problem of inadequate infrastructure, including government hospital beds, in implementing the scheme, Bhushan said only two lakhbeds would be needed, assuming very large usage. "With 2 per cent hospitalisation, about one crore people will need assistance.One bed can cover about 50 people a year. Therefore, the overall number is not a problem," he said. Distribution of beds would be a problem, he added. Asked whether they have the data to figure out the areas where there was dearth of hospitals, Bhushan replied in the positive and said the health ministry was trying to map public hospitals across the country. "Yes, we do not have numbers, we have a bit of an idea of where the gaps are by knowing the socio-economic status and supply of services in such districts and blocks," he stated. Bhushan said different states were having various schemes to increase supply of hospitals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Uttar Pradesh has a scheme to encourage public-private partnership model, he said. On measures to prevent potential frauds, he said in order to ensure hospitals do not enrol a non-eligible person as a beneficiary, the patient's Aadhar and biometrics have to be matched. For this to happen, hospitals should have the requisite hardware, space and adequate human resources. Replying to a query, he said UIDAI Chairman and former IT Secretary J Satyanarayana was helping the Ayushman Bharat team in creating a robust IT platform for implementing the health care scheme. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The implementation of the government's ambitious Ayushman Bharat-National Health Protection Scheme in the national capital hangs in balance as the Delhi government is yet to take a call on signing an MoU with the Centre over it. The Delhi government has not yet given its approval for being part of the health insurance scheme which aims to provide a coverage of Rs 5 lakh per family annually and benefit more than 10 crore poor families across India. According to Director General Health Services Kirti Bhushan, the draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) sent by the Health Ministry is still being examined. "The central government is taking into account the Socio-Economic Caste Census (SECC) data of 2011 to ascertain the beneficiaries under the scheme. Going by that, in Delhi, only 30 lakh people can be covered under this data. "This population is much less than the 1 crore and 80 lakh population," he said, adding that the Delhi government is also working towards implementing its own health insurance scheme. Bhushan also said that the Health Ministry should include the National Food Security card holders for providing benefits under the programme as doing that would take the number beneficiaries to over 1 crore. "However, no final decision has been taken over the matter and we have not refused to be a part of it. The draft MoU sent by the Health Ministry is still being examined," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, said his government will launch the ambitious the Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme on September 25. Modi had said the programme's technology will be tested in the next one month to make it foolproof. The scheme will target poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers' families, 8.03 crore in rural and 2.33 crore in urban areas, as per the latest SECC data, and will cover around 50 crore people. While Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi are yet to come on board, Odisha has refused to be a part of the scheme, an official said. As many as 22 states have preferred to run the scheme on "trust model". The Centre has allocated about Rs 10,000 crore for the project, which is claimed to be the world's largest government-funded healthcare insurance programme. It is yet to release its share of funds to the states. The Union Health Ministry has launched a formal process to empanel public and private hospitals to achieve universal health coverage under the programme. The Centre was simultaneously carrying out beneficiary identification. Under the process, 80 per cent of beneficiaries, based on the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) data in the rural and the urban areas, have been identified. The Health Ministry has included 1,354 packages in the scheme under which treatment for coronary bypass, knee replacements and stenting, among others, would be provided at 15-20 per cent cheaper rates than the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fearing law and order problem, the district authorities here did not permit a Kanwar yatra pass through a village today as wished by a BJP MLA, who wanted to set a new trend, and he was also restricted within his office for the day. Bareilly District Magistrate Virendra Kumar Singh said Bithari Chainpur MLA Rajesh Mishra wanted to take out a Kanwar procession through Khajuria village, even as in the past no such procession had passed through this village. Acting as per the orders of the Uttar Pradesh government, no new tradition was allowed to start which could pose a threat to communal harmony and law and order, he said. A senior UP government official confirmed the orders and said it is a routine procedure followed and observed every year. "As a result, to maintain the law and order, the procession was not permitted to pass through the village and the MLA was not allowed to move out of his office for the day," Singh said. The district magistrate also said that strict action will be initiated against anyone trying to start a new tradition which may affect the law and order situation. Heavy deployment of police has been made in the area and police is urging the Kanwar pilgrims to take another route - the Bisalpur road, he said. Meanwhile, MLA Mishra said he does not know through which road the procession will be taken, but a Kanwar yatra will be held for sure. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has fired his Cabinet, emphasizing the need to strengthen the economy to preserve the nation's post-Soviet independence. Lukashenko said he fired Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov's Cabinet for failing to execute his orders and for paying too little attention to the country's social needs. He appointed banker Sergei Rumas to succeed Kobyakov. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for 24 years, maintaining rigid Soviet-style controls over economy and showing little tolerance for dissent or independent media. He warned yesterday that Belarus will not turn into a "vassal" of its giant neighbour, Russia, even though he underlined the importance of close ties with Moscow. Belarus has long depended on cheap energy and other subsidies from Russia, which is facing its own economic woes and warned that it would scale down assistance to its ally. Lukashenko criticised Russia for failing to honour its agreements with Belarus. "We will never become a vassal to anyone," he said, warning against any attempts to encroach on Belarus' independence. "We will remain independent for as long as our economy develops as needed," the Belarusian leader said, warning that "we won't be able to maintain our independence if we ruin the economy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shooting of Bengali TV serials was stalled for the second day today owing to a ceasework called by the Artist's Forum demanding regularisation of payment. The forum's General Secretary and actor Arindam Ganguly said no shooting of mega serials took place as there was no solution to their demands. The forum has been demanding payment of overtime dues of actors for taking part in late night shoots and settling payment of regular wages for shoots during July by some producers. Actor Prosenjit Chatterjee, who was present during a meeting between the forum members and producers' association during the day, said no breakthrough could be arrived today. "We are hopeful of a solution by tomorrow in everyone's interest," Chatterjee said. The forum, an organisation of actors and actresses, has 2,200 members. A spokesman of the producers said if the stalemate continued the telecast of serials will be affected from next week. Shooting came to a halt in 8 studios, located across different areas of south Kolkata due to the ceasework, the producers spokesman said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gurugram-based Big Boy Toyz, which sells pre-owned luxury and super luxury cars, may see its topline touching around Rs 400 crore to Rs 500 crore this year, driven by dealership expansion and better tax rates. The company, which recently set up an outlet here, also plans to expand its footprints to South. It will open up a showroom likely in Hyderabad next year amid the increasing demand for used luxury cars in the region, Big Boy Toyz founder and managing director Jatin Ahuja said. The company deals with 24 brands, including Lamborghini, Ferrari, Bentley and as many as 150 models, which start from Rs 50 lakh and go up to Rs 4 crore. "We are currently clocking a turnover of around Rs 250 crore. We are expecting it to increase to Rs 400 crore to Rs 500 crore this calendar year," Ahuja told PTI. "Apart from the average 30 per cent growth that we clock year-on-year, we are also expecting the Mumbai outlet to contribute another Rs 70 crore to Rs 80 crore in our topline," he said. He noted that amid the volatile market sentiments, the growth in the luxury car market has been "steady". "There have been a lot of uncertainties in the last two to three years, particularly after the government imposed GST on luxury cars as high as 48 per cent. This was a major setback for the business," he said. "We paid this high tax for almost six months and this was a nightmare. So we took the initiative and brought other major car makers on board to make the government reduce it to 18 per cent," he said. As against every two new cars sold in India, one old car is sold here whereas in the western markets like Europe, this ratio is twice as that of a new car, he said. "The potential for pre-owned luxury cars in India is huge. Moreover, the trends in the West are now replicating in India as well. Besides, as more and more organised players are getting into the business, the market pie is also growing in proportion," Ahuja said. Today almost all segment players, including Mercedes, BMW, Audi, among others, are into the pre-owned business as well. "Earlier, we were more inclined towards the luxury car like a Rolls-Royce, a Ferrari or a Bentley, or a car which would be in the range of Rs 2 crore to Rs 2.5 crore. But over the last few years, the demand has shifted towards utility like a Mercedes S-Class or a luxury car which is in the range of Rs 1 crore to Rs 1.50 crore," Ahuja said. Big Boy Toyz today sells around sells around 500 cars per year or an average 35 to 40 cars per month at an average price of Rs 70 lakh to Rs 80 lakh, he added. The company currently has three dealerships - Delhi, Gurugram and Mumbai, besides an after-sales store in Gurugram. "We are planning to set up one more dealership next year, which should be in Hyderabad," Ahuja said. "A further expansion would depend on both the requirement as well as the viability of a particular city. Till the time we don't have the desired numbers, it does not make business sense to set up more dealerships," he said. Going forward, the top seven markets for Big Boy Toyz would be Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru and Pune, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bihar Urban Development Minister Suresh Kumar Sharma rejected today the RJD demand for his resignation over the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal and asked its leader Tejashwi Yadav to quit the post of the leader of opposition as he was charge sheeted and accused in corruption cases. Sharma, who is a BJP legislator from Muzaffarpur Assembly constituency, said that he would resign if his involvement in the case was proved. "Suresh Sharma is known to be close to Brajesh Thakur, the prime accused in the scandal. If the CM thinks that the matter has been set to rest with the resignation of Verma, he is mistaken. We will force the government to drop Sharma from the Cabinet," Yadav, who is the Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly, had said yesterday. Sharma told TV channels, "People are demanding my resignation. But I have already made it clear that I would resign as minister if my involvement in the case is proved. I am ready to face any punishment for that." He asked Yadav, who is the leader of Opposition in the Bihar Assembly, to resign from the post as he was charge sheeted and accused in corruption cases. "He (Tejashwi) has been made accused besides being charge sheeted in cases and hence he should resign (from the post of leader of opposition)... You are hurling allegations against me but allegations against you have firmed up in the form of charge-sheet," Sharma said. Sharma had recently sent legal notice to Yadav for dragging his name into the sexual abuse of 34 girls in a shelter home in the district. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A senior National Conference (NC) leader has accused the BJP of instigating people over the presence of "illegal" Rohingya refugees in Jammu and said it virtually did nothing for their deportation over the past four years. "Why the BJP is not acting even now (against Rohingya) instead of beating chests and instigating the people," National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana told a series of public meetings during his day-long tour of his Nagrota assembly constituency here. The NC leader criticised the BJP for "generating hype" over the issue. "Who is stopping New Delhi and Srinagar from deporting Rohingya under the Foreigners Act," Rana said, adding the Rohingya refugees were settled in Jammu by the Centre. The NC leader also defended Article 35A of the Constitution, which gives special rights to the permanent residents of the state. "The relevance of Article 35A is more crucial now than ever before," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The brother of a man killed in an exchange of fire between policemen and locals in Vaishali district on August 13 has urged the Chief Judicial Magistrate to order institution of a murder case against 16 civil and police officials. The man, Gulshan Sahni, was killed in Jandahan area during the exchange of fire following the killing of Manish Sahni, Vaishali district president of RLSP's extremely backward castes cell and head of Jandahan block panchayat samiti. Manish Sahni was gunned down by unidentified men when he was coming out of his chamber at the block office. Gulshan Sahni's brother Shashi Bhushan Sahni yesterday filed a case in the court of Chief Judicial Magistrate Vijay Krishna Singh for instituting a murder case against Mahua Deputy Superintendent of Police Malti Kumari, Mahua Sub-Divisional Officer Vinod Kumar, suspended Jandahan police station SHO Shobhakant Paswan, Jandahan Block Development Officer Rahul Kumar and 12 other policemen. After Manish Sahni was gunned down, a mob had resorted to arson at the block office and Jandahan police station, prompting police to open fire in which one person was killed and five others were injured. On August 17, five policemen, including SHO Paswan, were suspended for dereliction of duty. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) 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 A grocery store owner was arrested for allegedly raping a 11-year-old girl in Chattisgarh's Koriya district, about 190 kilometres from here, police said today. Ramdayal Sahu (60) was arrested yesterday for sexually assaulting the girl at his shop, in the Patna area of Baikunthpur tehsil, on August 16 when she had come to buy chocolates, a local police official said. "The girl was alone at the time when the incident happened. Her parents came to know of it yesterday when the girl experienced pain in her private parts. Her parents then filed a police complaint following which Sahu was arrested," the official said. He said that Sahu had been charged for rape under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. He added that the girl's medical examination had confirmed the rape and her statement had been recorded. A local court remanded the accused in judicial custody, the official informed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As part of the efforts to extend a helping hand to flood-affected Kerala, the Central Railway today sent over 14 lakh litres of drinking water to the southern state by a special train from Pune. The water train consists of 14 wagons (containing 7 lakh litres of water) filled up in Pune and 15 wagons (containing 7.5 lakh litres of water) that came from Ratlam, Milind Deouskar, Divisional Railway Manager, Pune Division, said. The special water train will reach Kayamkulam in Kerala via Daund, Wadi and Renugunta, he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five workers of a sponge iron factory in Chhattisgarh's Janjgir-Champa district suffered burns when molten iron fell on them, the police said today. Two of the workers are in a critical condition. The incident occurred last evening in the blast furnace section of Prakash Sponge Iron Industries, located in Kotadabri village, police said. "As per preliminary information, the power supply went off for about 2-3 hours in the factory, following which hot molten iron got over-stocked in the furnace causing leakage of the molten metal," said Station House Officer (Champa police station) Rajesh Choudhary. He said five labourers who were working nearby came in contact with the molten metal and suffered burns. They are identified as Shambhu Lal Khunte, Dil Kumar Banjare, Ramcharan Sahu, Kamlesh and Paan Sen Yadav, the officer said. "The injured workers were rushed to a local hospital from where Khunte and Banjare were shifted to Raipur in view of their critical condition," the SHO said. A case has been registered, Choudhary said, adding that a probe is underway. Further action will be taken accordingly, he said. When contacted, senior factory officials refused to comment. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chinese police have arrested three suspects alleged to have stolen assets worth 600 million yuan ($87 million) through hacking, state media reported today, as cyber criminals target holders of bitcoin and other virtual currencies. Police in the northern city of Xian began investigating in March when a victim surnamed Zhang complained that hackers had taken control of his computer to steal 100 million yuan ($15 million) worth of cryptocurrency, the Shaanxi Daily reported. The 100 million yuan haul was made up of the popular bitcoin and ether currencies, state agency Xinhua reported. The transfer of the units provided police with a virtual trail, the Shaanxi Daily said, leading them to a suspect surnamed Zhou in the central province of Hunan. Zhou's communications led to two more alleged accomplices. Altogether, the three suspects are thought to have stolen 600 million yuan by hacking the computers of individuals and companies, according to the newspaper. The police investigation is still underway, it said, with officers in three provinces working together last week to take the suspects into custody. In February an official Chinese publication announced plans to stamp out all remaining cryptocurrency trading in the country by blocking access to overseas-based websites and removing related applications from app stores. The moves were outlined in a report by Financial News, a publication under the People's Bank of China, which said the aim was to snuff out the "dying cinders" of cryptocurrency trading and initial coin offerings "which are glowing once more". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) All the civic bodies in Maharashtra will now have to make public the action taken report (ATR) on the poor condition of roads within three weeks from the date of receiving complaints from public in this regard. The decision taken by the state government is applicable to all the municipal corporations, councils, the MMRDA (Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority), MSRDC (Maharashtra State Road Development Corporation), CIDCO (City and Industrial Development Corporation) and the MbPT (Mumbai Port Trust), as per a Government Resolution (GR). The Urban Development Department (UDD), based on an order given by the Bombay High Court on a public interest litigation, has issued directions to all the authorities concerned with maintenance of the road. As per the directions issued by the state government on August 18, all municipal corporations and councils as well as other authorities will have to submit a report on a quarterly basis to the UDD regarding the implementation of government orders with respect to maintenance of roads and potholes. "Detailed compliance reports compiled by the state government shall be regularly placed before the court and those will incorporate the details of the complaints received and which were successfully attended," stated the GR. It said that a similar report will have to be made public as well so that people will come to know about it. One of the major instructions in the GR is setting up of a Grievance Redress Mechanism to enable the citizens to file complaints about the poor conditions of streets. The complaints shall be received by various modes, including in writing at designated canters and in offices, through dedicated toll free numbers, through a dedicated website where citizens are able to upload the photographs showing poor condition of streets and by messages via cell phones. Following the court order, the state government has also directed the civic bodies and other authorities that it is their responsibility to appoint a coordination officer to monitor the grievance redress mechanism with a view to ensure that all complaints received are promptly attended to and communication to that effect is issued to the complainants, it stated. The government has also directed the civic bodies to give wide publicity to the mechanism provided in all leading newspapers, at strategic locations on major streets, in various ward and other major offices as well as on the electronic media. The GR stated that in respect to open manholes, the civic bodies will have to put up barricades and also install warning lights about open manholes lying ahead. The government has also directed all the civic bodies to set up a Grievance Redressal Mechanism (GRM) wherein people can lodge their complaints about disrepair of roads in their locality, either by uploading photographs on dedicated websites or through cell phones. The directive for setting up the GRM shall also apply to the MMRDA, MSRDC, CIDCO and other government authorities. Regarding the quality of roads, the HC directives stated that the state government shall take appropriate policy decision in respect of terms and conditions to be incorporated in relations to the road contracts which will ensure quality and durability of the work carried out. The policy shall include laying down technical specifications of streets, footways, specifications of the methods which should be used for construction or repairs of streets, the GR stated. As per the HC directives, the government is expected to come out with policy guidelines for civic bodies within three months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The clean banking drive has started showing result with public sector banks (PSBs) increasingly adopting prudent business approach replacing aggressive lending practices, said Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar. "The NPA crisis brought opportunity for introduction of responsible and responsive banking. All the PSBs, which have about 75 per cent market share, decided last year to adopt EASE (Enhanced Access & Service Excellence), ushering in paradigm shift in their approach," he told PTI. "Gradually, Indian banking system is moving towards new normal that is clean banking," he said. To deal with the twin balance sheet challenge, he said, the four Rs -- Recognition, Recapitalization, Resolution, and Reform -- were put in place. It yielded rich dividend assisted greatly by implementation of Asset Quality Review and Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, he said, adding the resolution process brought down non-performing assets (NPAs) by over Rs one lakh crore in the last one year. Banks in the first quarter of 2018-19 have made a recovery of Rs 36,551 crore, registering 49 per cent growth over the year-ago period. Highlighting other measures by the government, he said:"Bank accounts of around 2.29 lakh shell companies have been frozen. Banks are already checking for fraud in all bad loans of over Rs 50 crore. "Passport details have been sought. Another impact is that defaulters have started approaching banks on their own as they have threat of losing control of their business." At the same time, the government decided to provide unprecedented Rs 2.11 lakh crore capital support to the banks in order to maintain regulatory capital requirement as per the risk norms, he said. Consequent to these measures, there are signs of improvement. For example, provision coverage ratio (PCR) of PSBs has gone up to a healthy 63.8 per cent in 2018 from 52.15 per cent in 2016. Credit offtake of banks improved from 9.6 per cent in end-November 2017 to 11.5 per cent in mid-April 2018. Kumar also expressed hope that during the course of this financial year, banks would come out of prompt corrective action framework of RBI. On the financial inclusion front, the Secretary said, it is the key focus area of this government, which is committed to serve the underserved and fund the unfunded. "We are looking to provide employment opportunities and provide social security coverage to the underserved. There is a clear focus on MSMEs and small enterprises through Mudra. There is a tie-up with 24 e-commerce firms and industry to give loans under Mudra scheme," he said. During the first four months of 2018-19, Rs 52,127 crore has been disbursed under the Mudra scheme to 1.04 crore beneficiaries, of which 74 per cent are women, he said. Today all PSBs have joined Trade Receivables electronic Discounting System (TReDS) and bank credit to MSMEs registered a growth of 9 per cent on an annual basis in May 2018, he said. Emphasising the importance of Jan Dhan accounts, Kumar said it has become a uniform platform through which most of the government schemes are serviced. Even Pradhan Mantri Jan Arogya Abhiyan to be launched on September 25 will also be delivered through this architecture, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today assured compensation for crop loss due to the floods caused by heavy discharge of water from the state's dams and permanent houses for the affected people. The dams, including Mettur and Bhavanisagar, have been discharging huge volumes of water in view of continuing high inflows from Karnataka reservoirs like Krishnarajasagar. The discharge has resulted in inundation of a slew of villages and submergence of standing crops along the banks of Cauvery, (its tributary Bhavani in Erode) in several districts of Tamil Nadu. "Presently, inflow into the Bhavanisagar dam is 21,000 cusecs and discharge is 3,000 cusecs. From the Mettur reservoir the outflow is 2 lakh cusecs and the inflow is about 1.95 lakh cusecs," Palaniswami said. The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters after inspecting flood-affected areas in Erode district, said the government would disburse compensation for damaged crops proportionate to the extent of loss. "The government will give compensation for crop damage after the flood waters recede," he told reporters. In Erode district, 47 villages and 609.69 hectares of crops, including horticulture, have been affected. Those residing along the banks of the rivers Bhavani and Cauvery have requested safe, permanent houses and government would take steps to fulfil their request, he told reporters when asked about the representation from the affected people. He said the government was extending all help to the people whose houses were damaged due to inundation caused by release of excess waters from dams. As many as 7,832 people have been sheltered in relief centres in Erode district, 263 houses fully damaged and 114 partially damaged, while a total of 1,599 houses have been inundated, he said. A flood alert was sounded for 13 districts, including the Cauvery delta regions, besides Madurai and Theni as the Periyar and Vaigai dams too received copious inflows. The chief minister visited flood-affected in the town and at nearby Komarapalayam, along with Ministers K A Sengottiyan, K C Karuppannan and M R Vijaya Baskar. The chief minister visited relief centres and distributed rice, vessels and blankets to the affected people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) From flood-ravaged Kerala comes a story of grit of the Coast Guard and armed forces personnel who saved a newly-born baby in a night-long rescue operation near the Idukki dam two days ago. The rescue operation began after a call from the Mumbai Coast Guard about rising water level in the Idukki dam area, the Army officer, who led the team, said. "We were in the weekly commanders' conference at Kochi when a call came from the Coast Guard office in Mumbai to send the best team near the dam where water was flowing above the danger level," Lt Col Shashikant Waghmode said. Lt Col Waghmode, an assault engineer officer, currently on deputation to the Coast Guard, volunteered to lead the team and within 30 minutes, the team members were selected. Many Coast Guard personnel were called from various ships, he told PTI when asked about the operation. They were equipped with boats, outboard motor, ropes, digging tools, survival ration and medical kits, he said. "After the briefing by District Commander DHQ-4 DIG Sanathan Jena, the team, comprising 16 Coast Guard divers, started the journey at night," he said. The terrain was a challenge as Idukki is located in a hilly area, which had a number of landslides. There were waterfalls and poor visibility due to fog. The 'nullahs' (drains) and rivers were overflowing, he said. The team had to cross the Chappat bridge as the dam gates were going to be opened at 4.30 am. "I had taken along drivers experienced in the hilly terrain and after nine hours we managed to cross the bridge at 4 am, half-an-hour before the dam gates opened," said Lt Col Waghmode, an alumnus of the Sainik School at Satara in Maharashtra. In Idukki, they found that all the villages were evacuated and hotels, shops, ATMs and petrol pumps were shut. There was no place to take shelter, he said. For the next four days, the Coast Guard team rescued many people in Manjumala and nearby villages and cleared debris and boulders. "I was leading a peculiar team comprising personnel from the Coast Guard, the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. I was given the best sea divers of the Coast Guard, Navy nursing assistants, vehicle drivers of the Army and the Air Force," he said. "On August 16 night, just as we reached an abandoned government hospital for rest after four days of non-stop work, the local police officer, villagers and NDRF officials came to us, asking to save the life of a woman who had just given birth," he said. The locals told the rescue team that the woman and her five family members were stuck in a flooded house without food and water for four days, he said. The team then launched a night-long rescue mission, calling it "Operation Water Baby", Lt Col Waghmode said. The woman's house was two km from the point where the rescue boat was unloaded, he said. "The best six members of the team were selected and the operation began at 10.30 pm in pitch dark and against the water current," the officer said. The outboard motor was not effective as there were lot of stones, debris and mud mounds below but the team pushed the boat for about 2 km against the water current, which was around 15 knots, he said. The team reached the house, guided by local policemen who accompanied them in the boat, at 1.30 am. "The family was in a bad state. They were not aware that someone was coming to their rescue. Due to medical issues of the newborn baby and the mother, we decided to wait till sunrise and continued the operation early morning with the help of a local doctor," he said. "On our way back, wherever there was less water, we lifted the boat with family members inside it. After we reached a safe spot, the woman told us that she will make her baby boy join the armed forces," the officer said. After this rescue operation, the team was given a choice to return and rest, but the personnel chose to proceed to Chengannur and join another rescue operation, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Congress in Telangana today alleged irregularities in the transfer of teachers and lecturers in the state and sought a high level probe into it. In an open letter to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee Chief Spokesperson Sravan Dasoju alleged that web counselling has proved to be a big "farce with some teachers managing to get transfers of their choice on payment of money." A few leaders of Teachers Unions allegedly played the role of middlemen, bringing shame to the entire fraternity, he alleged, according to a party release. Dasoju claimed that the recent transfers were not done as per the Government Order and the process lacked transparency. He said although the process of transfers has been completed on June 30, the transfers of Degree College lecturers are still underway in the name of 'On Duty' and so far 142 transfers have been made. "Friends of the Minister were allegedly behind those illegal transfers which include 15 in Karimnagar, 14 in Warangal, 12 in Adilabad, 10 in Khammam, 12 in Mahabubnagar, 8 in Medak, 6 each in Nalgonda and Nizamabad and 4 in Ranga Reddy districts," the release quoted Dasoju as saying. Dasoju further alleged that nearly 50 transfers were cancelled and fresh orders were issued manually to execute illegal posting to others. The Congress leader, in his letter, urged the Chief Minister to order a high level into the alleged "irregularities" committed by the Deputy Chief Minister and the Commissioner of Collegiate Education, the release added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) is gearing up to declare its first list of candidates in Odisha for 2019 elections within 15 days, a senior party leader said on Sunday. Stating this after a meeting of the newly constituted Pradesh Committee (PCC) here, AICC Odisha In-Charge Jitendra Singh said the names of at least 50 selected candidates would be initially announced. He said a meeting of Pradesh Election Committee (PEC) is slated to be held tomorrow where the criteria of selecting candidates for next year's polls will be finalised. Noting that the focus would be on rejuvenation of the party in Odisha, Singh said party workers and leaders would have to connect effectively with their respective booths. Moreover, the performance of the newly formed PCC team would also be reviewed every month and steps would be taken accordingly to strengthen the party, he said. The meeting of the PCC team was held to chalk out electoral strategies to strengthen the party right from the grassroots to the state level as per directives given by president Rahul Gandhi. In Odisha, elections for both Lok Sabha and state Assembly are scheduled to be held next year. OPCC president Niranjan Patnaik, who chaired the meeting, said Congress has initiated effort to strengthen its base at grassroot level as well as to reach out to the voters at booth level and propagate party's ideology ahead of the general election. Patnaik said Congress is going to embark on 'My booth, My pride' campaign throughout the state. Accusing and of having joined hands to cheat people of Odisha, he said Congress will make people aware of the fact and tell them the truth. The people of the state are facing numerous basic problems and this will be looked into, Patnaik said after the meeting. : Puducherry Chief Minister V Narayanasamy today urged all MPs from the union territory and MLAs to contribute one month's salary to the Kerala Flood Relief Fund. The contributions can be made to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund and it would be forwarded to the Kerala Chief Minister's distress relief fund, he told reporters here. He said raders' associations, members of the public and others could also contribute in kind, all of which would despatched to Kerala. The Puducherry government had already announced an assistance of Rs one crore on its part to the fund. Kerala has been ravaged by heavy rains in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8, which has claimed the lives of 197 people. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The country needs a change and that change will come, as my family and Rahul Gandhi are working very hard for it, Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra said today. He said the people of India have suffered a lot, but did not elaborate what he meant by that. Vadra, who is on a spiritual quest across the country, visited the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh this morning and posted a message along with his photographs on Facebook. "A change is required and I feel the change will come. I think my family is working very hard, Rahul is working very hard and we are always there to support. Priyanka and myself are always there to support Rahul. "I think the people want the change and I can see that they have suffered a lot and we all need to be secular, most important for our country. We are here with the people of India and we will all struggle for them and do our best," he told reporters after "darshan" at Tirupati temple. "I had a very good darshan. I felt the energy and take it back for my family, my children and, for my mother-in-law, for their good health, happiness and for all the people in our country to have happiness, peace and harmony," he said. Vadra said "we are all going through a lot of change, but all we should feel is love and affection and I feel that I am blessed. I want to take this energy and spread it around". "Blessed to visit Tirupati and Tirumala Venketaswara Temple on my spiritual Journey," he said in the Facebook post. He said one can only understand the devotion of people visiting Tirupati, when that person makes the effort to visit as many historical temples and follows their rituals. He initially prayed at Shri Padmavati Ammavaru Temple (Lakshmi ji) and then ascended to Tirumala, but waited till 2 am for the darshan called "Suprabhatam". The BJP hit back at Vadra, saying his comments showed the restlessness in the Gandhi family to claim power. When asked about the comments, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "So finally, it is from Mr Robert Vadra that the country is to get sermons on governance". "There is a sense of restlessness within the Gandhi family, because the Gandhi family is used to the seat of power and, it is because of this sense of restlessness, when they are out of power, that we see every member of the Gandhi family coming out and claiming their 'claim to throne'," he said. Patra said Vadra may get his seat of power, but the country is asking the question to the Gandhi family that this country does not belong to a dynasty, this country does not belong to a family. "This country belongs to the people of India and this is the reason as to why through democratic means, and not through dynastic means, that the governance agenda would be furthered," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cyprus police say an Egyptian man who in 2016 hijacked a domestic EgyptAir flight and ordered it to land on the east Mediterranean island has been extradited to his homeland. Police said today that Seif Eddin Mustafa boarded an EgyptAir flight that took off for Egypt on last evening. Cyprus Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou told The Associated Press that Mustafa's extradition went ahead after he dropped a three-year legal fight to avoid his extradition. Doros Polycarpou, with the migrant support group KISA that assisted Mustafa, told the AP the 62-year-old decided of his own accord to return to Egypt and face prosecution there, despite fears that he may be tortured. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights blocked Cyprus from extraditing Mustafa until it could examine the case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The alleged main shooter arrested in the Narendra Dabholkar killing case received "shooting training" at various places in Maharashtra and Karnataka, the CBI told a court here today. Sachin Prakasrao Andure, who was arrested last evening by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), was remanded today in the CBI custody till August 26. He was produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class (JMFC) A S Mujumdar at Shivajinagar amid heavy security. While seeking his custody for 14 days, CBI counsel (public prosecutor) Vijaykumar Dhakane said the investigation revealed that Andure had received "shooting training" at various places in Maharashtra and Karnataka before executing Dabholkar's killing. "The CBI needs to investigate where he underwent the shooting training and also people who provided the required infrastructure to both the shooters," he said. The probe agency told the court that Andure is one of the two assailants who shot at Dabholkar at Omkareshwar Bridge here on August 20, 2013. "The entire conspiracy was hatched by Dr Virendra Tawde along with this accused and this (conspiracy) needs to be unearthed for which his custodial interrogation is needed," the CBI counsel told the court. The CBI had arrested Hindu Janajagruti Samiti member Tawde in June 2016 from his house in Panvel in the neighbouring Navi Mumbai township and in the charge sheet, he was mentioned as the main conspirator. Defence counsel Prakash Salsingikar raised questions over the arrest of Andure and said that after arresting Tawde, the CBI in its charge sheet mentioned the names of Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar as Dabholkar's killers. He said the CBI claimed that sketches prepared on the basis of descriptions given by seven to eight witnesses resemble with the photos of Akolkar and Pawar. "Now suddenly, the CBI has come out with this new theory that it was Andure who shot at Dabholkar. The sketches have no resemblance with Andure's facial characteristics," he said. In the charge sheet also, there was no mention of Andure, Salsingikar said, and opposed the prosecution's demand for his 14-day custody. He said the court should direct the prosecution to submit a copy of the charge sheet filed against Tawde in the case. Dhakane, however, said the CBI never named Akolkar and Pawar as the main killers and that the charge sheet only speaks about resemblance of sketches with Akolkar and Pawar. "The resemblance is only 50 to 60 per cent and nowhere in the charge sheet the CBI mentioned them as the accused," he said. The CBI also said that it has to seize the weapon and the vehicle used in the commission of the crime. After hearing the arguments, JMFC Mujumdar remanded Andure in CBI custody till August 26. Sachin Andure's brother Pravin Andure, who was present in the court during the hearing, told reporters later that his sibling was innocent and "falsely implicated" in the case. Andure was believed to be one of the shooters who fired at Dabholkar while he was on a morning walk on the Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune on August 20, 2013, the CBI spokesperson said yesterday. He was arrested on a tip-off from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had last week arrested three persons for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to carry out blasts in the state. One of the arrested accused gave the input about Andure's involvement in Dabholkar's murder, which the ATS shared with the CBI, the spokesperson said. During the questioning of the accused in police custody, one of them revealed about his direct participation in Dabholkar's murder, the ATS said in a statement. In June 2016, the CBI had filed a charge sheet against Tawde under sections 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 302 (murder) of the IPC, among other charges. Tawde was allegedly the mastermind of the killing, the CBI had said. The Bombay High Court had, in May 2014, handed over the Dabholkar murder case to the CBI. Dabholkar's killing and communist leader and rationalist Govind Pansare's killing in a similar manner in February 2015 had sent shock waves throughout the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A court here today remanded the alleged main shooter in the murder case of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar in CBI custody till August 26. Sachin Prakasrao Andure, who was arrested last evening by the CBI, was produced before the court of judicial magistrate first class A S Mujumdar. Andure, a resident of Aurangabad, was nabbed from Pune, a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson said earlier. He was believed to be one of the shooters who fired at Dabholkar while he was on morning walk on the Onkareshwar Bridge in Pune on August 20, 2013, the CBI spokesperson said. Earlier, the CBI charge sheet had named Sarang Akolkar and Vinay Pawar, both absconding, as the shooters. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The deadly monsoon rains that savaged Kerala claimed 13 more lives today, taking the toll to 210 in the last ten days as parts of neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu too reeled under floods. More than 3,500 people have been rescued till today in Kodagu district of Karanataka, where six people lost their lives in floods and landslides in the past few days, while major rivers, including Cauvery, were in spate in Tamil Nadu, inundating low-lying areas along the banks. In Kerala, which bore the brunt of the south west monsoon fury, the number of those displaced in the torrential rains was today put at 7.24 lakh by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also said most of the affected had been rescued and the government's focus would now be their rehabilitation. In all, nearly 400 people had died in rain-related incidents, mainly landslides and floods, since the monsoon set in on May 29 in the state which received a body blow with its tourism industry wrecked, standing crops in thousands of hectares destroyed and huge damage to infrastructure. High-range Idukki district, Malappuram and Thrissur and Ernakulam are among the worst hit in the state which saw its mighty Mullaperiyar Dam and Idukki reservoirs being opened, so as scores of other water bodies, causing floods downstream. In a big relief, there was respite from the rains in most parts of Kerala today after nearly two weeks of virtually non-stop onslaught and the red alert has been lifted in several districts. The rainfall intensity over Kerala has decreased over the past two days, the meteorology department said, adding there is no alert of heavy precipitation for the next four days. President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and enquired about the situation and acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people in coming together in this trying hour. "Assured the people of the state that entire nation was with them," the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday undertook an aerial survey of monsoon ravaged areas and announced an immediate assistance of Rs 500 crore. Thirteen people lost their lives today and 7,24,649 lakh people were in 5,645 relief camps, Vijayan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram after a review meeting. Around 22,000 people were rescued today, he said lauding the efforts put in by personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, NDRF, fishermen and local people in the operations. The Chief Minister said in each panchayat six health officers would be deployed to ensure there was no outbreak of any communicable diseases as the flood water recedes. Commercial flight operations from Kochi, hit following the closure of its international airport due to flooding, would resume tomorrow from the Naval airport to Coimbatore and Bengaluru, bringing some relief to travellers. Rail traffic continued to be disrupted in several parts of the state with railways cancelling at least 18 trains. Meanwhile, as flood waters receded in some areas, people in relief camps have slowly started returning to their homes. Efforts are on to restore power and water supply in areas where the power systems have been completely destroyed. In Karnataka's Kodagu, bordering Kerala, as many as 317 people, including a two-month-old infant, were rescued and shifted to relief centres since yesterday and the operations continued in and around Makkandooru and other affected areas today, officials said. President Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke over phone to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, camping in the rain-battered district, and enquired about the situation. "Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas," the PM tweeted. Nearly 1,000 personnel from the Armed Forces, National and State Disaster Response Forces, Civil Defence Teams, Fire and Emergency are engaged in the rescue work since August 15. Describing the situation as a difficult time, Kumaraswamy said the government's focus was to rescue the people. There were also reports about flooding and landslides in a few districts of coastal and Malnad region, especially in Chikkamagaluru district, affecting road connectivity. In Tamil Nadu, a flood alert was sounded for 13 districts, including the Cauvery delta regions, besides Madurai and Theni as the Periyar and Vaigai dams too received copious inflows. Heavy discharges were being made from dams, including Mettur, in view of copious inflows from Karnataka, leading to inundation of several villages and submergence of standing crops along the banks of Cauvery and its tributary Bhavani. Water level in Vaigai dam in Madurai district touched 69 feet (maximum 71 ft), prompting officials to open its shutters, officials said. Nearly 14,000 people have been moved to relief camps in different districts so far in the state, officials said. Chief Minister K Palaniswami, who inpsected flood-hit areas in western districts, assured compensation for crop loss due to the floods and permanent houses to the affected. His ministerial colleagues O S Manian, R B Udayakumar and S P Velumani visited flood-hit villages in Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari district and Valparai in Coimbatore district, worst hit by heavy rains. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Loktantrik Janata Dal leader Sharad Yadav today suggested that natural tragedies across the country had a lot to do with the way the ecological balance had been harmed by unplanned developmental work. In a statement, Yadav said damage to the property in the Kerala floods would be running into thousands of crores and asked the Centre to declare it as a national disaster. "Incursions into catchment areas of rivers which are dried up and settlements of the people in the vicinity of mountains are some of the reasons for such destructions. More you disturb the nature, more untoward incidents will happen," the former Union minister said. The need of the hour is to use land judiciously in the regions which are prone to floods and landslides, he said, while referring to the 2013 Uttarakhand floods that had caused unprecedented destruction. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi government has warned schools in the national capital of withdrawal of recognition and initiation of disciplinary proceedings against principals if student safety guidelines are not complied with. Pulling up the schools for "half-hearted compliance", the government has said there is no respite in the number of various types of physical, emotional and sexual assaults on school children -- within the school boundaries and outside. "Despite serious endeavours by the government, other agencies and by courts, the schools also respond with only half-hearted compliance," an official order by the Directorate of (DoE) said. "In case of some schools, the status of compliance is even more worrisome. No wonder then, that there is no respite in the number of various types of physical, emotional and sexual assaults on school children-within the school boundaries and outside," it said. "In fact, such incidents are on the rise. In such a grim scenario, it is felt that half-hearted approach won't work any more. If our schools are serious about providing foolproof safety and security to the innocent children whose parents trust us and only, therefore, they entrust us with the responsibility of their wards), then they must ensure compliance of the directions," the official order said. The department has said that it "shall initiate disciplinary proceedings against the heads of schools and estate managers if they fail to follow the tenets of student safety guidelines in word and spirit". "Further, this directorate will be constrained to initiate equally severe action against the schools, including withdrawal of recognition in cases of repeated and deliberate non-compliance to pre-empt any untoward incident endangering the safety of students and thus, inculcate a sense of confidence among the students and their parents". The directive assumes significance in light of the recent case of alleged rape of a minor girl by an electrician in a NDMC school premises in the city. The government had last week directed all schools in the city to immediately report to it about any untoward incident such as accident, violence, molestation or protest before it reaches the media so that quick action can be taken and also there is no "embarrassment" to the Department. The government had also issued fresh guidelines to schools for ensuring students' safety, with a special focus on the security of the pupils travelling to schools by private vans. The guidelines were issued following recommendations from a high-level committee which was formed in the wake of the murder of a seven-year-old boy in a Gurgaon school and alleged rape of a five-year-old girl in a school in Shahdara. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The RSS-affiliated Swadeshi Jagran Manch said today that food safety regulator FSSAI should desist from making food fortification mandatory of packaged food as it will favour only few selected multi-national firms. The FSSAI is making efforts to make it mandatory that all packaged food should be fortified by Vitamin A and D. It will only help the cartel of international Vitamin companies, SJM co-convener Ashwani Mahajan said. In place of focusing the fundamental duty as per the FSSAI Act, the authority was now more keen to please the donors and sponsors of their activities which are not directed towards the mandate of the law, he further said. The SJM alleged that FSSAI is allowing flooding of unauthorised and banned food products in the country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A former AIIMS doctor has decided to jump into with an aim to take up the cause of tribals in Madhya Pradesh, where the Assembly elections are due later this year. Dr Hiralal Alawa, the founder and head of Jay Adivasi Yuva Shakti (JAYS), an outfit for tribal youths, is planning to contest 47 seats reserved for Scheduled Tribes (STs), out of the total 230 Assembly seats, in the state's tribal areas. He claimed that both the ruling BJP and the opposition Congress offered him party membership, but he decided to move ahead independently. Alawa, a tribal hailing from Dhar district in MP, has been taking out yatras across the state. "A lot of money is released for tribal areas but where is it going? The development has been only on paper. We want real work and development," he said. However, BJP state unit spokesman Rajnish Agrawal said the tribal areas have been the main focus of his party-led state government. "JAYS is not a challenge. Several JAYS activists are now joining the BJP. The BJP has a strong base among tribals and the past results have indicated so," he said. Congress state spokesman Pankaj Chaturvedi also said that JAYS is not a challenge for his party. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Islamic Centre of India has appealed to Muslims to at least donate 10 per cent of their Eid-ul-Adha budget for flood-ravaged Kerala. Head of the Islamic Centre of India and senior member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board Maulana Khalid Rasheed Farangi said the amount should be deposited in the Kerala chief minister's relief fund. "Bakr-Eid is a festival which symbolises sacrifice in the real sense. This time, it is the flood-affected people of Kerala who need our support," he said. Farangi also said Eid will be celebrated on August 22 in Uttar Pradesh. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The telecom department has blacklisted bank guarantees issued by Standard Chartered after the bank failed to invoke one that was issued for Aircel Group. In a strongly worded office memorandum sent to all telecom operators and concerned officers, the DoT (Department of Telecom) has directed entities that they should not accept bank guarantee (BG) from Standard Chartered Bank, including renewals. "Standard Chartered Bank has failed to invoke a BG issued by them on behalf of Aircel Group of companies. This action by Standard Chartered Bank is a serious breach of trust and contract with government of India. In view of this you are directed not to accept any new BG from Standard Chartered Bank, including renewals," the note said. When contacted Standard Chartered Bank spokesperson said, "Pursuant to an order passed by the Telecom Disputes Settlement and Appellate Tribunal(TDSAT), we were unable to make payments with respect to certain bank guarantees invoked by the DoT. As per the said order, the invocations are not to be given effect to and the bank guarantees are not to be encashed". The amount involved in BGs could not be ascertained. "Hence, our actions were driven by the law of the land and we had no discretion whatsoever in how we dealt with the said invocations," the bank's spokesperson said. No immediate comments were received from Aircel in this regard. Standard Chartered is second bank whose BG have been barred by DoT. The department has earlier barred BGs issued by Axis Bank for Aircel. Axis Bank had then said that the BGs was issued on behalf of Airtel for Aircel and a case related to the issue was pending before telecom tribunal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 60-year-old man died and seven others were injured after a portion of a hillock fell on houses following heavy rains in Jaipur today, police said. Heavy boulders fell on the houses built on the foothills of Amagarh. The injured were rushed to the state-run SMS hospital, where Mehboob succumbed to injuries. Four others were discharged after primary treatment, said Revad Mal, station house officer, Transport Nagar police station. According to the meteorological department officials, 24.6-mm rainfall was recorded in the city from 8.00 am till 5.30 pm, whereas Dabok recorded 3.7 mm of rainfall. In the last 24 hours, Balesar recorded 10 cm of rainfall, followed by 8-cm each in Sahada and Gida, 7 cm in Ramsar and Nokha, 6 cm in Mavli and 5 cm in Kolayat, Shiv, Churu, Kota and Sambhar. Various places recorded 1-4 cm of rainfall, the officials said. The Met office has predicted heavy rainfall at a few places in southeast Rajasthan. Light-to-moderate rainfall is likely to occur at several places in the eastern part of the state and at a few places in west. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Engineering is becoming increasingly essential to solve societys problems and not at all losing its relevance, the founder Chairman of the Chatterjee Group Purnendu Chatterjee said. "Technology, Design and Entrepreneurship are imperative to make a good engineer into a great engineer, Chatterjee said at the 68th Foundation Day function of IIT Kharagpur yesterday. Chatterjee egged on the IIT KGP to deliver on all three fronts and emphasised on "experiential learning" that the institution delivered. "Engineering is absolutely essential to solving societys problems and not losing its relevance," he said and advocated greater diversity and collaboration in research. Chatterjee, who has been awarded Life Fellowship by the institute, is deeply involved in IIT KGP's diverse initiatives that range from the setting up of a world class VLSI laboratory to supporting research in Artificial Intelligence. The Foundation Day programme also saw announcement from its Director Partha Pratim Chakrabarti about the Institutes intention to make its presence felt in four top cities of the country. "We also wish to involve the massive potential of our 60,000 alumni in both research and education," he said. Chakrabarti said that the IIT KGP had evolved into a Tech-centred university with multifarious departments that ranged from the core sciences to the newly set up 400-bed super speciality hospital and research facility." The 68th Foundation Day of IIT Kharagpur saw the Young Alumni Achieve Award being conferred on 13 outstanding persons below the age of 40, who are high achievers as professionals, academics, scientists, and mentors. Many of the awardees are already mentoring the students at IIT KGP and are likely to further deepen their involvement in the institute. Around 160 school students from class VIII-IX from eight schools around IIT Kharagpur campus also attended the Institutes Foundation Day. The students got an opportunity to run experiments at the undergraduate chemistry laboratory and attend interactive sessions with the director and seminar on quantum physics and the National Digital Library of India. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Jharkhand government has directed the deputy commissioners of all districts to ensure that cattle is not slaughtered during the Bakr-Id festival, an official release said today. Chief Secretary Sudhir Tripathi during a video conference yesterday with all deputy commissioners and superintendents of police directed them to ensure peace and tranquillity and to maintain law and order during the Bakr-Id festival, it said. Home secretary S K G Rahate during the video conference asked the DCs to keep vigil to prevent trading of banned cattle and slaughter of cattle during the festival. Slaughtering of banned cattle was specifically banned in the rural areas, the release said Cow slaughter and sale of beef is banned in Jharkhand since 2015 Director General of Police (DGP) D K Pandey asked the SPs to deploy riot-control vans to deal with the mischief elements and identify sensitive spots to ensure adequate deployment of forces. The DGP also told the SPs to keep an eye on social media as well. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Equitas Small Finance Bank has chalked out plans to grow its new commercial vehicle finance portfolio from the present share of five per cent to between 35 to 40 per cent over the next two years,a top official said. The city-based bank provides loans to used commercial vehicles and recently launched finance schemes to purchase new such vehicles, Equitas Small Finance Bank, Managing Director and CEO, Vasudevan P N said. "We have been providing finance to used commercial vehicles. Two quarters back we started new commercial vehicle financing. That will also add to the growth (of the bank)", he told PTI. The bank offers loans for purchase of Light Commercial Vehicles and multi-axle vehicles, he said. "Right now, new commercial vehicle finance contributes about five per cent of the total vehicle finance. In two years time, we expect this to be 35-40 per cent", he said. He said the total vehicle finance portfolio was around Rs 2,500 crore, of which contribution of new vehicle financing was around Rs 150 crore. In the 2017-18 fiscal, the bank waived Rs 145 crore after the demonetisation announcement by the Centre in November 2016, he said. "So our total Profit After Tax for the full year 2017-18 was only Rs 31 crore. This year in the first quarter ending June 30, 2018, our advances grew by 27 per cent. We expect that to grow by 40 per cent", he said on the outlook for the current financial year. To a query on digital banking, he said nearly 92 per cent of transactions are now digital while the remaining eight per cent comprised customers who come to bank branches to make transactions. "We have spent around Rs 200 crore for this. We are very digitised. We have everything rolled out, right from mobile banking and net banking. Our ATMs also have CRM machines which can either accept cash or give out cash", he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said today that Europe had not yet shown it was willing to "pay the price" of defying Washington in order to save the nuclear deal. Zarif said European governments had put forward proposals to maintain oil and banking ties with Iran after the second phase of US sanctions return in November. But he told Iran's Young Journalist Club website that these measures were more "a statement of their position than practical measures". "Although they have moved forward, we believe that Europe is not yet ready to pay the price (of truly defying the US)," Zarif said. US President Donald Trump pulled out of the 2015 nuclear deal in May, and began reimposing sanctions earlier this month that block other countries from trading with Iran. A second phase of sanctions targeting Iran's crucial oil industry and banking relations will return on November 5. Europe has vowed to keep providing Iran with the economic benefits it received from the nuclear deal, but many of its bigger companies have already pulled out of the country for fear of US penalties. "Iran can respond to Europe's political will when it is accompanied by practical measures," said Zarif. "Europeans say the JCPOA (nuclear deal) is a security achievement for them. Naturally each country must invest and pay the price for its security. We must see them paying this price in the coming months. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Shiv Sena corporator Shrikant Pangarkar was arrested by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Sunday in connection with the seizure of crude bombs and weapons from different parts of the state between August 9 and 11, an official said. Pangarkar was arrested under the Explosives Act, the Explosive Substances Act and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, he added. Three persons -- Vaibhav Raut, Sharad Kalaskar and Sudhanwa Gondhalekar -- were arrested from Palghar and Pune districts on August 10 in connection with the seizure of bombs and weapons. All three are in custody till August 28. Pangarkar, a former member of the Jalna Municipal Corporation, was detained by the (CBI) last night in connection with the killing of anti-superstition activist Dabholkar. sources had said Pangarkar's name had cropped up during the interrogation of Sachin Prakasrao Andure, the alleged main shooter in the Dabholkar murder case. Andure, who was arrested by the from Pune last evening, was produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class A S Mujumdar at Shivajinagar today and remanded to the agency's custody till August 26. The told the court that Andure was one of the two assailants who had shot at Dabholkar at the Omkareshwar Bridge in Pune on August 20, 2013. Pangarkar, aged around 40, was detained after Andure told the CBI that he was with him when Dabholkar was killed, the sources said. The former corporator was allegedly riding pillion on the motorcycle driven by Andure, they added. Dabholkar (67) was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants on August 20, 2013, when he was on a morning walk near his home in Pune. Andure was arrested on a tip-off from the Maharashtra ATS, which had arrested Raut, Kalaskar and Gondhalekar for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to carry out blasts in the state. One of the arrested accused gave the input about Andure's involvement in Dabholkar's murder, which the shared with the CBI. Dabholkar's murder case was transferred to the CBI from the Pune Police in 2014. A former Shiv Sena corporator has been detained in connection with the killing of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar in Maharashtra's Jalna district, CBI sources said today. Shrikant Pangarkar, a former member of the Jalna Municipal Corporation, was detained last night by the CBI after interrogation of Sachin Prakasrao Andure, the alleged main shooter in the Dabholkar murder case, they said. Andure, a resident of Aurangabad in Central Maharashtra, was arrested in Pune last evening, said a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) spokesperson yesterday. Pangarkar, aged around 40, was taken into custody after Andure told the CBI that he was with him at the time of Dabholkar's murder, the sources said. The former corporator was allegedly riding pillion on the motorcycle driven by Andure, they said. Dabholkar, 67, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants on August 20, 2013, when he was on a morning walk near his home in Pune. Andure, who works as a salesman in a garment shop in the Nirala Bazaar area of Aurangabad, is believed to be one of the shooters who fired at Dabholkar, the CBI spokesperson had said yesterday. He was arrested on a tip-off from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had last week arrested three persons for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to carry out blasts in the state. One of the arrested accused gave the input about Andure's involvement in Dabholkar's murder, which the ATS shared with the CBI, the spokesperson said. The murder case was transferred to the CBI from the Pune Police in 2014. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Lok Sabha member P Manik Reddy, who represented Medak constituency in Telangana, today died at a private hospital here due to age-related ailments, official sources said. He was 76 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. Reddy, who was hospitalised due to age-related ailments passed away in the early hours, the sources said. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao condoled the demise of Reddy. Rao recalled Reddy's association with him and conveyed his condolences to the members of the bereaved family, an official release said. A former Congress leader, Reddy had joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1983 and was elected from Medak Lok Sabha constituency in 1985. Reddy subsequently joined the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in 2013. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four members of an inter-state criminal gang and a gun supplier were arrested in Ganjam district, the police said today. A country-made gun, some ammunition, Rs 12,000 cash and six mobile phones were seized from the gangsters, while gun-making equipment were seized from the gun supplier's workshop yesterday, they said. The gangsters had looted around Rs 20,000 cash from the manager of a private finance company on Talapada-Nuagaon Road in Khallikote area on July 24. The gang committed two more similar crimes in Ganjam district, the police said. Another member of the gang, Dilip Das (27) alias Bideshi was arrested by Kodala police after an exchange of fire near Pustapur on August 8. Das was allegedly involved in 30 cases in different districts. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three teenagers and a 12-year-old child drowned while taking bath in a pond in Rajasthan's Jaisalmer district today, a police official said. The deceased were residents of Koda village in Fatehgarh tehsil, said Deep Singh, the head constable at Sangad police station. They were identified as Bhupatdan (17), Ravindra (15), Ramesh (12) and their cousin Praveen (13). The family members of the deceased refused to handover bodies for postmortem, Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An audit commissioned by the French government says about 840 French bridges are suffering from serious damage and at risk of collapse in the coming several years. President Emmanuel Macron's government had already promised new infrastructure spending, but is coming under new pressure after Tuesday's bridge collapse in neighbouring Italy that killed 43 people. The audit, published Sunday by the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, says a third of the 12,000 government-maintained bridges in France need repairs. About seven per cent, or about 840 bridges, present a "risk of collapse" in the coming years if spending is kept at current levels, the audit says. The audit doesn't address thousands of other French bridges maintained by private companies or local authorities, which have seen budget cuts in recent years. The government released a summary of the audit last month, blaming previous administrations for inconsistent and inadequate road funding, and saying the growth of traffic and increasing episodes of extreme weather have worsened the problem. The Transport Ministry didn't respond to requests for comment Sunday. Transport Minister Elisabeth Borne told broadcaster Franceinfo last week that bridge "maintenance is our priority" and announced plans for a 1 billion-euro ($1.14 billion) plan to "save the nation's roads," including bridges and tunnels. She reiterated plans for a new infrastructure law after the summer holidays. The Genoa bridge collapse has shined a spotlight on road maintenance in Italy. Italian investments in roads sank most dramatically among the top five European economies after the 2008 economic crisis, never fully recovering, according to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A fruit trader misled the police by lodging a false complaint today about being robbed in a bid to gain sympathy from his creditors, the police said. The man, a papaya trader from Azadpur, was facing losses in his business for the last few months and owed Rs 20 lakh to his creditors. He was running the business along with two of his brothers and some others. He called the Police Control Room (PCR) at around 5.45 pm, alleging that he was robbed of Rs 10.8 lakh and 420 grams of gold at gunpoint by four miscreants, the police said. The fruit trader, one of his brothers and his labourers were questioned and contradictions were found in their statements. The businessman claimed that the incident happened at 3.30 pm. Asked about the delay in approaching the police, he did not have any satisfactory answer. On further interrogation, he confessed that he had narrated a false story in order to gain sympathy from his creditors and also to buy time to pay the loan, the police said. No case has been registered in connection with the matter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Telugu film actor and Jana Sena Party chief Pawan Kalyan has instructed party leaders and workers to gear up for the upcoming assembly elections in Telangana state. Kalyan held discussions with Jana Sena workers and members of the Political Affairs Committee (PAC), a party release said. The state co-ordination committee and Greater Hyderabad Committee would be set up in a few days and the process of forming co-ordination committee and district committees in Telangana will be completed in the next two-three weeks, it quoted Kalyan as saying. The meeting also discussed the topic of other parties showing interest to align with Jana Sena in Telangana, the release said adding Kalyan directed the party workers to gear up for the elections. According to the release, senior leaders advised Kalyan that the party should contest in 119 assembly constituencies in the state. Kalyan instructed party workers to target 15 lakh membership in Telangana alone. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trade talks between China and the US, movement of Turkish lira and rupee would take centre stage this week and dictate the trend in the equity markets, say experts. "This week seems positive. On the macro front, investors are expecting a positive outcome of the trade talks between Chinese delegation and the US, to be held on 22nd and 23rd August," said Gaurav Jain, Director, Hem Securities. "It will be important to watch developments of recent fresh talks between the US and China and crude oil movement. Any rebound in Turkish lira and cooling off in the relations of the US and Turkey will bring some relief for INR in short term," said Mustafa Nadeem, CEO, Epic Research. Also, Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) minutes on Wednesday will be watched. "Result season is over so now market will move as per global equities. Stock specific moves expected this week with range bound market," said Rahul Sharma, Senior Technical Research Analyst, Equity99. Over the last week, the Sensex recorded a rise of 78.65 points, or 0.21 per cent to end at 37,947.88. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil has warned Goa may face the same fate as the flood-battered Kerala if it does not take precautions on the environmental front. Like in some other states, Goa, too, is witnessing activities which are driven by greed for unlimited profits, said Gadgil, who headed a committee that authored a widely debated study on the Western Ghats a few years ago. "Certainly all sorts of problems are beginning to surface on the environmental front in the Western Ghats. Goa, of course, does not have Western Ghats which are so high as in Kerala, but I am sure Goa will also experience all sorts of problems," he said, reacting to the worst-ever floods in the southern state. He said thereason for not taking any environmental precaution (in general) is purely greed for unlimited profits. "You have seen it in Goa too. The Union government- constituted Justice M B Shah commission has estimated illegal profits of Rs 35,000 crore from illegal mining," he said. "There is also enormous profit in the business of stone quarrying while there is very little investment," he added while talking about rampant hill in the Western Ghats. "The greed for enormous profits has been allowed to go on unchecked, which has actually worsened economic disparity in the society. "So now those who are making money through these means are even more effective in getting the government allow this kind of rampant illegal behaviour," Gadgil said. The ecologist said governments have been lax on implementing environmental norms. "The central government is actually bending over backwards to make sure the National Green Tribunal does not function properly," he said. Gadgil had done extensive study on Goa's based on the data provided by iron ore mining companies in their Impact Assessment (EIA) reports in 2011. He had then said the mining companies submitted false information in their EIA reports. "In Goa, they had asked me to look into the impact of mining on Every EIA suppressed fact about hydrological impact of mining," the 73-year-old expert said. "On 'sadas' (plains) of Goa there are a lot of streams which are originating but they dont mention about them in their EIA reports. All kind of false statements are made in these reports," he said. Gadgil had headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) set up by the government. The WGEEP, in its 2011 report, had recommended that several areas in Kerala which come under the Western Ghats be classified as ecologically sensitive. The panel had recommended strict curbs on mining and quarrying and on use of land for non-forest purposes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three persons were arrested last night at the Mumbai international airport for allegedly trying to smuggle out gold bars worth over Rs 1.67 crore, a Customs official said today. The Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) officials the Customs intercepted Harish Kumar Chopra and Karan Kumar on specific inputs when they were walking towards the exit gate of the airport and searched their sling bags, he said. Chopra and Kumar had travelled from Bangkok. The search led to the recovery of six gold bars weighing one kg each and a cut gold bar with a foreign mark, according to the official. He said the gold bars were supposed to be handed over to one Ajay Kumar who was waiting for the duo at other part of the airport, after arriving from Delhi. Kumar was also arrested, he said. The total value of the seizure is Rs 1,67,65,906, he said. A case was registered under the Customs Act, the official said, adding that further investigation is underway. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indigenously-developed guided bombs -- Smart Anti-Airfield Weapons -- and anti-tank guided missile Helina were successfully flight tested at separate firing ranges in Rajasthan, the defence ministry said today. It said the Smart Anti-Airfield Weapon (SAAW) was successfully flight tested from an Indian Air Force (IAF) aircraft at Chandan range, while the Helina was test fired at Pokhran. The ministry said SAAW was integrated with live warhead and it successfully hit the targets with high precision. "The SAAW is capable of destroying a variety of ground targets using precision navigation. The tests were conducted between August 16 and 18," it said in a statement. The indigenously-developed helicopter-launched Helina missile has been successfully flight tested from an army chopper in Pokhran firing ranges today. "The weapon system has been tested for its full range. The Helina weapon system released smoothly from the launch platform has tracked the target all through its course and hit them with high precision," the ministry said. The missile is one of the most advanced anti-tank weapons in the world. The SAAW and Helina are being developed by Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO). Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman congratulated the DRDO for successful flight tests of both the weapons, saying they will further boost the defence capabilities of the country. While SAAW is being developed for the IAF, the Helina missile will be a part of the Army's weaponry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Gurgaon-based company engaged in waste management has been accused of burning garbage in the ecologically sensitive Aravalli mountain range. However, the company claimed that their vehicle was hijacked by some local goons who set the garbage on fire. The employees of the Ecogreen Energy, responsible for collecting garbage from Gurgaon and Faridabad, were caught on camera while burning garbage in the open areas of Aravalli. Local residents have submitted a complaint against this and also sent it to the Haryana State Pollution Control Board, the Municipal Corporation Gurgaon, the Gurgaon Metropolitan Development Authority and the Forest Department. "The contract of garbage collection from Gurgaon and Faridabad followed by its disposal was given to a company named Ecogreen Energy but its employees regularly used to burn garbage in the open areas of Aravalli. This is their regular exercise," said Dayanand Rao, a resident of Gwal Pahari. Another resident Satbir Singh said, "Residents of 16 adjoining villages are already facing health complications due to the non-functioning of the Bandhwari solid waste treatment plant and burning garbage in the region is simply creating havoc." An official of the deputy commissioner's office, Gurgaon said they had received the complaint and forwarded it to the pollution department. The spokesperson of Ecogreen Energy said the vehicle was hijacked by some local goons on August 15 and they forcibly burnt the garbage in Aravalli, took pictures and circulated them on the social media to defame the company. Izarul, a driver employed with the Ecogreen Energy, had filed a police complaint at the DLF phase II police station yesterday against Dev Bhati, a resident of Behrampur, and four of his accomplices for abducting and beating him. "Bhati took him to Ghata where he unloaded the garbage and burned it. He also took pictures of the Ecogreen vehicle. When he tried to stop him, Bhati thrashed him and warned him not to tell anyone about the incident," Izarul said in the complaint. He also claimed that he was terrified after the incident and filed a complaint two days after the incident. The company's CEO Ankit Agrawal said, "When you are trying to do something good for the society, it is natural for some vested interests to oppose it. From a last few months, people with malafide intention have tried to defame us." Subhash Bokan, the PRO of Gurgaon police, said the complaint was received and local police was verifying the facts. No FIR has been registered in the matter so far. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court has declined the plea of an Afghan national to direct his wife and their two children, who have obtained refugee status in India, to return with him, after the three expressed their unwillingness to live with him. The court also denied him visitation rights to meet his children whenever he comes to India noting that the two, aged nine and four years, have expressed their reluctance to meet him. A bench of justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel noted that the man's wife has obtained refugee status for herself and the two children under the mandate of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and their refugee ID cards are valid till April 12 next year. The court said there was nothing on record to indicate any threat to the safety and security of the children or that they were in inconvenience or their overall development harmed during their stay in India. "Consequently, the court has no hesitation as far as the present petition is concerned in declining the relief sought for by the petitioner," the bench said while dismissing the man's plea. His counsel also sought an order regarding visitation rights to the father whenever he visits India. However, as the children were not inclined to meet him, the bench said it was not possible at this stage to issue any omnibus order regarding his visitation rights and that he may seek the relief in other appropriate proceedings available to him under the law. In pursuance to the court's earlier order, the children had met their father at the high court's mediation centre. The court noted that the children were reluctant to meet their father and even his wife was unwilling to return with him. According to the plea of the Afghan national, he married the woman in 2008 in Kabul and two sons were born to them in 2009 and 2014. All of them had come to India on a tourist visa on February 18, 2017 and were staying in Kalkaji in south Delhi at a close friend's residence, the petition said. It also said that the wife had gone to a park with the kids on March 8, 2017, but did not return home. The petitioner had then approached the police, but it lodged a complaint only on March 14 last year, the plea alleged. The police, thereafter, traced the woman and both she and her husband (the petitioner) were called to the Kalkaji police station on March 24 last year. At the police station, the woman said she does not want to live with him and it was then that he came to know that she and the kids have obtained temporary refugee status, the petition has claimed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab and Haryana High Court here today launched a slew of IT enabled services for the benefit of litigants and lawyers. e-Payment of High Court Services, Android based Mobile Application, Online Grievance and Feedback System, Surety Information Management System, Infrastructure Web Application, Crystal Reports Software and eNotices are some of the major IT initiatives recently developed under the guidance of Justice Rajesh Bindal, Chairman, Computer Committee, a Haryana government release said here. As the applications were developed by the officials working in the high court and district courts, the HC Chief Justice Krishna Murari invited the officials concerned to press the launching button of their respective IT projects. He appreciated their efforts and expected that more and more officials will contribute to provide IT solutions for use by the courts, litigants and lawyers. In collaboration with State Bank of India, a payment gateway was launched for online transfer of money, wherever money is required to be deposited in the courts for any services, through Multi Option Payment System (MOPS), the release said. The facility will also be added for payment of other charges through internet banking and debit/credit cards. Special pre-paid cards shall also be issued by the bank for payment of any charges in the high courts as well as district courts in Punjab and Haryana, such as copying, inspection etc, it said. To identify persons who furnish surety in criminal/civil matters on the basis of fake documents or for consideration, Surety Information Management System has been developed, which will check the fake sureties and also the persons who are repeatedly furnishing sureties in different cases, the release said. With the introduction of Crystal Reports Software (CCR 3.0), report generation through Case Information System 3.0 in the subordinate courts in Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh will get fillip, it said. With the module, district judges will be able to monitor progress of cases more effectively, the release said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man, who held a family hostage in Gujarat's Mahisagar district, was shot dead by the police, an official said today. Three policemen were also injured in the incident. Sajid Hanif, a history-sheeter, held four women and a child hostage last night at a house in Lunawada town, about 130 km from here, Mahisagar Superintendent of Police Usha Rada said. "The police received information that a man, accused in cases of loot and extortion, was roaming in Lunawada, wielding sword and terrorising people in Polan School area of the town," she said. "When the police tried to corner Hanif, he entered a house and held four women and a child hostage," she said. When the policemen tried to rescue the women and the child, Hanif attacked them with a sword, injuring two personnel. A police sub-inspector then shot at Hanif. He sustained three bullet injuries and was killed on the spot, Rada said. "Two policemen were injured when Hanif attacked them with the sword. Another policeman was hit by a bullet that bounced after the sub-inspector fired it from his revolver," she said. There were already 48 FIRs registered against Hanif, the SP said, adding that he was recently released after serving a jail sentence. "He was trying to create terror and was seen on several occasions roaming around with a sword. There were several FIRs against him, mostly pertaining to cases of extortion and robbery," Rada said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Haryana government is organising a meet here tomorrow to come up with a joint strategy for combating drug menace in the northern states of the country. An invite for the meeting has been, among others, sent to the chief ministers of Punjab, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand, official sources said. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh told reporters here, on the sidelines of an event, that he would attend the meeting to discuss the issue of drugs and draw out a joint strategy to combat the problem. He said Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar had called him up yesterday to invite him for the meeting, and he accepted it. Underlining the need for collective efforts by all the states to counter the menace, the Punjab chief minister said that he himself had initiated the process several weeks ago with a letter to the chief ministers of the neighbouring states. No state can afford to ignore the drugs issue, which has extremely dangerous implications for our future generations, he said. While the Punjab government was going all out to wipe out the menace, it needed the support of neighbouring states in view of the inter-state smuggling of drugs, many cases of which had come to the fore in recent weeks, Amarinder Singh said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A couple was arrested from Jabalpur for their alleged involvement in a large number of theft cases at the local railway station, the police said today. Police suspect that Manoj Gupta (35) and his wife Pooja (30), who were arrested last evening, had committed more than 500 thefts at the Jabalpur railway station over the last four years. Explaining the modus operandi of the accused duo, Government Railway Police (GRP) officer YP Mishra said while Gupta used to befriend unsuspecting passengers at the railway station his wife would steal their luggage. "As per prima facie investigation, the couple had committed over 500 thefts by using different tricks to dupe railway passengers," said Mishra, who is incharge of Jabalpur GRP station. He said the couple used to behave as if they are not known to each other while committing the crime. "Gupta used to befriend young passengers at (Jabalpur) railway station while Pooja would approach them with their children (a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son) and request them to bring a ticket for her," Mishra said. While Gupta and the passenger would go together for buying a ticket, Pooja would decamp with the luggage, he said. Mishra said the couple mainly used to target passengers who were headed towards Bihar and Jharkhand. The couple was living in a rented accommodation in Kripal Chowk area of Jabalpur. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With more and more Indians wanting to utilise long weekends for short breaks, there was up to 49 per cent growth in bookings during this the Independence Day week, the industry said. While overall air bookings increased over 30 per cent from last year, hotel bookings saw a 50 per cent spike during the week with demand growing for high-end properties. An interesting feature was the rise in the number of women holidayers, which rose by 5 percentage points. "With the Independence Day falling in the middle of the week this year, we saw increased bookings both for the prior weekend as well as for the weekend after August 15. "The number of air bookings made at least 15 days in advance has increased by 49 per cent from last year. On the hotels front, we observed that 64 per cent of the bookings were made in the last four weeks and 34 per cent over the previous six weeks," Cleartrip Vice-President for accommodation and activities, Ankit Rastogi told PTI. He said the average stay for domestic round-trip bookings increased by a day from last year. "Over 57 per cent of the hotel bookings were for three nights or above. Interestingly, people are more inclined towards spending on luxury properties, with almost 33 per cent of the bookings for 4 and 5-star hotels against 23 per cent last year," he added. Bookings by couples, families, and group bookings amounted to 39 per cent, 29 per cent and 19 per cent of the total booking pie for hotels, he said. Echoing a similar view, Expedia India Marketing Head Manmeet Ahluwalia said as this Independence Day fell on Wednesday, travel enthusiasts took a couple of days off and combined it with the weekend, making it a mini vacation. "We have seen a rise in bookings which increased by 30-35 per cent throughout the week. Delhiites preferred going to Shimla, Kathmandu and Goa, while Mumbaiites flew to Goa, Jaigarh, Matheran and Pune. We also saw rise in international bookings for destinations like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia and Dubai this week," he added. Paytm Vice-President Abhishek Rajan said, "We have registered a significant surge in bus bookings to these destinations compared to last month. There has been a 50 per cent month-on-month growth in bus passengers, while train and air passengers grew by 9 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively. This growth is higher from key tier II cities compared to tier I cities." Around 70 per cent of these passengers were men and the rest women, compared to 75 per cent men and 25 per cent women on normal days, he added. Anand Menon, vice-president and head, travel tours, leisure business at FCM Travel Solutions -- the Indian subsidiary of Flight Centre Travel Group of Australia -- said simplified visa processes have made an easy access to international destinations like Abu Dhabi, Pattaya in Thailand and Singapore for the August 15 long weekend. "Despite falling on a weekday, we have observed a rise of 23 per cent overall in travel bookings for domestic and international travel compared to the I-Day weekend last year," he added. Meanwhile, Ixigo Chief Executive and Co-Founder Aloke Bajpai said his company has witnessed over 46 per cent jump in travel compared to corresponding weeks. "Many major domestic airlines and travel portals announced their Independence Day sales, which contributed to this growth. The preferred travel dates are between August 3 and 16, with most people taking short trips, many back to their hometowns. "The peak was observed for travel from Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai," he added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya today said he was hopeful that if the need arose and there was no way out, the Centre could opt for the legislative route in Parliament for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, when it has adequate numbers in both Houses. "When such a need arises that there is no way out except bringing a Bill, I am fully confident that in such a situation and when we have adequate strength (in both Houses of Parliament), remember these two things", he said without elaborating. "At present, in Parliament, we do not have adequate strength. Because even if we bring the matter in Lok Sabha, our strength in the Rajya Sabha is less, and it will definitely be defeated. Every devotee of Lord Ram knows this. The court will soon give its judgement. "The day we have the strength, it will be constructively used and not misused (Lekin Jis din hamare paas takat hogaa, uss takat ka sadpuyog hoga, durpayog nahi hoga)," Maurya told PTI. He said the matter was being heard in the Supreme Court. Maurya said if the grand Ram temple was built, it will be a "true tribute" to VHP stalwart Ashok Singhal, Mahant Sri Ramchandra Das Paramhans (former head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas in Ayodhya) and karsewaks who sacrificed their lives. The deputy chief minister was also asked whether the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill will anger BJP's core vote bank. Maurya said: "The intention of the government is to not cause any harassment to anyone by bringing in the bill. As a deputy CM of the state, I can say that in UP, no fake case will be registered and no one will be harassed unnecessarily. But, anyone doing any wrong to SC/ST people will not be spared." On August 9, Parliament had passed the bill to overturn a Supreme Court order concerning certain safeguards against arrest under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe law, The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote, had got the nod of the Lok Sabha on August 6. On the party's poll preparations, Maurya who had represented Phulpur in the Lok Sabha said, "Our party is working to get at least 51 per cent vote share at every booth, and we are working in this direction." Taking a jibe at rival political parties, the UP deputy Chief Minister said, "Who is actually nervous can be clearly revealed by the expressions of (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadav and (BSP supremo) Mayawati". Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an MP from Uttar Pradesh, and the mass crowd which had turned up at the programmes addressed by him drop ample hints that our political rivals have been shaken..... There is a special attachment for Modiji among the people. They are in fact complementary to each other. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An illegal internet pharmacy, allegedly shipping drugs to overseas locations like the US and Canada, based in Delhi has been busted by the NCB with the apprehension of four people and seizure of over 41,000 psychotropic tablet strips, a senior official today said. He said the pharmacy was based in west Patel Nagar area of the national capital and was allegedly sending these drugs under the garb of auto parts and religious items. The courier consignment bound for the US and Canada, containing 41,005 psychotropic tablet strips and over 2.4 kgs of loose tablets, has been seized as part of the operation, he said. Four people have been apprehended till now, the official added. "This international network had established their contacts for supply of illegal medicines in cities like Lucknow, Gurgaon, Patna, Varanasi, Mumbai and few other cities. "All the medicines are narcotic and psychotropic substances and the operators of the online store had no valid license or document to conduct business," Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) Zonal Director Madho Singh said. He said the operators were also sending spurious medicines to their customers. "They used to parcel out these consignments through various courier companies without declaring the actual content of the parcels. We are trying to nab other members of the syndicate and further investigation is being carried out," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan today lashed out at the previous PML-N government for current debt crisis which has risen to Rs 28 trillion, saying the country had not been as indebted in its entire history as it has been in the last ten years. In his maiden address to the nation a day after his swearing in as the country's 22nd prime minister, Khan identified Pakistan's challenges on economic front, deficiencies in the health-care sector and other issues grappling the country. Outlined his governments approach to resolve the issues, Khan stressed on taking austerity measures, working on tax reforms instead of taking loans, rooting out corruption. He also spoke about revamping the judiciary, educational and health care reforms, civil service reforms, devolution of power, providing jobs opportunity to youths and building dams to end water crisis. "Never in Pakistan's history have we faced such difficult economic circumstances. Our debt burden is Rs 28 trillion. We haven't been as indebted in our entire history as we have been in the last ten years," he said. "The interest that we have to pay on our debt has reached to a level that we have to take more debt to repay our obligations. Our external debt obligations have reached a level that we have to contemplate how we are going to grapple with them," Khan said. "On one hand we are so indebted, and on the other hand our human development index ranking is very poor," he said. Pointing out the deficiencies in the health-care sector, he said that at present Pakistan is among the five such countries where infant mortality is highest due to use of contaminated water. "We have the highest rates of mortality for pregnant women. We are unfortunately one of the countries that suffer from the highest incidences of stunting in children. We are talking about 45 per cent of this nation's children," he said. "They are not getting proper nutrition. They are not developing properly. They are automatically left behind. What must their parents go through seeing their children in such a state?" he added. He called up on people of Pakistan to team up with him to eradicate poverty, improve health-care system, provide proper nutrition to children. "We have two paths ahead of us: one is the path we have taken so far - indebtedness, poverty, no funds to help our most vulnerable. The Prime Minister pointed out the difference between the growing lifestyles of the rich and the poor, and hinted that he would adopt an austere style of governance. Khan also said he will not be staying in the sprawling Prime Minister House but in the military secretary's three-bedroom house. Announcing austerity measures to cut down his own as well as the country's expenditure, he said that he wanted to live in his own house in Banigala "but was told by security agencies that my life was under threat which is why I am living here". He said that the prime minister house has 524 servants and 80 cars. "The prime minister, which is me, also has 33 bulletproof cars. We have helicopters and aeroplanes to fly us. We have massive governor houses and every conceivable luxury. "On one hand we don't have money to spend on our people; on the other hand, we have a section of our people living like our colonial masters used to live," he said. "Look at how much money is spent by prime ministers on foreign tours? Where do these people spend Rs 650 million? Where does the speaker spend the Rs 160 million budget allotted to him? Are they going abroad to conquer land?" Khan said. Detailing about the austerity measures, he said "I will keep two people with me out of the 524 and government would auction off all the other bullet proof cars and invite businesses to come and buy them. "We will put the proceeds of that auction in the state treasury," he added. He said I wish that all the governor houses are kept as simply as possible. Khan said that he wished that the PM House be turned into a research university, he will form a committee to figure out how to cut expenses nationwide. "I also want you to understand that the money we lavish on ourselves could have been spent on those who our state has left behind. 'Naya' Pakistan also requires a new 'soch' (thinking). We have to think about those who we have left behind," he said. On tax reforms, he said instead of trying to rebuild the economy by taking external loans, his government will try and fulfil its needs from within. "No country can succeed by taking on debt again and again. Debts are taken for brief periods of time. I will be ashamed to go abroad and ask for money. If the leader of the nation has to go and ask for debt, what will my nation be?" Khan added. He said only 800,000 people out of 200 million pay taxes in Pakistan. "We will fix the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and assure the nation that I will be responsible for your taxes. It is your responsibility to pay taxes. If we start paying taxes we will get out of deficit," he said. He termed money laundering as the biggest problem. Khan asked the overseas Pakistanis to deposit money in Pakistan's bank and sent remittance through banks. The prime minister stressed on the need give a boost to exports, saying he has made a business advisory council to help address the challenges of export industries. He said that no one thought of the water crisis. Khan also stressed on improving the standard in government hospitals, and said a health card would introduced across Pakistan. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With heavy rains continuing to wreak havoc in Kerala, India Inc has extended relief measures to the victims by offering donations. Meanwhile, industry body CII has set up a task force chaired by its former president Kris Gopalakrishnan to work on relief measures for victims in flood devastated Kerala in coordination with the state government and the district administrations. While JSW Group said it has initiated a group-wide initiative wherein its employees voluntarily contribute in cash as well as in kind, TVS Motor Company has contributed Rs one crore to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). "The flood situation in Kerala and the destruction, it has left behind, is distressing. As a responsible corporate citizen, JSW has initiated a Group-wide initiative wherein our employees voluntarily contribute in cash as well as in kind. The contribution made by our employees will be matched by JSW Group equally and will be pledged towards Kerala's flood relief measures," JSW Group official spokesperson said in a statement. The company said that it is committed towards helping people affected by floods in Kerala. "TVS Motor Company contributed Rs 1 crore to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF), in lieu of the distressing flood situation in Kerala. The cheque was handed over to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by Swaran Singh, CEO, Srinivasan Services Trust (SST)- the social arm of TVS Motor Company in Thiruvananthapuram," the firm said. As far as Nissan India is concerned, the company has stepped forward to extend service support to flood affected victims in the state. "Special emergency repair teams have been set up and additional trained manpower will be deployed from dealerships in neighbouring states to expedite turnaround time for the repairs. Free towing service is being offered and repairs will be carried out under the guidance of Nissan technical experts," it said in a statement. Nissan India has also issued an essential safety advisory through customer care and has set up a round the clock special desk for faster insurance claims and settlement for flood-affected vehicles. CII said it is in touch with various government agencies and local authorities to assess the situation and initiate most urgent relief operations in the affected areas. "Emergency Response Centres are being set up in the CII offices in Kochi, Trivandrum and Chennai to coordinate and facilitate all efforts, the chamber said. Hundreds of people have died in flood-related incidents in Kerala. Several people are stranded in buildings in various districts. Many of them, including children, were rescued from various waterlogged areas. Assocham said Kerala would have suffered massive economic losses to the tune of Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 crore with a staggered impact of a few months on tourism, cash crops and trade including international trade from Kochi and other ports. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian Army and the Royal Thai Army today completed a two-week-long platoon level annual joint military exercise aimed at strengthening partnership and cooperation between them, the Army said here. 'Exercise Maitree' commenced on August 6 in Thailand. The exercise last year was held in Himachal Pradesh. This year, the exercise began with a cross-training period involving familiarisation training between the two armies to evolve drills and procedures involved in counter-insurgency and counter-terrorist operations in urban, rural and jungle terrain under the United Nations mandate. The initial days of field training focused on familiarising with each other's modus operandi, basic maneuvers and evolving joint drills. The second phase included practising various drills and tactical scenarios in counter-insurgency environment, execution of tactical and search and destroy operations, house intervention and survival techniques. The exercise culminated with a 72-hour joint exercise on planning and execution of a series of tactical operations such as raid, pursuit, establishing military check-post and cordon and search operations. "Both the armies immensely benefitted from each other's expertise and experience in conduct of tactical level counter terrorist operations. The exercise helped in enhancing the cooperation between two armies and bonhomie between troops," the Army said in a statement. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's economic growth seems to be back on a recovery path and the country will be on a firm 7.5 per cent plus growth track this fiscal, former chief economic advisor Arvind Virmani said today. He further said the US-China tariff war provides an opportunity to increase India's exports to the US. "Economic growth, which has been subject to many ups and downs over the past seven years, seems to be back on a recovery path. "... Domestically, the main risk to macro stability is politically driven government consumption spending at the cost of investment and fiscal prudence. If this temptation is resisted, the country will be back on a firm 7.5 per cent plus growth track this year (fiscal)," Virmani told PTI in an interview. He noted that the rise in oil prices due to geopolitical factors like sanctions on Iran by the US is, however, a concern. Replying to a query on the US-China tariff war, the economist said it will have some short term disruptive effects on the global economy. "The US-China tariff war, however, provides an opportunity to increase India's exports to the USA and to attract, labour intensive elements of the global supply chain unsettled by higher 'China risk' to India," Virmani observed. Virmani, who was also India's executive director to IMF, predicted that the country will become a great economic power by 2035. He said that historically every government pushes up what are referred to as populist expenditure in the year leading up to the election. "The test is if they keep it modest and don't disturb the trend in fiscal responsibility. "There is, therefore, always a risk of fiscal slippage," Virmani noted. Recently, Niti Aayog Vice Chairman Rajiv Kumar also said that Indian economy is expected to grow by at least 7.5 per cent in 2018-19. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Indian contingent registered its first win at the 18th Asian Games as the country's women's Kabaddi team made mincemeat of Japan in their Group A opener here today. India won 43-12 in a lop-sided encounter. The Indian women dominated the contest from start to end against the Japanese, recording an emphatic win in their first game on day one of competitions. India stayed on track to complete a hat-trick of titles in the multi-sport quadrennial extravaganza. Japan were never in the match and the gulf in class between the two teams was evident from the beginning. The men's team, also one of the favourites, start their campaign against Bangladesh later in the day followed by a match against Sri Lanka in the evening. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US chipmaker has trained as many as 99,000 developers, students and professors in artificial intelligence (AI) in since April 2017, against a target of 15,000 for the first year of its programme, according to the tech major. It has also tied up with premier educational institutes like the IITs in Delhi, Mumbai, Kharagpur, Kanpur, Chennai, and IIITs in Bengaluru, Hyderabad, BITS Pilani, ISI Kolkata, IISc Bangalore, CDAC and like and among others for training under its developer education. "Though we had committed to train 15,000 developers, students, and professors in initially through training and workshops, we have already exceeded the target over seven-fold at over 99,000 by roping in many of them from 100 organisations," said Prakash Mallya, managing director for sales and marketing, The programme was launched in April 2017 and the initial target was for a year ending April 2018, he said, adding the programme is aimed to democratising through collaborations with partners and customers. ALSO READ: How artificial intelligence is making a final leap of imagination into art powers as much as 97 per cent of data centre servers running AI workloads at present in the world. The company, which organised its first AI developer conference in the country last week in after the initiative in home market US earlier this year, had over 500 developers attending it. It also announced collaborations with Philips and to deploy its AI portfolio in the local ecosystem. Israel closed its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip today except for humanitarian cases over border incidents that saw protests and clashes at the weekend, an Israeli official said. A spokesman for the Israeli defence ministry unit that oversees the crossing confirmed it had been closed. Border protests and clashes on Friday left two Palestinians dead by Israeli fire. The closure and border incidents came despite attempts by Egypt and UN officials to reach a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the blockaded Gaza Strip. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Italy's firebrand interior minister threatened today to return to Libya 177 migrants who have been aboard an Italian coast guard ship for days following another standoff with Malta. Interior Minister Matteo Salvini demanded that other European countries take in the migrants after his Maltese counterpart, Michael Farrugia, insisted that the "only solution" is for the Diciotti ship to dock at the Italian island of Lampedusa. The Diciotti, working under the EU's Frontex Mediterranean rescue operation, has been off Lampedusa after rescuing the migrants August 16. I Italy asked Malta to take them in, but Malta refused, saying the migrant boat wasn't in distress and that the migrants declined Maltese assistance, preferring to continue toward Italy. In a tweet today, Farrugia accused Italy of rescuing the migrants in Maltese waters "purely to prevent them from entering Italian waters." Salvini, who has refused to allow aid groups to dock in Italy, shot back: "Or Europe decides to help Italy concretely, starting with the 180-odd migrants aboard the Diciotti, or we'll be forced to do what will definitively stop the smugglers' business: bring the people recovered at sea to a Libyan port," the ANSA agency quoted him as saying. If carried out, Salvini's threat could pose legal issues for Italy, since the Italian government has already been faulted by the European Court of Human Rights for using its own ships to return migrants to Libya. Italy has gotten around that 2012 court ruling by helping Libya's coast guard better patrol its own coasts to bring migrants back. Italy's transport minister, Danilo Toninelli, demanded that Europe open its ports, and tweeted Sunday that Malta's position was "worthy of sanction." Malta has defended its actions as entirely consistent with international law. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera arrived here today on a two-day visit with an aim to further strengthen military cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the maritime sphere in the wake of China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean. He will hold talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tomorrow covering a range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interests, official sources said. Interestingly, his visit comes two days ahead of Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe's four-day trip here. Wei is scheduled to arrive here on Tuesday. Sources said Sitharaman and Onodera are also expected to review the situation in the Korean peninsula and explore ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in the Indian Ocean where China has been ramping up its presence. They are likely to deliberate on the proposed joint exercise, between Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the Indian Army, later this year. Sitharaman and her Japanese counterpart are also likely to exchange views on India's long-pending proposal to procure the US-2 ShinMaywa amphibious aircraft from Japan for its Navy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Centre today said a joint team of different aviation-related bodies and CISF inspected the Cochin Naval Base, a day after announcing operation of commercial flights from the base from Monday to aid rescue efforts in Kerala. Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu also said the watch hour at Vijayawada and Begumpet airports has been extended to facilitate relief operations by IAF aircraft. Watch hour refers the period during which the airport remains open for operation. "A Joint team comprising representatives from DGCA, BCAS, CISF, AAI and Indian Navy carried out inspection of #Cochin Naval Base today to check the feasibility of scheduled operations from there. Steps being taken to start operations with ATR-72 from Monday, 20th August," the minister tweeted. The base will be used by carriers such as Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, to operate 70-seater ATR aircraft to places such as Bengaluru. The Minister had said yesterday that flights from the naval base to other destinations such as Coimbatore, Madurai could also start operations. Other airlines are likely to join this effort too, he had said. The main Kochi international airport, the seventh busiest in the country, has been rendered non-functional since August 14 due to flooding and torrential rains, and would remain closed till August 26. "In view of disruption of flights from Cochin airport due to floods, a joint team sent by @MoCA_GoI has approved starting of scheduled commercial flights using ATRs by Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, between Bangalore and Cochin Naval Air base," Prabhu had tweeted last evening. As of now, both domestic and international flights to Kochi are being diverted to other destinations such as Trivendrum and Calicut. The minister in a series of tweets today said that following a request from the Home and Defence Ministries, "watch hours at Vijayawada and Begumpet airports have been extended by Airport Authority of India" to assist in relief operations with IAF aircraft. Besides, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in contact with three private helicopter operators to carry out relief operations after a request was received from the Kerala government. He said that scheduled domestic airlines have started additional flights to and from Trivandrum, Calicut and Coimbatore airports to minimise passenger inconvenience. Nine foreign carriers have also rescheduled their flights to and from Trivandrum, he informed in his tweets. "Scheduled domestic airlines have also been advised to ensure that airfares for flights to/from Trivandrum and Calicut airports in Kerala and nearby airports i.e. Mangalore and Coimbatore are kept at optimal level proportionate to sector distance," he tweeted. On the other hand, Air India has waived cargo charges for transportation of medicine and other materials to Kerala. An Air India spokesperson said the resident commissioners of Kerala in different states would be the nodal authority through whom the relief would be dispatched via Air India flights. Meanwhile, full service carrier Vistara today said it is operating all its Kochi-bound flight from Trivendrum in view of the closure of the Kochi airport. "These flights include those to/from Delhi and Chennai, with Economy class fares capped at Rs 10,000 and Rs 7,500, respectively," it said. Vistara does not usually operate to Trivendrum but made this special arrangement to help people travel into and outside of the city/state, it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke with Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy regardingflood situation in parts of the state. "Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas," the PM tweeted. While some parts of Karnataka are facing drought like situation, some others are reeling under flood. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Kashmiri man, suspected to be a sympathiser of the banned ISIS terror group, was recently deported to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officials said here today. Thirty-six-year-old Irfan Ahmad Zargar, a resident of Chattatabal area on the outskirts of Srinagar, was deported from the Gulf country on August 14 and subjected to questioning by various security agencies, including the National Investigation Agency, they said. He was then handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir police who were carrying out detailed investigations. However, there was no case pending against him in the state. Zargar, an engineer, is alleged to have been "quite active" on social media and had been expressing his liking for the activities of ISIS in Syria, they said. The NIA, the central probe agency tasked with investigating terror cases, questioned him for over two days before handing him over to the state police. Zargar was picked up by the authorities in Dubai on April 28 this year when he was entering into the Gulf country from Oman, they said. He was subjected to intensive questioning by Dubai sleuths about his activities on social networking sites, especially his appreciation of ISIS activities in Syria and Iraq. Working with a telecom company in Dubai, Zargar maintained that he had travelled to Oman for setting up a business of handcrafts. The Dubai officials had carried out thorough search of his apartments in Sharjah and later whisked him away to an undisclosed location. He was deported to India on August 14. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had been approached by one of his kin on her Twitter handle asking for help. The minister had assured them help and the Indian Consulate General in Dubai had initiated a hunt for the man. However, the Dubai authorities had refused to entertain any plea until they had not completed their own investigation in the case. Zargar is a third Kashmiri to have been deported for allegedly being sympathisers of the terror group. Srinagar-resident Afshan Parvaiz was deported from Turkish capital of Ankara on May 25. Parvaiz had left home after an argument with his father, who wanted him to join a college while he was interested in religious studies. He booked himself a seat on a flight to Teheran on March 23 and was later deported after he crossed into Turkey. Another youth from Ganderbal, Azhar ul Islam, was deported from the UAE last year for being an alleged ISIS sympathiser. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana Congress Chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy today alleged that the names of several party workers in the state were being deleted from electoral rolls and claimed that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao might dissolve the Assembly next month and seek fresh elections. Addressing party workers in a live interaction on a social media network, TPCC President Reddy claimed that Chandrasekhar Rao might dissolve the Assembly next month and seek fresh elections along with four other states of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Mizoram and Chattisgarh. According to the Congress leader, KCR has already spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi twice on holding early polls for Telangana Assembly. And hence, the Congress party needs to prepare itself for early polls on war footing by strengthening the organisation, a party release quoted Reddy as saying. Reddy alleged that KCR has cheated the people through 'fake and tall' promises and all sections of the society were disappointed with the performance of TRS Government. "Fearing that he could be questioned by the people on streets for the failure of his government to deliver on promises, KCR is preparing for early polls although his party was given a mandate for five years," Reddy claimed, according to the release. He directed the party workers to check their names in the electoral rolls and also asked them to cross check whether or not the names of their family members, relatives and neighbours exist in the voters' list. He further asked them to visit the municipal office, MROs or check online from tomorrow onwards to identify what he claimed the missing names and take required measures for their re-inclusion. The Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee President also directed the party workers to intensify enrollment for Shakti programme. Reddy said the 'Praja Chaitanya' Bus Yatra could not be continued due to heavy rainfall in various parts of the state. However, he said the party was planning to complete the bus yatra in the next 15 days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Amid horrors of the torrential rains, the wedding of a woman inmate today brought cheers to a relief camp in northern Malappuram district, where thousands of people have been displaced in flood. Twenty-four-year-old Anju, the bride, has been staying with her family members at a relief camp in a lower primary school there for the last three days after her house was submerged in flood. Though the family had earlier thought to postpone the marriage due to the rain fury, the other inmates of the relief camp persuaded them to go ahead with the ceremony. "Thus, we decided to conduct the wedding at a nearby temple without any celebration. The groom, Shaiju's family had also no objection," a relative of the bride said. Clad in a traditional red silk saree and jewels, Anju stepped out of the relief camp and proceeded to the temple in the morning. Though the transportation in the district is yet to become normal in the district, the groom and party managed to reach the venue on time. The bride and groom later proceeded to the latter's house. Many weddings have been postponed due to the flood situation in the state. As many as 197 people have lost lives in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal on Sunday appealed to all food processing industries to come to the aid of the flood-ravaged people of Kerala by generously donating processed food products. In a statement, Badal said the flood-affected people of Kerala, thousands of whom have been rendered homeless, need processed food items urgently. She said the Food Processing Ministry has nominated two officers to coordinate this effort and that the industries could contact them to make the desired donations. The officers are Joint Secretary Parag Gupta (9650872875) and Deputy Secretary Atyanand (9891614895). Badal said three lakh biscuit packets had already been delivered to the Kerala government by ITC and Britannia after a request made by her. ALSO READ: Kerala floods LIVE: India Inc step in to help as death toll reaches 370 She said the packets were delivered to officials at Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Malapuram for further distribution to the affected people of the state. "We will make efforts to ensure more donation coming to us following this fresh appeal is despatched to Kerala at the earliest," she added. The members of the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) staged a protest outside the Home Ministry here today, questioning the Centre why the Kerala floods were not declared a national disaster. The protesters alleged that they were manhandled and lathicharged. They submitted a complaint to the deputy commissioner of police, New Delhi, alleging that women students were subjected to "derogatory comments" and racist remarks were made by the policemen against some students. The police, however, claimed that no force was used against the students, adding that they were detained at the Parliament Street police station for about an hour. The police said they were looking into the allegations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palyekar said today that he would donate a month's salary towards the relief work in flood-hit Kerala. The southern state is facing its worst floods in 100 years with all rivers in spate. The death toll there has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. Palyekar in a tweet said, "Deeply disturbed by the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in Kerala and as a small contribution towards resettling the lives back and aid in relief work, I have decided to donate my one month salary for Kerala relief work." Earlier, Goa Tourism Minister Manohar Ajgaonkar said yesterday that he would donate a month's salary to the relief fund set up to help the flood-affected people in Kerala. Ajgaonkar had also requested his colleagues to join in the effort to help the flood-ravaged state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kodava Students' Association (KSA) in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have decided to collect and send relief material to Kodagu, which has been ravaged by heavy rains and floods in the last few days. The materials would be collected from the public at SDM law college here from 9 AM to 5 PM today and tomorrow, KSA advisor S P Chnegappa said in a statement. Clothes, medicines, food items, blankets, tooth paste, brush and other items would be collected and sent to Kodagu district, where rains have claimed six lives so far and many people have been reported missing. He said the state government, which had announced Rs 100 crore as relief to Kodagu, should enhance the amount and requested the people of DK and Udupi to contribute generously towards relief measures in Kodagu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Apparel retailer Lifestyle plans to invest up to Rs 200 crore to add 20 outlets in the next one-and-half years to increase its footprint across the country. Lifestyle is also eyeing 16-18 per cent growth and a turnover of Rs 4,600 crore this fiscal. It had reported Rs 4,000 crore turnover in the previous financial year. The company, which at present operates close to 75 outlets in the country, plans to open majority of the new outlets in the cities where it already has a presence. "We plan to invest Rs 150-200 crore to open 20 new outlets in the next 1-1.5 years. At present we have stores in 44 cities...we will go into five more cities and open rest of new planned the stores in the cities where we already have a presence," Vasanth Kumar, Managing Director, Lifestyle International, told PTI. Kumar said the company gets 75 per cent of its business from top cities at present but expect smaller cities to add to its growth in the years to come. The company also expects its omni channel (combination of offline and online retail) strategy to pay off and contribute significantly over the next five years. "Omni channel at present contributes about 1-1.5 per cent of our sales but we expect it to be in double digits (10 per cent and above) in the next five years," Kumar said. Lifestyle is a part of Dubai-based retail and hospitality conglomerate, The Landmark Group. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US has said that it was looking forward to work with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in the country and in the region as it welcomed the swearing-in of Imran Khan as the new Prime Minister. Khan, 65, was sworn in as Pakistan's 22nd prime minister at a simple ceremony in Islamabad yesterday. "We recognise and welcome the newly elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on taking the oath of office," State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert said in a statement. It said that for over 70 years, the relationship between the US and Pakistan has been a vital one. The relations between Pakistan and the US nose-dived after President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists. The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan's defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year. "The US looks forward to working with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in Pakistan and the region," it added. Meanwhile, Spokesperson for UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, Stephane Dujarric, congratulated Khan on becoming Pakistan's Prime Minister. "The Secretary-General and the UN system looks forward to working with Khan in his new capacity as Prime Minister of Pakistan," Dujarric said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Uttar Pradesh Urdu Akademi head Asifa Zamani will keep the Bakrid celebrations next week low-key at her household as a mark of respect for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with whom she says her family shared a special bond. Her late husband, former UP minister Aijaz Rizvi and Vajpayee knew each other from the days when the BJP was a fledgling party, Zamani told PTI. If the BJP leader happened to be in Lucknow around Eid, he used to drop in. Rizvi, who was an advocate, used to handle the paperwork when Vajpayee contested the Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow. "We are deeply pained and anguished by the death of Atalji, her son Asif Zama Rizvi said. "The friendship between Atalji and my husband can be traced back to the days when the BJP was a party with two MPs. Both of them knew each other even before that, she said. So, whenever Atalji came to Lucknow from Delhi, my husband would go the Charbagh railway station to receive him, she said. Her husband became a member of the UP Legislative Council thrice, and she credits this to Vajpayee. Asifa Zamani, who has been head of department of Persian at Lucknow University, said the former prime minister had immense trust in her husband. He used to phone Aijaz in advance and tell him that all papers should be ready so that he can come and file his nomination papers," she said. If Vajpayee happened to be in Lucknow around Eid, he would turn up at her house to have the 'kimami sewai'. The moment he entered the house, he would ask, 'Where is the sewai? Bring it quickly', she said. Keeping his health in mind, I used to make separate kimami sewai for him, which would be less sweet, she recalled. Vajpayee would complain about the sweetness. But he would eat it with a smile, she said. "While leaving the house, he would give a silver coin to my son Asif and daughter Sheema as an Eid gift," the 75-year-old said. After Rizvi's sudden death in 1998, their daughter Sheema Rizvi stepped into her father's shoes. Vajpayee helped the family then too, Asifa Zamani's son Asif Zama Rizvi said. Sheema Rizvi was a member of the UP Legislative Council for two terms, and served as a minister under chief ministers Ram Prakash Gupta, Rajnath Singh and Mayawati. Sheema Rizvi died in 2009. Asif Rizvi said, "We are deeply pained and anguished by the death of Atalji. Hence, we have decided that Bakri Eid celebrations in our home will be a low-key affair this time as a mark of respect for the departed soul. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 27-year-old Malaysian woman died allegedly after she complained of breathing problem while on her way to Munsiari village, a major tourist attraction in Uttarakhand. Naveena Vadival was part of a group of four women travellers from Malaysia, Pithoragarh Superintendent of Police Ramchandra Rajguru said. She complained of breathing problem following which she was taken to a health centre in Gangolihat where doctors declared her brought dead last night, he said. A post-mortem is being conducted to ascertain the cause of her death, the SP said, adding, the Malaysian embassy has been informed about the incident. The group had reached India on a three-month tourist visa on August 7 and were on way to Munsiyari when the incident occurred, the SP said. "The companions of the deceased said they had also suffered similar breathing problems earlier while touring other places," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man was arrested for allegedly killing a woman and her son in Seemapuri area of Shahdara when she asked the accused to repay a Rs 25,000 loan taken from her, police said today. The bodies of the woman and her son with multiple stab injuries were found inside their house yesterday. The woman's body was found inside a bed box while her son's body was found in the bathroom, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Meghna Yadav said. The accused, a resident of Nandnagri area here, and the woman's son were batchmates in a computer course a year ago. The matter came to light when the woman's sister informed the police at 9.15 pm after she could not get in touch with them. During interrogation, the accused, reportedly in his 20s, told the police that he killed the duo on August 17, the DCP said. The police are also probing the role of another person in the double-murder case, Yadav said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 25-year-old man, who was allegedly posing as a doctor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here, was arrested today, police said. Ashish Tripathi, a resident of Ghaziabad, was found roaming inside one of the wards of the hospital wearing a white coat, they added. When Tripathi was intercepted by the guards at the hospital, he claimed to be a senior resident doctor. However, when asked, he failed to produce an identity card, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Romil Baaniya said. During interrogation, Tripathi told the police that his pregnant wife was admitted to the hospital and he thought it would be easy to enter the wards wearing a white coat, the DCP added. The police said the accused used to give training to the patients admitted to AIIMS regarding dialysis and was found to have a diploma in operation theatre and management from an institute in Lucknow. A case has been registered in connection with the incident. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man who used to inform police about illegal sand mining was shot at by unidentified persons in Bihar's Jehanabad district today, a senior police officer said. Some unidentified persons shot at Lallu Kumar, the son of a chowkidar of Thallu Bigaha area of the district and injured him seriously, Superintendent of Police, Manish Kumar said. The injured person was first rushed to Jehanabad sadar hospital from where he was referred to Patna Medical College and Hospital, Patna in a critical condition, the SP said. On the basis of victim's (Lallu Kumar) statement, an FIR has been lodged against three persons including JD(U) district president Rajiv Nayan, he said. As per the statement recorded in the FIR, Lallu Kumar said that he used to inform police about the illegal sand mining in the area and it was Nayan who was behind the attack, police said. Nayan has a sand mining business, sources said. Police have started investigation after lodging an FIR in this regard, the SP said. Nayan, however, termed it (the FIR) as a conspiracy by RJD to defame him and demanded a high level probe into the matter. "I am ready to face any probe," he said. Angry villagers of Thallu Bigaha blocked the Ghoshi-Hulasganj road in protest against the incident (attack on Lallu Kumar), police said. Later, Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) (Operations) Sanjiv Kumar and Sadar Sub-Division Police Officer (SDPO) Prashant Bhushan Srivastava went to the area and removed the road blockade, they added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Manipur government today donated Rs 2 crore as flood relief for the victims of Kerala hit by days of incessant rainfall and massive floods. "People of Manipur stand in solidarity with the people of Kerala, may you find comfort in knowing that the rest of India stand with you. The people of Manipur pray for you and extending a sum of Rs 2 crore to relief funds from the state, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said. At least 197 people have been killed in Kerala in the last 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8 as floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain have wreaked havoc in many parts of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) She is gradually stepping into an area which has been his fiefdom for ages, as more and more automobile companies in India encourage women to take up positions in manufacturing operations. Not just in scooter or car manufacturing, today women are making their presence felt on shop floors in making tractors and trucks too with companies like Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M), Eicher Motors, Hero MotoCorp and Bajaj Auto seeking to accelerate the drive of gender diversity. Four years ago, Tata Motors started with a batch of just five women with an aim of "creating a brigade of 'Women in Blue' by enrolling, educating and skilling girls, especially from economically deprived areas". Today, the company boasts of 1,812 women employees working on its shop floors, which is about 4 per cent of the total shop floor workforce (as on July 31, 2018), across its different plants. Not too far behind, rival M&M's automotive division began with 23 in 2016 and today it has over 380 women across all its manufacturing plants, while the company's farm division and subsidiary Swaraj employs over 250 women on the shop floor. Likewise, Royal Enfield, the two-wheeler division of Eicher Motors, runs an entire engine assembly line with women workforce of approximately 140. Two-wheeler market leader Hero MotoCorp too had embarked on Project Tejaswani with an aim of introducing women in shop floor and today the company has 160 women working in various roles in assembly operations at its different factories. Rival Bajaj Auto has 'Women Only' assembly lines at its Chakan and Pantnagar plants. In the last four years, its women employee strength has more than doubled to 355 in 2017-18 from 148 in 2013-14. The slowly increasing population of women on shop floors of automobile companies is a sign of the changing times when gender equality is being stressed upon. "At Tata Motors, we strongly believe that what's good for women is good for society and what's good for society is good for business," Tata Motors Chief Human Resources Officer Gajendra Chandel told PTI in an e-mailed response. He said the company has taken certain internal targets to promote diversity positively balancing the same with meritocracy. Echoing similar sentiment, M&M Chief People Officer Rajeshwar Tripathi said:"At Mahindra, we have taken several initiatives to step up gender diversity on the shop floor...The journey started with the hiring of 23 women associates in 2016 and the number has now increased to over 630." The strength of women on the company's shop floors is around 7.5 per cent of the total hiring in last two years, specifically for the shop floor, he added. Tripathi further said women deployed on the shop floor do exactly the same work as their male counterparts. In fact, one of the women workers from the company's Kandivali Auto Division plant, Arati Patole was even recognised as "an outstanding woman welder at the International Welding Competition that was held in Beijing" recently. Highlighting the impact of women on shop floors, he said:"We strongly believe that the inclusion of women workforce has contributed significantly to improving the culture at the shop floor." Their inclusion has also resulted in the use of more mechanised hauls, lifts and robotic power for various jobs on the shop floor, thereby making the work easier for all, he added. Such is the significance given to employment of women in various roles in auto industry that some top management officials are taking the responsibility personally. In his message to shareholders in the company's annual report 2017-18, Hero MotoCorp Chairman, Managing Director and CEO Pawan Munjal said: "I am personally driving the agenda of gender diversity and empowerment at Hero MotoCorp and consequently, the number of women staff including on our shop floors - has gone up considerably over the past few years." Similarly, Eicher Motors told its shareholders that it was continuously adding diverse workforce which includes diversity of gender, experience, industries, and geographies at the production sites, technical centres and the rest of the organisation. In an e-mailed response, Royal Enfield said the percentage of women workforce in the plants has been increasing 10 per cent year-on-year for the last three years. "The organisation aims to increase diversity on the shop floor to 30 per cent over the next five years," it added. The automobile companies are taking gender diversity with all seriousness, beyond the tokenism of merely employing women. Tripathi said M&M started recruiting women officers on shop floor few years ago, as GET/ GAT (fresh engineering graduates) trainees. "A bold step was taken to hire a minimum of 33 per cent women GATs/GETs at entry level across all locations. Going forward, we are trying to significantly increase the first line of women engineers or supervisors on the shop floor," he added. Similarly, Chandel said:"Tata Motors is highly focused on skilling them (women workers) through structured technical education programmes run in collaboration with the Automotive Skill Development Council." He further said:"While we have embarked on this journey, we not only hope and believe, but have made concerted efforts on diversity that will add sustained value for the company. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A California woman said she had to drive herself to the hospital and give birth without her husband after he was detained by immigration agents. Maria del Carmen Venegas said she and her husband, Joel Arrona Lara, were driving to the hospital Wednesday when they stopped for gas in San Bernardino, just east of Los Angeles. Surveillance footage shows two vehicles immediately flank the couple's van after they pulled into the gas station. Agents with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement questioned the couple and asked for identification, Venegas said. Venegas, 32, said she provided hers but that Arrona had left his at home in their rush to the hospital. The surveillance footage shows the agents handcuffing the 35-year-old Arrona and taking him away, leaving a sobbing Venegas alone at the gas station. Venegas said she drove herself to the hospital for a scheduled cesarean section for the birth of her fifth child. "I feel terrible," Venegas said in a telephone interview from the hospital as her newborn son Damian cried in the background. "We need him now more than ever," she said. Venegas said she and her husband came to the US 12 years ago from the city of Leon in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato. They do not have legal authorization to live in the US, and all five of their children are US citizens, she said. Venegas said her husband is a hard worker, the sole provider of the family and has never ever been in trouble with the police. ICE confirmed in a statement yesterday that agents with the agency's Fugitive Operations Team detained Arrona on Wednesday and said he remained in custody pending removal proceedings. Though the team prioritizes arresting immigrants who are transnational gang members, child sex offenders and those who've had previous convictions for violent crimes, the agency's statement said it "will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement." "All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States," the statement said. Emilio Amaya Garcia, director of the San Bernardino Community Service Center, said his nonprofit group is providing legal help to Venegas and Arrona, will file a motion on Monday for an immigration court to set a bail hearing for Arrona and will ask that his removal proceedings be canceled. "We strongly believe that it was an illegal arrest because they didn't have an arrest warrant and they did not have any probable cause to arrest him other than the fact that he was in the country without documents," Garcia said. "It's a very questionable situation." Garcia also said that agents put the baby at risk by arresting Arrona and likened their actions to the Trump's administration's temporary policy of separating children from their parents at the US-Mexico border. "He was on his way to the hospital, his wife had a high-risk pregnancy, she was about to have the delivery, and they left her there to fend by herself," Garcia said. "With this administration we are seeing things that wouldn't happen before. This is obviously different times. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Four persons were killed and one seriously injured today in a road accident in Ramgarh district, police said. The accident occurred when the car which they were travelling in hit the road divider and overturned on Ramgarh-Ranchi via Pithoria four-lane highway under Basal outpost police station, said Deputy Superintendent of Police (headquarters) Birendra Kumar Choudhary. The victims were on their way to Patratu dam from Gutua of the district when the accident happened. The seriously injured person was rushed to RIMS in Ranchi with the help of local villagers. The deceased were identified as Ashish Singh, Rahul Bhuiyan, Harsh Kumar and Saloni Kumari, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than two million Muslims from around the globe started the hajj pilgrimage today in Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest annual gatherings in a country undergoing unprecedented change. The ultra-conservative kingdom -- where religion remains a guiding force amid dramatic social and economic reforms -- has mobilised vast resources for the six-day journey, a pillar of Islam. "It's the dream of every Muslim to come here to Mecca," said Frenchman Soliman Ben Mohri. "It's the ultimate journey. What worries me is the return to my normal life. For the moment, I am in a dream," the 53-year old told AFP. Every Muslim is required to complete the hajj journey to Islam's holiest sites at least once in their lifetime if they are healthy enough and have the means to do so. Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed for the pilgrimage, which was struck by its worst ever disaster three years ago when around 2,300 worshippers were crushed to death in a stampede. This year, the Saudis have launched a "smart hajj" initiative, with apps to help pilgrims with everything from travel plans to medical care. The interior ministry said on Saturday that the number of pilgrims arriving in Mecca had already surpassed the two million mark, mostly from abroad including large contingents from Egypt, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Wearing the simple white garb of the pilgrim, most of the faithful began moving on Sunday from Mecca to the nearby Mina valley. They will spend the night there in fire-resistant tents in the desert, where temperatures top 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit). Thousands of buses and vehicles carrying the pilgrims lined the eight kilometre (five-mile) road from Mecca to Mina. Many pilgrims made the journey walking under the scorching sun, some carrying white or blue umbrellas. For the Muslim faithful, hajj retraces the last steps of the Prophet Mohammed and also honours the prophets Abraham and Ishmael. It ends with the Eid al-Adha feast, which is marked by the slaughter of sheep, a tribute to Abraham's sacrifice of a lamb after God spared Ishmael, his son. Earlier in Mecca pilgrims performed a ritual walk seven times around the Kaaba, a black masonry cube wrapped in a silk cloth embroidered in gold with Koranic verses at the centre of the Grand Mosque. The shrine is the point towards which Muslims around the world pray. "I feel so fortunate to be here," said Nazia Nour, 36, who came to Saudi Arabia from Auckland. Pushing her father on a wheelchair, she added: "I can't believe he (God) chose me." On Monday, pilgrims will climb Mount Arafat for the climax of the hajj, praying and reading the Koran. The prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon from the rocky hill to Muslims who had accompanied him on his final hajj, according to Islam. After sunset, pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, halfway between Arafat and Mina, where they stay at least until midnight. They gather pebbles to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil on the eve of the Eid al-Adha feast. Although the kingdom's young de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has spearheaded change in the kingdom, religion remains a key force in Saudi Arabia. The oil-flush kingdom ended its ban on women driving in June and has boosted female employment in a male-dominated society. But the reforms have been accompanied by a widening crackdown on dissent, with more than a dozen women's rights campaigners detained in recent weeks. Some have been released. The hajj also comes more than a year into the worst political crisis to grip the Gulf, pitting Saudi Arabia against Qatar. Saudi Arabia -- the world's largest exporter of oil -- and its allies accuse Qatar of cosying up to both Sunni Islamist extremists and Shiite Iran, Riyadh's main rival. They have cut all ties with Qatar -- which denies the charges -- and banned all flights to and from Doha. Qatar said Sunday that its citizens were unable to take part in the hajj because of the diplomatic dispute. Saudi authorities have said Qatari pilgrims are still allowed into the kingdom for the hajj. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three of four picnickers were found dead today near the Gangulpara waterfall in Balaghat district, a day after they went missing from the spot, the police said. Police are looking for another member of the group who remained untraced, an official said. "The deceased were the residents of Katangi village in Gondia district of neighbouring Maharashtra. They had gone to the waterfall for picnic yesterday," said city superintendent of police (CSP) Monika Tiwari. She said the police were informed today about the missing picnickers by their family members who reached the spot this morning, after the quartet didn't return. The deceased were identified as Golu Rathore (23), Durgesh Bhuse (23) and Wilson Vijay Madare (19), the CSP said. Tiwari said the exact cause behind the death will be known after postmortem report is received. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam has said rumours were being spread over the stability of Mullaperiyar dam with an aim to create a wedge between the people of the state and Kerala, asserting that the reservoir was 'safe' to store water up to 142 feet. "Experts have opined that water could be stored upto 142 ft.. There is no need to fear.. The dam is strong.. the dam will not be affected even if there is a tremor or quake," Panneerselvam told reporters here last night, after visiting the Kumuli road, which got damaged due to a landslide "People of Kerala are our brothers and sisters.. Some people are trying to create misunderstanding between us," he said referring to the rumours doing rounds on social media platforms that the Mullaperiyar dam has developed some cracks. The Deputy Chief Minister's statement comes following a plea made by flood-hit Kerala on August 15, for reducing the water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir to 139 feet over safety concerns in view of heavy inflows. The Tamil Nadu government had turned down the request saying the century-old reservoir was 'safe' enough to store water up to 142 feet. Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had also sought the Centre's intervention as he raised concerns about safety of the dam in view of the swelling inflows following torrential rains lashing the state. The Supreme Court had on August 16 directed the Disaster Management sub-committee of Mullaperiyar Dam to consider reducing water level up to 139 feet from the present 142 feet, considering the "grave" flood situation in all the 14 districts of Kerala. The two states are locked in a dispute over the storage level in the dam, situated in high-range Idukki district of Kerala, which has been raising concerns about safety of people living downstream. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A number of NGOs based in the financial capital of the country have come forward to extend the helping hand to flood-ravaged Kerala and launched a campaign to collect food and other items. The deadliest deluge in Kerala in close to a century has claimed 197 lives since August 8. More than six lakh people are in relief camps while thousands are still stranded in their homes without food. The NGOs are extending help in the form of money and medical support. Prime Educaton Health Learning Services (PEHL) has said that it would send a team of 20 people consisting of general physicians and paramedical staff to Idukki district. As per official estimates, 43 people have lost their lives so far in Idukki district. "Our team will leave on Thursday from Mumbai and will start working with our local staff in Kerala as well as government authorities in Idukki district. Our focus will be only on providing medical service, as it is highly essential in the next coming days," Tasmeen Shaikh, of PEHL said today. Shaikh said the NGO carries its own medicines. "We have appealed to the people to donate for our work in various ways. We do not accept any non-medical donation, as other NGOs and state authorities are working on it. Extending medical service in itself is a major task for our team," she said. Shaikh said that more people will be sent to Kerala depending on the requirement at the ground. "This is our fourth such medical camp, where we are extending medical support to flood affected people," Shaikh claimed. Sayed Furqan, a senior official of the 'Sahas Foundation', said they would supply notebooks and other educational stationery to at least 10,000 students in the flood-ravaged state. "We have also issued a statement with the bank account details of Kerala chief minister's relief fund and appealed to the people to donate the amount there itself," he said. Furquan said the state machinery is better equipped with handling and spending money as per requirement at hand. Nishant Bangera, founder of NGO Muse, said they have formed 12 collection centres across Mumbai where citizens can donate food, clothes and other items that would be sent to the flood-affected people. "We have collaborated with 'anbodu kochi', a Bengaluru-based organisation that is sending relief material to Kerala," Bangera said. He said the NGO has collected two truckloads of material which include ready-to-eat food items, toiletries, medicines and clothes. In the deadliest deluge so far in the last 100 years in Kerala, more than six lakh people are in relief camps while thousands are still stranded in their homes without food. The Kochi international airport has been closed till August 26 after flood waters entered the runway and other airport areas. The Centre had sanctioned Rs 500 crore as immediate assistance to the southern state. The Maharashtra government had announced a financial help of Rs 20 crore for Kerala. The government today stated that it had sent 30 tonne aid consisting of ready-to-eat food packets, milk powder, blankets, bed sheets, clothes, soaps and sanitary napkins to Kerala. The items are selected on the basis of a list issued by the Kerala government, stated an official release issued by the Maharashtra government. The (30-tonne) aid was flown by an Indian Air Force (IAF) plane, while another five tonne material will be sent tomorrow morning, it stated. The aid consists of 15,000 food packets, which are packed in water-proof material so that it can be easily distributed in the flood-hit regions. The government had sent 6.5 tonne of aid yesterday, it stated. The Central Railway yesterday sent over 14 lakh litres of drinking water to the southern state by a special train from Pune. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 33-year-old Muslim man, who converted to Hinduism to marry a 23-year-old Hindu girl in Chhattisgarh, has moved the Supreme Court seeking the release of his wife from her parents' custody. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justice D Y Chandrachud sought response from Chhattisgarh government and asked for a copy of the petition to be served to the state government counsel. "The superintendent of police of district Dhamtari, Chhattisgarh, is directed to keep Anjali Jain, daughter of Ashok Kumar Jain, respondent No.4 herein, present before this court on August 27, 2018," the bench said and directed court officials to communicate a copy of the order to the SP. Mohd Ibrahim Sidhiqui, who had converted to Hinduism and taken the name of Aryan Arya, challenged the Chhattisgarh High Court order, saying it had erroneously declined to direct his wife's family to release her to him. He said there was a threat to his and his wife's life and she was being deprived of her liberty against her wishes by her family members. Arya said he was being threatened by his wife's family and some other orthodox members of the society. He said his wife had told the high court that she was a major of 23 years of age and got married to him by her own choice. The high court had given her choice to either live with her parents or be accommodated in a hostel. According to the petitioner, both he and his wife are residents of Dhamtari district and have had the relationship for the past 2-3 years. In February 23, 2018, he converted to Hinduism and took the name Aryan Arya to marry the woman. They subsequently got married at the Arya Samaj Temple at Raipur, Chhattisgarh, on February 25, 2018, as per Hindu traditions. In his petition, he said his wife Anjali Jain returned to her parents' home at Dhamtari but did not immediately inform her parents about the marriage. He said his wife's parent's somehow came to know about their marriage and the couple then planned for her to move out of her parents' home without informing them. She left her home on June 30, but policemen found her before she could meet Arya and took her to a police station and then to a Sakhi Centre shelter home for women. Arya alleged that police recorded a wrong statement that the woman wanted to stay with her parents and handed over her custody to her father. Challenging her custody to her father and inaction of police, Arya moved the high court, which proceeded to direct Anjali Jain and her father to be produced in the court on July 30. The high court, after interacting with Anjali Jain, held that she had denied of any illegal detention by her parents' and it recorded that her parents' have serious reservations with regard to the relationship, or the socalled marriage between her and the appellant. The petition said the court had ruled that "certain breathing space and time is required to be given in a free atmosphere to Anjali to make up her own independent mind". The case is similar to Hadiya case of last year where a Hindu girl from Kerala converted to Islam to marry a Muslim man and the apex court on April 9, set aside the Kerala High Court verdict and restored the inter-faith marriage of Hadiya and Shafin Jahan, saying the former had "absolute autonomy over her person." Observing that the faith of a person was intrinsic to a person's meaningful existence, the top court had said that "choosing a faith is the substratum of individuality and sans it, the right of choice becomes a shadow. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An FIR was registered against Bihar's former social welfare minister Manju Verma and her husband under Arms Act following recovery of 50 cartridges from her in-law's house during a CBI raid in connection with the Muzaffarpur shelter home sex scandal, police said. The CBI had on Friday raided nearly 12 places in four districts of Bihar, including residences of Verma in Patna and her in-law's place in Begusarai. The FIR was registered yesterday against Verma and her husband Chandrashekhar for recovery of 50 live cartridges from her in-law's house at Arjun Tola village during a raid, Cheria Bariarpur police station SHO Ranjit Kumar Rajak said. Police said the live cartridges are of different firearms. The FIR was registered against the couple by a CBI official, Rajak said, but declined to name him. Verma had resigned as social welfare minister last week following a disclosure that her husband Chandrashekhar had spoken to the prime accused in the scandal, Brajesh Thakur, 17 times between January and June this year. The scandal came to light two months ago when an FIR was lodged by the social welfare department following a social audit report submitted by Mumbai-based Tata Institute of Social Sciences which mentioned sexual abuse of girls lodged at the Muzaffarpur shelter home. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The NDMA today said there will be no heavy rains in the flood-hit Kerala for the next four days, giving a ray of hope to the distraught people of the state. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) also said more than 33,000 people have been rescued by different agencies from the flood affected areas of the state. Over 6.33 lakh people are currently staying in relief camps, it added. "Rainfall will further decrease during the next five days. Heavy rain at one or two places in Idukki, Konnur and Kozhikode districts likely today. No heavy rain from tomorrow for the next four days," the NDMA said quoting a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). There is no red or amber colour code warning for any district of Kerala today. A yellow warning has been issued in three districts. The IMD has four colour codes to signify the intensity of weather. Red means authorities need to take action and one could expect extreme weather conditions, amber means government agencies need to be prepared to handle exigencies. Yellow colour code means situation needs to be watched, while green signals the weather would be normal. The central government has also decided to give ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the family of those killed in the floods and Rs 50,000 to the injured. The compensation will be provided from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. A total 6,33,010 people are staying in 2,971 relief camps. As of now 33,179 people have been evacuated in rescue operations, the NDMA said. So far 129 metric tonnes of rice and 30 MT milk powder (20 MT to Idukki and 10 MT to Wayanad) have been dispatched to Kerala, it said. The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation has dispatched necessary medicines to the affected areas, which is in addition to more than 150 truck loads of relief materials from the civil society and NGOs. Altogether 100 tonnes of food materials like biscuits, rusks and drinking water are being airlifted to Kerala from Jalandhar and Patiala in Punjab. At least 197 people have been killed in Kerala in the last 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8 as floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain have wreaked havoc in many parts of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) To resolve the "infighting" plaguing the AAP in Punjab, the party's national convenor Arvind Kejriwal today said that he was not averse to holding talks with the dissident group of MLA's led by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, in the interest of the party. Kejriwal also ruled out any alliance with the Congress for the next year's Lok Sabha polls, saying, "No, that is not happening." During his visit to Punjab today, mainly to attend the 'bhog' ceremony of party MLA Kulwant Singh's father at Mehal Kalan, Kejriwal went to residence of party MLA Aman Arora in Sunam, where he had an informal meeting with 11 of the AAP legislators from Punjab. Notably, on the call of the AAP's legislative wing, Arora has already initiated talks with the dissident group of legislators ahead of the Punjab Assembly session slated later this month. The AAP had replaced Khaira with Cheema as the leader of opposition last month, triggering a revolt by eight out of its 20 MLAs that plunged the state unit into crisis. Khaira had dubbed his removal "undemocratic". The holding of talks by Sunam MLA Aman Arora with Khaira group assumes significance as the main opposition party AAP would like to be seen as united in the crucial Assembly session, during which Justice Ranjit Singh Commission's report on sacrilege issue would be tabled. Punjab Vidhan Session will start from August 24 till 28. Interacting with reporters at Arora's residence, Kejriwal was fielded questions on the issue of dissident MLAs who have reportedly opened a front against their own party. On the Khaira issue, Kejriwal said, "In every party, in every family, there are issues and fights. I believe that some colleagues who are unhappy will be persuaded. I have also asked some of my MLAs to reach out to them and if need is felt, even I will talk to them." When asked why the Khaira group was not invited for today's meeting with MLAs at Sunam, the Delhi chief minister, who was accompanied by his deputy, Manish Sisodia, said, "No formal meeting was planned today."Notably, Khaira also maintained a distance from Kejriwal at the 'bhog' ceremony. Kejriwal said, "Whosoever holds some grudge, may be they have some good suggestion, we will implement that. Our aim is to unite the entire Punjab and the entire country. We will attempt to reach out to all those who hold any kind of grudge. If need be, I will talk to them (the dissidents)". Dissident MLAs, led by Khaira had earlier declared the party's Punjab unit "autonomous" and "dissolved" its current organisational structure during a convention at Bathinda on August 2. On the issue of alleged leak of Justice Ranjit Singh Commission report, Kejriwal while referring to the sacrilege incidents of 2015, said, "Amarinder Singh had promised that culprits will be brought to book. He set up Justice Ranjit Singh Commission and now things are emerging that as per information of the leaked report many bigwigs are involved. "The government is preparing to recommend handing over the probe to CBI... We demand that report be made public and all those involved be given exemplary punishment." Attacking the Congress government in Punjab, Kejriwal claimed that people had voted for the party with high hopes, but they had failed to fulfill even a single promise made to the people. "They promised jobs to the youth, debt waiver for farmers, smart phones to youth, but they have failed to fulfill their promises," he alleged, adding, "The people of Punjab were fed up with the Akali Dal, but now they are unhappy with the Congress also." Kejriwal invited the people of Punjab, including Chief Minister Amarinder Singh, to visit Delhi to witness the "unprecedented development works that have been undertaken, especially in health, education, in providing water and power to people by the AAP government." "I invite everyone from Punjab including Amarinder Singh to see our government schools, hospitals, mohalla clinics and see for yourself the kind of development works that have been carried out," he said. Asserting that the AAP was willing to lend a helping hand to the Congress dispensation to "set right" government schools and hospitals in Punjab, Kejriwal said, "In Delhi, we have been in power for three-and-a-half years. We have made schools in Delhi better. You see our government schools in Delhi have have become better than private ones, their results are also good." "We are providing cheapest power to the people. If during a short span of three-and-a-half years, an entirely new party can undertake so many development works, people of this country are asking what have Congress and BJP done during past 70 years, except for looting us," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a first, medical insurance for treatment of mental illness will be available as in cases of physical illness, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said today. "#MentalHealthCareAct2017 For the first time, medical insurance for treatment of mental illness to be available on the same basis as is available for treatment of physical illness under Section 21(4) of the Act (sic)," Nadda tweeted. The Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) had recently issued a circular directing insurers to cover mental illness, besides physical ailments. The Mental Healthcare Act, 2017, which came into force from May 29, has made it mandatory to provide for "medical insurance for treatment of mental illness on the same basis as is available for treatment of physical illness". Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his Independence Day speech, said his government would launch the ambitious the Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme on September 25. Modi had said the programme's technology would be tested in the next one month to make it foolproof. The scheme will target poor, deprived rural families and identified occupational category of urban workers' families, 8.03 crore in rural and 2.33 crore in urban areas, and will cover around 50 crore people. While Punjab, Kerala, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Delhi are yet to come on board, Odisha has refused to be a part of the scheme, an official said. As many as 22 states have preferred to run the scheme on "trust model". The Centre has allocated about Rs 10,000 crore for the project, which is claimed to be the world's largest government-funded healthcare insurance programme. It is yet to release its share of funds to the states. The Union Health Ministry has launched a formal process to empanel public and private hospitals to achieve universal health coverage under the programme. The Centre was simultaneously carrying out beneficiary identification. Under the process, 80 per cent of beneficiaries, based on the Socio Economic Caste Census (SECC) data in the rural and the urban areas, have been identified. The Health Ministry has included 1,354 packages in the scheme under which treatment for coronary bypass, knee replacements and stenting, among others, would be provided at 15-20 per cent cheaper rates than the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS). (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 additional financial assistance of Rs five crore and also ordered polythene sheets worth Rs 8 crore for flood-ravaged Kerala. The financial assistance from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF) is in addition to the Rs 5 crore sanctioned earlier, an official in the Chief Minister's Office said. Patnaik has also ordered 500 MT of polythene sheets worth about Rs 8 crore to be sent to rain-battered Kerala. Odisha Government had earlier on August 16 announced financial assistance of Rs 5 crore for disaster-hit Kerala. The chief minister stated that people of Odisha stand by the flood affected people of Kerala at this hour of severe distress. He expressed deep condolences for the lives lost due to the devastating flood in the southern state. "Odisha knows what a natural calamity of this magnitude means to the common man," Patnaik said. Odisha Government had yesterday sent a special team of fire service personnel armed with modern equipment to assist in rescue and relief operations in Kerala. Trained and experienced in flood rescue, the team including 225 fire service personnel, 15 supervisors and other officers left for Kerala in a special aircraft of Indian Air Force (IAF) carrying 75 power boats and state-of-the-art equipment, said an official. The team also carried underwater equipment, 10 tower lights, power saws, solar search lights, tents, 137 life buoy, 31 lifelines, 30 sleeping mats and other sophisticated gadgets to carry out rescue work, he said. The chief minister further directed the special relief commissioner to remain in touch with the authorities and extend all the help to the people from Odisha who are stranded in Kerala. Labour Department of Odisha has already rushed officials to Kerala to ensure the safety of Odia labourers affected by floods there. Earlier, Odisha government today requested Kerala to provide necessary support and assistance to Odia people who are trapped in the devastating floods. A list of 187 people of Odisha who have been trapped in recent floods in Kerala has been sent along with the letter written by Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in Revenue and Disaster Management Department, S K Das, an official said. The letter was sent to the Additional Chief Secretary in the Disaster Management Department of Kerala on the basis of information received by the state emergency operation centre at the Special Relief Commissioner's (SRC) office here, the official said. "It is requested to kindly make necessary arrangement for providing support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to these people," the letter said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A student of Kasturba Gandhi Awasiye Balika Vidyalaya in Bahuar village in the district died of food poisoning, while 12 other girls, who were taken ill, had to be hospitalised. Union Minister Anupriya Patel who is the MP from Mirzapur visited the school today and assured the family members of the deceased girl that a magisterial probe would be ordered and strict action taken against the guilty persons. "Thirteen girls fell ill yesterday, after having their afternoon meal. Efforts were made to treat the girls at the school itself, but when their conditions did not improve, they were sent to the hospital," said Chunar Sub-Divisional Magistrate Chatrapal Yadav today. "13-year-old Naina Devi was declared dead at the hospital," he said, adding the remaining 12 girls were discharged after treatment. The girls had been given rice, daal, roti and sabji in the lunch, said school hostel warden Madhurani Dubey, adding of the 90 students in the school, 13 fell ill due to food poisoning. The warden has been suspended, said District Magistrate Anurag Patel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 2 million Muslims have begun the annual hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia. From first light today, throngs of the faithful have circled the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca, one of the holiest sites in Islam. The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God. Observant Muslims around the world face toward the Kaaba during their five daily prayers. The five-day pilgrimage represents one of the five pillars of Islam and is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. The hajj offers pilgrims an opportunity to feel closer to God amid the Muslim world's many challenges, including the threat of extremists in the Mideast after the Islamic State group was beaten back in Iraq and Syria and the plight of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's national carrier has sacked its chief operations officer, saying he failed to achieve objectives for which he had been hired, a media report said today. Zia Qadir Qureshi, the Pakistan International Airlines chief operations officer, was sacked on Friday because he could not perform his duties according to work standards of the airline, Dawn reported, citing sources. They said Qureshi had also failed to achieve objectives for which he had been hired. PIA spokesperson Mashhood Tajwar confirmed that Qureshi's contract had been terminated, the paper said. The Auditor General's office termed Qureshi's appointment an "undue favour" and called for the immediate termination of his services and an action against those who had hired him, it added. Citing sources, the paper said Qureshi was hired on a contract at Rs 15 lakh per month on June 5, 2017. In the termination letter, issued by PIA's Chief Human Resources Officer Asma Bajwa who herself is a contractual employee, told Qureshi that "continuation of your appointment beyond the age of superannuation in Oct 2017 was subject to bi-annual review of your performance". The sources said Qureshi was called twice for performance review meetings but he could not attend them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab's Health Minister Brahm Mohindra today said stern action will be taken against those involved in adulteration of food. In the last 10 days, the Food Safety Wing of the Health Department has conducted 650 raids at Patiala, Bathinda, Baghapurana, Moga, Samrala and Kapurthala, he said. The minister ordered the district health officers and the assistant food commissioners to take stern action against the culprits under provisions of the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. He said the district administrations, the Punjab Pollution Control Board, the Dairy Development Department, the Police Department and the Cooperation Department have been asked to work in tandem to ensure availability of safe and nutritious food to citizens. Mohindra also warned the officers of the health department to work honestly and diligently to ensure the availability of quality food across the state. He said no laxity will be tolerated in this regard and strict disciplinary action would be taken against all those found conniving with perpetrators of the crime by compromising with the quality of food items. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian IT firm Persistent Systems and IBM will host a 12-hour hackathon on August 24 as part of the US-based company's 'Call for Code' programme which aims to build global solutions for disaster management. Persistent, which is one of the partners for the programme, will conduct the hackathon at its offices in Pune, Nagpur and Goa. IBM India/South Asia Country Leader (Developer Ecosystem and Startups) Seema Kumar said there are 22 million developers globally who are building solutions based on new-age technologies like artificial intelligence, Blockchain and Internet of Things. "They are using AI, blockchain, IoT to build a lot of business relevant applications. The same talent can be used to solve some of the large global problems that are there...This year's theme for 'Call for Code' is around natural disasters, which is very relevant especially in India, we see floods and landslides. These cost human lives," she told PTI. Kumar explained that while there is data available to predict weather changes that cause natural disasters, there is limited technology that can help in better mitigating the loss and channelising relief efforts, during and after the disaster. "That's the genesis of the idea. The impact of natural disasters has been increasing globally and in India as well. We are looking for solutions that can help prevent, respond to and recover from natural disasters," she said. 'Call for Code' is a global initiative where IBM is the founding member, along with American Red Cross and United Nations Human Rights Organisation. During a keynote address at the VivaTech Conference in Paris, IBM Chairman, President and CEO Ginni Rometty had called on the technology industry to help build a better future, committing IBM technology and USD 30 million over five years in the annual 'Call for Code' Global Initiative. The winning team of the 'Call for Code' programme will receive a cash prize of USD 200,000, long-term open source project support from the Linux Foundation, an opportunity to pitch the solution to a venture capitalist as well as an opportunity to deploy the solution with an IBM Corporate Services team. Anand Deshpande, Chairman and MD of Persistent, said the company has been organising hackathons quite actively. "This (with IBM) will be a great opportunity of course for the cause but also because we can learn about new technology that are coming in and have employees look at solutions of not just today and tomorrow, but for larger causes," he said. For the hackathon, Persistent has internally crowdsourced some ideas around areas like using data to predict spread of diseases after the disaster and forming groups on short notice to help in the situation. Around 200 participants from Persistent Systems will compete in this hackathon and the top 3-5 solutions will be taken up for full-fledged development and will be submitted to DCC (David Clark Cause) by September 28. The hackathon will also allow employees to leverage IBM's Watson platform to develop these solutions for disaster management. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A plea has been filed in the Delhi High Court challenging the arrest of Bhushan Steel's erstwhile promoter Neeraj Singal, who was taken into custody by the Serious Fraud Investigation Office (SFIO) for allegedly siphoning off funds worth over Rs 20 billion. The petition filed by Singal's mother is likely to come up for hearing tomorrow before a bench of Justices S Muralidhar and Vinod Goel. The plea seeks release of Singal, who was arrested on August 8 and remanded in judicial custody, from alleged illegal arrest and custody. The petition, filed through advocates P K Dubey, Ranjana Roy Gawai and Arshdeep Singh, challenged certain provisions of the Companies Act which imposes unreasonable restrictions for grant of bail to persons arrested under the Act, claiming that it was violative of fundamental rights. Singal was arrested in relation to an investigation being carried out by SFIO into the affairs of Bhushan Steel Ltd and Bhushan Steel and Power Ltd pursuant to a May 2016 order of the central government under the provisions of the Companies Act. The plea claimed that the arrest was illegal as no grounds or reasons of arrest were communicated to him, orally or in writing, by the probe agency at the time of arrest. It added that the power of arrest cannot be exercised retrospectively for the offences allegedly committed prior to coming into force the provisions relating to arrest under the Act. According to the SFIO officials, it was the first time that the agency has arrested a person for fraudulent activities. Last year, the probe agency, which comes under the Corporate Affairs Ministry, got powers to arrest people for violations of companies law. The finance ministry had said Singal was "accused to be guilty of siphoning off funds of over Rs 20 billion from the loans availed by Bhushan Steel Limited using more than 80 companies". The companies were used for fraudulent activities of rotation of funds through bogus loans and advances, and investments, among others, it had said in a tweet. In another tweet, the ministry said fraudulent activities contributed to the company becoming insolvent. "Bhushan Steel Limited is one of the 12 big cases that had been referred for insolvency resolution by banks. Tata Group has taken-over management of the company from the Singals. SFIO investigation is on-going," it had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pope Francis today appealed to the international community to provide "concrete support" to tens of thousands of flood victims in Kerala, calling the deluge a "great calamity". Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the flooding at St Peter's Square, the Vatican reported. "The inhabitants of Kerala have been harshly struck by intense rains, which have caused flooding and landslides, with heavy loss of human life, with many people missing and displaced, with extensive damage to crops and homes," he said. He voiced his hopes that "these brothers and sisters" would be supported by "our solidarity, and by concrete support from the international community". He expressed his closeness to the Catholic Church in Kerala, "which is at the forefront of efforts to bring aid to the population." Pope Francis than led the crowds gathered at St Peter's Square in prayer for those suffering from "this great calamity." Nearly 200 people have been killed since August 8 in the state's worst floods in a century while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pope Francis today called on the international community to provide "concrete support" to the victims in flood-battered Kerala. Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the flooding at St Peter's Square, the Vatican reported. "The inhabitants of Kerala have been harshly struck by intense rains, which have caused flooding and landslides, with heavy loss of human life, with many people missing and displaced, with extensive damage to crops and homes, he said. He voiced his hopes that these brothers and sisters would be supported by "our solidarity, and by concrete support from the international community". He expressed his closeness to the Church in Kerala, which is at the forefront of efforts to bring aid to the population. Pope Francis than led the crowds gathered at St Peter's Square in prayer for those suffering from this great calamity. Nearly 200 people have been killed since August 8 in the state's worst floods in a century while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today to enquire about flood situation in the state. "He acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people of Kerala in coming together in this trying hour. Assured the people of the state that entire nation was with them," Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted today. President Kovind expressed satisfaction that the Union and state governments were working together and in synergy in rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit state. "He praised relief agencies such as NDRF and public officials at state and central level for their response and commitment," it said. The death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days. Many people are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Punjab Police Inspector Chander Kumar and his sister Indu Bala have been stabbed to death allegedly by their brother Deepak Kumar, police said today. Chander Kumar who was posted at Batala, was living in Amritsar, and his sister Indu Bala was also living there with the family. Late last night there was some altercation between the two brothers over some family matters that took serious turn, following which Deepak Kumar allegedly stabbed Chander Kumar and Indu Bala to death. Police have arrested the accused and charged him with double murder. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Europe to financially contribute to the reconstruction of Syria to allow millions of refugees to return home. "We need to strengthen the humanitarian effort in the Syrian conflict," he said yesterday ahead of a meeting with his German counterpart Angela Merkel at the government retreat of Meseberg castle 70kms (45 miles) north of Berlin. "By that, I mean above all humanitarian aid to the Syrian people, and help the regions where refugees living abroad can return to." There are currently one million refugees in Jordan, the same number in Lebanon, and three million in Turkey, Putin said. Germany has accepted hundreds of thousands of migrants since 2015 -- the height of the migration crisis -- which has weakened Angela Merkel politically and split the European Union. "This is potentially a huge burden for Europe," Putin said. "That's why we have to do everything to get these people back home," he added, emphasising the need to properly restore basic services such as water supplies and healthcare. Merkel said the priority in Syria was "to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe", but did not give any further details. Also on the agenda for the two leaders is the Ukraine crisis, which "unfortunately does not advance at all", Putin said. The Minsk agreements, a peace process sponsored by Germany and France aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine, is at a standstill, Merkel said, pointing at the absence of a "stable ceasefire". A United Nations mission on the ground, which will be discussed during the talks, "could perhaps play a pacifying role" in the region, she said. Earlier, Germany's foreign minister Heiko Maas said he was "relatively optimistic about the chances of a United Nations mission", telling the Die Welt newspaper: "We want to give a new dynamic to the Minsk process." Russia is accused by Kiev and Westerners of militarily supporting the separatists in eastern Ukraine, which it denies. Economic cooperation, particularly over energy, was also billed as a central theme in the discussions. Russia and Germany are partners in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a project criticised by US President Donald Trump due to Berlin's reliance on Moscow. Ukraine worries that the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline from Russia to Germany will transport gas now flowing through its territory and deprive it of crucial transit fees. Russia has shut off gas supplies to Ukraine in the past, having knock-on effects in the European Union. "Ukraine must, in my opinion, play a role in the transit of gas to Europe", even after the start of Nord Stream 2 in 2019, the German Chancellor said. Putin once again defended the project "which addresses the growing demand of the European economy for energy resources". "I want to stress here that Nord Stream 2 is only an economic project and it does not close the door to the continuation of gas transit through the territory of Ukraine," he said. In July, Putin assured that Russia was willing to keep Russian gas flowing through Ukraine after the pipeline was commissioned, but without going into details on volumes or tariffs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After the UAE, Qatar has come out in support of flood-hit Kerala by announcing a financial aid of Rs 34.89 crore to help provide shelter to those who lost their homes as a result of the humanitarian crisis, a media report said today. Nearly 200 people have lost their lives in Kerala since August 8 due to floods caused by rains and landslides, while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. The southern Indian state is facing its worst flood in 100 years with 80 dams opened and all rivers in spate. The Qatar Charity, through its representative in India, has launched emergency relief for those affected by the huge floods with a total value of half a million riyals during the first stage, the Gulf Times reported. Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued a directive to allocate USD 5 million (Rs 34.89 crore) in aid of those affected by the floods that recently hit the southern Indian state of Kerala, to help provide shelter to those who lost their homes as a result of the humanitarian crisis, the daily reported. Qatar's aid comes a day after the UAE ordered the formation of an emergency committee to provide relief to the victims hit by devastating rains and floods in the state of Kerala. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Quota leader Hardik Patel was detained today along with his supporters when they were trying to organise fast in Ahmedabad's Nikol area, the police said. Today's fast protest was planned by the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) at a parking plot in the locality. The symbolic fast was aimed at seeking allocation of a ground for a gathering planned by Hardik on August 25 for the demand for quota for Patidar youths in jobs and education. Hardik had announced to sit on indefinite fast for the quota demand from August 25. Hardik and eight leaders of the PAAS were detained today by the city crime branch from outside his house in Sola area, said Crime Branch DCP Deepan Bhadran. The Crime Branch has registered an FIR against Hardik and eight others under sections 143 (Unlawful assembly) and 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the IPC. "Hardik and eight others were detained from outside Hardik's house for unlawful assembly and other charges," Bhadran said. Meanwhile, police have detained at least 30 leaders and supporters of the PAAS from Nikol and Ramol areas of the city, said DCP (Zone V) Himkar Singh. "They were detained when they were on their way to attend the protest gathering for which they had no police permission," he said. A large number of police personnel were posted in Nikol area where the fast was supposed be held. Following Hardik's detention, several PAAS members gathered outside the crime branch office demanding the release of the quota leader and others. Hardik's aide Nikhil Savani, who was leading the protest outside the office, accused the BJP government of "repression." He said a large number of police personnel were deployed in Nikol to prevent protesters from assembling. Hardik had last Friday announced that he and 500 of his supporters would observe a fast on August 19 by sitting on their cars at a parking plot in Nikol area. He had said the Nikol protest was planned to make the state government allocate a ground for the August 25 event. Hardik had yesterday written to Chief Minister Vijay Rupani seeking his intervention for granting permission for holding the indefinite fast. The PAAS has been demanding reservation in government jobs and education for members of the Patidar community. Largescale protests were held across Gujarat in 2015 for this demand. The protests were marred by violence in many parts of the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The rainfall intensity over Kerala has decreased over the past two days, the meteorology department said today, adding that there is no alert of heavy precipitation for the next four days in the state. India Meteorological Department's Additional Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra said, yesterday the state recorded 9 cm of rainfall. On August 16 and 17, the state recorded 19 cm and 11 cm of rainfall respectively, he said. "Over the past three days, we have seen a gradual decrease in rainfall in the state," Mohapatra said. The IMD said it is expecting "heavy rainfall" only in Kozhikode, Kannur and Idduki districts. Kerala has been battered by "exceptionally high seasonal rainfall" since August 1, leading to nearly half of the state submerged. Idukki has reported the maximum number of deaths, with 43 people losing their lives since August 8, according to official estimates. The total number of deaths has touched 197 in the state during the second spell of monsoon fury. Many people are stranded in their homes and other shelters in Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and NDRF personnel are carrying out rescue operations. Hundreds of fishermen have also been engaged in the operations. Kerala Agriculture Minister V S Sunil Kumar said more than two lakh people are in relief camps in Thrissur district. The Kochi international airport has been closed till August 26 following flooding of the runway and other airport areas. Mohapatra said, "There is no red or amber colour code warning for any district today. For tomorrow, the colour warning is green." The IMD has four colour codes to signify the intensity of Red means authorities need to take action and one could expect extreme conditions, amber means government agencies need to be prepared to handle exigencies. Yellow colour code means situation needs to be watched while green signals the would be normal. The IMD said rainfall recorded by the state was 2,346.6 cm, against the normal precipitation of 1,649.5 cm. Idukki district has recorded 92 per cent above normal rainfall while Palakkad recorded 72 per cent more rain than normal. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sri Lanka's two-time former president Mahinda Rajapaksa hopes to return as the head of the state despite a constitutional provision that bars a person from contesting the presidential election for a third term. "There is an opinion that I could contest again," the former president told reporters yesterday at Piliyandala, a Colombo suburb. The former Sri Lankan strongman's nearly a decade-long rule was ended by Maithripala Sirisena in 2015. Rajapaksa, 72, said his party, Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), will be inquiring with the Supreme Court whether under the 19th Constitutional Amendment, a person who had previously held the post of President twice, could contest the presidential election for a third term. "We will explore that," said Rajapaksa. The 19th Amendment adopted in 2015 bars those who had held the post of President twice from running to be president a third time. Rajapaksa in 2010 had amended the constitution lifting the bar for a third term. The 2015 amendment annulled it. His camp is of the opinion that the amendment was only adopted after Rajapaksa lost the presidency to incumbent Mathripala Sirisena, so that there cannot be a retrospective effect. The article 31 of the constitution was amended in 2015 to read (2) No person who has been twice elected to the office of President by the people, shall be qualified thereafter to be elected to such office by the people. The Rajapaksa camp in the recent times has been promoting Rajapaksa's younger brother Gotabhaya to be the candidate in the next election which must be called by the end of next year and must be held before January 8, 2020. Last week, Rajapaksa was questioned by Sri Lankan police in connection with a 2008 abduction and assault case of a journalist. His return to could pose a new threat to Sirisena, whose Freedom Party has split. Rajapaksa has emerged as the de facto leader of a rival political faction and is expected to name his choice of candidate to contest presidential elections slated for 2019. Rajapaksa lost his re-election bid in January 2015 and also failed to secure the prime minister post after parliamentary elections later that year. The former leader and members of his family are under investigation for murder and large-scale financial fraud during his decade as president. All deny any wrongdoing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) More than 3,500 people have been rescued till today in Kodagu district of Karanataka, where six people have lost their lives in floods and landslides following heavy rains in the past several days. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke over phone to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, who is camping in the rain-battered district, over phone and enquired about the situation. Modi assured to extend all required assistance to the state to face the situation, the Chief Minister's office said. "Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas," the PM tweeted. Kumaraswamy informed Kovind that the district administration was managing the rescue-and-relief work efficiently, along with the army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies, and have rescued more than 3,500 people so far, the CMO said in a statement. As many as 317 people, including a two-month-old infant, were rescued and shifted to relief centres since yesterday and rescue operations were on in and around Makkandooru and other affected areas today, they said. Food and basic amenities have been arranged at all the 31 relief shelters. Nearly 1,000 personnel from the Armed Forces, National and State Disaster Response Forces, Civil Defence Teams, Fire and Emergency Personnel have been pressed into the rescue work since August 15. Local youths and volunteers of various organisations are also assisting in the operations. Kumaraswamy undertook aerial survey of affected areas for the second day today. He also assessed the situation in a few other areas of the district by visiting them. Speaking to reporters, the Chief Minister said the government was taking steps so that relief, especially food reached every one, even in the remotest places. Describing the situation as a difficult time, he said the governments intention is to bring people out of fear and anxiety that they are going through, by rescuing them first. Later speaking to people at a relief camp at Suntikoppa, Kumaraswamy said his government would take all steps for rehabilitation of the people of Kodagu. He held a meeting with the district administration and senior officials and reviewed the rescue and relief work. Karnataka BJP unit President B S Yeddyurappa also visited Kodagu district and assured to get required assistance from the party-led central government. BJP legislators from Bengaluru and partys Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (city civic body) corporators have pledged their two month salary to the Chief Ministers relief fund for the relief work. Several good samaritans, organisations and Kodava communities from various parts of the state, especially from Bengaluru, are collecting relief materials like food, drinking water, medicines and other things to be dispatched to the flood-hit areas in the Kodagu district. There were also reports about flooding and landslides in a few districts of coastal and Malnad region, especially in Chikkamagaluru district, affecting road connectivity. Several districts of coastal and Malnad regions like Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkmagaluru, Kodagu, parts of Hassan and Uttara Kannada, have been battered by incessant rains in the last few days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Jharkhand Food, Public Distribution and Consumer Affair Minister, Saryu Roy today said he would donate Rs one lakh to the Kerala Chief Minister's Relief Fund in the wake of the devastating flood in the southern state. Rai said he would donate the money from his own personal capacity. After making the announcement, the BJP leader led a host party workers and supporters from all walks of life in collecting relief materials for the flood affected people of Kerala. Roy walked through the Sakchi market to collect donations. Talking to newsmen, Roy said over Rs 30,000 was collected during the drive. The minister appealed to the people to donate for the flood affected people of Kerala. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hunger-striking Russian activist Sergei Udaltsov was hospitalised Sunday as he serves a one-month term over organising protests, according to observers and his social media channels. The far-left Kremlin critic was taken to a Moscow hospital suffering from dehydration after doctors were called to his detention centre to take blood tests, five days into a hunger strike, his Facebook page said. "He was hospitalised on doctors orders," an official from Moscow's public monitoring commission told the TASS agency. "In our presence he was evacuated by paramedics," Ivan Melnikov said. Udaltsov was active in a wave of demonstrations at the end of July against deeply unpopular plans to raise the Russian retirement age. He was arrested and last week sentenced to 30 days behind bars after burning images of members of the Russian government at one of the rallies. Last year Udaltsov finished a four-and-a-half-year prison sentence for organising anti-Kremlin protests. Udaltsov and co-defendant Leonid Razvozzhayev were convicted in July 2014 of fomenting mass riots across Russia ahead of Vladimir Putin's inauguration to a third term as president in 2012. He went on hunger strike several times during those years spent in a penal colony in central Russia's Tambov province. Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov who was convicted of arson attacks on pro-Moscow party offices in Crimea in 2014 is also on hunger strike in a Russian prison. According to his cousin Natalia Kaplan, his health has dramatically declined since he started the protest on May 14 to demand the release of all Ukrainian political prisoners in Russia. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) chief on Sunday announced that the party would contest the parliamentary and state assembly elections in independently. Addressing the party's first major rally at the grain market in Pipli town ahead of next year's Lok Sabha polls, the SAD president said "we have promised and delivered in Punjab. Now, we are ready to take up the responsibility of working for the welfare of the people of Haryana". He appealed to Punjabis to unite under the flag of the SAD to script a new history in No one can stop you from acquiring power once you unite as one with the SAD, he added. Badal said if the SAD was voted to power in the state, it would implement a free power policy for the agriculture sector. He announced free piped irrigation water to all fields, 400 units free power per month to Dalits besides a slew of facilities for all sections of society. The SAD is a key ally of the BJP-led NDA at the Centre and also shared power with the saffron party in Punjab before Amarinder Singh-led Congress stormed to power. In Haryana, the SAD has parted ways with longtime ally Indian Lok Dal (INLD), the principal opposition party in the BJP-ruled state. Making it clear that the SAD would take on the Congress aggressively in Haryana, Badal assured the gathering that his party would continue the struggle for justice for 1984 anti-Sikh riot victims as long as the perpetrators were not jailed. Badal also alleged that the Punjabi community was discriminated against by the Congress party "be it during the Emergency or later during the period of militancy". He claimed even now the community was facing discrimination as reflected by an incident in Hisar where a Sikh family was the victim of an alleged target attack. "We can stop all this only by wresting power," he added. SAD's unit incharge Balwinder Singh Bhundur highlighted how former Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal benefitted farmers and downtrodden by the free power facility as well as schemes like 'Shagun' and 'Aata-Daal'. He said such schemes could be replicated in Haryana if the people supported the SAD. Haryana SAD president Sharanjit Singh Sohta claimed that there was a feeling that various political parties in Haryana had not given due respect to Punjabis and now the entire community was looking up to the SAD to lead it. Hospitality chain Sarovar Hotels will open 15 hotels across the country and overseas by the end of 2019 as part of its expansion plans, a top company official said. The hospitality firm has close to 80 hotels in over 50 cities, at present. "We will be opening 15 hotels by 2019-end. Of these, two hotels in Africa, one each in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania and Lusaka in Zambia will be opened by the end of 2018," Sarovar Hotels Pvt Ltd Managing Director Ajay Bakaya told PTI. In India the company plans to open hotels at locations such as Jaisalmer, Gorakhpur, Katra, Dehradun and extension of a hotel in Agra in 2018, he added. "The eight hotels that will be opened in 2019, will be in Dahisar in Mumbai, Dibrugarh, Morbi, Junagadh, Dalhousie, Bodh Gaya and Jalandhar in India and in Auxum in Ethiopia," Bakaya said. The upcoming hotels will be mainly under the Sarovar Portico brand, three of them will be Sarovar Premiere and one each will be under the Park Plaza and Hometel brands, he added. When asked about the business model the company follows, Bakaya said: "We are a predominantly a hotel management company, though we also own two hotels." Founded in 1994 by Anil Madhok, Sarovar Hotels operates properties in the premium, mid-range and budget segments. In January 2017 French hospitality major Louvre Hotels Group, part of Chinese Group Jin Jiang International, had acquired a majority stake in Sarovar Hotels for an undisclosed amount. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) After arresting three persons, including a woman pimp, police today claimed to have busted a sex racket here. Police also rescued two women during the raid at a house at Brahmabarada market area yesterday. The police team seized two motor-cycles, cash, four mobile phones and some materials from the house where the activities were taking place. The police acted on information by locals about the flesh trade in the house, they said Police said the house owner was on the run for letting his house for flesh trade. The rescued women were sent to a short stay home at Jajpur town. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian Coast Guard (ICG) ship, carrying 65 tonnes of relief material for flood victims in Kerala, left here this morning, an official said. The consignment on board the ship, 'Sankalp', includes items donated by people to various NGOs and the Maharashtra government, a spokesperson of the ICG western region said. It is expected to reach the Kochi port by tomorrow, he said. Another ship with 50 tonnes of relief material was also scheduled to leave from the New Mangaluru port for Kochi today, he said. Around seven tonne of food items have already been sent from New Mangaluru to Kozhikode and Kochi and about five tonne material has been transported in the ICG aircraft through Visakhapatnam and Chennai, the spokesperson said. "We have to address some distress calls on short notice as well. This morning, the Aluva disaster control room sought medicines and ready-to-eat food items for 2,000 people on an urgent basis. We sent two Chetak aircraft carrying 500 kg material to be air-dropped there," the official. As of today, the ICG's 36 rescue teams, along with 38 rubber boats and 21 mechanised hired boats, have evacuated about 3,000 people. Besides, another 7,000 people have been guided to safer locations as part of the ongoing rescue and relief operations, the spokesperson added. Thousands of people in the flood-hit areas in Kerala are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. Over six lakh people are in relief camps across the southern state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman and her brother allegedly held captive at their home by a doctor and his relative have been rescued by the police in Bokaro. Superintendent of Police, Karthik S said the 56-year-old woman and her mentally challenged brother were rushed to Bokaro General Hospital immediately after they were rescued on Tuesday. The siblings, allegedly held captive by an eye-specialist and his relative at the house in Co-operative colony here, were rescued on the basis of a complaint lodged on an emergency number by an unknown person. A case was also registered in this connection against the doctor and his relative two days ago, he said. The SP said it was not clear for how many years they were held captive. After they were rescued, the woman was not found in good health and her brother was found tied to a traction in a cot, he said. The incident requires a thorough investigation as it has left several questions unanswered -- as to why their neighbours had kept quiet and not informed the police when the siblings were kept in captivity, the SP said. The woman was an ex-student of St Xavier's School and a school-mate of Jharkhand Additional Director General of Police (Modernization and Training) Anil Palta, who visited the hospital to meet her yesterday. Currently, the doctor was away from Bokaro and the police were waiting for him to return for recording his statement, he said. At least 15 organizations including the local MP and MLA have registered a written complaint seeking action against the doctor. According to the complaint, the siblings' father who was an employee of Bokaro Steel plant, owned the building and the doctor's relative was his tenant, the SP said. He opened a spectacle store and a clinic in the house in 2001 and the doctor used to practise in the clinic. Following the landlord's death, the doctor and his relative had stopped paying rent and kept the siblings in captivity in a room on the upper floor of the building with an intention to grab the property, the complainant said. The siblings did not have any relative but had huge property, the SP said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court has said it was "not inclined" to interfere with the findings of an inquiry commission in the alleged encounter killings of eight activists of the banned outfit, Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), after a prison break in Bhopal in 2016. The commission, in its report, had given a clean chit to the Madhya Pradesh Police and had termed as "reasonable" and "inevitable" the use of force by the police that resulted in the deaths of eight SIMI activists. A bench comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi, Navin Sinha and K M Joseph referred to the report of one-member commission, headed by a retired high court judge, and said there was no point in keeping the plea seeking independent probe into the case pending before it. "Inquiry report of a retired high court judge has come. The report is negative," the bench said, adding, "There is no point in keeping the matter pending". "In view of the report of the commission of inquiry constituted by a retired High Court judge, which has been brought on record, we are not inclined to interfere. The special leave petition is accordingly disposed of," the bench said. The bench was dealing with a petition filed by a relative of one of those killed in the encounter seeking an independent probe in the incident. The counsel appearing for the petitioner claimed in the court that the accused had not fired at the policemen and wanted to surrender. The lawyer alleged that it was an extra judicial killing of eight persons and an independent inquiry was needed in the matter. The commission, in its report tabled in the Madhya Pradesh assembly in June this year, had said, "The use of force resulting in the death of the escaped persons was quite inevitable and quite reasonable under the prevailing circumstances." The apex court had in July last year sought the responses of the Centre and others on a plea filed by Mehmooda Mohammed Salim Mucchhale which had also sought a court-monitored probe by an independent agency like a special investigation team (SIT) or the CBI. The petitioner had said that Madhya Pradesh High Court had refused to entertain a similar plea and not considered the fact that the one-man commission had not permitted him and other relatives of these undertrial prisoners to participate in the proceedings. Eight SIMI activists, who had escaped from Central Jail in Bhopal, were killed on October 31, 2016 in an alleged police encounter. The activists had escaped from the jail after allegedly killing a security guard and scaling the prison wall with the help of bedsheets, following which some officials responsible for jail security were suspended. The SIMI activists were identified as Amzad, Zakir Hussain Sadiq, Mohammad Salik, Mujeeb Shaikh, Mehbood Guddu, Mohammad Kalid Ahmed, Aqeel and Majid. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six labourers died and five were injured today after the wall of an under-construction rice sheller collapsed at Lakhanpur village here today, police said. Around 10-15 labourers were working on the site this morning when the wall suddenly collapsed. "Four labourers were killed on the spot while two others later succumbed to their injuries. "Others were taken to Khamano Civil Hospital from where five were referred to a hospital in Chandigarh," a police official said. Police said the deceased have been identified as Jagjit Singh, Manjit Singh, residents of village Lakhanpur (Khamano); Premshawar, Raghvir Singh, residents of village Farour (Khamano); Ranvir Singh and Harpreet Singh, residents of Dhuri. The injured who were referred to Chandigarh were Jasvir Singh, Harbhjan Singh, Lakhwinder Singh, Kulwant Singh and Makhan Singh. After receiving information about the incident, Khamano Station House Officer Navdeep Singh and Sub-Divisional Magistrate Paramjit Singh reached the spot and supervised rescue and relief operations. Bassi Pathana MLA Gurpreet Singh GP also reached the site and expressed grief over the incident. He said the structure was unsafe and stern action should be taken against guilty. Fatehgarh Sahib Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Alka Meena said prima facie, negligence on part of the contractor and the owner has come to light. "The police is thoroughly investigating the incident and a case would be registered against guilty," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The South Eastern Railway will run two special trains from Ernakulam in flood-ravaged Kerala to Santragachi/Howrah to evacuate stranded people this evening, an SER spokesman said. On a request from the West Bengal government, SER will run the two trains, which will commence journey from Ernakulam at 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm today, a communique from the state Transport department said. The railway will also run a special train to Ernakulam from Santragachi, which will leave here at 5.15 pm on Wednesday, the SER spokesman said. Several tourists and many other people on work from West Bengal have been stranded owing to the floods in the southern state, where transport services have been severely affected. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sultry conditions prevailed across Haryana and Punjab today with Chandigarh, the joint capital of both the states, recording a maximum temperature of 34 degrees Celsius, a MeT department report said. In Haryana, Ambala, recorded a high of 33.3 degrees Celsius, while Bhiwani's maximum settled at 34.7 degrees Celsius. Hisar registered a high of 35.8 degrees Celsius, while Narnaul's maximum settled at 34.8 degrees Celsius. In Punjab, Patiala registered a maximum of 34.5 degrees Celsius, while Amritsar and Ludhiana recorded respective maximums of 35.2 degrees Celsius and 34 degrees Celsius. The weatherman has forecast rain or thundershowers at some places in Haryana and Punjab over the next two days. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two premier hospitals in Himachal Pradesh conducted 32 elective surgeries on Sunday despite it being a holiday, Indira Gandhi Medical College senior medical superintendent Janak Raj said. These surgeries were done on Sunday at Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital and Kamla Nehru Hospital in Shimla on Health Minister Vipin Singh Parmar's direction to pay tribute to late prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Raj told PTI. IGMC and KNH observed holiday to join the moment of national bereavement on August 17 after Vajpayee's death on August 16. The elective surgeries scheduled for August 17 at IGMC and KNH were postponed and, as per the minister's direction, these surgeries were done on August 19, he said. A total of 32 surgeries were done at IGMC and KNH on Sunday in general public interest, he added. An elective procedure is one that is planned in advance, rather than one that is done in an emergency situation. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 25-year-old Chhattisgarh woman, who played a key role in making 82 village panchayats open defecation-free, will now educate people of Raigarh district on importance of voting and enrolment of eligible electors. Monika Ijardar has been named Raigarh district's icon for the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme for the upcoming assembly polls in the state, a senior official has said. Ijardar was among the 10 people honoured by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in East Champaran, Bihar, in April for their significant contribution in Swachh Bharat Mission, a key initiative of the BJP-led government at the Centre. She had played a key role in making 82 village panchayats in Raigarh district open defecation-free. "The district is proud to have swachhta champion like Ijardar, who gave her 100 per cent in bringing behavioural change in people about sanitation," Raigarh Collector Shammi Abidi told PTI. She has emerged as one of the most ardent supporters of the Community Approaches to Sanitation (CAS) programme and recognisedas a 'swachhta warrior', he said. "She will be the district icon for the SVEEP programme for the upcoming elections. Earlier, she made people aware about hygiene and now she will explain them the importance of voting," Abidi added. SVEEP is a programme of the Election Commission that seeks to ensure that all eligible electors are enrolled and facilitates inclusive and qualitative electoral participation. According to Ijardar, she attended a training session on cleanliness in 2014 in the district which made her aware about how lack of sanitation contributes to crime against women and also death of children. Ijardar said she came to know that rape and some other crimes against women usually took place when they go out in the open to attend natures call. Also, around 3.12 lakh children between the age group of 0-5 year die every year due to diarrhoea (one of the causes for its outbreak is open defecation), she said. Ijardar, who had been already working to increase literacy rate in the area, launched a campaign to encourage villagers to build toilets in their homes. "Till four years ago, villagers in the area were not concerned about hygiene or diseases that could afflict them due to relieving themselves in the open. Parents were exposing their children to grave health dangers," Ijardar said. Ijardar, a post-graduate in sociology, succeeded in her mission despite facing financial problem, reluctance on part of people to change their behaviour and opposition from orthodox elements who created disorder at public meets held villagers on the issue of sanitation. She had kicked off her campaign from Tipakhol village, having 75 households, under Khairpura panchayat and managed to persuade people to quit open defecation. She went on to cover as many as 82 panchayats under her campaign. "It was easy to build toilets but quite difficult to persuade people to use it. Ratri chaupal (night meeting with villagers), swachhta rallies, street plays, morning follow up programmes were among the tasks that helped to achieve the target," she asserted. In some villages, community toilets are being built for people who come from other places for functions like marriage and funeral, Ijardar added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and Mauritius today discussed measures to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in the field of maritime security as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with the country's top leadership. Swaraj, who was here to attend the 11th World Hindi Conference, called on Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and discussed bilateral ties. "Connecting with a maritime neighbour! EAM @SushmaSwaraj called on Prime Minister of Mauritius Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. Discussed further deepening our special ties," MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. PM Jugnauth hosted a banquet lunch in honour Swaraj which was attended by prominent dignitaries from both sides. Swaraj also met the country's Opposition leader Xavier Luc Duval, former prime ministers Navinchandra Ramgoolam and Paul Berenger on the sidelines of the three-day World Hindi Conference that began here yesterday. In the meeting, Berenger conveyed his condolence on the demise of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and recalled the role played by him in strengthening our bilateral relations. In April, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, had met Jugnauth and talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties. In 2017, India had announced a USD 500 million line of credit to Mauritius as the two countries decided to firm up cooperation in the field of maritime security in the Indian Ocean region. The two sides also signed a maritime security agreement. Earlier, Swaraj inaugurated Panini Language Laboratory at Mahatma Gandhi Institute. The language laboratory, gifted by the Indian government, deploys ICT-enabled methods to teach Hindi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As tributes flooded in from around the world today for former UN chief Kofi Annan, Switzerland mourned a "visionary" who helped bolster his adopted home's position as an international diplomatic hub. The Ghanaian national and Nobel peace laureate, who died yesterday at the age of 80, has been widely credited with raising the profile of the United Nations during his two terms as secretary-general from 1997 to 2006. In Switzerland, where he settled after completing his second term, Annan is meanwhile widely remembered for his many deep friendships and for his contributions to securing the status of the country and especially of Geneva as a centre for world diplomacy. "Kofi Annan was a visionary and a great friend of Switzerland," Swiss President Alain Berset tweeted out shortly after the announcement yesterday. "Today, International Geneva has lost one of its most ardent advocates," he added. The head of the UN's European headquarters in Geneva, Michael Moller, meanwhile lamented that "humanity has lost its strong moral voice, and I lost my mentor, my role model and great friend." Annan's long-running relationship with Switzerland began in the early 1960s, when he obtained a degree at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies in Geneva. Early in his four decade-long UN career, he also lived intermittently in the city, when he worked for the World Health Organization in the 1960s and later for the UN refugee agency in 1980. And it was in Geneva that he met his second wife, Nane Lagergren, a Swedish lawyer at the UN. They were married in 1984. As UN chief, Annan was instrumental in convincing Swiss voters to allow their country to finally join the world body in 2002, according to Joseph Deiss, a former Swiss president and former head of the UN General Assembly. "He played a discrete but very important role in reassuring our citizens," Deiss, a personal friend of Annan's, told the ATS agency. "I think he had a weakness for Switzerland... He was a great friend of our country," he added. Former Swiss government minister Adolf Ogi, who was appointed by Annan as UN Special Adviser on Sport for Development and Peace in the early 2000s, meanwhile described him as a "tender, exceptional man". He told the Matin Dimanche weekly that Annan, who became a good personal friend, had come to see him and hike with him for several days in the Swiss Alps in 2000 before announcing his UN appointment. "I only understood later that he was testing me, man to man, to see if we could work together in the UN," said. It was perhaps after he completed his decade at the helm of the UN that Annan did the most to boost Geneva's international status. After settling in the city, he established the Kofi Annan Foundation there in 2007 devoted to conflict resolution. In 2010, his family moved to the small village of Founex in the neighbouring canton of Vaud, but he continued to accept high-level diplomatic missions from the UN and supported numerous programmes and initiatives by international organisations based in Geneva. "He was a generous and discrete person, who wanted to prolong what he had been doing at the UN," said former Swiss president Ruth Dreifuss, who received Annan's support for her global commission aimed at decriminalising drug use. Cartoonist Patrick Chappatte meanwhile told Le Matin Dimanche that Annan had offered important support for his Geneva-based Cartooning For Peace foundation. "Despite the differences in age and social milieu ... Kofi Annan honoured me with his friendship," he said, describing him as "extremely friendly, completely authentic". "Big men are measured by their small gestures. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) : Telangana Home Minister N Narasimha Reddy today handed over a cheque for Rs 25 crore to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at Thiruvananthapuram towards the state government's assistance for flood relief activities. Reddy also announced donation of his one month salary to the Kerala CM relief fund, an official release said here. As per directions of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao as many as 50 water purifying machines worth Rs 2.50 crore for providing drinking water are also being airlifted to Kerala from Begumpet airport here, it further said. The chief minister had on Friday announced an assistance of Rs 25 crore to rain-ravaged Kerala. Telangana Deputy Chief Minister Sri Mohammad Mahmood Ali had also donated one month salary for Kerala floods relief fund. Rao had earlier appealed to industrialists, prominent persons in the IT sector and others in Telangana to help the rain-hit state and said donations, if they are made to the CM's Relief Fund, would be forwarded to Kerala. Expressing sorrow over the loss of lives and property in Kerala due to the heavy rains, Rao said he hoped that the coastal state would recover from the calamity at the earliest. Meanwhile, MIM chief and Hyderabad MP Asasuddin Owaisi announced Rs 16 lakh contribution for Kerala flood relief. He also said medicines worth Rs 10 lakh would be sent to Kerala. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons including a priest were allegedly stabbed to death in a temple complex in Haryana's Karnal district, police said today. Three others were seriously injured in the attack carried out yesterday night, Inspector Raj Kumar, SHO, Madhuban Police Station, said over the phone. The injured have been hospitalised, he said. "A priest is among the two dead," Kumar said adding that one of the deceased belonged to Uttar Pradesh while the other victim was from Pundri, Haryana. The identity of the assailants is not known, a police official said. He said some children who visited the temple today morning noticed the crime after which local residents and the police were informed. Police said they also recovered liquor bottles and some other "objectionable material" from the site adding thorough investigations were being carried out. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thomas Mann has been roped in to voice star in Disney's live-action/CG hybrid remake of 1955 classic "Lady and the Tramp". According to Variety, the 26-year-old actor will play the role of Lady's human owner, Jim Dear, who decides to get rid of the titular cocker spaniel after the birth of their child. "Westworld" star Tessa Thompson is lending her voice to Lady's part, while Justin Theroux will be voicing for Tramp. Other cast members include Ashley Jensen and Kiersey Clemons. The studio has hired Charlie Bean to helm the remake with Andrew Bujalski's script. Brigham Taylor will produce the project, which will be exclusively available on Disney's digital streaming service scheduled to be launched late next year. The 1955 classic followed two dogs, an upper-middle-class American cocker spaniel named Lady and a street-smart, downtown stray mongrel called the Tramp, as they embark on many romantic adventures. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thousands of people in flood-hit areas in Kerala are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. Many are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them at various places in Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. The maximum death toll has been reported from Idukki district, where 43 people have lost their lives so far, as per official estimates. Twenty eight deaths were reported in Malappuram and 27 in Thrissur. At Chengannur in Alapuzha district, at least 5,000 are stranded, according to revenue officials. Over six lakh people are in relief camps across the state. "This is a second birth for us. We did not have any food for the last four days and there was neck deep water all around," said a woman survivor in a relief camp at Ranni in Pathanamthitta district. A woman at Aranmula near Alapuzha said they had not had any food or water for two days. Many people are still stranded as they prefer to be in their homes. At Paravur in Ernakulam district, six persons are said to have been killed as a portion of a church collapsed on Wednesday night. At least 600 are stranded in the church and no help has come from any quarter so far, an angry survivor in chest deep water told a television channel. "There is no food or drinking water... no one has so far come to help us." However, there is no official confirmation about the deaths of the six persons in the church so far. Agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar said at least 42 villages in Kole wetlands in Thrissur were inundated after the Karivannur river changed its course following breach of a bund road. Over 2 lakh people in Thrissur district are in relief camps, he said. In some relief, Kochi Naval airport will start operating commercial flights from tomorrow. This was due to closure of the Kochi International airport till August 26 following flooding of the runway and airport areas in the heavy rains. The railways have cancelled at least 18 trains, partially cancelled nine and diverted today's Kanyakumari-Mumbai CST express train via Nagercoil, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Dindigul and Erode. With several stretches across the state being destroyed, the services of the Kerala State Transport Corporation and private buses has also been affected. Along with personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF, hundreds of fishermen and local people are engaged in relief operations. A young officer safely winched to safety a baby from a building marooned by flood waters yesterday, while at another place girl students from a hostel were rescued in a similar manner. A 24-year-old man, who rescued his mother and siblings after their home was fully flooded, lost his life as he tripped and fell into the fast flowing waters while helping his aged father. His body was recovered yesterday. His father, who held on to a fallen tree branch, was saved from the flood water. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had undertaken an aerial survey of some of the flood affected regions yesterday and reviewed the situation. The Centre had sanctioned Rs 500 crore as immediate assistance to the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three labourers were killed in Raniganj area of the district today, when a wall collapsed on them, police said. Additional Superintendent of Police Ramesh Chandra said, "Some people were digging the ground adjacent to an under-construction house in Vishnupur village, when all of a sudden the wall collapsed and three got trapped in the debris". The deceased were identified as Ram Bahadur (45), Seema (20) and Rahul (22) while Bunty (24) has been admitted to the community health centre in Raniganj and his condition is stated to be serious. The bodies have been sent for post-mortem examination, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three children including two girls drowned in two separate incidents in Bihar's Katihar district today, police said. The two minor girls drowned when they had gone to take bath and wash clothes in a canal located at Phulwaria panchayat, SHO of Korha police station, Anoj Kumar said adding that local divers fished out both the bodies. The deceased have been identified as Lalita Murmu (12) and Nilu Hansda (14), both residents of Tirsaini Adivasi Tola in Phulwaria panchayat, SHO said adding the incident occurred when both slipped into deep waters while washing their clothes in the canal. The family members of the deceased have refused to get post-mortem done of their children besides refusing to take ex-gratia, SHO said that police have a registered information (Panchnama) in this regard. In another incident, a 10 year old boy drowned in river Kosi near Kamlakanhi village in the district. The deceased has been identified as Abhinandan Sharma (10), Kursela police station SHO Binod Kumar said adding that the incident occurred when he had gone to take bath in the river and slipped into deep waters and met his watery grave. The body has been fished out by a local diver, he said adding that body has been sent to Katihar Medical College and Hospital, Katihar for post-mortem. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three top executives of the Russian space company Energia, which designs and manufactures the Soyuz and Progress spacecrafts, have been arrested for alleged fraud, investigators said today. "Energia's deputy director Alexei Beloborodov and two of his subordinates were arrested and charged with attempted fraud," the Investigative Committee of Russia said in a statement. The arrests come as part of a probe conducted "with the active assistance" of the main Russian intelligence agency, the FSB, the statement added. At the end of July, the FSB carried out several searches targeting the Russian space industry as part of an investigation into "high treason", according to Russian media. The raids were at the Central Research Institute of Machine-Building (TsNIImash), Russia's leading research institute for the space industry, and one of its employees, Viktor Kudriavtsev, was arrested. According to the Russian daily Kommersant, a dozen Russian space industry employees are suspected of having sent classified information about Russian hypersonic weapon projects to Western security services. Russian President Vladimir Putin in March boasted at a state-of-the-nation address of new "invincible" weapons under development, including hypersonic missiles. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trinamool Congress MP Idris Ali today urged people not to post pictures related to animal sacrifice (qurbani) during the Eid al-Adha or Bakrid in social media so as not to hurt religious sentiments of any community. Bakrid will be celebrated on August 21. "I also urge them not to walk cattle meant for the purpose through roads and the animals should be transported in covered vans," Ali said. He said that people should not post pictures related to qurbani on Eid al-Adha in social media to ensure that religious sentiments of any community are not hurt. Ali said that some people walk the animals through roads to their residences after buying them from markets or other places. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palaniswami today assured compensation for crop loss due to the floods caused by heavy discharge of water from the state's dams and permanent houses for the affected people. The dams, including Mettur and Bhavanisagar, have been discharging huge volumes of water in view of continuing high inflows from Karnataka reservoirs including Krishnarajasagar. The discharge has resulted in inundation of a slew of villages and submergence of standing crops along the banks of Cauvery, (its tributary Bhavani in Erode) in several districts of Tamil Nadu. As the level in Vaigai dam in Madurai district touched 69 feet (maximum 71 feet), water was released from it today, officials said. Around 3,100 cusecs of water was being released from the dam, they added. The officials said catchment areas of the dam were receiving heavy rains and the inflow into the dam was 3,333 cusecs and added a flood alert has been issued to five districts including Theni, Madurai, and Sivaganga. "Presently, inflow into Bhavanisagar dam is 21,000 cusecs and discharge is 3,000 cusecs. From the Mettur reservoir the outflow is 2 lakh cusecs and the inflow is about 1.95 lakh cusecs," Palaniswami said after inspecting flood-hit areas here. Speaking to reporters after inspecting affected areas at Pallipalayam in Namakkal district, the Chief Minister said the inflow at Bhavanisagar dam has gone up to 31,000 cusecs and discharge stepped up to 15,000 cusecs. "It will be 2.15 lakh cusecs when the waters reach Pallipalayam from Bhavanisagar and Mettur (about 2 lakh cusecs) reservoirs," he said. To a query on water not reaching the tail-end regions of Cauvery delta despite excessive inflows, he said farmers in such areas will get water in one or two days and added that a team of officials were working on it. On linking intra-state rivers, he said the state government was studying it and added that check dams would be constructed wherever possible for optimal utilisation of water. "The government will give compensation for crop damage after the flood waters recede," he said. In Erode district, 47 villages and 609.69 hectares of crops, including horticulture, have been affected. Those residing along the banks of the rivers Bhavani and Cauvery have requested safe, permanent houses and government would take steps to fulfil their request, Palaniswami said in reply to a question about the representation from the affected people. As many as 7,832 people have been sheltered in relief centres in Erode district, where 263 houses were fully damaged, he said. A flood alert was sounded for 13 districts, including the Cauvery delta regions, besides Madurai and Theni as the Periyar and Vaigai dams too received copious inflows. Textiles Minister O S Manian inspected flood-hit villages close to the banks of Coleroon river, a branch of Cauvery in Nagapattinam district by going around in a boat. Revenue minister R B Udayakumar, who visited flood-affected areas in Kanyakumari district, said the government was taking enough steps to ensure that there was no drinking water shortage in the flood-hit areas. Meanwhile, Municipal Administration minister, S P Velumani visited Valparai in Coimbatore district, which bore the brunt of the rains for the last one week and distributed relief materials. Several truck loads of relief materials were despatched from a number of district collectorates including Tiruvannamalai today. AIADMK top leader and Deputy Chief Minister O Paneerselvam flagged off six truck loads of relief materials to Kerala on behalf of his party's Theni unit. Mathrubhumi's (a Malayalam daily) Chennai edition, RSS affiliated Seva Bharathi and volunteer groups were among those who have sent relief materials. A hotel in Shencottah in Tamil Nadu close to the Kerala border offered free food to those arriving from the neighbouring State as a mark of solidarity. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump's national security adviser arrived in Israel on Sunday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a time of shared concerns over Syria, Iran and the Gaza Strip. John Bolton said on Twitter he was "looking forward to meeting with PM Netanyahu and other officials beginning today to discuss bilateral concerns and a range of national security issues". He also said in an interview with ABC in the United States that he planned to discuss Iran's presence in Syria with Netanyahu when they meet on Monday morning. "Certainly the objective of the United States, of Israel -- President Putin said it was Russia's objective -- is to get Iran, Iranian forces, Iranian militias, Iranian surrogates out of the offensive operations they're in both Syria and Iraq and frankly, to end Iran's support for (Lebanon's) Hezbollah," Bolton said. He argued that Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and his reimposing of sanctions had "put a real crimp into the Iranian economy" and affected Tehran's ability to "conduct offensive operations" in the region. Bolton's trip will also take him to Ukraine and Geneva, where he will meet with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on Thursday. The meeting in Geneva is a follow-up to Trump's highly controversial July summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, according to the White House. Iran is backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war along with Russia and Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. Netanyahu has pledged to prevent Iran, his country's main enemy, from entrenching itself militarily in neighbouring Syria, and a series of recent strikes that have killed Iranians there have been attributed to Israel. Israel has also lauded Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Netanyahu has held a series of recent talks with Putin on Iran's presence in Syria, pressing Moscow to guarantee that Iranian forces and their allies, such as Hezbollah, will be kept far away from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Bolton's visit comes as speculation increases over efforts by Egypt and UN officials to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip. Months of tension along the Gaza border have led to fears of a fourth war between Israel and Hamas since 2008. On Sunday, Israel closed its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip following border clashes at the weekend, the latest tightening of its blockade of the Palestinian enclave. Despite the closure, the past week has been notably calmer along the Gaza border. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tribal students have appealed to the Centre to ensure "quality education" and proper facilities, including schools and hostels, for those belonging to scheduled tribes and said that reservation in government institutions and jobs alone is not the solution to their problems. They also urged the central government to formulate policies on the "basis of ground realities" for the welfare of tribal children. Tribal students from across the country participated in a convention organised by the Adivasi Adhikar Manch and the Centre for Adivasi Research and Development here on Saturday to highlight their issues. "Please tell the government that we are not getting a quality There are no schools in some tribal areas. Even if there are, there are no teachers. At some places, tribal students have to travel miles to reach school. "We need more hostels and good facilities. The government talks about reservation (in jobs), but what will we do if we do not get a proper " asked Sunil Tirki from Jharkhand. Tribal students, who had come from faraway villages of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tripura, and other states, also complained about poor hostel facilities at residential government schools. They said that hostels do not have proper drinking water and toilet facilities. At some places, there are no ceiling fans. So, the students sleep in the open during summers. "Sometimes, we have to fetch water from nearby wells. Very often students fall sick and return home, as there are no proper medical facilities available for us," Lata Soren, a tribal student from Chattisgarh, said. The organisers claimed that because of the "flawed" policy framework of the government which is detached from the ground reality, "Adivasi children cannot sustain their education". "The Centre is cutting down on the number of schools based on the number of students attending the classes. Now, in tribal areas, this is proving to be disastrous. Because of the geographical locations of these areas, one cannot hope that Adivasi children will sustain their without a decentralized approach. "That's why compared to other children, the dropout rate among tribal students is higher. If the government wants to bridge this gap, then it needs a different policy framework," Brinda Karat, CPI(M) leader and member of the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, says. The students' parents, who also attended the convention, said that there are many villages which do not have schools. "I want my two children to study, but there are no schools. If they want to go to school, they need to travel miles through forests. It is unsafe. Why cannot schools be built near our villages?" asks 25-year-old Phula Bai, who belongs to the Bhil tribe of Rajasthan. According to a recent survey conducted by the Adivasi Adhikar Manch and the Centre for Adivasi Research and Development, some tribal areas have recorded an increase in the dropout rate among girl students, as not many parents feel safe to send their daughters to the schools far-off. "My school is very far from my village. It takes more than two hours to reach there. I am able to continue with my studies because my brother accompanies me. But there are many in my class who have stopped coming to school as they are scared to travel alone and they do not have money to pay for the transport. There is no hostel for girls," said Varsha Sihem, a class 8 tribal student from Madhya Pradesh. The tribal students also demanded that the government "stop its policy of shutting down and merging schools based on the number of students attending them". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two persons were arrested today for allegedly raping a 14-year-old Dalit girl in Madhya Pradesh's Sagar district, police said. Aitu Ahirwar (39) and Punit Ahirwar (24) abducted the girl on Friday night at knife-point at Kareela village after which the former raped her, said Motinagar police station in charge Vipin Tamrakar. The victim's family filed a complaint yesterday following which the two were arrested today, he said. Tamrakar added that the duo had been charged for rape and abduction under sections of the IPC and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two alleged drug peddlers from Punjab were today arrested here after over 10 kg of poppy husk was sezed from them, police said. Dhampal and Ajay Kumar, both residents of the Bassi-Hoshiyarpur area in Punjab, were stopped by a police party busy in routine checking at Manda in the city, a police official said. He said the search of the duo led to the seizure of 10.31 kg of poppy husk and both of them were immediately arrested and booked under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two women were found dead under suspicious circumstances in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, the police said today. Vidya Devi was found hanging from a tree in a field behind her house in Kansar Bakal village last evening, a police official said. He said Devi had gone out for some work but when she failed to return home, her family started looking for her and found her dead. Police have started inquest proceedings to ascertain the cause of her death, the official said, adding that preliminary investigation indicates that she may have committed suicide. The official said body of another woman, identified as Shameem Begum, was recovered in Malikot village this morning. The woman had apparently fell from a hillock while cutting grass near her dhok (mud house), he said, adding that police have started investigation and further details are awaited. The bodies of both the deceased were handed over to their families for last rites after completion of legal and medical formalities, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two women were killed and three others injured when lightning struck them in Odisha's Bargarh district today, police said. The women were working in the paddy field when lightning struck them, killing two on the spot and causing burn injuries to three others, police said. The injured were rushed to Attabira hospital and later shifted to Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (VIMSAR) at Burla, they said. The deceased were identified as Mini Mirdha and Subalaya Mirdha, police added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Indian-origin billionaire businessmen based in the UAE have announced Rs 125 million donation for flood relief operations in the deluge-hit Kerala, according to a media report. Nearly 200 people have lost their lives in Kerala since August 8 due to floods caused by rains and landslides, while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. The southern Indian state is facing its worst flood in 100 years with 80 dams opened and all rivers in spate. A body blow has been dealt to the scenic state, with its infrastructure, standing crops and tourism facilities severely hit. Kerala-born businessman Yusuff Ali MA, chairman and managing director of Lulu Group, has announced a Rs 50 million donation for rain-battered Kerala, Khaleej Times reported on Sunday. KP Hussain, chairman of Fathima Healthcare Group, has donated Rs 50 million. He said that Rs 10 million out of Rs 50 million will directly go to the Kerala Chief Minister's relief fund, while the rest will be allocated for medical relief aid, the Gulf paper added. Hussain said that his group has coordinated with the state's health secretary to send volunteers from its medical faculty. This includes doctors and paramedics being sent to relief camps. "As per our geological studies and today's condition in Kerala, the stagnant water will be drained much later than expected. Hence, there is a high possibility of more deaths in the event of spread of various diseases like fever, dysentery, gastric issues, skin disorders etc," he was quoted as saying by the paper. "This situation needs to be handled very seriously and emergency treatment has to be provided with immediate effect. As recommended by the public health secretary, we have received the list of medicines which will be supplied to the relief camps." Other UAE-based businessmen had pledged amounts to help in flood relief operations. India-born billionaire BR Shetty, chairman of Unimoni and UAE Exchange, had pledged Rs 20 million. Azad Moopen, Indian physician and philanthropist, and founder chairman and managing director of Aster DM Healthcare, pledged Rs 5 million. The group also announced that it had mobilised a disaster support team of over 300 volunteers. Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates prime minister and Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum came out in support for deluge-hit Kerala and ordered the formation of an emergency committee to provide relief to the victims hit by devastating rains and floods in the state. The Indian community in the UAE, numbering 2.6 million, constitutes 30 per cent of the total population. It is the largest expatriate community in the country. Ugandan police are holding an American man who in video footage is seen attacking a hotel worker with punches and racial insults. Jimmy L Taylor was arrested on Thursday after CCTV footage of the incident was posted on social media, angering some Ugandans who demanded his arrest. The incident happened at a hotel in Kampala, the capital. It wasn't clear precisely when. In the footage the middle-aged American is seen charging at a receptionist: "You hate Jesus. You hate yourself. You hate me. You disgraced Jesus. Huh?" Later he throws a punch, one of many, and hurls slurs such as the N-word. Ugandan police said today that Taylor, who claims to be a missionary and former member of the US Marines, will be charged with assault later this week. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A key aide of Dawood Ibrahim, India's most wanted terrorist, was arrested by British police at London's Hilton Hotel on Friday. Jabir Siddiq, aka Jabir Moti, is believed to be the right-hand man of Dawood, managing his investments in the UK, UAE and around the world. The Pakistani national, reportedly in the UK on a 10-year visa, is likely to have been held on drugs related charges. "We are unable to release any details at this stage, a spokesperson for London's Metropolitan Police said. Jabir Moti, 51, is believed to be close to both Dawood and his wife, Mehjabeen, as their finance manager. Jabir's arrest on Friday is likely to have been a result of intelligence sharing between India and the UK. Meanwhile, a newly-updated list of financial sanctions released by the UK government earlier this week notes three known addresses in Pakistan for Dawood - House No 37, 30th Street defence, Housing Authority, Karachi; Palatial bungalow in the hilly area in Noorabad, Karachi; and White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton, Karachi. Dawood, the mastermind of the Mumbai serial bomb blasts in 1993, remains the only "Indian national" on the UK Treasury department's 'Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets in the UK' updated on Thursday. The fugitive gangster's place of birth is recorded as Kher, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, and his nationality is listed as "Indian" with a recorded Indian passport, which was subsequently revoked by the government of India and then goes on to list a string of Indian and Pakistani passports acquired by him and misused. Father's name is Sheikh Ibrahim Ali Kaskar, Mother's name is Amina Bi, Wife's name is Mehjabeen Shaikh. Also referred to as Hizrat and Mucchad, the listing on Dawood, first made on November 7, 2003, notes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Guwahati : It seems like the Khaplang faction of the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN-K) could split after impeached its chairman Khango Konyak on Friday and appointed Yung Aung as the new acting chairman of the Naga separatist outfit. The newly appointed acting chairman 45-year-old Yung Aung (who is nephew of late SS Khaplang) is Myanmar-origin and the Myanmar-origin members of the outfit throw out its India-origin members and it is a bloodless coup. Khango Konyak was removed from his post for alleged attempts at gaining complete control in the organization by violating the ideology of the outfit. A top source said that, after losing his position in NSCN-K, Khango Konyak and his fellow Niki Sumi, the deputy army chief of NSCN-K and Isak Sumi, head of the publicity wing had already left from their base camps in Sagaing region in Myanmar. The source said that, the India-origin members of NSCN-K would like to join in another Naga separatist outfit NSCN (Reformation). As many as 100 India-origin members of NSCN-K had left out from the camps in Eastern Nagaland, the source said. In a statement issued on August 17 after an emergency meeting held in presence top leaders of NSCN-K said that, the house unanimously resolved to impeach Khango Konyak for violation of party discipline as he is found guilty of absolute control of powers without collective leadership, non distribution of powers exposing one-man-government policy, which is completely in violation of the party discipline. The top source further said that, after impeached Khango Konyak, the outfit is now totally controlled under the Myanmar-origin members. An unidentified militant was killed today as Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. "An infiltration bid has been foiled along the LoC in Kasturi Naar in Baramulla," Srinagar based defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said. He said one militant has been killed in the gunfight. The operation is in progress, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Braving inclement weather and risky conditions, a young Air Force officer dramatically winched up a toddler to safety from the roof-top of a marooned house in rain-battered Kerala where thousands of people are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. Wing Commander Prashanth slid down a rope to the terrace of the two-storey house which seemed from above like a toy floating on the yellowish murky waters. TV visuals showed the officer airlifting the two-year-old boy with care, pressed him to his body and winched him to safety. The proud officer later handed over the baby to his anxious mother waiting inside the chopper. The woman, who was almost in tears, was all gratitude and smiles as she received her bundle of joy in her hands. Prashanth is one among many unsung heroes who have brought smiles to the faces of anxious and panic-stricken people of Kerala, reeling under the worst floods of a century. Another TV grab showed some girls trapped in their hostel room for days without food and water making a lucky escape after an IAF helicopter came to their rescue. They cried and hugged each other after all the stranded were safely pulled up into the copter yesterday. Commander Vijay Varma, who saved a pregnant woman in labour by winching her up in a helicopter from a stranded building, was later happy to hear that she had successfully delivered a baby boy. "This was a very challenging task. We got an SOS and we traced them out...There is tremendous satisfaction, both professionally and personally," the officer said later. The social media was all praise for the exceptional courage shown by the Indian Navy's Captain P Rajkumar who airlifted over 25 persons battling challenging conditions. The visual of a man kneeling down in muddy waters to help women step on to him to get into rescue boats went viral today. The man in a blue shirt was seen kneeling with his face hardly a few inches above the flood waters and women stepping onto his back to climb up to a rescue boat. The act of IAS officers M G Rajamanikyam and N S Umesh who unloaded rice sacks at the Wayanad Collectorate for distribution at relief camps was also celebrated by netizens. As soon as of the devastating floods and the plight of the stranded came out, 600 odd fishermen immediately turned up with their country and mechanised boats to help rescue those marooned in various parts of the state. Thousands of people, including women, children and college students are tediously working at various centres across the state free of cost to gather essential materials, including food, medicines, cloths to send to relief camps. Union Tourism minister K J Alphons, who visited some relief camps here, today said they are the 'unsung heroes'. Many are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them at various places in Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. The maximum death toll has been reported from Idukki district, where 43 people have lost their lives so far, as per official estimates. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is likely to visit Pakistan in the first week of September to hold talks with newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan on issues of mutual interests, a media report said today. Pompeo, who is expected in Islamabad on September 5, would be the first foreign dignitary to meet Prime Minister Khan, Dawn reported, quoting the diplomatic and official sources. Khan, 65, was sworn in as Pakistan's 22nd prime minister at a simple ceremony in Islamabad yesterday. The US has welcomed the swearing-in of Khan as new Prime Minister and said that it was looking forward to work with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in the country and in the region. The relations between Pakistan and the US nose-dived after President Donald Trump in January accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists. The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan's defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year. Citing its sources, the paper said that during his talks with Pakistani officials, Pompeo may focus on two major issues: efforts to revive once close ties between the two countries and Pakistan's support for a US-led move to jump-starting the Afghan peace process. Alice Wells, who heads the Bureau for South Asian affairs at the State Department, may also accompany Pompeo, the paper added. In recent statements, US officials have expressed the desire to restore their once close ties with Pakistan. In her speech at the Pakistan Embassy earlier this week, Wells not only welcomed Khan's election but also expressed the desire to work with his government for resolving difficult issues. Wells noted that the new leader had also recognised the importance of US-Pakistan relationship in his public statements and in his first meeting with US Embassy officials in Islamabad. In his victory speech last month, Khan said he wants a balanced relation between Pakistan and America which should be mutually beneficial, not one sided. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan Buzdar was elected as chief minister of Punjab today, ending a 10-year rule of Shahbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in the country's most populous province. Buzdar got 186 votes while his rival and PML-N nominee Hamza Shahbaz bagged 159 votes, Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi said, announcing the result after the voting in the house. Hamza is the son of PML-N chief Shahbaz Sharif, who was the chief minister of Punjab from 2008 till 2018. Chief Minister-elect Buzdar was a member of Sharif's team in the past. PTI dominates Punjab Assembly with 179 seats, whereas PML-N has 164 seats in the house. A support of 186 members, in the 371-members House, is needed for a party to form a new government in the province. Seven members of the Pakistan Peoples Party remained present in the house but did not cast vote. The newly-elected chief minister comes from one of the most backward areas of Punjab, the tribal area of Dera Ghazi Khan division, some 400-km from Lahore, the provincial capital. In his maiden address to the provincial assembly, 49-year-old Buzdar vowed to focus on neglected areas of the province. "I belong to an underdeveloped area myself. Our priority is good governance and ending corruption," he said, adding that he will take forward Imran Khan's vision. He thanked Prime Minister Khan for nominating him for the top post. "There has been no electricity in my area. We will try to break the status quo. I will bring forth the best time to fight corruption and poverty. We will bring reforms in police," he said. The voting for the top post was delayed by nearly three hours as the session was scheduled to be started at 11am. Shortly after the speaker commenced the session, PML-N lawmakers staged a protest raising slogans "rigged polls", referring to the July 25th general elections. Prime Minister Khan had strongly backed Buzdar's candidature, saying the candidate understands the problems of the people of neglected areas and will strive to ensure their uplift as chief minister. "I have done my due diligence over the past 2 weeks and have found him to be an honest man. He has integrity and stands by my vision and ideology of Naya (new) Pakistan," Khan had said. Buzdar, a political science graduate from Bahauddin Zakriya University in Multan, first got elected as the member of Punjab Assembly in 2002 on the platform of then military ruler Gen Pervez Musharraf's party PML-Q. In 2013, he joined PML-N and contested on its ticket but lost. He had joined Khan's party last year and won the July 25 poll. Opposition alleged that Buzdar has been involved in corruption and a murder case in which he got himself exonerated from charges after striking a deal with victims' families and paying them Rs 7.5 million blood money (diyat). Buzdar denied any corruption or other cases against him. "All allegations against me are baseless," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Telangana IT and NRI Affairs Minister K T Rama Rao today appealed to immigrants from the state who will come under categories covered by the Amnesty 2018 offered by the United Arab Emirates government to utilise the scheme and regularise their stay. During the three-month long amnesty period from August 1 to October people who are illegally staying in the UAE are offered an opportunity to regularise their stay. People with valid passports who wish to exit the country may get exit permit without ban and return home (Telangana), he said in a release here tonight. Those who entered UAE illegally without any documents or visa will get exit clearance with two years ban and they can re-enter after two years, the release said. People who have an expired passport or whose passports are lost or kept by sponsors and absconding people with cases can also utilise the Amnesty, it said. Rao appealed the NRIs to make use of the opportunity and said officials had been asked to coordinate with the Consulate General of India in Dubai and the Indian Embassy Abu Dhabi, UAE, for the amnesty purpose. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Goa Congress chief Girish Chodankar today said former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee used to enjoy eating things that his party (BJP) now objected to. He was speaking at a condolence meeting organised by the state Congress for the departed leader at the party headquarters here. The Congress leader, however, did not specify which culinary item he was referring to while making the comment. Vajpayee, a Bharat Ratna awardee and a three-time prime minister, died at the age of 93 on August 16, almost a decade after he withdrew from public life due to age-related ailments. Chodankar said had Vajpayee been active in in the last four to five years, the face of the country would have been different. "If Vajpayee was active in in the last four to five years, he would have curbed the attempts to divide people on the basis of religion. He would not have let anyone dictate to the people what they should eat and what they should not," he said. "Vajpayee used to eat everything. Those things which these people (BJP) are telling us not to eat, he used to enjoy them. He had the courage to confess what he was eating," the Congress leader said. Referring to a quote often attributed to Vajpayee, where the BJP stalwart said he was a bachelor but not a "brahmachari" (celibate), Chodankar said the BJP should have the kind of courage the departed leader had in making such admissions. Praising his secular politics, Chodankar said Vajpayee had once said an India which was not secular was not India at all. "In 2002, he had told then Gujarat chief minister Narendra Modi to follow raj dharma (in the aftermath of the riots that broke out following the Godhra train fire). India is going in a different direction. We need leaders like Vajpayee to give it a proper direction. "We hope that a leader like Vajpayee is present in different parties so that India remains united and there is no division of caste and religion," the Congress leader added. Leader of the Opposition in the Goa Assembly Chandrakant Kavlekar praised Vajpayee as a man respected by even his political opponents and a leader who stood for secularism, despite being in a party "which is against secularism". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a "true friend" of Sri Lanka and had assisted the country in the civil war against the LTTE, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said here today. Wickremesinghe made these comments after visiting the Indian High Commission here to sign a condolence book for Vajpayee, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. "He was one of the great prime ministers. He was a true friend of Sri Lanka, he stood for Sri Lanka at all times," Wickremesinghe said. "When I was the prime minister of Sri Lanka previously, the LTTE was in a very strong position. Our economy was weak. Mr Vajpayee helped us develop the economy and extended military training. We were able to stop the sea Tigers (LTTE's sea wing) because of him," he said. Wickremesinghe said he met Vajpayee for the first time in 1975. When Vajpayee later became India's foreign minister in 1977, Wickremesinghe as Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister carried on the friendship, he said. "He gave me his personal telephone number when he returned as the prime minsiter, and we continued the friendship," Wickremesinghe said. The nearly three-decades long civil war in Sri Lanka ended in 2009 with the defeat of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ashes of former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee were today immersed in the Ganga at Har ki Pauri here by his family members amidst chanting of vedic hymns with thousands joining in as the urn was carried in a flower-bedecked truck. Led by senior BJP leaders including party chief Amit Shah and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, the convoy with the urn moved from the Bhalla college ground to Har ki Pauri through a narrow 2-km stretch. Other top leaders who were in attendance included Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat. Several Uttarakhand ministers were also present. The urn was carried by Vajpayee's foster son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharya accompanied by the former prime minister's adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya. A platform was especially erected at Brahmakund below the stairs leading to the river where the rituals were performed under the supervision of 'teerth purohit' Akhilesh Shastri. As the ashes were immersed into the river, an emotional Namita leaned against the shoulder of her husband. Earlier, people could be seen on balconies and rooftops to take a glimpse of the urn being carried in the truck. They showered flower petals on the vehicle. It was during his Vajpayee's prime ministership that Uttarakhand got statehood in the year 2000. As the Prime Minister, Vajpayee also ensured the newly created hill state got a special status to facilitate its speedy industrialisation and growth. "Atalji amar rahein", "Jab tak suraj chand rahega, Atalji ka naam rahega" and "Vande Matram" rent the air as the convoy passed through the lanes. The rituals lasted around 20 minutes with a huge crowd waited at the ghats on either side of the river. Elaborate security arrangements were made right from Jolly Grant Airport to Har ki Pauri in view of the VIP movement along the route with the deployment of over 1,000 police and PAC personnel to maintain vigil. Earlier, family members and BJP brass arrived at the Bhalla College ground with the former prime minister's ashes and left for the Ganges. There was reportedly some differences among party leaders over the place from where the "kalash yatra" (procession of the urn containing ashes) should commence. It was decided that the procession would begin from the Bhalla college ground. Meanwhile, Rajasthan BJP chief Madan Lal Saini said in Jaipur that the ashes of Vajpayee will be immersed at three places --Beneshwar Dham in Dungarpur, Chambal river in Kota and Pushkar Sarovar in Ajmer -- in the state. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A huge crowd converged at Har ki Pairi here today to bid final farewell to their beloved leader and former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee as his ashes were immersed in the Ganga river by family members and BJP leaders. Top party leaders including BJP president Amit Shah, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, UP Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat, his adopted daughter Namita Kaul Bhattacharya and other family members of Vajpayee were present as the urn carrying his ashes was emptied into the river amid chanting of vedic hymns. A platform had been especially raised at Brahmakund below the stairs leading into the river where the rituals were performed. Earlier a sea of humanity followed the flower bedecked truck that carried Vajpayee's urn through the narrow 2 km stretch in reverence to the departed leader. The convoy started from Bhalla college ground and went to Har ki Pairi with a host of party leaders and family members in attendance. People were also seen standing on the balconies and rooftops to witness the slow passage of the convoy carrying the urn through overcrowded streets. Vajpayee's son in law Ranjan Bhattacharya carried the urn through the surging crowds to Brahmakund (Har ki Pairi) where it was later immersed in the Ganga amid elaborate rituals performed by "Teerth purohits" (priests) and the cries of "Atal Ji Amar Rahein" rent the air. The rituals lasted around 20 minutes as a huge crowd waited at the ghats on either side of the river to witness the process in total reverence. It was during Vajpayee's tenure as Prime Minister that Uttarakhand was granted statehood in 2000. As the Prime Minister, he had also ensured that the newly created hill state got a special status to facilitate its speedy industrialisation and growth. Elaborate security arrangements was made from Jollygrant airport to Har ki Pairi in view of the VIP movement along the route. Over one thousand police and PAC personnel were deployed to maintain vigil and law and order during the immersion of ashes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) August 17, 2018 On Saturday, Imran Khan will be sworn in as the next prime minister of Pakistan. His has been a sudden and rapid rise to power; he first came into politics in the late 1990s with no experience and has never held any government office. In his first public address to the nation after winning the July election, with Pakistanas economy near bankruptcy, Khan said, aThe biggest challenge we are facing is the economic crisis.a While this may well be the most pressing issue, the biggest and most important challenge Imran Khan will confront as prime minister is something he did not mention at all in his speechahow to manage the Bomb. The lives and well-being of Pakistanas 200 million citizens and countless millions in India and elsewhere depend on how well he deals with the doomsday machine Pakistanas Army and nuclear complex have worked so hard to build. To be fair, it is not clear that Imran Khan will have much choice regarding nuclear policy. For Pakistani politicians, the options largely come down to either support the Bomb, or keep quiet about it. Like other prime ministers before him, Imran Khan may go and have his picture taken with the missiles that will carry nuclear warheads and pose with the scientists and engineers that make them and the military units that plan and train to fire them. Imran Khanas two-decade-long political career overlaps with the creation of Pakistanas nuclear arsenal, but he has had very little to say about the Bomb. When he has spoken, it has been as a Bomb supporter. In 1998, as India and Pakistan tested their Bombs, Imran Khan told the BBC, aThe test had to be done to tell India that Pakistan had a Bomb, because there was a lot of ambiguity on whether we had the Bomb. My party was clear that we had to tell India that we had a deterrent.a He claimed the Bomb as proof of Pakistanas possibilities, telling the BBC that a[i]f it can have scientists that develop nuclear bombs then we can develop our own country.a Imran Khan also has courted the support of Abdul Qadeer Khan (no relation), the man most closely identified in Pakistani minds with the countryas Bomb. This was after A.Q. Khan admitted publicly in 2004 to selling Iran, North Korea, and Libya the uranium enrichment centrifuge technology he had earlier stolen from European companies and copied for Pakistan and sharing nuclear weapon designs with other countries. He was quickly pardoned and placed under house arrest, but released in 2009. This history suggests that Imran Khan may be likely to support the continued build-up of Pakistanas nuclear arsenal. It is estimated that the arsenal now is on the order of 150 nuclear weapons, with Pakistan being able soon to deliver these weapons from airplanes (either via bombs or cruise missiles), on land-based ballistic missiles and cruise missiles, and on cruise missiles launched from submarines. Few knowledgeable observers now doubt that Pakistanas Army helped bring Imran Khan victory in the 2018 elections by stifling other political parties and silencing key voices in the media. Given the debt he owes to those who made his election possible, it is unlikely he will now try to assert himself and push for some kind of democratic civilian control in nuclear matters and in foreign policy generally. More likely, the Army will expect Imran Khanas government to be cheerleaders in support of its next military adventure. All the pieces are in place. Military crises have occurred in the subcontinent with awful frequency in recent decades, despite the Bomb, and perhaps because of it. Pakistan and India have survived at least five since 1987, giving both sides misplaced confidence that they will survive the next, too. This, in turn, leads to a lessening of political restraints on the militaries of both countries and greater nuclear brinksmanship. As Pakistan discovered during the 1999 Kargil crisis, the combination of the Army, the Bomb, and pliant politicians leads to big mistakes. Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, the chosen political tool of the Army in those days, was led to believe by General Pervez Musharraf, the head of Pakistanas Army, that he had a plan for the liberation of Kashmir. General Musharrafas foray over the Line of Controlathe effective border between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir regionaat first took the Indians by surprise then slowed, stalled, and finally crashed. Indian air power and artillery began decimating Pakistani forces, leaving Pakistan with a stark choice: withdrawal, a wider war, or brandishing nuclear weapons. The world watched and judged. Pakistan was deemed the aggressor. The belief that China would bail out Pakistan was proven false. Musharraf and Sharif each visited China seeking support; both returned empty handed. Then, on July 3, 1999, Sharif made a desperate, uninvited dash to Washington for help. He eventually was willing to challenge the wisdom of his generals, but only when the situation had become desperate and nuclear war appeared to be terrifyingly closeaand when the Americans were on his side. Strobe Talbott, then US deputy secretary of state, records that aon the eve of Sharifas arrival, we learned that Pakistan might be preparing its nuclear forces for deployment. There was, among those of us preparing for the meeting, a sense of vast and nearly unprecedented peril.a Faced with a situation where he did not know what his own army was up to, a shocked and subdued Sharif signed the withdrawal document. The prime minister was overthrown three months later in a military coup led by Gen. Pervez Musharraf. Not long afterwards, Islamist militants backed by Pakistan attacked Indiaas Parliament, triggering massive military deployments by both countries and an intense military crisis that lasted until October 2002. In July 2006 and again in November 2008, Islamist militants believed to be linked to Pakistan attacked the Indian city of Mumbai, killing and wounding hundreds of people and again raising the prospect of a military response. Since then, the focus of conflict has shifted back to the Line of Control dividing Kashmir. India and Pakistan blame each other for hundreds of violations of the ceasefire agreed in 2003, with hundreds of military and civilian casualties and India citing hundreds of attempts each year by militants to cross over from Pakistan. In Indian-occupied Kashmir demands for greater autonomy and independence have met with repression, which has fueled Kashmiri resistance. Human rights violations have become chronic. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights reported in 2018 that in the past two years aIndian security forces used excessive force that led to unlawful killings and a very high number of injuriesa while militant groups were held responsible for aa wide range of human rights abuses, including kidnappings and killings of civilians and sexual violence.a Some of the militant groups fighting in Kashmir are based in Pakistan and backed by the Army. Peace does not seem to be in the cards. The Pakistan Armyas low-cost option is to keep the pot boiling in Kashmir and elsewhere in India, but not to let it boil over. It has secretly sponsored Islamist proxies to do its dirty work, and their footprint can be seen across Pakistan. Some Islamist groups have been supported to form political parties and successfully run candidates for elections. It is unlikely that Imran Khan will choose to move against these actors or rein them in; he has long demonstrated sympathy for the Taliban and other extremists. Any such action would be unwelcome to the Army and decried as a betrayal by his party base. Whether triggered by Army action in Kashmir or by militant attacks, what happens if the next crisis comes on Imran Khanas watch? To whom will he look for outside assistance, and will those allies come to his aid? Will he run to Washington, ala Nawaz Sharif? Imran Khan built his political base initially on harsh anti-American rhetoric. For a while he was dubbed aTaliban Khana for his vehement condemnation of drone strikes against Islamist militants. Still, the United States has forgiven worse and will likely talk to him in a crisis. The risk of escalation to nuclear war in South Asia is too grave a concern to be ignored. Even the finest diplomacy may not work in the midst of a storm strong enough to knock over the pieces on the south Asian nuclear chessboard. What has changed since Kargil? All semblance of trust between Pakistan and the United States is gone. The United States after the 9/11 attacks went to war in Afghanistan, and found that despite receiving vast amounts of US aid, Pakistan continued to back the Taliban. In 2018, this led to a cutoff in US security aid to Pakistan. But the lack of trust works both ways; many in Pakistan, including in the Army, see the United States as waiting to pounce upon and seize Pakistanas nuclear weapons at the first opportunity. Will Imran Khan then turn to China for support? His speech to the nation after the election suggests such a tendency, but before Pakistani military leaders conceive and implement another Kargil, they need to understand that China is not the new global superpower that has replaced the United States. A complex, four-way dynamic has emerged among India, Pakistan, China, and the United States. It is one that does not work in Pakistanas favor. China competes strategically with the United States and India, but it also trades heavily with both. There is no war talk and no visceral animosity among the members of this China-US-India triad. Pakistan touts China as an all-weather friend and expects protection, but the Kargil episode showed that these expectations were misplaced. Indiaas hawkish strategic elite sees Pakistan now as a Chinese proxy in the event of a Pak-India war, and Indiaas Army chief talks of fighting a two-front war. But in another crisis, China again may prove reticent to take Pakistanas side and prefer to support de-escalation and an end to the crisis as quickly as possible. Even the finest diplomacy may not work in the midst of a storm strong enough to knock over the pieces on the south Asian nuclear chessboard. With an emboldened army in Pakistan sooner or later seeking once again to push India to the brinkathis time determined to escalate rather than back down if things go badlyastaving off nuclear warfare on the subcontinent may be a race against time. Imran Khan needs to understand that the best way to handle a nuclear crisis is not to provoke one or try and use such a crisis for political advantage. Of course, an informed and organized public, able to keep political and military leaders in check and restrain them from brandishing nuclear weapons, would constitute a more enduring check on nuclear risk-taking. In Pakistan, howeverawith political leaders willing to let the military have effective control of key policies and stifle public discourseathis kind of active democracy seems a distant hope. Published in Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists on August 17, 2018. About the Authors: Pervez Hoodbhoy has taught in the physics department at Quaid-e-Azam University in Islamabad for 40 years and now also teaches at Forman Christian College in Lahore. He is a member of the Bulletinas Board of Sponsors. Zia Mian is a physicist and co-director of Princeton Universityas Program on Science and Global Security, where he also directs the Project on Peace and Security in South Asia. He received the 2014 Linus Pauling Legacy Award for ahis accomplishments as a scientist and as a peace activist in contributing to the global effort for nuclear disarmament and for a more peaceful world.a Poems penned by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which have inspired BJP workers for decades, may soon be recited in jails of Uttar Pradesh so that they leave a positive impact on the minds of inmates, if a suggestion made by a state minister is accepted. Minister of State for Jails, Jai Kumar Jaiki, said the former prime minister's compositions could inspire many who have a criminal past to join the mainstream of the society. "I would request the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) that if inmates of various jails in the state are told about the life, deeds and history of Atalji, and his poems are read out among them, it will definitely have a positive impact," Jaiki told reporters. If jail inmates seek inspiration from Vajpayee's life, poems and struggles, I am confident they will shun crime and embrace the mainstream, he added. Adityanath holds the jails department in the state and a minister of state, Jaiki is his deputy. When Vajpayee turned 93 last December, the Yogi Adityanath government released 93 prisoners in his honour from various jails of Uttar Pradesh. These prisoners had completed their tenure in jail but could not be released due to non-payment of fines imposed on them. In Uttar Pradesh, there are 71 jails with around 98,000 prisoners (including undertrials and convicts), a senior official said. Former Prime Minister Vajpayee, one of India's most charismatic leaders who led the nation through several crises while holding together a tenuous coalition with his inclusive politics and superlative oratory, died on August 16. Vajpayee is the first and till now the only non-Congress leader who completed his full term as prime minister. Born in 1924, he had his baptism in politics during the Quit India movement in 1942. He was also the first External Affairs Minister to deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly in Hindi. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) West Bengal government will contribute Rs 10 crore to the Kerala Chief Ministers relief fund in the wake of the recent rain-fed floods in the southern state, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said. "My heart goes out to the people of Kerala battling #KeralaFloods In this hour of crisis, to stand beside the flood-affected people of Kerala, we have decided to make a contribution of Rs Ten Crore to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund," Banerjee wrote in her Twitter handle. She said that the state was willing to extend all form of assistance and support to the Kerala government to deal with the current flood situation there. "We are also ready to extend all other assistance and support that may be needed to tackle the calamity. We pray that our brothers and sisters of Kerala resume normal life soon," Banerjee added. In the rain-battered Kerala, 194 people have so far lost their lives since August 8. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan today said that the country will enter into talks with all neighbours to normalise ties, as without it peace can't be brought in the country. In his an-hour-long maiden address to the nation a day after his swearing in as the country's 22nd prime minister, Khan identified Pakistan's challenges on economic front, announced sweeping changes to bring austerity and revive stagnant economy. He also lashed out at the previous PML-N government for current debt crisis which has risen to Rs 28 trillion, saying the country had not been as indebted in its entire history as it has been in the last ten years. "I have talked to all neighbours and Insha Allah, we will improve relations with all neighbours. Without peace (with neighbours) we cannot bring peace in Pakistan," he said. Khan, who made an extempore speech while taking help of notes, promised to start the change from his life. Outlining his governments approach to resolve the issues, Khan stressed on taking austerity measures, working on tax reforms instead of taking loans, rooting out corruption. He also spoke about revamping the judiciary, educational and health care reforms, civil service reforms, devolution of power, providing jobs opportunity to youths and building dams to end water crisis. "Never in Pakistan's history have we faced such difficult economic circumstances. Our debt burden is Rs 28 trillion. We haven't been as indebted in our entire history as we have been in the last ten years," he said. "The interest that we have to pay on our debt has reached to a level that we have to take more debt to repay our obligations. Our external debt obligations have reached a level that we have to contemplate how we are going to grapple with them," Khan said. "On one hand we are so indebted, and on the other hand our human development index ranking is very poor," he said. "I will not do any business and live a simple life. Those making illegal money are my enemies. You should help me to identify them and stop them," he said. He said that he will live in a three-bedroom residence within the official PM House, a place that was reserved for the Military Secretary but Khan has decided to live there. He announced to transform the sprawling PM House into a modern university. He said there were 524 workers and officials deputed at the PM House but he will keep only two of them. Out of the 80 vehicles, including 33 bullet proof vehicles, he said he will use only two of them and auction the rest and deposit the money into the national treasury. Khan said PTI formed governments in Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and his governors and chief ministers will not live in palatial official houses. He said the economy was in bad shape due to debt heaped by the past government. He said 10 years ago, the total debt of the country was Rs 6 trillion which has increased to Rs 28 trillion. He spoke about the poor human development index of Pakistan and said more than 23 million children were out of schools and 45 per cent children had stunted growth. Khan once again promised to transform Pakistan into the state of Median which was set up by the Prophet in early years of Islam. He said Medina state was set up on the principles of rule of law, protection of rights of minorities, progressive taxation, based on merit, education for all and honest leadership. Khan promised to reform the tax collection machinery, police, judiciary, education system, health and anti-corruption bodies. He announced to deal with the corrupt elements with iron hand and said all wealth of the country stashed abroad by rich Pakistanis will be brought back. The prime minister asked overseas Pakistanis to park their money in Pakistani banks and invest here assuring them that their investments will be safe in his government. He promised to facilitate the investors. Khan announced setting up a task force to cut down the expenses of the government. He also said that he will meet the Chief Justice of Pakistan to draw up a scheme for speedy justice so that all cases were decided within in year. He also said that civil servants will be rewarded and punished on the basis of their performance. He also announced to make Pakistan a true welfare state. "We want to make Pakistan a welfare state. For this we should create compassion in our hearts." Khan said that he wished that the PM House be turned into a research university, he will form a committee to figure out how to cut expenses nationwide. "I also want you to understand that the money we lavish on ourselves could have been spent on those who our state has left behind. 'Naya' Pakistan also requires a new 'soch' (thinking). We have to think about those who we have left behind," he said. On tax reforms, he said instead of trying to rebuild the economy by taking external loans, his government will try and fulfil its needs from within. "No country can succeed by taking on debt again and again. Debts are taken for brief periods of time. I will be ashamed to go abroad and ask for money. If the leader of the nation has to go and ask for debt, what will my nation be?" Khan added. He said only 800,000 people out of 200 million pay taxes in Pakistan. "We will fix the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and assure the nation that I will be responsible for your taxes. It is your responsibility to pay taxes. If we start paying taxes we will get out of deficit," he said. He termed money laundering as the biggest problem. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan today said he will not be staying in the sprawling Prime Minister House but in the military secretary's three-bedroom house here. Khan, announcing austerity measures to cut down his own as well as the country's expenditure during his maiden address to the nation, said that he wanted to live in his own house in Banigala "but was told by security agencies that my life was under threat which is why I am living here". He said that the prime minister house has 524 servants and 80 cars. "The prime minister, which is me, also has 33 bulletproof cars. We have helicopters and aeroplanes to fly us. We have massive governor houses and every conceivable luxury. "On one hand we don't have money to spend on our people; on the other hand, we have a section of our people living like our colonial masters used to live," he said. "Look at how we live. Look at how much money is spent by prime ministers on foreign tours? Where do these people spend Rs 650 million? Where does the speaker spend the Rs 160 million budget allotted to him? Are they going abroad to conquer land?" Khan said. Detailing plans on how he will cut down his own as well the country's expenditure, he said "I will keep two people with me out of the 524. I will be staying in a three-bedroom house. I will have to keep two of the cars because my intelligence agencies tell me my life is under threat. I wish I did not have to move out of Banigala, but I have been forced to do so." Khan said his government would auction off all the other bullet proof cars and invited businesses to come and buy them. "We will put the proceeds of that auction in the state treasury," he added. He said I wish that all the governor houses are kept as simply as possible. Khan said that he wished that the PM House be turned into a research university. "I am forming a committee under Dr Ishrat Husain to figure out how to cut expenses nationwide. I also want you to understand that the money we lavish on ourselves could have been spent on those who our state has left behind. Naya Pakistan also requires a new soch. We have to think about those who we have left behind," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Unable to bear the atrocities meted out by in-laws, a woman along with her three minor sons allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a well in Giridih district, police today said. Sub-Divisional Police Officer Prabhat Ranjan Barwar said police is investigating the case from all angles to ascertain if it was a case of suicide or murder. Jubaida Khatoon (35) and her three sons -- Mozmil (11), Mozsir (8) and Danish (5) -- allegedly jumped into a well yesterday night in Nimadih village under Rajdhanwar police station. A police team rushed to the village when informed that Jubaida along with her three minor sons were missing at around 11 pm last night, Barwar said. Villagers told the police that they had retrieved the bodies and kept them near the well, he said. Jubaidas husband Manowar Ansari and other family members have been missing following the incident, he said. The SDPO said Jubaida, who got married to Ansari 15 years ago, was allegedly subjected to torture for dowry. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With affordable smartphones equipped with high-resolution cameras and unlimited access, everyone is a photographer today. The hesitation in seeking permission to click a picture of the subject, ironically leaves the photographer exposed like the old-school negatives. The "right to click" seems to overshadow the right to privacy in the aggressive digital era. On World Photography Day, photographers reflect upon the complex social construct of morality in endangering one's privacy and if they seek permission before capturing the subject. According to photojournalist Ranjan Basu, be it a critical situation or a conflict-ridden area, there is an unwritten code that the photographer cannot take anyone's photograph without their permission. Basu, who went to Chhattisgarh's Dantewada on an assignment to cover the Naxals in 2008, says one has to keep the sensitivity in mind. "I had to seek permission from the naxals to click their pictures. They took us inside the jungle, but they permitted me to click the photographs from the second day of my tour. "In fact, one of the leaders did not want to show his face. So, I wasn't allowed to take his photo from the front," he told PTI. Mayank Austen Soofi, blogger and photojournalist, who writes popular columns for leading dailies such as Hindustan Times and Mint, says he is careful about what pictures he clicks and believes the photograph should not compromise the subject's dignity. "For me, privacy is very important. Especially when you're in a public space, then it depends on the photographer's common sense. Almost every other day people rudely tell me not to click, which is justified because of the way they may be feeling. But it's part of the job. "I think it also depends on the vibe of the person who's clicking the photo. You can't fake your harmlessness or friendliness. As I keep discovering and rediscovering the city, I keep coming across familiar places and faces. So, it becomes easier gradually," he says. When asked if he first takes the picture of the potential subject or seeks permission from the person, Soofi counter questions: ask French photography veteran Henry Cartier-Bresson first. "I have got an answer but I don't think I'll tell you that. Even Facebook and Instagram also ask me," he quips. Freelance photographer Sayan Acharya says privacy lies in the morality of the shutterbug. "I would never click someone whom I don't know or would never click without their consent. You never know what the person is feeling in that situation. To get pictures, most of the photographers bypass this line. They just want to click the photo," Acharya says. Gaurav Awasthi, a Canada-based IT professional and amateur photographer, shares an anecdote about his visit to Oxford, a famous town in Berkshire, UK, where he took a some pictures of the homeless. "While none of them responded to me capturing their portraits, I somehow got disturbed by a deep stare from one of them. He made me realise that I was actually taking a benefit of their vulnerability. "I wasn't only shooting their expressions but the cause of those expressions, which was directly related to their vulnerable situation. And that made me realise the importance of giving privacy to the subject whether its actively sought or passively expected," Awasthi says. Psychologist Pallavi Ram says the notion of permission is its entirety is a social construct. "Seeking permission also depends on the context. In my opinion, whatever the context may be, you should seek permission. After all it is their face, expressions - they are private, even though they are displayed publicly. Come what may, it is their right to control the use of those photos," she says. Souvik Mukherjee, Assistant Professor, Amity Law School, Kolkata, quotes a 19th century paper, published by Warren and Brandeis, titled 'the right to privacy', wherein they cited Judge Cooley for the development of the concept of 'right to be let alone', the very concept was an outcome of the realisation that development of invention and business methods calls for a notice to provide protect for individuals' private and domestic life which have become vulnerable to instantaneous photographs and "Even in 19th century they felt that law must afford some remedy for unauthorised circulation of portraits. Today with the internet governing most part of our life, we need the 'right to be let alone' be part of our fundamental right to privacy more than ever as the it represents manifestation of 'an inviolable personality'," Mukherjee says. He adds, "If the subject matter is minding his own business then a photographer does not have the right to click him/her as if it is one then you are encroaching in his/her life without due permission." Mukherjee says the apex court took note of the above concept while delivering the recent judgement on right to privacy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By Bozorgmehr SharafedinLONDON (Reuters) - Iran told OPEC on Sunday no member country should be allowed to take over another member's share of oil exports, expressing Tehran's concern about Saudi Arabia's offer to pump more oil in the face of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil sales.In a meeting with OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo, a senior Iranian diplomat urged him to keep the group out of politics."No country is allowed to take over the share of other members for production and exports of oil under any circumstance, and the OPEC Ministerial Conference has not issued any licence for ... 1When the Portuguese ruled over Oman in the late 1640s, they depended on an Indian merchant agent from Kutch for their supplies. The Portuguese commander Pereira coveted this merchant's beautiful daughter and that did not go down well with him. In order to rebuff the proposal, this merchant helped the then Yarriba ruler expel the Portuguese from Muscat. The Omani ruler returned the merchant's favour by exempting Indian merchants from payment of taxes on exports. It is said that this incident set the tone for the continued warmth businessmen of Oman have with Indian merchants even ... About 357 people have lost their lives in what could be called the worst-ever flood in a century in Kerala. So far, the National Disaster Response Force has evacuated over 10,000 people from the worst-affected areas of southern state. In an unprecedented relief effort under the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, 67 helicopters, 24 aircraft, 548 motorboats and thousands of rescue personnel from Indian Navy, Army, Air Force, National Disaster Response Force, Coast Guard, other Central Armed Police Forces have been pressed into service to rescue and evacuate people from submerged areas to relief camps and for distribution of relief materials. A total of 169 NDRF teams have been deputed to rescue stranded people across the state. This is NDRF's biggest-ever relief and rescue operation in the country till date. Till yesterday, the NDRF teams were operational in Thrissur, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Ernakulum, Idukki, Mallapuram, Wayanad and Kozhikode. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday visited flood-ravaged Kerala and announced an immediate financial assistance of Rs 500 crore. He also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has sought an immediate assistance of Rs 2,000 crore. In a tweet, he said: "As per the initial estimate, the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore. The actual loss can be ascertained after the water recedes in the affected areas. The state has sought an immediate assistance of Rs 2,000 crore." The Prime Minister directed the National Highways Authority of India to repair the main national highways damaged due to the floods on a priority basis . The central public sector undertaking like the NTPC and the PGCIL have been asked to render all possible assistance to the state government in restoring power lines. Villagers, whose 'kutcha' houses have been destroyed in the floods, would be provided the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana-Gramin homes on a priority basis. Under the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Gurantee scheme 5.5 crore person days have been sanctioned in the labour budget 2018-19. Any further request for incurring the person days would be considered as per the requirement projected by the state. Under the Mission for the Integrated Development of Horticulture, farmers would be provided assistance for replantation of damaged horticulture crops. Insurance companies have been asked to hold special camps for assessment and timely release of compensation to the affected families and beneficiaries under social security schemes. Directions have also been issued for early clearance of claims under the Fasal Bima Yojana to agriculturists. The Centre on Saturday said the Cochin Naval Base would be thrown open for commercial flight operations from the morning of August 20-a move that will bring a huge relief to people awaiting resumption of air service from Kochi. The main Kochi international airport was closed from August 14 to August 26. As a result, both domestic and international flights to Kochi are being diverted to other destinations such as Trivendrum and Calicut. Informing about the move, Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu in a tweet said: "In view of disruption of flights from Cochin airport due to floods, a joint team sent by @MoCA_GoI has approved starting of scheduled commercial flights using ATRs by Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, between Bangalore and Cochin Naval Air base." In another tweet, he said, "flight operations between Bangalore and Cochin Naval airbase will be starting from 20th August morning." (With inputs from PTI) Paytm founder and CEO Vijay Shekhar Sharma on Saturday found himself at the receiving end on Twitter. Sharma shared a screenshot of Rs 10,000 donation he made to help the people of flood-hit Kerala and urged others to do the same. However, many users on Twitter felt Sharma's contribution was way too less given his wealth. To make it even worse, Paytm in another tweet announced that it had received contributions of Rs 10 crore in less than 48 hours from more than 4 lakh Paytm users across India. The announcement further irked the people who called Sharma's donation as a marketing gimmick. A twitter user by the name of Prem Babel said: "So you have earned more than what you have donated. Good business tactics." We are extremely proud to announce that we have received contributions of INR 10 Crore+ in less than 48 hours from more than 4 lakh Paytm users across India for #KeralaFloodRelief #IndiaForKerala - Paytm (@Paytm) August 18, 2018 Himika Chaudhuri wrote: "Oh hell!!! This is the lowest low, using a calamity to gain mileage for his brand. @vijayshekhar Shame on you." @vijayshekhar you are one disgusting person. I hope your children feel ashamed of you. That's all I wanted to say. Bye.#KeralaFloods #KeralaFloodRelief pic.twitter.com/NciiP3nLjd - SanghiLiveWire (@SanghiLiveWire) August 18, 2018 "Rs 10K from a billionaire? Not bad to advertise 4 the Paytm app by posting it here & specifically mentioning 2 Paytm app? Don't follow cheap capitalist hippies. Use any other means excluding Paytm. @vijayshekhar," said another Twitter user. Rs. 10K from a billionaire? Not bad to advertise 4 the Paytm app by posting it here & specifically mentioning 2 Paytm app? Don't follow cheap capitalist hippies. Use any other means excluding Paytm. @vijayshekhar pic.twitter.com/HQo8t1ZEKH - Chaddilectual (@Chaddilectual) August 18, 2018 However, not everyone on Twitter questioned the Paytm CEO for his contribution, few actually backed him. Nicksal T Rafeek, twitter user, wrote that Sharma was just doing his bit. "They (Paytm) have collected above 10 crores so far. Also, I think Rs.10,000 is per transaction limit on paytm," he said. Kerala has been hit by the worst-ever floods in a century. So far, over 357 people have lost their lives and over 10,000 people evacuated from the worst-affected areas of southern state. To help the people of Kerala, many state governments, business houses, foundations and NGOs have made donations in the last couple of days. Superstar Shah Rukh Khan's welfare organisation Meer Foundation has contributed Rs 21 lakhs towards relief work. TVS Motor Company contributed Rs 1 crore to the Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. West Bengal government will contribute Rs 10 crore to the Kerala CM's relief fund. BJP-ruled Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh governments have announced a relief package of Rs 10 crore each for the flood affected areas in Kerala. The Congress MPs and MLAs in Punjab will donate a month's salary for the relief work in the southern state. Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur too has announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 crore to flood-hit Kerala. news, latest-news Good morning Canberra, After a below freezing morning it should warm up to a partly cloudy day with a top of 12 degrees. No surprises there! Here are your headlines: Rebecca Hughes was just 14 when she saved her friend's life on the South Coast. Now she's getting a bravery commendation. She's one of number of Canberra residents who will receive bravery honours today. Read more about Rebecca's story here. Property developers look to be the biggest winners in several key changes Planning Minister Mick Gentleman has made to the proposed Woden variation to the Territory Plan. But some community groups are worried the plan is too favourable to developers pushing for density at a cost to the local community. Daniel Burdon has more on that story. It might seem like the plot of a sci-fi film but this Canberra researcher wants to create a coded implant for the brain to cure brain injuries. Dr Vini Gautam and her team of researchers have already built a brain on a chip, now they want to figure out how to get it working inside the human brain. I've got more on her amazing research here. A new report lays out the devastating consequences for people revealing wrongdoing. Dr Lynn Simpson became an accidental whistleblower after someone at the department in 2013 uploaded to its website a report she wrote - not meant to be public - documenting the appalling conditions for Australian animals on live export ships. She hasn't had a day's paid employment in her field since the report's publication. The episode also brought a physical cost. More on that story here. While they can't make finals, the Canberra Raiders showed some heart to take their first win over a top-eight side this season. A strong defence proved the difference as the Raiders held on for a 14-12 victory over top of the table Sydney Roosters. David Polkinghorne has the wash-up. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/bd016156-e6cb-4ebc-86e1-2fa57a3de5bb/r0_207_4121_2535_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news To those outside the scientific community research projects can seem impossible to understand, even when they may affect our everyday lives. However one Canberra start-up is trying to make science more accessible to everyone in a creative way. National Science Week, which wraps up on Sunday, saw the launch of the third season of Shirty Science, the brainchild of ANU graduate Madi Hartill-Law. The project partners Canberra-based scientists with local artists to develop a design that represents their scientific research and then is printed on a t-shirt to spread the message. Ms Hartill-Law said the project came about from a university assignment while completing her masters of science communication. "Sometime scientists focus on the specific details and use too many big words," Ms Hartill-Law said. "Our idea was to get scientists to think about if they could take anything from their research, what they would hope people would go away talking about and represent that on a shirt." Once the scientists and artists that will participate are chosen they get to go on a "speed date" where the scientist gets 60 seconds to pitch their research and then artists use their minute to explain their style before they are matched up with a suitable partner. One happy pairing was Team Beetle Sex, who got their name from the ANU's Megan Head and her research into the mating habits of Eucalyptus Beetles. Dr Head's research examines how sexually transmitted infections in the beetle population affect mate choice. "One of the benefits of mating with an attractive beetle is they've got the good genes," Dr Head said. "But if they have these good genes they've probably been mating around with lots of other beetles and might have picked up these STIs." She said she hoped to see how theories on mating applied to the beetle population and whether they could similarly be applied to other species and if STI's could be used as a method to control pest populations. She said the process of partnering with artist Sophie Kristine had been plenty of fun and the shirt they created was wonderful way to explain her research. "It's made me think about how I explain my research in a more accessible way and reminded me that not everyone is into beetle sex - but I don't know why not!" For Ms Kristine, who is a full-time public servant and pursues art as a hobby, she said her partnership with Dr Head was a "match made in heaven". The self-taught artist mainly works in lino prints but loves capturing native species in her work so the chance to capture the native Eucalyptus Beetles was a real thrill. "I've always loved science and when I was studying art actually got put on the backburner for biology," Ms Kristine said. "It was especially meaningful for me because I'm married to a scientist and I'd noticed the communication bit in the middle was always the most difficult." She said that became particularly obvious when her husband was two years into his PhD and he pulled her up for still explaining it incorrectly to others. Ms Hartill-Law said her goals for Shirty Science moving forward were to collaborate more with universities and to hopefully find more retailers to stock the shirts. They are currently stocked at Questacon and available online. You can visit the Shirty Science website to view the full range of shirts and vote on your favourites. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/6dd355ff-9707-4f4f-9a49-2a54674bfdeb/r0_1056_2531_2486_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news One year after his light plane crashed on landing at a Sunshine Coast airport, Ben Berg is yet to walk, the injured passengers are taking legal action against him and his insurance won't pay out. Emergency services were three minutes away from amputating his legs in order to get him out of the wreckage and he was given nine pints of blood at the scene just to give him a chance of survival. Mr Berg met the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter team who helped save his life this week, despite the medical experts who treated him believing he would not survive in the days after the crash. On August 12, 2017, Mr Berg took off from the Gold Coast with his wife and flew to the Sunshine Coast to meet one of his two daughters for breakfast. He took his daughter (Micayla), her boyfriend and her boyfriend's sister for a joyride upon arriving on the Sunshine Coast and then took some other family friends up for another scenic flight. As he was coming into land on the second flight, disaster struck. Mr Berg said he cannot discuss what he believes went wrong that day because that will form part of the lawsuit, but the result of the failed landing at Caloundra Aerodrome was the aircraft flipping upon impact and Mr Berg being trapped in the cockpit, barely conscious with critical injuries. Mr Berg does remember waking up trapped in the wreckage of his South African-designed Sling 4 piston-engine kit plane after hitting the ground. "After the crash, I remember being inverted, in a lot of pain and bare wires hanging off the dashboard," he said. "I also had chemicals burns and was soaked in fuel ... it was a miracle there were no sparks and fire. "I broke my shoulder blade, my ribs were broken, I had gashes on my face ... I was a total mess. "I asked the passenger in the co-pilot seat if he was all right but he didn't respond. "I remember the sound of fire trucks and their equipment and then waking up in hospital." Mr Berg was trapped in the wreckage of the aircraft for almost two hours. His passengers also suffered serious injuries as a result of the crash. The RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter paramedic was going to make the decision to amputate both Mr Berg's legs in order to free him if the extraction had taken just three more minutes. Mr Berg also went into cardiac arrest in the wreckage and required nine pints of blood while trapped just to stay alive. Even after he was freed and arrived at the hospital, doctors did not believe he would survive. "I was in the Intensive Care Unit for a week. The first three or four days they didnt think I was going to make it," he said. "Then they were concerned I might have brain damage due to the blood loss. "Eventually they woke me up and I didnt have a clue where I was, I felt like I had been abducted by aliens. "I also couldnt breathe with the ventilator they had put in because both of my lungs had collapsed ... I was just choking, it was just terrible." After coming out of a coma, the next steps were for Mr Berg to eat solid food again and survive several surgeries to try to repair his crushed legs. The leg surgeries were successful, skin grafts were used to cover the chemical burns on Mr Berg's arms and chest and plastic surgery repaired the gashes on his body. One of Mr Berg's legs was two inches shorter than the other after the crash due to the crush injuries, he joked that doctors had better fix it or he would "keep walking around in circles". One year on from the crash, Mr Berg can stand, but cannot walk due to the extreme pain he feels because the bones in his legs haven't healed properly yet. "I can stand, but I cant transfer my weight onto one leg to walk, so I need a wheelchair," he said. "I should probably start with physiotherapy and proper rehabilitation, but I'm just lacking in motivation." Mr Berg said his aircraft and public liability insurer has refused to pay out and he plans to take action against the company because he claims he has not been given a reason why they won't pay. The pilot said the physical, financial and emotional challenges he faces are daunting and the legal action his injured passengers are taking against him over the crash has compounded the situation. "I haven't been allowed to move on, I've replayed everything every day with the constant statements I've given," he said. "Emotionally, getting through this has been tough. There has also been a severe impact on my family, my wife took a real beating. "My family were sitting outside the airport fence waiting for me when they heard the ambulances, fire trucks and the helicopter landing. "The police eventually came and told them what had happened, but on their way to the hospital one of the hospital staff rang and told them they didn't think I was going to make it. "My daughter also said that one day as I came out of surgery, I made eye contact with her but didn't recognise her, I don't remember that due to the number of drugs I had been given. On Friday, Mr Berg met the RACQ LifeFlight Rescue helicopter team who helped to save his life. "It was amazing to meet the people who saved my life, to see how they operate, look inside the helicopter and hear their sequence of events, their thoughts and how they coped," he said. "The main thing was the mess I was in when they found me ... the crew said at the scene they didnt think I was going to make it." Looking ahead, Mr Berg hopes to walk again, get back to work using his electrical engineering qualifications and overcome the various legal and insurance issues he faces. What the investigators concluded According to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into the crash, as the light plane approached the runway, Mr Berg was turning left when the aircraft stalled and began rolling, causing the left wing to hit the ground and the rest of the plane came down soon after. One of the main focuses of the investigation was the stability and weight of the aircraft. "The pilot reported calculating the weight and balance of the aircraft prior to the flight using the aircraft electronic flight instrumentation system (EFIS) and using average weights for all occupants," the ATSB report said. "He recalled the EFIS showing the aircraft weight and balance to be within the approved range." Investigators' calculations showed the aircraft was just within the weight limit for the aircraft type, 920 kilograms, but the weight was unevenly distributed. "The empty weight of the aircraft was 461kg. The weight of the front seat occupants was 190kg and the weight of the rear seat occupants was 175kg," the ATSB report said. "The pilot estimated that at the time of take-off there was about 93kg of fuel on board and reported that no items were carried in the baggage compartment. The estimated take-off weight for the accident flight was 919kg. "Using the weight of the front seat occupants from the accident flight and allowing for no fuel and no baggage, the ATSB calculated that the maximum weight able to be carried in the rear seats of VH-BEG, while remaining within the allowable centre of gravity range, was just 118kg. "It was also found that when allowing for full fuel and any weight in the front two seats, the aircraft also required weight in the rear seats, or the baggage compartment, to ensure the centre of gravity was not located forward of the allowable range. "The aircraft centre of gravity position was aft of the rear limit. During the approach, the aircraft stalled and entered an incipient spin at a height from which recovery was not possible and the aircraft collided with terrain." /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/431c7137-826d-43a8-860a-259330e8a543/r0_277_2567_1727_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Property developers will be able to increase the height of buildings in the Woden town centre by an extra four floors without having to provide any additional community benefit and the area would lose its only park under planning changes decided by the ACT Government. Community groups have reacted with alarm to some of the changes made to the Woden draft variation to the Territory Plan they say are too favourable to developers pushing for density at a cost to the local community. Planning Minister Mick Gentleman revealed the changes last week in a long-awaited response to an Assembly inquiry into development in the town centre. But Woden Valley Community Council president Fiona Carrick said the final variation put the city's developers ahead of the community on several fronts, and the community council was not consulted on key changes. "I think everybody feels like its a done deal and theres nothing that can be done, even our local MLAs are saying why are you fighting a fight you wont win?" she said. "Density is supposed to benefit the community, but every single developer will apply for the four storeys if they can get it, so without the community benefit formalised, its really just a give to the developers." The 2015 Woden masterplan required developers to provide a community benefit, such as a childcare centre or other community facilities, if they applied to take advantage of a four-storey bonus above the proposed height limits in the town centre. That requirement has been removed in the latest changes. A spokesman for Mr Gentleman said it was an authority decision made in February last year, after industry feedback during a workshop held in January 2017. He said the authority decided to remove the measure from the variation to do more work on a mechanism ACT-wide. A workshop included property owners in the Woden and Belconnen town centres, the ACT Property Council, the ACT government architect, the Housing Industry Association, the Australian Institute of Architects and unnamed planning consultants, but no residents groups or community councils were invited. Mr Gentleman also directed the authority to change the floor-plate size of all marker buildings east of Callam Street in Woden from 700 square metres to 850 square metres, after developers said the restriction was too onerous. The floor-plate size is the footprint of the base, or podium, section of a building. Mr Gentleman said the change would balance the need for development while trying to minimise the bulk of the taller building elements. Under other changes to the variation, the government also ignored the committee's recommendation that Geocon's proposed 24-storey Wova development be limited to 19 storeys. Instead, the authority will allow the main tower of the development to rise to 24 storeys, but Geocon has had to reconfigure the development to limit overshadowing, in a move that appears to conflict with the authority's own justification for the tower being approved as a "marker building" on a prominent corner. The company lodged a new, amended development application on July 30 this year with changes to reduce the overshadowing impact on the neighbouring Bellerive Retirement Village, by moving it from the Melrose Drive corner to the Furzer Street corner, and the company has also increased its setbacks on the block. While Ms Carrick said the community still wanted the height of the tower on the site reduced in line with the previous authority ruling, she was pleased some of the overshadowing concerns seemed to be getting addressed. Despite community council and committee opposition, the government will press ahead with rezoning Arabanoo Park for a community facility, which will, once developed, remove the only park in the town centre. The government has also pressed on with plans for a building hierarchy unique to the Woden town centre that will see buildings rise from 16 metres to 28 metres across the entire town centre north of Hindmarsh Drive. Ms Carrick said she still didn't understand why the government was not listening to the community concerns about height, given it could lead to 28-storey buildings next to the town square with as little as 12 metres between each building. "I dont want to be in the position that because of this variation were fighting every single development," she said. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/6974a60f-93b6-4c22-8d1c-e9130459f34c/r0_123_2000_1253_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Photo: Contributed A wayward poodle that was on the run around Kelowna Airport has been reunited with its owner. Flurry was finally corralled Saturday after being on the lam since bolting from the airport on Wednesday. "We finally managed to catch Flurry, the grey female poodle who escaped with her sister after they were picked up from the Westjet cargo facility," owner Brian Rehwald said Saturday night. "Flurry was hiding out in a forested area southwest of the airport ... she made a run for it and was spotted heading south on the rail trail. She ended up in a swamp near the UBC Okanagan exit and was recovered by three people who waded into the swamp and pulled her out." Rehwald says the dog is in good shape other than being dehydrated, tired and hungry. Her sister, Sparkle, was found Wednesday afternoon after being struck by a vehicle on Highway 97. Both dogs had bolted from the airport tarmac after being shipped from Ontario and handed over to their new owner. "She was rushed to the vet by a passerby and is in stable condition awaiting surgery," said Rehwald. WestJet flew the seller out from Ontario free of charge to help search for Flurry, "and he was one of the people that recovered her from the swamp." "A happy ending to a three-day saga where many local individuals and organizations helped out." Photo: The Canadian Press When Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Francois Legault recently dismissed the Montreal mayor's popular plan for a new subway line, he didn't feel it necessary to even pay lip service to the idea. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Paul Chiasson When Coalition Avenir Quebec Leader Francois Legault recently dismissed the Montreal mayor's popular plan for a new subway line, he didn't feel it necessary to even pay lip service to the idea. Valerie Plante's "pink line" helped her win the 2017 municipal election as Montrealers dreamed of a shiny new transit project with stations to be named after women and minorities who helped build the multicultural city. The Liberals and Parti Quebecois, who both hold ridings on the island of Montreal, publicly supported the project, despite acknowledging the embryonic plan was many years away if it ever came to fruition. Legault and his party, which is popular in the far-flung suburban ridings surrounding the greater Montreal area, weren't enamoured of the project. "We have concluded it's not the priority," Legault told reporters at his party's convention in May. Pollsters have indicated the Coalition, which was created in 2011 and has never held power, can win the Oct. 1 provincial election without any of the 27 ridings on the island of Montreal. And while the party has one or two chances of picking up a Montreal riding, its political base is in Quebec City and the surrounding areas known as "the regions." A major question is where the country's second-largest city and Quebec's economic engine will rank in the Coalition's list of priorities should it take power. Montreal a Liberal party and federalist bastion had a hard enough time getting attention when the sovereigntist PQ government was in power, said Peter Trent, ex-mayor of Westmount, a wealthy English-speaking enclave on the island of Montreal. "I felt the difference," Trent, who served as Westmount mayor between 1991 and 2002 and again from 2009 until last year, said in an interview. "Whenever the PQ was in power, a cold wind blew." Cities and regions across the province compete for attention and money from the capital, Quebec City, and constituents are often better served if their legislative member is in cabinet or is powerful within the government structure, Trent said. The majority of the ridings on Montreal island are Liberal, and the members who hold those seats are almost all in Premier Philippe Couillard's cabinet. Montreal's West Island, for example, is home to Finance Minister Carlos Leitao, Public Security Minister Martin Coiteux and Aboriginal Affairs Minister Geoffrey Kelley. To their geographical east is the riding of Saint-Laurent, represented by government house leader Jean-Marc Fournier. The new, multibillion-dollar light rail train system under construction by the province's pension fund, the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, travels right through all those Liberal, federalist ridings. Kelley said having himself, Leitao and Coiteux around the cabinet table "certainly didn't hurt" the project, which is also funded by the provincial and federal governments. "It's a project from the Caisse," Kelley said in an interview, "but we wanted to make sure the concerns in the West Island were heard." Kelley, a 24-year political veteran who is not seeking re-election, is not ready to call victory for the Coalition in October, despite what the polls suggest. He did acknowledge, however, that if Montreal is found "offside" politically and has little to no elected representation in a future governing party it would be a "big problem." "It's been a long time, I can't remember when that's happened in Quebec history, so it would be a big problem because a lot goes on, on the island of Montreal,'' Kelley said. "Whether it's our institutions, our infrastructure, it's very important that people are close to the ground and understand those issues." Angelo Persichilli, who was director of communication for ex-prime minister Stephen Harper between 2011 and 2012, worked in government when the Conservatives didn't have a single seat on the island of Montreal and only five provincewide. In his experience with Harper, he said, Quebec wasn't treated any differently because it had fewer MPs compared to other provinces. Persichilli did, however, offer an old adage: "Whoever is absent is always wrong." With the Liberals in power since 2003 aside from a short-lived minority PQ government between 2012 and 2014, the so-called regions are going to be putting a lot of pressure on Quebec City for attention if the Coalition wins, Trent said. "There will be a tremendous amount of pull," he explained. "They'll say: 'Now that we got you in power we want our goodies and it's our turn.'" The allegedly forgotten parts of Quebec are already getting attention ahead of the election campaign, which will officially begin this Thursday. PQ Leader Jean-Francois Lisee recently called Montreal's east end the Liberals' "forgotten child" and accused the governing party of ignoring the area because its constituents largely don't support it. Legault's best chance to pick up seats in Montreal, polls suggest, can be found in east-end ridings currently held by the PQ. Photo: The Canadian Press The federal government's intention to enact a statutory holiday aimed at remembering the legacy of Canada's residential school system has drawn mixed reactions from Indigenous Canadians, with responses to the plan ranging from cautious optimism to open disdain. Many have expressed concern that such an occasion dedicated to reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples could simply devolve into another day off for most Canadians, and note that a lot of work will need to be done if the day is to achieve its goal. "Reconciliation right now is a great buzz word, but that's kind of where it seems to end," said Frances Moore, an Anishinaabe woman from Timiskaming First Nation in Quebec who now lives in London, Ont. "If this truly is about reconciliation, then great. Do this day, but let's also see action in other ways." The steps needed to make a prospective day of remembrance effective would have to involve the government making educational resources available across the country to ensure the effects of residential schools remain front and centre, Moore said. Input from Indigenous Canadians from all walks of life will be essential to designing a meaningful tribute day, but they should not be left alone to shoulder the burden of educating the broader public, Moore said. Governments and allies, she said, should "step up" and relieve survivors and those who love them of the "emotional labour" of telling traumatizing stories that have not yet come to an end. The government-funded, church-run residential schools operated for more than a century. Indigenous children were ripped away from their families, usually starting in late September, and sent to schools where they endured widespread sexual, emotional and physical abuse. Evelyn Korkmaz, who spent several years at the St. Anne's Residential School in northern Ontario, said the projected day of tribute would do little more than re-open those wounds for her and her fellow survivors. "Who wants to be reminded every year your country and Church betrayed and destroyed your innocence? No thanks," Korkmaz wrote in an email, adding that she is not aware of widespread efforts to consult survivors before the government floated the possibility of a stat holiday. One organization involved in sustaining Remembrance Day, a potentially comparable federal holiday, echoed Moore's call for a focus on education. Anthony Wilson-Smith, chief executive officer for Historica Canada, said Remembrance Day has lodged itself in the collective psyche in part because of its widespread adoption across the country and the substantial educational resources that have gone into preserving its purpose. "With Remembrance Day you can go to any one of the cenotaphs across this country that every small town ... and big city has," he said. "If you're going to have this day of remembrance for survivors and the loss from residential schools, what kind of tools are you going to provide to communities to do that?" If Parliament did approve a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation as a statutory holiday, it would only apply to federally regulated workplaces the civil service, marine ports, airports, airlines and telecommunications companies. Provinces and territories would have to amend their existing labour codes to establish any additional day off. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said the details of a prospective day off are still in the works and has pledged that no plans will be made without extensive Indigenous community consultation. For one non-Indigenous man, honouring that pledge will be critical. Matthew Martin-Ellis of Toronto said he wants to use a prospective day as an educational opportunity, but would like to hear from survivors and their families as to how to pay tribute respectfully. He noted, however, that he didn't want to see a holiday turn into an occasion that suggests the inequities Indigenous Canadians face are in the past. "If it ends up being a day that seeks to congratulate us on a victory and a reconciliation that we haven't achieved yet, I think we should not pursue this," Martin-Ellis said. Carolyn Hepburn, a Cree woman from Fort Albany First Nation, said she sees the government plan as a valuable sign of good will. She does feel, however, that Ottawa should reconsider attaching the commemorative day to either Indigenous People's Day on June 21 or Orange Shirt Day on Sept. 30 as the government has indicated it's considering. "We don't want to lose the messaging on either of those days," she said, adding that events like Orange Shirt day when people don the brightly hewed tops to pay tribute to a survivor who had a treasured possession taken from her when she entered the residential school system serve their own purpose in advancing what should be an ongoing conversation about reconciliation. For others, like Native Council of Nova Scotia Chief Lorraine Augustine, the entire idea of the holiday smacks of insincerity. She said that while she could not speak for others in her community, she is personally struggling to see any merit in the proposal despite the fact that it comes as a result of a recommendation from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. "How can you honour (residential school survivors) after what you've done to them?" she said. "No amount of apology, no amount of money is going to take away the hurt and what they went through." Note to readers: This is a corrected story. A previous version had the wrong last name for Matthew Martin-Ellis. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. By: Thomas Merton This is often forgotten by Catholics themselves, and therefore it is not surprising that those who are not Catholic often have a completely wrong conception of Catholic devotion to the Mother of God. They imagine, and sometimes we can understand their reasons for doing so, that Catholics treat the Blessed Virgin as an almost divine being in her own right, as if she had some glory, some power, some majesty of her own that placed her on a level with Christ Himself. They regard the Assumption of Mary into heaven as a kind of apotheosis placed in the Redemption would seem to be equal to that of her Son. +++ But this is all completely contrary to the true mind of the Catholic Church.+++ It forgets that Mary's chief glory is in her nothingness, in the fact of being the "Handmaid of the Lord," as one who in becoming the Mother of God acted simply in loving submission to His command, in the pure obedience of faith. She is blessed not because of some mythical pseudo-divine prerogative, but in all her human and womanly limitations as one who has believed. It is the faith and the fidelity of this humble handmaid, "full of grace" that enables her to be the perfect instrument of God, and nothing else but His instrument. The work that was done in her purely the work of God. "He that is mighty hath done great things in me." The glory of Mary is purely and simply the glory of God in her. and she, like anyone else, can say that she has nothing that she has not received from Him through Christ. We ask you, humbly: don't scroll away. Hi readers, it seems you use Catholic Online a lot; that's great! It's a little awkward to ask, but we need your help. If you have already donated, we sincerely thank you. We're not salespeople, but we depend on donations averaging $14.76 and fewer than 1% of readers give. If you donate just $5.00, the price of your coffee, Catholic Online School could keep thriving. Thank you. Help Now > As a matter of fact, this is precisely her greatest glory: that having nothing of her own, retaining nothing of a "self" that could glory in any- thing for her own sake, she placed no obstacle to the mercy of God and in no way resisted His love and His will. Hence she received more from Him than any other saint. he was able to accomplish His will perfectly in her, and His liberty was in no way hindered or turned from its purpose by the presence of an egotistical self in Mary. She was and is in the highest sense a person precisely because, being "immaculate," she was free from every taint of selfishness that might obscure God's light in her being. She was then a freedom that obeyed Him perfectly and in this obedience found the fulfill- ment of perfect love. The genuine significance of Catholic devotion to Mary is to be seen in the light of the Incarnation itself. The Church cannot separate the Son and the Mother. Because the Church conceived of the Incarnation as God's descent into flesh and into time, and His great gift of Himself to His creatures, she also believes that the one who was closest to Him in this great mystery was the one who participated most perfectly in the gift. When a room is heated by an open flame, surely there is nothing strange in the fact that those who stand closest to the fireplace are the ones who are warmest. And when God comes into the world through the instrumentality of one of His servants, then there is nothing surprising about the fact that His chosen instrument should have the greatest and most intimate share in the divine gift. Mary, who was empty of all egotism, free from all sin, was as pure as the glass of a very clean window that has no other function than to admit the light of the sun (Son). If we rejoice in that light, we implicitly praise the cleanness of the window. And of course it might be argued that in such a case we might well forget the window altogether. This is true. And yet the Son of God, in emptying Himself of His majestic power, having become a child, abandoning Himself in complete dependence to the loving care of a human Mother, in a certain sense draws our attention once again to her. The Light has wished to remind us of the window, because He is grateful to her and because He has an infinitely tender love, it is certainly a great grace and a privilege, and one of the most important aspects of this privilege is that it enables us to some extent to appreciate the mystery of God's great love and respect for His creatures. That God should assume Mary into heaven is not just a glorification of a "Mother Goddess." Quite the contrary, it is the expression of the divine love for humanity, and a very special manifestation of God's respect for His creatures, His desire to do honor to the beings He has made in His own image, and most particularly His respect for the body which was destined to be the temple of His glory. If Mary is believed to be assumed into heaven, it is because we too are one day, by the grace of God, to dwell where she is. If human nature is glorified in her, it is because God desires it to be glorified in us too, and it is for this reason that His Son, taking flesh, came into the world. In all the great mystery of Mary, then, one thing remains most clear: that of herself she is nothing, and that God has for our sakes delighted to manifest His glory and His love in her. It is because she is, of all the saints, the most perfectly poor and the most perfectly hidden, the one who has absolutely nothing whatever that she attempts to possess as her own, that she can most fully communicate to the rest of us the grace of the infinitely selfless God. And we will most truly possess Him when we have emptied ourselves and become poor and hidden as she is, resembling Him by resembling her. And all our sanctity depends on her maternal love. The ones she desires to share the joy of her own poverty and simplicity, the ones whom she wills to be hidden as she is hidden, are the ones who share her closeness to God. Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. All materials contained on this site, whether written, audible or visual are the exclusive property of Catholic Online and are protected under U.S. and International copyright laws, Copyright 2021 Catholic Online. Any unauthorized use, without prior written consent of Catholic Online is strictly forbidden and prohibited. Catholic Online is a Project of Your Catholic Voice Foundation, a Not-for-Profit Corporation. Your Catholic Voice Foundation has been granted a recognition of tax exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Federal Tax Identification Number: 81-0596847. Your gift is tax-deductible as allowed by law. How to get digital access to the Chieftain If you are currently a print subscriber but don't have an online account, select this option. You will need to use your 7 digit subscriber account number (with leading zeros) and your last name (in UPPERCASE). Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Due to the sensitive nature of this article, it's important that I make some preliminary statements. There will be enough controversy if my words are rightly understood, let alone misunderstood. First, I am not a Catholic basher. Second, I am not claiming that the Catholic Church has a monopoly on sexual scandals. Third, I believe the vast majority of homosexual men stand with me in denouncing pedophilia and "man-boy love." Fourth, as we focus on predatory priests, we must not forget their victims. Some of the abused have lost faith for life. Others bear their scars in different, significant ways. They must not be forgotten in the midst of our outrage and grief. The question, then, is simple: Does the Catholic Church have a homosexual problem? According to Cardinal Raymond Burke, "It was clear after the studies following the 2002 sexual abuse crisis that most of the acts of abuse were in fact homosexual acts committed with adolescent young men. There was a studied attempt to either overlook or to deny this. Now it seems clear in light of these recent terrible scandals that indeed there is a homosexual culture, not only among the clergy but even within the hierarchy, which needs to be purified at the root. It is of course a tendency that is disordered." If you're surprised to hear this candid admission, you're not alone. As Cardinal Burke observed, "There was a studied attempt to either overlook or to deny this." Yes, it was fine to talk about Catholicism's problem with pedophilia. It was fine to discuss sexual scandals in broad terms. But it was basically forbidden to connect them directly to homosexuality. Is it true that homosexual pedophiles are more likely to abuse boys then heterosexual pedophiles are likely to abuse girls? According to a 2007 Mayo Clinic study, "The percentage of homosexual pedophiles ranges from 9 per cent to 40 per cent, which is approximately four to 20 times higher than the rate of adult men attracted to other adult men (using a prevalence rate of adult homosexuality of 2 per cent to 4 per cent). . . . This finding does not imply that homosexuals are more likely to molest children, just that a larger percentage of pedophiles are homosexual or bisexual in orientation to children." But even if this study is accurate (I have seen other evidence to support this), I don't believe that pedophilia (in terms of men abusing prepubescent children) is the primary issue within the Catholic sex scandals. This is confirmed by Bill Donohue, president of the Catholic League for Religious and Civil Rights. (Donohue holds a Ph.D. in Sociology from New York University; in his 11-page report, he seeks to debunk the notion of widespread sexual sin among the clergy.) Pointing to a 2004 study, Donohue notes, "The John Jay study found that 81 percent of the victims were male, 78 percent of whom were postpubescent. Now if 100 percent of the victimizers are male, and most of the victims are postpubescent males, that is a problem called homosexuality. There is no getting around it. "How many were pedophiles? Less than five percent. That is what the John Jay study found. Studies done in subsequent yearsI have read them allreport approximately the same ratio. It's been a homosexual scandal all along." In the words of blogger Matt Walsh, "the real problem in the Catholic Church isn't pedophilia but gay priests. As the statistics clearly show, the vast majority of predators in the clergy were homosexual and the vast majority were not pedophiles." What, then, should we conclude from this? That homosexuals are far worse sinners than heterosexuals? Actually, there has been a flood of scandals involving heterosexual female teachers and their underage, heterosexual male students. What does this prove? The vast majority of pornography that is produced is for heterosexual use (since the vast majority of people are heterosexual). What does this prove? It proves that sexual sin is everywhere. And all of it is ugly, especially when it takes advantage of others. So, my point here is not that homosexuals are more promiscuous than heterosexuals (even though there is evidence to support this). And my point is not that homosexuals are more prone to pedophilia than heterosexuals (although here too, as noted, there is evidence to support that). My point is simply that the vast majority of devout, heterosexual Catholic men will not want to give up marriage for the priesthood. However, a devout Catholic man who is attracted to the same-sex would be more likely to give up marriage for the priesthood, since he cannot "marry" a same-sex partner and be faithful to Catholicism. And what do you expect to happen when you have thousands of homosexual men who are single for life, some of whom are fairly young, and who are in intimate environments with teenage men? Read the horrific reports about sexual abuse in the Catholic Church. That's exactly what you would expect. As Ross Benes explained, "While doing research for my book The Sex Effect, I came across many scholars who suggested that preventing priests from marrying altered the makeup of the priesthood over time, unintentionally providing a shelter for some devout gay men to hide their sexual orientation. By continuing to disqualify women and married men, the priesthood attracts men who desire to forgo sex for the rest of their lives in an attempt to get closer to God. Because the church denounces all gay sex, some devout gay men pursue the celibate priesthood as a self-incentive to avoid sex with men, which can help them circumvent perceived damnation." This, in turn, has produced what some claim is a gay subculture within the Catholic Church, from the local parish to the seminary and beyond. The sordid results that follow are utterly unsurprising. From my perspective as a non-Catholic, the clergy should be allowed to marry, while those with the gift of celibacy should refrain from marriage. As for priests (or potential priests) who are same-sex attracted, they should seek out help for their sexual conflicts, not being allowed to serve until they have a clear and persistent track record of holy, disciplined living. To do anything else is to be unfair to them and, far, far worse, to be unfair to their potential victims. Authorities are looking for at least two suspects in a violent assault and attempted robbery Friday in northwest Harris County that left a woman in critical condition. At around 9:30 a.m., a woman who authorities have not yet identified had just withdrawn $75,000 in cash and was arriving at a location on the 23200 block of Northwest Freeway near Jersey Village, Harris County Constable Precinct 4 stated on social media. As she got out of her car, another vehicle pulled up. A suspect jumped out of that car and began assaulting the woman in attempt to steal her purse, a surveillance video released by authorities shows. Authorities later identified that suspect as 31-year-old Davis Dowell Mitchell. The female victim "fought hard and refused to give up her purse containing the money," authorities stated. Her husband saw the fight and ran out to help. As the victims continued to fight Mitchell, another car a black Chrysler 300 pulled up. Another unidentified suspect jumped out and began to also assault the victims, authorities stated. That suspect got back in his car, reversed over the victims and then fled the scene, the surveillance video shows. While the victim was able to hold on to her purse, she was injured by the car attack and is now in critical condition, authorities stated. The victim is expected to live but is in surgery after injuring her shoulder and back, Constable Mark Herman said. As the attack was happening, a Precinct 4 deputy drove by. The deputy "saw people on the ground and didn't know what it was at first," Herman said. The deputy arrested Davis Dowell Mitchell, who will face charges of Aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon, authorities stated. Mitchell has not been cooperating with the investigation, Herman said. Authorities are now looking for at least two other suspects: The driver of the car who ran over the victim, and the driver whose car Mitchell was initially riding in. Authorities urged the public to contact "local law enforcement" if they recognize the suspects in the surveillance video, seen above. A second suspect in a brutal beating and failed robbery was identified Saturday, one day after the northwest Harris County attack that left a woman hospitalized in critical condition. Travonn Johnson is wanted after authorities say he joined in on the attempted heist, then allegedly ran over the victims before fleeing. Another suspect, 31-year-old Davis Dowell Mitchell was jailed without bond Friday in connection with the case. The would-be thieves struck that morning around 9:30 a.m., when they zeroed in on a woman who'd just withdrawn $75,000 in cash from a bank and was pulling into a location in the 23200 block of Northwest Freeway. As she got out of the car and went in the building, another vehicle pulled up. A man - later identified as Mitchell - jumped out and tackled the woman, pulling her to the ground, pummeling her and yanking at her purse. Her husband spotted the attack and came running outside to help. Then, another car - a black Chrysler 300 - pulled up. A man later identified as Johnson hopped out and began stomping and beating the woman and her husband, authorities said. As the struggle continued, Johnson allegedly got back in his car and video footage shows the vehicle backing up over the couple before fleeing. Through it all, the woman managed to hold onto her purse but was critically injured. She was taken to the hospital for surgery and is expected to live. Afterward, a Harris County Precinct 4 constable deputy who drove up during the attack arrested Mitchell. He's facing aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon charges and is not cooperating with the investigation, constables said. Following the initial arrest at the scene, authorities went on the hunt for the other suspects. On Saturday, Constable Mark Herman announced the charges against Johnson and urged him to surrender. "We would encourage Travonn Johnson to turn himself in to law enforcement," Herman said. "The teams of law enforcement that are currently looking for him are not helpless citizens, and will approach him as the suspected violent individual he is." Investigators are continuing to probe the case in hopes of identifying other suspects. Liberty County Jail A Liberty County woman shot a man in the back of the head with a rifle during a fight Friday night, police say. Jessica Tullos, 44, was charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon after shooting Richard Dale Morris, 56, according to the Liberty County Sheriff's Office. When a Muslim couple sat down for a meeting with a municipal commission in the Swiss city of Lausanne, their interviewers found that they "showed great difficulty in answering questions asked by people of the opposite sex," the city's mayor said. So they were both denied Swiss citizenship. Mayor Gregoire Junod told Agence France-Presse on Friday that the man and woman declined to shake hands with people of the opposite sex and that their behavior during the interview signaled to the three-person commission interviewing them that they had not adequately integrated into Switzerland. Despite laws that ensure freedom of religion, "religious practice does not fall outside the law," Gregoire told AFP. Handshaking has ignited a debate over the role of religion in Switzerland before, as some Muslims, with the exception of certain relatives, do not physically touch members of the opposite sex. Swiss teachers often expect their students to shake their hands in a move that is considered to signal respect for their authority. But in 2016, two male students from Syria refused to greet their female teacher in that way. The teenagers' parents then faced fines of around $5,000, after the region's educational authorities said "a teacher has a right to demand a handshake." Their school initially tried to compromise by telling the two students they didn't have to shake any teacher's hands. But authorities later ruled that "the public interest concerning gender equality as well as integration of foreigners far outweighs that concerning the freedom of belief of students." The students' father was reportedly a Syrian imam who had won asylum in Switzerland after he moved there in 2001. But the family apparently feared the public dispute over the boys' refusal to shake hands with women could affect their attempts to naturalize as Swiss citizens. This week, a Swedish woman won discrimination compensation after a company cut short her interview because she wouldn't shake a man's hand. The New York Times reported that the woman, Farah Alhajeh, instead put her hand over her heart and smiled when she was introduced to a man in the office. She explained that she couldn't shake his hand for religious reasons, and the interview ended right then and there. A Swedish labor court ruled that she was owed around $4,350. Alhajeh told the Times that when she's in a mixed gender setting, she greets both men and women by placing her hands on her heart as to not appear to be discriminate against one sex. "We live in a society where you have to treat women and men the same," she said. The labor court that ruled in her favor said that "the woman's refusal to shake hands with people of the opposite sex is a religious manifestation that is protected under Article 9 of the European Convention on Human Rights," the Times reported. But the company saw it as a violation of gender equality. The couple in Lausanne could appeal the decision denying them citizenship, but officials insist they are right. "The constitution and equality between men and women prevails over bigotry," vice-mayor Pierre-Antoine Hildbrand told AFP. He was one of the commission members who interviewed the couple, and said he was "very satisfied with the decision" that they would not become Swiss citizens. Discussions of criminal justice supervision and collateral consequences that merit extended conversations | Main | Exploring what neuroscience may mean for criminal justice The question in the title of this post is prompted by this Hill piece from late Friday headlined "Sentencing reform deal heats up, pitting Trump against reliable allies." Here are excerpts (with emphasis added): Negotiations on a criminal justice reform bill are pitting President Trump against some of his closest allies on Capitol Hill. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) sent a public warning shot to the White House this week, writing in a Wall Street Journal op-ed that Trump should not support a jailbreak by reducing mandatory minimum sentences. That foolish approach is not criminal justice reform. [It would] undercut President Trumps campaign promise to restore law and order, Cotton wrote. Besides Cotton, other reliable allies of the White House, including Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (R-Texas), are opposing the administrations approach, which would combine a House-passed prison reform bill with changes to sentencing and mandatory minimums that have wide, bipartisan support in the Senate. Supporters say completing the bill would give the administration a needed win heading into November's midterm elections. Cotton argues it would make Trump and the GOP look weak on crime. White House officials and supporters of a deal have been talking with Republican holdouts to try to convince them to back the proposed compromise, which they say would add roughly four sentencing reform provisions into the House bill, which currently focuses on recidivism and not sentencing laws. The pending agreement is expected to add into the House bill lower mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug convictions and more exceptions for judges on applying mandatory minimums. It would also let judges avoid doubling up on convictions for drug offenders facing simultaneous charges, and retroactively apply the 2010 Fair Sentencing Act, which is aimed at reducing the disparity between cocaine- and crack-related offenses. A senior White House official said they had received largely positive feedback and have 30 to 32 locked down yes votes among Republican senators. The official offered hope that the number of GOP supporters could eventually grow as many as 40 to 46. We're hopeful that we'll be able to bring everybody together to get this to a place where we have ... most of the Republicans ready to vote for it, the official said... Supporters are moving forward and trying to build support within the GOP conference, signaling they view Cotton as a surmountable outlier. I view it like the handful of people who are trying to obstruct are kind of giving it their best shot and, again, at the end of the day, I think facts usually overcome scare tactics, the senior White House official said. If Cottons op-ed was meant to build opposition to the potential deal within the Senate Republican Conference, officials suggested it appeared to have backfired. The senior White House official said that nearly a dozen Republican senators had reached out in wake of the Wall Street Journal article to say they didnt agree with Cotton. A second White House official confirmed the outreach. But opposition from a small, but vocal, group of critics has been a years-long roadblock for criminal justice reform in the Senate, where GOP leadership has been reluctant to put a spotlight on intra-caucus fights. In addition to Cotton, Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) and then-Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) threatened to do everything within their power to block a 2015 criminal justice reform bill, which had the support of the White House. Hatch has since come on board with criminal justice legislation, and Sessions is now attorney general. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) has warned him to stay out of the negotiations.... Republicans wont be able to pass a criminal justice deal on their own. A separate Senate bill, spearheaded by Grassley and Durbin, has the support of 32 senators, including Democrats like Sens. Kamala Harris (Calif.) and Cory Booker (N.J.). The White House is hoping electoral politics wont get in the way of them supporting the pending agreement. [If] people vote against it, I think it would just be really bad vote for them because this bill does a lot of good things, the senior White House official said of potential Democratic opposition.... Trump held an event on prison reform last week, and at a White House meeting earlier this month signaled support for criminal justice reform. The senior White House official said that while negotiations are ongoing and no final decision has been made, there is a very strong chance the president will support the final package. [That] means that a lot of the people will want to be with him on it, the official said. And again, they know that the president's very tough on crime and if he's supporting something then they know it's not going to be a soft on crime bill. But Cornyn appeared skeptical that Trump, despite his deep popularity with GOP voters, would be able to change the dynamics in the Senate. I dont think people are going to change their strongly held positions on the sentencing reform part, he said. So my goal is to achieve whats possible." Washington Republicans are struggling to make the $1.5 trillion Trump tax cuts a winning issue with voters in the midterm congressional elections, but the cuts are helping the party in another crucial way: unlocking tens of millions of dollars in campaign donations from the wealthy conservatives and corporate interests that benefited handsomely from it. Billionaires and corporations that reaped millions of dollars in tax cuts are pumping some of that windfall into the Congressional Leadership Fund, a super PAC closely aligned with Speaker Paul D. Ryan that is flooding the airwaves and front porches of swing congressional districts with increasingly sharp attacks on the Democratic candidates vying to wrest control of the House. The fund's donors include casino magnate Sheldon Adelson, who has given $30 million and whose company, Las Vegas Sands, reported a nearly $700 million windfall from the tax law earlier this year; Timothy Mellon, chairman and majority owner of Pan Am Systems, a privately held collection of companies that includes rail, aviation and marketing services, who has contributed $24 million; Valero Services, a Texas oil refining company that reported a $1.9 billion benefit from tax cuts in the first quarter and which has given $1.5 million; and a collection of other corporations, executives and financial fund managers. Well over a quarter of the group's donations have come through the American Action Network, a separate legal entity that focuses on issues and does not reveal donors, but that spent heavily to promote the tax cuts before and after President Donald Trump signed them into law late last year. Republicans have struggled to sell voters on the benefits of the tax cuts despite strong economic growth and the lowest unemployment numbers in 20 years. Instead, candidates and the Congressional Leadership Fund have focused their campaign ads on more visceral issues such as crime and immigration. But party leaders say the passage of the law appeased wealthy donors, who had been frustrated by Republicans' failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act and had threatened to sit out the 2018 campaign. Now, flush with big checks from a handful of deep-pocketed donors, the Congressional Leadership Fund is serving as the party's best hope of a defense against an electoral defeat in November. The fund's executive director, Corry Bliss, who runs that group and the American Action Network, said some of his donors did not favor all the provisions of the tax law, but all of them hailed its passage as the rich fruits of total Republican control of Washington. Had the tax bill failed, Bliss said, "I think they would have been very disappointed and very deflated." But Bliss said donors were more concerned with seeing results from unified Republican control than specifically with the passage of the tax bill. A super PAC like the Congressional Leadership Fund is allowed to raise unlimited donations, including from corporations and unions, but it is not allowed to coordinate its efforts with candidates. Democrats have their own super PAC dedicated to House campaigns, the House Majority PAC, which Friday started a negative digital attack ad on the GOP House leadership and those who aspire to be in it. The group has raised more than $32 million this year. The arms-length distance between such organizations and the politicians they back can be very short. In May, Politico reported that Ryan flew to Las Vegas with Bliss and Norm Coleman, a former senator and chair of the Republican Jewish Coalition, to meet with Adelson. After the speaker laid out his case for help defending the Republican House majority, he stepped out of the room while Coleman made the request and secured the $30 million. "The American people know that the Republicans who control Washington sold them out with a disastrous tax giveaway to the rich and big business that the rest of the country is being forced to pay for," said Andrew Bates, a spokesman for the liberal campaign group American Bridge. "The fact that those same corporations and wealthy individuals have turned around to bankroll Republican campaign efforts is further proof of what this travesty was all about." "Divided We Fall: Parole Supervision Conditions Prohibiting Inter-Offender Associations" | Main | Discussions of criminal justice supervision and collateral consequences that merit extended conversations As reported in this New York Times piece, special counsel Robert Mueller and his team have submitted this sentencing memo in conjunction with the upcoming scheduled sentencing of George Papadopoulos. Here is how that memocrandum gets started: The government submits this memorandum in connection with the sentencing of George Papadopoulosscheduled for September 7, 2018. On October 5, 2017, Papadopoulos pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001(a). The government does not take a position with respect to a particular sentence to be imposed, but respectfully submits that a sentence of incarceration, within the applicable Guidelines range of 0 to 6 months imprisonment, is appropriate and warranted. The defendants crime was serious and caused damage to the governments investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The defendant lied in order to conceal his contacts with Russians and Russian intermediaries during the campaign and made his false statements to investigators on January 27, 2017, early in the investigation, when key investigative decisions, including who to interview and when, were being made. The defendant was explicitly notified of the seriousness of the ongoing investigation, and was told that he may have important information to provide. He was warned that lying to investigators was a federal offense that could get him in trouble. Instead of telling the truth, however, the defendant repeatedly lied throughout the interview in order to conceal the timing and significance of information the defendant had received regarding the Russians possessing dirt on Hillary Clinton, as well as his own outreach to Russia on behalf of the campaign. The defendants false statements were intended to harm the investigation, and did so. In light of the defendants conduct and the lack of mitigating circumstances, the principles of sentencing set forth in 18 U.S.C. 3553(a) call for a period of incarceration. It said in the document that rise in oil prices and exchange rate fluctuation in recent months have put pressure on the profitability of airlines. However, to take on the National Assembly and the governments mission of keeping consumer price index below 4 percent for macroeconomic stability , the Ministry requested airlines not to raise fare price in the year. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam will liaise with airlines on the matter to ensure passengers and airlines benefits and the new fare will be implemented from 2019, said a leader of the Ministry. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam was asked to keep track on the matter and impose penalties on violators if detecting violation. Before, Vietnam Airlines, Vietjet Air and Jetstar Pacific Airlines sent document proposing an adjustment in fare price to suit the current situation. The price of jet fuel has gone up in the past year along with rise in other expenses, and airlines including Vietjet, Vietnam Airline and Jetstart Pacific proposed raising ticket prices if fuel costs continue to rise. Only Jetstar Pacific suggested a rise of 25 percent than the present level. By TRAN VU Translated by UYEN PHUONG A San Antonio mother who gave birth at a Chick-fil-A fast food restaurant last month had known her labor and delivery would be out of the ordinary. Both mom and baby were considered high risk due to health complications. Doctors planned for a packed labor room with all kinds of specialists. Falon Maggie Griffins baby would then be whisked to neonatal intensive care. But no one could foresee how unusual the procedure would be in a bathroom stall, the baby delivered by her husband, Robert Griffin, 47, while Chick-fil-A employee Brenda Enriquez served as a go-between with a 911 operator. This is the best team, Maggie Griffin said Friday at a reunion at the restaurant one month after Gracelyn Mae arrived. I couldnt have had a baby in a better location. I knew what could have gone wrong and it didnt. Griffin, 36, had two children and didnt plan another pregnancy after being diagnosed with epilepsy years ago. Gracelyn was a surprise. Doctors warned she would be born with Down syndrome and it would be critical to take her into intensive care to measure her lung capacity and check her heart for holes or murmurs. Griffin was at risk for having a seizure during labor. Her doctor at University Hospital, at a July 17 checkup, estimated the baby wouldnt arrive for another three to seven days. Griffin got a pedicure before going home. That evening she experienced contractions, sometimes 20 minutes apart, other times five minutes. By 9:30 p.m. the couple decided to leave their Spring Branch home and head to the hospital. But first, theyd drop their two older girls off at a friends house. On the drive from suburban Comal County, Griffin really had to go to the bathroom. Stop anywhere, she told her husband. They called the friend, who met them at the Chick-fil-A off U.S. 281, north of Loop 1604. It was already closed but employees were inside who let them in when Robert Griffin banged on the door. Maggie Griffin ran for the bathroom. Two minutes later, Robert Griffin cradled Gracelyn in his shirt. The stall measured less than 2.5 by 5 feet. He had crawled behind her to help as his wife gave birth standing up. Enriquez had called 911. Maggie Griffin said couldnt hear her baby in Roberts arms behind her. I didnt know if I had delivered a stillborn, she said but prayed aloud, thanking God when Gracelyn eventually cried. She had to keep standing until medics arrived. The umbilical cord was twice wrapped around Gracelyns neck. Waiting was the worst, because Maggie Griffin could have had a seizure at any minute, her husband said. Employees raced to get warm towels from the office. As it happened, the office air conditioner was broken and the towels were naturally warm. There was a quiet moment while the Griffins waited. Robert Griffin told his wife, We just had a baby in a Chick-fil-A, and they laughed. In that moment, he knew theyd be all right. On Friday, Enriquez, 23, played the security camera footage over and over again for everyone at the reunion. With their healthy Little Nugget in tow, the couple, Roberts parents and their two older daughters Dakota, 9, and Makayla, 6 celebrated the miracle at Chick-fil-A. Gracelyns birth certificate, on display at the front entrance, showed nurses had crossed out the hospital where she was born and wrote Chick-fil-A. They also crossed out physician and delivery nurse and replaced both with Dad. Maggie and Robert Griffin asked Enriquez to be Gracelyns godmother. She tearfully accepted. And Maggie Griffin refused to go in the bathroom again. Krista Torralva covers several school districts and public universities in the San Antonio and Bexar County area. Read her on our free site, mySA.com, and on our subscriber site, ExpressNews.com. | Krista.Torralva@express-news.net | Twitter: @KMTorralva 3 1 of 3 Google Maps Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Google Maps Show More Show Less 3 of 3 Three armed suspects are on the run after one person was shot in a drive-by Sunday morning in southeast Houston, according to police. Shots rang out just before 7 a.m. in the 6800 block of Cullen. One person was hit, but police said their condition was unclear. It seemed a reliably friendly crowd Saturday at a town hall dedicated to climate change effects in flood-prone areas of Houston. More than 100 had packed the community center auditorium east of downtown, many sporting T-shirts with environmental slogans. They nodded grimly at the dire predictions, cheered approvingly at the mention of Houstons commitment to the Paris climate accord. Then, like climate change itself, things heated up. I see this whole thing as low-hanging fruit, declared Sheila Blake, who has been flooded three times in three years and is weary of promises being made to find solutions only to have governmental resolve fade. What are your plans to protect us? someone else snapped during her turn at the microphone in the question-and-answer period. But it was Sarahy Garcia who really lit up many in the crowd, much to the visible discomfort of those on the stage. Its environmental racism, she alleged, saying that poor minority neighborhoods had been neglected as the weeks turned into months after Harvey hit. The former nurse said she has seen children with rashes and sores that do not heal, parents with unexplained breathing problems, people with odd neurological symptoms all since the storm. Even those whose homes did not flood are struggling with health problems, she said, simply because the air is so contaminated from debris, some of which is still not been picked up nearly a year later. What is the city doing to address all those health ramifications? Why are their voices being ignored? Garcia asked, all the while holding her phone aloft to make sure the officials knew they were being recorded. The city is not ignoring anyone, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett shot back. Trying to diffuse or deflect the anger, Emmett explained that any city response was the responsibility of Mayor Sylvester Turner. He had earlier touted the $2.5 billion bond issue before voters to boost the areas preparedness in future storms. Turner had been invited to the event but did not attend. Instead, he sent a video greeting played earlier in program in which he voiced his commitment to the citys Climate Action and Adaptation Plan. In that plan, Houston vows to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and adhere to the Paris agreement to cap future temperature increases to no more than 1.5 degrees Celsius to curb further environmental damage. RELATED: Houston, Harris County leaders champion $2.5B flood bond as early voting begins Gavin Dillingham, program director for clean energy policy at the Houston Advance Research Institute, also played defense, saying his role in the event was to present data. But quickly added about community efforts: Were going to be as inclusive as we can make it. RELATED: HURRICANE HARVEY A closer look at Houston's biblical floods The Saturday afternoon town hall was co-hosted by the Houston Climate Movement and the Union of Concerned Scientists, a Massachusetts-based nonprofit science advocacy organization. At the start of the event, Stephanie Thomas, a former oil company geologist turned researcher and community organizer for Public Citizen, asked how many had been impacted by Harvey. About half of the 100 or so in the audience raised their hand. Shana Udvardy, a climate resilience analyst for the Union of Concerned Scientists, was the featured speaker and laid out a series of troubling predictions of high-tide flooding in coming years in Texas and along the U.S. coastline. For example, she said her groups analysis showed that in Texas 10,000 homes, with a $2.2 billion total value, could be lost by 2045 due to chronic flooding. It would affect 17,000 people and have a $3.8 million impact on the tax base, she said. Unlike in other real estate crashes, those homes that lose value are not likely to get it back, Udvardy added. In addition, her group predicts that by 2060, more than 60 percent of Bolivar Peninsula would flood on average twice a month. About 45 percent of Galveston would hold the same fate, the fact sheet said. No one needs to tell Blake the consequences both financial and emotional of a changing climate. The 58-year-old said she was an environmentalist even before her homes have flooded three times in three years. But when theory becomes reality, it all changes. My life has been on hold for three years, she said her eyes glistening. It changes you. Jenny Deam twitter.com/jenny_deam ACCRA, Ghana (AP) Kofi Annan, a charismatic global diplomat and the first black African to become United Nations secretary-general who led the world body through one of its most turbulent periods, died early Saturday at age 80. Tributes flowed in from around the world after his foundation announced his death in the Swiss capital, Bern, after a short and unspecified illness. The statement remembered the Nobel Peace Prize winner as "radiating genuine kindness, warmth and brilliance in all he did." He died "peacefully in his sleep," the president of Ghana, where Annan was born, said after speaking to his wife. At U.N. headquarters in New York, the U.N. flag flew at half-staff and a bouquet of flowers was placed under Annan's portrait. Reflecting the widespread regard that won him a groundbreaking uncontested election to a second term, leaders from Russia, India, Israel, France and elsewhere expressed condolences for a man Bill Gates called "one of the great peacemakers of our time." Annan spent virtually his entire career as an administrator in the United Nations. His aristocratic style, cool-tempered elegance and political savvy helped guide his ascent to become its seventh secretary-general, and the first hired from within. His two terms were from Jan. 1, 1997, to Dec. 31, 2006, capped nearly midway when he and the U.N. were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. During his tenure, Annan presided over some of the worst failures and scandals at the world body. Challenges from the outset forced him to spend much of his time struggling to restore its tarnished reputation. His enduring moral prestige remained largely undented, however, both through charm and by virtue of having negotiated with most of the powers in the world. When he departed from the United Nations, he left behind a global organization far more aggressively engaged in peacekeeping and fighting poverty, setting the framework for its 21st-century response to mass atrocities and its emphasis on human rights and development. "In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations," current U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination." Even out of office, Annan never completely left the U.N. orbit. He returned in special roles, including as the U.N.-Arab League's special envoy to Syria in 2012. He remained a powerful advocate for global causes through his eponymous foundation. Annan took on the top U.N. post six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and presided during a decade when the world united against terrorism after the Sept. 11 attacks then divided deeply over the U.S.-led war against Iraq. The U.S. relationship tested him as a world diplomatic leader. "I think that my darkest moment was the Iraq war, and the fact that we could not stop it," Annan said in a February 2013 interview with TIME magazine to mark the publication of his memoir, "Interventions: A Life in War and Peace." "I worked very hard I was working the phone, talking to leaders around the world. The U.S. did not have the support in the Security Council," Annan recalled in the videotaped interview posted on his foundation's website. "So they decided to go without the council. But I think the council was right in not sanctioning the war," he said. "Could you imagine if the U.N. had endorsed the war in Iraq, what our reputation would be like? Although at that point, President (George W.) Bush said the U.N. was headed toward irrelevance, because we had not supported the war. But now we know better." Despite his well-honed diplomatic skills, Annan was never afraid to speak candidly. That didn't always win him fans, particularly in the case of Bush's administration, with whom Annan's camp spent much time bickering. Much of his second term was spent at odds with the United States, the U.N.'s biggest contributor, as he tried to lean on it to pay almost $2 billion in arrears. At the end of his Nobel acceptance speech Annan reminded the world why such pressure is necessary. "Beneath the surface of states and nations, ideas and language, lies the fate of individual human beings in need," he said. "Answering their needs will be the mission of the United Nations in the century to come." Kofi Atta Annan was born April 8, 1938, into an elite family in Kumasi, Ghana, the son of a provincial governor and grandson of two tribal chiefs. He shared his middle name Atta "twin" in Ghana's Akan language with a twin sister, Efua. He became fluent in English, French and several African languages, attending an elite boarding school and the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. He finished his undergraduate work in economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in 1961. From there he went to Geneva, where he began his graduate studies in international affairs and launched his U.N. career. Annan married Titi Alakija, a Nigerian woman, in 1965, and they had a daughter, Ama, and a son, Kojo. He returned to the U.S. in 1971 and earned a master's degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management. The couple separated during the 1970s and, while working in Geneva, Annan met his second wife, Swedish lawyer Nane Lagergren. They married in 1984. Annan worked for the U.N. Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia, its Emergency Force in Egypt and the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva before taking a series of senior posts at U.N. headquarters in New York dealing with human resources, budget, finance and staff security. He also had special assignments. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, he facilitated the repatriation from Iraq of more than 900 international staff and other non-Iraqi nationals, and the release of Western hostages in Iraq. He led the initial negotiations with Iraq for the sale of oil in exchange for humanitarian relief. Just before becoming secretary-general, Annan served as U.N. peacekeeping chief and as special envoy to the former Yugoslavia, where he oversaw a transition in Bosnia from U.N. protective forces to NATO-led troops. The U.N. peacekeeping operation faced two of its greatest failures during his tenure: the Rwanda genocide in 1994 and the massacre in the Bosnian town of Srebrenica in July 1995. In both cases, the U.N. had deployed troops under Annan's command, but they failed to save the lives of the civilians they were mandated to protect. Annan offered apologies but ignored calls to resign by U.S. Republican lawmakers. After becoming secretary-general, he called for U.N. reports on those two debacles and they were highly critical of his management. As secretary-general, Annan forged his experiences into a doctrine called the "Responsibility to Protect" that countries accepted at least in principle to head off genocide, crimes against humanity, ethnic cleansing and war crimes. Annan sought to strengthen the U.N.'s management, coherence and accountability, efforts that required huge investments in training and technology, a new whistleblower policy and financial disclosure requirements. In 1998, he helped ease a transition to civilian rule in Nigeria and visited Iraq to try to resolve its impasse with the Security Council over compliance with weapons inspections and other matters. The effort helped avoid an outbreak of hostilities that seemed imminent at the time. In 1999, he was deeply involved in the process by which East Timor gained independence from Indonesia, and started the "Global Compact" initiative that has grown into the world's largest effort to promote corporate social responsibility. Annan was chief architect of what became known as the Millennium Development Goals, and played a central role in creating the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria and the U.N.'s first counter-terrorism strategy. Annan's uncontested election to a second term was unprecedented, reflecting the overwhelming support he enjoyed from both rich and poor countries. Timothy Wirth, president of the United Nations Foundation, which disburses Ted Turner's $1 billion pledge to U.N. causes, hailed "a saint-like sense about him." In 2005, Annan succeeded in establishing the Peacebuilding Commission and the Human Rights Council. But that year, the U.N. was facing almost daily attacks over allegations about corruption in the U.N. oil-for-food program in Iraq, bribery by U.N. purchasing officials and widespread sex abuse by U.N. peacekeepers an issue that would only balloon in importance after he left office. It emerged that Annan's son had not disclosed payments he received from his employer, which had a $10 million-a-year contract to monitor humanitarian aid under the oil-for-food program. The company paid at least $300,000 to Kojo so he would not work for competitors after he left. An independent report criticized the secretary-general for being too complacent, saying he should have done more to investigate matters even if he was not involved with the awarding of the contract. World leaders agreed to create an internal U.N. ethics office, but a major overhaul of the U.N.'s outdated management practices and operating procedures was left to Annan's successor, Ban Ki-moon. Before leaving office, Annan helped secure a truce between Israel and Hezbollah in 2006, and mediated a settlement of a dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria over the Bakassi peninsula. At a farewell news conference, Annan listed as top achievements the promotion of human rights, the fight to close the gap between extreme poverty and immense wealth and the U.N. campaign to fight infectious diseases like AIDS. He never took disappointments and setbacks personally. And he kept his view that diplomacy should take place in private and not in the public forum. In his memoir, Annan recognized the costs of taking on the world's top diplomatic job, joking that "SG," for secretary-general, also signified "scapegoat" around U.N. headquarters. Former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Richard Holbrooke called Annan "an international rock star of diplomacy." After leaving his high-profile U.N. perch, Annan didn't let up. In 2007, his Geneva-based foundation was created. That year he helped broker peace in Kenya, where election violence had killed over 1,000 people. He also joined The Elders, an elite group of former leaders founded by Nelson Mandela, eventually succeeding Desmond Tutu as its chairman. Annan "represented our continent and the world with enormous graciousness, integrity and distinction," Tutu said Saturday in a statement, adding that "we give great thanks to God" for him. As special envoy to Syria in 2012, Annan won international backing for a six-point plan for peace. The U.N. deployed a 300-member observer force to monitor a cease-fire, but peace never took hold and Annan was unable to surmount the bitter stalemate among Security Council powers. He resigned in frustration seven months into the job, as the civil war raged on. Annan continued to crisscross the globe. In 2017, his foundation's biggest projects included promotion of fair, peaceful elections; work with Myanmar's government to improve life in troubled Rakhine state; and battling violent extremism by enlisting young people to help. He also remained a vocal commentator on troubles like the refugee crisis; promoted good governance, anti-corruption measures and sustainable agriculture in Africa; and pushed efforts in the fight against illegal drug trafficking. Like many in the international community he expressed alarm at the Trump administration's decisions to back out of the Iran nuclear deal and move the U.S. Embassy in Israel to Jerusalem. Annan retained connections to many international organizations. He was chancellor of the University of Ghana, a fellow at New York's Columbia University, and professor at the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy in Singapore. His homeland of Ghana was shaken by his death. "One of our greatest compatriots," President Nana Akufo-Addo said, calling for a week with flags at half-staff. "Rest in perfect peace, Kofi. You have earned it." Annan is survived by his wife and three children. Funeral arrangements weren't immediately announced. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The suspect in a Summit County murder is in custody, according to the State Highway Patrol. "The suspect has been captured and is now in OSHP custody," the State Highway Patrol said Saturday in a tweet. Paul D. Randall, Jr., 34, of Dolgeville, New York, is accused of running over Scott Reichard, 42, of North Olmsted at a rest stop. Troopers first responded to a fatal crash at about 11:15 p.m. Friday involving a pedestrian at a northbound rest stop on Interstate 77 in Bath Township. Witnesses told troopers that two men were in a verbal altercation before one of the men got in the other's Ford F-350 and ran him over without stopping, troopers said. Reichard's truck was later found abandoned in a downtown Cleveland parking lot. Troopers came across Randall at about 6:45 p.m. Saturday during a traffic stop on Interstate 70 in Guernsey County when he was a passenger in a car driven by a women believed to be his girlfriend. A trooper recognized Randall and took him into custody without incident. The driver was detained for questioning pending further investigation. CLEVELAND, Ohio - A 37-year-old man was shot several times and killed early Sunday on the city's West Side, Cleveland police say. Cleveland police officers first responded to MetroHealth about 3 a.m. and learned that the man had been shot on the 3400 block of Storer Avenue, a couple blocks east of Fulton Road in the city's Clark-Fulton neighborhood, Cleveland police spokesman Sgt. Jennifer Ciaccia said. The victim was pronounced dead at the hospital. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office has not publicly released his identity. Investigators learned that the shooting victim was arguing with two men in their 20s. The shooting suspects fired multiple rounds at the victim, Ciaccia said. No further suspect information was released, and no arrests have been made. Cleveland homicide detectives continue to probe the case. This post will be updated if more details about the killing are made available Sunday afternoon. The shooting death was the second overnight homicide in Cleveland. A man was beaten to death about 11:30 p.m. Saturday on the city's East Side. If you'd like to comment on this post, please visit the cleveland.com crime and courts comments section. President Donald Trump made waves by revoking the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan. While the president is within his rights to do so, he strayed from protocol by not giving Brennan ample notice or a chance to appeal the decision. The White House says the president is revoking the clearances of people who used sensitive information for personal gain. Critics, including members of the intelligence community, say the president is setting a dangerous precedent by revoking clearance for personal reasons. What do you think? PERSPECTIVES The president revoked Brennan's security clearance after the former CIA director lobbied harsh criticism at him via Twitter and other outlets. "It's astounding how often you fail to live up to minimum standards of decency, civility, & probity," Brennan said on Twitter after the president lashed out at Omarosa Manigault Newman. It is highly unusual, though, for a president to revoke someone's security clearance over personal slights. Per The New York Times: Brennan was not the only official to have his security clearance revoked. Press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders read a list of people the president deemed unfit to maintain a security clearance. One such person was Bruce Ohr, a career Justice Department official whose wife works for the research company that compiled the infamous Steele Dossier. While Ohr seems to have no connection with the Russia investigation, President Trump still saw fit to revoke his clearance. According to The New York Times, Sanders maintained that Ohr, along with Brennan and the other officials on the list, had all acted inappropriately. Most security experts emphasize the abnormality of Trump's decision. Security clearances are typically revoked for cause-alcoholism, theft, criminal activity -- not for personal reasons. Per the New York Times: Bradley P. Moss, a lawyer who has written extensively about the issue, notes that Trump appears to be the first president to ever take such a step. While Trump's move is out of the ordinary, many of his supporters say that he is not only within his rights to revoke the clearances, he is responding appropriately. The New York Times talked to Sen. James Lankford, member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, about his thoughts on the matter. Career intelligence officials have roundly condemned the president's decision. White House spokesperson Kellyanne Conway argued that no officials are entitled to maintaining their security clearance and, as such, the president acted appropriately. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Local Media, LLC property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt, on Instagram @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Ansly Damus, a Haitian immigrant twice granted asylum by a U.S. immigration judge in Cleveland, will remain in lockup in the Geauga County Safety Center in Chardon as the government considers his case, now for a third time. The government, which appealed both asylum rulings, this week informed Damus that his application for release pending its appeal of his asylum award has been denied, according to Damus's lawyer, Elizabeth Ford. She said the government considers him a flight risk. Damus, 42, has been locked up for nearly two years after presenting himself for asylum at the California border. He was not arrested as an undocumented immigrant, and he has no criminal record. Damus had been an ethics teacher in Haiti who criticized a local official and was then harassed and threatened by a gang loyal to that politician. He fled first to Brazil, and, 18 months later, to the United States, where he presented himself for asylum immediately upon entry. He was sent to jail in Geauga County while his case was decided. On April 3, 2017, an immigration judge in Cleveland granted him asylum, believing his claim that his life would be in danger should he return to Haiti, where his wife and two children still live. The government appealed, saying his extended time in Brazil rendered his application moot. The immigration judge this year again granted asylum, ruling that Damus had not set down roots in Brazil and therefore had grounds to seek asylum in the United States. The government appealed again and the federal Board of Immigration Appeals has sent the case back to the immigration judge in Cleveland, where it will be considered for a third time. A hearing is set for September. In the meanwhile, local supporters were pushing for his release and promising that he'd have lodging and support as his case continues. They're dismayed by the denial of parole, in which the government said Damus had "no substantial ties to the community." Gary Benjamin, a Cleveland Heights lawyer, and his wife, Melody Hart, have been visiting Damus weekly and offered to board him in their home as his case is heard. "I would say we are a substantial tie. We made the commitment to take care of him while he goes through this hamster-wheel process ICE calls justice, and we will," he said. Several members of the community have written letters of support. To no avail. Benjamin said after the denial this week, he's offered to pay for an ankle monitor to assure Damus stays put. "They can safely have him live with us on our nickel, but the government would rather house him in a jail that it has to pay pretty good rent for at the taxpayer's expense," said Benjamin. "Unfair, unwise and expensive." Supporters are working on a social media campaign to bring awareness to the plight of Ansly Damus and specifically the fact that he's been incarcerated for nearly two years despite the court twice granting his asylum request. Khaalid Walls, spokesman for the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency, did not return messages seeking comment this week. He said in an email last month that because the case is active, he could not comment. Said Ford, "ICE could put him on the electric monitor as an alternative to detention. I have no idea why they are not doing that. Other than the fact that they are trying to destroy this man and try to force him to give up." The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. Two major political scandals will rock the nation's capital next week. No one knows what or who the scandals will involve. But, in a hearing room in Washington, a bipartisan committee of congressional investigators will work to collect the facts, reassure the public, and hold those responsible for wrongdoing accountable, regardless of political affiliation. Sound like a fantasy? That's because it is. But maybe it doesn't have to be. The scandals will be invented by the organizers of the "oversight boot camp," an exclusive two-day workshop for Hill staffers designed to foster bipartisanship in congressional investigations. Powering the workshop is a simple mission, which its instructors preach like gospel: Bipartisan oversight is possible, effective and necessary. At a time when Americans and their representatives in Congress are more polarized than they have been in decades, the notion can seem hopelessly idealistic. But the organizers behind the workshop are far from naive. Instead, Elise Bean and Justin Rood are former congressional investigators from both sides of the aisle. Bean worked on the staff of Michigan Democratic Senator Carl Levin, and Rood worked for Oklahoma GOP Senator Tom Coburn. Bean recently published a book cataloging 15 years of bipartisan inquiry in the Senate. Before working for Coburn, Rood was an influential investigative reporter. Bean and Rood launched the boot camp in 2015 after their bosses retired, inspired to pass on the institutional knowledge they worried Congress was losing. The boot camp is hosted by the Project on Government Oversight, where Rood works, the Levin Center, where Bean works, and the Lugar Center, a D.C. think tank named after Richard Lugar, a Republican former U.S. senator from Indiana. Kurt Bardella, who served as a spokesperson for Rep. Darrell Issa while the California Republican ran the House Oversight Committee, said that he believed it was possible that Congress could pursue greater bipartisanship but that it depended on the results of the November midterms. "Is it possible? Of course," said Bardella, a lifelong Republican who left the party late last year after the Republican National Committee endorsed Roy Moore, who was accused of sexually abusing minors, during his race for the Alabama Senate. Bardella said the success of bipartisan oversight will depend on whether Republicans "see that there is an appetite from the American people for checks and balances." An examination of nearly $41 billion in travel bookings for the fall found that travelers were making flight arrangements to some surprising destinations. Ahead of the holiday travel season, the luxury travel and trend forecaster Virtuoso discovered that Americans continue to flock to perennial favorites like Europe. However, Virtuoso's data unveiled during this month's "Fashion Week of Travel" in Las Vegas also found that the Middle East and North Africa were increasingly popular. Italy, France, Germany, Greece and Switzerland are on Virtuoso's Top 10 list for the upcoming travel season. "Germany, in particular, holds strong appeal for river cruisers wishing to experience the famed Christmas markets," Virtuoso said. In addition, South Africa and New Zealand, which are moving into their spring and summer seasons, are also popular with families and upscale adventure travelers, the firm said. Israel and Japan also landed in Virtuoso's top 10 as did the U.S., which the company said reflected the desire of many upscale Americans to explore their own country and stay close to home for the holidays. Back-to-school means back to shopping. But this year more consumers are going "old school." According to a recent survey, consumers are returning to malls and other brick-and-mortar stores for backpacks, crayons and more. Meanwhile, shoppers for school items will spend twice as much in-store as online, according to this year's annual "Back-To-School" survey by the consulting firm, Deloitte. Average spending on apparel, school supplies, electronic gadgets and more is expected to hit $510 per household this year. And $292 of that, or 57 percent, Deloitte found, will be spent in-store. That's more than double the $115 parents expect to spend on online shopping for back-to-school, or 23 percent of spending. Shoppers are undecided about where they will spend the remaining 20 percent: Either online or in-store. "People have really been focused on the convenience and making it easy," Deloitte's Rod Sides told CNBC's On The Money in an interview, especially when they search for school clothes. Sides is a Deloitte vice chairman and leads the company's retail, wholesale and distribution division. "Because the kids grow so often you want to make sure you have the right size, (and) it's just sometimes easier to go to the store," Sides said. "If something doesn't fit, you don't have to worry about the (online) returns process. That's what drives back-to-school specifically versus maybe some other times of the year." Back-to-school season runs between July and September, during which American households are projected to spend $27.6 billion. That makes it the second busiest shopping season, behind only the holidays. Which types of retailers did Deloitte's survey find are benefiting from the back-to-school traffic? "That would be your Walmart's and Target's of the world," said Sides, with big box retailers doing "quite well" overall. He added that "off-price retail" stores like TJ Maxx and Marshalls, "and dollar stores have done extremely well in the last couple years and have really come into prominence in this season." Deloitte's survey showed another shift in back-to-school shopping habits. Use of laptops dropped from 57 percent last year, to 49 percent this year. That nearly mirrored the rise of smartphone use for shopping, from 49 percent in 2017, up to 53 percent this year. "They're moving from that stationary big unit to the mobile unit," Sides told CNBC, "but what we're finding is that they're using that mobile unit all throughout the shopping journey. So it's a little bit easier to use the phone and phones are a bit bigger than they were a few years ago." As back-to-school shopping season winds down, are the last minute bargains to be found online or in-store? "There's going to be offers in both places, but there's a real need to get the items in your hands faster," the analyst said. "So I think in-store is going to be a big part of where we see a lot of the deals." That's because, he points out, December is fast approaching. "Especially as retailers look to clear out some of the old inventory before they get into the traditional busy season of the holidays," Sides added. "On the Money" airs on CNBC on Saturdays at 5:30 a.m. ET, or check listings for air times in local markets. President Donald Trump's attorney, Rudolph Giuliani, insisted that "truth isn't truth" when it comes to the investigation probing Russia's role in influencing the 2016 elections, as he voiced anew his concern that the president could be lured into a perjury charge by the special counsel. In an appearance on NBC's "Meet the Press" on Sunday, Giuliani rejected the idea that his team was slow-walking a request by Robert Mueller's team to interview Trump. The former New York City major insisted he would not be "rushed" into making his client available for something that could become a chargeable offense under the law. "So what I have to tell you is, look, I'm not going to be rushed into having him testify so he gets trapped into perjury," Giuliani told the program. He dismissed the idea of Trump having any foreknowledge about Russia's efforts, or potentially obstructing the subsequent inquiry. However, the former government lawyer tripped himself up when trying to elaborate, saying that Trump shouldn't fear testifying if he's being honest. Giuliani blasted what he called "somebody's version of the truth," and drew mockery and biting rejoinders on social media by adding that "truth isn't truth" if key facts are being disputed. Tweet Giuliani reiterated the president's position that he didn't discuss his former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn with the FBI Director he ultimately fired, James Comey. The latter, however, has said the opposite. "Comey says, 'you did talk about it.' So tell me what the truth is?," Giuliani asked. Trump has repeatedly denied there was collusion between his campaign and Russia during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. As recently as Sunday, the president took to Twitter to repeat the claim. Giuliani, however, has consistently voiced concerns that Mueller's efforts could result in Trump getting trapped into giving contradictory statements under oath. The president's noted penchant for exaggeration, as well as his unrestrained tweeting that undercuts statements he previously made, may be playing a role in his legal team's thinking. Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as Iran and a gas pipeline project that has drawn U.S. ire during tough talks outside Berlin that ended with no clearcut progress. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters no agreements were reached, but the meeting had simply been intended to "check the watches" after Merkel's meeting with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in May. Ties between the two countries have been strained since Russia's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014. The two leaders both viewed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project as a purely commercial venture, despite persistent fire by the U.S. and Ukrainian governments, Peskov said. "That's why it is necessary to take measures against possible non-competitive and illegal attacks from the third countries in order to complete this project eventually," he told reporters shortly before Putin flew back to Russia. It was not immediately clear what such "measures" could entail. At the start of the talks, Merkel underscored her expectation that Ukraine should continue to have a role in gas transit to Europe, and welcomed the start of discussions among the European Union, Ukraine and Russia on that issue. Putin, speaking at the German government's Meseburg castle, said such a move had to make sense from a business perspective. Volkswagen Chief Executive Herbert Diess was told about the existence of cheating software in cars two months before regulators blew the whistle on a multi-billion exhaust emissions scandal, German magazine Der Spiegel said. Der Spiegel's story, based on recently unsealed documents from the Braunschweig prosecutor's office, raises questions about whether VW informed investors in a timely manner about the scope of a scandal which it said has cost it more than $27 billion in penalties and fines. The Braunschweig prosecutor's office was not reachable for comment on Saturday. Volkswagen's senior management, which has denied wrongdoing, is being investigated by prosecutors in Braunschweig, near where Volkswagen is headquartered, to see whether the company violated disclosure rules. U.S. regulators exposed VWs cheating on Sept. 18, 2015. Responding to the magazine report, the carmaker reiterated on Saturday that the management board had not violated its disclosure duties, and had decided to not inform investors earlier because they had failed to grasp the scope of the potential fines and penalties. Citing documents unsealed by the Braunschweig prosecutor's office, Der Spiegel said Diess was present at a meeting on July 27, 2015 when senior engineers and executives discussed how to deal with U.S. regulators, who were threatening to ban VW cars because of excessive pollution levels. Diess, who was VW's brand chief at the time, became chief executive of Volkswagen Group in April this year. Volkswagen also owns the Scania, Skoda, Audi, Porsche, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini and Ducati brands. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) had found unusually high pollution levels in VW's vehicles and was threatening to withhold road certification for new cars until VW explained why pollution levels were too high. Diess, who had defected from BMW to become head of the VW brand on July 1, 2015, joined the July 27 meeting with Volkswagen's then Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn to discuss how to convince regulators that VW's cars could be sold, a VW defence document filed with a court in Braunschweig in February, shows. Volkswagen on Saturday said both Winterkorn and Diess declined to comment given the ongoing proceedings. A spokesman for Martin Winterkorn declined to comment on Saturday. Winterkorn's lawyer Felix Doerr, could not be reached for comment. Following this meeting, Winterkorn asked Diess whether BMW too had installed defeat devices in its cars, Der Spiegel said. In the United States, legal engine management software is described as an "auxiliary emissions device" while the term defeat device is used to describe only illegal software. Diess is said to have answered that BMW had not made use of such software, Der Spiegel said. Sick woman watching the thermometer and seated on the bed tommaso79 | Getty Images Alix Deymier was young and healthy when she and her husband first tried getting pregnant at 25. So she thought it would be easy. After a year of trying, she saw a doctor who told her she should be fine at her age, Deymier said. After another year, she saw a fertility specialist. Her tests all came back normal. Her doctor prescribed clomid, an oral medicine to stimulate ovulation, and she tried intrauterine insemination. But she still could not conceive. After five years of trying, her marriage fell apart. As more women put off starting families and U.S. fertility rates drop, helping women assess how much time, and how many eggs, they have left to conceive is a growing business. The market for ovulation tests, fertility monitors and other mail-in home tests to help women up their odds of bearing fruit is exploding. Several startups are selling kits that allow women to test their fertility at home with a simple finger prick. The global fertility test market is estimated to grow at an annual rate of 7.2 percent over the next five years from $411.8 million this year to $583.1 million by 2023, according to market research firm Research and Markets in Dublin, Ireland. The tests provide a small snapshot of a woman's reproductive health. But the insight they provide may help some avoid heartache later in life by choosing to freeze their eggs or speed their baby plans. "A lot of us live our lives with a 'wait and see' approach, so we're letting women know there are more options to having greater control there," said Afton Vechery, CEO and co-founder of start-up Modern Fertility in San Francisco. Pregnancy rates decline More women are delaying pregnancy, whether for career, financial, personal or other reasons. Last year, U.S. birth rates dropped in every age group from 15 through 35 while birth rates among women of "advanced maternal age" (over 35) rose, according to provisional data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The group of women with the largest rise in birth rates was 45 and older. Unlike men who continually replenish their supply of sperm, women don't make more eggs. Girls are born with their lifetime supply and shed them as they age. While some women lose their eggs faster than others, all women see their fertility prospects rapidly diminish beginning in their 30s. Women can undergo tests at their doctor's office to assess fertility factors, but they typically don't unless they're struggling to conceive and it may not be covered by insurance if they haven't been diagnosed with a problem. At-home testing opens the opportunity for more women to gauge their reproductive health. The reasons for why women might take these tests varies. Some women may want to know their chances of becoming pregnant soon, while others may want to know how many eggs they have available to freeze to use later or their odds of success with fertility treatments like in vitro fertilization. Modern Fertility is just one of several companies selling ovarian reserve tests. Everlywell, Let'sGetChecked and Future Family, among others, also sell the kits that can be purchased online and taken at home for $79 to $199. Modern Fertility allows women to send a blood sample drawn by pricking a finger or having blood drawn at a lab and tested at Quest Diagnostics. The at-home test is mailed back and then screened. The company says there's no difference in the accuracy of the results, which show how a woman's ovarian reserve compares with her age group. To be sure, researchers say women with low egg counts, as indicated by low anti-mullerian hormone values, were almost as likely to become pregnant as women with normal egg counts for their age. The study, published last year in the Journal of the American Medical Association casts doubt on whether women should base life-altering choices on tests that measure just a handful of hormones. Egg count is a "very important" part of fertility, but it's just "one part of a very complex process," said Dr. Zev Williams, chief of the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Columbia University Medical Center. A woman may have a healthy number of eggs available, but she could experience other problems, such as blocked fallopian tubes, which prevents eggs from releasing and being fertilized. "Increased communication about fertility is overall a good thing, but I wouldn't want people to be falsely alarmed or falsey affirmed by one single blood test," said Dr. Williams, who's also an associate professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the university. Deymier, now 34 and in a long-distance relationship, knows it will be another few years until she will likely try to get pregnant again. She saw an advertisement for Modern Fertility on Facebook in March and after a few days of thinking, decided to take the test, she said. Her hormone levels indicated she may have a low egg count for her age. She set up a call with a nurse through Modern Fertility then brought her results to her gynecologist, who referred her to a fertility specialist. She now has an appointment scheduled to discuss her options, including freezing her eggs, she said. "I don't think I would've made an appointment without this information, and maybe then I would've had a much slimmer chance," said Deymider, an assistant professor in biomedical engineering at the University of Connecticut in Hartford. 'A starting point' Macron backs cross-party coalition against no-deal Brexit EU backing Mays plan for soft Brexit Sunday Express Fords Brexit warning as profits slide Mail on Sunday Fashion boss gives 1 million to second referendum campaign The Observer as Raab plays down the prospect Emmanuel Macron is backing a controversial move by Tory and Labour MPs to join forces to counter the risk of Brexit fuelling a rise in UK extremism. The French President has endorsed a bid by Theresa Mays former No 10 policy chief to forge a new cross-party coalition of MPs opposed to a no-deal Brexit. Tory MP George Freeman says the UK faces a Black Monday economic meltdown if, as an increasing number of politicians predict, it withdraws from the EU without an agreement in March Mr Macron has sent a letter of support to a Big Tent political rally being hosted by Mr Freeman in Cambridge next month. Mr Freeman, head of the Conservative Policy Forum, denies it is part of a plan to build a new centre party. He says the aim is to produce inspiring new ideas to ensure post-Brexit Britain is a success. Mail on Sunday Dominic Raab, the Brexit secretary, last night claimed that securing a deal with the European Union is still by far the most likely outcome as he played down the prospect of no deal. As he prepared to release the first batch of technical notices detailing contingency plans for a no-deal Brexit, Raab said they would show that Britain was prepared for the unlikely event that no agreement was reached with the EU. The government has been toning down its rhetoric on no deal after being accused of a new project fear. The papers cover everything from farming to cigarette packets. Information on how the government intends to stockpile medical supplies and vaccines is expected in the first documents, to be released on Thursday. Securing a deal is still by far the most likely outcome, but we want to ensure we clearly set out the steps that people, businesses and public services need to take in the unlikely event that we dont reach one, Raab said. Sunday Times Party launches project no fear as no deal preparations are set out Sunday Telegraph The 84 areas the Government is planning for Sunday Express No-deal Brexit should prompt rethink of vote, claims Kerslake The Observer Anger at bonuses for Brexit civil servants Mail on Sunday >Today: ToryDiary: How Chequers seems to have bled the Conservative vote Tobias Ellwood: The EU is reducing our defence contribution to a bargaining chip Brexit has given people hope, if it fails they wont forgive us Lee Rowley MP, Sunday Telegraph McVey plans crackdown on overseas benefit claimants It beggars belief that Britains ability to contribute to European defence could be reduced to a bargaining chip on the Brexit negotiation table with a threat of limiting our participation in a series of programmes and prohibiting UK businesses from bidding for contracts. The Galileo positioning navigation project has become the totemic example. Britain pioneered this project and, with our military providing a quarter of Europes total defence force, we will arguably utilise its functionality more than any other nation. Yet we are to be demoted to observer status. We may now be obliged to go it alone and to build our own system. The Russians must find this all extremely amusing. It is only with a united voice that we can influence global events. Sunday Telegraph Ministers have vowed to hunt down Britons who cheat the taxpayer by wrongly claiming British benefits while living abroad. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey warned benefit cheats overseas that international anti-fraud teams were coming for them. Her pledge came as her department revealed that about 5,000 fraudsters were convicted and a further 5,000 given administrative penalties last year and that the blitz recovered a record 1.1billion at home and abroad. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officials said that, with an estimated 3.8 million British citizens now living outside the UK, the Governments international fraud network was playing an increasing role. Mail on Sunday Tories hit out at council spending on trades unions Brokenshire clashes with committee over vaping Cash-strapped town halls are spending tens of millions a year on trade unions activists, it can be revealed. The union officials, who carry out duties on behalf of members, cost local government 26 million in facility time last year The Tories have reduced the level of facility time in the Civil Service from 0.26 of the total bill in 2012 to just 0.05 per cent in 2018 which is seen as the benchmark. Its understood the total bill for the facility time scheme is around 200 million a year. But Transport for London spend 5 million on union staff with a huge 692 individual workers being paid to do union duties. All public authorities were required to report by the end of July but some have failed to meet the deadline. Sun on Sunday A Tory Cabinet Minister who has just recovered from lung cancer has clashed with the MP behind moves to relax rules on e-cigarettes. Communities Secretary James Brokenshire who had a third of his lung removed earlier this year said more evidence was needed on the effects of vaping. It may cause less damage to health than cigarettes but it was not necessarily harmless, he warned. But his comments led to an extraordinary rebuke from ex-Health Minister Norman Lamb, chairman of the Commons committee which last week called for e-cigarettes to be made available on prescription to people trying to quit smoking. Lib Dem Mr Lamb told Mr Brokenshire that if he had his way, more smokers would die. Mail on Sunday >Yesterday: Georgie Calle in Comment: How I lost nine stone. And the missing element in the obesity debate the role of mental health. Campaigners want to change leadership rules Johnsons Facebook page mobbed by racists Sunday Times Conservative grassroots activists are planning to pressure the partys ruling board to change the leadership election rules to make it easier for a popular candidate like Boris Johnsonto succeed Theresa May. John Strafford, a campaigner for greater democracy in the Tory party, is writing to the partys board urging it to change the rules so that any MP with the support of 20 Parliamentary colleagues can go forward to the final ballot among the partys members. The current rules allow MPs on the partys backbench 1922 committee to nominate just two candidates to go forward to selection which has prompted concerns that an MP popular with the grassroots like Mr Johnson will not go forward to the final run-off. The plans would be a boost for Mr Johnson who is said by friends to be mulling when to launch his bid for the leadership of the party. Sunday Telegraph Baker blasts A-Level fudge which rewards underachievers A former Tory education secretary has launched a blistering attack on his partys education record, including this summers tougher A-level exams, which he compared to an Alice in Wonderland world in which no one lost and everyone got a prize He also attacked the return of three-hour written exams and the scrapping of coursework: We are the only leading country that depends exclusively on three-hour written exams that are basically a test of memory . . . We are going back to the exams of the 1940s. Bakers intervention is a sign of Conservative unease about the partys record on education since 2010. The biggest exam shake-up in a generation was the brainchild of Michael Gove during his time as education secretary. It was designed to drive up standards and identify high-flyers for top universities, but teenagers panicked over this summers exams. Sunday Times Ten things wrong with our education system Kenneth Baker, Sunday Times Ghani talks about poison pen stalker Wright may deliver conference speech by hologram It is the virtual worlds equivalent of the poison pen letter an email campaign in which the perpetrator harasses the victim by contacting everyone they meet. Nusrat Ghani, a Conservative transport minister, has told The Sunday Times of her incredibly draining ordeal when she was stalked for two years by a man who hunted her by contacting hundreds of people she had dealings with. Speaking for the first time of her experience, the MP for Wealden in East Sussex said the man eventually made it clear that he had targeted her because she was a female MP, Asian and a Muslim. The man would email all those around Ghani, trying to piece together every detail of her itinerary and her life and promoting conspiracy Jeremy Wright, the new culture secretary, is being lined up to give his speech to the Conservative Party conference as a hologram under plans to make this years event less dreary. The idea was hatched by his predecessor at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, Matt Hancock, before he was promoted to health secretary. Now Wright, a reputed technophobe, is deciding whether to embrace the idea. A source close to the cabinet minister, whose record of engaging on digital subjects is almost non-existent, said: He understands the need to embrace this kind of developing technology. Hancock, who has been ridiculed for launching his own app, told friends he was keen to use hologram technology in his conference speech and had discussed the plan with Brandon Lewis, the Tory party chairman. Sunday Times Sir Peter Tapsell dies Corbyn ally accused of trying to kick out 20 Labour MPs The veteran former Conservative MP Sir Peter Tapsell has died aged 88, the chairman of his former constituency party has said. Craig Leyland, the chairman of the Louth and Horncastle Conservative Association, said that Tapsell had served the constituency loyally and had never been afraid to speak his mind. Tapsell first entered parliament in 1959 as MP for Nottingham West in 1959 and is one for the few MPs to have sat for more then 50 years. He was Father of the House from 2010 until he finally stood down at the 2015 general election. The former party chairman Lord Pickles paid tribute, saying he had been a formidable contributor to the Commons chamber. I doubt we will see his like again, he wrote on Twitter. Tapsell began his political career as a 25-year-old speech writer to prime minister Anthony Eden. The Observer The Left-wing MP who defended Jeremy Corbyn over the Palestinian terrorist wreath-laying row has been accused of touring Britain in a bid to sack up to 20 saboteur Labour MPs who have criticised the Party leader. Derby North MP Chris Williamson ignored eight attempts by BBC Newsnights Evan Davis last week to say if Mr Corbyn laid a wreath at the graves of Black September terrorists linked to the 1972 Olympics massacre of Israeli athletes. Moderate Labour MPs have accused menacing Mr Williamson of attempting a Stalinist-style purge to pave the way for more hardline Left-wing MPs. He is promoting his Corbynista mandatory reselection tour with a video of him on a Harley-Davidson motorbike and the Hells Angels rock anthem Born To Be Wild soundtrack. Mail on Sunday Trump and Corbyn have both turned political tribes into fanatical cults Daniel Hannan MEP, Sunday Telegraph Police probed Labour leaders links to pro-IRA group Corbyn and others in their work with two other IRA-sympathising organisations, Troops Out Movement and Labour Committee on Ireland. Sunday Times Corbyn facing questions over whether he broke parliamentary rules Sunday Telegraph Friends of violence with whom he is happy to share a platform Sunday Times Jeremy Corbyn came to the attention of police after becoming involved with Red Action, an ultra-left group that expressed its unconditional and uncritical support for IRA atrocities and included members of an IRA bombing team. Patrick Hayes, a Red Action leader, and another member, Jan Taylor, were convicted of an IRA bombing campaign in England and sentenced to 30 years in jail. A third member, Liam Heffernan, was convicted of stealing explosives for another republican terrorist organisation, the INLA, and sentenced to 23 years. Corbyn spoke at at least three Red Action meetings between 1985 and 1992 and the group sometimes met at his then constituency office, ex-members said. Red Actions journal, seen by The Sunday Times in an archive, says it provided security for Comment: Corbyns foreign affairs are wounding Labour Stephen Bush, Sunday Times Shadow Cabinet in despair over the state of the Opposition Five members of the shadow cabinet have formed a self-help group and have been meeting in secret to share their despair over the state of the Labour Party and its leadership. The move comes amid growing tension at the top, including claims that Jeremy Corbyn and his shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, are barely speaking as a result of the anti-semitism row rocking the party. A source close to McDonnell said the pairs relationship had hit rock bottom. Last week McDonnell was forced to deny that he had contemplated resigning over the way Corbyns office had bungled an investigation into Dame Margaret Hodge after she accused the Labour leader of being anti-semitic. Now a wider rift is emerging, including claims that a shadow cabinet splinter group is meeting in private to discuss the travails of the leadership. A source close to a participant in the meetings said the faction had formed a safe self-help group to discuss the party and its leadership without fear of retribution. Sunday Times Andrew Mitchell is a former International Development Secretary, and is MP for Sutton Coldfield. Having served this country as an officer in the Royal Tank Regiment, and as a Cabinet minister on the National Security Council, I understand that Britains security interests depend on a strong relationship with the United States of America. But that relationship should be an honest partnership based on a bedrock of shared values. It is dangerously undermined when our politicians allow those values to be compromised when, in the words of Benjamin Franklin, we give up essential liberty, to purchase a little temporary safety. As a member of the Conservative shadow cabinet when the last Labour Government was in power, I watched as the UK was mixed up in a host of Bush Administration abuses abuses like the torture and rendition of Abdul Hakim Belhaj and Fatima Boudchar, a Libyan dissident and his pregnant wife, for which Theresa May rightly apologised earlier this year. It is vital that we learn the lessons of the failed war on terror, and realise that our critical security partnership with the US does not require us to embrace every whim of its leaders including when they suggest publicly that torture works. Recent developments across the Atlantic make these lessons all the more important. Last week, a court case in the United States compelled the CIA to release classified cables describing acts of torture inflicted in a secret CIA prison in Thailand in 2002. The cables were reportedly written or authorised by the now-CIA Director, Gina Haspel, and describe how CIA interrogators talked of torture as like tenderising a fine steak. These cables reveal how one prisoner had his clothes ripped off him and was forced to remain naked for prolonged periods. He was made to move between a coffin-sized box and another which compelled him to curl up in a ball, where he was locked for hours on end. He was subjected to a mock killing by supposed rogue agents who pretended to abduct him from his cell while hooded. The cables also describe the use of waterboarding: effectively pouring water over a prisoners cloth-covered face to induce terrifying temporary drowning. The pain and panic this induced quite clearly constituted torture. Of course, these immoral and illegal acts achieved absolutely nothing. An individual being tortured in this way will tell you anything to stop the suffering, irrespective of veracity, and these false leads waste precious time that should be spent investigating real threats. Sure enough, the US Senate later noted that these acts of torture produced no actionable intelligence whatsoever. Torture is not simply ineffective. It also undermines the values which generations of British service personnel have risked their lives to protect. After the destruction of the Second World War and the horrors of the holocaust, our country helped build a rules-based international system centred around justice and human rights. That system categorically rejects torture in its spirit and its laws. If we turn our back on this system, the consequences will be grave. International prohibitions on torture protect British servicemen and women who are captured overseas, and eroding these rules puts them in greater danger when politicians place them in harms way. And how can our diplomats overseas urge progress on human rights issues when we are ourselves seen to be subjecting innocent people to abuses? We are rightly proud of Britains international reputation for standing up against international thuggery and in support of universal values and human rights. But if we do not make a clean breast of Britains actions during this dark period that proud international reputation will be sullied and compromised. Though the acts described in the CIA cables took place 16 years ago, we cant simply assume that this will never happen again. Gina Haspel is now one of Americas most senior intelligence officials. She was appointed by a President who has endorsed waterboardingand a hell of a lot worse. What does this mean for British policy in 2018? First and foremost, we must be vigilant in monitoring US practices in such areas and refuse to be involved in operations where there is a risk of torture or arbitrary detention in legal black holes like Guantanamo Bay. Our security cooperation with the US has never been unconditional, and it is right and proper to ensure joint operations are subject to common sense safeguards. We must also fully confront our past involvement in torture and rendition and be clear about what happened so that lessons for future are publicly acknowledged. As ever sunlight is the best disinfectant. While Parliaments Intelligence and Security Committee recently published damning findings about past UK involvement in torture and rendition, Downing Street hamstrung the committee by preventing it from interviewing key witnesses, leading its highly-respected Chair, Dominic Grieve, to stress that his final report must not be taken to be a comprehensive account. We must now complete the ISCs account, and I have come to believe the best way to achieve this is through an independent judge-led inquiry which has the scope to explore all of the dark corners which the ISC could not. It would have been better for this inquiry to be concluded by the senior MPs whose judgement on the complex inter-play of human rights, politics, and stark reality would carry more conviction than that of a Judge. But given where we are, a judge-led inquiry is the best option. Earlier this month I joined with a number of parliamentary colleagues who have served with distinction in our armed forces David Davis, Crispin Blunt, Lord Ashdown and Dan Jarvis to ask that the Prime Minister to launch such an inquiry. As she returns from her summer break to this important decision, I hope she will realise that this is about learning the lessons of the past, so we can ensure we are protected in the future. In doing so we can continue our vital defence partnership with the United States while protecting UK personnel from complicity in torture and rendition not least in an age of Trump and Haspel. George Freeman MP is Chair of the Conservative Policy Forum, and is MP for Mid-Norfolk. This winter, as the Brexit negotiations come to a head, the Conservative Party has a date with destiny. How we handle it will shape our nation, and our reputation in the eyes of the electorate, for a new generation of voters. Nigel Farage is returning to fight for a UKIP, no-deal, hard Brexit. The Prime Minister is trying to get a bespoke deal. Get it right and Brexit could be a moment of renewal of Conservatism. Get it wrong and it could be the Black Wednesday of our generation: an event which wrecks our reputation as a One Nation party of economic competence and opens the door to Jeremy Corbyn. The stakes could not be higher. With the negotiations set to go to the wire, we should be guided by the same instinct that has made us the most successful Party in history: to be suspicious of ideological blueprints, trust in our values, and adapt to the changing mood of the times in pursuit of the national interest, as seen by the moderate silent majority. From Peel to Disraeli to Churchill and Thatcher, this instinct has served us well. Because Conservatives have always understood one thing: we can only make a difference to peoples lives by winning elections which means speaking for the mainstream majority of voters. Brexit has split both parties and reshaped the traditional allegiances of the British electorate. Can the Conservative Party reunite around a One Nation Brexit, capable of ending the Brexit civil war? If we can, Brexit can be the springboard to a golden age of 21st-century Conservatism. If we cant, it will be our Corn Law disaster. The choice is ours. We should be in no doubt: Leave voters will not thank us for delivering a Brexit that makes them worse off or undermines their fragile economic security. Remain voters may never forgive us. So the task is clear: to show that we are committed, yes, to implementing the will of the people to leave the deepening political superstate of the European Union. But also to redouble our domestic reforms to make this a moment of inspiring One Nation renewal capable of inspiring those who didnt vote for Brexit, and fear a Conservative Party seemingly hijacked by UKIP. As the last election showed, simply pursuing a Hard Brexit will lose us our majority. Remember, we lost ten per cent of Conservative MPs in England, a loss disguised by the victory of Ruth Davisons Scottish modernisers who filled the empty spaces of lost colleagues in marginal English seats. To win a majority again we have to reconnect with two key voter groups. First, those blue collar Labour voters who voted Leave to see an end to austerity. Second, the white collar professional cohort of more liberal voters the young, educated, and dedicated public service professionals in the police, NHS, and local and central government, as well as in business, commerce, science, and academia. To do this, we have to build a Coalition of these two groups. How? By pursuing and recasting Brexit in the spirit of reforming One Nation Conservatism: avoiding a chaotic no-deal crash-out, and setting out a much bolder programme of domestic reforms. The domestic policy challenges we need to tackle are clear: we must continue to drive the reforms to our education and skills system; modernise the NHS and other public services; unleash enterprise and innovation; tackle our chronic debt, deficit and low productivity; and rebalance our economy towards a higher-growth innovation economy ,creating opportunities outside the South East and exporting to the emerging markets. That is the only way we will persuade enough people in the country to return us to office at the next election. We have to make Brexit a moment of bold Conservative renewal, not Faragite nationalism. At the moment it resembles nothing more than a depressing, endless divorce argument between lawyers. Wheres the Brexit vision? Wheres the plan? Wheres the programme to make this a Conservative moment of renewal for the Nation? Take our public finances. We are approaching our first post-Brexit Comprehensive Spending Review lets make it a really bold fresh start. Why dont we end the top down Treasury iron control of local decision making? Restore powers and freedoms to local government? Allow our mayors to raise 1 billion infrastructure Bonds? Allow new generation of local Development Corporations to compulsory purchase to build New Towns? Then why not offer a New Deal to councils and local public services, letting them keep half of any savings and income they can generate? Offer low skill workers threatened by AI a generous retraining package? Offer all school and college leavers a DFID funded work experience programme on the frontline of development? After eight years of depressingly disempowering austerity, its time for something bold and radical: a new start for a new Britain. Above all else, we must remember that Brexit is a means to an end not an end in itself. We must stop obsessing over process and start working together to shape outcomes. Thats why Im delighted the Prime Minister accepted my recommendation for a new Commission into 21st Century Conservatism. Under the leadership of Chris Skidmore, this is a vital opportunity to set out our plans for our countrys post-Brexit future. But for the Commission to succeed, it has to be bold. The transition we need is even greater than that from Heath to Thatcher. We need to embrace the spirit of insurgent, disruptive, empowering technology and innovation to end the broken model of top-down Big Government we inherited in 2010 and still havent fundamentally reformed. The need for fresh thinking is why I set up the Big Tent Ideas Festival. As chair of the fast-growing CPF, Im committed to the renewal of grassroots Conservatism and our future as an election-winning party. But that can only happen by renewing our reputation as a generous party that puts the national interest before our own interest. Thats why we have my good friends and Brexiteers Dan Hannan, Steve Baker, and Michael Gove alongside former Remainers like myself, Tom Tugendhat and Bim Afolami: we need to come together and shape an inspiring renewal programme for a New Generation. Well be debating such questions as: how we can reboot a popular capitalism for a new generation? How we need to reset British foreign policy outside of the EU? How we can make Brexit a catalyst for bolder domestic reforms? The first step to winning their trust is to deliver an orderly Brexit transition which gives business time to adapt. The chances of getting our own bespoke deal are now very slim. We needed to have started two years ago, with a strong vision and a united Cabinet. That chance was blown. Now, I believe, our most realistic chance of a smooth exit is by adopting the off-the-shelf EEA/EFTA option as a stepping stone to a longer term Free Trade Agreement with the EU. To end the Brexit Civil War and make this a moment of unifying national renewal, we need first to make it a moment of unifying Party renewal. We should resist the siren voice of Farage and assemble a Big Tent Brexit coalition in the best traditions of One Nation Conservatism, as Disraeli, Churchill and Thatcher did. We will pay a high price for delivering a UKIP-style hard Brexit. We are analyzing the site. Please wait a few seconds.. CORNWALL, Ontario Nearly 600 cyclist biked from Ottawa to Cornwall this past Saturday, and many made the return trip on Sunday, Aug. 19 all to help fight multiple sclerosis. The MS Bike event was in its 29th year this year, and Stephanie Desjardins, Specialist Fund Developer with MS Canada said that they expected to raise $525,000 this year. Bikers left the Larry Robinson Arena in Metcalfe at 7:30 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 18 and started arriving in Cornwall at the Nav Centre early in the afternoon. The next day, many bikers participated in the return trup back to Ottawa. The round trip totaled at 225km. One rider who made it into Cornwall just before 2 p.m. on Saturday said that she had been participating in the MS Bike tour for 20 consecutive years. A long time ago I was looking for a long ride, said Angie Coloumbe of Ottawa. But after the first year I fell in love with the cause. It really tugs at the heart strings. Money raised by the MS Bike tour goes to the MS Society of Canada and will help fund programs in Eastern Ontario and national research initiatives. Moscow (Russia), August 18, 2018 (SPS) - Russia has expressed supports for the efforts made by the United Nations Secretary General's special envoy for Western Sahara, Horst Kohler, the spokeswoman of the Russian ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, said, calling for resumption of the direct negotiations between Morocco and the Polisario Front, with the participation of Algeria and Mauritania as observers. In her latest briefing at the ministry of Foreign Affairs on Wednesday, the spokeswoman of the Russian diplomacy stressed the need to settle Western Sahara conflict through UN resolutions and UN chief's special envoy Horst Kohler. Russia, she said, supports a new stage of direct negotiations between the two parties to the conflict. "We note with satisfaction the increased efforts made by Horst Kohler, the UN Secretary General's special envoy for Western Sahara and former federal president of Germany, for the peace process in Western Sahara to resume, without pre-conditions, between the two protagonists, in addition to neighboring Algeria and Mauritania as observers." "A lasting peace in Western Sahara can only be achieved through political means," Sakharova underlined. "While maintaining contacts with all the concerned parties, we will continue to help creating a positive process to reach a settlement in Western Sahara," she said. The Russian official said Moscow supports the current approach to resolve the 40-year-long conflict. "There is no other alternative to a compromise based on the well-known resolutions of the UN Security Council and General Assembly, in line with the principles and objectives of the United Nations Charter." (SPS) 062/SPS/APS Beautyonthebeach, out of world-champion Grand Circuit mare Precocious Beauty, won in 1:53 and was the first of two homebred winners for local horseman Jim Avritt of Lebanon, KY, who swept both $30,000 divisions of the Kentucky Sires Stakes (KYSS) opening preliminary for the fillies at The Red Mile on Saturday, Aug. 18. Unpressed through early fractions, a threat came in the form of the previously unbeaten Margret Hill who rolled up on Beautyonthebeach around the final bend but was rebuffed with a 26.4 final stanza by the winner. Doug McNair sat in the bike for trainer and father Gregg McNair. The team came right back with Prescient Beauty, an Art Major full sister to the aforementioned Precocious Beauty, and went virtually the same trip to win the second division also in 1:53. Comfortable throughout, Prescient Beauty warded off the late bid of another unbeaten Brian Brown pupil in Edge Of Eternity with minimal urging through the :27.1 end of the mile while winning for the third time in four outings. Captain Trevor pulled a 20-1 upset in the first of three KYSS divisions for the colts with a 1:51.2 score for trainer Tony Alagna. Driver Andrew McCarthy set the colt up with a quick start, securing a pocket trip behind quick fractions set by Yacht Week, who dueled with Blacklight around the second turn then drifted off the rail. A path then opened for Captain Trevor, who held off the furious rally of Magic Joe Lindy through the 27.1 final quarter. Brittany Farms, Marvin Katz, Brad Grant and Captain Trevor Racing own the winner, a $75,000 Harrisburg purchase from breeders Bays Stable and Riverview Racing. Blood Money, a son of another first crop sire in Sweet Lou, won the second colt split in 1:51.3. Driver Jordan Stratton worked out a second-over ride then fanned off the cover with plenty through the 26.3 final quarter to get by Egomania and US Captain. It was the third win in four outings for owner-breeder Diamond Creek Racing. Jimmy Takter trains the winner. Hall of Fame-driver David Miller broke through in the last colt division to win the fastest of the nights stakes with Cant Beach That in 1:50.4. Miller moved the Somebeachsomewhere colt to the front just past the :55.2 half and survived last-turn pressure from Major Deception then just lasted over the late-flying Hurrikane Emperor who simply ran out of racetrack. The winner is trained by Richard Nifty Norman for Pinske Stables, Mel Segal and Kentuckiana Racing Stable. Bred by Mr. Segal, the colt is an $80,000 Lexington Selected Sale graduate. Racing resumes Sunday, Aug. 19 at 7:00 p.m. with seven divisions of the three-year-old KYSS opening preliminary featuring Hambletonian heat winner Tactical Landing and Milstein Pace winner Thinkbig Dreambig. (With files from The Red Mile) BRIDGEPORT State officials have dismissed a municipal lawyers complaint accusing a handful of City Council members of religious discrimination and anti-Semitism. The complainant, Russel Liskov, said in an interview Friday that he made the decision not to pursue the matter against Marcus Brown, Karen Jackson, Michelle Lyons, Eneida Martinez and Ernest Newton after being urged to do so by unnamed individuals. I was asked to let it go. And I let it go because I was assured the insanity would stop, said Liskov. And it did. Liskov, a retired city attorney rehired as a consultant, pursues delinquent sewer use fees for the city and the Bridgeport Water Pollution Control Authority. The council, off and on for a few years, has been trying to reform the billing and collection processes, arguing they are too aggressive the city has the power to foreclose on properties for unpaid sewer use fees and that they hurt the poorest residents. Liskov filed his complaint with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities in February. It was based on the minutes of a December meeting of the councils Ordinance Committee during which Martinez, a co-chair, alleged that Liskov and Juda Epstein, a private collection attorney who also works on WPCA cases, were conspiring to personally benefit from property foreclosures. Both men are Jews and buddies and they go to the same synagogue and they are buying up these properties, Martinez said during the meeting. In his complaint to the state, Liskov wrote that Martinezs comments and the abject failure of all other council members present ... to counter her blatant religious intolerance and anti-Semitism is tantamount to a concurrence and wholehearted adoption of her statements. Both he and Epstein have also said there is no truth to Martinezs claims. Liskov had previously dropped council members Rosalina Roman-Christy, Peter Spain and Maria Valle from his complaint after they offered written apologies. A spokeswoman for the CHRO confirmed last week that the complaint against the other five council members had been reviewed and dismissed, but could not immediately confirm that it was Liskovs decision. City Attorney R. Christopher Meyer, Liskovs boss, said he was pleased with the outcome. Listen, I never like disharmony between our lawyers and elected officials, Meyer said. Asked if he had urged Liskov to abandon his complaint, Meyer said, I did not have a specific conversation where I would interfere with someones rights. Liskov said he would also not pursue threatened litigation against Martinez. The councilwoman in late January issued a public statement about her December comments about Liskov and Epstein. I bear no animosity toward anyone based on his or her race, ethnicity or religious tradition, Martinez said in her statement. As a person of faith, and a minority woman, I respect all religious traditions and detest bigotry in any form. But Martinez, who has been helping to lead the charge for reforming the WPCA billing process, has refused to recuse herself from that matter even though court documents have shown she has had personal legal clashes with Epstein. The council and WPCA board are continuing to look at ways to make the sewer use fees more user friendly. Brown, who co-chairs the Ordinance Committee with Martinez, was glad to learn Friday that the dispute with Liskov was over, and he pledged to be more sensitive to potentially inflammatory comments. I definitely learned we need a more professional setting, said Brown. Im going to watch out for things like that, because I see the effects. Contributed / Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police COVENTRY The Connecticut Environmental Conservation Police are looking to return a wayward tortoise to its rightful owners after the shelled reptile was spotted at a local residence on Saturday. In a post made Sunday on its Facebook page, the enrvironmental conservation police reported that officers responded Saturday to a report that someone in Coventry found an African Spurred Tortoise in their yard. According to the San Diego Zoo web site, the tortoise is the largest mainland tortoise, reaching up to 30 inches in length and more than 100 pounds in weight. SOKCHO, South Korea - Kim Kwang-ho was just 14 years old when his family was ripped in two during the Korean War. It was December 1950, and Chinese troops were advancing on his small hometown. With his father, two older brothers and an older sister, he fled south, first on foot, then perched on top of a train and finally packed impossibly tight into a transport ship. His mother stayed behind with his 10-year-old brother and several cousins, expecting to join them later when the fighting was over, the journey safer. "It was a pretty lighthearted farewell," he said. "We thought we were only going to be apart for three days or a week." It was to be the last time he ever saw or even heard from his mother, who, he has just found out, died in Communist North Korea in 1967. On Monday, more than 67 years after they parted, he finally gets to see his younger brother again. Kim is one of 172 South Koreans who will travel into North Korea to meet relatives this week, in the first reunion of divided families to take place for three years, as relations thaw between the neighbors. These reunions are simultaneously a reminder of the deep bonds between the two nations, and an illustration of just how far they have grown apart in the decades since their painful division. The reunion program began in 1985, stalled, then got underway properly at the turn of the millennium. In all, more than 17,000 South Koreans have taken part in more than 20 meetings, seeing their relatives in person or over video link. But more than 130,000 have registered as members of divided families since the program began, and more than half of them died before getting to see their relatives again. Many on the waiting list are over 90 years old. Some barely recognize those relatives they do get to meet. Kim has vivid memories of life in North Korea: of climbing an apricot tree outside his house and sitting up there singing, looking out over an apple orchard; of running up into the hills when he heard the planes of the U.S.-led United Nations force flying toward his rural town, and watching their bombs, "boom-boom-boom," exploding in a line along the railway tracks. He remembers dozing off on top of the train carrying him toward the port of Hungnam, snow piling up on his shoulders. But he can't remember his brother's face, or even his mother's anymore. Still, he says he was happy to be chosen for the reunion and is looking forward to seeing his brother again. "My two older brothers who came south with me both died in their 60s," he said. "My younger brother is 78 now, I am surprised to see he is still alive." He will come bearing gifts: some warm jackets, socks, soap and cosmetics for his brother's wife, and two packets of Choco Pies, the cake-and-marshmallow chocolate sandwich snack made in South Korea but particularly coveted in the North. Participants are discouraged from bringing cash, and he has chosen not to, worried that his brother probably wouldn't get to keep it anyway. Luxury goods, including expensive bottles of spirits or watches, are also banned under U.N. sanctions. On Sunday, the South Koreans gathered in the city of Sokcho, for a briefing on how to behave and what they can and cannot say, before traveling by bus across the border to the North Korean resort of Mount Kumgang on Monday. Kim will have to stay in a different hotel than his brother in Mount Kumgang, but they will be brought together for group reunions, dinner banquets and lunches between Monday and Wednesday, including a three-hour individual meeting on Tuesday when they will exchange gifts. Southern participants are advised not to criticize the North Korean leadership or ask about the country's economic situation in case it causes problems for their relatives. And if their counterparts start singing propaganda songs or making political statements - a common problem in the past - participants are advised to "naturally lead the conversation to another topic." Gifts of a propaganda-type nature should be politely refused. Still, Kim is looking forward to hearing about his mother, and about how his hometown has changed. Then, on Wednesday, after just 11 hours together, he and his brother will part again, almost certainly for the last time. The meetings are like a sudden spark of light after nearly seven decades of darkness. Many people have heard nothing about their relatives in the North during that entire time, and are nervous about who and what they will encounter. And then, after the brief meeting, darkness will reign once again. "I really wish we could exchange letters afterwards, or talk to each other the phone, or by video call," Kim said, "but these reunions are one-time-only meetings." Yun Jung-sik applied to see his older sister, whom he last saw when he was 12 in 1950. She was already married by then, with two young children, and when the rest of the family fled south, she stayed behind with her husband's family. Ten days ago, Yun found out he had been selected for this round of family reunions. But he also learned his sister had died 25 years ago. Instead, he will meet her children, his nephew and niece. He knows nothing about them except their names and ages, 71 and 70 respectively. "I feel pretty neutral about it, I'm not that excited," he said. "Maybe if we'd exchanged pictures over the past 70 years, I might have felt differently." He and his wife will bring $260 in cash each, as well as clothes - eight pieces for women, in different sizes, and five for men - some vitamin pills, and, of course, some Choco Pies. "I hope the family we are meeting have not become Communists all the way," he said. "If they have become totally indoctrinated, they will not tell us frankly what their lives are like. I hope they're not like that." There is a good chance they will be. Daily NK, a South Korean news service with contacts inside the North, reported last week that only North Koreans seen as loyal to the regime will be chosen for the reunions. That could rule out many people. North Koreans whose relatives had fled south were often seen as suspect and placed in the lowest rungs of the country's heavily stratified society, experts say. Either way, those who do get chosen have to undergo a month of political indoctrination to make sure they say the right thing, said Choe Eun-bum, who worked to reunite divided families at the Red Cross for many years. "Among the first things the North Koreans tell their South Korean relatives is their gratitude to their great leader," he said, which immediately "casts a chill over the long-awaited reunion." The 14-year-old Kim sailed south on the SS Meredith Victory, a U.S. Merchant Marine ship that was nicknamed the Ship of Miracles for carrying 14,000 refugees on that voyage, the largest land evacuation by a single ship. Also on board were the parents of South Korean President Moon Jae-in. Indeed, Moon accompanied his mother to meet her younger sister during one of the reunions in 2004, and says his personal history shapes his own desire for peace. --- The Washington Post's Min Joo Kim contributed to this report. OCEAN CITY, Md. - The crowds started gathering as soon as Gov. Larry Hogan stepped onto the beachfront boardwalk here, and the governor didn't flinch when a shirtless, sweaty man threw an arm around his shoulders to pose for a photo. Hogan, R, was in his element, and he worked the sandy, sun-kissed crowds for nearly two hours, drinking beers with local firefighters, celebrating the 125th anniversary of a local business, snarfing french fries with local politicians and taking selfies with everyone who wanted one. His Democratic opponent Ben Jealous was nowhere in sight. Jealous voluntarily ceded the stage to Hogan this week as hundreds of Maryland's state, federal and local officials gathered in Ocean City for an annual conference that has been a fixture in the state's political calendar for nearly 90 years. Jealous' decision to skip the Maryland Association of Counties summer gathering - instead meeting with voters in Baltimore City and Frederick - set off another wave of anxiety among his supporters in the Democratic establishment. "Democrats are nervous and concerned," said John Willis, a longtime Democratic strategist and University of Maryland at Baltimore professor who wrote a book on Maryland politics and attended the conference. "There's more coverage about his absence than if he had shown up and spent 15 minutes delivering his platform," Willis said. "Personally, I would be here." His absence in the resort town, where the state's political press corps also gathered, has raised questions about whether eschewing traditional Maryland campaign techniques is a misstep or a savvy move in a tough race. Jealous, the former NAACP chief and community organizer, has focused his progressive, outsider campaign on dramatically boosting Democratic turnout in the vote-rich District of Columbia suburbs and the Baltimore region. Jealous is banking on the deep unpopularity of Republican President Donald Trump and his own platform of a $15 minimum wage, debt-free college and Medicare-for-all to get a wave of infrequent voters to show up in November. Hogan, the popular, well-funded incumbent, has governed as a moderate in a deeply Democratic state. He seized the Ocean City conference as an opportunity to meet privately with Democratic leaders, to rub shoulders with vacationing Maryland voters and to tell local government leaders how much he would help them if reelected to a second term. "This conference is far more than just a speaking opportunity,'" Hogan told a crowd of local leaders. Jealous turned down an invitation to speak to the conference's 1,400 attendees for 15 minutes at the close of the event in a forum on issues about local government. He was invited to answer questions on the stage alone, after Hogan had done the same. He also skipped the four-day cycle of parties, fundraisers, glad-handing and seminars on local government topics such as "Like a Bridge Over Troubled Water: Know Your Water Law." For longtime Maryland leaders, the conference is a can't-miss event. "It's one of the major events of the year for a lot of different reasons," Sen. Benjamin Cardin, D, said Friday night, surrounded by more than 200 elected officials, lobbyists and their families picking crabs and drinking beer beneath two enormous tents. "A lot of history is here. This is one place where so much of politics in Maryland come together," Cardin said. He then declined to publicly assess Jealous' decision not to come. "I never second-guess what people decide to do." Several other Maryland Democrats who requested anonymity to speak candidly said they unsuccessfully urged the Jealous campaign to reconsider. "It's not going to lose him the election, but it might lose him some relationships," one veteran Democratic state lawmaker said. "It puts him in the position of having to win on the merits, and this is a tough race. I mean, look at that" the lawmaker said, gesturing to Hogan posing for photos with the children of other elected officials. Jealous' running mate Susan Turnbull attended one day of the conference and the crab feast to meet with women in local government, but she largely dismissed its significance. "This is an insider's event," Turnbull said. "What we're trying to do is meet with actual voters and small business people. . . . Most people aren't here to talk about politics. Most voters haven't even heard of MACO," she said, referring to the group's acronym. Nonetheless, Jealous campaign on Friday distributed talking points for surrogates who get questioned about his absence. "Concern/Attack: Why isn't Ben at the MACo summer convention? This seems like a major mistake," the document said, according to a copy obtained by The Washington Post. For some in the Democratic establishment, Jealous' decision to abandon what they consider a crucial event was the latest in setbacks that include viral video of Jealous cursing at a reporter, more than $1 million in unanswered attack ads from Republicans and a public poll showing Hogan with a 16-point lead and Jealous' unfavorability ratings on the rise. Political forecaster Larry Sabato, director of the University of Virginia Center for Politics, on Thursday reclassified the race from "leans Republican" to "likely Republican." While Hogan told a crowd of several hundred elected officials on Saturday morning how much he has delivered for the state, Jealous was shaking hands with voters in Baltimore's Lexington Market. Baltimore City Council President Bernard "Jack" Young, D, who has been on the council for more than two decades, was in Ocean City and did not understand Jealous' logic. "It's a real big deal," Young said of the conference. He pulled out his phone to show his calendar stacked with events meeting with policy influencers from across Maryland. "You just get to meet people from all over the state," Young said. "If I was him and I was running for governor, I would be here." House Speaker Michael Busch, who has been a delegate for more than 30 years, shrugged his shoulders. "I mean, everybody comes to MACO," said Busch, D-Anne Arundel. He recalled that former governor William Donald Schaefer had "an entourage of 50 people" during election years slapping stickers on elected officials from across the state. Jealous is "not running a traditional campaign," Busch said. "He's running a values campaign that pits national Democratic values against the values of the national Republican Party under Donald Trump." Other longtime observers of Maryland politics see the conference's political clout as a relic of bygone days, and that Jealous had to make a strategic call. Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett, D, who has held off on endorsing Jealous, said the conference's "potential political element is highly overrated." "It's not that important . . . Not that much business gets done," said Terry Lierman, former chairman of the Maryland Democratic Party. " While everyone's spending all that money in Ocean City partying, Jealous is out there meeting with voters." PLAINS, Ga.- Jimmy Carter finishes his Saturday night dinner, salmon and broccoli casserole on a paper plate, flashes his famous toothy grin and calls playfully to his wife of 72 years, Rosalynn: "C'mon, kid." She laughs and takes his hand, and they walk carefully through a neighbor's kitchen filled with 1976 campaign buttons, photos of world leaders and a couple of unopened cans of Billy Beer, then out the back door, where three Secret Service agents wait. They do this just about every weekend in this tiny town where they were born - he almost 94 years ago, she almost 91. Dinner at their friend Jill Stuckey's house, with plastic Solo cups of ice water and one glass each of bargain-brand chardonnay, then the half-mile walk home to the ranch house they built in 1961. On this south Georgia summer evening, still close to 90 degrees, they dab their faces with a little plastic bottle of No Natz to repel the swirling clouds of tiny bugs. Then they catch each other's hands again and start walking, the former president in jeans and clunky black shoes, the former first lady using a walking stick for the first time. The 39th president of the United States lives modestly, a sharp contrast to his successors, who have left the White House to embrace power of another kind: wealth. Even those who didn't start out rich, including Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, have made tens of millions of dollars on the private-sector opportunities that flow so easily to ex-presidents. When Carter left the White House after one tumultuous term, trounced by Ronald Reagan in the 1980 election, he returned to Plains, a speck of peanut and cotton farmland that to this day has a poverty rate of nearly 40 percent. The Democratic former president decided not to join corporate boards or give speeches for big money because, he says, he didn't want to "capitalize financially on being in the White House." Presidential historian Michael Beschloss said that Gerald Ford, Carter's predecessor and close friend, was the first to fully take advantage of those high-paid post-presidential opportunities, but that "Carter did the opposite." Since Ford, other former presidents, and sometimes their spouses, routinely earn hundreds of thousands of dollars on speeches. "I don't see anything wrong with it; I don't blame other people for doing it," Carter says over dinner. "It just never had been my ambition to be rich." - - - Carter was 56 when he returned to Plains from Washington. He says his peanut business, held in a blind trust during his presidency, was $1 million in debt, and he was forced to sell. "We thought we were going to lose everything," says Rosalynn, sitting beside him. Carter decided that his income would come from writing, and he has written 33 books, about his life and career, his faith, Middle East peace, women's rights, aging, fishing, woodworking, even a children's book written with his daughter, Amy Carter, called "The Little Baby Snoogle-Fleejer." With book income and the $210,700 annual pension all former presidents receive, the Carters live comfortably. But his books have never fetched the massive sums commanded by more recent presidents. Carter has been an ex-president for 37 years, longer than anyone else in history. His simple lifestyle is increasingly rare in this era of President Donald Trump, a billionaire with gold-plated sinks in his private jet, Manhattan penthouse and Mar-a-Lago estate. Carter is the only president in the modern era to return full-time to the home he lived in before he entered politics - a two-bedroom ranch house assessed at $167,000, less than the value of the armored Secret Service vehicles parked outside. Ex-presidents often fly on private jets, sometimes lent by wealthy friends, but the Carters fly commercial. Stuckey says that on a recent flight from Atlanta to Los Angeles, Carter walked up and down the aisle greeting other passengers and taking selfies. "He doesn't like big shots, and he doesn't think he's a big shot," said Gerald Rafshoon, who was Carter's White House communications director. Carter costs U.S. taxpayers less than any other ex-president, according to the General Services Administration, with a total bill for him in the current fiscal year of $456,000, covering pensions, an office, staff and other expenses. That's less than half the $952,000 budgeted for George H.W. Bush; the three other living ex-presidents - Clinton, George W. Bush and Obama - cost taxpayers more than $1 million each per year. Carter doesn't even have federal retirement health benefits because he worked for the government for four years - less than the five years needed to qualify, according to the GSA. He says he receives health benefits through Emory University, where he has taught for 36 years. The federal government pays for an office for each ex-president. Carter's, in the Carter Center in Atlanta, is the least expensive, at $115,000 this year. The Carters could have built a more elaborate office with living quarters, but for years they slept on a pullout couch for a week each month. Recently, they had a Murphy bed installed. Carter's office costs a fraction of Obama's, which is $536,000 a year. Clinton's costs $518,000, George W. Bush's is $497,000 and George H.W. Bush's is $286,000, according to the GSA. "I am a great admirer of Harry Truman. He's my favorite president, and I really try to emulate him," says Carter, who writes his books in a converted garage in his house. "He set an example I thought was admirable." But although Truman retired to his hometown of Independence, Mo., Beschloss said that even he took up residence in an elegant house previously owned by his prosperous in-laws. As Carter spreads a thick layer of butter on a slice of white bread, he is asked whether he thinks, especially with a man who boasts of being a billionaire in the White House, any future ex-president will ever live the way Carter does. "I hope so," he says. "But I don't know." - - - Plains is a tiny circle of Georgia farmland, a mile in diameter, with its center at the train depot that served as Carter's 1976 campaign headquarters. About 700 people live here, 150 miles due south of Atlanta, in a place that is a living museum to Carter. The general store, once owned by Carter's Uncle Buddy, sells Carter memorabilia and scoops of peanut butter ice cream. Carter's boyhood farm is preserved as it was in the 1930s, with no electricity or running water. The Jimmy Carter National Historic Site is essentially the entire town, drawing nearly 70,000 visitors a year and $4 million into the county's economy. Carter has used his post-presidency to support human rights, global health programs and fair elections worldwide through his Carter Center, based in Atlanta. He has helped renovate 4,300 homes in 14 countries for Habitat for Humanity, and with his own hammer and tool belt, he will be working on homes for low-income people in Indiana later this month. But it is Plains that defines him. After dinner, the Carters step out of Stuckey's driveway, with two Secret Service agents walking close behind. Carter's gait is a little unsteady these days, three years after a diagnosis of melanoma on his liver and brain. At a 2015 news conference to announce his illness, he seemed to be bidding a stoic farewell, saying he was "perfectly at ease with whatever comes." But now, after radiation and chemotherapy, Carter says he is cancer-free. In October, he will become the second president ever to reach 94; George H.W. Bush turned 94 in June. These days, Carter is sharp, funny and reflective. The Carters walk every day - often down Church Street, the main drag through Plains, where they have been walking since the 1920s. As they cross Walters Street, Carter sees a couple of teenagers on the sidewalk across the street. "Hello," says the former president, with the same big smile that adorns peanut Christmas ornaments in the general store. "Hey," says a girl in a jean skirt, greeting him with a cheerful wave. The two 15-year-olds say people in Plains think of the Carters as neighbors and friends, just like anybody else. "I grew up in church with him," says Maya Wynn. "He's a nice guy, just like a regular person." "He's a good ol' Southern gentleman," says David Lane. Carter says this place formed him, seeding his beliefs about racial equality. His farmhouse youth during the Great Depression made him unpretentious and frugal. His friends, maybe only half-joking, describe Carter as "tight as a tick." That no-frills sensibility, endearing since he left Washington, didn't work as well in the White House. Many people thought Carter scrubbed some of the luster off the presidency by carrying his own suitcases onto Air Force One and refusing to have "Hail to the Chief" played. Stuart Eizenstat, a Carter aide and biographer, said Carter's edict eliminating drivers for top staff members backfired. It meant that top officials were driving instead of reading and working for an hour or two every day. "He didn't feel suited to the grandeur," Eizenstat said. "Plains is really part of his DNA. He carried it into the White House, and he carried it out of the White House." Carter's presidency - from 1977 to 1981 - is often remembered for long lines at gas stations and the Iran hostage crisis. "I may have overemphasized the plight of the hostages when I was in my final year," he says. "But I was so obsessed with them personally, and with their families, that I wanted to do anything to get them home safely, which I did." He said he regrets not doing more to unify the Democratic Party. When Carter looks back at his presidency, he says he is most proud of "keeping the peace and supporting human rights," the Camp David accords that brokered peace between Israel and Egypt, and his work to normalize relations with China. In 2002, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts. "I always told the truth," he says. Carter has been notably quiet about President Donald Trump. But on this night, two years into Trump's term, he's not holding back. "I think he's a disaster," Carter says. "In human rights and taking care of people and treating people equal." "The worst is that he is not telling the truth, and that just hurts everything," Rosalynn says. Carter says his father taught him that truthfulness matters. He said that was reinforced at the U.S. Naval Academy, where he said students are expelled for telling even the smallest lie. "I think there's been an attitude of ignorance toward the truth by President Trump," he says. Carter says he thinks the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision has "changed our political system from a democracy to an oligarchy. Money is now preeminent. I mean, it's just gone to hell now." He says he believes that the nation's "ethical and moral values" are still intact and that Americans eventually will "return to what's right and what's wrong, and what's decent and what's indecent, and what's truthful and what's lies." But, he says, "I doubt if it happens in my lifetime." On Church Street, Carter points out the mayor's house with his left hand while he holds Rosalynn's with his right. "My mother and father lived in that brick one," he says, gesturing toward a small house across the street. "We use it as an office now." "That's Dr. Logan's over here." Every house has a story. Generations of them. Cracked birdbaths and rocking chairs on somebody's great-grandmother's porch. Carter knows them all. "Mr. Oscar Williams lived here; his family was my competitor in the warehouse business." He points out the Plains United Methodist Church, where he spotted young Eleanor Rosalynn Smith one evening when he was home from the Naval Academy. He asked her out. They went to a movie, and the next morning he told his mother he was going to marry Rosalynn. "I didn't know that for years," she says with a smile. They are asked if there is anything they want but don't have. "I can't think of anything," Carter says, turning to Rosalynn. "And you?" "No, I'm happy," she says. "We feel at home here," Carter says. "And the folks in town, when we need it, they take care of us." - - - Every other Sunday morning, Carter teaches Sunday school at the Maranatha Baptist Church on the edge of town, and people line up the night before to get a seat. This Sunday morning happens to be his 800th lesson since he left the White House. He walks in wearing a blazer too big through the shoulders, a striped shirt and a turquoise bolo tie. He asks where people have come from, and from the pews they call out at least 20 states, Canada, China, Denmark and Kenya. He tells the congregation that he's planning a trip to Montana to go fishing with his friend Ted Turner, and that he's going to ride in an autogiro - a sort of mini-helicopter - with his son Jack Carter. "I'm still fairly active," he says, and everyone laughs. He talks about living a purposeful life, but also about finding enough time for rest and reflection. Then he and Rosalynn pose for photos with every person who wants one, including Steven and Joanna Raley, who came from Annandale, Virginia, with their 3-month-old son, Jackson Carter Raley. "We want our children to grow up with a heart of service like President Carter," says Steven, who works on Navy submarines, as Carter once did. "One of the reasons we named our son after President Carter is how humble he is," Joanna says. Carter holds the baby and beams for the camera. "I like the name," he says. When they reach their property, the Carters turn right off the sidewalk and cut across the wide lawn toward their house. Carter stops to point out a tall magnolia that was transplanted from a sprout taken from a tree that Andrew Jackson planted on the White House lawn. They walk past a pond, which Carter helped dig and where he now works on his fly-fishing technique. They point out a willow tree at the pond's edge, on a gentle sloping lawn, where they will be buried in graves marked by simple stones. They know their graves will draw tourists and boost the Plains economy. Their one-story house sits behind a government-owned fence that once surrounded Richard Nixon's house in Key Biscayne, Florida. The Carters already have deeded the property to the National Park Service, which will one day turn it into a museum. Their house is dated, but homey and comfortable, with a rustic living room and a small kitchen. A cooler bearing the presidential seal sits on the floor in the kitchen - Carter says they use it for leftovers. In a remodel not long ago, the couple knocked down a bedroom wall themselves. "By that time, we had worked with Habitat so much that it was just second-nature," Rosalynn says. Rosalynn Carter practices tai chi and meditates in the mornings, while her husband writes in his study or swims in the pool. He also builds furniture and paints in the garage; the paint is still wet on a portrait of a cardinal that will be their Christmas card this year. They watch Atlanta Braves games or "Law and Order." Carter just finished reading "The Innovators" by Walter Isaacson. They have no chef and they cook for themselves, often together. They make their own yogurt. On this summer morning, Rosalynn mixes pancake batter and sprinkles in blueberries grown on their land. Carter cooks them on the griddle. Then he does the dishes. BRIDGEWATER, N.J. - After 18 months of treating North Korea as the top national security threat, President Donald Trump has increasingly turned his attention to China, taking a more confrontational approach that experts said shows a risky shift in U.S. policy. From an escalating trade war to a new defense budget that counters Chinese maritime expansion, the Trump administration has taken aim at the East Asian power in a contest of wills that has led to a growing consensus in Beijing that the United States is seeking to contain China's rise. Trump's rhetoric has grown sharper since last year, when he attempted to strike a rapport with his "good friend" President Xi Jinping. Last week, Trump cited the Chinese military as the rationale for creating a new "Space Force" at the Pentagon, and in a tweet on Saturday he injected China into the specter of foreign influence of U.S. elections. "All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China," the president wrote, without offering evidence of any Chinese conspiracy. Analysts said the rise in hostility suggests that Trump and his advisers have come to view the communist nation as a malign power and direct competitor and adversary whose expanding influence must be blunted through more extreme countermeasures. To a degree, it is a view that is shared more widely among Washington foreign policy analysts as Xi has consolidated power and pursued an aggressive agenda of economic growth and territorial expansion. But analysts said the Trump administration has yet to articulate a clear strategy to deal with China even it signals a sharp departure from the approach of previous administrations. President Barack Obama sought to cooperate with Beijing on major global initiatives, such as the Paris climate accord and the Iran nuclear deal, as a way to manage China's growth and encourage it to act more responsibly in the international system. Trump has pulled the United States out of both of those pacts. "I do not see very many issues this administration is trying to work with China on," said Bonnie Glaser, a China analyst at the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington. "The effort to come up with new things where our interests converge has been abandoned. I think this administration is in agreement that China is a competitor, and the effort here is really focused on how we have a more effective competitive strategy with China." Trump's preoccupation with China was on display at a Cabinet meeting at the White House on Thursday. During the hour-long discussion, open to reporters, the president accused China of easing economic pressure on North Korea and of flooding addictive opioids into the United States. Economic analysts have criticized Trump for sparking a trade war with China by slapping tariffs on steel and aluminum in the spring. In the meeting, the president appeared eager to prove he was right to impose tariffs and to paint Beijing as the loser, pointedly asking his top economic adviser, Larry Kudlow, to update him on China's economic growth. "Their economy is heading south," Kudlow replied. "I will just say, right now, their economy looks terrible." Trump had talked tough on China throughout his campaign, but he pulled back after taking office and inviting Xi to his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida in the spring of 2017. The president declined to follow through on threats to label China a "currency manipulator" as he sought to enlist Beijing's help in his international pressure campaign on North Korea. But the president has soured on Beijing as his bid to force Pyongyang to live up to commitments made with leader Kim Jong Un in a nuclear summit in Singapore has faltered. As Trump's relationship with Kim has appeared to enter an uneasy detente, analysts suggested the president sees China as a convenient political foil to juice his domestic political base. There is doubt about whether the strategy is working. Since the spring, the world's two largest economies have each put tariffs on $34 billion worth of goods, with $16 billion more slated to take effect this week. The trade war has sparked anxiety among some U.S. industries and, in June, forced the Trump administration to announce plans for a $12 billion bailout to farmers affected by retaliatory Chinese tariffs on soy, corn, wheat and other agricultural products. A Chinese delegation is scheduled to visit Washington this week for lower-level trade talks. "The Trump administration is trying surgery with a chainsaw in making threats and demanding unconditional surrender," said Daniel Russel, an analyst at the Asia Society who served as a top Asia policy official in the Obama administration. "The Chinese tell me they see a clear connection between the aggressive push on trade and the language in the National Security Strategy and other documents labeling China, in effect, an enemy." That strategy document, released in December, called China a "revisionist power" that seeks to displace U.S. leadership in Asia and expand the reach of its "state-driven" economic model. For all of Trump's rhetoric, however, his administration has not sketched out a convincing strategy to blunt China's expansion, analysts said. Trump's withdrawal of the United States from potential membership in the Trans-Pacific Partnership, a 12-nation trade pact viewed by the Obama administration as a bulwark on China, left regional partners uncertain about the administration's commitment to the region. Late last month, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced an initial investment of $113 million in energy, infrastructure and digital commerce as the economic cornerstone of an "Indo-Pacific" strategy, which was interpreted by Washington's foreign policy community as a lackluster attempt by Trump's team to offer an alternative vision. The investment paled in comparison to China's giant "belt and road" economic program that is distributing tens of billions of dollars in government-backed infrastructure loans across the region. In an attempt to soothe the concerns of American business leaders, Matt Pottinger, the senior director for Asia at the National Security Council, emphasized at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce that the initial sum was a starting point to jump-start American private sector investments that China can't match. "We know there's anxiety about the adjustment that's taking place in U.S. bilateral relationships, maybe one in particular," Pottinger said, referring to China. "That adjustment is overdue. It's inevitable. What's important now is for the United States and our partners to look forward to the 21st century competition that all of us are facing and that together we will be able to win." Don't be surprised to hear the name Knox MacNeil connected to harness racing in the future as the 16-month-old is absolutely smitten with Standardbreds, as shown in this incredibly endearing video. According to Knox's mother, Sasha MacNeil, he certainly comes by his infatuation with horses and harness racing honestly, coming from a long line of industry participants. "My grandfather, Danny Mac Eachern first started with training and driving and my dad Hugh has been around horses his whole life," MacNeil told Trot Insider. "My brother, Ali used to work with Jack Moiseyev [in Ontario], he was training up there for a few years and he just came back. We come from a long line of horsemen in the family; I think it's in the genes." Many industry participants have family ties to racing, that's not uncommon. Knox's passion for horses, however, is off the charts. "It's one of the only words he says: horse. Right now it's Dada, Mama and horse. I have a big picture of a horse in his room and he kisses it goodnight every night before he goes to bed and every morning. That's the first word when he wakes up: horse." Whether it's going to the local track in Inverness with his grandfather or spending time at home with family, the love this toddler has for horses and harness racing is both refreshing and heart-warming. "He just goes crazy, he wants to follow them as soon as I put him down. No fear...he wants to go in the stall and get right up with the horses," said Sasha. "My dad would watch the races on the Standardbred Canada website, and my dad would have him sit on his lap while he watched them. And he would move as if he was driving the horse and make noises ('click-click-click') like he was driving. He started that a few months ago. Not a Standardbred Canada member herself, Sasha MacNeil readily recognizes that she'll likely be joining the organization and the ranks of harness horse ownership in the future, along with her son. Books on the run from Somerset County libraries to just about anywhere Maharashtra Congress president Ashok Chavan is a busy man nowadays. With a hope of arresting the BJPs phenomenal growth in the state, he has taken an initiative to bring like-minded people within the Congress. However, his plan might go haywire as some small parties are likely to play spoilsport. Under Chavan, the Congress has held three meetings so far with the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), Samajwadi Party (SP), Swabhimani Shetkari Sanghatana (SSS) and the Left parties for a possible alliance in the next Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Chavan wants an alliance of like-minded parties in Maharashtra for both Lok Sabha and Assembly elections (Photo: Mail Today) The SSS had pulled out of the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) six months ago after dispute over its agriculture policies. Chavan is also keen on taking Bharip-Bahujan Mahasangh (BBM) headed by prominent Dalit leader Prakash Ambedkar along. However, Ambedkar and MP Raju Shetti of SSS might derail Chavans plan of a united Opposition. They have already announced their candidates in some constituencies even before the Congress approached them. It will be a big task for Chavan to convince them to withdraw and join hands with the Congress. With only 42 members in the 288-member Assembly, Chavan has focused on building organisational set up at the grassroots level. He has set up social media teams in each of the 38 districts with a target of reaching to every voter and addressing the issues s/he is facing. He wants to repeat a feat when the Congress had won 81 seats under his leadership in 2009, the highest by the party since 1985. Chavans effort to set up a united Opposition is a part of his plan to repeat the 2009 performance. Ambedkar also has announced candidates in 14 Assembly constituencies. He has announced that Congress is ready to ally with NCP, SP, Peasants and Workers Party (PWP), SSS, Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M), BBM, Bahujan Vikas Aghadi (BVA), Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP), Peoples Republican Party (PRP), Republican Party of India Gavai fraction (RPI-G) and other parties. Shetti has announced that SSS state president Ravikant Tupkar will contest the Lok Sabha poll from Buldhana whereas another young leader Anil Pawar will be the candidate from Madha in Solapur. At present, Madha falls in NCP quota where its senior leader Vijaysinh Mohite-Patil is the MP. Shetti does not want to be on the same boat with the NCP. Shetti is not in a mood to give up Madha, once represented by his bete noire Sharad Pawar. Shetti has expressed his desire to go with the Congress but not with the NCP. He has staked claim on six seats in the Congress quota. Ambedkar also has announced candidates in 14 Assembly constituencies with a permutation and combination of caste factor. He wants the Congress to leave these seats for the BBM. The Congress is not willing to budge before the demands by Shetti and Ambedkar. Chavan is hopeful of sorting out the differences. The seat-sharing talks are yet to start, he said. There will certainly be some way to arrive at the consensus as every party wants to throw out BJP. (Courtesy of Mail Today) Also read: Why India feels the heat of US-Russia diplomatic tensions More than 160 people have died and lakhs left homeless as rain continues to batter Kerala, which is reeling under the worst flood it has witnessed since 1924. Even as the Armed Forces and the National Disaster Response Force are joined by the local fishermen in rescue and relief operations, the fate of millions hang in the balance according to reports, 2,23,000 people have been accommodated in 1 ,568 relief camps across the state, road and rail transport are completely suspended in several areas, hospitals battle a lack of liquid oxygen and diesel, and crops and property worth Rs8,000 crore have been damaged. Kerala is battling its worst flood since 1924. (Photo: PTI) But rain fury alone is not responsible for the states miseries. For the first time ever, shutters of 35 of Keralas 39 dams were opened, within days of each other. At a time when the state was already receiving more rainfall than usual, the excess water from the dams flooded the rivers. The adjoining areas were inundated, houses and roads submerged in water, residents forced to flee. What is more, according to some locals, proper warnings were not given to them about the sluice gates opening, leaving them with little time to gather their belongings and move to safety. Why were the dams not opened well in time, before the rains got worse? Why did authorities wait for water levels to reach the danger mark, necessitating the opening of all the dam gates around the same time? Even as the decision to open the gates was being delayed, why were people in the nearby areas not moved to safety? These are some of the questions the Pinarayi Vijayan government needs to answer. An article in Firstpost quotes Murali Thummarukudy, chief of Disaster Risk Reduction in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), as saying: "Sitting at Geneva, I had on June 14 cautioned that the reservoirs will be filled by July. I had made the prediction based on the experience in Thailand and Pakistan. Unfortunately, our engineers did not foresee this. Residents, too, have been quoted as saying that Idamalayar dam in Ernakulam and Banasara Sagar dam in Wayanad were opened without giving them adequate warning, and all the five shutters of the Cheruthoni dam were opened together, instead of opening them phase-wise with simultaneous evacuation of people. Firstpost has quoted dam safety expert N Sasidharan as saying: The authorities waited till the water level in the Idamalayar reservoir reached its capacity of 169 feet. If it was opened when the water level reached 165 feet, it would not have necessitated the evacuation of many people in the downstream areas. This is the result of poor planning by the disaster management authority. The same complaint has been made about the Idukki dam too, opened for the first time since 1992. Warnings about Idukki were being raised as early as July 31. But that time, state water resources minister Mathew T Thomas had said there was no need for even a trial run of opening the dams sluice gates, as the water level was rising only by 0.02 feet an hour. Warnings about water levels in Idukki were being raised as early as July 31. (Photo: PTI) The South Asia Network on Dams, Rivers and People (SANDRP) has cited how the water level in Idukki rose faster because two of its six turbines, that use water for power generation, were non-functional. One of these was shut down on June 26 for annual maintenance. What was the point of shutting down a turbine for maintenance just before the monsoon? Also, as late as on August 17, Kerala and Tamil Nadu were arguing over the Mullaperiyar Dam, which is managed by Tamil Nadu. Clearly, as disaster surged close, the state government was caught napping. Contrast this with Odisha in 2013, when, during the Cyclone Phailin, timely warnings and evacuation of people had ensured that the loss of lives was minimised 38, as compared with the 167 in Kerala already. A report by the United Nations Environment Programmes Global Environment Alert Service had said about the Odisha government: Government cooperation, preparedness at the community level, early warning communication and lessons learned from Cyclone 05B [in 1999], contributed to the successful evacuation operation, effective preparation activities and impact mitigation. If resource-strapped Odisha could have prepared itself so well for a natural disaster, could not richer, more developed Kerala have done the same? Even apart from this, there is a lot the Kerala government needs to answer for. In 2011, the Gadgil Committee made several suggestions to Kerala to conserve the ecologically fragile Western Ghats. The recommendations included restrictions on mining and quarrying, on use of land for non-forest purposes, and on the unabated proliferation of high-rise buildings. The government had rejected the report. Now, environmentalists are pointing out that widespread and uncontrolled quarrying has led to the mudslides the state is witnessing, which are responsible for the most number of deaths in these floods. Once the flood and fury recede, there are many lessons the government of Kerala needs to take from this disaster. Also read: Monsoon floods will only get worse in India. This is what can be done to help The date change for the 2018 Guardian Gold Cup & Saucer has prompted a few driver changes for the Sunday night card and most notably, the main event of the evening. Trial #2 winner Bet On Brett was programmed with driver Louis-Philippe Roy, who is also listed to drive on Sunday at both Hippodrome 3R and Georgian Downs. Bet On Brett's driver will now be former Canadian dash-winning leader Brad Forward, who hasn't driven since December 2016. Forward teamed with Bet On Brett's trainer Rene Allard to win the 2014 Gold Cup & Saucer with Bigtown Hero. The other notable driver change comes with post eight starter Lincolnjames. Previously slated to have the services of Anthony MacDonald, the driver is now Kenny Arsenault. MacDonald has a prior commitment to drive in Pennsylvania Sire Stakes action at Pocono. To view the entries for Sunday's card at Charlottetown, click the following link: Sunday Entries - Charlottetown Driving Park. The I Love Canadian Harness Racing Fan Club has also extended the entry deadline for its Gold Cup & Saucer Online Handicapping Contest. Entries now close on Sunday, August 19 at 4:30 p.m. (Eastern). As Kerala battles its worst floods in over a century, it is time to take stock of just what caused the havoc in the state known for its picturesque landscape. Kerala, which enjoys the status of being 'God's Own Country', has been devastated by unprecedented floods following torrential rains that also triggered landslides, leading to the death of over 350 people. Unusually high rainfall since early August in Kerala has led to statewide floods. (Source: PTI) Experts fear, the toll could rise exponentially once the water recedes and more bodies surface. State chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan has called for help from across the country in this hour of crisis saying, "We are in the middle of a disaster. We need to unite as one to tackle it." The sad truth is that while we blame nature's fury for wreaking havoc, most such calamities turn out to be a result of unhindered human interference with nature. The Chennai floods of 2015 also were a result of people messing up with nature. A report of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India, recently tabled in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, categorised the 2015 floods as a "man-made disaster". If experts are to be believed, a similar story is currently unfolding in Kerala. VS Vijayan, an environmental scientist and a member of the expert panel on Western Ghats, said, "Kerala is going through a man-made calamity. The impact should have been limited if the Gadgil committee report, aimed at protecting ecologically-fragile mountain ranges, was implemented." The report Vijayan was referring to was submitted to the government in 2011 by a team of experts headed by Madhav Gadgil, an ecologist and founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. A few of the regions which have borne the brunt of the Kerala flood fury had been declared as ecologically-sensitive zones by the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel, also known as the Gadgil Committee. The panel reportedly strongly recommended that mining and quarrying be stopped in certain areas to avoid a potential disaster. The committee also recommended restrictions on deforestation and unhindered use of land for construction purposes. Over 350 people have died in the flood so far (Source: PTI) The committee had suggested that 140,000 kilometres of the Western Ghats be classified into three zones as per the requirement of environmental protection in the areas. But the Kerala government rejected the committee report and did not adopt any of its recommendations. In the aftermath of the floods and landslides, Gadgil has blamed the "irresponsible environmental policy". He also called it a "man-made calamity". Several other environmentalists too have pointed fingers at the extensive quarrying, mushrooming of high-rises as part of tourism and illegal forest land acquisition by private parties as major reasons for the calamity. Kerala is currently in pain. It will take the state a long while to recover. And once that happens, a post-mortem of the causes that led to the disaster will begin. If only the government had paid attention to the alarm bells, the scale of this tragedy could have been mitigated. What has happened in Kerala is thus also a lesson for the rest of the country to not exploit nature. Hope, some lessons will be learnt at least now. Also read: Kerala floods: Shame how SoS calls were met with deluge of hate campaigns on social media If you are reading this article, probability is high that by now you would be aware that the Assam government has released a list of people who it believes are "genuine" Indian citizens residing in the state. This list is the second draft of the National Register of Citizens (NRC). It has been mired in controversies from the moment it was made public on July 30. The register seeks to identify people who illegally entered India after March 25, 1971 (a day after Bangladesh gained independence), and declare them illegal immigrants. Once the register is updated - it was first done in 1951 - the 100 Foreigners' Tribunals in the state are likely to initiate cases against them, flood them in detention centres with utterly inhuman environment, and subsequently (if we ever reach there) deport them to their country of origin (in most cases Bangladesh). Troops of the Border Security Force on a patrol in the waters of river Brahmaputra along the Indo-Bangladesh border. (Source: Reuters) A total of 3.29 crore people in Assam applied for this citizenship test, and the second draft declared that 2.89 crore have passed it. They, the government says, are the genuine citizens of India the true sons and daughters of Assam. The drafts excluded nearly 40 lakh people, putting a question mark on their citizenship. The central government has said they will be given a chance to prove their citizenship claim. The final list of genuine Indian citizens in Assam is expected to be out by December 31, 2018. Consequences of this have been debated at length. What has also been discussed is the arbitrariness of the process that ended up excluding 40 lakh peopleincluding army and air force veterans, sitting legislators, among others. There have also been write-ups addressing questions like what will happen to those identified as illegal immigrants? Will they be detained and deported? Will Bangladesh accept them? Will they become second-class citizens? Etc. However, a question that remains largely unaddressed is: What about the officials who, over the years, not only allowed Bangladeshi nationals to enter India, but also settle here? A mother in Goalpara district arrives at a centre with her child to check if her name featured in the second draft of the National Register of Citizen. As many as 40 lakh people have been excluded in the draft. (Source: Reuters) Will we ever know who these officials are/were? Will they ever be punished for their gross negligence? Or will they be allowed to lead a peaceful retired life with pensions and perks drawn from the taxpayers money, while the country suffers because of their misdeeds? This is what I seek to discuss in this article. Scale of the problem The second draft of NRC identifies 40 lakh people as illegal immigrants. Once the claims process is completed, this figure will surely decrease. But, without an iota of doubt, there will still be lakhs who won't be able to make it to the list. This is largely because many of them did enter India illegally from Bangladesh. Once in India, in connivance with local politicians and corrupt officials, they secured voter ID, ration card, Aadhaar card, utility connections, among others. In short, they settled down in India without a legal permission to do so. Political parties reaped the benefits electorally, local officials made merry with the bribes and the illegal immigrants could have nothing better than a new home - except that it was built illegally in someone else's homeland. In the absence of any comprehensive data on the exact number of illegal immigrants at present, let us assume that as high as 50 per cent of these 40 lakh people are able to prove their citizenship claims. This still leaves us with 20 lakh people who would be identified as illegal immigrants -people who breached the international border and entered India. Twenty lakh people (it being a conservative figure). This is more than the population of Swaziland, Bahrain, Mauritius, Bhutan, Maldives, Bahamas, Iceland, Trinidad and Tobago, Cyprus, and more than 40 other countries. When 'watchful' eyes remained shut How did lakhs of people manage to cross an international border over decades? Remember, this is a border that is "guarded" by a central paramilitary force the Border Security Force (BSF). In its task, the BSF is also assisted by the special border patrolling squads of the Assam Police. How could they allow lakhs of people to just walk into India? It is true that manning the Indo-Bangladesh border, especially in Assam, is not an easy task. One of most common routes used by infiltrators to enter India are rivers over which fences can't be installed (of the 267.30 km-long international border in Assam, 44.23 km comprises river stretches). The situation becomes more difficult for the BSF during winter when visibility drops or during monsoon when rivers swell and overflow. Add to this poor equipment and shortage of staff. But even if the BSF and special squads of the Assam Police failed to nab illegal infiltrators at the border, what were the district magistrates of Assam's bordering districts, local MLAs, revenue officers, station house officers of local police stations, district election officers, panchayats and civic bodies' officials doing all these years? If revenue officials in the area were regularly and diligently inspecting land records, how could they not notice shanties/huts mushrooming overnight? If officials of the Election Commission were performing their duties, how could they gloss over the increasing number of names on the voter lists? Here, we are not talking about a handful of people crossing an international border. We are talking about lakhs of them doing this over decades. The motto of the Assam Police is 'Always at Your Service'. One wonders if it could allow lakhs of people to not just simply walk into the Indian territory, but also settle here and possess vital identity documents, who were they actually serving? Will chiefs of Assam Police, down the years, care to enlighten us on what the terms "your" and "service" mean in their department's motto? A day after the NRC was released, in a totally different case, the district magistrate in Jammu and Kashmir's Doda district suspended two tehsildar-level revenue officials. Their fault was that they failed to provide data on encroachment of state and common forest land and water bodies in their areas of responsibility. The suspension order reportedly said they were guilty of 'dereliction of duty'. If this is 'dereliction of duty', what should the actions of officials who allowed lakhs of foreigners to enter and settle in Assam, possess vital identity documents, encroach upon government land, and in many cases even buy land, be termed as? Why should the treatment be any different for all officials (civil and uniformed) who were posted in Assam's bordering districts after March 25, 1971 (the cut-off date for citizenship decided under the Assam Accord of 1985)? Why should they not face trial for their gross negligence and dereliction of duty that caused gigantic loss to the exchequer, compromised national security and law and order, fuelled ethnic clashes, to name a few? Why should these officials be allowed to peacefully relax and enjoy a government-sponsored retirement life when the fact is that they miserably failed to perform their duties? However, this does not mean that there werent officials who worked diligently, and shouldered responsibilities assigned to them. But the misfortune was that political patronage for illegal immigrants, because of them being a rich vote bank to cash in on, meant that the few officials who raised such issues were discouraged to act against them. This opportunism by the political class was also highlighted by veteran journalist BG Verghese in his book Indias Northeast Resurgent. Verghese writes: Addressing a conference of chief electoral officers in September 1978, the then Chief Election Commissioner, SL Shakdher referred to the alarming situation in some states, especially in the Northeastern region, wherefrom disturbing reports are coming regarding large scale inclusion of foreign nationals in the electoral rolls..." "...Another disturbing feature is the demand made by political parties for the inclusion in the electoral rolls of the names of such migrants who are not Indian citizens, without even questioning or determining their citizenship status...The gravity of the situation calls for drastic and effective measures. But irrespective of this practice, political pressure cannot be an excuse for dereliction of duties by the police, election and revenue officials, among others. The government is going gaga about the NRC. Through this, it is claiming to have acted tough on illegal immigration. Its toughness can however only be tested through what it does about those not on the list. But what specifically has it done to ensure that present officials are deterred from doing what officials in the past did, that is, turn a blind eye to foreigners crossing the border and settling in Assam? Even as you are reading this article, someone could be trying to cross the Indo-Bangladesh border to illegally enter India. Rest assured, at this very moment there will also be unscrupulous officials (civil and uniformed) who will agree to close their eyes once their palms have been greased. Cost of negligence In April this year, the central government said that updating the NRC comes at a cost of Rs 1220.93 crore. Add to this the swathes of unaccounted resources that were diverted to address issues arising from illegal immigrants settling in Assam over decades. The 100 Foreign Tribunals (in a small state like Assam) and six detention centres that had to be set up. The human tragedies inflicted in the form of riots, clashes, murders, and now separation of families at detention centres, is all because officials miserably failed to shoulder responsibilities delegated to them. Let us be very clear that they were not doing a volunteer work. It was their job. They were employed by the state and paid for this. It is their nonchalance and callousness that over the decades, the problem of illegal immigration in Assam has prickled the state with needles of uncertainties, chaos and mutual distrust. The Nellie massacre where more than 3,000 people (mostly of East Bengal origin) were killed is arguably the worst-known manifestation of this. This, clubbed with the countless small and medium-scale clashes, will take the number of people killed across the state to thousands. May 4, 2014: Villagers wail upon seeing the body of a woman at a relief camp in Narayanguri village in Baksa district of Assam. More than 30 people were gunned down in three days in what police said were attacks by Bodo tribal militants, who resent the presence of settlers they claim are illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. (Source: Reuters) Precedents for punishment for dereliction punishment for dereliction of duty Action against dereliction of duty is not an unprecedented step in India. In July 2016, the Supreme Court in RR Parekh vs High Court of Gujarat held a chief judicial magistrate guilty of dereliction of duty after he was found to have delivered verdicts that defied well-laid legal principles and precedents. The court issued an order of compulsory retirement. The Gujarat High Court had earlier ordered that he should be immediately terminated from service and be deprived of pension and other benefits. In 2001, the Election Commission of India initiated disciplinary action against officials of the Uttar Pradesh government after the Commission found that names of 15,800 people belonging to a particular community were deleted from the voter list of Thakurdwara Assembly constituency without any valid reasons. In 2015, saying that mere suspension is not a sufficient, the Rajasthan High Court called for stricter punishment for policemen and doctors found guilty of dereliction of duty. Three days before the second draft of NRC was released, the Madras High Court on July 27, 2018, ordered suspension of a panchayat secretary in Tamil Nadu's Trivallur district for dereliction of duty. The way ahead The problem of illegal immigration in Assam cannot be answered solely with a NRC. Exercises such as these will remain futile and confined to photo ops unless a mechanism is put in place that fixes answerability on those who allowed people to illegally enter and settle in India. NRC has come at a whooping cost financial and social. If we want to avoid doing a similar exercise afresh 20-30 years from now, the government must set up a tribunal that will investigate performance of all officials (civil and uniformed) who were posted in the bordering district of Assam since 1971. If the government can put the burden of proof for establishing citizenship on 3.39 crore people in Assam, it is only justified that it is tasked with identifying and punishing its own officials whose negligence was the cause of the chaos we are witnessing today. Nothing will be better than setting up a commission/tribunal that revisits files of all officials posted in the bordering districts of Assam on and after March 25, 1971. As for the wrongs of the past, the present chief secretary, director general of police, director general of BSF, state chief election commissioner and the chief minister of Assam should tender a public apology stating that over the decades, the state's administrative machinery had been nonchalant, irresponsible and callous in shouldering its responsibilities. This public apology should be accompanied with a promise that this will not be repeated and that anyone who breaches this, will be dealt with the strictest punishment. Until then, exercises such as revising NRC will continue to remain populist, pointless and preposterous. Also read: From Y2K to Rafale: Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a man of progress and science American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. 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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.. Red Hat, Inc. provides open source software solutions to develop and offer operating system, virtualization, management, middleware, cloud, mobile, and storage technologies to various enterprises worldwide. It offers infrastructure-related solutions, such as Red Hat Enterprise Linux, an operating system platform that runs on hardware for use in hybrid cloud environments; Red Hat Satellite, a system management offering that helps to deploy, scale, and manage in hybrid cloud environments; and Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization, a software solution that allows customers to utilize and manage a common hardware infrastructure to run multiple operating systems and applications. The company offers application development-related and other technology solutions, such as Red Hat JBoss Middleware, a solution for developing, deploying, and managing applications; integrating applications, data, and devices; and automating business processes in hybrid cloud environments; The company's application development-related and other technology solutions also includes Red Hat cloud offerings, a software solution that enables customers to build and manage various cloud computing environments; Red Hat Mobile, a software development platform that enables customers to develop, integrate, deploy, and manage mobile applications for enterprises; and Red Hat Storage, a software solution that enables customers to manage large, unstructured, or semi-structured data in hybrid cloud environments. It also provides consulting, support, and training services; and realtime operating system, distributed computing, directory services, and user authentication. Red Hat, Inc. has collaboration with Juniper Networks Expand to provide a unified solution for enterprises designed to manage and run applications and services. The company was formerly known as Red Hat Software, Inc. and changed its name to Red Hat, Inc. in June 1999. Red Hat, Inc. was founded in 1993 and is headquartered in Raleigh, North Carolina. Read More BNP Paribas SA provides a range of banking and financial services in France and internationally. It operates through two divisions, Retail Banking and Services, and Corporate and Institutional Banking. The company offers long-term corporate vehicle leasing, and rental and other financing solutions; and digital banking and investment services, cash management, and factoring services to corporate clients, as well as wealth management services. It also provides credit solutions for individuals under the Cetelem, Cofinoga, Findomestic, AlphaCredit, and Opel Vauxhall brands; savings and protection solutions, including insuring individuals, and their personal projects and assets; and asset management, private banking, and real estate services. In addition, the company offers global market services, including investment, hedging, financing, research, and market intellingence across asset classes; security services comprising clearing, custody, and asset and fund services, as well as corporate trust, and market and financing services; and corporate trade and treasury, debt financing, specialized financing, strategic advisory, mergers and acquisition, and equity capital market services for institutional and corporate clients. The company was formerly known as Banque Nationale de Paris and changed its name to BNP Paribas SA in May 2000. BNP Paribas SA was founded in 1848 and is headquartered in Paris, France. Read More Enel SpA, together with its subsidiaries, operates in the electricity and gas sectors worldwide. The company generates, transmits, distributes, purchases, transports, and sells electricity; transports and markets natural gas; supplies LNG; and designs, develops, constructs, operates, manages, and maintains generation plants and transmission grids. It offers electric vehicle charging solutions to recharge vehicle at home or at the office; technological solutions for smart homes, home automation, solar and photovoltaic systems, boilers, maintenance services, lighting, etc.; public lighting and monitoring services for smart cities, security systems, etc.; electric mobility services; and consulting and energy efficiency solutions. The company also provides infrastructure for the development of grids, implementation of platform-based models, and exploiting technological and digital services, as well as smart meters and grid services; and operates in the wholesale energy market for electricity, gas, and other commodities, as well as engages in engineering and construction, and operation and maintenance activities. It operates renewable, wind, thermal, hydroelectric, nuclear, photovoltaic, and geothermal power plants. The company was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Rome, Italy. Read More Grand City Properties S.A. engages in the residential real estate business in Germany, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company invests in, manages, and rents real estate properties in North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin; metropolitan regions of Dresden, Leipzig, and Halle; and the cities in the north of Germany, Bremen, Hamburg, and Hannover, as well as other urban centers, such as Nuremberg, Munch, Mannheim, Frankfurt, and London. Grand City Properties S.A. was founded in 2004 and is based in Luxembourg. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of The Sherwin-Williams: Acquire Sourcing LLC, CTS National Corporation, Comex North America Inc., Compania Sherwin-Williams S.A. de C.V., Contract Transportation Systems Co., Dongguan Lilly Paint Industries Ltd, Duron, EPS (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., EPS B.V., Geocel Holdings, Geocel Limited, Guangdong Valspar Paints Manufacturing Co Ltd., Inver East Med S.A., Inver France SAS, Inver GmbH, Inver Industrial Coating SRL, Inver Polska Spoka Z O.O, Inver Spa, Invercolor Bologna Srl, Invercolor Ltd, Invercolor Roma Srl, Invercolor Torino Srl, Invercolor Toscana Srl, Isocoat Tintas e Vernizes Ltda, Isva Vernici Srl, Leighs Paints, M.A. Bruder & Sons, Omega Specialty Products & Services LLC, Oy Sherwin-Williams Finland Ab, PT Sherwin-Williams Indonesia, PT Valspar Indonesia, Paint Sundry Brands, Pinturas Condor S.A., Pinturas Industriales S.A., Piton Paints Limited, Plasti-Kote Co. Inc., Plasti-kote Limited, Productos Quimicos y Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Quest Automotive Products UK Limited, Quetzal Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Ronseal (Ireland) Limited, SWIMC LLC, SWIPCO Sherwin Williams do Brasil Propriedade Intelectual Ltda, Sherwin Williams Colombia S.A.S., Sherwin-Williams (Australia) Pty. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Belize) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Caribbean) N.V., Sherwin-Williams (Ireland) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Coatings Technology Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Nantong) Company Limited, Sherwin-Williams (S) Pte. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Shanghai) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Sherwin-Williams (Vietnam) Limited, Sherwin-Williams (West Indies) Limited, Sherwin-Williams Argentina I.y C.S.A., Sherwin-Williams Aruba VBA, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Mexico S.de R.L.de C.V., Sherwin-Williams Balkan S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Bel Unitary Enterprise, Sherwin-Williams Benelux NV, Sherwin-Williams Canada Inc., Sherwin-Williams Cayman Islands Limited, Sherwin-Williams Chile S.A., Sherwin-Williams Coatings India Private Limited, Sherwin-Williams Coatings S.a r.l., Sherwin-Williams Czech Republic spol. s r.o, Sherwin-Williams Denmark A/S, Sherwin-Williams Deutschland GmbH, Sherwin-Williams Diversified Brands Limited, Sherwin-Williams France Finishes SAS, Sherwin-Williams Italy S.r.l., Sherwin-Williams Norway AS, Sherwin-Williams Paints Limited Liability Company, Sherwin-Williams Peru S.R.L., Sherwin-Williams Pinturas de Venezuela S.A., Sherwin-Williams Poland Sp. z o.o, Sherwin-Williams Protective & Marine Coatings, Sherwin-Williams Realty Holdings Inc., Sherwin-Williams Services (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Sherwin-Williams Spain Coatings S.L., Sherwin-Williams Sweden AB, Sherwin-Williams UK Coatings Limited, Sherwin-Williams do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., Spanyc Paints Joint Stock Company, Syntema I Vaggeryd AB, Taiwan Valspar Co. Ltd., The Sherwin-Williams Acceptance Corporation, The Sherwin-Williams Headquarters Company, The Sherwin-Williams Manufacturing Company, The Sherwin-Williams US Licensing Company, The Valspar (Asia) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Australia) Corporation Pty. Ltd., The Valspar (Finland) Corporation Oy, The Valspar (France) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (France) Research Corporation SAS, The Valspar (Malaysia) Corporation Sdn Bhd, The Valspar (Nantes) Corporation S.A.S., The Valspar (Singapore) Corporation Pte. Ltd, The Valspar (South Africa) Corporation (Pty) Ltd, The Valspar (Spain) Corporation S.R.L., The Valspar (Switzerland) Corporation AG, The Valspar (Thailand) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar (UK) Corporation Limited, The Valspar (Vietnam) Corporation Ltd., The Valspar Corporation, The Valspar Corporation Limitada, UAB Sherwin-Williams Baltic, Valspar (India) Coatings Corporation Private Limited, Valspar (Shanghai) Management Co. Ltd., Valspar (Uruguay) Corporation S.A., Valspar (WPC) Pty Ltd, Valspar Aries Coatings S. de R.L. de C.V., Valspar Automotive (UK) Corporation Limited, Valspar Automotive Australia Pty Limited, Valspar B.V., Valspar Coatings (Guangdong) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Valspar Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd, Valspar D.o.o Beograd, Valspar Industries (Ireland) Ltd., Valspar Industries (Italy) S.r.l., Valspar Industries GmbH, Valspar LLC, Valspar Mexicana S.A. de C.V., Valspar Paint (Australia) Pty Ltd, Valspar Paint (NZ) Limited, Valspar Powder Coatings Limited, Valspar Rock Company Limited (Japan), Valspar Specialty Paints LLC, and ZAO Sherwin-Williams. The following companies are subsidiares of Yum China: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC.. The following companies are subsidiares of SK Telecom Co.,Ltd: ADT CAPS Co. Ltd., ADT Caps, Atlas Investment, CAPSTEC Co. Ltd., Cyworld, DongGuan Iriver Electronics Co. Ltd., Dreamus Company, Eleven Street Co. Ltd., FSK L&S (Hungary) Co. Ltd., FSK L&S (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., FSK L&S Co. Ltd., FSK L&S Vietnam Company Limited, Hana Card, Hanaro Telecom, Happy Hanool Co. Ltd., Home & Service Co. Ltd., ID Quantique, Id Quantique LLC, Incross Co. Ltd., Infra Communications Co. Ltd., Iriver China Co. Ltd., Iriver Enterprise Ltd., K-net Culture and Contents Venture Fund, Korea Thrunet, LG HelloVision, Life & Security Holdings Co. Ltd., Life Design Company Inc., Mindknock Co. Ltd., Onestore Co. Ltd., PS&Marketing Co. Ltd., Panasia Semiconductor Materials LLC, Quantum Innovation Fund I, SK Broadband, SK Broadband Co. Ltd., SK Communications Co. Ltd., SK Global Healthcare Business Group Ltd., SK Infosec Co. Ltd., SK M&Service Co. Ltd., SK O&S Co. Ltd., SK Planet Co. Ltd., SK Planet Global Holdings Pte. Ltd., SK Planet Japan K. K., SK Telecom China Fund I L.P., SK Telecom China Holdings Co. Ltd., SK Telecom Innovation Fund L.P., SK Telecom TMT Investment Corp., SK Telink Co. Ltd., SK stoa Co. Ltd., SK telecom Japan Inc., SKP America LLC, SKT Americas Inc., SKinfosec Information Technology (wuxi) Co. Ltd., Service Ace Co. Ltd., Service Top Co. Ltd., Shopkick, Tbroad Nowon Broadcasting Co. Ltd., YTK Investment Ltd., iRiver Ltd, and id Quantique Ltd.. Christopher & Banks Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as a specialty retailer of private-brand women's apparel and accessories in the United States. The company designs and sells women's apparel and accessories to customers ranging in age from 40 and older. Its stores offer women's apparel consisting of casual clothing, everyday basics, wear-to-work, leisure/active wear, and sleepwear in missy, petite, and women sizes, as well as jewelry and accessories. As of December 4, 2018, the company operated 461 stores, including 314 MPW stores, 80 Outlet stores, 35 Christopher & Banks stores, and 32 stores in its women's plus size clothing division CJ Banks in 45 states. It also operates christopherandbanks.com, an e-commerce Website for its Christopher & Banks and CJ Banks brands. The company was formerly known as Braun's Fashions Corporation and changed its name to Christopher & Banks Corporation in July 2000. Christopher & Banks Corporation was founded in 1956 and is headquartered in Plymouth, Minnesota. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Source Energy Services 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 Source Energy Services wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Strategic Hotels & Resorts, Inc. (SHR) is a self-administered and self-managed real estate investment trust (REIT). The Company acquires and asset manages hotels. The Company owns land held for development including 50.7 acres of oceanfront land in Nayarit, Mexico; 13.8 acres of land in Scottsdale, Arizona adjacent to its Four Seasons Resort Scottsdale at Troon North, and a 20,000 square-foot oceanfront land parcel in Santa Monica, California adjacent to its Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. The Company's hotels are operated under the brands of Fairmont, Four Seasons, Hyatt, InterContinental, JW Marriott, Loews, Marriott, Montage, Ritz-Carlton and Westin. The Hotel del Coronado is operated by a specialty management company, KSL Resorts. Read More Exelon Corp. operates as a utility services holding company, which engages in the energy generation, power marketing, and energy delivery business. It operates through the following segments: Mid Atlantic, Midwest, New York, Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) and other Power Regions. The Mid-Atlantic segment represents operations in the eastern half of PJM, which includes New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Delaware, the District of Columbia and parts of Pennsylvania and North Carolina. The Midwest segment operates in the western half of PJM, which includes portions of Illinois, Pennsylvania, Indiana, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky and Tennessee, and the United States footprint of MISO, excluding MISO's Southern Region, which covers all or most of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, Iowa, Wisconsin, the remaining parts of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Ohio not covered by PJM, and parts of Montana, Missouri and Kentucky. The New York (NY) segment provides operations within ISONY, which covers the state of New York in its entirety. The ERCOT segment includes operations within Electric Reliability Council of Texas, covering most of the state of Texas. Read More 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 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. The following companies are subsidiares of WESCO International: 1502218 Alberta Ltd., ALLNET Technologies Pty. Ltd., AXE Distribution Solutions Trinidad Ltd., Accu-Tech Corporation, Anixter (Barbados) SRL, Anixter (CIS) LLC, Anixter (Switzerland) Sarl, Anixter (U.K.) Limited, Anixter Argentina S.A., Anixter Asia Holdings Limited, Anixter Australia Pty. Ltd., Anixter Austria GmbH, Anixter Bahamas Limited, Anixter Belgium B.V.B.A., Anixter Cables y Manufacturas S.A. de C.V., Anixter Canada Inc., Anixter Canadian Holdings ULC, Anixter Chile S.A., Anixter Colombia S.A.S., Anixter Communications (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Anixter Communications (Shanghai) Co. Limited, Anixter Costa Rica S.A., Anixter Czech a.s., Anixter Danmark A/S, Anixter Deutschland GmbH, Anixter Distribuidor de Soluciones Empresariales e Industriales S.A., Anixter Distribution Ireland Limited, Anixter Dominicana SRL, Anixter Egypt LLC, Anixter Espana S.L., Anixter Eurotwo Holdings B.V., Anixter Fasteners Deutschland GmbH, Anixter Financial Inc., Anixter France SARL, Anixter Guatemala y Compania Limitada, Anixter Holdings Inc., Anixter Holdings Mexico LLC, Anixter Hong Kong Limited, Anixter Iletisim Sistemleri Pazarlama ve Ticaret A.S., Anixter Inc., Anixter India Private Limited, Anixter Information Systems LLC, Anixter International, Anixter Italia S.r.l., Anixter Jamaica Limited, Anixter Japan KK, Anixter Jorvex S.A.C., Anixter Limited, Anixter Logistica do Brasil LTDA, Anixter Logistica y Servicios S.A. de C.V., Anixter Magyarorszag Elektronikus Halozati Rendszer Kereskedelmi es Szolgaltato Kft, Anixter Mid Holdings B.V., Anixter Middle East FZE, Anixter Morocco SARL AU, Anixter Nederland B.V., Anixter New Zealand Limited, Anixter Norge A.N.S., Anixter Operaciones y Logistica s De RL De CV, Anixter Panama S.A., Anixter Pension Scheme Trustees Limited, Anixter Pension Trustees Limited, Anixter Peru S.A.C., Anixter Philippines Inc., Anixter Poland Sp.z.o.o., Anixter Portugal S.A., Anixter Power Solutions Canada Inc., Anixter Power Solutions Inc., Anixter Procurement Corporation, Anixter Puerto Rico Inc., Anixter Real-Estate LLC, Anixter Receivables Corporation, Anixter Saudi Arabia Limited, Anixter Singapore Pte. Ltd., Anixter Slovakia s.r.o., Anixter Sub Holdings B.V, Anixter Sverige AB, Anixter Thailand Inc., Anixter U.S. LLC, Anixter Venezuela Inc., Anixter de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Anixter do Brasil Ltda, Atlanta Electrical Distributors, Atlanta Electrical Distributors LLC, Atlas Gentech (NZ) Limited, Avon Electrical Supplies, B.E.L. Corporation, Brews Supply, Brown Wholesale Electric, Bruckner Supply, CBC LP Holdings LLC, CDW Holdco LLC, Calvert Wire & Cable Corporation, Carlton-Bates Company, Carlton-Bates Company (CBC), Carlton-Bates Company de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Carlton-Bates Company of Texas GP Inc, Central Security Distribution Pty. Ltd, Communication Cables LLC, Communications Supply Corporation, Conney Investment Holdings LLC, Conney Safety Products, Conney Safety Products LLC, Distribuidora Materiales Electricos E-Supply Limitada, EECOL Electric, EECOL Electric Bolivia Ltda, EECOL Electric Corp., EECOL Electric Peru S.A.C, EECOL Industrial Electric (SudAmerica) Limitada, EECOL Industrial Electric Ecuador Limitada, EECOL Industrial Electric Limitada, EECOL Power S.A., EECOL Properties Corp, Eurinvest B.V., Eurinvest Cooperatief U.A., Fastec Industrial, HMH Pension Trustees Limited, Hazmasters, Hazmasters Inc., Herning Underground Supply, Hi-Line Utility Supply, Hi-Line Utility Supply Company LLC, Hill Country Electric Supply, Hill Country Electric Supply L.P., ICV GP Inc., Infast Group Limited, Inner Range Pty. Ltd, Itel Container Ventures Inc., Itel Corporation, Itel Rail Holdings Corporation, J-Mark Inc., LaPrairie, Liberty Wire & Cable Inc., Monti Electric Supply, Needham Electric Supply, Needham Electric Supply LLC, Obras Y Servicios Sunpark S.A.C., PT Anixter Indonesia, Potelcom Supply, Pro Canadian Holdings I ULC, RECO LLC, RS Electronics, Reily Electrical Supply, SASK Alta Holdings S.A., Services Voice Video and Data Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Servicios Anixter S.A. de C.V., Signal Capital Corporation, Signal Capital Projects Inc., Stone Eagle Electrical Supply GP Inc., Stone Eagle Electrical Supply Limited Partnership, TVC Communications, TVC Communications L.L.C., TVC Espana Distribucion y Venta De Equipos S.L., TVC International Holding L.L.C., TVC UK Holdings Limited, Tri-Ed Puerto Rico Ltd. Inc., Trydor Industries, Voice Video and Data Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., WDC Holding Inc., WDCH LP, WDCH US LP, WDI USVI LLC, WDI-Angola LDA, WDINESCO B.V., WDINESCO II B.V., WDINESCO III B.V., WEAS Company S. de R.L., WESCO (Suzhou) Trading Co. Ltd., WESCO Australia Pty Ltd, WESCO Canada GP Inc., WESCO Canada I LP, WESCO DC Holding I LP, WESCO DC Holding II LP, WESCO DC Holding III LP, WESCO DC Holding IV LP, WESCO Distribution Canada Co., WESCO Distribution Canada LP, WESCO Distribution HK Limited, WESCO Distribution II ULC, WESCO Distribution III ULC, WESCO Distribution IV Inc., WESCO Distribution Inc., WESCO Distribution Ireland Limited, WESCO Distribution NL B.V., WESCO Distribution Pte. Ltd., WESCO Distribution de Mexico S. de R.L., WESCO Distribution-International Limited, WESCO Enterprises Inc., WESCO Equity Corporation, WESCO Holdings LLC, WESCO Integrated Supply Inc., WESCO Integrated Supply Polska Spolka z o.o., WESCO Netherlands B.V., WESCO Nevada Ltd., WESCO Nigeria Inc., WESCO Procurement Canada ULC, WESCO Real Estate I LLC, WESCO Real Estate II LLC, WESCO Real Estate III LLC, WESCO Real Estate IV LLC, WESCO Receivables Corp., WESCO Services LLC, WESCO TLD Holdings Co. Ltd., WND Nigeria Limited, WireXpress Ltd., Xpress Connect Supply Hong Kong Limited, XpressConnect Holdings B.V., XpressConnect International B.V., XpressConnect Supply B.V.B.A., XpressConnect Supply Colombia S.A.S., XpressConnect Supply Inc., XpressConnect Supply Mexico S.A. de C.V., and XpressConnect Supply do Brasil Ltda. Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. is a supplier of precision instruments and services. The firm manufactures weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, packaging, logistics, and food retailing applications. It also manufactures several related analytical instruments and provides automated chemistry solutions used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development; and also, metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and provides solutions for use in certain process analytics applications. Its operations are conducted by the following segments: U. S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations and Other. The U.S. Operations segment represents certain of the company's marketing and producing organizations located in the United States. The Swiss Operations segment includes marketing and producing organizations located in Switzerland, as well as extensive R&D operations that are responsible for the development, production, and marketing of precision instruments, including weighing, analytical, and measurement technologies for use in a variety of industrial and laboratory applications. Th Read More Wall Street analysts have given BlackRock Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities 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 Utilities, Infrastructure & Power Opportunities 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 UnitedHealth Group: 1031387 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical, 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California, ACN Group of California Inc., AHJV, AHJV MSO, AHN Accontable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ARC Infusion, ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASI Global, ASI Global LLC, Access Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Inc., Access I.V., Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Care, Advanced Care Pharmacy, Advanced Pharma Inc., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advantage Care Network Inc., Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Sherman Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Alere Health, Alere Health Improvement Company, Alere Healthcare of Illinois, Alere Wellbeing, Alere Wellology, Alere of New York, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Healthcare of Central Florida, Ambient Healthcare of Georgia, Ambient Healthcare of Northeast Florida, Ambient Healthcare of S. Florida, Ambient Healthcare of West Florida, Ambient Holdings, Ambient Holdings Inc., Ambient Nursing Services, AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice Health Services, AmeriChoice of Connecticut, AmeriChoice of New Jersey, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Amil Lifesciences Participacoes Ltda., Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., Apothecary Shop of Phoenix Inc., AppleCare Medical Management, AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., AssuranceRx, AssuranceRx LLC, Athens ASC Holdings LLC, Audax Health Solutions, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Patient Access Program Inc., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Avella of Austin Inc., Avella of Columbus Inc., Avella of Deer Valley Inc., Avella of Denver Inc., Avella of Gilbert Inc., Avella of Las Vegas II Inc., Avella of Orlando Inc., Avella of Phoenix III Inc., Avella of Sacramento Inc., Avella of Scottsdale Inc., Avella of St. Louis Inc., Avella of Tampa LLC, Avella of Tucson II Inc., Avella of Tucson Inc., Aveta Arizona, Aveta Health Solutions Inc., Aveta Inc., Aveta Kansas City, Aveta Tennessee, AxelaCare Health Solutions, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, Banmedica Colombia SpA, Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Behavioral Healthcare Options, Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Belleville Surgical Center Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Blackstone Valley Surgicare GP LLC, Blue Ridge GP LLC, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings III SRL, Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx, BriovaRx, BriovaRx Infusion Services, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 200 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 204 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 209 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 305 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 402 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services Inc., BriovaRx Specialty LLC, BriovaRx of California, BriovaRx of California Inc., BriovaRx of Florida, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Georgia, BriovaRx of Georgia LLC, BriovaRx of Hawaii, BriovaRx of Indiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana L.L.C., BriovaRx of Maine, BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts, BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, BriovaRx of Nevada, BriovaRx of New York, BriovaRx of New York Inc., BriovaRx of Texas, BriovaRx of Texas Inc., CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos S.A., CNIC Health Solutions Inc., COI Participacoes S.A., COI Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California MedTrans Network IPA LLC, California MedTrans Network MSO LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardio Management, Cardio Management Inc., Care Improvement Plus Group Management, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha S.A., Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Catamaran Health Solutions, Catamaran Holdings I, Catamaran IPA III, Catamaran Mail, Catamaran PBM of Illinois II, Catamaran PBM of Puerto Rico, Catamaran PD of Pennsylvania, Catamaran PD of Puerto Rico, Catamaran Rebate Management, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Catamaran Senior Services, Catamaran of Pennsylvania, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care - Empressa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Cemed Care Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, Central de Compras SpA, CentriHealth Corporation, CentriHealth UK Limited, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Medico Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro Medico PJ Ltda., Centro de Entrenamiento en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada (CERP), Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica S.A., Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte-SC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, ChinaGate (Hong Kong) Limited, ChinaGate Company Limited, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Clinica Oftalmologica Danilo de Castro Sociedade Simples, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinica Alameda S.A., Clinica Bio Bio S.A., Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica San Borja (La Esperanza del Peru S.A.), Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare, Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition For Advanced Pharmacy Services, Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Coastal Physicians Management Inc., Collaborative Care Holdings, Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Care Solutions, Collaborative Realty, Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada, Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation, Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Commonwealth Administrators, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Connextions, Connextions HCI, Constructora e Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Country Scan Ltda., Crescent Drug Corp., Cypress Care, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA, DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., DaVita Magan Management Inc., Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company, Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California, Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois, Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Pharmacy, Distance Learning Network, Distance Learning Network Inc., Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duncan Printing Services, Duncan Printing Services LLC, E Street Endoscopy LLC, ELG FZE, EP Campus I, EP Campus I LLC, East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Electronic Network Systems, Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Empire Physician Management Company, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Employers Health Choice PPO Inc., Empremedica S. A., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Etho Empresa de Tecnologia Hospitalar Ltda., Evercare Collaborative Solutions, Evercare Collaborative Solutions Inc., Everett MSO Inc., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos Ltda., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos S.A., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources, Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center LLC, Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., FMG Holdings, FMG Holdings LLC, FOR HEALTH OF ARIZONA, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice, Family Home Hospice Inc., First Rx Specialty & Mail Services, Florida MedTrans Network LLC, Florida MedTrans Network MSO LLC, For Health, For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fortified Provider Network Inc., Fortify Technologies Asia LLC, Fortify Technologies LLC, Foundation Financial Services Inc., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier MEDEX Limited, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX, FrontierMEDEX (RMS), FrontierMEDEX (RMS) Inc., FrontierMEDEX Government Services, FrontierMEDEX Government Services LLC, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center Ltd., Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa Healthcare LLC, Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology (Canada) Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Golden Outlook, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grapevine Finance LLC, Greater Hartford ASC LLC, Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., Guardian Health Systems Limited Partnership, H&W Indemnity (SPC), H&W Indemnity (SPC) Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCP ACO Nevada LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HMI NewCo LLC, Harken Health Insurance Company, Hayes-Strub LLC, Health Business Systems, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Net Insurance of New York, Health Net Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Health Plan of Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., Health Technology Analysts Pty Limited, HealthAllies, HealthAllies Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets NewCo Inc., HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Partners Plan of Nevada Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help S.A., Help Service S.A., Highlands Ranch Healthcare, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Care I.V. of Bend, Home Infusion With Heart, Home Medical S.A., Hospice Inspiris Holdings, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada de Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Maternidade Promater Ltda., Hospital Samaritano de Sao Paulo Ltda., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation (Canada), Hygeia Corporation (DE), Hygeia Corporation (Ontario), INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of New York IPA, INSPIRIS of New York Management, INSPIRIS of New York Management Inc., INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, IRX Financing I LLC, Illinois Independent Care Network, Imed Star Servicos de Desempenho Organizacional Ltda., Impel Consulting Experts, Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., Indian River Surgery Center Ltd., Indian River Surgery Properties LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Infusource, Ingram & Associates, Ingram & Associates LLC, Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Inspiris Services Company, Inspiris of Tennessee, Instituto do Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, International Psychological Services Pty Limited, Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria S.A., Isapre Banmedica S.A., Isapre Vida Tres S.A., Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, LHI, Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., LifePrint Health, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeStyles Marketing Group Inc., LifeWell Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization, Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Lifeprint East, Lifeprint East Inc., Logistics Health Inc., Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., MAMSI Insurance Resources, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MD Ops, MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association, MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MEDEX Insurance Services, MEDEX Insurance Services Inc., MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, MXMD Centros De Cancer, Mamoeco Mamografia e Ecografia Centro de Diagnostico, Managed Physical Network, Managed Physical Network Inc., March Holdings, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care, March Vision Care Inc., Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Maryland Ambulatory Centers, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, Mat-Rx Development, Mat-Rx Fort Worth GP, MedExpress Development, MedExpress Development LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach, MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, MedSynergies North Texas, Medalliance Net Ltda, Medalliance Net Ltda., Medica Health Plans of Florida, Medica Health Plans of Florida Inc., Medica HealthCare Plans, Medica HealthCare Plans Inc., Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Preparatory School of Allied Health, Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services, Medical Transportation Services LLC, Medication Management Systems Inc., Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memphis-SC LLC, Memphis-SP LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management, Metropolitan Medical Partners LLC, Metropolitan Medical Transportation IPA LLC, Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Surgery Holdings LLC, Mississippi Surgical Center Limited Partnership, Mobile Medical Professionals, Modern Medical Inc., Monarch Management Services, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Mountain View Medical Group LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings, NAMM Holdings Inc., NSC Fayetteville LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Nashville-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National MedTrans LLC, National Pacific Dental, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes, Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Medical Services LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., Newton Holdings LLC, North American Medical Management - Illinois, North American Medical Management California, North American Medical Management California Inc., North Puget Sound Center for Sleep Disorders LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd., Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care, Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care of Huntsville, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OSB Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Omesa S.A., OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., OneNet PPO, OneNet PPO LLC, Optimum Choice, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum, Optum Bank, Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics, Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Clinical Services, Optum Clinics Holdings, Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings, Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Solutions (India) Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions (Philippines), Optum Global Solutions (Philippines) Inc., Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Government Solutions, Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health & Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (India) Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology (UK) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (US), Optum Health & Technology (US) LLC, Optum Health & Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US), Optum Health & Technology Holdings (US) Inc., Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health Services (Canada) Ltd., Optum Health Solutions (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions (UK) Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services, Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio, Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs, Optum Labs Dimensions, Optum Labs Dimensions Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs International (UK) Ltd., Optum Life Sciences (Canada) Inc., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., Optum Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Nevada Accountable Care Organization LLC, Optum Operations (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 703 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Public Sector Solutions, Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket, Optum Rocket Inc., Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services, Optum Services (Ireland) Limited, Optum Services (Puerto Rico) LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Solutions do Brasil Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Optum Technology, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Women's and Children's Health, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360, Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO Florida LLC, OptumCare ACO Holdings LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Health Plan of California Inc., OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Holdings New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Financial Services, OptumHealth Financial Services Inc., OptumHealth Holdings, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight, OptumInsight Holdings, OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx, OptumRx Administrative Services, OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Illinois, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA, OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois, OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland, OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Puerto Rico LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Maryland, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada, OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings, OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet Services, OrthoNet Services Inc., OrthoNet West, OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the Mid-Atlantic, OrthoNet of the South, OrthoNet of the South Inc., Ovations, Ovations Inc., Oxford Benefit Management, Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance, Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans (CT), Oxford Health Plans (CT) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NJ), Oxford Health Plans (NJ) Inc., Oxford Health Plans (NY), Oxford Health Plans (NY) Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, P2 Lower Acquisition, P2P Link LLC, PCCCV, PCCCV Inc., PCN DE Corp., PHC Subsidiary Holdings, PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYS Holding Corp., PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI, PMSI Holdco II, PMSI Holdings, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado, PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., PacifiCare of Nevada, PacifiCare of Nevada Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Paoli Ambulatory Surgery Center, Paoli Surgery Center L.P., Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center GP Inc., PatientsLikeMe, PatientsLikeMe LLC, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica - PANC., Payment Resolution Services, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Pharmaceutical Care Network, Pharmacy Review Services, Pharmacy Software Holdco Inc., PhyServe Holdings, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physician Care Partners, Physicians Health Choice of Texas, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians Plaza Holdings LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico, Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings, Plus One Holdings Inc., Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Precision Dialing Services Inc., Preferred Care Partners, Preferred Care Partners Holding, Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group, Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., Premier Choice ACO, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Prime Health, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network, PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley, PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona, PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley, PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley, PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley, PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands, PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside, PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino, PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City, PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula, PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success, ProHEALTH Fitness of Lake Success LLC, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Medical Management, ProHealth Physicians, ProHealth Physicians ACO, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management, ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, Procura Management, Procura Management Inc., Progressive Enterprises Holdings, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical, Progressive Medical LLC, Progressive Solutions, Promotora Country S.A., Pronetics Health Care Group, Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Management Services LLC, Pueblo-SCA Surgery Center LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., Quality Software Services, QuarterMaster Newco LLC, R&H Family Fitness Unlimited LLC, Rally Health, Rally Health Inc., Real Appeal Inc., Recaudacion y Cobranzas Honodav Ltda., Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management, Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rocky Mountain HealthCare Options Inc., SC Affiliates LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA California Surgical Holdings LLC, SCA Capital LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA EHSC Holdings LLC, SCA EWASC Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Nashville ASC LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of 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Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Mokena Properties LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-ND VBP Inc., SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Shelby Development Corp., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Wilmington LLC, SCA-Wilson LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SPINETRACK 20/20 Inc., SRPS LLC, SXC Comet, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Savvysherpa Administrative Services LLC, Savvysherpa Asia Inc., Savvysherpa LLC, Scanner Centromed S.A., ScripNet, ScriptSwitch Limited, Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Senior Care Partners, Serquinox Holdings LLC, Serquinox LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Limitada, Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Limitada, Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., SharedClarity LLC, Shelby Surgery Properties Inc., Sierra Health Services, Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company, Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options, Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products, Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators, Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sirona Infusion, Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad Editorial para la Ciencia Limitada., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria S.A., Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Southwest Medical Associates, Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center of Bakersfield L.P., Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits, Specialty Benefits LLC, Spectera, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA, Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Spotlite, Spotlite Inc., St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, StoneRiver P2P Link, StoneRiver Pharmacy Solutions, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Streamlines Health LLC, Summit Home Infusion, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Clarksville L.P., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of Spokane LLC, Surgery Center of Summerlin LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Center of Vero Beach Inc., Surgery Center of Wilmington LLC, Surgery Center of Wilmington Properties LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Belleville LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings, Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, Symphonix Health Insurance, Symphonix Health Insurance Inc., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologias de Informacion en Salud S.A., The Advisory Board (Chile) SpA, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Lewin Group, The Lewin Group Inc., The Magan Medical Group, The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Thousand Oaks Endoscopy Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys, Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, TriMed LLC, Trinity Infusion, Trio Motion LLC, Tucson Arizona Surgical Center LLC, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan, U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UHC Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UHC Global Health Services BC Ltd., UHC International Services, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings (Ireland) Limited, UHCG Services (Ireland) Limited, UHCG FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHIC Holdings, UHIC Holdings Inc., UICI Funding Corp. 2, UMR, UMR Inc., USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors L.L.C., USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD Administrative Services, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD CT (Mo), USMD Cancer Treatment Centers, USMD Cancer Treatment Centers GP, USMD Diagnostic Services, USMD Holdings, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Inc., USMD PPM, USMD PPM LLC, USMD of Arlington GP, Ultima Rx, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Administrative Services, Unison Health Plan of Delaware, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A., United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Management Services Inc., United Resource Networks IPA of New York, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., UnitedHealth Advisors, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Finance Inc., UnitedHealth Group Global Healthcare Services Limited, UnitedHealth Group Global Services, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group Information Services Private Limited, UnitedHealth Group International Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth Group International GP, UnitedHealth Group International L.P., UnitedHealth International, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services, UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealth UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Canada Limited, UnitedHealthcare Global Medical (UK) Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare India Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia, UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International I S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International V S.a.r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VI S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Services Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona, UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas, UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado, UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida, UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky, UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana, UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi, UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England, UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico, UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York, UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina, UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma, UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon, UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania, UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas, UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah, UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington, UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin, UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic, UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands, UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest, UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UpFront Insurance Agency LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings, Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO, Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network, Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vida Tres Internacional S.A., Vidaintegra S.A., Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., WebInsure Benefits LLC, WellMed Medical Management, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida, WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., WellMed Networks DFW, West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, WillowB Labs LLC, Wilmington ASC LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, Your Health Options Insurance Services, Your Health Options Insurance Services Inc., Your Partner in Health Services, divvyDOSE, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative, inPharmative Inc., and ppoONE. Polypipe Group plc manufactures and sells plastic piping, and water and climate management systems in the United Kingdom, other European countries, and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Residential Systems, and Commercial and Infrastructure Systems. It offers above and below ground drainage, and rainwater drainage systems; plumbing tools and accessories, plastic plumbing fittings, and plumbing and heating pipes; underfloor heating products; and ventilation systems. The company also provides water and gas supply systems, such as water supply, pre-insulated pipe, polypropylene, clamp saddle, PVCu pressure, and ABS pressure pipe systems, as well as accessories. In addition, it offers water management solution, such as rainwater harvesting, geo-cellular system, terrain controlled flow rainwater outlet systems, large diameter pipe systems, chambers, flow controllers, penstocks and valves, manholes, surface water treatment devices, and rain water re-use solutions. Further, the company provides terrain and surface water drainage systems; sewer systems; and cable protection products. It offers its products for use in the residential, commercial, civil, infrastructure, and public non-housing sectors. Polypipe Group plc was founded in 1980 and is based in Doncaster, the United Kingdom. Read More Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, a diversified financial institution, provides various financial products and services to personal, business, public sector, and institutional clients in Canada, the United States, and internationally. The company operates through four strategic business units: Canadian Personal and Business Banking; Canadian Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; U.S. Commercial Banking and Wealth Management; and Capital Markets. The company offers chequing, savings, and business accounts; mortgages; loans, lines of credit, student lines of credit, and business and agriculture loans; investment and insurance services; and credit cards, as well as overdraft protection services. It also provides day-to-day banking, borrowing and credit, investing and wealth, specialty, and international services; correspondent banking and online foreign exchange services; and cash management services. The company serves its customers through its banking centers, as well as direct, mobile, and remote channels. Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce was founded in 1867 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Charles River Laboratories International, Inc. is an early-stage contract research company, which provides essential products and services to help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies, government agencies and academic institutions. It operates through the following segments: Research Models & Services, Discovery & Safety Assessment and Manufacturing Support. The Research Models & Services segment comprises of the production and sale of research models, and also offers services designed to support its client's use of research models in screening non-clinical drug candidates. The Discovery & Safety Assessment segment offers discovery and safety assessment services, both regulated and non-regulated, in which it include both in vivo and in vitro studies, supporting laboratory services, and strategic preclinical consulting and program management to support product development. The Manufacturing Support segment provides endotoxin and microbial detection, avian vaccine and biologics testing solutions. The company was founded by Henry L. Foster in 1947 and is headquartered in Wilmington, MA. Read More China Mobile Limited provides mobile telecommunications and related services in Mainland China and Hong Kong. The company offers local calls; domestic and international long distance calls and roaming services; and value-added services, such as caller identity display, call waiting, conference calls, and others. It also provides wireless Internet service, as well as digital applications comprising music, video, reading, gaming, and animation; wireline broadband services; and wireline voice services. In addition, it offers dedicated line and IDC services to corporate customers in a range of industry sectors; and basic corporate communication products comprising corporate VPMN and SMS, and tailor made solutions. Further, the company provides international telecommunications services, which includes IDD, roaming, Internet, MNC, and value added business services. Additionally, it offers telecommunications network planning, design, and consulting services; roaming clearance, IT system operation, and technology support services; value-added platform development and maintenance services; mobile data, and system integration and development services; network construction and maintenance, network planning and optimizing, and training services; electronic communication products design and sale of related products; and non-banking financial services. It also provides mobile cloud research and development services; call center services; e-payment, e-commerce, and Internet finance services; and mobile Internet digital content services, as well as operates a network and business coordination center. The company serves 950 million mobile customers and 187 million wireline broadband customers. The company was formerly known as China Mobile (Hong Kong) Limited and changed its name to China Mobile Limited in May 2006. The company was incorporated in 1997 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China Mobile Limited is a subsidiary of China Mobile Hong Kong (BVI) Limited. Read More Global Brass and Copper Holdings, Inc. converts, fabricates, processes, and distributes specialized non-ferrous products in the United States, the Asia Pacific, and Mexico. It operates in three segments: Olin Brass, Chase Brass, and A.J. Oster. The Olin Brass segment manufactures, fabricates, and converts specialized copper and brass sheets, strips, foils, tubes, and fabricated products; and rerolls and forms other alloys, such as stainless steel, carbon steel, and aluminum. The Chase Brass segment manufactures and supplies brass rods in round, hexagonal, and other shapes. The A.J. Oster segment processes and distributes copper, brass, and aluminum sheets, strips, and coated products. The company sells its products to the building and housing, automotive, electronics/electrical components, munitions, coinage, transportation, and industrial machinery and equipment markets under the Olin Brass, Chase Brass, A.J. Oster, Green Dot, and Eco Brass brands through its direct mill sales, distribution network, and third-party distributors. Global Brass and Copper Holdings, Inc. was founded in 2007 and is headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois. Read More Augusta Gold Corp., a junior exploration company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the United States. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and other metals. The company holds interests in the Bullfrog gold project located in the north-west of Las Vegas, Nevada. It also owns, controls, or has acquired mineral rights on Federal patented and unpatented mining claims in the state of Nevada for the purpose of exploration and potential development of metals on a total of approximately 7,800 acres of land. The company was formerly known as Bullfrog Gold Corp. and changed its name to Augusta Gold Corp. in January 2021. Augusta Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More The Southern pays an annual dividend of $2.64 per share and currently has a dividend yield of 4.21%. SO has a dividend yield higher than 75% of all dividend-paying stocks, making it a leading dividend payer. The Southern has been increasing its dividend for 20 consecutive years, indicating the company has a strong committment to maintain and grow its dividend. The dividend payout ratio of The Southern is 81.23%. Payout ratios above 75% are not desirable because they may not be sustainable. Based on earnings estimates, The Southern will have a dividend payout ratio of 74.37% next year. This indicates that The Southern will be able to sustain or increase its dividend. View The Southern's dividend history. 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 The following companies are subsidiares of The Procter & Gamble: "Procter & Gamble Services" LLC, "Procter & Gamble" LLC, Agile Pursuits, Agile Pursuits Franchising, Arbora, Arbora & Ausonia, Arborinvest, Billie, Braun (Shanghai) Co., Braun GmbH, Braun-Gillette Immobilien GmbH & Co. KG, Celtic Insurance Company, Compania Procter & Gamble Mexico, Compania Quimica S.A., Corporativo Procter & Gamble, Cosmetic Products Pty. Ltd., Detergent Products B.V., Detergent Products SARL, Detergenti S.A., Eurocos Cosmetic GmbH, FPG Oleochemicals Sdn. Bhd., Fameccanica Data S.p.A., Fameccanica Industria e Comercio Do Brasil LTDA., Fameccanica Machinery (Shanghai) Co., Fater S.p.A., Fountain Square Music Publishing Co., Gillette (China) Ltd., Gillette (Shanghai) Ltd., Gillette Aesop Ltd., Gillette Australia Pty. Ltd., Gillette Canada Holdings, Gillette Commercial Operations North America, Gillette Diversified Operations Pvt. Ltd., Gillette Egypt S.A.E., Gillette Group UK Ltd, Gillette Gruppe Deutschland GmbH & Co. oHG, Gillette Holding Company LLC, Gillette Holding GmbH, Gillette India Limited, Gillette Industries Ltd., Gillette International B.V., Gillette Latin America Holding B.V., Gillette Management LLC, Gillette Nova Scotia Company, Gillette Pakistan Limited, Gillette Poland International Sp. z.o.o., Gillette Poland S.A., Gillette U.K. Limited, Gillette del Uruguay, Giorgio Beverly Hills Inc., Hyginett KFT, Industries Marocaines Modernes SA, LLC "Procter & Gamble Novomoskovsk", LLL "Procter & Gamble Distributorskaya Compania", Laboratorios Vicks, Liberty Street Music Publishing Company, Limited Liability Company 'Procter & Gamble Trading Ukraine', Limited Liability Company with foreign investments Procter & and Gamble Ukraine, MDVIP, MERCK KGAA NPV, Marcvenca Inversiones, Modern Industries Company - Dammam, Modern Products Company - Jeddah, New Chapter, New Chapter Canada Inc., Olay LLC, Oral-B Laboratories, P&G Distribution Morocco SAS, P&G Hair Care Holding, P&G Industrial Peru S.R.L., P&G Innovation Godo Kaisha, P&G Israel M.D.O. Ltd., P&G K.K., P&G Northeast Asia Pte. Ltd., P&G Prestige Godo Kaisha, P&G Prestige Service GmbH, P&G South African Trading (Pty.) Ltd., PGT Health Care (Zhejiang) Limited, PGT Healthcare LLP, PPI ZAO, PT Procter & Gamble Home Products Indonesia, PT Procter & Gamble Operations Indonesia, Phase II Holdings Corporation, Procter & Gamble (Chengdu) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (China) Sales Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (East Africa) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Egypt) Manufacturing Company, Procter & Gamble (Enterprise Fund) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Consumer Products Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Enterprise Management Service Company Limited, Procter & Gamble (Guangzhou) Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Health & Beauty Care) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Jiangsu) Ltd. China, Procter & Gamble (L&CP) Limited, Procter & Gamble (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Procter & Gamble (Manufacturing) Ireland Limited, Procter & Gamble (Shanghai) International Trade Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Acquisition GmbH, Procter & Gamble Administration GmbH, Procter & Gamble Algeria EURL, Procter & Gamble Amazon Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Amiens S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Argentina SRL, Procter & Gamble Asia Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Australia Proprietary Limited, Procter & Gamble Azerbaijan Services LLC, Procter & Gamble Bangladesh Private Ltd., Procter & Gamble Blois S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Brazil Holdings B.V., Procter & Gamble Bulgaria EOOD, Procter & Gamble Business Services Canada Company, Procter & Gamble Canada Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Chile , Procter & Gamble Chile Limitada, Procter & Gamble Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Commercial LLC, Procter & Gamble Commercial de Cuba S.A., Procter & Gamble Czech Republic s.r.o., Procter & Gamble DS Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Danmark ApS, Procter & Gamble Detergent (Beijing) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Deuttschland GmbH, Procter & Gamble Distributing (Philippines) Inc., Procter & Gamble Distributing New Zealand Limited, Procter & Gamble Distribution Company (Europe) BVBA, Procter & Gamble Distribution S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Eastern Europe, Procter & Gamble Ecuador Cia. Ltda., Procter & Gamble Egypt, Procter & Gamble Egypt Distribution, Procter & Gamble Egypt Holding, Procter & Gamble Egypt Supplies, Procter & Gamble Energy Company LLC, Procter & Gamble Espana, Procter & Gamble Europe SA, Procter & Gamble Export Operations SARL, Procter & Gamble Exportadora e Importadora Ltda., Procter & Gamble Exports, Procter & Gamble Fabricacao e Comercio Ltda., Procter & Gamble Far East, Procter & Gamble Finance (U.K.) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Holding Ltd., Procter & Gamble Finance Management S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Financial Investments LLP, Procter & Gamble Financial Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Financial Services S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Finland OY, Procter & Gamble France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH, Procter & Gamble Germany GmbH & Co. Operations oHG, Procter & Gamble GmbH, Procter & Gamble Grundstucks-und Vermogensverwaltungs GmbH & Co. KG, Procter & Gamble Gulf FZE, Procter & Gamble Hair Care, Procter & Gamble Hellas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Holding (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Holding France S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Holding GmbH, Procter & Gamble Holding S.r.l., Procter & Gamble Holdings (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Home Products Private Limited, Procter & Gamble Hong Kong Limited, Procter & Gamble Hungary Wholesale Trading Partnership (KKT), Procter & Gamble Hygiene & Health Care Limited, Procter & Gamble Inc., Procter & Gamble India Holdings, Procter & Gamble Indochina Limited Company, Procter & Gamble Industrial - 2012 C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial Colombia Ltda., Procter & Gamble Industrial S.C.A., Procter & Gamble Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Costa Rica, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Guatemala, Procter & Gamble Interamericas de Panama, Procter & Gamble International Operations Pte. Ltd., Procter & Gamble International Operations SA, Procter & Gamble International Operations SA-ROHQ, Procter & Gamble International S.a.r.l., Procter & Gamble Investment Company (UK) Ltd., Procter & Gamble Investment GmbH, Procter & Gamble Italia, Procter & Gamble Japan K.K., Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan Distribution LLP, Procter & Gamble Kazakhstan LLP, Procter & Gamble Korea, Procter & Gamble Korea S&D Co., Procter & Gamble Lanka Private Ltd. Sri Lanka, Procter & Gamble Leasing LLC, Procter & Gamble Levant S.A.L., Procter & Gamble Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Berlin GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing GmbH, Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Procter & Gamble Manufacturing SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Marketing Romania SRL, Procter & Gamble Marketing and Services doo, Procter & Gamble Maroc SA, Procter & Gamble Mataro, Procter & Gamble Mexico Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Mexico Inc., Procter & Gamble Middle East FZE, Procter & Gamble Nederland B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Investments B.V., Procter & Gamble Netherlands Services B.V., Procter & Gamble Nigeria Limited, Procter & Gamble Nordic, Procter & Gamble Norge AS, Procter & Gamble Operations Polska Sp. z o.o., Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V., Procter & Gamble Overseas Ltd., Procter & Gamble Pakistan (Private) Limited, Procter & Gamble Partnership LLP, Procter & Gamble Peru S.R.L., Procter & Gamble Pharmaceuticals France SAS, Procter & Gamble Philippines, Procter & Gamble Polska Sp. z o.o, Procter & Gamble Portugal - Produtos De Consumo, Procter & Gamble Product Supply (U.K.) Limited U.K., Procter & Gamble Production GmbH, Procter & Gamble Productions, Procter & Gamble Productos de Consumo, Procter & Gamble RHD, Procter & Gamble RSC Regional Service Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Retail Services BVBA, Procter & Gamble S.r.l., Procter & Gamble SA (Pty) Ltd, Procter & Gamble Satis ve Dagitim Ltd. Sti., Procter & Gamble Seine S.A.S., Procter & Gamble Service GmbH, Procter & Gamble Services (Switzerland) SA, Procter & Gamble Services Company N.V., Procter & Gamble Services Ltd., Procter & Gamble Share Incentive Plan Trustee Ltd., Procter & Gamble South America Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Spol. s.r.o. (Ltd.), Procter & Gamble Sports and Social Club Ltd., Procter & Gamble Sverige AB, Procter & Gamble Switzerland SARL, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Limited, Procter & Gamble Taiwan Sales Company Limited, Procter & Gamble Technical Centres Limited, Procter & Gamble Technology (Beijing) Co., Procter & Gamble Trading (Thailand) Limited, Procter & Gamble Tuketim Mallari Sanayii A.S., Procter & Gamble UK, Procter & Gamble UK Group Holdings Ltd, Procter & Gamble UK Parent Company Ltd., Procter & Gamble Universal Holding B.V., Procter & Gamble Verwaltungs GmbH, Procter & Gamble Vietnam, Procter & Gamble d.o.o. za trgovinu, Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.C.A., Procter & Gamble de Venezuela S.R.L., Procter & Gamble do Brasil S/A, Procter & Gamble do Brazil, Procter & Gamble do Nordeste S/A, Procter & Gamble-Rakona s.r.o., Progam Realty & Development Corporation, Redmond Products, Richardson-Vicks Real Estate Inc., Richardson-Vicks do Brasil Quimica e Farmaceutica Ltda, Riverfront Music Publishing Co., Rosemount LLC, SPD Development Company Limited, SPD Swiss Precision Diagnostics GmbH, Scannon S.A.S., Series Acquisition B.V., Shulton, Surfac S.R.L., Sycamore Productions, TAOS - FL, TAOS Retail, Tambrands Inc., Temple Trees Impex & Investment Private Limited, The Art of Shaving - FL, The Dover Wipes Company, The Gillette Company, The Gillette Company LLC, The Gillette co., The Procter & Gamble Distributing LLC, The Procter & Gamble GBS Company, The Procter & Gamble Global Finance Company, The Procter & Gamble Manufacturing Company, The Procter & Gamble Paper Products Company, The Procter & Gamble U.S. Business Services Company, This is L., US CD LLC, Vidal Sassoon (Shanghai) Academy, Vidal Sassoon Co., WEBA Betriebsrenten-Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Walker & Company Brands, and iMFLUX Inc.. The following companies are subsidiares of IQVIA: 159 SOLUTIONS, 159 Technology Solutions Private Ltd, AHM Global Operations Inc., AHM Global Services LLC, AHM Logistics Inc. (Canada), AIECO IT Solutions India Private Ltd., ALIMED Egeszsegugyi Szolgaltato Kft., Advanced Health Media LLC, Advanced Health Media Services, Aileron Solutions, Albatross Financial Solutions Limited, Appature, Ardentia International Limited, Ascott Sales Integration, Asesorias IQVIA Solutions Chile Limitada, Asserta Centroamerica Medicion de Mercados, BUZZEOPDMA LLC, Battaerd Mansley Pty. Ltd., Benefit Canada, Benefit Holding, BioFortis, CDS - Center de Service SAS, COORDINATED MANAGEMENT SYSTEM, CRM Health Korea Ltd., CSD Health Korea Ltd., Cambridge Pharma Consultancy, Cambridge Pharma Consultancy Limited, Cegedim Venezuela C.A., Cenduit (India) Services Private Company Limited, Cenduit Limited, Cenduit Mauritius Holdings Company, Clinical Financial Services, Clinical Lab Minority Shareholder Limited, Coordinated Management Holdings L.L.C., Cote Orphan, Cote Orphan Consulting UK Limited, DATA NICHE ASSOCIATES, Datadina Ecuador S.A., Dataline Software Limited, Datec Industria e Comercio, Dimensiions Healthcare LLC, Drug Dev Inc., DrugDev, DrugDev Limited, EA Institute L.L.C., ENTERPRISE ASSOCIATES, EPS Research Limited, EPS Software Limited, Epernicus, Forcea NV, Foresight Group International UK LTD, Foresight Group Japan G.K., Foresight IT Solutions Consulting India Private Limited, GRACE DATA CORPORATION, Global Crown Investment Limited, HIGHPOINT SOLUTIONS, Hospital Marketing Services Ltd., Hotel Lot C-8B, IMS (GIBRALTAR) HOLDING LIMITED, IMS (UK) Pension Plan Trustee Company Limited, IMS AB, IMS CHINAMETRIK INC., IMS HEALTH GROUP LIMITED, IMS HEALTH KOREA LTD, IMS HEALTH KOREA LTD., IMS HEALTH PUERTO RICO INC., IMS HEALTH TAIWAN LTD., IMS Health (Australia) Partnership, IMS Health Analytics Services Private Limited, IMS Health Bangladesh Limited, IMS Health Bolivia S.R.L., IMS Health Cyprus LTD, IMS Health Egypt Limited, IMS Health Information Solutions Argentina S.A., IMS Health Information Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd, IMS Health Information Solutions India Private Ltd., IMS Health Information Solutions Japan K.K., IMS Health Lanka (Private) Limited, IMS Health Networks Limited, IMS Health Pakistan (Private) Limited, IMS Health Paraguay SRL, IMS Health Surveys Limited, IMS Health Technology Solutions (China) Co. Ltd., IMS Health Technology Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd, IMS Health Technology Solutions Colombia Ltda., IMS Health Technology Solutions Holdings AB, IMS Health Technology Solutions Hungary Ltd., IMS Health Technology Solutions India Private Ltd., IMS Health Technology Solutions Japan K.K., IMS Health Technology Solutions Kazakhstan, IMS Health Technology Solutions LLC, IMS Health Technology Solutions Sweden AB, IMS Health Technology TUNISIA, IMS Health Tunisia sarl, IMS Health Uruguay S.A., IMS Health de Venezuela C.A., IMS Holdings (U.K.) Limited, IMS Hospital Group Limited, IMS Information Solutions Medical Research Limited, IMS Information Solutions UK Ltd., IMS International (Proprietary) Limited, IMS Market Research Consult (Beijing), IMS Meridian Limited, IMS Meridian Research Limited, IMS Republica Dominicana, IMS SOFTWARE SERVICES LTD., IMS Technology Solutions UK Limited, INTERCONTINENTAL MEDICAL STATISTICS INTERNATIONAL, IPP Informacion Promocional y Publicitaria S.A. de C.V., IPP Technology Solutions Mexico SA de CV (FKA Cegedim Mexico SA de CV), IQVA Romania S.R.L., IQVIA (Thialand) Co. Ltd., IQVIA AB, IQVIA AG, IQVIA AG (Mexico Branch), IQVIA AG (UK Branch), IQVIA Adriatic d.o.o. za Konzalting, IQVIA Asia Pacific Commercial Holdings LLC, IQVIA Beteiligungs-gesellschaft mbH, IQVIA BioSciences Holdings LLC, IQVIA CHINAMETRIK INC., IQVIA COMMERCIAL FINANCE INC., IQVIA COMMERCIAL INDIA HOLDINGS CORP., IQVIA COMMERCIAL LICENSING ASSOCIATES LLC, IQVIA COMMERCIAL SERVICES LLC, IQVIA COMMERCIAL TRADING CORP., IQVIA Clinical AB, IQVIA Commercial Deutschland GmbH, IQVIA Commercial GmbH & Co. OHG, IQVIA Commercial I LLC, IQVIA Commercial Software GmbH, IQVIA Commercial Sp. z.o.o., IQVIA Commerical Consulting Sp. z.o.o., IQVIA Consulting Solutions bvba, IQVIA Consulting and Information Services India Private Limited, IQVIA Finance Ireland Designated Activity Company, IQVIA GOVERNMENT SOLUTIONS INC., IQVIA Healthcare QFC branch, IQVIA Hellas Technology Solutions S.A., IQVIA Holdings France SAS, IQVIA IES (UK) Limited, IQVIA IES Brasil Ltda., IQVIA IES Europe Limited, IQVIA IES European Holdings, IQVIA IES Italia S.r.l., IQVIA IES OY, IQVIA IES Overseas Holdings Limited, IQVIA IES Portugal, IQVIA IES Portugal Unipressoal Ltda., IQVIA IES Puerto Rico Inc., IQVIA II Technology Solutions Portugal, IQVIA INC., IQVIA INFORMATION MEDICAL STATISTICS (ISRAEL) LTD., IQVIA Information, IQVIA Information Solutions (China) Co., IQVIA Information Solutions GmbH, IQVIA Informations Solutions France SAS, IQVIA Istanbul Saglik Hizmetler Arastirma ve Danismanlik Limited Sirketi, IQVIA Korea Co. Ltd., IQVIA LTD, IQVIA Market Intelligence LLC, IQVIA Marktforschung GmbH, IQVIA Maroc SARL, IQVIA Mauritius Holdings, IQVIA Medical Communications & Consulting, IQVIA Medical Development (Dalian) Co., IQVIA Medical Education Inc., IQVIA Medical Radar AB, IQVIA Operations France SAS, IQVIA PHARMA Inc., IQVIA Partners AS, IQVIA Pharma Services Corp., IQVIA Pharmaceutical Marketing Services Ltd., IQVIA Phase One Services LLC, IQVIA RDS (India) Private Limited, IQVIA RDS (Pty.) Limited, IQVIA RDS AG, IQVIA RDS Argentina S.A., IQVIA RDS Asia Inc., IQVIA RDS Austria GmbH, IQVIA RDS BT Inc., IQVIA RDS Brasil Ltda., IQVIA RDS Bulgaria EOOD, IQVIA RDS Canada ULC, IQVIA RDS Chile, IQVIA RDS Colombia S.A.S., IQVIA RDS Consulting Inc., IQVIA RDS ESTONIA OU, IQVIA RDS East Asia Pte. Ltd., IQVIA RDS Eastern Holdings GmbH, IQVIA RDS Finland OY, IQVIA RDS France SAS (formerly, IQVIA RDS Funding LLC, IQVIA RDS GesmbH, IQVIA RDS GesmbH Greek Branch, IQVIA RDS Guatemala S.A., IQVIA RDS Holdings, IQVIA RDS Hong Kong Limited, IQVIA RDS ISRAEL LTD., IQVIA RDS Inc., IQVIA RDS Ireland (Finance) Ltd., IQVIA RDS Ireland Ltd., IQVIA RDS Italy Srl, IQVIA RDS Latin America LLC, IQVIA RDS Latvia SIA, IQVIA RDS Magyarorszag Gyogyszerfejlesztesi es Tanacsado Kft., IQVIA RDS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., IQVIA RDS Moscow, IQVIA RDS Novosibirsk, IQVIA RDS Panama Inc., IQVIA RDS Peru S.r.l., IQVIA RDS Philippines Inc., IQVIA RDS Poland Sp. Zoo, IQVIA RDS Pty. Limited, IQVIA RDS Slovakia s.r.o., IQVIA RDS Spain, IQVIA RDS Spain S.L., IQVIA RDS St. Petersburg, IQVIA RDS Support Sarl, IQVIA RDS Switzerland sarl, IQVIA RDS Taiwan Ltd., IQVIA RDS Transfer LLC, IQVIA RDS UAB, IQVIA RDS UK Holdings Ltd., IQVIA RDS and Integrated Services Belgium NV, IQVIA RDS d.o.o. Beograd, IQVIA SOLUTIONS ASIA PTE. LTD., IQVIA SOLUTIONS CANADA INC., IQVIA SOLUTIONS JAPAN K.K., IQVIA SOLUTIONS OPERATIONS CENTER PHLIPPINES INC., IQVIA SOLUTIONS PHILIPINES, IQVIA SOLUTIONS PHILIPPINES, IQVIA Services Japan K.K., IQVIA Solutions (NZ) Limited, IQVIA Solutions (Pty.) Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Argentina S.A., IQVIA Solutions Australia Holdings Pty. Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Australia Pty. Ltd., IQVIA Solutions B.V., IQVIA Solutions Belgium S.P.R.L., IQVIA Solutions Bulgaria EOOD, IQVIA Solutions Colombia S.A., IQVIA Solutions Consulting Myanmar Company Limited, IQVIA Solutions Denmark AS, IQVIA Solutions Enterprise Management Consulting (Shanghai) Co., IQVIA Solutions Finance B.V., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK I Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK II Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK III Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finance UK V Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Finland OY, IQVIA Solutions Global Holdings UK Ltd., IQVIA Solutions GmbH, IQVIA Solutions HQ Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Holdings (Pty.) Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Hong Kong Limited, IQVIA Solutions Ireland Limited, IQVIA Solutions Italy W.r.l., IQVIA Solutions Kazakhstan LLC, IQVIA Solutions LLC, IQVIA Solutions Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., IQVIA Solutions Norway AS, IQVIA Solutions Pharmaceutical SRL, IQVIA Solutions Portugal, IQVIA Solutions Regional Pte. Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Services Ltd., IQVIA Solutions Sweden AB, IQVIA Solutions UK Investments Ltd., IQVIA Solutions UK Limited, IQVIA Solutions a.s., IQVIA Solutions del Peru S.A., IQVIA Solutions do Brasil Ltda., IQVIA Solutions s.r.o., IQVIA Solucoes de Tecnologia DO Brazil Ltda., IQVIA Staff Services Sp.A., IQVIA TRANSPORTATION SERVICES CORP., IQVIA Technology Services Ltd., IQVIA Technology Solutions Egypt LLC, IQVIA Technology Solutions Finland OY, IQVIA Technology Solutions Poland SP. z.o.o., IQVIA Technology Solutions Romania Srl, IQVIA Technology Solutions S.R.O. Branch Bulgaria, IQVIA Technology Solutions Ukraine LLC, IQVIA Technology Solutions s.r.o., IQVIA Technology and Services AG, IQVIA Tibbi Istatistik Ticaret ve Musavirlik Ltd. Sirketi, IQVIA Trading Management Inc., IQVIA World Publications Ltd., IQVIA Zagreb d.o.o., Iasist Holdco Limited, Iasist Potugal, Iasist SAU Agencia en Chile, Iasist Sociedad Anonima Unipersonal, Impact RX, Infocus Health Limited, Infopharm Ltd., Innovex Holdings I LLC, Innovex Merger Corp., Innovex Saglik Hizmetleri Arastirma ve Danismanlik Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Innovex Saglik Urunleri Pazarlame ve Hizmet Danismanlik Anonim Sirketi, Institute of Medical Communications NCO, Interstatistik AG, Kun Tai Medical Development Hong Kong Limited, Kun Tuo Medical Research & Development (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Laboratorie Novex Pharma Sarl, Laboratorio Commuq Pharma SL, Linguamatics, M&H Informatics (BD) LTD., M-TAG Australia Pty. Ltd., MED-VANTAGE, MG Recherche, Mecurial Insights Holding Pty. Ltd., Mecurial Insights Pty. Ltd., Mercados Y Analisis, Meridian Research Vietnam Ltd., Nordisk Medicin Information AB, Novella Clinical LLC, Novella Clinical Ltd., Novex Pharma Gmbh, Novex Pharma Laboratorio S.L., Novex Pharma Limited, Nuevo Health Pty Ltd, Onkodatamed GmbH, Operaciones Centralizadas Latinoamericana Limitada, Optimum Contact Limited, Outcome Sciences LLC, PILGRIM SOFTWARE HOLDING B.V., POLARIS MANAGEMENT PARTNERS LLC, POLARIS SOLUTIONS LLC, PR Editions S.A.S., PT IMS Health Indonesia, PT Quintiles Indonesia, Penderwood Limited, PharmARC Consulting Services GmbH, PharmARC Inc., Pharma Deals Limited, Pharma Strategy Group Ltd., Pharmadata s.r.o., Pharmaforce, Pilgrim Quality Solutions EMEA BV, Pilgrim Software Asia PVT, Polaris Solutions BV, Polaris Solutions Ltd., Primeum IQVIA SAS, Privacy Analytics Inc., Professional Pharmaceutical Marketing Services (Pty.) Ltd., Pygargus AB, Q Squared Solutions (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions (India) Private Limited, Q Squared Solutions (Quest) LLC, Q Squared Solutions (Quest) Limited, Q Squared Solutions (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions B.V., Q Squared Solutions BioSciences LLC, Q Squared Solutions China (Quest) Limited, Q Squared Solutions China Limited, Q Squared Solutions Expression Analysis LLC, Q Squared Solutions Holdings B.V., Q Squared Solutions Holdings LLC, Q Squared Solutions Holdings Limited, Q Squared Solutions K.K., Q Squared Solutions LLC, Q Squared Solutions Limited, Q Squared Solutions Proprietary Limited, Q Squared Solutions Pte. Ltd., Q Squared Solutions S.A., Q2 Metrics, Q2 Solutions, QIMS Pharma Services SA DE CV, QUINTILES MEXICO, QUINTILESIMS EUROPEAN HOLDINGS II C.V., Qcare Site Services, Quintiles B.V., Quintiles Benin Ltd., Quintiles Clindata (Pty.) Limited, Quintiles Clindepharm (Pty.) Limited, Quintiles Clinical and Commercial Nigeria Limited, Quintiles Commercial ApS, Quintiles Commercial Germany GmbH, Quintiles Commercial Rus LLC, Quintiles Commercial South Africa (Pty) Limited, Quintiles Commercial US. Inc., Quintiles Costa Rica S.A., Quintiles Czech Republic, Quintiles Denmark, Quintiles East Africa Limited, Quintiles Egypt LLC, Quintiles Enterprise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Quintiles Finance Sarl, Quintiles Finance Uruguay, Quintiles GmbH, Quintiles Holdings S.a.r.l., Quintiles IMS European Holdings C.V., Quintiles Lanka Private Limited, Quintiles Latin America Inc., Quintiles Luxembourg European Holding, Quintiles Luxembourg European Holding S.a.r.l., Quintiles Luxembourg France Holdings SARL, Quintiles Medical Development (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Quintiles Netherlands, Quintiles New Zealand, Quintiles Norway, Quintiles Phase One Clinical Trials India Private Limited, Quintiles Russia LLC, Quintiles S.a.r.l., Quintiles Site Services, Quintiles South Africa (PTY.) Limited, Quintiles UK (Japan Holdings) Limited, Quintiles Ukraine, Quintiles Vietnam, Quintiles West Africa Limited, RX India LLC, Radar Acquisition Blocker, Redsite Limited, Reportive SA, STI Technologies Limited, Schwarzeck Verlag GmbH, Secureconsent, Shanghai IMS Market Research Co. Ltd., Source Informatics Limited, Spartan Leasing Corporation, Statfinn Oy, Strategique Sante, THE AMUNDSEN GROUP, Targeted Molecular Diagnostics, Tarius A/S, Temas Srl - Societa Unipersonale, TforG Connect BVBA, Themis Limited, UAB IQVIA Commercial, VALUEMEDICS RESEARCH, VCG&A Inc., and iGuard. KAZ Minerals PLC, together with its subsidiaries, engages in mining and processing copper and other metals primarily in Kazakhstan, Russia, and Kyrgyzstan. It operates through Bozshakol, Aktogay, East Region and Bozymchak, and Mining Projects segments. The company operates the Aktogay and Bozshakol open pit copper mines in the east region and Pavlodar region of Kazakhstan; three underground mines in the east region of Kazakhstan; and the Bozymchak copper-gold mine in Kyrgyzstan. It also develops greenfield metal deposits; operates Koksay deposit in Kazakhstan, and the Baimskaya licence area in the Chukotka region of Russia; and produces and sells various by-products, such as gold, silver, molybdenum, and zinc. In addition, the company supplies and distributes heat, water, and electricity; and offers construction, project management, financing, management, sales and logistics, and repairs and maintenance services. The company was formerly known as Kazakhmys PLC and changed its name to KAZ Minerals PLC in October 2014. KAZ Minerals PLC was founded in 1930 and is based in London, the United Kingdom. Read More 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. The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various personal and commercial banking products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases through auto dealer network. It also provides credit cards; real estate secured lending; auto finance; consumer lending; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, private banking, investment advisory, and trust services to retail and institutional clients; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to companies, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,085 branches, 3,440 automated teller machines, and 1,223 stores, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Abbott Electronics Ltd., Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp, CEF Industries LLC, Champion Aerospace, Cobham, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, DDL195 Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, HARCO LLC, Harco, Hartwell Corporation, ILC Holdings Inc., Irvin Aerospace Limited, IrvinGQ France SAA, IrvinGQ Limited, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Militair Aviation Ltd., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas Corp., Pascall Electronics Limited, Pemberton 123 Ltd., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Rancho TransTechnology Corporation, Retainers Inc., SSP Industries, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., TTERUSA Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Technical Airborne Components Industries SPRL, Telair International, Telair International AB, Telair International GmbH, Telair International LLC, Telair International Services PTE Ltd (JV 70.5%), Telair US LLC, Texas Rotronics Inc., TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, and Young & Franklin Inc.. Smart & Final Stores, Inc. operates as a food retailer in the United States. It operates in two segments, Smart & Final and Smart Foodservice. The company's stores offer fresh perishables and everyday grocery items, such as produce, meat and deli, dairy and cheese, grocery, and beverage products, as well as paper and packaging, and restaurant equipment and janitorial supplies. It also provides various private label products under the First Street, Sun Harvest, Simply Value, La Romanella, Montecito, Iris, and Ambiance brands. The company sells its products to household and business customers; restaurants; caterers; and various other foodservice businesses, such as food trucks and coffee houses through vendors and suppliers. As of December 30, 2018, it operated 326 grocery and foodservice stores, including 59 Smart & Final stores, 201 Smart & Final Extra! stores, and 66 Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores located in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and Utah, as well as 15 stores in Northwestern Mexico operated through a joint venture. Smart & Final Stores, Inc. was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in Commerce, California. Read More Andeavor, through its subsidiaries, operates as an independent petroleum refining, logistics, and marketing company in the United States. The company operates in three segments: Marketing, Logistics, and Refining. The Marketing segment sells gasoline and diesel fuel through retail, branded, and unbranded channels. This segment operates a network of 3,255 retail stations under the ARCO, Shell, Mobil, and SUPERAMERICA brands. The Logistics segment gathers and transports crude oil by pipelines, as well as by trucks. It operates approximately 13 million barrels of crude oil, feedstock, blendstock, refined product, and asphalt storage tanks. The Refining segment buys and refines crude oil and other feed stocks into transportation fuels, such as gasoline and gasoline blend stocks, jet fuel, and diesel fuel, as well as other products, including heavy fuel oils, liquefied petroleum gas, petroleum coke, calcined coke, and asphalt. It also sells refined products in the bulk market principally to independent unbranded distributors, other refining and marketing companies, utilities, railroads, airlines, and marine and industrial end-users in the western United States. This segment owns and operates 10 petroleum refineries with a combined crude oil capacity of approximately 1,157 thousand barrels per day. The company was formerly known as Tesoro Corporation and changed its name to Andeavor in August 2017. Andeavor was founded in 1968 and is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. Read More Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI Malaysia 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 Malaysia 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 Sysco: 2234829 Alberta ULC, 2234842 Alberta ULC, A. M. Briggs Inc., A.M. Briggs, Almacen Fiscal Frionet Caldera S.A., Almacen Fiscal Frionet Limon S.A., Appert's Foodservice, Arnotts (Fruit) Limited, Asian Foods, Bahamas Food Holdings Limited, Bahamas Food Services Limited, Brake Bros, Brake Bros Foodservice Ireland Limited, Brake Bros. Foodservice Limited, Brake Bros. Holding I Limited, Brake Bros. Ltd., Brakes Foodservice NI Limited, Buchy Food Service, Buckhead Beef Co., Buckhead Meat & Seafood of Houston Inc., Buckhead Meat Company, Buckhead Meat Midwest Inc., Buckhead Meat of Dallas Inc., Buckhead Meat of Denver Inc., Buckhead Meat of San Antonio LP, Buzztable Inc., CAKE Corporation, Central Seafood Co., Christys Wine & Spirits Limited, Clafra Aktiebolag, Colorado Boxed Beef Co - Specialty meat-cutting division, Corporacion Frionet Sociedad Anonima, Crossgar Foodservice, Crossgar Foodservice Limited, Crown I Enterprises Inc., Cucina Acquisitions (UK) Limited, Cucina Finance (UK) Limited, Cucina French Holdings Limited, Cucina Fresh Finance Limited, Cucina Fresh Investments Limited, Cucina Lux Investments Limited, Curleys Quality Foods Limited (Third Party), Davigel Belgilux S.A., Davigel Espana S.A., Desert Meats & Provisions, Distagro, Doerle Food Service, Doughtie's Foods Inc., Dust Bowl City LLC, Eko Fagel Fisk o mittemellan AB, Enclave Insurance Company, Enclave Parkway Association Inc., Enclave Properties LLC, European Imports, European Imports Inc., Figg Inc., Freedman Meats, Freedman Meats Inc., Freedman-KB Inc., Fresh Direct (UK) Limited, Fresh Direct Group Limited, Fresh Direct Limited, Fresh Holdings Limited, FreshPoint, FreshPoint Arizona Inc., FreshPoint Atlanta Inc., FreshPoint California Inc., FreshPoint Central California Inc., FreshPoint Central Florida Inc., FreshPoint Connecticut LLC, FreshPoint Dallas Inc., FreshPoint Denver Inc., FreshPoint Hawaii LLC, FreshPoint Inc., FreshPoint Las Vegas Inc., FreshPoint North Carolina Inc., FreshPoint North Florida Inc., FreshPoint Oklahoma City LLC, FreshPoint Pompano Real Estate LLC, FreshPoint Puerto Rico LLC, FreshPoint San Francisco Inc., FreshPoint South Florida Inc., FreshPoint South Texas Inc., FreshPoint Southern California Inc., FreshPoint Tomato LLC, FreshPoint Vancouver Ltd., Freshfayre Limited, Fruktservice i Helsingborg AB, GHS Classic Drinks Limited, Gilchrist & Soames Inc., Gilchrist & Soames UK Limited, Guest Packaging LLC, Guest Supply, Guest Supply Asia Limited, Guest Supply Singapore Pte. Ltd., International Food Group, Isakssons Frukt & Gront AB, J & M Wholesale Meats, J. Kings Food Service Professionals, J. Kings Food Service Professionals Inc., Kent Frozen Foods, Les Ateliers Du Gout, Liquid Assets Limited, M&J Seafood Holdings Limited, M&J Seafood Limited, Manchester Mills LLC, Mayca Autoservicio S.A., Mayca Distribuidores S.A., Menigo Foodservice AB, Mitshim Etatu Supply LP, Newport Meat Company, Newport Meat Northern California Inc., Newport Meat Pacific Northwest Inc., Newport Meat Southern California Inc., Newport Meat of Nevada Inc., North Star Holding Corporation, North Star Seafood, North Star Seafood Acquisition Corporation, North Star Seafood LLC, PFS de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Palisades Ranch Inc., Pallas Foods, Pallas Foods Farm Fresh Unlimited Company, Pallas Foods Unlimited Company, Pauleys Produce Limited, Promotora del Servicios S.A. de C.V., Restaurangakdemien AB, Restaurant of Tomorrow Inc., Rohan Viandes Elaboration SAS, SMS Bermuda Holdings, SMS GPC International Limited, SMS GPC International Resources Limited, SMS Global Holdings S.a.r.l., SMS International Resources Ireland Unlimited Company, SMS Lux Holdings LLC, SOTF LLC, SYY Netherlands C.V., SYY Panama S. de R.L., Serca Foodservice, Servicestyckarna I Johannes AB, Servicios Ameriserve S.A. de C.V., Shenzhen Guest Supply Trading Co. Limited, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Bianchi Montegut, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Boiseau, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) De Garcelles, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) J.D. Lanjouan, Societe Civile Immobiliere (SCI) Le Dauphin, Specialty Meat Holdings LLC, Stockflag Limited, Stockholms Fiskauktion AB, Supplies on the Fly, Sysco Albany LLC, Sysco Asian Foods Inc., Sysco Atlanta LLC, Sysco Autoservicio S.A., Sysco Baltimore LLC, Sysco Baraboo LLC, Sysco Bermuda Partners L.P., Sysco Boston LLC, Sysco Canada Holdings S.a.r.l., Sysco Canada Inc., Sysco Central Alabama LLC, Sysco Central California Inc., Sysco Central Florida Inc., Sysco Central Illinois Inc., Sysco Central Pennsylvania LLC, Sysco Charlotte LLC, Sysco Chicago Inc., Sysco Cincinnati LLC, Sysco Cleveland Inc., Sysco Columbia LLC, Sysco Connecticut LLC, Sysco Corporation, Sysco Corporation Director's Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Employee's 401(k) Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Executive Deferred Compensation Plan Trust, Sysco Corporation Good Government Committee Inc., Sysco Corporation Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Executive Retirement Trust, Sysco Corporation Supplemental Unemployment Benefits Plan Trust, Sysco Detroit LLC, Sysco Disaster Relief Foundation Inc., Sysco EI VI S. s.r.l., Sysco EU II S.a.r.l., Sysco EU III S.a.r.l., Sysco EU IV Capital Unlimited Company, Sysco EU IV S. s.r.l.., Sysco EU V S. s.r.l., Sysco Eastern Maryland LLC, Sysco Eastern Wisconsin LLC, Sysco Foundation Inc., Sysco France Holding SAS, Sysco France SAS, Sysco George Town II LLC, Sysco George Town Limited S. s.r.l.., Sysco Global Finance LLC, Sysco Global Finance LLP, Sysco Global Holdings B.V., Sysco Global Resources LLC, Sysco Global Services LLC, Sysco Grand Cayman Company, Sysco Grand Cayman II Company, Sysco Grand Cayman III Company, Sysco Grand Rapids LLC, Sysco Guernsey Limited, Sysco Guest Supply Canada Inc., Sysco Guest Supply Europe Goods Wholesalers LLC, Sysco Guest Supply Europe Limited, Sysco Guest Supply LLC, Sysco Gulf Coast LLC, Sysco Hampton Roads Inc., Sysco Hawaii Inc., Sysco Holdings II LLC, Sysco Holdings LLC, Sysco Indianapolis LLC, Sysco International Food Group Inc., Sysco International Inc., Sysco Iowa Inc., Sysco Jackson LLC, Sysco Jacksonville Inc., Sysco Kansas City Inc., Sysco Knoxville LLC, Sysco Labs Europe Limited, Sysco Labs Pvt. Ltd., Sysco Leasing LLC, Sysco Lincoln Inc., Sysco Lincoln Transportation Company Inc., Sysco Long Island LLC, Sysco Los Angeles Inc., Sysco Louisville Inc., Sysco Memphis LLC, Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Canada Inc., Sysco Merchandising and Supply Chain Services Inc., Sysco Metro New York LLC, Sysco Minnesota Inc., Sysco Montana Inc., Sysco Nashville LLC, Sysco Netherlands Partners LLC, Sysco North Central Florida Inc., Sysco North Dakota Inc., Sysco Northern New England Inc., Sysco Philadelphia LLC, Sysco Pittsburgh LLC, Sysco Portland Inc., Sysco Raleigh LLC, Sysco Resources Services LLC, Sysco Riverside Inc., Sysco Sacramento Inc., Sysco San Diego Inc., Sysco San Francisco Inc., Sysco Seattle Inc., Sysco South Florida Inc., Sysco Southeast Florida LLC, Sysco Spain Holdings SLU, Sysco Spokane Inc., Sysco St. Louis LLC, Sysco Syracuse LLC, Sysco Technologies Cayman Ltd., Sysco Technologies LLC, Sysco UK Holdings Limited, Sysco UK Limited, Sysco UK Partners LLP, Sysco USA I Inc., Sysco USA II LLC, Sysco USA III LLC, Sysco Ventura Inc., Sysco Ventures Inc., Sysco Virginia LLC, Sysco West Coast Florida Inc., Sysco Western Minnesota Inc., The SYGMA Network Inc., Upsys, Victua SAS, Walker Foods Inc., Waugh Foods, and Wild Harvest Limited. The following companies are subsidiares of Continental Aktiengesellschaft: A-Z Formen- und Maschinenbau GmbH, ADC Automotive Distance Control Systems GmbH, ALPHALOR 3 EURL, AZ-CZECH s.r.o., Adam Touring GmbH, Advance Tyre Company Ltd., Advanced Imaging Technologies, Advanced Imaging Technologies (Pty) Ltd, Advanced Scientific Concepts, AlMutlak Continental Company Limited Liability Company, Application Solutions (Electronics and Vision) Ltd., Argus Cyber Security Ltd, BENECKE-KALIKO S.A., BENECKE-KALIKO S.A., BEST DRIVE CTM S.A. de C.V., BV Environmental Limited, BV F1rst Limited, Bandvulc Tyres Limited, Belt Concepts of America Inc., BeltTrade Inc., Benecke Changshun Auto Trim (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., Benecke Changshun Eco Trim (Changzhou) Co. Ltd., Benecke-Kaliko AG, BestDrive LLC, BestDrive Sverige AB, Bestdrive Benelux B.V.B.A., CAC Philippines Inc., CAS Munchen GmbH, CAS UK Holding Ltd., CAS-One Holdinggesellschaft mbH, CGH Holding B.V., CGT Referral Resources Inc., CONTINENTAL CPM S. DE R.L. DE C.V., CONTINENTAL ENGINEERING SERVICES PORTUGAL UNIPESSOAL LDA, CONTINENTAL IBERIA SALES AND SERVICES S.A.U., CONTINENTAL INDUSTRIAL SERVICES S A (Pty.) Ltd., CONTINENTAL SURFACE SOLUTIONS INDIA PRIVATE LIMITED, CONTITECH Chile S.A., CPT Automotive Changchun Co. Ltd., CPT GUADALAJARA S. de. R. L. de C.V., CPT MANUFACTURING MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., CPT MAQUILA MEXICO S. de R. L. de C.V., Carrel Grundstucksverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH Co. Vermietungs KG, Changshu ContiTech Trading Ltd., Conseo GmbH, Conti Automotive Servicios S.A. de C.V., Conti Temic microelectronic GmbH, Conti Trade Australia Pty. Ltd., Conti Trade Italia S.r.l., Conti Versicherungsdienst Versicherungsvermittlungsges. mbH, Conti-Gummi Finance B.V., ContiTech (Shandong) Engineered Rubber Products Co. Ltd., ContiTech AG, ContiTech AVS France, ContiTech Africa (Pty.) Ltd., ContiTech Anoflex SAS, ContiTech Antriebssysteme GmbH, ContiTech Australia Pty Ltd, ContiTech Belgium BVBA, ContiTech Canada Inc., ContiTech China Rubber & Plastics Technology Ltd., ContiTech Consulting Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Dae Won Airspring Systems Ltd., ContiTech Elastomer-Beschichtungen GmbH, ContiTech Finland Oy, ContiTech Fluid Automotive CZ s.r.o., ContiTech Fluid Automotive Hungaria Kft., ContiTech Fluid Automotive Maroc SARL, ContiTech Fluid Distribuidora S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Fluid Korea Ltd., ContiTech Fluid Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Fluid Mexicana Servicios S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Fluid Monterrey Servicios S.A. de C.V., ContiTech Fluid Oil & Marine Middle East FZE, ContiTech Fluid Serbia D.O.O., ContiTech Fluid Shanghai Co. Ltd., ContiTech Fluid Technology (Changchun) Co. Ltd., ContiTech France SNC, ContiTech Global Holding Netherlands B.V., ContiTech Holding (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ContiTech Holding Netherlands B.V., ContiTech IMAS A.E., ContiTech India Pvt. Ltd., ContiTech Japan Co. Ltd., ContiTech Kautschuk- und Kunststoffvertriebsges. mbH, ContiTech Kuhner Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, ContiTech Kuhner GmbH & Cie. KG, ContiTech Lastik Sanayi ve Ticaret AS, ContiTech Luftfedersysteme GmbH, ContiTech MGW GmbH, ContiTech Magyarorszag Kft., ContiTech Maroc SARL, ContiTech Mexicana S.A. de C.V., ContiTech North America Inc., ContiTech Oil & Marine Corp., ContiTech Power Transmission (Ninghai) Ltd., ContiTech Power Transmission (Sanmen) Ltd., ContiTech Power Transmission Korea Co. Ltd., ContiTech Print Service (S) Pte. Ltd., ContiTech Printing Blanket Shanghai Ltd., ContiTech Roulunds Rubber A/S, ContiTech Rubber Industrial Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, ContiTech Scandinavia AB, ContiTech Schlauch GmbH, ContiTech Services (Pty.) Ltd., ContiTech Shanghai Rubber & Plastics Technology Ltd., ContiTech Singapore Pte. Ltd., ContiTech Slovenija druzba za proizvodnjo gumenih tehnicnih izdelkov d.o.o., ContiTech South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., ContiTech Techno-Chemie GmbH, ContiTech Thermopol LLC, ContiTech Thermopol Romania S.R.L., ContiTech Tianjin Conveyor Belt Ltd., ContiTech Transportbandsysteme GmbH, ContiTech USA Inc., ContiTech United Kingdom Ltd., ContiTech Vibration Control France SAS, ContiTech Vibration Control GmbH, ContiTech Vibration Control Slovakia s.r.o., ContiTech Vibration Control s.r.o., ContiTech-Universe Verwaltungs-GmbH, ContiTrade (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ContiTrade Africa (Pty) Ltd, ContiTrade France Rechapage, ContiTrade Services s.r.o., ContiTrade Slovakia s.r.o., Conticlub SAS, Continental - Industria Textil do Ave S.A., Continental Adria pnevmatike d.o.o., Continental Advanced Antenna Automotiva LTDA, Continental Advanced Antenna GmbH, Continental Advanced Lidar Solutions US LLC, Continental Aftermarket & Services GmbH, Continental Aftermarket GmbH, Continental Automotive AB, Continental Automotive Aguascalientes S.A. de C.V., Continental Automotive Austria GmbH, Continental Automotive Bajio S.A. de C.V., Continental Automotive Bangkok Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Benelux BVBA, Continental Automotive Brake Systems (I) Private Limited, Continental Automotive Changchun Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Components (India) Private Ltd., Continental Automotive Components Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Automotive Corporation, Continental Automotive Corporation (Lianyungang) Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Czech Republic s.r.o., Continental Automotive Electronics LLC, Continental Automotive Engineering (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive France SAS, Continental Automotive Funding Corp., Continental Automotive GmbH, Continental Automotive Grundstucksges. mbH, Continental Automotive Guadalajara Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental Automotive Holding Netherlands B.V., Continental Automotive Holding Spain S.L., Continental Automotive Holdings UK Ltd., Continental Automotive Hungary Kft., Continental Automotive Inc., Continental Automotive Instruments Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Automotive Interior Wuhu Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Italy S.p.A., Continental Automotive Japan K.K., Continental Automotive Jinan Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Korea Ltd., Continental Automotive Lithuania UAB, Continental Automotive Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Automotive Maquila Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental Automotive Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental Automotive Occidente S.A. de C.V., Continental Automotive Parts (Suzhou) Co. Ltd, Continental Automotive Rambouillet France SAS, Continental Automotive Romania SRL, Continental Automotive SLP S.A. de C.V., Continental Automotive Singapore Pte. Ltd., Continental Automotive Spain S.A., Continental Automotive Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Systems (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Systems Changsha Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Systems Changshu Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive Systems Costa Rica S.A., Continental Automotive Systems Inc., Continental Automotive Systems SRL, Continental Automotive Systems Slovakia s.r.o., Continental Automotive Trading France SAS, Continental Automotive Trading Italia S.r.l., Continental Automotive Trading Nederland B.V., Continental Automotive Trading UK Ltd., Continental Automotive Trading Osterreich GmbH, Continental Automotive UK Ltd., Continental Automotive Wuhu Co. Ltd., Continental Automotive d.o.o. Novi Sad, Continental Automotive do Brasil Ltda., Continental Barum s.r.o., Continental Benelux SPRL, Continental Bicycle Systems GmbH & Co. KG, Continental Bicycle Systems Verwaltungs GmbH, Continental Brake Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Continental Brakes Italy S.p.A., Continental Brasil Industria Automotiva Ltda., Continental Caoutchouc-Export-GmbH, Continental ContiTech de Chihuahua S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental ContiTech de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Continental Daek Danmark A/S, Continental Dekk Norge A/S, Continental Digital Services France SAS, Continental Dack Sverige AB, Continental Engineering Services & Products GmbH, Continental Engineering Services GmbH, Continental Engineering Services Ltd., Continental Finance GmbH, Continental France SNC, Continental Global Business Services Manila Inc., Continental Global Holding Netherlands B.V., Continental HT Tyres s.r.o., Continental Holding China Co. Ltd., Continental Holding France SAS, Continental Hungaria Kft., Continental India Private Limited, Continental Industrias del Caucho S.A., Continental Industria e Comercio Automotivos Ltda., Continental Industria e Comercio de Pecas de Reposicao Automotivas Ltda., Continental Intelligent Transportation Systems (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Continental Intelligent Transportation Systems LLC, Continental Investment Ltd., Continental Italia S.p.A., Continental Lemmerz (Portugal)-Componentes para Automoveis Lda., Continental Llantera Potosina S.A. de C.V., Continental Mabor Industria de Pneus S.A., Continental Matador Rubber s.r.o., Continental Matador Truck Tires s.r.o., Continental Middle East DMCC, Continental Opony Polska Sp. z o.o., Continental Pneus (Portugal) S.A., Continental Pty Ltd, Continental Reifen Deutschland GmbH, Continental Rengas Oy, Continental Rubber of America Corp., Continental Safety Engineering International GmbH, Continental Secure Data Germany GmbH, Continental Secure Data Headquarter B.V., Continental Secure Data USA LLC, Continental Servicos de Vulcanizacao do Brasil Ltda., Continental Suisse S.A., Continental Temic Electronics (Phils.) Inc., Continental Teves AG & Co. OHG, Continental Teves Portugal - Sistemas de Travagem Lda., Continental Teves UK Ltd., Continental Tire Andina S.A., Continental Tire Canada Inc., Continental Tire Chile SpA, Continental Tire Colombia S.A.S., Continental Tire Corporativo S.A. de C.V., Continental Tire Holding US LLC, Continental Tire Japan Co. Ltd., Continental Tire Korea Co. Ltd., Continental Tire Sumter LLC, Continental Tire West Africa Limited, Continental Tire de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Continental Tire the Americas LLC, Continental Tires (China) Co. Ltd., Continental Tires (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Continental Tires Espana S.L., Continental Tires Holding Singapore Pte. Ltd., Continental Trebbin GmbH & Co. KG Sondermaschinenbau, Continental Trebbin Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungs-GmbH, Continental Tyre AS Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre Group Ltd., Continental Tyre Investment UK Ltd., Continental Tyre Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre Management Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre Marketing Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre North Africa SARL, Continental Tyre PJ Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre Services Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyre South Africa (Pty.) Ltd., Continental Tyre Technology Centre Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Continental Tyres (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Continental Tyres Ltd., Continental Tyres of Australia Pty Ltd, Continental UK Group Holdings Ltd., Continental VUK s.r.o., Continental do Brasil Produtos Automotivos Ltda., Continental of Taiwan Co. Ltd., Continental vyroba pneumatik s.r.o., Contitech Argentina S.R.L., Contitech Botswana (Pty) Ltd, Contitech do Brasil Produtos Automotivos e Industriais Ltda., Contitrade Espana S.A.U., Contitrade Holding, Contitread Renovado Morelia S.A. de C.V., Correx Handelsgesellschaft fur Kautschukprodukte mbH, Custom Machining Services Inc., DRUST, Dekkmann A/S, Dunlop Oil & Marine Ltd., DynaGen Inc., EPD Holdings Inc., Eddelbuttel + Schneider GmbH, Elektrobit, Elektrobit Austria GmbH, Elektrobit Automotive Americas Inc., Elektrobit Automotive Finland Oy, Elektrobit Automotive GmbH, Elektrobit Automotive Korea Limited, Elektrobit Automotive Romania SRL, Elektrobit Automotive Software (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Elektrobit France SAS, Elektrobit India Private Ltd., Elektrobit Nippon K.K., Emitec Denmark A/S, Emitec France SAS, Eu-Retec (Private) Ltd., FSC Franchising Service Company S.p.A., Formpolster GmbH, General Tire International Company, Granite Investments Limited, Holding ContiTech SAS, Hoosier Racing Tire Corp., Hornschuch (Shanghai) Surface Technology Co. Ltd., Hornschuch Consulting GmbH, Hornschuch Group GmbH, Hornschuch Italia S.r.l., Hornschuch Stolzenau GmbH, Hornschuch UK Ltd., Hornschuch-Markt GmbH, INTECH Thuringen GmbH, Kathrein Automotive, Kathrein Automotive Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Kathrein Automotive North America Inc., Kathrein Automotive Portugal Sociedade Unipessoal Lda., Kim Holdings Scotland Limited, Kolubara-Univerzal D.O.O., Konrad Hornschuch AG, Konrad Hornschuch International GmbH, Legg Company Inc., Libra Associates (Properties) Limited, MISA GmbH & Co. KG, MISA-Beteiligungs GmbH, Merlett Belgie B.V.B.A, Merlett Benelux B.V., Merlett Deutschland GmbH, Merlett France SAS, Merlett Group, Merlett Iberica 2016 S.L., Merlett Norway As, Merlett Plastics UK Ltd., Merlett Polska Sp. Z o.o., Merlett RUS LLC, Merlett Tecnoplastic S.p.a., Noviteck SA, O'Sullivan Films Inc., OOO "ContiTech Rus", OOO "Continental Automotive RUS", OOO "Continental Automotive Systems RUS", OOO "Continental Kaluga", OOO "Continental Tires RUS", OOO Hornschuch RUS, OTA Grundstucks- und Beteiligungsverwaltung GmbH, OTA keys, OTA keys S.A., Omitec Group, Otomotiv Lastikleri Tevzi AS (OLTAS), POWERTRAIN MAQUILA MEXICO S. DE R.L. DE C.V., PT Continental Tyre Indonesia, PT Quantum Inventions Indonesia, Parkpocket, Phoenix Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Phoenix Compounding Technology GmbH, Phoenix Conveyor Belt India Private Ltd., Phoenix Conveyor Belt Solutions Inc., Phoenix Conveyor Belt Systems GmbH, Phoenix Fluid Handling Industry GmbH, Phoenix Oil & Marine Ltd., Phoenix Service GmbH & Co. KG, Phoenix Shanxi Conveyor Belt Co. Ltd., Phoenix Vermogensverwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Pneu Egger AG, Profi Reifen- und Autoservice Gesellschaft mbH, Prazisionstechnik Geithain GmbH, QUANTUM INVENTIONS SDN. BHD., Quantum Inventions, Quantum Inventions Private Limited, R & J Strang Tyre Services Limited, REG Reifen-Entsorgungsgesellschaft mbH, REPARATION PNEUMATIQUES DU SUD EST (REPNEU) SAS, ROSEA Grundstucks-Vermietungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. Objekt Hannover-Stocken KG, Reifen Apel GmbH, Reifen Kauffmann GmbH, Reifen-John GmbH & Co KG, Reifen-Service Clemens & Hegel GmbH, Rengasmaailma Oy, Road-Broad Automotive Electronics (Qufu) Co. Ltd., Rundpneu Beteiligungsges. mbH, S.C. ContiTech Fluid Automotive Romania S.R.L., S.C. ContiTech Romania S.R.L., S.C. Continental Automotive Products SRL, SAS CONTITRADE FRANCE, STEINEBRONN BETEILIGUNGS-GMBH, Semperit (Ireland) Ltd., Semperit (UK) Ltd., Semperit Reifen Gesellschaft mbH, Senior Experts Services GmbH, Siemens VDO Automotive S.p.A., Specialised Belting Supplies Ltd., Specialty Fabrics & Converting Inc., Specialty Yarn & Converting Inc., Stable One Insurance Company LLC, Synerject Taiwan Co. Ltd., Syrma A.E., TON Tyres Over Night Trading GmbH, TOO "Continental Matador KZ", Temic Automotive (Phils.) Inc., Tikka Spikes Oy, Tyre Maintenance Limited, Tyre Reinsurance (Ireland) DAC, Tyre and Auto Pty Ltd, UMG Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Union-Mittelland-Gummi-GmbH & Co. Grundbesitz KG, Unterstutzungskasse mbH der Goppinger Kaliko- und Kunstleder-Werke GmbH, VIVAX Trading GmbH, Vanvulc Tyres Limited, Vaysse SAS, Vergolst GmbH, Veyance Distribuidora de Produtos de Engenharia Ltda., Veyance Hong Kong Co. Ltd., Veyance Industrial Services Inc., Veyance Qingdao Engineered Elastomers Company Ltd., Veyance Technologies, Veyance Technologies Australia Pty. Ltd., Veyance Technologies Canada (NS) ULC, Veyance Technologies Hong Kong Co. Ltd., Veyance Technologies Zambia Ltd., Viking Tyres (UK) Ltd., Vitesco Technologies (Thailand) Co. Ltd., Vitesco Technologies 1. Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Vitesco Technologies 1. Verwaltungs GmbH, Vitesco Technologies 2. Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH & Co. KG, Vitesco Technologies 2. Verwaltungs GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Automotive Cuautla S.A. de C.V., Vitesco Technologies Canada ULC, Vitesco Technologies Czech Republic s.r.o., Vitesco Technologies Delavan LLC, Vitesco Technologies Eisenach Verwaltungs GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Emitec GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Engineering Romania SRL, Vitesco Technologies France S.A.S., Vitesco Technologies GDL S. de R.L. de C.V., Vitesco Technologies Germany GmbH, Vitesco Technologies GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Group Aktiengesellschaft, Vitesco Technologies Holding 1 Canada Inc., Vitesco Technologies Holding 2 Canada Inc., Vitesco Technologies Holding China Co. Ltd., Vitesco Technologies Holding Netherlands B.V., Vitesco Technologies Hungary Kft., Vitesco Technologies India Private Limited, Vitesco Technologies Italy S.R.L., Vitesco Technologies Japan K.K., Vitesco Technologies Korea, Vitesco Technologies Lohmar Verwaltungs GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Vitesco Technologies Roding GmbH, Vitesco Technologies Romania SRL, Vitesco Technologies Singapore Pte. Ltd., Vitesco Technologies UK Ltd., Vitesco Technologies USA LLC, Vitesco Tecnologia Brasil Automotiva Ltda., Vogtlandische Reifenwerke Sitz Bad Nauheim GmbH, Vulcanite Holdings Pty Ltd, Vulcanite Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., Vulcanite Pty Ltd, Wohlfahrtseinrichtung fur die Arbeiter und Angestellten der Semperit Reifen AG GmbH, Zonar, Zonar Systems Inc., Zytek Automotive, Zytek Automotive Ltd., Zytek Group Ltd., balance GmbH Handel und Beratungsservice im Gesundheitswesen, co-pace GmbH, inotec Innovative Technologie GmbH, and kek-Kaschierungen GmbH. The following companies are subsidiares of Valero Energy: AIR BP-PBF DEL PERU SAC, BELFAST STORAGE LTD, CANADIAN ULTRAMAR COMPANY, COLONNADE TEXAS INSURANCE COMPANY LLC, COLONNADE VERMONT INSURANCE COMPANY, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY LLC, DIAMOND ALTERNATIVE ENERGY OF CANADA INC., DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL HOLDINGS LLC, DIAMOND GREEN DIESEL LLC, DIAMOND K RANCH LLC, DIAMOND OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., DIAMOND SHAMROCK REFINING COMPANY L.P., DIAMOND UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., DSRM NATIONAL BANK, ENTERPRISE CLAIMS MANAGEMENT INC., GCP LOGISTICS COMPANY LLC, GOLDEN EAGLE ASSURANCE LIMITED, HAMMOND MAINLINE PIPELINE LLC, HUNTWAY REFINING COMPANY, MAINLINE PIPELINES LIMITED, MAPLE ETHANOL LTD., MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT GP LLC, MICHIGAN REDEVELOPMENT L.P., MRP PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, NECHES RIVER HOLDING CORP., NORCO METHANOL LLC, OCEANIC TANKERS AGENCY LIMITED, PARKWAY PIPELINE LLC, PENTA TANKS TERMINALS S.A., PI DOCK FACILITIES LLC, PICKARD PLACE CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATION, PORT ARTHUR COKER COMPANY L.P., PREMCOR USA INC., PROPERTY RESTORATION L.P., PURE BIOFUELS DEL PERU S.A.C., PURE BIOFUELS HOLDINGS L.P., Parkway Pipeline, Premcor, Pure Biofuels Del Peru, SABINE RIVER HOLDING CORP., SABINE RIVER LLC, SAINT BERNARD PROPERTIES COMPANY LLC, SUNBELT REFINING COMPANY L.P., THE PREMCOR PIPELINE CO., THE PREMCOR REFINING GROUP INC., THE SHAMROCK PIPE LINE CORPORATION, TRANSPORT MARITIME ST. LAURENT INC., ULTRAMAR ACCEPTANCE INC., ULTRAMAR ENERGY INC., ULTRAMAR INC., Ultramar Diamond Shamrock, V-TEX LOGISTICS LLC, VALERO (BARBADOS) SRL, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS GP LLC, VALERO (PERU) HOLDINGS LIMITED, VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO ARUBA ACQUISITION COMPANY I LTD., VALERO ARUBA FINANCE INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA HOLDING COMPANY N.V., VALERO ARUBA HOLDINGS INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO ARUBA MAINTENANCE/OPERATIONS COMPANY N.V., VALERO BROWNSVILLE TERMINAL LLC, VALERO CANADA FINANCE INC., VALERO CANADA L.P., VALERO CAPITAL CORPORATION, VALERO CARIBBEAN SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO COKER CORPORATION ARUBA N.V., VALERO CUSTOMS & TRADE SERVICES INC., VALERO EAST BAY LLC, VALERO ENERGY (IRELAND) LIMITED, VALERO ENERGY ARUBA II COMPANY, VALERO ENERGY INC., VALERO ENERGY LTD, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS GP LLC, VALERO ENERGY PARTNERS LP, VALERO ENERGY UK LTD, VALERO ENTERPRISES INC., VALERO EQUITY SERVICES LTD, VALERO FINANCE L.P. I, VALERO FINANCE L.P. II, VALERO FINANCE L.P. III, VALERO FOREST CONTRIBUTION LLC, VALERO GRAIN MARKETING LLC, VALERO H2 PIPELINE COMPANY LLC, VALERO HOLDCO UK LTD, VALERO HOLDINGS INC., VALERO INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS INC., VALERO LIVE OAK LLC, VALERO LOGISTICS UK LTD, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY (PANAMA) LLC, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY COMPANY, VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPLY DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO MARKETING AND SUPPY INTERNATIONAL LTD., VALERO MARKETING IRELAND LIMITED, VALERO MKS LOGISTICS L.L.C., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEDERLAND COOPERATIEF U.A., VALERO NEW AMSTERDAM B.V., VALERO OMEGA COMPANY L.L.C., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONAL SERVICES DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO OPERATIONS SUPPORT LTD, VALERO PARTNERS CCTS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS EAST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS CORPUS WEST LLC, VALERO PARTNERS EP LLC, VALERO PARTNERS HOUSTON LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LOUISIANA LLC, VALERO PARTNERS LUCAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MCKEE LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS MERAUX LLC, VALERO PARTNERS NORTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS OPERATING CO. LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PAPS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS PORT ARTHUR LLC, VALERO PARTNERS SOUTH TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS TEXAS CITY LLC, VALERO PARTNERS THREE RIVERS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST MEMPHIS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WEST TEXAS LLC, VALERO PARTNERS WYNNEWOOD LLC, VALERO PAYMENT SERVICES COMPANY, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE LLC, VALERO PEMBROKESHIRE OIL TERMINAL LTD, VALERO PLAINS COMPANY LLC, VALERO POWER MARKETING LLC, VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL OPERATIONS DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO RAIL PARTNERS LLC, VALERO REFINING AND MARKETING COMPANY, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-ARUBA N.V., VALERO REFINING COMPANY-CALIFORNIA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-OKLAHOMA, VALERO REFINING COMPANY-TENNESSEE L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-MERAUX LLC, VALERO REFINING-NEW ORLEANS L.L.C., VALERO REFINING-TEXAS L.P., VALERO RENEWABLE FUELS COMPANY LLC, VALERO SECURITY SYSTEMS INC., VALERO SERVICES INC., VALERO SKELLYTOWN PIPELINE LLC, VALERO TEJAS COMPANY LLC, VALERO TERMINAL HOLDCO LTD, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, VALERO TERMINALING AND DISTRIBUTION DE MEXICO S.A. DE C.V., VALERO TEXAS POWER MARKETING INC., VALERO ULTRAMAR HOLDINGS INC., VALERO UNIT INVESTMENTS L.L.C., VALERO WEST WALES LLC, VRG PROPERTIES COMPANY, VTD PROPERTIES COMPANY, WARSHALL COMPANY LLC, and ZELIG COMMERCIAL INC.. 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. Gildan Activewear Inc. manufactures and sells various apparel products in the United States, Canada, and internationally. It provides various activewear products, including T-shirts, fleece tops and bottoms, and sport shirts under the Gildan, Gildan Performance, Gildan Hammer, Comfort Colors, American Apparel, Anvil by Gildan, Alstyle, Prim + Preux, and GoldToe brands. The company also offers hosiery products comprising athletic; dress; and casual, liner, therapeutic, and workwear socks, as well as sheer panty hoses, tights, and leggings under the brands of Gildan, Under Armour, GoldToe, PowerSox, GT a GoldToe Brand, Silver Toe, Signature Gold by Goldtoe, Peds, MediPeds, Kushyfoot, Therapy Plus, All Pro, Secret, Silks, Secret Silky, and American Apparel. In addition, it provides men's and boys' underwear products, and ladies panties under the Gildan and Gildan Platinum brand names; and ladies' shapewear, intimates, and accessories under the Secret and Secret Silky brands. The company sells its products to wholesale distributors, screen printers, or embellishers, as well as to retailers and consumer brand companies. The company was formerly known as Textiles Gildan Inc. and changed its name to Gildan Activewear Inc. in March 1995. Gildan Activewear Inc. was founded in 1946 and is headquartered in Montreal, Canada. Read More The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now. Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market. In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender. India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex. Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted. But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted? Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner. If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems. I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now. I want more variation in masturbation I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own. If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end. What is sex toys for Indian? Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation. It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms. They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable. Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner. The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner. It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past. In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping. Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order. In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing. Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome. Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own. But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance. More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around. Sextoy situation in India Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years. In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India. Mumbai Kolkata Bangalore Delhi Chennai Hyderabad These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India. In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well. If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too. If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it. What are Sextoys for beginner? Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms. Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy. I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion. I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy. If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma. Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it. Advantages of using sextoy for Indians There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways. Can have stimulating sex Can develop new sexual zones If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern. However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways. You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation. Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever. There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure. This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it. When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems. It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms). For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles [Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou... Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India. Sextoy for beginner men in India So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners. For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men! The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men Masturbator Cock rings Love Doll Sex Lubricants Toys for the prostate Lets check each one in detail. Masturbator The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products. It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands. Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands. They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.) Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much. Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! ! Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018 Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood. If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ... [For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien... Cock Ring A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis. It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow. It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber. In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection. Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction. It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it. Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time. Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function. Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy. You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect. [Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat... Love Doll Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex. There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women. Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price. The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true. You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste. There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice. You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls. If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to... Sex lubricants Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules. It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution. Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse. There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent. Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent. If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here. What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many... Toys for the Prostate Another sextoy for men is prostate toys. The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line. Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men. Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men. What is the prostate? The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm. You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus. By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms. Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.) The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation. Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure. sextoy for beinner women in India The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy. The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy. Vibrator. Dildo Electric Masserger Lets check out what each one is in detail. If you want to check out womens toys, click here. [BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm... Vibrators A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator. Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy. It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy. Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women. For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators. Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex. Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself. This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual. Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men. When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons. Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most... Dildo A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis. It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass. A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it. They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well. It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device. A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo. Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands. For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis. This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one. To learn more about dildo, please click here. What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th... Electric Masserger A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores. It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low. Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels. Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation. It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure. For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm. It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out. If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager? To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here. What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th... How to choose a sextoy for Indian Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one. Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)? Does the size fit you (your partner)? Is the environment able to produce sound without problems? Price range First of all, the choice of size is quite important. Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women. For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage. Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems. Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise. If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level. Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it. Finally, there is the price range. The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest. Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy. Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy? I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance. For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics. If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out. How to buy sextoys in India The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping. For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below. Sextoy is one of them. Therefore, you can easily get sextoy in India by using online shopping. SexToysINDIA is a long established and stable sextoy store and you can have sextoy delivered to any place in India. They also offer cash on delivery, so those who are worried about shopping with a credit card do not have to worry. Of course, the latest security is in place, so your information will not be taken out when you use your credit card. To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy. ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal. Right now, it is not open to the public because the Indian adult market is still in the development stage, but it will gradually spread from now on. Take advantage of sextoy and open the door to new pleasures and culture. Cautions for Indians using sextoy When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind Keep sex toys clean Watch out for electrical leakage Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone. Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there. It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case. In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness. Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful. If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it. You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly. Summary What did you think? In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India. The sextoy market is growing rapidly in India and it will continue to grow steadily in the future. As India is a rather closed-minded country, it can be difficult to be open about ones sexual habits and values. However, being faithful to ones desires by properly dissolving ones sexual desire is very effective for ones physical and mental health. If this is your first time to learn about sextoy, or if you are interested in using sextoy, why not give it a try? Indian Sextoys for ur best! will introduce you to sextoy and other trivia about sextoy, sexuality, and sexuality for men and women. I want to read more! If you think its a great idea, please bookmark it. By Trend: Azerbaijan plans to send two export missions to the UAE by the end of 2018 in order to expand the geography of exports of its products to the Persian Gulf markets, the Trade Representative of Azerbaijan in Dubai Elnur Aliyev told Trend. "In particular, negotiations continue on the export of fruits and vegetables, fruit juices, honey, milk powder, meat, tea, nuts to the Persian Gulf and access the trade networks in the region," Aliyev said. He noted that the main purpose of export missions with the participation of local producers is to promote the national brand "Made in Azerbaijan" in the markets of the UAE and other Persian Gulf countries. The trade representative reminded that last year the export missions of Azerbaijan were sent to Dubai and Saudi Arabia. "Now the parties are negotiating in order to finally determine the place and date of the meetings. Last year, the export missions were sent in November and December, and most likely this year the visit of the missions will fall on the same period," the trade representative said. He said today there are many medium and small enterprises in Azerbaijan that want to enter the Dubai market, so more than 10 Azerbaijani companies are expected to participate in the upcoming export mission to Dubai. The trade representative noted that the quality of Azerbaijani agricultural products, which are exported to Dubai, is very high, but given that the Dubai market is very developed, in addition to quality, a lot of attention is paid to the stability of supply. "In my opinion, this an important criterion for the successful promotion of goods and products in the markets of the UAE. And our companies must catch up with the rest in order to achieve the desired results. Azerbaijan has done serious work by stating its export potential, and agreements have been reached not only with the UAE, but also with the leading European countries. It is planned to hold negotiations in order to expand the geography of exports of products, in particular in the markets of the Persian Gulf countries," he said. Elnur Aliyev noted that Azerbaijani products have already been demonstrated at exhibitions in Dubai (Gulfood 2017) and Germany (Prowein), where two dozen Azerbaijani companies participated. The Fair at New Boston Past Event - Sunday, September 05, 2021 This page may be updated if the event is repeated Step 200 years back in time at the Annual Fair at New Boston! Everything about this quality event creates the illusion of time travel to 1790 - 1810. The Fair at New Boston See history come alive...at the Fair At New Boston! Your full day of historical adventure will begin with cheering and huzzahs as Revolutionary War hero General George Rogers Clark rides into the Fair on horseback. Cannon fire will salute General Clark, Daniel Boone, and other heroes of the frontier, as they are formally welcomed at Opening Ceremonies. RELATED EVENTS This post is prompted by a number of things that have left me pondering how as Christians we are to bring about change in our churches. When we strongly b... 6 years ago Mumbai: Being in the showbiz can have its own downside. The recent case that Kangana Ranaut got dragged into is a testimonial of that. The reigning Queen of Bollywood bought a bungalow in September 2017 and the broker who sold the property is now looking at means to extract more money out of her. The property in question is located in upmarket Pali Hill and has a total area of 3,075 sq ft. Ranaut paid Rs 1.03 crore as stamp duty. Along with the bungalow, the actor has also got a 565 sq ft car parking space. Even after paying the full amount, and breakage fees, the real estate broker is looking at extracting more from the actress. With this intention of extracting publicity the real estate broker is claiming that his due was not paid. However, that is not the case. As per the industry norms, 1 per cent brokerage fees is paid to the real estate agency and the said amount of Rs 22 lakh was already cleared by her finance team. The broker now however is claiming that he wants 2 per cent of the deal. On contacting Kangana Ranaut says, "I paid the agency who did the Bungalow deal for me one percent brokerage which adds to 22 lakhs, their dues have been paid many months ago. The said person is one of the brokers who offered this deal to me. My finance team never dealt with him directly but now he is harassing us for 22 lakhs more he is claiming 2 percent of the transaction made from my end which was never promised to him before or after the deal so this doesnt make sense and we have made it clear to the cops as well, as we have all the evidence. On the professional front, Kangana Ranaut will be next seen in 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi'. The film is slated to release on January 25, 2019. If youre clued in about whats trending on social media, its very unlikely for you to have missed this latest trend the rise of outfit rental apps. City bloggers and fashionistas vouch by its practicality, while a volley of others feel it doesnt quite add up to the feel good feeling as these outfits come with a deadline in terms of its return. But again, theres no taking away from the fact that the recent past has seen the rise of dress rental apps and ventures like none other... We get Bengalurus youngsters to tell us more... As an influencer, theres always the pressure of being viewed it is stressful to ideate and conceptualise sharp content and visually appealing pictures every single day. Theres an absolute need for options and dress rental apps help me with just that. Ive been a user of FlyingRope, a dress rental app, which supplies designer wear at your doorstep. Honestly, in terms of affordability, convenience and options, dress rental apps are the way forward. People are going to comment and take an incisive look into what youve worn. Theres absolutely no room for compromise, especially when it comes to outfits that you choose, begins city blogger Aswathi Balakrishnann, who has amassed over 60k followers on her Instagram Handle. Adding how its practically impossible to spend on ostentatious outfits, she adds, If I were to actually buy every outfit I wore at a shoot, I would have to spend nothing less than 30k to 40k on outfits alone. And, more than the money its the fact that these clothes go to waste as nobody wears such heavy designer wear on a daily basis. Stylist and fashionista Rinku Chatlani, who recently promoted a brick and mortar store that deals with dress rentals believes its also a fabulous way to keep up with the times. Most of these apps and stores which facilitate the renting of clothes are quite savvy and have stylists and professionals who keep tabs on whats trending and whats not. I like this app called Date the Ramp, which is specially targeted at youngsters wanting to experiment with their sense of style without spending a bomb. So, its easier to get exactly whats in this season on such platforms. I also like the flexibility factor which makes things easier in terms of de-cluttering, as I dont have to take on the burden on keeping something in my wardrobe for a long time just because I bought it. Sneha Petnikota, a young entrepreneur, however, feels the platform calls for extra caution. Agreed, but its completely subjective. I personally wouldnt want to give away an outfit that I wore for a special occasion, as theres a sentiment involved with everything associated with a big day. There have been instances where people hand over special sarees and traditional wear to their children and grandchildren. However, I feel dress rentals work for casual dos, but again, you need to be cautious about what you choose and from which app/ store. Ratings and reviews matter. I wouldnt suggest anyone to try out something of that kind for the first time ahead of an important function. Its best if seen as a quick-fix or a plan b, to be honest. Doctors claim there is an increase in the number of patients, aged between 25 and 40 years, visiting them on a daily basis. Bengaluru: Cervical pain is more common these days because of excessive use of technological devices, especially among IT professionals in the city. Doctors claim there is an increase in the number of patients, aged between 25 and 40 years, visiting them on a daily basis. Cervical pain occurs due to poor posture, working at a desk or sitting in the same position for too long. Continuously looking at electronic devices increases ones chances of getting cervical pain at a younger age. Continuing this activity can even lead to lifelong neck pain, said Dr Narayan Hulse, Senior Orthopaedic surgeon and Additional Director of Orthopaedics, Fortis Hospital, Bannerghatta Road. A 32-year-old IT engineer from the city with chronic neck pain due to excessive usage of laptop is being treated at Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram. The doctors say that working for long hours is the main cause for his pain. In addition, the doctors also highlighted that the addiction to social media is becoming a major reason for such pains in the joints and bones. This is also why physiotherapy is now almost growing as everyone's necessity. Babu J., Chief physiotherapist & HOD, BGS Gleneagles Global Hospitals said, Physiotherapy departments have seen a surge in patients with neck pain nowadays. This is due to a sedentary lifestyle, worsened by badly designed workplace ergonomics and excessive addiction to social media. This causes tilting the head forward for prolonged hours forcing the neck muscles, ligaments and tendons to strain. This condition is also called text neck; described as a repeated stress injury and pain in the neck resulting from excessive use of hand held devices over a sustained period of time. Dr Vasudev N. Prabhu, Consultant Orthopaedic, Trauma and Joint Replacement Surgeon, Apollo Hospitals, Seshadripuram also said that usage of smart phones over a long period of time causes pain in neck and upper back. Text neck, which was not heard of a decade ago, is a strain injury that is the result of hunching over smart phones. Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) causes pain and weakness in the upper limbs from the neck to the finger. Orthopaedicians are also noticing signs of premature degeneration of the spine in people, who are very young, because of this, he added. Experts suggest that one should use their mobile phones and all other electronic devices such as laptop and tablet at the eye level as much as possible. This helps in better position of your head and neck as one dont have to bend the head forward or look down to operate their phones. Also, try taking frequent breaks from your mobile phones and laptops. If the pain is unbearable, you are advised to consult a doctor or go for massage therapy, they said. At least 10 rapists have been awarded the death sentence by various courts in the state since February this year. (Representational Image) Burhanpur: A local court in Madhya Pradesh has sentenced a man to death for raping and killing a woman while he was out on bail after being convicted earlier for a murder. While awarding the death penalty to Prakash Lahase, 34, on Thursday, Sessions Judge of Special Court Rajesh Nandeshwar observed, "The case falls in the category of the rarest of rare cases. Such persons are like gangrene in society which has to be removed from the body to save it." Quoting the judge, public prosecutor Shantaram Wankhede said, "The judiciary has a duty to remove the accused from the society. Criminals will have a free run if they are not punished properly, and the fear in them of deterrent will end." The public prosecutor said that judge Nandeshwar sentenced Lahase to death under Section 302 (murder) and awarded him life imprisonment on two different counts -- Section 376 (2) (sexual assault) and 364 (kidnapping to kill) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). In 38 days, the court examined 38 witnesses before pronouncing the verdict, he said. Prosecutor Wankhede said that Lahase had kidnapped the 30-year-old victim on May 17 this year from Khadkod village, some eight kilometres from Burhanpur district headquarters. "He raped the woman at a deserted place and killed her by crushing her head with a stone. He then disposed of the body in a well," Wankhede said. Judge Nandeshwar, while delivering his verdict, also said that women were feeling "extremely helpless and insecure" following a spurt in rape cases, Wankhede said. At least 10 rapists have been awarded the death sentence by various courts in the state since February this year. Under fire for growing number of rape cases, the Madhya Pradesh government had brought a Bill in December last year, a first for the country, prescribing the death penalty for those convicted of raping minors below the age of 12. It also set up 50 fast-track courts to speed up the trial of those accused of rape. According to statistics of the National Crime Records Bureau released in November last year, Madhya Pradesh accounted for the highest number of rape cases at 4,882 out of a total of 38,947 recorded nationwide in 2016. The figure of 4,882 included 2,479 cases involving minor victims. Madhya Pradesh recorded the highest number of rape cases (4,391) in 2015 too, according to the NCRB report. Bhopal: In a gruesome and a heart wrenching incident, a three-year-old girl was brutally raped, bitten all over her body, subjected barbaric torture and then murdered, in a Madhya Pradesh village, police said on Sunday. The mutilated body of the child was found around 2 kilometers away from her home in the village of Mohad in Burhanpur district late on Saturday evening, police said. There were bite marks all over the body. Her left hand had been hacked off. The body was infested by maggots. Injury marks in her neck suggested that she might have been strangulated to death. A preliminary report also indicated that she was sexually assaulted, doctors who conducted autopsy on the body said. According to the police, the victim had gone missing on the evening of August 15 when she was relieving herself near a drain, a few feet from her home. She was playing with her grandmother on the veranda of her house. She later told her grandma she would go outside to relieve herself. After the child did not return, her grandmother had raised an alarm. Later, the victims family members filed a missing complaint with the local police. On Saturday evening, a local traced the body lying in a bush nearly by following a foul smell. Police was yet to arrest anybody in connection with the incident. Hyderabad: As a part of relief operations to flood hit Kerala, the ministry of women and child development, in collaboration with the Telangana government, dispatched 100 Metric Tonnes of Balamrutham, a supplementary nutrition especially manufactured for children to Kerala to feed the flood stranded children. The food material was provided by the Telangana foods, a state government enterprise. The food stock was Airlifted on Saturday by from Begumpet Airport to Trivandrum. In addition to that, the states animal husbandry department is also planning to send a consignment of 20 tonnes of milk powder worth Rs 55 Lakh. Many people have voluntarily formed into groups and are sending monetary and relief material help to the stranded victims. University of Hyderabad, Students Federation of India (SFI) is also in constant attempt to mobilize maximum funds to the cause of Kerala. So far, in two days they have collected around sixteen lakhs from various spots and they are still continuing with their effort. Also some of the local residents of the city have also formed into groups and are going with a campaign #HyderabadwithKerala, and are putting efforts to accumulate the relief material, they are collecting stuff at Tirumulgherry, King Koti, Miyapur starting from Saturday and will be continued till Wednesday and are planning to send it with the help of the state government. Air India also came to the rescue of the flood victims, by waiving of applicable penalties on re issuance, date change, cancellation and refund charges. Most Air India and Air India Express flights operating from Kochi Airport to destinations to the Gulf countries and to other stations like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai etc, were rescheduled to operate from Tiruvananthapuram. The farmers associations also alleged that a majority of these deaths were suicides, and demanded that the government disclosed the details. (Representational image) Hyderabad: Within three days of the launch of the Rythu Bhima Scheme on August 15 by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao to provide Rs 5 lakh free life insurance cover to the families of victims in case of death of farmers for any reason, as many as 78 deaths of farmers were witnessed across the state. As per the latest data, 78 deaths were registered in three days, of which claims were submitted to LIC in 67 cases and claims settled in 52 cases. The Life Insurance Corporation of India has already settled claims of 52 affected families and disbursed Rs 5 lakh to each of these families. Incidentally, Siricilla constituency represented by IT minister K.T.Rama Rao was the first to witness the deaths of three farmers and the first to get Rs 5 lakh compensation each from LIC on Day-1 of the launch of the scheme. However, contrasting views emerged as government claims success of the scheme with faster settlement of claims and disbursement of compensation amount within hours of the death of the farmers while some farmers associations argue that the scheme exposed the agrarian crisis, with so many deaths witnessed within three days of the launch of the scheme. The farmers associations also alleged that a majority of these deaths were suicides, and demanded that the government disclosed the details. The government claims that the insurance covers any death suicide or natural. As per the agreement entered with LIC, the benefit should be extended to all families for death of farmers for any reason. Lucknow: After waiting for exactly two years to build bridges with his nephew Akhilesh Yadav, senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav is reportedly ready to float a new political party in Uttar Pradesh. Mr Shivpal Yadav has been making efforts to normalise his relationship with Mr Akhilesh Yadav, now Samajwadi Party president, but he does not seem to fit into the new Samajwadi Party. He is preparing to announce his new venture before the Lok Sabha elections, said a close aide of the SP leader. Recently, Mr Shivpal Yadav made it clear that while he was on talking terms with the Samajwadi Party president, there is no communication with my nephew. It was on the insistence of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav that Mr Shivpal Yadav attended the birthday celebrations of his estranged cousin Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav in June this year but that too, did not normalise relations in the family. According to sources, some other senior party leaders who have been unable to adjust to the leadership of Mr Akhilesh Yadav, are also in touch with Mr Shivpal Yadav. Leaders like Mohd. Azam Khan, Narad Rai, Bhagwati Singh, who once formed the core group within the party, have now been left out in the cold. There has been no effort on the part of Mr Akhilesh Yadav to make these seniors a part of the party. These leaders have also been looking for an alternative and are ready to join hands with Mr Shivpal Yadav, a source said. Mr Shivpal Yadav, it may be recalled, has tried to branch out on his own after the assembly elections last year but Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav had stopped him from doing so. Relations between Mr Shivpal Yadav and Mr Akhilesh Yadav have been strained since September 2016 when Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav replaced his son Akhilesh as state president and appointed Shivpal in his place. The events finally led to the ouster of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav as national president in a coup of sorts where Mr Akhilesh Yadav was appointed national party president on January 1, 2017. Mr Akhilesh Yadav and Mr Shivpal Yadav have not been on talking terms ever since. Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav has now reconciled himself to the fact that a rapprochement between the young and the old leadership of the party is a near impossibility. Senior leaders who still have time on their side, cannot be expected to sit at home. Mr Akhilesh Yadav, on the other hand, has given enough signals that there is no more for the veterans in his party. In such a situation, the SP seniors have started looking for options, the leader said. Mr Shivpal Yadavs meeting with Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader, Om Prakash Rajbhar two months ago in Varanasi and his recent meeting with chief minister Yogi Adityanath is now being seen as a step in this direction. Guwahati: Assam police on Saturday arrested the principal of a missionary school for not hoisting the national flag in the school on Independence Day and defying the order of the state government to observe mourning following the death of former PM Atal Behari Vajpayee in central Assams Morigaon district. Police arrested James Xavier, principal of Saint Eugene School on Friday in a village about 8 km from the district headquarters Morigaon. New Delhi: Ashes of BJP patriarch and former prime minster Atal Bihari Vajpayee will be immersed in 100 rivers across the country, including in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, West Bengal, Punjab, Telangana. The immersion ceremony will start with the Ganga at Haridwar on Sunday. The immersion ceremony at the holy city will be attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat among others. The Bharat Ratna awardee and one of the most charismatic leaders in independent India, Vajpayee passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. He was cremated with full State honours at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal in the national capital on Friday. An all-party prayer meeting for the BJP stalwart will be held in the national capital on August 20 and another such meeting will be organised in Lucknow on August 23 since Vajpayees appeal cut across political divide. His (Vajpayees) ashes will be immersed in various sacred rivers across the country and the asthi kalash taken to all the districts headquarters and state capitals. Prayer meetings will take place in the state capitals, district headquarters and at the panchayat level, said BJP national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav. More than 1,200 global industry powerhouses, policy makers, innovators and stakeholders will be in Bahrain for the landmark 25th edition of the World Islamic Banking Conference (WIBC), three-day event being held in strategic partnership with the Central Bank of Bahrain. It is being held under the patronage of HRH Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa, The Prime Minister of Bahrain, from November 26 to 28. The three-day forum will be spearheading a series of discussions gravitating around the theme of Islamic Finance and Sustainable Economic Growth in the Age of Disruption in line with its steady vision to serve as a compass for the global Islamic finance and banking industry. Middle East Global Advisors (Mega), a leading financial intelligence platform facilitating the development of knowledge-based economies in the Mena and South East Asian markets, announced that it will convene the 25th anniversary edition of their flagship offering the largest and most prestigious gathering of Islamic banking and finance leaders in the world at the ART Rotana Hotel in Amwaj Islands. Speaking ahead of the event, Ehsan Abbas, the chairman, Middle East Global Advisors, said: "For over 25 years, WIBC has helped forge a robust ecosystem to widen the scope of Islamic finance to meet new realities, whilst staying true to its ideals." "This year will mark the 25th anniversary edition of the WIBC - testament to its continued significance as a trusted benchmark for the industry to gather and share critical insights going forward," he noted. Abbas pointed out that to assess recovery of economic growth, WIBC would seek to address the optimal ways that policymakers could support long-term robust growth by preparing to cope with possible bouts of financial market volatility. "Countries need to rebuild fiscal buffers, enact structural reforms, and steer monetary policy cautiously in an environment that is already complex and challenging. In the midst of this, the 25th WIBC will focus on how Islamic finance can build on its global value proposition as a means of strengthening the financial sector," he added. Speaking on behalf of WIBCs Strategic Partner, Khalid Hamad Abdul-Rahman Hamad, the executive director - Banking Supervision, CBB, said: "We are pleased to be a strategic partner for the 25th edition of the conference, which this year combines the best of Islamic Banking & Bahrain against the backdrop of recent changes. Key areas of focus will be new initiatives in digital banking, economic growth and sustainable finance, and country specific showcases." The Minister for Oil and Gas will also be talking about investment opportunities in Bahrains recent mega Oil and Gas discovery, stated Rahman Hamad. The CBB, he said, was committed to remaining at the forefront of these developments by providing regulatory oversight to emerging technologies and ensuring the sustainability of financial resources. "With the recent announcement of the Regulatory Sandbox and Bahrain Fintech Bay, Bahrain now also has an ecosystem in place to encourage growth in the Fin-Tech industry, making all the conference discussions & participatory interaction very relevant," he added. WIBC has annually reaffirmed its reputation in generating breakthrough thought leadership. A true flagbearer for the conference and its ethos year-on-year, Rasheed Mohammed Al Maraj, the CBB Governor, will showcase his support for the event by delivering the keynote address, with the vision of furthering the ecosystem for Islamic finance entities to thrive and grow globally. With the pace of change in financial services increasing rapidly, so does the urge for the industry to react. Rapidly embracing the prevalent disruption and forging partnerships in efforts to sharpen operational efficiency have taken precedence in the digital era. Over the last few years, a key focus area for WIBC has always been to connect the industry with leading pioneers and innovators in the FinTech space and forge a fresh, innovative and technology-enabled phase of the industrys development. While last years edition witnessed keynote speeches by Alex Tapscott, CEO NextBlock Global, Co-Author of Blockchain Revolution & Founding Member, IMFs High Level Advisory Group on Fintech and Xen Baynham- Herd, Head of Strategy and Lead Economist Blockchain who spoke about embracing new technologies like blockchain in the changing face of financial services due to the advent of the digitization, this years edition will also see leading technology experts deliberate as part of an exclusive FinTech Panel. Key features for WIBC 2018 include: Governors Addresses; High-profile Regulatory Debate among Central Bankers; a conversation with a distinguished Islamic finance veteran on the future course of the Islamic economy, The Regulations Power Table on fostering synergies among regulators, standard setters and global financial regulatory authorities to further Islamic Finance; Panel discussions focusing on sustainable, equitable & inclusive growth, FinTech, new horizons for Islamic finance, cross-jurisdictional issues on Sharia standards & practices and much more. Industry leaders will also be recognized for their excellence through the WIBC Performance Awards 2018, the nominees of which will be announced weeks before the November event, and the winners at the Gala Dinner on November 27. Confirmed partners at WIBC 2018 so far include: Casablanca Finance City Authority, Ithmaar Bank, Khaleeji Commercial Bank (KHCB), World Gold Council, First Energy Bank, The Perth Mint, Eiger Trading, Bahrain Islamic Bank (BisB) & Fitch Ratings. Bahrain, the host nation of WIBC for the past 25 years has emerged as a global leader in Islamic finance, with the Central Bank of Bahrain (CBB) continuing to provide strong support to the financial industry. With the aim of strengthening Bahrains position as a Fintech and financial services hub in the GCC, the Bahrain Economic Development Board (EDB) and FinTech Consortium recently announced the launch of Bahrain FinTech Bay, among the largest dedicated financial technology (fintech) hubs in the Middle East and Africa. The 10,000-sq-ft space in Manama aims to support the development and acceleration of Fintech firms, as well as the interaction between investors, entrepreneurs, government bodies and financial institutions.-TradeArabia News Service Mysuru: Former chief minister Siddaramaiah on Saturday appealed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi to embark on an aerial survey of flood-ravaged Kodagu and sanction funds for relief measures forthwith. Speaking to the media after a tour of villages hit by the deluge in Nanjangud taluk in Mysuru district, the former chief minister said he would visit Kodagu district soon. He said that the candidates for forthcoming polls to urban local bodies (ULBs) would be announced soon and expressed confidence that his power would be voted to power in Mysuru city corporation. Bengaluru: The CBI and Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on Saturday afternoon arrested pro-Hindutva activist Sachin Prakashrao Andure - the alleged shooter of Pune-based rationalist Dr. Narendra Dabholkar from Aurangabad in Maharashtra on a tipoff from the Karnataka Special Investigation Team (SIT), which is probing the murder of activist-journalist Gauri Lankesh. Top sources said that the SIT had shared with the CBI inputs on Andure and had said that he is a person of interest in their case after going through accused Amol Kales diary. Dr Dabholkar was shot dead on August 20, 2013 in Pune by two bike borne assailants. The SIT had also alerted the Maharashtra ATS on the three pro-Hindutva activists - Vaibhav Raut, Sudhanwa Gondhalkar and Sharad Kasalkar, who were arrested from Nalasopara and Satara and the ATS had recovered a huge cache of contraband firearms, explosives and incriminating literature from their possession. "Gauri in her death has not only saved thousands of lives; she has also helped unearth the assassination of other rationalists, who were done in by allegedly the same module of Right wing hard liners, said an official source. Meanwhile, Dr Hamid Dabholkar, son of the slain rationalist, expressed hope that with Andures arrest, the CBI would be able to solve his fathers murder on the eve of his fifth death anniversary. The families of Dabholkar and late Communist member Govind Pansare have been given security following inputs from Kales diary, which reportedly had the names of the family members on the hit list. A fresh landslide blocked the railway track near Yedakumari station in the Shiradi Ghat section on Saturday (Image: KPN ) Hassan: As the monsoon continued to wreak its fury another landslide was reported between Yedakumari and Sirivagilu stations in the Sakleshpur region of the Western Ghats on Saturday. Two major landslides were reported on the railway route on Friday, with one bringing down a portion of a hill and depositing boulders on the tracks besides dislocating a bridge. While men and machinery have been working to remove the debris, the fresh landslide deposited another 6,000 cubic meters of mud on the tracks, according to Divisional Railways Manager, Aparna Garg. The railways will review the situation on August 25 before resuming train services, she says. Meanwhile, two relief camps have been set-up by the district administration at Ramanathapura in Arakalugudu taluk, Hassan where the river Cauvery is in spate, flooding villages. Around 150 affected villagers have been shifted to relief camps, reveals assistant commissioner, Lakshmikanth Reddy. Hassan district in-charge minister, H D Revanna has dispatched 3,000 litres of milk to flood affected Ramanathapura and another 26,000 litres of milk to Madikeri from the Hassan Milk Federation. In addition, 200 quintals of rice and five quintals of tur dal are being sent for the flood affected areas from Hassan district Members of the Hassan Milk Union have decided to contribute their one-day salary , amounting in all to around Rs 10 lakh towards the relief effort. Zargar, an engineer, is alleged to have been 'quite active' on social media and had been expressing his liking for the activities of ISIS in Syria. (Photo:Facebook) Srinagar: A Kashmiri man, suspected to be a sympathiser of the banned ISIS terror group, was recently deported to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officials said here on Sunday. Irfan Ahmad Zargar, 36, a resident of Chattatabal area on the outskirts of Srinagar, was deported from the Gulf country on August 14 and subjected to questioning by various security agencies, including the National Investigation Agency, they said. He was then handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir police who were carrying out detailed investigations. However, there was no case pending against him in the state. Zargar, an engineer, is alleged to have been "quite active" on social media and had been expressing his liking for the activities of ISIS in Syria, they said. The NIA, the central probe agency tasked with investigating terror cases, questioned him for over two days before handing him over to the state police. Zargar was picked up by the authorities in Dubai on April 28 this year when he was entering into the Gulf country from Oman, they said. He was subjected to intensive questioning by Dubai sleuths about his activities on social networking sites, especially his appreciation of ISIS activities in Syria and Iraq. Working with a telecom company in Dubai, Zargar maintained that he had travelled to Oman for setting up a business of handcrafts. The Dubai officials had carried out thorough search of his apartments in Sharjah and later whisked him away to an undisclosed location. He was deported to India on August 14. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had been approached by one of his kin on her Twitter handle asking for help. The minister had assured them help and the Indian Consulate General in Dubai had initiated a hunt for the man. Vipul : Irfan Ahmad Zargar is an Indian national from J&K state. Please spare no efforts to locate him. @cgidubaipic.twitter.com/CbcmHEqlDK https://t.co/3BFdFsWZSj Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) May 4, 2018 However, the Dubai authorities had refused to entertain any plea until they had not completed their own investigation in the case. Zargar is the third Kashmiri to have been deported for allegedly being sympathisers of the terror group. Srinagar-resident Afshan Parvaiz was deported from Turkish capital of Ankara on May 25. Parvaiz had left home after an argument with his father, who wanted him to join a college while he was interested in religious studies. He booked himself a seat on a flight to Teheran on March 23 and was later deported after he crossed into Turkey. Another youth from Ganderbal, Azhar ul Islam, was deported from the UAE last year for being an alleged ISIS sympathiser. Hanan Hamid, who also worked as an anchor and flower girl for programmes to make ends meet, requested people to donate for the relief works. (Photo: File) Thiruvananthapuram: As Kerala is struggling to cope with the flood fury, 21-year-old college student, who was viciously trolled for selling fish to meet her educational needs, has contributed Rs 1.5 lakh towards the Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. Hanan, a college student from Kochi, said the money was donated by various people after her struggle to fund her studies and take care of her family was widely shared on the social media. "I had got the amount from people and I am happy to give back the amount to the needy," she said. Hanan, who also worked as an anchor and flower girl for programmes to make ends meet, requested people to donate for the relief works. A B.Sc student at a private college at Thodupuzha in Idukki district, Hanan's story had gone viral after a Malayalam daily reported her struggles. But, a section of social media users expressed doubts about her struggles and claimed it was "fake." Besides Hanan, people from various walks of life are generously contributing money and various essentials for helping the needy. Sajeesh, a government employee and husband of nurse Lini Puthussery, who died of Nipah after she contracted the deadly virus from a patient, donated his first salary of Rs 25,000 to the relief fund. The Kerala government had given Sajeesh a job in the health sector in recognition of nurse Lini's selfless service. Sixty-eight-year-old Rohini from Thalassery in Kannur district, who draws a monthly pension of Rs 600 and has no other source of income, contributed Rs 1000 online to the relief fund. Social media groups, students, actors and NGOs are among those who have made contributions to the relief fund. The BJP also launched a scathing attack on the Congress over the issue. (Photo: File) Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Sunday criticised his cabinet minister Navjot Singh Sidhu for embracing Pakistan Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa during Imran Khan's swearing-in as Pakistan Prime Minister. "As far as hugging the Pakistan Army Chief is concerned I am not in its favour. It was wrong for him to have shown affection towards the Pakistan Army Chief at a time when our soldiers are being martyred," said Singh. He further added that his own regiment lost one Major and two soldiers a few months ago. Singh also questioned casualties due to firing from the Pakistani side of the border, "Whether the man who pulled the trigger is to be blamed or the man who gives the order? Which is the chief, and the chief is General Bajwa." Amarinder Singh also distanced himself from Sidhu's decision to attend the ceremony in Pakistan, stating that the visit was made in his personal capacity. "As far as attending the swearing-in ceremony is concerned, he went there in his personal capacity so it has nothing to do with us. About him being seated next to the PoK President, maybe he (Sidhu) didn't know who he was," added the Chief Minister. On his return to India, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu said, "If one is invited as a guest of honour somewhere, then they have to sit wherever they are asked to." Further clarifying, he said, "If someone (Pakistan Army Chief General Bajwa) comes and says that we belong to the same culture and we will open Kartarpur border on Guru Nanak Dev's 550th Prakash Parv, what else could I do?" The BJP also launched a scathing attack on the Congress over the issue, on Saturday the party's national spokesperson Sambit Patra said that his visit was "no less than a crime". The BJP also demanded Congress President Rahul Gandhi's stance on Sidhu's visit. Chief Minister E palanisamy said the government would disburse compensation for damaged crops proportionate to the extent of loss. (Photo: File) Bhavani (Tamil Nadu): Tamil Nadu Chief Minister K Palanisamy on Sunday assured compensation for crop loss due to the floods caused by heavy discharge of water from the state's dams and permanent houses for the affected people. The dams, including Mettur and Bhavanisagar, have been discharging huge volumes of water in view of continuing high inflows from Karnataka reservoirs like Krishnarajasagar. The discharge has resulted in inundation of a slew of villages and submergence of standing crops along the banks of Cauvery, (its tributary Bhavani in Erode) in several districts of Tamil Nadu. "Presently, inflow into the Bhavanisagar dam is 21,000 cusecs and discharge is 3,000 cusecs. From the Mettur reservoir the outflow is 2 lakh cusecs and the inflow is about 1.95 lakh cusecs," Palanisamy said. The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters after inspecting flood-affected areas in Erode district, said the government would disburse compensation for damaged crops proportionate to the extent of loss. "The government will give compensation for crop damage after the flood waters recede," he told reporters. In Erode district, 47 villages and 609.69 hectares of crops, including horticulture, have been affected. Those residing along the banks of the rivers Bhavani and Cauvery have requested safe, permanent houses and government would take steps to fulfil their request, he told reporters when asked about the representation from the affected people. He said the government was extending all help to the people whose houses were damaged due to inundation caused by the release of excess waters from dams. As many as 7,832 people have been sheltered in relief centres in Erode district, 263 houses fully damaged and 114 partially damaged, while a total of 1,599 houses have been inundated, he said. A flood alert was sounded for 13 districts, including the Cauvery delta regions, besides Madurai and Theni as the Periyar and Vaigai dams too received copious inflows. The chief minister visited flood-affected in the town and at nearby Komarapalayam, along with Ministers K A Sengottiyan, K C Karuppannan and M R Vijaya Baskar. The chief minister visited relief centres and distributed rice, vessels and blankets to the affected people. Bengaluru: Corporators from all the 198 wards in the city and BBMP employees have decided to donate their day's salary to the flood-affected in Kodagu and Kerala. Mayor Sampath Raj said that through this initiative, the civic body put together Rs 3.28 crore. Of this, Rs 2.28 crore will go to Kodagu and Rs 1 crore to Kerala. Also, all the corporators will hit the streets of their wards and collect relief materials which will be sent to the flood-affected victims of Kodagu. Cab aggregators do their bit Cab aggregators Ola and Uber have stepped forward to help the flood-affected in Kerala. Users of Ola, while booking cabs, saw the message, 'Help Kerala flood victims', and a click on the link led them to contribution details. The message on Ola app, which explained how the donations help, read, "Rs 5 will be added on every ride (Non-Corporate) as a contribution to the CM's distress Relief Fund." It said that the donors can claim 80G certificate for tax exemption by replying to Ola mail with the details. Uber too stated that it will make equal contribution of what is being made by the user to the cause. "I tried booking cab to head to office when I saw the message on Uber app that it will contribute the same amount I do for the cause of Kerala, said a user. Taxi owners send 6 tonnes of material Members of the Bangalore Tourist Taxi Owners Association (BTTOA), Bruhat Bangalore Hoteliers Association and other transport groups collectively managed to dispatch 450 rice bags, 100 bags of atta, sugar, toordal, pickles, tea powder, water bottles, biscuit packets, cooking oil, bread, parota and others. Several sets of clothes for men and women were also part of the consignments. BTTOA president Radhakrishna Holla said, On Friday, we sent relief material to Wayanad and on Saturday night, we are sending 6 tonnes of relief material to Kushalnagar where the regional representatives of the taxi and hotel association will receive and coordinate with the government officials and distribute it to the needy." The water level in Srisailam reservoir touched a peak of 881 feet against the full reservoir level of 885 feet before the seven shutters of the dam were opened on Saturday. (Image: DC) Kurnool: Major Irrigation minister Devineni Uma on Saturday opened seven crest gates of Srisailam reservoir, releasing 1,22,368 cusecs of water into the downstream Nagarjunasagar. The inflow of water into the reservoir was recorded at 3,60,000 cusecs. The water lever in Srisailam reservoir touched a peak of 881 feet on Saturday against the full reservoir level of 885 ft. The minister said it augers well for the farming community. The reservoir now stores 195 tmc ft of water against its maximum capacity of 215 tmc ft. Mr Uma said the dams safety would be given highest priority as Srisailam was developing structural weakness ever since a ditch was formed in the plunge pool area. He said water would be released into all reservoirs, canals, and ayacut without any discrimination. The Rayalaseema farmers had expressed apprehension that the authorities were being biased against Handri Neeva, Galeru Nagari, and Pothireddy Padu areas. Taking a dig at the YSRC, Mr Uma said that when 1,000 tmc of water was going into sea, the opposition party had filed cases against him demanding stoppage of pumping of water at Pattiseema and Purushottam Patnam. He said the engineers in the irrigation department were forced to approach the National Green Tribunal answering frivolous questions after cases were filed by the YSRC. The minister said the AP government had spent Rs 59,000 crore on irrigation works in the state. On Polavaram alone, Rs 9,000 crore was spent despite not receiving of the Rs 2,600 crores as promised from the union government. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The rescue operations continued in full swing on Sunday bringing more than 22,034 to safety from various parts of the flood affected areas mainly Chengannur. The death toll rose to 210. Meanwhile, Pope Francis on Sunday appealed to the international community to provide concrete support to tens of thousands of flood victims in Kerala, calling the deluge a great calamity. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said 7.24 lakh persons have been lodged in 5,645 relief camps across the state. During the first phase the focus was on saving lives, the next big challenge is to bring the displaced people back to normal life. However, the efforts will continue to save people who are still marooned. Pinarayi said a detailed plan has been chalked out for relief and rehabilitation. All materials required in relief camps would be provided. Specific responsibility has been entrusted with officials for relief camps. Water and food will have to be ensured for those returning home. All water resources which got contaminated during the floods will have to be cleaned. The most important task is to make purified and safe drinking water available. The pipelines that got snapped will be fixed. The presence of women constables will be ensured in each relief camp. The power supply which has been cut in many parts will have to be restored after taking measures to prevent mishaps. At the moment the priority will be to restore street lights and water pumping stations. Local bodies will conduct a preliminary examination of the houses in each ward to ensure there is no danger. With slush, mud and contaminated water entering houses, the next big challenge will be to clean up these places. Proper disposal of waste will be ensured. The government plans to enrol volunteers in a big way under the local bodies for cleaning operations in the affected areas. An official of local bodies and six health inspectors will be deployed in each village and volunteers will work under their instructions. A waste management and waste clearance protocol will be put in place in each village. A large number of elderly people have been affected by the floods. The doctors will give priority in treating such people and ensuring they get regular supply of medicines. Senior officials of the railways and NHAI officials held meetings on Sunday. They have assured to restore train services and transport services at the earliest. The total damage to rods is pegged at Rs 4,441crore, 221 bridges have been affected by floods of which 59 are still under water. The govermnet had earlier set aside Rs 1.000 crore for roads maintenance which will be now utilised for the first phase of repair. IT based system will be put in place to disburse certificates and other important document that were destroyed in the floods. Ras Al Khaimah Economic Zone (Rakez) has partnered with Regus, the worlds largest workspace solutions provider, to offer first-class business services. The partnership entitles the economic zones new and existing clients to avail an exclusive Business Package, which allows them to have memberships to access the first-class business centre services of Regus in Dubai and Abu Dhabi and internationally for Dh 6,300 per year ($1,714). The strategic alliance agreement was signed by Ramy Jallad, Group CEO of Rakez, and Vassilis Bazinis, UAE country manager for Regus, at Rakez headquarters. Jallad said: The business landscape today is ever-changing. Now, you have to be always on the move to keep up with your market; have meetings here and there, and usually, youll need more than just your laptop. We want to address our clients need to move around to effectively enable their growth. With the Regus Business Package, our clients can have access to business centre services at prime locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and have everything they need there from meeting rooms to various support services. Were very proud to collaborate with Regus as they share our goal of providing flexibility and accessibility to investors at a low cost. Bazinis said: We are witnessing a workplace revolution, with more than one billion people globally who are mobile workers and require flexible workplace solutions to fit their business needs - the UAE is no exception to this. Through our partnership with Rakez, we are able to offer their companies and clients a wide-range of first-class business centre services, supporting their business growth. For generations, the world has understood office-based work to involve a fixed location and a 9-5 schedule. But an unprecedented number of businesses are now adopting a very different working model. Flexible working not only reduces commuting time, but enhances productivity, staff retention, job satisfaction and even creativity. In addition to the business centre services of Regus, Rakez clients who avail the Business Package get a professional address as well as a range of services, including mail handling, telephone answering, and business support services. We strive to become the no. 1 in terms of customer-centricity, and this new package offered through Regus definitely shows that, reflecting our commitment to providing premium services and facilities, wherever they are, Jallad added. TradeArabia News Service Several posters, carrying the line '(name of the girl), I am sorry' in bold print with a heart symbol beside it in red, were seen dotting the area especially prominent traffic intersections. (Photo: Twitter | man_with_class) Pune: A man put up over 300 banners and hoardings in a town in Maharashtra apparently to make up with his girlfriend after a fight, but the antic has riled the local police. Residents of an upmarket area in Pimpri Chinchwad, near Pune, woke up on Friday to see several posters, carrying the line "(name of the girl), I am sorry" in bold print with a heart symbol beside it in red, dotting the area especially prominent traffic intersections. The act, however, is likely to get Nilesh Khedekar, a 25-year-old local businessman, in trouble with the police approaching the Pimpri Chinchwad civic body to initiate action as per rules dealing with illegal hoardings and defacement of public property. A police official said that investigations into the matter started soon after they were alerted to the hoardings on Friday. "We managed to zero in on his friend Vilas Shinde who had helped Khedekar get the flex hoardings printed. Through him, we traced Khedekar who is the brain behind this act," the official said. He informed that the 25-year-old man wanted to apologise and make up with his girlfriend after a quarrel and, therefore, came up with this "creative" idea. "The girl was coming on Friday to the area from Mumbai. Under the cover of darkness in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, over 300 hoardings were put up on the route which the girl was likely to take," the official said. The civic body had been told about the issue, the official said, adding that it was up to the civic body now to initiate further action against the businessman. Hyderabad: To achieve the target of defeating BJP and its supporting parties the Congress High Command is in favour of an alliance with Telugu Desam party in both Telugu states in the coming elections. The Congress High Command is of the opinion that the TRS in Telangana and the YSR Congress in AP may support the BJP in the post election scenario. It has decided to defeat the TRS in Telangana and the YSRC in AP by having an alliance with the TD in both states. AICC president Rahul Gandhi, during his recent Hyderabad visit, told the media: To defeat the BJP we will utilise every possibility and try to have an alliance with other like-minded parties. The TDs target is also to defeat the BJP and the Congress aim is also the same. The common goal of the Congress and the TD would be to bring together two parties who had been bitter enemies for decades. the Congress high command believes that the TD would support the UPA against the NDA led by the BJP after the elections. TPCC president Mr. N. Uttam Kumar Reddy has hinted several times about the party having an alliance with the TD. He had also said that in politics, there are no permanent enemies or friends. The TD in Telangana and the Congress in AP are in a similar position. The TD is struggling for existence in Telangana and the Congress is struggling for existence in AP. A senior TPCC leader said If the Congress and the TD have an alliance, it will benefit both the parties in in Telangana and in AP. The Congress high command has given a free hand to the PCCs on alliance issue at the local level. In AP, the TD also wants an alliance with some parties after breaking ties with the BJP. Left parties have decided to go with Jana Sena in the next elections. Except for the Congress, the TD has no chance to have an alliance with other political parties. In Telangana the TD has a vote bank particularly the GHMC area and in AP, the Congress also has a considerable vote bank. This will help both parties if they have an alliance in the next elections. According to sources, the talks between the Congress and the TD will start in Telangana soon. The US Senate passed, by unanimous consent, a resolution affirming that the media is not the enemy of the people. This was in response to President Donald Trumps sustained diatribe against the media at every opportunity, with which he has managed to convince at least many Republicans with his own version of fake news. The Senate move comes on top of an initiative led by the Boston Globe, where over 350 news organisations published editorials reiterating the freedom of the press and the important role it plays in society. All this might mean nothing to the Teflon-coated President who nurses the quite ridiculous notion for a US President that any media critical of him are spouting fake news, whereas hes the one chosen by the people who alone knows what is good for America first. Mr Trumps views on the media in the US, looked up to for over two centuries as one of the pinnacles of a free press, are at odds with the foundational principle of a model democracy. His despotic vision may include a kowtowing media fawning on every move by the President. A cause for concern is that hes tried so hard to intimidate the independent media which scrutinises his actions closely. Which is why, for the first time in US history, so many news outfits had to take a joint stand against a President determined to turn the public against a vital arm of democracy: the fourth estate. Mr Trumps penchant for stirring up hatred chanting his mantra about fake news at least 400 times against the media is aimed at upsetting the balance. By generating this cynical dislike for the media, he may be hoping his regressive ideas will be more accepted by the public. The major pushback by the media may have gone some way towards a majority of the American people keeping faith in a free press. Honest journalism is integral to the check and balances of power. In any case, how much reverence would society have for a President who calls a former woman campaign staffer a dog in public? Beyond such peccadilloes, what Mr Trump is doing is to push democracy to a decline in a country with a 242-year history of a commitment to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. What is happening in Mr Trumps America with regard to the independent media is a warning to many countries where the watchdog media faces similar threats from relentless attacks by those in power. On May 1, 1998, I joined the tough-talking German weekly magazine, Der Spiegel, as its South Asia bureau chief in New Delhi. I was to begin a six-week orientation at its headquarters in Germany soon. It was a big break, first impressions on crusty editors are crucial, I fretted. On May 11, Indias nuclear tests provided an opportunity. But I didnt have the cosy hotline to the PMO that big media stars boast of, nor had I ever met Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee or anyone in his party. Desperate times need desperate measures. The international media had gone into anaphylactic shock, stern editorials admonished India for its audacity. I put the PMOs number on redial. Within barely a day or two, I became the first journalist in the world to get an interview with Vajpayee on why India had tested. For the benefit of European readers, the majority of whom fiercely opposes nuclear weapons, the PM, who resembled my father, responded like my father-in-law (a fierce advocate of nuclear deterrence). He told me firmly that to test was Indias prerogative and self-defence its sovereign right. A day later, I shuffled into my very first edit meet on the eighth floor of the formidable magazines headquarters in Hamburg with a printout in my wobbly hands. Hound-dog editors, the creme de la creme of the German press, slumped behind various global dailies. Huge headlines on Indias nukes screamed on their front pages in various languages. I was introduced, they didnt budge. Shes brought us a world exclusive with the Indian PM, my chief added slyly. The papers crumpled to the floor, there were resounding claps. As promised, we sent India-relevant excerpts back to the PMO for simultaneous release, the interview was reproduced around the globe and my 14-year-long innings with the magazine got off to a kickass start. Two of Indias most famous editors (male of course) reacted churlishly. They carefully forgot my name in their reproduction of my scoop. I was, after all, a mere woman, more qualified to write on nail-paint than nukes. In late 1999, I requested another, longer interview with Vajpayee for my chiefs and me. We got it immediately. I entered Race Course Road with two tough German newshounds, cynical as hell, thoroughly researched and icily immune to the guiles of both pirates and politicians. When we stood up to greet the PM as he entered, we were nobodys fools. When we left, we were intrigued by the rare combination of crafty prose and warm likeability that Vajpayee embodied. My detractors in Delhi were far from amused. They whinged that the foreign media was being favoured unfairly. Vajpayee had yet again ignored every person doing Indias Second Most Important Job and chosen me instead. The third and final time I approached Vajpayee was in 2003. There had been several raging controversies. In 1999, he had launched a bold peace initiative with Pakistan, even as the Pakistan Army was laying the ground for what culminated in the Kargil war. In 2001, he had shaken the hand of the very general who had engineered Kargil. Months later, Pakistani terrorists attacked Indias Parliament. The Gujarat riots were being condemned around the world. A Time cover story on the ageing PM was titled Asleep at the Wheel. There was regular furore in Parliament that the elderly statesman was losing it and should step down. As a foreign correspondent, I expected to be shooed away by the angry external affairs ministry, which was seething over the Time article. Instead, I was ushered into Race Course Road for the third time in five years. Emboldened, I confronted Vajpayee with a long list of seeming disasters. But, as before, nothing fazed the enigmatic, courteous and sabre-sharp politician. If your peace initiative and various other ventures fail, I finally asked, expecting to be met with a silent, sphinx-like stare, how will you react? Vajpayee smiled, measured his words, took his time to respond, and did so in impeccable English. Then I will accept it as my defeat and retire. I cast a quick glance at my two tape recorders. They were whirring. Did you say retire, Sir? Yes, retire. I filed the vetted interview to my desk in Hamburg. As was the norm, I shared some excerpts, including this one, with the PMO, to release to the Indian media. As I lay in bed with fever for the next two days, I had no idea that my chat with Vajpayee had raised a veritable shitstorm in the Indian media and unleashed pompous debate. Alpha-male analysts launched verbose dissections of my scoop. One pundit insisted that Vajpayee had later told him (exclusively, of course), that he will neither tire nor retire. The PM had been misquoted by the German journalist, said another. The Spiegel reporter wouldnt have understood Vajp-ayees Hindi, claimed a third. My fever vanished. Pointing to the two recordings and the vetting by the PMO, I informed them in published letters, that my magazine and I practised a form of journalism that was obviously alien to them one which treated fact-checking as a sacred ritual. So, the first post-nuclear tests interview with PM Atal Behari Vajpayee, a long chat with him on the cusp of the new millennium and the Ill retire conversation were all mine. But why? It would be hugely tempting but silly to say that it was my brilliance as a reporter that swung it. I was a journalist with foreign media concerns and had been working overseas for several years. Vajpayee had no idea who I was. Was it the might of Der Spiegel, then, that prompted him to agree? Perhaps. But the German-language publication could have hardly been the PMs go-to morning read, since it had no English website at the time. Besides, there were other, equally famous international concerns like the New York Times, represented in India by journalists far more senior and accomplished than I. They had all been knocking on his door. I have two explanations, one rational, the other personal. PMs usually do a single large interview. Giving it to a solitary Indian concern would unleash a volley of protests from others, whereas placing it in a non-competitive foreign publication with excerpts to the Indian media could guarantee a modicum of peace. But which one? If the NYT were chosen, the Washington Post would grumble. If AFP, the AP would be up in arms. And if the Times of London, the Guardian and Telegraph would be incensed. A publication in a third language, like Der Spiegel, held certain advantages. For one, its correspondent at the time was Indian and likely endowed with greater local insight and intuitive understanding. And luckily for the PMO, there were no European competitors of the German weekly, present in India at the time. Back then, most Indians in the international media worked in junior positions under parachuting foreigners who had little knowledge of South Asia or patience for its many trying ways. The storylines were predictable, and their reports mostly morbid or morose. I was the first Indian to head the regional bureau of a leading international magazine. The two irascible hounds who had met Vajpayee along with me were my editors and mentors who allowed me to write about India as an Indian and a woman, at that. My intuition tells me it is that combination the late Prime Minister wanted to support. Vajpayees largesse benefited my career immensely and gave me the professional expertise required to wrangle with a master tactician and orator of his stature. He died at age 93 last week, after a full life and a tall career. As a long-standing correspondent who has hammered out copy from war zones, disaster sites, terror attacks, I am a hardcore, unsentimental dog of war. And yet, my eyes were mostly watery over the two days of his death and cremation. Whatever people may say about Vajpayeejis other failings, the truth is that when it came to encouraging Indias women, our former PM was a hardcore feminist. They dont make them like that anymore. As a primordial dawn unfolds in a wild corner of South Luangwa National Park in Zambia, Malemi, our guide, collects us from our tent for a walking safari and a morning game drive through the jungles rugged terrain. As our Land Rover speeds into the bushes, the green patches give way to overgrown shrubs, ancient baobabs and fruit-laden sausage trees before reaching a flat plain the starting point of our walking safari. Having attended game drives earlier, I was skeptical of any wild sightings during this walk, aware that the animals were mostly nocturnal. But this concern was soon dispelled when we spot a leopard crouched on a tree, almost hidden amidst the thick foliage. But before our guide could warn us about the camera flash, the spotted beast bolts out of sight in a blink, leaving us jolted by its terrific speed. As the sun ascends, a troupe of baboons flocks to the watering hole nearby, jostling for space with the anxious impalas thatd raise their heads frequently to scan for hiding predators. As we venture deep into the woods, our guide motions us to walk in a line. Following the close encounter with the jungle cat, his loaded pistol in his holster is reassuring and we scurry close to him. I can almost hear my breath and pounding heart in my ears as we stride quietly through the bushes, hoping to muffle the sound of footsteps crunching the dry leaves. Just then, leaves rustle nearby and we wait in anticipation, ready to scamper off if our mysterious visitor turns out to be unfriendly. Our fears are quelled when a family of warthogs surfaces from the bushes and scurries off hurriedly, sensing human presence. Malemi points to a tree, a few metres away, where camouflaged by the mid-morning shadow, is a sub-adult bull elephant, leisurely stripping leaves off the tree. Noticing the trunked mammoth to be a young adult, our guide cautions us about the presence of his herd nearby. We didnt have to wait long enough for his prediction to come true when a middle-aged female pachyderm comes tearing out of the bushes and stops only a few metres away from us. Our guide whispers a useful piece of information: Elephants can hear better than they see and if they are not charging towards you, keep still and the animal wont hurt you. We stand motionless, holding our breath as the mighty elephant walks past us. As the pachyderm retreats into the thick shrubs, Malemis next bit of trivia is about how elephants only digest an average of 30 percent of their food. But the more astonishing piece of information is how the tusked mammals feces plays a significant role in maintaining the ecosystem from serving as a habitat for various insects to being a meal for others. Numerous ants, insects call elephant dung home, while baboons sift through this glorious excreta in search of undigested nuts and fruits. Our walk brings us to the banks of the Luangwa River and our guide points at the fresh tracks left by hippos, lions and hyenas. As we nervously scope our surroundings, anxious about spotting the bearers of the footprints, a pair of Thornicroft giraffes, endemic to South Luangwa, extends their necks to reach for the leaves. Also around are a herd of impalas grazing over the dewy grass, while crocodiles bask a few metres away. Were also privy to a pod of hippos vying noisily for space. The park has the largest concentration of hippos with almost 100 hippos for every kilometre. As we take in this scene from Africas version of the Jungle Book, we are told that baboons can spot predators from a distance. And when they spot one, their loud wailings alert others of their kind and also the impalas that pick up on these warning signs. The life source of this rich fauna at the national park is the Luangwa River. A tributary of the mighty Zambezi River, it meanders through the heart of the valley and rises and falls sharply with every season. The water level drops at the advent of winter when the river shrinks, drawing game to the waterholes. Our walk is interrupted when the radio, tucked in our guides hand, crackles to life. After a brief exchange in his native language, our guide motions us towards the land rover. A leopard preying on his kill has been sighted nearby and as we reach the spot, our guide turns off the engine and motions us to be completely silent. As I scan through the thick grassy plains with my binoculars, I sense a presence. I catch my breath as my eyes meet the leopards as it stretches for a nap, barely bothered by his onlookers. A half-eaten impala, probably the mighty jungle cats lunch, lay beside him. Savouring this prized encounter, I feel privileged as this truly immersive experience of being in Africas wilderness comes to an end. The device is said to be similar to the Amazon Echo Show with Google Home speakers and Google Assistant at the core. (Representational image/Amazon Echo Show) The next big addition to Google's line of smart home products could be a display that complements its Home smart speaker. With Amazon already ruling the space with its screen-supported Echo Show, it might be the right time for Google to step in. The search giant is said to be working on a screen sporting the Home device, Nikkei Asian Review reports. The device is said to be similar to the Amazon Echo Show with Google Home speakers and Google Assistant at the core. The display will be voice-controlled and projected to allow users to play YouTube videos, check calendars and view maps. Google is likely to start shipping the smart screen-enabled devices before holidays, with an initial goal of 3 million units for the first batch. 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 invite assures the presence of an in-display fingerprint sensor, thereby bringing the next-generation tech to the mainstream V series. (Photo: Slashleaks) Vivo has been on a launch spree this year, launching some of their highly impressive smartphones in the country. India was exposed to two of their most revolutionising handsets the X21 with the in-display fingerprint sensor and the NEX with a no-notch display. However, they arent done for the year yet as the company has sent out invites for another event. Vivo has been sending media invites for the launch of another smartphone slated to be launched on September 11. While the invite doesnt mention the name of the device, it certainly hints towards the V11 their upcoming premium midrange smartphone in the V series. The launch date has been emphasised, hinting towards the V11. The invite assures the presence of an in-display fingerprint sensor, thereby bringing the next-generation tech to the mainstream V series. Live images of the Vivo V11 were leaked a few days ago. The V11 will bring OPPOs teardrop-style notch to Vivos lineup. It is also expected that the V11 will be powered by a Snapdragon 660 chip and a pair of capable cameras borrowed from the NEX. As usual with all Vivo phones, it will rock FunTouch OS based on Android. However, it remains to be seen whether Vivo will deliver Android Pie out-of-the-box or not as Vivo was one of the participants in Googles Android Beta program introduced earlier this year. When launched in India, expect Vivo to price it under the Rs 30,000 mark. 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. Various manufacturers, including Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Vivo and others, usually take up to a few months to roll out the newer Android to their eligible smartphones. Every autumn, Google releases the latest version of Android to keep the ecosystem updated with the latest features and security trends. And every year, people all around the world ask the same question whens the latest Android going to hit existing devices running on older software? And, how soon can one expect the latest Android update on their device? Various manufacturers, including Samsung, Sony, HTC, LG, Xiaomi, OnePlus, Vivo and others, usually take up to a few months to roll out the newer Android to their eligible smartphones. It is known that Google rolls out the Platform Development Kit to the third-party manufacturers just before they roll out the first public stable ROM on their Pixel devices. However, its beyond this point which requires eagerness on the manufacturers part to deliver the update as soon as they can. First of all, a major job is to get the new software on the manufactures system in order to build the foundations of the platform for the devices. Following that, the manufacturers get on to make the software work with the chipset. The process is called Hardware Abstraction Layer (HAL). This process takes time as various manufacturers use different components on different models, which requires time and efforts to make the software compatible with the different chipsets. For example, Sony's various eligible smartphones for Android Pie run on different Qualcomm and MediaTek chips. Once HAL is passed, the manufacturers try to implement the basic functions on the system that every smartphone needs to do flawlessly calls, messages and Internet connection. With the basics sorted, they move on to the custom part of the ROM. For those using a near-stock Android UI with limited customisations and bloat, there isnt much to do. However, brands such as Sony, Xiaomi, Samsung, LG and others with extensively customised UIs have to implement their own apps and customisations on to the ROM and ensure that they adapt to the new OS. Once the building process is done, manufacturers initiate the test for the new OS. Initially, early builds of new OS are rolled out within a closed group and, if found error free, are rolled out as early beta builds to external testers. Here, its ensured that the system remains and achieves stability. Upon fixing ironing out the issues of the new OS, its sent for approval and certification from various authorities. Its also ensured that global features common to every smartphone, such as Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, are made to perform as per the mentioned standards. Additionally, certain carrier-locked devices may require additional apps built into the OS, which also takes up additional time. Once the new OS build has been tested and certified, manufacturers start releasing the new OS as an update to eligible devices. However, theres a team looking into diagnostic reports to fix issues if they creep up shortly after the update rollout. Xiaomi's MIUI 10 Therefore, if you are using a phone with a customised OS, you have to keep in mind that the above processes require a considerable amount of time to get a qualitative experience on your device. The lighter the OS, the faster an OEM rolls out updates. However, in order to make sure the process is fastened, Google introduced Project Treble with Android Oreo, which makes it easier for manufacturers to put the existing custom UI overlay on top of the new Androids foundations. And with the new Android Beta Program, its expected that participating manufact8urers can work towards delivering the new OS sooner than before. (source) 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. A banner in support of the people of Kerala during Pope Francis' Angelus noon prayer at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican on Sunday. (Photo: AP) Vatican City: Pope Francis on Sunday called on the international community to provide "concrete support" to the victims in flood-battered Kerala. Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the flooding at St Peter's Square, the Vatican News reported. "The inhabitants of Kerala have been harshly struck by intense rains, which have caused flooding and landslides, with heavy loss of human life, with many people missing and displaced, with extensive damage to crops and homes, he said. He voiced his hopes that these brothers and sisters would be supported by "our solidarity, and by concrete support from the international community". He expressed his closeness to the Church in Kerala, which is at the forefront of efforts to bring aid to the population. Pope Francis then led the crowds gathered at St Peter's Square in prayer for those suffering from this great calamity. Over 300 people have been killed since August 8 in the state's worst floods in a century while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. Sharif, the younger brother of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, served as the chief minister of the politically crucial Punjab province from 2013 to 2018. (Photo: AP) Islamabad: Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz chief Shahbaz Sharif is set to become the leader of the opposition in the National Assembly as 111 lawmakers have nominated him for the slot, a media report said on Saturday. The leader of the opposition will be notified on Monday. National Assembly Speaker Asad Qaiser told the house on Saturday that he had received 66-year Sharifs nomination as the opposition leader signed by 111 members from the opposition benches, Dawn reported. The PML-Ns strength in the house is 82 followed by the Mutahidda Majlis-i-Amal (15) and the Awami National Party (one). The collective number of the three opposition parties is 98 and the support of 111 lawmakers to Sharif indicated that some Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) members also supported his candidature for the slot of the leader of the opposition, the paper added. The PPP had abstained from voting for Sharif for the post of prime minister on Saturday. The PPP has a total of 43 lawmakers. Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan defeated Sharif in a one-sided election in the National Assembly to become the 22nd prime minister of Pakistan. Khan secured 176 votes while his only rival Sharif got 96 votes. Sharif, the younger brother of jailed former prime minister Nawaz Sharif, served as the chief minister of the politically crucial Punjab province from 2013 to 2018. He became PML-N president after his elder brother was barred from holding the top party position and public posts. Al Salem Johnson Controls (York), a leading provider of integrated heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) solutions and equipment, said every year it has been increasing the number of its technicians working at the cooling stations at the Grand Mosque in Makkah by 25 per cent during Ramadan, Umrah and Hajj seasons. The technicians undertake preventive maintenance and handle emergencies to ensure the safe and efficient operation of the chillers and air handling units, said a statement from York. The company is proud of the role it has been playing in the operation and maintenance of these cooling stations for the fourth year in a row. The York Chillers located in the two cooling stations are designed and customised to meet the cooling requirements of the Grand Mosque, especially during peak seasons, it added. Al Salem Johnson Controls (York) ensures that pilgrims are kept cool on their Hajj journey, starting with their arrival at the Hajj Terminal at King Abdulaziz International Airport - which is also cooled by York Chillers and York Saudi-made air-handling Units - to the mosque. In addition, the chillers cool 70,000 litres of Zamzam Water daily during the Hajj and Umrah seasons (equivalent to 296,000 cups per day), said the company statement. It also plays an active role in cooling other locations visited by the pilgrims during their journey in Makkah and the holy sites; for example, the clock tower, the Hilton Hotel and Dar AlTawheed Intercontinental Hotel in front of Grand Mosque, a number of hotels in Mina, and police stations and restrooms in the holy sites of Mina, Arafat and Muzdalifah, as well as the Jamarat area and the Saudi Arabia Project for Utilisation of Hajj Meat, it added. CEO Dr Mohanad Al Shaikh said Al Salem Johnson Controls (York) was proud to be operating and maintaining the cooling stations allocated for the Grand Mosque at Makkah. The first cooling station, located 900 m from the mosque in Al Shamiya District, began its initial operation three years ago while the second station, located 500 m away from mosque in Ajyad District, is operational since the last five years, explained Al Shaikh. The Grand Mosque is cooled by two cooling stations, with a total cooling capacity of 159,000 tonnes (equivalent to the cooling of 15,000 medium-sized apartments). While the two stations are separate facilities in terms of location, their chiller technologies are integrated as one, to ensure the operation and cooling efficiency and sustainability all year through, he stated. The Al Shamiya station is considered to be the second largest cooling plant in the world, with a total cooling capacity of 120,000 tonnes (equivalent to the cooling of 12,000 medium-sized apartments). It boasts 24 York centrifugal chillers, the largest chillers in the world, and cooling towers, said the statement. The technology of these chillers has been designed, engineered and customised to meet the cooling requirements of the Grand Mosque, it stated. The second station has a cooling capacity of 39,000 tonnes (equivalent to cooling of 3,000 medium-sized apartments). It includes three centrifugal chillers with a capacity of 9,000 horsepower, four chillers with a variable speed drive technology, and 56 chillers with a reciprocating compressor, all of which use radiators for heat rejection. Al Shaikh pointed out that the Grand Mosque was connected to the two cooling stations through underground tunnels. The chillers cool water up to 4-5C and pump it through pipes inside the tunnels from the two stations to the York air-handling units located in the basement of the mosque. The air handling units and their cooling capacity are designed and engineered to meet the cooling requirements of the Grand Mosque, and were locally manufactured at the York factory in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, he explained. The company has assigned 85 engineers and technicians in Makkah, available 24/7 for service maintenance of the cooling stations and air-handling units inside the mosque, he added.-TradeArabia News Service Twenty five years ago, when the Aditya Birla Group wanted to promote the Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Limited (MRPL), it was depicted as a monster that would gobble up fertile land, make it barren, bring acid rain, pollute water bodies and the sea and will divest the local youths of their livelihood. This campaign had led the undivided Dakshina Kannada district into many riots and turmoil that killed one person Rajaram Servegar, a political worker. Today, under the banner of oil and natural gas major Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), the coastal city of Mangaluru has transformed itself into a model petroleum and petrochemical hub that is making waves internationally. While none of the developments that were feared way back in 1993 has happened, on the contrary, the shrubby land around the petrochemical complex has seen growth of lush green forest and the Arabian sea is still yielding the same volume of fish year after year. The ambient air quality around the refinery has not deteriorated as depicted and what is more, the complex has generated ample employment to both skilled and unskilled workforce. This grassroot refinery has a capacity to process 15 million metric tonnes per annum crude, and is the only refinery in India to have two hydrocrackers producing premium diesel. It also has a Polypropylene unit with a capacity of 4,40,000 MT per annum. The refinery is gearing up to produce BS-VI standard diesel by March 2019 and petrol in December 2019. The country looks up to Mangaluru and Karnataka for one of the most modern petrochemicals complex that has given birth to a number of downstream petrochemical industries and established worldwide presence with sustained business models. ONGC Videsh Limited (ONGC Videsh), a subsidiary of ONGC, has started buying up the Das blend crude oil originating in the Lower Zakum oilfield in Abu Dhabi, which currently produces approximately 4,00,000 barrels per day. OVL-led Indian Consortium acquired 10% PI(participatory inventory) in Lower Zakum (LZ) Concession through its Dutch Joint Venture Company- Falcon Oil and Gas BV. The Indian Consortium led by ONGC Videsh include BPRL and IOCL. Other shareholders in the LZ concession are Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) (60%), CNPC and JODCO (10% each) and TOTAL and ENI (5% each). It was the first time that Indian oil and gas companies have been given a stake in the development of Abu Dhabis hydrocarbon resources and the agreements were signed in Abu Dhabi on February 10, 2018. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was present at the signing in ceremony had appreciated Karnatakas role in achieving the Oil security of the country. The concession agreement will be in force for next 40 years. Since Mangaluru was the nearest point to Abu Dhabi, the ADNOC had chosen the facilities in and around Mangaluru to enter into an agreement for storing crude in the high caverns built by the Indian Strategic Petroleum Reserve Limited (ISPRL) at two places on the coast of Karnataka namely at Padur in Udupi taluk and Permude in Mangaluru taluk. The parcels have started arriving and the ONGC officials hope to get the caverns to be full to their capacity by this year end. The third such facility is in Vizag on the Eastern Coast. The OVL has procured 690,000 bbls (barrels) of crude in June last year and sold to MRPL for refining business that operates one of Indias most modern and complex refinery. This sale to MRPL further demonstrates the commitment of the ONGC Group in enhancing the energy security for the nation. The OVL is now on par with many global companies like Royal Dutch Shell, Exxon Mobil, Sinopec, China National Petroleum Corporation BP Plc, and many others, MD and CEO of OVL Narendra K Varma told DH. The Das blend crude with approximately 39.20 degree API is best positioned among the ONGC Videsh portfolio of equity crudes to flow to India. This grade of crude is regularly bought by several Indian refiners. Also the shipping distance and voyage time to the west coast is short and can be lifted in a wide range of parcel sizes. This is the first time that Indias oil portfolio looked so good, says former petroleum minister M Veerappa Moily. In addition to the existing facilities, the UPA government had proposed to build a pipeline from Mozambique to Mangaluru to carry Liquefied Natural Gas that opens up big industrial plants in all sectors. The expression of understanding has already been drafted with Mitsubishi Heavy Engineering of Japan, OVL and MRPL, but there has been no progress on that count after the UPA-II government, Moily says. OVL gets bigger ONGC Videsh has participation in 41 projects in 20 countries namely Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Colombia, Iraq, Israel, Iran, Kazakhstan, Libya, Mozambique, Myanmar, Namibia, Russia, South Sudan, Sudan, Syria, United Arab Emirates, Venezuela, Vietnam and New Zealand. ONGC Videsh maintains a balanced portfolio of 15 producing, 4 discovered under development, 18 exploratory and 4 pipeline projects. The company currently operates or jointly operates 21 projects. ONGC Videsh had total oil and gas reserves of about 711 MMTOE as on April 1, 2018. ONGC is the largest oil and gas producer in the country with market capitalisation of Rs 2,09,310 crore as on August 17, 2018. During the financial year ended March 31, 2018, ONGC Group had produced 64.21 MMTOE (million metric tons or oil equivalent) of oil and oil equivalent gas (approx 1.29 Million Metric barrels or oil equivalent per day); the consolidated gross turnover was Rs 3,62,200 crore ($ 54 billion) during FY 18 and total consolidated oil and gas reserves were 1,863 MMTOE as on March 31, 2018. There are all signs of operations getting bigger in volume and value. With so many acquisitions overseas and within the country and ploughing in Rs 10,000 crore into research and prospecting for oil in many parts of the world including our own neighbourhood. However, incidents of various magnitude keep happening that raise concerns of human and environmental safety. The storage areas of byproducts, waste are still areas of concerns which the Pollution Control Board needs to buckle up. (The writer is a senior journalist based in Mangaluru) In a development which could have far-reaching consequences on security situation, a Kashmiri man living in United Arab Emirates (UAE) was deported to India on suspicion of being sympathiser of Jihadi militia Islamic State(IS). Sources said 36-year-old Irfan Ahmad Zarger, a resident of Chattatabal area of the old city of Srinagar, was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA) by the UAE authorities on August 14, for allegedly showing active support to IS activities in Syria on social media. The NIA after questioning Zarger for a couple of days handed over him to Jammu and Kashmir police for detailed interrogation, they said and added, Zarger, a telecom engineer, who was working in Dubai, was picked up by the authorities there when he was entering into another Gulf country Oman on April 28. The matter came to light after one of his relatives sought External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj help on Twitter to trace Zarger. The Indian Consulate General in Dubai had initiated the process to reach out to the man after the Swarajs intervention. However, it took Dubai authorities several months to complete their own investigation, before they handed him over to Indian authorities, officials said. The development comes in the backdrop of security forces killing four Islamic State Jammu and Kashmir (ISJK) militants in a gun battle in Srigufwara area of south Kashmirs Anantnag district on June 22. While the central government has been maintaining that there is no presence of IS in the Valley, state police chief Shesh Pal Vaid had for the first time officially confirmed of IS militant being killed in Kashmir. Zargar is the third Kashmiri to have been deported in recent times after being accused of sympathising with the IS. Before him, Srinagar-resident Afshan Parvaiz was deported from Ankara on May 25 while another young man named Parvaiz was deported from Tehran on March 23. Another youth from Ganderbal, Azhar ul Islam, was deported from the UAE last year for being an IS 'sympathiser'. A militant was killed in a gunfight with the army along the Line of Control (LoC) in Kasturi Naar area of north Kashmir's Barmualla district on Sunday as the army foiled an infiltration bid. Sources said the gunfight erupted after the army personnel spotted three to four militants infiltrating and challenged them. The group of militants after being challenged opened fire triggering off a gunfight, they said and added that one militant was killed in the retaliatory action by the army. Reports said additional reinforcements were rushed to the encounter site and entire area has been cordoned off to flush out the rest of the militants. The latest gun battle came a day after three militants were killed in a similar encounter on Saturday on the LoC in Tanghdar Sector in Kupwara district, also in north Kashmir. It is pertinent to mention here that on Thursday Director General Military Operations (DGMOs) of India and Pakistan spoke after the two countries celebrated their independence day. On August 16, an Indian Army statement said that the Pakistani commander promised that his army would take prompt action against (any) move of inimical elements in proximity to the LoC and respond to information shared by the Indian side, thereby facilitating conduct of anti-terrorist operations. A senior army officer said that despite the assurances from the Pakistani side, the infiltration attempts continue along the LoC. There is pressure on militants waiting on launching pads across the LoC to infiltrate due to depleting number of ultras in the state in view of successes achieved by the security forces, he said. "Intelligence inputs suggest that around 200 to 250 militants were waiting for an opportunity to infiltrate into our side at various launch pads along the LoC from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir side, the officer said and added that the army expects more infiltration attempts and coming months would be tough from the security point of view. President Trumps decision this week to revoke the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan is disturbing, especially because of the reason given. The president said Brennan was among those responsible for the special counsel investigation into possible links between the Trump campaign and Russia. His spokeswoman said the president is considering revoking the clearances of other former high-level officials for similar reasons. None has been accused of compromising national security in any way. The unprecedented move seems aimed solely at silencing critics, punishing them for exercising their right to criticize the president. The president seems to be demanding loyalty in exchange for a security clearance, which is inappropriate in a free government. Meanwhile, the attention given to this has shed light on another matter of importance. A Government Accountability Office report last year found that 4.2 million people had some form of security clearance as of 2015, a number that almost certainly has grown since then. Can the nation be sure none among this vast group a number larger than the populations of 24 states (including Utah) plus the District of Columbia is compromising national secrets or, at the very least, has a justifiable need for such clearance? Its time for a comprehensive security clearance audit, but this must be done entirely free from partisan politics. People who may have been critical of the president, whether on social media or in some other way, should not be excluded for that reason alone. Its time for a comprehensive security clearance audit, but this must be done entirely free from partisan politics. Security clearances are not all the same. Often, people are given access to classified information in specific areas only. Clearance comes in one of four levels confidential, secret, top secret and sensitive compartmented information. These are reviewed every few years, depending on the level. Given the obvious interest by Russians and other foreign governments in obtaining state secrets, that timeline no longer may be good enough. Also, people whose jobs no longer correlate with a need for clearance should be forced to relinquish it. Officials who leave the government with a level of clearance take their access with them. Often, there are good reasons for this. Because of their experience, these people may be called upon to consult with current military or intelligence officials on matters of national security. For others, however, clearance becomes little more than a resume builder as they seek jobs as consultants or lobbyists. This security clearance glut and the presidents decision to revoke the statuses of certain people are related in one sense: Both seem to miss what ought to be the overriding goal in issuing and revoking access national security considerations. Regardless what special prosecutor Robert Muellers investigation may uncover regarding collusion, intelligence agencies are united in warning that outside influences are trying to affect the 2018 election and manipulate public opinion. It follows, then, that high-level secrets are at a premium. Clearance should be reserved to trusted people on a need-to-know basis and extended to former employees only in accordance with how their expertise could help current officials make informed choices. Egos, partisan bickering and resumes should not be considerations. SALT LAKE CITY If variety is your thing, Rose Exposed has you covered. Since 2012, the six professional companies that call the Rose Wagner Performing Arts Center home have come together for a one-night-only event that showcases each troupe. Its an evening thats tied together by a common theme this year, breaking news and each companys performance runs about 10 minutes, making the entire event about an hour long. If you have a short attention span, this is for you, said Stephen Brown, SB Dance director. Although the family friendly night offers just a sampling of each of the companies, he continued, the common theme makes it a cohesive program. Some performances are more literal, some are more abstract. Some use the language of dance, some the language of theater (and) some both, he explained. Joining SB Dance for the Aug. 25 event are Plan-B Theatre, PYGmalion Theatre Company, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company and Repertory Dance Theatre. The evening will also include live performances from pianist Koji Attwood, representing the Gina Bachauer International Piano Foundation. Its sort of a creative explosion, said Fran Pruyn, Pygmalion Theatre Companys artistic director. Its wonderful to work on a single theme in a series of very different disciplines. Rose Exposed has been playful for us, but it does take an enormous amount of thought to make the evening expansive for everybody. Certainly, its a sampler, she added. For the most part, once these pieces are gone, theyre gone, she said. The six performing groups meet in the spring to pick the theme but dont really know how it will all come together until the day of. This is the only time youll be able to see all six of these resident companies share the stage, Brown said. We dont know how it fits together until the dress rehearsal that day. Its a pretty exciting way to make things and to be able to contribute to something bigger than yourself. Pruyn said the performers look forward to the opportunity to share the stage with talent they would never get to rub shoulders with otherwise. Just to see their work and thought process and watch their discipline is so incredible and fun, she said. I love the rehearsal process and watching it evolve. Brown said that people in the arts tend to work in their own silos. Its hard trying to put something excellent onstage, fighting the headwinds of finances and cultural changes. You work in your own little world, he said. So its really great to break out of that silo and work together as artists, being able to develop each of our businesses by sharing a common stage and also points of view. Thats what makes us a community and not just a bunch of individual companies. The groups chose the breaking news theme because it was fun and provocative and because it could be interpreted in a variety of ways. A lot of the takes on the theme will be humorous, some will be poignant and some will be both, but it all will be hugely entertaining, Brown said. Audiences are usually super-enthusiastic about Rose Exposed. Some are old hands who have seen it every year, some have only seen one or two companies, but weve always had a very enthusiastic reception. Another benefit of the event is to expose the Rose Wagner building itself, he said. Rose Wagner is one of the most heavily used performance centers in the United States, said Brown, who moved to Salt Lake City 20 years ago because of the center. Its an incredible jewel most towns dont have anything like it and were trying to shine a little light on it. Pruyn said theyre hopeful the evening markets each individual company and the explosion of arts that happens at Rose Wagner. People who usually come to see classical music will see modern dance that night, and they might like it, she said. Maybe theyll want to come see more. If you go What: Rose Exposed Breaking News When: August 25, 8 p.m. Where: Rose Wagner Center Performing Arts Center, 138 Broadway Tickets: $15 Website: roseexposed.org His Majesty King Hamad yesterday (August 18) extended a lifeline to the distressed people in the south Indian state of Kerala, which has been hit by the worst floods in a century leaving more than 300 people dead and forcing 223,000 into relief camps. His Majesty had issued directives to accelerate the provision of support and assistance to India to help the needy in their plight and alleviate the suffering caused by heavy rains and floods that extensively damaged infrastructure and homes in Kerala. The King has ordered Shaikh Nasser bin Hamad Al Khalifa, HM the Kings Personal Representative for Charity Work and Youth Affairs and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Royal Charity Organisation (RCO) that the RCO be in charge of preparing and sending relief materials and providing assistance to affected Indians, reported BNA. The King urged officials to fast-track the provision of aid to the needy. Shaikh Nasser ordered RCO secretary general Mustafa Al Sayyed to take urgent measures in co-ordination with the ministries of foreign affairs, defence, health and labour and social affairs and to liaise regularly with the Indian embassy in Bahrain and the Indian community from Kerala. Bahrains leadership also sent cables of condolences to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. Expatriate associations in Bahrain have also joined in solidarity with the victims, cancelling all celebrations of Onam and Eid and launching efforts to collect relief funds, reported Gulf Daily News, our sister publication. More than 200 calls, seeking help or pledging support, were received at a 24-hour help desk launched by the Bahrain Keraleeya Samajam at its premises in Segaiya on Thursday. Indian Ambassador Alok Kumar Sinha also discussed the situation with community leaders and pledged all support in the relief drive, stated the report. Al Sayyed said that in light of the dire humanitarian disaster caused by the worst floods in Kerala, contacts have been established with several concerned institutions to implement them in line with the humanitarian bonds between Bahrain and the international community and the positive relations between the Kingdom and India. There is steady coordination between the Royal Charity Organisation, the embassy of India and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in this regard for appropriate mechanisms and types of emergency assistance urgently required in such critical conditions, he added. Sinha expressed gratitude for HM the Kings noble initiative and appreciation of the governments gestures and paid tribute to the humanitarian role of Shaikh Nasser, reported BNA. He said that Bahrain has always been among the first countries to offer relief and assistance to affected peoples and countries, it added. MECCA, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia is preparing to host the annual hajj pilgrimage beginning Sunday, as over 2 million Muslim faithful are ready to take part in the ultraconservative kingdom. The pilgrimage represents one of the five pillars of Islam and is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. In recent weeks, the faithful have arrived in Mecca from across the world, all chanting "Labayk Allahuma Labayk," or "Here I am, God, answering your call. Here I am." The hajj offers pilgrims an opportunity to feel closer to God amid the Muslim world's many challenges, including the threat of extremists in the Mideast after the Islamic State group was beaten back in Iraq and Syria and the plight of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority. "My feeling is indescribable to perform the hajj," said Imad Abdel-Raheem, an Egyptian pilgrim. "I also want to pray for all Muslim countries, for them to live free in all places, in Palestine and in Burma, in all places, in Afghanistan and in India." Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, the spokesman of the Saudi Interior Ministry, told journalists Saturday that over 2 million Muslims from abroad and inside the kingdom would be taking part in this year's hajj. Men attending the hajj dress in only terrycloth, seamless white garments meant to represent unity among Muslims and equality before God. Women wear loose clothing, cover their hair and forgo makeup and nail polish to achieve a state of humility and spiritual purity. Since arriving, many have circled the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca Islam's holiest site. The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God in Islam. Observant Muslims around the world face toward the Kaaba during their five daily prayers. Muslims believe the hajj retraces the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as those of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail Abraham and Ishmael in the Bible. After prayers in Mecca, pilgrims will head to an area called Mount Arafat on Monday, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon. From there, pilgrims will head to an area called Muzdalifa, picking up pebbles along the way for a symbolic stoning of the devil and a casting away of sins that takes place in the Mina valley for three days. At the hajj's end, male pilgrims will shave their hair and women will cut a lock of hair in a sign of renewal for completing the pilgrimage. Around the world, Muslims will mark the end of hajj with a celebration called Eid al-Adha. The holiday, remembering Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, sees Muslims slaughter sheep and cattle, distributing the meat to the poor. While a holy, once-in-a-lifetime experience for pilgrims, the hajj is by no means an easy journey. The temperature in Mecca and Mina will be around 42 degrees Celsius (107 degrees Fahrenheit). Pilgrims walk between 5 to 15 kilometers (3 to 9 miles) a day. Long lines and even longer waits can strain even the most patient as they weave through the throngs of people. For Saudi Arabia, the hajj is the biggest logistical challenge the kingdom faces. Its ruling Al Saud family stakes its legitimacy in part on its management of the holiest sites in Islam. King Salman's official title is the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques," at Mecca and Medina. Other Saudi kings, and the Ottoman rulers of the Hijaz region before them, all have adopted the honorary title The kingdom has spent billions of dollars of its vast oil revenues on security and safety measures, particularly in Mina, where some of the hajj's deadliest incidents have occurred. The worst in recorded history took place only three years ago. On Sept. 24, 2015, a stampede and crush of pilgrims in Mina killed at least 2,426 people, according to an Associated Press count. The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since only two days afterward. The kingdom has never addressed the discrepancy, nor has it released any results of an investigation authorities promised to conduct over the disaster. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also faces threats from al-Qaida militants and a local faction of the Islamic State group. Days earlier, the Interior Ministry acknowledged arresting a Saudi wearing an explosive vest in the kingdom's central al-Qassim region who shot at security forces. Politics often intrude into the holy pilgrimage. Saudi Arabia under King Salman and his son, the assertive 32-year-old Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, have had strained ties with Iran, which boycotted the 2016 hajj They will be there this year, as will Qataris, whose small country on the Arabian Peninsula is being boycotted by Saudi Arabia and three other Arab nations. Meanwhile, a Saudi-led war in Yemen against Shiite rebels drags on without an end in sight. The rebels have fired over 150 ballistic missiles on the kingdom during a conflict that has seen Saudi airstrikes hit markets and hospitals, killing civilians. And perhaps most surprising, Canadians recently found themselves in the cross-hairs of Saudi anger over their diplomats tweeting their desire to see detained women's rights activists released. Those on the hajj said they hoped for better relations across the Muslim world. "I hope this year would be a good one for the Islamic nations," said Ahmad Mohammad, an Egyptian pilgrim. "I hope the situation will be better, and I ask Allah to accept my pilgrimage." That was a feeling shared by Jordanian pilgrim Jehad Hussein. "I pray to Allah to grant victory to all of them, the people of Palestine, the people of Gaza, Syria and all Arab countries. Allah willing," she said. WEST VALLEY CITY One by one these small faces and little hands came to Albert Archuleta, trusting him with their head of hair as they hopped into the barber chair. Archuleta smiled and teased with them, conferring with parents about what cut they preferred for their child to be ready for the first day of school on Monday. Linda Williams, who taught Archuleta while in junior high and now teaches at Redwood Elementary, watched the young man with pride. "He's straight up giving back, talking to them how to stay in school. I could tell in junior high he was that smart and had it going on," she said. Archuleta, in business on his own, joined five women stylists from Cameo who volunteered their Saturday morning to cut dozens upon dozens of children's hair at a community event at Redwood Elementary. About 80 percent of Redwood's student population lives below the poverty line in an eclectic community that includes a mix of new arrivals from foreign countries, established rural pockets like Chesterfield and people trying to climb the income ladder. A multi-pronged effort by the Granite Education Foundation, Molina Healthcare of Utah, the YMCA and others provided a bevy of resources to the student population and their parents. There were social services counseling, ways to sign up for charitable Christmas programs, the Redwood Elementary PTA and to learn about local resources in the area. Children received backpacks, toothbrushes, a new pair of shoes, and other items to help them start the new school year off right. Molina Healthcare of Utah, the state's second largest Medicaid provider, donated the funds for purchases of shoes. Molina President Brandon Hendrickson was at the school Saturday along with 15 volunteers. "The more we give back, the better partner we are," Hendrickson said, adding the resource fair is a way for Molina workers to get out into the community firsthand to see possible Medicaid clients and get beyond the paperwork. Jolyn Kohler, principal at Redwood Elementary, said this year's turnout was fantastic. "It's been wonderful to see so many people who have stepped up to help." She described the parents and children at the West Valley elementary as a tight-knit community, with people devoted to overcoming challenges. "Who doesn't have struggles? It can be hard, but it's completely worth it," Kohler said. Gabby Vargas was with her children and her niece and nephew waiting on haircuts. She took in her niece's family, who was living in hotels, until they can get on their feet. She said the free haircuts, support assistance and backpacks helps save the family both time and money as they struggle to recover from some hard times. Williams was nearby, helping children get lined up for haircuts and chatting with students who will be in her third grade classroom this year. She said she deliberately transferred to Redwood Elementary because she loves the feel of the school and Kohler's leadership. "This is why we do what we do and teach," she said, gesturing to young faces waiting on a new hairstyle. "We want to give these kids hope and resilience." SALT LAKE CITY Ten years ago, 14-year-old Jesse Symonette, the youngest of nine kids, had boomeranged from Utah to Maine and back again in just a few years in the midst of his parents' divorce. Back in Utah, he said his dad gave him "free reign" of the house. He wasn't getting the best grades in school and he got in trouble for things like fighting and sluffing, finding his way into the juvenile court system. In a telephone interview with the Deseret News, Symonette, now a private in the United States Army 369th Adjutant General Battalion in training at Fort Benning in Georgia, discussed his journey from the court system to military training, and what helped him get there. He recalls sitting in an auditorium waiting to meet his new mentor through the Village Project, a program sponsored by 3rd District Juvenile Court for at-risk youth. He didn't want to be there. As he waited, he asked his buddies what they thought the program would be like. They said it was "cool," you hang out with your mentor one day a week, they try to talk to you about being a contributing member of society and they buy you food, he remembered. "OK, it'll be fun," he said. And then he saw Siavash "Siv" Ghaffari. "Siv just, I don't know how to explain it, but he just stuck out like a sore thumb," Symonette said. "Don't let this guy be my mentor," he recalls thinking. "And sure enough," 10 minutes after the mentors walked in, Symonette learned he'd be mentored by Ghaffari. "I met him, and I was so pissed. Like all these other guys were getting cool guys," he said. Ghaffari also recalls his first impression of the 14-year-old. "He and his dad had come. And I remember he had dreadlocks, he had a skateboard," he said. Ghaffari who had immigrated to the U.S. from Iran as a child signed up for the mentor program in search of a local volunteer opportunity. The Village Project program unofficially started by a now-retired judge who often asked attorneys in the area to mentor at-risk youth who came through his courtroom has been around since 1994 and serves about 40 to 60 youths per year, according to mentor coordinator Alicia Green. She said boys and girls are usually paired with individual mentors, who meet with them for an hour every week. It's typically a six-month commitment, she said, but can run for as long as a teen remains in the court system. Because of a shortage of male mentors, the program often holds group mentoring activities. "This is something I can do locally and have an impact on a local level," Ghaffari, who resides in Salt Lake City, remembered. Symonette says for their first meeting, Ghaffari took him to get food and learned about his family. During their second meeting, Ghaffari said, "Let me show you what I do for work," and told him about his education and work as a quality control scientist in the biotech industry, according to Symonette. He told Ghaffari he would never be able to do something like that. "When I'm failing school, I don't care about school. It's a waste of time," he said. But his mentor told him: "What you need to find is a trade. Something that makes you 100 percent better than the applicants that they have. And then you need a personality and you need a goal that you're willing to achieve with their company," Symonette recalled. They continued meeting every week. Sometimes, Symonette canceled. And he continued getting into trouble. He was sent to juvenile detention and a strict boys' ranch in Mona, Juab County, leaving Ghaffari questioning his mentoring ability. But he kept showing up. Symonette says Ghaffari was often the only person who visited him in detention and who made the hour and a half drive to the boys ranch from Salt Lake City. "None of my family had come to see me. I hadn't talked to them in maybe four months at this point. But he comes down to see me and I go, 'About time you show up,'" Symonette said. They both remember the second time Ghaffari visited Symonette at the ranch, finding the teen wearing an orange jumpsuit and sitting underneath a tree in a cow's pen which still had a cow in it as a punishment for trying to steal frozen pizza and ice cream from the freezer. Whenever Ghaffari visited, Symonette says, he "kept bringing up the fact that I needed a trade." And Ghaffari wasn't the only one giving advice. Ghaffari, now married, said the 14-year-old would often give him dating and relationship advice. "Relationship advice was his knack," Ghaffari said. "He loved giving relationship advice." When Symonette returned home and started high school, he typically only showed up for drivers' ed and got into trouble again, Jesse said. His probation was extended for another year. But then he met a Job Corps recruiter and saw an avenue to escape the city and the people around him. With Ghaffari's help, Symonette says he convinced the judge to let him off probation to join Job Corps, promising her that he would never return to her courtroom if he was released from the court system. She said yes. He went to Weber Basin Job Corps for a year and a half, where he learned to weld and became certified in wildland firefighting. But he always hoped to join the military. Now 24 years old, he was able to join last November. Symonette credits Ghaffari with helping him find his path in life. Through the years, it's gone from (Siavash Ghaffari) being my mentor, to him being more family than I actually had growing up, and it's made more difference than I can tell. Jesse Symonette "Through the years, it's gone from him being my mentor, to him being more family than I actually had growing up, and it's made more difference than I can tell," he said. "I'm really lucky and blessed in that sense that I was able to find somebody who would go out of their way continuously. And no matter if I lied, got in trouble he still stuck with it and still went above and beyond to always show that there's someone there, someone cares." Ghaffari also called the relationship a lifelong friendship and a "lifelong project." "You have a good friend at the end of the process Jesse's a good friend for me. We follow each other's lives you pick and choose who you want to be a part of that," he said, adding that Jesse was the first and last kid he mentored. He now volunteers at Salt Lake County Animal Services for a few hours every weekend, letting dogs out of the kennel "so they can run around." He said Symonette helped him see life from a different perspective. "Some of these kids who are in this program have a tough background. And you come in with a different perspective," he said. "And in return, I learn about their perspective and their trials and their sort of challenges that they're faced with that I would've never been exposed to we're both learning from each other," he said. "I look at the privileged kids in my Sugar House neighborhood and how much wiggle room they have to get out trouble. When it came to Jesse, he had little to no wiggle room." Of the mentorship program, he said, "It's a very challenging volunteering commitment." However, "you've just gotta show up," Ghaffari explained. The mentor coordinator says she's heard stories similar to Jesse's and Ghaffari's over the years from the mentors she's worked with. And for teens who make it through the program but still struggle, Green says many of them keep in contact with their mentors and know they have someone to turn to. Anyone interested in volunteering with the program can contact Green by email at aliciag@utcourts.gov or by phone at 801-514-1241. For more information, visit the Utah State Courts website, utcourts.gov/specproj/mentors/village/. HERRIMAN Firefighters issued voluntary evacuation orders for residents living in 432 homes Saturday afternoon after a fire began raging in the hills southwest of Herriman. More than five hours later, the evacuation orders and roadblocks were lifted Saturday night as crews gained control of the wildfire. Crews contained the 7-acre fire in Rose Canyon by 50 percent by about 8:45 p.m., Unified Fire Authority officials reported, and expected to have it fully contained by late in the evening. The fire started around 3:30 p.m. in Rose Canyon, likely sparked by lightning, fire officials said. Firefighters gave all homeowners located south and west of 14101 S. Shaggy Mountain Road voluntary evacuation orders. Evacuees were told they could go to Butterfield Canyon Elementary School, 6860 Mary Leizan Lane. Two helicopters and 10 fire crews battled the fire throughout the day Saturday. Firefighters will monitor the fire overnight, Unified fire officials said. SALT LAKE CITY When the Boston Globe issued its invitation for news organizations to stand together in common voice last week against verbal attacks on the media, it started a spirited conversation inside our newsroom. Should we participate? If we joined with hundreds of other newspapers, what would be the message we are sending? Are we simply one of a collective of media members who all think alike? Should we not participate? If we don't, it would also send a message. Does the Deseret News not consider media being called the enemy of the people worth a collective condemnation? And whatever we did, there was a risk of the position being interpreted as simply an editorial attack on our president, Donald Trump, rather than a position against his words about the media. For three days our editorial board made up of Boyd Matheson, our opinion editor, myself, senior executives of the Deseret News and other seasoned journalists sought the opinions of our staff and debated how to proceed. Just what is the message the Deseret News wants to send? To say we had mixed feelings is an understatement. Here's what we considered: 1. The Deseret News is respected as an independent voice nationally and locally, offering a principled approach and perspective often unique in the media landscape. We want to provide leadership in this space. 2. Journalists don't want to be part of the story. They want to cover the story and here was the media making news, again, after some journalists have been so outspoken they've become the story. Do we want to support that? 3. Journalists and their news organizations have independent voices. Suggesting we speak with one voice, albeit with editorials independently written, could be misinterpreted and provide "proof of concept" for a president who speaks in sweeping generalities about the media. Why provide Twitter fodder to the commander-in-chief? 4. Journalists, particularly those who write columns and opinions that represent their news organizations, want to have a strong voice. Sitting on the sidelines appears counter to having a strong voice, which leans toward saying something. 5. We have already spent the past month opining about President Trump's declarations that the media is the enemy of the people. I personally have written two columns about the issue (each drawing mixed responses from the public), Boyd has written columns about these principles, and we have written house editorials on the issues. Since we have hardly been silent did we really want to engage this again? So we did something unique. We focused on the principles that guide us, rather than the words that we believe can divide us. We published the 45 words of the First Amendment which provides our nation clarity on the importance of free speech, of the right to gather, of the necessity of a free press and the value of religion and the right to worship freely. We then added a single word of our own: Ditto. We considered replacing ditto with the words, "Enough said." There was reason behind that as during the past month we have said plenty. Among the points pulled from our columns and editorials: "In America, saying the press is an enemy of the people is to attack the people themselves." "Attacks on the press weakens our understanding of why freedom of the press was included in the First Amendment." "Media literacy among the public is needed now more than ever. Transparency in media is also needed now more than ever, and in greater proportions. And bias should be acknowledged." "The relationship between the current occupant of the White House and the press is one of contempt. And that is not good for the country. The president's contempt for media is well established and is reciprocated by many in the national media." "While presidents and the press arent likely to agree on what balanced, principled and fair reporting is, they should agree on the importance of the difficult dance they do together and the need for mutual respect." So how was our approach received? Our readers noticed that we stood on principle and we were able to satisfy our desire to lead out on this principle. Boyd, our opinion editor and head of strategic outreach, was asked to be on radio programs in 10 different markets to talk about our approach with Thursday's media action and the need to focus on principle and leave contempt behind. Those markets were in New York, Louisiana, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan, California, Florida and Iowa. He also appeared on a Fox News panel, telling a national television audience that the Deseret News wanted "to send the message that this is about the principle, this isn't about the president. The president doesn't own the First Amendment. The press doesn't own the First Amendment. The people own the First Amendment." After making the decision to run the text of the First Amendment last week, our journalists made the observation that they just want to go to work and do the best job they can. And to that we again say, ditto. MONTREAL President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints says his recent call to identify the church by its full, formal name rather than the nicknames and abbreviations used for more than a century does not constitute a name change but rather a course correction. The name of the church is not negotiable, because the Lord has told us what his church shall be called, he said, citing the faiths scriptural verse of Doctrine and Covenants 115:4: Thus shall my church be called The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. So, were not changing names. Were correcting a name thats important to note." We know that its going to be a challenge to undo tradition of more than 100 years. And we dont have all the answers. All we know is the Lord has said, Thus shall my church be called . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints In his first public comments since Thursdays statement asking to drop the use of Mormon and LDS when referencing the church, the 93-year-old leader emphasized the churchs correct name as he spoke in a Saturday evening devotional in downtown Montreal. The meeting was the second of three such meetings he is conducting in as many nights in central and eastern Canada. He was asked about it afterward in a brief media interview. Some marketers change names hoping to be more successful. Thats not our point. Were correcting an error that has crept in over the ages, said President Nelson, mindful that the term Mormon from the churchs scriptural Book of Mormon has been used since The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was formally organized in 1830. Often, Mormon has been used in derision. Were correcting an error that has crept in over the ages. President Russell M. Nelson of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints The topic first came up during his evening devotional before a group of 4,000 in the Palais de congres de Montreal, as President Nelson testified of the truthfulness of the church by using and emphasizing its full, formal name. And I might add that its not the Mormon Church. Its not the LDS Church. Its not the Church of the Latter-day Saints, he said. Summarizing the media response to Thursdays announcement as theyre pretty excited about it it cant be done, President Nelson repeated the difficulty with a clarification: I know it cant but its going to be, because the Lord wants it that way. In the post-devotional interview, President Nelson said church leaders are not surprised at the initial hesitancy. We know that its going to be a challenge to undo tradition of more than 100 years. And we dont have all the answers. All we know is the Lord has said, Thus shall my church be called . The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, he said, repeating Doctrine and Covenants 115:4. Thats enough for me. Elder Neil L. Andersen of the churchs Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, who is accompanying President Nelson on the three-day trip, said the First Presidency and quorum members are unified on the subject. The president has spoken, the Lord has spoken to the president, he said, and this is going to be an extended, multi-year effort but this will not be something that will be attempted and then pulled back from. Problems and challenges can be worked out, and the effort has to start first with the members of the church. Its disingenuous for us to believe that were frustrated because others dont call us by the right name when we dont call us by the right name ourselves, he said. Weve got to clean up our own part first, and then the media will follow they will be gracious. President Nelson said he is equally as concerned with the proper use of Mormon. We have to be careful to protect the name Mormon. He will think that we are tossing it out. We arent. We just want to be accurate. Mormon was a man. He was a prophet. He was a writer. A record-keeper. We honor him and treasure the book that bears his name. But were talking about the name of the church. MAGNA A Pleasant Grove man died Sunday after apparently falling from an overpass and being struck by several vehicles near the Saltair. Bo Shepherd, 28, may have been attending an outdoor music festival near the venue and possibly got sick as he left and made his way south on the overpass, according to the Utah Highway Patrol. About 3:30 a.m. Sunday, emergency dispatchers received several calls reporting a body on westbound I-80 at the state Route 202 overpass. Troopers determined the victim was struck several times in the right lane, including by a semitrailer that returned to the scene. Investigators believe he may have been leaving the festival when he became ill, said UHP Sgt. Anthony Carruba. "When he got sick, he may have been vomiting over the side of the rail and probably fell," Carruba said. Troopers earlier in the day believed the man was possibly a juvenile and issued descriptions of his tattoos, seeking the public's help in identifying him. They found a Kia car key in his pocket but no Kia could be found in the area, and he did not have any identification, Carruba added. The man was hit by at least two vehicles, investigators believe. One driver told troopers he believed he had hit debris. On Facebook late Sunday, many who knew Shepherd expressed shock and heartache. "I can't believe it. If you are at an event with your friends stay with your friends," wrote one Facebook user. "I hate that this happened to you," another added. Contributing: Sean Moody SALT LAKE CITY This past Wednesday, on Aug. 15, a religious edifice in downtown Salt Lake City revered for its architectural magnificence, spiritual significance and magnetism for the faithful had another birthday. Nope, not that edifice. The other one. The Cathedral of the Madeleine the Catholic Churchs Romanesque masterpiece that stands sentinel on South Temple a mere four blocks east of the Salt Lake Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints turned 109. Its incalculable to know just how many Masses have been celebrated, how many confessions have been heard, how many parishioners and visitors have passed through the bishops church since it was dedicated Aug. 15, 1909, following nine years of construction. (The Salt Lake Temple, which took 40 years to build, had been dedicated just 16 years earlier.) There was no official birthday party this year for the cathedral, according to archivist Gary Topping of the Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City, for a couple of reasons. One, Aug. 15 is also a Holy Day of Obligation, when Catholics celebrate the solemnity of the assumption of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Two, they typically dont hold a party for the building anyway. Unless it was the centennial or something like that, we wouldnt plan anything, Topping says. But every year that passes stands as a tribute to the vision of the early Catholics who came to Utah and instead of considering themselves an endangered species stepped up to be counted. There were only 800 Catholics in all of Utah then the Territory of Deseret when an Irish priest named Lawrence Scanlan arrived in 1873. It was Scanlan who organized and grew the Catholic mission until it became a diocese comprising all of Utah and he was named its first bishop in 1891. First thing he did was buy the building lot on 331 E. South Temple and start raising money for a cathedral. (Every diocese gets one cathedral, aka the bishops house.) By 1900 he had enough funds to get started. Nine years and $344,000 later ($9 million in 2018 dollars), what was initially christened as Saint Mary Magdalenes Cathedral was completed and dedicated. He was able to build the cathedral when there were few Catholics in Utah, says Topping, marveling. To put together that kind of financing was some feat. It helped, Topping notes, that silver strikes in Park City and Alta brought non-Mormons to Utah who happened to be Catholic and happened to get really wealthy really fast. Men like Thomas Kearns and John Judge contributed heavily to the cathedral cause. But it wasnt just rich miners, Topping adds. Scanlan was good at tapping the little guys, too. On payday at the mines hed be there reminding the miners they owed something to the church. The name was changed to Cathedral of the Madeleine by Bishop Joseph S. Glass when he came to Utah after the death of Bishop Scanlan in 1915. Glass preferred the French spelling of Magdalene. Topping, who has a doctorate in history from the University of Utah, has a theory on why the cathedral is named after Mary Magdalene, the woman who was with Jesus at his crucifixion and at the empty tomb. It goes back to 1866 when Father Edward Kelly established the first Catholic meeting house in Salt Lake City on the eastern end of Social Hall Avenue and chose to call it the Church of Saint Mary Magdalene. The feast day of Saint Mary Magdalene is July 22, Topping explains, a date just two days ahead of the traditional Pioneer Day celebrations that commemorate the arrival of Mormon pioneers to the Salt Lake Valley on July 24. Coincidence? Topping thinks probably not. I think Father Kelly wanted the Catholics to have something to celebrate, too, says Topping. Of all the hundreds of thousands of saints to choose from, why Mary Magdalene? I think that might be why. To bolster his speculation, Topping notes that Salt Lake is the only cathedral in the United States dedicated to Mary Magdalene and one of only two in the world (the other is in France.) Soon after the cathedrals dedication, the diocese was able to secure from the Vatican a relic of Mary Magdalene a class A relic, according to Topping, meaning its a body part of some sort. Every year on July 22, the relic is brought out as the centerpiece of the annual Feast Day celebration enjoyed by Utah Catholics. The rest of the year, the relic of Saint Mary Magdalene is open to view in a display case in the inner sanctum on the north side of the cathedral behind the altar. Right below the relic, incidentally, rests the tomb of Bishop Scanlan, who was buried in the cathedral in 1915. A fitting tribute to the man who got it all started. BOUNTIFUL In the aftermath of the Valentine's Day shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida, the Utah Legislature established a special commission to explore the issues of school safety. It quickly learned a tragic common denominator of school massacres: People typically look back after the fact and realize there were warning signs that everyone missed or didn't take seriously. Now, with a push from the Utah Safe Schools Commission, Utah is moving toward a mental health approach that's designed to catch those red flags and do something about them before a tragedy takes place. Rep. Ray Ward, R-Bountiful, is carrying the commission recommendation into the next session of the Legislature. "I would say the most important recommendation," Ward said, "was what are called threat assessment teams. Or we could call them mental health teams." His bill will require those teams in every school. It would also provide funding for more mental health professionals in schools. It's similar to the threat assessment approach that's been solidifying in Virginia over the past two decades. Experts in that state told the Deseret News last March they have seen excellent results. "Students and teachers report feeling safer and more positive about their schools using a threat assessment approach," said professor Dewey Cornell, a University of Virginia clinical psychologist who studies school safety issues. In each Utah school, Ward's bill would create a threat assessment team comprising a school administrator, a representative of law enforcement and a mental health professional. Anytime a threat is reported or perceived, the team would meet to investigate and probe the underlying problems that led to the threat. "To understand the level of the threat is the main purpose of the team," Ward said, "together with having the tools to respond." Those tools might include in serious cases a law enforcement solution. But the team could also decide to help a troubled student with counseling, therapy or social services. That opportunity to help a student with his troubles is why some Virginians who spoke to the Deseret News in March are sold on the concept. "Once the children understand, and feel as though they are supported, and feel that they have a pathway to help them, I've never seen it not work," said Jesse Turner, principal of Albemarle High School in Charlottesville, Virginia. It's not easy to measure the success of a school safety program. After all, it's impossible to count up the number of mass shootings that didn't happen. But in Virginia, experts are convinced it works because of other kinds of data. "What we see," Cornell said, "is reductions in suspensions, reductions in bullying, reductions in fighting, and students reporting a more positive school climate." The Davis School District already uses a similar approach: Each school has a local team that's supported by 13 mental health professionals at the district level. "Prevention versus reactivity is always best practice," said Brad Christensen, the Davis School District's director of student and family resources. Right now, though, the district's 13 mental health workers are stretched across 90 schools and 74,000 kids so Christensen said more money for mental health professionals would be welcome. "Not just for addressing aggression threats," he said. "Depression. Suicide. It fills a number of roles there." Ward has opened a bill file for the upcoming legislative session, but the bill has not yet been written. He said he's working with the governors office and with education officials to draft the legislation. He plans to introduce it when the Legislature convenes in January. 3 hours ago US, EU reach agreement to settle rift over Trump-era tariffs ROME (AP) The U.S. and European Union have reached an agreement to settle their diplomatic rift over Trump-era steel and aluminum tariffs, the White House announced Saturday, as President Joe Biden is in Rome attending the Group of 20 summit. The Trump administration had placed taxes on EU steel and aluminum in 2018 on the claim that the foreign products produced by American allies were a threat to U.S. Read Article The Radisson Collection Hotel, Strand Stockholm is now completely renewed, following a highly-considered, two-year-long refurbishment. Heralding an exciting, new chapter for one of Stockholms most historic buildings Strand Stockholms latest incarnation blends effortless Scandinavian design with an artistic richness, befitting its storied history. Designed by internationally acclaimed Swedish architectural studio, Wingardhs, Strand Stockholm joins a unique portfolio of local icons and one-of-a-kinds, as part of Radisson Collection. This new premium lifestyle collection of exceptional hotels are located in unique locations all over the world. The hotel offers guests truly memorable experiences, combining exceptional design with authentic local touches and a vibrant social scene for locals and hotel guests alike. Originally launched in 1912 for the Olympics, Strand Stockholm quickly established a reputation as a local hotspot beloved of the stars, such as Swedish actors Greta Garbo and Ingrid Bergman. A particular popular part of the hotel was the Sea Salon, today the Sea Salon Suite, which boasts remarkable views of the Royal Dramatic Theater. In what has been a project of ambitious vision, the hotels 170 guest rooms and suites, meeting spaces, lobby, restaurant and bars have all been refreshed. The result is a striking ode to effortless modern living, inviting both locals and hotel guests to enjoy atmospheric spaces that celebrate Stockholms vibrant social scene. The top floor Tower Suite has access to a personal roof terrace with panoramic views of the city. Wingardhs careful selection of furniture from design legends Fritz Hansen, GUBI and Flos channels Scandinavian design at its most elegant perfectly complementing the historical facade of the building. We believe in creating a dynamic experience by amplifying the buildings own character. We wanted the new elements to be a distinctive addition to the original appearance, said Leila Atlassi, architect at Wingardhs in Stockholm, explaining how To create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, the interior tonality has been set from natural materials like stone, wood, leather, metal, and concrete in their natural colors. A specific tone of grey is noticed on the walls Strand Grey and constitutes the base in the interior concept. With an illustrious reputation as a fine dining destination, an exciting new food and bar concept has been crafted, blending local and international influences alike. The hotels all-day brasserie, The Strand, serves distinctly Swedish cuisine and, with stunning views of Nybrokajen Bay, is a striking space sure to enliven Blasieholmen. Meanwhile, the bar is a relaxed, stylish space, the perfect location to enjoy a refreshing cocktail or two, and a buzzing go-to for meeting friends or simply taking in the local atmosphere. Eva Kalling-Hansson, general manager at the hotel, said: We are delighted to welcome guests to the newly refreshed, stylish interiors of Radisson Collection Hotel, Strand Stockholm, where our personalized guest services and excellent local knowledge awaits, allowing guests to experience a true taste of Stockholm as seen only by locals, and creating memorable moments for all." Located in the city centre, The Strand Stockholm is an ideal base for a stay in the capital. The hotel is just a short walk from Stockholms Old Town, Gamla Stan, which features an eclectic mix of shopping destinations, bars and restaurants. Some of the citys most iconic attractions, such as The Modern Museum, Nordiska Kompaniet Department Store and the Abba museum, are all located a few minutes from the hotel. The Stockholm Arlanda Airport is a quick 20-minute ride away on the Arlanda Express Train. - TradeArabia News Service Throughout the years the Franciscans played a prominent role in tending to the spiritual needs of the people of the north west, particularly during the ODonnell era from the 1200s and indeed up to 1687 when English Penal Laws banished the order to other countries. Recently walking around the derelict ruins of the home of Michael OClery of Annals of the Four Masters, I decided to research on the return of the Franciscans to Donegal in 1946. From the works of Patrick Conlan OFM who attributes Fr Cormac Daly, the forgotten friar, as the real brains behind the project and the guiding light behind celebrations marking the tercentenary in June 1944 of the death of Brother Michael OClery. On that particular date under the patronage of Bishop McNeely of Raphoe, a dinner was held in Dublins Gresham Hotel. Among the guests was the Donegal Association in Dublin. The return of the Franciscans to Donegal was the main topic of conversation. The following evening a lecture was held in the Gaiety Theatre on the life and times of Brother Michael. The then Taoiseach Eamon de Valera and Bishop McNeely spoke in reply. Early in 1945 Paul OSullivan from Mountcharles, one of the founders of the Donegal Association met, with Bishop McNeely in Letterkenny. He told of the advantages of bringing the friars back to the county. The Bishop started the ball rolling in connection with a site and in April 1946 along with Fr Cormac purchased Mrs Fischers boarding house and grounds in Rossnowlagh for 800 pounds. The Friars appointed Francis Gallagher, a solicitor in Donegal Town, to handle their and apostolic financial affairs. Fr Cormac purchased two tin Nissen huts from Collinstown Airport in Dublin and to disguise their intended use bought two surplus World War II American army huts from an Enniskillen airfield. Sunday, June 29, 1952 is regarded as the day the new church first opened when Bishop McNeely solemnly dedicated it. Among the dignitaries present were Sean T. OCeallaigh President of Ireland, An Taoiseach Eamon de Valera, Mr WF Cosgrove former President of the Executive Council. However, with works ongoing, new friars arrived and October 4 1952 was the official opening day. In the early years there was a Franciscan precedent when a Miss Foster of Belles Isle house Donegal Town was received into the Third Order of St Francis. She retired to Rossnowlagh, wore the Franciscan habit, led a holy life and was buried at Assaroe. The first marriage in the friary, when a Lieut. Lillis married Miss Mundy of Donegal Town, a niece of Bishop McNeely who performed the ceremony. I could go on and on about this unique friary which has become a vital link in south Donegal and found many good friends among all denominations. I often wonder is former ESB worker Paul OSullivan one of the original drivers for Rossnowlagh Friary is ever remembered? Accident waiting to happen Whats going on in the Sliabh Liag area? I recently took relations to one of the most beautiful scenic areas in Ireland. The place was in utter chaos. There was no traffic order, vehicles driving up met with vehicles coming down on the very narrow winding roads and gridlock prevailed. The official small parking area is ridiculous, as also are the toilets. Long queues of complaining visitors. One urinal, one toilet in the gents, possibly only two in the ladies. There was bedlam at the summit with hundreds of vehicles including parked minibuses and vehicles trying to reverse in a very dangerous unprotected area. An expensive interpretative centre which is not open. The whole project I have been told cost 4.9 million. Only official minibuses with passenger paid entrance (with the exception of immediate residing locals) should be admitted to Sliabh Liag. On holiday weekends park rangers should be on control duty. The area is an accident waiting to happen. There was further good news for Donegal Town this week when diggers and large lorries moved on site at Lurganboy where construction and site clearance has started for the construction of 40 A - listed new homes. In the light of the recent new employment opportunities announced by Abbott Ireland, the McCann family at Miltown and the large site adjacent to the Mill Park, this is indeed a welcome development given that there is now a huge demand for housing in the town. The development is being carried out by Axis Construction, a Dungloe/Dublin based company, who will be employing a minimum of 30 people in the construction phase. John Doherty, Construction Director with Axis, said, Donegal Town is one of the fastest growing towns in the county and when we read about the new jobs coming into the town in the Democrat, we immediately set the ball rolling. The site here is in one of the best locations in the town, close to schools and the bustling town centre, while still retaining that air of privacy. The area is very much a family location with a creche just down the road and offers that additional sense of safety being located off the main road. Initially there was permission granted for 50 houses on this site but we have trimmed it back to 40 three bedroomed to allow more open space for the future occupiers. Phase 1, which includes 8 semi- detached houses has now commenced and when we get these completed we will be moving on with the next phases, John added. Cllr. Tom Conaghan who visited the site welcomed the news saying: This is just great news for the town and give full marks to this young company seizing the initiative. When the new jobs were announced the first thing that occurred to me was where are all these people going to live. This is now a start and Im sure many more will follow, he said. "There is no doubt in my mind that these houses will be snapped up as soon as they go on the market, Cllr Conaghan added. Research commissioned by Irish animal health specialists MSD Animal Health has revealed that many cat owners across Ireland are unaware of the main parasite risks for their pets and are not treating or preventing infestation appropriately. Ahead of Take your Cat to the Vet Day, next Wednesday 22 August, MSD Animal Health is sharing the findings of its all-Ireland research in the hope that cat owners will visit their local veterinary practice to guarantee the best protections against fleas, ticks and worms. Findings in the study, which surveyed 450 cat owners in Ireland north and south, (Biosat, 2018) revealed that 50.4% of cat owners are jeopardising the health of their pets and family members by only starting parasite treatment after seeing their pet scratching, by which time the flea infestation on the pet and in the home is already well established. Although fleas prefer to feed on cats, they will also bite humans, potentially resulting in unpleasant skin reactions. Homes can easily become infested with flea eggs and larvae, and it can be difficult, time consuming and costly to manage an infestation.Therefore, routine prevention is often recommended. The survey also found that only half of cat lovers are aware of the risk of roundworm in cats, with 63% not having wormed their feline in the last three months. This suggests many cats are at risk of being infected by these pesky squatters who will make no hesitation in creating a home for themselves in human members of the household too. These findings gave particular concern to MSD Animal Health given that nearly six in ten cats spend most of their time living indoors. MSD veterinary advisor, Ms. Oonagh Fitzgibbon, said: Its clear from the study that not enough cat owners are aware of the dangers of parasites, not only to their feline friends, but to the wider family. She continued, we are keen to communicate the importance of taking a preventative approach to parasite treatment to reduce the risks and costs associated with unwanted guests, keeping cats healthy and happy and transmission levels low. We encourage all cat owners to seek expert guidance from their local veterinary practice on the best ways to protect their pet, so everyone can enjoy good health without the fear of these common pests, she said. With Eid Al Adha just around the corner, Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority (RAKTDA) has revealed that occupancy rates across hotels in the emirate are expected to exceed 80 per cent over the long weekend celebrations. With its prime location, only 45 minutes away from Dubai International Airport, Ras Al Khaimah offers its visitors exceptional value for money packages during Eid Al Adha, as well as experiencing nature-based activities and adrenaline-packed adventures, including the worlds longest zipline, desert safaris, picnics with spectacular views at the Viewing Deck Park and sunset horseback riding in a protected desert wildlife area. Haitham Mattar, CEO of RAKTDA, said: We expect to continue seeing a rise in the occupancy rates of the emirates hotels during this long weekend, especially for those looking for exceptional value for money hotel stays, luxury indulgence, as well as experiential adventure attractions such as horse-riding and archery in the Wadi desert." The worlds longest zipline, Jebel Jais Flight, is an all year round attraction on the UAEs highest mountain, which is 10 degrees cooler than sea level. We have noted increased bookings each weekend throughout summer, and the zipline was booked at full capacity over the Eid El Fitr public holiday attracting 250 pilots each day over the Eid weekend. We are already receiving a similar number of bookings during the Eid al Adha holiday and we predict we will be hosting up to 250 people per day during the Eid break, he added. In the first half of 2018, Ras Al Khaimah saw a significant growth in its overall visitor numbers with an advancement in its adventure tourism offering, marking a 14 per cent increase in international visitors. - TradeArabia News Service Aug. 27 update: Northwest Passage Project participants are all safe and travelling home after the expedition ship, Akademik Ioffe, became grounded Aug. 24. The expedition has been postponed to summer, 2019. Amid sweltering heatwaves and wildfires worldwide, a group of scientific experts supported by 22 students -- most of them young undergrads from Chicago, New York, Miami, and Richmond -- embark Aug. 23 on a major three-week investigation of related conditions at the top of the planet. Departing from Resolute Bay in Canada's Nunavut Territory aboard the One Ocean Expeditions' 384-foot vessel Akademik Ioffe, and returning to Iqaluit Sept. 13, the Northwest Passage Project team will observe conditions and collect data to improve the resolution of our scientific picture of, and assess changes underway in the far North, considered a harbinger of climactic change for the rest of the world. Full science plan: http://bit.ly/2M5EtqC The team will update the public in real time en route via 31 interactive sessions hosted by three major US museums and science centers: The Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, the Exploratorium, San Francisco CA, and the Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward AK. (See public events calendar here: http://bit.ly/2P2Z1hf) In addition, the team will report in real time with videos and photos via its social media channels, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube, and post blogs accessible on the project website, http://www.NorthwestPassageProject.org The team will also take questions directly from classrooms, citizen scientists and the public worldwide in the first-ever interactive Facebook Live sessions from the Northwest Passage -- four in total, Aug. 30, Sept 3, 5 and 9 -- all fully open and available to the public (see broadcast times here: http://bit.ly/2P2Z1hf) Managed by the University of Rhode Island's Inner Space Center (ISC), part of the Graduate School of Oceanography, with major funding from the U.S. National Science Foundation and additional support from the Heising-Simons Foundation, the Northwest Passage Project's 37-member on-board team includes experts in natural and social sciences, students, as well as an award-winning documentary filmmaker and crew. Led by Chief scientist, Dr. Brice Loose of the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography, Dr. Donglai Gong of the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, and Holly Hogan of the Canadian Wildlife Service the team's overarching multi-disciplinary mission is to assess and chronicle the consequence of the warming trend over the Arctic Circle on waters of the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA). The research focuses in particular on: volumes and flows of freshwater ice melt entering the Arctic Ocean, which when it enters the Atlantic has world-affecting impacts changing water column chemistry and its effects on greenhouse gases vvulnerable constituents of the Arctic food web: plankton, seabirds and marine mammals. Student researchers: Sixteen undergraduate student researchers (average age: 22) attend minority-serving universities in New York (City College of New York), Chicago (University of Illinois Chicago), Miami (Florida International University), Richmond (Virginia Commonwealth University), and Camarillo, CA (California State University Channel Islands). The four graduate students are from the Virginia Institute of Marine Science, the University of Illinois Chicago, Florida International University and the University of Rhode Island Graduate School of Oceanography. Joining the team also are two young Canadian investigators, one from Laval University, Quebec City, one from the Inuit nation. Student profiles, with photos: PDF: http://bit.ly/2w6KkRt Word: http://bit.ly/2vIDouu On shore: I addition to the undergraduates, graduate students, and young investigators on the ship, six teams of high school teachers and students (total 18) will be in residence in the Inner Space Center's (ISC) mission control facility during the first week of the expedition, where they will interact directly with the participants at sea. Special interactive broadcasts will be beamed via the ISC to the three prestigious science museum partners: the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, Washington DC, the Exploratorium, San Francisco CA, and the Alaska SeaLife Center, Seward AK. Additional information and details, as well as the daily highlight videos will be available on the project's social media channels, and at http://www.northwestpassageproject.org One Oceans Expeditions' Akademik Ioffe One Oceans Expeditions' 384-foot vessel Akademik Ioffe is equipped with multiple laboratories, cranes, a "moon pool" shaft through the hull for lowering and raising equipment, and a full suite of oceanographic research tools. The ship will depart Resolute Bay on August 23, travel south and west to Cambridge Bay via Bellot Strait, then return to Lancaster Sound and Pond Inlet, before travelling down the east side of Baffin Island, with many stops along the way. The expedition will end in Iqaluit on September 13, 2018. Scientific research areas See full science plan here: http://bit.ly/2M5EtqC The physics of Arctic ocean circulation: Transpolar water drift through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago (CAA) Scientists will investigate the increased freshwater storage and export from the upper Arctic ocean due to a warming Arctic. As ice melting occurs, increased freshwater is accumulating in the Arctic, resulting in a large freshwater anomaly. Freshwater inputs can have dramatic impacts on ocean circulation, particularly when freshwater is discharged into the North Atlantic Ocean from the Arctic. The CAA, and particularly Northwest Passage, is one of the principal conduits for freshwater transport from the Arctic Ocean to the North Atlantic. There is uncertainty about the magnitude of the flow of water through the various restricted outlets from the Arctic to the Atlantic. One of the pathways for this freshwater transport can be found in the Northwest Passage. Chemistry of the melting Arctic and marginal seas: Water column chemistry affecting greenhouse gas fluxes The concentration and isotopic composition of methane and carbon dioxide in the Arctic Ocean and atmosphere are of great interest, as both are greenhouse gases and the sources and flux of both between the ocean and atmosphere are important components of the global climate system. The Arctic Ocean generally absorbs carbon dioxide, but ice cover limits air-sea exchange. Measuring carbon dioxide and its isotopic composition can provide information about the carbon system's sources and fluxes into the atmosphere. Methane, a more potent greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide, is found throughout the Arctic Circle, and the Arctic appears to be an ever growing source of methane to the atmosphere. Methane is found in land-based permafrost and as methane ice or methane hydrates, which are distributed along the seafloor. With less sea ice cover, there can be an increased flux of methane into the atmosphere from the ocean. However, some microbes in ocean water use methane as a food source. If microbial breakdown of methane is rapid enough, it may serve to offset the methane that escapes to the atmosphere. There is little data to provide estimates of this methane breakdown in Arctic water. The Northwest Passage Project will study this microbial breakdown of methane and the rate at which it occurs in the Northwest Passage region. Ecosystem surveys of Arctic habitats in transition: Distribution and abundance of zooplankton and phytoplankton As the waters of the Arctic warm and the sea ice cover decreases, the Arctic surface ocean ecosystem is anticipated to undergo considerable changes. Habitats are changing and moving, perhaps disappearing, and species distribution and abundance also may be changing rapidly. To observe phytoplankton and zooplankton, the Northwest Passage Project will periodically conduct plankton net tows in the upper water column (100m and less). The contents of the nets will be catalogued. The organisms collected in these net tows will be counted with a laboratory bench-top Flowcam. The Flowcam counts and images micrometer size particles using an imaging microscope. This provides the ability to identify and quantify 'particles' from some sampled volume. These particles can be sediments, phytoplankton, or even zooplankton. This imaging system will generate a library of images for each run and store them for processing later. Ecosystem surveys of Arctic habitats in transition: Distribution and abundance of seabirds In addition to the water column studies, there will be surveys of marine birds for the duration of the expedition. As top predators of marine food webs, seabirds play an important role in marine ecosystems. Colonies of international importance are found in this region and their abundance and distribution at sea can be used to monitor changes and variability. The Northwest Passage Project cruise will use a standard method to perform seabird counts and contribute to the seabird survey database of the Canadian Wildlife Service used to monitor the status of marine birds in Canada. URI Inner Space Center's advanced telepresence technology Live interactive broadcasts throughout the expedition will use the ISC's advanced telepresence technology and video production facility. Pre-expedition webinars, archived online for public viewing, will prepare the students for their research experiences. The ISC will also produce daily video blasts using footage supplied by the onboard filmmakers. These video blasts will be used during broadcasts and live interactions with partner sites. They will also be available on the ISC's YouTube channel. The ISC will receive a live satellite link from the ship and connect it to the partner sites, allowing audiences to communicate with the shipboard scientists and students. The pre-produced video segments will be made available to the partner institutions for use in their other educational activities, and will also be made available on the project website. Since the Arctic is an extreme environment and at any time during the expedition may experience weather that disrupts the satellite signal, these highlight videos will allow the ISC to conduct an interactive program with the partner institutions without the live interaction from sea, if necessary. Frozen Obsession: A two-hour television documentary by Emmy-winning director David Clark Emmy Award-winning director David Clark will produce and direct a two-hour television documentary, Frozen Obsession, which will explore the changing Arctic by documenting the NPP expedition. The film will highlight the expedition's research and document the activities of the diverse group of participants (scientists, historians, journalists, educators, and students) and their various experiences. The documentary will also explore the maritime history of the Northwest Passage, the role of the indigenous Inuit people in the Arctic's history and changes affecting their way of life, and the geopolitics of this Arctic waterway (more information: http://www.northwestpassageproject.org). Special screening events will take place at each of the NPP partner institutions, at Penn State's Polar Center, and at the Environmental Film Festival. The film will have a television broadcast and also be available for future theatrical distribution. The program will be combined with online/social media, community outreach, and youth activities. The project's participants will host screenings of the documentary in their schools and institutions. Award-winning author and journalist Ed Struzik, who has written about the Arctic for three decades, will be onboard to share his perspective on critical wildlife issues, the native Inuit culture, impacts of climate change, and prospects of Arctic resource extraction and commercial shipping traffic in the Passage. The Northwest Passage Project Lead Institution: University of Rhode Island: http://www.uri.edu Graduate School of Oceanography: web.uri.edu/gso Inner Space Center: web.uri.edu/gso/inner-space-center Project Partners: David Clark Inc. http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0163837 One Ocean Expeditions: http://www.oneoceanexpeditions.com U.S. Minority Serving Institutions: California State University Channel Islands: http://www.csuci.edu City College of New York: http://www.ccny.cuny.edu Florida International University: http://www.fiu.edu Virginia Commonwealth University: http://www.vcu.edu University of Illinois at Chicago: http://www.uic.edu Alaska Sea Life Center: http://www.alaskasealife.org Exploratorium: http://www.exploratorium.edu Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History: https://naturalhistory.si.edu Virginia Institute of Marine Science / William and Mary: http://www.vims.edu Canadian Wildlife Service, Environment and Climate Change Canada: https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change.html Climate Change Education Partnership Alliance: http://ccepalliance.org Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement: http://www.cosee.net/about/consortium Penn State: http://www.psu.edu Climate Central: http://www.climatecentral.org People, Places, and Design Research: http://ppdresearch.com Interface Guru: https://www.interfaceguru.com Project brochure: http://bit.ly/2AZNlc1 ### Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/innerspacecenter Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/innerspacectr Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/innerspacecenter YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/innerspacecenter Maybe it's a generational thing, but SSAE (stamped self-addressed envelopes) were pretty common back when I still lived in the States. (Back in the Stone Age, I guess.) They have long been required here by the Consulate when renewing your US passport by mail - and there they actually do require (I think) that you fill out your own address for both the "to" and "from" sections. Here, it's rarer for senders to bother putting a return address on a mailing - unless it's one where you have to fill out a form that calls for both sender and recipient (say, an express mailing or small package). Just re-read the instructions you have carefully to see if they indicate what sort of return envelope they want you to get. Don't know if the prefectures operate in the same manner, but for renewing a US passport, if you send the wrong sort of envelope, they'll simply send back your entire submission without processing it until you send it in with the "proper" sort of postage paid return envelope. (And the requirement keeps changing - last time I did it the "right" envelope cost 18!) Cheers, Bev Leading travel technology provider Traveltek Group has appointed well-known industry identity Cressida Sergeant to spearhead its ambitious expansion campaign across the UK, Europe and Middle East. Sergeant, who has held senior positions with leading travel brands including Expedia, TravelSupermarket.com, Lastminute.com and The Global Travel Group, has joined the travel technology firm as senior vice president EMEA, which completes the companys recently-announced sales management team restructure. Sergeant comes on board as Traveltek pursues aggressive growth plans, responsible for leading a business development strategy that will maximise the firms potential in every EMEA market, based on her extensive global experience across all aspects of the travel business including B2B, B2C, online, metasearch and more. Cressida joins Traveltek at one of the most exciting moments in our 20-year history as we scale-up the business in the UK and major international markets to unprecedented levels, said Kenny Picken, president and CEO, Traveltek Group. With her unrivalled industry experience, in-depth market knowledge and strong commercial, strategic and leadership skills, proven with some of the biggest names in travel, I am confident Cressida will identify opportunities to expand our market reach like never before, and I wish her every success. Sergeant joins Traveltek from Kognitiv Corporation, where she was senior vice president of sales and partnerships. Prior to that, she was senior director business development EMEA for Expedias fast-growing B2B brand EAN, leading a team that successfully pursued business opportunities in new geographies and sectors. At TravelSupermarket.com, she led the commercial partnership and display advertising team, negotiating with OTAs, tour operators, hotel chains, bed banks and ancillary providers, while her role as head of commercial at The Global Travel Group provided Sergeant with insight into the travel agency business and supplier partnerships. Given my diverse and extensive experience in the EMEA travel market I believe I can add value to Traveltek, joining at a time when I can help scale up the business and lay the foundations for growth, said Sergeant. It is a dynamic company with an entrepreneurial spirit and there are phenomenal opportunities to take its industry-leading technology to a much wider audience. Prospects include providing airlines, cruise lines, hotels and other travel brands with dynamic packaging solutions and access to Travelteks vast database of travel agents to enable them to better compete with online providers. At the same time, the tech firm can help OTAs take advantage of untapped cruise business, according to Sergeant. Every market has different needs and we will adopt individual strategies for each, she revealed. Im also looking forward to introducing Travelteks upcoming product upgrades to new and existing markets too. Sergeant is responsible for a six-strong sales team including Monika Holland, vice president - sales Europe, who is based in The Netherlands; Neil Welsh, head of sales, EMEA and two business development managers Stuart Charles and Oliver Chesterton who work out of the UK; and two Regional Sales Managers Mena, Liam Butcher and Abir Aly, based at Travelteks Dubai office. She joins two other regional senior vice president's on Travelteks senior sales management team. Francis Riley was appointed senior vice president for the Americas at the end of last year and is based at Travelteks US headquarters in Miami and Paul Millan was recently promoted from regional director to senior vice president Asia Pacific and divides his time between the companys Singapore, Sydney and Hong Kong offices. - TradeArabia News Service I lived in Maastricht for two years and loved it. I'm not sure the locals know how good things are in that gorgeous little city. No doubt it is a treasure. So clean (they vacuum clean between the cobble stones in the old city) and I found everyone to be friendly and helpful and I had no trouble speaking English only. A year ago I moved to Munich - smart - from the most expensive city in the Netherlands to the most expensive city in Germany. Once again, a rich town in the centre of a wealthy country and one or two hours away by inexpensive train from tons of amazing smaller cities. Rent is very expensive here but the other costs of living seem to be on a par with anywhere else in the EU, give or take some exceptions. Health insurance is compulsory in Germany and not all insurance plans are acceptable. Cost is charged as a percentage of income. I paid 450 Euros (with a seniors discount of about 25%) for an annual transport pass for bus, tram, S-bahn, U-Bahn up to zone 4 which is about half an hour from the city centre. Boredom factor in Munich is ZERO. There is never a day in the year that there is not something amazing to do. You'll be amused and delighted to see thousands of locals dressed in traditional lederhosen and dirndl for any excuse. A German friend told me that ten years ago the young people would not be seen dead in this costume but NOW it is seen to be Very uncool not to get it on for any kind of celebration. I think it's fantastic, colourful and heaps of fun. As you say, the English Garden is a glorious place on a sunny day with bodies strewn all over the grass, some wearing a LOT less than others, munching picnics, drinking beer, cooling off in the fast flowing river, wave riding or just siting on the bank resting tired feet in the cold water - and right in the heart of the city. Thousands of bikes (Munich us ultra bike friendly) or heaps of public trams and buses stopping nearby. Museums (and there are dozens of them participating in this scheme) charge one Euro entry on Sundays. You'd never be sorry moving here - if you can keep up with the pace. 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. Gail Rubin, CT, is author and host of the award-winning book and television series, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Dont Plan to Die, Hail and Farewell: Cremation Ceremonies, Templates and Tips, and KICKING THE BUCKET LIST: 100 Downsizing and Organizing Things to Do Before You Die. Rubin is a Certified Thanatologist (that's a death educator) and a popular speaker who uses humor and films to get the end-of-life and funeral planning conversation started. She "knocked 'em dead" with her TEDx talk, A Good Goodbye. She provides continuing education credit classes for attorneys, doctors, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, financial planners, funeral directors and other professionals. She's a Certified Funeral Celebrant and funeral planning consultant who has been interviewed in national and local print, broadcast and online media. Known as The Doyenne of Death, she is the event coordinator of the Before I Die ABQ Festival. She also hosts A Good Goodbye Internet radio show and produces Mortality Minute radio and online video spots. Her YouTube Channel features more than 400 videos! Rubin is a member of the Association for Death Education and Counseling, the International Cemetery, Cremation and Funeral Association, Toastmasters International and the National Speakers Association New Mexico Chapter. Her speaking profile is available at eSpeakers.com. Gail Rubin has been interviewed about funeral planning issues in national and local broadcast, print and online media. Outlets include The Huffington Post, Money Magazine, Kiplinger, CBS Radio News, WGN-TV, and local affiliates for NPR, PBS, FOX, ABC-TV, CBS-TV and NBC-TV. Sign up for a free planning form and occasional informative newsletter at her website, AGoodGoodbye.com. From: American Evaluation Association (AEA) For Immediate Release: Dateline: Washington , DC Sunday, August 19, 2018 Stephanie Cabell and in my role as an evaluation advisor at the State Department, I have the pleasure of engaging with and learning from many smart people from a number of disciplines, including the behavioral and social sciences field. Behavioral science is a relatively young field and governments have only recently begun using its insights to inform public policy. More than a dozen countries, including the U.S., have teams of behavioral scientists working with policy makers and government agencies to improve efficiencies for their citizens. The goal: to improve user access to information and programs in order to help citizens make more informed decisions for their well-being, or that deliver better results at a lower cost for the American people. Federal agencies are in the nascent stages of developing strategies to apply social and behavioral sciences insights to programs and, where possible, to rigorously test and evaluate the impact of these insights. Hot Tip: Behavioral science insights can be an effective design tool and component of program logic models and establishing theories of change. Whether designing a program that requires individuals to work through an online application process, or a program where beneficiaries might have to travel far to obtain services, behavioral science insights can help discern how to optimize outcomes for individualsinformation that is then factored into a programs goals and objective. Cool Trick: You can blend behavioral science and evidence-based decision making to maximize the range of feedback or data collected and analyzed from programs. Rad Resources: Visit the National Sciences and Technology Councils Social and Behavioral Sciences Teams website for a primer in behavioral sciences insights and its application in the work of government agencies. A counterpart to the United States Social and Behavioral Sciences Team is the United Kingdoms Behavioral Insights Team. The U.K. team has had success using behavioral sciences insights to design and build scalable products and services that have social impact. There are numerous institutions of higher education throughout the United States that offer graduate-level courses and programs in social and behavioral sciences. A good place to research schools is by visiting the College Boards website. Lessons Learned: Government agencies can use social and behavioral sciences insights to simplify the presentation of complex information in programs and, thus, have more consistency in how individuals choose or make decisions. A central insights from social and behavioral science is that there is not yet consensus on whether people respond to incentives, monetary and non-monetary incentives, as a means of getting individuals to take specific actions. Research to date suggests that people are more likely to take advantage of an incentive if they can benefit immediately from it rather than at a later date, such as is the case with a tax credit. This is an area still ripe for research. Federal, state and local government agencies can incorporate social and behavioral sciences insights into broader evidence-based initiatives, and embed it into the fabric of program and project design for better outcomes for people. The American Evaluation Association is celebrating Washington Evaluators (WE) Affiliate Week. The contributions all this week to aea365 come from WE Affiliate members. Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the About AEA The American Evaluation Association is an international professional association and the largest in its field. Evaluation involves assessing the strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel, products and organizations to improve their effectiveness. AEAs mission is to improve evaluation practices and methods worldwide, to increase evaluation use, promote evaluation as a profession and support the contribution of evaluation to the generation of theory and knowledge about effective human action. For more information about AEA, visit www.eval.org. My name isand in my role as an evaluation advisor at the State Department, I have the pleasure of engaging with and learning from many smart people from a number of disciplines, including the behavioral and social sciences field.Behavioral science is a relatively young field and governments have only recently begun using its insights to inform public policy. More than a dozen countries, including the U.S., have teams of behavioral scientists working with policy makers and government agencies to improve efficiencies for their citizens. The goal: to improve user access to information and programs in order to help citizens make more informed decisions for their well-being, or that deliver better results at a lower cost for the American people. Federal agencies are in the nascent stages of developing strategies to apply social and behavioral sciences insights to programs and, where possible, to rigorously test and evaluate the impact of these insights.Behavioral science insights can be an effective design tool and component of program logic models and establishing theories of change. Whether designing a program that requires individuals to work through an online application process, or a program where beneficiaries might have to travel far to obtain services, behavioral science insights can help discern how to optimize outcomes for individualsinformation that is then factored into a programs goals and objective.You can blend behavioral science and evidence-based decision making to maximize the range of feedback or data collected and analyzed from programs.The American Evaluation Association is celebrating Washington Evaluators (WE) Affiliate Week. The contributions all this week to aea365 come from WE Affiliate members. Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an aea365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org . aea365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluators. Denise McVea sat across from Bryce Milligan in his home in San Antonios King William district. She had driven 12 hours from Guanajuato, Mexico, where she lived, to discuss a contract to publish her second book. A magazine publisher and educator, McVea was delighted that Milligans well-regarded small publishing house, Wings Press, had accepted her manuscript. But as they talked, something seemed off. McVea regarded Milligan as progressive a prolific author and poet who promoted diversity and challenged the status quo. Yet here he was, gushing about a student of his, a 14-year-old girl whose work he planned to publish, calling her his muse. She found Milligans comments unsettling, she remembered. Then Milligan walked behind McVeas chair, wrapped his arms around her and moved his right hand to her left breast, she said. McVea said she stood, shocked, trying to figure out how to react. The incident, from the early 2000s, was one of several disturbing encounters with Milligan that former female acquaintances have recalled recently. They came forward after a woman publicly accused him in May of unwanted touching and attention and of making inappropriate comments to her when she was a freshman at the North East School of the Arts and he was her teacher. Milligan denied any sexual or romantic overtures toward his then-student, Hailey Laine Johnson, but other accounts of his conduct soon appeared on blogs and social media. The ensuing controversy shook San Antonios literary community, which had lionized Milligan. As several writers pulled their work from Wings Press, he stepped away from his role at the publishing house and took down his personal website. McVea decided to speak out after recognizing Johnsons name in news accounts and realizing she was the student Milligan had spoken of years earlier. Reading about Johnsons accusations in the San Antonio Express-News brought back memories of her own encounter with Milligan, McVea said his embarrassed apology and excuses, how she reminded him she was gay and they both were in relationships. McVea said she curtly questioned him about the contract and left without signing it. She eventually self-published the book. Through his lawyer, Milligan declined to comment for this article. In a statement he issued in May in response to Johnsons allegations, he called their relationship strictly platonic and said the accusations had caused tremendous pain to my family. None of the women interviewed ever went to the police, but they now want Milligans behavior known. Our goal in this is, we dont want to see him have access to children in a classroom again, said Johnson, now 31 and living in New Mexico. Hes like mercury, and hell slip through the smallest crack. We just dont want to see him do this again. *** Originally from Dallas, Milligan moved to San Antonio in 1977, when he was in his twenties. He soon established himself in the citys literary community, with volumes of poetry, childrens books, novels, plays and short story collections, work that earned him acclaim and awards. Among numerous articles he wrote for national and regional publications, Milligan reviewed books for the Express-News from 1982 to 1987 and the San Antonio Light from 1987 to 1990. He started the literary magazine Pax: A Journal for Peace through Culture and the journal Vortex: A Critical Review. As an artist-in-education, he discussed poetry with students at local schools and taught creative writing at the San Antonio Museum of Art, the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, Palo Alto College and the University of Texas at San Antonio. By 1995, he had acquired Wings Press. In these settings, Milligan sought relationships with budding writers. In the introduction to a poetry anthology he edited, he wrote about the value of recognizing the rare jewel among hundreds of faces in a year, thousands upon thousands of lines of bad poetry. Being a stubborn Capricorn with a bent for bending systems, I simply opted to make any contact I had with especially talented young writers as personal as possible by offering myself as a mentor, he wrote. One such writer was Gabrielle Marcus of San Antonio, who met Milligan in 1984, when she was 10. She had submitted poems for a childrens edition of Pax, then attended one of his writing workshops. From there, the two entered into a yearslong correspondence, exchanging comments on poetry drafts. Marcus preserved several of Milligans letters to her and permitted the Express-News to review them. They include high-level discussions of poetic purpose and technique. Milligan enclosed his own poems and complimentary critiques of Marcus work. Milligan spent a good portion of the correspondence sharing details from his personal life and family. But over the years, an occasional line would slip in that later stood out to Marcus. On the back of one letter from February 1986, when she was 12, Milligan left an elegant note in pencil. You dont have to call me Mr. Milligan. Bryce will do. Years later, he still had to encourage her to drop the formal address. In another letter from December 1989, when she was 16, Milligan wrote a handwritten postscript. Would it be too strange of me to ask if you have a spare photo of yourself? At the time, Marcus thought the request was sweet, akin to a father keeping a photograph of his daughter. She sent one, she said, and learned from him later that he displayed it in his work space. By April 1994, when Marcus was 22, Milligan was preparing to include her poetry in an anthology of works by seven women under age 25. While asking about her writing process, he wondered if a particular teacher had influenced her, then wrote, On the other hand, you were very serious about poetry a couple of years before that, since I first met you in 4th or 5th grade. (Geez, what an intellect, I remember thinking at the time, and what a beauty! The stuff [creative writing teachers] dreams are made on.) The parentheses and brackets were his. Milligan published the anthology in 1996. When Marcus went to a reading, she learned he had titled the volume This Promiscuous Light, a phrase from one of her poems. She was torn flattered by the reference to her work, but unsettled that he had used a sexual allusion to title an anthology of poems by young women. Milligan then sent her a draft of a poem he had written. It included her name and references to another of her poems and her breasts, Marcus said. She did not keep that letter, but remembers confronting him, in writing, and his response: She was just one of many muses who inspired him. That July, when Marcus was living in Vermont, Milligan wrote to explain further how his poem had fused around your image. A male poet with my predilections tends to have a fully embodied muse or muse-link, he wrote. The physical embodiment may shift from time to time, but the inner voices are always the same. He closed with, Wish I were in the Vermont woods with you. Marcus never had wanted to be his muse, a term she found belittling. All she had ever wanted, she said, was to learn from him. She said she tried to forgive him, but eventually decided to avoid him entirely. Her friend, Allan Jones, recalled Marcus making a face when he told her he had invited Milligan to talk about writing to his fifth-graders at Stewart Elementary School. She said he never did anything overtly he never molested or touched her. But she said he just said a lot of inappropriate things to her, Jones said of Marcus. She said she always had a very uncomfortable, creepy feeling about him. Judy Greenberg, another friend, remembers Marcus appearing visibly uncomfortable when she realized Milligan was at a reading they were attending in San Antonio. They left. *** Milligan began teaching at North East School of the Arts in 2000, when he was in his late 40s. He led the creative writing program at the school, which admitted students through a competitive application process. Former students say Milligan encouraged them to call him by his first name and said they could contact him any time, day or night, whenever inspiration struck. It was not uncommon for students to spend lunch periods or events outside of school with him. It could be thrilling, some said, to learn from a working writer who seemed willing to help with their careers and who brought in other authors to talk to them. When Hailey Johnson came in as a freshman in fall 2001, she quickly became the focus of Milligans attention, several former students said. He openly referred to Johnson as his muse, wrote songs and poetry about her and gave her gifts and special assignments, they said. Over time, his classroom behavior toward Johnson grew increasingly flirtatious, according to multiple students they saw Milligan touch her and grade papers while she sat on his lap. Johnson said Milligan made inappropriate comments to her and kissed her on the neck when no one was looking. Her mother, Tracy Johnson, said she would hear her daughter talking to Milligan on the phone in the middle of the night and tried to put a stop to it by taking the phone away. Hailey Johnson said Milligan emailed her daily for months, cautioning her to delete the messages so her parents would not see. In the statement he issued in May after Johnson went public with her accusations, Milligan said maintaining open access was a sign of good teaching. Creativity happens at all hours, and I have always encouraged my creative writing students to feel free to contact me about their creative endeavors and thoughts, the statement said. Most of this communication was by email, some by phone, sometimes late at night. The focus on Johnson confused and vexed other students. I was, Im ashamed to say, frustrated and angry at both Bryce and Johnson, said Muriell Ramirez, a former classmate. I felt like their flirtation was interrupting the classroom environment. Now that Im an adult, I see that its not a two-sided equation. Bryce had all of the power. He was the adult in the room. Milligan frequently mentioned Johnson in conversation, as if he had an obvious, ill-concealed romantic crush, said Eugene Fischer, who was in Milligans other creative writing class, for upperclassmen. Fischer, now a writer, said he repeatedly warned his teacher his behavior could get him fired, but Milligan brushed him off, saying the situation gave him fodder for a decades worth of writing. Johnson was not the only student who became the object of Milligans attention. Claire Chilton, who graduated from NESA in 2002, said she was Milligans muse during her junior year. He wrote her many poems and songs, she said, and in turn she called him in the middle of the night to discuss writing and personal problems. Neither she nor her mother, who taught English at NESA at the time, were troubled by his actions or their relationship, they said. Other former students, some of whom have gone on to become educators themselves, criticized what they considered Milligans blurring of classroom boundaries. Andrew Cooper, now a professor at North Carolina State University, said while he idolized Milligan in high school, he now views his behavior with students as inappropriate. As an educator, he said the priority should be students learning and growth, but he sensed Milligans motive to teach was tied to developing source material for himself. It was always clear to me, and Bryce even said this explicitly, that somehow his primary interest in teaching at a school like NESA was in sort of his own, as he characterized it, artistic development, Cooper said. *** By the second semester of the 2001-02 school year, things had reached a boiling point. Milligans students were working on a literary magazine and Fischers parents, Jean and Michael Fischer, said they offered their house to the class for a weekend editing session. Jean Fischer recalled noticing that students seemed upset while they worked. When she and her husband spoke with Milligan in another room, the conversation turned surreal, she said. In interviews, both parents recalled Milligan telling them that Johnson was his muse and attempting to justify it at length. Jean Fischer, an educator herself who now leads a private school, said she told Milligan that there are lines that a teacher does not cross. The Fischers said Milligan told them the relationship was not sexual. Jean Fischer went to NESA the following Monday to meet with administrators, she said. Hailey Johnson made a separate complaint to school officials. Milligan was placed on paid leave on March 7, 2002, pending an investigation of allegations (that) were raised by one of his freshman female Creative Writing students, according to school district records. On April 2 of that year, Donna Taylor, principal of Lee High School, where NESA is housed, wrote to the North East Independent School Districts executive director of personnel to recommend Milligan be terminated, based on the investigations findings that he violated board policy regarding Personnel-Student Relations, as well as the Code of Ethics and Standard Practice for Texas (Educators). The next day, Milligan wrote a brief letter to then-Superintendent Richard Middleton, tendering his resignation with great personal regret. Teaching at NESA was one of the most fulfilling things I have done in my life, he wrote. I will support the school fully in all my future endeavors. Milligan taught under a locally held teaching permit. Had he been a certified educator, NEISD officials likely would have been required to report his conduct to the state, a Texas Education Agency spokeswoman said. The TEA cannot investigate noncertified teachers. In his May statement, Milligan said he resigned from NESA because of pushback against his open-access communication policy with students. I never had nor tried to have a romantic or sexual relationship with Ms. Johnson. I never harassed or stalked her and I have never interfered with her career or used any of my professional relationships to hinder her success as a writer or artist in any way, the statement said. Ms. Johnsons account is very different from the way I remember my interactions with her. I am horrified that she feels my actions harmed her in any way and for that I apologize. *** For years, Johnson distanced herself from writing and art. In 2017, she wrote an account of Milligans behavior and kept it saved on her computer. She posted it on Facebook in May. She said she was overwhelmed by the response, including from other women who reached out to her about their own experiences with Milligan. In the following weeks, Johnson searched for insight about what had happened to her and other women. Online, she found a review in a 2007 edition of Gravesiana, a journal of the Robert Graves Society, in which Milligan was quoted about his work as a muse poet. The muse for me was incarnate in young women, Milligan told the reviewer, Frank Kersnowski. I thought there was something there beyond what I could explain as being inspired by lust or love. In a written statement to the reviewer, Milligan described his muses, which he said could manifest in people or inanimate objects, not as sexual, but as vehicles for producing new ideas: Even when I do not sense the muse herself in a source of inspiration, I do sense it as being female. And sometimes, of course, the muse manifests herself as a real, breathing, by-god girl. It has little to do with sex, he added, but rather the creation of future work. The article ended with an excerpt from Milligans poem Alms for Oblivion, which includes a list of names, several of which match those of women who came under his tutelage. The poem includes the first names of Marcus and Chilton, as well as Laighn Johnsons middle name is Laine, the name she went by in high school. McVea, the woman who said Milligan groped her when discussing a book deal, said she has tried not to let the episode haunt her. But she felt compelled to come forward and published an online essay about Milligan. I wanted to make sure that Hailey understood that she wasnt alone and that she got the support that she needed, McVea said. Before then, McVea had mentioned the incident to few people, including her partner, Tedi McVea. Tedi said the two talked briefly about it when they started dating in Mexico around 2005. Tedi said that in response to her questions, Denise told her she had self-published her second book because a publisher in San Antonio she had been enthusiastic about working with had made a pass at her. When Marcus read Johnsons Facebook post, she rifled through boxes of mementos, trying to jog her memory with Milligans old letters. When I go through these letters and I see all the work that he seems to have put into them its confusing. Its like an optical illusion, said Marcus, now 45 and working as a massage therapist in San Antonio. Was it just a means to an end? Was it also a thoughtful letter? Maybe it was both. Reading through them, and learning about the stories of other women, spurred her to write an online essay, in which she explained her initial reluctance to discuss her experience publicly. Just when I thought I was ready to share, my mind would come up with one more reason not to. So that finally I realized how many ways my mind had created to keep me in silence, she wrote. Marcus said she is glad Milligans conduct is finally being discussed openly. If somebody steals your wallet, you report it to the police, Marcus said, referring to Johnsons experience. If somebody steals your childhood, you dont tell anyone. Lauren Caruba is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | lcaruba@express-news.net | @LaurenCaruba Mayor Ron Nirenberg has a transit plan, but can you describe it? What is the plan? Where will it go? How will it be funded? These questions have no answers. Nirenberg was elected, in part, on a pledge to address the transit crisis here. It was an important piece of his compelling and optimistic vision for San Antonio. But more than a year later, his transit plan is no clearer than a VIA Metropolitan Transit service map. Such lack of clarity came into painfully sharp focus over the course of several meetings earlier this summer for ConnectSA, the nonprofit tasked with making the mayors plan a voter-approved reality. At those meetings, city staff outlined funding options. One funding source, sales tax dollars used for Edwards Aquifer protection and completing the Howard W. Peak Greenway Trail System, became a point of dispute. Several officials in separate May and June meetings were left with the impression from City Manager Sheryl Sculley and Deputy City Manager Peter Zanoni that aquifer protection funds were off the table. Sculley has said she was simply outlining tough choices that will have to be made to fund transit. Nothing is off the table. In a text message, City Spokesman Jeff Coyle said Zanoni also said no such thing at the June meeting. Coyle said Zanoni spoke up when Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff mischaracterized Sculleys comments from the May meeting. Whatever the case, the disconnect is surprising. Nirenberg has spoken publicly about the possibility of shifting sales tax dollars from these very sources to his transit plan. Understand, possibility does not mean certainty. Nirenberg has always said he would only support shifting these sales tax dollars if other funds, namely bonds, could support Edwards Aquifer protection and the greenway system. I do not see an end to these programs, Nirenberg said. There are legitimate questions about whether bond dollars could be used for conservation efforts outside city limits, let alone Bexar County. Still. The point here is its an idea the mayor has floated as a possible elegant solution. In that context, there shouldnt be any confusion. Peter said that one is off the table, District 4 City Councilman Rey Saldana told me, speaking of aquifer protection funding. I personally believe it makes a lot of sense to look at a funding source that doesnt ask the residents to pay anything more than they are paying today. Bexar County Judge Nelson Wolff also questioned Zanoni. I said, Wait a minute, who is in charge here? Wolff recalled. And then Rey backed up the mayor. One observer, Lauren Mandel, who attended the June meeting and is chief of staff for Bexar County Commissioner Kevin Wolff, said everybody was kind of in shock because it appeared the mayor and Sheryl were on two completely different pages, and the conversation between Councilman Saldana and Peter was one of disagreement. There are some important issues to unpack here. First, the question of just who is in charge at City Hall puts in high relief a long-simmering tension. Right or wrong, one perception is whether the tail is wagging the dog. Are unelected officials supporting the mayors vision (which voters backed) or undermining it? It also raises questions about how strained the relationship is at the highest levels between the city and county. Can the city and county work together? These transit meetings, for example, suggest they cannot. Same with the city-county squabble over Bexars new Justice Intake and Assessment Center And, of course, it raises a serious question about the mayors transit plan. Does it lack a clear and viable source of local funding? No, I dont think so because there are other sources of revenue, Nirenberg said. He and Sculley dismissed the disconnect of these meetings, saying staff has only outlined funding possibilities. They remain optimistic and excited about improving transit in San Antonio. He and I are on the same page, Sculley said of the mayor. But what is that page exactly? Its up to Nirenberg to tell us. After all this time, no one knows what would be built, where it would go, how it would be funded or even when a vote might happen. I dont know what the deal is now, Wolff said. The plan to get San Antonio moving looks stalled, and ConnectSA looks more like DisconnectSA. jbrodesky@express-news.net ForKnife Restaurant at Movenpick Hotel West Bay Doha took home two top awards at the 2018 World Luxury Restaurant Awards, held in Ireland recently. The restaurant won the 'Luxury Hotel Restaurant' award for the third consecutive year as well as the 'Luxury Family Restaurant' award. The World Luxury Restaurant Awards is a global organisation that inspires the restaurant industry to offer culinary excellence in facilities and services. It also creates healthy competition as the awards are presented in a diverse array of categories. The winners were voted primarily by supportive guests and industry professionals. Its a distinct honour to receive the Luxury Hotel Restaurant for three consecutive years, and we are pleased to be awarded also with the Luxury Family Restaurant for ForKnife restaurant by the World Luxury Restaurant Awards. These achievements have fully manifested our continuous commitment to strive for excellence in delivering premium level of culinary service and products, said Ghada Sadek, general manager, Movenpick Hotel West Bay Doha. We are grateful to our guests who have extended their love and support. These awards serve as a great encouragement to our team and motivate us to achieve more. Strategically located in the heart of the city, Movenpick Hotel West Bay Doha offers 347 delightfully furnished rooms, perfect for both short and long-staying guests. The hotel is in close proximity to several Doha landmarks, including the City Centre Mall, Katara Cultural Village, The Pearl, Souq Waqif, Museum of Islamic Art and many more. - TradeArabia News Service Re: Ex-CIA chiefs clearance is yanked, front page, Thursday: So Donald Trump would put a Republican on his list of those he would yank security clearances from if he deemed them incompetent or crazy. Well, No. 1 on that list should be Trump himself since both of those adjectives describe him to a tee. Also, he is the most obscene, hostile, venomous person to ever enter the presidency. Of course, those three adjectives mean nothing to Trump, so well just stick with incompetent and crazy. Jason Chapel, Spring Branch Medi bias proven Hundreds of coordinated newspaper editorials denouncing President Donald Trumps view of fake news will only prove to his supporters that the media are indeed biased. It also proves that among editorial board members, there is not a variety of viewpoints. And that perhaps most media outlets are beholden to their political organizations. By the way, journalists are, by and large, left-leaning. Apparently they dont seem to be aware of themselves as such, but it is obvious in their reporting. Leo Q. Gomez Problem is dire Re. Health care-related transportation a growing problem, Business, Thursday: My father is 86 and my mother is 84. My mother just finished 16 radiation treatments for breast cancer while my father is receiving chemotherapy treatment for stage 4 lung cancer and is on oxygen. Both are fragile. There are constant doctor visits and trips to the hospital. Both have macular degeneration. Neither could ever be able to drive. I see elderly who arrive on their own struggling to just get through the door at the doctors office. One time I saw a wheelchair-bound elderly man roll himself into the office. My parents had five children. Two of my siblings died young. The other two live out of town. As a public school teacher, I was able to retire early, and that allowed me to be available to provide transportation for my parents. What would of happened if my parents had only two children? Not a day goes by that I dont wonder who will take care of my wife and I. We had two children, and only one lives here in San Antonio. Will that child be willing and able to drive us to our doctor appointments? This problem is not only for the boomers in the future but also their millennial children, who will be strapped with the guilt of not being available. This whole experience is very sobering and reminds us all of our real responsibilities in later life. Will millennials be able to fulfill this role? With five children, my parents had a better chance that one would be able to help out. My wife and I have only two. Not good odds. James Young Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport has been left without any scheduled commercial flights after the Slovenian and Belgian-registered VLM Airlines brought forward the suspension of its flights from the city to this week. VLM scrapped its two weekly service from Antwerp to Maribor via Munich due to low demand. The flights initially operated five times per week with a Fokker 50 turboprop before being reduced and ultimately discontinued. The airline did not wish to disclose how many passengers it had carried on the route. VLM Airlines' spokesman, Yves Panneels, said that options for potential new flights from Maribor or Ljubljana were being considered, but that no firm decision has been taken. VLM Airlines is no longer owned by the operator of Maribor Airport. SHS Aviation purchased the "Aerodrom Maribor" operator for seven million euros in December 2016 and won a concession to run the airport for a period of fifteen years. Originally owned by Dutch (60%) and Chinese investors (40%), the company's ownership structure recently changed. The Dutch SHS Aviation stake has been taken over by Villa 1, owned by the Chinese co-director of Maribor Airport, Lingkun Meng. The operator is now seeking to extend its concession over Maribor Airport to fifty years. The concessionaire had previously outlined plans to develop Slovenia's second largest city into a hub for Chinese tourists by securing a number of nonstop long haul flights. Last year, SHS outlined plans to invest 660 million euros into Maribor Airport by extending its runway and overhauling its facilities, after which services to China would commence. The government is currently working on a zoning plan that would allow for the expansion. However, the fate of the plan is unclear, as airport infrastructure is owned by the state, while Economy Minister Zdravko Pocivalsek has likened the plan to a tenant renovating an apartment without telling its owner. However, Maribor Deputy Mayor, Sasa Pelko, said, "The fact that the investor transfers 100.000 euros to the state each month gives credibility to the story". SHS was due to present its expansion plans to the public in late July but cancelled its presentation just half an hour before it was due to begin. Maribor Airport recorded a loss of 1.7 million euros last year, up from the 35.000 euro loss in 2016. It was generated as the airport handled only 6.000 passengers in 2017, while the operator also had to cover its monthly concession fee. SHELTON Several roads will be closed Sunday evening for an annual race honoring service members. The ninth annual Sunset Run For the Warriors aims to bring together civilians and the military, according to its website. The race benefits Hope for the Warriors, a veteran service organization that helps wounded military members and their families. The 10K, 5K and one-mile race starts at 5:30 p.m. at the Huntington Green on Church Street. Shelton police said on Twitter that the entire route will be closed to all traffic beginning at 5 p.m. Huntington Green, Isinglass Road, Nichols Avenue, Church Street and Blueberry Lane will be closed. Drivers should seek alternative routes, police said. Kinder Morgan, Inc. operates as an energy infrastructure company. The firm engages in the operation of pipelines and terminals that transport natural gas, gasoline, crude oil, carbon dioxide (CO2) and other products and stores petroleum products chemicals and handles bulk materials like ethanol, coal, petroleum coke and steel. It operates through the following segments: Natural Gas Pipelines, CO2, Terminals, Product Pipelines and Kinder Morgan Canada. The Natural Gas Pipelines segment engages in the ownership and operation of major interstate and intrastate natural gas pipeline and storage systems, natural gas and crude oil gathering systems and natural gas processing and treating facilities. The CO2 segment focuses on the production, transportation and marketing of CO2 to oil fields that use CO2 as a flooding medium for recovering crude oil from mature oil fields to increase production. The Terminals segment consists of the ownership and operation of liquids and bulk terminal facilities located throughout the U.S. and portions of Canada that trans load and store refined petroleum products, crude oil, chemicals, ethanol and bulk products, including coal, petroleum coke, fertilizer, Read More Wall Street analysts have given iShares MSCI Chile 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 Chile ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. "The Turkish military will expand the area of its operations in northern Syria, up to the Iraqi border, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced on August 18. The operations of the Turkish army in Jarabulus, Al Bab and Afrin will be carried out in other Syrian regions, up to the Iraqi border. They will also be carried out in [Iraqs] Sinjar and Makhmur. We will eliminate the terrorist threat coming from the territory of Syria and Iraq. We will not let terrorists to control zones near our southern borders, the president said at a congress of the Justice and Development Party. The Turkish Armed Forces (TAF) along with Turkish-backed militant groups are already in control of a large chunk of northern Syria, including the cities of Al-Bab and Afrin. These areas were seized by Ankara under a pretext of combating ISIS and the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) a Kurdish rebel group, which is involved in a long-term standoff against the Turkish governemnt. On the same time, units of the TAF entered some areas in the province of Idlib in northwestern Syria. However, the Erdogan government is not going to stop on this. Currently, its working to force the US to drop support to the so-called Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). The core of the SDF is the Kurdish Peoples Protection Units (YPG). Ankara describes the YPG as an affilate of the PKK." SF ------------- Say what? The US has positioned a small number of troops (advisers, etc.) in the NE and has made noises recently to the effect that the US and the SDF will defend the area that they hold west of the Euphrates River. Convoys of materiel for the SDF forces have been arriving from Iraq and CENTCOM shows no sign of withdrawing from anywhere in the portion of northern Syria currently held by CENTCOM/SDF. At the same time the Turkish Army is deep in northern Iraq and is constructing what look like long term facilities. Erdogan plans to occupy all of northern Iraq? pl https://southfront.org/erdogan-turkish-military-will-expand-area-of-its-operations-in-syria/ China Hydroelectric Corporation is a developer, owner and operator of small hydroelectric power projects in China. The projects are located in Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Sichuan. As of December 31, 2012, wholly owns 22 operating hydroelectric power projects and have controlling interests in three operating hydroelectric power projects. In March 2012, the Company sold 100% of the Yuanping hydroelectric power project. In April 2013, the Company sold the Yuheng hydroelectric power project, a 30 megawatt (MW) project located in Fujian province. In July 2014, the Company announced that it has completed the merger with CPT Wyndham Sub Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CPT Wyndham Holdings Ltd. Read More by Blaine Blontz | Giants Correspondent | Sat, Aug 18th 11:30am EDT The Cubs expect to have Kris Bryant back by the end of August. (Chicago Sun-Times) Fantasy Impact: This is good news that he'll be back and available for fantasy owners down the stretch, though his production remains to be determined as he seemingly continues to be ailed by a shoulder injury. Prior to hitting the DL, Bryant had posted a triple slash of .276/.380/.474 with 11 homers in just over 300 at-bats. by FantasyPros Staff | Red Sox Correspondent | Sat, Aug 18th 2:46pm EDT The Boston Red Sox announced this afternoon that likely American League Cy Young, Chris Sale, was moved to the disabled list because of an inflamed shoulder. Apparently, the injury is mild and Boston expects him back in 10 days. (Red Sox on Twitter) Fantasy Impact: More than likely, this is a precautionary trip to the DL to get Sale ready for the playoffs. The Red Sox already have the AL East wrapped up so there is no need to push it with a minor pain to their ace. Your fantasy team will certainly miss him for two weeks, however. by Matthew Terelle | Bengals Correspondent | Sat, Aug 18th 9:07pm EDT Cincinnati Bengals running back Joe Mixon had a quiet outing against the Cowboys in his team's second preseason game on Saturday. Mixon rushed four times for eight yards while adding one catch for one yard. by Matthew Terelle | Cardinals Correspondent | Sat, Aug 18th 9:11pm EDT Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green caught 1-of-3 passes for nine yards in his team's preseason contest against the Cowboys on Saturday. Fantasy Impact: Green and the Cincinnati first-team offense took a seat after the first drive of the second quarter. The All-Pro receiver has been quiet this preseason but that is of no concern. With very little competition for targets around him, he is primed to be among the league leaders in targets this season. Light aircraft equipped with digital imaging technology will help put a stop to illegal water abstraction from rivers and streams. The East Midlands is the first area in the country to use the technology collected by light aircraft to put a stop to the illegal practice. The Environment Agency said the needs of farmers and other businesses "must be balanced" with those of wildlife and other water users. 93 abstraction licences in the East Midlands have had restrictions placed on them in the last few weeks to reduce abstractions. 16 licence holders have been told to cease abstracting completely, the Environment Agency confirmed. To ensure abstractors are complying with the new restrictions, Environment Officers will be carrying out patrols throughout the East Midlands to check that abstractors keep within the conditions of their licence and do not cause harm to the environment. Steve Lawrie, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency said: "We are working to be flexible where possible and allow abstraction where it will not cause harm to the environment or impact other river users. "As the hot, dry weather continues we are urging everyone to use water wisely to help protect the environment and prevent the need for further water restrictions." 'Share more water' The announcement follows news of Anglian Water putting in place an agreement to "share" more water with farmers on the River Nene to allow them to take extra water for their crops. The water company has just finalised an agreement with the Environment Agency, meaning they will take less water from the river to use for drinking water, which in turn will allow local farmers to use more water to irrigate their crops. 20 million litres of water a day equivalent to the domestic use of 150,000 customers will be available for local farmers to use from the south and east of Peterborough over to the north of Cambridge. The agreement is currently in place for the next two weeks and is the second arrangement of its kind for Anglian Water this year, with the first taking place earlier in July. Just 28mm of rain fell across the East of England during July, around half the amount expected for this time of year, leaving local farmers hard hit, and facing parched crops and depleted yields this harvest time. Nick Walters, Ground and Surface Water Manager for Anglian Water said: Agriculture makes up a huge part of our local economy and water is a vital part of supporting that. "We know local farmers are concerned about their crops this year, which is why were redirecting this precious resource to areas that need it most." 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. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Hardik Patel and other Patidar leaders were on their way to Nikol Assembly constituency of Ahmedabad district when they were detained by the crime branch. Ahmedabad: Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel was detained by Ahmedabad Crime Branch on Sunday morning before he was set to take part in a hunger strike. Hardik and other Patidar leaders were on their way to Nikol Assembly constituency of Ahmedabad district when they were detained by the crime branch. The group was intended to take part in a one-day hunger strike over the issue of reservation. Earlier in the day, the 25-year-old social-political activist tweeted, "To stop today's one-day hunger strike, our 130 agitators have been arrested so far and 58 agitators are under house arrest at my residence. Over 200 policemen are posted around my house. Why does Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) fear indefinite strike so much." On 25 July, Patel along with his two aides was sentenced to two years of imprisonment by a local court in Gujarat for inciting violence during a protest rally held in 2015. They, however, were later granted bail with a direction to file an appeal in the Gujarat High Court within a month. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ashes will be immersed in various rivers across the country, starting with the Ganga at Haridwar. Former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's ashes will be immersed in various rivers across the country, starting with the Ganga at Haridwar today. The former prime minister's daughter Namita and granddaughter Niharika collected the ashes from Delhi's Smriti Sthal, ANI said. The ashes will be will be taken to Prem Ashram, then to Har-ki-Pauri in Haridwar by road. Late #AtalBihariVajpayee's daughter Namita and granddaughter Niharika arrive at Smriti Sthal in Delhi to collect ashes of the former prime minister pic.twitter.com/l9WOZCx6U7 ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 The immersion ceremony at the holy city on Sunday will be attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat among others, BJP leader Bhupender Yadav told reporters in New Delhi. One of the most charismatic leaders in independent India, Vajpayee passed away in New Delhi on Thursday at the age of 93. He was cremated with full State honours at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal in the national capital on Friday. Yadav said an all-party prayer meeting for the BJP stalwart will be held in New Delhi on 20 August and another such meeting will be organised in Lucknow on 23 August since Vajpayee's appeal cut across political divide. Apart from the home minister and Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Vajpayee's relatives will attend the Lucknow prayer meeting, he said, adding that the former prime minister's ashes will also be immersed in the Gomati river there. The prayer meeting in Delhi will be attended by leaders from different political parties and noted citizens, Yadav said. "His (Vajpayee's) ashes will be immersed in various sacred rivers across the country and the 'asthi kalash' taken to all the districts headquarters and state capitals. Prayer meetings will take place in the state capitals, district headquarters and at the panchayat level," he added. Meanwhile, the saffron party also expressed solidarity with the people of Karala, who are bearing the brunt of torrential rains and floods, and said its workers will visit every household in the affected areas of the southern states as a part of the rehabilitation measures. BJP national secretary P Muralidhar Rao said the state units of the party were collecting relief materials from across the country, while the units in the neighbouring states of Kerala were planning to send doctors' teams to the flood-hit state. "The BJP is with the people of Karala," he said, adding that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the home minister had already announced an assistance of Rs 500 crore and Rs 100 crore respectively. The prime minister, Rao said, had also appealed to the insurance companies to expedite the disbursement of compensations, including those towards crop insurance. With inputs from Agencies 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. Keshav Prasad Maurya said if the grand Ram temple was built, it will be a 'true tribute' to VHP stalwart Ashok Singhal, Mahant Sri Ramchandra Das Paramhans and karsewaks who sacrificed their lives. Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister Keshav Prasad Maurya on Sunday said he was hopeful that if the need arose and there was no way out, the Centre could opt for the legislative route in Parliament for the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, when it has adequate numbers in both Houses. "When such a need arises that there is no way out except bringing a Bill, I am fully confident that in such a situation and when we have adequate strength (in both Houses of Parliament), remember these two things", he said without elaborating. "At present, in Parliament, we do not have adequate strength. Because even if we bring the matter in Lok Sabha, our strength in the Rajya Sabha is less, and it will definitely be defeated. Every devotee of Lord Ram knows this. The court will soon give its judgement. The day we have the strength, it will be constructively used and not misused (Lekin Jis din hamare paas takat hogaa, uss takat ka sadpuyog hoga, durpayog nahi hoga)," Maurya told PTI. He said the matter was being heard in the Supreme Court. Maurya also said if the grand Ram temple was built, it will be a "true tribute" to VHP stalwart Ashok Singhal, Mahant Sri Ramchandra Das Paramhans (former head of the Ram Janmabhoomi Nyas in Ayodhya) and karsewaks who sacrificed their lives. The deputy chief minister was also asked whether the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill will anger BJP's core vote bank. Maurya replied, "The intention of the government is to not cause any harassment to anyone by bringing in the bill. As deputy chief minister of the state, I can say that in Uttar Pradesh, no fake case will be registered and no one will be harassed unnecessarily. But, anyone doing any wrong to SC/ST people will not be spared." On 9 August, Parliament had passed the bill to overturn a Supreme Court order concerning certain safeguards against arrest under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe law, The Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Amendment Bill, which was passed by the Rajya Sabha by a voice vote, had got the nod of the Lok Sabha on 6 August. On the party's poll preparations, Maurya who had represented Phulpur in the Lok Sabha said, "Our party is working to get at least 51 percent vote share at every booth, and we are working in this direction." Taking a jibe at rival political parties, the Uttar Pradesh deputy chief minister said, "Who is actually nervous can be clearly revealed by the expressions of (Samajwadi Party chief) Akhilesh Yadav and (BSP supremo) Mayawati". Prime Minister Narendra Modi is an MP from Uttar Pradesh, and the mass crowd which had turned up at the programmes addressed by him drop ample hints that our political rivals have been shaken..... There is a special attachment for Modi ji among the people. They are in fact complementary to each other." HD Kumaraswamy, who had conducted an aerial survey in Kodagu on Sunday, undertook another one for more than an hour. Bengaluru: More than 3,500 people have been rescued in Karnataka's Kodagu district till Sunday, where six people have lost their lives due to floods and landslides. President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy over phone to inquire about the situation in the rain-battered southern district, bordering Kerala. Kumaraswamy informed Kovind that the district administration was managing the rescue-and-relief work efficiently, along with the army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies, and have rescued more than 3,500 people so far, the chief minister's office said in a statement. Operations are on to rescue those stranded at various places. Kumaraswamy, who had conducted an aerial survey in Kodagu on Sunday, undertook another one for more than an hour in Somwarpet, Suntikoppa, Madapura, Mukkodlu, Harangi backwaters, Siddapura, Kushalnagar and surrounding areas. He also assessed the situation in the affected areas between Piriyapatna and Madikeri. According to officials, as many as 317 people were rescued and shifted to safer places in the district on Sunday, and rescue operations were on around Makkandor and other areas of the district on Sunday. Among those rescued include a two-month-old infant, they said, adding that food had been arranged at all the 31 relief shelters. There are reports about a landslide near Kuduremukha in Chikkamagaluru district, affecting road connectivity in the region. Several districts of coastal and Malnad regions like Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkmagaluru, Kodagu, parts of Hassan and Kannada, have been facing the wrath of the nature due to incessant rains in the last few days. From flood-ravaged Kerala comes a story of grit of the Coast Guard and armed forces personnel who saved a newly-born baby in a night-long rescue operation near the Idukki dam two days ago. Mumbai: From flood-ravaged Kerala comes a story of grit of the Coast Guard and armed forces personnel who saved a newly-born baby in a night-long rescue operation near the Idukki dam two days ago. The rescue operation began after a call from the Mumbai Coast Guard about rising water level in the Idukki dam area, the army officer, who led the team, said. "We were in the weekly commanders' conference at Kochi when a call came from the Coast Guard office in Mumbai to send the best team near the dam where water was flowing above the danger level," Lieutenant Colonel Shashikant Waghmode said. Lieutenant Colonel Waghmode, an assault engineer officer, currently on deputation to the Coast Guard, volunteered to lead the team and within 30 minutes, the team members were selected. Many Coast Guard personnel were called from various ships, he told PTI when asked about the operation. They were equipped with boats, outboard motor, ropes, digging tools, survival ration and medical kits, he said. "After the briefing by District Commander DHQ-4 DIG Sanathan Jena, the team, comprising 16 Coast Guard divers, started the journey at night," he said. The terrain was a challenge as Idukki is located in a hilly area, which had a number of landslides. There were waterfalls and poor visibility due to fog. The 'nullahs' (drains) and rivers were overflowing, he said. The team had to cross the Chappat bridge as the dam gates were going to be opened at 4.30 am. "I had taken along drivers experienced in the hilly terrain and after nine hours we managed to cross the bridge at 4 am, half-an-hour before the dam gates opened," said Lieutenant Colonel Waghmode, an alumnus of the Sainik School at Satara in Maharashtra. In Idukki, they found that all the villages were evacuated and hotels, shops, ATMs and petrol pumps were shut. There was no place to take shelter, he said. For the next four days, the Coast Guard team rescued many people in Manjumala and nearby villages and cleared debris and boulders. "I was leading a peculiar team comprising personnel from the Coast Guard, the army, the Navy and the Air Force. I was given the best sea divers of the Coast Guard, Navy nursing assistants, vehicle drivers of the army and the Air Force," he said. "On 16 August night, just as we reached an abandoned government hospital for rest after four days of non-stop work, the local police officer, villagers and NDRF officials came to us, asking to save the life of a woman who had just given birth," he said. The locals told the rescue team that the woman and her five family members were stuck in a flooded house without food and water for four days, he said. The team then launched a night-long rescue mission, calling it "Operation Water Baby", Lieutenant Colonel Waghmode said. The woman's house was two kilometres from the point where the rescue boat was unloaded, he said. "The best six members of the team were selected and the operation began at 10.30 pm in pitch dark and against the water current," the officer said. The outboard motor was not effective as there were a lot of stones, debris and mud mounds below but the team pushed the boat for about two2 kilometres against the water current, which was around 15 knots, he said. The team reached the house, guided by local policemen who accompanied them in the boat, at 1.30 am. "The family was in a bad state. They were not aware that someone was coming to their rescue. Due to medical issues of the newborn baby and the mother, we decided to wait till sunrise and continued the operation early morning with the help of a local doctor," he said. "On our way back, wherever there was less water, we lifted the boat with family members inside it. After we reached a safe spot, the woman told us that she will make her baby boy join the armed forces," the officer said. After this rescue operation, the team was given a choice to return and rest, but the personnel chose to proceed to Chengannur and join another rescue operation, he said. As the flood situation in Kerala improves, IMD said 'heavy rain' is expected only in three districts. Pinarayi Vijayan said rehabilitation is the next challenge. Kerala, battling catastrophic floods for the past 12 days, finally received some good news and a hint of respite on Sunday. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said there is no alert for heavy showers for the next four days in the state, and that the intensity of rainfall had decreased over the past two days. According to the weather agency, 'heavy rainfall' is expected only in the districts of Kozhikode, Kannur and Idukki. Further indicating a gradual return to normalcy, train services between Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam were reinstated on Sunday, and passenger services were also resumed. However, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan sounded a note of caution. He said that though one phase of the calamity was over, rehabilitation would be the next big challenge. "The spirit that we showed in rescue work needs to replicated in rehabilitation efforts also," the chief minister said, adding that rescue operations were in the final stages, and that 8,46,680 people were living in 3,734 camps across the state. "Our prime concern was to save lives. It appears it has been met," Vijayan told the media amid signs that the most destructive phase of the floods in Kerala had ended, and that waters submerging numerous towns and villages had finally begun to recede. "The tragedy is perhaps one of the worst ever. Hence, the loss caused is so huge. So we will accept all help." According to an official press release from the Centre, train services are expected to be restored on all lines by Monday evening. A special train with 14,00,000 litres of water and a navy ship with 8 lakh litres of water will also reach Kerala by Monday. Furthermore, commercial flights will resume operations from the Kochi Naval Base from Monday, and all arrangements for logistics for this have been put in place, the release said. According to the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), more than 15,000 people have been evacuated from areas affected by the floods and heavy rains in Kerala so far, and rescue operations have been stepped up in a number of badly-affected locations. State governments extend assistance On Sunday, Odisha chief minister Naveen Patnaik announced an additional financial assistance of Rs 5 crore for Kerala from the state's Chief Minister's Relief Fund. This is in addition to the Rs 5 crore he had sanctioned earlier. Patnaik has also ordered 500 metric tonnes of polythene sheets, worth around Rs 8 crore, to be sent to Kerala. Telangana home minister N Narasimha Reddy handed a cheque for Rs 25 crore to the Kerala chief minister in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday to help with the state's flood relief activities. Reddy also announced that he will donate a month's salary to the Kerala Chief Minister's Relief Fund, an official release said. The Jammu and Kashmir government also announced a relief of Rs 2 crore for the flood victims of Kerala. Governor NN Vohra informed Vijayan of this decision while expressing sorrow over the tragic loss of hundreds of lives in the floods. These are in addition to the several other states that had pledged crores to Kerala as flood relief. This includes Telangana, West Bengal, Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Punjab and Rajasthan. Toll rises to 370 The toll in the disaster has climbed to 370, as two more deaths in the floods in Kerala were reported on Sunday. Rescue operations are still underway in the worst-affected districts of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur. The high number of deaths is a result of 'exceptionally high seasonal rainfall' that has battered Kerala since 1 August. The downpour has left nearly half the state inundated. On Sunday, Byju, a grievance officer working with the Southern Railway, said: "There is an exodus-like situation everywhere. People have lost their family members, homes and property and are in a complete state of shock and helplessness." "I feel like I am in a war zone," he added. "Although water has receded, it is difficult to access some homes... The boundary walls of houses are strong, and water has collected inside the compounds. Many homes are in small inroads where boats can't reach. The destruction is immense, and the conditions of people is pathetic." Kerala floods LIVE updates: IMD says no heavy rain warning in state for next four days; 22,034 more people rescued on Sunday. Auto refresh feeds IMD withdraws red alert for Kerala for Sunday, reported DD News. Only three districts Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulam are on orange alert. All other districts have been issued yellow and green alert, hinting likely rainfall at some places. The 33 deaths reported during the day took place in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts. The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala has gone up to 368 (since monsoon began), as 33 more deaths were reported on Saturday even as around 58,000 people were rescued in different parts of the state. With mass evacuation from Kuttanad region beginning, the number of people shifted to relief camps across Kerala has crossed 8.45 lakh. The displaced people have been accommodated in 3,746 relief camps across the state. A Kerala Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) official said that 2,10,119 people from Alappuzha have been sheltered in 678 camps across the district and neighbouring areas till 8 pm on Saturday. The maximum number of relief camps is in Thrissur district, where 1,99,720 people have taken shelter. The services at the Kochi international airport, which is among the busiest in the country, have been suspended till 26 August after flood water inundated the runway.The decisions were taken at a meeting of the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC), the country's apex body to handle emergency situation, headed by Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha. In the wake of massive floods in Kerala, the Centre on Friday decided to open Kochi Naval airstrip for use by commercial aircraft by Monday and deploy five more choppers, taking the total number of aircraft used for rescue and relief to 96. Bus services between Karnataka and Kerala will begin plying as Kerala State Road Transport Cooperation has restored all its services to Kerala sector, Ernakulam, Kottayam, Trissur, Palghat, Calicut, Cannanore and Thiruvananthapuram (except Kasaragod), reported News18. The first service starts at 4 pm to Thiruvananthapuram from Bengaluru on Sunday. The Alappuzha police have arrested five people, who have refused to lend their houseboats for rescue operations in the Kuttanad region, where a massive evacuation is on following flood in the Pampa river. The arrests were made on the direction of Public Works Minister G Sudhakaran, who hails from the district. Earlier the district administration had warned that it will seize boats and arrest the owners if they did not cooperate with the authorities. The administration has so far seized 35 houseboats. More than 2.10 lakh people have been evacuated from the district till 8 pm on Saturday. The operation has resumed in the morning by pressing more boats into action. Kerala has been receiving financial aid from various state governments across the country. The social media has also helped in the collection of funds from individuals and organisations. Anbodu Kochi or Do for Kerala and Kerala Bleeding were some of the organisations that have opened collection centres in Ernakulam and Bangalore respectively to collect items like baby food, sanitary napkins, mosquito repellants. People in Mumbai gather essential items to be sent to flood-hit Kerala on Sunday. People from Mumbai gather essential commodities to be sent to flood-hit Kerala The number of people evacuated from flood-hit areas has gone up from 4.5 lakh at 8 pm on Saturday to 8,46,680 till 9 am on Sunday, according to Kerala State Disaster Management (KSDMA) control room officials. In all 2,076,40 families have taken refuge in 3,734 relief camps across the state. The officials said that 39 people who were missing are yet to be traced. Over 130 people who were injured in the flood are admitted in various hospitals. 2,076,40 families have taken refuge in 3,734 relief camps across the state: KSDMA The Kerala state committee of the IATA Agents Association of India has launched a helpline to provide assistance to those travelling to and from Kerala in the wake of the flood devastation. The suspension of operation in the Cochin International Airport has affected large number of people, especially the non-resident Keralites who normally take their annual holiday during the Onam festival season. The helpline numbers are 9846166668 and 9995049243. IATA Agents Association of India launches helpline to provide assistance to those travelling to and from Kerala In Tamil Nadu, an almost 100-year old bridge over the Kollidam river in Trichy, that connects Srirangam with the mainland, finally collapsed at midnight on Saturday, three days after cracks had developed in two of its pillars. The old steel bridge had been in disuse since 2015 when a new bridge was constructed adjacent to it keeping in mind its age and condition. It was only being used by pedestrians and two-wheelers, that too rarely. The gushing waters of the Kollidam (a distributary of the Cauvery), with a flow of 1.7 lakh cusecs, had finally sounded the death knell to the bridge. Authorities who been monitoring the situation since the cracks developed were predicting its imminent collapse.( Inputs by Mydeen Abdul Kadar/101Reporters) Uttar Pradesh DGP OP Singh tweeted on Saturday mourning loss of lives in Kerala. "Deeply saddened by the loss of valuable lives & mass destruction caused by the Kerala Floods. @UPPolice prays for the safety & well being of people of Kerala in this hour of grief. I appeal to all UPPolice Personnel to voluntarily donate 1 day salary for #KeralaFloods relief," he said. Kovind also praised the relief agencies for their response and commitment. President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Governor P Sathasivam on Saturday to inquire about the flood situation in the state. He expressed satisfaction that the Union and state governments were working in synergy in the rescue and relief operations in the state. He acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people of Kerala in coming together and assured that the entire nation was with them. Alappuzha District Collector S Suhas claimed that 97 percent of the people marooned in the flooded Kuttanad region have been evacuated and efforts are on to rescue the remaining. According to Suhas, 2,25,000 people from the region, which lies below the sea level, have been rescued. About 100 houseboats, 35 other large boats and four junkars have been deployed for the evacuation. He said that the district administration has launched a sector-wise search to identify people stranded in isolated places. At Chengannur in Alapuzha district, at least 5,000 are stranded, according to revenue officials. Thousands of people in flood-hit areas in Kerala are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since 8 August. Many are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them at various places in Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. The Railways has cancelled at least 18 trains, partially cancelled nine and diverted Sunday's Kanyakumari-Mumbai CST Express train via Nagercoil, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Dindigul and Erode. In a tweet, the defence ministry said that approximately 23,213 people were rescued by the armed forces on Sunday. More than 2,000 people were provided with medical aid. Twenty-two landslides were cleared and connectivity restored at 42 locations. Fifteen temporary bridges were also constructed by the Indian Army. West Indies cricketer Dwayne Bravo has appealed for help to those affected by the floods The National Cadet Corps' unit in Kottayam has rescued over 100 people, and has also provided relief to about 3,000 people in various regions of Kerala, News18 reported. The toll due to the devastating rains and floods in Kerala increased to 370, as two more deaths were reported on Sunday with rescue operations continuing in the worst affected districts of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur. The flooding has definitely brought to light the existence of illegal stone quarries or a large number of unauthorised constructions on river beds, Professor Madhav Gadgil said to PTI. "In this sense, it is definitely a man-made calamity where intense rainfall and human intervention have made it a serious disaster." Back in 2011, the Gadgil Committee put together a bunch of recommendations to the central government about ecologically-fragile regions in the Western Ghats. They found the highest number of vulnerable zones in Kerala and cited several reasons for them being classified as such.Some reasons for its vulnerability were geographical, a challenge posed by its position amidst the Ghats. Many other causes quarrying, mining, illegal repurposing of forests, and high-rise building constructions were man-made, controllable factors that the state chose to brush aside. While various parts of central Kerala are still battling the ongoing flood, Calicut has started seeing sunnier days. The water levels are coming down and people are gradually trying to resume their normal lives. With heavy rains and discharge from the Kakkeyam Dam in the last few days, Kakkodi panchayat has witnessed its share of flooding and chaos. But with the help of the local community, the situation was in control before things got out of hand. ( Read more here ) Calicut's Kakkodi is a story of resilience, survival as locals help each other get back on their feet A temporary bridge is being built by Rapid Action Force(RAF) in Erumachery to block flooding water. Kodagu DC PI Sreevidya on Sunday ordered all homestays, resorts, hotels and lodges to cancel bookings till 31 August. (Input by Coovercolly Indresh/101 Reporters) Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan says that the rescue operations are in its last leg with 8,46,680 people living in 3,734 camps across the state. Vijayan says the focus is to bring back life to normalcy through proper rehabilitation. While providing clean drinking water in affected areas is the government's top priority, special team will be formed for cleaning operations and six health inspectors per panchayat would be given the charge. School children who have lost their text books would be provided fresh ones immediately, Vijayan added. Those fishermen whose boats were damaged during rescue operation would be compensated with Rs 3,000 per day, he said. Special team will be formed for cleaning operations, 6 health inspectors to be in charge: Pinarayi Vijayan "I feel like I am in a war zone. Though the waters have receded, it is difficult to access some homes," Byju said. "The boundary walls of houses are strong and water has collected inside the compounds of houses. Many homes are in small inroads where the boats can't reach. The destruction is immense and the conditions of people pathetic," he said. "There is an exodus like situation everywhere. People have lost their family members, homes, property and are completely in a state of shock and helplessness," he said. He shares an incident that he saw as part of a rescue team at Vazhar Mangalam near Chenganur. When the rescue team reached a house, they found a woman banging the door asking for help. The team was able to take the woman to the hospital. "After the woman was taken away to the hospital, we entered the house. We saw three bodies -- a paralysed youth of around 30 years named Remi who held hands with his grandparents," he says. Byju says that the scenes of the tragedy are like he has never seen before. "It is almost like watching a Hollywood film. The destruction to life and property is immense and heart-rending'. Byju, a grievances officer working in Southern Railways, Trivandrum head office, has taken leave to help the flood-afflicted. Reiterating that he does not want any acknowledgement of the work he is doing, he shares his experiences with Firstpost. It is a war like zone in Kerala, says railway officer aiding rescue operations "It was great to see the MLAs in the state working together without political differences in this relief work."Mentioning that there have been attempts to sell essential commodties at a higher price at the moment, Vijayan said this will not be allowed at any cost. The chief minister in his media briefing also said that they have incurred the maximum losses when it comes to roads. Thanking NRIs for their support, the chief minister also mentioned states like West Bengal which has provided Rs 10 crore as relief funds. "This was the biggest calamity that we have ever faced. But it is the resilience and determination of our people that has helped us overcome it,"Vijayan said. A team of villagers and RSS workers on Sunday rescued 6 critically ill persons from Mukkodlu near Madikeri. All six are admitted to Madikeri government hospital for treatment and out of danger. The same team rescued more than 180 villagers on saturday. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan says only one phase of the calamity is over and rehabilitation is the next big challenge before us."The spirit that we showed in rescue work needs to be replicated in rehabilitation efforts also," the chief minister said. While 22,034 more people have been rescued today, the operations are going to continue he said. Vijayan further said that the government will take all steps to clean and sanitise houses after the water recedes and migrant labourers will be taken care of too. Only one phase of calamity over, rehabilitation next challenge: Pinarayi Vijayan In Karnataka's Madikeri, Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy convened an officers' meeting and instructed officers to speed up relief work. (Inputs by Coovercolly Indresh/ 101 Reporters) The India Meteorological Department said that the intensity of rainfall over Kerala has decreased over the past two days, and that there is no alert of heavy showers for the next four days in the state. The weather agency said it is expecting "heavy rainfall" only in Kozhikode, Kannur and Idduki districts. IMD Additional Director General Mritunjay Mohapatra said that Kerala recorded 9 centimetres of rainfall on Saturday. On 16 and 17 August, the state recorded 19 centimetres and 11 centimetres of rainfall, he added.- PTI IMD says no heavy rain warning in Kerala for next four days Madikeri MLA MP Appachu Ranjan (second from left) participated in Sunday's rescue operation in Mukkodlu near 25 kilometres from Madikeri. (Input from Coovercolly Indresh/ 101 Reporters) It is ironical in this disconnect, with even the media unable to spark a "Save Kerala, Help Kerala" campaign, that there seems to be more concern and empathy displayed at the Gulf Cooperation Council enclave. Over 3 million Malayalees work in the GCC members states, where over 2,00o associations, groups and clubs represent them. President of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, has ordered a National Emergency Committee to ensure relief for the victims of the floods in Kerala. The Emirates Red Crescent has been asked to do its bit, as well. ( Read more here ) Cargoes full of relief material for the flood-affected of Kerala is being loaded on INS Mysore at Mumbai. The retail cost of rice and sugar has shot up by Rs 15. Frustrated residents organised a noisy protest at a shop in Kaloor near here, forcing again the police to intervene. The shop owner argued that he had no choice but to jack up the prices as he was paying more on transport. Officials have promised tough action against all those who make a killing at a time of misery.- IANS The worst floods to batter Kerala since 1924 have fuelled shortages and sent prices of vegetables zooming, with green chillis selling at Rs 400 a kilogram in Kochi and surrounding areas. Very few shops are open in the first place. Those which are are making a killing, complain residents. After the retail price of green chillies went through the roof, angry locals sought police intervention and the cost came down. But even now it is costing Rs 120 a kilogram. Onions, potatoes and cabbage were being sold at Rs 90 a kilogram before police told the vendors to put up a price display board. Narendra Modi tweets about Karnataka floods, says, "Spoke to Karnataka CM HD kumaraswamy Ji regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations." Narendra Modi tweets about Karnataka floods, says all support being extended for relief operations Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis appeals everyone to come forward and stand firm with citizens of Kerala during the floods. Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis appeals everyone to stand firm with citizens of Kerala Ministry of Civil Aviation issues update on Kerala flights, says domestic flights have been increased to Trivandrum to minimise passenger inconvenience. Odisha CM directs Odisha Relief Commissioner to extend all help to people from the state stranded in Kerala, says 244 fire service personnel trained in rescue operations with 65 rescue boats and other equipment have been sent from the state. Naveen Patnaik directs Odisha Relief Commissioner to extend all help to people in Kerala The Karnataka state government has appointed housing department secretary Anbu Kumar from Madikeri, ADGP Bhaskar Rao from Kushalnagar and Maria Christu Raja, IFS from Virajpet, to monitor relief measures. These officers are camping in these areas and will look after relief measures in the relief centers. The district administration declared holidays for all schools and colleges on 20 and 21.August. Relief material for the flood affected Kerala being loaded on INS Mysore at Mumbai. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/3hvMaDEHjj Cargoes full of relief material for the flood-affected of Kerala is being loaded on INS Mysore at Mumbai. The retail cost of rice and sugar has shot up by Rs 15. Frustrated residents organised a noisy protest at a shop in Kaloor near here, forcing again the police to intervene. The shop owner argued that he had no choice but to jack up the prices as he was paying more on transport. Officials have promised tough action against all those who make a killing at a time of misery.- IANS The worst floods to batter Kerala since 1924 have fuelled shortages and sent prices of vegetables zooming, with green chillis selling at Rs 400 a kilogram in Kochi and surrounding areas. Very few shops are open in the first place. Those which are are making a killing, complain residents. After the retail price of green chillies went through the roof, angry locals sought police intervention and the cost came down. But even now it is costing Rs 120 a kilogram. Onions, potatoes and cabbage were being sold at Rs 90 a kilogram before police told the vendors to put up a price display board. Spoke to Karnataka CM Shri @hd_kumaraswamy Ji regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas. @CMofKarnataka Narendra Modi tweets about Karnataka floods, says, "Spoke to Karnataka CM HD kumaraswamy Ji regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations." Narendra Modi tweets about Karnataka floods, says all support being extended for relief operations CM @Dev_Fadnavis appeals everyone to come forward and stand firm with citizens of Kerala and contribute https://t.co/Bp4FBAmJcz #KeralaReliefFund #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/VAwQgZTpos Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis appeals everyone to come forward and stand firm with citizens of Kerala during the floods. Meanwhile, Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis appeals everyone to stand firm with citizens of Kerala Ministry of Civil Aviation issues update on Kerala flights, says domestic flights have been increased to Trivandrum to minimise passenger inconvenience. 244 Fire Service Personnel trained in rescue ops with 65 rescue boats&other equipment have been sent from Odisha to Kerala to help in rescue ops. Odisha CM directed Odisha Relief Commissioner to extend all help to people from the state stranded in Kerala #KeralaFloods (file pic) pic.twitter.com/oLsCWkvyM4 Odisha CM directs Odisha Relief Commissioner to extend all help to people from the state stranded in Kerala, says 244 fire service personnel trained in rescue operations with 65 rescue boats and other equipment have been sent from the state. Naveen Patnaik directs Odisha Relief Commissioner to extend all help to people in Kerala Kerala: Seva Bharati,a community service unit of RSS (pic 1&2) & CPM cadres (pic 3&4) are carrying out rescue&relief ops across the state which is reeling under floods. 357 people have lost their lives in the flood so far. Visuals from Trivandrum, Kumily & Palakkad. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/EgfWXZiCHL The Karnataka state government has appointed housing department secretary Anbu Kumar from Madikeri, ADGP Bhaskar Rao from Kushalnagar and Maria Christu Raja, IFS from Virajpet, to monitor relief measures. These officers are camping in these areas and will look after relief measures in the relief centers. The district administration declared holidays for all schools and colleges on 20 and 21.August. Kerala floods latest updates: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan says only one phase of the calamity is over and rehabilitation is the next big challenge before us."The spirit that we showed in rescue work needs to be replicated in rehabilitation efforts also," the chief minister said. Around 8 lakh have been displaced in the deluge so far; Vijayan says rescue operations are in the last leg. Further, train services between Thiruvananthapuram - Ernakulam have been reinstated, and passenger services are on. In a tweet, the defence ministry said that approximately 23,213 people were rescued by the armed forces on Sunday. More than 2,000 people were provided with medical aid. Twenty-two landslides were cleared and connectivity restored at 42 locations. Fifteen temporary bridges were also constructed by the Indian Army. Thousands of people in flood-hit areas in Kerala are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since 8 August. Many are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them at various places in Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. Alappuzha District Collector S Suhas claimed that 97 percent of the people marooned in the flooded Kuttanad region have been evacuated and efforts are on to rescue the remaining. Acknowledging the commendable job of the Indian Armed forces, the KJ Alphons said, "The NDRF and the paramilitary forces are working day and night. We have close to one million people in relief camps and we need to feed them. We have the armed forces, NDRF, paramilitary Forces at work." As of 10 am on Sunday, the water level in the Idukki reservoir was 2,402.28 feet. The water flow into Periyar river is 913 cusecs per hour. Two shutters of the dam have been closed. The Alappuzha police have arrested five people, who have refused to lend their houseboats for rescue operations in the Kuttanad region, where a massive evacuation is on following flood in the Pampa river. In the wake of massive floods in Kerala, the Centre on Friday decided to open Kochi Naval airstrip for use by commercial aircraft by Monday and deploy five more choppers, taking the total number of aircraft used for rescue and relief to 96. An official from the Disaster Management Authority control room said 409 houses were fully and 4,680 houses were partially destroyed in the floods since 8 August. The crop loss estimated till Saturday was worth Rs 224.21 crores. With mass evacuation from Kuttanad region in Kerala beginning, the number of people shifted to relief camps across Kerala has crossed 8.45 lakh. Meanwhile, Cases of chicken pox infection has been reported from a relief camp in Ernakulam district. According to information three people at Aluva UCC college camp have been diagnosed with the air-borne disease. In one of the biggest rescue operations carried out in India, officials said that 67 helicopters, 24 aeroplanes and 548 motorboats have been deployed for rescue and relief operations across flood-ravaged Kerala. The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala has gone up to 368 this monsoon season, as 33 more deaths were reported on Saturday even as around 58,000 people were rescued in different parts of the state, and red alert continued in 11 districts following prediction of more rains. The India Meteorological Department forecast on Saturday afternoon that widespread rains, with heavy rains at isolated places, is likely to continue over Kerala following low pressure area developing over northwest Bay of Bengal and neighbourhood during the next 24 hours. While around 60,000 people were rescued in districts like Ernakulam, Chengannur, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur, there are still many more waiting to be rescued. Barring Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Kasargod, the remaining 11 districts of Kerala were on red alert on Saturday. The worst affected places include Aluva, Chalakudy, Chengannur, Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta, where massive rescue operations were on as scores of persons were rescued. Media houses continued to be flooded with requests from friends and relatives of those stranded in affected areas. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told Prime Minister Narendra Modi at a review meeting in Kochi that the death toll since 29 May had climbed to 357. Over 3.53 lakh affected persons had been lodged in over 2,000 relief camps, he said. Modi sanctioned Rs 500 crore to the flood-battered state, apart from Rs 100 crore announced earlier by the Centre on 12 August, before returning to Delhi after an aerial survey of the affected areas. The 33 deaths reported during the day were in Ernakulam, Thrissur, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha districts. Vijayan told the media here the situation is "very serious and grave". "The death toll would have been higher, but for the work we did. Things are under control," said Vijayan, whose government was flayed by Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala for failing to take up rescue and relief work effectively. Food Minister P Thilothaman, camping at Chengannur, told the media: "The need of the hour is to provide food packets and drinking water to the people. About 15 small boats of the Navy are expected to join rescue and relief work. But, after dusk, no rescues are possible. Helicopters are also needed for faster evacuation." Meanwhile, anger mounted across Kerala as coordination of rescue work went haywire due to the magnitude of the calamity. "There are several people who are waiting to be rescued in areas like Pandanad (near Chengannur) and I saw two bodies floating in the water. If there is anymore delay in, things will taken a turn for the worse. We are drinking rain water to keep us going...," said a resident of Pandanad. On late Saturday evening, a 150-member National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team started rescue operations in and around affected areas of Chengannur. Congress legislator VD Sateeshan, who was spearheading the rescue operations in Paravur in Ernakulam district, said that he stood before a rescue boat team with folded hands and they obliged and rescued several people. "In the camp at my place, there are 7,000 people and despite passionate pleas this camp has not received any government help at all. Several people have to take medicines for lifestyle diseases, but no medical kits have come. I have spoken to the Chief Minister down to all...All I got is assurances," said Sateeshan. National award winning actor Salimkumar, after remaining holed up in his house along with 45 others for three days, was finally rescued by a fishing boat on Saturday evening. "I was receiving daily calls from NDRF officials even from Delhi that rescue will happen very soon, but help came after three days," said Salimkumar. Flaying the state for "failing in the endeavour", Leader of Opposition Chennithala said: "I have been flooded with calls from the affected persons. Even now, thousands of people are stranded. The Chief Minister dismissed with contempt when I said this week that rescue and relief should be handed over to the Army. I do not want to blame anyone but it has been proved beyond doubt that the state government has failed." Alappuzha Superintendent of Police AP Surendran said: "Things are moving fast on Saturday. Helicopters and more boats have been pressed into service. We are confident we will be able to rescue more stranded people." More fishing boats from various places reached the affected areas during the day. Alappuzha District Collector S Suhas said since morning 150 boats including house boats have been engaged in rescuing people and "today (Saturday) we have by now evacuated about 75 per cent of people who were waiting to be rescued". "Around two lakhs people are now in various camps. This could well be the biggest rescue operation. At some places the water is very rough and various types of boats are rescuing people," Suhas said. Journalist-turned-CPM legislator Veena George on Saturday turned critical "due to the way the government machinery in Pathanamthitta has been working". "None has a clue of how many people have been rescued and how many are left to be rescued. There seems to be disconnect in coordination of the operations," said George. The situation in Kozhikode, Malappuram, Palakkad and Wayanad inched towards comparative normalcy as rains slowed and water level receded, with many living in crowded relief camps awaiting to return home. But a landslide near Nelliyampathy in Palakkad district has left around 1,000 people cut off from the mainland and the Army is working to clear the debris. At several places in waterlogged areas, banks could not function normally since staff failed to report for the duty due to flooding. Railway services between Ernakulam and Thrissur remained suspended on Saturday with long-distance trains diverted via the Nagercoil route. A trial run on the Kottayam sector took place later in the day, as all services on this route were suspended for the past two days. Certain blockades on the Thrissur-Palakkad-Aluva highway was cleared for traffic. Army personnel worked hard to clear the roads to Munnar. Kerala is facing the heaviest rains and consequent widespread floods and destruction since 1924, which the state estimates has caused a loss of over Rs 19,500 crore. With inputs from agencies The IMD said Kerala may get some respite from the floods as no heavy rain is expected in the next four days, except in Idukki, Konnur and Kozhikode districts. New Delhi: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Sunday said there will be no heavy rains in flood-hit Kerala for the next four days, giving a ray of hope to the distraught people of the state. The NDMA also said that different agencies have rescued more than 33,000 people from the flood-affected areas of the state. Over 6.33 lakh people are currently staying in relief camps, it added. "Rainfall will further decrease in the next five days. Heavy rain at one or two places in Idukki, Konnur and Kozhikode districts likely today (Sunday). No heavy rain from tomorrow for the next four days," the NDMA said, quoting a bulletin of the India Meteorological Department (IMD). There is no red or amber alert for any district of Kerala for Sunday. A yellow warning has been issued in three districts. The IMD has four colour codes to signify the intensity of weather. Red means authorities need to take action and one can expect extreme weather conditions. Amber means government agencies need to be prepared to handle exigencies. Yellow means the situation needs to be watched, and green signals possibly normal weather. The central government has also decided to give ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh each to the families of those killed in the floods, and Rs 50,000 to the injured. The compensation will be provided from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund. A total 6,33,010 people are staying in 2,971 relief camps. As of now, 33,179 people have been evacuated in rescue operations, the NDMA said. It added that so far, 129 metric tonnes of rice and 30 MT of milk powder 20 MT to Idukki and 10 MT to Wayanad have been dispatched to Kerala. The Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation has dispatched necessary medicines to the affected areas, which is in addition to the over 150 truck loads of relief materials from the civil society and NGOs. Altogether, 100 tonnes of food materials like biscuits, rusks and drinking water are being airlifted to Kerala from Jalandhar and Patiala in Punjab. At least 197 people have been killed in Kerala in the last 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since 8 August, as floods and landslides triggered by incessant rain have wreaked havoc in many parts of the state. Punjab government sent truckloads of provisions and relief materials to the flood victims in Kerala. It said that it will stand 'rock solid' with the people of Kerala Ludhiana: The Punjab government dispatched on Saturday truckloads of one lakh packets of relief material to flood-hit people in Kerala from the city. More than 190 people have lost their lives in the floods in Kerala, as per state disaster management authority. The trucks carrying relief material were flagged off by Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Minister Bharat Bhushan Ashu and Member of Parliament Ravneet Singh Bittu from Guru Nanak Stadium, in Ludhiana, an official release said. Ashu and Bittu said the relief material dispatched on Saturday comprises one lakh packets that consist of sugar, tea, biscuits, powdered milk, water bottles etc. They informed that to ensure that the relief material reaches Kerala soon, it has been sent by air from the Halwara Air Force Station. They said the Punjab government was standing rock solid with the people of Kerala in this hour of crisis. They said relief material would be dispatched from other districts as well. Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh has announced Rs 10 crore worth of immediate relief for the flood-ravaged state of Kerala. The Madhya Pradesh Police said that the victim was suspected to have been chocked to death following the rape and is conducting a thorough investigation. Burhanpur: A body of a three-year-old minor, who had gone missing since Thursday while playing outside her home in Burhanpur, was recovered in the wee hours of Sunday from a village which is a kilometre away from the region. Speaking to media, Ajay Kumar, Chief Superintendent of Police, said that the victim was suspected to have been chocked to death following the rape. "Three doctors have examined the body of the victim and surmised that there is a strong possibility of sexual assault. They have also found strangulation marks on the semi-decomposed body. We have sent the body to the forensic laboratory situated in Bhopal. It is expected that the lab report will reveal the cause of death," he added. The police is conducting a thorough investigation of the incident in order to get a clue about the accused. Ajay Raghuvanshi, the chief of District Congress Committee, condemned the incident and suggested that the police must tightened its security in and around the region to curb the menace of rape. He also added that a strict action should be taken against the accused at the earliest. On a closer look, cases of rape, sexual abuse and sexual assault with minors are rapidly increasing across India. Last month, a seven-year-old girl was raped and strangled to death in Rajasthan's Jhalawar area. The girl's body was found 200 meters away from home. In Uttar Pradesh, madrasa manager along with five other people have recently been booked for allegedly raping an 11-year-old girl from Ghosi area. The CBI have arrested one gunman involved in the killing of Narendra Dabholkar. His son Hamid Dabholkar hopes for the real perpetrators behind the crime to be caught soon Pune: The son of slain Maharashtra rationalist Narendra Dabholkar hoped that the real perpetrators behind the murder of his father are nabbed soon. According to media reports, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Saturday arrested one of the two gunmen who allegedly killed Narendra Dabholkar in 2013. Sachin Prakasrao Andure, who is believed to be one of the shooters who shot dead the MANS founder in Pune, was arrested by the central probe agency from Maharashtra's Aurangabad. Narendra Dabholkar's son Hamid Dabholkar, told ANI, "The CBI has arrested a person in connection with the case. I think it is an important development in the case which will help in the further probe. We hope that with this arrest, investigating agencies will get to the mastermind who was involved in the killing of my father Dr Dabholkar. The Bombay High Court is supervising and monitoring the case. I hope soon the accused in murder cases of Govind Pansare, MM Kalburgi and Gauri Lankesh will also get arrested by the police." Meanwhile, DCP Anti-Terror Squad (ATS) of Maharashtra D Kulkarni underscored that following a tip-off from Thane's ATS team Andure was arrested. "Thane ATS team, had recently arrested three persons from Nalasopara and Pune in an alleged case of explosives seizure. During custodial interrogation, one of the arrested people revealed about Andure's direct involvement in the Dabholkar killing," said Kulkarni. "One more person was summoned and he also revealed identical information, following which the CBI arrested one more person and now is further investigating the case," Kulkarni said. The arrest comes few days ahead of the fifth death anniversary of Dabholkar, who was murdered by unknown bike-borne assailants from point-blank range on 20 August, 2013, in Pune, while he was returning home from a morning walk. The Bombay High Court on 2 August had pulled up Maharashtra's Special Investigation Agency (SIT) and CBI probing the case. The court cracked a whip on the investigative agencies directing them to adopt the same degree of seriousness and promptness like Karnataka Police which is probing the Gauri Lankesh murder case. "Is there a lack of coordination, or are the authorities before us restricting their probe to merely pursuing mobile phone records," the court had said. Following a demand by members of Dabholkar's family, the case was handed over to the CBI for investigation. On a related note, the Karnataka police while probing the killing of journalist Gauri Lankesh found out that suspects in Lankesh's murder had links with the conspirators in the murders of Dabholkar, Karburgi and Pansare. Shrikant Pangarkar was detained by the CBI after interrogation of Sachin Prakasrao Andure, the alleged main shooter in the Narendra Dabholkar murder case. Aurangabad: A former Shiv Sena corporator has been detained in connection with the killing of anti-superstition activist Narendra Dabholkar in Maharashtra's Jalna district, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) sources said on Sunday. Shrikant Pangarkar, a former member of the Jalna Municipal Corporation, was detained on Saturday night by the CBI after interrogation of Sachin Prakasrao Andure, the alleged main shooter in the Dabholkar murder case, they said. Andure, a resident of Aurangabad in central Maharashtra, was arrested in Pune on Saturday evening, said a CBI spokesperson on Saturday. Pangarkar, aged around 40, was taken into custody after Andure told the CBI that he was with him at the time of Dabholkar's murder, the sources said. The former corporator was allegedly riding pillion on the motorcycle driven by Andure, they said. Dabholkar, 67, was shot dead by two motorcycle-borne assailants on 20 August, 2013, when he was on a morning walk near his home in Pune. Andure, who works as a salesman in a garment shop in the Nirala Bazaar area of Aurangabad, is believed to be one of the shooters who fired at Dabholkar, the CBI spokesperson had said on Saturday. He was arrested on a tip-off from the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), which had last week arrested three persons for allegedly hatching a conspiracy to carry out blasts in the state. One of the arrested accused gave the input about Andure's involvement in Dabholkar's murder, which the ATS shared with the CBI, the spokesperson said. The murder case was transferred to the CBI from the Pune Police in 2014. One wonders why St Stephen's College can be an object of nostalgia only when 'its Christianity was/is extremely understated'. Nostalgia is a curious substance, at once evocative and obfuscating. To speak of St. Stephens College, one of the earliest and better-known constituents of the University of Delhi, is to, at once, also speak of nostalgia. For an institution as advanced in its antiquity, it is peculiar, if not remarkable, how concomitant nostalgia has remained with the college as a palpable, forceful presence. It is where, we are told, footsteps of illustrious figures of public life have not only lain, but moved, where an enlightened political life is so pervasive that men and women walk 'uncontaminated by the prejudices of race, religion, caste, and class'. Ramachandra Guha, whose eulogistic article this piece is an extended comment on, embodies that very generation of illustrious figures of public life for whom the college has remained a site of nostalgic recollection. In the aforesaid piece, Guha alludes to the historic and historical antecedents of St Stephens College and takes these to be the moral energy of the college until after Guha when the Christians came. Founded by the Cambridge mission to Her Majestys India, St. Stephens College has always been characterised by a Christian inscription, even in its transposition from colonial service to postcolonial responsibility. Guha, and indeed, his generation, belonged to the second era in the history of the college when it became the fixture around which academic life moved. The college did so by handpicking an excellent few from excellent, elite nurseries and delivering them into political, academic, intellectual, and cultural eminence. Curiously, the college still continues to perform that very function, although substantially diluted by the diversion of 'outstanding students' to other institutions where education is relatively secular. Such a history, recounted not only by Guha but his contemporaries at the college, leaves unidentified those outstanding students uncontaminated by prejudice certainly, they do not carry prejudices of race, religion, caste, and class, but are we to assume that they have no social positions of their own? The Stephanians Guha speaks of in glowing terms came from upper-caste, Hindu, and until 1975, male positions. It appears thus that it is the upper-caste Hindu subject whom Guha is defending against the encroaching Christians it is they who rob our aforesaid outstanding students from the luxury of walking the corridors their kind had forever considered their own. It is in this script that Guhas ceaseless profiling of the Christian as someone too privileged to be delivered affirmative action as also a group not outstanding enough as Guhas outstanding students is to be located. He writes that "a striking consequence of this lopsided reservation policy has been an influx of students from the Syrian Christian community, who have a high degree of wealth and status already. Reserving 50 percent of seats for 2 percent of the population, this a far from disadvantaged section to boot, is surely indefensible on ethical grounds, especially when the college is funded not by the Church but by taxpayers money. () There have been academic costs to this capture as well. If outstanding students and the best faculty are turned away only because of their religion, then they will go elsewhere." Such an assessment also ignores, at its own peril, that the colleges avowed Christianisation in admissions is more complicated indeed, there are special categorisations by church, but also an attempt at educational inclusion by apportioning positions for those of the Scheduled Caste (SC) and Scheduled Tribe (ST) categories among the Christian applicants. If anything, there is a case to be made for the affirmative focus of the colleges Christianisation not going far enough to say that it has gone too far is obfuscation. It is equally significant that St Stephens College is constitutionally empowered by Article 30 which guarantees 'the right of minorities to establish and administer educational institutions.' Notwithstanding Guhas frequent references to how 'taxpayers money' is being funneled into the running of a Christian institution, the Article also prohibits the State from any discrimination towards an institution on account of its minoritarian affiliation. In its 'galloping Christianisation', the college, then, is performing its constitutional role. Why, one wonders, can it be an object of nostalgia only when 'its Christianity was/is extremely understated'? On a more fundamental level, Guhas piece, however evocative, betrays a viscerally pathological fear of the sacral. Beyond sensationalist readings, there is no solidity to the claim, contained in a piece on The Print, that the philosophy department of the college is being disbanded in lieu of a department for theological study. Were the former to fructify, the college would stand to lose a precious intellectual resource, but the possibility of the latter the institution of a theology department need not necessarily evoke distaste. In any case, a statement put out by the institution on its website states that the department of Philosophy will continue to function, and that there 'was and is no proposal to start a department of Theology in College.' To return to nostalgia, perhaps what Guha remembers and mourns is not St. Stephens Colleges diversity but its exclusion, its totalising marginalisation of the diverse and the different. This is, indeed, why the thirtieth constitutional Article was put in place. It is also why, in Indias present political circumstance, the Article and its 'narrow' institutional visions and incarnations, must remain. The author is a post-graduate student at St Stephen's College The security forces have foiled an infiltration attempt by militants in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara and killed three militants Kupwara (Jammu and Kashmir): The security forces on Saturday foiled an infiltration bid and gunned down three terrorists along the Line of Control (LoC) in Tangdhar sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district. Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police (DGP) SP Vaid confirmed the killing of terrorists. Three terrorists killed by Army while infiltrating in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara today . Shesh Paul Vaid (@spvaid) August 18, 2018 "Three terrorists killed by Army while infiltrating in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara today," Vaid tweeted. More details are awaited. This comes few days after two Pakistani troops were killed by the Army in the Tangdhar sector after they violated the ceasefire along the LoC. Tamil Nadu chief minister Edapaddi Palaniswami on Sunday assured compensation for crop loss due to the floods caused by the heavy discharge of water from the state's dams and permanent houses for the affected people. Bhavani: Tamil Nadu chief minister Edapaddi Palaniswami on Sunday assured compensation for crop loss due to the floods caused by the heavy discharge of water from the state's dams and permanent houses for the affected people. The dams, including Mettur and Bhavanisagar, have been discharging huge volumes of water in view of continuing high inflows from Karnataka reservoirs like Krishnarajasagar. The discharge has resulted in the inundation of a slew of villages and submergence of standing crops along the banks of Cauvery, (its tributary Bhavani in Erode) in several districts of Tamil Nadu. "Presently, inflow into the Bhavanisagar dam is 21,000 cusecs and discharge is 3,000 cusecs. From the Mettur reservoir, the outflow is 2 lakh cusecs and the inflow is about 1.95 lakh cusecs," Palaniswami said. The chief minister, who was speaking to reporters after inspecting flood-affected areas in Erode district, said the government would disburse compensation for damaged crops proportionate to the extent of loss. "The government will give compensation for crop damage after the flood waters recede," he told reporters. In Erode district, 47 villages and 609.69 hectares of crops, including horticulture, have been affected. Those residing along the banks of the rivers Bhavani and Cauvery have requested safe, permanent houses and government would take steps to fulfil their request, he told reporters when asked about the representation from the affected people. He said the government was extending all help to the people whose houses were damaged due to inundation caused by the release of excess waters from dams. As many as 7,832 people have been sheltered in relief centres in Erode district, 263 houses fully damaged and 114 partially damaged, while a total of 1,599 houses have been inundated, he said. A flood alert was sounded for 13 districts, including the Cauvery delta regions, besides Madurai and Theni as the Periyar and Vaigai dams too received copious inflows. The chief minister visited flood-affected in the town and at nearby Komarapalayam, along with ministers KA Sengottiyan, KC Karuppannan and MR Vijaya Baskar. The chief minister visited relief centres and distributed rice, vessels and blankets to the affected people. Zakir Musa, a top commander of the Ansar Ghawzat-Ul-Hind, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Kashmir, has asked Muslims in India to 'wage a war' against Hindutva forces. A top commander of the Ansar Ghawzat-Ul-Hind, an Al-Qaeda affiliate in Jammu and Kashmir, has asked Muslims in India to "wage a war" against Hindutva forces and made several references to instances of mob lynching over cow slaughter. In a 15-minute audio clip released by Zakir Musa, the commander, he said, The Muslim brothers of Kashmir and India, you should prepare for war. Start your preparations, and for believers, Allah has promised success. Jihad is our way, and paradise lies in the shade of swords. Musa, who had dissociated himself from the Hizbul Mujahideen militant outfit, was announced as the head of Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind through the Global Islamic Media Front, an al-Qaeda-affiliated information network. Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he said that his defeat is certain. The defeat of Narendra Modi and his army is certain, but that is only possible through jihad. No matter how many atrocities Modi and his Hindu group commit, remember they are cowards," he said. Musa added, "Remember that the solution to your problems is not to stop eating cow meat, cutting your beard, or choosing the Congress or any other political party in place of the BJP. It lies in jihad only." The Ansar Ghazwat-Ul-Hind commander also made references to a number of lynching cases, including those of Mohammad Akhlaq, Pehlu Khan and Inayatullah Khan. This is not the first time that Musa has referred to cow lynching incidents in the country. In a four-minute audio clip in June 2017, he exhorted the community to 'take revenge' for such incidents. Speaking on Kashmir in his latest audio clip, he urged youth to "hurl petrol bombs" at forces to help militants escape, and asked traders not to install CCTV cameras at their shops. Further, he urged people to damage CCTV cameras installed by the police and army. Musa had hit the headlines while being a member of the Hizbul Mujahideen, when he had threatened to behead Hurriyat leaders for terming the Kashmir conflict as a "political movement". Following this, Hizbul spokesperson Saleem Hashmi had said that Musa's statement "isnt acceptable and the outfit has nothing to do with it." Hashmi had further said, "This is the personal opinion of Zakir Musa. The resistance leadership and Kashmiri people were taking the movement ahead through united efforts. In these circumstances, any provocative statement or step could prove deadly for the movement". Musa later announced his decision to dissociate himself from the Hizbul Mujahideen, saying, "The Hizbul Mujahideen has disassociated itself from my statement, so I am disassociating myself from the Hizbul. The Hizbul said that they have nothing to do with Zakirs statement. If the Hizbul doesnt represent me, then I dont represent them. Now onwards, I have nothing to do with the Hizbul. I am on the right path and I am not associated with anybody and we will see who stands with me." Overdrive The compact hatchback segment in India has three important players, namely the Hyundai Elite i20, Maruti Suzuki Baleno and the Honda Jazz. While the i20 boasts of class-leading features and Baleno banks on the exclusive Nexa experience, the Honda Jazz is popular for its spacious cabin and an impressive powertrain. In a bid to make the Jazz more appealing, Honda has garnished it with features that should add more value to the package. Design Last year, Honda unveiled the updates to the Jazz sold in the international markets. The kit seemed more premium with the all-LED headlights (similar to the new Honda City), sportier bumpers and a new alloy wheel design. Mysteriously, however, these have been given a miss on the 2018 Jazz for India. The design changes on the new Jazz are subtle in nature. In fact, at first glance, one might confuse it for the previous model. The top-spec variants get chrome handles. While I am not a fan of bling, it is a subjective choice and certainly has takers. The rear profile gets an update in the form of LED wing lights, that look good but not as premium as the ones on the Hyundai Elite i20. And lastly, the Jazz now gets two new colour shades - radiant red metallic and lunar silver metallic. We believe the international-spec facelift could have made a stronger impact compared to what Honda India has cooked up. Cabin and features I have always appreciated the cabin of the Honda Jazz for it offers tons of space and practicality. The 2018 Honda Jazz retains all of that without any change in the dimensions. The big update is the 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system that comes with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and Mirrorlink connectivity options. This system has an inbuilt memory of 1.5GB. Additionally, the system also offers 3D navigation. The infotainment screen also doubles up as reverse camera display. This was a much-needed addition considering both its rivals, the Elite and the Baleno come equipped with it. The user interface of this unit is nice and simple. The only issue being the control buttons positioned beside it. The readouts are a tad too small and the touch feel is not exactly premium. Also, the 2018 Jazz comes with rear parking sensors and speed sensing door lock as standard. Lastly, the hatchback also gets the glowing push start button (similar to that on the Honda City), front centre armrest, central lock switch and a driver side vanity mirror. Features like cruise control and the keyless remote are offered only in the diesel and the top-spec CVT variants. Surprisingly, Honda has discontinued magic seats from the Jazz, a feature that made the Jazz score more on versatility as compared to the other offerings. The adjustable headrests on the rear seats have been replaced by fixed ones, and that seems like a step backwards for a brand that is usually obsessed with safety. Performance The 2018 Honda Jazz continues to be offered with a choice between 1.2L i-VTEC petrol, and 1.5L i-DTEC Diesel engines with the same state of tune. The petrol unit makes 90PS at 6,000rpm and generates 110Nm at 4,800rpm while the diesel offering produces 100PS at 3,600rpm and generates 200Nm at 1,750rpm. The 1.2L petrol can be optioned with either a 5-speed manual or a CVT whereas the diesel is available only with a 6-speed manual transmission. We really wished to see the City's 1.5L petrol in the Jazz - which would not only make it more enthusiastic and fun to drive, but would also give the Jazz an edge over its rivals. It was also speculated that Honda was planning to offer the diesel unit with a CVT, sourced from new-gen Amaze. Honda's petrol engines have always been one of the most refined in its class. The petrol i-VTEC in the Jazz too is a smooth unit at idling speeds. In fact, the car is barely audible at standstill. It is only when the engine reaches mid-range, one can hear the four-cylinder taking larger strides. In comparison to the diesel, the petrol unit of the Jazz feels more enthusiastic to drive but not to the extent of keeping you engaged. One has to really push the engine to its peak to squeeze out its maximum potential. The steering is well weighted and progressive. So are the brakes. Despite the cushy suspension, there is no unnerving nose dive even when coming to halt from 80kmph. Driving in bumper to bumper traffic doesn't feel cumbersome because of the light steering and also the light clutch and the smooth gearshifts. However, if shifting too often is not your thing, the 1.2l petrol engine can be optioned with a CVT unit. Ride and handling Doing suspension duty on the 2018 Honda Jazz are McPherson struts in the front and torsion beam in the rear. The system does absorb the undulations caused by uneven surfaces. There is body roll, but not in unnerving amounts. The ride isn't bouncy either. The handling dynamics aren't in the league of the Volkswagen Polo but comparable with the likes of Baleno and Elite i20. Verdict The 2018 Honda Jazz is available in two petrol (V, VX) and three diesel (S, V, VX) trims. Honda has done away with the two base E and S trims on the petrol variant of the Jazz, raising the base price tag by Rs 1.46 lakh over its predecessor. The 2018 Honda Jazz is priced between Rs 7.44 lakh and Rs 9.09 lakh for the petrol trims and between Rs 8.15 lakh and Rs 9.40 lakh for the diesel variant. Prices of the Hyundai Elite i20 start at Rs 5.40 lakh and go all the way up to Rs 9.21 lakh for the top-spec diesel. The Maruti Suzuki Baleno has slotted in the Rs 5.40 lakh to Rs 8.58 lakh. All prices are ex-showroom Mumbai. While the Jazz has always been a practical and spacious car, the new additions do make it more appealing than before. However, for that price (and compared to its Japanese and European counterparts), it leaves you wanting for more. Indo-Asian News Service After giving a "tearful" interview to The New York Times, Tesla Chairman and CEO Elon Musk sat with popular YouTuber Marques Brownlee for a chat, revealing his plans for a mass-market electric vehicle priced as low as $25,000. "That's something we could do. If we work really hard I think maybe we could do that in three years," Musk replied to Brownlee (who goes by the handle @MKBHD on Google-owned YouTube) on 17 August. The interview took place on August 15 but a 17-minute video was uploaded by Brownlee on YouTube on Friday a week after Musk tweeted about taking Tesla private with "funding secured" that created a storm at the Tesla board and amid market watchers. According to The Verge, Musk said in the YouTube interview that he hoped to scale production at Tesla and lower their design and technology costs enough to be able to offer a truly mass-market electric vehicle. Currently, the price for Tesla Model 3 starts from $35,000 and Model S from $75,000. "Musk also expressed a desire to improve production to the point where Tesla can make two cars at once," said the report. "We've really gotta figure out how to make two new vehicles at the same time," Musk told Brownlee. The YouTube interview came a day after Musk spoke to NYT about "excruciating" times at Tesla, noting that he "nearly missed his brother's wedding this summer and spent his birthday holed up in Tesla's offices as the company raced to meet elusive production targets on a crucial new model". Earlier this week, Musk confirmed that he is closely working with Goldman Sachs and private-equity firm Silver Lake to take the electric carmaker private a deal that would need nearly $70 billion in funding. "I'm excited to work with Silver Lake and Goldman Sachs as financial advisors, plus Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz and Munger, Tolles & Olson as legal advisors, on the proposal to take Tesla private," Musk tweeted. Musk said that in late July, he met Saudi Arabian sovereign fund representatives to discuss the electric carmaker's possible exit from the stock market. He said in a statement that the Saudi sovereign fund had first contacted him "at the beginning of 2017 to express (their) interest because of the important need to diversify away from oil". "I continue to have discussions with the Saudi fund, and I also am having discussions with a number of other investors, which is something that I always planned to do since I would like for Tesla to continue to have a broad investor base," he added. He said he had most recently met with the Saudis on July 31 and left that meeting "with no question that a deal with the... fund could be closed, and that it was just a matter of getting the process moving". "This is why I referred to 'funding secured' in the August 7 announcement," he said, referring to his surprise tweet on that date that he was thinking about taking Tesla private. According to Musk, "two thirds" of Tesla's current stockholders would be interested in continuing to hold the firm's shares once it goes private. On 7 August, Musk surprised the investment world with a Twitter announcement that he was considering taking Tesla private and that the funds needed to do so - which some financial analysts estimate at more than $70 billion - were "secured". Musk's tweet caused a financial firestorm with Tesla shares immediately skyrocketing by almost 11 per cent, although in the coming days they lost a good part of what they had gained and tanked further after Musk's interview with the NYT. Indo-Asian News Service Microsoft is developing the next version of its smart glasses, called Glabella, that can work as a cuff-less, wearable and unobtrusive blood pressure measuring device, according to a new report. The device incorporates optical sensors, processing, storage, and communication components, all integrated into the frame to passively collect physiological data about the user without the need for any interaction, according to a paper published in Proceedings of the ACM Journal of Interactive, Mobile, Wearable and Ubiquitous Technologies. Glabella continuously records the stream of reflected light intensities from blood flow as well as inertial measurements of the user's head. From the temporal differences in pulse events across the sensors, this prototype derives the wearer's pulse transit time on a beat-to-beat basis. A person's pulse transit time the time delay following each heartbeat as the pressure wave travels between two arterial sites provides an indirect measure of blood pressure, according to a report in IEEE Spectrum. Although the glasses did well in a test run, they are not yet ready to hit the store shelves as the Microsoft researchers plan to evaluate the Glabella glasses in a clinical setting. The team is also developing a next version of the device to make it more power efficient while making the frame smaller, the report added. Currently, a small chargeable coin battery keeps the device running. The aim is to shrink the device to such an extent that it could become a clip-on that works with anyone's regular glasses, the report added. Kavya Narayanan Rains. Lots of rain. That's all it took for the state of Kerala to flood in neck-deep water, for massive landslides to lay waste to roads and homes and for hundreds to lose their lives. The floods didnt discriminate between people and property. At last count, 357 people lost their lives, and the floods destroyed roughly 906,400 hectares worth of crops. The cost to the state and its people stands at a staggering Rs 19,512 crore. For the state's oldest living generation, this was take two. The last rival to a flood of this scale and severity in Kerala was in 1924, where monsoons pelted the hapless state with 3,368 mm of rain. At the time, over 1,000 people are said to have lost their lives, not to mention an enormous toll on livestock. The 2,086 mm of rainfall this year is nowhere near as bad, but still 30 percent above the annual average. And the monsoon is far from over. Going beyond the weather Leading experts suggest a heavy, artificial hand in this latest deluge. The state was forced to throw open the gates of 35 of its 39 dams, knowing full-well what was to come. Residents were forced to flee, on important roads that happened to be engulfed in floodwater and landslides. And things only got worse from there. The intensity of the rains meant that two dozen more dams in states nearby were forced to follow suit. The dam gates were opened and a torrent of hell was unleashed on God's own country. Reading the signs Kerala was one of four other districts in the country with rains more severe than predicted in 2018. The rains saw a steady increase since 2015, culminating in the 'large excess' seen this year. Records from the India Meteorological Department from the start of the torrential rains in Kerala between 9 August and 15 August show a 255 percent departure from the norm in the state's hotspots. Heavy rainfall used to occur in Kerala, but not with such continuity, Dr D S Pai, Climate Change scientist and analyst at Indian Meteorological Department said to Livemint. This time, there has been widespread rain continually for a long time, which has not been seen in recent years. Did we see this coming? Back in 2011, the Gadgil Committee put together a bunch of recommendations to the central government about ecologically-fragile regions in the Western Ghats. They found the highest number of vulnerable zones in Kerala and cited several reasons for them being classified as such. Some reasons for its vulnerability were geographical, a challenge posed by its position amidst the Ghats. Many other causes quarrying, mining, illegal repurposing of forests, and high-rise building constructions were man-made, controllable factors that the state chose to brush aside. The flooding has definitely brought to light the existence of illegal stone quarries or a large number of unauthorised constructions on river beds, Professor Madhav Gadgil said to PTI. "In this sense, it is definitely a man-made calamity where intense rainfall and human intervention have made it a serious disaster." The quarrying Prof Gadgil refers to, along with deforestation in the region, has intensified the horrific landslides the state is witnessing. Were there early signs? One of the most severely affected areas is Ernakulum in Kochi, along the Periyar river, into which excess water from the Idamalayar dam was drained. Dam-safety expert N Sasidharan claimed that authorities waited till the water level in the Idamalayar reservoir reached its capacity of 169 feet, and had it been opened sooner, would likely have spared the massive evacuation efforts in the vicinity. MC Joseph of Kuttikkatt village near Eloor said that the authorities made a mistake by opening all four gates of the dam at once, flooding the underlying regions at a much faster rate than expected. This is the result of poor planning by the disaster management authority, Sasidharan added. "Sitting at Geneva, I had on 14 June cautioned that the reservoirs will be filled by July. I had made the prediction based on the experience in Thailand and Pakistan," Murali Thummarukudy, Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction in the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said to Malayala Manorama, a Kerala daily. Unfortunately, our engineers did not foresee this, he added. Can't weather predictions warn us? Time and again, data and statistics on weather events have been used to fuel many arguments linking freak weather events, like the floods in Kerala, and climate change. Leading experts are wary about drawing the same conclusions; they state that weather data is complex, and particularly so in a tropical country like India. A climate study spanning 1950-2015 looks at extreme rain events in central India, which the researchers say happens three time as frequently in recent times as it did in 1950. The paper explains that these have also intensified, because westerly winds that move over an increasingly-warmer Arabian Sea carry surges in moisture with them as they move into the subcontinent during monsoons. Researchers add that predicting such events can be done two-to-three weeks ahead, at best. #TheInconvenientTruth As a layperson, you can call it unreliability, or ambiguity. Whereas, to a scientist, the best term is really uncertainty, says Dr Raghu Murtugudde, a prominent climate scientist at the University of Maryland. You end up with certain uncertainty, Murtugudde continues. With a (weather) instability coming up, if it doesnt build.. sometimes instead of building over Maharashtra, it builds a couple of hundred kilometres south, or a couple of hundred kilometres north. Tropical countries like India evolve differently than countries in the West, which have larger land area and time periods over which to observe and predict a given weather event, Murtugudde explains. In a recent report by the World Bank Group, average temperatures throughout Southeast Asia were seen rising , and rainfall growing more erratic, particularly in India. The report predicts that these weather changes will continue to shadow us over coming decades. Cities such as Kolkata, Mumbai, Dhaka and Karachi home to nearly 50 million are at a substantial risk of flood-related damage in the century to follow, the World Bank report warns. What now? Floods during monsoons are as common in the centre of our country as much as they are in coastal states. Uttar Pradesh and Bihar are prone to bad monsoons and saw the worst of it in the catastrophic floods last year that affected an estimated 40 million people, according to a UN report. The main reasons for floods have been assessed high-intensity rainfall in short duration, poor or inadequate drainage capacity, unplanned reservoir regulation and failure of flood control structures, a report filed in March this year by the Ministry of Water Resources to the Rajya Sabha. The tools used by met officials to assess climate change are long term, area-wise monsoon predictions which are, the Indian Institute of Tropical Meteorology concedes far from easy to make. In the meanwhile, water levels in Kerala have slowly begun to recede. Unfortunately, the end of monsoon is still weeks away. Once the floods and fury recede, there are evidently many lessons for authorities to take away from this disaster. The next time such a disaster occurs, we have no excuse for not being better prepared. Agence France-Presse Mexican authorities said on Friday they found 122 sea turtles dead on a beach in the southern state of Chiapas, mostly from an endangered species. The cause of death was not immediately clear, though around 10 percent of the turtles had wounds to the head or shell and showed signs of injuries from fish hooks or fishing nets, the environment ministry said in a statement. It said authorities had not been able to carry out autopsies "due to the advanced state of decomposition in which they were found." The turtles were found on the beaches of Puerto Arista, a small town on the Pacific coast. Most of them 111 were from the endangered Pacific Ridley species (Lepidochelys olivacea). Mexico banned the capture of sea turtles in 1990, but there is still a lucrative black market for their eggs. Indo-Asian News Service NASA's historic mission to solve the mysteries of the Sun which was launched aboard a United Launch Alliance Delta IV Heavy rocket on 13 August is operating according to plan, mission controllers have said. As of 12 pm EDT on 16 August, the Parker Solar Probe was 4.6 million kilometres from Earth, travelling at 62,764 kilometres per hour, and heading toward its first Venus flyby scheduled for 3 October, 2018, Geoff Brown of Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab, wrote in a NASA blog post on Friday. The spacecraft will use Venus to slightly slow itself and adjust its trajectory for an optimal path toward the first perihelion of the Sun on 5 November this year. "Parker Solar Probe is operating as designed, and we are progressing through our commissioning activities," said Project Manager Andy Driesman of APL. This solar probe is humanity's first-ever mission into the Sun's atmosphere, called the corona. Here it will directly explore solar processes that are key to understanding and forecasting space weather events that can impact life on Earth. The mission has already achieved several planned milestones toward full commissioning and operations, according to the mission controllers. On 13 August, the high-gain antenna, which Parker Solar Probe uses to communicate high-rate science data to Earth, was released from locks which held it stable during launch. Controllers have also been monitoring the spacecraft as it autonomously uses its thrusters to remove (or "dump") momentum, which is part of the flight operations of the spacecraft. Managing momentum helps the spacecraft remain in a stable and optimal flight profile. There are four instrument suites on board Parker Solar Probe, which will each need to be powered and readied for science data collection. The FIELDS investigation, which consists of the most elements, went first. It was powered up on 13 August for two activities, Brown said. First was the opening of the clamps which held four of the five FIELDS antennas stowed during takeoff. These antennas will be deployed roughly 30 days after launch, and they will stick out from the corners of the spacecraft's heat shield called the Thermal Protection System and be exposed to the harsh solar environment. Second, the spacecraft's magnetometer boom was fully deployed. This boom contains three magnetometers and a fifth, smaller electric field antenna, all part of the FIELDS suite. Further instrument check-outs and deployments are scheduled in the coming days for the spacecraft, Brown said. President Ashraf Ghani laid a wreath at the Independence Minaret during an official celebration held inside the defence ministry compound. Kabul: Afghanistan on Sunday marked the 99th anniversary of its independence from British occupation amid deteriorating security situation. President Ashraf Ghani laid a wreath at the Independence Minaret during an official celebration held inside the defence ministry compound after inspecting guards of honour, reports Xinhua news agency. Ghani paid tribute to security forces who have sacrificed their lives for stabilising peace as the country, especially Kabul, has witnessed waves of terror attacks by the Islamic State terror outfit and Taliban insurgents over the past few months. Official ceremonies took place in various parts of the country and thousands of families and friends spent the day together to mark the event. In addition, a new flag, the biggest in the country, was hoisted on Wazir Akbar Khan hill in Kabul on Sunday morning. Although Afghanistan was never part of the British empire, it gained its independence after the signing of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty in 1919 - a treaty that granted complete neutral relations between Afghanistan and Britain. BJP has hit out against Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for hugging Pakistan Army chief Qamar Javew Bajwa and has demanded his suspension from the party New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday attacked Punjab Minister and Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for hugging Pakistan's Army Chief Qamar Javed Bajwa and for sitting beside the President of Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir (PoK) at the swearing in ceremony of new Prime Minister Imran Khan and demanded his suspension from the party immediately. The BJP also used the opportunity to attack the Congress party over statements made by some of its leaders during their visits to Pakistan and asked Congress President Rahul Gandhi whether Sidhu had his permission to go there and whether he would suspend him immediately. "Sidhu during his visit to Pakistan to attend the swearing in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan's Prime Minister hugged Pakistan's Army Chief," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters adding that he also sat next to PoK President Masood Khan. "It is not an ordinary thing. Mr Sidhu is not an ordinary man but a minister in the Punjab government. And every Indian has taken this issue very seriously," he said asking why Sidhu did not object when the PoK President was made to sit next to him. Firing salvos at the Congress President, Patra said, "Rahulji, did you grant permission to Sidhu to go to Pakistan? Will you suspend him before his arrival in the country?". Slamming Sidhu, he said that before hugging Pakistan''s Army Chief, did he not remember how their army killed innocent people and army men in India. The BJP spokesperson's remarks came after Sidhu's participation in the ceremony and his remarks to the media there that he hoped ties between New Delhi and Islamabad would improve with Imran Khan at the helm. Praising Imran Khan while speaking to the state-run PTV, Sidhu said: "A new morning is here in Pakistan with a new government which can change the destiny of the country." He hoped that Khan''s victory would be good for the peace process between the two neighbours. Raking up the statements of several Congress leaders visiting Pakistan and praising Pakistan, the BJP leader said, "Salman Khurshid went to Pakistan and said Narendra Modi government did not want peace with Pakistan. Even Mani Shankar Aiyar in an interview in Pakistan in November, 2015 said that Modi government should be removed," he said. "In June this year, Ghulam Nabi Azad also questioned Army's action in Jammu and Kashmir after he said that the armed forces kill more civilians than the terrorists," he said adding that another Congress leader Saifuddin Soz had said that he stood with Gen Pervez Musharraf and demanded an independent Kashmir. "And today Sidhuji said that he wants to thank the people of Pakistan. For what does he want to say ''thank you'' to them? For sending terrorists, for killing innocents, for killing our soldiers?" Patra asked. The BJP leader also slammed the Congress President and its leaders for questioning the surgical strike and its leaders disrespecting the Army Chief of the country. "Your (Gandhi) party leaders disrespect the army chief of the country by calling him a street goon, while your leader (Sidhu) believes Pakistan''s army Chief that they want peace," he added. By Andreas Rinke and Vladimir Soldatkin MESEBERG, Germany (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met outside Berlin on Saturday for talks ranging from the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, to Iran and a gas pipeline project that has drawn U.S. ire By Andreas Rinke and Vladimir Soldatkin MESEBERG, Germany (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel met outside Berlin on Saturday for talks ranging from the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, to Iran and a gas pipeline project that has drawn U.S. ire. Standing beside Putin, Merkel said both countries - but especially Russia as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council - had a responsibility to tackle these problems. She said she planned to raise human rights issues with Putin, and discuss bilateral relations, strained since Russia's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014. "I am of the opinion that controversial issues can only be addressed in dialogue and through dialogue," she said. Both leaders raised concerns about Syria and the plight of the many refugees created by the seven-year-old war there. Merkel said it was important to avert a humanitarian crisis in Idlib, Syria and the surrounding region, and said she and Putin had already discussed the issue of constitutional reforms and possible elections when they last met in Sochi in May. Putin told reporters that everything must be done to help Syrian refugees to return to their country and that Syria needed assistance to rebuild. The two leaders took no questions. On Ukraine, Merkel said she hoped there would be fresh efforts could be undertaken at the beginning of the new school year to disentangle Ukrainian military forces and separatists on the front lines in the Donbass region. On the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline to carry Russian gas under the Baltic to Germany, Merkel said Ukraine should continue to have a role in gas transit to Europe, and welcomed the start of discussions among the European Union, Ukraine and Russia on that issue. Putin told reporters that such a move had to make sense from a business perspective. "I would like to stress that the main thing is that the Ukrainian transit which is traditional for us - meets economic demands," he said. "Nord Stream 2 is exclusively an economic project." The United States is pressing Germany to halt work on the pipeline, arguing that it will increase Germany's dependence on Russia for energy. Ukraine fears the pipeline will allow Russia to cut it off from the gas transit business, while Germany's eastern European neighbours, nervous of Russian encroachment, have also raised concerns about the project. Putin arrived in Germany on Saturday evening after a stop at an Austrian vineyard to attend Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl's wedding to entrepreneur Wolfgang Meilinger. "We want to create new momentum in the Minsk (peace) process," German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said in an interview to be published by Die Welt am Sonntag on Sunday. Sanctions relief for Russia would only be negotiated if the Minsk accord was implemented, he added. Maas said he had spoken with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin this week, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was due to visit Berlin again on Sept. 14 after a meeting with Merkel in the German capital last month. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Vladimir Soldatkin; writing by Andrea Shalal; editing by Andrew Roche) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari will return from leave on Saturday, a presidential aide said, easing concerns over the leader's health in the run-up to elections in early 2019. 'President @MBuhari will return today after his 10 working days vacation,' Bashir Ahmad wrote on Twitter. ABUJA (Reuters) - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari will return from leave on Saturday, a presidential aide said, easing concerns over the leader's health in the run-up to elections in early 2019. "President @MBuhari will return today after his 10 working days vacation," Bashir Ahmad wrote on Twitter. Buhari, flying home from London, is campaigning to win a second term in February elections. Although the main opposition party is yet to pick a candidate, the president's ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) has been beset by a series of high-profile defections. The most notable was the loss last month of Senate President Bukola Saraki, who quit a week after a wave of lawmakers left the APC, losing the party its majority in the Senate. After Buhari spent five months in Britain last year being treated for an undisclosed ailment, opposition critics said he was unfit for office and his administration was beset by inertia. Since then, leaves of absence have sparked chatter about the president's health, though Buhari's gaunt appearance through much of 2017 has visibly improved. (Reporting by Paul Carsten; Editing by Ros Russell) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Improperly timed traffic lights. Drivers who pull out in front of you. Drivers who accelerate in the left-turn lane. Drivers who are discourteous about allowing others to merge. Drivers who dont use their blinkers. Drivers on their cellphones instead of driving. Vote View Results Free Tracking students a rare, controversial safety step TEXAS CITY As local school districts prepare for the first day of classes with a variety of new security measures, only Texas City will require students and staff members to wear ID badges that emit radio waves to keep track of their movements. The badges embedded with radio-frequency-identification tags to monitor where badge-wearers are on school district property are among the new security features that the Texas City school district is enforcing. Every student from the fifth grade onward 5,557 people will be required to wear one of the badges on a lanyard, as will all of the districts 1,200 employees. They allow us to tell where our faculty and students are for safety, and, most importantly, its a way for me to identify patterns and identify where people are in the event of a crisis, Texas City Executive Director of Security and School Safety Mike Matranga said, explaining that the badge software updates the locations of everyone whos wearing one on a map every 20 seconds. If we have an issue, I can login to the system and I can redirect assets to where theyre needed. The badges can track students and staff when theyre on school property, including buses, but not when theyre off campus, officials said. Beyond security, the new badges can also be used for monitoring student and staff attendance, the districts website states. That wont happen right away the badges are mainly for security but there are plans to eventually use the tracking technology to double check attendance rolls and make sure students are where they need to be, Matranga said. And while the badges no doubt give security officials a leg up on knowing where nearly everyone in the school district is in the event of a shooting or other emergency, they have sometimes caused controversy in other school districts that have used them. Among other concerns, critics say the technology is invasive and normalizes the idea of living under constant surveillance. Desensitizing our middle-school- and high-school-age kids to being tracked by the government sends a strange message, said Matt Simpson, deputy political director for the ACLU of Texas. In terms of creating a comfortable education environment, the idea doesnt seem in keeping with how schools should work. FULL SUPPORT Texas City school board trustees at a July meeting unanimously approved the purchase of the badges for $581,337 part of the districts bond money that voters approved in May from Wade Garcia & Associates, a San Antonio-based company providing Tactical solutions for strategic monitoring, according to its website. Matranga anticipated the badges and the privacy issues they raise would spark the most pushback from parents about the new security measures, he said. But school board President Hal Biery said he hadnt heard a word of concern either at the meeting when the badges were approved or afterward. As far as realistic concerns, I dont know of any, other than maybe some liberal objections over just the fact that they exist, he said. Biery fully supported using the badges and the rest of Matrangas security recommendations, he said. (Matranga) started coming to us with recommendations and they were in line with what Ive been talking about for months, Biery said, noting that Matranga has wide latitude to make security recommendations to the board. I personally agree with everything hes done. There is the money side that is a lot of money, after all but how much is a students life worth, or anyones for that matter? ALONE IN THE COUNTY Texas City is alone in the county in its decision to require the badges. The other school districts either didnt explore the option at all or discussed a badge-monitoring program but decided against it, the districts various spokespeople said. It was part of our discussion but we dont have the technology at this time, said Elaina Polsen, chief communications officer for the Clear Creek school district. Its been talked about and were exploring the systems and weve talked to Texas City, but at this time we dont have it. We had 20 hours of security meetings this summer and the idea was never brought up, said Dayna Owen, director of communications for the Friendswood school district. The Santa Fe school district, where 10 people were killed in a May shooting, is the only other in Galveston County with experience using a radio-frequency-identification badge system. That system, which the district also purchased from Wade Garcia, was put in place in 2009. It was discontinued in 2015 after limited parent concerns were raised and a review showed the badges were too expensive and didnt yield the results the district had expected, according to an email from Patti Hanssard, assistant superintendent for human resources and public relations. At this time, Santa Fe ISD is not considering the RFID badging system, Hanssard wrote. EVERYTHING HAS CHANGED A few other Texas school districts are using the badges to monitor students, but its not common, sources said. An official count of districts that use the badges isnt available, said Joe McKenna, assistant director of research and education for the Texas State School Safety Center. But the center, which researches school security in Texas, plans to look into their use through a survey this year. Mike Wade, CEO of Wade Garcia, the company that sold Texas City and Santa Fe its badges, said that while the badges had started to catch on several years ago, concerns about litigation dampened interest in a location-monitoring badge rush. A young girl sued a district that had the badges, and even though the judge ruled in the schools favor, other districts that were interested ended up backing off, Wade said, noting that Texas City is the first district that has purchased the badges from Wade Garcia in a few years. The one before that was Santa Fe, he said. Because of the shootings, theres more interest in these systems than ever now, Wade said. Before there were the privacy issues, but everything has changed because of the shootings. PUSHBACK Some are uncomfortable with the idea of school officials being able to monitor the whereabouts of students and staff at any time, Simpson, the ACLU of Texas deputy political director, said. He noted the radio frequency identification technology isnt foolproof and can be susceptible to hacking, but in his experience, privacy issues have tended to raise the most concern when parents and school officials call. I think theres a reason that most schools dont do this, he said, describing the security measure as rare. In 2013, a high school sophomore sued Northside Independent School District, the largest school district in San Antonio, for requiring her to wear a radio-frequency-chip equipped badge. The school had installed the system for security and attendance purposes, but the student refused to wear the badge on religious grounds her father was reported at the time to have described the badge as the mark of the beast. At the time of the suit, civil rights groups, including the ACLU, and other advocates backed the student, calling the badges an egregious invasion of privacy. A U.S. district judge dismissed the case and the student chose to attend a different school. Northside ultimately stopped its badge program, stating that it didnt produce the attendance results it had hoped for. But for Matranga, a former government special agent, the badges werent a difficult decision. After the Northside ruling, hes not concerned about lawsuits because there is no reasonable expectation of privacy in a school, he said. Also, not only do the badges allow security officials to monitor where people are in the event of an emergency, they also help keep students accountable in their attendance. They allow us to get a snapshot of whats going on with the school, he said. If your kid is skipping fourth period every day, of course the kids not going to tell you that. But what will they say when I can pull it up in a report? Motorola One gets certification with 19:9 display, dual camera and more News oi-Karan Motorola is all set to launch its upcoming smartphone. Now the smartphone is spotted on the TENAA certification. All you need to know. Motorola One has grabbed a lot of attention in the last couple on month. The smartphone is said to be the Android One powered smartphone from the company. Now the phone with model number XT1941 has been spotted on the TENAA which is a Chinese certification website after the live images of the phone surfaced on the web. The previous live images and TENAA certification was the P30 smartphone which was introduced in China earlier this week. The latest listing suggests that the smartphone will come with a glass back. It will also sport a 5.86-inch HD+ display along with an aspect ratio of 19:9 with a notch on the top. The TENAA listing suggests that the smartphone will be powered by a 2.2GHz octa-core SoC it might be Snapdragon 626 or 630. The smartphone will be backed by a 6GB of RAM with 32GB / 64GB / 128GB internal storage. On the optical front, the phone will offer a dual camera setup with a 13-megapixel rear camera sensor, and a secondary camera along with an LED flash placed in the centre of both the camera sensors. TENNA listing suggests that the phone will come with four camera sensor, which means the front panel will also house dual camera sensors. The image render shows a metal frame and a Motorola logo on the front panel of the screen. The fingerprint scanner is placed on the rear panel with a Motorola logo, similar to the P30. However, the image on TENAA listing doesn't show any Android One branding on the back. So there are possibilities that it might not launch as an Android One smartphone in China. On the connectivity part, the Motorola One will offer 4G VoLTE, WiFi 802.11, Bluetooth, GPS, GLONASS. The smartphone is fueled by a 3000mAh battery with fast charging. The Motorola One is expected to arrive in black, gold and white/silver color option. The smartphone is expected to go official along with the Motorola One Power at the IFA later this month. 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 North Korean leader Kim Jong-un on Friday strongly denounced the international sanctions on his country, saying that hostile forces are trying to stifle the North Korean nation by imposing such bans. Kim made the rare remarks during a visit to a construction site in a tourist coastal area, the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported. As PressTV writes in the article North Korean leader lashes out at hostile forces over brigandish sanctions, the North Korean leader expressed his discontent with the international sanctions, and accused what he called "hostile forces" of attempting to "stifle" his nation by imposing "brigandish" sanctions and a blockade on Pyongyang. He also described his countrys resistance against such sanctions as a do-or-die struggle to defend the prestige of the party and a worthwhile struggle for creating the happiness of the people. Kims comments came as a surprise to South Koreas Yonhap News Agency which wrote on Friday that it was rare for the North Korean leader to personally mention sanctions and blockade by using rough expressions like "brigandish." The remarks came a few days after the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) warned that North Korea would likely go through a "full-blown food security crisis" amid a heatwave that destroyed a large portion of the country's agricultural fields. In a statement issued last Friday, the IFRC stressed that the worrying situation has been exacerbated by the international sanctions imposed on North Korea over its missile and nuclear programs. North Korea is under tough sanctions imposed by the UN, the US, and the European Union. The UN imposed its toughest-ever bans on Pyongyang after it test-fired new ballistic missiles in July 2017 and then conducted its most powerful nuclear test in September 2017. The EU and the US, which has engaged in talks with North Korea over its nuclear program, have also imposed wide-ranging unilateral bans against the country. After a historic summit in Singapore in June, US President Donald Trump said Kim had promised to immediately end North Koreas weapons programs. Pyongyang, however, later urged Washington to take reciprocal measures including officially removing sanctions. Is the sedan dead? Not yet, say local auto dealers, but traditional-bodied cars are declining and not likely to make a comeback as they continue to take a back seat to crossovers, SUVs and small trucks. I dont see it, Todd Bennett, owner of Bruce Bennett Nissan in Wilton, said. I think manufacturers are making crossovers more sedan-like. I just dont see the sedan market coming back. They have been in decline for a while. Todd Ingersoll of Ingersoll Auto in Danbury said the race toward SUVs happened quickly, causing manufacturers to shift on the fly. The industry is adjusting to consumer tastes, he said. Its been pretty disruptive to the industry in general because you have to adjust plants for production. Ive been in the industry for 30 years and this trend has happened faster than any Ive ever seen. Ingersoll sells Chevrolet, Cadillac, Buick and GMC vehicles. Ford Motor Co. put to rest any questions about the sedans demise in April when it announced it was stopping production of traditional cars, with a few exceptions, to focus even more acutely on crossovers, SUVs and light trucks. Crossovers combine features of SUVs and passenger vehicles. They typically resemble small SUVs and have high seating and clearance with car-like handling and fuel efficiency. Once people own an SUV or crossover, they have a hard time going back to a sedan, David Beylouni, president of Colonial Ford in Danbury, said. They are easier to get in and out of and thats important as the population ages and people live longer. The compact SUV, thats what people are buying and thats where people are going and its ages 30 to 70. Its very broad. Beylouni, who also owns Subaru and Mazda dealerships in Danbury, said sedans make up only about 25 percent of his sales now as customers gravitate toward SUVs and light trucks. I think that will get even tighter, he said. I think it will get to 80-20. Not dead yet While Fords announcement shocked the auto industry, it was not the death knell for sedans. Most manufacturers remain committed to making traditional cars, though many have scaled back production. Chevrolet, Buick and Cadillac are committed to sedans at small levels, Ingersoll said. Its still an important segment of business and we want to give customers what they want. Bennett, who said the small SUV Rogue and Rogue Sport are his top-selling vehicles, said Nissan is not backing down from the sedan segment. Nissan will introduce this fall a new all-wheel drive Altima sedan. Sedans have become a tough sell if they are not all-wheel drive, especially in the Northeast, he said. Ford feels the same way and an all-wheel drive Focus four-door hatchback will be one of the few sedans it will continue to manufacture. The maker will phase out the Fiesta, Fusion and Taurus, although Beylouni said an all-wheel drive Fusion may also be in the future for Ford. Ford will continue to make the Mustang as it has done for more than 50 years. The Mustang is iconic and theyll never give that up, Beylouni said. Its too much of a halo for the brand. There will always be sedans, but, for the most part, people will buy an SUV and never look back. Ford will also reintroduce the Ranger, a popular mid-sized pickup, for 2019. Thats going to be a big deal, Beylouni said. Efficiency matters The dealers feel a dramatic spike in gasoline prices, as occurred in 2008 and 2011, will not cause a rush back to compact sedans. The fuel efficiency in small SUVs and crossovers has improved to the point where consumers are comfortable sticking with the large vehicles. The four-cylinder small crossovers are all in the mid to high 20s in mileage and thats satisfactory for most people, Ingersoll said. The mileage will only continue to get better, too. The Obama administration set ambitious gas-mileage standards that would require cars and light trucks to average 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025. The Environmental Protection Agency rolled back the requirements in April. The local dealers said consumers demand high gas mileage these days, so the manufacturers continue to look at ways to make their vehicles more fuel efficient, mandates or not. Increasingly, those vehicles are crossovers, SUVs and light trucks not sedans. I think Ford is ahead of the curve on this, Beylouni said. Other manufacturers are going down the same road. I think youll see more (manufacturers) doing this. BRIDGEPORT If Democrat Ned Lamont wants to be governor, he needs votes in Bridgeport, Connecticuts largest city. And that means Lamont needs the strong support of its mayor, Joe Ganim. And since Lamont needs Ganim, he also needs backing from hizzoners close friend, Democratic Town Chairman Mario Testa. So on Wednesday, hours after defeating Ganim in their partys gubernatorial primary, Lamont and some allies headed to Testas restaurant, Testos, to make peace with the local party chairman and with the mayor. Democrats have scheduled a so-called post-primary unity rally Saturday morning in Hartford. But the important work to ensure that unity is not just superficial started at that Bridgeport gathering. Joining Lamont, Ganim and Testa were, sources said, Marc Bradley, Lamonts campaign manager, outgoing Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman and retiring Attorney General George Jepsen. My understanding is the feelings genuine on both sides, said one source familiar with the gathering who wished to remain anonymous. The Lamont camp really does want to reach out to everybody who supported Joe and they need all hands on deck to win this election. And I think the feeling from Joe and the Joe camp is, We had a tough primary, its over, and Bridgeport is going to play an important part in putting together that coalition to put Ned over the top. Joes all in. Ganim could not be reached for comment Friday, and it was unclear if he would attend the rally in Hartford Saturday. He has had a low key public schedule the rest of this week, attending a back-to-school event and an awards ceremony for the fire chief. Jepsen, an early supporter of Lamonts, confirmed the Wednesday meeting was positive: There wasnt an ounce of tension. Thick skins Some might find that a little hard to believe given what transpired during the primary. Ganim, the underdog because of the corruption conviction that ended his first administration in 2003, continually attacked Lamont as an inexperienced, out-of-touch Greenwich millionaire who cannot woo the urban voters Democrats need to win statewide races. And while Lamont for the most part tried to ignore his primary opponent, during their final debate Aug. 7 he jabbed at the culture of corruption in City Hall during Ganims first tenure as mayor Ganim was re-elected in 2015. And Lamont at that same face-off when asked if he would endorse Bridgeports mayor were Ganim to win the primary, answered probably not. Ganim is used to attacks on his criminal record. But Lamonts refusal to support him seemed to sting. The mayor responded at that time: If he loses, Ned Lamont would rather go back to his mansion with eight bathrooms in Greenwich and allow a (President Donald) Trump Republican to become governor than support a Democrat for governor. Democratic voters now know Ned Lamont supports just himself, not Democratic values or principles. Testa still seemed to be smarting from Lamonts comment in a brief interview with Hearst Connecticut Media late Tuesday night after Ganim had conceded. Asked about supporting Lamont, Testa emphasized, Im a very loyal Democrat. But, according to Jepsen, nearly 24 hours later on Wednesday, Joe and Mario very graciously from the onset of the conversation offered their full support any way they can be helpful. They didnt ask for anything. While Ganim and Testa enjoy leverage as leaders of Bridgeports Democrats, that leverage only goes so far considering Tuesdays primary results. Lamont received 81.19 percent of the statewide vote to Ganims 18.81 percent. Still Jepsen maintained that Ganim is a needed ally, and not just to get a strong general election turnout in Bridgeport. I think also Joes second chance message resonated in some urban areas especially, Jepsen said, referring to the mayors efforts to turn his conviction into a positive personal story to win support from inner-city voters in particular. A new beginning? Although Jepsen maintained neither Ganim nor Testa asked for something in exchange for their backing, Testa on Tuesday night complained, Everybody needs Bridgeport but Bridgeport never gets anything in return. But Bridgeport has also had a rocky relationship with the retiring governor, Democrat Dannel P. Malloy. Malloy during his eight years has invested in Connecticuts largest city. But there are constant grumblings from local officials that state government pays more attention to the capital, Hartford, and to Stamford, where Malloy served as mayor. Bridgeports relationship with Malloy was off to a rocky start when city Democrats, including then-Mayor Bill Finch, backed Lamont over Malloy in the pairs 2010 gubernatorial primary. Malloy won the primary and general election and he and Finch eventually were able to work together. And then Bridgeport voters in the 2015 mayoral primary decided they preferred Ganim and his corruption conviction over Finch. The governor, in a television interview ahead of that years general election, said were he a Bridgeport resident he probably would not vote for Ganim. Ganim won anyway, and he and Malloy had to learn to work together. So, given that history, were Lamont elected with strong support from Bridgeport, Ganim and Testa, it could be a fresh start. Jepsen said Lamont recognizes Connecticut cities need help and recognizes Bridgeport is the largest city in the state and is gonna need a helping hand. Bridgeport City Council President Aidee Nieves, who enthusiastically backed Ganim in the primary, said there is an opportunity for a new relationship between the city and the governors office were Lamont to win. But, she emphasized, Lamont and his campaign cannot take blue Bridgeports support for granted and need to lay out a specific plan for growing the local economy. We are looking for somebody whos going to look out for Bridgeport, Nieves said. Our (legislative) delegation is strong, but we need the governors office to really support Bridgeport projects. I will support Ned Lamont if hes willing to commit to that. This week, scientists published evidence that 3,200-year-old remnants discovered in a jar in an Egyptian tomb likely contained cheese quickly dubbed "the world's oldest cheese" in headlines. The paper, published in the journal Analytic Chemistry, tested the contents of a jar found in the tomb of Ptahmes, an Egyptian official who lived in the 13th century and whose tomb was first unearthed in the late 19th century, but then was buried in sand and rediscovered in 2010. It should come as a surprise to no one who has ever gone on the internet that people on Twitter were soon clamoring to eat the "mummy cheese." ALSO: Man wants to drink hideous red liquid found in mystery sarcophagus That's a bad idea, first and foremost, because the cheese was poisonous even in its day it contained peptide markers that suggest the presence of a bacterium called Brucella melitensis, which causes brucellosis, an infectious disease that can cause swelling of the testicles and heart, per the Centers for Disease Control but also because, degraded by time and the alkaline conditions of the desert, it would not be very delicious. What would it taste like if we were to eat it now? A study from the 1940s, a surprisingly rich time for archaeological study of ancient foods, suggests it might taste like dust, according to Paul Kindstedt, a professor at the University of Vermont who studies the chemistry and history of cheese. "This interesting foodstuff in the tombs is nothing new; it's been of intense interest for 100 years," he said, "And it's just now that the analytical capabilities are really coming into the forefront to allow some of these mysteries to be uncovered." The 1942 study analyzed residues from jars in an Egyptian royal tomb. "According to the authors, these solid and powdered cheese residues, which were about 2,000 years older than the one in the latest study, 'have no smell and only a dusty taste,'" he said. At the time it was fresh, though, what it would've tasted like is more of an open question. "We know it was made mostly from sheep's and goat's milk, but for me it's really hard to imagine a specific flavor," Enrique Greco, lead author of the paper, said by email. "I'm Italian. I love cheese and I know how much they can change in flavor and appearance even with very few differences in ingredients and process. It is these small variations and the specificities in the regional processes that have allowed the development of so many varieties in my country." Kindstedt guesses it would've been a simple acid coagulated cheese tangy, tart and acidic with a spreadable texture, something like modern goat cheese. But without an analysis of the proteins found in the remnants, its impossible to know which of the three major families the cheese belonged to, and thus what it tasted like, he said. There's also a possibility that it was an acid-heat coagulated cheese. "That would be high moisture, spreadable, like ricotta almost a sweet cheese," Kindstedt said. Whatever we learn about this ancient cheese could well be the tip of the iceberg, as modern methods can now be applied to glean new insights about a host of ancient cheese remnants, he said. "I think you're gonna see lots and lots of these new discoveries coming down the pike," said Kindstedt. "It's this incredible narrative cheese originated one place and spread in every direction, thousands of miles over thousands of years, and Egypt is part of that." Filipa Ioannou is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at fioannou@sfchronicle.com and follow her on Twitter James Bond is known for being a suave spy, but he loves his gadgets. Provided by Q, these often include an Aston Martin and a Sony Ericsson phone. It started with the Ericsson JB988, a fictional phone featured in Tomorrow Never Dies (it's the phone used by Bond to drive his BMW, which packed plenty of surprises for the baddies, courtesy of Q). Soon real phones took over and that's where our story starts. But first a spoiler warning: there are some details from the movies here, but we've concealed them (hover/tap to reveal). Die Another Day The Ericsson T68 was the company's first with a color screen (101 x 90px, 256 colors). It was quickly replaced by the Sony Ericsson T68i, now made by the joint company. The two phones are identical, save for minor cosmetic changes and different software (which could be flashed on the T68). The new features included MMS (which had just launched), email and other goodies. Just in time as the CommuniCam allowed users to shoot photos to send to their friends. The MCA-25 shot photos at a maximum resolution of 640 x 480, an upgrade over the original MCA-10 model, which topped out at 352 x 288px. Ericsson T68 Sony Ericsson T68i Seen when: used by Jinx (Halle Berry) to detonate a bomb. The movie featured another classic - the Sony Ericsson P800. It was powered by Symbian UIQ and featured a unique flip cover that concealed half the screen and offered a hardware keypad. You could remove it for a proper touchscreen experience, which in 2002 meant using a stylus. The 2.9" screen (3:2) was massive for the time and the camera was built in this time around. Sony Ericsson P800 Seen when: one of the baddies snaps a photo of Bond and emails him the picture. Casino Royale In Daniel Craig's first outing as James Bond he sported a special Sony Ericsson K800i, which had a silver exterior (common folk only got the phone in Black and Brown). Many remember this as an awesome cameraphone and it was - its 3.2MP camera with autofocus and xenon flash was quite something. For an extra dose of nostalgia, check out our 3MP shootout. The K800i was advanced in other ways - it supported multitasking (J2ME apps), it had a VGA camera "for video calling" (this was before the selfie craze), a music player mostly borrowed from the Walkman phones (it lacked MegaBass, though), the NetFront web browser and a couple of 3D games. Sony Ericsson K800 Seen when: Bond calls weapons manufacturer Carlos Nikolic with the K800 during a chase. The phone is later used to detonate an explosive remotely, but there's a twist. Vesper Lynd, who partners with Bond to take down Le Chiffre, had a cool phone of her own - the Sony Ericsson M600. Another Symbian UIQ handset, it featured both a 2.6" touchscreen and an odd QWERTY keyboard (it was featured in a recent Counterclockwise article). The way it works is that each key is a rocker - press left for one letter, right for the other. So, not a half-QWERTY, but not a regular keyboard either. The keys were concave to make typing easier. Interestingly, the M600 lacked a camera as in certain workplaces (like the MI6) a camera is considered a security risk. Sony Ericsson M600 Seen when: Bond snoops on Vesper's phone, a text reveals her orders from the MI6. Casino Royale also features a brief cameo by the Ericsson R600, a 2001 phone from just before the merger. Ericsson R600 Seen when: a modified R600 is spotted in the hands of one of the baddies. Quantum of Solace Not the best-loved 007 movie, but it may be worth a rewatch. If nothing else then for the Sony Ericsson C902, which was featured prominently throughout the movie as James Bond used it and its 5MP camera to capture evidence central to the plot. Sony Ericsson C902 Seen when: Bond snaps a photo of leaders of the Quantum organization. He also receives info from HQ and reads it on the phone. The C902 featured eight capacitive keys (complete with backlighting) that surrounded the 2.2" QVGA screen. They served as handy shortcuts for the camera. While it didn't have a built-in GPS, the phone could geo-tag photos based on CellID. It also featured face detection and image stabilization, along with PictBridge, which allowed you to print out photos straight from the phone (by connecting the phone and printer with a cable). Small but fine display camera mode with 8 illuminating sensitive keys Skyfall Skyfall was a tough time for MI6, but things were changing at Sony Ericsson too - specifically, Sony bought out Ericsson. The third of the Craig movies starred the Sony Xperia T, but this handset was also available to non-spies as the "The Bond Phone" special edition. It had a silver exterior, a throwback to the K800i. Fit for an action-packed movie, the Xperia T had a shatterproof glass over its 4.55" 720p screen and a cool anodized aluminum body. Sony Xperia T Seen when: Bond makes plans at the hotel. Spectre The latest Bond movie also featured the last of the Xperia Z phones - the Sony Xperia Z5. It boasted IP68 waterproofing, stereo speakers and a sharp 23MP camera fit for a spy. Sony Xperia Z5 Seen when: Bond uses it to make a call during one of the car chases. While Daniel Craig is signed up for another Bond movie, the Xperia Z-series is gone. It was replaced (temporarily) by the Xperia X phones, which in turn were killed of to launch the Xperia XZ-series. We're due for the launch of the XZ3 models soon, but whether they'll join Craig on screen remains to be seen. The movie premiers next year and Sony might have a new set of flagships by then. But that's a story for another time - constantly replacing its flagships lead to some fan fatigue. And yet recent Xperia phones somehow feel behind the times - Xperias only recently jumped on the 18:9 screen and dual camera bandwagons. Sales last quarter weren't great, but it's not too late for Sony to bounce back. Previous CEO Kaz Hirai had an interesting interview where he detailed his belief that Sony should keep making phones. Published on 2018/08/19 | Source The number of men who report being attacked by their girlfriends is increasing faster than that of female victims of dating violence. Advertisement The number of women who reported violence from their boyfriends soared 30 percent from 6,702 in 2016 to 8,703 in 2017, according to the National Police Agency. But male victims doubled from 458 to 977 over the same period. Already some 4,427 women and 650 men fell victim to dating violence during the first six months this year. If this trend goes on, the number of male victims will likely surpass 1,000 by year's end. Experts believe that the actual number of male victims is larger but they are often ashamed to come forward. But Chung Suk-hun, a professor of criminal psychology at Soonchunhyang University, said, "The increase in the number of male victims of dating violence means in a sense that women with more education on sexual equality are now actively resisting verbal attacks from their boyfriends". "But women should not use violence either. We need education and counseling because this can lead to domestic violence", he added. Published on 2018/08/19 | Source A worker stands by a machine in a factory in Siheung, Gyeonggi Province on July 20. Smaller Korean manufacturers are packing up and heading overseas in growing numbers because they are unable or unwilling to pay wages and other mounting expenses here. Advertisement According to the Export-Import Bank of Korea, overseas investment by Korean companies and individuals reached US$43.7 billion last year, the highest since the government began tallying statistics in 1980. The overseas investments of major businesses rose 38 percent over the last five years, from $25.6 billion in 2012 to $35.3 billion last year. But for small and mid-sized businesses it nearly tripled over the same period, and the proportion of them building factories abroad surged 60.3 percent to 1,884. Smaller manufacturers blame surging wages and red tape. Back home, therefore, facility investment is declining sharply. According to the Korea Development Bank, domestic investment by major businesses rose from W147.4 trillion in 2015 to W168.5 trillion last year, but once the booming semiconductor and display industries are excluded it actually fell from W123 trillion to W110.6 trillion (US$1=W1,130). The trend is even more pronounced among small and mid-sized companies, where facility investment fell from W33.4 trillion in 2015 to W21.3 trillion last year. Since they account for 87 percent of employment in Korea, that has led to a sharp decline in available jobs. Lee Jeong-hee at Chungang University said, "Facility investment is planned looking 10 years ahead, so a decline means that more and more businesses expect bad times ahead". "The rising number of manufacturers relocating overseas poses the risk of triggering an acute job shortage two to four years in the future". There is a growing sense of crisis among manufacturers. The last straw for many was the minimum wage hike and the shorter working week. There are rumors of a mass exodus starting next year, when the minimum wage rises to W8,350 an hour and smaller firms must shorten their maximum working week to 52 hours. That will cost jobs. According to the OECD, small and mid-sized firms in Korea account for 87 percent of total jobs, much more than in the U.S. (41.33 percent), Japan (52.8 percent), the U.K. (53.08 percent) and France (63.3 percent). One small business owner said, "Who will provide jobs here when struggling businesses close down and those who can afford it move overseas?" Published on 2018/08/19 | Source Visitors line up outside the casino at the Jeju Shinwha World resort on Tuesday. The massive Jeju Shinwha World gambling resort is raking in huge cash from gambling-obsessed Chinese tourists even as other businesses on the island are floundering. Advertisement Since opening its doors in February, Shinwha World has raked in W369.4 billion in revenues (US$1=W1,130). Over the whole of last year, the other eight casinos in Jeju only made a combined W136.5 billion. Shinwa World made five times more than Korea's biggest casino, Paradise City in Incheon. Construction of the resort started in 2014 with a W2 trillion investment from Hong Kong's Landing International Development. It contains a hotel, convention center and shopping mall. A theme park, duty-free shop, water park and concert hall opened in April. It sits on a piece of land that is equivalent to 85 percent the area of Seoul's Yeouido. Although the number of tourists to Jeju dropped sharply since China's unofficial boycott, Shinwha World seems impervious. Some 350,000 foreigners have stayed at the resort so far, and 115,000 of them visited the casino. The casino focused on VIP marketing, which draws 80 percent of its revenues from the top five percent of spenders. The casino has 165 gaming tables. Song Woo-seok, who is in charge of casino operations, said, "In other casinos, only 15 percent of the tables are for VIPs, but at Shinwha it's half". High rollers are offered free air tickets and hotel rooms as well as limousine pick-up service at the airport. Unlike other casinos, Shinwha World managed to reduce the proportion of customers from mainland China to 50 percent, compared to 90 percent elsewhere in Asia. Parts of Shinwha World opened in April last year, just when Beijing started its unofficial boycott of Korean products and services, while banning group tours to Korea. That resulted in a sharp decline in the number of mainland Chinese visitors to Jeju. But Serena Eng, the vice president of marketing at the casino, said, "We put together teams to handle VIP guests from Taiwan, Japan, Hong Kong and Macao and hired more staff who can speak Cantonese and Taiwanese Mandarin rather than Beijing-style Mandarin". Korea needs big resort complexes to attract tourists since it does not have a wide variety of attractions other than shopping districts and sights related to the Korean Wave. Since Singapore opened the glitzy Marina Bay Sands resort in 2010, the number of tourists rose 69 percent from 9.68 million in 2009 to 16.4 million last year. Tourism industry insiders in Singapore say that a resort complex that generates US$7 billion in annual revenues results in almost a 1.5 percent rise in GDP over five years. Lee Ki-jong at Kyunghee University said, "We need to change our negative view of casinos as being simply gambling dens. Resort complexes will not only aid the tourism industry but also stimulate private spending". Published on 2018/08/19 | Source California State Assembly members and Korean Consulate officials pose at the assembly building in Los Angeles on Monday. /Newsis Advertisement The California State Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution to commemorate Korean independence fighter Ahn Chang-ho. The lower house of the California State Legislature wants to designate his birthday, Nov. 9, as Dosan Ahn Chang-ho Day. Dosan is Ahn's pen name. The resolution now needs to pass the state Senate. The resolution was co-sponsored by Steven Seokho Choi, a Korean-American assemblyman, and seconded and passed unanimously in a full session of the assembly. "Dosan Ahn Chang Ho is regarded as one of the most significant patriotic figures by Koreans at home and abroad", the resolution states. "He is to the Korean and Korean American community as Mahatma Gandhi is seen to the people of India, for he is held in highest esteem". Born in 1876, Ahn settled in Riverside, a small town east of Los Angeles, in 1904, where he founded Pachappa Camp, the first organized Korean-American self-help community. About 50 Koreans lived at the settlement, the prototype of present-day Koreatowns, and worked at orange farms. While running the settlement, he formed the New People's Association, a clandestine independence movement group, in 1906 and in 1913 the Young Korean Academy to inspire patriotism among young people under Japanese rule. Last year, the city council of Riverside designated the Pachappa Camp site as a historic district and set up a plaque there. Read this article in Korean Published on 2018/08/19 | Source Descendants of independence fighters hold citizenship certificates at the government complex in Gwacheon, Gyeonggi Province on Monday. /Yonhap Advertisement The descendants of independence fighters during the Japanese occupation have been granted Korean citizenship. The Justice Ministry in a ceremony at government headquarters in Gwacheon southern Seoul awarded citizenship to 31 overseas-born descendants of a dozen independence fighters. They include descendants of Heo Wi, the first freedom fighter to be executed by imperial Japan, and Gye Bong-woo. Heo formed a group of independence fighters in 1907 but was arrested and executed on Sept. 27, 1908 at Seodaemun Prison in Seoul. Gye led an independence movement in China, Siberia and Kazakhstan teaching Korean language and history. They also include descendants of Park Chan-ik, an official for the government-in-exile in Shanghai, as well as Yi Jeong and Choi Hae, who fought in battles against Japanese forces. The ministry has been granting Korean citizenship to descendants of independence fighters every year since 2006 Why is inspiration so powerful? When we are inspired, we are releasing serotonin and dopamine, two of the most critical neurochemicals. They are deeply connected to our wellbeing and energy. Serotonin makes us feel significant and important, while dopamine motivates us to act to achieve goals and gain a sense of progress. They are the fuel behind the fi re that boosts productivity by an incredible amount. My grandfather, JE Slater, intuitively understood the power of inspiration. His advice to us growing up was to always keep exhilaration in front of exhaustion. I can remember very few moments with him when he wasnt in a state of inspiration. He was always full of joy, wonder, momentum and energy. Like my grandfather, I am nearly always exhilarated at work. I wasnt always that way it was something I had to learn and develop. I have been researching and experimenting with it for more than 20 years. Heres what Ive learned about how to help people be inspired: Think about the type of work that must be done, and when and where its best performed. Consider the ideal situations for teamwork, client meetings and mentoring. Whats the right mix of in-person or online interactions for each for example, daily in-person WIPs, weekly face-to-face strategy sessions, or continual dialogue online? Should flexibility be learned? If you give freedom to one part of the business, you should give it to all, with awareness of whats appropriate for each role. But for new hires, it could help to set a probation phase. You can understand their working style, build trust and ensure they know whats expected. How can I get some discipline back? When setting boundaries, look at your own behaviour first. Are you being responsive when o -site; taking interest in your staff so they feel energised? Then ask your team how they view the situation, as they could be struggling to adjust to digital life, and you can think about how to better manage the change. Easier said than done, of course this is something that will look different for every organisation, depending on the individual workplace. Additionally, it will continue to shift as roles ebb in and out of vogue, according to changes in the wider marketplace. There is other cause for celebration, too: after several of years of redundancies, restructures and offshoring throughout the industry, the 2017/18 financial year marked a return to growth for HR departments. However, that doesnt mean that HR professionals can simply rest on their laurels and expect to cruise by for the next 12 months. HR as a function is an enabler, says John Baker, joint group managing director of The Next Group. HR professionals need to consistently demonstrate that the work they do is adding to the performance of the business. Competition for top talent is also becoming tougher as more organisations seek to expand their internal departments. The big names in the business can potentially have their pick of roles and thats if they can be encouraged to leave their current positions at all. I believe the market is demonstrating some signs of being moderately talent-short, at a time when demand is probably over the midline, says David Owens of HR Partners. Supply is somewhat constrained, so its a competitive market for talent. Local foundation wins grant for Appalachian roots music show David Holt performs with Molly Tuttle, who be featured on this season's David Holt's State of Music. The Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the Community Foundation of Henderson County to help fund Season 4 of David Holts State of Music, an Emmy-nominated public television series distributed nationally by PBS. David Holts State of Music is proud to bring the musical heritage and beauty of our Southern mountains to a national audience, said Will McIntyre, series producer and chairman of the Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation, which is based in Henderson County. Shot entirely on location in southern Appalachia, David Holt's State of Music showcases young performers as well as veteran masters of traditional music. A four-time Grammy winning host, Holt is a musician and storyteller who toured for a dozen years with the late Doc Watson. Our series features some of the finest performers of bluegrass, folk, gospel, and roots music," he says. "Many of these musicians arent known to the general public: some are young, some are older but overlooked. Were helping raise awareness of these artists by presenting them to the PBS audience. The first two seasons featured Rhiannon Giddens, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Wayne Henderson, the Kruger Brothers, Dom Flemons, Amythyst Kiah, Jeff Little, Alice Gerrard, Rayna Gellert, Laurelyn Dossett, the St. John AME Zion Unity Choir, Balsam Range, Josh Goforth, the Branchettes, Bryan Sutton, Mipso and the Steep Canyon Rangers. Season 3, which will premiere in November, will present Sam Bush, Molly Tuttle, Jerron Blind Boy Paxton, Joe Newberry, April Verch and Jerry Douglas. The series premiered on North Carolina Public Television in 2015. Nashville Public Television (NPT) is the presenting PBS station for David Holts State of Music, which is carried in nearly 90% percent of PBS markets in the United States. In addition to the latest grant, the Community Foundation of Henderson County and its component Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund have supported the production of David Holts State of Music from its first season through previous grants to the Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation totaling $60,000. The Community Foundation of Henderson County is a nonprofit, public charity that helps people who care make lasting contributions to causes that matter by building permanent endowments and other philanthropic funds and by being strong stewards of donors gifts. The Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation is a 501(c)(3), charitable nonprofit that was established in 2009 to raise the profile of the arts and educational organizations through the creation of videos, books and photography for websites and related media. It is the prime fundraising entity for David Holt's State of Music. To learn more about David Holts State of Music, visit https://www.davidholttv.org/ and follow the show on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Instagram. By West Kentucky Star Staff Aug. 18, 2018 | 10:35 AM | PADUCAH The meetings guest speaker was Lacy Beasley, the president and COO of Retail Strategies, a full-service advisory firm that works with municipalities to bring retail and restaurant business to the community. Beasley and her team at Retail Strategies, conducted an in-depth Facebook survey which revealed how an average consumer in Paducah is different from the average American . The survey indicated where people spend their income, what brands they choose to shop for and how that impacts the local retail economy. Based on the data, Paducah is in a position to benefit from the continued growth and the changing environment in the retail industry. What we learned today was that the opportunities are more and not less to grow our retail position in Western Kentucky, said Scott Darnell, president/CEO President of Paducah Economic Development. During the meeting, Judge-Executive Bob Leeper was awarded the W. David Denton Leadership Award for his 30 years of dedication to the community. It has been an honor to have a leader such as Judge-Executive Bob Leeper in our community for more than 30 years and his contributions will not be forgotten, said Scott Darnell. Ending the meeting on an energetic note, Jonas Neihoff unveiled a film produced in partnership with Paducah Economic Development and Four Rivers Nuclear Partnership. The film highlights an array of different entities about Paducah showcasing the community with plans for the video to be used as a recruitment tool for businesses throughout the Greater Paducah region. There is an energy about our region that can't be captured in a single story, picture or video. It is a story that is still being told by the collective voice and efforts of the people. So rather than try to define it, we choose to invite you to taste, see, and experience for yourself all that Paducah has to offer, to Partake in Paducah and discover all that we love about our great city. This film is a small glimpse into the diverse ways people Partake in Paducah. We hope you will use this as a way to invite others to join our community and help write the next chapter, said Jonas Neihoff, president of Socially Present. Paducah Economic Development is the economic development agency for Paducah and McCracken County, Ky. It is a public/private partnership formed to attract and grow jobs and investment through assisting existing business with expansion projects and recruiting new businesses. The Paducah Economic Development Annual Meeting on Friday at Walker Hall, revealed insight about Paducahs retail economy future, awarded Judge Executive Bob Leeper the W. David Denton Leadership Award, and introduced a film produced by Partake in Paducah to highlight the unique landscape and community of Paducah. On the Net: Hagerstown on ag officials' radar due to pest; what you need to know local Under the assumption that the governor is going to sign this bill, California is passing Assembly Bill 2943, which bans "sexual orientation change efforts" as fraudulent business practices, under an extremely broad definition thereof. I wrote about this earlier, with my own predictions about what will happen. Now the bill has passed the CA Senate. The courageous Michael Brown has called for civil disobedience in California to this law. By the way, if you ever "follow" anybody on Facebook, consider following Robert Gagnon, who writes about these issues. He's a nicer guy than I am, but he also tells it like it is. Facebook keeps banning him for a day here, twelve hours there, etc., for extremely measured posts in which he criticizes the homosexual agenda, the ideas of Christian groups pushing for compromise with the homosexual agenda, etc. Oh, and while you're at it, consider following me on Facebook as well. The Godmother of one of Delhis largest crime families, 62-year-old Basiran, was arrested on Friday from south Delhis Sangam Vihar from where she allegedly ran her criminal empire with her eight sons, including a juvenile, for almost two decades. She was wanted in a contract killing case for the last eight months. Police said a total of 113 cases, including murder, contract killing, extortion, kidnapping for ransom, bootlegging, and robbery are registered against Basiran and her family members. There are nine cases against Basiran at the Sangam Vihar police station alone. Basirans latest arrest is in connection with the contract killing case of 21-year-old Miraj in 2017. Her two sons are already in jail in the contract killing case, said a police officer, who was part of the team that arrested Basiran. Basiran, who is considered by the police to be the ringleader of a crime syndicate, had control over three government borewells in Sangam Vihar. The family was illegally extracting water from these wells and selling it to local residents, said police. Basiran and her gang members, mostly friends of her two jailed sons, control the three borewells and illegally sell water. They charge anywhere between Rs 600 and Rs 1,000 per month from each household, said another police officer on the condition of anonymity. Deputy commissioner of police (South) Romil Baaniya said Basiran was evading arrest for the last eight months in Mirajs murder case in which four others, including a woman named Munni Begum were arrested. Her two sons Rahul Khan and Shamim alias Gunga were the mastermind behind it despite being in jail. Mirajs semi-decomposed body with strangulation marks was found in Sangam Vihars K-block jungle in September 2017. The case was solved in January this year when police apprehended a minor boy and he disclosed that it was a contract killing that was executed by hitmen of Basiran and her sons. Basiran took a contract of Rs 60,000 for Mirajs murder from his step-sister Munni Begum, who wanted him to be killed because he had been eyeing her daughter, said an investigator. Basiran was declared a proclaimed offender as she was evading law and all her properties in Delhi were attached and seized on the courts orders. The regular police raids forced her family members and accomplices to leave the Sangam Vihar area. The objective was to weaken Basiran financially and psychologically and make her surrender, said police. Our strategy worked and Basiran was caught on Friday when she reached Sangam Vihar to meet some people, including lawyers, to seek their help in getting her properties back, said the first officer. DCP Baaniya said while Basirans son Shamim has been booked under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA), she and her other family members will also be booked under this for amassing wealth from crime proceeds. During the interrogation, the officer said, Basiran revealed that in the last eight months she had been taking help from her relatives and hiding in their homes in Ahmedabad, Delhi, Allahabad, Mainpuri and other places in Uttar Pradesh. Born in Basai Arela village in Uttar Pradeshs Agra, Basiran was married to Malkhan Singh of Rajasthans Dholpur around 40 years ago. The couple came to Delhi in the early 80s and shifted to Sangam Vihar after living in Govindpuri slums for almost a decade. With no source of income, Basiran entered the crime world and took to bootlegging in the late 90s. Thereafter, she never looked back and went further deeper into the crime world. She also motivated her sons to expand her criminal empire, said DCP Baaniya. Police said Basirans husband, Malkhan Singh, is the only male member in her family without a crime record. Daina Shukis leaves a Lecanto hurricane shelter after evacuating during Hurricane Matthew in 2016. Connect to official county emergency planning information. Theres no shortage of helpful facts and tips. In fact, theres so much to know and consider, it can be overwhelming. Get started early, before panic and confusion influences the process. A good place to start is to explore the hurricane planning websites for Pinellas and Hillsborough counties and download their guides. Assess your risk. This begins with knowing your evacuation zone and the structural safety of your home. See below for links and details. Plan and prepare. Youll want to have essential supplies on hand to see you through before, during and after a storm, regardless of whether youll be evacuating or sheltering in place. Keep in mind there could be power outages and potential water supply issues that could extend after a storm, even if a hurricane only grazes the area. Cars pass by a Lecanto church the night before Hurricane Matthew made landfall in Florida in 2016. Hillsborough County Evacuation Zones For help finding your zone, call 813-272-5900 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For help finding your zone, call 813-272-5900 Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Pinellas County Evacuation Zones Call 727-453-3150 for the 24-hour interactive service and key in your landline phone number without the area code to hear your evacuation zone. This doesnt work for cell phone numbers. For help finding your zone, call 727-464-3800 Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4:40 p.m. During an emergency activation call the Citizen Information Center at 727-464-4333. Street littered with branches and leaves in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in Tampa in 2017. City workers load up sandbags for residents in St. Pete in preparation for Hurricane Irma in 2017. Daina Shukis checks out of an animal-friendly shelter in Lecanto due to Hurricane Matthew. Hillsborough County emergency alerts: Visit the HCFLAlert webpage or text StaySafe to 888-777 Pinellas County emergency alerts: Visit the Alert Pinellas website. Visit Hillsborough Countys main website and follow the county's posts on Facebook and Twitter Visit Pinellas Countys main website and follow on Facebook and Twitter, plus specific emergency preparedness news and updates and real-time traffic updates. New for 2018, you can now download Ready Pinellas, Pinellas Countys free mobile app, via the Google Play or Apple app stores. The app provides quick access to useful information on preparedness planning, evacuation zone lookup, disaster kits and checklists for when a storm is approaching. Sign on to the Nextdoor website for news and alerts in your neighborhood. Broad patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviour may affect stability with growing age. Those who are the most emotionally stable when young are probably going to continue being the most stable as they age. After testing how personality might change over 50 years, a new research conducted at the University of Houston suggested that personality is both stable and malleable across the lifespan. The rankings of personality traits remain fairly consistent. People who are more conscientious than others at 16 are likely to be more conscientious than others at 66. But, on average, everyone becomes more conscientious, more emotionally stable, and more agreeable. Researchers found individual differences in change across time, with some people changing more than others and some changing in more maladaptive or harmful ways. Social scientists have long debated whether personality is stable unchanged over time or malleable. Recent studies have indicated it might be both, but longitudinal studies covering very long timespans and relying on the same data source at both time points are rare. The new research supports the idea that personality is influenced by both genetics and environment. Personality is described as patterns of thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, consisting of five major traits: conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experiences, extraversion, and emotional stability. The combination of those traits how dominant each trait is in a given individual relative to the other traits makes up the personality profile. The researchers stated that personality has a stable component across the lifespan, both at the trait level and at the profile level, and that person is also malleable and people mature as they age. They found gender differences in personality at any given time, but, overall, men and women changed at the same rates across the lifespan. The findings appeared in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more City residents are doing their bit to help people in Kerala, which is facing its worst flood in nearly a century. People from different parts of the city are coming together to collect items of daily use and basic medicines. Many parts of Kerala have been washed out in incessant rains. The death toll in the state has reached 180. Rescue efforts are underway to save stranded people. At least 324 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents. Anish Pillai, who hails from Pandalam in Kerala and works in Sikandarpur, has created a network of centres, along with his friends, for collecting clothes, medicines, sanitary napkins, mosquito repellents and other items of daily use. We got many calls from residents who asked us how they could help. So we got in touch with a resident in Sector 57, who is collecting donated items at her house. We will collect the items and send them to Kerala in trucks, he said. For transport, Pillai and his group are in touch with the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), which is sending its trucks with relief materials to the affected state as well. Ambika Handa, a resident of Sector 57, has kept a box for donations outside her house. She said she had received many responses from her neighbours and friends. Tanisa Dhingra, who lives in DLF Phase 1, is collecting relief material such as rice, pulses, blankets, and tents with the help of her neighbours. She said she has also a sent a mail to all her colleagues asking them for help. Starting Monday, we plan to keep boxes for donation on every floor in the office, she said, adding that she has tied up with an NGO, which will take care of the transport. Sakshi Gupta, a yoga teacher, is organising a free group yoga session at the Leisure Valley Park in Sector 29 from 7 am to 8 am for those who are donating to the chief ministers relief fund. I have put out posts on social media with a link to the fund. Anyone who donates can send a screenshot of the payment to my personal email address, in order to sign up for the class, she said. Residents of condominiums are doing their bit. Vatika City in Sector 49 and Vatika India Next in Sector 82 have placed multiple drop boxes for relief supplies within their premises. Residents of Fresco Apartments in Sector 50 have done the same. Schools in the city are taking steps in this regard as well. Scottish High International School in Sushant Lok-2 plans to talk to its students and ask for their support. In Mondays assembly, the head boy and the head girl will brief the students about the donation drive. We will be collecting items till Wednesday and transport them to Kerala, said Sudha Goyal, director of the school. Lancers International School in DLF Phase 5 is collecting supplies such as rice, sugar, towels and water. One of our representatives will soon send the supplies to Kerala, said Rohit Mann, director of the school. How to contribute: Get in touch with Anish Pillai at 9711045511. Ambika Handa can be reached at ambika.handa@rediffmail.com Contact Tanisa Dhingra at 9910050005, 8800484727. Donate to the CM relief fund through: https://donation.cmdrf.kerala.gov.in/ SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Peddlers, who were arrested on Friday by the Haryana Special Task force (STF), have allegedly told the police that they used to supply heroin to different clubs, pubs and bars, most of which are on the MG Road. The accused, UC Okolie (40) and Yoco Kouadio (32) from Nigeria, were produced in a court and sent to judicial custody on Saturday, the police said. Okolie and Kouadio were arrested from near Iffco Chowk after policemen posed as decoy customers and struck a deal with the two. The police said Okolie is the alleged kingpin of a gang of drug peddlers. Investigators said technical surveillance has revealed the mobile phone locations of the accused on MG Road, Iffco Chowk and near Bristol Chowk. The police said they were still investigating who their customers were. Gurugram deputy inspector general of police (STF) Satheesh Balan said the illegal drug business in the district might slow down with the arrest of the kingpin, who was supplying heroin to many parts of Haryana. During interrogation, Okolie revealed that he had come to India in 2016 to do cloth business, which he did for a year in Tirrupur, Tamil Nadu, Balan said. During that period, he allegedly met Kouadio, who was into drug business and was living in Delhis Dwarka, Balan said adding that later, Okolie also allegedly took to the drug business. He used to allegedly purchase drugs from Kouadio and sell them further. Kouadio allegedly paid Okolie Rs 15,000 for selling 10-gram heroin, the police said. The two arrested men had been living in a rented room in Delhis Uttam Nagar for the last one year. On Friday, STF officials recovered over 1kg of heroin, valued at Rs 5 crore in the international market, from the possession of the two accused. A case was registered under the Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Foreigners Act at Sector 18 police station of Gurugram, the police said. Balan said the drugs were being supplied to the duo from across the border and were delivered as per instructions received from a mastermind who is yet to be identified. Balan said the team is investigating the source of drugs in the region and its supply routes. The accused covered their drug peddling by posing to be cloth businessmen. We have identified the drug supply chain and are now looking for the drug dealers who delivered larger consignments. We are trying to track the masterminds, Sector 18 assistant sub-inspector Dev Charan said. SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON Four infiltrators were killed by the army since Saturday evening in two separate incidents in Tangdhar and Nowgam sectors of the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmirs Kupwara district. Officials said that militants were attempting to sneak into the Valley when they were intercepted by army patrols. Three infiltrators were killed near the LoC in Tangdhar sector on Saturday while there was also a firing exchange between Indian and Pakistani soldiers. Three terrorists killed by Army while infiltrating in Tangdhar sector of Kupwara today, Director General of Police SP Vaid tweeted. Army also confirmed killing of three militants and said operation is still under progress. In the other incident, an infiltrator was killed near Kasturi nullah in Nowgam sector on Sunday, said an army spokesman, adding the operation is still underway. Last week, four soldiers were injured in Nowgam sector in an exchange with militants near the LoC. On Saturday, police said that few mortar shells were fired by Pakistani forces into Thajal-Chranda area of Uri near the LoC. While no casualties were reported, one shell hit the washroom belonging to Mohammad Hussain causing some damage to it, said a police official. On a day the Prime Minister made an aerial recce of flood-battered Kerala and the sun peeped out for a bit from behind the clouds, the state appeared to be staring at an epidemic outbreak . State health officials said, with the rains letting up a little after several days, the biggest worry was how to contain the contamination of water sources in several areas to prevent the outbreak of disease. It is a big concern. We have already given directions to local bodies to take up a cleaning drive at the earliest. We are also planning a mass contact programme, Kerala health minister P K Shailaja said. The Prime Minister announced a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore after surveying the devastation caused by the worst floods in the history of Kerala, and assured that adequate relief, including foodgrain and medical supplies, would be provided. Initial state government estimates put the losses caused by the large-scale damage to property and infrastructure at Rs 20,000 crore. Revenue officials said at least 20,000 houses had been destroyed and 15,000 partially damaged by the swirling floodwaters and the relentless rain. Although the downpour abated a little and the sun shone briefly in Thrissur and Kozhikode after five days, many people opted to stay on in relief camps as they did not have homes to return to. Many said that apart from the clothes on them, they had little else by way of possessions as the floodwaters had washed everything away. Sixty-two-year-old Kalyanikutty Amma, however, returned to Thiruvalla but couldnt locate her home. All she found at the site were a few bricks. Distraught, she refused to leave the place, saying she preferred to float away with the water that had robbed her of her home and of her lifes savings. She was later forcibly taken to a nearby relief camp by National Disaster Response Force commandos. Like Kalyanikutty, thousands of others have lost their homes. Not just that, over 10,000 kilometres of roads have been destroyed, communication and power lines have snapped, water sources have been contaminated and farm land and plantations devastated. Experts said it would take several years for Kerala to recover, with many rivers having changed course and several hills having crumbled. The picturesque landscape of the state will not be the same again, they said. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kerala would have to begin from scratch in several areas. Since most relief camps have been set up in schools and colleges, it will be a while before classes are resumed. All schools have been asked to divert stocks of rice and other supplies kept for the mid-day meal scheme to relief camps. It is a lesson for all. The state will have to contain naked exploitation of Nature. We need visionaries, not vote-bank politicians. At least for now, I hope leaders will dump their demand for more dams in the state, said eminent environmental scientist V S Vijayan, a member of the Madhav Gadgil panel on the Western Ghats. The catastrophic impact of the monsoon is a grim reminder that vigil against natural disasters should never be lowered, he said. State opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala conceded that things wouldnt be the same but exuded confidence that the peoples resolve would help overcome challenges. All sectors have been impacted by Natures fury but we will rise again like the phoenix, he said. The Prime Minister also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next of kin of the dead and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured, from the PMs National Relief Fund. He directed insurance companies to hold special camps to assess and release compensation under social security schemes. Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu, who had sparked major controversy after being shown seated next to the president of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir (PoK) at Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khans swearing-in and hugging Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa, on Sunday defended himself, saying he was asked to sit there. If youre invited as a guest of honour somewhere, you sit wherever you are asked to. I was sitting somewhere else but they asked me to sit there, Sidhu told media persons after returning to India via the Attari-Wagah border on sitting beside President of PoK Masood Khan in the front row at the oath ceremony in Islamabad. If someone (Bajwa) comes to me and says that we belong to the same culture and well open Kartarpur border on Guru Nanak Devs 550th Prakash Parv, what else I could do? he said on his interaction with the Pakistan army chief. (With ANI inputs) Nepal sent its foreign minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali to pay homage to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after his death on Friday. Gyawali, a senior leader of the ruling Nepal Communist Party and a close aide to Prime Minister KP Oli, spoke to Prashant Jha about Vajpayees contribution to India-Nepal ties, as well as the shifting dynamics of the bilateral relationship. Excerpts from the interview: You came to pay your respects to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. What was his contribution to India-Nepal ties? Atalji was a deeply respected figure not only in India but across South Asia and the world. He had a deep spiritual relationship with Nepal. I dont only mean it in the sense of religion, but he used to view Nepal-India ties within the framework of the broader South Asian civilisational framework. Nepal has lost a really close and respected friend. He dealt with Nepal in three capacities as Prime Minister, as external affairs minister, and as a politician. He was always magnanimous. He was sensitive to Nepals interests. And he was conscious that Nepal and India should progress together. When Vajpayee was PM, Nepal was in the middle of a civil war but soon after we saw a peace process. Do you think the roots of the peace process when the Maoists and the democratic parties came together were planted during his term? It was a time when the armed conflict in Nepal had peaked. Two rounds of peace talks had failed. The Indian government, at that point, began recognising that if the conflict deepens and Nepal gets embroiled in it further, there would be implications beyond the Nepal border and so it should get resolved politically. There is no specific documentation of the official position on this yet. But we have a sense that Vajpayee believed that if this problem got resolved, it would be best for not only Nepal but also India. Vajpayee belonged to a generation of politicians who had deep personal links with Nepali leaders. On the Nepali side, there were leaders like Girija Prasad Koirala and Manmohan Adhikari who knew Indian politicians personally. Do you think this personal connect at the political level has dipped in recent times? This is true. A deep and personal relationship developed between leaders during the Indian freedom struggle, Nepals democratic movement, and the period after the royal coup in Nepal in 1960 when Nepali leaders lived in exile in India. But it is not possible to have such relationships forever every era has its own necessities. But we need to compensate for this in two ways. The personal relationships need to give way to a larger legal and institutional framework so that ties dont get affected by the whims of any individual; that they are dictated by fair guidelines; that they have solid foundations. We are also bound in a way which is both deeply intimate and also generates friction. It has multi-dimensional aspects. We need to strengthen the foundations of trust. This can be achieved through frequent visits and exchanges, respecting each others sensitivities, and developing an attitude which places mutual growth and interdependence at the centre of our vision. This can help us fill the vacuum left by the generation that had deep personal ties. In the meantime, people-to-people ties have many elements now in this era of open societies. We can create networks at the level of cultural, intellectual forums, business, media, which can fill in for the warmth lost by the passing away of such dignitaries. Is the traditional Nepal-India special relationship then becoming a more professional relationship? Yes, this is true. Special relationship had many connotations and created some illusions. Among Nepalis, there were growing doubts if special relationship meant that our relationship was uneven, if there were questions on sovereign equality, and if it had a security element. It was sometimes defined that way. There was an effort by certain elements within Nepal to drag India or certain elements within India to push it into internal issues of Nepal, and this generated complexities. This perspective led to ups and downs. So in that sense, it is necessary to have professional relations. But having said that, the fact is our relationship is diverse and unique and nothing can replace that. So you prefer the word unique to special? Yes, I prefer using the word unique. Very few countries have an open border spanning 1700 kms. There is such an expansive and deep personal cross-border relationship in terms of cultural, religious, economic, marital ties. But it would not be practical to use the term special to denote a political or strategic relationship. Vajpayee was from the Bharatiya Janata Party. Even today, India has a BJP government. Nepal has a unified communist party leading the government, which you represent. Does the different ideological worldview affect ties? It does not matter. Ever since the end of the Cold War, the ideological factor has eroded in international relations. States look at trade and economic factors, security, and diaspora and its image as key variables. Globally, ideology is not very prevalent. Also, every country has its own system. If we believe in democracy, we have to respect the mandate of the sovereign people of that country. In India, the electorate has chosen a strong BJP government. In Nepal, the electorate has chosen Left forces. And finally, it is better to focus on convergence rather than divergence. We also share broader South Asian values. Our ideologies should not have an impact on ties. A key concern in Indian foreign policy vis-a-vis Nepal remains China. You have good relations with your northern neighbour. India-China ties have also improved recently. Does this give you more space? How do you see this triangular relationship? Nepal has an independent foreign policy as an independent, sovereign country. The main thrust is amity with all, enmity with none. We have told both our neighbours we want to benefit from your economic growth. We have no global or regional ambitions. Our ambition is limited to the fact that we want rapid economic growth to make up for the lost decades of conflict and political transition. This is not possible without deepening our connectivity, trade, investment, tourism, people-to-people relationship with you in a comprehensive manner and benefiting from your growth. While doing this, you have no reason to doubt us. We have, under a consistent policy, never allowed our soil to be used against you. We will respect your genuine concerns. But we cannot allow relations to improve or dip with one at the cost of the other. This is our starting point. We are very hopeful of the increased exchange and contact and understanding between India and China. This is not only instrumental for regional stability and prosperity but also in the global context, where unpredictability has increased in the area of trade in goods and services, where there is growing obstruction in the movement of people, and where the international order seems shaken. The improvement in India-China ties will have a far-reaching impact. Nepal can benefit from this. The BJP on Sunday took on Rahul Gandhi over the revocation of suspension from his party of Mani Shankar Aiyar, who had used objectionable language against Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying it exposed the Congress chief and his love for a person of many controversies. Aiyar was suspended from the primary membership of the Congress on December 7 last year for his neech aadmi remarks against Modi on the eve of the Gujarat Assembly polls. Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters here, party spokesperson Sambit Patra questioned why Aiyar was taken back by the Congress, wondering if the party was incomplete without him. Rahul Gandhi had clarified that the Congress did not support Aiyars foul language and that there was no place for such leaders in the party. But now, the way he has been taken back shows it was only a lip service and the Congress president stands exposed, he said. Citing various controversial statements made by Aiyar against Modi, the BJP leader said he was the real face of the Congress. Referring to a tweet of Gandhi where he said he was the Congress and the Congress was love, Patra wondered whether this love was for Aiyar, a man of many controversies. Rahul Gandhi tweets, saying I am Congress and I am love and now, his love Mani Shankar Aiyar is back...a man of many controversies, he said. The Congress chief revoked Aiyars suspension from the party yesterday on the recommendation of its central disciplinary committee. Aiyar had also courted controversy when he hosted a former Pakistani foreign minister and senior Congress leaders, including former prime minister Manmohan Singh, at his residence here ahead of the Gujarat polls. The issue had become a major campaign point for the BJP with Modi personally raking it up. The government railway police (GRP) on Sunday said they had arrested a couple who have confessed to committing more than 500 thefts and frauds, mainly targeting train passengers going to Bihar and Jharkhand,in the past four years, but were never caught. Jabalpur GRP station in-charge YP Mishra said the couple, identified as Manoj Gupta, 35, a resident of Bihars Aurangabad district and his wife Pooja, were arrested from their rented accommodation at Kripal Chowk in Jabalpur on Saturday night on a tip-off. Explaining their methods, he said that Gupta, posing as a train passenger, used to befriend another passenger going to Bihar or Jharkhand at Jabalpur railway station, while Pooja, pretending to be another passenger, would come up to them and request them to get her a ticket. When the two men, including her husband, went to the booking window leaving their belongings with the woman, she would disappear with the stuff and later meet Gupta at their house. The police officer said that they were verifying the confessions of the couple by going through the FIRs lodged with GRP station and other police stations in the last four years and earlier, adding that it was also possible that many victims didnt lodge cases. A police team would be sent to Aurangabad to gather details about the mans second family and his criminal records, if any. He said while the couple have two children, Gupta also had a second wife too who lived in his home town with their five children and he used to deposit a part of his loot in his second wifes account every month for her domestic expenses. The police would try to get details of the deposits in their bank accounts on Monday, he added. Mishra said the couple had other methos which they employed in per different situations to target people. A key aide of Dawood Ibrahim, Indias most wanted terrorist, was arrested by British police at Londons Hilton Hotel on Friday. Jabir Siddiq, aka Jabir Moti, is believed to be the right-hand man of Dawood, managing his investments in the UK, UAE and around the world. The Pakistani national, reportedly in the UK on a 10-year visa, is likely to have been held on drugs related charges. We are unable to release any details at this stage, a spokesperson for Londons Metropolitan Police said. Jabir Moti, 51, is believed to be close to both Dawood and his wife, Mehjabeen, as their finance manager. Jabirs arrest on Friday is likely to have been a result of intelligence sharing between India and the UK. Meanwhile, a newly-updated list of financial sanctions released by the UK government earlier this week notes three known addresses in Pakistan for Dawood - House No 37, 30th Street defence, Housing Authority, Karachi; Palatial bungalow in the hilly area in Noorabad, Karachi; and White House, Near Saudi Mosque, Clifton, Karachi. Dawood, the mastermind of the Mumbai serial bomb blasts in 1993, remains the only Indian national on the UK Treasury departments Consolidated List of Financial Sanctions Targets in the UK updated on Thursday. The fugitive gangsters place of birth is recorded as Kher, Ratnagiri, Maharashtra, and his nationality is listed as Indian with a recorded Indian passport, which was subsequently revoked by the government of India and then goes on to list a string of Indian and Pakistani passports acquired by him and misused. Fathers name is Sheikh Ibrahim Ali Kaskar, Mothers name is Amina Bi, Wifes name is Mehjabeen Shaikh. Also referred to as Hizrat and Mucchad, the listing on Dawood, first made on November 7, 2003, notes. By 2020, about 500 electricians will be trained in a region lacking qualified workers Schneider Electric will help design the programs, provide suitable equipment and train the instructors In Haut-Katanga Province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the lack of qualified electricians is undermining the provinces economic development. With this in mind, Schneider Electric, the leader in digital transformation of energy management and automation, and the Society of Jesus in the DRC will help 500 local young people find work between 2018 and 2020 by creating two certified training courses for electricians. Eighty percent of these trainees will come from underprivileged families. Boosting the Haut-Katanga economy As Africas fourth most populated country, with a wealth of natural resources, DRC has experienced GDP growth of between 2 to 9 percent in recent years. Economic growth has been particularly strong in Haut-Katanga, the DRCs industrial and mining center, and the provinces capital Lubumbashi, the countrys second-largest city and major business center. However, the DRCs economy is being hampered by its lack of infrastructure and skills, which is undermining growth. In Haut-Katanga, the electricity sector is having to resort to foreign workers to meet its electrical equipment, installations and maintenance needs, impacting the provinces underprivileged populations. A partnership to help underprivileged young people find work Committed to the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations, Schneider Electric is particularly invested in SDG 7, or ensuring access to sustainable energy for all, as a prerequisite for child education, quality of life and economic development. In 2009, the company launched its Access to Energy program with the objective of supporting vocational electrical training, in partnership with local organizations. Since then, the program has helped more than 148,000 people in more than 45 countries. Moreover, between 2009 and 2020, Schneider Electric will have helped train 20,000 young people in 22 African countries with about 90 partners. In 2018 alone, 5,200 young people will be trained. In DRC, Didier Chika, Access to Energy business development manager, contacted Father Max Senker, director of Mwapusukeni Technical College in Lubumbashi. This college, which is managed by the Society of Jesus, has offered vocational training courses including steel construction and car mechanics for young people between 18 and 25 since 2017. Majority of students are from poor families. After studying market needs, the partners defined two training programs in the energy sector: Building Electricity and Solar Energy. A partnership agreement signed at the end of 2017 between the Jesuits, Schneider Electric DRC and the Schneider Electric Foundation describes the courses, the duration of the training, the number of beneficiaries and the target audience. It also defines the commitments of each party, explained Didier Chika. Given the regions needs for qualified electricians, trainees are guaranteed job prospects. The aim is to enable 500 young people, including 80 percent from underprivileged families, to train as electricians from September 2018 to 2020. Two certified programs for trainee electricians The Building Electricity program is designed to last a year (six months of classes and six months of experience in a company). This training will lead to a locally recognized vocational certificate. Meanwhile, the Solar Energy program lasts four months and will take 80 students every year, including those that have completed the Building Electricity program. The quality of the programs is partly due to the equipment provided by Schneider Electric, through the support of the Schneider Electric Foundation. This includes learning stations (booths in which students can make connections), solar panels, batteries, charge regulators and more. Schneider Electric is also contributing to instructor training. The instructors training modules are dispensed by a Schneider Electric Teacher, an employee that applied for the position on a volunteer basis and was selected for his or her technical skills in the relevant equipment. The program is designed to be replicated and adapted to the constraints of each region through ongoing development and improvement. For example, the solar module was developed by a professor from the Schneider Electric Paul-Louis Merlin School in Grenoble during a trip to Senegal with local technicians. Similarly, feedback out of Tanzania highlighted a need for industrial maintenance, leading to the design and introduction of another module. All the training courses are presented in a catalogue organized by level of qualification, such as a vocational training certificate and a masters certificate. About Schneider Electric Schneider Electric is leading the Digital Transformation of Energy Management and Automation in Homes, Buildings, Data Centers, Infrastructure and Industries. With global presence in over 100 countries, Schneider is the undisputable leader in Power Management Medium Voltage, Low Voltage and Secure Power, and in Automation Systems. We provide integrated efficiency solutions, combining energy, automation and software. In our global Ecosystem, we collaborate with the largest Partner, Integrator and Developer Community on our Open Platform to deliver real-time control and operational efficiency. We believe that great people and partners make Schneider a great company and that our commitment to Innovation, Diversity and Sustainability ensures that Life Is On everywhere, for everyone and at every moment. Media Contact Company Name: ABC Private Limited Contact Person: Media Relations Email: Send Email Phone: 8745857610 Country: India Website: https://www.schneider-electric.co.in/en/ A harried resident rushed to report six bodies floating under Kallissery Bridge at Pandanad in Keralas flood-hit Alappuzha district on Sunday. The overwhelmed officials working overtime to deal with the crisis were helpless. There was little they could do. Even if we retrieve these bodies, we do not have mortuary to store them. Dead are gone but our priority is to save the living ones, an official said, summing up the mood in Pandanad. The residents of Pandanad, an affluent village dotted with mansions on the banks of river Pambhas, remained on the edge. An overcast sky threatened to bring more misery as the mansions remained submerged. At some places, the water levels have touched above 20-feet. Water currents make our task more difficult, said Lt Col Aiyappa BM of the armys engineer regiment, which has been involved in rescue operations since Friday. An army boat hit a tree as soldiers were trying to rescue an aged couple marooned for four days. The couple had been on the rooftop of their house reluctant to leave because there had been no news about their only son for two days. He had left to fetch water and food and had been stranded on the other side of Pambha in a relief camp. The diabetic couple agreed to leave the marooned house only after they were told their son is fine. Read:Unsung heroes at the helm of rescue, relief efforts in flood-hit Kerala A heart patient rescued 45 minutes later was struggling without medicines. My blood pressure (BP) is high my tablets were destroyed in water. So I have been without medicine for two days, the teary-eyed man told his rescuers. Rushed to Alappuzha medical college, he was recuperating well, officials said. Residents complained about a delay in the relief operations. Officials said a resident had been clinging onto a tree for two days when he shouted for help. Finally, a navy copter spotted and saved him. Authorities insisted some people stayed put in their houses thinking the water levels would not reach their rooftops. This worsened the situation, they insisted. It is not water alone, slush is coming in a big way from lakes and dams. It makes the place more slippery and some have been swept away, said P Pramod, who lost his friend three days ago. At least 30 people were missing from Pandanad and surrounding areas and authorities say they were yet to compile exact casualties. Residents blamed authorities for failing to take pre-emptive measures. It is common sense. When catchment areas get heavy rain, dams will be filled. They waited for all dams to fill hoping they can generate more power. When the situation became uncontrollable, they opened all dams together, said Velaydhan Nair, a retired government employee. Residents complained food and relief materials were pouring in but there was a lack of co-ordination in distributing them. The soldiers pleaded helplessness by saying they have to go by the directives of the district administration. Initially the situation was really grim. But I think the worst is over, said Chengannur member of legislative assembly (MLA) Saji Cherian, who broke down while narrating the plight of his people. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan had earlier ticked Cherian off for demanding full control for the army in flooded areas. TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE KERALA GOVERNMENTS RELIEF FUND: Account number: 67319948232 Bank: State Bank of India Branch: City branch, Thiruvananthapuram IFS Code: SBIN0070028 PAN: AAAGD0584M Name of Donee: CMDRF Kerala helpline numbers Kasargode: +91 9446601700 Kannur: +91 944 6682300 Kozhikode: +91 944 6538900 Wayanad: +91 807 8409770 Malappuram: +91 938 3463212 Malappuram: +91 938 3464212 Thrissur: +91 944 7074424 Thrissur: +91 487 2363424 Palakkad: +91 8301803282 Ernakulam: +91 790 2200400 Ernakulam: +91 790 2200300 Alappuzha: +91 477 2238630 Alappuzha: +91 949 5003630 Alappuzha: +91 949 5003640 Idukki: +91 906 1566111 Idukki: +91 938 3463036 Kottayam: +91 944 6562236 Kottayam: +91 944 6562236 Pathanamthitta: +91 807 8808915 Kollam: +91 944 7677800 Thiruvananthapuram: +91 949 7711281 Rescuers struggled to reach some pockets still cut off by landslides and raging rivers in Kerala, and the government turned its focus to counting losses and launching a rehabilitation drive that could last months, officials said on Sunday as forecasts suggested the worst of the rains may be over for Kerala. Since August 8 the start of an unusually heavy bout of monsoon rains that led to what has been described as Keralas worst flooding in nearly a century some 239 people have died and more than 700,000 people were taken to relief camps, according to figures released by the state government on Sunday. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan said much of the rescue operation was likely to be completed by end of Sunday, but it will continue till the last person is rescued. The CM added that there were 13 new deaths and some 22,000 people rescued since morning. At Chengannur in Alapuzha district, at least 5,000 are stranded, according to revenue officials quoted by PTI. The waters have not fully receded; there is moderate rain in some parts. Rescue work will continue till things go back to normal, the CM said at a press conference. In New Delhi, the National Crisis Management Committee met for the fourth time in as many days. Union cabinet secretary PK Sinha asked for focus to be shifted to arranging supplies of food, water, medicines and restoration of essential services such as power, fuel, telecom and transport links. The chief secretary of Kerala too joined the meeting through video link and he informed the NCMC that the situation is gradually improving and the meteorological department has forecast less rainfall from Monday onwards. Vijayan pegged the value of losses at roughly Rs 19,200 crore nearly a fifth of what the state had spent for the entire year in 2017-18. According to state disaster management officials, more than 10,000 kilometers of roads and bridges have been damaged. One of the states major airports, in Kochi, has been flooded. Read: As rains begin to subside, Kerala worries about diseases from contaminated flood water The chief minister said fishermen who have been among the key rescuers will be compensated at the rate of Rs 3,000 per day in addition to fuel reimbursements, and students who lost textbooks will be given new ones free of cost. Help has poured in from across the country for Kerala, with several state governments pledging crores in financial assistance and NGOs collecting items of basic necessities and sending them to the flooded state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday announced a Rs 500-crore financial package to help Kerala, an offer that his rivals and some in the states ruling CPI(M) said was inadequate. In the coming days, the biggest concerns for officials include staving off disease outbreaks. Anil Vasudevan, a Kerala health department official, was quoted by news agency Reuters as saying that three people with chickenpox had to be isolated in one of the relief camps in Aluva. Read: Kerala woman refuses to leave flooded house without her 25 dogs The task is exacerbated by a lack of coordination and adequate manpower. VD Sateeshan, a Congress legislator from Paravur, Ernakulam, criticised the state health ministry over its failure to send relief teams to all regions. In response, health minister KK Shailaja said that medical facilities might not have reached certain regions due to the magnitude of the crisis. This is because medical professionals found it difficult to reach the affected areas and by now it has been almost resolved, the minister said. She added that medical teams from neighbouring states were on the way. A group of stranded fishermen who came to help with the rescue work in Alapuzzha from the state capital complained of lack of coordination between authorities. We rescued several people but now there is no one to help us return to where we came from with our boats. We risked our lives in the rescue work but now theres no help for us, the group said, according to PTI. As the rain abated, one resident in Cheranelloor, a suburb of Kochi, visited his home to see when he and his family could return. The entire house is covered with mud. It will take days to clean to make it livable. All our household articles, including the TV and fridge have been destroyed, 60-year-old TP Johnny told Reuters. (With agency inputs) TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE KERALA GOVERNMENTS RELIEF FUND: Account number: 67319948232 Bank: State Bank of India Branch: City branch, Thiruvananthapuram IFS Code: SBIN0070028 PAN: AAAGD0584M Name of Donee: CMDRF Kerala helpline numbers Kasargode: +91 9446601700 Kannur: +91 944 6682300 Kozhikode: +91 944 6538900 Wayanad: +91 807 8409770 Malappuram: +91 938 3463212 Malappuram: +91 938 3464212 Thrissur: +91 944 7074424 Thrissur: +91 487 2363424 Palakkad: +91 8301803282 Ernakulam: +91 790 2200400 Ernakulam: +91 790 2200300 Alappuzha: +91 477 2238630 Alappuzha: +91 949 5003630 Alappuzha: +91 949 5003640 Idukki: +91 906 1566111 Idukki: +91 938 3463036 Kottayam: +91 944 6562236 Kottayam: +91 944 6562236 Pathanamthitta: +91 807 8808915 Kollam: +91 944 7677800 Thiruvananthapuram: +91 949 7711281 As Kerala struggles to stay afloat in the worst flood to hit the state in a century, noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil warned on Sunday that Goa could face the same fate as Kerala if it does not protect the environment. Gadgil, who headed a committee that authored a widely debated study on the Western Ghats a few years ago, also accused the Centre of trying to short-circuit the National Green Tribunal even as he flagged Goas rampant illegal mining, saying greed for profits could be catastrophic for the state. Certainly all sorts of problems are beginning to surface on the environmental front in the Western Ghats. Of course, the Western Ghats are not as high in Goa as they are in Kerala, but I am sure Goa will also experience all sorts of problems, he said, reacting to Keralas worst-ever floods. Keralas worst flood in a century has killed over 200 people since August 8, destroyed homes, roads and bridges and rendered lakhs of people homeless. Gadgil blamed greed for unlimited profits for not taking any environmental precaution, and cited the example of illegal mining. You have seen it in Goa too. The Justice M B Shah commission has estimated illegal profits of Rs 35,000 crore from illegal mining, he said. There is also enormous profit in the business of stone quarrying while there is very little investment. The greed for enormous profits has been allowed to go on unchecked, which has actually worsened economic disparity in the society. So now those who are making money through these means are even more effective in getting the government to allow this kind of rampant illegal behaviour, Gadgil said. He said governments have been lax on implementing environmental norms. The ecologist also put the Centre in his line of fire, accusing it of trying to choke the National Green Tribunal. The central government is actually bending over backwards to make sure the National Green Tribunal does not function properly, he said. Gadgil had carried out an extensive study on Goas environment based on the data provided by iron ore mining companies in their Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports in 2011. He had then said the mining companies submitted false information in their EIA reports. In Goa, they had asked me to look into the impact of mining on environment. Every EIA suppressed fact about hydrological impact of mining, the 73-year-old expert said. On `sadas (plains) of Goa there are a lot of streams which are originating but they dont mention about them in their EIA reports. All kind of false statements are made in these reports, he said. Gadgil had headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) set up by the government. The WGEEP, in its 2011 report, had recommended that several areas in Kerala which come under the Western Ghats be classified as ecologically sensitive. The panel had recommended strict curbs on mining and quarrying and on use of land for non-forest purposes. (With PTI inputs) Every time Abul Kasem goes to the Kokrajhar central jail, one of the cops who is on duty jokes with him. How is it that you are an Indian citizen and your daughter is a Bangladeshi, Kasem, a 66-year-old farmer said recalling the joke. Kasem lives in Sonaibera village in Dhing in Nagaon district of central Assam, not very far from the birthplace of Sankardeva, a saint-scholar and one of the most revered figures of Assam. One of his daughters, Halima Khatoon, was declared a foreigner by a foreigners tribunal in Nagaon in 2008. She was later picked up by the police in 2009 and detained. It has been more than nine years, Halima continues to be in Kokrajhar Central Jail, which also houses a makeshift detention centre for women, one of the six detention centres in Assam. Out of more than 90,000 declared foreigners, around 1,000 are in detention in these six centres. Kasem, his wife Hajera, and four of his children except Halima were part of the final draft of National Register of Citizens (NRC) published on July 30. Kasems documents include voters identity card, certified copies of his name in the earlier voters list, and a legacy document which is proof that Kasems family has been in Assam before the citizenship cut off date of March 25, 1971. Even her husbands side of then family and her five kids are in NRC, Kasem said. The bundle also has the 2008 order of the tribunal which said Halima ceased to produce evidence to disprove states allegation (she is a foreigner) and that is how the case was taken ex parte. The case went to the high court where a single judge bench in 2013 was not convinced about her documents. She had submitted among other documents of her parents, a certificate by the Gaon Bura (village headman) that she was Kasems daughter. The court did not entertain her 2015 appeal because it was delayed. The cop demanded Rs 8,000 and said he could sort out the matter, Kasem claimed recalling the conversation in Dhing police station in 2009. Kasem was told his daughter is a Bangladeshi, a Bidekhi. Halimas husband is recovering from cancer in a Guwahati Hospital, so her father visits her every few months. I have spent over a lakh for the case in high court... Maati bech di (sold my land). She always asks when will I get her out. I am still hopeful someday her wait will end, he added. Unable to bear the atrocities meted out by in-laws, a woman along with her three minor sons allegedly committed suicide by jumping into a well in Giridih district, police said on Saturday. Sub-Divisional Police Officer Prabhat Ranjan Barwar said police is investigating the case from all angles to ascertain if it was a case of suicide or murder. Jubaida Khatoon (35) and her three sons -- Mozmil (11), Mozsir (8) and Danish (5) -- allegedly jumped into a well on Saturday night in Nimadih village under Rajdhanwar police station. A police team rushed to the village when informed that Jubaida along with her three minor sons were missing at around 11 pm last night, Barwar said. Villagers told the police that they had retrieved the bodies and kept them near the well, he said. Jubaidas husband Manowar Ansari and other family members have been missing following the incident, he said. The SDPO said Jubaida, who got married to Ansari 15 years ago, was allegedly subjected to torture for dowry. CII sets up task force for relief work Emergency Response Centres are being set up in the CII offices in Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram and Chennai to coordinate and facilitate all efforts, a CII statement said. The CII is in constant touch with government agencies and local authorities to assess the situation and initiate most urgent relief operations in the affected areas. Situation improving, Kerala govt tells crisis management committee The Kerala government on Sunday informed the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) that the situation in the flood-ravaged state was gradually improving. Kerala Chief Secretary (Tom Jose) participated in the NCMC meeting through videoconference. He said that the situation is gradually improving (in Kerala), said the Union Home Ministry on Sunday. Cabinet Secretary PK Sinha, during the meeting, directed all ministries concerned to focus on emergency supplies of food, water, medicines and restoration of essential services as flood waters recede. Imposter wearing combat uniform in video spreading wrong info: Army Imposter wearing Army combat uniform in video spreading disinformation about rescue & relief efforts. Every effort by all & #IndianArmy aimed to overcome this terrifying human tragedy.Forward disinformation about #IndianArmy on WhatsApp +917290028579. We are at it #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/ncUR7tCkZW ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) August 19, 2018 Locals in Palakkads Alathur village reconstruct road Kerala: Locals in Palakkad's Alathur village are reconstructing the main road near Venganoor bridge, washed due to rain, by contributing money. Locals say 'Authority says it'll take 6-7 months to complete paperwork for construction. Don't know when will permanent road be built.' pic.twitter.com/dbAKwnCE7X ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 Bodies of 20 animals seen floating in waters near Kochi airport Near the Kochi international airport, bodies of at least 20 animals could be seen floating in the waters, reports PTI. Kerala received 164% more rains in August alone: IMD Kerala has received over two and a half times more rainfall over average for August so far, the India Meteorological Department said on Sunday. Between August 1 and 19, the state received 758.6 mm of rainfall, against the average of 287.6 mm, or 164% more. The highest rainfall was recorded in Idukki district, which received 92% more rains. This was followed by Palakkad, with 72% more rains. Read more Health ministry to airlift 60 tonnes of emergency medicines tomorrow Ministry of Health&Family Welfare to airlift 60 tonnes of emergency medicines tomorrow. A special train with 14 lakh litres of water & Navy ship with 8 lakh litres of water to reach Kerala by tomorrow: Government of India Assam announces Rs 3 crore in aid Assam government will extend a financial aid of Rs 3 crore to the flood-ravaged Kerala, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Sunday. Sonowal also directed the state Revenue and Disaster Management Department to open a helpline to extend help to the people of Assam who are trapped in the deluge and by expediting their rescue and providing relief to them. Extend all possible help to Kerala: RSS Stating that Kerala was facing an unprecedented flood havoc that had killed hundreds of people and rendered thousands homeless, RSS joint general secretary Suresh Soni said, The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh calls upon the people of Bharat to stand by Kerala in this period of crisis and extend all possible help to the victims. DGP urges UP Police to voluntarily donate one days salary for aid Director General of Police (DGP) OP Singh appeals to UP Police to voluntarily donate one day salary for Kerala flood victims. He says, "Over 300 people have lost their lives in #KeralaFloods. It's a national calamity and we all need to think how we can help the people of Kerala." pic.twitter.com/1KEd0tmYfp ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) August 19, 2018 Manipur donates Rs 2 crore People of Manipur stand in solidarity with the people of Kerala, may you find comfort in knowing that the rest of India stand with you. The people of Manipur pray for you and extending a sum of Rs 2 crore to relief funds from the state, Chief Minister N Biren Singh said. 38,000 people rescued, 3 lakh food packets supplied: Centre More than 38,000 people rescued and evacuated from the flood-affected areas in Kerala. Medical aid has been provided to over 23,000 people. 3,00,000 food packets have been supplied by the Food Processing Ministry, Central government says. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has made available 9,300 kilolitres of kerosene to Kerala. Additional 12,000 kilolitres of kerosene will be allocated. LPG bottling plant in Kochi has been reopened. The Department of Food and Public Distribution has provided 50,000 million tonnes (MT) of food grains. The Dept of Consumer Affairs has made arrangements to airlift 100 metric tonnes of pulses by tomorrow with additional quantities to be sent by train, the govt says. RSS, CPI(M) cadres engage in relief efforts We stock materials and transport it via trucks and trains.We started this on August 15 and will continue as long as its required, a member of RSS community service unit , Seva Bharati, told ANI. CPI(M) cadres, along with Nemmara MLA K Babu, are carrying out rescue and relief operations in Palakkad. Seva Bharati, a unit of RSS (pic 1), and CPI(M) cadres (pic 2) have been carrying out rescue and relief operations across the state of Kerala. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/y6Ln8V42Vl ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 Maharashtra dispatches 30 tonnes of relief material Another 30 ton relief material dispatched to Kerala this evening from Mumbai Airport through Indian Airforce flight for #KeralaFloods affected persons and 5 ton more relief material would be sent tomorrow morning with the help of Indian Airforce. @IAF_MCC pic.twitter.com/lTraR3JQvH CMO Maharashtra (@CMOMaharashtra) August 19, 2018 Health ministry extending all support to relief measures: Nadda We are monitoring the flood situation in Kerala on a regular basis. Secretary (Health) is in constant communication with the state health functionaries and monitoring the situation daily through the disease surveillance network, Union health minister JP Nadda said. According to an official statement, 90 types of medicines in the requested quantity are being sent to Kerala, as requested by the state government. Odisha announces Rs 5 crore more in assistance Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik announced additional financial assistance of Rs 5 crore for Kerala from Chief Ministers Relief Fund, in addition to Rs 5 crore sanctioned earlier. He also ordered 500 MT of polythene sheets worth about Rs 8 crores to be sent to Kerala, reports ANI. 244 fire service personnel trained in rescue operations have been sent from Odisha with 65 rescue boats and other equipment. The CM has directed Odisha Relief Commissioner to extend all help to people from the state stranded in Kerala, reports the news agency. Pope calls on international community to help flood victims Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the flooding at St Peters Square, the Vatican News reported. The inhabitants of Kerala have been harshly struck by intense rains, which have caused flooding and landslides, with heavy loss of human life, with many people missing and displaced, with extensive damage to crops and homes, he said. He voiced his hopes that these brothers and sisters would be supported by our solidarity, and by concrete support from the international community. Next task to help people get back to normal life: CM CM Pinarayi Vijayan said the biggest challenge now was to provide adequate compensation to those who had lost virtually everything they had as the swollen rivers simply washed away countless homes and left a trail of destruction. He said the next task would be to help people get back to normal life, for which a plan was being worked out. Rehabilitation will be done by various agencies. CM pledged that all towns and cities hit by the floods would be cleaned on a war footing. J&K announces Rs 2 crore assistance The Jammu and Kashmir government on Sunday announced a relief of Rs 2 crore. Governor NN Vohra gave this information to CM Pinarayi Vijayan while expressing sorrow over the tragic loss of hundreds of innocent lives in the unprecedented floods. The Governor has also announced that suitable arrangements are being urgently put in place to enable people of Jammu and Kashmir to contribute to Kerala flood relief fund. Qatar extends Rs 34.89 crore in aid After the UAE, Qatar has come out in support of flood-hit Kerala by announcing a financial aid of Rs 34.89 crore, a media report said today. The Qatar Charity, through its representative in India, has launched emergency relief for those affected by the huge floods with a total value of half a million riyals during the first stage, the Gulf Times reported. Amir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani issued a directive to allocate $5 million (Rs 34.89 crore) to help provide shelter to those who lost their homes. Tamil Nadu devotees end Sabarimala pilgrimage in local Ayyappa temples Several Ayyappa devotees from Tamil Nadu chose to end their pilgrimage at local temples in Chennai and elsewhere in the state as heavy rains and floods made Sabarimala out of bounds. Several devotees who had planned to visit the Sabarimala temple for the Chingam monthly pooja season (August 16-21) and later Onam between August 23 and 27, ended their pilgrimage by offering prayers at the Ayyappan Temple at Raja Annamalaipuram in Chennai. Mullaperiyar dam safe to store water upto 142 ft: OPS Experts have opined that water could be stored upto 142 ft.. There is no need to fear.. The dam is strong.. the dam will not be affected even if there is a tremor or quake, Tamil Nadu deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam told reporters in Theni on Saturday night, after visiting the Kumuli road, which got damaged due to a landslide People of Kerala are our brothers and sisters.. Some people are trying to create misunderstanding between us, he said. The statement comes following Keralas plea Kerala on August 15, for reducing the water level in the Mullaperiyar reservoir to 139 feet over safety concerns in view of heavy inflows. The Tamil Nadu government had turned down the request saying the century-old reservoir was safe enough to store water up to 142 feet. Badal appeals to food processing firms to donate generously Food Processing Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal appealed to all food processing industries to come to the aid of people in Kerala. She said the Food Processing Ministry has nominated two officers to coordinate this effort and that the industries could contact them to make the desired donations. The officers are Joint Secretary Parag Gupta (9650872875) and Deputy Secretary Atyanand (9891614895). Two special trains to evacuate people stranded in Ernakulam The South Eastern Railway will run two special trains from Ernakulam in flood-ravaged Kerala to Santragachi/Howrah to evacuate stranded people this evening, an SER spokesman said. On a request from the West Bengal government, SER will run the two trains, which will commence journey from Ernakulam at 6.00 pm and 9.00 pm today, a communique from the state Transport department said. The railway will also run a special train to Ernakulam from Santragachi, which will leave here at 5.15 pm on Wednesday, the SER spokesman said. Use social media with caution, urges CM CM Pinarayi Vijayan urged people to desist from spreading false information on the social media as such actions would only affect rescue operations. Sending erroneous information can only delay rescue efforts. Kindly forward only messages that are valid, the chief ministers office said in a tweet. Read more No heavy rainfall in Kerala for next 5 days: IMD It is expected that for the next 5 days there wont be heavy rainfall in Kerala, rainfall will gradually decrease over the state: Mrutyunjay Mohapatra, India Meteorological Department Roads being cleared after landslides in Palakkads Nelliyampathy Massive landslides have occurred at Nelliyampathy hill roads in Palakkad. Road clearing operations underway, reports ANI. 13 deaths today, over 7 lakh people in 5645 relief camps: CM There are 7, 24,649 people in 5645 relief camps. Thirteen deaths today. 22034 have been rescued so far, says CM. The waters have not fully receded, there is moderate rain in some parts. Rescue work will continue till things go back to normal, he says. Most people will be rescued today and the rescue operation may be completed. But it will continue till the last person is rescued, he says. Kerala govt to provide free fuel, Rs 3000 per day to fishermen involved in rescue work: CM The fishermen community has made selfless contribution to the relief effort. For every boat involved in the rescue and relief operations, the government will provide free fuel and Rs 3000 per day. Compensation will be provided for the boats that were damaged or destroyed during relief work. Once their work is complete, the government will take the responsibility of transporting the boats back to where they came from, says CM. Schoolchildren will be provided new textbooks free of cost:CM Every schoolchild who lost textbooks in the floods will be provided new ones free of cost. 36 lakh books have been published and will be provided by the Kerala Books and Publications Society under the direction of the Education Department. The Onam exams have been postponed, says CM A policewoman to be posted at every relief camp: CM CM Pinarayi Vijayan holds a press conference. As water recedes, we are working on disinfection of drinking water sources. Ways to provide food to staying at home and not in relief camps are being worked out, he says. CM says a policewoman will be posted at every relief camp. We must adopt sanitary practices to ward off an outbreak of diseases, he says. Vijayawada, Begumpet airports facilitating relief operations by IAF aircraft Civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu said the watch hour at Vijayawada and Begumpet airports has been extended to facilitate relief operations by IAF aircraft. Watch hour refers the period during which the airport remains open for operation. Kochi naval base inspected for commercial flight operations The Centre on Sunday said a joint team of different aviation-related bodies and CISF inspected the Cochin Naval Base, a day after announcing operation of commercial flights from the base from Monday to aid rescue efforts in Kerala. A Joint team comprising representatives from DGCA, BCAS, CISF, AAI and Indian Navy carried out inspection of #Cochin Naval Base today to check the feasibility of scheduled operations from there. Steps being taken to start operations with ATR-72 from Monday, 20th August, the minister tweeted. The base will be used by carriers such as Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, to operate 70-seater ATR aircraft to places such as Bengaluru. The main Kochi international airport, the seventh busiest in the country, will remain closed till August 26 Coast Guard ship with 65 tonnes of relief items leaves for Kochi An Indian Coast Guard ship, carrying 65 tonnes of relief material for flood victims in Kerala, left Mumbai this morning, an official said. The consignment on board the ship, Sankalp, includes items donated by people to various NGOs and the Maharashtra government, a spokesperson said. It is expected to reach the Kochi port by tomorrow, he said. Another ship with 50 tonnes of relief material was also scheduled to leave from the New Mangaluru port for Kochi today, he said. Around seven tonne of food items have already been sent from New Mangaluru to Kozhikode and Kochi and about five tonne material has been transported in the ICG aircraft through Visakhapatnam and Chennai, the spokesperson said. RAF builds temporary bridge in Palakkad to block flood waters Temporary bridge is being built by Rapid Action Force (RAF) in Palakkads Erumachery to block flooding water. Deputy Commandant,RAF Coimbatore,says, After dam gates were opened, overflowing water damaged roads in the area and entered paddy fields. Bridge will stop the overflow. Community kitchen set up by Navy at CUSAT A community kitchen has been set up at Cochin University of Science & Technology (CUSAT), Kalamassery by a team of 21 Navy personnel. The kitchen has provided 50,000 meals over last 3 days to flood affected people, with support from students and local administration, reports ANI. Many river-rafting volunteers brought in from Rishikesh: Southern Air Command Today, total 288 boats available at air force station. Many river-rafting volunteers have been brought from Rishikesh. 26 helicopters are in operation. One team of Task Force Commanders placed in Trivandrum and one in Kochi, Air Marshal B Suresh, Southern Air Command, tells ANI. 47,125 kg of food items, medicines distributed: Southern Air Command On August 18, 18 sorties were carried out and 99 survivors were brought. Total 526 survivors have been winched up. 29 tonnes of total relief material air dropped, so far. 47,125 kg of food items and medicines distributed, Air Marshal B Suresh, Southern Air Command tells ANI. Telangana Home Minister contributes Rs 25 crore for relief work Home Minister of Telangana, Naini Narshimha Reddy, handed over a cheque of Rs 25 Crore to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan earlier today. Around 50 RO machines worth Rs 2.5 Crore will be airlifted from Begumpet (Telangana) to Kerala shortly, to provide clean drinking water to the state, news agency ANI reported. Kerala CM asks people to send rescue requests for valid cases Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has requested people to make valid rescue requests on helpline numbers . Attention:Efforts are in progress to save even the last person stranded. Many of the requests coming to helpline numbers are for people who are already rescued. Sending erroneous information can only delay rescue efforts. Kindly forward only messages that are valid, he said on Twitter. Airlines advised to ensure optimal airfares for Kerala flights Union Minister Suresh Prabhu said that airlines have been asked to maintain optimal fares for flights to and from airports in Kerala. Scheduled domestic airlines have also been advised to ensure that airfares for flights to/from Trivandrum and Calicut airports in Kerala and nearby airports i.e. Mangalore and Coimbatore are kept at optimal level proportionate to sector distance, he tweeted. Accordingly, airlines have been advised to cap the maximum fare around Rs. 10,000 for longer routes and around Rs. 8,000 for shorter routes to and from Kerala and nearby airports, he added. Indian Navy releases deployment details IAF official rescues toddler from rooftop in Alappuzha #WATCH: Wing Commander Prasanth of Garud Special Force of Indian Air Force rescues a toddler from rooftop in flood hit town of Alappuzha. #KeralaFlood (Source IAF) pic.twitter.com/wT12zszMya ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 Airlines add more flights to and from Trivandrum, Calicut and Coimbatore Scheduled domestic airlines have added more flights to and from Trivandrum, Calicut and Coimbatore airports to minimize passenger inconvenience, Union minister Suresh Prabhu said. A Control Room has been set up by DGCA which is working around the clock 24x7 to aid stranded and affected passengers due to flight cancellations in Cochin. Based upon request received from Kerala Government, to facilitate them in air dropping of relief material, DGCA is in contact with three private helicopter operators to carry out such relief operations, he said in a series of Tweets. He also said that steps are being taken to start operations with ATR-72 from Monday adding that watch hours at Vijayawada and Begumpet airports have been extended by AAI upon the request received from the Ministry of Home Affairs and Defence regarding assistance for relief operations with IAF aircraft. Railways announces free transportation for sending relief material The railways has issued a set of guidelines allowing all government organisations as well as private bodies to transport relief material to flood-ravaged Kerala for free. However, non-government organisations have to be vetted by divisional railway managers in order to avail this provision, said the guidelines. Coast Guard undertakes Operation Water Baby in Kerala The Coast Guard and armed forces personnel saved a newly-born baby in a night-long rescue operation near the Idukki dam two days ago. The rescue operation began after a call from the Mumbai Coast Guard about rising water level in the Idukki dam area, the Army officer who led the team said. We were in the weekly commanders conference at Kochi when a call came from the Coast Guard office in Mumbai to send the best team near the dam where water was flowing above the danger level, Lt Col Shashikant Waghmode told PTI. Waghmode said he volunteered to lead the team and within 30 minutes, the team members were selected. Many Coast Guard personnel were called from various ships, he told said when asked about the operation. President Kovind speaks to Kerala Governor, CM President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to the Governor and the Chief Minister of Kerala and inquired about the flood situation. He acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people of Kerala in coming together in this trying hour. Assured the people of the state that entire nation was with them, the Rashtrapati Bhawan said in a tweet. President Kovind expressed satisfaction that the Union and state governments were working together and in synergy in rescue and relief operations in Kerala. He praised relief agencies such as NDRF and public officials at state and Central level for their response and commitment, it added. Nirmala Sitharaman shares measures taken for relief work Mamata Banerjee to contribute Rs 10 crore for Kerala relief work We are also ready to extend all other assistance and support that may be needed to tackle the calamity. We pray that our brothers and sisters of Kerala resume normal life soon 2/2 Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 19, 2018 My heart goes out to the people of Kerala battling #KeralaFloods In this hour of crisis, to stand beside the flood-affected people of Kerala, we have decided to make a contribution of Rs Ten Crore to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund 1/2 Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) August 19, 2018 People gather relief material for Kerala People from Mumbai gather essential commodities to be sent to flood-hit Kerala. #KeralaFloods. pic.twitter.com/HnxYff0r6r ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 2 shutters of Idukki dam closed Two gates of the Idukki reservoir were closed after water level receded and was recorded at 2402.28 ft at 10am today. The water flow into Periyar River is now 913 cusecs per hour, reports news agency ANI. Amber alert in 10 districts, yellow in 2; red alert withdrawn Red alert withdrawn for all districts of Kerala today. Amber alert issued for 10 districts, yellow alert for 2 districts. Rescue operations underway across the state, reports news agency ANI. 10 bodies recovered from Palakkad An RAF team recovered one body from Nemmara landslide area in Palakkad district early morning today.We have recovered total 10 bodies from the area. Landslides are still occurring in the area,it was a tough task to recover the bodies, District Commandant RAF Coimbatore unit told ANI. Our thoughts with everyone affected, says Justin Trudeau Tragic news from Kerala, India - Canada sends its deepest condolences to all those who have lost a loved one in the devastating floods. Our thoughts are with everyone affected. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) August 18, 2018 Railways send 14 lakh litres of drinking water in special train The Central Railway today sent over 14 lakh litres of drinking water to Kerala by a special train from Pune. The water train consists of 14 wagons filled up in Pune and 15 wagons that came from Ratlam, Milind Deouskar, Divisional Railway Manager, Pune Division, said. The special water train will reach Kayamkulam in Kerala via Daund, Wadi and Renugunta, he told PTI. 6 rescuers on board missing boat in Chengannur There were six rescuers in the boat which has been missing in Pandanad area of Chenganur since yesterday. However, the number of evacuees is yet to be known. Andhra Pradesh IAS Officers Association to contribute a days salary The IAS Officers Association of Andhra Pradesh has decided to contribute one day salary of its members to aid relief work in the flood-hit Kerala, news agency ANI reported. Rescue boat missing in Chengannur A rescue boat has been missing in Pandanad area of Chenganur where heavy downpour continues to worsen the flood situation. The boat has been missing since yesterday. However, the number of people in the boat is yet to be ascertained. Heavy downpour in Chengannur, Pathnamthitta, Aluva and Adoor Heavy downpour has been reported in areas like Chengannur, Pathnamthitta, Aluva and Adoor even after the weather departments forecast of better conditions from Sunday. A senior official on Saturday said that with many areas reeling under food and power shortage, and thousands still awaiting evacuation, the government faces an uphill task in the weeks to come. 8000 houses razed, death toll 243 since August 8 The death toll in Kerala since August 8 has risen to 243. With more than 8,000 houses razed, around 8 lakh people have been placed in relief camps. Around 8 lakh people in relief camps Around 8 lakh people have been placed in relief camps in flood-hit Kerala as rescue operations continue. Over 33 people died in the state on Saturday alone. Anbodu Kochi establishes collection centres for relief material Anbodu Kochi, a team of volunteers, has established collection centres to collect relief materials for Kerala flood victims.The team has also started call centre to help victims. Around 40 people are on mobile and laptops to receive calls and communicate callers needs to concerned departments. We are closely associated with District Collectors team. We take requirements of callers and cater the same to respected departments, a member told ANI. Navy choppers load up on relief materials Relief materials are being loaded onto Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak helicopter and Naval Sea King helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi. Personnel have been air dropping food and water packets to people stranded and marooned amid the flood waters. Air Alliance to fly out of Kochi naval air base The state-run Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, will commence operations from Kochi naval base from August 20 (Monday). Flight operations to begin between Bengaluru and Kochi, with connectivity to expand to Madurai and Coimbatore. Navy scale up Operation Madad The Indian Navy has scaled up its rescue efforts Operation Madad which is in its 10th day. Rescue teams have been augmented by resources from Eastern and Western Naval Commands, ANI reports. Heavy downpour in some areas Rescue efforts in Kerala are hampered on Sunday morning as it begins raining heavily again. The weather had cleared up a little on Saturday, leading officials to limit the red alert to just three of the 14 districts. A red alert across Kerala was withdrawn on Sunday though heavy rain battered Chengannur, Pathnamthitta, Aluva and Adoor in the morning while authorities stepped up efforts to rescue thousands of marooned people, deliver aid material and prevent outbreak of disease. The toll has risen to at least 245 since August 8. The alert has been downgraded to amber, implying increased likelihood of extremely bad weather and warning people to take precautionary measures, for 10 districts, and yellow, indicating the weather may change or worsen in the next few days, for 2 districts. Rains in the catchment areas of the big dams in Idukki district have subsided, leading to shutting two of the Idukki dams five floodgates. The outflow from both Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams has also reduced, decreasing water flow into the Periyar and its tributaries that flow through Ernakulam and Thrissur. The Indian Navy has scaled up its rescue efforts Operation Madad which is in its 10th day. Southern Naval Command (SNC) rescue teams have been augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the Indian Navy. The Army, the Indian Air Force (IAF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are also involved in rescue operations. Lakhs of people are now in relief camps across Kerala. Over 33 people died in the state on Saturday alone taking the toll to 243 since August 8 while IANS said two more deaths were reported on Sunday. A rescue boat with six rescuers has been reported missing in Pandanad area of Chenganur Saturday night. It was not known if any evacuees were on the boat. The worst-affected places where people have remained stranded for the past three days without food or water include Chengannur, Pandalam, Thiruvalla and several other areas in Pathanamthitta district and Aluva, Angamaly and Paravur in Ernakulam, according to IANS. Rescue teams were focused on the town of Chengannur on the banks of the Pamba River, where some 5,000 people are feared to be trapped, officials told Reuters. A senior official on Saturday said that with many areas reeling under food and power shortage, and thousands still awaiting evacuation despite the massive relief and rescue operation. Some complaints came about lack of coordination between authorities. A group of stranded fishermen who came to help with the rescue work in Alapuzzha from the state capital said they had rescued several people but now there is no one to help us return to where we came from with our boats. We risked our lives in the rescue work but now theres no help for us, the group said. VD Sateeshan, a Congress legislator from Paravur, slammed the state health ministry over its failure to send relief teams to affected areas. But health minister KK Shailaja said that although the water level has come down in many areas, medical facilities might not have reached certain regions yet. She also said the state needs a huge quantity of medicines. A major health drive is being planned to prevent communicable diseases, the minister added. Anil Vasudevan, who handles disaster management at the Kerala health department, said authorities had isolated three people with chickenpox in one of the relief camps in Aluva town, according to Reuters. Meanwhile, some transport links were restored with the Kottayam rail sector restarting operations with special passenger trains on Sunday while the state-run Kerala State Road Transport Corporation also restarted operations on the MC Road to Kottayam. Read | 67 choppers, 24 planes, 548 boats mobilised, one of Indias largest rescue operations Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury, who arrived in the state capital on Sunday, told the media that the central assistance that has been sanctioned was too little and demanded Prime Minister Narendra Modi declare the crisis a national disaster. Incessant rain, floods and landslides have destroyed agriculture crops in over 40,000 hectares, officials said. More than 1,000 houses have been completely destroyed and 26,000 have suffered partial damage, they said. Officials also said 134 bridges and 16,000 km of roads were also completely destroyed, causing a total loss of Rs 21,000 crore. TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE KERALA GOVERNMENTS RELIEF FUND: Account number: 67319948232 Bank: State Bank of India Branch: City branch, Thiruvananthapuram IFS Code: SBIN0070028 PAN: AAAGD0584M Name of Donee: CMDRF Kerala helpline numbers Kasargode: +91 9446601700 Kannur: +91 944 6682300 Kozhikode: +91 944 6538900 Wayanad: +91 807 8409770 Malappuram: +91 938 3463212 Malappuram: +91 938 3464212 Thrissur: +91 944 7074424 Thrissur: +91 487 2363424 Palakkad: +91 8301803282 Ernakulam: +91 790 2200400 Ernakulam: +91 790 2200300 Alappuzha: +91 477 2238630 Alappuzha: +91 949 5003630 Alappuzha: +91 949 5003640 Idukki: +91 906 1566111 Idukki: +91 938 3463036 Kottayam: +91 944 6562236 Kottayam: +91 944 6562236 Pathanamthitta: +91 807 8808915 Kollam: +91 944 7677800 Thiruvananthapuram: +91 949 7711281 (With inputs from agencies) Patidar quota agitation leader Hardik Patel and his supporters were detained by the Gujarat police on Sunday ahead of their symbolic hunger strike in Ahmedabads Nikol area, police said. Incidents of stone pelting and road blockade were also reported in Surat hours after Hardik was taken into custody. Surat police said they had detained 30 people in connection with the violence. Hardik (26) had announced to a day-long fast for today after his plea to allot an open plot in Nikol to hold a protest from August 25 did not evoke any response from the administration. Hardik had last month announced that he would not eat until his two demands OBC status to Patidars and farm loan waiver are met. The Crime Branch registered an FIR against Hardik and eight others under sections 143 (Unlawful assembly) and 186 (Obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the IPC, said crime branch DCP Deepan Bhadran. He was later released on bail. The fast is being seen as Patels attempt to revive the agitation for reservation benefits in government jobs and college admission to Patidars. Otherwise a staunch supporter of the BJP, a section of the influential Patidars has been at loggerheads with the state government, resulting in electoral losses to the party in the 2015 local body and 2017 assembly elections. In the run up to both the elections, Patel and his supporters had declared their support for the Congress. Minutes before his detention, Patel told reporters, Is observing fast a crime? Why is the BJP so nervous that hundreds of policemen have been sent to my home and several of my supporters have been detained? All that we want is permission to observe fast for the welfare of our community and farmers. In August 2015, the Gujarat government had allotted the huge GMDC ground in Ahmedabad to Hardik and his outfitm the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), to organise a rally. This first state-level gathering of the community ended in violent clashes between protestors and police, resulting in the death of 13 men and causing Rs 44 crore damage to the public property. Following violent protests, the government filed two sedition charges against Patel. He is currently out on bail. He has also been convicted and given two years sentence for rioting in Mehsana that marked the beginning of the agitation in 2015. On Sunday, a minor scuffle between the police and Patels body guards was reported at the time of his arrest. He was arrested soon after he left his home on SG Highway to reach Nikol. Hardik and his supporters were detained as they started gathering for the event for which permission was not given, said a senior police officer. The police team then took him to the crime branch office in Ahmedabad. What kind of democracy is this? What can be said if a person is not allowed to protest peacefully, said Congress MLA Lalit Vasoya, a former member of PAAS. (With PTI inputs) Looking for political expansion in Haryana, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Badal on Sunday announced to contest all 10 Lok Sabha and 90 assembly seats in the state in 2019 elections. Addressing SADs first political rally in Haryana at Pipli grain market, Sukhbir made an appeal for unity among Sikhs and Punjabis of Haryana to get their political share. Earlier, the SAD used to contest a couple of assembly seats in the state in alliance with its longtime partner Indian National Lok Dal (INLD), but the party had parted ways with the INLD some months ago. Despite having a big strength, the Sikhs havent got their share in Haryana politics, because they are not united and politicians took advantage of their disunity. The same has happened with the Muslims, he said. No one can stop you from acquiring power in Haryana if you get united under the flag of SAD, he added. He also condemned the attack on a Sikh family in Hisar by some local youths and said, We can stop all this only by wresting political power in the state. Sukhbir announced to provide free electricity to the agriculture sector, 400 units of free power per month to Dalits and free piped irrigation water to all fields, if SAD is voted to power. Congress on target In his 30-minute speech in Punjabi, the former Punjab deputy chief minister targeted the Congress by terming it anti-Sikh and SADs biggest political enemy. The Congress and the Gandhi family had always targeted the Sikhs. The incidents like 1984 anti-Sikh riots and Operation Bluestar are enough to prove that Congress is the anti-Sikh party, he added. Sukhbir did not speak any word against the BJP government in Haryana as the saffron party is an ally of SAD in Punjab. He, however, said Haryana is lagging far behind Punjab in terms of infrastructure, especially roads. Sukhbir skips syl, HSGPC issues The SAD president did not speak over the issues of Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) canal and the demand for a separate Sikh body to manage gurdwaras in Haryana. Some Sikh leaders in the state, led by Jagdish Singh Jhinda, had formed Haryana Sikh Gurdwara Committee (ad hoc). Others who addressed the rally included SAD state president Sharanjit Singh Sohta, partys Haryana in-charge Balwinder Singh Bhunder, MP Prem Singh Chandumajra, former SGPC chief Jagir Kaur and NK Sharma. Several buses and cars having Punjab registration numbers could be seen at the venue. Faces black flags Meanwhile, a group of protesters, who allegedly belonged to Shiromani Akali Dal (Amritsar), waved black flags at Sukhbir during his speech and chanted anti-SAD slogans. However, they were overpowered by the party workers and police. Sukhbir said that they were agitated over the massive gathering in the rally and could not digest the Akali Dal strength in Haryana. HGSMC president Jagdish Jhinda denied the protesters belonged to his organisation. The police said that one of the protesters Gurjeet Singh of Nissing was detained and investigation was on. Food and water for all The rally was well managed and the organisers provided food and water to every visitor. A huge rush of people having food could be seen at the main entrance. Water bottle and SAD flags were kept at every chair for the audience. The Centre said on Sunday a joint team of different aviation-related bodies and CISF inspected the Cochin Naval Base, a day after announcing operation of commercial flights from the base from Monday to aid rescue efforts in Kerala. Civil aviation minister Suresh Prabhu also said the watch hour at Vijayawada and Begumpet airports has been extended to facilitate relief operations by IAF aircraft. Watch hour refers the period during which the airport remains open for operation. A Joint team comprising representatives from DGCA, BCAS, CISF, AAI and Indian Navy carried out inspection of #Cochin Naval Base today to check the feasibility of scheduled operations from there. Steps being taken to start operations with ATR-72 from Monday, 20th August, the minister tweeted. The base will be used by carriers such as Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, to operate 70-seater ATR aircraft to places such as Bengaluru. The minister had said on Saturday that flights from the naval base to other destinations such as Coimbatore, Madurai could also start operations. Other airlines are likely to join this effort too, he had said. The main Kochi international airport, the seventh busiest in the country, has been rendered non-functional since August 14 due to flooding and torrential rains, and would remain closed till August 26. In view of disruption of flights from Cochin airport due to floods, a joint team sent by @MoCA_GoI has approved starting of scheduled commercial flights using ATRs by Alliance Air, a subsidiary of Air India, between Bangalore and Cochin Naval Air base, Prabhu had tweeted last evening. As of now, both domestic and international flights to Kochi are being diverted to other destinations such as Trivendrum and Calicut. The minister in a series of tweets today said that following a request from the Home and Defence Ministries, watch hours at Vijayawada and Begumpet airports have been extended by Airport Authority of India to assist in relief operations with IAF aircraft. Besides, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is in contact with three private helicopter operators to carry out relief operations after a request was received from the Kerala government. He said that scheduled domestic airlines have started additional flights to and from Trivandrum, Calicut and Coimbatore airports to minimise passenger inconvenience. Nine foreign carriers have also rescheduled their flights to and from Trivandrum, he informed in his tweets. Scheduled domestic airlines have also been advised to ensure that airfares for flights to/from Trivandrum and Calicut airports in Kerala and nearby airports i.e. Mangalore and Coimbatore are kept at optimal level proportionate to sector distance, he tweeted. On the other hand, Air India has waived cargo charges for transportation of medicine and other materials to Kerala. An Air India spokesperson said the resident commissioners of Kerala in different states would be the nodal authority through whom the relief would be dispatched via Air India flights. Meanwhile, full service carrier Vistara said on Sunday it is operating all its Kochi-bound flight from Trivendrum in view of the closure of the Kochi airport. These flights include those to/from Delhi and Chennai, with Economy class fares capped at Rs 10,000 and Rs 7,500, respectively, it said. Vistara does not usually operate to Trivendrum but made this special arrangement to help people travel into and outside of the city/state, it said. Chico, CA -- Chico Police say they have arrested a man who punched a Loss Prevention employee while trying to steal power tools. They say Saturday just before 2:30pm, Chase Waller, 28, of Chico, and Cristopher Farley, 25, of Oroville were at the Home Depot on Notre Dam Boulevard. Investigators say they tried leave the store while carrying power tools that they didn't pay for. Police say, when confronted by the Loss Prevention employee, Waller assaulted the employee. They then jumped in a Honda and took off. That Honda was spotted and stopped by an officer minutes later on Forest Avenue. The Loss Prevention employee identified Waller as the man who committed the robbery and assault. Police say they located the stolen power tools in the Honda. A third passenger, a female, was questioned and released. Waller was arrested for robbery and violation of probation. Farley was arrested for driving on a suspended license and a probation violation. A priest and a sewadar were allegedly stabbed to death in the premises of a temple at Manglora village in Karnal district on Sunday. The police said three other sewadars were seriously injured and the chopped-off tongue of one of the injured was also found. The police also recovered liquor bottles from the spot. The deceased have been identified as Vinod Kumar, priest of Govind Dham temple and resident of Kaithal district, and Sultan Singh, a sewadar who hails from Uttar Pradesh. The injured were identified as Ajay Kumar of Sangoha village, Ravinder Singh of Bhambarehri and Harjinder Singh of Karnal. They have been hospitalised. The police said the identity of the assailants is not known and the statements of the injured are yet to be recorded. However, they have registered FIR against Aurn Kumar of Manglora who allegedly had a clash with sewadars of the temple before the incident took place. Arun and other identified persons have been booked under Sections 458 and 460 of the IPC. Karnal superintendent of police (SP) Surender Bhoria said the actual reason behind the incident can be ascertained after the statement of the injured is recorded. The police officials associated with the investigation said the incident might have taken place late night on Saturday and the bodies were spotted by two children, who came for worship in the temple on Sunday. Demanding the arrest of the accused, the family members and villagers held a protest in Karnal and blocked a road. The lifted the blockade and agreed for the postmortem of the bodies after an assurance from the SP that the accused would be arrested at the earliest. The bodies of the deceased were sent for postmortem to the Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College and Hospital in Karnal. Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Sunday urged netizens in the flood-ravaged state to desist from spreading false information on the social media as such actions will only affect rescue operations. Attention: Efforts are on to save even the last person stranded. Many of the requests coming to helpline numbers are from people who have already been rescued. Sending erroneous information can only delay rescue efforts. Kindly forward only messages that are valid, the chief ministers office said in a tweet. Meanwhile, a video that has gone viral on the social media has accentuated the chief ministers plea for sensitivity in these troubled times. The clip shows a group of people waving a rescue helicopter down, only to tell the pilot after landing that they had done so merely to click a selfie with his aircraft. The red alert sounded across Kerala has been downgraded to amber for 10 districts (implying increased likelihood of bad weather and warning people to take precautionary measures) and yellow for two (indicating that the weather may change or worsen in the next few days). The red alert is sounded when the government wants people to take appropriate action to keep themselves as well as others safe in extremely bad weather. Rains in the catchment areas of the big dams in Idukki district have also subsided, enabling the authorities to shut down two of Idukki dams five floodgates. The outflow from both Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams has also reduced, reducing water flow into the Periyar and its tributaries that flow through Ernakulam and Thrissur. As of Sunday, the death toll since August 9 stood at 370. (With IANS inputs) The Congresss decision to aggressively attack the Union government with charges of impropriety and alleged corruption on the Rafale deal is driven, among other reasons, by voter feedback, collected during a survey by the partys Data Analytics department in key booths across the country, said a party functionary familiar with the development who asked not to be named. Congress president Rahul Gandhi raised the issue sharply during the Gujarat elections, and revived it during the no-confidence motion debate on July 20th in Parliament. Since then, the party has stepped up its attack, decided to hold press conferences across the country, and mobilise protests against the government. It has also decided to use its Shakti network -- a database of workers with specific information on their location, contact and demographic profile -- to reach out to voters. A key input in this decision has been data, the functionary said. We have identified critical swing booths across the country. We went and asked voters a set of questions - are you familiar with the press conference of four Supreme Court judges in January; are you familiar with the death of Judge Loya and the case around it; are you familiar with what happened in Kathua; and are you familiar with Rafale? said the functionary. He said it had come as a surprise to them also, but among the four issues, there had been highest recall value and curiosity of Rafale. You would think it is about defence, about a French company, and people would not really know of it. But there is both familiarity and curiosity. People feel something is wrong. This data then shaped and supplemented a political decision taken by the Congress president to be aggressive on the issue. Gandhi has alleged that the Narendra Modi government is purchasing each Rafale jet at Rs 1,670 crore while under the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government, an earlier 2012 deal was finalised at Rs 570 crore per aircraft. He has demanded the government officially disclose the price it fixed when it signed an inter-governmental pact with France in September 2016 for procurement of 36 Rafale jets. The Congress has also alleged that one of the offset deals, signed with Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), was scrapped and a new one was inked with Anil Ambanis Reliance Defence Limited just to provide the company the opportunity. Both the government and Reliance have denied this. The government has also rubbished the other allegations. It has said that the exact pricing cannot be disclosed because of confidentiality clauses in the agreement; that comparing the 2012 and 2016 deal was wrong for the former was never finalised; and that the government had nothing to do with the decision of the offset partner. Reliance Defence, for its part, has said that the Ministry of Defence has not awarded it any contract and selection of Indian partners is the choice of the foreign vendor. Its agreement with Dassault thus stands on its own independent merit. This is the second time when empirical evidence has played a part in influencing a recent decision of the Congress. During Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwals dharna at the Lieutant Governors residence, demanding the return of bureaucrats to work, Congress had chosen to stay away. Among other reasons, Congress had used Shakti network and reached out to over 40,000 workers to solicit their opinion. The maximum number of respondents had urged the party to stay away, a second functionary had told HT. Praveen Chakravarty, the chair of the partys data analytics department, said: We now have a specially designed survey engine for the party that we use regularly to collect feedback and inputs from a cross section of people - voters, workers, office bearers, local influencers, etc. What are important issues for voters is certainly an important output of this exercise The first functionary quoted above said: We once again want to emphasise that data is not the only element in any decision. But it tells you something that the party leadership is taking data seriously and using it as one input in decision making. Another leader of the party said that this was a case where data and political judgement had merged. Modi has successfully been able to project himself as honest. No corruption charge has stuck to him. As an opposition party, if we want to challenge him, we have to attack this perception of his honesty. Rafale makes sense for it allows us to paint a picture where everything is not above board and there is cronyism. If we can plant a seed of doubt among people, it helps us. A top BJP leader, however, rubbished the claim that either voters were interested in Congress allegations on Rafale or that it would succeed in eroding Modis image. When we attacked the Congress on 2G, we had the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) report on it as a basis. The courts had taken a position. When we attacked them on coal scam, there was a CAG report. When we attacked them on Augusta Westland, their own investigative agencies in government had raised questions. When they question us on Rafale, they have no legitimate basis. No independent institution, no agency has said anything. There is no evidence or even suggestion of wrongdoing. People wont buy it. He added that the other reason why Rafale wont work for the Opposition is because of the credibility of Modi. When we attacked UPA on corruption, their leaderships credibility was already in tatters. When they attack us on Rafale, they are dealing with Modi, whose credibility remains high. The first Congress functionary quoted above said that it is too early to know whether the issue would have an electoral impact. But what data is telling us right now is that there is interest in it. As we sustain it, and reach out in particular to swing voters in key booths, it will stick even more. For those who gambled on the special merit list, the results are in and there is reason to celebrate. Colleges across the city, including minority-run colleges, saw a considerable dip in cut-off marks after unclaimed quota seats were opened to general students for the first time, as per the recent order of the Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court. Over 38,000 students were allotted seats in the special merit list, which was announced at 11 am on Saturday. At prominent minority-run colleges like Jai Hind and Mithibai College, the cut-off marks in the science stream were as low as 45% and 60.6% respectively. Colleges also recorded a significant dip in the cut-offs for arts and commerce. With the stay on surrender of quota seats till the end of Centralised Admission Process (CAP), many students especially from the science stream decided to secure a seat in whichever college they got to avoid risk. Those who stayed till the end seem to have got the remaining seats leading to the fall in cut-offs said Ashok Wadia, principal of Jai Hind College. The Nagpur bench of the Bombay high court allowed minority colleges to surrender their quota seats only at the end of the CAP, which meant a significant number of seats in top minority colleges were surrendered for the general quota in this final round, leading to the fall in cut-offs. As a result, even low scorers have made the cut in these institutes to make the cut. One student with a score of 56% got into the science stream at Jai Hind College, where the cut-off till the fourth merit list was 85.2% (see box). I was not allotted any college in the earlier rounds as the cut-offs were higher. This time, with a large number of seats in top colleges being vacant, I filled in some top colleges as my initial preferences, but never really thought that I would get into one, said the student. For those who didnt risk waiting this long for seats in their preferred colleges, this years seat allocation process feels unfair. With the court order, there were no seats left in most prominent colleges by the third list. Since the education department had not given any clarity as to how the [quota] seats would be allotted after they are surrendered, it seemed like a big gamble. Unfortunately, those who decided to wait have made the cut even with lower merit, said one disgruntled student. For the remaining students, the state education department will announce a first come first serve (FCFS) round by August 21. The police have booked an additional district magistrate (ADM), his wife, son and four others for allegedly attempting to murder a 76-year-old Army veteran at a park in Noida sector 29 on the morning of August 14. The seven have been booked under the Indian Penal Code for attempt to murder, intentional insult, criminal intimidation, criminal trespass and rioting with deadly weapon by the sector 20 police station for allegedly assaulting Virendra Pratap Singh Chauhan, a retired Army colonel from the elite 1 Parachute Regiment (Special Forces). The police have also arrested one of the accused, Jitendra Awasthi Bachhan, identified as household help of the ADM, who is posted in western Uttar Pradesh. The ADM is not being named as his wife had earlier filed a case of molestation against the army veteran, and the courts have laid down that women in such cases should not be identified. Naming him and his place of posting may lead to his wife being identified. Based on the complaint received from retired colonel and his family and the close circuit television footage, we have booked seven persons including the ADM for attempt to murder and other relevant sections of assault. One person has been arrested and we are currently interrogating him, said Ajay Pal Sharma, senior superintendent of police, Gautam Budh Nagar. On a complaint of misbehaviour by policemen, senior superintendent of police Ajay Pal Sharma suspended sub-inspector Ravi Tomar, the chowki-incharge of sector 29, on Saturday. The development comes four days after the police booked and arrested the retired colonel, a resident of sector 29, for allegedly molesting the wife of the ADM and hurling caste-based expletives at her. Police also booked Chauhan under section 3 (1) of the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for kidnapping and molestation. After CCTV footage emerged of the Army veteran being pushed and kicked allegedly by the ADM, district magistrate BN Singh asked the police to file an FIR against the ADM for assault. The colonel, a veteran of the 1965 and 1971 wars, has been languishing in Noidas Luksar jail since August 14 and his bail application is scheduled to be heard on Monday. After the CCTV footage emerged, police dropped charges of kidnapping against the colonel. On Saturday evening, dozens of Army veterans and the family of Chauhan took out a protest march in sector 29 demanding the immediate release of the colonel and arrest of the accused ADM. We want strict action against the ADM and other accused, said Indu Chauhan, wife of Chauhan. Police have arrested Chauhan in an illegal and unjustified manner and we demand immediate release of our colleague Colonel Chauhan. Our man is languishing in jail while the accused ADM roams freely, said colonel (retired) Shashi Vaid, a resident of sector 29. According to a complaint filed by Indu Chauhan, the altercation between Chauhan and the ADM was over an alleged illegal construction by the latter. We have a house on the ground floor and three years ago, the ADM had purchased a house on the first floor. However, he started illegal construction of a guest house at the garage space to which we protested and complained to the Noida Authority. However, no action was taken in the matter. On the morning of August 14, I had to go to Agra and I was waiting for a cab at the park. Suddenly, the ADM, his wife and two gunners approached me and started hurling abuses. The ADMs wife then called the police and the civil servant started thrashing and kicking me. They then levelled false allegations against me, said Chauhan in his complaint to the police. Neither the ADM nor his wife responded to calls and text messages by HT. A man and his father were remanded in police custody on Saturday for indulging in domestic violence and murdering the former's wife. The woman succumbed to her injuries while being under treatment at a city hospital. The deceased woman was identified as Monika Somnath Jadhav, 31, while the husband of the woman was identified as Somnath Narayan Jadhav, and his father, Narayan Tukaram Jadhav. The two others booked in the case were identified as Somnath's mother Lakshmibai Jadhav, and his brother Ganesh Jadhav. Monika, who had studied till Class 10, had married Somnath, who studied up to Class 12, in 2015. The two lived in Chincoli area of Dehugaon region of Haveli, Pune. Manisha succumbed to her injuries on August 13 at Ratna hospital. A case under Section 498(a) of Indian Penal Code (IPC) was registered against the husband and three in-laws of the deceased woman on August 14, according to Chhaya Borkar, police sub-inspector (PSI) of Dehuroad police station, who is investigating the case. "We added Section 302 of Indian Penal Code (IPC) for murder on Friday after the doctors gave their report. The husband and his father were arrested and produced in court on Saturday. They have been remanded in police custody till August 21," said PSI Borkar. "The arrested man belongs to a farmer family," she added. Shanta Ramesh Pawar, 51, mother of the deceased woman, complained to the police against her daughters in-laws after Monika was rushed to the hospital. Monika had sustained burn marks on her stomach and had injuries caused by a blunt force elsewhere on her body, according to the police. In her complaint, Pawar told the police that the in-laws assaulted and starved her for not bringing a gold mangalsutra from her earlier marriage from her parents' house. A case under Sections 302 (murder), 498(a) (Domestic violence), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt). 504 (insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) 506 (criminal intimidation) and 34 (common intention) of IPC was registered against the four at Dehuraod police station. PUNE: In response to the grave situation in Kerala due to deluge, NGOs in the city, residents including college students have come together to organise aid and assistance for the flood victims. by collecting basic needs for the people Different NGOs and residents in the city, college students and others have come together to organise aid and assistance for the victims of the devastating floods in Kerala by collecting basic needs for the people stranded in the floods in Kerala. The situation has alarmed many in the city, especially the 3 lakh STRONG Kerala community. With death toll rising to 164 and around two lakh people living in relief camps across the state, a red alert was sounded in all 14 Kerala districts on Friday. While all the three wings of the armed forces are conducting a massive rescue operation, various non-government organisations (NGO) from across the country have plunged into action in helping the flood victims in every possible way. Anish Gopinath Panicker owner of a restaurant called Alleppees Kerala Restaurant near Balaji Law College, Tathawade, said, We are terrified by the conditions in the state of Kerala where people from 14 districts have been affected by the floods. Consequently, we have started a small initiative where we are collecting all the items of basic needs and are sending it to Kerala for flood victims. According to Anish, as all the systems of banking are collapsed in the state, sending money would not help people over there. He said, We are collecting food grains, chappels, bed sheets, sanitary pads, diapers, cloths for kids tooth brush etc. from the citizens. We have already sent one truck to Mumbai from where all these items are airlifted to Kerala. We will be sending another truck on Sunday said Panicker urging the citizens to deposit as much as relief material possible at the restaurant before Sunday. Another city based NGO called Do for other has been at the forefront in collecting relief materials for the people in relief camps in Kerala. Dr Mary Limna Dcunha, founder of the NGO said, We are focusing primarily in collecting maximum food grains from the citizens. Apart from food grains, we are also collecting cloths, sanitary napkins, bed sheets etc. Dcunha appreciated the helping spirit of the citizens who are voluntarily coming ahead and are getting associated with the NGO for help. She said, It is a rare sight where not only south Indians but people from every community including students are helping in the best of their capacity to collect relief materials to be sent over to Kerala. Students from Symbiosis college, DY Patil college etc. have voluntarily got themselves involved with the only intent of helping the flood victims. Box: A NDRF team from Pune was to sent to Kerala for rescue operation on August 16. NDRF Teams were deployed in following areas: 02 Teams for pathanamthitta district(01-Kozhancheri 01-Ranni) 01 Team for Alappuzha District (Chengannur) 01 Team for Idukki District (Moolamattam) BOX TO BE FILLED IN WITH DETAILS BY PARTH: Congress leader Arvind Shinde have requested the Pune Municipal Corporation Authorities to send a financial aid of Rs 1 crore to the victims of flood in Kerala. **** Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday ruled out any alliance with the Congress, amid talks of a mahagathbandhan (grand coalition) ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. On the sidelines of a meeting of party MLAs in Sunam, the AAP leader launched a scathing attack at the ruling Congress and alliance partners Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and BJP, saying these parties have looted the country. This was Kejriwals maiden visit to Punjab after tendering an apology to Akali leader and former minister Bikram Singh Majithia. Flanked by Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia, AAPs Punjab unit leaders Bhagwant Mann, Aman Arora and Harpal Singh Cheema, Kejriwal said, The Amarinder Singh-led state government has failed to live up to the expectations of people in Punjab. I can teach him (Amarinder) how to govern, he said. We invite Captain Amarinder Singh to visit Delhi to see how government schools, hospitals and mohalla clinics work. If you dont know, we can teach you how to do it. We can send Delhi deputy CM Manish Sisodia to Punjab for 10 days to tell the Congress government as how these institutions can be strengthened, he added. On the issue of sacrilege of Guru Granth and the Ranjit Singh Commission report, Kejriwal asked Amarinder Singh to make the report public and act against the guilty, including politicians and police officials. Through media reports, we have come to know that many police officials have been named. It even points a finger at former CM Parkash Singh Badal. To punish those behind sacrilege incidents was one of promise of the Congress in the run-up to the assembly polls, said Kejriwal. He accused Captain Amarinder Singh of helping the guilty by shifting the probe to the CBI as this will put the matter on the backburner. No pleasantries with former LoP Earlier in the day at the bhog ceremony of party MLA Kulwant Singh Pandoris father at Mehal Kalan in Barnala district, Kejriwal gave former leader of opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira and other rebel MLAs the cold shoulder. The two did not even exchange pleasantries. Kejriwal, however, termed the rift within the party as a family matter saying it will be resolved amicably. We will talk to the MLAs who are angry. I have deputed some MLAs to talk to Khaira and others. I will also talk to them to resolve the issue. We are concerned about the betterment of Punjab and we will have a united face. Now, will come more frequently to Punjab, the Delhi CM said. The Ludhiana municipal corporations decision to charge composition fee from the vendors has drawn flak from several quarters. The issue took another political turn on Saturday when mayor Balkar Sandhu accused the opposition leaders of sheltering the rehri mafia in the city by opposing the civic bodys decision of charging a composition fee for allotting space to street vendors on roadsides. The composition fee was approved by last General House of the MC, which was led by the SAD-BJP combine. The fee is being charged just to eradicate the rehri mafia from the city and to increase revenue of the civic body. The leaders of different opposition parties and those who are opposing the same are sheltering the mafia collecting security amount, the mayor alleged. Refuting allegations levelled against LIP and its leaders, LIP president and MLA Simarjeet Singh Bains said the party leaders were just standing by the side of poor street vendors. If the mayor comes up with specific names from our party, then I will file a complaint against that guilty person, Bains said. He reiterated that the MC was illegally collecting the composition fee and said, If we are raising voice against the same, baseless allegations are being levelled against us. SAD district president Ranjit Singh Dhillon also refuted allegations and said they were not sheltering mafia. Mayor Balkar Sandhu and the Congress have turned the civic body into a mafia as fee is being collected on the name of composition fee and submersible disposal charges moving against the law, he alleged. Rather than working on establishing vending zones in the city, the civic body is taking law in its hands. Also, allocation of certain space to vendors on road sides will lead to traffic snarls, added Dhillon. The controversy The mayors statement came in the wake of voices across the political spectrum opposing the composition fee. While earlier Lok Insaaf Party (LIP), Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had raised concern, the Rehri Phadi Association recently claimed that the collection of composition fee ranging from Rs 1,600 to Rs 3,200 was in violation of norms. The SAD-BJP district leadership had also alleged that the MC and mayor imposed the fee illegally. The leaders had claimed that no approval was taken from the MC General House and there were no rules regarding the same in the Municipal Act. The LIP president with party councillors had also met MC commissioner Kanwalpreet Kaur Brar earlier regarding the issue. The Shiromani Akali Dal, which has already parted ways with its longtime ally Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) and announced to go it alone in Haryana assembly polls next year, will test the waters in the state at its Pipli rally in Kurukshetra on Sunday. Senior SAD leaders, including party president Sukhbir Singh Badal, Bikram Singh Majithia and Haryana in-charge Balwinder Singh Bhunder, are likely to address the rally being organised at Pipli grain market, with an eye on the Sikh vote bank in Kurukshetra and its neighbouring districts. The SAD leaders are claiming that the rally will be a turning point in Haryanas politics and pave the way for the SAD to contest elections on its own in the coming assembly elections in the state. Meanwhile, Haryana State Gurdwara Prabhandak Committee (HSGPC-ad hoc) leaders are opposing the rally. Earlier, HSGPC (ad hoc) president Jagdish Jhinda had even announced to hold a parallel rally at the same venue but he did not get the permission. Jhinda, who has also formed a Janta Akali Dal and also announced to contest the elections in Haryana, says the SAD is biggest hurdle in the formation of HSGPC. Talking to HT, he said, The SAD is backing the SGPC, which is against the demand of thousands of Haryanvi Sikhs for a separate gurdwara body in Haryana. They do not have any right to hold a rally in the state. He added, SAD will not get any support from Haryana and they will have to bring people from Punjab for the rally. The case related to the long pending demand of a separate Sikh body to govern gurdwaras in Haryana is in the final stage in the Supreme Court. Jhinda had recently called on INLD leader Abhay Chautala to seek support over the HSGPC issue. Extending him support, Abhay had asserted that it was a question of the rights of the state and he was willing to put the traditional family ties (with Badals) aside and stand up for the people of Haryana. INLD will not allow any force to ignore the rights of the Sikhs and Sikhs of Haryana are the rightful owners of the assets of the gurdwaras of Haryana. The money donated to the gurdwaras of the state should be invested for their development, Abhay had said in a statement. He had also asked the SAD to make public its stand on the Sutlej-Yamuna Link (SYL) Canal issue. Haryana and Punjab have been at loggerheads over the issue. Talking to HT, SAD Haryana president Sharanjeet Singh Sahota said, We will continue our fight for our demands and we will ask the party leadership to support us over the SYL issue. On the demand of separate Sikh body in Haryana, he said, We think there is no need for a separate body as the Sikhs in Haryana want to remain connected with the Akal Takht. However, we will raise our demand for a SGPC sub-office in Haryana. We will also urge the SGPC that donations collected from gurdwaras in Haryana should be spent here only. Asked whether the SAD will focus only on Sikh-dominated areas of Haryana, he said, The party will reach out to the people in the entire state. SAD is not a party of Sikhs alone. Britains foreign office on Friday said it acknowledges the strength of feelings in the Sikh community over the events of 1984, and said it encourages countries to ensure that their laws meet international human rights standards. The South Asia department in the foreign office wrote to the Sikhs for Justice, the US-based advocacy group behind the August 12 rally at Trafalgar Square, reiterating Britains tradition of people gathering to freely demonstrate and express their views. The letter was in response to the groups communication alleging human rights violations and concerns in the Sikh community, and seeking a meeting to discuss such issues. New Delhi wanted London to deny permission to the event. Indias demand was rejected, but there was tight security for the event after Indian high commissioner YK Sinha told home secretary Sajid Javid on August 9 of adverse impact on bilateral relationship if there were violence or incidents such as mutilating Indias flag. The foreign office letter does not promise a meeting, but says: The British government acknowledges the strength of feeling in the Sikh community regarding the events of 1984, including the events at the Golden Temple in Amritsar. We encourage all states to ensure that their domestic laws meet international human rights standards. This includes the need for any allegations of human rights abuses to be investigated thoroughly, promptly and transparently. Moreover, we do encourage all involved parties to resolve any differences through dialogue, the letter stated. Noting the August 12 event, the letter pointed out that there is a balance to be struck while allowing demonstrations. Protestors rights need to be balanced with the rights of others to go about their business without fear of intimidation or serious disruption to the community, the letter stated. SFJs Gurpatwant Singh Pannu said the foreign office response was very encouraging and added that the group would continue to engage governments on self-determination and its demand to hold a referendum to determine the status of Punjab. The August 12 event was attended by many supporters from outside the United Kingdom. Frontline UK-based Sikh organisations, including pro-Khalistan groups, did not actively support it, even if they did not openly oppose it. Theres a photographer hidden in each one of you. Dont believe me? Just take a quick look at your Instagram page - there are beautiful landscapes, kitschy shots with dramatic backgrounds, shots of yummy food and those #followmeto shots. So, on World Photography Day, we want to help you get the best shots for your page. So heres a list of some of the best locations in India to get that perfect Insta shot. Ladakh is a magical land. (Shutterstock) Ladakh This beautiful land of varied and dramatic landscape tops the list. It is one of the most picturesque places in India. The crystal clear water of Pangong Tso lake, the Zanskar River and the magnetic hill are all fantastic locations to click great photos. The best time is to visit between April to June and December to January. Uttarakhand is known as the Valley of Flowers. (Shutterstock) Valley of Flowers Valley Of Flowers in Uttarakhand is one of the best places to liven up your Instagram feed. From the beginning of the trek from Govindghat to the time when youre in the valley, every sight offers something new. This place is bound to make you fall in love with its beauty. Pondicherrys French quarter. (Shutterstock) Pondicherry One of the most unusual towns in the country, Pondicherry offers kitschy walls with art and historical quarters that are the perfect backdrop for your photos. The town is full of beautiful French aesthetics. Dont miss heading down to Auroville and check out the artistic homes of the people who live there. Best time to visit is during winters. Jaipur Vibrant, colourful, beautiful, Jaipur is a great destination for some amazing travel shots. The forts and palaces are totally going to up your Instagram game. Radhanagar beach (Shutterstock) Andaman Beautiful beaches, clean and green islands and coral reefs, Andaman can compete with any top beach destination in the world. So, if youre a beach person, you need to show your love on your Insta page. The turquoise blue water, white sand will add dramatic effect to your photos. Varanasi One of the oldest living cities in India, Varanasi is a mini universe in itself. The Old World charm, aghoris around the Ganges and the evening arti are worth travelling all the way. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more Palestinians in the occupied West Bank are about to receive a special delivery of more than 10 tonnes of mail that has been delayed by Israel for the past eight years. Postal workers have been sorting through thousands of mail sacks in the West Bank city of Jericho for the past several days after Israeli authorities allowed the entry of the letters and packages from neighbouring Jordan. A Palestinian worker carries a bag containing items sent by mail eight years ago, after Israel allowed the letters and goods into the West Bank from Jordan, where they were being held, Jericho, in the occupied West Bank on August 19. (REUTERS) The 10.5 tonnes of mail had been held in Jordan since 2010 because Israel would not permit direct transfer to the Palestinian Authority in the West Bank, Palestinian officials said. Mail for the West Bank and Gaza Strip, the borders of which are under Israeli control, first passes through Israel, enabling it to perform security checks. Israeli authorities said the transfer was a one-time gesture and moves were under way to implement a 2016 agreement that would enable direct international mail links with the West Bank. A Palestinian worker arranges items sent by mail eight years ago, after Israel allowed the letters and goods into the West Bank from Jordan, where they were being held, Jericho, in the occupied West Bank on August 19. (REUTERS) At the Jericho facility, a wheelchair and toys were among the items being sorted. A team was formed from across the city (Jericho) to deliver (the mail) to the people as soon as possible, said Hussein Sawafta, director general of the Palestinian Post Service. But Ramadan Ghazawy, a Palestinian postal official, said some material could be difficult to deliver because the contents had spilled out of damaged envelopes and boxes, while the addresses on others were unclear. There are toys for kids. Maybe they were one year old when those gifts were sent. Now they are eight, Ghazawy said. Afghan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday announced a ceasefire with Taliban insurgents from Monday to mark the Muslim holiday Eid al-Adha, despite the heavy fighting seen over recent days in the central city of Ghazni. The conditional ceasefire will start tomorrow and it will continue as long as the Taliban preserves and respects it, he said in an Afghan Independence Day ceremony in Kabul. We call on the leadership of the Taliban to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long-lasting and real peace, he said. A senior official in Ghanis office said the conditional ceasefire would run for three months. It was not immediately clear whether the Taliban had accepted Ghanis call for a truce during Eid, the annual Islamic feast of sacrifice, which officially begins on Tuesday. This month the Taliban fought an intense battle with Afghan forces to control the strategically important city of Ghazni. At least 150 soldiers and 95 civilians were killed in a five-day siege, which eased last week when Afghan soldiers backed by U.S. forces pushed back the heavily armed rebels. The Taliban said in a statement that they had control over half of Afghanistan. Blasts, suicide attacks and clashes between hardline Islamic militants and Afghan forces killed over 1,600 civilians in the first six months of the year, the highest number in the past decade, the United Nations said in a statement on Sunday. Ghanis ceasefire announcement was limited to the Taliban and excluded other militant groups such as Islamic State. 50 Cent has been promoting his new business venture since it's announcement in April. The rapper can be seen toting a bottle at multiple occasion including his hangouts with younger artists. He had one in had when he met up with Russ and other when he got turnt with Tekashi 6ix9ine. Today, the rap star shared his latest display of pride for the brand on Instagram. A massive bash went down in honor of the alcoholic beverage. 50 uploaded a couple of videos to give his following a taste of what they are most likely missing. In one video, models are sporting pink bikinis while dancing with champagne bottles held up high. One of the ladies was being carried in a mini replica of a yacht. Others were holding oversized cardboard versions of the brand's emblem that read "Chemin Du Roi Product of France." In one of his latest posts on the social media platform, 50 Cent is filmed pouring his brand of champagne on a woman's bouncing booty as she twerks in a pool. He then turns to the camera looking real pleased with himself. His caption echoes the smile he flashes in the video: "I'm having way more fun than you today. LOL #lecheminduroi." He is most likely right, tbh. Doctor Strange had it all planned out. As he turned into ash and disappeared, Strange let Tony Stark know it was the only way. While comic book readers and smart moviegoers were not completely shocked by the death of so many Marvel characters, they will be the first to tell you that death is never permanent in the world of Marvel. According to a report by Mirror (so let's take it with a grain of salt, their Marvel rumors have been hit-or-miss), Benedict Cumberbatch will be returning for Doctor Strange 2. The report claims that Cumberbatch is set to receive a $9.5 million salary for the sequel, which is $6 million more than what he made for Doctor Strange. Apparently, Marvel realizes that Strange, Captain Marvel, Black Panther, and Spider-Man will be their featured heroes going forward after stars like Captain America, Iron-Man, and possibly Thor leave the franchise. Cumberbatch will next return as Strange for the still-untitled Avengers 4 film. After that, plans for the MCU have been kept under wraps. Mirror reports that Doctor Strange 2 will start filming next year, if everything goes according to plan. We do know Spider-Man: Far From Home is being shot in the UK currently, while Black Panther 2 is in pre-development. A Guardians of the Galaxy 3 is planned for the future as well, although the James Gunn drama may delay the release. Other than that, the future of the MCU is a mystery. There's no better to fight off an inquisition into your private life, than to handle biz yourself. Future did just that, responding to an Instagram user who made one of "their exchanges" public. The Instagram user, going by the handle @real.shyanne posted a screen cap in which "Wya? Im bout to fly you out." It's unclear what spurred the conversation, but "Shyanne" as we'll call her, mentioned in passing that Future's solicitation was essentially her meal ticket: "Welp thats my mil ticket , bye yall." Then the post started to gain traction on the social media platform, and Future soon took notice, where he refuted ever coming into contact with hers truly. His response: "Dats cap.., it was allll a dream! Nice Photoshop, enjoy." Believe what you will, but several Instagram chimed in with their support, others ragged on her completely, giving her comment section the pretense of a gender clash, some arguing for/against "clout chasing," others more suspicious of Future and his rumored exploits. This minor clash follows weeks of misapprehension over cryptic Tweets, many thought you were directed at Ciara, but alas it doesn't really matter. If Future is right to frame the screen cap a "photoshop," it would represent one of the many perils of being famous for which rappers like himself must cope with daily. There's also a minor chance he caught lackin' on the web. The jury's is out. A man named Dr. Kuo Chao is suing Shonda Rhimes for the extremely dangerous broken sidewalk that she left unfixed in front of her mansion last summer. The doctor, according to TMZ, is a "prestigious interventional neuroradiologist" who graduated from Yale so he must know what he's talking about when he alleges that he suffered a broken wrist, "damaged cartilage and lost range of motion and function in his wrist and arm, which has caused limited mobility and loss of strength and stamina." What this did was lead to the loss of his "fine motor skills," keeping him from his work, where he treats "stroke and anuerysm" patients Now, Dr. Chao is suing Rhimes for an unspecified amount, but we can guess that if he's a doctor and she's the biggest TV writer on earth, then it will be a lot. The doctor believes that the bump in the sidewalk was Rhimes' responsibility to fix, not the city's. Partly, it's understandable, Shonda seems capable of anything, but would anyone really want to distract her from her new responsibilities? Rhimes recently signed a deal with Netflix worth $150 million that has her creating eight new shows which are already all in development. Teyana Taylor is going about her tour without a supporting act after all. In the video below, Teyana takes a mighty tumble with the mic in her hand. Incidentally she misjudged the surface area at her feet. One truncated movement can be the difference between a graceful slide step and motion sickness. Teyana's boycott of ex-tour mate Jeremih was all the rage last week, but she's countered the loss by bringing even higher levels of chutzpah to her choreography. See below: Teyana's crazy spill took place at the PlayStation Theater in New York City, as part of her rebranded KTSE on Aisle VII tour, this after writing off Jeremih who was sent home packing. You can see her left foot lose solid grounding, although her knee appears to be most bent out of shape. In classic Teyana Taylor fashion, she doesn't wait long to rebound on stage, picking up the choreography exactly where it left off, only a few measures offbeat. The remaining dates on the formerly named Later That Night tour will be honored, except for a Toronto concert which had to be repackaged for next week because landed on short notice. By all accounts, Teyana has suffered worst in her daily dance studio grind. Her career to date is a collection of broken toe nails and twisted ankles, we've only to begun to really discover her singing talent. When Nino Barbalace came to the United States from Sicily, he brought his aunt Gianna with him. Or at least her memory. The two spent countless hours together in the family restaurant on the sun-baked island, and Gianna taught her nephew the timeless traditions of Sicilian cooking. He eventually left to study architecture and settled outside Boston. But the allure of family cooking still pulled him, the restaurant said. LOCAL: Gay S.F. officer sues city in sexual harassment, discrimination lawsuit He opened a bakery and cafe in Dorchester, Massachusetts, that immortalized her: Zia Gianna, or Aunt Gianna. But she was known in the family teeming with aunts as simply 'Zia.' "Zia had an innate ability to create community, comfort and love through food," the restaurant says in a tribute page. Barbalace wanted to convey that same welcoming spirit, he told Fox 25. He affixed a tiny pride flag to his restaurant's window for the pride parade in June, and it has remained there since. Then came the Yelp review. "Well, that flag says all when you delve deeper and see the real customer base here, it's clearly geared and catered ONLY to those who rally behind the rainbow flag." That alarmed Barbalace, who posted an image of the one-star review on the restaurant's Facebook page. "All are welcome at Zia Gianna, even this gentleman. We'd love to show him some kindness from the LGBTQ community because love always wins," Barbalace wrote in his post on Aug. 13. Now Playing: Yelp Cannot be Ordered to Remove Negative Posts, Court Rules The California Supreme Court arrived at the 4-3 opinion in the closely watched case. At issue were posts against a San Francisco law firm that a judge determined were defamatory. The majority of justices said removal orders "could interfere with and undermine the viability of an online platform." The decision overturned a lower court ruling in favor of attorney Dawn Hassell. Hassell's attorney says the ruling "stands as an invitation to spread falsehoods on the internet without consequence." She also said her client was considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Video: Wibbitz The episode was personal, he told Fox 25. "If you go to a place and ... you're not happy with the service, you're not happy with the food, I mean I understand that if I made a mistake because we make mistakes, too. This is a restaurant, this is not politics." The review has since been removed, but it is not clear whether Yelp or the reviewer took it down. Yelp has not yet responded to questions about the post's removal. Barbalace told The Washington Post on Sunday afternoon, amid noise inside the bustling cafe, that he was busy preparing for an event and could not speak about the review. The commenter appeared to be referencing Barbalace's Italian and Sicilian heritage in his remarks. "(H)ere we have someone who is abandoning the sound family unit and structure. Absolutely disgusting and unacceptable," the commenter said. RELATED: Boon or bane, Yelp's impact undeniable Customers rallied in response. Tiffany Andrade told Fox 25 that she dropped by the cafe on Friday to offer support. "Luckily, we live in the land of the free, and people are entitled to their own opinion, but I do think it's something to understand that we are an open community and there are people who come from all different countries and all different backgrounds and we should be welcoming of everyone," Andrade said. Loyal customers and first-time prospects offered similar support. "We love your place, and love your love for everyone no matter what," one customer said. Another said: "Haven't been in to your restaurant before, but now I'm putting it on my must-visit list. Love is love is love. Keep flying that flag!" Barbalace told Fox that the flag is staying up. And in the spirit of Aunt Gianna, he says the Yelp reviewer can sit at his table and share a meal. "I'm here to serve the food. If he is hungry, he is welcome to come here," he said. Dean Gladden is about to venture downstairs into the Alley Theatre. But before he takes a step down, the company's managing director asks the group he's leading to turn on their cell phone lights. "And I hope you're wearing the right kind of shoes," he says, alluding to the vaunted downtown theater's flooded lower level, where more than ten feet of water once pooled during Hurricane Harvey's catastrophic downpour that caused severe damage on the city's Theater District. Productions across town have been postponed or cancelled as organizations prioritize cleanup and restoration. Here in the Alley Theatre, a playhouse with national acclaim, the future can't begin until the present damage has been inspected. It's a somber action, partly because the Alley is two years removed from a $46.5 million renovation that revamped much of this flooded area. Gladden beckons his party. The tunnel that leads down to the Alley's Neuhaus Theatre is pitch black, so the first impression of the downstairs lobby area isn't anything you can see, but rather the swish-swish-swish of construction workers wading through the water, the patter of water droplets leaking from the ceiling and the smell. What starts off as a sensation of the nose and throat soon turns into a full-body experience a dizzying mixture of rotting wood, rotting paper, infested carpet, swamp-soaked chairs, sewage, bacteria and humidity. The lobby had been entirely submerged in slimy, green-blue-black water since Sunday, allowing the walls and ceilings to soften and melt. Pinch your nose and you can still smell the rot through your mouth. "As a managing director, you always think of the worst possible thing that can happen," Gladden says. "This is the worst possible thing." Construction workers, wearing masks, tell the awestruck explorers to be careful and not to breathe in the air. These workers, from Blackmon Mooring and W.S. Bellows Construction, are led by Alley Theatre General Manager Ten Eyck Swackhamer in a separate tour to assess the work ahead of them. But Gladden's party marches on. BEFORE AND AFTER: Photos of Harvey's destruction in Houston The scene is difficult to convey with words. Walls have fallen down in chunks. The ceilings are all peeling downward, their shapes distorted like ice cream melting in summer. Some rooms have doors blocked by debris that can't be entered. Pianos and tables and large machinery are turned upside down, some stuck in strange, gravity-defying positions. Flotsam everywhere floats on the ground. Some of the wreckage is hard to identify. Communications Director Whitney Spencer, shining her light toward the shadow of large and long rectangular box lying upside down in the Neuhaus Theatre, asks what it is. "It's the first row of seats," Gladden says. An entire row of seats has toppled over. Board President Butch Mach, taking long, deliberate strides, climbs up a section of seats. He swipes his finger on the top of a seat on the fifth row "It's dry here" and then the bottom. "That's wet," Mach says. "So you can tell that's how high the water went. So hopefully the lights up on the ceiling and the control booth are dry yep." Gladden isn't sure where the water came from. On Sunday, playwright Rajiv Joseph, in Houston for the upcoming world premiere of his play "Describe the Night" at the Alley, captured footage of Texas Avenue turned into a river, with water running nearly to the top of the steps to the Alley. But the water didn't breach the main lobby, instead likely entering the basement from somewhere in the underground tunnel system the same water that annihilated the lower level of Birraporretti's, a nearby restaurant. How the flooding happened is just one of the many questions without a complete answer today. What's the schedule for recovery? Swackhamer, estimating 8 to 14 days of salvage work, expects a full schedule by end of next week. How much is the damage worth? Though this is the first time contractors have been able to inspect the scene, Alley management knows it's in the several millions. Their complete renovation two years ago cost more than $46 million, but there are also other elements that add to the toll, like 68 years of production history lost in the destruction of the Alley's prop storage, that can never be recovered. Later in the day, props master Karin Rabe would mention the tens of thousands of props that were destroyed. "All of our luggage, foliage, rugs, china, typewriters, computers, books, paper props, kitchen items, lamp shades are all gone," Rabe says. "There were probably 20,000 pieces of china and 70 TV sets down there." In the storage room, unseen amounts of props lay in waste. Mach wants to reach the back part of the room because he saw something he can't get out of his head. Earlier that day, he took a preliminary tour and found a lone doll lying on a table, her body splayed helplessly, as if she were acting a scene in a tragedy. To get to the room, the party takes a dangerous path. On the ground of the laundry room, white detergent mixes with the mud water, creating a goop that almost makes some of the party trip. A rack has fallen over. Hundreds of programs for the Alley's recent production "39 Steps" have meshed into a single wet mound, right next to the Alley's entire collection of yet-to-be-printed tickets that have all nearly dissolved, forming a thick layer of white mush in the water. The group forges on, wading past the broken machinery of the laundry room and into the back side of the Alley's vast prop storage room. An ornate Chinese vase filled with leaves and water sits upright here, everyone notices the upright objects right away. Right next to it is the doll. It's a gem of a creation, a Victorian era doll featured in the Alley's beloved "A Christmas Carol." It's the doll that's given to the Scrooge, which later manifests into an eerily beautiful ghost. A steam clock, a giant candy cane, Scrooge's chair these other iconic "Carol" items also lay toppled in the water. The smell changes room to room. The bathrooms reek of sewage, while the tunnel facilities have the acidic smell of kerosene, which had leaked from the generators into the water. The substance clings onto the pants and shoes of the visitors. The party turns around when Swackhamer says electrical parts are still hot inside one of the rooms. He closes the door, shooing the party up the steps toward Birraporetti's. As workers sweep the water down the hallways, it gushes down the steps, causing one of the tour members to nearly trip. "Look at this," Gladden says, pointing toward the break room. It's a champagne glass, filled with water, somehow standing perfectly upright four feet above the ground against the door. Its posture, in contrast with the chaos of the room, feels bizarre, even inappropriate. "Looks like one of those undersea shots of the Titanic," Mach says. From the random destruction of Hurricane Harvey, Gladden and Mach are finding the accidents the doll, the champagne glass worth remembering. They're not quite silver linings, nor distractions from the heartbreak, but rather ways to simplify and encapsulate a loss that, for now, defies comprehension. Back outside, production manager Ray Inkel says he's invested in the objects of the Alley, but appears emotional when human loss enters the conversation. Two staff members were forced to evacuate their homes, Inkel says. His face reddening, he begins wiping his hands on his eyes. He's crying. Apologizing, he leaves the steps of the Alley. Rabe looks on as he walks away. She agrees with his sentiment that the things never matter as much as people. "It's stuff that has a lot of meaning, but it's all stuff. It can be replaced," she says. "We're here." Houston's Theater District remains shut down, with properties owned by Houston First - Jones Hall, Wortham Theater Center and the Theater District Underground Parking Garages - in various stages of recovery. The underground parking garages are devastated. More than 270 million gallons of water flooded the garages during Hurricane Harvey, submerging the three parking complexes that hold 3369 parking spaces for visitors and workers of the Theater District. As of Wednesday, around 85 percent of that water has been pumped out. But water removal will be far from the only part of the garage's recovery process. With mold removal, rebuilding, salvaging and cleanup work ahead, Houston First does not yet know when the garages will be reopened, but it will not be open for at least several weeks, said Director of Communications Carolyn Campbell. Parking will be an issue for organizations that were luckier during the storm. The Houston Symphony, whose home of Jones Hall is slated to reopen by the end of the week, will have to determine if an alternative parking plan exists to accommodate its performances. To accommodate daytime parking needs, Houston First is finding other parking spots for Houston District employees, using shuttle services to transport people to and from the temporary parking sites. The Wortham Theater Center, home to the Houston Grand Opera and Houston Ballet, suffers from soggy carpet and drywall among other issues as a result of the Buffalo Bayou breaching its flood gates. The entire basement level was flooded during the storm, as was the stage floor of the Brown Theater. The stage door of the floor is being removed and replaced. The building still has no power. Events and performances at the Wortham are cancelled through Oct. 15, forcing the Houston Ballet to relocate its season opening to the Hobby Center. The Houston Grand Opera's planned season opener is "La Traviata" on Oct. 20. Officials also are worried about the air quality inside the Wortham, and are allowing only vital personnel into the building. Houston First released never-before-seen photographs of the interiors of its properties, painting a grim image even after days of pumping out water. But the images are in stark contrast to the state of the garage last week, when water made of sludge and mud rose up to street level. "This was an unprecedented storm that caused serious damage to one of our city's treasures," Dawn Ullrick, president and CEO of Houston First, said in a statement. David Joy: Novelist and short-story writer will sign and discuss The Line That Held Us, 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book, 2342 Bissonnet; 713-524-8597 or murderbooks.com. TUESDAY Joe R. Lansdale and Kasey Lansdale: Authors will sign and discuss Terror Is Our Business, 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book. WEDNESDAY T. Jefferson Parker: Author will sign and discuss his latest book, Swift Vengeance, 6:30 p.m., Murder By The Book. FRIDAY Kara Richardson Whitely: Motivational speaker and author will discuss and sign The Weight of Being and Gorge, 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet; 713-523-0701 or brazosbookstore.com. SATURDAY Johnnie Bernhard: Former English teacher and journalist will discuss and sign her latest book, How We Came to Be, 3-5 p.m., Galveston Bookshop, 317 23rd St., Galveston; 409-750-8200 or galvestonbookshop.com. Kate Gavino: Author and illustrator will discuss and sign Sanpaku, inspired by her childhood in the suburbs of Houston. 7 p.m., Brazos Bookstore, 2421 Bissonnet; 713-523-0701 or brazosbookstore.com. Ana Khan Tameika Lovell was retrieving luggage at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport when Customs and Border Protection officers detained her for a random search. It was Nov. 27, 2016, the Sunday after Thanksgiving, and the school counselor from Long Island had just returned from a short Jamaica vacation. Lovell, who is black, had been stopped before, but this time a CBP supervisor began asking questions she hadn't heard previously. "Don't you think you're spending too much money traveling?" Lovell, 34, recalls a CBP supervisor asking. What happened next is the subject of a harrowing lawsuit pending in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. Inside a secure room, Lovell's litigation alleges, a female CBP officer searched Lovell's belongings, presumably for illegal drugs, and asked if she was using a tampon or sanitary pad. The question upset her, but Lovell replied "no" and complied when told to remove her shoes, lift her arms and spread her legs. Now Playing: The TSA is reportedly considering ending screening at small airports. Video: Fox5 As a second female officer observed, hand on her firearm, the lawsuit says, the first officer touched Lovell "from head to toe" before ordering her to squat. Lovell was clothed, but the lawsuit claims that the officer squeezed Lovell's breasts, and, "placed her right hand into (Lovell's) pants 'forcibly' inserting four gloved fingers into plaintiff's vagina" before parting Lovell's buttocks "for viewing." Lovell has accused CBP officers of violating her constitutional rights and sidestepping the agency's rules prohibiting officers from conducting invasive body searches. Her case is one of at least 11 since 2011 examined by the Center for Public Integrity. Each raises unsettling questions about authorities' considerable power to detain people at the nation's 328 ports of entry, underscoring critics' concerns about CBP officer accountability as the Trump administration seeks to expand the agency and significantly enhance immigration enforcement. These alleged invasive searches "should give everyone pause," said Adriana Pinon, staff attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union in Texas. "The touchstone of the Fourth Amendment is reasonableness," she said. The Constitution, she said, protects people from having their bodies searched based "on a whim." The government has settled some of these cases before they could go to trial, thus avoiding potentially incriminating testimony from CBP officers accused of wrongdoing. Six of the lawsuits resulted in financial settlements costing taxpayers more than $1.2 million. Others are pending. One claim lost in a jury trial. In Lovell's case, the Justice Department has sought to dismiss CBP and the individual officers, but not the U.S. government, as defendants. CBP officials declined to comment on any specific litigation, settled or pending. A spokesman said that misconduct is taken "seriously" and that "our mission is to facilitate legitimate travel and trade while preventing illicit drugs, weapons or other contraband from entering our country." If they can justify suspicions, federal officers at U.S. ports of entry are authorized, without the need for warrants, to require some disrobing for genital and rectal inspections, and monitored bowel movements to check for drugs, according to a CBP handbook. At the same time, the detention-and-search handbook instructs officers to record a solid justification for every step beyond a frisk, and to respect detainees' dignity and "freedom from unreasonable searches." The handbook also warns against what could be considered a "visual or physical intrusion" into body cavities. The women who've brought these lawsuits, including two minor girls, say CBP officers subjected them to indignities - such as strip searches while menstruating and prohibited genital probing - despite finding no contraband. Four women further allege they were handcuffed and transported to hospitals where, against their will, one underwent a pelvic exam and X-rays. In one of the cases, the woman's lawsuit asserts she was intravenously drugged at the hospital, according to lawsuits. Such invasive medical procedures require a detainee's consent or a warrant. In two cases, the plaintiffs say they were billed. A lawsuit filed in San Diego federal court on behalf of a Hispanic 16-year-old identified as C.R. alleges CBP strip-searched her last September as she and her adult sisters returned from a family visit to Mexico through the San Ysidro pedestrian port. The sisters were flagged after a false drug-sniffing dog alert, the lawsuit asserts. Female officers took C.R. aside and allegedly told the tearful girl to disrobe, hand over a sanitary pad, and squat and cough "while officers probed and shined a flashlight at her vaginal and anal areas," the lawsuit says. Justice Department attorneys representing officers have filed to dismiss C.R.'s suit, arguing that it was not filed properly. The CBP handbook says officers should "weigh all factors" before an officer, who should be of the same gender, searches a minor. Officers are told to seek parental consent for a strip-search and refrain from touching or inspecting a minor's body cavities. If a parent refuses consent, officers should seek advice from CBP legal counsel. C.R.'s alleged experience is one of three alleged strip-searches at the San Diego border crossing involving Hispanic minors and a 42-year-old Hispanic woman reported since last September to the American Friends Service Committee, a rights group. Records reviewed by the Center for Public Integrity show that in 2015 the U.S. government settled a lawsuit for $500,000 with a woman who said she was subjected to a prolonged ordeal that began as she entered the Otay Mesa port and continued after she was handcuffed and transferred 10 miles away to the San Ysidro port. CBP officers mistook the woman, who had been volunteering at a Mexican orphanage, for someone of the same name who was wanted on a drug arrest warrant issued in California's Contra Costa County. The woman, who was 52, said that even though some officers suspected she was not the person named in the warrant, she was lined up with three other female detainees, invasively searched by a CBP officer and later driven to a county jail. "This officer squeezed my breasts hard and went into my underwear and in my vagina with her finger. She did this with the same glove that she did three other women before me!!" the woman later wrote in an email to a CBP official, according to her lawsuit. "Plaintiff was visibly upset, crying and professing her innocence during and after the search," the suit alleges. The officers allegedly called her a "basket case," it says. According to the lawsuit, after 20 minutes the same female officer allegedly repeated a vaginal search. Contra Costa County officials allegedly included erroneous information on the arrest warrant and advised CBP to detain the woman overnight. The county settled with the woman for another payment of $450,000. --- Shortly after he took office in 2017, President Donald Trump told officials at the Department of Homeland Security that he thought border enforcement officers hadn't been able to do their jobs properly, and that from now on, he expected laws "to be enforced and enforced strongly." He aimed to hire 5,000 more Border Patrol agents, who work under CBP, but that goal hasn't been met because of staff attrition and concerns in Congress about funding. CBP declined to discuss whether the accused officers named in settled or pending lawsuits have been investigated, absolved, disciplined, retrained, fired or moved to other jobs. The agency referred questions to the Justice Department, where officials also declined to comment. CBP also refused to discuss the rate at which officers discover drugs secreted in travelers' bodies. At a May 30 congressional hearing focused on opioid seizures at the border, CBP's acting field director for Tucson, Guadalupe Ramirez, told lawmakers that officers "regularly find drugs concealed in body cavities." In a written statement, a spokesman for the agency said CBP has "policies, procedures and training in place to ensure officers and agents treat travelers and those in custody with professionalism and courtesy, while protecting the civil rights, civil liberties, and well-being of every individual with whom we interact. "Unfortunately," it says, "CBP officers encounter persons attempting to smuggle narcotics into the United States internally, a very dangerous smuggling method that comes with the risk of great personal harm." Lawyers representing the women who have sued the government say these relatively modest number of suits should not be considered a measure of how frequently detained people are invasively searched. "Instances like these are traumatic and people feel sexually assaulted. Filing a lawsuit requires detailing a significantly painful incident in a public forum," said Pinon, of the ACLU in Texas. A person's ethnicity is not grounds for a search, but lawyers who have represented travelers assert that officers do seem to consider factors such as travel to certain countries, unusual travel patterns and behavior that seems evasive or suspicious. Canine contraband alerts also are a factor - but it's not uncommon for them to prove false, the ACLU has argued. Officers' ability to initiate warrantless searches on "reasonable suspicion," a lower threshold than "probable cause," is grounded in arguments that U.S. ports of entry merit greater scrutiny. Additionally, a 1985 Supreme Court ruling, U.S. vs. Montoya, found that a rectal exam revealing cocaine-filled balloons did not violate a woman's Fourth Amendment rights because officers considered various factors and had "reasonable" concerns that she had concealed drugs. Settled civil suits accusing officers of failing to wisely act on suspicions don't establish guilt or criminal liability. But documents do reveal how searches escalated, and how attorneys attempted to defend CBP before settling. In an Arizona case, Justice Department attorneys argued that the detention handbook was simply "guidance" for CBP officers. --- A Pennsylvania case also illustrates how CBP scrutiny of a female traveler led to graphic allegations of abuse. An African-American woman, 36, flew into Philadelphia International Airport from a one-day trip to Punta Cana, the Dominican Republic, on Dec. 4, 2012 - and allegedly suffered through a 24-hour ordeal in a fruitless search for hidden drugs, her 2015 lawsuit says. The woman's complaint against CBP defendants was settled in 2017 for $189,500, paid by the U.S. Treasury Department, government records show. CBP officers intercepted the woman at customs and took her to a screening room to search her belongings and allegedly interrogate her about suspicions that her short trip might indicate drug smuggling. The woman allegedly explained that she travels often on airline employee discounts available to family members. Her suit says that she was told she would be released after a pat-down. But after seven hours - and attempts to get her to consent to an X-ray - the woman was allegedly handcuffed, shackled and "dragged" from the airport and taken to a hospital, court documents say. Officers "provided false and misleading information" to staff suggesting she was packing drugs, the woman's suit alleges, and that she would have to remain in a room "until she had urinated and defecated into a plastic container in the presence of an officer." After a staff shift change, the suit alleges, a nurse announced that the woman's heart rate was elevated, and doctors "involuntarily" admitted her due to "possible drug toxicity." According to the suit, the woman was tied to a bed with restraints, stripped naked by medical staff and had a tampon removed from her vagina during a body search. In court filings, the hospital does not deny conducting an exam, administering sedatives intravenously, catheterizing the woman to collect urine, and conducting X-rays and abdominal and pelvic CT scans. "The agents had no basis for their suspicion," her suit says. "Medical personnel confirmed what (the plaintiff) had told CBP agents from the moment she encountered them: that she had no contraband on her person." Justice Department attorneys, however, argue in a filing that the "federal defendants deny that CBP officers had no basis for their suspicions," and that the Dominican Republic is "a known illegal drug source country." CBP officers, the response alleges, asked the woman to "consent to an X-ray that would expeditiously determine" if drugs were inside her and "explored whether to seek a warrant" but did not because she was involuntarily admitted to the hospital. "Plaintiff was afforded all constitutional rights and protections to which she was entitled at all material times to the incidents alleged," the response also argues. After she woke from sedation, the woman's suit asserts, she was driven back to the airport and suffered a vehicle accident while driving her car. Mercy Fitzgerald Hospital in Darby, Pennsylvania, where the medical procedures were conducted, declined to comment on the case, but said "we strive to honor the sacredness and dignity of every person." Documents show the hospital system agreed to close the case for what the woman's attorney said is an undisclosed settlement. --- Racial profiling is another concern. A 1997 lawsuit on behalf of 87 black women alleged racial profiling and illegal strip-searches and pat-downs by customs officers at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. The suit was settled in 2006 for $1.9 million. In 2000, the Government Accountability Office found that two years earlier, black American women were nine times more likely than white counterparts to be X-rayed by customs officers after airport frisking, although they were less than half as likely to be found with contraband compared with white women also X-rayed. "The racial profiling issue was absolutely constant," said Gil Kerlikowske, a CBP commissioner during the Obama administration. Kerlikowske said he tried to improve a complaint system and began regular meetings with the ACLU and other rights groups. Pinon, of the ACLU, said: "I worry that the cases we represent underestimate how often this (invasive searching) occurs." Government records don't address such concerns. Within the Treasury Department database that documents settlement amounts, three lawsuits alleging unconstitutional searches are listed as "false arrest" claims and three are labeled "miscellaneous." Records also show scores of false-arrest or miscellaneous complaints filed directly and settled with CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) over the past decade. Such settlements leave no publicly accessible court trail revealing precisely what was alleged. Timothy Scott, the lawyer who represented the woman mistakenly detained in San Diego, said many immigrants are "from countries where there's no profit in criticizing authorities. ... There's no doubt in my mind that this (invasive searching) is underreported." Freedom for Immigrants, a volunteer group that aids detained immigrants, obtained documents alleging rough treatment in ICE detention centers between 2010 and 2014, including claims of guards allegedly ripping clothes off detainees if they refused to disrobe. In a statement, ICE said it has "already initiated several steps to bolster the division's quality assurance process" and plans more detention inspections this year. In New York, Lovell is just beginning her legal journey. She said she understands why people hesitate to publicize their grievances about getting searched. "Even though you are the victim," she said, "there's always that shadow of a doubt that people have about you." Lovell was so shaken by her experience, she said, that she was unsure whether she could assert her rights. "I didn't know if what they were doing," she said, "was legal or not." --- This article is from the Center for Public Integrity, a nonprofit, nonpartisan investigative media organization in Washington. A Russian woman charged with attempting to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and other American political groups as a covert agent for the Russian Federation has been moved from the District of Columbia jail to the Alexandria, Virginia, jail, her attorney and jail officials said Saturday. Maria Butina, 29, was indicted July 17 by a grand jury on charges of conspiracy to act and failing to register as an agent of a foreign government. She pleaded not guilty; her attorney said Butina was merely networking to develop relationships with Americans. An Alexandria jail spokeswoman declined to say why Butina was moved, and a spokesman for the U.S. Marshals Service said, "As a matter of policy, we do not disclose information related to individual prisoners to protect their privacy, safety and security." A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office for the District said it does not oversee the detention of defendants nor typically disclose their location. A spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office of the District of Columbia did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Now Playing: Attorney for accused Russian agent Maria Butina asked to see evidence against her in court hearing Wednesday. Video: Fox5DC More for you The Russia that Republicans love doesn't exist The Russian Embassy in Washington has called Butina's arrest politically motivated and complained about jail conditions, saying in a post on its website Thursday that embassy diplomats had visited Butina in jail and would be lodging a complaint with the U.S. State Department "demanding to stop psychologically pressuring and humiliating our fellow citizen." "It seems as if Washington is trying to force her to cooperate with the investigation by making her living conditions as difficult as possible," the embassy said in a Twitter post, adding in a statement that jail officials had reinstated 15-minute overnight checks on Butina - consistent with what the embassy said was a suicide watch - without cause. The embassy asked jail officials to provide a translator so that Butina could receive letters written in Russian that it said were denied her because they might contain "coded messages," and to fully provide "necessary medical attention," not just painkillers, for leg swelling that it said resulted from cold temperatures in Butina's cell. Butina's attorney, Robert Driscoll, said that Butina was not given a reason for the move between 5 and 6 p.m. Friday and that he did not know if it was related to the complaints. He said prosecutors told him they were unaware of the move. "She's a little shook up, just by the unannounced move," Driscoll said after visiting her Saturday. Driscoll on Friday announced the creation of a legal-defense fund for Butina, including an English- and Russian-language fundraising website. Driscoll said District jail officials had been largely responsive to the issues but that it took 20 days for Butina to be allowed to place a phone call to Russia, and it also took some time to provide her with her eyeglasses and to allow the funding of her canteen jail account. She is seeking better arthritis treatment for one of her legs, he said. Butina's attorney said she has not been allowed outdoors since her confinement because, jail officials told him, she is in protective custody and the jail does not have the extra personnel needed to monitor her. He said that being in protective custody probably meant a "well-being check" every 15 minutes, which can be conducted discreetly or disruptively by guards. Butina's next court date is Sept. 10. She was ordered held without bond pending trial by U.S. Magistrate Judge Deborah Robinson of Washington, who cited risks that Butina might flee or resume her alleged unlawful activities, as well as the government's significant evidence against her. Big changes are coming to the 67,000-student Aldine Independent School District as classes resume Monday. Intermediate schools are a thing of the past - fifth graders will be moved back to elementary schools and sixth graders will move up to middle schools. Kindergartners will share campuses with preschoolers instead of attending elementary schools under the restructure. Attendance zones also have been redrawn, resulting in major changes to staffing and bus routes. Six new schools will open, two existing campuses have new buildings and others have been completely renovated. In all, 58 of the district's 77 regular campuses will undergo what district leaders are calling a "reconfiguration." Discussions that spurred the changes began in 2014 and were finalized under former Superintendent Wanda Bamberg and former Deputy Superintendent Archie Blanson, who both retired from the north Houston district at the end of last school year. Tasked with implementing the new changes is Superintendent LaTonya Goffney, who came to Aldine in May after serving stints in the East Texas school districts of Lufkin and Coldspring. Chronicle education reporter Shelby Webb sat down with Goffney this summer to discuss the changes and her vision for the district for the 2018-2019 school year, which begins Monday in Aldine. Edit excerpts of the conversation follow. Q: What can parents expect this fall? A: Many (schools) have been totally redone, so you can expect a safe, open learning environment. In addition, you can expect a lot of principal changes due to the reconfiguration. So it may be a different principal, but a capable, good leader will be at your child's school. There will be teachers there to guide your child and help them achieve. There will be some differences with transportation because the boundaries changed, and we will work through the communication piece on that. We also want to make sure students learn the new campuses and the new leadership. Were preparing for the worst, but Im expecting the best, because Ive met with the campus leaders, we talked about moving forward and our vision for our schools and will go from there. Some students would have already been making a change to a new school with new principals, but it will be more so this year than in many in the past. Typically, there's not a lot of turnover in Aldine with the principalships, but this year there has been quite a bit with the reconfiguration, just a lot of movement. Leadership changes will be good, though, because it gives you a fresh set of eyes. Q: Boundary changes and switching grade levels are among the most controversial decisions school districts can make. What are you telling parents? A: We're asking parents and community members to understand that these changes were made in the best interest of our children. Please be patient with us as we iron it out. It's not going to be easy, but it's going to be the best interest for students in the long run. My fear is everyone got out for the summer and the reality is going to kick in. We have to get out that information now because our bus routes have changed, kids' schools have changed. Even little things like the makeup of cheerleading squads and competitive teams for middle school are different, because middle school has changed. Q: What benefits do you see with the new configuration? A: The things that excite me, No. 1, is that the changes were done so well before I got here. Former Superintendent Bamberg utilized a partnership with others and was able to capitalize on planning it strategically. I think they took about a year with an outside agency to come up with the plan were calling reconfiguration, which Im excited about. Think about it: Instead of changing schools five times, our preK students will be at this school for preK and Kindergarten. In the past, they were only here for one year and then went to another school. So this will give us an opportunity to align our instruction from preK and K and then, once they go to first grade, they go to another school, but they wont change again until 5th grade. That gives us more time to know our kids, to know our parents and to know our community. The next move wont be until middle school, grades 6 through 8, and then a ninth grade center to prepare them to high school. There will be fewer transitions, which means there will be fewer times starting over. You learn a system, you learn a leader, you learn the expectations. In addition, as we look at strengthening our curriculum and instruction, those teachers are going to have more time to work together. For example, when kindergarten is on a different campus than other grades, it's virtually impossible to coordinate with teachers on other grade levels. The boundaries are also stronger. At some point it got out of whack historically, but now we have stronger verticals (feeder patterns). So if I will graduate from MacArthur Senior High, theres going to be a pathway of preK through Kindergarten, 1 through 5, 6 through 8 that are all in that pattern. Q: The staffing plan for the reconfiguration is mostly based on student enrollment numbers at each school. Will that mean fewer counselors and others at smaller campuses? A: Of course the priority with everything going on, I strongly believe in counselors and I hope that more funding for those positions comes out of the governors office at some point. Well make sure our kids have access to counselors, were not in danger with that piece. When you think about the different things that were done last year with the deficit budget, leaders were able to realign and look across the district ways to decrease personnel. If theres an adjustment in enrollment at a certain campus, there will also be an adjustment in staff because our budget cant afford it. It's a luxury we can't afford, to have low enrollment and continue to have a high number of staff members. Q: Could parents potentially see more changes in the weeks and months after the first day of school due to enrollment numbers? A: I hope not, its definitely not a goal. What Im accustomed to in the past is everyone is looking and gauging and making sure the numbers are right. It wouldnt be a school shuffle for students, it would likely be more of an internal shuffle. If we notice enrollment is down in second grade, for example, and there are only 10 kids in a class, we may go 20 kids to a class and move that teacher to another school. So it wouldnt necessarily impact parents, it would just impact the teachers who already have a contract. It would be moving staff to where the need is if the need is not at that particular school. Q: What would you say to parents who are concerned with how these changes will affect their kids? A: I totally understand. I have a 14-year-old who made cheerleader as a freshman in her previous school, now shes moving to a whole new school and lost her cheerleading spot because we missed tryouts. What I told her was in life there are going to be those changes, and how you adapt to those changes is a good social skill and good soft skill to have. To be able to get new friends and go out and meet new people, those are skills that will serve them well. What I have been assured of by colleagues and others who have gone through changes with their own personal children is that kids adjust really well. Its the parents, the big people, who sometimes dont. I understand parents who have fears for their children, but Ill say to them whats been said to me: kids, they adjust quicker and easier than adults. And I would assure them that on their campuses, they have principals and teachers who are prepared to love their children and educate their children. For more information on the changes coming to Aldine ISD this fall, click here. Marvin T. Taylor, whose relentless efforts to revamp Hermann Park in the 1980s and 90s earned him the praise of the community, died Monday. He was 93. His dedication to beautifying and maintaining the jewel of Houstons parks system earned him the nickname the Mayor of Hermann Park. Taylor became known for his routine of arriving at the park before dawn to pick up litter, as well as his friendly demeanor and ability to persuade others to pitch in. He knew if people would see him out there, one good leader makes another, said Ruth Taylor, his wife of 68 years. He was very inspiring to a lot of people in the community, young and old. Taylor, an avid runner well into his 70s, formed the nonprofit Runners, Joggers and Walkers of Hermann Park, which later merged into what would become the Hermann Park Conservancy. He was a founding member of the conservancy board, on which he served for 27 years. Doreen Stoller, president of the Hermann Park Conservancy, recounted how Taylor used a machete to bushwack the overgrown trails in the 1980s. He soon convinced others to help maintain the trails. RELATED: Hermann Park, the gem that needed polishing When asked why they wanted to get involved in the conservancy, the answer was often, because Marvin told me to, Stoller said. When Marvin organized one of his trail cleanup projects, he quietly but firmly let every board member know that they, too, were expected to get out there with a rake. For decades, Taylor helped organize races in the park. From his regular perch along the trail, Stoller said he was unafraid to give passing runners advice on how to improve their posture and stride. Due in large part to Taylors perseverance, the runners group was able to get the 2-mile path lighted and paved with crushed granite in the early 90s. In 1994, the city of Houston named the trail in Taylors honor. It's like a dream come true, Taylor told the Chronicle at the time. "Fighting for this trail has been like fighting the Vietnam War." MORE: Houston man sentenced for plot to bomb Hermann Park statue Taylor was born on March 22, 1925 in the East Texas town of Hallsville. He joined the Navy and served in World War II and the Korean War. He met his wife, Ruth, while both attended Prairie View A&M University. After being discharged from the military, Taylor worked as a postal worker until 1987, when he retired and turned much of his attention to Hermann Park. Taylor is survived by his wife and two sons, Lyle Taylor and Glenn Arthur Taylor. His oldest son, Marine Corps veteran Marvin Taylor Jr., died of cancer. Houston leaders, conservancy members and park regulars bid farewell to Taylor at a funeral mass at St. Mary of the Purification Catholic Church in the Third Ward on Saturday. Taylor was buried at Houston National Cemetery. Zach Despart covers Harris County for the Chronicle. You can follow him on Twitter or email him at zach.despart@chron.com. Former Army Spc. Yea Ji Sea, whose abrupt discharge two weeks ago at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston after 4 years of service left her vulnerable to deportation, learned Friday that shell become a U.S. citizen. Under pressure from a judge to speed a decision on a 2-year-old citizenship application, the Justice Department informed her attorneys that it had been approved and that her swearing-in ceremony will take place Friday in downtown Los Angeles. Right now, Im kind of numb, Sea told the San Antonio Express-News. Ive been fighting this for like a hot minute. I still cant believe this is happening. Sea, 29, came to the U.S. from South Korea with her parents when she was 9 and in 2013 joined the Army under a program that promised immigrants the chance at a fast track to citizenship. The Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest program dubbed MAVNI began in 2009 and allowed recruitment of noncitizens with skills critical to the needs of the military, including physicians, nurses and experts in certain foreign languages. Security concerns prompted its suspension during the Obama administration. President Donald Trump shut it down last year. The Army has said a review found that some MAVNI soldiers may have engaged in criminal activity that included making or possessing fraudulent student visas prior to being recruited and posed a significant counterintelligence security threat. But a RAND Corp. study could not estimate a security risk posed by troops in the program, finding no publicly available reports of MAVNI recruits engaging in terror-, sabotage- or espionage-related activities. The program, which brought in more than 10,000 recruits, most of them in the Army, was a good fit for Sea, who is fluent in Korean and English and who qualified as a health care specialist and became a combat medic. But even though she had re-enlisted six months earlier after serving four years, Sea was discharged Aug. 3. She had served in South Korea as an ambulance aid driver and was the only pharmacy technician for the Camp Casey Combined Troop Station, which served more than 1,800 soldiers. In her off hours, she had translated for doctors and helped care for injured soldiers. Seas dreams of staying in the Army while earning a bachelors degree and, ultimately, entering medical school were dashed by her discharge. I had a vision of what I wanted to be in the military, Sea said in an interview hours after she learned of the discharge. I wanted to be a doctor in the Army to help soldiers, to help victims of war. Her problems started with a citizenship application interview in 2014 during which she incorrectly stated that a date on a false form drawn up for her by a corrupt immigration agent was accurate. The government rejected her application, but she was allowed to apply again July 26, 2016, after demonstrating good moral character for at least a year. The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit on her behalf after two years went by without government action. Sea feared arrest by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents as she left Fort Sam on the morning of her discharge, but she returned to her home in the Los Angeles area without incident. A Pentagon spokeswoman, Maj. Carla Gleason, said 2 out of 3 MAVNI candidates have passed lengthy security reviews in the application process but that over the life of the program, thousands who served in the active-duty military or as Army Reserve recruits awaiting their chance to go to basic training did not. Lawyers for some of them said the pace of discharges has increased in recent weeks. In San Antonio, another MAVNI soldier, Pfc. Alina Kaliuzhna, is at risk of being discharged and being forced to return to her native Ukraine. An Army Reserve recruit in Houston, Hembashima Sambe, joined a handful of others who signed up under MAVNI to file a class-action lawsuit in Washington, D.C., claiming that their discharges were in blatant violation of federal law. Sambe was discharged by the Army Recruiting Command, but the orders were never processed, meaning he remains in the reserve. The recruiting command revoked his discharge orders Aug. 8. Nobody knew about this until they filed this in court Monday, said Margaret Stock, his attorney, based in Anchorage, Alaska. The Pentagon has said no one in MAVNI or other military immigration programs has been deported. The Army recently decided to temporarily suspend discharge proceedings taken against MAVNI immigrants who had joined under the Delayed Entry and Delayed Training programs, but that action did not apply to Sea or Kaliuzhna. Sea and her ACLU attorneys went to court Tuesday in Los Angeles, demanding that the government act on the citizenship application she had filed more than two years ago. U.S. District Judge Michael Fitzgerald ordered the government to explain why it could not rule on Seas citizenship within three weeks. The Justice Department sent an email Friday afternoon to Seas lawyers informing them that her naturalization application had been approved, ACLU spokesman David Colker said. Her ACLU attorney, Sameer Ahmed, celebrated the sudden turn of events, saying that while it shouldnt have taken a lawsuit for Sea to get her U.S. citizenship, we are glad the government has made good on its promise under its enlistment program. Stock, who represented Sea during her second citizenship application process, said she was with her in Los Angeles this week for a government interview, adding, It went very well. The officer was very professional, understood the situation entirely. Sea aced her citizenship test. If (the Army) had not acted so quickly to try to kick her out, theyd have another U.S. citizen in the ranks right now trained and ready to serve, said Stock, who has written a book, Immigration Law And the Military, and helped implement the MAVNI program as a project officer to the armed forces from 2007 to 2010. Luckily, when she gets her citizenship shell have the right to go back in, but it made absolutely no sense for the Army to spend so much time discharging her when this outcome was probably predictable, Stock added. Sea said she was honored to serve in the Army and had felt I was like an American since I was a child, growing up here. She plans to enter graduate school in January, studying biotechnology and stem cell technology, and take her medical school entrance exam the next summer. If she had it her way, Sea added, shed rejoin the Army and return to Fort Sam. I would actually like to go back and then finish there in a good way, not like the way that it happened, Sea said. It was just bad for everybody. sigc@express-news.net Imagine being a teacher and told not to bother trying to help a child who is having difficulty learning. That was happening routinely in Texas public schools before the legislature was shamed into eliminating an 8.5 percent cap the state had placed on special education enrollment. The federal Department of Education in January told the Texas Education Agency that the target it first imposed in 2004 violated federal laws requiring schools to serve all students. The cap wasnt just illegal, it was morally reprehensible and shortsighted. The cap limited the aspirations of students with learning disabilities who didnt get the help they needed, and shortchanged the states future by inadequately educating thousands of its children. The caps impact was reported last year in the Chronicles investigative series Denied, which pointed out that Houston had imposed an even more draconian 8 percent target for special education enrollment. It became a nightmare, said Attucks Middle School teacher Thomas Iocca. Its a nightmare that wont end any time soon for students who lost precious years of federally mandated assistance and interventions that could have helped them learn. Meanwhile, lawmakers are left with a fiscal headache as they try to find an additional $3.2 billion to spend on special education over the next three years to serve students previously denied assistance. Removing the cap is expected to add 189,000 special education students to public school rolls statewide. Maybe the state should tap the nearly $11 billion Rainy Day Fund its been sitting on. Other issues need more cash too, including unpaid bills from Hurricane Harvey, Medicaid and an underfunded employee pension fund. But special education must be a top priority. Legislators should be mindful of criticism by local school districts that the states overall special education allocation is inadequate. Guy Sconzo, executive director of the Coalition for Fast-Growth School Districts, said more money is needed to hire special ed teachers, speech pathologists, occupational therapists and physical therapists. The Chronicle investigation showed Houston schools reduced their special ed population by deliberately delaying and discouraging student evaluations. It also eliminated hundreds of special education teaching positions and created a list of exclusionary factors to disqualify students from receiving services. Some HISD teachers said the districts cap was part of an effort to stop the overidentification of African American students as needing special education. If that is so, the effort contradicted recent research that suggests minority students are less likely to be identified for special education services than white students. The fact that a given black student is less likely to be placed in special education than an otherwise identical white student is deeply troubling, said Georgetown University professor Nora Gordon. We do not want to live in a society where parents describe access to dyslexia (or other) services as a rich mans game. No, we dont. Yet, the speed at which HISD in just four years reduced its special ed population from about 10 percent of its 210,000 students to about 8 percent suggests it didnt show proper concern for students with learning disabilities who were falling through the cracks. Neither did the state seem overly concerned about those students when it imposed its special ed cap. Removing the enrollment cap was only part of the solution. Schoolchildren must be properly evaluated to make sure those who should be in special education are given a seat, and that those who can learn in a regular classroom arent being improperly classified. In either case, adequate funding to ensure each students public education must be provided. The old saying about paying now or paying later comes to mind. Texas fate rests with its children. There should be no hesitation to invest more in their education. It will pay off big in the end. Imperial Valley News Center Omarosa, President Trump and Billy Graham Washington, DC - Perfect people will never work in government. People make promises and look good in television advertisements but people are people and that always means human error. A good person can easily say the wrong thing at the right time. Often people say things they meant at the time or didn't really mean at the time. People slip up. An old preacher used to say that what is in the well will come up in the bucket. This is a true statement. However, if you stir up the well you will create a miry mix that will go away if you let it settle back down. Who is one person that never thought a bad thought or said something they later regretted? I know what you are thinking we all have that one person in mind who seemed flawless and possibly that person may have been close to perfect but they were not. According to the Bible Jesus was the only person who lived a life without sin. The same book says all have sinned but it did not mean Jesus had sinned. Yet, Jesus said and did things in his day that got him in a lot of trouble with even the very religious devout. The religious group was very much in favor of crucifying him because they did not approve of most of what he said and did. So, there you have it. If Jesus couldn't make everybody happy then who can make everybody happen and the answer is no one. Lot's of people do not like President Trump. Lot of people did not and do not like other past Presidents. This is life and how it goes. You can't please everybody and most of the time you can't even please the majority. Omarosa Manigault was wrong in spending most or all of her time recording The President and others. Apparently she has a lot of recordings according to her. Sneaking around with a recorder in the White House is bad business. This is one of the places where top-secret stuff is supposed to be happening. And now she is selling a book? The publisher and Manigault should be arrested and tried for espionage. What spies would be allowed to run around in Russia, record Putin and then sell it worldwide? They would be executed. What about North Korea? You would never hear from the person again. We believe in free speech. However, it should be a serious crime to record conversations in The White House. If the President or anyone is recording let it be known, "You are being recorded," up front. If Omarosa had declared she was recording everything I bet she would have been fired much earlier. States have different laws about recording conversations and videotaping. In some states it's okay if one person knows and in some states it's not okay. However, regardless, in most cases if you secretly record someone on private property or a private setting you are most likely to get into serious trouble. I realize we have the Nixon tapes. We heard things on the Nixon tapes from a February 1, 1972 conversation between Nixon and Billy Graham about the Jewish people that were appalling. Graham was horrified by his comments when the tapes finally became public in 2002 and he asked for forgiveness. Most of us thought Billy Graham was perfect but he slipped up at least that one time. Most everybody slips up one time. A recorder whether audio or video might catch a slip but remember everything can be edited and spun however the producer of the recording wants to spin the story. Imperial Valley News Center Socialism scourge strikes fear in the hearts of mainstream Democrats Washington, DC - Americans who identify themselves as Democrats are embracing Socialism at an alarming rate, according to a new survey. And, mainstream Democrats are concerned. They fear the scourge of socialism may stymie their efforts to win at least some measure of control in Congress come November. Gallup just released the results of the poll showing that Democrats have a more positive image of socialism than they do of capitalism. Fifty-seven percent say they view socialism in a more positive light than they view capitalism while just 47% say they favor capitalism. The popularity of socialism in the U.S. has never been greater than it is today. Look at what happened in the Bronx. Upstart, 28-year-old socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez beat veteran, 10-term Congressman Joe Crowley [D-NY] in the New York Democratic primary. Since then closet socialists in the Democratic Party have been outing themselves all across the country, much to the delight of the Democratic Socialists of America, a three-and-a-half decades old organization that has lived in relative obscurity till now, says Dan Weber, president of the conservative Association of Mature American Citizens. The DSA is a club, not a party, but since the upset victory of Ocasio-Cortez on June 26th it is being called the most visible and organized force in politics for an ideology. However, as Weber points out, the majority of far-left candidates in Democratic primaries across the country lost to their mainstream contenders. And, that is what concerns the party. The vast majority of voters in the country are unlikely to embrace a philosophy that blatantly wants to upend our American way of life. But, the sudden focus on socialism has been disquieting and is particularly alarming for traditional Democrats who are seeking to overturn the Republican Congress in November. The socialist movement is not likely to help them because it is anathema to voters and could have the effect of minimizing Democratic turnout while rallying the Republican base in the midterm elections. As discredited former Director of the FBI, James Comey, who was a registered Republican until two years ago, put it in a social media post on July 22: Democrats, please, please dont lose your minds and rush to the socialist left. Ocasio-Cortez may have stolen the limelight of socialism, but there are plenty of far left candidates running for office this year probably more than ever before. And, they are making their own headlines. Three, progressive 30-something women in Pennsylvania, for example, upset candidates with plenty of funding and lots of Democratic clout. Two of the upstarts won in state house primaries against veteran mainstream Democrats. The other, also a first time candidate, beat a state Senate aide, also a first timer, but who had party backing as well as lots of campaign funding. Meanwhile, in Texas of all places as many as 20 self-proclaimed socialists are on ballots throughout the state this year. And none of them seem to be bashful about identifying themselves as a socialist. One of those Texans, Ali Khorasani, who is running for Congress, proudly proclaims his progressive inclinations on his Web site. He also posted an online message that reads: As a member of both the DSA and the Communist Party of Houston, I am deeply aligned with socialist values and anti-capitalism. So, where is this leftist activity coming from? One of their own, socialist New York Times OpEd columnist Michelle Goldberg, reveals, in a New York Times opinion article that its the work of The Millennial Socialists. And, if you havent figured it out, many of those millennials were indoctrinated in school, says Weber who cites a survey conducted by the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation. The organization was created by a unanimous Act of Congress in 1993. It conducts periodic surveys of attitudes toward socialism and communism and its most recent poll found: Millennials would prefer to live in a socialist country (44%) than in a capitalist one (42%). Seven percent of those polled said theyd actually prefer to live in a communist country. In reporting on its survey, the Foundation pointed out that there are more millennials than baby boomers in the U.S. and that they make up what is officially the largest generation in America. To a large extent, they received their education in middle school, high school and college from teachers and professors that were liberal, at best, Weber points out. They helped shape the lives of their students, as they grew old enough to vote. Jake Zhu was the National News Editor of the Cornell Review in 2015 and wrote an article for the publication with the headline: I Am a Survivor of My Public Schools Liberal Brainwashing. As he put it, the greatest threat to my intellectual cultivation throughout my years of attending Boston Public Schools is the prevalence of blatant left-wing indoctrination entrenched in the academic content. Hilmar Cheese Company Unveils Largest Dairy Mural in the U.S. Hilmar, California - Hilmar Helping Hands received thousands of food items as part of a Scoop it Forward event to celebrate the official unveiling of the largest hand-painted dairy mural in the United States at the Hilmar Cheese Company Visitor Center. Hilmar Cheese Company owners, employees, local officials and the community brought non-perishable food items to donate in exchange for a scoop of delicious ice cream made with Real California Milk as part of the mural celebration, which honors the partnership between the dairy industry and the local community. Dairy farm families are the backbone of many of our local communities, said Jenny Lester Moffitt, California Department of Food and Ag Undersecretary. But their impact goes well beyond that. They benefit the entire stateeconomically and by providing wholesome, affordable dairy foods. The mural is part of a national effort to celebrate the contribution of dairy farms and farm families to local communities. The Hilmar Cheese Company Visitor Center was selected by the Innovation Center for U.S. Dairy as one of seven locations across the nation to feature a custom mural as part of the Undeniably Dairy campaign. Undeniably Dairy is an industry-wide, national campaign that aims to increase consumer trust in the practices, principles, and people behind the dairy foods people know and love. Standing 32 feet tall by 60 feet wide, the mural is a creation of muralist Ed Trask of Richmond, Va. The mural creation used 22 gallons of paint and 273 different colors. It depicts the Hilmar Cheese Companys founding principles of farmers, family, community and faithand its passion for Jersey cows. It also depicts a child's journey from experiencing the visitor center as a youth and showing cows to discovering her devotion to dairy and pursuing a career in dairy innovation and research. This mural represents our values and foundation, said Jim Ahlem, chairman of the Hilmar Cheese Company Board of Directors. We are grateful to our local communities, our employees, the wholesome dairy foods we produce, the next generation of agricultural leaders developed through 4-H and FFA, and of course, the dairy farm families who ship their milk to us and the Jersey cows that produce it. We appreciate that we were selected as one of the mural locations, added David Ahlem, CEO and President of Hilmar Cheese Company. We have thousands of families and school children visit each year. Its important that people understand where their food comes from, and we hope this mural will bring a new connection to dairy. Governor Brown Grants Executive Clemency Sacramento, California - Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. yesterday announced that he has granted 36 pardons and 31 commutations. Individuals who have been convicted of a crime in California may apply to the Governor for a pardon. Those granted pardons all completed their sentences years ago and the majority were convicted of drug-related or other nonviolent crimes. Pardons are not granted unless they are earned. A gubernatorial pardon may be granted to individuals who have demonstrated exemplary behavior and have lived productive and law-abiding lives following their conviction. The process includes eligible individuals obtaining a Certificate of Rehabilitation, which is an order from a superior court declaring that a person convicted of a crime is now rehabilitated. This requirement was waived for one individual facing the possibility of deportation. When a pardon is granted, the California Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are notified so that they may update their records on the applicant. The pardon is filed with the Secretary of State and the Legislature, and it is a public record. The Governor also granted 31 commutations to current inmates. Individuals currently serving a sentence for a conviction by the California courts can petition to have their sentence reduced by applying for a commutation. In the majority of these commutations, the individuals have been granted the opportunity to make their case before the Board of Parole Hearings, which will determine whether they are ready to be paroled. Los Angeles-area man pleads guilty in scheme to violate US sanctions against Syria Santa Ana, California - A Walnut man pleaded guilty Tuesday to a charge of conspiring to export U.S.-origin tactical gear to Syria, in violation of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act and Syria Sanctions. Rasheed Al Jijakli, 57, a Syrian-born naturalized U.S. citizen, pleaded guilty Monday before U.S. District Judge James V. Selna. This case is the result of an investigation conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the FBI, the U.S. Department of Commerces Office of Export Enforcement, and IRS Criminal Investigation. In a plea agreement filed in this case, Jijakli admitted that, from April 2012 through March 2013, he conspired with other individuals to export tactical gear, including U.S.-origin laser boresighters, day- and night-vision rifle scopes, and other items from the United States to Syria. Jijakli and one of the co-conspirators purchased the tactical gear, and on July 17, 2012, he traveled with the tactical gear from Los Angeles to Istanbul, Turkey with the intent that it would be provided to Syrian rebels training in Turkey and fighting in Syria. Jijakli provided some of the equipment, specifically the laser boresighters, to a second co-conspirator, who Jijakli learned was a member of Ahrar Al-Sham. He also provided the goods to other armed Syrian insurgent groups in Syria and Turkey. In total, Jijakli and his co-conspirators provided at least 43 laser boresighters, 85 day rifle scopes, 30 night-vision rifle scopes, tactical flashlights, a digital monocular, five radios, and a bulletproof vest to Ahrar Al-Sham and other Syrian rebels in Syria, or with knowledge that the tactical gear was going to Syria. Further, in August and September 2012, Jijakli directed co-conspirators to withdraw thousands of dollars from Palmyra Corporation, a check-cashing services company where he was the chief executive officer, to pay for tactical gear for Syrian rebels. Judge Selna is scheduled to sentence Jijakli on December 4, at which time he will face a maximum statutory sentence of 20 years in federal prison. This matter is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Mark Takla of the Terrorism and Export Crimes Section and DOJ Trial Attorney Christian Ford of the National Security Divisions Counterintelligence and Export Control Section. President Donald J. Trump Announces Seventeenth Wave of United States Attorney Nominees and Twelfth Wave of United States Marshal Nominees Washington, DC - Thursday President Donald J. Trump announced his intent to nominate a seventeenth wave of United States Attorney nominees and twelfth wave of United States Marshal nominees as follows: If confirmed, David L. Anderson of California will serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of California. Mr. Anderson is currently a partner at the law firm of Sidley Austin LLP. He previously served as First Assistant United States Attorney in the Northern District of California from 2008 to 2010 and as an Assistant United States Attorney from 1998 to 2002. Mr. Anderson clerked for the Honorable Anthony M. Kennedy of the United States Supreme Court; for the Honorable J. Clifford Wallace of the United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit; and the Honorable George H. Aldrich of the Iran-United States Claims Tribunal in The Hague, Netherlands. He received his B.S., with distinction, from San Jose State University, and his J.D., with distinction, from Stanford Law School. If confirmed, Lawrence Keefe of Florida will serve as the United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida. Mr. Keefe has been a trial lawyer for nearly 32 years, during which he has tried criminal and civil cases in federal and state courts. He has led and managed a litigation-based law firm with offices throughout northwest Florida. He is currently a partner at the law firm Keefe Anchors & Gordon. Mr. Keefe has served on the board of trustees of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, on the editorial board of the Florida Bar Journal, on the executive council of the trial lawyers section of the Florida Bar and as Special Counsel to the Florida Senate Select Committee on Property Insurance Accountability. He is the chairperson of the Military Academy Selection Board for the First Congressional District of Florida and a past president of Catholic Charities of Northwest Florida. Mr. Keefe graduated with honors from the University of Florida in 1983 and received his J.D. from the University of Florida Levin College of Law in 1986. If confirmed, John C. Milhiser of Illinois will serve as the United States Attorney for the Central District of Illinois. Mr. Milhiser is currently the Sangamon County States Attorney, a position he has held since 2010. He started his legal career in the Sangamon County States Attorneys office in 1997 and spent time in the juvenile, civil, and felony divisions before entering private practice in 2003. Mr. Milhiser returned to the States Attorneys Office in 2008 as the First Assistant States Attorney. As the elected States Attorney, Mr. Milhiser continues to try serious felony cases, including first degree murder, armed violence, attempt murder of a police officer, and sexual assault cases. Mr. Milhiser is active in the community and is the current president of the Illinois States Attorneys Association. He received his undergraduate degree from James Madison University and his J.D. from the University of Illinois College of Law. If confirmed, Drew H. Wrigley of North Dakota will serve as the United States Attorney for the District of North Dakota. Mr. Wrigley is currently the management advisor for Sanford Health, a regional healthcare, insurance and research enterprise. He previously served as Lieutenant Governor of North Dakota from 2010 to 2016 and as the United States Attorney for North Dakota from 2001 to 2009. During his previous tenure as a United States Attorney, he served on the Attorney Generals Advisory Committee by appointment of three successive Attorneys General. Earlier in his career, Mr. Wrigley also served for five years as an Assistant District Attorney in the Philadelphia District Attorneys office, including assignments to the sexual assault and major crimes units. Mr. Wrigley has personally prosecuted hundreds of felony cases, including violent crime, financial crime, property crime, narcotics trafficking, internet crimes against children, and was lead trial and appellate counsel on North Dakotas only federal death penalty case. Following law school, Mr. Wrigley clerked for the Honorable William Swain Lee and T. Henley Graves of Delaware. He received his B.A., cum laude, from the University of North Dakota and his J.D. from the American University, Washington College of Law. If confirmed, Wing Chau of Rhode Island will serve as the United States Marshal for the District of Rhode Island. Mr. Chau is currently a special agent and criminal investigator with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) in Providence, Rhode Island. Mr. Chau began his law enforcement career in 1989 as a patrolman with the Rhode Island Capitol Police. He served with the capitol police until 1994, when he joined the United States Border Patrol as a patrol agent. Mr. Chau then became a special agent with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Over the course of his 24-year career with ATF, he has served in San Diego, Washington, D.C., and in Providence, Rhode Island. Mr. Chau holds an A.S. in computer science from the Community College of Rhode Island and a B.S. in computer information systems from Rhode Island College. If confirmed, Ramona L. Dohman of Minnesota will serve as the United States Marshal for the District of Minnesota. Ms. Dohman is the current commissioner of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, a position she has held since 2011. She began her law enforcement career as a patrol officer with the Glencoe Police Department from 1982 to 1983, then the Marshall Police Department from 1983 to 1984. In 1984, Ms. Dohman joined the Maple Grove Police Department, where she served for the next 27 years. She rose up through the ranks of the department, eventually becoming chief of police in 2001. She served in this capacity until 2011, when she was appointed commissioner of public safety for the State of Minnesota. Ms. Dohman holds an A.A. in law enforcement from Alexandria Technical College, a B.A. in criminal justice administration from Metropolitan State University, and an M.A. in police leadership from the University of St. Thomas. If confirmed, Eric S. Gartner of Pennsylvania will serve as the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Gartner is a retired United States Air Force Colonel and served for over 24 years as a special agent in the United States Air Force Office of Special Investigations (OSI). Mr. Gartner has held a variety of operational command and staff tours with OSI, including combatant command tours at United States Pacific Command, and he deployed with United States Central Command. Mr. Gartner retired from active duty at the Defense Intelligence Agency in Washington, DC, in 2013. Since 2014, Mr. Gartner has worked as a law enforcement, counterintelligence, and governance subject matter expert with Noblis. Mr. Gartner also serves on the board of The Veterans Group, a non-profit helping homeless veterans in Philadelphia. Mr. Gartner is a graduate of the Department of Defense Executive Leadership Development Program. He holds a B.A. in biology from Earlham College, an M.A. in international relations from the University of Delaware, an M.A. in military operational arts and science from the Air Command and Staff College, and an M.S. in national security strategy as a distinguished graduate from the National War College. Small Businesses Starting, Expanding Amid Trump Tax Cuts Washington, DC - Chris Smolenak is tapping into the do-it-yourself trend and creating a small business herself. Shes opened a storefront in Holland, Pennsylvania, where customers stain and stencil their own handcrafted wooden signs and other decorative items. After 25 years working for a large corporation, she wanted more flexibility in her schedule and time for her children, but still needed enough income to support her family. The security of the paycheck and benefits was very important to us, she said. Im feeling that I can create that feeling of security on my own based on what Im seeing in the economy. Under President Trump, the booming economy is giving entrepreneurs like Smolenak the confidence they need to start or expand small businesses. In surveys done by the United States Chamber of Commerce, NFIB, and the National Association of Manufacturers, members report record or near-record levels of optimism. Having been laid off during the recession in 2008, Smolenak wasnt willing to take a risk until she was sure the market could sustain it. The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act President Trump signed into law in December helped motivate her to start her business. Many small businesses will now be able to deduct 20 percent off their business income in addition to having their taxable income taxed at lower rates. And for the first five years, theyll be able to write off investments in new equipment the year the investment is made. As I meet with small business owners all over the country as head of the U.S. Small Business Administration, I constantly hear about the real investments theyve been making in their companies and their employees since the tax cuts took effect raising wages, providing bonuses and benefits, and creating more jobs. The owner of a landscaping company in Florida told me hes using his tax savings to buy a new truck and forklift to expand his services and get more customers hes already hired another employee to help with the bigger workload. The owners of a rock climbing gym in North Carolina told me their tax savings are accelerating plans to add another location. I am confident I will hear more on Thursday in Philadelphia, where Im hosting a roundtable with local entrepreneurs. Americas 30 million small businesses are the engines of our economy, one thats been turbocharged under President Trump. The jobs report released last Friday showed the unemployment rate at a healthy 3.9 percent, with more Americans entering the job market to fill the jobs employers are now creating. The number of job openings is at a record high, and for the first time on record, there are more job openings than unemployed people looking for work. The unemployment rate for Hispanics is now at the lowest level ever recorded, the unemployment rate for African Americans has set record lows, and the unemployment rate for women was recently at the lowest level since 1953. A Gallup poll found two-thirds of Americans believe now is a good time to find a quality job. Under President Trumps leadership, more people are working the employment-population ratio, an important measure of the share of Americans who are working, increased to 60.5 percent in July the highest its been since January 2009. Workers pay is improving, too. Average weekly earnings rose 3 percent over the past year. As a result of the tax cuts, at least 6 million workers have seen bigger paychecks and more benefits. With more money in their pockets, Americans are spending again and thats good news for small businesses like Smolenaks. As her customers DIY their projects, shes focused on one of her own crafting a business thats helping build the economy. This op-ed appeared in The Inquirer on August 14, 2018. Secretary of State Pompeo's Call With Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi Washington, DC - Secretary Michael R. Pompeo spoke Thursday with Jordanian Foreign Minister Ayman al-Safadi. Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister Safadi discussed regional developments. The Secretary also thanked the Foreign Minister for Jordans continued role in helping to alleviate humanitarian suffering in southern Syria. The Secretary and Foreign Minister also discussed efforts to bring peace and stability to Syria and the broader Middle East. Aryan Khan Released | What Are The Bail Conditions For SRK's Son In The Drugs On Cruise Case Absurdly Driven looks at the world of business with a skeptical eye and a firmly rooted tongue in cheek. I don't really listen to most Flight Attendant announcements. Yes, I'm interested in whether the plane will be three hours late, diverting via Albuquerque or the pilot's name is Forrest Gump. No, I simply don't hear the stuff about food or those painfully exciting credit card offers. Recently, United Airlines made it compulsory for its Flight Attendants to peddle fancy credit cards that can cost up to $450. Other airlines have been doing it for some time. American, for example. Yet I hear barely muffled noises from the cognoscenti that Flight Attendants may not be as conscientious in relaying the details of these cards. A thread from View From the Wing's Twitter feed offers a tinge of the suspicions some flyers experience about what they're being told. Or, rather, sold. Flight attendant promised everyone who signed up for the credit card 'group 1 boarding' my seat opponent applied. 60k is still a good offer tho.. -- gary leff (@garyleff) August 13, 2018 Flight Attendants are incentivized -- usually it's $100 -- to sell these things. Ergo, some accuse, they make the benefits sound a touch more enticing than they are. Some might promise that the free miles that come with the card will take you further than they will. Or, perhaps, only if you make five stops and take three days to get to your exotic destination. Some might hint at boarding benefits that aren't, well, entirely accurate. I asked American whether the airline has received many complaints from passengers about the sales tactics an occasional Flight Attendant might employ. The airline demurred. I asked, however, about the specific subject -- that seems to have made Leff chuckle -- of a Group 1 boarding promise. Is it really the case that anyone who gets a fancy credit card will board with "First, Active duty U.S. military with military I.D. (Business on a 2-class international plane)"? An American Airlines spokesman told me: Today's Group 5, which comes with the card, is the same as Group 1 under our previous boarding system. We always try to make sure Flight Attendants use the most current information in describing the cards. In fact, therefore, if you get the card you'll board with "Main Cabin Extra (excluding Basic Economy), eligible AAdvantage credit cardmembers, eligible corporate travelers." Which isn't quite so fancy. Should one really blame any Flight Attendants who gild the sales lily a touch? They used to be focused on customer service. Then they were turned into law enforcement officers. And now they're supposed to double-up as salespeople. You'll always find one or two unscrupulous types. Imagine, after all, how many unscrupulous types you'll find sitting in First Class. It's touching that they might occasionally get some of their own techniques tossed back at them. I recently worked with a young entrepreneur who wanted to launch a new business. She was very excited about the concept and believed she had found a specific angle that nobody else had introduced yet and could exploit what she knew as "first mover advantage." I was excited for her as well, but not for the same reasons. First, without squashing her hopes, I had to point out that her idea was not as unique as she believed. In fact, it was not unique at all, and a few Google searches revealed services identical to hers by other aspiring entrepreneurs. Granted, these other "businesses" were hardly large and intimidating in the way of competition, but I could see the air let out of her sails, as the saying goes, just a bit. I pointed out that she should not be discouraged. The fact that other businesses are already offering the same service means that there is proof of concept and at least some market demand. I shifted our conversation from being a "first mover" to being a "successful copier," which I admit does not sound nearly as glamorous as the prior. In truth, I told her, countless companies have found success being a successful copier (otherwise known as "second mover advantage"). In fact, according to a 2014 article in KelloggInsight, first movers "were more successful than late movers in just 15 of 50 product categories." More important, I pointed out that being a "first mover" with any business can often be a significant challenge to young and inexperienced entrepreneurs. Consider: First movers must deal with far more unknowns, given the idea is untested in the market. First movers have far less data to leverage for decisions making. First movers have fewer opportunities for collaborating with other professionals who might add value to the idea. First movers will have a more difficult time assembling a team that can execute, because more than likely there are few people available with the experience needed. First movers will often find it difficult to lead, as the business inevitably will hit bumps and meet hurdles that will require consistent adaptation and even deciding to pivot entirely. Fred Wilson, co-founder of Union Square Ventures, a New York City-based venture capital firm well known for its early-stage investments in some of the most progressive (and "first mover") technology companies, believes "life gets harder, not easier, when you have established yourself as the market leader." According to Wilson, in addition to sailing into the unknown, you also need to make significant investments in your products and team to stay relevant, which includes properly managing your balance sheet. Failing to do so could mean that you end up as one of those other memorable first movers that failed. See, I can't think of any either. In the end, first mover advantage is a great strategy to pursue, as long as you and your team are prepared to dive into the unknown and make the necessary investments in time and resources to make it successful. Otherwise, it is a great strategy -- and can even be a competitive advantage -- to accept that you are not first and simply allow yourself to be a better second, or third, or so on. Muslims in Buddhist-majority Myanmar usually keep a low profile for fear of intimidation, but Win Lae Phyu Sin, one of the communitys rare beauty bloggers, has gone the other way. The 19-year-old was the centre of attraction at a recent launch of beauty products in Yangon, her striking multicoloured makeup offset by a long sleeved, green and white gown and matching hijab. I dont regret my decision to wear the hijab, the blogger says. Our God opens many ways for me. Hijab is like a key for me. I can use it to go where I want to go, and do what I want. Wie Lae Phyu Sin buys makeup in Yangon, Myanmar (Reuters) Muslims, who make up about 5 per cent of the nation of around 50 million, say they have not been able to open new mosques in decades and struggle to rent apartments from Buddhist landlords. Systematic persecution of Muslims is growing in Myanmar, rights groups say, though world attention has focused on its stateless Rohingya Muslims, with the United Nations and aid groups saying more than 700,000 were driven into neighbouring Bangladesh after an army crackdown last year. But many Muslims of all ethnicities had been refused national identity documents, and denied access to some places of worship, Burma Human Rights Network said in a report last year. Blogger Win Lae Phyu Sin teaches a student how to apply eye makeup (Reuters) For some of Win Laes students, her tutorials are not merely about applying eyeshadow and highlighter, but also about building confidence and pride in an identity constantly questioned by Buddhist fellow citizens. I saw her applying makeup while wearing the hijab and its amazingly beautiful, says Hay Mann Aung, 20. I wanted to be as beautiful as her. Wie Lae Phyu Sin attends a beauty product launch with other bloggers (Reuters) Win Laes effort to impart a cool, chic vibe to the image of Myanmar Muslims, deploying stylish clothes that match her hijabs, elaborate mascara, and eyeshadow layered in bold colours, has drawn admirers. She has 6,000 followers on social media site Facebook and 600 students have attended more than 150 classes on the use of cosmetics run in a makeshift studio. But her high profile has drawn criticism and even discrimination: a Buddhist woman who enrolled in her class backed out on discovering Win Lae was Muslim. Wie Lae Phyu Sin attends a beauty product launch with other bloggers (Reuters) Some Facebook commenters have attacked her for being too flamboyant and using makeup, which conservative Muslims regard as taboo, but the blogger refuses to let critics waste her time. When people attack or criticise me outside and online, I choose to ignore them, she says. I have a lot of work to do. Her growing fame, fed by dozens of online makeup tutorials and events at shopping malls, has prompted trips to Myanmars second largest city, Mandalay, and she plans to visit Kuala Lumpur, the capital of neighbouring Malaysia. Wie Lae Phyu Sin edits makeup tutorial vlogs with boyfriend Aung San Oo at his office (Reuters) Win Lae started with tutorials on makeup filmed in a bedroom shared with her sister, posting them on Facebook before offering classes. After I graduated from high school, my boyfriend gave me makeup palettes as a present, she says. I didnt know how to use them so I Googled it and learned. But acquiring professional expertise proved too expensive, so Win Lae came up with the idea of six-hour sessions, aimed at regular girls like me, that cost less than $25 (19). A year on, she brings to every lesson two bags packed with eyeliners, brushes and small mirrors for every student. At one recent session, she discussed skin types before handing out bottles of foundation and eyeshadow for students to try. Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Show all 18 1 /18 Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin takes a selfie after filming a make-up tutorial vlog in her bedroom Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin poses on her way home from teaching a class Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin walks home after teaching a class in downtown Yangon Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Blogger Win Lae Phyu Sin teaches a student how to apply eye makeup Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin leaves a friend's pre-wedding lunch in Yangon, Myanmar Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin edits make-up tutorial vlogs with boyfriend Aung San Oo at his office Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin applies make-up at home in Yangon, Myanmar Photos Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin prepares breakfast Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Mingalar Taung Nyunt township, home to a large Muslim community in Yangon, Myanmar Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin attends a beauty product launch with other bloggers in Yangon, Myanmar Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin attends a beauty product launch with other bloggers in Yangon, Myanmar Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin attends a beauty product launch with other bloggers in Yangon, Myanmar Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin talks with a videographer at a beauty product launch in Yangon, Myanmar Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin's Facebook page Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin buys make-up in Yangon, Myanmar Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin travels in a taxi with friends from her high school Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin, 19, attends a high school reunion with her former classmates in Yangon Reuters Myanmar blogger battles bias with beauty campaign Wie Lae Phyu Sin, 19, attends a high school reunion with her former classmates in Yangon Reuters Win Lae is undeterred by those who denigrate her for being a Muslim and wearing a hijab that exposes the face. Dont you know you will go to hell if you do that? Why dont you take off the hijab during shooting? she quotes some Facebook critics as asking. But she adds: I will keep on doing this, because this is my passion. A group of 16 nurses working in the intensive care unit (ICU) of Banner Desert Medical Centre in Mesa, Arizona have astounded co-workers by all becoming pregnant at the same time. The nurses only discovered how many of them were simultaneously expecting children when they all happened to join a Facebook group chat for pregnant workers at the hospital. According to nurse Ashley Atkins, the sheer volume of pregnant nurses in the same department of the hospital has left staff wondering whats in the water. Ms Atkins explained to CBS-affiliated TV station KPHO-TV how the discovery has brought the nurses closer together. This isnt an easy job to have when youre pregnant and not feeling well all the time, so its nice to share stories and have that support, and then you find out how supportive your co-workers are of you, and your management team, so its been a good experience, she said. Most of the nurses are due to give birth at some point between October and January. While some may think that the absence of the nurses after they give birth may cause complications for the ICU, the hospital is well-prepared for the eventuality. Mothers meeting their newborn babies Show all 9 1 /9 Mothers meeting their newborn babies Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Fermont Fotographie Mothers meeting their newborn babies Mothers meeting their newborn babies Weve been planning this for months, so we feel very confident that were going to have plenty of ICU nurses to take care of patients, explained Heather Francis, nursing director at the hospital. While the nurses will continue working as long as they can throughout their pregnancies, there are certain precautions that they now have to take in order to look after the health of their babies. Certain infections, and then also chemotherapy drugs, can be very toxic to the foetus, said Ms Francis. Recommended This is the best kind of exercise to do when pregnant The nurses have stated that they frequently visit the hospitals cafeteria together and that some patients at the hospital have expressed confusion over the quantity of pregnant nurses in the ICU. A nurse revealed that one patient had been quite bewildered, asking her: Are you all pregnant? while staying in the hospital. A number of people have been expressing their astonishment over the situation on social media, with one person writing: The new season of Greys Anatomy is crazy. Fifty years ago this week, on 21 August 1968, the citizens of Prague awoke to find tanks on their streets. For some it came as no surprise. Student activist Pavel Kamenicky was sleeping. At first I thought it was the university bus trying to find the right gear, he says. But I realised it was way too loud. I jumped up thinking, theyve come. Czechoslovakia had dominated news bulletins throughout the summer after its premier, First Secretary Alexander Dubcek, had begun reforming his communist governments structures earlier that year. But now, what had become known as the Prague Spring, or Dubceks socialism with a human face, was lying crushed beneath the tank tracks in Wenceslas Square. The Soviet Union feared its grip on the satellite states of eastern Europe was loosening and its patience had finally run out. Czechoslovakia and Dubcek had fallen foul of USSR leader Leonid Brezhnevs eponymous doctrine, espoused retroactively in justification the month after Warsaw Pact troops took to Pragues streets: When forces that are hostile to socialism try to turn the development of some socialist country towards capitalism, it becomes not only a problem of the country concerned, but a common problem and concern of all socialist countries, Brezhnev said Recommended 6 things to do on a city break to Prague Soviet forces, alongside those of Poland, Hungary and Bulgaria, crossed the Czechoslovakian border at 11pm on the evening of 20 August. East Germany withdrew at the last minute when it was realised that, just over two decades after the end of the Second World War, the presence of German troops on Czech and Slovak soil could lead to unintended repercussions. The following morning, the foreign soldiers were in the capital, offering fraternal support to loyal comrades in Czechoslovakia. Soviet tanks had intervened in post-war eastern Europe before. Towards the end of October in 1956, Hungarians revolted against their Marxist-Leninist government and declared a new administration, withdrawing from the Warsaw Pact and disbanding the communist-run state security apparatus. But barely two and half weeks later the western world watched aghast, but impotent, as Soviet forces entered Budapest to restore one-party rule. Yet there had been real hope that Czechoslovakia could be different. 1968 was, of course, a year of revolution and political protest across the planet. But the Czechoslovak version was in many ways a rather gentler form of dissent. Dubcek had never set out to overthrow communism, merely to reform it. The nations planned economy had been in decline throughout the 1960s. Dubcek had replaced previous first secretary, Antonin Novotny, in January 1968 and had attempted to liberalise communist party rule by tolerating political institutions and organisations not directly controlled by the party. Even multi-party government was mooted. More repressive laws were loosened, travel was made easier and freedom of expression, especially in media, accepted. Leonid Brezhnev shares a joke with US president Richard Nixon in 1973 (AP) Unwittingly though, Dubcek had created either a vicious or a virtuous circle, depending on ones political viewpoint. Reform emboldened progressives and led to demand for further liberalisation. Dissidents, especially students, but also the wider population in numerous Soviet satellite nations, began to push for similar freedoms. Conversely, communist hardliners in Czechoslovakia and other Soviet client states feared a loss of power and urged Dubcek to pause. Brezhnev and the Soviet politburo were starting to take notice. Yet in meetings with Soviet leaders Dubcek believed he had convinced them of his loyalty to the communist cause and that his domestic reforms were not challenging the hegemony. He was wrong: 2,000 tanks and a 250,000-strong Soviet-led force of men invaded on Brezhnevs orders; 137 Czechoslovak civilians were killed resisting; and, pleading with his citizens not to fight back, Dubcek was flown to Moscow. Some citizens used the power of argument to voice their opposition, engaging troops in discussion to make their point until photographs were used in Soviet propaganda to suggest the locals were making friends with the invaders. Dubcek returned as little more than a puppet of the Soviet regime and was replaced early in 1969. Half a million of his supporters were expelled from the Communist Party. Leaders of communist countries meeting in Poland in 1955 to sign the mutual defence treaty commonly known as the Warsaw Pact (AFP/Getty) (AFP/Getty Images) The members of Nato, especially the United States already involved in conflict in Vietnam and aiming to broker a disarmament agreement with the Soviet Union condemned the invasion but had no intention of intervening. In the aftermath, 300,000 Czechoslovaks, many highly qualified, emigrated to the west, although the authorities soon clamped down on their ability to leave. The period between 1969 and 1971 is known in Czechoslovak history as the era of normalisation. The country returned to the Soviet fold; opposition both within and without the country faded; and the Communist Party returned to the hardline position it had held before the onset of the Prague Spring. So, 50 years later, what does the anniversary offer todays Europeans still struggling with political upheaval and, certainly in the east of the continent, getting to grips with increasingly nationalistic, repressive governments? Apart from the sense of betrayal felt by Czechs and Slovaks, both towards their own government and their supposed allies, and the reminder that totalitarianism brooks no dissent, are there lessons to be learned from the Prague Spring; and what became of Dubcek, its architect? Unsurprisingly the legacy is complex as legacies are wont to be. Recommended Thousands of Czechs take to the streets after President attacks media Perhaps the key to understanding Czechoslovakia in 1968 is that, unlike similar uprisings against the establishment, both in communist Europe but also elsewhere around the world witness the Arab Spring of 2010 and 2011 the Prague Spring was not a movement of only liberals, students (among other young people) and political intellectuals fighting a conservative establishment. It had wider cross-generational support drawing on the strong traditions of democracy that had developed in Czechoslovakia between the two world wars, after its formation in 1918. Czech-born writer Milan Kundera, author of the Unbearable Lightness of Being, who lived in exile in France from 1975, argued that it was a movement falling back on the best traditions of Czechoslovakias brief history: a higher quality of democracy not based on the ills associated with capitalism. By contrast, the later revolutions that would finally overthrow communism in Europe at the end of the 1980s were driven as much by the victory of Reaganism, free-market economics and monetarism as they were by the right to vote freely and express opinions openly. It has become fashionable, with hindsight, to blame the suppression of the Prague Spring on communism. But let it not be forgotten that it was fervent communists who were carrying out Czechoslovakias reforms. Whether the Prague Spring was a purer revolution than those that followed is probably an argument for political ideologues alone, but a glance across the border towards Viktor Orbans Hungary shows that the spoils of the freedom won in 1989 might not always manifest themselves with good intent. Two decades after Dubceks attempt to reform communism from within, the then premier of the Soviet Union, Mikhail Gorbachev, issued an apology on behalf of all Warsaw Pact nations, stating that the invasion of Czechoslovakia was a mistake, and that the USSR should never have interfered in the internal affairs of another sovereign state. (It should be noted that both Romania and Albania had refused to participate in the 1968 intervention; and Albania ultimately withdrew from the Warsaw Pact in the aftermath.) It was the culmination of a number of apologies from Warsaw Pact nations throughout 1989 and it seems reasonable to argue that there was a direct link between these acknowledgements and the overthrow of communist governments in East Germany, Poland, Romania and, most poignantly, Czechoslovakia, that same year. Protesters realised that their actions would no longer lead to Red Army interference, and the Soviet bloc of eastern European nations had replaced their communist rulers within months of one another. Vaclav Havel, in 1989, was elected first president of Czechoslovakia as communist crumbled across Eastern Europe (Getty) (GETTY IMAGES) Perhaps 1968 showed us, if 1956 had not already, that the post-war facade of communist interdependence, internationalism and fraternal allegiance was broken, if indeed it had ever been more than a charade at all. The alliance was built on flimsy foundations and maintained by suppression. Czech historical novelist and writer Ivan Klima has said that for good or ill the most important legacy of the Prague Spring was the delayed but ultimate destruction of the international communist movement. But warnings must still be heeded. In a world where a nationalistically invigorated Russia under Vladimir Putin increasingly looks beyond its borders for a bulwark against Nato and the EU, the demise of communism and the Warsaw Pact does not mean a concurrent diminishing of militarism: the annexation of Crimea by Russia has shown us that very clearly. And even putting aside the Brexit debate illiberal governments in Slovakia, Poland and Hungary threaten to overturn the European Unions free-market liberal consensus. The threat, while changed in ideology, still lurks. And what of Dubcek? After he was ousted as first secretary he worked for the forestry service near Bratislava, in his native Slovakia. And after the final overthrow of communist rule in Czechoslovakias Velvet Revolution of 1989 he briefly returned to political prominence as chairman of the Czechoslovak Federal Assembly, and later as leader of the Slovak Social Democrats. He divides those of his compatriots who thought he was a decent man wronged and those who think he was naive. Pavel Kamenicky, now 70, says: We were idealistic. But Dubcek should have realised what was going to happen. Did he really think Brezhnev would shrug and say carry on? On the other hand, Dubceks son Pavol has defended his fathers position, once saying: I dont know if people really understand what it meant to have your fate in Brezhnevs hands. For right or wrong, however, Dubcek had in truth become more or less a political irrelevance by the time of the Velvet Revolution. Vaclav Havel, the poet and statesman who played a prominent role in the events of 1989 and became Czechoslovakias first post-Soviet era president, said: Dubcek is a symbol of our nice memories, but nobody thinks he can influence the situation now. Dubcek himself rarely spoke of 1968. Although a Slovak, Dubcek was opposed to the 1993 split between the Czech Republic and Slovakia and maintained his belief in the idea of a single, united nation. He was killed in a car crash in 1992, declared in an official investigation to be an accident. Conspiracy theories abound and even today 50 per cent of those Slovaks who know of him believe his death was almost certainly not an accident. The crushing of the Prague Spring continues to echo down the ages, its eventual legacy yet to be determined. Salih Khater has been charged with attempting to murder members of the public and police officers by driving his car through crowds in Westminster. The 29-year-old was arrested after crashing the silver Ford Fiesta into the barriers outside the Houses of Parliament on Tuesday. Police said the case is being treated as terrorism by the Crown Prosecution Service "due to the methodology, iconic location and the alleged targeting of civilians and police officers". Recommended Westminster could be pedestrianised to stop vehicle terror attacks Mr Khater, a British citizen who came to the UK as a refugee from Sudan, is charged with two counts of attempted murder under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981. Three people were injured when the car hit a group of cyclists at the junction of Parliament Square and Abingdon Street. Police officers had to leap out of the way as it crossed a central reservation before crashing into a barrier at around 7.30am. The incident happened during parliaments summer recess and before the daily rush of tourists to Westminster. Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Show all 30 1 /30 Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Forensic officers by the car that crashed into security barriers outside the Houses of Parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police arrest the man Sky News Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Forensic officers work at the scene EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Damaged bikes near the crash site Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police arrest the man who crashed a car into the barriers ITV Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police activity outside the Houses of Parliament after a car crashed into security barriers BBC/PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Bicycles lie on the ground at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensics investigator arrives at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police and emergency response teams work outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament The area is cleared near to the incident PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensics investigator works at the scene REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Armed police on Victoria Embankment PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A forensic officer attends the scene near the Houses of Parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police officers and a search team secure the roads around the Houses of Parliament as forensic teams continue their work around a vehicle Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police forensics officers outside the Houses of Parliament AFP/Getty Images Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament The car crashed into parliament barriers Vincent McAviney/NBC News/Euronews/Twitter/PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Fire fighters attend the scene Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament A police dog team works behind the cordon REUTERS Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament olice and emergency services respond EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police on Westminster Bridge PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police respond EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament EPA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Armed police stand in the street after the incident Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police officers stand at a cordon Reuters Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Police activity on Millbank PA Westminster incident: car crashes into barriers outside parliament Reuters It came 17 months after terrorist Khalid Masood drove a car at pedestrians on Westminster Bridge, killing four and injuring dozens more, before stabbing to death police constable Keith Palmer outside parliament. Britain's most senior police officer has suggested that streets around the Houses of Parliament could be pedestrianised. Metropolitan Police commissioner Cressida Dick said authorities would discuss restricting traffic in Westminster in response to vehicles becoming the "weapon of choice". Mr Khater, from Birmingham, will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Monday. British ships designated as war graves after being sunk during the Second World War have reportedly been plundered for scrap metal by pirates. The UK government is investigating claims that 10 Royal Navy warships, which serve as the resting place for more than 1,000 dead sailors, have been looted by Chinese salvagers off the coast of Malaysia and Indonesia. The remains of some of those who went down with the vessels have been dredged up by gangs of scavengers, along with pieces of their metal hulls, according to The Mail on Sunday. Recommended German WWI warships rediscovered in Portsmouth after decades HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, battleships sunk by the Japanese in 1941, are among the boats said to have been plundered. Some 835 British men lost their lives when the two ships went down. Defence secretary Gavin Williamson said: The UK government absolutely condemns the unauthorised disturbance of any wreck containing human remains, and always has done. A military wreck should remain undisturbed, and those who lost their lives on board should be allowed to rest in peace. I am therefore very concerned to hear any allegations of incidents of Royal Navy wrecks being plundered in the Far East. We will work closely with the Indonesian and Malaysian governments and local authorities to investigate these claims. Six British ships were previously thought to have been damaged by scavengers in Asian waters but that number is now believed to be higher. The Mail on Sunday said hardly a trace of HMS Exeter, a heavy cruiser sunk off the coast of Java in 1942, was left on the seabed. The plundered ship went down with 54 sailors on board. The wrecks of HMS Tien Kwang, HMS Kuala, HMS Banka and SS Loch Ranza have also recently been targeted by thieves in the region for their metal. Robert Capa's images of the Second World War Show all 4 1 /4 Robert Capa's images of the Second World War Robert Capa's images of the Second World War Post-D-Day report 'Doesn't mind the heat, somewhere in France (Saint-Sauveur- Le-Vicomte)', 16 June 1944 Robert Capa ICP/Magnum photos, courtesy Daniel Blau gallery Robert Capa's images of the Second World War Personal nature of the war 'Lovers parting near Nicosia, Sicily', 28 July 1943 Robert Capa ICP/Magnum photos, courtesy Daniel Blau gallery Robert Capa's images of the Second World War Friendly welcome 'Conquered town in Cefalu, Sicily', 26 July 1943 Robert Capa ICP/Magnum photos, courtesy Daniel Blau gallery Robert Capa's images of the Second World War Dodging sniper bullets 'American troops approaching Cherbourg, France', 26 June 1944 Robert Capa ICP/Magnum photos, courtesy Daniel Blau gallery Chinese-owned barges fitted with cranes have been used to loot the ships, according to the newspaper. The scavengers drop huge anchors on the sunken vessels to smash them before using cranes to collect the pieces from the seabed. The plundered metal is then taken to scrapyards in Indonesia and cut into smaller pieces before being shipped to China where it enters the global steel market. Other countries wrecks have also been targeted in the region. Earlier this year officials began to excavate a cemetery in Indonesia where it was believed the remains of Dutch and British sailors had been dumped by scavengers after being found in wrecks of warships that sank in the 1942 Battle of the Java Sea. The plundering of military wrecks is against the UN International Salvaging Convention, as well as being illegal in the UK, Indonesia and Malaysia. A coroner has criticised hospital midwives after a newborn baby died when his dog tired mother fell asleep as she was breastfeeding him. Louie Bradley choked to death after his mother, Ann, had been taught a feeding technique that went against national advice, an inquest heard. Bolton assistant coroner John Pollard said it was extraordinary that the new mother was left alone in bed with her baby when she was dog tired after a long labour. Ms Bradley said midwives at the Royal Bolton Hospital, Greater Manchester, told her she could feed her day-old baby by laying him down on the bed next to her because she had been struggling to breastfeed. The staff had told her to put her son on her bare skin when he was cold and to lie side by side in bed with him, she said. The first-time mother fell asleep but awoke in the early hours to find her son white and floppy in her arms, Bolton coroners court heard. Doctors could not revive the baby, who died because of a mix of factors including an accidental obstruction of the airways, the hearing was told. Mr Pollard said the technique to help mothers struggling to breastfeed went against national advice to avoid co-sleeping because mothers are likely to be very tired after giving birth and at risk of falling asleep. He has written to hospital bosses raising concerns about the advice from midwives and healthcare assistants, as well as the absence of some details from records. Ms Bradley, a teacher from Harwood, Lancashire, told the inquest she was never told not to lie in bed while feeding so took him to her bed with her when he became unsettled, fed him for a minute or two and sang to him. A pathologist found that Louie had undiagnosed bronchopneumonia and symptoms of a common cold. Jane Westhead, the midwife who taught Ms Bradley to lie on her side to feed, said bed-sharing was discouraged and bed safety awareness was discussed. She said: We make them aware of the dangers. I dont know if theres an actual policy, but thats what we do. NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday Show all 18 1 /18 NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday Nurses test the hearing of a newborn child Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday The waiting room is busy in Milton Keynes University Hospital Reuters NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 24, two nurses work at the nurses station Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In A&E, a porter rushes a patient through the corridor Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A surgical team prepares a patient for their operation Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In the physiotherapy department, patients are treated in the hydrotherapy pool Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, an inpatient awaits visitors Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In the physiotherapy department, amputees take a class Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A junior doctor is at work in the staff room Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A surgical team prepares a patient for their operation Reuters NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday An inpatient has her hair washed by the staff hairdressers Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday In the audiology department, a mother watches on as her son is given a hearing test Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, staff serve lunch to the patients Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 24, a patient waits on their bed Reuters NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, a cleaner is at work Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday A nurse takes blood from a patient Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday On Ward 8, an inpatient receives a visitor Reuters/Hannah McKay NHS at 70: Pride and worry as free health service celebrates birthday Inpatient Donald Ritson lies in bed in Ward 24 in Milton Keynes University Hospital Reuters The coroner also expressed concern that breastfeeding in bed would sometimes happen with the curtains drawn around the bed, at a mothers request, which meant problems could not be noticed quickly. Val Clare, head of midwifery at Bolton NHS Foundation Trust, said after the inquest: It is such a tragedy when the unexpected death of a baby takes place. This was a very rare event and we feel for Louies family. We are a level-three Unicef baby friendly initiative-accredited unit, which is the highest standard for breastfeeding and is a prestigious award. The trust would review the guidance given out, she said. During rush hour on one of Londons most affluent streets, amid the bustle of the Strand, an orderly queue is forming. Dozens of people stand patiently, and hungrily, waiting for their dinner. The gathering, near Charing Cross station, comprises people of all ages and ethnicities. Some look visibly homeless, clutching large carrier bags containing their worldly possessions. Others wear work clothes. Despite having a job, they cant afford to eat. Piles of food packages await under a pink gazebo. As volunteers hand them out, bread and pastries are scoffed into hungry mouths. Many people eat standing up; others find a picnic spot on the ground; some leave to take food home. Commuters passing by on the main road peer curiously before rushing on. Well-dressed couples cut through the snaking queue on their way to the theatre. Its a disgrace! shrills one woman wearing a large pearl necklace as she and her husband saunter away. Toney Kane is a 39-year-old mother-of-three who comes to the handout every week. She explains she has spent five of the past eight years homeless with her children, who are now in their 20s. They came to London from Hull after she found herself trapped in an abusive relationship. I didnt get any help. I asked if I could be moved and they said [they would move] us into a property just a few streets away from him. I just wanted to get out, she told The Independent. Thats when I decided to move out of Hull. We were supposed to move in with family in Woking, but they left us stuck at Kings Cross station. We had to stay on the streets. When we first came, people used to rob off us. In the winter the snow would just come down on us. Nobody would help. The Friends of Essex and London Homeless hand out food every Wednesday night (May Bulman) Ms Kane and her children were on the streets for nearly three years before they were given a council flat. They were then evicted because she complained, at which point they became homeless again. She is now in another flat, but says she is in the process of being evicted again. If you sit down and beg, yeah you do get given food, but its not going to be every day, she says. Thats why this place is so important. Emmanouil Grammatikopoulos, 38, smiles gratefully as he is handed a food parcel. He has been sleeping rough in London for nearly two years, after leaving Greece in the wake of the financial crash. He takes construction jobs and sends money home to his wife and baby daughter. His wife doesnt know he is homeless. I cannot pay to rent in London. Its very expensive even one room. If I pay for a room here in London, I cannot pay the rent for my wife and three-year-old daughter at home. I must give the money to them, he explains. Some of the recipients are in work but cant afford rent and food (May Bulman) I could make only 25 euros a day in Greece after the crash, so I came here. I work all the time, for construction agencies. They pay me so I try to do my best. When you sleep in the streets and you have to wake up at 6am to go to your job, its a little hard. When you finish you dont have a place to have a shower. You dont rest properly to be ready for the next day. But I can do it for now. Im grateful for that because I have work. Walking away from the gazebo, another EU national, who didnt want to give his name, grips a paper cup of steaming tea with a plastic bag of newly retrieved food hanging from his wrist. He looks smart in a sky blue shirt, navy trousers and black shoes, and laughs when asked if he is homeless. No, I have a room, but I share with three other people, he says, explaining his bedroom is where three other men sleep. He pays 60 per week for rent. Yes, I work. But this is what I can afford. Recommended Almost 4 million in UK forced to use food banks Richard, 62, is smartly dressed in a white shirt that matches the colour of his bristly beard. He is well spoken and well-versed in the political rhetoric on homelessness. You wouldnt expect him to be rough sleeping. A pensioner who used to work in the operating department of a hospital, he is living off his NHS pension of just 350 a month. When his mother died two years ago, his life fell apart and he got evicted from his flat. Ive been homeless for a year. Its not easy, especially when the weather gets bad, he says. Washing and showering can be really difficult. But how can I ever get a deposit? The rents are so expensive. The landlords can charge what they want. Chatting jovially to people as they wait in the queue is Steven Stuart, founder of the Friends of Essex and London Homeless charity, which provides the food handouts in the same spot every Wednesday evening. When we first started we had about 30 or 40 people each time, now we have anywhere between 150 and 250. Its an opportunity for people to get some food, so that they can still pay that bill to have somewhere to live, he says. We find that people are not homeless as we know it. A lot of people are homeless and working. We get Deliveroo drivers quite a lot. Theres a road sweeper who picks up the rubbish who comes along sometimes. Hes not homeless, but I wouldnt imagine hes earning a great amount of money. A lot of people [are] no different to you and I. Rents outstrip wages by so much these days and people are losing their jobs all the time. Some people have just taken a left turn and need a bit of help. Leading Conservative Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has warned Theresa May that Eurosceptic Tory MPs will block the passage of her European Union withdrawal plans unless they are changed. Mr Rees-Mogg said the prime minister would find it extraordinarily difficult to get her plans approved if she does not come forward with major revisions before the end of the year. His warning comes as he and other members of the Brexit-backing European Research Group (ERG) of Tory MPs are drawing up alternative plans to Ms Mays, which highlight the benefit of a no-deal Brexit. Amid the uncertainty and a looming no-deal scenario, support for a new referendum on Brexit is growing, with The Independent having launched its own Final Say campaign with a petition that has attracted more than 670,000 signatures. Speaking in an interview to The Sunday Times, Mr Rees-Mogg argued that the Chequers deal being pursued by Ms May fails to deliver the Brexit he believes Britain voted for. He said: If she sticks with Chequers, she will find she has a block of votes against her in the House of Commons. Of course the Eurosceptics in parliament are not in a majority on all issues, but we will inevitably be in a majority on some of them and that will make the legislation extraordinarily difficult if it is based on Chequers. Jacob Rees-Mogg suggests a second Brexit referendum would be acceptable in clip from 2011 He also claimed that if Ms May fails to reach agreement soon with the EU, a rising sense of urgency will benefit the Brexiteers. He then added that letting matters run to December would be very risky. The MP argued that Ms Mays EU withdrawal bill had taken months to pass through parliament, so trying to get the legislation required to implement it passed between January and early March means the government must come forward with a deal that Brexiteers like. If she sticks with Chequers, she will find she has a block of votes against her in the House of Commons Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg He added: Otherwise they might find its much harder to get through parliament than they think. Mr Rees-Mogg urged Ms May to pursue a Canada-plus option, which he believes could command a majority in the Commons. The ERG is expected to publish a policy paper ahead of the Conservative Partys annual conference in Birmingham next month. The Bank of England governor says a no-deal Brexit will mean higher prices and disruption to trade as we know it The paper will challenge the prime ministers proposals set out before the summer recess, which led to the resignations of the then Brexit secretary David Davis and foreign secretary Boris Johnson. Meanwhile, the government will on Thursday begin publishing its Brexit technical notices setting out the consequences of crashing out of the EU without a deal, with all 84 due to be out before the end of September. The explanatory documents expected from the Department for Exiting the European Union are designed to inform citizens and businesses how to cope with a no-deal scenario. Some are thought to be broad in scope, covering issues like financial services, company law and climate change, while others will focus on specific problems including travelling abroad with pets. People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Show all 30 1 /30 People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Rex People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young protestor shouts as she takes part in the People's Vote demonstration against Brexit Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A protester's pro-EU t-shirt EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Gina Miller and Caroline Lucas EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Tens of thousands of people march through London EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Demonstrators at the People's Vote March Getty People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal 'Two months too young to decide on my future' REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young girl joins in the march PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal An EU flag is draped across the statue of Winston Chruchill in Parliament Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Vince Cable MP, Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller, Tony Robinson and Caroline Lucas MP join with crowds PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Crowds gather on Pall Mall PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal A man resembling Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, joins EU supporters Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal People gather in Trafalgar Square REUTERS People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller and Tony Robinson PA People's Vote march demanding vote on final Brexit deal EU supporters, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal, participate in the 'People's Vote' march REUTERS In a significant development in the drive for a new referendum, The Independent and the Peoples Vote campaign are also joining forces for a mass march through central London on 20 October. The alliance will see the two organisations mobilise activists and media across the country to capture the growing tide of opinion that a further referendum on Brexit must be held. An exclusive poll carried out by BMG Research last week found that 48 per cent of the public would now back a vote on any deal struck between the UK and the EU up from 44 per cent only four weeks ago. Just 24 per cent opposed the idea, down three percentage points over the same period. Colombians have been warned not to have sex because it is too hot. Health officials in a coastal city issued the recommendation for people trying to remain cool during an intense heatwave. Santa Marta city health secretary Julio Salass comments have been keenly debated after he called for residents of the Caribbean tourist hotspot to forego sex during the daytime. He issued the plea as part of a list of recommendations that also included staying hydrated and wearing loose clothing to avoid overheating. Avoid making love or having sex at times when the temperature is high, especially at noon, because this activity places physical demands on you and increases your heart rate, Mr Salas said on a local radio station. He advised that if residents believe physical activity is absolutely necessary, they should wait until after sunset or at times when the temperature is lower, according to Colombia Reports. Sex is deemed only a moderate physical activity, as much of a strain on the heart as walking up two flights of stairs, according to the American Heart Association. UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Show all 35 1 /35 UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People on the beach at Croyde Beach in North Devon PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People enjoy the sun at Carsington Water in Derbyshire PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Sophie Todd, aged 7, and her mother Jane Todd playing in one of the Trafalgar Square fountains in London PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A couple play catch with a ball whilst swimming in the River Stour Getty Images UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Children play in the fountains at Granary Square, King's Cross PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A dog under an umbrella at the Festival of British Eventing at Gatcombe Park, Gloucestershire PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People sunbath on the clifftop at Woolacombe Beach in North Devon PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A woman stands in a field of sunflowers at Vine House Farm near Spalding, Lincolnshire PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A woman takes a selfie in front of St Paul's Chathedral PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Paddle boarders off the coast at Tynemouth , Tyne & Wear PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People on Woolacombe Beach in North Devon PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A canal boat passes along the Regent's Canal PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People relax in the warm weather on the beach in Brighton PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People enjoying the hot weather and sunshine on the banks of the River Thames in Putney Rex Features UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Spectators enjoy the hot weather during day seven of the Nature Valley International at Devonshire Park PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Hot and sunny day in Hyde Park's Serpentine lake Rex UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People relax in the warm weather on the beach in Eastbourne PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People sunbathe as they enjoy the warm weather on Bournemouth beach PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A person sunbathes on a blow up mattress in the sea off of Bournemouth beach in Dorset PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A couple relax in the sunshine on the beach in Brighton PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People play in water fountains in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park in east London PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Chris Bryant from Basingstoke paddle boards at Boscombe Beach in Dorset PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People shelter from the sun beneath umbrellas as they walk in St James's Park in London AFP/Getty Images UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Arianna Espiritu Kelly, 2, eats an ice-cream in the Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Victor the Polar Bear enjoys a dip in the water at Yorkshire Wildlife Park PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People on the beach in Brighton PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Woman relax in the sunshine on the beach in Hastings, Sussex PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People enjoy their lunch break in the sunshine near Tower Bridge in London PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Police horses drink from a water fountain during the hot weather in Green Park PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies Anglers fish on New Brighton beach on the Wirral, Merseyside as the sun rises over the Port of Liverpool and the River Mersey PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A family of lemurs enjoy an ice lolly at Yorkshire Wildlife Park PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies People enjoy the sunshine in St James's Park in in London AFP/Getty Images UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A duck swims in the algae covered lake in St James's Park, London PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A couple cycle in the sunshine around Bewl Water in Kent PA UK weather: Temperatures soar as heatwave intensifies A man takes a break in the sun on Southbank, London PA Temperatures in Santa Marta have hit 40C (104F) and Mr Salas said medical facilities in the city which has a population of 600,000 have been inundated with patients complaining about heatstroke symptoms, which include nausea and headaches. Countries across the world have faced drastically high temperatures this summer cities from Tokyo to Montreal have set all-time heat records. Japan declared a natural disaster, with high temperatures resulting in thousands being admitted to hospital with heatstroke. Donald Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani has claimed that truth isnt truth as he tried to explain his concerns about the president testifying for Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mr Giuliani suggested that Mr Trump should not testify as part of Mr Muellers investigation into Russian election meddling and any possible collusion with Trump campaign officials over fears that the president could be trapped into a lie that would lead to a perjury charge. The former New York City major insisted he would not be rushed into making his client available for something that could become a chargeable offence under the law. So what I have to tell you is, look, Im not going to be rushed into having him testify so he gets trapped into perjury, Mr Giuliani told Chuck Todd on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday morning. He dismissed the idea of Mr Trump having foreknowledge of Russias efforts, or potentially obstructing the inquiry. When you tell me that, you know, he should testify because hes going to tell the truth and he shouldnt worry, well thats so silly because its somebodys version of the truth. Not the truth, Mr Giuliani added. Truth is truth, Mr Todd responded. No, it isnt truth, Mr Giuliani said. Truth isnt truth. The President of the United States says, I didnt A startled Mr Todd answered: Truth isnt truth? to which Mr Giuliani responded: No, no. Related video: Donald Trump refuses to say if he'll pardon Paul Manafort Mr Giuliani also said that a 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between top Trump campaign officials and a Russian lawyer could not be evidence of collusion even though the intention of the meeting was to get damaging information on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. "It turned out to be a meeting about another subject and it was not pursued at all. Any meeting in regards to getting information about your opponent is something any candidate's staff would take, Mr Giuliani said. The president of the United States wasn't at that meeting, he didn't know about that meeting, he found out about it after. By the time he found out about it, it was nothing. If this is their case for collusion, good luck Mueller. The meeting in question took place at Trump Tower in June of 2016, when Donald Trump Jr, Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort met with a Russian lawyer with the understanding that she would pass along damaging information about Ms Clinton, Mr Trump's opponent in the 2016 presidential election. Mr Giuliani reiterated the presidents position that he didnt discuss his former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn with the FBI director he ultimately fired, James Comey. The latter, however, has said the opposite, and Mr Mueller is said to be looking into the issue for any possible obstruction of justice. Comey says, You did talk about it. So tell me what the truth is? Mr Giuliani asked. Mr Todd said that the exchange would become a bad meme online, and it did not take long for the mockery to begin on social media. In response to Mr Giulianis remarks, Merriam-Webster tweeted a link to the definition of the word truth in its dictionary. The bizarre exchange was not the first time Mr Giuliani has found himself facing ridicule for his statements on television, particularly in relation to a possible interview between the president and Mr Mueller. In May, Mr Giuliani told The Washington Post about the Mueller investigation: They may have a different version of the truth than we do. The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images Earlier this month, Mr Trumps legal team, led by Mr Giuliani, replied to special counsel Mr Muellers proposal for terms of a possible presidential interview, but would not disclose the details of the answer other than it involved a counter-offer. Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday that he had nothing to hide from the Mueller investigation. He has previously said he is willing to talk to the special counsel, but his legal team has advised against it. The president also denounced The New York Times for a story saying White House counsel Don McGahn had cooperated extensively with Mr Mueller. I allowed him and all others to testify I didnt have to, Trump said in a tweet. Trump said the newspaper made it seem like Mr McGahn had turned on the president as White House counsel John Dean had in the Watergate investigation of former president Richard Nixon when in fact it is just the opposite. Citing a dozen current and former White House officials and others briefed on the matter, the Times said on Saturday that Mr McGahn had shared information, some of which the investigators would not have known about, in at least three voluntary interviews that totalled 30 hours over the past nine months.. On Saturday evening, Mr McGahns lawyer confirmed the White House counsel had cooperated with Mr Muellers team. Mr McGahn answered the Special Counsel teams questions fulsomely and honestly, William Burck said, explaining the president did not ask Mr McGahn to refrain from discussing any matters. Mr Giuliani told NBC said Mr McGahns cooperation would help bolster Mr Trumps claims that he did nothing wrong. The president encouraged him to testify, is happy that he did, is quite secure that there is nothing in the testimony that will hurt the president, Mr Giuliani said. He then accused Mr Muellers team of leaking the information to the press, claiming it had to be them as Mr Trumps team would not leak. Mr Dean, who has criticised Mr Trump in recent years, voiced support for Mr McGahn. McGahn is doing right! he wrote on Twitter. Mr Trump denies his campaign colluded with Russia and has repeatedly attacked the probe as illegitimate. On Sunday, he compared Mr Mueller with 1950s-era senator Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-communist crusade eventually led to his censure by the Senate. Study the late Joseph McCarthy, because we are now in a period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Rigged Witch Hunt! Mr Trump wrote on Twitter. Thousands of Indians are still awaiting rescue in flood hit areas of Kerala as weather forecasters predict more downpours could be on the way. The countrys air force and navy are airlifting stranded people from rooftops and trees, while hundreds of government boats and local fishermen have been deployed to aid efforts but many residents remain marooned. Officials have estimated as many as 5,000 people may be trapped in a single riverside town, Chengannur, alone. And there are now fears the disaster could be compounded by an outbreak of disease in squalid relief camps set up to house some 750,000 people left homeless. Three cases of chickenpox have already been detected and isolated at a camp in the town of Aluva, authorities say. The downpours that began on 8 August triggered floods and landslides across the region that have left more than 350 people dead. Damage to infrastructure has been estimated at some 2.5bn with entire villages swept away. It has been called the states worst flooding in a century. And although the rain eased over the weekend with red weather alerts removed the India Meteorological Department says the deluge may continue on Monday. As rescue efforts continued, tales of humanity and courage in the face of catastrophe started to emerge. Journalist Shreya Dhoundial shared a video showing one volunteer kneeling in the water so elderly women could stand on his back to climb into a rescue boat. Putting his back into it. Quite literally, tweeted the CNN anchor. KeralaFloods the unsung heroes. #Salute. A picture of the sheer horror faced by those caught in the waters has also started to unfold. One resident of Ranni town told The Guardian: Its a four-storey house, but water started pouring in fast until it reached the second floor and stayed that way for two days. My relatives shifted to the top floor with all the stuff they immediately needed. An airlift came, but my 85-year-old grandmother had never taken a flight in her life and she was afraid to go. So the whole family stayed back. On Friday, rescuers came with motorboats and shifted them to a safe place. Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Show all 40 1 /40 Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India A man removes debris from a collapsed house after floods in Paravur Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An ariel shot of Kerala from Thiruvanpuram Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Murgan and his family clean up their house in Mundancavu village at Chegannur upon returning home after the flood waters receded Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People assess damage caused by floods on the outskirts of Kochi AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Men paddle their boat through the lawns of a partially submerged church at Kuttanad in Alleppey district Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Sandhya Biji and her son in front of their damaged house on the banks of Pamba river Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Border Security Force distribute food food and water to the residents who are stuck in their houses as well who have not vacated houses because of the flood water in interior places at Allapy Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India A damaged house on the banks of Pamba river Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Murgan cleaning up his house Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An aerial view shows partially submerged houses at a flooded area in the southern state of Kerala Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Murgan and his family clean up their house Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People are airlifted by the Indian Navy soldiers during a rescue operation Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People wait for aid on the roof of their house Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian volunteers and rescue personal evacuate local residents AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian people use a boat to rescue an elderly man in the flooded water in Kochi EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An aerial view shows partially submerged houses at a flooded area in the southern state of Kerala Reuters Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An Indian woman watches residents walking through flood streets next to their marooned houses AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian army personal evacuate local residents AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian commuters wade through flooded streets AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People move past a flooded road in Thrissur AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Water gushes out following heavy rain and landslide in Kozhikode AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Fire and Rescue personnel evacuate local residents in an inflatable boat from a flooded area at Muppathadam near Eloor AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian residents look at the Shiva Temple submerged AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Roads and houses engulfed in water following heavy rain and landslide in Kozhikode. AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India People look at vehicles stuck in the mud AFP/Getty Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India A young man wades through a flooded street in Kochi EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Rescue operations being conducted at the landslide location at Kuttampuzha AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An elderly woman is rescued in a cooking utensil AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Local residents look at a partially destroyed house after heavy monsoon rains led to a landslide in Kannappankund AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An Indian woman sits inside her house immersed in flood waters in Ernakulam district of Kochi AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian fire and rescue personnel evacuate local resident AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India A woman stands at the door of her flooded home in Kochi EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India India residents stand on the shore as Periyar river flooded AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India An Indian man carries a basket of bananas next to houses immersed in flood waters AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Laborers hailing from northern states wade through flood waters as they shift to higher ground AP Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan (L) along with opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala (2L) visit relief camp in Chengamanadu Government Higher Secondary School AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Athirampally Falls EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India EPA Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Indian residents look at houses destroyed by flood waters at Kannappankundu AFP/Getty Images Kerala floods: heavy monsoon rains lead to deaths in India Kochi's International airport apron flooded AFP/Getty Images On Sunday, politician Saji Cherian broke down in tears on TV describing the crisis in his home state. Please give us a helicopter. I am begging you. Please help me, people in my place will die. Please help us, he begged. Indias prime minister Narendra Modi promised a relief fund of 5 billion Indian rupees (55m) after surveying the situation from a helicopter. Lombok in Indonesia has been hit by another series of earthquakes - including a major 6.9 magnitude quake - which left one person dead and caused others to run out into the streets in panic. The latest tremors arrived two weeks after a 7.0-magnitude earthquake killed 460 people on the island and caused damage worth more than 5 trillion rupiah (268 million). Video shot by the Indonesian Red Cross showed huge clouds of dust billowing from landslides on the slopes of Mount Rinjani in the northeast. Power outages were reported to have left parts of Lombok in "pitch black conditions". "I was in a restaurant when the shaking started. The lights went out, they are still out. Everyone is still outside, not going back in," said Teddy Aditya, an official at Indonesia's search and rescue agency in Lombok's capital. "We are urging the public not to panic and to stay away from buildings and big trees. We are also urging them not to believe hoaxes and false information." One person died from a heart attack during the first major quake, of 6.3-magnitude, at around 1pm local time on Sunday, and nearly 100 houses near the epicentre were severely damaged, according to the national disaster management agency. It was followed nine hours later by another major earthquake of magnitude 6.9 and least two further aftershocks of magnitude 5.9 and 5.5. The most powerful quakes were felt as far away as Bali, where foreign tourists rushed out of buildings in fear they might collapse, according to disaster agency spokesperson Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. "Electric PLN outages throughout Lombok," Mr Nugroho tweeted. "Pitch black conditions. East Lombok, Lombok, West Sumbawa and the North felt the shocks of earthquake." Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Show all 55 1 /55 Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Rescue workers extract a woman, who survived after being trapped in rubble since the earthquake in Lombok, Indonesia Antara Foto/Ahmad Subaid/Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A man inspects the ruins of houses AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A ten-month old baby girl survivor, Refi, is aided by volunteer doctors at an emergency hospital in Tanjung EPA Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A man riding a motorcycle passes by a damaged house at Sira village in northern Lombok AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Rescuers with sniffer dogs search for victims at a mosque damaged by the earthquake AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Indonesian search and rescue teams look for victims at a collapsed mosque Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Search and rescue personnel look for victims AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Indonesians carry an elderly woman at a temporary shelter in Pemenang Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A woman prays near her temporary tent near Tanjung hospital Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Search and rescue personnel look for victims AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Rescue teams search for victims in the rubble caused by an earthquake at a Mosque in North Lombok AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Tourists sleep while waiting to depart from the Praya Lombok International Airport on the West Nusa Tenggara AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A doctor and paramedics give medical treatment to a man injured in the earthquake AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Rescue teams search for victims AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Tourists sleep on the floor as they wait to depart from the Praya Lombok International Airport AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Indonesian search and rescue personnel work on a collapsed mosque in Pemenang, North Lombok AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island An elderly man rests in a makeshift hospital after surviving a major earthquake in Kayangan on Lombok AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Tourists affected by a strong earthquake line up on a beach as they wait to be evacuated on Gili Trawangan AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Indonesian rescuers search for victims under the ruin of a collapsed house after an earthquake struck in North Lombok, Indonesia EPA Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A father accompanies his injured child outside of Tanjung hospital, Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A damaged in Pemenang, North Lombok AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Makeshift tents are erected to be used as a temporary shelter for those affected AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Usable items are salvaged from a home destroyed in an earthquake in North Lombok AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island According to media reports, a 7.0 magnitude quake hit Indonesia's island of Lombok on 5 August, killing at least 91 people AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Hospital patients are moved to an emergency tent outside of a hospital building in Denpasar, Bali EPA Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island EPA Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Map locating the earthquake in Lombok Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Indonesian soldiers carry the body of an earthquake victim Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Evacuation from Gili Trawangan in Indonesia James Kelsall/PA Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Workers cleanup parts of a shopping mall building which collapsed after an earthquake, in Denpasar, Bali EPA Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Recovered items sit next to destroyed buildings in Pemenang in northern Lombok AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Hundreds of people attempting to leave Gili Trawangan AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Indonesian local residents stay outside of their collapsed houses EPA Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Rescue personnel stands next to a motorcycle that fell down at a mall in Bali's capital Denpasar AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Hospital staff treat patients outside a hospital after a major earthquake rocked Indonesia's Lombok island, in Mataram AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island People affected by the earthquake rest at a temporary shelter in Lombok AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A man removes debris outside a mall in Bali's capital Denpasar AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island People react following an earthquake in Ampenan district, Mataram, Lombok Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A hospital patient is moved outside of the hospital building in Denpasar, Bali EPA Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A policeman gestures as he walks next to damaged bikes and debris at a mall in Bali's capital Denpasar AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island People next to an ambulance near the Golden Palace Hotel after an earthquake hit Lombok Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Residents stand next to bikes and debris at a mall in Bali's capital Denpasar AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Indonesian soldiers tend to a woman injured in the earthquake at a makeshift hospital in Lombok AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Tourists wait outside a hotel in Denpasar AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island People clean up debris following a strong earthquake on nearby Lombok island, in Denpasar Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island An ambulance near Golden Palace Hotel after an earthquake hit Lombok Island Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Indonesians stand on road outside a mall in Bali's capital Denpasar AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Security and mall personnel walk over debris AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Residents wait as they evacuate to higher ground AP Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island An ambulance rushes out of the hospital AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Hospital patients and relatives wait outside in Mataram AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Hospital patients and relatives stand outside after being evacuated in Mataram AFP/Getty Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A hospital patient is moved outside EPA Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island Residents evacuate by motorcycle Reuters Powerful earthquake rocks Indonesia's Lombok island A hospital patient is moved outside EPA Indonesia, a sprawling archipelago that straddles the Pacific Ring of Fire, is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions. The quake on 5 August damaged tens of thousands of homes and caused more than 350,000 people to flee their homes. Many remain camped out in tents and makeshift structures in open fields. Additional reporting by Reuters and Associated Press. The Italian engineer who designed the Genoa bridge that collapsed and killed 43 people warned of the risk of corrosion four decades ago, it has emerged. Riccardo Morandi wrote a report in 1979 recommending constant maintenance of the structure to remove all traces of rust and fill in exposed patches on the reinforcements. The report produced 12 years after the bridge bearing his name was opened referred to a well-known loss of superficial chemical resistance of the concrete because of sea air and pollution from a nearby steel plant. State funeral for Genoa bridge collapse victims Mr Morandi, who died in 1989, insisted the reinforced concrete bridge design was sound but noted the aggressivity of the corrosion that was not seen in similar structures in different environments. He warned: Sooner or later, maybe in a few years, it will be necessary to resort to a treatment consisting of the removal of all traces of rust on the exposure of the reinforcements, to fill in the patches. The engineer recommended using an epoxy resin to cover the reinforcements with materials of a very high chemical resistance. Excerpts from the report were broadcast on RAI state television on Sunday and published online. A huge section of the bridge collapsed on 14 August during a fierce storm, killing 43 people and forcing the evacuation of nearby residents in the densely built-up area. The cause is under investigation, and a team of engineers appointed by the ministry of infrastructure and transportation carried out a preliminary inspection Sunday after rescue crews concluded their search for the missing. Roberto Ferrazza, the head of the government team, said the preliminary survey suggested a series of possible causes and not just a simple collapse of the bridge support. We have to look at the positioning of the rubble, considering that there was a break that provoked an imbalanced movement of the structure, Mr Ferrazza was quoted as saying by the ANSA news agency. Mr Ferrazza was one of the engineers who knew about the advanced corrosion underway on the key bridge support that gave way, according to LEspresso magazine. He attended a meeting of experts from the transport ministry and the company that manages bridge repairs on 1 February. Minutes of the meeting, which bear Mr Ferrazzas signature, recommended that the supports be reinforced given the trend of degradation being registered. Bidding opened in April for the 20m (18m) public works contract to do the work, according to Italian media. The Morandi Bridge was a key artery that linked highways to Milan and France, a vital lifeline for both commercial traffic as well as vacationers bound for the mountains and Mediterranean beaches. Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Show all 50 1 /50 Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Morandi bridge after it collapsed, in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A satellite image of the collapsed section of the Morandi Bridge EPA/European Space Imaging Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers inspect the rubble and wreckages AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Night view of the Morandi bridge collapsed in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Displaced people from their homes EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers work among the rubble AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers inspect the rubble and wreckages AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A satellite image of the collapsed section of the Morandi Bridge EPA/European Space Imaging Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa People living in the buildings in the area have been evacuated EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Excavators dig into the rubble at the site of the highway-bridge-collapse disaster EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A lorry stands on the edge AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A large section of the Morandi viaduct, of which the A10 motorway runs, collapsed in Genoa Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers at work amid the rubble EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A large section of the Morandi viaduct, of which the A10 motorway runs, collapsed in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescue workers at the collapsed Morandi Bridge Reuters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Cars seen among the rubble Vigili Del Fuoco/AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa AFP/Getty Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A large section of the Morandi viaduct upon which the A10 motorway runs collapsed in Genoa, Italy EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers work among the debris of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The viaduct gave way amid torrential rain EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The viaduct runs over shopping centres, factories, some homes, the Genoa-Milan railway line and the Polcevera river AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Around 10 vehicles are involved in the collapse, rescue sources said EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa A view of the collapsed Morandi highway bridge ANSA via AP Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescue teams on the site EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescuers at the site of the collapsed bridge EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Both sides of the highway fell AFP/Getty Images Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa The site of a collapsed bridge EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Sergio Battelli/Twitter Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Rescue teams on the site EPA/Italian Firefighters Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa EPA Italian bridge collapses: part of highway gives way in Genoa Vigili del Fuoco/Twitter Engineers say there have long been concerns about its unusual concrete-encased stay cables, which Morandi used in several of his bridge designs instead of the more common steel cables. Dozens of Genoese residents gathered in a central piazza on Sunday evening to vent rage and pain over the collapse. Many wrote messages and poems on sheets of white paper unrolled on the piazza cobblestones. This way everyone can write whatever he or she thinks without necessarily shouting or screaming at a time when all we need is silence, said Elisa DAndrea, one of the event organisers. The families of those killed in the Genoa bridge collapse shouted and jeered at members of Italys former government at a state funeral for the victims on Saturday. Associated Press Israels Supreme Court has doubled a nine-month prison term given to a border police officer who shot dead an unarmed Palestinian teenager. Two of three judges voted to increase Ben Derys sentence for killing Nadim Nuwara, 17, at a protest near the occupied West Bank city of Ramallah in 2014. Dery was jailed in April for causing death through negligence, a charge that was downgraded from manslaughter under a plea agreement. He was also fined 50,000 shekels (10,700). Dery shot dead Nadim during a demonstration outside Israels Ofer prison, near the Palestinian town of Baituniya. A second teenager Muhammad Abu Thahr, 16 was also killed during the demonstration but Israeli prosecutors said there was insufficient evidence to pursue charges over his death. The youths were shot dead at a Nakba day protest, held annually to commemorate the displacement of more than 700,000 Palestinians during the 1948 war. Israel initially insisted its forces fired only rubber bullets after they were pelted with rocks by Palestinian youths. But it later emerged Dery had fired live rifle ammunition at Nadim, fatally wounding him in the chest. The killings sparked an outcry after CCTV footage appeared to show the two boys were shot despite posing no immediate threat to Israeli forces. Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Show all 15 1 /15 Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator uses a racket to return a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian demonstrators run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator shouts Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Tear gas canisters are fired by Israeli forces at Palestinian demonstrators Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A wounded Palestinian is evacuated Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator uses a sling to hurl stones at Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A female demonstrator uses a slingshot to hurl stones at Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator with a slingshot looks on Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Female Palestinian demonstrators react to tear gas fired by Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Israeli forces fire teargas canisters toward Palestinian demonstrators AFP Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Female demonstrators run for cover from tear gas fired by Israeli forces Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian medics evacuate a wounded protester AP Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator moves a burning tire Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures A demonstrator uses a racket to return a tear gas canister fired by Israeli troops Reuters Palestinian protesters clash with Israeli troops: in pictures Palestinian demonstrators during clashes with Israeli forces AFP/Getty The lenience of the nine-month jail term imposed on Dery prompted further anger. The judge who sentenced him said he was an excellent police officer who was conscientious about orders. Under Israeli law, death through negligence typically carries a prison sentence of between eight and 20 months. We are not surprised by the ridiculous sentence, Nadims father, Siam Nuwara, told Haaretz at the time. As soon as the plea agreement was signed we knew that this was the direction. We are dealing with an entire system that discriminates on the basis of race and arrives at decisions that are far from just. Ruling on Sunday that the prison term should be increased to the 18 months, Supreme Court judge Noam Solberg said: Taking the rule into ones own hands, consciously deciding to cause injury facing no danger this must absolutely not be done. The great Greek bailout is finally at an end. In nearly a decade, the country received more than 300bn (270bn) from a plan agreed by the EU, the European Central Bank and the International Monetary Fund the Troika in return for a programme of economic austerity that caused significant domestic strife. Having been hit hard by the global financial crash of 2008 and 2009, Greece came as close as any member nation has of crashing out of the eurozone. Structural weaknesses in the Greek economy allied to a lack of candour from previous governments about the strength of tax revenues (and thus the reality of budget deficits) in the years before the crash left the country teetering on the edge. Some maintain it had been brought there by eurozone membership, but its membership was also sufficient to stir the Troika into action and to ensure that Greece was saved. The Greek crisis explained in two minutes Salvation has come at a cost however. In the eight years to 2016, a remarkable 400,000 people most of them young decided to cut their losses and seek a better life elsewhere. Given that unemployment peaked at 28 per cent in 2013 (and for those under 25 reached a staggering 58 per cent), such an exodus is hardly surprising. Still, the consequence is that Greeces demography has been fundamentally altered: a generation of working age people has been lost in the space of a decade. Some may return, but the economic outlook is hardly rosy still, despite the progress made towards balancing Greeces books. After all, while the bailouts are now at an end, the remaining mountain of Greek debt makes a molehill of Olympus. It will take decades to repay, and lenders will keep close tabs on every utterance of Greeces finance minister; for those within the country who believe that the bailout process left Greece as a kind of economic eunuch, singing along to a tune dictated by the EUs financiers, the years of repayment ahead offer little respite from the sense of lost independence. For individuals faced with only a modest improvement in the jobs market, high taxes and the legacy of a decade in which public spending has been slashed the end of the bailout will change little. Whats more, with global economic growth still uncertain, there will be residual fear that it would not take much for Greece to be forced once again to bring out the begging bowl. For the EU, and particularly for the eurozone countries, the Greek bailout (and those lesser ones which were required by other countries, including Ireland and Portugal) was a necessary evil and ultimately a success, at least insofar as preventing the contagion which at one stage appeared set to destroy the euro, especially when Italy seemed on the brink of requiring similar assistance. Lessons about the need for improved financial reporting have, on the face of it, been learnt. Recommended There are no heroes in the Greek crisis that ended the euro Some policymakers in Brussels have also been convinced that the Greek crisis demonstrated the need for greater economic harmonisation, if the structural imbalances which beset both the eurozone and the EU as a whole for years are to be avoided in the future. This plainly raises important questions about the EUs future, questions that have indeed long divided opinion between those committed to the idea of ever closer union between member states, and others for whom such a notion is anathema to the independence of national parliaments. Even though the UKs decision not to join the euro put it on the fringes of this debate from an economic point of view, it is at the heart of the broader argument between eurosceptics who believe that the EU will inevitably in the end become a United States of Europe, and those who contend that the European Union can reform in a way that does not reduce the power of national governments. In the UK, all attention is, of course, on Brexit: the potential permutations, the possibility of its reversal, and the challenges the country will face in the event of ultimate withdrawal. The end of the Greek bailout is a reminder, however, that for the EU as a whole enormous tests remain with or without Britain: both as a consequence of the economic uncertainties that continue to plague much of the continent; and as a result of the ongoing need to define the European Unions status and purpose to the satisfaction of its members, and their own populations. Amid so much else that is endlessly depressing about Labours Groundhog Day every morning at 6am, the clock radio plays I Got Jews Babe, only at an ever increasing volume Margaret Hodge stands alone. Anyone hoping to deploy her as the ultimate weapon against Jeremy Corbyn could not choose a more ineffective silver bullet than this grandstanding narcissist and galaxy class hysteric. Her latest contribution somehow dwarfs the previous one in July, when from behind the speakers chair she lobbed petrol onto the fire by allegedly (this has never been denied) telling Corbyn: Youre a f****** antisemite and a racist. You have proved you dont want people like me in the party. I am sorry you feel that way, he replied and for that show of heroic restraint (if for little else in his handling of this melancholy farce), you have to admire the man. Jeremy Corbyn releases video apologising for antisemitism in the Labour party By any conventional standard, Hodge should have faced disciplinary action for that. Parties with pretensions to government need discipline from their elected representatives. The Blairites who demanded rigid conformity when in power have shown none since Corbyns two leadership elections and impressive general election result. The rancorous sense of entitlement which fuels their spite overrides any residual instinct to loyalty. To the likes of Hodge, whom Blair made childrens minister in one of political historys more auto-satirical appointments (google her handling of an atrocious child abuse scandal when she ran Islington Council, and subsequent smearing of a victim as mentally disturbed), Corbyn is an interloper with no right to respect. But disrespecting a leader and viciously slandering him are two different things, and its hard to doubt that the whip would be removed from a Tory who accused Theresa May of Islamophobia for failing to cleanse her party of that residual stain. Yet this climate is too febrile to permit conventional standards. It would have been an act of self-harm had that disciplinary action, deserved as it was, not been dropped, even if Hodge hadnt counter-attacked with legal threats of her own. It is now even more undesirable for Corbyn to raise the temperature by questioning her response, but others will. On the day that I heard that they were going to discipline me and possibly suspend me, she told Sky News, it felt almost like, I kept thinking, what did it feel like to be a Jew in Germany in the Thirties? Because it felt almost as if they were coming for me. She then referenced her father, who left Germany in the 1930s to run a family steel firm headquartered in Egypt before bringing the family to London in 1948. It reminded me what my Dad always said to me as a child. Youve got to keep a packed suitcase at the door Margaret, in case you ever have got to leave in a hurry. Despite that pair of almosts and the best semantical efforts of certain commentators to muddy these waters, the directness of her comparison between her fear and that of those at the mercy of the Third Reich is crystal clear. Its absurdity is explored in a video commentary by Norman Finkelstein, one of Americas finest historians of the Holocaust with a family history to explain the white heat of his rage. His parents survived the Warsaw ghetto and two concentration camps. On the train to one, his mother sat next to a woman who suffocated her infant child to death She suffocated her child, rather than take her to where they were going. Thats what it meant to be deported. Yet the problem with Hodges comparison runs deeper than its grotesqueness. Its that deranged hyperbole serves only to cloud the fact that many British Jews, particularly those with wartime memories, really do live in perpetual fear that the warmth this country has by and large shown them wont endure. You can regard that as both paranoid (as I do) and, in this historical context, wholly understandable. Corbyns refusal to address the issue stems largely from a failure of the imagination. He seems unable to imagine and this too, after devoting his life to fighting racism, is understandable how anyone could hold such fears, let alone about him. Hodges comparison, which would almost be comical if it less wickedly trivialised the horror to which Finkelstein alludes, makes his deathly slow progress towards that imagining even harder. It reinforces the impression (one in which, as with every aspect on both sides of the argument, there is partial truth) that antisemitism is purely the cudgel with which his internal enemies intend to beat out his brains. It gives those who delude themselves that this is the only truth even more cover to overlook another truth: that the habitual curse of antisemitism on the left, limited as it is but megaphoned by social media, desperately needs sorting. Hodge didnt restrict herself to talking bollocks, as David Baddiel elegantly put it, about the emotional resonance of threatened disciplinary action. She also said: Its a very fine line between being pro-Palestinian and the Palestinian cause, which hes always believed in, and being antisemitic. It is no such thing. That line is every yard as wide as the vast canyon separating the fear of suspension from Labour from the fears of German Jews after the author of Mein Kampf became Germanys Chancellor. I am a Jew who loves Jews and Jewishness, and I am pro the Palestinian cause. There are hundreds of millions around the world, Jews and gentiles, Jeremy Corbyn and Norman Finkelstein, who share the sacred right to despise the policies and actions of an Israeli government without being labelled as racists by the self-martyring Hodge. If Corbyn wants her out of the party, he wont get his way. But that wish has nothing to do with being an antisemite, and he has all my sympathies. I wonder what goes through the mind of South African president Cyril Ramaphosa each morning. I imagine him sipping coffee, planning how hes going to get the country back to work. He must shake his head, marvelling in revulsion, at the scale of the plundering that his predecessor wreaked on us. The level of their depravity, the stuff of myth and legend. The president knows all indicators show the country is facing an uphill path to recovery. In the continents most developed country, unemployment is at 27.2 per cent, the highest in the world. The average family, across racial lines, is feeling the hurt of currency falling 20 per cent against the US dollar in the past five months. Filling the family car or taking public transport is painful. The increases in VAT and luxury goods duties strip the joy from family time. 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RAMOSA /Bobson Studio South Africa in pictures: Rankin's view through a lens 357762.bin BBC/ Rankin Photography/Bobson Studio State-owned entities such as Eskom, drained by state capture and maladministration, reach further into the family purse. The poorest families, 55 per cent of the population, are being punished by a decrease in government spending of some R86bn over the next three years, this also a result of state capture. Parents with children in state schools worry that it might be their child that makes up the three in four who are considered illiterate. Ramaphosa set himself a target of raising $100bn in foreign and local direct investment to help rebuild the nation. In a short time, he has already secured $30bn worth of commitment from investors. These investments give confidence that South Africa is still business and is looking to grow. This is not unwarranted confidence. Yet, while Ramaphosa is busy with this, he is watching his back. He had to cut deals and make peace with those who abandoned Jacob Zuma and supported his run for the presidency. These people are compromised, but wield the political influence he needs to be in leadership. Politics, as they say, makes strange bedfellows. Land expropriation without compensation (EWC) is the issue that restrains his ambitions. Its an issue, which no matter how it gets spun, Ramaphosa had to take away from the red-clad populists. They were scoring political points from EWC. In late February, he took ownership. If he hadnt, the ANC would have been further weakened come the next elections. Nothing balms the pained poor like populist promises. The causal link between the timing of the new decline in the rand and when he took ownership of EWC cannot escape him. Has EWC stained the allure of Ramaphoria or is this just a mild sign of displeasure on the part of investors? Each time he doesnt rebuke EWC, investors panic, despite his assurances that EWC can be implemented without damage. His investment envoy, Trevor Manuel, confesses that these assurances dont always win: Communicating this [EWC], I think, is a bigger challenge than we thought. Its challenging because there are no models, in the 21st century, that show taking one groups property away and giving it to another without compensation has not ended in populist armageddons look to Zimbabwe and Venezuela. Furthermore, there are no guidelines for the EWC implementation. I think this is deliberate. There are principles aplenty in the constitution and in legacy ANC documents, but no how-to guides. Without this, there are only past attempts of other countries to be studied and the utterances by those close to him to translate. The powerful ANC chairperson this past week had this to say about how much land people would be allowed to retain: You shouldnt own more than 12,000 hectares of land and therefore if you own more, it should be taken without compensation. Recommended South Africa votes to seize land from white farmers Why should the world trust South Africa when it cant guarantee the protection of its own citizens property rights, whether they be private landowners or traditional leaders? Once you start with land, what next will you expropriate? Its easy, but lazy, to draw parallels with Zimbabwe. The 28 million black people living in poverty wont get wealthier through EWC. The capital and training they need will have taken flight. Banks might end up holding billions in debt on land that has been expropriated, and they wont be forthcoming with business development or home loans. And the state still has a way to go to fix its weak institutions and root out corruption. All EWC will do is choke out the country. Itll shatter the trust the world has in South Africas aspirations to be a modernising state. The president needs a strong mandate from the 2019 election in order to make use of the investment commitments he has secured to get South Africans back to work. Promising EWC, and then dragging out its implementation, is, unfortunately, the low-hanging fruit for him to get this mandate, and itll cost all South Africans. When you've spent most of your working life in Third-World war zones at the front line of the global battle against famine, the issues facing Irish farmers can appear first-world problems. Dr Steve Collins, though, is farming his 140 acres of marginal mountainous land on the Cork-Kerry border with the same boundless enthusiasm, innovation and intellectual rigour with which he has been battling starvation in Africa since the mid-80s. English-born Steve, who has a herd of pedigree Dexter cattle and a burgeoning blueberry business, isn't just a footsoldier of the aid-work world - he is one of the top brass. A qualified medical doctor with an additional PhD in nutrition, he devised a model for treating famine-hit communities that has been adopted in 60 countries worldwide. In 2001, he was awarded an MBE for services to humanitarianism. He is still the chairman of a charity Valid Nutrition, and runs Valid International, a research and development consultancy. His expertise is in demand across the globe, but he is committed to making a success of his farm in Derry Duff. He bought the property with his wife Claire in 2005 when he was feeling "a bit burnt out" from battling the "bureaucracy and vested interests" as much as from the actual suffering. Explaining his move to the wilds of West Cork - the nearest shop is 15 minutes' drive away - he explains: "I'd spent 30 years treating people on the point of death, I'd seen a lot of death, lot of war, lot of famine. It's very difficult to bounce between war and famine, and normal life. "When you're dealing with someone who has just seen all their children die of starvation, and you come to Dublin, and someone is complaining because their new Merc has got a scratch on it I mean, if you have a new Merc, it's quite legitimate to complain if it gets scratched, but it's very difficult to move between that and starvation. So I moved down here to be far away from that, so I didn't have to be confronted by that." Although he doesn't have a farming background, and he hasn't been to agricultural college, the 56-year-old launched himself into his new enterprise with a can-do attitude and a scientific approach. "I'm winging it," he grins. "I talk to people. Scientific method takes you a long way - when you don't know things, you try things out, you work out what works and what doesn't. It's about not being afraid to fail. "It was the same with the aid. I developed a model to treat mass starvation, because when I failed - I caused a cholera outbreak - I was open about it. I published the results of what I'd done wrong and really analysed it. In farming, we have a go; if it goes wrong, look at why it went wrong. I don't just go 'well, it wasn't my fault'. You look at why, what you could have done differently." Steve has chosen his projects carefully. He didn't just opt for Dexters (whose meat he sells to high-end retailers such as Mannings Emporium, a deli in Ballylickey), because they look cute, or blueberries because he likes muffins. "I picked a breed that was easy," he says of his 55-strong herd of dwarf cattle. "Dexter were bred in Munster, they are adapted to the hills and the bog, they are very low-maintenance - they calve themselves. I'm ranching more than farming. They are up in the mountain all year - I've got no sheds. Obviously it's a learning curve, but the medicine helped. The basic principles of animal health are the same as human health, so the veterinary is fine. I very rarely get the vet out." The nutrition side has also helped, leading Steve to his drought-busting sprouting machine. His understanding of soil health - which he likens to finding the right microbial balance in the gut - drew him to blueberries. That and the low price of beef, even for the highest-quality produce. Expand Close Steve Collins with his wife Claire and children Sean, Cara and Conor. Photo: Denis Boyle / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Steve Collins with his wife Claire and children Sean, Cara and Conor. Photo: Denis Boyle "Farming cattle, unless you've got a really intensive set-up - big fields, mechanised, loads of big sheds to put them in in the winter - you're never going to make money," says the father of Sean (8), Cara (7) and Conor (5). "I can turn over about 20,000 on the whole farm in cattle. Because the cost of food is so low - you can get s**t beef really cheap, farmers round here can't compete with that. If you've got really good land in the midlands, then maybe. But not here. "So I've cut down on the Dexters, I'm focusing on the blueberries. I was looking at what would work, and I found out that blueberries grow really well in marginal, acidic soil. And they like a lot of water. They don't mind the cold in the winter. The temperatures are good for them. "I'm putting in 8,000 plants over six or seven acres. There's a lot of work - you've got to put windbreaks in, raised beds, irrigation, fertigation. There's quite a lot of up-front costs, and a long lead-time. I started in 2014. I had to import the plug plants, and I won't start selling until next year. So there are uncertainties about it. But I did a market research study with Tralee IT - focus groups etc. I know there's a good market, good prices. I reckon I can get 20-30 tonnes. Blueberries are massively popular. I can turn over more with one field of blueberries than I can with the whole farm of cattle. I'm applying for a grant for a processing plant." Steve points out that the adverse effects of climate change are already beginning to bite, and he is a big advocate of diversification. He and Claire also have apple orchards and a plant nursery; they sell innovative plant pots, run farm tours and are starting Airbnb at the home they designed themselves and which they played a major part in building, having lived in an old site cabin for eight years during the construction. With traditional farmers getting squeezed harder by falling grants and produce prices, as well as weather events, Steve recommends branching out, although he warns that "the grant system doesn't encourage people to take risks and try new things because it supports non-sustainable ways of doing things". And he is aware that as an "outsider" - albeit the grandson of a Corkman - he can't be too preachy. "I'm always going to be an outsider, but I'm used to that!" he says. "But if you deal with people well, people respond to that. Gradually, people see, well, he might be an English dreadlocked hippie or whatever, but actually he deals with us all right. And because I do things a bit differently, I get a load of people visiting the farm. Farmers are conservative by nature, but they do know that things are changing, they do know that bad years are coming more often, that grants are going down. They're not stupid, they are thinking, what are we going to do? "People are watching what I do, seeing if it works. You never know - in 15 years' time, you could have a lot of people growing blueberries here. "I really think that's going to work. The signs are really encouraging." For more information, see www.derrydufforganics.ie; www.validinternational.org Sprouting machine can help solve fodder crisis Dr Steve Collins reckons future fodder crises can be mitigated by using some of the principles that have saved millions of lives in Africa. Steve is one of the few farmers in Ireland to use a sprouting machine, a 20ft-long insulated container that turns grains into more digestible sprouts which he feeds to his cattle, instead of ration or silage. Steve has data to show that sprouted grain is a "more cost-effective" way of feeding cattle; it is also "a fail-safe" against extreme weather events such as drought and flooding. The science, he explains, is that cows and other livestock evolved to eat grass and aren't adapted to eat grain - they can't access all the nutrients which are locked into storage compounds in seeds. "When you sprout a grain, it activates its own enzymes and breaks down these storage compounds to make them available for the plant to grow," he says. "The machine contains trays of grains; you push the grain in one end, feed it out the other. It maintains it at 21 degrees, it waters it. A week later, you get out a barley sprout that's about five inches tall, with a thick root matt (pictured). I harvest every day from around January to June; I get 400-500kg of barley sprouts a day. "The theory is if you provide cows with good nutrition, it keeps their digestive systems in balance and it gives them an appetite for rough grazing. And I've got loads of rough grazing." The technology was developed in Australia, to help combat the effects of drought, and Steve believes it would benefit many farms in this country. "It has got huge potential in Ireland - especially for farmers in marginal land, to allow them to use rough grazing," he says. "You don't have to feed silage. For cattle, you need a source of roughage with it, such as straw - but that can be very low quality. And for pigs and chickens, you can feed it neat. "I did a study with Tralee IT and what we found is it's a much lower cost to maintain the cattle on the fodder and the straw than the ration and the straw. Unless you've got good-quality silage, it's more cost-effective - including labour and electricity - to use the fodder machine, and rough straw." Even for the fortunate farmers with top-quality silage, the sprouting machine provides some insurance. "These extreme weather events are going to get more frequent," says Steve. "All the data says this is going to happen, and it is happening. And the more unpredictable the weather, the more we are going to need these backstops." The giant altar on the site where Pope Francis is to give the closing Mass in the Phoenix Park. Photo: Sam Boal/RollingNews.ie The Government has distanced itself from claims that the Catholic Church is underwriting the costs associated with and any fundraising shortfall deriving from a landmark visit to Ireland by Pope Francis. Security and related costs, primarily associated with a Papal Mass to be attended by 500,000 in Phoenix Park, could top 32m according to An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar. The World Meeting Of Families (WMoF), a registered charity raising funds for a three-day congress and the visit by Pope Francis, says it has reached 15m of a 21m fundraising target. The prospect of an indemnity was raised by publisher and philanthropist Norah Casey, a member of the WMoF fundraising committee who told RTE last week that the hierarchy is underwriting the visit. "There is no question that the Pope coming to Ireland isn't underwritten by the Church in Ireland," said Casey. "It is and that's how it works over the whole world." The Department of An Taoiseach said the State's involvement in the visit is as appropriate for an official visit by a head of state, adding that any issue relating to an indemnity and Casey's remarks were a matter for the WMoF. The charity refused to clarify Casey's remarks, adding that it won't be issuing further details on costs and expenditure until after the event. It wasn't quite a shot in the arm for the solar power industry, but recent moves by the Government to encourage homeowners to look at the sun as an alternative to traditional electricity generation have been welcomed by providers. At least Ciaran Marron, chief executive of Monaghan-based Activ8 Solar Energies, believes it's a step in the right direction. Minister for the Environment Denis Naughten has just announced new grants towards for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) panels and storage batteries meaning that householders can get 700 per 1kWp panel, up to a total of 3,800 while batteries will be subsidised to the tune of 1,000 per unit. The idea is that this will help cut our greenhouse gas emissions and decarbonise our electricity supply at the same time. Not to be confused with solar thermal panel technology which helps generate hot water, the excess electricity generated by the PV panels can feed into the national grid. "Solar PV allows both domestic and commercial users to save money on their energy bills. Although it is the same technology, systems for domestic customers will differ to that of commercial users given the vast difference in energy requirements," Marron told the Sunday Independent. He added that customer bills will drop as a result of the grants but the Government should expand the scheme to include the business community. "On the domestic side, the Solar PV grant announced recently also included a 1,000 grant for battery storage technology. Although domestic customers can save up to 60pc on their bills without battery storage, incorporating such will allow customers to use more of the energy they produce. "Commercial customers will generally have much bigger systems and battery storage isn't as important considering that in most cases, energy production is at its highest when the demand for it is there to match during daylight hours. Whether domestic or commercial, I think everyone is going to see many more rooftops covered in solar PV panels. It is a move in the right direction but there is scope for the commercial sector too - I think we will see PV panels on the roofs of businesses too in the future." However, he conceded that the recently announced incentives will be too late for our targets to cut carbon emissions by 2020. "Here in Ireland we were hesitant and the fear of getting it wrong crippled us into inaction. Although we may have been slow adaptors, it afforded the powers to be the opportunity to learn from other EU countries' mistakes and use their schemes as a case study. "One other reason is that it's not the case that all renewables have been ignored. We see it across the Irish landscape, with large focus on wind energy production. Luckily, the Government and others now know that solar PV excellently complements our existing wind infrastructure. So I think there has been a multitude of reasons for our slow approach towards solar, but as of right now, it's an exciting industry to in. Although we are well behind the rest of Europe," he said. Indeed we are. Ireland is completely off course to achieve its 2020 and 2030 climate change targets, according to the recently published Climate Change Advisory Council's Annual Review 2018. Following last year's annual review, Ireland is now in an even worse position. Ireland's greenhouse gas emissions increased again in 2016, with the projections of emissions to 2035 showing that we are well behind when it comes to addressing the challenge of climate change. It should be no surprise then that Ireland is ranked as the second-worst performing EU member state in tackling climate change, according to Climate Action Network (CAN) which is the biggest NGO coalition in Europe working on energy issues and climate. While the 2018 Off Target report concluded that all EU member states are falling short of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change efforts to limit global temperature gains to 1.5 degrees, most of CAN's criticism was reserved for this country and those in eastern and central Europe and it warned that we face "annual non-compliance costs of around 500m". It also highlighted that emissions from the agriculture and transport sectors are increasing significantly. The farming and business sectors, for example, is a huge growth opportunity for the company said Marron and should be targeted as part of the Government's renewable energy programme. "The UK has previously incentivised rooftop solar with a feed-in tariff. I believe a very similar model for Irish commercial and agricultural customers would be a perfect fit. This approach incentivises self-consumption and the position we find ourselves in regarding our lower carbon targets points towards a self-consumption model. "Getting the balance between creating a meaningful commercial incentive that encourages self-consumption is something that would go a long way in helping businesses adopt and buy into renewable energy," he added. "It's the same as any industry, lessons were learned in the UK and we were lucky to be a part of that. We set up a business in Newry in 2012 and we learned a lot through that and the high standards of installation and service that we have now brought to solar PV installation in Ireland," he said. The structure of Activ8 changed earlier this year when SSE Airtricity came in as an investor. SSE acquired 40pc of Activ8 earlier this year and has an option to take an additional stake over the next couple of years. This investment (the amount has not been disclosed) brings big growth opportunities for the firm which is expecting to generate profits of about 450,000 on turnover of about 4.8m for 2017, according to Marron. And while the majority of the company's business remains solar thermal installations and stands at 70pc currently, Marron expects thermal and solar PV to hit parity at some stage in the next 12 months. "Being the market leader in solar technology for the past eight years and now partnering with Ireland's largest provider of wind energy, Activ8 and SSE Airtricity will bring unique offerings to our domestic and commercial customer base including SSE Airtricity's 750,000 energy supply customers across the island of Ireland. "It has allowed us to grow faster than we thought possible and while SSE Airtricity are able to lean on us for our knowledge of the Irish solar industry it has also given us the opportunity to learn from them and tackle the challenges we face together," he said. "We believe following our partnership with SSE Airtricity and the recent grant announcement for solar PV, Activ8 will increase our turnover by 50pc year on year for the next three years. We're still in the early stages of our partnership with SSE Airtricity, so as time passes, our goals will change and together we'll be pushing the ceiling of the Irish solar industry higher and higher," Marron added. The company employs 45 staff and another 20 indirectly including agents, engineers and electricians - it has installed over 7,000 solar energy systems across the island of Ireland. Its biggest project, to date, in partnership with SSE, was the installation of a 1,448-panel rooftop cover for the 2,300 sq m SSE Arena in Belfast which generates 420kWp of solar energy. The company started out in 2006, at the peak of the boom, as Ciaran Marron Electrical, specialising in total electrical and mechanical solutions which then became Activ8 Energies Ltd. It had grown to employ eight skilled professionals by 2008 but at that stage was being hit by the recession and left unpaid by some contractors. Marron said it was either follow their fate or diversify - the company chose the latter route. It focused its capabilities on the solar thermal retrofit market and targeting and servicing the increasing number of homeowners keen to take control of their increasing energy bills and, by 2009, Activ8 had completed all legacy contracts and focused solely on this market. Following an analysis of the solar thermal markets in the UK and Austria, we developed a new business plan, added Marron. "Through experience of training in Austria for solar thermal installations on new builds and having seen the success of retrofitting solar thermal all across Europe, we decided to focus on this as a business. With that, the attitudes of people had started to change also and with the recession at hand, people wanted to focus on reducing costs and improving their current home rather than looking to build or move. "Within 12 months of this decision, we became the largest solar installer in Ireland and we continue to be. Hand in hand with that came the opportunity to enter the solar PV market in Northern Ireland with the subsidies that were introduced," he said. The business plan certainly seems to have worked. "In fact, one of our main challenges now is finding skilled workers," he said. Brexit is the next big challenge, as is the case for all Irish businesses. However, Marron said that despite its location on the Border, because the company's main market is the Republic of Ireland it is somewhat buffered. "Obviously the big thing about Brexit is the uncertainty and we do import some of our products from the UK. But we haven't had to worry about Brexit as much as some other Irish companies given that our target market is in the Republic of Ireland. Our partnerships with suppliers reach all around the world and we're in the lucky position of being able to work with suppliers outside of the UK who we already have a relationship with," he said. "There's never a bad time when turning six into 10 doesn't make sense." (stock photo) 1. Introduction: Lets start with the good news we are living longer than ever before. Latest statistics suggest that men and women in Ireland can expect to live to 81.5 years on average. Theres no downside to a longer life, right? Consider this longer life means we will need to provide ourselves with an income for a longer period of time post retirement. We might quip about kids paying for our nursing homes, but we all know that it is our own responsibility to provide for our own retirement. Building your personal pension fund is the obvious answer remember, at current maximum rates, the State pension provides an income of only about one-third of average annual earnings. Pensions are a complex area but they should not be neglected. The earlier and more you contribute, the more likely you are to achieve financial security in retirement. There is a sound reason that actuaries and the Government actively encourage people to think about pension planning sooner rather than later. So, regardless of whether you are just starting out on your career path or getting close to retirement, you should be planning for your retirement now. It is a topic that has to be considered by everyone at some stage. However, the motivation behind an individuals focus on pension matters varies depending on that individuals stage of life. For example, a 25-year-old is likely to be more enamoured by the thought of the tax relief available on contributions to a pension fund, while a 55-year-old is likely to be thinking about the ultimate payout and benefits from the fund. This article aims to simplify matters by providing information in sections so that you can cut to the part relevant to you, and hopefully the jargon buster will help to explain the meanings of certain pension-related terminology. 2 Jargon buster Additional Voluntary Contributions (AVCs) AVCs are extra contributions you make in addition to the normal pension contributions made by you and/or your employer. Tax relief is available in the normal manner. Annuity An annuity is a contract with a life assurance company that will pay you a guaranteed regular pension income for the rest of your life. The amount of the annuity depends on the amount paid in on retirement, annuity rates, age, gender and state of health. Approved Minimum Retirement Fund (AMRF) Before you can take out an ARF, up to 63,500 of the fund must be used to purchase an AMRF. Only the investment growth can be accessed or drawn down on an AMRF before the age of 75. Approved Retirement Fund (ARF) An ARF is a personal retirement fund that gives more control over how your retirement fund is managed. You can withdraw from it regularly to give yourself an income, on which you pay income tax, Pay Related Social Insurance (PRSI) and Universal Social Charge (USC). Defined Benefit (DB) scheme This is a type of pension plan that pays pension income based on your final salary and number of years of service with your employer. Defined Contribution (DC) scheme This is a type of pension plan that builds up a pot to pay you pension income based on contributions by you and/or your employer and investment returns. Normal retirement age See section 3. Occupational pension scheme A pension scheme set up by an employer to provide retirement benefits for employees. Personal Retirement Savings Account (PRSA) A PRSA is a type of personal pension policy available from banks, life assurance companies, and through brokers. It is more flexible than a traditional personal pension plan. Used by members of occupational schemes for AVCs. Also used instead of a RAC. Retirement annuity contract (RACs) Traditional vehicle for pension funding by self-employed or employees who are not members of an occupational pension Small self-administered pension scheme (SSAP) A type of occupational pension scheme that can have up to 12 members. Generally just one member. Individuals can have more influence over investments. 3 What does retirement actually mean? Pension type Usual retirement age State pension 66 years Public sector pension 60 to 65 years Occupational pension scheme 60 to 70 years A scheme may also provide for early retirement in certain circumstances. In general, where pension benefits are taken early under early retirement arrangements, the relevant employment must cease. 4 Rates The current rates of contributory State pension varies from 97.20 to 243.30 per week. An additional 10 per week is paid when you reach 80 years of age. There are also additional payments available in certain cases where you care for dependent qualifying adults or children. The State pension is approximately one-third of average annual earnings. The contributory State pension is taxable. Conditions for qualification Entitlement to the State Pension (Contributory) is based purely on PRSI contributions during your working life to age 66. It is not means-tested. In order to qualify for the contributory State pension, the following conditions must be satisfied: 1 You must have started paying PRSI 10 years before reaching pension age (currently age 66); 2 You must have 520 full-rate contributions (10 years). This includes contributions to class A and class S. Only 260 contributions can be made up of voluntary contributions; and 3 You must have an annual average of at least 10 contributions per year from the year you first entered insurance to the end of the tax year before you reach pension age. An average of 10 contributions entitles you to the minimum pension, while an average of 48 contributions entitles you to the maximum pension. New arrangement for pensioners on reduced-rate pensions People who applied for the contributory State pension after 1 September 2012 and who received a reduced pension due to contribution gaps for homemaking and caring will be reassessed and can avail of a new Homecaring Credit. Under the new regime, credited contributions will be available for periods of up to 20 years of homemaking and caring duties. Periods include time spent caring for children up to age 12, and for a person of any age who requires full time care and attention may be included. The Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protections are contacting the affected individuals by post towards the end of 2018. You do not need to take any action until you receive this letter. The first payments will be made in 2019, with payments backdated to 30 March 2018. Time worked outside Ireland Where you have worked in Ireland and certain other jurisdictions (EEA, Switzerland, Canada, USA, Australia, New Zealand, Austria, Japan, Republic of Korea), the social insurance contributions in each relevant jurisdiction can be relevant to determining your State pension entitlement. Application To ensure State pension payments commence on time, the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection advise that applications should be submitted three months before the age of 66. Where you have paid social insurance contributions outside Ireland, applications should be submitted six months before reaching 66. What if I dont qualify for a (full) Contributory State pension? If you do not qualify for a Contributory State pension, or if you only qualify for a partial pension, you can apply for the non-Contributory State pension, which is means tested. Pension reform As mentioned above, the State pension age is currently set at 66. This is due to increase to 67 years of age from 2021 and to 68 years of age from 2028. With Irelands ageing population, coupled with the fact that only one in three private sector workers has a personal pension policy, the Government is seeking to encourage people to plan for retirement. The Government has launched A Roadmap for Pensions Reform to run from 2018 to 2023. A number of different aspects have been proposed including: A new method for calculating an individuals entitlement to the State pension from 2020 outlines a potential move from the current yearly average system to a total contributions approach. This includes awarding significant credits to people who have taken time out to perform caring duties; An actuarial review of PRSI rates, together with the amalgamation of USC and PRSI; Review of life expectancy in 2022 (and every five years thereafter) with a view to alignment with the State pension age. The Government has pledged that any change to the State pension age in light of these reviews would be subject to a 13-year notice period, ie 2035 at the earliest; Indexation of the State pension rates; and Introduction of a mandatory automatic enrolment retirement savings system see section 10 below). Under this umbrella, The Pensions Authority has also been tasked with making pension rules easier to understand and removing anomalies in the current system. A reduction in the number of products is being considered. 5 Revenue-approved pension schemes The current rate of State pension provides an income that equates to only 34pc of average earnings. Therefore, the Government provides tax reliefs for certain Revenue approved pension products to encourage people to make additional savings for retirement. The different types of scheme are listed: Public sector pension schemes Employees of government departments, State bodies and State companies Employees (optional) Occupational pension schemes (including SSAPs) Operated by employers for employees working in the private sector Employers (mandatory) Employees (optional) RACs Traditional vehicle for pension funding by self-employed individuals or employees who are not members of an occupational pension Individual contributions only PRSA Can be used instead of a RAC. Also used by members of occupational schemes for AVCs Individual contributions generally, including from self-employed individuals. Employer contributions are possible but are regarded as income of the employee and included as employee contributions for tax purposes 6 Tax relief Occupation pension Employer must make a meaningful contribution Tax deduction available for employer No income tax/USC/PRSI for employee on employer contribution Income tax relief only RAC Employer contribution not permitted Income tax relief only Net relevant earnings are relevant earnings less losses and capital allowances and charges on income not deducted elsewhere PRSA Tax deduction available for employer Employer contribution regarded as taxable income for the employee Income tax relief only on both employee and employer Employer PRSI not chargeable on employer contribution How much tax relief can I claim? An individuals earnings are currently capped at 115,000 for the purpose of granting tax relief. The maximum relief available is based on the following age-related factors: Age percentage of capped income Maximum tax relivable contribution Value of maximum tax relief at 40pc Under 30 30 to 39 40 to 49 50 to 54 55 to 59 60 and over 15pc 20pc 25pc 30pc 35pc 40pc 17,250 23,000 28,750 34,500 40,250 46,000 6,900 9,200 11,500 13,800 16,100 18,400 You may make a once-off pension contribution (known as AVCs) after the end of the tax year but before the following 31 October and elect to claim the tax relief in the earlier tax year. For example, an individual is 34 years of age and made pension contributions of 15,000 through payroll during 2017. Provided the individual has sufficient earnings, an AVC of up to 8,000 can be paid before 31 October 2018 to avail of the maximum tax relief on filing a 2017 tax return. Where you make contributions in excess of the above limits, the tax relief is carried forward to the following tax year. 7A Defined benefit scheme versus defined contribution scheme Occupational pension schemes are either a defined benefit (DB) scheme or a defined contribution (DC) scheme. Nowadays, DC schemes are most common. A DB scheme promises a fixed benefit on retirement. The benefit is broadly based on an employees years of services and final salary. The fixed benefit to be provided varies across schemes. Generally, DB schemes in the private sector provide for an annuity calculated as 1/60th of final salary multiplied by number of years of service, up to a maximum of 40 years service. This can usually be reduced by taking a lump sum on retirement. Public sector DB schemes tend to provide for a lump sum of 3/80ths of final salary multiplied by number of years of service, and an annuity of 1/80th of final salary multiplied by number of years of service, both of which are subject to a maximum of 40 years service. A DC scheme invests the contributions made to the scheme, including both employee and employer contributions where relevant, to provide a retirement benefit. The benefit is largely dependent on how the investments perform. The investments are managed by the pension trustees. Contributors generally have no influence over the investment plan. 8 Drawdown of pension benefits The precise pension benefits available at retirement depends on the type of scheme and the specific scheme rules: Type of scheme Comment Public sector scheme A mandatory lump sum of up to 1.5 times salary Defined benefit occupational scheme Up to 1.5 times final remuneration (salary plus fluctuating emoluments). Note where an individual has been a director who owned shares with greater than 5pc of the voting rights in the last three years, 25pc of the fund can be taken as a lump sum (instead of a lump sum based on final remuneration) Defined contribution occupational scheme Maximum of 25pc of the fund RAC / PRSA Maximum of 25pc of the fund AVCs can be used to provide an additional lump sum. The lump sum is taxed as follows: : Exempt : 20pc tax : 48pc tax Tax paid at the standard rate on a lump sum is creditable against the tax due on the excess over an individuals SFT/PFT (see section 10 below). Annuity pension Under a public sector scheme, the annual pension is calculated by reference to salary and length of service. The maximum level is 50pc of salary. For occupational pension schemes, a pension of up to 1/60th of final remuneration for each year of service (usually up to a maximum of 40 years) can be provided. This is reduced to take account of any lump sum received. AVCs can be used to purchase additional pension, within the maximum limits. A pension is taxable through the PAYE system at the individuals marginal rates, ie up to 48pc (being income tax and USC). PRSI does not apply to pensions. Taxable cash Provided either the minimum pension or AMRF condition is satisfied (see below), the balance of the following private sector schemes can be taken as taxable cash as an alternative to purchasing a pension: Defined benefit occupational scheme for directors with more than a 5pc shareholding in the company; Defined contribution occupational scheme; RAC; and PRSA. Cash is taxable through PAYE at the individuals marginal rates, ie up to 52pc if under age 66 and up to 48pc if over age 66. Transfer to ARF / AMRF An individual who wishes to take the balance as taxable cash or as an ARF transfer before reaching 75 years of age must have a minimum annual guaranteed pension income of 12,700. Where this cannot be demonstrated, an amount of 63,500 must be transferred to an AMRF or used to purchase an annuity pension. Once the minimum annual pension or AMRF condition is satisfied, the balance of all private sector pension schemes (mentioned under the heading taxable cash above) can be transferred to an ARF. An ARF is your personal property. The residual value at death goes to your estate. The transfer to an AMRF/ARF is not taxable in itself. Withdrawals from these funds are taxable in the same manner as taxable cash. In the case of an ARF, there are deemed minimum annual withdrawals from age 60 as set out below: Value of ARF Under Age 70 70 and over 4pc 6pc 5pc 6pc Withdrawals and deemed withdrawals from an ARF are taxable under the PAYE system. In the case of an AMRF, it is possible to withdraw up to 4pc of the fund every year, subject to tax under the PAYE system. An AMRF becomes an ARF at the earlier of reaching age 75, receiving an annual pension of 12,700 or death. Spouse and dependants pension Some schemes provide for a spouse and dependants pension. This will depend on the individual scheme rules and the choices made at retirement. 9 Public sector pensions Public sector employees contribute to pension schemes in the same manner as employees in the private sector. The main difference is that employer contributions are funded by the Exchequer. Pension Related Deduction (PRD) The PRD, sometimes referred to as the pension levy, was introduced on 1 March 2009. The following PRD rates are applicable since 1 January 2017: PRD rate Up to 28,750 28,751 to 60,000 Over 60,000 Exempt 10pc 10.5pc The PRD is treated as an allowable deduction for tax and USC purposes. There is no relief for employee PRSI. This does not affect the maximum level of pension contributions an individual can make. Additional Superannuation Contribution (ASC) The PRD will be replaced by the ASC from 1 January 2019. The PRD was a levy that was imposed on public servants under the Financial Emergency Measures in the Public Interest Acts. It is not a pension contribution. The ASC is treated as a pension contribution and is intended to attract the same marginal rate of tax relief applicable to Revenue-approved pension schemes. Different rates of ASC will apply to public sector workers who are members of pre-2013 pension schemes versus those who are not. The proposed ASC rates are as follows: Up to 32,000 32,001 to 60,000 Over 60,000 Exempt 10pc 10.5pc Exempt 6.66pc 7pc 10 Auto-enrolment Despite advice from government and actuaries, and regardless of the tax relief available, only about 40pc of the workforce are members of pension schemes. Therefore, the Government is to introduce an auto-enrolment regime whereby employees will be automatically included in a pension scheme (unless they opt out). Such regimes have already been introduced in Australia and the UK. The Government action plan, A Roadmap for Pensions Reform, provided for the introduction of auto-enrolment by 2022 with the contribution rate likely to be 14pc, to be funded as follows: Contributor Rate of contribution Employee: 6pc Employer:6pc Government:2pc Total contribution:14pc Note it is intended that the Government contribution will replace rather than augment the existing tax reliefs. This would suggest that the employee contribution will be payable from net after-tax pay. 11 Tax charge on high value pension funds The Standard Fund Threshold (SFT) is the maximum tax-relieved pension fund value an individual is permitted. It was first introduced in 2005 and is currently set at 2,000,000. This is a lifetime limit and includes all pension benefits. The previous SFT levels are as follows: Introduction: 7 December 2005 2006 2007 2008 to 6 December 2010 7 December 2010 to 2013 1 January 2014 to date 5,000,000 5,000,000 5,165,000 5,418,085 2,300,000 2,000,000 12 What happens if I move abroad? In general, the tax treatment outlined above continues to apply in Ireland. However, if there is a double taxation agreement between Ireland and your new country of residence, the Irish tax treatment can be different. Most double taxation agreements provide that the pension is to be taxed only in the country of residence. In this event, the payor should obtain permission from Revenue to pay the pension without deduction of PAYE. It should be noted that Revenue always treat ARF/AMRF withdrawals as taxable, as they are not pensions. Local tax in your country of residence should not be overlooked it is likely to be payable. Some people seek to transfer their pension funds abroad. Specific advice should be sought by anyone considering a transfer abroad. Compiled by Billy Burke, Partner, Global Employer Services; Niamh Barry, Manager, Global Employer Services; Ian Prenty, Director, Global Employer Services; and Donncha Dillon, Senior Manager, Global Employer Services, Deloitte 'The survey of just over 200 people found that 59pc of men have a private pension, in comparison to just 40pc of women.' Stock photo: Getty Affordability has been cited as the main reason for people not investing in a private pension. This is according to research carried out by HerMoney, a financial services company specifically for women. The survey of just over 200 people found that 59pc of men have a private pension, in comparison to just 40pc of women. Along with affordability, one in five females who do not have a private pension listed reliability issues, including concerns that the pension might fail, as a barrier. Men were less concerned by this, with one in 10 males citing issues around pension reliability as a barrier to having the financial product. Of the males that do not have a private pension, one in three said they hadn't considered having one, compared to 16pc of females who cited this as their reason for not having a private pension. In addition, the survey of workers who are self-employed, owners, or directors of companies, found that men were more likely to have a savings accounts. Almost eight in 10 men surveyed said that they had a savings account, with retirement at the forefront of their reasons for saving, followed by the need for an emergency or rainy day fund. Meanwhile, two-thirds of the women had a savings account. Unlike their male counterparts, retirement was only third on their list for having such an account, after an emergency or rainy day fund, and providing for children. Dublin's local authorities are working on a number of major new projects to build thousands of social and affordable housing units in the capital, the Sunday Independent has learned. A London-based venture capital fund has held exploratory talks with Dublin City Council chiefs regarding a plan that proposes using a Public-Private Partnership business model to build and retrofit thousands of social housing units in the capital. Fingal County Council is also advancing plans for a major tranche of 1,200 residential mixed-tenure housing units close to the IBM campus at Church Fields in Mulhuddart. The scheme is similar to one announced last week for Donabate. The Mulhuddart scheme, which has now moved to the design stage, will provide 1,200 houses with a mix of social and affordable housing, as well as a possibility of some private housing. The council is expected to lodge a Part 8 planning application in October for a new road to access the site. Funding proposals for the scheme, which will include apartment buildings up to six storeys, are being examined. Meanwhile, UK venture capital fund Blue Castle Partners - which has a track record of managing a portfolio of asset-based investments valued at 2bn - hosted a meeting with a number of Dublin City councillors in recent weeks, according to lobbying register filings. The meeting was facilitated by a social investment vehicle backed by former Dublin hotelier Jim Staunton. Staunton set up investment vehicle Medipro Life after netting 12m from the sale of his Dublin townhouse hotel Stauntons on the Green in 2015. The investment vehicle is working with Blue Castle Partners and City Council officials on a plan to kick-start a major development drive to solve the capital's social housing crisis. Lobbying register filings reveal the discussions explored "ways to finance the construction of homes for the DCC [Dublin City Council]. Discussions also took place in regard to the additional streams of revenue for the DCC as well as fire-safety standards" and new technology to reduce energy costs. Medipro Life CEO John Kidd, a former Siptu official and firefighter, said the ambitious proposals tabled at the meeting could slash council waiting lists, which currently stand at an estimated 20,000 families and individuals. "We support the proposals by Dublin City Council's head of housing, deputy chief executive Brendan Kenny, for a large-scale rezoning of industrial estates in central Dublin for new housing, as this would transform the landscape of the city, said Kidd. We want to build thousands of new energy efficient homes and retrofit thousands of old housing stock to help solve the social housing crisis once and for all. We have secured the finance for the project. Now we want to work with the council to help deliver it. In a letter sent to Dublin City Council chiefs in support of the exploratory talks, Blue Castle Partners executive director Edward L Williams confirmed his firms interest. Blue Castle Partners would like to express an interest to participate in an innovative partnership programme with Dublin City Council, he wrote. We believe that our involvement could provide financial instruments to address outstanding issues regarding social and affordable housing by building 20,000 carbon-neutral units. Dublin West Fine Gael councillor Kieran Dennison, who chairs Fingals economic development committee said that the funding model for the Mulhuddart scheme was still under discussion but that there was a push on in the county council to move the scheme to the building phase as quickly as possible. It is the first time this local authority has built on this scale and we are putting in a lot of the infrastructure and facilities in advance, he said. There are a number of Irish iconic FMCG brands that have become a major success on the world stage. Guinness, Baileys and Kerrygold butter have been highly successful trailblazers that paved the way for others. The marketing and brand-building that got them there has of course been world-class. Each brand is very clear on its marketing messages and position within their sectors. While the Irish connection may have helped at some early stage, I've no doubt each of these brands has achieved global stardom based on the merits of the products themselves. To rely on the diaspora to drive scale is a risky strategy. How then can brands like Oscar Wilde Water become a global success story? The Challenge As a commodity product, I'm sure there are literally thousands of water brands around the world. Consequently, even premium waters like Oscar Wilde Water will find themselves working on low margins in such a competitive marketplace. When margins are tight, finding sufficient funds to spend on marketing in the early days can be a real issue. When you're up against global brands that are well established from years of big marketing budgets, that's tough. That challenge shows itself with getting listings with distributors in the first place. There are long lines of premium water companies already vying for space with global distributors. Why should any one suddenly start selling Oscar Wilde Water? After all, they are like supermarkets with limited 'shelf space' in their product portfolios. For Oscar Wilde Water to be a success, it will have to displace other brands. The second challenge is to build familiarity of the brand with consumers. Understandably all of the effort so far has been to get the product listed with distributors. That 'push' activity is typical of startups. However, the company will also have to consider some 'pull' activity very soon. This is about reaching out to consumers to educate them so that they ask for the brand in a restaurant or pub. Brand-Building Tips 1 'Push' marketing activity. Noel Toolan, a marketer with many years' experience of global FMCG brands (such as Procter & Gamble and Baileys), shared his views. "The first step is to build a strong narrative for the brand. There is a great story to be told around the Oscar Wilde connection. But who is the end customer? If this is not clearly defined and communicated, the distributors will see no reason to complicate their own world with another commodity product" he said. John Hegarty and Rory McLoughney already have a great pipeline of distributors lined up around the world for Oscar Wilde Water. They are probably now at a point of being able to pick and choose the ones that best fit with their long-term strategy and can add value to the brand. 2 'Pull' marketing activity. When negotiating with distributors, Oscar Wilde Water might do what other global brands do. Perhaps they could insist that as part of the agreement, each distributor allocates and spends a certain per cent of sales revenue on consumer marketing activity. Imagine a utopian scenario where consumers asked for a bottle of Oscar Wilde Water by name? For example, how many of us still talk about 'Hoovering' the carpet? The Hoover name has become synonymous with vacuum cleaners, as has Google with search engines and Powerpoint with presentation software. Last Orders Last week we talked about Killowen Farm yogurt driving volume and cash by doing 'own-label' for some retailers. Oscar Wilde too may have an opportunity to bottle water for other brands. Also, if enough of the right distributors can be secured for the premium water, that will drive volume and cash into the business. All of that will help to develop a rhythm in the business and build operational expertise in these early years. But there is another significant opportunity that they are already on to - and that's to develop 'craft tonic water'. When Oscar Wilde's name is mentioned, water is probably the last thing we think of. Let's face it, he was better known for 'uisce beatha' than just 'uisce'. But the tonic story is a powerful one. There is great potential for a great narrative that links the Oscar Wilde with authentic Irish artesian water and flavoured craft tonics. The water gives it honesty and a narrative that is second to none. There is another brand of tonic water that started out just 13 years ago. It has developed a global reputation for quality and flavour in a very short space of time. Arguably, it has outmanoeuvred Schweppes, the long-established global brand. If the explosion in the gin market is real and here to stay, then there is great hope and potential for Oscar Wilde Tonic Waters too. I'll look forward to the day when consumers naturally ask for a "Gin and Wilde". When I walk out the front door of my workshop, the Bluestack Mountains are right there. Though I get the feeling the Government would like people like us to be all operating from an industrial estate along the M50, says The Veneerist founder Ciaran Mc Gill. Photo: Declan ODoherty In modern popular culture, veneers are best known as the preserve of celebrities - or Love Island contestants - with incredulously perfect white smiles. But at Ladies' Day during the Galway Races, two attendees were wearing veneers of a different kind: wooden veneers on their fascinators. The man behind the designs was Ciaran Mc Gill, who, as an expert in marquetry, is more accustomed to his creations being worn by inanimate objects like high-end furniture. Ciaran, the entrepreneur behind a fledgling business called The Veneerist, had grabbed the chance to make wooden fascinators for his girlfriend and her friend for the racing festival. "It was a good chance to try new techniques," the 27-year-old says. "The ladies are open to expressive and flamboyant hats and are not afraid to try something different." Marquetry is the art and craft of applying pieces of veneer to a structure to form decorative patterns, designs or images. While examples of furniture inlaid with precious woods have been recovered from the first-century sites of Pompeii and Herculaneum, the Dutch are credited with popularising the use of marquetry in the 16th century. The craft was imported to France in the mid-17th century to create luxurious furniture for Versailles and the other royal residences of Louis XIV. Marquetry skills likely came to Ireland via Huguenot settlers. But because marquetry was so labour intensive, it eventually faded from the Irish furniture scene. However, it is now poised for a renaissance, thanks to technology, demand from the wealthy, and craftsmen such as Ciaran. Instead of hand-cutting veneers, laser technology enables a sketch to be engineered into an AutoCad file. Each veneer is then laser-cut separately and the pieces are hand-assembled - like a jigsaw puzzle - and pressed. The work is sanded and flattened until smoothed, and then a finish is applied. Veneers can be inlaid to anything from table-tops and chessboards to cabinet doors and large wall panels. "It wouldn't be feasible to cut all of it by hand and marquetry was really a dying art 20 or 30 years ago, until laser technology came in," Ciaran says. "Now, depending on the intricacy of a design, a piece could take anything from a few days to three weeks." Ciaran seemed destined to work with wood. Growing up in London, he would accompany his father, a plasterer from Donegal, to construction sites, make wooden objects with his toolset, and was always drawing. When Ciaran was 10, the Mc Gill family moved back to Donegal, and Ciaran took woodwork classes at secondary school. The course piqued his interest so much that the only college course he applied for was one in furniture design and manufacturing at GMIT's campus in the Connemara village of Letterfrack. "In my first year at Letterfrack, one of my initial projects was a small marquetry panel," he says. "It was something I could relate to and I enjoyed that element, so throughout my time at Letterfrack, I was bringing marquetry into my designs and my furniture." During the four-year course, Ciaran did a work placement in the UK for Silverlining, a maker of bespoke furniture for yachts, homes and private jets owned by the super-rich. It counts David Bowie and Kevin Costner among its previous clients. When he graduated from Letterfrack in 2012, Ireland was still in recession, so he and a college friend moved to the UK. There, Ciaran pursued a year-long master's degree in furniture design at London Metropolitan University, subsiding his studies with part-time bar work. He then spent a year as a joiner in London, making doors and windows. But Ciaran "found it hard to relate to that type of work", so successfully set his sights on working for Ace Marquetry. The Wiltshire-based company has worked with furniture makers and designers such as David Linley, the professional name for David Armstrong-Jones, nephew of Britain's Queen Elizabeth, and the son of the late Princess Margaret. In late 2015, after a year at Ace Marquetry, Ciaran felt confident enough to start his own business back in Ireland. "It was a bit daunting at first," he says. "The main idea in the first year or two was to gain a small client base and build up working relationships with them. When I came back from England, I had just one month's salary and no savings. But I did have a business plan and my qualifications, so I went with them to the bank. "I did my research and found the companies working in the industry. I made up a few samples and began knocking on doors and workshops to get talking to them. Sometimes people underestimate old-fashioned door-to-door sales and meeting face-to-face, especially when they need to touch a product." The Veneerist was set up in a converted farm building near his father's house in Fintown, a village in the Donegal Gaeltacht, near the Bluestack Mountains. "I picked up that idea from Ace, which is in Wiltshire and where we rarely met the makers because we sent everything by courier," Ciaran says. "With a courier service, you can have next-day delivery from anywhere in rural Ireland. It's also good to be based in Donegal because it has a certain narrative that's necessary in the design and craft industry. "When I walk out the front door of my workshop, the Bluestack Mountains are right there. Though I get the feeling the Government would like people like us to be all operating from an industrial estate along the M50." About three-quarters of The Veneerist's business derives from subcontracting work for high-end furniture makers in Ireland and the UK, interior designers and architects. "I would describe myself as part of the whole process," Ciaran says. "If they are designing a piece like a table or cabinet, I would do detailed work on the table-top or doors." Commissions account for the remaining quarter of Ciaran's revenues, but he intends to expand that strand of the business. "The plan is to develop my workshop and then in my spare time do my own designs and move on to my own private commissions. "The main demand is from the London market, where marquetry is very big, but it's slowly coming into Ireland. We're talking about work for high-end clients' private residents and for corporate office buildings. I've done jewellery, artworks, and a world map for private clients." In 2016, Ciaran created an art piece called 'Ladies of the Revolution' to help promote the often-overlooked role played by women during the War of Independence. The artwork is his interpretation of a photo of three women, May Burke, Eithne Ni Chumhaill and Linda Kearns, that was taken shortly after their escape from prison in 1921. His focus for next year will be to reinvent the grandfather clock by creating a modern take on the classic timepiece. "Grandfather clocks have been forgotten," Ciaran says. "But there's definitely demand in the market for high-end, exclusive grandfather clocks with contemporary lines, but keeping the chimes and faces." theveneerist.com Water is one of the most important natural resources of all and there is so much more we could learn about it. Wars have been fought over it, protest marches have been held in its honour and fortunes have been made by water entrepreneurs. Yet the idea of Irish consumers paying for bottled water was considered a big joke only 35 years ago. In his colourful life, serial entrepreneur John Hegarty has designed high-end clothing and boxes for CDs and DVDs. But from his time spent in Dublin, the US west coast, west of Ireland and now Tipperary, he has always had a deep fascination with water. I have never come across anyone with so much knowledge of water as John. The mineral composition, the flavour, the source and the history all rolled off his tongue at ease. I was boggle-eyed by the time he took a breath. Another passion he has is Oscar Wilde. "There is hardly a magazine anywhere in the world that doesn't have some quote from our greatest wit," said John. For 19 years, John has been churning his idea for creating a premium water branded 'Oscar Wilde' to the world stage. While spending time in Mayo where Wilde holidayed as a child, John was plotting and planning. An 'ideas man' with a highly active brain, you can only be inspired by his activities. The Water and the Wild(e) John and his business partner Rory McLoughney launched Oscar Wilde water as a premium brand in 2013. Rory introduced the famous 'Powerball' to the Irish market and between him and John, they have years of experience in international brand development. They are of the view that the bottled water market in Ireland is mainly about price and it's a race to the bottom. Theirs being a premium product, it probably has less potential here in the home market. From the beginning they had their eyes set on the international stage and that has been their focus ever since. The brand has been received incredibly well wherever they go. Due to the obvious familiarity with the name, the diaspora in the US and elsewhere were won over very quickly. Initially they contracted out the sourcing and bottling of the water to a local company in Mayo. The quality of the water in this facility is of a very high grade, which suited their premium aspiration. As time went on and the brand took off, they felt they needed more control of the full supply chain. It's (not) a Long Way to Tipperary There is an amazing water production facility near Thurles in Tipperary. Operated by C&C for years, the natural artesian well water has won 15 gold stars internationally. While the mineral composition is obviously slightly different to the Mayo well, it is a perfect match for the Oscar Wilde premium brand. As it happened, C&C had shut down the plant and consolidated its production nearby to Clonmel, with the loss of jobs. Facilitated by TD Michael Lowry, a successful introduction was made between John, Rory and the C&C executives. C&C agreed to sell the plant and machinery to the new brand and Oscar Wilde water now has a permanent 'home'. Not only that, C&C agreed to become a distributor for the brand. This is a great win-win for both parties. A very inclusive future If you're old enough to remember TV's The Odd Couple, you'll remember Felix and Oscar. That is how I see John and Rory. One is the yin to the other's yang. While very different in style, they are as well matched as gin and tonic. And that brings me to their ambitions for the future: water is not the only product in their pipeline. They are also planning a range of premium tonic waters to add to the mix. With six flavours, they aim to capitalise on the explosion in the gin market. They have a very impressive and inclusive business model for seeking investment. As with many of the US multinationals in Ireland, they are sharing the business with their employees. Most of the 20 recruits are ex-C&C employees and have invested their own money in the business. That makes them shareholders with a vested interest in the long-term success of the brand. Between them all they have 250 years of appropriate experience. A recent announcement heralded 100 new jobs in the plant in the coming years. Scaling Up While they have secured listings in premium establishments in Ireland, their main focus is on international development. C&C have invested heavily in recent times in the UK market, so partnering with them is already a huge boost. Additionally they are in negotiations with several international distributors, so moving from one shift to full production may happen sooner than expected. John and Rory are keen fans of other Irish brand trailblazers like Guinness and Baileys. They have great conviction that the Oscar Wilde brand will be just as successful in time, relatively speaking. If passion and grit count for anything, something tells me that this is one to watch. The improved economic conditions in Ireland are providing a lot of opportunity for SME growth. The increase in economic activity in general over the last three to four years has seen an upsurge in SME activity with business expansions and the next generation being brought on board at companies as owners find themselves able to retire. The increased activity has led to an upsurge in staff buy-ins, competitor takeovers, business disposals, business restructuring to cater for expansion, new structures to control tax leakages such as overseas vehicles, incorporation of sole trades, group structures, partnerships and joint ventures. It is a busy time. But in many cases business owners are not aware what they need to do to manage change efficiently or what reliefs are available to minimise taxes. Here are five key areas business owners need to be mindful of as they work hard to grow and take advantage of the increased opportunity. 1 Retaining key staff using reward schemes A downside to the improved economic conditions for SME's is the struggle to hold on to top-class employees. Employers are having to go above and beyond the normal salary package. More and more companies are looking at reward schemes and other such initiatives for key employees. The fact is that SMEs are struggling to hold onto key employees using pay increases. Instead key staff want profit participation or ownership, perks, flexible hours, modern work environments and so on. SMEs have been slow to use share options or profit incentives as they think they are for the 'big boys'. The truth is that they probably don't understand them or believe they may complicate the running of the company or future sale. What SME's should be aware of is that the Government introduced a new Share Option Scheme in Budget 2018 called the Key Employee Engagement Programme - KEEP for short. Unfortunately, the Government has attached one too many conditions, making it more complex than it needed to be hence the take-up has been low. But the scheme is there to be used and with a little more improvement this scheme could be a massive help to SMEs in retaining staff. 2 Managing Business and Tax Risk As SMEs grow and become more profitable, their structures need to evolve to manage business risk and tax risks. Without the right structures in place, risks may be exposed which can be detrimental if something goes wrong. For commercial and tax reasons, businesses should be looking at their structures on a periodic basis in order to safeguard shareholders' interests. So, for instance, some business might look at creating a group structure where they would separate out property assets from trading assets as different risk ratios often apply here. For obvious reasons, SMEs need to routinely check their structure and make sure it's fit for purpose. Otherwise, all those long hours could be for nothing. 3 Succession planning We all agree that SME owners are some of the hardest-working people in our economy. Yet when it comes to planning for succession and bringing in the next generation it's often left on the long finger with no real thought. This can create all sorts of issues such as tax exposures, financial stress and family relationship breakdowns. It is incumbent on practitioners to get SME owners thinking who will take over the business or will the business be sold in future? Every case is different. Some SMEs already have a successor identified, others have no children or relatives interested in taking on the business. Maybe an employee might be interested in purchasing it? Without proper planning, CGT on business disposal and CAT on gifts may be an issue. Fortunately, there are tax reliefs available but conditions must be satisfied. This is where you need to plan to ensure these conditions are met. Planning for these eventualities should take place years in advance - it's too late when the transaction is about to happen. On the subject of succession, the current Capital Acquisition Thresholds are simply not sufficient in any way to cover even the most basic asset transfers to the next generation. Lifetime transfers to children over 310,000 are taxed at 33pc. It's not that long ago since this threshold was more than 500,000. If the Government is advocating a fair and equitable taxation system this is one threshold that needs to be looked at seriously if we are to avoid children being taxed out of homes when receiving inheritances. 4 CGT Entrepreneur relief There has been a steady increase in SME disposals in years, and entrepreneurial relief is now commonly used to minimise Capital Gains Tax 'CGT' on the disposal of SME businesses. In simple terms, it works by applying CGT at 10pc on the first 1m chargeable gain per individual, with 33pc applying to the remaining chargeable gain. However, as has been widely reported, the UK has far more advantageous Entrepreneur Reliefs, so the Irish Government must start delivering on promises to improve this scheme by moving that 1m threshold closer to the UK's 10m limit. There is an ever-increasing risk of entrepreneurs looking to the UK to set up businesses if this is not addressed in the next budget or two. 5 Farmers Farmers are the largest SME business in rural Ireland. Over the years, unique tax incentives have been introduced such as stock relief, profit averaging and accelerated capital allowances. In the last five years, the Government has introduced a 25,000 tax credit over five years to encourage the passing over of the family farm through a registered succession farm partnership. As a result, there has been a significant uptake in registered farm partnerships for non-dairy operations. For dairy farmers, they are in rapid expansion mode so they are looking to corporate structures to lower their tax, to reinvest surplus funds and pay back debt tax efficiently. In summary, the taxation and advice requirements of farmers need an experienced farm tax adviser to provide the very best tax planning to them. Pat Sutton is managing partner at KellySutton Chartered Accountants and Tax Advisers (incorporating Allen Morrissey & Co). patrick.sutton@okellysutton.ie THE VALLEY, ANGUILLA The Department of Disaster Management with the Puerto Rico Strong Motion Program (PRSMP) of the University of Puerto Rico at Mayaguez (UPRM) established on August 15, 2018, the first strong motion station which will record high intensity earthquakes in Anguilla. This is a milestone of a collaboration project which started several years ago, and in which the PRSMP has invested about $25,000 USD. The PRSMP is under the Civil Engineering & Surveying Department of the UPRM, and has a strong motion network of 115 stations distributed in Puerto Rico (92), Dominican Republic (17), British Virgin Islands (5), US Virgin Islands (1), and now Anguilla makes the 116th station. These stations are ready to record high intensity earthquakes in the northeastern side of the Caribbean Tectonic Plate. The data recorded by the station will benefit the people of Anguilla because, in many ways, it will provide improved monitoring of two faults, the Anegada trench and the Puerto Rico trench. It will also be very useful for the design of earthquake resistant structures. For example: a) Data from the units are used for the development of Seismic Hazard Maps of the region which is an extremely important aspect in the development of the building codes, b) with the data collected the natural period of vibration of the ground is determined, so that structural engineers should avoid designing buildings with natural period of vibrations similar to the ground to reduce the seismic vulnerability of the structure, and c) the data collected during a big earthquake is used as input data in the computer models of structures to study the seismic behavior of structures such as buildings, and towers. The disappearance of Deirdre Jacob in 1998 is one of those terrible moments which have seared themselves into the national consciousness. Recently, the 20th anniversary of her disappearance, from near her home in Kildare, sparked fresh interest in the case - and seems to have sparked something more, as "significant new information" has now resulted in gardai upgrading it from missing persons to a murder investigation. Of course, the most important people here - apart from the poor young woman herself - are her family. Dad Michael told News at One (Radio 1, Mon-Fri 1pm) that "listening to (the news) this morning, it still came as a shock. Just hearing those sort of words - that Deirdre was murdered - it's a really heart-wrenching situation. We always held out hope (she was alive). But now, the way this investigation is going, it's a difficult time." The family hopes "this media coverage will encourage someone, who might have that vital piece of information, to come forward. We're appealing to them. Now is the time to tell." He, and wife Bernie, have been incredibly brave and dignified throughout all this. The whole country has been praying for a happy ending for them, though sadly, that does not appear possible now. Is the Rose of Tralee out of touch with modern Ireland? This is the question posed by Andrea Gilligan on Newstalk Breakfast (Mon-Fri 7am). Is it still relevant? Her guest, columnist Larissa Nolan, is not a big fan - and never has been. "I don't think it's outdated for 2018," she said, "it's always been outdated I can't understand why someone would be interested in watching this, and why would these highly accomplished women be bothered entering." She also described the Rose, waspishly but rather amusingly, as being "like a 12-year-old's birthday party". I like Nolan as a commentator, but must demur in this instance. The Rose is at worst harmless, at best a way for the Irish diaspora to reconnect with their spiritual homeland. It's hard to understand why anyone would get all worked up about it either way. Futureproof (Newstalk, Sat 12 noon) was this week concerned with our imminent demise possibly. Lauren Sallan, paleobiologist at the University of Pennsylvania, spoke to Jonathan McCrea about "mass extinction events", defined as "an event that wipes out biodiversity at orders of magnitude far above what we call 'background extinction' - wiping out, say, 60pc of species, or species that wouldn't be expected to die off." Life staggered on to land during the Cambrian Explosion over 500 million years ago. Since then there have been five mass extinctions. Is a sixth happening now? The jury remains out - but hold off on investing in those building society shares all the same. Comedy show Sketch (Dublin City FM, Wed 3pm) has returned for a second series. Last year I described Michael Cullen's creation as "attempting something different - and doing a darn good job of it", with trippy, funny set-ups making for daft, clever, inventive, well-played and very entertaining comedy. Video of the Day All of this continues to apply. I especially enjoyed the clipped-toned actress providing the "public voice" of Archbishop McQuaid and Christy Ring, and Marky Markievicz, the rapping rebel who ruins surprise attacks in 1916 by "busting out dope rhymes". Finally, I'm neither a fan of John Boyne's books or "confessional" interviews. Yet his conversation with Brendan O'Connor (The Marian Finucane Show, Radio 1, Sat-Sun 11am), about the break-up of Boyne's marriage and an attempted suicide, was compelling radio - impossible to switch off and ultimately very moving. SEIZED: Spanish police pictures of tonnes of drugs, bundles of cash and a firearm found after the raid on a property in San Pedro de Alcantara Irish nationals are among 11 people arrested after a huge drug seizure on Spain's Costa Del Sol. Spanish police seized almost seven tonnes of cannabis with a street value of nearly 18m after smashing a British-led drugs gang. Officers say the gang was led by a British national who was using his home in San Pedro de Alcantara near the resort of Marbella to store the drugs. A total of 11 people - nine men and two women - have been held. Police say they include British nationals, Moroccans, Spanish and Irish citizens. The number of British and Irish citizens held totals five, although police were not able to say yesterday how many held Irish passports. Those held have been accused of using boats to smuggle cannabis into southern Spain from Morocco. As well as cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, cash, a gun, nine vehicles, 25 mobile phones and a frequency jammer were seized during the operation, which investigators say began when a suspect in a van carrying drugs rammed several police vehicles during a chase. Footage showing the seizures - including bundles of euro and sterling notes as well as a pistol - were released by police yesterday. A police spokesman said: "National Police officers have smashed a criminal gang operating out of Marbella and the nearby town of Estepona which was smuggling cannabis into Spain using boats so it could be sent on to other places. "In this operation 11 people from Britain, Ireland, Morocco and Spain have been arrested on suspicion of drugs trafficking and membership of a criminal organisation." The operation began in March when officers were tipped off about the existence of Moroccans and Spanish nationals smuggling drugs into Spain on boats. Gardai are believed to be assisting their Spanish colleagues in the case. Private sector workers earning more than 20,000 a year will be automatically enrolled in the new scheme, which will see the Government contribute 1 for every 3 put into a State-run pension fund. Workers will not be able to opt out of the system for at least nine months. Employees earning more than 75,000 can contribute to the scheme but they will not be able to put any earnings above the salary cap into their pension pots. Workers earning less than 20,000 will not be automatically enrolled in the scheme but will be able to opt in to the system. Just 35pc of the private sector work force currently have a private pension. The auto-enrolment scheme, which is being spearheaded by Social Protection Minister Regina Doherty, will be introduced on a phased basis and is aimed at low- to middle income earners who do not have private pensions. The aim is to have workers contribute 6pc of their salary to a State pension pot which would be matched by employers and the State would pay another 2pc. The 6:6:2 ratio of pension contributions will be introduced over an eight-year period. When the scheme is officially introduced in 2022, workers will be asked to pay around 1pc of their salary while the State and employers will each contribute 0.33pc. The compulsory pension system will complement rather than replace the contributory State pension scheme. This means workers in the auto-enrolment system will also be entitled to a weekly State pension payment on retirement. Tax relief on private pensions will not be affected by the compulsory scheme. "We want to make the scheme as simple as it can be and make it equal in value to a tax relief on a private pension and the people we are looking to attract are low to middle income," a senior government source said. Workers with private pensions will also be able to transfer their pension pots into the new State-run system. Those in the scheme will also be able to draw down from their pension pot on one occasion for a significant purchase such as mortgage. This week, Minister Doherty will outlne her proposals for the scheme ahead of a public consultation. Her plans for the scheme will be set out in a ''straw man'' proposal or discussion paper on Wednesday. Government sources said that the minister's proposals were open for debate and nothing in relation to the compulsory pension scheme was set in stone. "It is a high-level draft intended to generate and prompt discussion and improve ideas," the source said. "The intention is to help interested parties conceptualise plausible approaches to auto-enrolment and to facilitate a focused debate around key design issues and how to address income adequacy for retirees," the source added. Autumn weather makes its first appearance later this week Mild and humid conditions this weekend are set to continue for a number of days before cloud breaks bringing the first glimpse of fresher autumn weather later this week. The tail-end of Storm Ernesto which brought heavy downpours overnight has passed but the warm and heavy air will remain until Tuesday. From Wednesday however conditions will break and temperatures will start to fall bringing a fresher feel to the air. On Wednesday a front is coming down from the north west which should be clear through late on Wednesday afternoon, forecaster Aoife Murray told Independent.ie. This will bring fresher conditions with more sunshine which looks like it will extend into the weekend. Temperatures over the past 48 hours have peaked around 24C in parts of the East this weekend but will drop to as low as 14C in some areas from the middle of the week. In the meantime, cloud will persist with patches of rain for Monday and Tuesday. Temperatures will continue to hover around 20C for many parts. The scene of the fatal accident in Bundoran (North West Newspix) A man in his 20s who presented himself to gardai in relation to a fatal road crash in Co Donegal in the early hours of this morning has been released without charge. A file will be prepared for the DPP. Two young people - a man and a woman, both aged in their 20s - were killed after the car in which they were travelling crashed into a wall of a business premises. Their bodies have been removed to Sligo General Hospital, where a post mortem will be carried out tomorrow. Two other men, aged mid 20s, suffered serious injuries and were removed to Sligo General Hospital. A second woman was also critically injured. She has been transferred to Beaumont hospital in Dublin this evening. It is understood that the group were travelling to the Fermanagh border when the incident occurred. Weather conditions may have been difficult for the driver due to heavy rain overnight. Garda forensic collision investigators officers are at scene of the crash and the road is currently closed to traffic. Local diversions are in place. Anyone with information in relation to the collision are asked to contact Gardai in Ballyshannon Garda Station on 071 - 9858530, the Garda Confidential Line 1800 666 111 or any Garda Station. The 2018 Presidential Election campaign rolled into Carlow town last week. It wasn't quite The West Wing, but the chambers of Carlow County Council offered us a glimpse at the qualities of some of those hoping for the chance to challenge Michael D Higgins for his job at the end of October. As popular as Michael D is, and we've no reason to believe he is likely to be beaten, he is seen by many as too left-wing, and that he doesn't represent a traditional Ireland, or an Ireland that is more business-oriented. It is to council chambers across Ireland that the presidential hopefuls will go in the next month. They ranged from the boring to the bizarre, but that won't stop county councils getting at least one candidate on to the ballot paper. The councillors will enjoy the attention, and they won't have liked being told by their party leaders that they shouldn't nominate. And since Sinn Fein has announced it will nominate a candidate, we know we're going to have an election, so they can't be accused of wasting public money on an election that some don't see as necessary. We didn't learn much we didn't already know in Carlow, but we learned that the challengers will do just that. Challenge Higgins. While none directly attacked him, the focus on the candidates' energy and dynamism were oblique criticisms of Michael D. Those are likely to get more head on as time passes. The entrepreneur Gavin Duffy, the artist Kevin Sharkey, and mental health campaigner Joan Freeman made presentations - but Sean Gallagher, who was briefly a leading contender in 2011, is also expected to seek a nomination, as is another businessman, Padraig O Ceidigh. Gallagher was the de facto Fianna Fail candidate in 2011. Those who voted Fianna Fail in the general election supported him in the presidential election. Given Fianna Fail has said it won't run a candidate, Fianna Fail councillors might help him run again. Is Fianna Fail's decision a wise one? In the context of no candidate being nominated against Michael D, running a Fianna Fail candidate who was certain to lose made no sense. But now that there will be an election, does it still make sense? Fianna Fail TD Eamon O Cuiv wants his party to reconsider that decision. There is some annoyance in Fianna Fail that Micheal Martin rushed the party into it without fully considering the implications. O Cuiv might be right. Sinn Fein will use the election to give Mary Lou McDonald a first run at campaigning as a party leader. Just as Sinn Fein posters in the recent referendum were heavily Mary Lou-focused, the party's candidate for Aras 2018 might be secondary to the campaign's purpose. Sinn Fein activists will have a chance to test the party's campaign machine. It gives members a reason to be involved. It's a bit like staying fit, you need to keep working at campaigning. A presidential election is like a pre-season friendly match. It doesn't matter much who wins, but you're glad of the chance to get match fit. Opting out of elections saves a party money, but it can cost in the long term. This is especially the case when Sinn Fein is challenging Fianna Fail to be the main opposition party. Already, Sinn Fein's narrative is that Fianna Fail is effectively part of the Government. Sinn Fein says it's challenging the elite. By conspiring with Fine Gael to support Michael D, Fianna Fail just helps push that narrative. Another problem is that supporting Higgins is not something that many in Fianna Fail would instinctively do. Fianna Fail supporters will have to look around for who to vote for. They might have their head turned by a Sinn Fein candidate. And after you've voted for a party once, it becomes easier the next time. By not running a candidate, Fianna Fail is inviting party faithful to break a habit of a lifetime. If Gallagher is the de facto party candidate, this might solve the problem for Fianna Fail. But the party won't be able to control the message, and Martin and the rest of the party will be spectators in what will be a two-week long media bonanza just after the Budget. Micheal Martin will have to make a decision. If he opens up the debate in Fianna Fail about running a candidate, he has to admit a mistake - something none of us enjoy. But he also knows that it will eat up resources the party doesn't have. Nor is there an obvious candidate. Eamon O Cuiv himself might work, but it would just reinforce in people's minds the idea that Fianna Fail represents a traditional, rural Ireland. Not, perhaps, the image the party wants to portray. It could make a decision to support Sean Gallagher or Padraig O Ceidigh's candidacy, making either man an official Fianna Fail candidate. But to win you need to build a coalition well beyond one party, so if I were them I wouldn't want to be an official party candidate, or at least I'd minimise that link in the campaign. Or it could allow its TDs and senators to support whoever they want, expanding the field of candidates, but also making it less party political. This could make Sinn Fein look like the one that's out of place, bringing party politics to a non-partisan office. As with most things, there is no clear best strategy for the party. Fianna Fail might think it's best to just take the hit on coverage, and that no one will care three weeks later. But party members aren't keen to sit yet another match out. Eoin O'Malley is the director of the MSc in Public Policy at DCU Secretary General of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Ambassador Irwin LaRocque and Deputy Chair of the African Union Commission (AUC), His Excellency Kwesi Quartey discussed the need for continued ACP solidarity in the negotiations for the Post-Coutonou Agreement with the European Union (EU). Negotiations for the Co-operation Agreement between the African Caribbean Pacific Group of Countries (ACP) and the EU were among the issues discussed when Mr Quartey and his delegation paid a courtesy call on the Secretary-General at the CARICOM Secretariats headquarters in Georgetown, Guyana on Friday. The agreement, which was signed in 2000, governs trade and political relations but also cooperation between the EU and 79 ACP countries. The current agreement expires in 2020 and will have to be replaced with a new partnership agreement. Ambassador LaRocque and Mr Quartey took the opportunity to consider some of the areas in which their two organisations could work together including the formalisation of an institutional relationship between the African Union and CARICOM to promote cooperation and to strengthen the deep bond of friendship between Africa and the Caribbean. Ambassador LaRocque informed the AUC team on a number of the Communitys initiatives including the work of the CARICOM Reparations Commission. Both sides agreed on the need for greater collaboration on matters of mutual interest in the international arena such as climate change. "It is not enough to simply say sorry" for the historic cases of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, the Archbishop of Dublin said this morning. Ahead of Pope Francis visit to the Ireland for the World Meeting of Families next week he said anger at the role of the Church leadership in compounding the suffering of so many institutions for Children. Speaking at the Pro-Cathedral, Archbishop Diarmuid Martin said Pope Francis would not be able to answer all the questions being asked of him next week but that he hope he would speak frankly. It is not enough just to say sorry. Structures that permit or facilitate abuse must be broken down and broken down forever. Why does this not happen? Why must such a simple affirmation have to be repeated so often? Structures that permit or facilitate abuse must be broken down and broken down forever everywhere. In a sermon on the theme of love, Archbishop Martin said there was a resentment and anger among people toward the Catholic Church in Ireland. The scandals of abuse in the Church have produced a deep-seated resentment among believers. It is not just anger over the horror of abuse, but an anger at the role of church leadership in compounding the suffering of so many in institutions for children, for unmarried mothers and for vulnerable women. The anger is not just about abuse but also about a Church that was authoritarian harsh, autocratic and self-protecting. Rather than bringing the liberating message of the love of God, it imposed a world of rules to such an extent that it lacked respect for the personal life of many and especially of women, he added. He reiterated previous comments calling for leaders in the church to deal with its controversial past in order to move forward. While admitting the visit marked many anxieties about our Catholic Church and wider afield, he said it would also bring widespread expectation and joy and enthusiasm. The Pope has to speak frankly about our past but also about our future. We need a Church with confidence: not the confidence of popularity or arrogance but the confidence that comes from men and women captivated by the message of Jesus, he said. Pope Francis will spend two days in Ireland, touring a number of locations including the shrine in Knock and the Capuchin Day Centre, as well as performing a mass to more than 500,000 people in Phoenix Park. Earlier this week Pope Francis said he was on the side of victims of clerical abuse after a US grand jury report revealed historic sexual abuse cases involving more than 1,000 children and over 300 Catholic priests in Pennsylvania. Archbishop Martin said those in the care of the church, including women and children, experienced an extraordinary harshness. I keep asking myself what it was in Irish Catholicism that led to such a level of harshness. When you add up all the categories of victims, you can see that the number was immense. We still only know the identity of some. It is not something that belongs to the past but a hurt that survivors and those close to them carry in their hearts every day of their lives, he said. Despite these challenges faced by the Catholic Church the Archbishop of Dublin said he was confident that the Irish people would extend a warm welcome to Pope Francis on his visit to Ireland. Pope Francis is a kind man, someone who inspires and touches hearts. I know that Irish people will extend a kind welcome to him. People of differing voices are interested in him as a person and in what he stands for. He concluded Let us pray for the lonely, the abandoned, those without hope. Let us pray for those who are without a home. Let us pray for those who are hurt because the Church does not adequately recognise their dignity. Let us pray for all families. Frank, with his girlfriend, who were among the hoards En masse for Mass: Pope John Paul II waves to the crowds during his visit in 1979 I thought my devout mother would be pleased when I told her that I was going to drive overnight to see the Pope in Dublin. Sure, in fact, that the news of her religiously lax son undertaking this sacred pilgrimage to the Phoenix Park would be greeted with a generous splashing of Lourdes water and a God speed. But she was decidedly indifferent. John Paul II, infallible though he may have been, had committed a mortal sin in her eyes. He had left Cork off his Ireland Tour 79. Expand Close Frank, with his girlfriend, who were among the hoards / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Frank, with his girlfriend, who were among the hoards "He's going to Galway," she sniffed. "Galway? Sure, it's only a town." She wasn't the only one. The Irish Press reported that "Cork is a city that feels left out in the cold. It has no flowers, no new bunting, and along the whole length of Patrick Street hardly a dozen flags are flying." A schism was not expected but there were rumblings. Rome fell out with Constantinople over less. I was undeterred, however. Not because of any newly discovered religious fervour or because I had been swept away by the rock star appeal of JPII, but because I needed desperately to impress my new girlfriend. It had been made clear to me over a Harp and a glass of Guinness 'n' blackcurrant that if I couldn't find the time to bring her, somebody else might. The threat was left hanging there. So the great adventure began. It would be my first time driving to Dublin and my Toyota Corolla got the full service. That is air in the remoulds and a splash of Fairy for the windscreen wash. I even added a few cassettes to my glove compartment library. 10CC if memory serves. White, gorgeous and with a spoiler that didn't seem to do much, my first car cut a bit of a dash. Souped up and noisy, it was only when she had to actually go anywhere quickly that her limitations were exposed. A minor consideration around town but a bit of a liability on the open road. The girlfriend, a student nurse in the South Infirmary, managed to get the Friday night off so we set off in the early hours. She brought a sleeping bag which she immediately wrapped herself in while I listened to Bowie's Pin Ups and concentrated on the cat's eyes on the long and winding road to the greatest show on earth. The last time so many Irish people had gathered in anything like these numbers was when John McCormack warbled at the Eucharistic Congress in 1932. The next time would be to welcome home Jack's Army from Italia 90. Make of that trajectory what you will. But there is one common thread at least: we really love to canonise our heroes. I was expecting a sort of dystopian chaos at worst or good-natured disorganisation at best. Part of that would involve queueing in a long thread of stalled pre-dawn traffic somewhere on the edge of nowhere, festering in exhaust fumes and wondering if we would ever get there. But it was seamless. Out of the morning dew emerged armies of volunteers, stewards and gardai (7,000 of them), all good Samaritans directing and nudging us on to God's path. There were no wrong turns or false dawns. Then we were there. Parked. Somewhere official. It was, we agreed, a miracle. Somehow and someway, 1.5 million people had converged on the Phoenix Park at roughly the same time and nobody died, lost their way or their religion. The losing our religion bit would come later. The day itself was a bit of a sprawl. Hungry and tired, we ate our picnic, lovingly prepared by my mother, during what appeared to be the offertory. The Papal Mass was unfolding so far away it was hard to tell. It was not a day of intimacy or reflection. This instead was a spectacle on a grand scale and nobody around us was getting particularly holy about it. It was more rock 'n' roll than save your soul. It did change my life though. The girlfriend? Dear Reader, I married her. Well, it was the only decent thing to do. We had, after all, spent the night together. Do we care that alcohol wrecks lives - or are we just pretending? This week Alcohol Action Ireland published its annual market review and price survey about the cost of drink in this country. Lots of us say Ireland is expensive for booze - people often cite bottles of wine on their holliers in Spain costing four quid as examples of this. But actually wine's a bit of an anomaly because what's cheapest here drinkwise is - cider, beer and spirits. Anyway the main thrust of the study was, what it costs people to hit their maximum safe threshold for booze - the maximum units of alcohol we can drink before we start to cause harm - in a given week. The maximum units of alcohol over a seven-day period is 11 units for a woman and 17 units for a man. And the bottom line was, a man can hit 17 units of alcohol for 8.50 and a woman can hit 11 for as little as 5.50. Basically we can reach the maximum recommended limits on alcohol for men or women here for less than the price of a packet of cigarettes. Should we care? Well I asked that question on radio during the week and got very interesting responses. Some people agreed that we are drowning in our drink culture and something needs to be done about it - and with booze that cheap, needs to be done rapidly. Some people cried "Nanny state!". One person tweeted that we need laws to protect us from other people and other people from us - but never laws to protect us from ourselves. Which I can respect, except it begs the question; do we not need laws to protect us from big alcohol and the drinks industry? But by far the most sobering response was from a listener who I spoke to on the phone who has been in recovery since January 1. This he said was after drinking increasing amounts throughout last year. He'd started drinking till he passed out and he passed out regularly until he didn't want to live like that any more. And the last time he drank, he took steps to end his own life. Luckily he woke up a couple of days later and realised he was relieved he had survived. He decided at that point that he needed to stop drinking. Many people have been in that boat. Not all have survived. And many of them know long before they get to that point that they have a problem, but in a society where every single social occasion from cradle to grave revolves around alcohol, they don't know what they can do about it. Those people are the collateral damage from our unwillingness to acknowledge or to tackle our drink culture. Those people are the casualties along the way that we are willing to put up with losing. Just like in America they are willing to put up with losing the victims of Sandy Hook or the Parkland shootings, rather than do something about guns or alcohol in society. And if you think I'm exaggerating, the sad truth is if we exclude suicides from both countries, the Irish are dying in proportionally greater numbers from alcohol than Americans are from gun murders. We lose three people a day to alcohol among 4.6 million people, while they lose about 50 per day through shooting in a population of 325 million. And, the truth is, we don't care. We may walk from darkness into light and we may stick green ribbons on our social media profiles but that is the equivalent of sending thoughts and prayers to the victims of gun violence. We don't care about the health problems or the appalling mental health fallout from alcohol in this country. All we really care about is paying lip service to it. So while one-in-eight women with breast cancer got it as a result of alcohol, or half of all suicides are caused by alcohol, or marriages and families continue to be destroyed by it - and we remain unmoved - that, my friends, is a drink culture. That, my friends, is collective denial. The suicides of young Irish men is a scourge in this country. It steals the lives they should have had and it devastates their families. Alcohol is the biggest single cause. Do you care or do you just pretend to? Ciara hosts 'Lunchtime Live' on Newstalk 106-108fm from 12 to 2pm on weekdays. See @ciarakellydoc Ciara O'Malley from Manulla, Castlebar, Co Mayo with her dog, "Hope" who lived up to her name. Photo: Michael Mc Laughlin For the countless dog owners across the country, pooches provide love, loyalty and companionship that's a daily joy in their lives. For a select group, however, their dog is far more than just a best friend - it gives them confidence to face the world every day, provides comfort in times of grief, or is even a literal lifesaver. Psychologist Peadar Maxwell says dogs make great companions as they are loving and devoted, but owners should not take this for granted. "Anyone thinking of having a dog should remember that they are living, feeling creatures who deserve a good life which includes the expense of veterinary care, exercise and loving attention," he says. "Once that has been agreed, the benefits far outweigh the responsibility and investment involved. In fact, studies indicate that dogs help us with mood regulation, recovery from trauma or illness, and even with developing tolerance to allergens. There are other more obvious benefits too, such as company and increased rates of social interaction, as well as opportunities to exercise more. And when we spend time with or care for our dogs, we produce oxytocin, a feel-good chemical which is linked to lower blood pressure - but above all, dogs are our friends and companions, and that's good for us all, whether we live alone or with others." Here, we meet three people who have had their lives transformed by a special dog Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Ciara O'Malley with her dog Hope. Pic: Michael Mc Laughlin Bekki Millar from Lisburn with her two dogs, Staffordshire Bull Terrier Mia and Honey. Press Eye/Darren Kidd Bekki Millar wit Mia and Honey - she credits Mia with saving her life. Press Eye/Darren Kidd / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ciara O'Malley with her dog Hope. Pic: Michael Mc Laughlin Ciara & Hope Expand Close Ciara O'Malley from Manulla, Castlebar, Co Mayo with her dog, "Hope" who lived up to her name. Photo: Michael Mc Laughlin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ciara O'Malley from Manulla, Castlebar, Co Mayo with her dog, "Hope" who lived up to her name. Photo: Michael Mc Laughlin While Ciara O'Malley wasn't saved physically by her dog, she was definitely rescued in the emotional sense. The Mayo woman suffered a horrendous blow in June of last year when her boyfriend, David Gavin, went missing in Canada after getting into difficulty whilst swimming in a lake. The search was stood down for a number of months due to snow and adverse weather conditions, and when it resumed in April of this year, David's body was recovered and brought back to Ireland. While his girlfriend of 10 years will never get over his death, the gift of a puppy in the midst of her grief helped her to get through the worst period of her life. "After David went missing, it was so utterly shocking," says the 28-year-old. "I couldn't work and moved in with my parents, as I was totally distraught. I went over to Canada with his family twice to help with the search, and it was heart-breaking to have to come home without him - or any news of him - both times. "When I got back to Knock airport after the second attempt to try and find him, my friend met me and presented me with a little labradoodle puppy. At first I wasn't sure what to do, as I didn't think I'd be able to look after her, but I named her Hope - and as soon as she looked at me, I knew she would be good for me." Ciara says that Hope lived up to her name, and she doesn't think she would have been able to cope so well if it hadn't been for the love and "intuition" of her dog. Expand Close Ciara O'Malley with her dog Hope. Pic: Michael Mc Laughlin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ciara O'Malley with her dog Hope. Pic: Michael Mc Laughlin "When you are grieving, you often don't want to see anyone and can't put into words how you are feeling, but dogs instinctively know that you are sad and will do what they can to comfort you," Ciara says. "Hope has been amazing right from the start - she gave me hope that we would find David, and we did. It was a terribly difficult situation and so sad bringing him home, but knowing Hope was waiting for me made it a bit easier. "Over the past year, there were days when I felt like I couldn't move for sadness. Hope would just look at me and silently urge me to take her out for a walk, and that always made me feel better. It also helped that people would focus on her when we were out rather than me, as sometimes I couldn't cope with the attention, so it took the spotlight off me. "Obviously I am still grieving for David, but Hope has definitely helped me to deal with it all. To be honest, I don't know if I would have been able to without her." Jamie & Coco Expand Close Jamie McMahon and his dad Mark with Coco. Photo: Alf Harvey. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jamie McMahon and his dad Mark with Coco. Photo: Alf Harvey. Jamie McMahon has had his life transformed by the arrival of a canine companion. The 11-year-old from Laois had difficulty making friends and fitting in at school, and was often lonely and frustrated with life. But at the beginning of the year, he became the proud owner of a pug called Coco and found a new best friend. Jamie has autism and ADHD, and has spent a lot of time on his own. One of his favourite pastimes was playing the computer game Minecraft. Through this game, in which you can choose a range of people and creatures as your avatar, he developed a love of pugs and pleaded with his parents to get him one of his own. Already keen dog lovers, mum Ciara and dad Mark (pictured with Jamie) - who are also parents to 12-year-old Claire, seven-year-old twins Chloe and Rachel, and five-year-old Ross - didn't need much persuading. "Jamie has no friends in school, as the other children don't know how to take him, so he always spent lots of time on his own," says Ciara. "He always liked playing Minecraft and became obsessed with pugs, saying he wanted to get a black one for himself. We have loads of dogs at home anyway but Jamie wanted his own pet, so we did some research and found a lady in Clare who said she had just the puppy we were looking for, so we went down to meet her. "As soon as Jamie and Coco laid eyes on each other, they clicked immediately. It was so lovely to see and, from the first moment they met, Coco follows Jamie everywhere - he has a very loyal best friend." Not only has Coco offered Jamie the friendship he needed, but she has also helped him to come out of himself more. "Since Coco arrived in our house, she has transformed Jamie's life - she has inspired so much self-confidence in him and also helps him to feel calm," says Ciara. "She seems to know when he is frustrated or agitated, and just goes and sits beside him so he can stroke her. This has an amazing calming effect on him. He has learned empathy, as he sees how she responds to kindness, so he is always doing his best to be gentle. "She has also taught him social skills, as he now talks to people about her. Mark taught Jamie how to train Coco, so he has spent hours teaching her how to sit and stay and give the paw. Now, when Jamie meets anyone, he is thrilled to be able to show them the tricks she can do. "Last year, he entered her into the Petmania Puppy of the Year competition, and the whole community got behind him to support him. Coming second in the national finals of the competition was a really huge thing - it has done no end of good for his confidence. "I can't say enough about how this little dog has improved my son's life for the better - she's been wonderful." Bekki & Mia Expand Close Bekki Millar wit Mia and Honey - she credits Mia with saving her life. Press Eye/Darren Kidd / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bekki Millar wit Mia and Honey - she credits Mia with saving her life. Press Eye/Darren Kidd Bekki Millar from Lisburn, Co Down, credits her Staffordshire terrier, Mia, with saving her life after a surge in her blood sugar levels left her on the verge of a diabetic coma that could have proved fatal. "I was diagnosed with Type One diabetes when I was nine years old and things became very unstable about 10 years ago," says Bekki (31). "Then one day about three years ago, my blood sugars went dangerously high. I took a lot of insulin in an attempt to bring them down. I couldn't stomach oral fluids - I felt incredibly sick and was roasting hot. Knowing that rest helps insulin get into the body a little quicker, I went to get into bed. Unusally, Miss Mia was already there - despite the fact that she and Honey (a rescued Jack Russell) have a fabulous bed of their own. "I struggled massively to get to sleep and was dreadfully restless. My blood sugars kept rising, which indicated that my body had shut down and was resisting the insulin. Mia started to kick me. She obviously smelt my breath - when blood sugar levels rise, there is an acidic smell to your breath." Despite the charity worker feeling too weak to move, her little dog was persistent and put all four paws into Bekki's back and kept pushing her over. She had to sit up in order to get the dog off her, and this alerted her to the danger. "When I sat up, I almost collapsed onto the floor," says Bekki. "And when I checked my blood sugars again, they had gone so high, the machine wasn't reading them. I called my mum, who had to rush me to A&E, where I was admitted straight away. The staff couldn't understand how I was still conscious. I was kept for three days before being discharged. "There is absolutely no doubt that had Mia not pushed me the way she did, the outcome would have been very different. Both my 'girls' are my world - I have a really strong bond with them that would be impossible to break. But I've always got that extra sensitivity around Mia because when I'm not feeling well, she picks it up quicker." When novelist Andrea Carter first came to Inishowen as a fresh-faced solicitor in the mid-90s, she could never have imagined the place would inspire her to write a series of books, now about to be turned into a major TV series. It's the stuff of dreams. Carter's 'Inishowen Mysteries' - the fourth instalment, Murder at Greysbridge, is out in October - will be adapted for television after Irish production company Zanzibar Films and German film company Hold The Page bought the international TV rights to her first three books at the Galway Film Fleadh last month. It's been a long and winding road that Carter has taken alongside the heroine of her novels Benedicta O'Keeffe, known as Ben. When she arrived in the market town of Carndonagh on the Inishowen Peninsula, to take up a job in a solicitor's practice, she didn't know a soul. One of the first things she did was buy a map and every weekend she'd get into her car and drive to some windswept location to get to know the curves and arcs of the land she was making her home. It's clear from talking to her that this is a place she now knows well. Inishowen's sea stacks and wild Atlantic beaches etched themselves into her soul and even when she left, she found it was still the place she wanted to write about. "For someone like me, Inishowen was a very unusual place to end up. I'm from Laois - the most inland county in Ireland. I then find myself on a peninsula, a place surrounded on three sides by sea. While I was there I became immersed in where I was living. I got myself a map of Inishowen and I just explored," she says. While she had always kept diaries and scribbled, it was during this time that Ben became her companion"I started writing Ben as a character when I was back in Dublin for a year, when I was missing Inishowen. It was something that was very much for myself. If I had a very worrying day at work or I was concerned about something, the writing was a way of distancing myself from my work worries. It stopped me from opening a bottle of wine on occasion" she says. "Ben was little more than a braver and more reckless form of me when I first started writing her. At that point, I had no notion that I'd ever be published. Ben was me at that point," says Carter. When she returned to Inishowen to set up her own practice in Carndonagh at the age of 28, Ben continued to keep her company. A return to Dublin for a new career challenge in 2006, this time at the Bar as a practising barrister, saw Carter continue to write about Ben. And it was no coincidence that the character ran Ireland's most northerly solicitor's practice. "I continued to write about Ben O'Keeffe and Inishowen and that took me by surprise. The sights and sounds, the wind and the feel of the place became so much more vivid and easier to write about. When I missed Inishowen, I was able to write about it more vividly," she says. Five years ago, Carter took a year out to concentrate on writing full time, completing an MFA in creative writing in UCD and managed to get an agent in London. "I bought a copy of the Writers' and Artists' Yearbook and selected those who were interested in crime fiction, emailing cold my first three chapters. I got lots of rejections but one day I got an email from my present agent's assistant asking me to send on the full manuscript," says Carter. "I then got a phone call asking me to come to London the following week. I had this fairy-tale trip to London, was taken out to lunch where I signed an agreement with my agent, Kerry Glencorse. "She told me she loved the book; that she thought it was wonderful. However, it still took about six months of editing with her before she deemed it worthy of submission to publishers. There was a lot of work editing it," she says. On her journey to the publication of Death at Whitewater Church, her first book, it was suggested that she write the character Ben from the first-person perspective. "It was then that she started to separate herself from me and she became fictional. She was no longer me. It somehow gave me the freedom to give her a backstory that wasn't mine and characteristics that aren't mine and have her behave in a way I never would," Carter says. Living in Dublin now and married to documentary producer Geoff Power, Carter - who just turned 49 - is excited and nervous to see how the TV version of her books will turn out. Carter followed Death at Whitewater Church with Treacherous Strand and The Well of Ice. "What has made me very pleased is that the producers made a point of saying they are going to be filming in Inishowen. That's huge for me. When I was talking to them initially, I said I very much hoped that would be their plan. I'm really looking forward to seeing what they do with my books. It's their baby now," says Carter. "It should be very good for Inishowen because a huge part of the books is the setting. Hopefully, it will show the beauty of the place. The books would not be what they are without Inishowen. They could not be set anywhere else. That's why it's so important they film in Inishowen and the producers feel the same way. That's very important to them, too," she says. In the meantime, Carter will be busy with the next instalment of her 'Inishowen Mysteries' and says she has plenty more plans for Ben. "I write best first thing in the morning. I get up, make myself a cup of coffee - I'm still in the pyjamas - and I go to the laptop. I keep notebooks - I have a vast selection of notebooks as well - but I type directly on to the laptop. I try to be at my desk at about 8ish. "You could say working in my pyjamas is a relief after wearing a suit for 20 years," she says. "My best work is done before I turn on social media, before I look at my phone, before I look at the television or turn on the radio, before I do anything else. I go straight from sleep to the book and do two hours first thing. "Another part of the writer's life in Ireland is events. I do at least two events a month. You need to publicise any events you're doing. Social media is important for writers and I mostly do it myself. There's a community feel to writers in Ireland and particularly in the crime-writing community. "There's a theory that crime writers get all their aggression out on the page. Their violent tendencies come out on the page so they're absolutely charming. They're great fun and supportive of one another so that's a great part of it." Andrea Carter's next novel, Murder at Greysbridge, is published in October I was served two, distinct takes on Irish food this week. The first came at the launch of Food on the Edge 2018, a cutting-edge symposium that has seduced rock star chefs like Virgillio Martinez, Nathan Outlaw and Angela Hartnett to Galway. The second was Lonely Planet's 'Ultimate Eatlist', a new ranking of the world's Top 500 food experiences. Its highest Irish entry? That'll be "Irish stew and a pint of the black stuff", at No47. "It's the definition of warming, hearty and filling," the travel bible gushes. "Many cultures locate the romance of food in hours of preparation and myriad ingredients; for the Irish, the romance is in the eating and whatever happens around it." Two takes on Irish food - one a series of cheffy conversations; the other a warm but weary stereotype. Don't get me wrong. Irish stew is the business - at its best, a beautiful dish that speaks to our history, landscape and food culture. But LP's choice ignores everything that is exciting about eating on this island. How can we bridge the gap between the two? "I eat, therefore I farm," proclaimed the T-shirt worn by JP McMahon, the chef launching Food on the Edge (foodontheedge.ie; Oct 22-23). And certainly, Irish produce and producers, from seafood to cheese, breads to beef, whiskey to beer, have never been better. A new generation of young chefs - like Killian Crowley, San Pellegrino's Young Chef of the Year for the UK and Ireland, who works with McMahon in Aniar - are channelling those raw ingredients into thrilling dishes. It's not always consistent, but Irish food is in very good hands, and its potential to inspire engaged, high-spending travellers is mouthwatering. I regularly meet US visitors who are blown away by the gap between perceptions and reality. So, how can we get the word out? One trigger would be a breakout restaurant, similar to Noma in Copenhagen. But we can't control that, and Michelin and the World's 50 Best Restaurants do not favour Ireland. Media exposure is important, as is a solid take-up of Failte Ireland's new Food Tourism Strategy, which promises to pair overseas marketing with initiatives like food festivals, trails and ensuring visitor attractions and pubs use local foods. But most of all, it comes down to us. Irish food is not about Instagram. It's about what we put into our bodies. As a parent, I know how hard it is to break eating and cooking habits. But if we can challenge ourselves to try a new Irish ingredient in the weekly shop, to treat ourselves to an exciting Irish restaurant or local food tour, we'll support local businesses, learn more about food and health, and bit by bit, meal by meal, we'll play our part in Ireland's food story too. The more we spread the word, the more publications like Lonely Planet will listen. Tuck in! (CARICOM Secretariat, Turkeyen, Greater Georgetown, Guyana) The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) mourns the loss of the great writer Sir Vidia Naipaul (17 August 1932 11 August 2018). The Trinidad and Tobago born Nobel Laureate was a prolific author of both fiction and non-fiction works which elicited much critical acclaim and earned him many literary awards. He was acknowledged as a master in the use of language. His unsparing critique of post-colonial societies across the globe was the basis of much of his work and provoked a great deal of thought and discussion. On behalf of the Community, the Secretary-General extends condolences to the family of Sir Vidia and to the Government and people of Trinidad and Tobago on the loss of this great son of the soil. A man who issued a televised public plea for his missing wife and children confessed to their murders less than 24 hours later, according to local police. Christopher Watts (33) said his wife returned home to Denver in the state of Colorado from a work trip in Arizona at 2am on Monday. He said he left for work a few hours later, shortly after 5am after an emotional conversation and that was the last he seen of his wife Shanann who was 15 weeks pregnant, and his two girls, Belle (4) and Celeste (3). I just want everybody to come home. Wherever theyre at just come home if theyre not safe right now thats whats tearing me apart, he said in a plea on a local television station. I called her three times, texted her about three times just to say whats going on, he told the Denver7 reporter. Right now I dont want to throw anything out there. I hope she is somewhere safe right now and with the kids. If somebody has her and shes not safe I want them back now if theyre safe right now theyre going to come back. I just want everybody to come home. Wherever theyre at just come home if theyre not safe right now thats whats tearing me apart. Within 24 hours, local police said Watts confessed to killing all three of them. The bodies of all three are reported to have been found near a plant where the father of two worked. Shanann Watts friend filed a missing report for Shanann the day after she arrived home from her trip when she didnt come through on plans they had made. Prosecutors said they believed the family had been murdered at their home in Frederick on the outskirts of Denver before being removed. In an eerie video posted on Facebook previously, Shanann is seeing describing Watts as the best thing that ever happened to me. She says he added her on Facebook, one thing led to another and eight years later we have two kids, we live in Colorado and hes the best thing that has ever happened to me. The engineer who designed the Genoa bridge that collapsed and killed dozens warned four decades ago that it would require constant maintenance to remove rust. RAI state television broadcast excerpts Sunday of the report that the late engineer Riccardo Morandi wrote in 1979, 12 years after the bridge bearing his name was inaugurated in Genoa. The Associated Press downloaded the English-language report from an engineering news portal. Expand Close Ground penetrating radar installed by the firefighters checks the bridge (Vigili del Fuoco via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ground penetrating radar installed by the firefighters checks the bridge (Vigili del Fuoco via AP) At the time of writing, Morandi said there was already a well-known loss of superficial chemical resistance of the concrete because of sea air and pollution from a nearby steel plant. He said he chose to write about it because the degradation represented a particular perplexity given the aggressivity of the corrosion that was not seen in similar structures in different environments. Morandi reaffirmed the soundness of the reinforced concrete bridge design he used but warned: Sooner or later, maybe in a few years, it will be necessary to resort to a treatment consisting of the removal of all traces of rust on the exposure of the reinforcements, to fill in the patches. He recommended using an epoxy resin to cover the reinforcements with materials of a very high chemical resistance. Expand Close A firefighter checks the bridge (Vigili del Fuoco via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A firefighter checks the bridge (Vigili del Fuoco via AP) A huge section of the bridge collapsed on August 14 during a fierce storm, killing 43 people and forcing the evacuation of nearby residents in the densely built-up area. The cause is under investigation, and a team of engineers appointed by the ministry of infrastructure and transportation carried out a preliminary inspection Sunday after rescue crews concluded their search for the missing. The head of the government team, Roberto Ferrazza, said the preliminary survey suggested a series of possible causes and not just a simple collapse of the bridge support since the span appears to have initially experienced a distortion. We have to look at the positioning of the rubble, considering that there was a break that provoked an imbalanced movement of the structure, the ANSA news agency quoted Ferrazza as saying. Expand Close The death toll reached 43 (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The death toll reached 43 (Luca Zennaro/ANSA via AP) The Espresso news magazine reported Sunday that Ferrazza was one of the engineers who knew about the advanced corrosion under way on the key bridge support that gave way, having attended a February 1 meeting of experts from the transport ministry and the company that manages bridge repairs. Minutes of the meeting, which bear Ferrazzas signature, recommended that the supports be reinforced given the trend of degradation being registered. Bidding opened in April for the 20 million euro (18 million) public works contract, according to Italian media. On Sunday, dozens of Genoese residents gathered in a central piazza to both vent rage and pain over the collapse. Many wrote messages and poems on sheets of white paper unrolled on the piazza cobblestones. The Government has hailed former UN secretary general Kofi Annan as a voice for a more peaceful and equal world. The Nobel Peace Prize laureate, who served two terms as head of the organisation dedicated to maintaining international order and tackling conflict, died yesterday aged 80. Mr Annan recognised Ireland's central role in peace-building operations overseas and supported the Northern Ireland peace process, Foreign Affairs Minister Simon Coveney said. Mr Coveney said: "Kofi Annan was an exceptional international statesman who worked tirelessly for a more peaceful and equal world, both during his long and illustrious career in the United Nations and since his retirement, championing the cause of peace and reconciliation, in particular on his own beloved continent of Africa." The 1998 Good Friday Agreement was signed during his tenure. Mr Coveney said Mr Annan had a dedicated interest in Ireland and the maintenance of peace on the island, commentating as recently as April on the agreement and its legacy. In 2004 he thanked Irish peacekeepers in Dublin for their service. He also visited Ireland in 2015, marking the 60th anniversary of the Republic's membership of the UN and its commitment in peacekeeping, human rights, international development and disarmament. The Irish army, as part of the UN forces, has had a decades-long role tackling violence in the Lebanon and dozens have lost their lives. Mr Coveney added: "With the sad passing of Kofi Annan, the international community has lost one of its greatest champions for these causes. "His dedication to a more equal, interdependent and peaceful world is a shining example to all. "Kofi Annan has left a significant legacy and it is the responsibility of Ireland and all UN member states to carry his mantle into the future." Irish President Michael D Higgins said Mr Annan was a constant reminder of the importance of multilateral action by states and of the urgent need to tackle climate change and assist vulnerable communities who are experiencing its effects most acutely. "He was a great representative of his country Ghana and of the African continent, and his wisdom, empathy, humour and insights will be greatly missed by all." Former Irish president Mary Robinson is part of an international group known as the Elders, of which Mr Annan was the chair. The group said: "The world has lost an inspiring figure - but one whose achievements will never be forgotten, and whose commitment to peace and justice will endure to inspire future generations." Press Association More than two million Muslims from around the world are beginning the five-day hajj pilgrimage. They will circle Islam's most sacred site, the cube-shaped Kaaba in the Saudi Arabian city of Mecca, and take part in a series of rituals intended to bring about greater humility and unity among Muslims. Here's a look at the pilgrimage and what it means for Muslims: Expand Close A pilgrim drinks water near the Grand Mosque (Dar Yasin/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A pilgrim drinks water near the Grand Mosque (Dar Yasin/AP) What is the purpose of the hajj? The hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam, and all able-bodied Muslims are required to perform it once in their lifetime. The hajj is seen as a chance to wipe clean past sins and start fresh. Many seek to deepen their faith on the hajj. 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. Expand Close Muslim pilgrims touch the golden door of the Kaaba (Dar Yasin/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Muslim pilgrims touch the golden door of the Kaaba (Dar Yasin/AP) What is the history of the hajj? While following a route the Prophet Mohammed once walked, the rites of hajj are believed to ultimately trace the footsteps of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail - or Abraham and Ishmael as they are named in the Bible. Expand Close The sun sets over the city of Mecca (Dar Yasin/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp The sun sets over the city of Mecca (Dar Yasin/AP) Muslims believe Ibrahim's faith was tested when God commanded him to sacrifice his only son Ismail. Ibrahim was prepared to submit to the command, but then God stayed his hand, sparing his son. In the Christian and Jewish version of the story, Abraham is ordered to kill his other son, Isaac. Pilgrims also trace the path of Ibrahim's wife, Hagar, who Muslims believe ran between two hills seven times searching for water for her dying son. Tradition holds that God then brought forth a spring that runs to this day. That spring, known as the sacred well of Zamzam, is believed to possess healing powers, and pilgrims often return from the hajj with bottles of its water as gifts. Why is the Kaaba so important to Muslims? Islamic tradition holds that the Kaaba was built by Ibrahim and Ismail as a house of monotheistic worship thousands of years ago. Over the years, the Kaaba was reconstructed and attracted different kinds of pilgrims, including early Christians who once lived in the Arabian Peninsula. In pre-Islamic times, the Kaaba was used to house pagan idols worshipped by local tribes. Muslims do not worship the Kaaba, but it is Islam's most sacred site because it represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God in Islam. Observant Muslims around the world face towards the Kaaba during their five daily prayers. What are the rituals performed during the hajj? Pilgrims enter into a state of spiritual purity known as "ihram" that is aimed at shedding symbols of materialism, giving up worldly pleasures and focusing on the inner self over outward appearance. Women forgo makeup and perfume and wear loose-fitting clothing and a head covering, while men dress in seamless, white terrycloth garments. The white garments are forbidden to contain any stitching - a restriction meant to emphasise the equality of all Muslims and prevent wealthier pilgrims from differentiating themselves with more elaborate garments. Muslims are forbidden from engaging in sexual intercourse, cutting their hair or trimming nails while in ihram. It is also forbidden for pilgrims to argue, fight or lose their tempers during the hajj. Inevitably, though, the massive crowds and physical exhaustion of the journey test pilgrims' patience and tolerance. The first day of hajj The hajj traditionally begins in Mecca, with a smaller "umrah" pilgrimage which can be performed year-round. To perform the umrah, Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between the two hills travelled by Hagar. Mecca's Grand Mosque, the world's largest, encompasses the Kaaba and the two hills. Before heading to Mecca, many pilgrims visit the city of Medina, where the Prophet Mohammed is buried and where he built his first mosque. The second day of hajj After spending the night in the massive valley of Mina, the pilgrims head to Mount Arafat, some 12 miles east of Mecca, for the pinnacle of the pilgrimage. They scale a hill called Jabal al-Rahma, or Mountain of Mercy. It is here where Mohammed delivered his final sermon, calling for equality and for Muslim unity. He reminded his followers of women's rights and that every Muslim life and property is sacred. Around sunset, pilgrims head to an area called Muzdalifa, 5.5 miles west of Arafat. Many walk, while others use buses. They spend the night there and pick up pebbles along the way that will be used in a symbolic stoning of the devil back in Mina, where Muslims believe the devil tried to talk Ibrahim out of submitting to God's will. The final three days of hajj The last three days of the hajj are marked by three events: a final circling of the Kaaba, casting stones in Mina and removing the ihram. Men often shave their heads at the end in a sign of renewal. The final days of hajj coincide with Eid al-Adha, or the festival of sacrifice, celebrated by Muslims around the world to commemorate Ibrahim's test of faith. During the three-day Eid, Muslims slaughter livestock and distribute the meat to the poor. When Andrew Brunson saw a police summons on the door of his Turkish home in late summer 2016, the US evangelical pastor thought it was a routine appointment to sort out his residency papers in the country that had been his home for nearly a quarter of a century. He went to the police station on October 7, 2016, was detained and later charged with involvement in a coup attempt. He is still in detention and is now at the centre of a diplomatic row that has fuelled Turkey's most serious currency crisis for almost two decades. Expand Close Pastor Brunson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Pastor Brunson "Obviously he was more than surprised" to be detained, Brunson's lawyer, Ismail Cem Halavurt, told reporters last Friday. Brunson lived and preached in Izmir, a city on Turkey's Aegean coast near some of the sites of Christianity's first communities. At his first hearing in April, attended by Reuters, Brunson said he was "raising disciples for Jesus" in a country he deeply loved. In July, after nearly two years in prison, Brunson was moved to house arrest. A court last Friday rejected an appeal to release him, saying evidence was still being collected and he posed a flight risk, according to a copy of the ruling seen by journalists. US President Donald Trump has demanded Brunson's unconditional release, describing him as a "great patriot hostage", and has slapped sanctions and tariffs on Turkey which have helped push the lira currency to record lows. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan has linked Brunson's release to the fate of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish Muslim cleric living in the US whom he blames for the July 2016 coup attempt. Erdogan has raised tariffs on US cars, alcohol and tobacco in a tit-for-tat response. "You have one pastor as well. Give Gulen to us... Then we will try Brunson and give him to you," Erdogan said in a speech last September to police officers in Ankara. It is a suggestion Washington has dismissed. The breakdown in relations between the two NATO allies has thrust Brunson's case to international prominence and made the 50-year-old American the unlikely centre of attention in a currency crisis that has shaken global emerging markets. Turkish courts have rejected several appeals for Brunson to be freed and allowed to leave Turkey. A senior Turkish official, asked about the case, said that the judiciary is independent and the verdict is up to the courts. Halavurt, Brunson's lawyer, said the North Carolina pastor was not unduly alarmed when he first went to the police station. He expected at worst to be given a two-week deadline to leave the country standard practice with residency violations - and to return to Turkey when his papers were sorted out. Instead, he was held in a detention centre for two months before being formally arrested on December 9, 2016. He was charged with crimes committed on behalf of the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), a Kurdish militant group which has waged a three-decade insurgency against the Turkish state, and on behalf of Gulen's network, according to the indictment. Both are designated terrorist groups by Ankara. He was also charged with disclosing state information "for political or military espionage". Brunson has denied all the charges against him. His indictment, interviews with his lawyer, and three trial sessions show the accusations against Brunson centre around support for separatist Kurds and connections with alleged coup plotters. "I came to Turkey in 1993 to tell people about Jesus," he told the judge at his first hearing in April. Dressed in a black suit and white shirt, he spoke in fluent Turkish, ignoring the two court translators. "I've never done something secretive in my time in Turkey. The government monitored us all the time but I've never done anything against Turkey," he said. The judge told Brunson he was not on trial for carrying out missionary activities but to face the charges against him. Prosecutors questioned why he travelled hundreds of miles from his church on Turkey's western coast to the mainly Kurdish southeast interior, where the PKK is active. Messages on his phones, travel details, testimony from his congregation and what the indictment refers to as three secret witnesses, codenamed "Prayer", "Fire" and "Meteor", were cited in evidence against him. The indictment cites GPS data showing trips to Suruc, near the Syrian border, and the mainly Kurdish city of Diyarbakir, as well as a meeting in 2010 with a man described by one of the secret witnesses as a US special forces soldier. Brunson said his trips to Kurdish areas were to help refugees who had escaped war in neighbouring Syria. "I do not accept that I acted in accordance with PKK targets... We wanted to convert Syrian refugees coming to Izmir. I do not differentiate between their ethnic identities," he said. "Prayer", the secret witness, was quoted in the indictment as saying Brunson was linked to prominent suspected members of Gulen's network. Halavurt said the witness had failed to offer concrete evidence of any such connections. The prosecution said in its indictment that Brunson's phone records and witness testimony did establish the connections. Turkey has detained 160,000 people since the abortive putsch, almost half of them formally charged and kept in jail during their trials. Brunson was not in the country at the time of the coup attempt but returned soon afterwards, according to his lawyer. In a text message cited in the indictment, he said the coup attempt "was a shock". "We were waiting for some events that would shake the Turks - preparing the conditions for Jesus's return... I think the situation is going to get worse. We'll win in the end," said the message, which was dated July 21, 2016 and addressed to a fellow pastor, according to the indictment. Brunson did not deny sending the message but said it had been misunderstood, the indictment said. In the Alsancak district of Izmir where Brunson lived, a pharmacy owner described him and his wife as "quiet people". The owner of a boutique two streets from his home said she never met him. "I know everyone in this neighbourhood and I had no idea these people lived here," she said. Turkey's government says it was similarly unaware of Brunson until his case was raised by the US consulate. Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said this month that the case was triggered by a criminal complaint filed by a translator who had worked for Brunson and denied that the pastor had been detained for use as a political pawn. "What possible benefit could we get from this person?" Cavusoglu said at a meeting of Turkey's ruling party in the southern coastal town of Alanya. The senior Turkish official said negotiations had been held with US counterparts "in different formats" but declined to comment further. At a NATO summit in Brussels last month, Trump and Erdogan discussed Brunson. Trump thought he and his Turkish counterpart had agreed a deal to release the American pastor, according to two US sources. Turkey has denied any such swap was agreed. Erdogan had sought US help to persuade Israeli authorities to release a Turkish woman being held in Israel, accused of ties to the Palestinian militant group Hamas. In exchange, Ankara would release Brunson, a senior White House official said. Israel deported the Turkish detainee, Ebru Ozkan, on July 15 and later confirmed that Trump had requested her release. Ankara has denied ever agreeing to free Brunson in return. Brunson's transfer to house arrest 10 days later was deemed too little, too late by Washington and a phone call between the two leaders on July 26 "did not go well", according to the American official. Hours later, Trump announced sanctions against two Turkish government ministers. "They should have given him back a long time ago, and Turkey has in my opinion acted very, very badly," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday, referring to Brunson. Brunson's next court hearing is scheduled for October. Reuters The situation in Kerala is turning from bad to worse and this is the time we collectively as a nation need to come together and do something. Instead of changing our display pictures and using hashtags like #PrayForKerala, it's now the time to #DoForKerala. Multiple companies have enabled their crowd-funding platforms and are inviting people to donate in just a few clicks. The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala increased to 370, with two more deaths reported on Sunday. While we, common people can surely make a difference by contributing, there are people out there, who can definitely act more responsibly and extend help with a humongous donation. Trying to do the same is Filmmaker Priyadarshan and actor Akshay Kumar. Both have donated money to the Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund towards the flood-ravaged Kerala. Agencies On Saturday Priyadarshan tweeted a photograph of himself handing over a cheque to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and urged people to unite to save the state. Handed over mine and @akshaykumar s Cheque to Kerala Chief Ministers Distress Relief Fund . Lets together build back Kerala back to its glory again. No politics No religion only humanity .Lets stand together to save Kerala #KerelaFloods pic.twitter.com/XchEFEHlsQ priyadarshan (@priyadarshandir) August 18, 2018 An agency report has also confirmed the news about Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's noble act. Reports confirm that SRK's Meer Foundation, which has been actively helping and supporting the needy, has taken yet another noble step. The non-profit welfare organization has made a donation of Rs. 21 lakhs to the relief organizations working towards the welfare of Kerala flood victims. Agencies The need of the hour is for celebrities to realize how actions need to speak louder than words. Just urging people to help is not enough. They need to collectively take a stand and start acting too. As Kerala battles the worst rains followed by floods in nearly a century, donations and help have poured in from all parts of the country. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that the state has suffered an estimated loss of around Rs 19,512 crore as per the initial assessment. Read more Here's more top news of the day: 1) Shooter Apurvi Chandela & Ravi Kumar Win Bronze To Open India's Medal Tally At Asian Games Apurvi Chandela and Ravi Kumar won bronze in the 10m air rifle mixed team event. This is both Chandela and Kumar's first medal at the Asian Games. This is the 18th edition of Asian Games being held in Jakarta, Indonesia. Read more 2) After Committing 113 Crimes, 62-Year-Old 'Lady Don' Of Delhi Finally Gets Arrested Lack of money can lead people to turn to illicit ways of making a source of income. Poverty and illiteracy have often given birth to some of the most rowdy gangsters. Known as New Delhis Lady Don, 62-year-old Basiran has 113 crime cases attached to her name. Read more 3) Kerala Floods Death Toll Reaches Over 370, Rescue Efforts Continue To Save Lives God's own country has been left devastated as floods caused by incessant rains ravaged the state and left thousands displaced. The death toll due to floods has increased to 370 after two more deaths were reported on Sunday. Read more 4) Meerut: Minor Girl Sets Herself On Fire After Men Harass And Blackmail To Leak Her Videos Crimes against women in India do not seem to cease anytime soon. In yet another incident of rape and blackmail, a minor girl set herself ablaze after being stalked by a few men for some time in Meerut, Uttar Pradesh. Read more 5) After Rs 94 Crore Cosmos Bank Fraud, No ATMs To Be Refilled With Cash After 9 PM From February Just a week after an estimated amount of Rs 94 crores was siphoned off from Cosmos bank in Pune, officials and account holders have become concerned about the bank security system. Now, a new directive saying that no ATMs will be replenished with cash after 9 pm, come February 2019 has been issued by the Home Ministry, reports PTI. Read more Noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil has warned that Goa may face the same fate as the flood-battered Kerala if it does not take environmental precautions. Like other states, Goa too, is witnessing a rise in profit-driven activities. Gadgil headed a committee that published a widely debated study on the Western Ghats a few years ago. "Certainly all sorts of problems are beginning to surface on the environmental front in the Western Ghats. Goa, of course, does not have Western Ghats which are so high as in Kerala, but I am sure Goa will also experience all sorts of problems," he said, reacting to the worst-ever floods in Kerala. He said the reason for not taking any environmental precaution was purely greed for unlimited profits "You have seen it in Goa too. The Union government constituted Justice MB Shah Commission has estimated illegal profits of Rs. 35,000 crore from illegal mining," he said. reuters "The greed for enormous profits has been allowed to go on unchecked, which has actually worsened economic disparity in the society. "So now those who are making money through these means are even more effective in getting the government allows this kind of rampant illegal behaviour," Mr Gadgil said. The ecologist said governments have been lax on implementing environmental norms. "The central government is actually bending over backwards to make sure the National Green Tribunal does not function properly," he said. Gadgil had extensively studied Goa's environment based on the data provided by iron ore mining companies and their Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports in 2011. He had then said the mining companies submitted false information in their EIA reports. "In Goa, they had asked me to look into the impact of mining on environment. Every EIA suppressed fact about hydrological impact of mining," the 73-year-old expert said. "On 'sadas' (plains) of Goa there are a lot of streams which are originating but they don't mention about them in their EIA reports. All kind of false statements are made in these reports," he said. Gadgil had headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) set up by the government. PTI The WGEEP, in its 2011 report, had recommended that several areas in Kerala which come under the Western Ghats be classified as ecologically sensitive. The panel had recommended strict curbs on mining and quarrying and on use of land for non-forest purposes. Five Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) satellites have come to the rescue of flood hit Kerala state. While over 370 people have died in these floods, thousands are left stranded, waiting to be rescued. ISRO earth-based satellites are monitoring the flood situation and are assisting in relief work. Oceansat-2, Resourcesat-2, Cartosat-2 and 2A and INSAT 3DR send real time images to the ground station which helps in monitoring the flood situation and planning of required rescue operations, reported TOI. We are using the data from these satellites to provide alerts on flooding, areas of inundation during and after rain, and weather forecasts, an official said. Photo Credit: Geospatial world INSAT-3DR, an advanced meteorological satellite is equipped with an imaging system and an atmospheric sounder which provides data on various aspects like temperature and humidity for weather forecasts. Cartosat and Resourcesat capture high resolution images from the on board camera that help send out early flood warnings and map the affected areas. Whereas, Cartosat 2 and 2A can be steered along the track to 45 degrees for frequent imaging of a specific area. The data from these satellites is processed at the Decision Support Centre (DSC) at the National Remote Sensing Centre (NRSC) in Hyderabad and is disseminated periodically to the Centre and state under the disaster management support programme of ISRO. If there is any information on a flood event, then the earliest available satellites collect the required data to mark the flooded areas. Inundation maps are then prepared with flooded and non-flooded areas using different colors. The maps are then sent to state and central agencies highlighting the affected villages, transport network for planning relief operations. While the satellites help in rescue operations, instruments deployed in the sea forecast high waves provide wind warnings. Parameters like wave direction, wave period and wave height are measured through sensors in 13 anchors floating in the Arabian Sea. The data combined from satellites and these buoys help to prepare a forecast model. Since a massive flood ravaged southern state of Kerala, citizens, relief organizations, disaster management operations and governments have worked tirelessly to rescue thousands. While the death toll is increasing with each passing day, (357 at present) more and more people are coming forward to lend a helping hand. Now, IAS Officers Association of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday decided to contribute one days salary of its members to support the victims of the disaster, reported ANI. The association said in a statement "as one with the people of Kerala and the countless members of Civil and Military Administrations as well as Civil Society who are working tirelessly to provide rescue, relief and rehabilitation to the flood affected people on donating their salaries. The general secretary of the officers body, Shashi Bhushan Kumar said the salary shall be given to Kerala CM Relief Fund. Andhra Pradesh has even announced a financial aid of Rs 10 crore to rain ravaged Kerala. The neighbouring state has also dispatched a special rescue team of 66 disaster response and fire services personnel, a district fire officer, 12 motorboats and other equipment to Kerala. The flood is being cited as the worst in over a century. However, the red alerts that were issued in the state were withdrawn on Sunday. An orange alert has been issued in ten districts and a yellow alert in two districts. The Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRT) is ready to resume its services in districts like Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palghat, Kozhikode, Kannur and Trivandrum. Air India pilots have kept their no-flying-allowance-no-flying stir on hold and offered the government their full support in the ongoing rescue operation in flood-hit Kerala. "Whether it is operating extra flights to ferry passengers and/or relief material, we like to place ourselves at the country's command," the Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA, union of erstwhile Indian Airlines' pilots) said in a letter to Prime Minister Modi on Saturday. AFP The airline had earlier this week paid basic salaries to the pilots for the month of July. But, for flying crew like pilots and cabin crew, basic salary represents 30 per cent of their total pay, and flying allowance is the major part. On Friday, ICPA had said, "if the flying allowance is not paid immediately, we may not be available to the company for flying duties." Salaries have been delayed for at least five months now in the cash-strapped AI. ALSO READ: PM Modi Visits Flood Hit Kerala, Announces Rs 500 Crore Relief As Rescue Work Continues TOI However, given the havoc wreaked by unprecedented flooding in Kerala, the union has put its stir on hold. "Our heart goes out to our fellow brothers and sisters in Kerala who are battling the severe natural calamity of unprecedented flooding. Kerala is reeling under the worst natural calamity it has faced in nearly a century We as a union would like to extend our cooperation that may help in aid our fellow citizens and extend any cooperation that may help lessen the pain in Kerala," ICPA general secretary Captain T Praveen Keerthi said in a letter to the PM. ALSO READ: Khalsa Aid Joins Relief Operations In Kerala, Serves Food To Stranded And Homeless People AFP "We are willing to fly without payment on voluntary basis to the cause of (Kerala rescue) operations. We consider this a unique privilege that we can use to assist in such operations. We have full faith that Sir you will surely turn your attention to the plight of Air India and Air Indians once calm is restored in 'God's own country'. We have full faith that your clarion call of 'sabka saath, sabka vikas' includes Air India and Air Indians," Keerthi's letter adds. ALSO READ: Here's How You Can Donate To Kerala's Flood Victims Through E-Commerce Portals The union also recalled the role played by AI during earlier natural calamities "by operating relief flights" and by evacuating Indians from war zones like Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon or Yemen. Coast Guard was involved in a precarious rescue operation when its personnel helped evacuate a 10-day-old child in Kerala's Kadungalloor town on Saturday. In a video, tweeted by the Coast Guard, two personnel can be seen perilously carrying the baby on a ledge of the first floor of a flooded house. The child was safely transferred to the boat waiting at the edge of the ledge as the two personnel headed back to rescue the parents of the child. In another video, a Coast Guard personnel was seen wading against the ferocious flow of water to establish contact with marooned people on the other side. #KeralaFloods2018 #OPRAHAT @IndiaCoastGuard Team rescued 127 marooned people from the flooded homes of East #Kadangaloor including a 10 day old infant and also a mother with advanced pregnancy today. All shifted to safety @DefenceMinIndia @CMOKerala @DG_PIB @SpokespersonMoD pic.twitter.com/QulykklUoL Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 18, 2018 The Coast Guard tweeted another video where it winched a child to safety from the roof of his house. The child was spotted waving for help from the rooftop by the chopper. Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) have been asked to mobilize additional manpower, boats and helicopters to scale up the rescue and relief operations. Food packets and drinking water are also being rushed. #KeralaFloods2018 #OPRAHAT @IndiaCoastGuard .The Goal is Rescue-and is the major focus for the day @IndiaCoastGuard Team making their way to reach out marooned people at #Puthukkulangara Devi Temple area and rescue them to safety-regardless @DefenceMinIndia @CMOKerala @DG_PIB . pic.twitter.com/DRtE7KVuYK Indian Coast Guard (@IndiaCoastGuard) August 18, 2018 Hundreds of people have been winched to safety by 38 helicopters deployed for search and rescue operations in the state, which has a population of more than 33 million. On Saturday, a column of 8 Engrs Regt led by Lieutenant Anshu Mali of Army rescued 256 civilians including three pregnant women from Chalakudy areas. #KeralaFloodRelief efforts: The video shows the @IndiaCoastGuard performing a winching operation in Aluva city after spotting a child waving from a rooftop. The child has been rescued and provided necessary medical care.@nsitharaman pic.twitter.com/LvCjXVoWNu Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) August 18, 2018 The NDRF too has been at the forefront of relief operations in the state. NDRF personnel have helped evacuate hundreds of people from their flooded homes using rescue boats. Air Force choppers too conducted several sorties to evacuate several stranded people and children to safer locations. IAF's Garud Commandos were seen in action as well. In a daring operation, the Commandos winched an entire family to safety from the rooftop of their flooded house. #Update #KeralaFloods 2018. A column of 8 Engr Regt led by Lt Anshu Mali rescued 256 civilians including 3 pregnant ladies & a large number of old couples in Chalakudy area. Rescue Operation undertaken in East Chalakudy. We are at it#OpMadad #KeralaFloodRelief @PIB_India pic.twitter.com/UFIZZQbipm ADG PI - INDIAN ARMY (@adgpi) August 18, 2018 In Alappuzha, Wing Commander Prasanth of Garud Special Force saved a mother and her child from a flooded house. In a video posted on Twitter, Army jawans could be seen using call signs to find stranded people as they manoeuvred a boat filled with other rescued people across a flooded street. Indian Navy, as part of its Operation Madad, has scaled up its operation to meet the increasing requests for rescue from more parts of flood-hit Kerala. Southern Naval Command (SNC) rescue teams have been augmented by Gemini boats, divers and other resources from both Eastern and Western Naval Commands of the Indian Navy. Rescue operation by #NDRF team in Pandanadu village in Chengannur taluk of Alappuzha district, in Kerala. pic.twitter.com/L7usBNViX3 NDRF (@NDRFHQ) August 18, 2018 On the tenth day of Operation Madad, which was August 18, a total number of diving teams deployed is 72, which have been distributed to multiple locations. Eight newly inducted teams were sent out to various locations to augment those already in place. 42 teams with one Gemini boat each are deployed in Ernakulam district at various places. IAF helicopters winched & evacuated the stranded people & children from the roof top and safely dropped at various relief camps.#KeralaFloodRelief pic.twitter.com/VrpM2HvuD9 Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 18, 2018 IAF Garud Commando carried out rescue operations by winching children from the roof top & evacuated in IAF helicopter to rescue camps. 1/3 #KeralaFloodRelief pic.twitter.com/8LgpbX0XGZ Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 18, 2018 #IndiaForKerala Army jawans rescue ops in progress. Using their call signs that of a bird to alert people. People too responding accordingly. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/AsZQU8k2HU Oxomiya Jiyori (@SouleFacts) August 19, 2018 So far over 50,000 people have been rescued in different parts of the state. Over 3.53 lakh affected persons had been lodged in over 2,000 relief camps. What's happening in Kerala right now is an unprecedented disaster, with the worst flooding witnessed by the state in 100 years. Hundreds of people have lost their lives, thousands are displaced and many more remain affected and in need of desperate aid. With power cut off and dying phone batteries preventing stranded people from calling for help, Kerala's best and brightest are coming to the rescue with an ingenious tech solution. Kerala students working on Instapower // Facebook image ALSO READ: PM Modi Visits Flood Hit Kerala, Announces Rs 500 Crore Relief As Rescue Work Continues To help power people's phone batteries, Government Engineering College students from Trivandrum, Kerala are putting together these powerbanks for free to help people affected by the Kerala floods. According to Aditya S Kumar, first year mechanical engineering student in the same college, these powerbanks are made from "eight AA batteries with two cartridges, each cartridge can hold four batteries which are then crossed together." Facebook image ALSO READ: Kerala Floods: Air India Pilots Offer To Fly Plane Without Payment To Support Rescue Operations Aditya told us that these powerbanks can the charge any smartphone battery by up to 10-15 percent and can sustain the charge for up to 1 hour. He insisted that the powerbanks are for use only in the case of emergency, and shouldn't be use over a long period of time or it may cause damage to the phone. So far these engineering students have handed over 300 powerbanks to the Kerala government who're coordinating flood relief and rescue operations. These powerbanks are then being air dropped in flood affected areas where people are stranded and rescue efforts haven't yet reached. Facebook image The makeshift powerbanks are made by Inspire, an NGO started by mechanical engineering students of the same college in Kerala. How many more powerbanks are these students aiming to build? "We have ran out of cartridges for now," Aditya tells me. "As we can't find these cartridges locally, we are trying to source them from Nagercoil and Chennai." Every time a catastrophe hits us, humans try to run to the safest point with their friends and families. We leave everything behind and try to find an escape of out the grim situation that takes a toll on our lives without any announcement. In the midst of all this commotion, animals are often left behind. A couple of years ago, we saw how the chaos of Hurricane Katrina left pets distraught and alone during the flooding in Texas and a similar something is happening in Kerala right now. But this Kerala woman refused to be rescued without her pets. She refused to leave her flooded house without her 25 dogs, a rescuer said on Saturday. The dogs were found cowering on beds in the flooded house with water rising when an animal welfare group arrived for a last-gasp rescue, said Sally Varma of Humane Society International. The woman, Sunitha, was found by rescuers in Thrissur, which has been worst hit by floods that have left at least 324 dead. But she refused to leave her house unless her dogs, all strays or abandoned pets, were taken too, Ms Varma told AFP. "She sent back volunteers and rescue officials because they said they could not evacuate her dogs. She was just not willing to leave her dogs behind. She then managed to get in touch with us," Ms Varma added. All ministers and BJP MLAs of Uttarakhand to donate their one month salary towards #KeralaFlood relief. pic.twitter.com/rboPgbMeqp ANI (@ANI) August 18, 2018 "When the rescue team reached her house, it was completely flooded and the dogs were huddled on beds." Sunitha, her husband and the dogs are now staying at a special shelter as the relief camps set up for the disaster refused animals. Ms Varma said she has started a fundraiser for Sunitha and her pets so a kennel could be built at her home after the floods recede. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . An Artesia man has been bound over to Fifth Judicial District Court in Carlsbad on charges relating to the November 2017 theft of archery equipment from the Eddy County Shooting Range. Artesia Police Department detectives made contact soon after the larceny of bows and arrows from a facility belonging to the Artesia Archery Club with Christopher Madron, 41, of Artesia. According to the criminal complaint, Madron gave police permission to search his vehicle, in the trunk of which a green guide belonging to one of the stolen bows was found. After questioning, Madron admitted to having taken the equipment to Roswell. Investigation revealed he had sold it to Zia Trading & Guns for $200. Police travelled to Roswell to retrieve the stolen bows and arrows from the business. Madron was subsequently charged with receiving stolen property (over $500 but less than $2,500) and was bound over Wednesday to district court. A trial date has not yet been set. New Zealand's Minister for Women did something quite incredible - she cycled to the hospital to give birth. While pregnant women should not try something like this without consulting their doctors, this lady pulled it off flawlessly. Green Party politician Julie Anne Genter took it to her Instagram account to tell her followers that she arrived at Auckland City hospital to be induced along with her partner. She had, in fact, cycled all the way over there. Beautiful Sunday morning for a bike ride, to the hospital, for an induction to finally have this baby. This is it, wish us luck! "My partner and I cycled because there wasn't enough room in the car for the support crew," she wrote. 1. New Zealands Associate Minister for Transport (and Minister for Women) has biked to the hospital for the birth of her first baby. Go well, @JulieAnneGenter and family! pic.twitter.com/gN3GdMNNBA Bike Auckland (@BikeAKL) August 18, 2018 2. Good way to end Green conference: News that Julie Anne Genter gone to hospital to have her labour induced. According to instagram, she cycled. pic.twitter.com/1fuXLWEGhB Thomas Coughlan (@coughlthom) August 18, 2018 3. Julie Anne Genter is having her baby today, and seemingly biked (!) to the hospital to induce labour. pic.twitter.com/CVCC6K6agG henry cooke (@henrycooke) August 18, 2018 The 42-year-old minister said the ride was mostly downhill and wasn't strenuous at all. We think it's amazing for someone who is about to deliver a baby in the next few minutes to be able to pull that off. What Genter did is not only inspiring but also a lesson that everyone can add their own twist to this precious memory. From the beginning of time, everything good has been built with the sweat and blood of arduous men and everything bad has happened because women crossed the line, at least that's what some people believe Here's what Hindu Makkal Katchi - a right-wing Hindu nationalist party in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu has to say about the Kerala floods. Instead of finding ways to help people, they decided to play the blame game. They say that because women entered Sabarimala temple - a temple that prohibited women's entry - it angered the Gods and caused rains. The committee also offered prayers at the Ramanathaswamy temple, Rameswaram for the relief of Keralities, reports the New Indian Express. They have extended the blame to leaders as well, who were party to making women enter this men-only temple. Partys district president Prabhakaran is now urging Kerala government to pass a resolution in the assembly to keep women from entering the temple's premises. "We believe that Kerala would not have faced such a devastating situation if it would have supported the ban on womens entry into Sabarimala temple as per Devaswom boards decision, Prabhakaran added. Not only is this ridiculous at so many levels, it's also proof of how juvenile and narrow-minded people can be, even in the 21st century. If you are always looking out for more adventure and more thrill in life - because obviously, life isn't throwing enough lemons at you - here's something you can use to turn your weekends around. World's largest, fastest and tallest dive coaster is about to come into your life which will take you at 130 kilometres an hour down 75 metres (245 feet) into an underwater tunnel. This bombastic adventure will come to folks in Canada. #BREAKING - Wonderland is getting a new coaster. The Yukon striker will be the longest, fastest and tallest dive coaster in the world. 3,625 feet long & 223 feet high. it drops riders into an underwater tunnel. Will open in 2019. Wonderland also planning to open though X-Mas. pic.twitter.com/akpE2hMUfY Richard Southern (@richard680news) August 15, 2018 To be launched in Canada's Wonderland, the Yukon Striker is under construction now and will open for visitors in 2019. The park will hold riders for 3 seconds to have a perfect view from the top and then drop them faster than anything they have ever experienced. All the riders will then plunge into an underwater, 200-foot-long tunnel. Furthermore, this ride will last for 3 minutes and 25 seconds which is sure to feel like more than an hour. I can not wait to stand in line for 53 minutes just to ride the 48 second Dive roller coaster opening up at Wonderland in 2019 #YukonStriker pic.twitter.com/OdsHPz6AE5 Brody the Producer (@RadioBrody) August 15, 2018 "Because we're building it within an existing, operating theme park, we have to be careful with the park operating schedule," said Peter Switzer, director of maintenance and construction at the park. "We have to plan some of that work to happen when the park is closed. If we were building a brand new park, then the construction length would be a little bit shorter." Tech giants, global banks, drug companies and an online retailer are among the companies here to receive millions in taxpayers money for job creation. The Sunday Business Post is reporting that up to 100 million of financial incentives were given out by the IDA to bring new jobs to Ireland. By John Tynan Migrants and asylum seekers from as far away as Sri Lanka, South Africa and Pakistan are connecting with Ireland through the iconic currach. It comes as part of Cork community boatyard Meitheal Maras effort to Make a Connection, Irelands theme as part of the European Year of Cultural Heritage. Migrants have been attending the Meitheal Mara workshop to learn about building and rowing currachs. Tomorrow, the public will get an opportunity to check on the groups progress with their boat as the Meitheal Mara boatyard at Crosses Green, near St Finbarrs Cathedral, hosts an Open Day as part of National Heritage Week. From 2.30pm to 4.30pm, several currach styles will be on show, illustrating how they were adapted by different coastal communities to suit their own needs. Visitors can see the development and innovation that took place in currach building, from the original coracle to boats, such as the Donegal Dunfanaghy and more recently the Kerry Naomhog. Currachs are a symbol of Ireland and Clare Hayden, manager of Meitheal Maras Badoireacht programme, is delighted to see how it is proving a vessel helping to bring asylum seekers closer to their adopted country. We, in Meitheal Mara, are delighted to see the diversity of our teams in the workshop and the diversity of crews on the water. Getting people to work together with their hands in crafting a currach or in steering a boat really encourages them to interact and to engage with people that they may never otherwise meet. The success of these programmes is evident in the laughter that can be heard up and down the river during our rowing sessions and in the huge smiles to be seen in the workshop. We are extremely grateful to the Heritage Council for providing funding assistance to enable these programmes. As part of the open day, Martin ODonoghue of Cork currach club Naomhoga Chorcai will give a talk, entitled The Irish Currach Heritage, Innovation and Evolution, at 3pm. ODonoghue has undertaken currach voyages all over Ireland, as well as in Spain, France, the Netherlands and the UK. He will look at the current currach revival, particularly in urban centres, and will discuss efforts to create a network of currach builders and enthusiasts. Meitheal Mara will also be busy on the water during Heritage Week, with 25 young people that have graduated from its Badoireacht rowing programmes taking part in a four-day rowing development camp on the River Lee. It will include exploration of the Glashaboy River and conclude with a regatta, with the migrants determined to make a splash and show the locals how its done. There is reported to be more than 55,000 drivers using a loophole to avoid doing the full test. Under the current system, drivers can renew their permits multiple times, with some going up to 12 years without a full licence. A second high-ranking member of the Catholic Church will not be attending the upcoming World Meeting of Families in Ireland. Cardinal Donald Wuerl had been expected to deliver a keynote speech on Wednesday as part of the event. Japanese multinational consumer and professional electronics company, Sony, has released the Xperia XZ2 smartphone to touch your senses, and it delivers this in volumes with 4K HDR, dynamic vibration, 3D avatar creation and a big screen and sound. The Sony Xperia XZ2 is a 5.7 Android 8 smartphone, coming in at 153x72x11.1mm and weighing 198g. Its big 14.4cm display is full HD+ 1080p with HDR, and up-converts non-HDR content to near HDR. It runs a Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 mobile processor with 4GB RAM and 64GB UFS internal memory. The main camera is 19MP and the rear camera is 5MP. Yet, specs only tell part of the story. Sony says this new XZ2 is made to touch your senses and it does this with many clever and innovative features that combine to bring an immersive experience you can see, hear and feel. I suppose you could even taste and smell the phone if you really want, too. This includes: 4K HDR movie recording, with HDR and 4K both able to be turned on and off, bringing extremely sharp and detailed video the 4K part with stunning true-to-life colours the HDR part. A dynamic vibration system, analysing sound to generate vibrations whether streaming a movie or watching a music video or playing an action-packed game. You can feel in your hands what you see on the screen. The feature is controlled by the volume key. Stereo speakers with surround sound, high-resolution audio, and LDAC. A 3D creator with selfie-scan software on both the main and front cameras, allowing you to scan your face as an object and turn it into a 3D avatar and share it. A fluid and elegant design, which is both pleasant to hold and to use. The phone feels good in your hand and the user interface is smooth and natural. High-quality cameras including low-light photography and video. The Sony Xperia XZ2 (Single SIM) is available through Telstra in Liquid Black for $79/mth on a Go Mobile Swap Lease and My Business Mobile Lease plan (minimum cost $1896 when phone returned in good working order). The phone is a solid option for those seeking a flagship-quality high-end Android smartphone that will prove reliable for years to come. Additional technical specifications follow. microSDCX card support, up to 400GB Nano SIM 3180 mAh battery Qualcomm Quick Charge 3.0 Qi wireless charging Liquid Black colour 18:9 extended display HDR up-conversion Dynamic Vibration System Corning Gorilla Glass 5 High-resolution audio Bluetooth 5.0 Fingerprint sensor Near field communication (NFC) IP65/68 water resistant USB 3.1 type-C Wi-Fi 11a/b/g/n/ac LTE (4G) Cat18/Cat13 - supports Telstra 4GX networks A-GNSS GPS+GLONASS Wi-Fi Miracast PS4 Remote Play Main camera 19MP Motion Eye camera 1/2.3 Exmor RS for mobile memory-stacked sensor 25mm wide Sony award-winning G Lens F2.0 960fps super slow motion full HD videos Predictive capture for motion and smiles Autofocus burst Quick launch and capture HDR photo and video recording 4K and HDR video recording ISO 12800 low-light photo ISO 4000 low-light video SteadyShot with intelligent five-axis stabilisation X8 Digital Zoom Front camera Red Hat is a successful, public open source software company. Its the first open source company to crack US$1 billion in revenue and is closing in on US$3 billion. Here is some advice from the chief executive for your own business. Red Hat gives away all its intellectual property and products. Where it makes money is from support. To be clearer, Red Hat takes the free Linux operating system and other open source projects and makes them more robust, more scalable and more secure for enterprise and government. It sells subscriptions to its software along with support, and with the guaranteed long-term stability of the product. iTWire had the opportunity to speak directly to chief executive Jim Whitehurst during the annual Red Hat Summit in San Francisco earlier this year, asking what a company like Red Hat can teach other companies about strategy, planning and culture. Whitehurst gave these insights: Planning is dead, at least traditional planning as we know it is dead. However, there's still clear value in planning for, and delivering against, a set of enduring capabilities. Five years ago we didn't know the technologies we'd be using today, and we don't know what will be big in five years time, but I do know in terms of our success we have to manage relationships with customers and build the capability to serve customers bigger than we do today, and the need to have employer brand to attract talent. Our planning is around capabilities rather than market conditions. We've found over and over again with companies that have tried some sort of digital transformation they've moved to this or that model, buy the tools, try it, have the right titles, and buy and use a process and it fails and they say "oh, it's culture. I have a culture problem" you do, but you can't directly change the culture, or rather if you try to directly change the culture you will fail. Culture is like morale. If you have bad morale you can quickly fix it buy everyone pizzas, give everyone a raise, and they will be temporarily happy, but if you didn't fix the reasons then they will become unhappy again. If you say you have a culture problem and try to fix the culture you will fail. Culture is an output of leadership style, values and processes and so if you don't change those, culture change won't happen. I say to CxOs your transformation won't change culture unless you personally change. What does that look like and feel like? Very few companies recognise culture isn't a problem with people but you as a leader. That's not saying people are bad I spoke to the CEO of a very large bank a couple of weeks ago and he said we want to pick two or three digital initiatives and make a team and drive success with resources behind the projects. I said no, you're a bank, people are afraid to do the wrong thing and it will be watered down. Instead, pick the people who lead your initiatives and say "I want to see 10 proof of concepts in 90 days. We'll kill nine of them. Then let's see another 10 in 90 days, maybe some out to demo stage, but with the learnings built-in from the first 10." This tells the organisation it's ok to fail and to set up a structure where it's not a big high-stakes thing. Leaders need to change, but they don't have to go through a personal epiphany and be a different person, but change what you ask for and accept failure and drive experimentation - this will drive your culture. Instead of saying "come back with two projects" say "come back with 10 and we will kill most of these" is a small tweak how you to talk to the organisation but it's one example of the 100 things you have to do to get a cultural change to happen. This is more effective than hiring a consultant to convince people they should be willing to take risks. You don't change culture directly, but you do things that start to get culture change. The writer attended Red Hat Summit 2018 as a guest of the company. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by subscribing or making a contribution. Subscribe or contribute Vedanta aims to increase production from the current 2,00,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to 3,00,000 bpd. Vedanta Limited has said it will be investing USD 2.3 billion towards capex on its oil and gas activities in the 'near term' to increase the reserve base by around 375 million barrels. Hyderabad: Vedanta Limited has said it will be investing USD 2.3 billion towards capex on its oil and gas activities in the 'near term' to increase the reserve base by around 375 million barrels. According to its latest annual report, Vedanta aims to increase production from the current 2,00,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day to 3,00,000 bpd over the next few years. "In the near-term, we are investing gross capex of USD 2.3 billion to increase our resource and reserve base by around 375 million barrels. Our rich project portfolio is comprised of enhanced oil recovery projects, tight oil and gas projects and exploration prospects. As well as boosting production, this investment will generate sustainable employment opportunities, directly and indirectly and bring cutting edge solutions to community needs," the metals and mining giant said. For FY2019, it expects to achieve a significant growth in production with total volumes in the range of 220-250 kboepd through executing growth projects, with opex of sub-USD 7/boe (Barrel of Equivalent). "We estimate the net capex commitment at USD 600-800 million (for FY 19)," it said. Kuldip Kaura, Chief Executive Officer of Vedanta, said the company's vision was to contribute 50 per cent of the countrys domestic crude oil production by increasing their gross production to 500,000 boepd. "Working towards this goal, we announced growth projects, including Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR), tight oil and gas projects, upgrade of liquid handling facilities and exploration, for which key contracts have been awarded to world-class partners. These projects, along with an exit run rate of 200,000 boepd in March 2018, will pave the way to achieve 300,000 boepd in the near-term and 500,000 boepd in the medium-term," he said. As the largest private sector producer of crude oil in India, and with a strong track record and growth pipeline in exploration and development, Vedanta is well positioned to benefit from the Governments desire to boost domestic production and to leverage Indias oil and gas resource potential, it said. Vedanta had recently bid for all 55 blocks on offer in the first round of oil and gas auctions under the Open Acreage Licensing Policy (OALP) auction. The Anil Agarwal-led Vedanta is likely to bag as many as 40 oil and gas exploration blocks in India's maiden open acreage auction, official sources had earlier said. Summerville, SC (29483) Today Light rain early. Decreasing clouds with mostly clear skies by morning. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Light rain early. Decreasing clouds with mostly clear skies by morning. Low 51F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Reddit Email 100 Shares China will continue its cooperation and relations with Iran, state news agency Xinhua reported on Friday, citing a statement from Chinese State Councillor Wang Yi. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the 2015 deal in which Tehran agreed to curb its nuclear work in return for the lifting of most Western sanctions, is in line with the international communitys common interest, the Chinese diplomat said in a phone conversation with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, according to Xinhua. We have openly indicated that we oppose the wrong practices of unilateral sanctions and long-arm jurisdiction in international relations, Wang Yi was quoted as saying. Beijing has cultivated close commercial links with Tehran, especially in the energy sector. Chinas ties with Tehran are open, transparent and lawful, its foreign ministry said earlier in August, after US President Donald Trump said companies doing business with Iran would be barred from the United States. Earlier this year, Trump took the call to pull the United States out of the JCPOA, ignoring pleas from the other world powers that had co-sponsored the deal, including Washingtons main European allies, Britain, France and Germany, as well as Russia and China. This work by Middle East Monitor is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Via Middle East Monitor Bonus video added by Informed Comment: US sanctions on Iran open up the playing field for China, its key trading partner: Pro | In The News Reddit Email 2K Shares United Nations (United States) (AFP) Israel has rejected a report by UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres outlining options for strengthening the protection of Palestinians in Israeli-occupied territories. Israels UN Ambassador Danny Danon said in a statement late Friday that the only protection the Palestinian people need is from their own leadership. The 14-page report laid out four options, from increasing aid to the Palestinians, sending UN rights monitors and unarmed observers to deploying a military or police force under UN mandate. The report was requested by the General Assembly in response to a surge of violence in Gaza, where 171 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since late March. Instead of suggesting ways to protect the Palestinian people from Israel, the UN should instead hold the Palestinian leadership accountable for continually endangering its own people, Danon said. The reports suggestions will only enable the Palestinians continued rejectionism. A UN mandate for a protection force would require a decision from the Security Council, where the United States could use its veto power to block a measure opposed by Israel. The report released to all UN member-states comes amid a vacuum in Middle East peace efforts as European and Middle East powers await a peace plan from President Donald Trumps administration that has been under discussion for months. UN diplomats have recently begun questioning whether the US peace plan will ever materialize. Featured Photo: GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File / Drew Angerer. Israels UN Ambassador Danny Danon, pictured July 2018, says that the only protection the Palestinian people need is from their own leadership. Walmart said its investment includes $2 billion of new equity funding to help accelerate the growth of the Flipkart business. Walmart said its investment includes $2 billion of new equity funding to help accelerate the growth of the Flipkart business. New Delhi: US retail behemoth Walmart said on Saturday that it has completed its $ 16 billion acquisition of a majority stake in Indias largest e-commerce company Flipkart despite opposition from RSS affiliate Swadeshi Jagran Manch and small traders. Walmart said its investment includes $2 billion of new equity funding to help accelerate the growth of the Flipkart business. This is worlds biggest e-commerce deal. With this deal Indian e-commerce scene will now be dominated by two US retailers : Walmart and Amazon. India will be new frontier which will see extension of their war for dominance which is already underplay in US. After the completion of the investment, Walmart now holds approximately 77 percent of Flipkart. The remainder of the business is held by other shareholders, including Flipkart co-founder Binny Bansal, Tencent, Tiger Global and Microsoft Corp. Moving forward, Flipkarts financials will be reported as part of Walmarts International business segment. Both companies will retain their unique brands and operating structures in India, it said. Walmart said that Flipkarts existing management team will continue to lead the business. Tencent Holdings Limited and Tiger Global Management LLC will remain represented on the Flipkart board, in addition to independent board members, and will be joined by new members from Walmart. The board will work to maintain Flipkarts core values and entrepreneurial spirit, while ensuring it has strategic and competitive advantages, it said. Walmart and Flipkart will achieve more together than each of us could accomplish separately to contribute to the economic growth of India, creating a strong local business powered by Walmart, said Judith McKenna, president and CEO of Walmart International. Our investment will benefit India by providing quality, affordable goods for customers, while creating new skilled jobs and opportunities for suppliers. As a company, we are transforming globally to make life even easier for customers, and we are delighted to learn from, contribute to and work with Flipkart to grow in India, one of the fastest-growing and most attractive retail markets in world. In US, Walmart and Amazon are involved in an intense competition to get an upper hand in retail sector and the same game is expected to be extended to India. Walmart for long has been trying to gain a significant foothold in India and Flipkart acquisition will provide it what it had longed and lobbied for so hard. Even though UPA-II allowed FDI in multi-brand retail, BJP led NDA government has been against it. Walmart currently operates just 20 stores in wholesale segment that sells to small businesses, which doesnt match with the pace and size the company operates. Flipkart deal will change this for Walmart and allow it to expand without opening stores, said experts. Morgan Stanley has estimated e-commerce market will grow to $200 billion in about a decade and online sales are growing about 35 percent a year. Besides its own site, Flipkart owns fashion portals Myntra and Jabong Amazon has committed to invest $5.5 billion in India to expand aggressive.Walmart entered India in 2009 through a joint venture with Bharti Enterprises, and took full control of that business in 2013. The deal marked the end of an era for Flipkart as co-founder and chairman Sachin Bansal left the company, selling his 5.5-6 per cent stake for roughly $1 billion. Flipkarts other founder, Binny Bansal, continues as Flipkart group chief executive officer (CEO). 390 Shares Share Three years ago, I left the only path I had ever known to pursue uncertainty on the other side of the world. But let me back up. In July of 2011, five years into my career as an academic hospitalist, the residency work hours changed. Although the intent was obviously to benefit the well-being of the residents and the safety of patients, it took a tremendous toll on attending physicians at my institution. It was such an abrupt and dramatic change, and it didnt take long until I was on the brink of mental and physical exhaustion, unable to handle even minor setbacks. Ill spare you all of the details, because you probably already know what burnout looks like. I eventually managed to get some time off for self-care and spent the week on a truly relaxing spa vacation the ultimate remedy, right? But when I went back to work, there was my burnout, waiting for me and stronger than ever. Then, something changed. I met someone who meditated twice a day. I became fascinated. I was the biggest skeptic ever, and who has time for that? But I went to listen to his teacher speak, and then I took his course. The practice immediately had a profound effect on my reactivity to stressful situations, my overall sense of happiness and well-being and my levels of energy and creativity. I was frankly amazed at the ease and immediacy of the benefits I received from this easy, effortless activity. Meditation helped me regain my compassion and empathy, and it helped me let go of my need to control everything. I enjoyed my colleagues, my patients and, in general, my job. I learned that I didnt always have the right answers, that I shouldnt always have the right answers, and that when things went against my expectations, they often turned out for the better. My career was soaring, as I became the director of education in the division of hospital medicine and the director of faculty development in the medical school. Things were good, but after a few more years, I began to have thoughts about waking up when I was 60 and wondering what else I couldve done with my life. On a 10-day meditation retreat in India, I decided that I wanted to become a meditation teacher. It took two years of planning, but I made it happen. I was going to spend three months on my teacher training in India, then return to Chicago to teach meditation while continuing to work as a hospitalist part-time. The universe had other plans. I met someone who had left medicine to become an artist. He just stopped practicing medicine completely. Until that point, I didnt even have a paradigm to process the concept of leaving medicine! Then, I had a once-in-a-lifetime chance to move overseas to China. China! Feeling ready to embrace some major life changes, I left the only path I had ever known for a world of uncertainty and opportunity, in China and then India. While I was in India for my meditation teacher training, I reflected on 21 years of working tirelessly to get to, and continue, a career in medicine. For over 2 decades, immersed in the medical culture, I felt this constant pressure to be right all of the time, to stay up to date with knowledge, to live up to unrealistic (and often conflicting) expectations with metrics such as length of stay, readmission rates, patient satisfaction scores and resident and student teaching evaluations. And, of course, the constant threat of lawsuits. I had been out of clinical medicine for six months, and I didnt miss it. Instead, I was finding what I had never had before something I was even more passionate about than traditional internal medicine. I knew that I had learned a tool that could reverse stress-induced damage, and that if I could focus my energies on treating the cause of illness (stress), rather than the symptoms of illness, I could help people make huge changes in their health. And, with my medical degree and years of clinical and teaching expertise, I knew I had a platform from which I could really reach people and make a difference. I could do work that really mattered, and really fulfilled me a perfect match. And so it happened. It seems to many like an overnight and fearless move to leave a successful academic career to study meditation in India, and then to come back to the U.S. to be my own boss in a career more rewarding than I thought possible. But really, it was one step at a time, and it wasnt so fearless. I felt the fear, and that fear is how I recognized the important life decisions and felt inspired to act. Connecting with inspiration isnt always dramatic maybe its speaking up at a meeting, applying for a leadership role, or negotiating with our boss. It might be a step up, a step down, or a step across. And these inspirations can be easily drowned out by fear of uncertainty and failure. But its our intuition about whats right for ourselves that can give us the power to embrace inspiration and not be afraid to fail. Listen to the little voice inside, which is often a whisper, and then take the next step. Feel the fear, and then move towards it. You may end up somewhere completely different from where you started, from where you always thought you wanted to be. But it will always be worth it. Jill Wener is an internal medicine physician and can be reached at her self-titled site, Jill Wener, MD. Image credit: Shutterstock.com 46 Shares Share If money is the root of all evil, what does that make debt? Evils ugly big brother. A report by the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) revealed that over 86 percent of medical graduates carry an educational debt principal of over $160,000, with a significant number of graduates reporting debt totaling over $350,000. In addition to massive student debt, personal financial challenges include the loss of nearly a decade of income and investing opportunities. On the second-to-last day of medical school, we listened to a presentation about debt and loan repayment. Sitting in the back of the lecture hall, I felt the room grow grim as the lecture proceeded. The classroom of energized new doctors became intimidated and overwhelmed. After the meeting, I was surprised to learn that, for many students, this was the first time they had truly understood the reality of their medical school debt burden and repayment options. My grandfather grew up during the Great Depression. Like others who lived during that time, he was raised in extreme poverty with almost no resources. During my childhood, he was an amazing example in every aspect of life. Later in his life, he was financially successful due to his hard work, financial knowledge, and consistency. I will never forget one particular life lesson he taught me. One day, while he was visiting my family, we found ourselves outside together cleaning the garage. While I swept the garage floor, my grandfather noticed a nickel in the pile of garbage I was sweeping. He asked if I was going to pick it up. I declined and continued sweeping so that I could quickly complete my task. He approached the pile, bent over, plucked the dirty nickel from it, inserted the coin into his pocket and said, A penny saved is a penny earned. At that moment, I started to understand one of the secrets to financial wellness. Im confident that smart saving is a financial principle that is vital to successful debt management and financial prosperity as a physician. Depending on their debt amount and terms, medical students will pay back approximately $2 for every $1 borrowed. This concept is important to understand early in medical education. Each year, medical students determine the amount they will borrow for the academic year. The best investment a student can make is in themselves, including education specifically, tuition and living expenses. However, because students do not earn an income during their education, all pleasure expenses will eventually cost double the initial amount borrowed. Even when purchasing a soda, medical students are essentially paying double because they are using loan money. Two key personal finance principles that would greatly benefit early medical trainees are saving and investing. I love the term live like a student. No matter what your financial future holds, undergraduate, graduate and medical school provide a wonderful opportunity to sacrifice and live by humble means. When most people reflect on a period of life that involved sacrifice and humble living, they recall pleasant memories and unique opportunities. Students and residents can financially benefit by looking for cheaper housing, creating opportunities to save on living expenses, and consistently budgeting for non-housing expenses such as food, vacations, and cars. The rising generation of trainees, in particular, has a difficult time living humbly due to the social media version of keeping up with the Joneses. Facebook constantly reminds us that our friends and family members are enjoying lavish vacations, new homes, and expensive restaurants. This is particularly difficult when you are overworked, over-studied and underpaid. Overall, medical students will benefit from the mentality of a penny saved is two pennies earned. Another effective saving strategy as a student is to avoid justifying any form of spending. It is natural for people to spend more after they save more. For example, you may choose to live 15 minutes farther from campus so that you can save $200 a month, but because of this, you justify eating out more often for convenience. Saving money should never justify spending that saved money later on a different unplanned or unnecessary purchase. Changing ones spending and saving habits may be as difficult as changing a patients eating or exercise habits. Another important concept for financial success for physicians is investing. If you are like most physicians, investing is likely not your strong point. The topic of investing may intimidate and overwhelm many readers. However, I invite you to jump fearlessly into this topic. I firmly believe that financial investing leads to security, which in turn will improve ones long-term quality of life. Although physicians are generally high-income earners, this does not always result in net worth or financial security. Physicians are commonly known to be less than savvy when it comes to personal and professional finance. Often, the only major investment a physician will ever make is in his or her own education. However, physicians are intelligent human beings. The concepts of financial investing are learnable. If a physician can learn the Kreb Cycle, he or she can learn financial investing concepts. Several online learning resources, books, and blogs will give entry to advanced-level information about 401(k)s, Roth IRAs, stocks, angel investing and real estate investing, to name a few. If one can look at a 12 lead ECG and identify a pathologic pattern, one can certainly identify a successful stock pattern for investing. The great news is that you do not have to wait until you earn a high income before you begin taking care of your financial health. Start small and learn about the process of personal finance and investing. As with medical training, we learn in low-risk environments. As we grow in knowledge and skill, the stakes and risks increase but so does our success and reward. Focusing on financial wellness early in your career will allow the concept of compounding to work for you. Although a high barrier of entry exists for newer physicians and trainees, it has been my experience and research agrees that knowledge of personal finance creates significant long-term benefits. The point of this article is not to suggest a method of getting rich as a physician, but rather to spark interest in acquiring personal finance knowledge early in your career. Financial knowledge can lead to a decrease in financial burden and to an increase in personal financial security and opportunities. Tyson Schwab is a resident physician and can be reached on Twitter @tysonschwab. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Remember that your doctor is also human 9K Shares Share I love what I do. I hate what I have to do. Its a quote that doctors attribute to their profession behind closed doors. As patients, we are so overwhelmed with our own problems. We fail to notice that our doctor may be battling her own problems with a complicated system. But what do we care? Our meeting with the doctor is a paid transaction. We are owed our moneys due. Empathy can take a backseat. Weve made medicine into a business affair. If you have constipation, you will get a prescription based on your insurance coverage. You want a fix. You get a fix. No conversations about how to help your body overcome its diseased state, let alone prevent it. Healing can take a backseat. But we can think differently about health care by bringing empathy into the equation. Empathy is a two-way street. Developing an understanding of our doctors problems is a beginning in that direction. They are stuck in a systemic mess Insurances deny payments. Incentive schemes are skewed. Patients dont pay up dues. Paperwork mounds. Mindless bureaucracy. Administrators demand financial performance. Legal threats loom large. Malpractice payments rise. Technology slows them down. Costs keep rising. Life-and-death ethical dilemmas. Changing guidelines. Stringent medical community. Burnout. Loss of value in society. Doctors are nudged and hassled in a system from which theres no way out. Yet, they are held to one of the highest performing standards of any profession. Its tough being a doctor today. They are not making as much money as you think Unlike most high-end professionals, doctors begin making money only after age 35. By then they accumulate debt through expensive, specialized education. Some continue to fight debt further into their life by buying big houses and cars out of social pressure. When doctors start a solo practice, they are overwhelmed by the challenges of sustaining the business. When they join a group practice, they get short-end of the stick for many years before they become partners. When they join a hospital, they get a salary but function under the thumb of rigid administration. Most doctors dont run profitable endeavors. In fact, many give up medicine altogether because its tough making a living. The Physicians Foundation found that 40 percent of doctors want to drop out of clinical care during the next 1 to 3 years. They are more depressed than youd ever know According to the New York Times, about 400 doctors commit suicide every year. Physicians are more than two times likely to kill themselves than non-physicians. Given the scrutiny they are in, doctors fear social stigma more than other professionals do. Plus they have easy access to prescription drugs (including opioids) to treat themselves. They silently move through their days by masking their problems. Never making them go away. Doctors face pressures that the average person doesnt. Seeing people die all the time. Feeling helpless in supporting the dying. Constant lack of sleep, particularly among interns. Studying throughout life to keep up with licenses. Couple that with problems that many people do face. Financial pressures. Familial discord. Loneliness. Erratic lifestyles. Yes, they have it all. Why should you care? Your doctor is also human. With emotions. With challenges. With the additional challenge of constantly being in the position of giving care and not receiving. Bringing empathy to the patient-doctor relationship will accelerate the process of health care in its true sense. Its good for the patient. Its good for the doctor. Praveen Suthrum is president and co-founder, NextServices and blogs at redo | healthcare. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Woman migrated to Assam from UP in 1945 died in pain of their children, born and brought up in Assam, being declared as doubtful citizen. 'Since then mother Chhotki Devi was running from pillar to post to get her son released. No body could help her and subsequently she fell sick and died on Friday,' said the residents of the area. (Representational Image) Guwahati: In what has raised many eyebrows, a 70-years old lady who migrated to Assam from Uttar Pradesh with her husband in 1945 died in pain of their children, born and brought up in Assam, being declared doubtful citizen of India. The incident came to light only after the death of 70-years old Chhotki Devi Prajapati whose son Dinesh Prajapati and daughter-in-law Tara Devi are languishing in detention camp in Upper Assams Tinsukia district. Informing that Chhotki Devi had migrated to Assam with her husband Parshuram Prajapati, in 1945 from Balia district of Uttar Pradesh, office bearers of All Assam Bhojpuri Students Union said that the family was surviving on small farmland and a house given by the government under Indira Awas Yojna Scheme. Parshuram Prajapati who passed away few years back had two sons--Dinesh and Rajesh and three daughters all of them born and married in Assam. The mother, who was looking after five children (mostly below the age of 15) of Dinesh, presently languishing in detention camp, fell sick after her son Dinesh and daughter-in-law were declared as doubtful citizen and asked to face trial in the foreigners tribunal. Dinesh and his wife, struggling with poverty and livelihood for survival could not appear before the tribunal and about three months back, police arrested them and sent to the detention camp. Since then mother Chhotki Devi was running from pillar to post to get her son released. No body could help her and subsequently she fell sick and died on Friday, said the residents of the area. The residents also informed that after the death of grandmother, villagers are looking after the livelihood of five children of Dinesh who and his wife were categorised as D-voter (Doubtful voter). Expressing his deep anguish and pain over Tinsukia incident, Assam BJP MLA Ashok Singhal who recently led a delegation of Hindi-speaking people of Assam to meet Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told this newspaper that such harassment of genuine Indian citizens must be stopped. Pointing out that hundreds of such Hindi-speaking people are facing harassment in the ongoing process of updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC), officials of All Assam Bhojpuri Students Union Ajay Singh and Awadhesh Rastogi said that there are dozens of such cases in which people, who have migrated to Assam from Bihar and Uttar Pradesh have been declared non-citizen in Assam. Asserting that Hindi-speaking people want that all the foreigners should detected and deported but in the process Hindi-speaking people should not be targeted. He regretted that assurance of Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal and Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh has failed to give any respite to them. Claiming that majority of those left out are daily wageworker, member of Hindi Bikash Parishad Vakil Rai said that organisations representing Hindi-speaking communities living in Assam for generations have sought intervention after non-inclusion of a significant number of Hindi-speaking people in the complete and final draft of the National Register of Citizens declared on July 30. A Kilkenny lifestyle blogger and mother of four whose son who declared Mammy you cant go out like that you look like a peacock as she left home for the races has scooped the top prize in the House of Waterford Crystal/Redlane.ie Style Evening at Waterford and Tramore Racecourse. Catherine Healy from Talbot's Grove on the Freshford Road had never been at a race meeting in her life but admits she went all-out to win Style Evening at the renowned seaside track on Saturday evening and prove her 10 year-old son, Mark Dalton, that this so-called peacock would be a very proud one by the end of the day. The Kilkenny womans stunning headpiece featured feathers and hand-painted flowers by Michelle Fallon Millinery; her dress was from Forever Unique in Wexford, her red clutch bag was a Lulu Guinness design and she topped it all off with shoes from Manolo Blahnik. Im a hairdresser by trade but gave up for family reasons. Ive always loved style and people were forever coming to me for advice, asking about matching their hair with different outfits, make-up etc. Im studying style and have spent the past while building my following on Catherines Catwalk on Instagram. I chose what I wore very carefully and was delighted that my husband, Denis, agreed to come along to Tramore. I was really taken by Style Evening and the standard was out of this world. I was particularly struck by judge Marietta Dorans comment when she said that my smile was my crowning glory. Im always a firm believer that a smile caps any look. Ive been building my profile as a stylist providing services like a personal shopper, style adviser, wardrobe de-clutterer etc. I am delighted with the win and hope this will help build my profile, she said. Judge Marietta Doran said: The style and colour really stood out for me Im a huge fan of crowns at the moment. The blue and the white really stood out and the pop up colour in the red handbag was a beautiful combination of colour and style. Its fun as well. This is head to toe glamour topped off with a beautiful smile, she said after. For her win, Catherine scooped a 1,000 Redlane.ie voucher; 1,000 in cash; a House of Waterford Crystal jewellery piece and four gin glasses, also from the House of Waterford Crystal. The nine runners up on Style Evening include fellow Kilkenny women Alison Walsh, Andrea Murphy and Catriona Brennan as well as Grainne Keena from Fermoy in Cork; Jessica Manning from Waterford; Anna Szdafinska from Cork; Denise Butler from Tramore; Annie Cusack from Dunmore East and Edel Halpin from Rathgormack. Style Evening was the crowning glory on the second last day of the four day August Racing Festival in Tramore, an event which drew record crowds and saw a whole new generation of racegoers enjoying the craic on the track in the hub which is at the end stages of a 1 million redevelopment. Azam Khan, other leaders may come forward to join outfit. Lucknow: After waiting for exactly two years to build bridges with his nephew Akhilesh Yadav, senior Samajwadi Party leader Shivpal Singh Yadav is reportedly ready to float a new political party in Uttar Pradesh. Mr Shivpal Yadav has been making efforts to normalise his relationship with Mr Akhilesh Yadav, now Samajwadi Party president, but he does not seem to fit into the new Samajwadi Party. He is preparing to announce his new venture before the Lok Sabha elections, said a close aide of the SP leader. Recently, Mr Shivpal Yadav made it clear that while he was on talking terms with the Samajwadi Party president, there is no communication with my nephew. It was on the insistence of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav that Mr Shivpal Yadav attended the birthday celebrations of his estranged cousin Prof. Ram Gopal Yadav in June this year but that too, did not normalise relations in the family. According to sources, some other senior party leaders who have been unable to adjust to the leadership of Mr Akhilesh Yadav, are also in touch with Mr Shivpal Yadav. Leaders like Mohd. Azam Khan, Narad Rai, Bhagwati Singh, who once formed the core group within the party, have now been left out in the cold. There has been no effort on the part of Mr Akhilesh Yadav to make these seniors a part of the party. These leaders have also been looking for an alternative and are ready to join hands with Mr Shivpal Yadav, a source said. Mr Shivpal Yadav, it may be recalled, has tried to branch out on his own after the assembly elections last year but Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav had stopped him from doing so. Relations between Mr Shivpal Yadav and Mr Akhilesh Yadav have been strained since September 2016 when Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav replaced his son Akhilesh as state president and appointed Shivpal in his place. The events finally led to the ouster of Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav as national president in a coup of sorts where Mr Akhilesh Yadav was appointed national party president on January 1, 2017. Mr Akhilesh Yadav and Mr Shivpal Yadav have not been on talking terms ever since. Mr Mulayam Singh Yadav has now reconciled himself to the fact that a rapprochement between the young and the old leadership of the party is a near impossibility. Senior leaders who still have time on their side, cannot be expected to sit at home. Mr Akhilesh Yadav, on the other hand, has given enough signals that there is no more for the veterans in his party. In such a situation, the SP seniors have started looking for options, the leader said. Mr Shivpal Yadavs meeting with Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader, Om Prakash Rajbhar two months ago in Varanasi and his recent meeting with chief minister Yogi Adityanath is now being seen as a step in this direction. Sources said that Mr Shivpal Yadav is still keeping his options open and once he floats his new party, he may ally with either the BJP or the Congress since both the parties are willing to have him as an ally. D02 Janakpur [Nepal], Aug 19 (ANI): In his maiden address in the Province no. 2 Assembly, Nepal Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli promised to develop the region without any further delay. "There is no place which can be called inaccessible. Despite being the fact that the literacy rate of the province is only 41 per cent, 59 per cent of the total population is still illiterate. Only 26 per cent of the population in the province has access to toilets. 74 per cent still lack access to toilets. We will work for it, without any further delay," Prime Minister Oli said. The Province no. 2 of Federal Nepal had been the centre of protest for the Madhesh-based parties in 2015. Prime Minister Oli who was always characterised as an "anti-Madhesi", held discussions with the Chief Minister, Speaker, Deputy Speaker and other senior ministers of Province no. 2 prior to his address. The Province no. 2, which still has reservations, such as the provisions of citizenship of the province is seeking some amendment in it. The September 2015 constitution promulgation had led to massive violence in the southern plains of Nepal, where over 100 people were killed, with the blame landing on the then Oli government for using excessive force. But the 66-year-old leader, who is the first Prime Minister of Federal Nepal noted that the constitution can be amended on the basis of its need. Although Prime Minister Oli addressed the Provincial Assembly of Province no. 2, the leaders and the members from the Rastriya Janata Party-Nepal which protested against the government during the 2015 Madhesi movement boycotted it. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) New Delhi, Aug 19: Danyal Gilani, half-brother of convicted 26/11 attack plotter David Headley, was part of the Pakistani delegation which arrived in Delhi on Friday to attend former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee's funeral, reports said on Sunday. Gilani, a bureaucrat, holds the position of director in Pakistan's Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. He had accompanied the outgoing I&B Minister, Syed Ali Zafar, who led the delegation at Vajpayee's funeral. The Opposition has questioned the government on why they granted visa to the brother of a convicted terrorist. The Centre, through its sources, have clarified that though Gilani was part of the delegation, he neither attended the cremation of Vajpayee nor the meeting with External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. "Danyal Gilani did not attend Atal Bihari Vajpayee's funeral or courtesy meeting of Pakistan acting law minister (Syed Ali Zafar) with EAM Sushma Swaraj," a top source told news agency ANI. On the issuance of visa to Gilani, reports said he was not blacklisted due to his clean record. He has been serving in the Pakistani civil service for more than a decade and has publicly distanced himself from the actions and ideology of his half-brother David Headley. Headley and Gilani share the same father - Sayed Salim Gilani, the former chief of Pakistan Broadcast Corporation. Headley's mother was a US national, with wom Syed Salim divorced and married another woman in Pakistan. He had three children from his second marriage, one of whom is Danyal Gilani. As director in the Pakistan I&B Ministry, Gilani was also heading the censor board which banned the release of recent Bollywood movie Veere Di Wedding, on grounds of being "immoral". (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2018 08:49 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Bomb That Used For Yemen School Bus Attack was Supplied by US. (Photo Credit: Twitter) Washington, Aug 19: A bomb used by the Saudi-led coalition in a devastating attack on a school bus in Yemen was sold as part of a US State Department-sanctioned arms deal with Saudi Arabia, munitions experts told CNN. Working with local Yemeni journalists and munitions experts, CNN has established that the weapon that left dozens of children dead on August 9 was a 227 kg laser-guided MK 82 bomb made by Lockheed Martin, one of the top US defence contractors. The bomb was very similar to the one that wreaked devastation in an attack on a funeral hall in Yemen in October 2016 in which 155 people were killed and hundreds more wounded. The Saudi coalition blamed "incorrect information" for that strike, admitted it was a mistake and took responsibility. In the aftermath of the funeral hall attack, former US President Barack Obama banned the sale of precision-guided military technology to Saudi Arabia over "human rights concerns". The ban was overturned by the Trump administration's then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in March 2017. The August 9 bomb's impact as it landed on the bus full of excited schoolchildren on a day trip was devastating. Of the 51 people who died in the airstrike, 40 were children. The UN has called for a separate investigation into the strike, one of the deadliest since Yemen's war began in early 2015. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2018 11:15 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan passed away in a hospital in Bern, Switzerland at the age of 80. Annan, who began his career as a budget officer with the World Health Organization (WHO) rose through the ranks of the UN to become the first Sub-Saharan African to head it. "In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination," UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whom Annan had chosen to head the UN refugee agency, said in a statement. His husky timbre and softly-spoken words of wisdom made world leaders stand up and take notice because he had led by example his life had been dedicated to bettering the lives of those caught in poverty and conflict. In his own words leadership is about thinking of the welfare of the people who are in your care. His term as Secretary-General, spanning a decade from 1997-2006 was a bridge of sorts. The world left behind the 20th century and entered the 21st which has been marked by exponential technological change and immense conflict. He summarised that the world is a messier place today the Middle East, some parts of Africa, Myanmar because there is a lack of leadership that wants to end these conflicts and a dearth of leaders who will put people before their own needs. Kofi Annan was a giant among leaders because he stayed true to the values he espoused of working for the cause of humanity. Even after retirement, Annan was hard at work from being the special envoy to Syria to trying to resolve the Rohingya crisis. Heres a look at some of the highlights of his life in service Achievements: Kofi Annan was the first black African to be elected to the post of the worlds top diplomat. Kofi Annan and the United Nations were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001 for their work for a better organized and more peaceful world. He spearheaded the creation and adoption of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). These form a blueprint agreed to by all the worlds countries and all the worlds leading development institutions from halving extreme poverty to halting the spread of HIV/AIDS and providing universal primary education, all by the target date of 2015. Kofi Annan was instrumental in bringing about an end to post-election violence that had racked Kenya in 2007-08. He negotiated a peace accord between retired Kibaki of Party of National Unity and Raila Odinga of the Orange Democratic Movement which led to the birth of the Grand Coalition Government in Kenya led by the two leaders. In 2012 he was made chair of The Elders, a peace and human rights advocacy group started by South Africa's Nelson Mandela. The group consists of global leaders who act as trouble-shooters in the worlds conflicted hotspots. Criticisms One of the biggest criticisms of Kofi Annans carrier was the Rwandan genocide during which he was the chief of the UNs peacekeeping operations. He was blamed for not acting soon enough to prevent the killing of 8,00,000 Tutsis by Hutu soldiers in Rwanda. A year later, Annan witnessed the Srebrenica massacre in which 8,000 Bosnian Muslims were murdered by Bosnian Serb forces. In a speech marking the 10th anniversary of the Rwandan genocide, Annan said that if the UN, various governments, and the media had paid more attention to what was unfolding in Rwanda, the massacres might have been averted. The international community is guilty of sins of omission. I myself, as head of the UNs peacekeeping department at the time, pressed dozens of countries for troops. I believed at that time that I was doing my best, he said. But I realized after the genocide that there was more that I could and should have done to sound the alarm and rally support. This painful memory, along with that of Bosnia and Herzegovina, has influenced much of my thinking, and many of my actions, as secretary-general. Annan staying true to his word of learning lessons from tragedies, pioneered the Responsibility to Protect doctrine at the United Nations as a lesson from the genocides of Rwanda and Bosnia. At the 2005 World Summit Outcome Document, Heads of State and Government affirmed their responsibility to protect their own populations from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity and accepted a collective responsibility to encourage and help each other uphold this commitment. They also declared their preparedness to take timely and decisive action, in accordance with the United Nations Charter and in cooperation with relevant regional organizations, when national authorities manifestly fail to protect their populations. Annan was again criticised in 2003 as the UN could not prevent the U.S. invasion of Iraq. However, he declared explicitly in 2004 that the U.S.-led war on Iraq was illegal. Annan said that the invasion was not sanctioned by the UN security council or in accordance with the UN's founding charter. Kofi Annans life is an example of a man who achieved great things for the world by learning from his mistakes. His life is indeed a legacy for those of us who choose to learn from it. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 19, 2018 03:04 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). The reigning Miss America says she has been bullied, manipulated and silenced by the pageants current leadership, including Gretchen Carlson. In a letter sent Friday to former Miss Americas, Cara Mund says she decided to speak out despite the risk of punishment. Her letter is reminiscent of the movie Mean Girls, in which characters Gretchen and Regina bully the heroine and make her life miserable. Thats what happened to her in real life, Mund wrote. Gretchen Carlson is chairwoman of the Miss America Organization; Regina Hopper is its chief executive. Her letter exponentially increased the turmoil surrounding the pageant three weeks before the next Miss America is to be crowned in Atlantic City. Advertisement Let me be blunt: I strongly believe that my voice is not heard nor wanted by our current leadership; nor do they have any interest in knowing who I am and how my experiences relate to positioning the organization for the future, Mund wrote. Our chair and CEO have systematically silenced me, reduced me, marginalized me, and essentially erased me in my role as Miss America in subtle and not-so-subtle ways on a daily basis. After a while, the patterns have clearly emerged, and the sheer accumulation of the disrespect, passive-aggressive behavior, belittlement, and outright exclusion has taken a serious toll. The Miss America Organization said it would reach out to her directly to address her concerns. The Miss America Organization supports Cara, the group said in a statement. It is disappointing that she chose to air her grievances publicly, not privately. Her letter contains mischaracterizations and many unfounded accusations. Mund said shes been left out of interviews, not invited to meetings and called by the wrong name. When she obliquely hinted at trouble with pageant leadership in an interview this month with the Press of Atlantic City, Mund said she was swiftly punished by having her televised farewell speech cut to 30 seconds, and was told a dress she had been approved to wear in the traditional show us your shoes parade cannot be worn. This years competition will not include swimsuits, and pageant officials from at least 19 states have called for the current leadership to resign. Mund said she was given three talking points to be made in every appearance: Miss America is relevant. The #MeToo movement started with a Miss America, Gretchen Carlson. Gretchen Carlson went to Stanford. (Mund said she was allowed to mention that she went to Brown to show that both women were highly educated.) Right away, the new leadership delivered an important message: There will be only one Miss America at a time, and she isnt me, Mund wrote. Mund, who was Miss North Dakota and won the crown on a platform of increasing the number of women elected to political office, said she was treated better by the previous Miss America leadership that was forced from power after sending emails ridiculing the appearance, intellect and sex lives of former Miss Americas. She cites examples of mistreatment including being excluded from the nationally televised announcement that swimsuits were being eliminated even though she was with Carlson at the TV studio where it was made. She says pageant handlers ridiculed her clothing choices and chided her for wearing the same outfits too often. When she reached out to former Miss Americas to see if they had been treated similarly, I was reprimanded by Regina who told me that problems and concerns had to be kept in the family. A 25-year-old Lehigh County man died in a single-vehicle crash early Friday in Berks County, Pennsylvania State Police said. State police in Hamburg identified the man as Christopher Hausman, who has an address listed in Kempton, Berks County, and Lynn Township, according to police and a WFMZ-69 News report. Police said the accident happened at 3:25 a.m. as Hausman was driving west on Red Road in Albany Township. He lost control at a curve in the roadway despite braking hard, according to police, and the 2000 Chevrolet left the roadway and struck a concrete wall. The vehicle then flipped onto its roof at Friedens Lutheran Cemetery, police said. Hausman was pronounced dead at the scene by the Berks County Coroner's Office. The death was ruled an accident, according to the WFMZ report. Police did not state in a news release if Hausman was wearing a seat-belt. The investigation showed he was driving at an unsafe speed. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. The petitioner has also sought the quashing of an official order allowing change in land use, thereby permitting construction of hotel in the area. Lucknow: Former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadavs plans to enter the hospitality industry received a setback with the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court staying construction activity at the site of his proposed heritage hotel at Vikramaditya Marg, a high security zone in the state capital. The court questioned state government agencies on how permission for hotel construction was given in the area and fixed September 5 for the next hearing on a public interest litigation (PIL) which has raised security concerns. A division bench of Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Abdul Moin also ordered security for petitioner Shishir Chaturvedi who claimed that he was being threatened after he filed the PIL. Mr Chaturvedi said, I had filed a PIL in the case as this area comes under the high security zone where many prominent people reside and there can be security issues. The petitioner has also sought the quashing of an official order allowing change in land use, thereby permitting construction of hotel in the area. Mr Yadav along with his wife and MP Dimple Yadav had applied to the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) for approval of the map of their proposed hotel, Hibiscus Heritage, whose plot is located behind chief minister Yogi Adityanaths official residence. Since the plot comes under a high-security zone, where buildings cannot be more than seven meters, NOCs from several civic agencies were required. In 2003, when the same property was owned by another person, the then chief minister Mayawati had stopped construction of a multi-storey building on it citing security issues. According to documents, Mr Yadav and his wife had purchased the 23,872 square feet plot in 2005 at a cost of `39 lakh from Jwala Ramnath. The property is now worth crores. A Philadelphia man accused in multiple theft-related cases was arrested with the help of multiple agencies and a police dog after eluding authorities for several hours through a cornfield and residential yards. Sokhon Sam, 31, is charged with theft, receiving stolen property and prowling. Lehigh Township police were called to assist Walnutport Police in the stop of a stolen car from Washington Township, Lehigh County, shortly after 1 a.m. on Tuesday. During the stop, Sam allegedly ran from police into a cornfield. He was later found that Tuesday evening riding a bicycle east on Mountain View Drive, left the bike and continued to run from officers before finally being arrested, police said. Moore Township Police, Walnutport Borough police, as well as a Bangor Borough Police Department police dog assisted in the arrest shortly before 8 p.m. Police said area residents helped investigators find Sam by reporting his whereabouts while he ran through neighborhood yards. In addition to the alleged stolen vehicle, Sam was charged in the theft of construction tools from a property; theft of a bicycle and package from a front porch in the 4500 block of West Mountain View Drive; and the theft of bicycles in the 1200 block of Walnut Drive and in the 3800 block of Holly Drive. Sam was turned over to Pennsylvania State Police for the theft of the stolen vehicle. Police said he also was wanted for similar crimes in Lower Merion Township. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. An autopsy is planned for later this week to determine how a man who was operating a lawn tractor died after he ended up in a stream, pinned beneath the piece of equipment, authorities say. Blairstown police said the man, in his 60s, was mowing the lawn of a neighbor Saturday in the first block of Sand Hill Road. It is unclear if the man suffered a medical episode or simply lost control when steering the the zero-radius-turn tractor, which traveled down an estimated 3 to 4-foot trench, police said. Police are withholding the man's identity until the autopsy is completed, probably by the end of the week, they say. Emergency responders were called shortly before 4 p.m. when a neighbor called 911 after hearing the man's wife screaming, Capt. Scott Johnsen said. Responders found the man in the stream with the lawn tractor pinning him down, he said. Johnsen said firefighters with the Blairstown Hose Co. No. 1 lifted the tractor while police pulled the victim out from underneath it. He was unconscious and not breathing, police said. CPR was administered at the scene, in the ambulance and all the way to the Newton Medical Center, Johnsen said. The man later was pronounced dead at the hospital, he said. The Morris County Medical Examiner's Office, which handles cases for Warren County, continues to investigate the death. Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. EVERY GAA club in County Limerick would be proud to have one player involved with the senior hurlers on All-Ireland final day but Doon has four. To celebrate their fantastic four - Richie English, Darragh ODonovan, Pat Ryan Simon and Barry Murphy - Doon GAA club asked local children to draw posters of their poster boys. Dozens have been placed in shop fronts in the village situated close to the Tipperary border. However, visitors could be in no doubt that they were in Limerick as the village is decked out in green and white. The same can be said of Oola where Darragh is from. Neilys bar went all out with a green and white painted car. All four players have been instrumental in getting Limerick to the All-Ireland final. Richies staunch defence, Darraghs tireless work in midfield and key sideline cuts, while Barrys and Pats goals were instrumental in nailing Tipperarys and Corks coffins shut. To show their appreciation, Doon GAA Club has erected giant signs wishing their men and the team the very best. Schools and businesses are also a riot of colour. Doon Mens Shed used their carpentry skills to make a special Up Limerick sign. GAA club PRO, Audrey Crowe, said Doon is, Mental at the moment! Were so proud of them and the whole Limerick team. The four Doon GAA lads are all lovely young fellows. They give so much back it is unbelievable, said Audrey. Club secretary Declan Ryan came up with the idea of children drawing posters and now they have been placed in a number of shop fronts. They are still coming in. The kids are on a high, said Audrey. The phone of every club officer in the county has been hopping with people looking for tickets. Audrey said: There is a massive demand but people are getting them from far and wide which is great. All-Ireland final day will be a special day for everyone in Doon and they are right behind their four club men. Little did Br James Dormer know 11 years ago when he trained the four Doon lads to a county U-12 hurling competition win that they would be running out in Croke Park. That was a great team. Everybody is so proud of them. The atmosphere is electric in Doon at the moment not to mind Croke Park, said Br Dormer, who despite being a Dub is praying for a Limerick win over Galway. 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. ABBEYFEALE is leading the way when it comes to sign language and is set fair to have the largest Irish Sign Language Group in the country. Earlier this summer, over 30 men and women received their beginners sign language certificates. Now, with September classes beckoning, some 19 new people have signed up for the beginners class while 17 have so far enrolled for the next level. And, says Maurice OConnell, chairman of Abbeyfeale Community Council, people from other parts of the county and from other counties are looking to join. We could see Abbeyfeale becoming the main centre of excellence for sign language classes in the country, community council secretary Trevor McCarthy remarked when the community council handed over 2,000 worth of sign language materials to the Abbeyfeale Sign Language Group this week. This community-based and ground-breaking initiative started in the autumn of last year when the Barrett family from Ballaugh, all of whom can sign, and Breda OConnell teamed up and put out word looking for volunteers to join classes. Within hours of going up on Facebook, Breda explained, 13 people had signed up and on the first night of classes, there were 33 people all eager to learn. Maria Barrett, who is deaf and who is a sign language tutor and her mother Mary, who is her interpreter, guided their students through the new language. I was blown away by the amount of people who ended up in the class, Maria said. From the beginning, all her family had learnt sign language which was, she said, brilliant for her. But she was and is enthusiastic about widening the circle in Abbeyfeale. I was overwhelmed at the amount of support I have received from the deaf and hearing communities, she added. The group was great. They were great fun and the classes were very entertaining, Maria beamed. You have to have a memory for it. You have to practice at home, Breda OConnell added. The donation of sign language materials will mean that each learner will now have their own set of materials, with all they need to learn their new skill. But the sign language classes had other positive spin offs also. One sign language student was able to help a Polish person with no English in hospital. Another was able to welcome and chat to a young deaf woman who came to Abbeyfeale for a charity cycle. Generally speaking however, Mary Barrett explained, there are not enough interpreters available. She would like to see nurses, doctors, gardai and other service providers trained in sign language. LIMERICK supporters the length and breadth of the county and further afield are arriving in Dublin in huge numbers ahead of the All-Ireland Final against Galway. Green-clad fans began to fill out cafes, bars and hotels across the capital from early on this Sunday morning. And there is huge excitement and hope that Limerick can bridge a 45-year gap and capture the Liam MacCarthy cup for the first time since 1973. More than 40,000 people have travelled up from the county to roar on their heroes many without a ticket leading to desperate pleas from fans up and down Dublins OConnell Street. Among this number are Richard and Gary Crowley, originally from Cappamore. It's amazing, just brilliant to have Limerick in the final. It would mean the world to me to see them win it, he said. Gary, who now lives in London, had tickets for the semi-final, but his plane was cancelled, forcing him to miss the victory over Cork. This time, he predicted an eight-point win, saying: [Shane] Dowling will come on in the 55th minute - he will score a goal and five points. Mike OConnor, who is a member of Dowlings club, Na Piarsaigh, said the match is doubly special for him, due to the number of players the Caherdavin club has on the panel. It feels great. We've been waiting a long time for this. 1973 was a long time ago. I was only nine. Hopefully today will make up for the Cuala game, he said in reference to Na Piarsaighs All-Ireland defeat back in March. Asked where a Limerick All-Ireland final win would rank against Na Piarsaighs Club All-Ireland final win in 2016, Mike added: That's a tough question. We've experienced Na Piarsaigh winning an All-Ireland, I was just nine. Today will be something not many have experienced. It will be something special. Originally from Kilmallock, Gerry Vaughan travelled from Luton Airport to Dublin this Sunday morning, as hes now living in north-west London. He said: Its absolutely critical for me to be here today. I went to London in 1973 when they won the last one, and I have been back for every major game since. Obviously, we've had lots of disappointments. But we're back today, so let's hope we can get it over the line. He said Limerick will need their A-game against the reigning champions Galway. But they are good enough. We have great players, and I hope to God they can do us proud, he added. Paul Fitzgerald, also from Kilmallock, travelled with Gerry. He said, like many supporters, there has been a runaround for tickets, their group securing precious Croke Park passes from as far afield as Donegal, Mayo and Dungarvan, Waterford. Bruff man Alex Standon left Limerick at 7am this morning, with his partner Julie-Ann Crawford. Unfortunately, he only has a ticket for himself but is hoping Julie will pick one up at some point today. It would be amazing to see them do it. The buzz at home has been great. Neighbours in my estate are all wearing green - it's green everywhere, Julie said. Throw-in for Limericks first All-Ireland final since 2007 is 3.30 pm. The Limerick Leader will have live updates and full reaction this Sunday from Croke Park and the Gaelic Grounds on www.limerickleader.ie. And don't forget to get our special souvenir Monday Leader which will be full of coverage from the game and the big match screening in the Gaelic Grounds. TICKETS for Limericks official homecoming event at the Gaelic Grounds have sold out within two hours. A massive party is planned at the home of Limerick GAA as supporters will get a chance to welcome home their heroes the first Limerick team to bring the Liam McCarthy Cup to the Treaty County in 45 years. The Limerick Leader understands that 20,000 tickets for the event were gone within the first hour, and as it stands now, all tickets are sold-out. The capacity on the event is likely to be up to 40,000 people, it is understood. However, there is a waiting list and tickets are being returned, so people can sign up and may still get tickets as they are released. A ticket will be needed to enter the grounds, which will be open from 4pm. In the interests of health and safety the last admittance to the Gaelic Grounds for supporters will be 6.30pm with the Liam McCarthy due to appear at 7pm as the victorious team is welcomed onto the stage to have a chat with RTEs Marty Morrissey. There will be widespread traffic restrictions around the Gaelic Grounds. Supporters planning on going to the homecoming are urged to use public transport or park in the city centre and walk the short distance to the Gaelic Grounds. There is no parking available at the grounds. Limerick production company CWB assisted the council in staging this Sundays special screening of the final at the Gaelic Grounds, with the company set to stage the homecoming on Monday evening. "For the first ever event in the Gaelic Grounds, it went amazingly well, Joe Clarke of CWB said. The audience was fantastic, were very well behaved, respected the pitch and even cleaned up after themselves. We couldn't have asked for more." The advice is to arrive early - no admission after 6.30pm. Stockbridge, Mass. Harriet Harris gives a savagely satirical performance as the title character in "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You," being presented through the end of this month with the other Christopher Durang one-act play with which it is often paired, "The Actor's Nightmare." The double bill, on the Unicorn Stage of the Berkshire Theatre Group, is part of the company's 90th season. Harris, known for her role as Frasier Crane's agent, Bebe, in the NBC sitcom "Fraiser" and for her 2002 Tony Award-winning performance in "Thoroughly Modern Millie," also appeared earlier this summer in Barrington Stage Company's world premiere of "The Royal Family." She has impeccable comedic sense, which, combined with her sharp-edged contralto voice and eyes that almost always look varying degrees of possessed, makes for a particularly vivid version of the terrifying nun at the center of "Sister Mary ...," Durang's gleefully nasty 1979 attack on mid-20th-century Catholic-school education and the damage it can cause. News accounts from its off-Broadway premiere and a revival two years later with the premiere of "The Actor's Nightmare" describe audiences split between those howling with laughter and others so outraged they stormed out midperformance or shouted angrily at the stage. We're in a different environment now. Enrollment in American Catholic schools is about one-third of what it was 40 years ago, and revelations of pervasive abuse by clergy and decades' worth systematic cover-ups by church hierarchy have made Catholic institutions much more frequent subjects of criticism and their defenders more circumspect in denouncing critics. But "Sister Mary ..." still bites hard. It starts with Harris as Sister Mary, veteran nun and teacher, lecturing the audience on basic Catholic beliefs, using amateurish drawings to illustrate heaven, hell and purgatory. She on occasions brings out a star pupil, played by 9-year-old Levi Hall of Pittsfield, who has a preppy blond haircut that Sister Mary likes to tousle and smiley Catechism recitations that she rewards with cookies. Harris' Sister Mary is a true believer, a zealot, able to explain away inconsistencies and hypocrisies, or simply dismiss them. As directed by expert TV and theater veteran Matthew Penn, the early scenes are funny in a knowing way, but the humor darkens toward pathos. The true depth of Sister Mary monstrousness becomes evident when four former students (Anna O'Donoghue, Tom Story, Matt Sullivan and Ariana Venturi), now adults with lasting emotional trauma from her teaching, arrive to stage a Christmas pageant. It becomes a parade of dysfunction, of lives undone and a central villain still in the habit of the sacred. The same five adults perform "The Actor's Nightmare," which opens the evening as essentially a 40-minute riff on the eponymous fear, in which a thespian is on stage before an audience but doesn't know his lines. The central character is George (Matt Sullivan), an accountant who's forced to go on in what starts as Noel Coward's "Private Lives," though he's dressed as Hamlet. The play evolves to include elements of "Hamlet," "A Man for All Seasons" and a not-real Beckett work that seems like a composite of "Endgame," "Waiting for Godot" and "Happy Days." Sullivan's George, mostly called on to be reactive, is by turns confused, desperate and gamely participatory, but as good as the cast is, particularly Harris, "The Actor's Nightmare" is little more than a showcase for Durang's epic cleverness and a reward to audiences who get his abundant theater references. If you go Theater review "The Actor's Nightmare" and "Sister Mary Ignatius Explains It All for You" When: 8 p.m. Saturday Where: Unicorn Theatre, Berkshire Theatre Group, 83 E. Main St., Stockbridge, Mass. Running time: Two hours, 10 minutes; one intermission. Continues: 7 p.m. Monday to Thursday, 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; matinees, 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday; through Aug. 31 Tickets: $56 Info: 413-997-4444 or berkshiretheatregroup.org See More Collapse sbarnes@timesunion.com 518-454-5489 blog.timesunion.com/tablehopping @Tablehopping facebook.com/SteveBarnesFoodCritic The Ferguson Fire, which consumed nearly 100,000 acres of Mariposa County and shrouded spectacular Yosemite Valley for much of the summer in clouds of smoke, was declared 100 percent contained Sunday. Firefighters will continue to battle interior islands of vegetation that will continue to ignite, but they are not a threat to containment lines, according to a U.S Forest Service statement. While we have reached a significant milestone there is still more work to be done, the agency said. Firefighters will continue to patrol, mop up and repair fire lines. Nearly 900 firefighters continued to battle the blaze that broke out on July 13, forcing the closure of Yosemite Valley to visitors from around the world from Aug. 3 to Aug. 14. Highway 41 (Wawona Road), the main access to Yosemite from the south, is expected to reopen Friday. Other park roads, with the exception of Glacier Point Road, are open. Air quality in Yosemite was listed as moderate, and the great granite monoliths, invisible earlier in the month, have generally emerged from hiding. Elsewhere in Northern California, the voracious Carr Fire gobbled another 8,500 acres of Shasta County overnight even as firefighters reported making significant progress toward containment. It has burned more than 227,000 acres. The blaze was listed as 85 percent contained by Sunday evening, up from 75 percent Friday, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said. Heavy smoke over the area has continued to significantly reduce fire activity, according to Cal Fire. Heavy timber fuels still challenge firefighting efforts. The Carr Fire, which began July 23, has killed seven people and destroyed 1,079 homes and more than 500 other structures. The Ranch Fire in Mendocino County, the largest in state history, grew an additional 5,400 acres Sunday and has consumed 341,047 acres. For the past several days, it has been growing toward the north and northeast as warm and dry weather persists. It remained 76 percent contained Sunday. The Mendocino Complex which is made up of the Ranch Fire and River Fire is now at 389,967 acres. Wildfire smoke contributed to conditions that led authorities to declare the eighth Spare the Air Day of the year in the Bay Area. Air quality was described as moderate for most of the Bay Area except in the Santa Clara Valley, where it was described as unhealthy for people vulnerable to airborne contaminants like the elderly and those with asthma. Chronicle staff writer Trisha Thadani contributed to this report. Steve Rubenstein is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: srubenstein@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SteveRubeSF The Bharat Ratna awardee and one of the most charismatic leaders in independent India, Vajpayee passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. New Delhi: Ashes of BJP patriarch and former prime minster Atal Behari Vajpayee will be immersed in 100 rivers across the country, including in Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Odisha, west Bengal, Punjab, Telangana. The immersion ceremony will start with the Ganga at Haridwar on Sunday. The immersion ceremony at the holy city will be attended by Union home minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath, his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat among others. The Bharat Ratna awardee and one of the most charismatic leaders in independent India, Vajpayee passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. He was cremated with full State honours at the Rashtriya Smriti Sthal in the national capital on Friday. An all-party prayer meeting for the BJP stalwart will be held in the national capital on August 20 and another such meeting will be organised in Lucknow on August 23 since Vajpayees appeal cut across political divide. His (Vajpayees) ashes will be immersed in various sacred rivers across the country and the asthi kalash taken to all the districts headquarters and state capitals. Prayer meetings will take place in the state capitals, district headquarters and at the panchayat level, said BJP national general secretary Bhupendra Yadav. The holiday season has always been a special time for Mariana Rodriguez. While children spent time writing their letters to Santa Claus, Rodriguez spent her time collecting gifts and donating them to local community groups organizing toy drives for children. Years later, Rodriguez, now a sophomore marketing major at Texas A&M International University, continues to give back to her community and helps those in need in a tremendous way. READ MORE: Migrant spouse of pregnant woman detained on way to hospital Rodriguez is the recipient of the President's Lifetime Achievement Award, a distinction that recognizes individuals who have completed over 4,000 community service hours during their lifetime. She has recorded 10,149 community service hours completed through various community organizations, including the Laredo Center for the Arts, the Laredo Convention and Visitors Bureau, Volunteers Serving the Need, Serving Children and Adults in Need, Tapitas Por Una Sonrisa, Angeles Sin Fronteras and others. She completed community service opportunities in student organizations, such as the League of Empowered Women, the University Honors Program, the Project Pengyou Club, and at the Big Event, an annual, university-wide service learning opportunity. She credits her capacity to serve as a result of the values and attitudes instilled within her by her parents and calls on her peers to commit themselves to engage and serving their local community. "I encourage my fellow students to complete community service hours. By helping and giving back to your community, you're also making a difference in the world," Rodriguez said. TAMIU's Office of Student Conduct and Community Engagement spearheads community and volunteer projects to assist organizations in Laredo and the South Texas region. Their efforts aim to instill a commitment to helping those in need while supplementing leadership and critical-thinking skills. READ MORE: Body of immigrant discovered by Encinal Border Patrol agents Since 2010, TAMIU students have volunteered over 246,642 hours of their time to serving in local, statewide, and global projects, with an equivalent monetary impact of $5,426,121. Students are able to choose volunteer opportunities that suit their interests and passions through an existing database of agencies and organizations. The Lifetime Achievement Award is an initiative of the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency and Points of Light, the largest organization in the world dedicated to volunteerism. Launched in 2003, the service award recognizes the importance of volunteers and their service to the nation. MANCHESTER Mike Rueter of Manchester said his interest in gospel music stems from a rich family heritage of love for the music. I have the fondest memories of my mother sitting at the piano, teaching me and my siblings four-part harmony, Rueter said. He and his family continue to share that love of gospel music through the ministry of The Chosen Ones, a gospel music group currently composed of six members of the Rueter family. For the 19th time in 20 years, The Chosen Ones returned to their hometown this weekend to host the Manchester Gospel Music Festival. The three-day event, which began Friday and ends today, was expected to draw about 2,000 people from all over the Midwest, according to Rueter, the festivals lead organizer. People who attend the gospel music festival continue to express their appreciation for the positive message of hope that comes through the message of the Gospel in song, Rueter said. All people need encouragement, and that can come through music heard at the festival. Rueter said The Chosen Ones brings a variety of Christian music ministries to the festival, ranging from traditional quartets to mixed family groups, trios and soloists who offer Southern gospel, bluegrass, light contemporary and country gospel. A new addition to this weekends festival was a performance by Tim Lovelace of LaFollette, Tennessee, a national Christian comedian and musician. Four groups performed Friday, five Saturday and two today along with a salvation message delivered by Brady Rueter. Todays events take place from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in Manchester Village Park. The event ends with a free fried chicken dinner at the park pavilion. Mike Rueters wife, Melanie, said the festival is important to the Rueter family. The relationships weve made at the gospel music festival have encouraged us through the years, she said. A lot of people who have come to the festival have watched our children grow up and are now watching our grandchildren grow. Organizing and setting up the festival is a lot of work, but the comments and expressions from the attendees make it worth the effort. Greg Olson can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1224, or on Twitter @JCNews_Greg. Japan and Russia plan to officially develop a freight transport route between the two countries via the Trans-Siberian Railway, it has been learned. The two governments aim to foster mutual economic cooperation by energizing the "third distribution channel," after sea and air routes. The project is also motivated by a desire to build confidence between the two countries and thus pave the way for resolving territorial disputes. According to a source knowledgeable about Japan-Russia diplomacy, a test to verify distribution using the Trans-Siberian Railway will start around Sept. 11-13, when the Eastern Economic Forum takes place in the Russian city of Vladivostok. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will attend the forum and is scheduled to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines. Five to 10 companies, mainly Japanese distribution firms, are considering participating in the test, which will study factors such as the cost and time of transportation, administrative procedures needed for customs, and import and export processes. Elements that could affect cargo, such as vibration during transport and differences in temperature, will also be examined. The government aims to work with the private sector in resolving possible problems involving the route. The Trans-Siberian Railway is an about 9,300-kilometer railway that connects Moscow and Vladivostok with a travel time of seven days. Japan's use of the railway for freight transport nosedived after the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union. Recently, China and South Korea have been expanding their use of the route. Current freight transport between Japan and Russia mainly uses sea and air routes. The overland route is rarely used, for reasons such as complicated procedures and a lack of information. According to the Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism Ministry, it takes between 53 and 62 days to transport freight from Japan to Moscow using a sea route that crosses the Indian Ocean. On the other hand, first moving freight from various ports in Japan to the Russian port city of Vladivostok, and then transporting it to Moscow via rail is expected to take 20 to 27 days, about half the time of the sea route. The costs could also be reduced by up to 40 percent. Japan's total export volume to Russia in 2017 was worth about 673.7 billion, with automobiles accounting for about 44 percent and auto parts for about 12 percent, according to Finance Ministry trade statistics. Meanwhile, the total import volume in 2017 was worth 1.5507 trillion, with crude oil and raw oil accounting for about 27 percent, liquefied natural gas for about 20 percent and coal about 15 percent. Those involved in the railway transport project hope that improved efficiency will lead to more exports of auto parts and other industrial products. It is technically possible to transport crude oil and natural gas by the railway too, sources said. There is an idea to expand the route to Europe via Moscow. If realized, the Trans-Siberian Railway could become a pivotal path that also underpins trade between Japan and Europe. "If economic ties between Japan and Russia are reinforced through an invigoration of transport links, we can expect a positive impact on resolving the northern territories issue," a Japanese government source said. A Virginia man was arrested in Alexandria on Friday on charges that he obtained U.S. citizenship by lying on his application and failed to disclose his role in suspected human rights abuses in his native Ethiopia, officials said. Mergia Negussie Habteyes, 58, was indicted Tuesday in federal court in Alexandria for falsely stating that he had never persecuted anyone because of their political opinion. The indictment says that Negussie, who lives in Virginia and was admitted to the United States as a refugee from Ethiopia, had served as a civilian interrogator in what has been called the country's Red Terror period. In the late 1970s, the military regime in Ethiopia tortured and killed at least tens of thousands of people, including dissidents and opposition groups, according to Human Rights Watch, though exact death tolls are contested. Negussie is accused of helping to persecute"individuals imprisoned because of their political opinion" during his post in an Ethiopian prison, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Eastern District of Virginia said in a statement. Prosecutors said that Negussie failed to disclose that he had committed a crime or offense for which he had never been arrested, another application question. He also allegedly lied about having never provided false or misleading information to immigration officials while gaining entry to and benefits in the United States. Negussie had secured legal permanent residency before becoming a U.S. citizen. Neither Negussie nor his lawyers could be reached for comment. If convicted, Negussie would have his U.S. citizenship taken away and could face up to 10 years in federal prison. In addition, he faces possible deportation to Ethiopia. BERLIN - It was the wedding event of the Austrian summer, and all the stars of the country's political universe were there. Plus a foreign guest who brought with him a bouquet of yellow flowers, a troupe of singing Cossacks and a heap of controversy. When Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl tied the knot at a vineyard in the hills of southern Austria on Saturday afternoon, Russian President Vladimir Putin was on hand to give his blessing. He stayed for a little over an hour and briefly danced with the bride; he in a dark blue suit, she in a cream-and-white dirndl, the region's traditional dress. His gift to the newlyweds was a performance by a deep-voiced choir outfitted in vivid red and flown in from Russia just for the occasion. The country's Foreign Ministry said the ceremony was private, with just 100 attendees. But with Putin among them, the personal event took on a very public meaning for Europe while generating a backlash in Austria. Austria has for decades been neutral in the struggle between East and West, maintaining strong ties with both Russia and with its allies in the European Union, not to mention the United States. But the small Alpine country of 9 million has pivoted toward to Moscow since the end of last year, when a government coalition of the center-right People's Party and the far-right Freedom Party took office. The latter in 2016 signed a cooperation pact with Putin's United Russia Party. The 53-year-old Kneissl, an academic and journalist before taking office in December, is officially independent. But she was selected for her post by the Freedom Party. Like the party, she opposes Europe's sanctions against Russia. When other EU nations expelled Russian diplomats in March in retaliation for the poisoning of a former Russian double agent on British soil, Austria pointedly declined to take part. As Putin and President Trump planned their summit this summer, the Kremlin initially favored Vienna as the venue before Helsinki won out. Although Kneissl is not believed to be personally close to Putin, she invited him to her wedding when he visited Vienna in June. The Kremlin announced he had accepted the invitation this week. Kneissl married Wolfgang Meilinger, an entrepreneur. The wedding gave Putin a highly symbolic platform to demonstrate his deepening ties with political leaders in Europe. Putin has long regarded the EU as an adversary, and Russia has sought to sow division on the continent. That effort has received a boost in recent years by the electoral success of populist parties, many of which share Moscow's contempt for Brussels. The timing is particularly apt for Putin given that Austria currently holds the rotating EU presidency. In addition to Putin, the two most powerful figures in Austria - Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and Vice Chancellor Heinz Christian Strache, who leads the Freedom Party - also attended Saturday's wedding. Kurz has called for Austria to be "a bridge builder" between Russia and the West. But Putin's presence was criticized by opposition lawmakers in Austria. "How is Austria's presidency of the European Union meant to live up to the government's own claims of building bridges and being an honest broker when Austria's foreign minister and chancellor are so obviously on one side?" asked Andreas Schieder, a lawmaker from the center-left Social Democrats. That view was echoed in Ukraine, where Russia has used military force to annex territory - Crimea - and to support separatists attempting to cleave off even more of the country. "If you invite Vladimir Putin to your wedding, you are not neutral anymore," tweeted Ukraine's foreign affairs committee chair, Hanna Hopko. "From now on, Austria can't be a mediator in Ukraine. Period." A Freedom Party lawmaker, Johann Gudenus, said Kneissl should be able to invite whomever she wants to her wedding and accused critics of trying to interfere in her private life. Putin's attendance at the wedding overshadowed his visit later on Saturday to Germany, where he met with Chancellor Angela Merkel for the second time in the past three months. In the talks,at Merkel's countryside residence Meseberg, outside Berlin, the pair was expected to focus on the conflicts in Syria and Ukraine. No major decisions were expected, but the two have stepped up their engagement as ties with the United States have frayed. "I am of the opinion that controversial issues can only be addressed in dialogue and through dialogue," Merkel said in a brief statement before the talks. The leaders were not expected to speak publicly after the meeting. - - - The Washington Post's Luisa Beck contributed to this report. Madhav Gadgil, a noted ecologist, said that Goa too was witnessing a rise in profit-driven activities which could cause problems. The ecologist said governments have been lax on implementing environmental norms. (Photo: Pixabay) Panaji: Noted ecologist Madhav Gadgil has warned that Goa may face the same fate as the flood-battered Kerala if it does not take environmental precautions. Like other states, Goa too is witnessing a rise in profit-driven activities. Gadgil headed a committee that published a widely debated study on the Western Ghats a few years ago. "Certainly all sorts of problems are beginning to surface on the environmental front in the Western Ghats. Goa, of course, does not have Western Ghats which are so high as in Kerala, but I am sure Goa will also experience all sorts of problems," he said, reacting to the worst-ever floods in Kerala. He said the reason for not taking any environmental precaution was purely greed for unlimited profits "You have seen it in Goa too. The Union government constituted Justice MB Shah Commission has estimated illegal profits of Rs. 35,000 crore from illegal mining," he said. "The greed for enormous profits has been allowed to go on unchecked, which has actually worsened economic disparity in the society. "So now those who are making money through these means are even more effective in getting the government allows this kind of rampant illegal behaviour," Gadgil said. The ecologist said governments have been lax on implementing environmental norms. "The central government is actually bending over backwards to make sure the National Green Tribunal does not function properly," he said. Gadgil had extensively studied Goa's environment based on the data provided by iron ore mining companies and their Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) reports in 2011. He had then said the mining companies submitted false information in their EIA reports. "In Goa, they had asked me to look into the impact of mining on environment. Every EIA suppressed fact about hydrological impact of mining," the 73-year-old expert said. "On 'sadas' (plains) of Goa there are a lot of streams which are originating but they don't mention about them in their EIA reports. All kind of false statements are made in these reports," he said. Gadgil had headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) set up by the government. The WGEEP, in its 2011 report, had recommended that several areas in Kerala which come under the Western Ghats be classified as ecologically sensitive. The panel had recommended strict curbs on mining and quarrying and on use of land for non-forest purposes. It was a late-night flight from Las Vegas, and the woman rested her head on the window as the plane neared Detroit. She was startled awake by the man in the middle seat next to her. His hand was down her unbuttoned pants, and her shirt was undone. The 22-year old woman fled to the back of the plane to alert flight attendants. But first she had to get past two obstacles: Prabhu Ramamoorthy, the man in the middle seat, and his wife in the aisle seat - an arm's length away from a chill-inducing Jan. 3 incident later described in court. A federal jury convicted Ramamoorthy, 35, of sexual abuse on the Spirit Airlines flight. Ramamoorthy, an Indian national in the United States on a work visa, faces up to life in prison. He will be deported after serving his sentence, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said in a statement. "Everyone has the right to be secure and safe when they travel on airplanes. We will not tolerate the behavior of anyone who takes advantage of victims who are in a vulnerable position, and we are glad the jury agreed," Schneider said. "We appreciate the victim in this case for her courage to speak out." Jurors deliberated three and a half hours before returning their decision, he said. Ramamoorthy initially told investigators he had taken a pill and fallen into a deep sleep. He said he hadn't done anything besides learning from his wife that the woman, who was not named in the complaint, was sleeping on his knees. He and his wife later acknowledged the pill was plain Tylenol, according to prosecutors, and gave conflicting reports of what happened. His wife told investigators that she asked to switch seats because of the woman falling asleep, but the attendants told authorities no one else had asked to switch seats other than the victim. The wife was not named. Ramamoorthy told an FBI agent he "might have" unhooked the woman's bra, and then unzipped her pants, the complaint said. He tried to put his fingers inside the woman, but he told the investigator he was unsuccessful. But the prosecution presented evidence Ramamoorthy penetrated the woman with his fingers, Schneider said. Ramamoorthy could not be reached for comment. His attorney James Amberg and Spirit Airlines did not return a request for comment. In the trial, Amberg said his client's understanding of the legal process was based on Indian law. Ramamoorthy believed anything he told police was inadmissible in court, according to a motion Amberg filed to suppress his statements. He also believed he would be tortured unless he gave incriminating statements, the motion said. Amberg cited "Visaranai," a 2015 Indian film about corrupt police using violence to coerce guilty pleas, as evidence of Ramamoorthy's belief he faced a similar threat in the United States. It is not clear if Ramamoorthy will appeal the conviction. The FBI, which investigates crimes on aircraft, has said sexual assault in the air has increased in recent years. There were 63 reports of sexual assault on flights last year, the agency said, up from 38 in 2014. David Rodski, an FBI special agent assigned to investigate crimes out of Baltimore-Washington International Marshall Airport, said many incidents either go unreported or victims take time to alert authorities, The Post's Lynh Bui reported in June. "Hit that call button . . . notify the flight crew immediately," Rodski said. - - - The Washington Post's Eli Rosenberg contributed to this report. The educational needs of our community are as diverse as the community itself. Thats one reason the Alamo Colleges District adopted as its mission empowering its diverse communities for success. Its also the reason that Southwest Independent School District has been able to increase dual credit enrollment by nearly 30 percent in the past five years. The number of dual credit students fluctuated during that time. What did not change was that 70 percent of SWISD dual credit students face socioeconomic challenges. Providing all students a post-high school path is the focus and chief benefit of dual credit programs. An editorial in the San Antonio Express-News stated that a recently released study indicates dual credit enrollment is not turning out to be the cure-all for the nations higher education woes. We agree it is not a cure-all. Our communitys educational institutions have a diverse range of programs to respond to the multiple educational needs of our community. Dual credit is a powerful tool to make education accessible, reduce financial burdens, and provide a highly skilled workforce and economic growth. The SWISD community includes a large first generation in college population. Our community is robust in pride and potential. The communitys potential is shown in the 30 percent increase in students achieving college credit while attending high school. A total of 20 percent of Alamo Colleges District students are enrolled in dual credit twice the state average. The growing dual credit enrollment has resulted in a $25 million investment in high school programs by the Alamo Colleges. This significant investment allows students a head start on post-high school opportunities, at no cost to our families, stretching students financial aid dollars and increasing educational opportunities. The investment from our community, shared between the Alamo Colleges and school districts, provides a return that is showcased in students success. It is evident in the story of Valeria Lerma who garnered 32 dual credit hours during her time at SWISD, all of which were accepted by the University of Texas at Austin. Dual credit allowed her to chart a course toward a masters degree and medical school. It was a tool to propel her from an undeserved sector of the city to a path that will allow her to give back to her community. Diego Lomeli is a former bilingual student at Southwest High School who will return to Columbia University for his second year in a few weeks. His experience with dual credit was a contributor to a successful first year at Columbia. The rigor of dual credit classes prepared him to continue his baccalaureate journey. More than 70,000 students have benefited from high school programs at the Alamo Colleges in the past six years. Alamo Colleges dual credit students excel, completing an average of 96 percent of their courses, with an average of 92 percent earning a C or better, which is higher than non-dual credit students. Alamo Colleges dual credit students graduate sooner than non-dual credit students, regardless of ethnicity or socioeconomic status. Their three-year graduation rate is two times the rate of non-dual credit students. Dual credit students are college ready. They must pass a state-required exam and demonstrate college readiness before taking any college-level credit courses. Our high school and Alamo Colleges teachers collaborate, attend trainings, and align curriculum and rigor to prepare students for success. The greater San Antonio area is ripe with potential. Its people are its greatest resource, and our educational institutions must offer a variety of paths to realize that potential, no matter where students are in their educational journey. The Alamo Colleges and SWISD embrace that challenge and continue to champion dual credit for the fast-track, low-cost, upward mobility it provides. Dual credit has opened doors that have been mostly closed for our young people, predominately underserved youth. If we are to open a dialogue on dual credit, we should approach it with the glass half-full and a focus on enhancements. Dual credit may not be a panacea, but it is a force to a better and more educated society. Lloyd Verstuyft is superintendent of Southwest Independent School District. In 1991, I graduated with honors from Aldine McArthur High school near Houston. Id been accepted to the prestigious Occidental College in Los Angeles and felt fortunate for beating the odds compared to many of my peers back home. It didnt take long for me to realize that my high school diploma hadnt prepared me at all for college. After freshman year, I was failing all my classes. Id never been taught some of the most basic skills such as note-taking, studying for exams or writing a term paper. I was on the verge of being another statistic; one of the 7 in 8 low-income students in Texas who never graduate college. It would have been easy to give up, but I couldnt. My mom and dad, both born in Mexico, had always expected me to not only enroll in college but to graduate. As far as I was concerned, I had no choice. I returned to school and sought help in the form of tutoring, counselors and any resource that could help me succeed and I turned it around. I was fortunate, and I knew it. It was then I decided to devote my career to making sure other students like me didnt face the same educational hurdles. Every family deserves a high-quality school option, and every student deserves the opportunity to succeed in college and in life. As a teacher and school leader, Ive spent the past two decades serving in traditional district schools and public charter schools driven by one goal: to ensure that all children, regardless of where theyre from, are prepared and supported on the journey to and through college. As San Antonio parents send their kids back to school this month, its critical to reflect on how far weve come as a city and how much further we still have to go. Today, just over 50 percent of San Antonio students who began eighth grade in 2006 are enrolled in college. But only 20 percent have graduated. That has to change. Can we beat those odds as a city? Lets look at the success of IDEA Public Schools, where students are graduating at a rate more than four times the national average for low-income students. Quality public charter schools such as IDEA, where Im a school leader, attract high-quality educators, provide them with ongoing professional development and support, and equip students to succeed in college and in life. Our curriculum is designed to prepare students on the journey both to and through college. We teach students how to think critically, write masterfully and love learning. This is why IDEA is growing to serve more students who need access to a high-quality education in San Antonio, in Texas and across the country. We have an opportunity to take what is working at IDEA and other quality public schools and scale it across the city. We must provide strong support for educators, a warm and welcoming environment for students and families, and a student-centered, rigorous curriculum in all our schools. San Antonio can keep moving forward by innovating in the new types of schools were creating and doubling down where were successful. My college experience was a wake-up call, but so many of our kids dont get the call at all. As we look toward the future, and as our children head back to school this fall, lets remember that were all in this together. Traditional schools, public charter schools, district-charter partnerships, students and families, teachers and principals we all have to work together for our students. Joaquin Hernandez is an immigrant school leader at IDEA Judson College Preparatory. IDEA is a charter school network. A bank robber who was caught drinking a beer in a bar near the crime scene was ordered to serve five to 20 years in prison. Dennis Grantham, 55, of Hazel Park, received the sentence last month from Judge Richard Caretti in Macomb County Circuit Court after pleading guilty to bank robbery. He received 447 days credit for time served. Grantham robbed the TCF Bank near 10 Mile and Ryan roads in Warren the afternoon of April 19, 2017. He handed a teller a note demanding money and was given $296. Police officers found him less than 30 minutes later drinking his second beer at the Ryan Tavern. At his sentencing, he was ordered to have no contact with the bank. Grantham has several prior convictions for minor offenses in Macomb and Oakland counties, all more than 20 years old. Macomb Daily staff report 19-yr-old Anas, whose father survived mob attack two months ago, is still trying to find his bearings and resume a normal life. 65-year-old Samiuddin survived the brutal attack on him by the mob from adjoining Bajheda Khurd village on June 18. (Photo: Screengrab | Twitter @imMAK02) Hapur: Nineteen-year-old Anas, whose father survived a mob attack two months ago in which another man died, is still trying to find his bearings and resume a normal life. At his home in Madapur village, a little over 50 km from the national capital, Anas looks at his mother and then at the firewood 'chulha'. It's half past 6 in the evening and no words are exchanged. "The power supply here is inconsistent. There is electricity for two hours and then it trips for the next four hours," he says, as he looks at a bulb flickering in the courtyard of the house. His 65-year-old father, Samiuddin survived the brutal attack on him by the mob from adjoining Bajheda Khurd village on June 18. The mob lynched another man, Qasim, 45, from nearby Pilakhua, on the pretext that the two were involved in cow slaughter. The lynching incident was captured on mobile phone cameras, and the videos went viral across the country. Samiuddin, a father of two boys and five girls, lived off his income from farming. He is now admitted in a hospital in Ghaziabad, where his elder brother Mehruddin lives. His younger brother Yaseen, meanwhile, is handling all legalities for the family, running to and fro the national capital, where the Supreme Court is hearing their case. Anas is in a fix: whether to continue with his labourer's work or look after the farms and be with the family. "I was at work in another village that day when I received a phone call from someone who informed me what has happened to my father," he says, hesitantly explaining his work -- as a construction labourer. Asked what he hopes now, Anas, clueless about the legal proceedings in the case, says, "The court will do justice. I want justice to be done." Read: In video: Mob lynches 45-yr-old UP man over cow slaughter rumours When asked justice in what form, he says, "I don't know, my uncle knows it better. Whatever it is, there should be justice." Pointing toward a heap of jowar (used as fodder) kept supported to a wall in front of the wooden main door of the house, a young man said Samiuddin had gone to the farms on June 18 to fetch fodder for his cattle. "We have a buffalo and two calves at home," Anas says, adding that the milk is consumed by the family only. "Once in a while if someone comes to ask for it, we give them." Neighbours say they are morally supporting the family, but cannot say with precision what is happening at the moment. "Entire village has expressed sympathies to the family. We are supporting them morally, in a village no one is isolated," says a man, in his forties. "What is wrong is wrong and should be condemned irrespective of who does it -- whether from the majority or minority community," he says. Having returned from the evening prayer, the man says people were pinning hope for justice from the Supreme Court. Over two months since the incident, the fear was palpable in the Muslim-majority village, where locals have become cautious about their movement. Their fear amplified after a purported video appeared on social media a few days ago, where the accused in the lynching case are seen openly bragging about the effecting the act. Last week, the Supreme Court, while hearing a petition filed on behalf of Samiuddin, ordered a top police official of the Meerut Range to take up probe in the incident, which was registered by the local police as a case of road rage instead of mob lynching. Read: Give security to Hapur lynching survivor: SC asks UP police for status report The top court had also directed the police to provide the victims' families with security. SPRINGFIELD -- When visitors to the new MGM Springfield casino soon enter its hotel lobby, they will be greeted by a large, state-of-the-art sculpture that wraps around the interior of the building's entrance. The piece, the work of New York artist Mia Pearlman, is an homage to the perseverance, resilience and triumph of the region in the aftermath of the tornado that tore through the city in 2011. Pearlman named her sculpture "The Flying Tidings Whirled," after a line from an Emily Dickinson poem about a summer storm. Crafted from 10 large aluminum pieces that have been powder-coated white, the piece is meant to express a dramatic weather pattern that Pearlman hopes will "draw you into the space" from the street outside. "When MGM approached me about doing a commission in this space, they were very interested about doing something on the tornado that happened in Springfield," Pearlman said during an interview Thursday. The idea of making a sculpture about how the city had triumphed over the force of nature was appealing, she said. "You don't want to make light of it, because it's a very serious thing," Pearlman said, talking about how she wanted to create a work that embodied the "energy and the drama" of the storm while also not making it an uncomfortable experience for visitors. Pearlman said she hoped visitors would see it as a kind of "wild thing" that will draw them into the building and inspire their curiosity, making them "poke around and see what it is." Using the storm as a subject for Pearlman's art is also in keeping with MGM's overall design strategy for the casino, which has used regionally specific cultural and historical events and figures to celebrate the Pioneer Valley and bring the buildings' interiors to life. Pearlman began her artistic career shortly after receiving a bachelor's of fine arts degree from Cornell University in 1996. She went on to create art that has been exhibited in galleries throughout the world, including the Renwick Gallery at the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Museum of Arts and Design in New York City and the Manchester Art Gallery in England. Her work has also appeared in numerous contemporary art books, and in the New York Times and Boston Globe. Pearlman said that throughout her career, she has drawn inspiration from a number of sources, including Italian baroque artists, Japanese screen painting and, appropriately, organic forces of nature like storms and extreme weather. Certain female sculptors have also had a real impact on her work, Pearlman said. Artists like Lygia Clark, Sheilda Hicks, and Alice Aycock have been influential. "Artists who made really crazy, over-the-top forms were always inspiring," she said. The production of the installation was created through a complex process. Pearlman started the MGM project by making a scale model out of paper, then scanned the model into a computer so that it could be analyzed for further production. Pearlman said she often starts projects by making shapes with contorted paper that she described as being more driven by intuition than anything else. "They're very spontaneous and intuitive," she said. "I don't make a model or sketches ahead of time." Those shapes are slowly transformed into a more finished, articulated form, she said. For the MGM project, Pearlman collaborated with fabricator Polich Tallix, which has been responsible for many high-profile projects, including design for Academy Award statuettes. "They're able to translate my paper models into these incredibly gigantic works out of steel and aluminum," Pearlman said in a video produced about the piece. Pearlman said she appreciates whatever interpretations visitors bring to her work. "What's really important for me as an artist is to make work for a universal artist," she said. "If you've never been to a gallery or museum before or if you have a Ph.D. in art history, everybody has a valid and wonderful set of things to bring to seeing art and to take from it." "My favorite conversations are always with people who just were wandering by or who work in the space, and just to see what experiences they have over time or what it makes them think about," she said. More of Pearlman's work can be viewed by visiting her website. A despondent woman was rescued from the Connecticut River Saturday, after she called police for help, then ran from officers as they approached her, and jumped into the Connecticut River. Chicopee Police spokesman Officer Michael Wilkes said the woman called Chicopee Police dispatch at about 9:45 p.m. As she talked with dispatchers, police detectives were able to trace her phone location to the vicinity of Buckley Blvd. not far from the Holyoke bridge. Uniformed officers began a search of that area, and while on the tracks near the river the woman ran from them and jumped into the river. Officers kept an eye on her as Holyoke and Chicopee fire units launched their rescue boats and the Chicopee Police URT/Boat Team launched its boat. A private boater worked with rescuers to keep watch on the floating woman until Holyoke police pulled her into their boat, nearly a mile from where she entered the water. The woman was transported to a local hospital where she was treated and is undergoing evaluation. A Hadley home was struck by lightning Friday evening setting fire to the attic of the newly renovated building, the Daily Hampshire Gazette reported. Three people living in the 314 River Drive home were forced out, but none were injured by the strike or the fire. Firefighters arrived at the scene at approximately 7:30 p.m. According to one resident, the strike sounded like cannon fire within the home. Residents inspected the house as best they could and did not find a problem. Approximately an hour later, residents could smell smoke and called Hadley firefighters, who found fire with the roof structure and attic. The residents were able to stay with relatives. A man was struck and killed by an Amtrak Boston-bound train Friday evening as he walked along tracks in Pittsfield, the Berkshire Eagle reported. Pittsfield police said the man, thought to be in his 40s, was struck by the Lake Shore Limited train from Chicago near Center Street in Pittsfield just after 6 p.m. A police spokesman said the victim was killed instantly by the strike. The train originated in Chicago and was traveling eastbound toward Boston with 128 passengers and crew on board. No one on the train was injured. Officials shut the line down for several hours as they investigated the mishap. The man was trespassing on the Amtrak right of way at the time of the incident. Officials said the victim appeared to have been wearing headphones when he was struck. Both Pittsfield police and Amtrak police investigated the incident. WALES - The animal control officer is warning residents that a rabid skunk has been found in town. The skunk, which tested positive for rabies, was found in the Union Road area. This is the second animal found with rabies in that area this summer, officers announced on the Police Department Facebook page. In June, a feral cat infected with rabies was found in the Union Road and Woodlawn Heights. The discovery prompted a large outreach effort that included Health Department officials going door-to-door to homes in the area to warn people of the rabid cat. Officials are putting out a similar warning now because they are concerned the skunk may have spread the disease to feral cats or other animals. Anyone who may have encountered a wild animal or has a pet that was exposed to a wild animal should immediately seek medical treatment. "Skunks are known to eat with feral cats. If you know of someone feeding cats outside, please (private message) us," officials said. Officials said people who know of any domestic animals with wounds of unknown origin should send them a private message on the Police Department Facebook page. The Animal Control Officer is also reminding all residents to make sure all pets have up-to-date rabies vaccinations. There are low-cost clinics available at Petco and Tractor Supply for people who have difficulty affording the vaccinations. Rabies is a serious disease and people should immediately consult a doctor if they believe they were exposed. People must be treated before they start to show symptoms of the illness. LONGMEADOW -- Those who knew and loved Reanne Burke, fatally struck by a car one year ago in a crosswalk at Williams Street and Grassy Gutter Road, are still trying to make sense of what happened. It was a bolt from the blue on a sunny August morning. Burke -- a 60-year-old oncology nurse known for her bigger-than-life ways, her love of family and friends, her passion for her patients and competitive spirit -- went for a walk and never came back. "It was just so shocking," Karen Nystrom, one of Burke's five siblings, said last week. "It's almost a year later and it doesn't seem possible." The hard work of mourning Burke -- known as "Ree" to those close to her -- is all the harder due to the still-open investigation into her death. "As a family we would like some closure," said Nystrom, who lives in Longmeadow. Burke was struck around 11 a.m. on Aug. 19, 2017. Police said the driver called 911 and stayed at the scene. But investigators have disclosed little information about the crash beyond those basic facts. The driver's name has not been released, and charges have not been filed. "It has always been a mystery as to what happened," said Joan Levinson, who lives on Williams Street, directly across from Grassy Gutter Road. Levinson was home when she heard sirens. By the time she went outside, first responders had put Burke into an ambulance. Levinson described the driver as "a distraught young man" who was sitting on the side of the road by the Williams Street sign, sobbing. James Leydon, spokesman for Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni, said Thursday that the crash remains under investigation. But he declined to elaborate on the nature of the investigation or why it was still open nearly a year later. Longmeadow police, state police detectives assigned to Gulluni's office, the state police Crash Analysis and Reconstruction Section and Crime Services Section are conducting the investigation. Longmeadow police, citing the ongoing investigation, also declined comment. "I understand they have a job to do," Nystrom said. "But it does give us pause. You want to believe in the system but it is difficult. It is just a difficult situation for the family to be in." Early in the investigation the district attorney's office gave the family a copy of the preliminary accident report. Nystrom said it was inconclusive on the cause of the crash. 'Anything for a laugh' Nystrom said her sister had a talent for making people laugh, often at her own expense. And she used that talent in her work with cancer patients. "She was like a Patch Adams," Nystrom said, referring to the physician -- portrayed in a 1998 movie by the late Robin Williams -- known for his efforts to bring humor into the lives of his often desperately ill patients. "She would do anything for a laugh." "The woman's personality was as big as the state of Texas," said Cathy Rousseau, director of Cancer Services for Baystate's Regional Cancer Program, where Burke once worked as regional nurse manager. "She was one of those people with a big smile, very upbeat, very fun-loving. I can't believe she is gone. She is missed; we mourn her." Rousseau was Burke's boss, and the two quickly became good friends. "We immediately hit it off. I loved her sense of humor," she said. Rousseau said Halloween was Burke's favorite holiday and she often dreamed up outlandish costumes to wear to work that day. Burke's obituary touched on that theme: "In this vein, she found many opportunities to dress up in creative costumes featuring such props as roller skates, fake teeth, a variety of hats, etc., anything to make those around her happy, if only for a moment." Nystrom and Rousseau both stressed that, despite her fun-loving ways, Burke took her work with cancer patients very seriously. "When somebody gets a cancer diagnosis, they would want somebody like Reanne to be there," Nystrom said. Burke, who grew up in East Longmeadow, returned to the area in August 2016 to live with her mother in a condominium at The Villas at Glenmeadow. Rousseau said she last saw Burke a week before her death, when they got together for lunch to celebrate Rousseau's birthday. "She just kept telling me how happy she was to be there for her mom and that the condo was coming along great," Rousseau said. "I walked away thinking, 'Man, she is really happy. I am so glad for her.'" Rousseau still dwells on their choice to have lunch on Aug. 12, instead of the following Saturday -- the day Burke was fatally injured. "Maybe if we had picked the 19th she wouldn't have been out walking," she said. 'Make sure someone comes with you' Burke was a star athlete during her years at East Longmeadow High School and Springfield College and a lifelong fitness enthusiast. She often took walks that followed miles-long loops from the condo. Nystrom said her sister was a careful walker who didn't text or wear earbuds because she knew the importance of keeping attuned to traffic. She always carried an expired driver's license with her for identification in case something happened. That's how first responders identified Burke at the scene. Nystrom said her mother, in several different telephone conversations with her early that afternoon, voiced concern that Burke had been gone an unusually long time. Nystrom said she hadn't been particularly alarmed. "It was just a beautiful Saturday morning," she said. Her first inkling that something was wrong came after she received multiple calls to her cellphone, starting shortly after 1 p.m. She ignored them at first, thinking they were from telemarketers. Then she realized it was from Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. It was a social worker. He told her something had happened to Burke. "He asked me a series of questions," Nystrom said. "At first it didn't even register. I never would have thought, with my sister just going out for a walk, that anything like this could have happened." But the social worker told Nystrom she needed to get to Baystate right away. "Make sure someone comes with you," he said. With mounting dread, Nystrom called Longmeadow police. The officer she dealt with, as with the Baystate social worker, was vague on details. "I just knew something was very wrong," she said. The officer told Burke to go to her mother's condo instead of Baystate. When she arrived, an officer waiting for her outside delivered the shattering news. Another officer was inside with her mother. "They basically said she passed away within seconds of being placed in the ambulance," Nystrom said. 'I knew she was in trouble' William Levantis, who lives near the crash scene, said he first saw Burke lying in the westbound lane of Williams Street, some distance to the west of crosswalk. "I knew she was in trouble," Levantis said. The car that struck Burke was stopped near the western edge of Grassy Gutter Road. Its windshield had a web of cracks on the passenger side, he said. An antique car, with two other vehicles behind it, was stopped in the eastbound lane, just before the crosswalk. Levinson said she saw no signs that the driver was impaired. "He was very respectful and respectable," she said of the driver's demeanor and appearance. Both Levinson and Levantis said they did not see any skid marks in the road. "That lady was blindsided," Levantis said. While investigators have not publicly released details of the crash, Levantis -- recounting conversations he had with others at the scene that morning, and what he saw with his own eyes -- believes the driver of the antique car, eastbound on Williams, had seen Burke on the opposite side of the street and stopped for her to cross. But, Levantis believes, the westbound car didn't stop, and struck Burke when she began to cross. Safety upgrades on the horizon Levantis said he routinely walks on Grassy Gutter Road for exercise and always takes extra care when he crosses Williams Street. "It's a dangerous place," he said, adding that he believes the intersection should have pedestrian-activated signal lights. "Nobody pays attention to the lines in the road, lights have to go on for people to notice." Longmeadow Town Manager Stephen Crane said plans to do just that were initiated some time before Burke's death. "Even before that unfortunate accident, that intersection has been on our radar for a while because it is a very busy intersection," he said. Along with pedestrian-activated crossing lights, planned improvements include a raised crosswalk and improved signage. Similar improvements are also planned for Longmeadow Street, east of the green. Currently, two yellow pedestrian signs -- one on each side of Williams Street -- mark the white crosswalk. The Williams and Longmeadow street projects are funded by $202,000 grant from the state's Complete Streets Funding Program. Work on both is expected to begin within three or four weeks, and will be done as soon as the end of October, Crane said. "That's progress," Nystrom said when informed of the planned improvements. "If it saves someone in the future that will be good." The family also finds solace that Burke continued to help those in need even after her death. She was a registered organ donor, and some of her skin was used help patients recovering from mastectomies and reconstructive surgeries. "It was nice to know that someone benefited," Nystrom said. "That gave us some comfort." Nystrom, along with her mother and sister-in-law, meanwhile, continued with their plans to visit her daughter in Alabama and cheer on the Auburn University Tigers. That trip, which Burke had so much looked forward to, was instead held in her honor. "My mom said from the get-go we were not going to cancel those plans," Nystrom said. Last week, with the anniversary of her sister's death fast approaching, Nystrom offered a final thought on the resolution of the case and what it could lead to. "It is not our intent to inflict further suffering on the driver," she said. "We know in our hearts that he didn't set out to kill Reanne on that summer day. Resolution of my sister's case will allow the affected parties to ask and/or grant forgiveness, which is something we don't have at this moment." GRANBY - A toddler has died after drowning in a home pool Saturday night. The 2-year-old child was found in the pool at about 8:30 p.m. The toddler was rushed to Baystate Medical Center by ambulance after being taken out of the water, said Mary Carey, spokeswoman for Northwestern District Attorney David E. Sullivan. Carey confirmed on Sunday morning that the child has died. There is no foul play suspected in the child's death. The incident is being handled by Massachusetts State Police detectives attached to the Northwestern District Attorney's office. Officials have not released the address where the drowning happened and did not say if the toddler was a boy or a girl. An unresponsive two-and-a-half-year-old child was rushed to the Holyoke Medical Center Saturday night after being pulled from a Granby pool, officials said. A spokesman for the Massachusetts State Police said the toddler was found in the home pool at about 8:30 p.m. at a Granby address and was transported by ambulance. Trooper Thomas Ryan said the child was unresponsive when taken from the water. Ryan said the investigation is being handled by State Police detectives attached to the Northwest District Attorney's Office. Neither the State Police nor Granby police would not specify where in Granby the incident occurred. Modi described him as not only a great African diplomat and humanitarian, but also a conscience keeper of international peace and security. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief and profound sorrow over the demise of former Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN) Kofi Annan. Kofi Annans significant contribution to the MDGs (Millennium Development Goals) will always be remembered. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace, Mr Modi tweeted. Annan, who served two terms as UN secretary General from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2006, died at the age of 80 on August 18. Mr Modi described him as not only a great African diplomat and humanitarian, but also a conscience keeper of international peace and security. We express our profound sorrow at the passing away of Nobel laureate and former UNSG Kofi Annan. The world has lost not only a great African diplomat and humanitarian but also a conscience keeper of international peace and security, Mr Modi said. D02 For the Pawtucket Red Sox, the choice was between their longtime home in Pawtucket or Worcester, with the heart of the Commonwealth as the frontrunner. But the city of Weymouth, a suburban community of about 55,000 people south of Boston, was hoping to land the triple A team and put together an $85 million package. The funding would've come through a district improvement financing bond, where revenue from the development would go to pay the bond. "I think we got their attention with a serious offer and we wish the outcome were different," Mayor Robert Hedlund said Friday, after officials from Worcester and the PawSox announced they had a deal. The community, mostly residential, has three MBTA commuter rail stations, Route 3, I-93, and a 1,400-acre former naval air station that could have been the new home of the farm team of the Boston Red Sox. Weymouth reached out to the PawSox last year, though things came to a standstill as LStar, the Union Point developer, went through some management changes. "Once that happened, we got involved from the town side a little more heavily," said Hedlund, who had meetings with PawSox officials in Fenway Park and Pawtucket. As late as a week ago, one of the questions the PawSox had was about the Union Point area's traffic. Among the potential hurdles for Weymouth: Proximity to Boston, the length of time the PawSox had already been in conversations with Worcester, and PawSox chairman Larry Lucchino's preference for urban ballparks. But Weymouth had speed on its side. Lucchino was interested in the fact that the proposed site in Union Point had already gone through the state's environmental review process. "We could put a shovel in the ground pretty quick," Hedlund said. "That got his attention in meetings." At one point late in the talks with Weymouth, the PawSox made a reference to "Silky Sullivan," a racehorse known for come-from-behind-wins. The reference upped Weymouth's confidence. "We were getting a good vibe," Hedlund said. But on Thursday, at 11 a.m., the PawSox made their decision: They were going with Worcester, with a 10,000-capacity stadium in the city's Canal District. "We were determined to explore all possibilities and go to the edge of the diving board and then decide which pool to jump in," Lucchino told reporters. Asked about Weymouth's proposal after the press conference in Worcester, Lucchino said, "They offered a different kind of model, a suburban real estate project in a crowded area. And so that was not quite the fit that there was in Rhode Island or Massachusetts, other parts of Massachusetts." Speaking before the press conference, Lucchino touched on the idea of creating a "regional franchise" in Central Massachusetts that would also pull in fans from the northern parts of Connecticut and Rhode Island, as well as the southern parts of New Hampshire and Vermont. "Worcester was in the territory of Pawtucket and Pawtucket is in the territory of Worcester, so it's really a flip from one end of the Blackstone Valley to the other," Lucchino said. The images on display at Friday's announcement that the Pawtucket Red Sox are relocating to Worcester, look like a classic old-time ballpark. It has a brick exterior, exposed steel beams and the hotel behind left field even calls to mind Oriole Park at Camden Yards. But when Larry Lucchino, the Pawtucket Red Sox chairmen, who'll fill the same role in Worcester, talked about the park, he stressed the word "innovative" when describing what he expected Polar Park to be when it opens in 2021. Lucchino said members of the PawSox have already had discussions with Worcester Polytechnic Institute faculty about ways to make Polar Park a cutting edge facility. "We want this to be state of the art in respect to high technology," Lucchino said. "The design process is just beginning. We've been working with WPI in Worcester already because they have an interest in this kind of thing. We'll see what kind of ideas they have." The park design will reunite Lucchino, Pawtucket Red Sox President Dr. Charles Steinberg and architect Janet Marie Smith, who worked together to build Camden Yards, and Petco Park in San Diego and redesign Fenway Park. The field dimensions will mirror those of Fenway, to aid in player development, but the overall park will be unique. Steinberg said they'll adopt a similar process to what they did in previous spots and invite fans into the process. In Baltimore they were Fan Plans. In San Diego they were California Dreaming sessions. Catchy name for Worcester is still to be determined. "When we built Camden Yards, we led the league in women's restrooms. We had more restrooms, larger restrooms, cleaner restrooms, a shelf for your purse because we listened to the fans," Steinberg said. "When we were just beginning to think about what became Oriole Park at Camden Yards, one of the themes we talked about was taking yourself through the entire fan experience." Steinberg laid out a possible scenario in the near future. "You can buy your ticket online now. You can print them at home or have it on your phone like an airline ticket. What if you go like this on your phone (pantomiming pressing buttons) and it reserves your parking space for you, tells you where it is and and tells you the route to your specific space like MapQuest. Now you park your car. We knew you were coming. Mom with her 6-year-old and 8-year-old are getting out of the car, there is an ambassador of the club waiting to welcome you and give the kids treats. Now you're enhancing the fan experience." "You have someone 75 or 92 years old. What's the best way for them to have a wonderful experience," Steinberg continued. "You take these human experiences and see what is the technological visions that are on the drawing board now. Can you hit a button and your nachos pop up from the floor underneath. These are the things you can explore. It's a terrifically creative time. The technology goes hand in hand." Advertisement To what extent do people maintain their relative standing on personality traits compared with other people - for example, do people who are more impulsive than most of their peers at age 16 remain more impulsive than their peers at age 60? To what extent do average levels of personality traits change? Are people, on average, more conscientious at 66 than at 16? Does everyone change in the same way? Are there gender differences in patterns of personality stability and change across time? "The rankings (of personality traits) remain fairly consistent. People who are more conscientious than others their age at 16 are likely to be more conscientious than others at 66," said Rodica Damian, assistant professor of psychology at the University of Houston and lead author of a new study on the subject. "But, on average, everyone becomes more conscientious, more emotionally stable, and more agreeable.Still, she said, researchers did find individual differences in change across time, with some people changing more than others and some changing in more maladaptive or harmful ways.The work, "Sixteen Going on Sixty-Six: A Longitudinal Study of Personality Stability and Change across 50 Years," is published in theSocial scientists have long debated whether personality is stable - unchanged over time - or malleable. Recent studies have indicated it might be both, but longitudinal studies covering very long timespans and relying on the same data source at both time points are rare.The new research supports the idea that personality is influenced by both genetics and environment.Personality is described as patterns of thoughts, feelings and behaviors, consisting of five major traits: conscientiousness, agreeableness, openness to experiences, extraversion, and emotional stability. Damian said those five traits have been found across ages and cultures.The combination of those traits - how dominant each trait is in a given individual relative to the other traits -makes up the personality profile.With co-authors Marion Spengler of the University of Tuebingen in Germany, Brent W. Roberts of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and Andreea Sutu, a graduate student working with Damian at UH, Damian used a dataset of U.S. high school students who answered a series of questions to assess personality in 1960 and again 50 years later.Data from the Project Talent Personality Inventory allowed the researchers to answer several questions, including:"Our findings suggest that personality has a stable component across the lifespan, both at the trait level and at the profile level, and that personality is also malleable and people mature as they age," the researchers wrote. They found gender differences in personality at any given time, Damian said, but, overall, men and women changed at the same rates across the lifespan.Source: Eurekalert The doctor-patient relationship has been morphed into an insurance company-client relationship that imposes limitations upon the treatment doctors can provide to the insurance company's members. Feelings of cynicism (resulting from patients no longer expecting continuity of care and routinely changing doctors). Lack of enthusiasm for work. Advertisement Alexander, an associate clinical professor of family medicine, and Ballou, an assistant clinical professor of family medicine, list three factors that contribute to physician burnout:Alexander and Ballou compared data from 2011-14 on physician burnout and satisfaction with work-life balance to arrive at their conclusions. They found that physician burnout measures highest in emergency medicine, family medicine, internal medicine, and pediatrics. They also posit that five transformational medical practice events that occurred between 2011 and 2014 contributed to the increase in physician burnout."These are hospital purchases of medical groups, rising drug prices, the Affordable Care Act, 'pay for performance' in which providers are offered financial incentives to improve quality and efficiency, and mandated electronic health records," Alexander said. "Doctors now spend more time with electronic health records than they do with patients. Electronic health records were pushed by the government at great expense and without regard to the effects upon patient or physician health. Go into any hospital and look for the nurses and the doctors. You will find them sitting in front of computers. They are not happy, and their patients are not healthier."Electronic health records (EHRs) snuck up on the medical community, Alexander noted."At first, they were accepted because of the promises of chartless offices, initial government subsidies, interconnectivity between health care sites, availability of records from home, faster charting, e-prescribing direct to the pharmacy, and higher physician pay for computer-cloning the federal government's bullet-point reimbursement formula," he said. "When the subsidies ran out and the promises turned into extra cost, less time with patients, time at home finishing EHR records, unreadable and meaningless cloned patient notes, HIPAA-restricted access to outside records, and government penalties for not 'mining' patient data that cost money to input, doctors became overworked robots."Alexander stressed that doctors need to spend less time on their EHRs."EHRs are not going away, but they don't need to be the focus of the patient's visit," he said. "Doctors should oppose EHRs that occupy valuable doctor-patient time and which use billing diagnoses rather than patient assessments. EHRs need to be portable. Computerized notes should be templated for meaningful patient care notes."He noted that physicians like him and Ballou are dedicated to educating medical students to be physicians that care."It should be a treat to care about another person, but I see that too many of our seasoned physicians are frustrated with medicine, and it rubs off onto the physicians in training," Alexander said. "Doctors have a wonderful job, yet they are inundated with numerous extraneous burdens that collectively rob them of the joy of medicine."Source: Eurekalert Situation still grave for Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulam as heavy rains predicted till August 20. People wade across a waterlogged street after being rescued from flood-affected regions following heavy monsoon rainfall in Kochi. (Photo: PTI) Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala is witnessing the worst flood in over 100 years with incessant rains over the last 10 days claiming over 300 lives and leaving over three lakh homeless. However, as a welcome relief for the people of the flood-ravaged state, the weather department has withdrawn red alert for all districts for today and orange alert has been issued for 10 districts and yellow alert for two. Still, the situation continues to remain grave for three districts -- Pathanamthitta, Idukki and Ernakulam -- for Sunday as heavy rains have been predicted for these districts till August 20. As rescue and relief operations continue in full swing, the Kerala government faces a difficult task in the coming weeks as several areas are reeling under food and power shortage and thousands of people are still awaiting evacuation. On Saturday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted an aerial survey of some of the flood-affected areas of the state and announced an immediate aid of Rs 500 crore. However, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had demanded Rs 2,000 crore as emergency assistance and said as per the initial assessment, the total loss was pegged at Rs 19,512 crore. Here are the LIVE updates of Kerala rains: 07:30 pm: CPI(M) cadres, along with Nemmara MLA K Babu, are carrying out rescue and relief operations in Palakkad. Photo: ANI | Twitter 07:15 pm: Odisha CM announced additional financial assistance of Rs 5 crore for Kerala from Chief Minister's Relief Fund. This is in addition to the Rs 5 crore sanctioned earlier. He has also ordered 500 MT of polythene sheets worth Rs 8 crore to be sent to Kerala. 06:00 pm: Relief material being loaded on INS Mysore at Mumbai. Photo: ANI | Twitter 05:20 pm: Massive landslides occurred today at Nelliyampathy hill roads in Palakkad. Road clearing operations are currently underway. Photo: ANI | Twitter 05:00 pm: The NDRF conducted onsite medical assistance for the flood-affected people at Urakam in Thrissur on Saturday. Onsite medical assistance for the flood affected people by #NDRF team at Urakam in Thrissur, Kerala pic.twitter.com/VfUxt6sK75 NDRF (@NDRFHQ) August 18, 2018 04:10 pm: The Rapid Action Force (RAF) in Palakkad's Erumachery build a temporary bridge to block the flooding water. Deputy Commandant, RAF Coimbatore, said,"After dam gates were opened, overflowing water damaged roads and entered the paddy fields. The bridge will help to stop the overflow." Photo: ANI | Twitter 03:40 pm: Addressing reporters, Air Marshal B Suresh, Southern Air Command said, "Today, total 288 boats are available at air force station. Many river-rafting volunteers have been brought from Rishikesh. As many as 26 helicopters are in operation." 03:35 pm: 50 water purifier machines worth Rs 2.5 crore will be airlifted from Begumpet (Telangana) to Kerala shortly, to provide clean drinking water. 03:30 pm: Telangana Home Minister Naini Narshimha Reddy handed over a cheque of Rs 25 crore to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan earlier today. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 03:00 pm: Glimpses of NDRF operations in Kerala today. 02:40 pm: INS Deepak has reached Kochi. The fleet replenishment tanker which was sent from Mumbai is disembarking rations, fresh water and mineral water at Cochin Port Trust Civil terminal. (Photo: Twitter | @indiannavy) 02:15 pm: A community kitchen setup at Kochi naval base. The kitchen is currently serving nearly 7,000 people affected due to floods. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) 02:00 pm: The Indian Air Force reached out to people stranded on roof-tops and air dropped relief materials in flood-hit areas on Sunday. 01:49 pm: "58 of our NDRF teams are deployed across 8 districts of the state. They're carrying out rescue an evacuation work and extending medical emergency aids. Now that rain has subsided to some extent, our teams are being relocated partly to worst-affected areas," said the Director General of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF). 58 of our NDRF teams are deployed across 8 districts of the state. They're carrying out rescue & evacuation work & extending medical emergency aids. Now that rain has subsided to some extent, our teams are being relocated partly to worst-affected areas: NDRF DG. #KeralaFloods pic.twitter.com/93Cl9aAJ6y ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 01:46 pm: Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu said that a control room has been set up by DGCA which is working around the clock to aid stranded/affected passengers due to flight cancellations in Cochin. He also said a joint team comprising representatives from DGCA, BCAS, CISF, AAI and Indian Navy carried out an inspection of Cochin Naval Base to check the feasibility of scheduled operations from there. A Control Room has been set up by DGCA which is working around the clock 24x7 to aid stranded/affected passengers due to flight cancellations in Cochin. More than 2771 queries have been addressed by the control room till date. (3/n) Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 19, 2018 A Joint team comprising representatives from DGCA, BCAS, CISF, AAI and Indian Navy carried out inspection of #Cochin Naval Base today to check the feasibility of scheduled operations from there. Steps being taken to start operations with ATR-72 from Monday, 20th August. (5/n) Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 19, 2018 01:45 pm: Scheduled domestic airlines have mounted additional flights to/from Trivandrum, Calicut and Coimbatore airports to minimize passenger inconvenience. Nine foreign carriers have also rescheduled their flights to/from Trivandrum, Suresh Prabhu tweeted. Airlines are also displaying status of rescheduled and additional flights on their respective websites along with waiver of cancellation/change ticket charges. (2/n) Suresh Prabhu (@sureshpprabhu) August 19, 2018 01:32 pm: National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) rescued a pregnant woman from Alappad village in Cherpu police station area. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) 01:24 pm: Road clearance work underway in Nelliyampathy hill station after multiple landslides damaged the roads. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) 01:15 am: Indian Air Force is working on war-footing to rescue people stranded in different parts of Kerala. #KeralaFloodRelief :Wg Cdr Prasanth of Garud Spl Force of IAF saved a toddler from rooftop in flood hit town of Alappuzha, Kerala. Smile on the face of mother, Priceless. IAF committed in Defence of Skies & Saving Precious Lives on Ground#SavingLives@CMOKerala@DefenceMinIndia pic.twitter.com/ls3paAXlyH Indian Air Force (@IAF_MCC) August 19, 2018 12:40 pm: President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to Kerala Governor and chief minister and inquired about the flood situation. #PresidentKovind expressed satisfaction that the Union and state governments were working together and in synergy in rescue and relief operations in Kerala. He praised relief agencies such as NDRF and public officials at state and Central level for their response and commitment President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) August 19, 2018 12:09 pm: A government school in Chengannur has been converted to a relief camp. 115 people have taken shelter at the camp. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) 11:51 am: Veterinary Hospital converted to a relief shelter in Idukki district's Vandiperiyar. A total of 35 people are staying at the shelter. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) 11:10 am: Indian Air Force has deployed multiple fixed wing aircraft to facilitate swift movement of security personnel and rescue material. Update #KeralaFloodRelief efforts:@IAF_MCC has deployed multiple fixed wing aircraft to facilitate rapid movement of personnel and rescue material to severely affected areas of Kerala. Below is a summary of tasks completed by and tasks to be completed today.@nsitharaman pic.twitter.com/yW3vLgd0O4 Raksha Mantri (@DefenceMinIndia) August 19, 2018 10:50 am: Infants and old people have been rescued by the Indian Army under Operation Madad. Rescue operations were carried out in 8 to 10 feet deep water. (Photo: Twitter | @adgpi) (Photo: Twitter | @adgpi) 10:42 am: People from Mumbai gathered essential commodities to be sent to flood victims. People from Mumbai gather essential commodities to be sent to flood-hit Kerala. #KeralaFloods. pic.twitter.com/HnxYff0r6r ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2018 10:40 am: At 10 am today, the water level in the Idukki reservoir was 2402.28 feet; water flow into Periyar river is 913 cusecs per hour. Two shutters have been closed. (Photo: Twiter | @ANI) 10:32 am: Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has restored all its services to Kerala's Ernakulam, Kottayam, Thrissur, Palghat, Kozhikode, Kannur and Trivandrum. The first service will start at 4 pm to Trivandrum from Bengaluru. However, services to Kasaragod have not restored. 10:27 am: RAF team recovered one body from Nemmara landslide area in Palakkad district early morning. Deputy Commandant RAF Coimbatore unit said, "We have recovered total 10 bodies from the area. Landslides are still occurring in the area, it was a tough task to recover the bodies". (Photo: Twitter | ANI) 10:24 am: Red alert withdrawn for all districts of Kerala. Orange alert issued for 10 districts, yellow alert for 2 districts. Rescue operations underway across the state, news agency ANI reported. 09:54 am: The IAS Officers Association of Andhra Pradesh to contribute one day salary of its members for Kerala floods fund. 08:44 am: We started a helpline on August 16. We have 3 rescue numbers, says Anbodu Kochi member Girish S Pradeep. Another member Saratha says, We are closely associated with District Collector's team. We take requirements of callers & cater the same to respected departments. Anbodu Kochi, a team of volunteers, has established collection centres to collect relief materials for Kerala flood victims. The team has also started a call centre to help victims; around 40 people are on mobile and laptops to receive calls and communicate callers' needs to the department concerned. 08:37 am: Rescue work underway at Thiruvilla, one of the worst affected places. The task force worked non-stop for 15 hours in heavy rains to evacuate 250 persons, out of whom several were sick and homeless. (Photo: Twitter | @adgpi) 07:56 am: Relief materials being loaded on board Naval Advanced Light Helicopter (ALH), Chetak helicopter and Naval Sea King helicopter at Naval Air Station INS Garuda in Kochi. (Photo: Twitter | @indiannavy) 2 ALHs + 3 Seakings + 4 Chetaks airborne with Relief material this morning pic.twitter.com/I4iNIsgirc SpokespersonNavy (@indiannavy) August 19, 2018 07:08 am: Kochi Naval Base to be thrown open for commercial flight operations from the morning of August 20. 06:59 am: Medical officer and relief materials including medicines, sanitary napkins and baby diapers being rushed to the disaster relief camps of flood-hit districts. (Photo: Twitter | @IndiaCoastGuard) Still undetermined is whether the impact caused the October leak, or if the line was hit by something else at a later date. Many places in the western NC region (too many to name really). Little Pine Garnet Mine up in Madison County, emerald and beryl mines around the town of Spruce Pine, some ruby and sapphire mines further west between Asheville and Cherokee. The town of Franklin is referred to by some as the gem capitol of the world. To the east are places like Hiddenite near the Lenoir-Hickory area and a few small mines in the Boone area too. The Linville Gorge is a pretty cool geological formation near Morganton with some interesting folk-lore tied to the area. Don't know much about the eastern side of the state though.Good luck with your hunting! Jennifer and Brad Morrison love their life in the western Upper Peninsula. They love raising their five children in Wakefield, the small, close-knit town where Brad grew up. They love having extended family nearby. The far removal from urban bustle. The rugged beauty of the landscape. What makes their life possible is Brad's job for the past 18 years as a prison guard at Ojibway Correctional Facility, a godsend in a region where well-paying jobs are few and far between. So the Morrisons are still reeling from last week's announcement that Ojibway is closing in December. While Brad,44, can transfer to another job within the Michigan Department of Corrections, the closest opportunity would be 100 miles away in Baraga. "We're going to have to leave, uproot all our kids," who are ages 7 to 18, Jennifer Morrison said. "I'm going to have to quit my job" as manager of the St. Vincent de Paul Thift Store in nearby Bessemer. "We love it here," Morrison said. "It kills me, the thought of having to leave." The Morrisons are not alone. Throughout Gogebic County, prison employees, public officials and community leaders are decrying the state's decision, saying the prison closing would be devastating, both for individuals and the region as a whole. The prison, which has 203 employees, is one of the area's largest and highest-paying employers. Crystal Suzik, the wife of another Ojibway prison employee, points to a study that indicates the prison pumps $55 million a year directly and indirectly into the local economy. "That's a huge amount injected into this community," Suzik said. "We're beside ourselves," Suzik added. "We can't believe this is happening." While Gogebic County residents are furiously lobbying state officials to reconsider, the decision has been made, said Chris Gautz, spokesman for the Michigan Department of Corrections. "The correctional facility will close in December," he said. "We agonized over this very difficult decision," Gautz added. "Lots of thinking and thought goes into closures." Ironically, what makes Ojibway so important in Gogebic County -- its very existence in a remote community -- is the primary reason for its closing. Located in Marenisco, the western end of the Upper Peninsula and only five miles from the Wisconsin border, the prison is almost 600 miles from the state's population center in southeast Michigan. From Detroit, it's a shorter drive to Washington, D.C., than to Ojibway. "There are time costs, efficiency costs" in having a prison so far away, Gautz said. The remoteness also makes it hard for prisoners to have visitors, and has made it impossible to find professionals to staff programs found at other sites, such as mental health and substance-abuse services. Location was a primary factor in the decision to close Ojibway, Gautz acknowledged. "It really comes down to that," he said. Downsizing of the prison system From a big-picture standpoint, closing prisons is a rare area with widespread bipartisan support. It saves money, which pleases conservatives. It means incarcerating fewer people, a selling point for progressives. After peaking a quarter-century ago, crime has been trending down in Michigan. The state's violent crime rate is now about half of the historic high in 1991, and the property crime rate is a third of the peak in 1981. Michigan's overall crime rates are now down to numbers last seen in the 1960s. Less crime means fewer prisoners. In 2017, the state's prison population dropped below 40,000 for the first time in more than 20 years. The declining prison population has led to repeated rounds of prison closing. Since 2005, the Michigan Department of Corrections has closed and consolidated 27 facilities and camps, saving taxpayers $400 million. The state's fiscal 2019 budget -- approved by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Rick Snyder -- requires another prison closing, Gautz said. The Department of Corrections determined it had to be a Level I standalone facility -- i.e., a minimum-security prison. "That's where we have excess capacity," Gautz said. There are five facilities fitting that criteria: Ojibway; Central Michigan Correctional Facility in St. Louis, the Cooper Street and Parnell facilities in Jackson, and Newberry in the eastern Upper Peninsula. Central Michigan Correctional Facility is huge, more than twice the size of Ojibway. Closing it would leave the state with a shortage of minimum-security beds. The Jackson sites have two big advantages over the U.P. prisons: Better programs for prisoners and a more central location, which makes them easier to operate as well as for prisoners to see their families. Newberry also has the advantage of location over Ojibway. Although both are in the Upper Peninsula, Newberry is 250 miles closer to the downstate area. While Ojibway costs less than Newberry in terms of operating the buildings, that's not the full picture and doesn't include health care, food, transportation, and education costs, Gautz said. Because of Ojibway's remote location, "it costs 8 percent more on average than the other Level I facilities," Gautz said, and the transportation costs are particularly high. Moreover,"part of the challenge (at Ojibway) has been that we can't do the programming we want because we can't get qualified, college-educated staff," Gautz said. "People don't want to live there." For instance, the prison doesn't offer mental-health or substance-abuse counseling, which means prisoners with those issues can't be sent to Ojibway -- a huge restriction in a prison population where 24 percent of inmates have a diagnosed mental illness and a significant number have been substance abusers. Supporters of keeping Ojibway open don't like hearing that its location is inconvenient for prison families to visit. "To consider the needs of prisoners over prison guards is appalling," Crystal Suzik said. But a core part of the MDOC mission is rehabilitating inmates and trying to ensure a successful transition back into society, Gautz said. And studies show inmates who maintain a connection to family are less likely to re-offend after they leave. "Our job is public safety," Gautz said. "We have to do what is best for prisoners to turn their lives around." "Prisons don't exist to provide jobs," he added. While economic impact on a community is considered in prison closures, "it can't be the overriding consideration." That said, Gautz said the MDOC is well aware that closing Ojibway will be hard on the local economy and prison employees. The state has 700 job openings for prison guards statewide, which means the 160-some correction officers at Ojibway can transfer if they like. But that will require moving. "We clearly knew this was a unique situation" in terms of community impact, Gautz said. "While we have jobs elsewhere available, we understand it will require relocating and we know that's a hardship for many people. "But we have to do what is best for the department's operational needs and state taxpayers." 'Not thought out' Michigan's western-most county, Gogebic was part of the U.P.'s once-prosperous mining industry. But Gogebic's last mine closed in 1967. The 2017 Census estimate pegs the county population at 15,432. That's a 7 percent drop since 2010, and half of what it was in the 1920s and '30s. About a third of the people live in Ironwood, the county's biggest city. Today, the region's dominant private industry is tourism. Almost half of the county's workforce is not employed full time and/or year around. About 18 percent of Gogebic County adults have a bachelor's degree, compared to a state average of 28 percent. The county's median household income is just shy of $36,000, which is 29 percent below the state median. About one in five Gogebic County workers are on a governmental payroll, and those jobs pay substantially better on average than jobs in the private sector. The median pay for a male state employee in Gogebic County is $54,000, more than twice the $26,000 median for men working for a for-private company, according to Census Bureau's five-year estimated average for 2012-16. Gautz said the starting pay for prison guard is $33,000 and increases to $51,000 -- not including overtime -- after about five years on the job. The job requires a semester's worth of college credit. Erik Guenard, the interim president of Gogebic Community College, the local job market "doesn't have the elasticity" for the 203 Ojibway prison workers to find new employment in the community with comparable pay and benefits. The reality, he said, is most of those employees and their families likely will move out of the area, "a huge blow" to the Gogebic County economy. He ticks off all the institutions that will be impacted: Local school systems will lose about 90 students, hurting district finances; Aspirus Hospital in Ironwood will lose more than $1 million in annual billings for serving the prison population; local governments will lose tax revenue; the population decline will hurt attempts to recruit new businesses to the area. "It's going to have a massive impact," Guenard said. "We're just trying to wrap our heads around all the things that will need to be addressed." Guenard said he understands the state's rationale for closing the prison. But he's not happy about it all, and takes issue with the way it was done. "I understand why the decision had to be made," he said. "But it was not well thought out." It's particularly devastating that the county only has a few months to prepare, Guenard said. "I know the state needs to do what's in the best interests of the Department of Corrections," he said. "But it would have been nice to have a transition place and an economic impact study." State Rep. Scott Dianda, D-Calumet, met with Gogebic residents on Friday to hear their concerns. He also has fired off a letter to Snyder, asking the governor to put the prison closing on hold. The community would be "in a world hurt" if the prison closes, Diana said in a written statement, and he urged the MDOC to look at "other areas of the state that can more easily absorb the impacts of a facility closure." If Ojibway is closed, Dianda said in his letter to Snyder, than Gogebic County will need the "full force of the state's assistance to recover economically." That includes a state action on projects and strategies to "make up for the loss of jobs and revenue to the regional economy," Dianda said. Guenard said local officials are working on a plan to minimize the disruption to the economy, and they desperately need the state's help. "We're trying to look at how to move things forward," Guenard said. "We need to keep this part of Michigan alive, and we can't do it alone. We're in uncharted territory." BETHEL TOWNSHIP MI - A 25-year-old male pilot died Saturday after his aircraft crashed into a field located in rural Branch County, according to Michigan State Police. The man has been identified by police as Phillip Ching, a resident of Elsie, Michigan who was working for the summer with the Indiana-based Lutes Flying Company, according to MSP. The company owned the aircraft Ching had been piloting at the time of crash. The incident remains under investigation. State Troopers from the Marshall post were dispatched at around 5:29 p.m. Saturday to a location north of Kosmerick and South Snow Prairie roads on a report of a plane crash, according to a news release issued by MSP. Ching, the craft's sole occupant, had been crop-dusting a large field before the plane took a turn for the worst, according to the release. The crash likely killed Ching on impact, troopers wrote, but an official cause of death will be determined by autopsy. Bronson fire and Lifecare Ambulance assisted troopers at the scene. The Federal Aviation Administration is assisting MSP with their investigation. Sidhu said, 'If one is invited as guest of honour somewhere, then they have to sit wherever they are asked to.' Sidhu, who shared space with the PoK President during Khan's oath-taking ceremony and hugged the Pakistan Army Chief, has drawn flak and strong reactions from several quarters in India. (Photo: ANI) Attari-Wagah border: After facing backlash for sitting beside Pakistan-occupied-Kashmir President, Masood Khan and hugging Pakistan Army Chief, General Qamar Javed Bajwa during Islamabad visit, Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday defended himself. Upon returning to India after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Sidhu said, "If one is invited as a guest of honour somewhere, then they have to sit wherever they are asked to. I was sitting somewhere else but they asked me to sit there." Further giving clarification on his hug with the Pakistan Army Chief, the Congress leader said, "If someone (Pakistan Army Chief General Bajwa) comes and says that we belong to the same culture and we will open Kartarpur border on Guru Nanak Dev's 550th Prakash Parv, what else I could do?" Sidhu, who shared space with the PoK President during Khan's oath-taking ceremony and hugged the Pakistan Army Chief, has drawn flak and strong reactions from several quarters in India. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) termed Sidhu's visit as a crime. Addressing the media, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra on Saturday said, "Navjot Singh Sidhu is not just an individual but also a member of a political party and a cabinet minister in the Punjab government. The Congress needs to answer some serious questions in this regard. Navjot must have known that this man is the so-called President of PoK. He should have objected to sitting next to him." Read: Congress answerable for Navjot Singh Sidhus actions: BJP Sidhu visited Pakistan after he was invited by Khan's Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) for his oath-taking ceremony on August 18. Read: Navjot Singh Sidhu arrives in Pak to attend Imran Khan's oath-taking ceremony MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - A Muskegon man who allegedly made more than 100 separate purchases of pseudoephedrine has been charged criminally for "smurfing." Heath Priest, 46, was charged in Muskegon County court with possessing pseudoephedrine knowing it would be used to make methamphetamine. That's a felony normally punishable by up to five years in prison. But because Priest is charged as a four-time habitual offender, the potential penalty is increased to life in prison. He has five convictions for driving while intoxicated, court records show. Priest was on parole at the time of his arrest, said Muskegon County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Timothy Maat. Priest was arraigned on Aug. 10. Working off a tip, the West Michigan Enforcement Team began an investigation into Priest, Maat said. It found evidence he made 111 separate purchase of pseudoephedrine, he said. Pseudoephedrine is a crucial component in the manufacture of methamphetamine, a highly-addictive illegal stimulant. Pseudoephedrine is an over-the-counter medication used in cold and allergy remedies, but federal laws require it to be sold behind a service or pharmacy counter. Michigan law restricts purchase of pseudoephedrine to 3.6 grams in a single day or 9 grams per 30 days, and possession to 12 grams. Maat said there was no evidence that Priest was making methamphetamine, but it's alleged that he was providing the materials to someone else for the purpose of manufacturing meth. "Smurfing" is a term used for the practice of purchasing pseudoephedrine medications, such as Claritin-D and Sudafed, with the intention of selling them to criminal meth cooks. According to court records, the convictions that led to Priest's habitual offender status include attempted retail fraud in 1991, third-offense drunk driving in 2004 and resisting and obstructing police in 2007. Other felony convictions include possession of marijuana in 2004, drunk driving in 2007 and 2016, fleeing and eluding police in 2016 and carrying a concealed weapon in 2016, according to court and Michigan Department of Corrections records. Priest is being held in the Muskegon County Jail on a $15,000 cash or surety bond. His preliminary examination is scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Aug. 28 before Muskegon County District Judge Raymond Kostrzewa. Alma, Mich. - Allie Ray (Port Jefferson Station, N.Y. / Comsewogue) of the Alma College women's lacrosse team recently spent 12 days in Australia with United States of America Athletes International (USAAI), playing lacrosse and immersing herself in Australian culture. "Going to Australia was definitely a once in a lifetime opportunity," said Ray. "Australia was a beautiful country and definitely a place I would love to visit again." The Footscray Lacrosse club team hosted Ray and 13 other collegiate women's lacrosse players as the United States team played six games against various Australian city club teams. "I was able to not only play with people from all over the United States but I was also able to become a part of a diverse family. I got to see and play with numerous different styles of lacrosse and people and play top teams from Australia that not only taught me how to be a better player but gave me advice and information to take back to Alma next season." Patnaik has also ordered 500 metric ton of polythene sheets worth about Rs 8 crores for the southern state. Chief Minister Patnaik also stated that people of Odisha stand by the flood-affected people of Kerala at this hour of severe distress. (Photo: ANI | Twitter) Bhubaneshwar: Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Sunday announced an additional financial assistance of Rs 5 crores for the massive flooding in Kerala from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund (CMRF). This is in addition to the 5 crores, sanctioned earlier. Patnaik has also ordered 500 metric ton of polythene sheets worth about Rs 8 crores for the southern state. 244 Fire Service Personnel trained in rescue operations, along with 65 rescue boats and other equipment have also been sent to Kerala to help hasten the rescue operations. Chief Minister Patnaik also stated that people of Odisha stand by the flood-affected people of Kerala at this hour of severe distress. He expressed his deep condolences for the lives lost in the calamity. "Odisha knows what a natural calamity of this magnitude means to the common man," he added. He further directed the Relief Commissioner of Odisha to remain in touch with the authorities and extend all the help to the people from Odisha, stranded in Kerala. Kerala has been facing the worst flooding in a century. Kerala Chief Minister confirmed on Saturday that the death toll due to the floods has increased to 357. He added that the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore due to the deluge. Central Government, Chief Ministers of various states have come forward to support Kerala and offered financial aid to the state. While Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath offered an aid of Rs 15 crore from the Uttar Pradesh Relief Fund, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, Punjab Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu offered a contribution of Rs 10 crore each. The calamity has also grabbed global attention. Even the United Arab Emirates (UAE) took note of the issue and formed a committee to provide relief to the affected people. 194 people dead, 36 missing in Kerala since August 8; 357 killed since start of monsoon in May. Thiruvananthapuram: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday reviewed the Kerala flood situation and announced a financial assistance of Rs 500 crore for rescue and relief. The state government had earlier sought an immediate assistance of Rs 2,000 crore citing a loss of Rs 19,512 crore. The announcement by Mr Modi came on a day when thousands of people were rescued, even as rains and fresh landslides were reported in some places. The toll in Keralas worst flood in 100 years touched 194 since the state has been badgered by the second spell of monsoon fury which began on August 8. A large number of people, including senior citizens, women and children were airlifted from isolated buildings, while many others were evacuated in Army boats, large fishing vessels and makeshift yachts, officials said. Even as a red alert has been issued for Sunday in several areas in Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Ernakulam districts, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) signalled some drop in rainfall intensity after two to three days. Apart from the financial assistance of Rs 500 crore offered after an aerial survey of flood-hit areas, Mr Modi also announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the next of kin of the deceased and Rs 50,000 to those seriously injured from the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund (PMNRF). The Rs 500 crore assistance announced by Mr Modi is in addition to the Rs 100 crore announced by home minister Rajnath Singh on August 12. Mr Modi, who was accompanied by chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the survey, tweeted, In Kerala, I took stock of the situation arising in the wake of the devastating floods across the state. Joined a review meeting and undertook an aerial survey to assess the damage caused by flooding. The nation stands firmly with Kerala in this hour. Mr Vijayan later tweeted, As per the initial estimate, the state has suffered a loss of Rs 19,512 crore. The actual loss can be ascertained after the water recedes in the affected areas. The state has sought an immediate assistance of Rs 2,000 crore. Apart from the 194 deaths, 36 people are missing in Kerala since August 8. A total of 357 people have been killed since the start of monsoon in May. Over 3.53 lakh people are in 3,026 relief camps across the state. Crops in over 40,000 hectares have been destroyed, they said. Over 1,000 houses are fully destroyed and 26,000 partially. Officials said 134 bridges and 16,000 km of Public Works Department roads and 82,000 kms of local roads have been completely destroyed. Fresh landslides were reported on Saturday in Idukki district. Dead bodies were seen floating in several places, including Pandanad, Aranmula and Nenmara, where a massive landslide was reports two days ago. Sixty-seven helicopters, 24 aircraft, 548 motorboats and thousands of rescue personnel from Navy, Army, Air Force, NDRF, Coast Guard, other CAPFs have been pressed into service to evacuate people from submerged areas to relief camps and distribute relief materials, National Crisis Management Committee said. Meanwhile, Ideaforge, a drone operator, is mobilising drones to four districts to deliver food and medicines in areas which rescue teams are finding difficult to access. All mobile operators have offered free SMS and data services in Kerala. To speed up rescue work in Kochi, where the airport has been forced shut till August 26, the Central government has decided to make available the naval air strip for commercial aircraft from Monday. Living Gospel Equality Now: Loving in the Heart of God: Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests The statement said that ICPA pilots on Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 in Air India were ready and committed to help rescue and relief operations. The association's letter to the prime minister comes a day after the pilots threatened to stop operations if their flying allowance dues were not paid immediately. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Indian Commercial Pilots' Association (ICPA) on Saturday wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing its willingness to fly planes to Kerala on a "voluntary basis" in the larger interest of the affected people in the state. "We are willing to fly the planes without payment on voluntary basis to the cause of these operations. We consider this a unique privilege that we can use to assist in such operations," the association said in the letter. "We have full faith that Sir you will surely turn your attention to the plight of Air India and Air Indians once calm is restored," the letter stated. The association's letter to the prime minister comes a day after the pilots threatened to stop operations if their flying allowance dues were not paid immediately. "ICPA pilots on the Airbus 320 and Boeing 787 in Air India are ready and committed to the cause of Operation Madad and Operation Sahyog. We will support the government and the PMO in the endeavour to help our fellow citizens in Kerala," the letter said. Air India has always come forward during natural calamities by operating relief flights and by evacuating Indians from war zones like Kuwait, Libya, Lebanon or Yemen, General Secretary of the association T Praveen Keerthi said. "We are ready for any help as pilots on voluntary basis for Kerala, like we have always done in the past," the letter added. ABans Commodities US has been pursuing world economies to downgrade their trade relations with Iran and India is no exception to it. India started improving its trade relationships with Iran during 2016 after the Obama administration withdrew sanctions against Iran, albeit there has been a shift in policy again as President Trump decides to isolate Iran from the world trade map. In May 2018, President Trump announced that his administration was withdrawing from the defective nuclear deal agreed among Iran and six other world powers. In July 2015, an agreement was concluded among Iran, China, US and other European countries to limit Iran's nuclear activities, in exchange for reduced sanctions. According to the agreement called Joint Comprehensive Plan Of Action, the President of the United States would certify that Iran would adhere to the terms of the agreement every 90 days. On October 13, 2017, President Trump announced that the US would not make the certification and on April 30, 2018, the United States and Israel stated that Iran did not disclose a past covert nuclear weapons program to the International Atomic Energy Agency which was required in the deal. President Trump also issued a warning stating "anyone doing business with Iran will not be doing business with the United States." Trumps immediate aim is to target Irans energy, petrochemical and financial sectors. In the first tranche on August 6, the US prohibited Iran's purchase of US dollars and precious metals, part of a larger move that attempts to cut the country off from the international financial system. A second tranche of US sanctions on Iran's oil and gas sector are set to go into effect from November 4. The Trump administration forecasts that it will persuade countries to cut Iranian oil imports by as much as 1 million barrels a day when it is bringing-back energy sanctions in early November. The US persuaded its staunch allies, including Japan and South Korea, to cut back on imports, however it has had more trouble with countries such as China and India, which account for more than 60 percent of Irans oil exports. A Trump administration decision to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal will test Indias foreign policy as well as the US-India relations. Iran and India have a long history of trade relations; India has made strategic investments in Iran to push Pakistan away and also to keep a stronghold on Afghanistan. Iran is the second highest exporter of crude to India second only to Iraq. As the US is itself an ally, India finds itself in a tough spot it may be forced to sacrifice domestic interests in the wake of the sanctions. India may be willing to replace Iranian oil with Saudi and/or US oil, even though it does not support the Trump administrations decision to re-impose sanctions against Iran. If regional politics were to play a decisive role, Iran is significantly more important to India vis-a-vis the US. Further, from a strategic perspective, India seeks to counter the growing Chinese influence across Asia. The Chabahar port development assumes significant importance in this regard. If India plans to minimize relations, then Iran could potentially offer the port project to China, which would be construed as a big negative for India. India can replace other countries for oil imports but it definitely cannot replace the geopolitical importance of Iran. It is noteworthy that economic relationships between India & Iran in terms of quantum of trade are quite significant. To drive home this point, India imports nearly 81 million barrels of crude oil per day (bpd), out of which 15 percent is from Iran alone, and non-oil trade with Iran stood near USD 2,690 million out of the total figure of USD 12,890 million in the year 2016 -17 which accounted for nearly 20 percent of total trade. India has also committed about USD 85 million to Chabahar development with plans for a total of USD 500 million on the port, while a railway line to Afghanistan from this port could cost as much as USD 1,600 million. Given that China has already rejected the US request to curb its trade relations with Iran, we can expect Indias reach to Iran to weaken against China if India complies to US sanction. Apparently China National Petroleum Corp is taking the advantage to its favor and is expected to take the lead on a USD 5,000 million project to develop Irans share of the worlds biggest gas deposit, taking over from Frances Total SA. In detail, Indian oil imports from Iran averaged nearly 0.62mbd from Iran and 0.77mbd and 0.93mbd from Saudi Arabia and Iraq respectively. This indicates Indias considerable dependence on Iranian oil and If India were to replace Iran with countries like Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, US and others for 10% of its oil demand, it may have to revert to dollar-denominated imports, which will consequently result in a higher Current Account Deficit (CAD). India gets cost effective crude from Iran as the country saves on shipping costs and Iran offers the longest credit period. Iran is also an important trade partner which imports $503 million rice apart from tea, nuts and spices, totaling USD 2,410 million of goods. As crude oil replacement no doubt, Indian refineries can use US Sweet crude instead of Iranian oil but companies like Essar Oil which buy 40 percent of its crude from Iran, now face uncertainty as US may not provide the same incentives that Iran does, such as free shipping, insurance and an extended credit period. Nikki Haley, US Ambassador to United Nations, met Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in July 2018 to explore opportunities to curb Indian imports from Iran, but was politely told that it would be difficult to do so. However, India may cut its imports from Iran by 50 percent to secure a waiver from the US to continue its shipments and India has already expressed to the US its inability to scrap oil imports from Iran completely as its alternate supplies are being offered at competitive rates. Among others, Turkey, India, China and the EU states are seeking waivers or ways around the energy-related sanctions including alternative payment mechanisms. China and Turkey have clearly indicated at not complying with US energy sanctions. Impact of US sanctions are already evident in recent crude import arrangements for India. Indian Oil Corporation, which is the state run oil company in India, and had been buying US crude in the spot market, also signed a term tender to purchase American oil for delivery every month between November and January. Another Indian company owned by the government, HPCL, for the month of July, will take 0.084 million bpd from Saudi Arabia, more than double the 0.04 million bpd it normally buys under annual contracts. IOC bought a Very Large Crude Carrier (VLCC) cargo that will be delivered in October. It will deliver 1.6 million barrels of US Mars Crude and 0.4 million barrels of Western Canadian select for the first time. Looking ahead, India needs to be determined to protect its business relations with both the US and Iran by restoring the sanctions. United States is effectively forcing its allies to go along with the penalties; subsequently, major Indian companies are under pressure to choose between tiny Iranian markets against vast American markets. However, India should not compromise its national interests and maintain an independent foreign policy. Even US is on back-foot as Japan, South Korea along with China and India are forcing the US to consider sanction waivers to countries on a case-by-case basis. India is waiting for complete sanctions to kick off from November 4, 2018 and is also making arrangements to replace the affected Iranian crude import. The author is founder and Chairman of ABans Group of Companies. The views and investment tips expressed by investment experts/broking houses/rating agencies on Moneycontrol are their own, and not that of the website or its management. Moneycontrol advises users to check with certified experts before taking any investment decisions) Jabalpur: Trains chug along through misty fog on a cold winter morning in Jabalpur on Thursday. PTI Photo (PTI1_19_2017_000048B) A couple was arrested from Jabalpur for their alleged involvement in a large number of theft cases at the local railway station, the police said today. Police suspect that Manoj Gupta (35) and his wife Pooja (30), who were arrested last evening, had committed more than 500 thefts at the Jabalpur railway station over the last four years. Explaining the modus operandi of the accused duo, Government Railway Police (GRP) officer YP Mishra said while Gupta used to befriend unsuspecting passengers at the railway station his wife would steal their luggage. "As per prima facie investigation, the couple had committed over 500 thefts by using different tricks to dupe railway passengers," said Mishra, who is incharge of Jabalpur GRP station. He said the couple used to behave as if they are not known to each other while committing the crime. "Gupta used to befriend young passengers at (Jabalpur) railway station while Pooja would approach them with their children (a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son) and request them to bring a ticket for her," Mishra said. While Gupta and the passenger would go together for buying a ticket, Pooja would decamp with the luggage, he said. Mishra said the couple mainly used to target passengers who were headed towards Bihar and Jharkhand. The couple was living in a rented accommodation in Kripal Chowk area of Jabalpur. 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 Jet Airways will operate additional domestic and international flights to Thiruvananthapuram from Bengaluru, Mumbai, Dammam and Dubai from Sunday, August 19, in light of the floods in Kerala that have killed hundreds. All operations from Cochin International Airport have been suspended till Sunday, August 26, due to floods in the city. For passengers with confirmed tickets to and from Kochi for travel up to August 26, the airline has waived off charges on date/flight change from the original travel date, or on choosing an alternate destination which is close to Kochi airport. Jet Airways has also waived off no-show penalties and fare difference if any, due to the closure of Cochin International Airport, it said. Passengers can visit Jet Airways' website or mobile app to check the airline's latest flight schedule online. They can also contact the Jet Airways Contact Centre at +91-(City Code)-39893333. IndiGo will also operate additional flights to and from Kozhikode, Coimbatore and Trivandrum between August 19 and August 25. A senior National Conference (NC) leader has accused the BJP of instigating people over the presence of "illegal" Rohingya refugees in Jammu and said it virtually did nothing for their deportation over the past four years. "Why the BJP is not acting even now (against Rohingya) instead of beating chests and instigating the people," National Conference provincial president Devender Singh Rana told a series of public meetings during his day-long tour of his Nagrota assembly constituency here. The NC leader criticised the BJP for "generating hype" over the issue. "Who is stopping New Delhi and Srinagar from deporting Rohingya under the Foreigners Act," Rana said, adding the Rohingya refugees were settled in Jammu by the Centre. The NC leader also defended Article 35A of the Constitution, which gives special rights to the permanent residents of the state. "The relevance of Article 35A is more crucial now than ever before," he added. The UP government has already announced that it would build memorials in Vajpayees name in his ancestral village, among other significant sites. Lucknow: The Yogi Adityanath government has decided that inmates of jails in Uttar Pradesh will recite poems penned by former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. UP jail minister Jai Krishna Jaiki told reporters that more than one lakh inmates lodged in 75 jails in the state will recite the poetry. His poems teach one how to deal with tough times and how to overcome difficulties without losing hope. These poems will give a new direction to jail inmates, he said. He said that the poems were evocative and inspiring and could be used as prayers for inmates. Asked whether he proposed to name any jail after the former Prime Minister, the minister said, Vajpayee was lodged in a jail in 1973, which is now in Uttarakhand, so I really do not know whether the government will take any decision on this. The UP government has already announced that it would build memorials in Vajpayees name in his ancestral village, among other significant sites. Stepping up attack on the Modi government, the Congress today finalised a month-long, countrywide agitation to "expose" the alleged corruption under the BJP rule including the Rafale jet deal. The party also demanded that Kerala floods be declared a 'national calamity'. The final shape to the party's agitational plan was given at a meeting of top Congress leaders, including party general secretaries and in-charges of various states, state unit chiefs and legislature party leaders, chaired by party president Rahul Gandhi. "It was decided that corruption, scams of the Modi government particularly the Rafale scam will be taken to people of India," party's chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala told reporters. In the next 30 days, Congress workers will do district and state level demonstrations. We will ensure a fair probe, independent probe, a JPC is constituted immediately. We will not be deterred and pushed back," he said, adding "we will push the government... ensuring that the Rafale scam and corruption scams are exposed". The party, he said, discussed the Rafale deal in detail and claimed that the scam has cost the exchequer Rs 41,000 crore. He alleged that a company belonging to a "friend" of the Prime Minister has been given a contract worth Rs 30,000 crore under the deal after snatching it away from Hindustan Aeronautics Limited. The government and the BJP have dismissed the allegations levelled by the Congress on the Rafale deal. Besides, other political challenges in the election going states were also deliberated, Surjewala said. Surjewala said the party also demanded that Kerala floods be declared as a "national calamity" and asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to play politics in such matters. "Dear PM, Increasing funds allocated for Kerala relief to Rs.500 Cr is a good step but nowhere near enough. It is critical you declare the floods as a National Disaster. Please do not vacillate as the people of Kerala are suffering, Gandhi tweeted earlier. He had also demanded in another tweet that Kerala floods be declared a national disaster without any delay, saying the lives, livelihood and future of millions of people is at stake. Surjewala claimed that while the central government has only provided Rs 100 crore relief to the state government, there has been a huge loss of life and damage to properties to the extent of Rs 2,000-3,000 crore due to the floods. "We believe Modiji should stop discriminating in the matters of flood relief between BJP and non-BJP governments. Only mere Rs 100 crore has been given to Kerala. "It's time the PM rises above political partisan game and comes forward as a nation to help the people of Kerala and Karnataka and declare Kerala floods as a national calamity," he said. Surjewala later tweeted, saying, Tragic that PM Modi announced a pittance of Rs 500 Cr for Kerala flood relief against the State's demand of Rs 2,000 Crore. Painful that Modi Government is playing politics over flood relief merely because BJP has no presence in the state. Floods, human tragedy and unprecedented devastation can't be subject matter of partisan politics as is being done by Modi Government in Kerala flood. Federalism envisages handholding and co-operation in such times. Does an autocratic Central Govt understand this foundational principle? he also said in another tweet. He said the Congress governments in different states are contributing to the relief funds while all party MPs, MLAs, MLCs will donate one-month's salary. The Punjab government and the JDS-Congress Karnataka government have sent Rs 10 crore each, while the Puducherry government has contributed Rs one crore, he said. The deadliest deluge in Kerala in close to a century has claimed 194 lives since August 8. Over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. We also noted with concern the grave situation arising out of floods in Karnataka and as also rest of the country. In the entire country 324 people have lost their lives besides a lot of loss to property and other things,he said. A Special Relief Committee in the adjoining states of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu, and Puducherry would be constituted wherein all material possible will be collected by Congress workers and will be sent to people of Kerala. Former Lok Sabha member P Manik Reddy, who represented Medak constituency in Telangana, today died at a private hospital here due to age-related ailments, official sources said. He was 76 and is survived by his wife, two daughters and a son. Reddy, who was hospitalised due to age-related ailments passed away in the early hours, the sources said. Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao condoled the demise of Reddy. Rao recalled Reddy's association with him and conveyed his condolences to the members of the bereaved family, an official release said. A former Congress leader, Reddy had joined the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 1983 and was elected from Medak Lok Sabha constituency in 1985. Reddy subsequently joined the Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) in 2013. Russian President Vladimir Putin called on Europe to financially contribute to the reconstruction of Syria to allow millions of refugees to return home. "We need to strengthen the humanitarian effort in the Syrian conflict," he said yesterday ahead of a meeting with his German counterpart Angela Merkel at the government retreat of Meseberg castle 70 kms (45 miles) north of Berlin. "By that, I mean above all humanitarian aid to the Syrian people, and help the regions where refugees living abroad can return to." There are currently one million refugees in Jordan, the same number in Lebanon, and three million in Turkey, Putin said. Germany has accepted hundreds of thousands of migrants since 2015 - the height of the migration crisis - which has weakened Angela Merkel politically and split the European Union. "This is potentially a huge burden for Europe," Putin said. "That's why we have to do everything to get these people back home," he added, emphasising the need to properly restore basic services such as water supplies and healthcare. Merkel said the priority in Syria was "to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe", but did not give any further details. Also on the agenda for the two leaders is the Ukraine crisis, which "unfortunately does not advance at all", Putin said. The Minsk agreements, a peace process sponsored by Germany and France aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine, is at a standstill, Merkel said, pointing at the absence of a "stable ceasefire". A United Nations mission on the ground, which will be discussed during the talks, "could perhaps play a pacifying role" in the region, she said. Earlier, Germany's foreign minister Heiko Maas said he was "relatively optimistic about the chances of a United Nations mission", telling the Die Welt newspaper: "We want to give a new dynamic to the Minsk process." Russia is accused by Kiev and Westerners of militarily supporting the separatists in eastern Ukraine, which it denies. Economic cooperation, particularly over energy, was also billed as a central theme in the discussions. Russia and Germany are partners in the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, a project criticised by US President Donald Trump due to Berlin's reliance on Moscow. Ukraine worries that the Nord Stream 2 Baltic Sea pipeline from Russia to Germany will transport gas now flowing through its territory and deprive it of crucial transit fees. Russia has shut off gas supplies to Ukraine in the past, having knock-on effects in the European Union. "Ukraine must, in my opinion, play a role in the transit of gas to Europe", even after the start of Nord Stream 2 in 2019, the German Chancellor said. Putin once again defended the project "which addresses the growing demand of the European economy for energy resources". "I want to stress here that Nord Stream 2 is only an economic project and it does not close the door to the continuation of gas transit through the territory of Ukraine," he said. In July, Putin assured that Russia was willing to keep Russian gas flowing through Ukraine after the pipeline was commissioned, but without going into details on volumes or tariffs. The World Health Organisation recently placed the contentious bedaquiline in the list of 'priority' drugs used in treatment for people suffering with multi drug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Bedaquiline, along with levofloxacin/moxifloxacin and linezolid, has now been placed in Group A, which is for prioritised medicines. Under the previous guidelines, bedaquiline belonged to Group C, which is for drugs that can be used when patients develop resistance to Group-A and Group-B drugs. WHO, however, warned that it does not have evidence on the safety and effectiveness of bedaquiline use beyond six months, as it was insufficient for review. Also, linezolid, a highly potent drug with severe side-effects, including temporary or permanent loss of hearing, may limit its use, WHO said. WHO's evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of multidrug-resistant or rifampicin resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB) were published in October 2016. Subsequently, new evidence prompted a public call for data by WHO in anticipation of a formal review. The latest communication states that WHO no longer recommends use of kanamycin and capreomycin for TB patients due to the increased risk of treatment failure and relapse associated with their use. It states that countries should not wait for existing stocks of Kanamycin to be exhausted and should immediately replace it with the relatively safer amikacin, in the shorter regimen. Kanamycin use is discouraged due to instances of ototoxicity resulting in hearing loss. Longer MDR-TB regimens usually last 18-20 months and may be standardised or individualised. These regimens are usually designed to include at least five medicines that are considered effective. WHO said the position on another drug, delamanid, will be re-assessed once individual patient data from the Otsuka trial 213 has been reviewed. Currently, US-based Johnson and Johnson's (J&J) Janssen holds the patents for producing bedaquiline, which expire in 2023. Under the conditional access programme of the Indian government, bedaquiline imported from Janssen is being administered to around to 1,000 patients in the country. Though there is no official survey, central government data suggests over 2,000 patients need the drug. Experts, however, say that the number may be much more, closer to 20,000 patients. For some countries, including India, J&J recently cut the price of bedaquiline to $400 for six months of treatment. India has received the current stock through donations, but once it decides to scale up, it will have to start buying the drugs from J&J under the aegis of the Global Drug Facility. In countries excluded from J&J's price cut list, the drug maker currently charges between $3,000 and $30,000 for six months of treatment. Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), or Doctors Without Borders, an international humanitarian medical organisation, welcomed the inclusion of bedaquiline in the priority list for treatment of MDR-TD "Today, only 20 percent of people with DR-TB globally receive the treatment they need. People on standard DR-TB treatment currently have to endure an agonizing regimen of medicines for up to two years, involving as many as 20 pills per day, which can cause side effects as severe as psychosis, along with painful daily injections for up to eight months that can lead to hearing loss and deafness. The current standard DR-TB therapy typically only achieves cure rates of around 55 percent. In the past six years, two new drugs have been approved for DR-TB, but their uptake to improve TB treatment has been lagging," MSF said in a statement. "It's well beyond overdue for people living with TB to have a better chance of getting cured of this killer disease with more effective treatments that are easier for them to tolerate," said Dr Mercedes Tatay, MSF's International Medical Secretary, currently in MSF's DR-TB project in Mumbai. "Governments and treatment providers should not waste another minute and should urgently make sure people can access optimal treatments including bedaquiline, and this means Johnson & Johnson needs to lower the price of the drug and ensure it is available for every person who needs it," Tatay said. In order to facilitate a scale-up, MSF has been calling for a full DR-TB treatment regimen to be priced no higher than $500. US_China_Trade_Trade war_Tariff China's Defence Ministry has lodged a complaint with the United States about a Pentagon report that said China's military was likely training for strikes against the United States and its allies, saying it was "pure guesswork". The assessment, at a time of heightened U.S.-China tensions over trade, was contained in an annual report that highlighted China's efforts to increase its global influence, with defence spending that the Pentagon estimated exceeded $190 billion in 2017. China's Defence Ministry said in a statement late on Friday that the Pentagon report misrepresented China's strategic intentions and exaggerated the "so-called China military threat." "China's military expresses resolute opposition to this and has lodged stern representations with the U.S. side," it said. China is on the path of peaceful development and pursues a defensive national strategy, and has always been a contributor to world peace and protector of the global order, the ministry said. "The Chinese military's strengthening of modernisation is to protect the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as global peace, stability and prosperity," it said. "The Chinese military's reform, weapons development and defensive capabilities in the internet space are just and reasonable. The criticism in the U.S. report is pure guesswork." The Pentagon report said that while the People's Liberation Army had continued to extend operations, it was not clear what message Beijing was looking to send by carrying out bomber flights "beyond a demonstration of improved capabilities." This year, China's air force landed bombers on islands andreefs in the South China Sea as part of a training exercise in the disputed region. In January the Pentagon put countering Beijing, along with Russia, at the centre of a new national defence strategy. China's Defence Ministry said the "peaceful construction work" in the South China Sea was its right as a sovereign country, and it criticised the United States for its freedom of navigation operations there. It said the report by the United States harms mutual trust between the two countries, the ministry said. "We demand the U.S. side abandons Cold War thinking, objectively and rationally views China's defence and military construction, stops issuing the relevant reports, and takes actual steps to promote and protect the stable development of military-to-military relations," it said. While Washington and Beijing maintain a military-to-military relationship aimed at containing tensions, this has been tested in recent months, notably in May when the Pentagon withdrew an invitation to China to join a multinational naval exercise. In June, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis became the first Pentagon chief to visit China since 2014. She was playing with her granny in the veranda of her house. Bhopal: In a gruesome and heart wrenching incident, a three-year-old girl was brutally raped, bitten all over her body, subjected barbaric torture and then murdered in a Madhya Pradesh village, police said on Sunday. The mutilated body of the child was found around two km away from her home in the village of Mohad in Burhanpur district late on Saturday evening, police said. There were bite marks all over the body. Her left hand had been hacked off. The body was infested by maggots. Injury marks in the neck suggested that she might have been strangulated to death. The short postmortem report also indicated that she was sexually assaulted, doctors who conducted autopsy on the body said. The body is at least four days old, local civil surgeon Shakil Khan said. According to the police, the victim had gone missing in the evening of August 15 when she was relieving herself near a drain a few feet from her home. She was playing with her granny in the veranda of her house. She later told her grandma she would go outside to relieve herself. Her grandmother had raised an alarm when she came out of house five minutes later and could not find her. Later, the victims family members filed a missing complaint with the local police. The police launched a search for her and even used sniffer dogs for the purpose, but failed to locate her, a senior district police officer said. The president of the Midland ISD school board wants to serve another term as the representative of District 6. Rick Davis has filed to put his name of the ballot for the November election. Monday is the final day a candidate can file. The seats up for election are Districts 3, 5 and 6. Davis is the lone candidate thus far to announce an intention to represent District 6, which includes Lee High School, Abell Junior High, Rusk Elementary, Scharbauer Elementary and Bush Elementary. Davis has represented District 6 since November 2008 and has served as board president since 2012. More recently, Davis led the board through the Lone Star Governance process and the superintendent search that brought Orlando Riddick to Midland. I am proud to be part of a board that is currently ranked No. 1 by the Texas Education Agency on its Lone Star Governance Leaderboard and would welcome the opportunity to continue to support the work of this board and this district in exploring and implementing new options, including in-district charter opportunities for our students, the first of which is expected to begin next year, Davis wrote in an email to the Reporter-Telegram. TEA recognizes the work we have done, are doing and are planning to do and have commended us for our efforts, rewarded us with membership in the first cohort class of the Technical Assistance Network designed to support schools who are dedicated to becoming a System of Great Schools and selected us, along with among a limited number of schools, to receive Transformation Zone grants. Davis wrote it is important that the district continues to work in close partnership with Educate Midland, local foundations, nonprofit and faith-based organizations, businesses, local governmental entities and community members to help ensure that our transformation is successful for the benefit of students, parents, and community. All of those efforts will play a critical part in helping us achieve our goals, Davis wrote. As someone who played an active role in helping to establish and further many of those relationships, I would like the opportunity to continue to help to make certain that this communitys vision for our public schools is reached. I believe that having had the experience in seeing what has worked and what has not worked is going to be an important part of MISDs success moving forward. Davis, the general counsel for BTA Oil Producers, is married to an MISD graduate. He and his wife, Karen, have three children, all MISD graduates. His community activities include current board member of the Midland County Public Library Foundation, former deacon and elder at First Presbyterian Church of Midland, former board president of the West Texas Make-A-Wish board and former board president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Midland. On the ballot District 3 Tommy Bishop District 5 Heidi Jean Kirk John Trischitti III, Thomas Wolfmueller District 6 Rick Davis Note: Monday is the last day to file to run in the November election. School dress codes are often at the center of controversy, and now that the 2018-2019 fall semester is off to a start, the topic is back in the spotlight. Like many schools in the Lone Star State, Marcus High School in Flower Mound started school on Aug. 15, but it wasn't long before it had to face the wrath of the Twitter-verse. ANOTHER CONTROVERSY: Lesbian Texas teacher barred from her classroom to start new academic year A student shared a video to her Twitter that was shown to her school about violating the dress code, which has caused outrage over sexism still being persistent in schools. The "violators" in the video were all female students who wore outfits that were too short to be in accordance with school policy, which states that all female students "may wear long pants of appropriate length, skirts or shorts of appropriate length, at or about mid-thigh or longer." "Cat," the student who shared the video, also posted a caption saying she was disappointed in her school. "I understand why my school has a dress code, but what about the boys who wear shorts, or show their shoulders? It's 2018...Why are we still over-sexualizing teen girls?" According to the MHS Student Handbook Addendum posted in the school's website, all students are allowed to wear shorts if they are mid-thigh or longer and sit and the natural waistline for men. However, clothing items such as trench coats, mini-skirts, halter or tube tops, split sides, midriffs, bare shoulder tops, see-through clothing, fishnet tops, spandex shorts, or other items that the staff deems "inappropriate or offensive for school in general" are not allowed. Sleepwear is also not permitted. The school has not publicly responded to the controversy, but according to a follow-up tweets by "Cat," the school's principal "he had an important conversation with [her] about the issues" and he apologized to the students and parents. "He made it clear that this issue was a MISTAKE, which doesn't define Marcus as a whole." Take a look through the gallery above to see other dress code violation controversies. Daniela Sternitzky- Di Napoli is a digital producer covering Texas news and pop culture. | Daniela.DiNapoli@chron.com | @Dani_DiNapoli 113 criminal cases including that of bootlegging, robbery, contract killing have been registered against Basiran and her family members. Woman along with other family members will also be booked in connection with the case for amassing wealth from crime proceeds, the police said. (Photo: PTI | Representational) New Delhi: A 62-year-old woman known as the "godmother of crime" in south Delhi's Sangam Vihar, who was wanted in connection with the killing of a man, was arrested, police said on Saturday. The accused identified as Basiran was declared a proclaimed offender, they said. A total of 113 criminal cases including that of bootlegging, murder, robbery, contract killing and snatching have been registered against Basiran and her family members, police said. Acting on a tip-off, the accused was arrested from Sangam Vihar where she had come to meet her family members to decide further strategy in connection with seizure of her property, said Romil Baaniya, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (south). In September 2017, a partially decomposed body was recovered from the jungle of Sangam Vihar. A case was registered in connection with the murder following which a juvenile was apprehended in this case in January 2018, he said. The juvenile then disclosed name of his associates namely Aakash, Vikash, Neeraj, Munni Begum and Basiran, he added. After the co-accused was arrested, Basiran fled away and was evading her arrest since then, the DCP said. On May 25, Basiran was declared proclaimed offender in connection with the case. Subsequently, her property attached and sealed, he said. Meanwhile, the accused also filed an application seeking anticipatory bail at Delhi High Court and also sought release of her property at Saket Court. However, the Delhi Police strongly objected to it, giving her previous criminal background following which both applications were then dismissed by the court, the senior officer said. During interrogation, Basiran admitted that she had taken a contract of Rs 60,000 to kill Miraz who was a step-brother of one of the accused Munni Begum, he said. Basiran along with her associates hatched a conspiracy to kill Miraz. As per the plan, on the intervening night of 8 and 9 September 2017, Munni Begum took Miraz to Basiran's house and from there her associates took Miraz to a jungle in Sangam Vihar's K block where they intoxicated him and strangulated him to death using leather belt. The accused then burnt the body to hide his identity and buried it in the jungle, the officer added. It was learnt that Basiran did not have any permanent source of income and so she started selling illicit liquor. The accused even motivated her eight sons including a minor to commit crime, the DCP said. Once, she acquired dominance in the area, with the help of her sons, she captured government water borewells in Sangam Vihar and was running a water supply mafia, he said. She was absconding since last eight months and was hiding in cities like Allahabad, Ahmedabad, Mainpuri and Firozabad, he added. Police said a case of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA) has been registered against her son Shamim. She along with other family members will also be booked in connection with the case for amassing wealth from crime proceeds, the police said. Its been a busy month for Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner and his pen. From July 13 to Aug. 14, the governor signed 293 laws. Some go into effect immediately, others will have to wait for January. But all are new laws. Illinois lawmakers, like state Rep. Avery Bourne, acknowledge that nearly 300 new laws in nearly 30 days is a lot. But, not all of them are bad law, she said. That is a lot of new laws, and I hear from a lot of constituents that say Cant you take some off the books? Bourne said. Two of mine signed this week actually do that. One combines a hunting and trapping license for youths into one. Another one that I had takes a livestock advisory board, and instead of meeting multiple times a year, has them meet just once a year. State Rep. Tim Butler said one reason Illinois has so many laws is because lawmakers can introduce as many pieces of legislation as they want. I think one of the issues with the way we run the General Assembly is that members can introduce an unlimited number of bills. There are states where lawmakers are limited in how many bills they can introduce, Butler said. I think in Illinois, that leads to more laws. And more are likely to come, the governor has lots more bills on his desk to act on. An Urbana-based federal judge in the public corruption case against former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock has been removed from that case and dozens of others after it was learned the judge had talked to a member of the U.S. Attorneys Office while a trial was in progress. U.S. District Judge Colin Bruce has been removed from Schocks case and anything else where the government is a party. That includes all criminal matters and post-conviction hearings as well as anything that could involve the government in a civil matter. We are not at loggerheads with ... The current gutkha users have also significantly reduced by 63 per cent as compared to the rest of India average figures of just 17 per cent. Delhi governments additional director of health S.K. Arora has been awarded with the prestigious WHO World No Tobacco Day 2017 Award for his extraordinary contribution towards tobacco control. New Delhi: Delhi governments additional director of health S.K. Arora has been awarded with the prestigious WHO World No Tobacco Day 2017 Award for his extraordinary contribution towards tobacco control. He was presented the award by Henk Bekedam, WHO India country head, at a gathering on August 16. Dr Arora said that the tobacco prevalence in Delhi has come down by 6.5 per cent in the past six years, which is more than the rest of India average figures. The National Health Policy 2017 of the government of India has set targets of relative reduction in tobacco prevalence by 15 per cent by 2020 and 30 per cent by 2025. Delhi has already achieved these targets before 2017, Dr Arora added. Accordi-ng to Global Adult Toba-cco Survey-2 (GATS 2, 2016-17), the prevalence of tobacco use has reduced by 27 per cent in Delhi as compared to 17 per cent for the rest of India average. Similarly, current tobacco smokers in Delhi have reduced by 35 per cent as compared to 23 per cent for the rest of India average. The current gutkha users have also significantly reduced by 63 per cent as compared to the rest of India average figures of just 17 per cent. For cessation modalities also, Delhi has performed much better than the rest of India average figures. The Delhi governments health department has been fighting against direct advertisement of brand promotion of tobacco and surrogate advertisement of tobaccos in the name of pan masala and other edibles such as tea, ilaichi (cardamom) for the past four years. I have written to CBSE and NCERT for last few years to create a chapter in schools curriculum to tackle the menace of tobacco in the country, Dr Arora said. Anyone with information about these or other crimes can call the appropriate Crimestoppers number. Callers can be anonymous; a reward of as much as $1,000 will be paid for information leading to an arrest. Crimestoppers of Morgan and Scott Counties Submit tips anonymously at tipsubmit.com, by calling 217-243-7300 or by text messaging CRIMES (274637) with payout as the first word of the tip. Crimestoppers is seeking information to assist the Jacksonville Police Department with its investigation of a burglary. Between 12:30 and 2:15 a.m. Aug. 10, someone removed an air conditioning unit to make entry into a apartment on Walnut Court. An undetermined amount of cash was taken from the residence. Two Rivers Crime Stoppers Serves Calhoun, Greene and Jersey counties. Submit tips to 1-800-300-2590. On Aug. 7, someone reported a motor was stolen from of his 18-foot Jon boat in Calhoun County north of Woods Creek on Illinois Route 100. Schuyler County Crimestoppers Call 217-322-3326 Pike County Crimestoppers Call 217-285-1500 Wanted on warrants The following are being sought on arrest warrants, according to the various sheriffs departments. The addresses listed are the last known addresses provided by the warrants and may be outdated. Morgan County Loren A. Orr, 34, of754 W. Railroad St. is being sought on a warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court on charges of driving while license is suspended and disregarding a traffic control device. She is a white female standing 5-foot-7 and weighing 155 pounds. She has red hair and green eyes. Dominique D. Morris, 21, of 319 N. Westgate Ave. is being sought on a warrant accusing her of failing to appear in court on charges of driving while license is suspended and operating an uninsured motor vehicle. She is a black female standing 5-foot-7 and weighing 123 pounds. She has black hair and brown eyes. Greene, Calhoun and Jersey counties Richard W.J. Schollmeyer, 28, of Jersey County is being sought on a warrant accusing him of failing to register as a sex offender. Authorities say he has multiple warrants with other agencies. He is a white male standing 6-foot-1 and weighing 207 pounds. He has brown hair and blue eyes. Joseph L. Gettings, 51, of 18963 Powerline Road, Grafton, is being sought on a warrant accusing him of failing to after having an accident involving personal injury and driving while license is revoked. He is a white male standing 5-foot-8 and weighing 163 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes. Joseph P. Pellazari, 34, of 205 N. County Road, Hardin, is being sought on a warrant accusing him of violating bond and violating an order of protection. He is a white male standing 5-foot-5 and weighing 145 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. Washington A former Trump campaign adviser should spend at least some time in prison for lying to the FBI during the Russia probe, prosecutors working for special counsel Robert Mueller said in a court filing Friday that also revealed several new details about the early days of the investigation. The prosecutors disclosed that George Papadopoulos, who served as a foreign policy adviser to President Donald Trump's campaign during the 2016 presidential race, caused irreparable damage to the investigation because he lied repeatedly during a January 2017 interview. Those lies, they said, resulted in the FBI missing an opportunity to properly question a professor Papadopoulos was in contact with during the campaign who told him that the Russians possessed "dirt" on Hillary Clinton in the form of emails. The filing by the special counsel's office strongly suggests the FBI had contact with Professor Joseph Mifsud while he was in the U.S. during the early part of the investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. According to prosecutors, the FBI "located" the professor in Washington about two weeks after Papadopoulos' interview and Papadopoulos' lies "substantially hindered investigators' ability to effectively question" him. But it doesn't specifically relate any details of an interview with the professor as it recounts what prosecutors say was a missed opportunity caused by Papadopoulos. "The defendant's lies undermined investigators' ability to challenge the Professor or potentially detain or arrest him while he was still in the United States," Mueller's team wrote, noting that the professor left the U.S. in February 2017 and has not returned since. Prosecutors note that investigators also missed an opportunity to interview others about the professor's comments or anyone else at that time who might have known about Russian efforts to obtain derogatory information on Clinton during the campaign. "Had the defendant told the FBI the truth when he was interviewed in January 2017, the FBI could have quickly taken numerous investigative steps to help determine, for example, how and where the Professor obtained the information, why the Professor provided the information to the defendant, and what the defendant did with the information after receiving it," according to the court filing. Prosecutors also detail a series of difficult interviews with Papadopoulos after he was arrested in July 2017, saying he didn't provide "substantial assistance" to the investigation. Papadopoulos later pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI as part of a plea deal. The filing recommends that Papadopoulos spend at least some time incarcerated and pay a nearly $10,000 fine. His recommended sentence under federal guidelines is zero to six months, but prosecutors note another defendant in the case spent 30 days in jail for lying to the FBI. Papadopoulos has played a central role in the Russia investigation since its beginning as an FBI counterintelligence probe in July 2016. In fact, information the U.S. government received about Papadopoulos was what triggered the counterintelligence investigation in the first place. That probe was later take over by Mueller. President Donald Trump plans next week to unveil a proposal that would empower states to establish emission standards for coal-fired power plants rather than speeding their retirement - a major overhaul of the Obama administration's signature climate policy and one that could significantly increase the release of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Trump plans to announce the measure as soon as Tuesday during a visit to West Virginia, according to two administration officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the White House was still finalizing details Friday. The Environmental Protection Agency's own impact analysis, which runs nearly 300 pages, projects that the proposal would make only slight cuts to overall emissions of pollutants - including carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides - over the next decade. The Obama rule, by contrast, dwarfs those cuts by a factor of more than 12. The new proposal, which will be subject to a 60-day comment period, could have enormous implications for dozens of aging coal-fired power plants across the country. EPA estimates the measure will affect more than 300 U.S. plants, providing companies with an incentive to keep coal plants in operation rather than replacing them with cleaner natural gas or renewable energy projects. The Washington Post By 2030, according to administration officials, the proposal would cut CO2 emissions from 2005 levels by between 0.7 percent and 1.5 percent, compared with a business-as-usual approach. Those reductions are equivalent to taking anywherefrom 2.7 million to 5.3 million cars off the road. By comparison, the Obama administration's Clean Power Plan would have reduced carbon dioxide emissions by roughly 19 percent during that same time frame. That is equivalent to taking 75 million cars out of circulation and preventing more than 365 million metric tons of carbon dioxide from entering the atmosphere. Under the EPA's new plan, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that help form smog would be cut between one percent and two percent by 2030 compared to 2005 levels. Under Obama, the agency projected its policy would reduce those pollutants by 24 percent and 22 percent, respectively, by the end of the next decade. EPA did not respond to a request for comment, and the White House said it was looking into the matter. As the world's second-largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions, the United States has targeted the burning of fossil fuels that is driving climate change. The power sector ranks as the second-biggest contributor to the nation's overall greenhouse gas emissions, according to EPA, accounting for 28.4 percent of the total in 2016. Transportation made up 28.5 percent of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions that year. While EPA projects that the U.S. power sector's overall carbon output will decline over time due to market pressures and other factors after the new rule takes effect, the policy shift would make it increasingly difficult for America to meet the international climate goals it adopted under the previous administration. Joseph Goffman, executive director of Harvard Law School's Environmental Law Program andone of the architects of the Obama-era rule, said in a phone interview that the higher emissions that would result from the Trump proposal would damage the climate as well as public health. "These numbers tell the story, that they really remain committed not to do anything to address greenhouse gas emissions," said Goffman, who served as associate assistant administrator for climate in EPA's Office of Air and Radiation between 2009 and 2017. "They show not merely indifference to climate change, but really, opposition to doing anything about climate change." Elements of the proposed rule were first reported by the New York Times on Friday evening. Utility companies, which had joined states in suing to block the Obama climate rule, would save annual compliance costs for the industry by about $400 million a year. Many utilities have moved to retire coal plants in recent years and switch to either natural gas or renewable power, which are now more economically competitive. But the proposed rule, which focuses on improving their heat efficiency and would allow for upgrades without triggering the kinds of pollution controls currently required under federal law, could shift that dynamic. Since the outset of the administration, officials have said they intended to replace the Clean Power Plan because EPA exceeded its legal authority in crafting the policy. The rule, which has been stayed by the U.S. Supreme Court, established a program under which states could achieve emissions reductions by having utilities promote energy efficiency or build renewable power projects such as solar or wind. "We're going back to the agency's historical interpretation and application of its authority" under the Clean Air Act, said one official in an interview. "That is respectful of the boundaries established by Congress." Utility industry executives hailed the administration's proposal as one that adheres to the law and would ease the financial crunch they would have faced under a more sweeping rule. Jim Matheson, chief executive of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, said in a statement Saturday that it appears the measure will "provide electric co-ops the certainty and flexibility they need to meet their consumer-members' energy needs." "The Clean Power Plan would have resulted in stranded assets and stranded debt, significantly increasing electricity costs for many consumers," added Matheson, whose members get 41 percent of their energy from coal-fired generation. The proposed rule, which does not yet have a name, has a 200-page preamble laying out EPA's reasoning for the sweeping changes. Rather than identifying specific reduction targets and then tasking state officials with devising plans to achieve them, it will define what constitutes the "best system of emission reduction" that utilities can undertake with technology that has been demonstrated to work. States will conduct a unit-by-unit analysis of plants in their state and will have three years to develop a plan to make their operations more efficient. EPA will have one year to determine whether to approve a state's plan, and if it does not meet the agency's guidelines the EPA will have another year to impose a federal plan on the state. As a result, it is difficult to determine exactly when the new measurewill be fully implemented. While the proposed rule analyzes its impacts through 2035, officials said, it may not be fully in compliant until 2037. Bracewell LLP partner Scott Segal, who represents utilities that run coal-fired plants, said in an email that the Trump administration has sought to empower the states as it curbs the excesses of its predecessor. "The previous administration's effort to address greenhouse gases was a complex and unnecessarily burdensome overreach that took much of the responsibility for power systems away from the state regulators, who know them best," Segal said. "It is why 29 states pushed back against the rules and the Supreme Court blocked their implementation with an unprecedented stay." Trump has repeatedly praised the U.S. coal industry, and his deputies have sought to enact an array of policies aimed at bolstering it. Those proposals range from relaxing rules for storing toxic waste from coal burning to ordering grid operators to buy power from coal-fired utilities. The EPA's analysis estimated that even under the new proposal, the power sector's overall CO2 emissions would decline between 33 percent and 34 percent compared with 2005 by the time the rule is fully implemented. Conrad Schneider, advocacy director for the environmental group Clean Air Task Force, said emissions may not drop as much as anticipated because of several policies the Trump administration has adopted to boost coal. "This is the latest in the Trump administration's effort to make coal great again," Schneider said. Trump announced more than a year ago that the United States would pull out of the 2015 Paris climate agreement, under which America pledged to cut its overall carbon output between 26 percent and 28 percent by 2025, compared with 2005 levels. While the country's greenhouse gas emissions continues to decline, scientists say the United States cannot meet its Paris climate goal without policies such as the Clean Power Plan. Carbon dioxide emissions from energy use in the United States declined by 0.5 percent last year, according to the International Energy Agency, due to an uptick in renewable energy and reduced overall energy demand. Globally, CO2 emissions from the energy sector rose 1.4 percent, reaching a historic high after remaining flat for three years. Midland ISD officials arent putting a lot of stock in the districts higher number of failing campuses compared to other districts around the state. They told the Reporter-Telegram following the release of Texas Education Agency ratings for districts and campuses that a district-initiated ratings compilation School Performance Framework will provide a better indication of a students educational experience at a Midland ISD campus. The TEA reported last week that Midland ISD had five improvement required campuses. That was one more than the district had in 2017 and is among the most of any other district in West Texas. The TEA reported San Angelo ISD had six and Ector County ISD had nine. Other areas of note include Lubbock with three, Abilene with one, Amarillo with none; the three separate districts that cover the entire city of El Paso have a total of one. El Paso, Ysleta and Socorro ISDs combined have more than 146,000 students. Another comparison was that Midland ISDs five IR schools is five times the number in Brownsville, Harlingen and McAllen ISDs (a combined total of one). The three have a combined student population of nearly 90,000 students. Monica Hernandez, executive director of accountability and data systems for MISD, in addressing Midlands performance compared to other areas of the state, said comparisons arent that simple. The percentage of economically disadvantaged students in different communities doesnt exactly make for apples to apples comparisons. For instance, Midland ISDs economically disadvantaged population is around 47 percent. In the three districts in El Paso, that percentage is more than than 70 percent. In the three districts in the Rio Grande Valley, the economically disadvantaged population is greater than 80 percent. That point was a worry for board trustees going back to a ratings release preparation workshop earlier in the summer. Board President Rick Davis brought up in the workshop that Midlands smaller percentage of economically disadvantaged students would negatively impact ratings. He also said that while some parents earn too much to qualify for free lunch programs, academic performance is not in line with other comparable economically disadvantaged student populations. District officials also previously warned the school board that a new and more rigorous accountability system would make it more difficult to show improvement in terms of academic performance. Hernandez said the proper comparison is using this years accountability system to measure performance from both the 2016-17 and 2017-18 school years. She told the Reporter-Telegram that had the current system been in place last year, MISD might have had as many as 11 improvement required or failing campuses. So when one looks at the district going from 11 IR campuses to five, that is a significant improvement, she said. A district press release following the ratings unveiling echoed those comments. Therefore, having five improvement required campuses for 2017-18 demonstrates tremendous progress and growth when comparing data and results from the TEA with the same accountability system, the press release states. As reported in the Reporter-Telegram previously, the district was set to communicate to the public about how it was not going measure its campuses by its performance on a specific test or by the TEAs rating of a specific campus. District officials are putting together a School Performance Framework that will incorporate other factors like feedback from parents, information collected from climate surveys, student and staff attendance, credit attainment and course and program access to support a holistic, metric-based measurement of school quality for each campus. Values of equity and culture will be at the forefront of the SPF, along with learning environment, performance, and progress. As district officials have said, even the highest of marks from the Texas Education Agency doesnt necessary correlate to a superior educational experience. The SPF will be a living tool that we will continue to refine based on ongoing community, school, district, and other feedback, said Hernandez in a press release. The SPF will be a visual expression of locally developed goals, values, and progress for our schools. The framework will support high quality learning environments designed for every student to succeed. IR notes -The Washington STEM Academys IR status is apparently not what it seems. The campus, according to Hernandez, was the victim of what is called a force fail. She told the Reporter-Telegram the campus scored in the low 60s, which normally would have been high enough to meet standard. However, Washington, a choice campus, received failing grades in school progress, academic growth, relative performance and closing the gaps. Washingtons struggles didnt come to light because of this weeks TEA rating. Earlier this summer, it was reported that in third- through sixth-grade math, Washingtons average passing rate on the STAAR test dropped from 75.75 to 67.25. And in fifth-grade science, only 56 percent of Washington students passed. The STEM academys performance in science was the third lowest score of Midland ISDs 27 elementary schools. Also, Washingtons performance, according to the TEA, had been gradually in decline. In 2014, then-Washington Math and Science Institute met on 100 percent of the TEAs performance indicators. In 2017, the campus hit on 50 percent. We have already met with the campus, Hernandez said. There have been opportunities for great analysis digging. They understand the targets and are going after it. -While the district got a shot in the arm with South Elementarys rise from a long-term stint on the IR list (one of the longest in the state), two other campuses now find themselves with some of the longest streaks in the state. Travis and Lamar elementaries find themselves on the IR list for the fourth straight year. That, according to the TEA, is tied for the eighth longest in the state. Sam Houston Elementary received a failing grade for the third straight year. That is tied for the 14th longest streak in the state. MISD officials are optimistic Houstons change to a collegiate preparatory academy will result in greater academic performance. Number of improvement required schools Reporter-Telegram coverage area Andrews ISD 0 Forsan ISD 0 Grady ISD 0 Greenwood ISD 0 Coahoma ISD 1 Stanton ISD 1 Big Spring ISD 2 Midland ISD 5 Ector County ISD 9 In West Texas Amarillo ISD 0 Ysleta ISD 0 Socorro ISD 0 El Paso ISD 1 Abilene ISD 1 Lubbock ISD 3 Midland ISD 5 San Angelo ISD 6 Ector County ISD 9 Largest metropolitan areas El Paso area (three districts) 1 Dallas ISD 4 Austin ISD 5 Houston ISD 7 Fort Worth ISD 11 MISD comparison districts (according to Rod Schroder in 2017 State of Education address) Cypress-Fairbanks ISD 0 Hurst-Euless-Bedford ISD 0 San Antonio North East ISD 2 San Antonio Northside ISD 2 Comparison districts based on student population, city population, racial make-up or other districts MISD has compared itself to for different reasons Harlingen ISD 0 McAllen ISD 0 Carrollton ISD 0 Plano ISD 0 McKinney ISD 0 Killeen ISD 0 Brownsville ISD 1 Lewisville ISD 1 Tyler ISD 1 Waco ISD 1 Temple ISD 2 Notable Cedar Hill (Orlando Riddicks former district) 0 Northwest ISD (where former Superintendent Ryder Warren currently works) 0 According to the plea of the Afghan national, he married the woman in 2008 in Kabul and two sons were born to them in 2009 and 2014. New Delhi: The Delhi high court has declined the plea of an Afghan national to direct his wife and their two children, who have obtained refugee status in India, to return with him, after the three expressed their unwillingness to live with him. The court also denied the man visitation rights to meet his children whenever he comes to India after noting that the two, aged nine and four years, have expressed their reluctance to meet him. A bench of Justices S. Muralidhar and Vinod Goel noted that the mans wife has obtained refugee status for herself and the two children under the mandate of the United Nations High Commiss-ioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and their refugee ID cards are val-id till April 12 next year. The court said the-re was nothing on record to indicate any threat to the safety and security of the children or that they were in inconvenie-nce or their overall deve-lopment har-med during their stay in India. Consequently, the court has no hesitation as far as the present petition is concerned in declining the relief sou-ght for by the petitioner, the bench said, wh-ile dismissing the mans plea. His counsel also sought an order regarding visitation rights to the father whenever he visits India. However, as the children were not inclined to meet him, the bench said it was not possible at this stage to issue any ominous order regarding his visitation rights. and that he may seek the relief in other appropriate proceedings available to him under the law. In pursuance to the courts earlier order, the children had met their father at the high courts mediation centre. The court noted that the children were reluctant to meet their father and even his wife was unwilling to return with him. According to the plea of the Afghan national, he married the woman in 2008 in Kabul and two sons were born to them in 2009 and 2014. All of them had come to India on a tourist visa on February 18, 2017 and were staying in Kalkaji in South Delhi at a close friends residence, the petition said. Each year, more than 1,600 families whose children are facing life-threatening illnesses find refuge in the loving walls of the three San Antonio Ronald McDonald Houses. Our mission stretches beyond just operating facilities that provide a safe, temporary living accommodations for these critically ill children and their families; it is to give families the gift of togetherness. RMHC provides a supportive and caring environment where families facing similar circumstances can lend and receive mutual support a truly priceless gift. Often a child with a disease lives far from the hospital, creating an especially stressful situation for parents. Not only are they coping with a seriously ill child, they also face the burden of being away from home for days, weeks, sometimes months. Before the first RMH house opened in San Antonio in 1985, the only lodging options for such families were lonely and expensive hotel rooms or the hospital. To add to the chaos and stress of the situation, these families often find themselves in a strange city, away from the crucial support of their home network. Many parents find this to be a desperately unhappy experience at a time when their child most needs their strength and encouragement. Still, even with three houses in San Antonio and a fourth on the way, the need is great. Each year families are turned away. Last year, we had to say no to 185 families due to lack of space. They are forced to stay in a hotel they cant afford or a sterile and expensive hospital, or sleep in their cars, or return home before their childs treatment can be completed. In the 32 years that I have been involved with RMHC, I have watched this demand for lodging increase year after year. With the help of people like you, we will be able to complete the fourth house, which will bring 21 more desperately needed bedrooms, adding more than 8,000 nights of lodging a year. It is because of your continued support that we are able to provide these families not just a room, but a home a home where hope lives. Pat Bivin is the executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities San Antonio. For more information, go to rmhcsanantonio.org/history President Emmerson Mnangagwa has returned home from the 38th SADC Summit held in Windhoek Namibia where he was elected the deputy chair on politics, defence and security of the regional grouping. President Mnangagwa will be deputising President Edgar Lungu of Zambia. SADC executive secretary Dr Stergomerna Lawrence Tax reading the communique asked those who imposed sanctions on Zimbabwe to remove them and that also Tanzania will host the next SADC Summit in 2019. The issue of industrialisation of the region has been rolled to the fifth year beginning in Victoria Falls in 2014, Botswana 2015, Mbabane 2016, Pretoria 2017 and Windhoek 2017 and now Tanzania has to build on these issues. Speaking soon after arrival at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport today, Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Retired Lieutenant General Dr Sibusiso Moyo said this was one of the most successful summits were Zimbabwe has taken its rightful place as an active member of the organ. He said all issues were discussed culminating into Zimbabwe elected unanimously to resolve the political, defence and security issues. The President was met by the two Vice Presidents, Cde Kembo Mohadi and Dr Constantino Chiwenga, several government ministers and service chiefs. ZBC Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News MDC Alliance leader Mr Nelson Chamisa has been left to fight a lone battle after a majority of presidential candidates that contested in this years elections declined to file papers at the Constitutional Court to support his challenge to the presidential election results. In his challenge, Mr Chamisa cited President-elect Emmerson Mnangagwa and 21 other presidential candidates as respondents. However, some of the candidates said they decided against supporting Mr Chamisa as they were not challenging the results that were announced by the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission. MDC-T deputy president Mr Obert Gutu told Sunday News that party president, Dr Thokozani Khupe, was not bothered with Mr Chamisas application. Dr Khupe will not file any opposing papers to the application by Chamisa, she said the decision that will be made by the courts is what she will abide by. She is in mourning as we speak, she just lost a brother, said Mr Gutu. Democratic Opposition Party (DOP) president Mr Peter Wilson said it was even a surprise why he was included in the list of respondents. As DOP we are surprised why we have been cited in Chamisas case because we havent personally challenged EDs win, neither had MDC Alliance approached us as they prepared their challenge so we could put our input. We are also not part of the Alliance, we do not share their vision and we have no obligation to fight in their corner. As DOP we have no evidence that can be the reason to fight their claim that Chamisa won the presidency, said Mr Wilson. Mr Wilson said as DOP they were happy with the Presidential vote that they scored throughout the country. He reiterated that as a party they have their own goals which they feel will bring hope to Zimbabweans and as such had nothing to do with the MDC Alliances fight with Zanu-PF. The Alliance has to fight its own wars. We do not share their vision. Let the courts decide on the presidential winner and as DOP we are ready to join a Government that has people at its heart, that will be a servant of the people, he said. Alliance for the Peoples Agenda (APA) leader Dr Nkosana Moyo said he has no case to respond to. No, I have not responded (to the application) because I do not have the facts on which to base a meaningful response. We as APA are not in a position to do the necessary analysis to support a particular position. We cannot take a position that is not based on our own analysis because we would not be able to defend the position if challenged, said Dr Moyo. Another presidential candidate Mr Kwanele Hlabangana said he was hoping for the best outcome in the application but said he was not keen on responding. I received the court papers on Monday, but I feel that there is no need for me to respond. I am not the main actor too. Since it is before the courts it is a good thing, let them deal with it there and we just want the outcome to be one that will see the country moving on for the benefit of all, said Mr Hlabangana. Mr Mapfumo Peter Gava of the United Democratic Front said Mr Chamisa should have consulted other candidates first. It would have been good to be consulted if there was a need to rally together for a common cause as opposition parties so that our complaints are solidified. We do rally behind MDC Alliance and Mr Chamisa as opposition but our legal abilities and financial standings may not be equally the same. Responding to a petition which is issued without agreement is not clear, said Mr Gava, who is based in Binga. SundayNews Breaking News via Email Loading... Related Zimbabwe Latest News - Kenyan anti crime agency has arrested 19 Nigerians suspected to be behind online fraud in Nairobi - The suspects were said to initiate online fraud by befriending unsuspecting Kenyans on social media - It was gathered that once the unsuspecting Kenyans become comfortable with the friendship, the Nigerians would promise to send them gifts through DHL Officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) in Nairobi, the headquarters of Kenya, on Saturday morning, August 18, arrested suspected 19 Nigerian nationals believed to be behind online fraud in the city. Legit.ng gathered that the suspects were reported to be using social media to defraud unsuspecting Kenyans. According to a brief statement issued by the DCI on its Facebook page, the suspects live in Nairobi's Roysambu, Umoja and Kasarani estates. READ ALSO: Im being persecuted for dumping APC - Gov Ortom cries out 19 Nigerians behind online fraud in Nairobi arrested The statement read: "Nineteen Nigerian citizens residing in Umoja, Kasarani and Roysambu estates within Nairobi have this morning been arrested for engaging in electronic fraud targeting Kenyans." While giving a blow by blow account of how the Nigerians carry out their conning, DCI said they started by befriending Kenyans on social media, mostly on Facebook. It said that after initiating the friendship, they later on pick up friendly chats with them. 19 Nigerians behind online fraud in Nairobi arrested Once the unsuspecting Kenyans become comfortable with the friendship, the Nigerians promise to send them gifts through DHL to be picked at the airport. "The following day a call will be made and someone will pretend to be an attendant at the DHL office. They will tell the victim to pay clearance fees for the same parcel they claim to have sent you," explained the DCI. "Immediately the money is sent through Mpesa, the gang will make another call requesting for some extra money for other documentation and taxes." 19 Nigerians behind online fraud in Nairobi arrested "Once the Kenyans have paid all the dues demanded, further calls inquiring for the said parcel will not be picked. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app "Thats the time you realize that you have been conned. This is therefore to warn members of the general public against such fraudsters," the DCI said. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that six suspected internet fraudsters, aka Yahoo-Yahoo boys, were arrested in Abuja, by operatives of the advance fee fraud section of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). The EFCC stage a walk against corruption - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria Kofi Annan became the first black African Secretary-General of the United Nations in 1996. At the time when he took up the position, the agency was in financial trouble. Annan brought a new face to the UN by making necessary budget and staff changes. It was under his leadership that the UN dealt with several issues. In 2001, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded jointly to United Nations and Kofi Annan for their work for a better and organised and more peaceful world. READ ALSO: Heavy shooting reported in Port Harcourt by-election Below are some of his quotes that can inspire you: 1. We may have different religions, different coloured skin, but we all belong to one human race. 2. To live is to choose. But to choose well, you must know who you are and what you stand for, where you want to go and why you want to get there. 3. Education is a human right with immense power to transform. On its foundation rest the cornerstones of freedom, democracy and sustainable human development. 4. Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable development and building good governance. 5. Violence against women is perhaps the most shameful human rights violation, and it is perhaps the most pervasive. It knows no boundaries of geography, culture or wealth. As long as it continues, we cannot claim to be making real progress towards equality, development and peace. 6. I am often asked what can people do to become a good global citizen. I reply that it begins in your own community. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app 7. Let us be good stewards of the Earth we inherited. All of us have to share the Earth's fragile ecosystems and precious resources, and each of us has a role to play in preserving them. If we are to go on living together on this earth, we must all be responsible for it. 8. You are never too young to lead. 9. The world is not ours to keep. We hold it in trust for future generations. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the family and foundation of former UN secretary-general, Kofi Annan, confirmed his death and provided additional information on his final moments. Annan was said to have fallen ill while on a trip to South Africa and had been flown back to his Switzerland base for treatment. The late diplomat's widow, Nane Maria, however, disclosed to Ghana's president, Nana Akufo-Addo, in a phone call that he died peacefully in his sleep. PDP's Magnificent 7 For 2019 Election | Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit.ng - Senate president Bukola Saraki and his loyalists have allegedly come up with a new strategy to avert his impeachment - He and his PDP loyalist senators reportedly teamed up with Dogara to hold joint plenary on INEC budget consideration - The House of Reps, however, described the joint plenary claims as pure imagination, saying a joint session as reportedly planned could not be sustained by any standing rules of the National Assembly Senators loyal to the Senate president, Bukola Saraki, have allegedly perfected a strategy to stop his impeachment and that of his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. The Punch reported that apart from keeping vigil at the National Assembly to prevent the All Progressives Congress (APC) senators from sitting, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) members in the Senate have mapped out an arrangement to keep the red chamber save for Saraki until September 25 and beyond. The newspaper further said that Saraki reached out to the speaker of the House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Sunday, August 12, night to suspend any form of reconvening on Tuesday, August 21, as earlier agreed by both presiding officers. READ ALSO: Breaking: Widespread violence takes over Rivers by-election, INEC suspends exercise Some senators who allegedly spoke on condition of anonymity said the sudden change of mind was to save Saraki from impeachment because it was discovered that many of his loyalists had travelled to Saudi Arabia on pilgrimage. A senator from the northcentral geopolitical zone was quoted to have said: Our calculation was that the APC senators can never get two-thirds of the majority of the entire membership of the Senate to carry out any impeachment, but we had to be careful when they started arguing that the two-thirds could also be based on the numbers of senators at plenary. We were aware that many members of the House of Representatives got notice of resumption last Saturday, so both presiding officers met and agreed that the resumption should be postponed indefinitely. The Punch added that its investigations further revealed that Saraki and Dogara agreed that only members of the committee on electoral matters in both chambers should be recalled to hold joint meetings with officials of the Independent National Electoral Committee between Wednesday, August 15 and Friday, August 17. The committees of both chambers would thereafter hold a joint meeting with INEC officials to consider Buharis request. The joint Senate/Reps committees on Appropriation, Loans and Debts were also reportedly involved in the timetable as the members were also recalled to deliberate on the Eurobond request. The two presiding officers allegedly agreed not to reconvene until the reports are ready. Holding Joint plenary, Legit.ng gathered, is the latest strategy which is expected to keep the seats of Saraki and Ekweremadu safe till the end of September. Since the reports of the presidential requests were jointly treated by committees of the two chambers, it would be proper for the passage to be done at a joint sitting. Besides, everybody would be at the joint session to discuss the INEC budget and the Eurobond request, so no motion for impeachment would be moved because it is not permitted in such arrangement, a senator from the southwest geopolitical zone who also spoke on condition of anonymity was quoted to have said. However, the House of Representatives has responded to claims that the Senate and the House planned to reconvene and sit at a joint session the same day to consider the report on the 2019 elections budget and other financial proposals by President Muhammadu Buhari. The House described the claims as pure imagination and not a possibility because a joint session as envisaged could not be sustained by any standing rules of the National Assembly. The chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Abdulrazak Namdas, who gave the official position of the House in an interview with The Punch, said there were no precedents or rules to make a joint session under the circumstances possible. Namdas explained that what the rules covered was for each chamber to sit separately and consider a report. He said: This is pure imagination and honestly, we dont know where this one is coming from. This has never happened before; that the Senate and the House will reconvene and sit together, instead of doing so in their separate chambers. We are not aware of this and its not a possibility. Recall that even when the two chambers hold a joint session to receive the annual budget presentation by Mr President, it is for the purpose of taking the address only. The two chambers revert to their separate ways to work on the budget and consider the report separately. It is only when there are differences between what one chamber has passed and the other one that we set up a conference committee for harmonisation. If it was possible to be done in a joint session, what is the need of the conference committee, which is a provision of our rules? There is no rule on a joint session in the circumstances envisaged, and therefore, there will be none. He added that the claims were part of the ongoing bid to continue to paint the National Assembly in a bad light" and urged Nigerians to discountenance it. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Ovie Omo-Agege, the senator representing Delta central senatorial district, insisted that Saraki must not remain as Senate president after his defection from the APC to the PDP. Omo-Agege said Saraki ought to do the honourable thing by stepping down as Senate president otherwise he would be humiliated. Nigeria Latest News: Who is responsible for the siege on the National Assembly?| - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit Nigeria A Muslim couple have been denied Swiss citizenship after they refused to shake hands with people of the opposite sex during their interview, officials say. BBC News reports that the officials confirmed the decision on Friday, August 17, further citing the couple's failure to integrate and respect gender equality. Legit.ng gathered that the couple, interviewed months ago, also struggled to answer questions by members of the opposite sex. Days ago, a Swedish Muslim woman reportedly won compensation after a job interview was ended when she refused to shake hands. READ ALSO: Saraki, PDP senators allegedly team up with Dogara to perfect new strategy to stop impeachment The Swiss authorities said aspiring citizens must be well integrated into the Swiss community and demonstrate an attachment to Switzerland, its institutions and a respect for the Swiss legal order. They did not, however, reveal specifics about the couple, who local media said were North African, but confirmed they felt the couple had failed to meet citizenship criteria when they applied in the city of Lausanne. The mayor of Lausanne, Gregoire Junod, freedom of religion was enshrined in local laws but "religious practice does not fall outside the law." The couple were not asked about their faith, authorities said, though their religion seemed apparent, local media reported. Officials stressed they were not rejected based on their religion but for their lack of respect for gender equality. The constitution and equality between men and women prevail over bigotry, said Pierre-Antoine Hilbrand, who was part of the commission that interviewed the couple. BBC recalls that this is not the first time refused handshakes have stirred controversy in Switzerland. In 2016, a Swiss school decided to exempt two Muslim boys from shaking both male and female teachers' hands after they refused to shake hands with a female teacher. The news caused an uproar and led to the family's citizenship process being suspended. In neighbouring France, an Algerian woman was denied citizenship after refusing to shake the hand of an official during her citizenship ceremony. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that Muslim groups criticised the West African Examinations Council (WAEC) for allowing part of its examination clash with the Friday Jummat prayer. In the timetable for 2018 May/June Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE), candidates were scheduled to write Chemistry paper from 2pm to 5pm on Friday, April 20. The paper would clash with Muslim Friday prayers which usually hold between 1.30 pm to 3pm. Ishaq Akintola, president of MURIC, said the timetable was an injustice against Muslims, whom he claimed had become endangered species. Ex Bishop David Abioye's driver quits Living Faith Church, converts to Islam - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper A Nigerian female soldier identified as Ozoekwu Esther Onyinye has brutalised her little house help for allegedly refusing to wash plates. According to a Twitter user, Ifeanyi @ohakwegifeanyi, who shared the news, Onyinye has been maltreating the young girl for long but the latest beating was all because she did not wash plate. Ifeanyi, in his tweet, disclosed that Onyinye lives at CDQ 14 Flat 12 Ikeja Cantonment Army Barracks. READ ALSO: Saraki, PDP senators allegedly team up with Dogara to perfect new strategy to stop impeachment See Onyinye's and the little girl's photos below: Read Ifeanyi's tweets below: However, in a post on her Facebook page concerning the issue, Onyinye claimed the little girl is her niece and she beat her because she is wayward and she wants the best for her. Her post: Hello my friends and well-wishers, this girl you see here is my niece. Please, I am very sorry for going too far to correct her in this manner. I am trying to see how she can be a better person. I never meant to maltreat her; I want the best for her. You can imagine her at this age not being a virgin. She portrays a character that makes her peers to always watch her and brings reports every now and then about her both at school the teacher will always say "This girl is a problem child. There are things she does that I don't want to say here, please insults and curses will not help us with a solution to make her a better person, but your kind advice. Tank u and GOD bless. Female soldier brutalises her little niece at Ikeja Cantonment for allegedly not washing plates PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng previously reported that an electronics dealer, Lukman Lambo, was brutalised by the some soldiers on November 11, 2017, and needed to undergo a surgery to regain the use of his left eye. Lambo was beaten by military men who came in search of his younger brother who had an altercation with a lady. The lady, said to be one of the soldiers' girlfriend had a fight with Lambo's younger brother, Saheed. Nigeria Latest News: I Was Arrested As a Soldier, the Uniform Belongs to My Roommate | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), on Sunday, August 19, declared the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Hon. Garba Ajiya, as the winner of Saturday, August 18s bye-election into Takum 1 state constituency. The PDP candidate polled 10,725 to defeat his closest opponent and the candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Hon. Atem Ansho who polled 3,268 votes. Returning officer for the election and senior lecturer with the Federal University Wukari, Dr. Ayuba Daniel announced the result at the collation centre in Takum, The Punch reports. READ ALSO: Saraki, PDP senators allegedly team up with Dogara to perfect new strategy to stop impeachment Flanked by the national commissioner in charge of Borno Adamawa and Taraba, Alhaji Ahmed Tijani, Taraba state resident electoral commissioner, Alhaji Baba Abba Yusuf and his Yobe state counterpart, Alhaji Ahmad Makama, the returning officer said 73,183 voters registered in the constituency, but only 16,671 voters accredited and voted in the election. Earlier, Taraba state resident electoral commissioner, Alhaji Baba Abba Yusuf in a remark, expressed happiness over the successful conduct of the election. He commended the security agencies, corps members, party stakeholders and electorates for the peaceful conduct of the election. Taraba Governor, Darius Ishaku while reacting to the election, congratulated the PDP candidate for his victory at the poll and commended INEC and security agencies for the peaceful conduct of the election. The Governor who spoke through his senior special assistant on public affairs, Hon. Emmanuel Bello, described the victory of his party as victory for democracy. Ishaku called on the losers to accept the outcome of the result in good faith and for the winner to be magnanimous in victory. State secretary of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Pastor Stephen Othaniel said APC was intimidated in the election which he said was marred by ballot box snatching and vote buying. We are still studying the outcome of the election and we will come out with our position as party soon. But in summary, there was voter apathy, vote buying and intimidation of voters by PDP stewarts which is very bad for our democracy, he said. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Recall that the seat of Takum 1 state constituency became vacant following the murder of the former member representing the constituency, Hon. Hosea Ibi. Hosea Ibi was abducted late last year in his home town Takum and was found dead after 15 days. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the minister of women affairs and social development, Senator Aisha Alhassan, on Thursday, August 9, said her 2019 governorship ambition in Taraba state on the platform of the APC has been endorsed by President Muhammadu Buhari. The minister, who is popularly called Mama Taraba, said this at the closing ceremony of the 18th Regular National Council on Women Affairs and Social Development. The ceremony was hosted by the Lagos state government through the state ministry of women affairs and poverty alleviation. PDP's Magnificent 7 For 2019 Election | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng The presidency on Wednesday, August 1, announced via its official Twitter handle, that President Muhammadu Buhari would proceed on another vacation. President @MBuhari begins a 10-working-days holiday from August 3, 2018. In compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution, a letter has been transmitted to the President of the Senate, and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect. While the President is on vacation, Vice President @ProfOsinbajo will be in acting capacity as President. President Buhari will be in London for the holiday, the presidency tweeted. With the vacation starting on Thursday, August 2, President Muhammadu Buhari transferred power to Vice President Yemi Osinbajo. READ ALSO: Breaking: PDP wins Taraba Assembly bye-election In his capacity as the acting president, Osinbajo signed into law three bills transmitted by the National Assembly, which are now Acts of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. A statement issued on Saturday, August 18, by Laolu Akande, senior special assistant to the president on media and publicity, Office of the Acting President, said the bills were signed on Friday, August 17, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Below are the Acts as listed by Akande: 1. Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2018 The Federal Capital Territory Civil Service Commission (Establishment) Act, 2018 provides the framework, as envisaged by Section 303 of the Constitution, for the administration of the Civil Service of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The Commission established under the Act will, without prejudice to the powers of the President, be responsible for the appointment and disciplinary control of staff in the Civil Service of the FCT. 2. Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2018 The Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (Establishment) Act, 2018 establishes the Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria for forestry research, education and training. The institute, with its headquarters in Ibadan, will have outstations and colleges in each of the six geopolitical zones of the federation. The institute will, among others, conduct research into the development of agro-forestry systems for the integration of forest trees of economic importance into farming systems; ecology of pests and diseases and their control; and the control of desertification, soil erosion and deforestation 3. Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology (Science) Jos (Establishment) Act, 2018 The Federal School of Medical Laboratory Technology (Science) Jos (Establishment) Act, 2018 establishes the School of Medical Laboratory Technology (Science) Jos, a diploma and certificate-awarding institute, for training and research in Medical Laboratory Science and other related fields. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Legit.ng previously reported that Osinbajo said that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari will continue to secure the country, upgrade its infrastructure and ensure that its wealth is not hijacked by a greedy few Nigerians. Osinbajo gave this assurance on Tuesday, August 14, during a one-day working visit to Zamfara state where he was received by Governor Abdulaziz Yari. Nigeria Latest News: Osinbajo Orders Overhaul Of The Dreaded SARS | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng A young Bengali actor and his friend were allegedly thrashed by a group of Trinamul Congress workers in Garia on Friday night. Kolkata: A young Bengali actor and his friend were allegedly thrashed by a group of Trinamul Congress workers in Garia on Friday night. At around 10.15 the actor: Sayak Chakraborty and his friend went to Garia Bazar riding a scooty. He parked his two-wheeler near an auto-rickshaw stand to go for buying items. When the actor returned with his friend to ride back home, they were surrounded by a group of auto rickshaw drivers who objected to him about the parking of his two-wheeler near the auto stand. An altercation broke between two sides. Suddenly Gopal Singha, a local Trinamul strongman and a member of Garia Bazar Committee, rushed to the spot with his aides. He first slapped the actor. Armed with bamboo poles his followers then beat Sayak and his friend leaving them injured. Some auto drivers were also injured. Managing to escape somehow Sayak went live on Facebook showing his attackers. He also posted their photos on his account. He and his friend were treated at Baghajatin State General Hospital after the locals took them there. They later lodged a complaint at Sonarpur police station. Gopal was arrested by the police after midnight. He is known to be a follower of local Trinamul councillor Bibhas Mukherjee. - The Nigerian Air Force dispatches two combat helicopters to attack hideouts of bandits in Zamfara state - Some of the bandits who atempted to shoot at the helicopters were neutralised - Thugs reportedly attack convoy of minister of women affairs Aisha Alhassan The Nigerian Air Force (NAF) says the air task force of Operation Diran Mikiya has successfully degraded several notorious armed bandits hideouts in Shamashale village and Rugu forest in Zamfara. Air Commodore Ibikunle Daramola, NAF director of public relations and Information, disclosed this in a statement on Sunday, August 19, in Abuja, The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. The attacks, which were executed in support of ground troops in Sector 2 of Operation `Sharan Daji, were planned based on credible intelligence that the kingpin and his group of armed bandits were using an abandoned primary school in Shamashale. he said. He said that the bandits also used some makeshift settlements in nearby Rugu forest in the eastern part of Zamfara as bases for their operations. READ ALSO: I feel good; ready to work harder to jail more looters - Buhari vows after vacation Daramola explained that the attack at Shamashale was conducted on August 15 following further confirmatory Intelligence Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions that revealed the presence of several armed bandits in the area. Accordingly, the ATF dispatched two combat helicopters to attack the location. During the attack, some bandits carrying sophisticated high calibre weapons were seen trying to flee the area. Some were on motorcycles carrying AK-47 rifles and, rather than dropping their weapons and surrendering, attempted to shoot at the helicopters; hence they were neutralised. Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) conducted on Aug.16 confirmed that the kingpins main hideout had been severely degraded and human intelligence sources later availed pictures of some of the slain bandits, he said. Daramola said that items recovered from the armed bandits include two General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMGs), two AK 47 rifles, 100 rounds of 7.62mm ammunition and two mobile phones. The adjoining settlement camps within Rugu Forest, which had earlier been confirmed by HUMINT sources to be inhabited by only bandits, were attacked on August 18. A ground attack aircraft and two combat helicopters struck the camps in successive waves; first targeting the shelters and then executing follow-on attacks to ensure the threat posed to the local villagers was adequately dealt with. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app The ATF would continue to dominate the area through armed reconnaissance and air interdiction missions to completely decimate the armed bandits in order to ensure a return to normalcy in Zamfara and other States in the North West, he said. The NAF spokesman advised all persons involved in armed banditry in the area to renounce violence, surrender to security agencies and hand over their weapons. Meanwhile, in another report, suspected thugs in Takum town, Taraba state, have reportedly attacked the convoy of the minister of women affairs, Aisha Alhassan. Daily Trust reported that the minister was attacked by youths at Anguwan Dogo area of Taraba state, while she was monitoring the state assembly by-election on Saturday, August 18. The newspaper stated that the official vehicle of the minister among others, was vandalised by the thugs who also barricaded some streets and prevented the convoy from passing through. Nigerian Air Force Operations Against Boko Haram | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng News It has been reported that a Catholic priest has just been killed by some armed robbers in Abuja on Saturday, August 18. According to a Facebook user, late reverend Michael Akawu was killed by armed robbers in Gwagwalada area of Abuja, at a supermarket where he was reportedly buying some items for the church. Emmanuel Nnadozie Onwubiko further reported that late Akawu was the first indigenous Catholic priest in Abuja and was ordained in February 2017. Late Michael Akawu. Source: Laila READ ALSO: Beautiful photos of newborn baby girl who was abandoned in a bush His post reads: MICHAEL AKAWU was the first Abuja indigene to be ordained a priest for the Abuja Catholic Archdiocese (according to information from a reliable source). He was ordained last year as I learnt...He was killed by armed robbers in Gwagwalada Abuja Yesterday at a supermarket where he was buying items for the use of the Church...Rest in Peace... May those who sl*ughtered you because of material things be punished for this dastardly crime against humanity... Nigeria has failed as a nation state and has gone to the dogs and baboons. See post below: Legit.ng earlier reported that 7 children have been made motherless by the very hands of their own father. Identified as Friday Uko, the father of 7 has been sentenced to death by an Akwa Ibom State High Court, sitting in Ikot Ekpene, for killing his pregnant wife. Sad! Lets Not Blame God For Our Problems - Deyemi Okanlawon Speaks on Otedola Bridge Fire | Legit.ng TV - on Legit.ng TV. Source: Legit - Governor Nyesom Wike accuses the police of colluding with the APC to disrupt the by-election in Rivers state - He commends INEC for acting professionally during the poll - The PDP candidate for the Katsina North senatorial district by-election, Alhaji Kabir Babba-Kaita, accuses the APC of buying votes to secure victory for its candidate Governor Nyesom Wike has accused the police of sabotaging the Rivers state electoral process and declaring war the state. The governor made the accusation on Sunday, August 19, in reaction to the reported violence that marred the Rivers state by-election, Vanguard reports. Speaking in a state broadcast, Wike accused the police of colluding with the All Progressives Congress (APC) to disrupt the election. READ ALSO: Breaking: PDP wins Taraba Assembly bye-election The consistent sabotage of the electoral process by the Police amounts to a declaration of war against the people of Rivers State and their solemn rights to freely and fairly choose their leaders and representatives, the governor alleged. Clearly there are dangerous times ahead but we must not give in to intimidation lest we loose our liberties and become slaves in our own land. Against the backdrop it is up to the people of Rivers State to choose the option that will serve their interest. Wike claimed the police failed to adhere to its promise to remain neutral and act professionally. He alleged that the police subverted democracy in collusion with the opposition. As we had feared, the Police failed us completely once again and negated all that they promised. Instead of providing security for voters and INEC officials the Police brazenly colluded with political thugs of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to subvert the democratic process and denied the people of Port Harcourt Constituency III their rights to free, fair and credible elections, he said. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Confirmed reports from the field indicated that INEC promptly and rightly distributed elections materials to all the polling units within a recorded time." The governor however commended INEC for acting professionally. He also thanked the people of Port Harcourt state constituency three for their peaceful conduct during the botched poll. Meanwhile, Alhaji Kabir Babba-Kaita, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)s candidate in the August 11 Katsina north senatorial district by-election, has alleged that the All Progressives Congress (APC) bought votes in order to secure victory for its candidate, Ahmad Babba-Kaita, who also happens to be his younger brother. In an interview with Punch, the older Kaita alleged that the APC spent over N1 billion to win that election alone. Legit.ng gathers that he bashed the ruling party for buying votes in such an undemocratic manner. Nigeria Election 2019: What are Bukola Sarakis chances against President Buhari | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture, has said that he will not be running for Kwara APC gubernatorial polls - Mohammed said that it will not be wise for him to contest with those he is supposed to lead - He urged indigenes to beware of fake news as they are the greatest threat to the success of the 2019 general elections Owing to his present position as the leader of the All Progressive Congress (APC) in Kwara, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the minister of information and culture, has said that he will not be contesting in the governorship polls in the state. READ ALSO: Wike accuses police of conspiring with APC to rig Rivers by-election Mohammed remarked that it would be unwise for him to contest with the same people he should be conducting. The minister said this in Ilorin, the state capital, on Saturday, August 18, NTA reports. As a top member of the APC government in Kwara, Mohammed said: As a result of the Tsunami that took place and unfortunately, Kwara State happened to be the epicentre of that rebellion, I am not contesting election in Kwara State. "If I want to be the honest broker, I must be above board, I must not be seen contesting with those I want to lead, or those that look up to me. I cant be fighting for the same thing they are looking for." He expressed concerns over the effect of fake news and hate speech spreading across the country, adding that they remain a great threat to the forthcoming elections. He remarked: The greatest danger of 2019 general elections will be fake news and hate speech. Also the greatest threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria will be fake news, Our concern is that the purveyors of fake news have taken advantage of technology to spread fake news. "We must make it clear that in our fight against fake news, we will not resort to censorship, even though, it is happening in some parts of the world. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! He appealed to indigenes in the state to check for the source and authenticity of news before accepting them, uring media outfits to partner with the federal government. He said: We are thinking of having a workshop on fake news. At the end of the day, even the media may be the worst hit of fake news. Earlier, Legit.ng had reported that Mohammed had clarified that he will not run for political office in 2019. The minister stated this at a political summit organized by the Kwara chapter of the APC in Ilorin, the state capital, on Thursday, August 9. He called on members of the party to subordinate individual ambitions to collective efforts in order to defeat the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state. Nigeria Election 2019 - ANN Will Restore Nigerians from APCs Recession in 10 years | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria - Nigerias ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Alhaji Muhammadu Modibbo, is urging the federal govt to ban unemployed Nigerians from coming to the mid-eastern country - Modibbo appealed to citizens to get something doing in Nigeria; instead of coming to Saudi Arabia to suffer - The envoy, however, commended the cordial relationship between the Saudi government and Nigeria Alhaji Muhammadu Modibbo, Nigerias ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has urged the federal government to ban unemployed Nigerians from traveling to the Kingdom in search of jobs, in order to save Nigerias image. Modibbo made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. READ ALSO: Katsina by-elections: APC bought votes for my brother - PDP candidate alleges I have sent a letter through the Foreign Affairs Ministry for government to ban such people from coming here (Saudi), because they are suffering. I am also appealing to Nigerians to try as much as possible to get something doing in Nigeria instead of coming here, because it is not easy. Thousands of people from various countries have left here, the envoy said. He said that the embassy was also concerned about the increasing cases of women working as maids that are being abused, and some unscrupulous Nigerians involved in drug trafficking. According to him, the embassy has been intervening in cases of drug pushing by some Nigerians, adding: There are many Nigerians on death row for the offence. There were many cases before I assumed office eight months ago; I always intervene, but there is not much I can do, even though we have some little successes. On the prevalence of Nigerians illegally residing in the holy land, known as Tukaris, widely believed to be involved in shady businesses, the envoy said most of them refused to return home after the expiration of their entry permits. Many of them have been here for many years working and will not return home; but if they are arrested, they are deported instantly, he said. He blamed some agents for the woes of many Nigerians working in Saudi companies and other organisations. He said: The agents manage to get passports and visa for their clients and when they have problems, they come to the embassy daily. Some countries have banned their citizens from coming to work here because of problems being faced in Saudi Arabia. So why are Nigerians coming to face these hardships? He, however, commended the cordial relationship between the Saudi government and Nigeria, adding that Nigeria recently got a 10 million dollar donation from the kingdom to assist Boko Haram victims. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) transported 34,978 pilgrims in 90 flights to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia for the 2018 Hajj exercise. This was disclosed on Wednesday, August 15, by the commissions command control unit, which disseminates each airlift from various international airports in Nigeria. Which country would you leave Nigeria for? - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - The Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Edo has accused the state government of not taking the funding of education seriously - NUT in its petition strongly urged the state government to implement the N25, 000 minimum wage to all primary school teachers with the accrued arrears - Also, the body gave a 21-day ultimatum to the government to fund education, adding that there will be serious consequences if this is not done The Edo state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to provide adequate funding for education. The ultimatum is contained in a nine-point communique, issued in Benin on Sunday, August 19. The document was signed by the chairman of the NUT in the state, Pius Okhueleigbe, and the acting secretary, Mike Itua, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. READ ALSO: Breaking: PDP wins Taraba Assembly bye-election The association warned that the government would face dire consequences if it failed to meet the demands of the body before the expiration of the ultimatum. The union demanded immediate release of funds to cater for primary and secondary schools in the state, lamenting that teachers in public schools had been using their salaries to provide instructional materials. The union also demanded immediate implementation of the 2013 to 2015 primary school teachers promotions as approved by the government and payment of outstanding salary arrears to teachers. The body, similarly, sought the implementation of the N25, 000 minimum wage to all primary school teachers with the arrears. According to them, no dime has been paid to anyone since 2016 when the state government approved the minimum wage. The union said the ultimatum became necessary, following the expiration of 45 days grace period it gave the government to mutually resolve issues at its meeting with the union in July, 2018. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! The union decried what it described as a lack of manpower in public schools in the state, advising the government to commence immediate recruitment of about 9,000 teachers to meet the gap. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Governor Godwin Obaseki of Edo had said that contrary to the rampant trend of embezzling state funds, his brand of leadership was about infrastructural development. He vowed that he would not yield to pressure, no matter how much or from whatever source it came, to go back on his oath to provide purposeful leadership for the state. He remarked that if structures were put in place to ensure quality life for the people, they would not embark on illegal and life-threatening journeys to Libya in a bid to cross to Europe in search of greener pastures. Benue IDPs: Education amidst crisis | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Wonders shall never end as some little children have come out to reveal how they were initiated into witchcraft in Danjuma area of Akure, Ondo state. According to Omo Edema, the oldest pupil who was identified as Idayat revealed that she was initiated by her elderly female neighbor in their old house. Idayat further disclosed that she also initiated her four sisters. The young girl during the interview further disclosed that all she was given was biscuit and ground by the elderly woman and ever since, she has been bringing peoples glories to them. READ ALSO: Beautiful photos of newborn baby girl who was abandoned in a bush Idayat said: I cant remember the year I was initiated into witchcraft, but can remember I joined them in the house we were living before at Idole, Akure. One day a little girl like me then came to me and said I should accompany her somewhere which I obliged. She took me to an elderly woman where they gave me biscuit and groundnuts. I ate them there. Immediately I finished eating those things, they commanded me to go and begin to bring peoples glories to them. I have not collected many glories. I have only taken the glories of my mother and father to them. According to the little girl, she disclosed that the elderly woman and another member of the group, Eunice have taken the glories of others living in their compound. A house said to have contained about twenty rooms. Idayat further revealed that she and Eunice are highly ranked in their coven and have four different birds to their possession. She said the birds stay live in their bellies. Speaking on what she uses the birds for, Idayat disclosed that she uses them to inflict pains on her parents to if they try to correct her for doing something wrong. PAY ATTENTION: Join Africa Love Aid today for your daily relationship tips and advice She said: The first bird in my belly is used for troubling my mother for punishing me for my wrong doings. The second one is used for pushing my mother into heavy debt. The third one is used to invoke misfortune on my father while the fourth bird is used for sending my father out of his matrimonial home. Idayat who is the daughter of a Muslim cleric further disclosed that they converge for their meeting at any available uncompleted buildings. However, other people she mentioned also confessed to being a member of the coven. Idayats mother blamed the issue on her husband who she said had failing in his true parenting. Sad! Osun Osogbo Festival - Behold the 'sacred' Arugba preparing for 2018 | Legit.ng TV - on Legit.ng TV. Source: Legit.ng - The minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has thrown more light on an issue concerning his home state of Anambra - Ngige cleared the air on the recent payment of monies owed Anambra state by the Federal Government - He, however, faulted claims by Senator Victor Umeh, that he was one of those who facilitated the process The minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige, has thrown more light on the recent payment of monies owed Anambra state by the Federal Government Ngige threw more light on the issue on Sunday, August 19, in a live radio interview on Odenigbo 99.1 FM in his home state of Anambra. He, however, faulted claims by Senator Victor Umeh, that he was one of those who facilitated the process, stressing that Umeh was not even a lawmaker when the issue was resolved. READ ALSO: 3 important bills Osinbajo signed into law before Buharis return from UK (list) His words: Recall that the seat of Anambra Central was vacant for two years after the removal of Senator Uche Ekwunife by the court. During the time we worked through the approval process of the monies, Senator Umeh has not even neared the Senate. How can a senator who has spent only five months claim that he facilitated the approval of the monies we worked on before he arrived the Senate? We must give honor to whom honor is due. I as the minister representing Anambra state worked together with the two Anambra state senators, Senators Andy Uba, and Stella Oduah to approve these funds. Initially Anambra submitted about N45bn but during the vetting process, it was reduced to 37billion. Senator Umeh was never in the picture at the time we processed the fund for approval. Just recently, a group, Coalition Of Anambra Youth For Buhari (CAYB), expressed gratitude to Senator Andy Uba for facilitating the release of the money. This was made known by CAYB chairman, Martin Chukwu, through a press release sent to Legit.ng on Monday, July 30. Chukwu noted that the amount will go a long way in improving the living standard and well-being of the state, stressing that it further demonstrates the fact that President Buhari means well for the people of the Southeast region. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app On Andy Ubas effort towards facilitating the release, Chukwu added that Uba remains the best senator in the history of Anambra state. It is on record that the senator remains the best federal lawmaker to have ever come out from Anambra state. His track records through numerous constituency projects are a testament of his goodwill for the people of the state, he said. Nigeria News: Will Senators, Lawmakers Defection from APC Change Power in 2019? on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Newspaper By Lambert Strether of Corrente. As those of us who still follow the news know, President Trump revoked former CIA Director John Brennans security clearance. (For those who came in late, Brennan organized torture and extraordinary rendition[1], and was a vocal advocate of giving the telcos immunity for Bushs enormous program of warrrantless surveillance[2], under President George W Bush. Under President Barack Obama, Brennan organized the kill list, later rebranded as a disposition matrix, which Obama used in at least one case to kill a U.S. citizen with a drone strike, while avoiding any form of due process.) In response to Trumps action, twelve top intelligence officials wrote and published a statement denouncing it (here). This is the key paragraph: We know John to be an enormously talented, capable, and patriotic individual who devoted his adult life to the service of this nation. Insinuations and allegations of wrongdoing on the part of Brennan while in office are baseless. (Scores of ex-spies later joined the original twelve.) In this post, Im not going to discuss motive, whether Trumps for revoking Brennans clearance, or the intelligence communitys outrage that he did so, or the medias. Rather, Im going to focus on the question of whether the twelve should have any standing to issue such a statement in the first place. After all, if torture, extraordinary rendition, warrantless surveillance, and whacking US citizens without due process are not wrongdoing, then what on earth can be?[3] To this end, I will first present a table sketching the careers and personal networks of the twelve. Next, Ill look at those who did not sign the statement. After that, Ill make a few brief comments about the twelve as a class. Ill conclude by raising the issue of standing again. I hope this post will be especially useful to those who havent been following politics since 9/11, who may take our current institutional structures for granted (see especially footnotes [1] and [2]). First, lets look at Directors of Central Intelligence who did not sign, although they were directors during the timespan from Webster until today, presumably because they were not asked to. We can throw them into buckets by administration: George H. W. Bush Richard J. Kerr (September 1, 1991-November 6, 1991) Robert M. Gates (November 6, 1991-January 20, 1993) Bill Clinton Admiral William O. Studeman (January 21, 1993-February 5, 1993) R. James Woolsey (February 5, 1993-January 10, 1995) Admiral William O. Studeman (January 11, 1995-May 9, 1995) John M. Deutch (May 10, 1995-December 15, 1996) George J. Tenet (December 16, 1996-July 11, 1997) George W. Bush George J. Tenet (July 11, 1997-July 11, 2004) Why the gaps? As it turns out, the list of the twelve omits the entire Clinton administration! It would be irresponsible not to speculate. We can throw out Directors with very short tenures (Kerr, Studeman). Of the remainder, each has a scandal or debacle associated with them. Gates, Iran-Contra, albeit unindicted; Woolsey, Aldich Ames; Deutch, mishandling of classified information; Tenet, telling George W. Bush that Iraq WMD intelligence was a slam dunk. If indeed scandals and debacles account for these Directors not being asked to sign, then we remind ourselves that torture, extraordinary rendition, warrantless surveillance, whacking US citizens without due process, and impunity for crimes are not scandals or debacles. Second, lets look at the twelve as a class, a collectivity. (This research took more time than I thought it would, partly because Google is useless; I ended up aggregating information from WikiPedia, LittleSis, History Commons, and SourceWatch; Bloomberg results turned out to be too patchy. Im sure that this table is not exhaustive.) I added the Degree column to see if, like the galaxy brains Obama hired to handle the post-Crash economy, they all came from Harvard and Yale (or, in a pinch Princeton, etc.). In fact they do not, although Morell, Petraeus, and Haines have top-rank degrees, if you consider Georgetown top-rank; the intelligence community is or at least was a career open to talents. Skipping over the Malefactions column for a moment, we come to Media Venues, where we see that four of the twelve are employed as media commentators, and two of the twelve (Hayden and Clapper) are ubiquitous. If we think of a security clearance as a credential, and we think of a credential as an option on (a property interest in[4]) a future income stream, we can see that the financial impact of security clearance revocation is considerable (cue sound of smashing rice bowls). The rice bowls become even more clear when we turn to the Corporate Boards column. Finally, its clear that the twelve are densely networked together through shared think tank membership, especially via The Atlantic Council and The Committee to Investigate Russia. In short, we should give consideration to the idea that the twelve are at least partially driven by shared class interests, in addition to favoring torture, extraordinary rendition, warrantless surveillance, and whacking US citizens without due process as instruments of national policy. Finally, lets return to the issue of standing. You know Leo Rostens definition of chutzpath: That quality enshrined in a man who, having killed his mother and father, throws himself on the mercy of the court because he is an orphan. The chutzpanik[5], in other words, does not have standing, and the twelve are all chutzpaniks. Here, I confess that age may be working against me; I grew up when Civics 101 was still a thing, in the long ago world where security theatre had not yet taken over the airports and the schools. But if you were born in 2001, and are now 17, possibly getting ready for college, my world is not yours. Your world includes the destruction of the Fourth Amendment by mass surveillance, torture as a routine instrument of statecraft, a State that whacks people (U.S. citizens or no) with no due process through sudden violence from the sky, where made-up fantasies (like WMDs) are used to drive the country into war, and where elite impunity for wrongdoing and crimes is the norm. Scan the Malefactions column, and you will see how hard the twelve worked to birth that our dystopian hellhole of a surveillance state. That is what the twelve in a sublime act of chutzpah deem service of this nation. They should have no standing to make such a judgment, either for their service or for their depraved idea of what a nation should be.[6] NOTES [1] In essence, extraordinary rendition means that the United States would kidnap an individual, then fly them to a country 54 in all participated where, unlike the US, torture is legal, and torture them. Well and good, unless they kidnap and torture the wrong guy. Gina Haspel, unprosecuted by Barack We tortured some folks Obama, and made head of the CIA by Trump, made her bones by torturing rendered individuals. So you see why Assange might have trust issues about leaving the Ecuadorian embassy. Ronald Reagans Department of Justice gave extraordinary rendition the OK in 1988, back in the days of William Webster. [2] The warrantless surveillance story blew up in December 2005 with this story in the Times by James Risen and Eric Lichtblau: Bush Lets U.S. Spy on Callers Without Courts; although Risen had the story while Bush was running for his second term in 2004, Times editors suppressed it. Obama voted for the FISA Reform bill to give retroactive immunity to the telcos for their part in Bushs program in July 2008, immediately after he was nominated as the Democrat candidate for President, after promising to filibuster such a bill in January. [3] Cf. If slavery is not wrong, nothing is wrong (Abraham Lincoln). [4] Here we recall Madisons view that factions are founded on shared property interests. [5] This, also from Rosen, is useful, too: Chutzpanik: The man who shouts Help! Help! while beating you up.' [6] Yes, some of the signatories are better than others. But they all signed the letter, so All for one, one for all. And have any of them resigned? Of course not. Lie down with dogs, get up with fleas. There was widespread sadness at the death on June 16 of Aidan Keeley from Toberaheena, Clonmel. Aidan, who was almost 64, died peacefully at South Tipperary General Hospital after a four-year battle with illness. Son of the late Bessie and George Keeley, he grew up in Abbey Road, Clonmel, and attended St. Mary's CBS and the High School. After leaving school he worked in the prison service in Limerick, a career that spanned 30 years until his retirement 15 years ago. Aidan was married to Marie Keane from Cashel and they lived in Shannon town in County Clare with their three children - Mags, David and Aidan junior. Tragically, Marie died in 1998. Two years later Aidan married Mairead Mulhare, who worked alongside him in the prison service, and in 2003 they retired and returned to Clonmel. Aidan was actively involved in the community and he was always available to offer a helping hand to local charitable organisations. These included FHIST (Funded Housing in South Tipperary) and the depression support group Aware. He also helped with the Rotary Club's Remembrance Tree at Christmas, which raises funds for Hospice; and another of the club's fundraisers, Celebrity Chef at the Cluain Training and Enterprise Centre in Nelson Street. Family was very important to Aidan. As well as his immediate family he was close to his five grandchildren, whom he adored; his five brothers, two sisters and his other relations. He also keep in constant touch with his friends, many of whom he knew since his youth. Aidan became ill on his 60th birthday, but always had a very positive outlook on life. He never complained and kept going to the very end. His family say he was a wonderful and amazing man and a great friend, and a person who was extremely kind and generous. They are very grateful to everyone who helped them during Aidan's final days and who comforted and supported them at the funeral, as well as funeral directors Fennessys for their professionalism. The large attendance at the funeral ceremonies reflected the esteem in which he and his family are held in the community. Aidan's father George was a sergeant in the military police and his cap, and Aidan's cap from his career in the prison service, were presented by Seamus Mulhare at the offertory of gifts during the Requiem Mass at St. Mary's Church in Irishtown. Seamus, who is Aidan's nephew-in-law, is also a prison officer and, wearing his full uniform, he led the cortege from St. Mary's to Aidan's final resting place at St. Patrick's cemetery. As well as his wife Mairead and children Mags, David and Aidan, he is also survived by brothers Billy, Michael, Ger, Noel and Brendan; sisters Patrica and Anne; daughter-in-law Deirdre; son-in-law Michael; grandchildren Aaron, Ava, Jamie, Leisha and Eoin; nieces, nephews, extended family and friends, to whom sincere sympathy is extended. May he rest in peace. The same is being probed further as the documents and messages exchanged via cell phones were in coded language. The weapons and their usage is still being investigated and the ATS officials are in the process to ascertain if the seized firearms were supplied or used elsewhere by the accused persons. Mumbai: The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) carried out fresh raids in connection with the alleged terror ring which was busted on August 11, arresting three persons associated with right-wing outfits. The raids were carried out in Solapur and Pune. Officials have seized multiple documents from there. The three arrested persons were remanded in further custody by the court till August 28. The accused Vaibhav Raut, (40) a gau rakshak (cow protector), Sharad Kashalkar, (25) were arrested from Nalasopara and Sudhanwa Gondhalekar, (39) was arrested from Parvati area in Pune. One of the important links that are being probed in depth are the links of the trio with the killings of rationalists, Govind Pansare and and Bangalore based journalist Gauri Lankesh. The ATS submitted a sealed envelop to the court during their production and sought their further custody to interrogate them to determine the conspiracy and the targets. The investigators also told the court that the plates of vehicle registration numbers found during searches also need to be verified and ascertained if they were used earlier and for what were they procured. The weapons and their usage is still being investigated and the ATS officials are in the process to ascertain if the seized firearms were supplied or used elsewhere by the accused persons. The ATS also informed the court that during one of the search operations, the agency seized firearms, explosives and letters from the house of Prasad Deshpande at Natepute village in Solapur. The same is being probed further as the documents and messages exchanged via cell phones were in coded language. Brighteon.com is now serving over 2.5 million video minutes per week, with over 300 new channels joining each day. Fans of liberty have been chiming in all day. See this related video from the Zolna Report as a good example: Social Media is totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices. Speaking loudly and clearly for the Trump Administration, we wont let that happen. They are closing down the opinions of many people on the RIGHT, while at the same time doing nothing to others. Censorship is a very dangerous thing & absolutely impossible to police. If you are weeding out Fake News, there is nothing so Fake as CNN & MSNBC, & yet I do not ask that their sick behavior be removed. I get used to it and watch with a grain of salt, or dont watch at all. Too many voices are being destroyed, some good & some bad, and that cannot be allowed to happen. Who is making the choices, because I can already tell you that too many mistakes are being made. Let everybody participate, good & bad, and we will all just have to figure it out! ( Natural News ) Today, President Trump finally drew the line in the sand, tweeting out his call for action against the evil tech giants that are committing mass criminal collusion and fraud against America with their coordinated, malicious censorship of pro-liberty voices. About the author: Mike Adams (aka the Health Ranger) is a best selling author (#1 best selling science book on Amazon.com called Food Forensics), an environmental scientist, a patent holder for a cesium radioactive isotope elimination invention, a multiple award winner for outstanding journalism, a science news publisher and influential commentator on topics ranging from science and medicine to culture and politics. Follow his videos, podcasts, websites and science projects at the links below. Mike Adams serves as the founding editor of NaturalNews.com and the lab science director of an internationally accredited (ISO 17025) analytical laboratory known as CWC Labs. There, he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for achieving extremely high accuracy in the analysis of toxic elements in unknown water samples using ICP-MS instrumentation. Adams is also highly proficient in running liquid chromatography, ion chromatography and mass spectrometry time-of-flight analytical instrumentation. He has also achieved numerous laboratory breakthroughs in the programming of automated liquid handling robots for sample preparation and external standards prep. The U.S. patent office has awarded Mike Adams patent NO. US 9526751 B2 for the invention of Cesium Eliminator, a lifesaving invention that removes up to 95% of radioactive cesium from the human digestive tract. Adams has pledged to donate full patent licensing rights to any state or national government that needs to manufacture the product to save human lives in the aftermath of a nuclear accident, disaster, act of war or act of terrorism. He has also stockpiled 10,000 kg of raw material to manufacture Cesium Eliminator in a Texas warehouse, and plans to donate the finished product to help save lives in Texas when the next nuclear event occurs. No independent scientist in the world has done more research on the removal of radioactive elements from the human digestive tract. Adams is a person of color whose ancestors include Africans and American Indians. He is of Native American heritage, which he credits as inspiring his Health Ranger passion for protecting life and nature against the destruction caused by chemicals, heavy metals and other forms of pollution. Adams is the author of the worlds first book that published ICP-MS heavy metals analysis results for foods, dietary supplements, pet food, spices and fast food. The book is entitled Food Forensics and is published by BenBella Books. In his laboratory research, Adams has made numerous food safety breakthroughs such as revealing rice protein products imported from Asia to be contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium and tungsten. Adams was the first food science researcher to document high levels of tungsten in superfoods. He also discovered over 11 ppm lead in imported mangosteen powder, and led an industry-wide voluntary agreement to limit heavy metals in rice protein products. In addition to his lab work, Adams is also the (non-paid) executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), an organization that redirects 100% of its donations receipts to grant programs that teach children and women how to grow their own food or vastly improve their nutrition. Through the non-profit CWC, Adams also launched Nutrition Rescue, a program that donates essential vitamins to people in need. Click here to see some of the CWC success stories. With a background in science and software technology, Adams is the original founder of the email newsletter technology company known as Arial Software. Using his technical experience combined with his love for natural health, Adams developed and deployed the content management system currently driving NaturalNews.com. He also engineered the high-level statistical algorithms that power SCIENCE.naturalnews.com, a massive research resource featuring over 10 million scientific studies. Adams is well known for his incredibly popular consumer activism video blowing the lid on fake blueberries used throughout the food supply. He has also exposed strange fibers found in Chicken McNuggets, fake academic credentials of so-called health gurus, dangerous detox products imported as battery acid and sold for oral consumption, fake acai berry scams, the California raw milk raids, the vaccine research fraud revealed by industry whistleblowers and many other topics. Adams has also helped defend the rights of home gardeners and protect the medical freedom rights of parents. Adams is widely recognized to have made a remarkable global impact on issues like GMOs, vaccines, nutrition therapies, human consciousness. In addition to his activism, Adams is an accomplished musician who has released over fifteen popular songs covering a variety of activism topics. Click here to read a more detailed bio on Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, at HealthRanger.com. Find more science, news, commentary and inventions from the Health Ranger at: Brighteon.com: Brighteon.com/channel/hrreport Diaspora: (uncensored social network) Share.NaturalNews.com GAB: GAB.com/healthranger Podcasts: HealthRangerReport.com Online store: HealthRangerStore.com #1 Bestselling Science Book Food Forensics: FoodForensics.com iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-health-ranger-report/id1063165791 SoundCloud: Soundcloud.com/healthranger Health Rangers science lab CWClabs.com Health Ranger bio HealthRanger.com TruthWiki.org Search engine: Webseed.com Brighteon.com is now serving over 2.5 million video minutes per week, with over 300 new channels joining each day. I hosted the fourth hour of the Alex Jones Show yesterday, detailing alternative technology solutions that help free you from censorship and tyranny. Yes, even Mozilla has gone full evil and will soon be blocking independent media websites. ( Natural News ) If youre using Googles Chrome browser or Mozillas Firefox browser, youre being indoctrinated with censorship at the browser level . About the author: Mike Adams (aka the Health Ranger) is a best selling author (#1 best selling science book on Amazon.com called Food Forensics), an environmental scientist, a patent holder for a cesium radioactive isotope elimination invention, a multiple award winner for outstanding journalism, a science news publisher and influential commentator on topics ranging from science and medicine to culture and politics. Follow his videos, podcasts, websites and science projects at the links below. Mike Adams serves as the founding editor of NaturalNews.com and the lab science director of an internationally accredited (ISO 17025) analytical laboratory known as CWC Labs. There, he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for achieving extremely high accuracy in the analysis of toxic elements in unknown water samples using ICP-MS instrumentation. Adams is also highly proficient in running liquid chromatography, ion chromatography and mass spectrometry time-of-flight analytical instrumentation. He has also achieved numerous laboratory breakthroughs in the programming of automated liquid handling robots for sample preparation and external standards prep. The U.S. patent office has awarded Mike Adams patent NO. US 9526751 B2 for the invention of Cesium Eliminator, a lifesaving invention that removes up to 95% of radioactive cesium from the human digestive tract. Adams has pledged to donate full patent licensing rights to any state or national government that needs to manufacture the product to save human lives in the aftermath of a nuclear accident, disaster, act of war or act of terrorism. He has also stockpiled 10,000 kg of raw material to manufacture Cesium Eliminator in a Texas warehouse, and plans to donate the finished product to help save lives in Texas when the next nuclear event occurs. No independent scientist in the world has done more research on the removal of radioactive elements from the human digestive tract. Adams is a person of color whose ancestors include Africans and American Indians. He is of Native American heritage, which he credits as inspiring his Health Ranger passion for protecting life and nature against the destruction caused by chemicals, heavy metals and other forms of pollution. Adams is the author of the worlds first book that published ICP-MS heavy metals analysis results for foods, dietary supplements, pet food, spices and fast food. The book is entitled Food Forensics and is published by BenBella Books. In his laboratory research, Adams has made numerous food safety breakthroughs such as revealing rice protein products imported from Asia to be contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium and tungsten. Adams was the first food science researcher to document high levels of tungsten in superfoods. He also discovered over 11 ppm lead in imported mangosteen powder, and led an industry-wide voluntary agreement to limit heavy metals in rice protein products. In addition to his lab work, Adams is also the (non-paid) executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), an organization that redirects 100% of its donations receipts to grant programs that teach children and women how to grow their own food or vastly improve their nutrition. Through the non-profit CWC, Adams also launched Nutrition Rescue, a program that donates essential vitamins to people in need. Click here to see some of the CWC success stories. With a background in science and software technology, Adams is the original founder of the email newsletter technology company known as Arial Software. Using his technical experience combined with his love for natural health, Adams developed and deployed the content management system currently driving NaturalNews.com. He also engineered the high-level statistical algorithms that power SCIENCE.naturalnews.com, a massive research resource featuring over 10 million scientific studies. Adams is well known for his incredibly popular consumer activism video blowing the lid on fake blueberries used throughout the food supply. He has also exposed strange fibers found in Chicken McNuggets, fake academic credentials of so-called health gurus, dangerous detox products imported as battery acid and sold for oral consumption, fake acai berry scams, the California raw milk raids, the vaccine research fraud revealed by industry whistleblowers and many other topics. Adams has also helped defend the rights of home gardeners and protect the medical freedom rights of parents. Adams is widely recognized to have made a remarkable global impact on issues like GMOs, vaccines, nutrition therapies, human consciousness. In addition to his activism, Adams is an accomplished musician who has released over fifteen popular songs covering a variety of activism topics. Click here to read a more detailed bio on Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, at HealthRanger.com. Find more science, news, commentary and inventions from the Health Ranger at: Brighteon.com: Brighteon.com/channel/hrreport Diaspora: (uncensored social network) Share.NaturalNews.com GAB: GAB.com/healthranger Podcasts: HealthRangerReport.com Online store: HealthRangerStore.com #1 Bestselling Science Book Food Forensics: FoodForensics.com iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-health-ranger-report/id1063165791 SoundCloud: Soundcloud.com/healthranger Health Rangers science lab CWClabs.com Health Ranger bio HealthRanger.com TruthWiki.org Search engine: Webseed.com The Health Freedom Hub Now featuring 67 interviews with many of the top voices on health freedom. Pur Medicine A channel hosted by very knowledgeable Chinese Medicine practitioners, these 14 videos (so far) provide a wealth of knowledge about treating cholesterol, headaches, skin issues, mental health disorders and more. Dr. Gabriel Cousens A living foods guru, Dr. Cousens has posted full lectures on how to beat diabetes, how to overcome heart disease and more. SHTFprepping101 Nearly 200 videos detailing lifesaving prepping how-to techniques for filtering water, storing food and even making your own bulletproof body armor. (This is an absolute must-see video channel.) Over 350 video channels are now joining Brighteon.com each day, including astonishingly informative new channels such as : Is Sen. Feinstein a Chinese spy? If she wasnt personally involved, her office most certainly was. The media is running a near-total blackout on this story, but the truth is that Sen. Dianne Feinstein is partly responsible for the government executions of human rights activists who are being slaughtered by the Chinese communist regime. ( Natural News ) Sen. Dianne Feinsteins office was infiltrated by a communist Chinese spy for twenty years, and during that time, human rights activists who appealed to Sen. Feinstein for help were later kidnapped and likely executed by the Chinese government when they returned to China. About the author: Mike Adams (aka the Health Ranger) is a best selling author (#1 best selling science book on Amazon.com called Food Forensics), an environmental scientist, a patent holder for a cesium radioactive isotope elimination invention, a multiple award winner for outstanding journalism, a science news publisher and influential commentator on topics ranging from science and medicine to culture and politics. Follow his videos, podcasts, websites and science projects at the links below. Mike Adams serves as the founding editor of NaturalNews.com and the lab science director of an internationally accredited (ISO 17025) analytical laboratory known as CWC Labs. There, he was awarded a Certificate of Excellence for achieving extremely high accuracy in the analysis of toxic elements in unknown water samples using ICP-MS instrumentation. Adams is also highly proficient in running liquid chromatography, ion chromatography and mass spectrometry time-of-flight analytical instrumentation. He has also achieved numerous laboratory breakthroughs in the programming of automated liquid handling robots for sample preparation and external standards prep. The U.S. patent office has awarded Mike Adams patent NO. US 9526751 B2 for the invention of Cesium Eliminator, a lifesaving invention that removes up to 95% of radioactive cesium from the human digestive tract. Adams has pledged to donate full patent licensing rights to any state or national government that needs to manufacture the product to save human lives in the aftermath of a nuclear accident, disaster, act of war or act of terrorism. He has also stockpiled 10,000 kg of raw material to manufacture Cesium Eliminator in a Texas warehouse, and plans to donate the finished product to help save lives in Texas when the next nuclear event occurs. No independent scientist in the world has done more research on the removal of radioactive elements from the human digestive tract. Adams is a person of color whose ancestors include Africans and American Indians. He is of Native American heritage, which he credits as inspiring his Health Ranger passion for protecting life and nature against the destruction caused by chemicals, heavy metals and other forms of pollution. Adams is the author of the worlds first book that published ICP-MS heavy metals analysis results for foods, dietary supplements, pet food, spices and fast food. The book is entitled Food Forensics and is published by BenBella Books. In his laboratory research, Adams has made numerous food safety breakthroughs such as revealing rice protein products imported from Asia to be contaminated with toxic heavy metals like lead, cadmium and tungsten. Adams was the first food science researcher to document high levels of tungsten in superfoods. He also discovered over 11 ppm lead in imported mangosteen powder, and led an industry-wide voluntary agreement to limit heavy metals in rice protein products. In addition to his lab work, Adams is also the (non-paid) executive director of the non-profit Consumer Wellness Center (CWC), an organization that redirects 100% of its donations receipts to grant programs that teach children and women how to grow their own food or vastly improve their nutrition. Through the non-profit CWC, Adams also launched Nutrition Rescue, a program that donates essential vitamins to people in need. Click here to see some of the CWC success stories. With a background in science and software technology, Adams is the original founder of the email newsletter technology company known as Arial Software. Using his technical experience combined with his love for natural health, Adams developed and deployed the content management system currently driving NaturalNews.com. He also engineered the high-level statistical algorithms that power SCIENCE.naturalnews.com, a massive research resource featuring over 10 million scientific studies. Adams is well known for his incredibly popular consumer activism video blowing the lid on fake blueberries used throughout the food supply. He has also exposed strange fibers found in Chicken McNuggets, fake academic credentials of so-called health gurus, dangerous detox products imported as battery acid and sold for oral consumption, fake acai berry scams, the California raw milk raids, the vaccine research fraud revealed by industry whistleblowers and many other topics. Adams has also helped defend the rights of home gardeners and protect the medical freedom rights of parents. Adams is widely recognized to have made a remarkable global impact on issues like GMOs, vaccines, nutrition therapies, human consciousness. In addition to his activism, Adams is an accomplished musician who has released over fifteen popular songs covering a variety of activism topics. Click here to read a more detailed bio on Mike Adams, the Health Ranger, at HealthRanger.com. Find more science, news, commentary and inventions from the Health Ranger at: Brighteon.com: Brighteon.com/channel/hrreport Diaspora: (uncensored social network) Share.NaturalNews.com GAB: GAB.com/healthranger Podcasts: HealthRangerReport.com Online store: HealthRangerStore.com #1 Bestselling Science Book Food Forensics: FoodForensics.com iTunes: itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-health-ranger-report/id1063165791 SoundCloud: Soundcloud.com/healthranger Health Rangers science lab CWClabs.com Health Ranger bio HealthRanger.com TruthWiki.org Search engine: Webseed.com (Natural News) Uh-oh. We may need to rewatch our crime shows. A team from the Australian National University claimed in their newly published paper in the Journal of Forensic Science that the presence of parturition scars (markers found on the female pelvic bone) may not actually be an indicator of childbirth. These lines are used by police officers to narrow down the identity of human remains, and provide insight to the lifestyle and general interest of the person while alive. These new assertions can imply that hundreds, if not thousands, of ongoing investigations on skeletal remains are being incorrectly identified. This can lead to numerous complications or delays for crucial police work. Project leader and Australian National University Ph.D. candidate Clare McFadden said in an article on ScienceDaily.com, in forensics it could have serious consequences. It could send investigators down completely the wrong path. It could potentially slow things down by excluding individuals who otherwise would be candidates for the investigation. There are also heavy implications for those involved in forensic archaeology. Not tibia party-pooper, but this isnt humerus The practice of using parturition scars as an indicator of childbirth is common, especially here in the United States. Since it was first proposed in the 1910s, many law enforcement officers used this procedure to assess whether the body they found was first, female, and second, if she had been pregnant at one point in her life. However, McFadden studied several conflicting studies on the efficacy of using this technique to determine childbirth. She found that scarring around the area is not a reliable indicator of such a condition. We found childbirth has a very weak association with these markers, but they strongly correlate with sex, she wrote in the same Science Daily article. A lot of the older studies only looked at females, but theres men with these scars, so there has to be something else going on. We think they might have something to do with going through puberty, a bit like stretch marks on the pelvis. Since women go through more significant growth than men during puberty, scars on their pelvic bones may be more common as a result. This is a plausible assumption but does not address the potential consequences of such an invalidation. The conceivable effects to the legal system as well as how forensic professionals conduct their procedures are monumental. Still, McFadden and her team believe their work will better assist in identifying human skeletal remains. Additionallyit wouldgive rise to the opportunity to better understand the female experience of pregnancy and childbirth in past cultures. Taking another look at crime and our legal system Whatever further research is made from these assertions, it can be claimed as those made in good faith. That is, if there have been errors in identifying human remains due to this technique, it was unintentional and using information that was considered correct at the time. Unfortunately, there are cases wherein willful acts are done to falsify records. These cases have (understandably) tarnished the reputation of the police force, along with the practices they use to convict criminals. These recent findings come at an extremely bad time, with new cases being reported on police evidence being routinely falsified. These incidences include technicians who deliberately removed evidence from storage, forged the signatures of colleagues, and improperly conducted tests. Regardless of the reasons, these crimes have resulted in scores of people being criminalized (or granted liberty, depending on the case) without proper evidence. A story published on TheCrimeReport.org reads: The number of exonerations was up to 1,624 [in Michigan by June 25, 2015]. A recent studylisted official misconduct as a factor in 45 percent of the exonerations. Perjury and false testimony were factors in 56 percent, mistaken witness identification in 33 percent of cases, false or misleading forensic evidence in 23 percent; and false confessions in 13 percent. With so much wrongdoing, it makes the jobs of honest, hardworking members of law enforcement that much harder when they cant even rely on accepted forensic evidence to do their jobs. These studies are both fascinating and worrying, especially in a time when misinformation seems the norm. Keep yourself better informedat ScienceFraud.news. Sources include: ScienceDaily.com OnlineLibrary.Wiley.com TheCrimeReport.org An environmental group sued President Donald Trump's administration Thursday to make officials move more quickly to protect the Pacific Northwest's endangered orcas. The recent grieving of one whale for her dead calf and scientists' extraordinary attempts to save another from starvation highlight the urgency of their plight, the Tucson, Arizona-based Center for Biological Diversity said as it filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Seattle. There are just 75 orcas remaining in the Pacific Northwest population, the lowest number in 34 years. They're struggling with a dearth of chinook salmon, their preferred prey, as well as toxic contamination and vessel noise. The lawsuit says the National Marine Fisheries Service has failed to act on the center's 2014 petition to expand habitat protections to the orcas' foraging and migration areas off the coasts of Washington, Oregon and California even though the agency agreed in 2015 that such a move was necessary. The center says the protections would help reduce water pollution and restrict vessel traffic that can interfere with the animals. "Time is running out fast for these magnificent, intelligent orcas," Catherine Kilduff, an attorney with the organization, said in an emailed statement. "It's heartbreaking to watch them starving to death and mourning their dead calves. Every day that Trump's people delay action is a step toward extinction for these whales." The three orca pods that make up the so-called southern resident population have not successfully reproduced since 2015. One orca, known as J35, drew international attention as she carried her dead newborn on her head for more than two weeks covering more than 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) in a vain effort to help it live and breathe. She finally dropped the decomposing calf and returned to feeding and frolicking with her pod. Another killer whale, 4-year-old J50, is so emaciated that researchers have taken unprecedented efforts to save her, injecting her with an antibiotic dart and dropping live salmon from a boat into the water in front of her. They didn't see her take any of the fish, and the pod has moved to open water off Vancouver Island, delaying any further intervention. Michael Milstein, a spokesman for NOAA Fisheries, said Thursday the agency agrees the situation for the orcas is dire. "We continue to work hard to protect and support the recovery," Milstein said. The orcas that return to Puget Sound every summer are genetically distinct from other killer whale populations around the world and differ from some of the others in eating primarily salmon, rather than seals or other marine mammals. They were listed as endangered under the Endangered Species Act in 2005 after the center sued to get the status. The following year, the fisheries service designated the inland waters of Washington state as critical habitat. The designation means federal agencies must ensure that activities they pay for, permit or carry out do not harm the habitat. Nevertheless, the orcas' population has remained dangerously low, increasing the risk of inbreeding, which could further hurt their long-term survival. In 2014, the center filed a petition seeking the critical habitat designation for an area from the northwest tip of Washington to Point Reyes, California, out roughly 47 miles (76 kilometers). The agency accepted the petition and said it intended to develop and publish a rule for public comment in 2017, but none has been offered. Milstein said in an email the work continues: "This effort involves the analysis of recent information about the ecology and behavior of southern resident killer whales." On its website, the agency also said it must consider the benefits and impacts, including to the economy and national security, of designating particular areas. A brother stabbed a sister before allegedly lunging at police officers, who opened fire and killed the man on Saturday afternoon in Culver City. At approximately 1:45 p.m., Culver City Police Department officers responded to the 10400 block of Culver Boulevard regarding a fight between a male and a female. As it turned out, the male and female were siblings were at an apartment complex on the 4100 block of Mentone Avenue. The officers learned that the male suspect had attacked a female victim with a knife. As officers approached, the male suspect "charged" at officers with the knife according to Lt. Joe Mendoza of the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department Homicide Bureau. An officer involved shooting occurred. The stabbing suspect was taken to a nearby hospital and was pronounced dead. "The female had suffered multiple cuts and lacerations to her upper body," Mendoza said. "She was transported to a local hospital and she is currently in surgery." A large knife was recovered at the scene. Mendoza also said that the stabbing victim also received cuts to her facial area, but she was expected to survive. The two siblings residents were believed to be from the Northern California area and temporarily renting in Culver City. According to NBC4's Christine Kim, the two sibblings were staying at an Airbnb. The male suspect was 30. The female was 27. Dutch Bros Coffee will host a fundraiser at its Napa, Fairfield and Vacaville locations on Monday to benefit the family of California Highway Patrol Officer Kirk Griess, who was killed in a crash on Interstate 80 earlier this month. The company will donate $1 from every drink sold Monday to Griess' family. Griess, 46, and the driver he pulled over, Jaime "Jim" Bueza Manuel, were killed when a Chevrolet pickup struck them on the shoulder of eastbound I-80 near Manuel Campos Parkway in Fairfield around 9 a.m. Aug. 10. The pickup driver, Sean Matthew Walker, 36, of Rocklin, was charged Thursday with two counts of gross vehicle manslaughter and one count of reckless driving. Walker posted bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Solano County Superior Court on Sept. 12. A GoFundMe account has been established by Manuel's friend Rick Naval to pay for returning Manuel's remains to his family in the Philippines. As of Sunday morning, $14,210 has been raised. Dutch Bros said in a Facebook post that it also will contribute to the fundraiser for Manuel's family and give customers during Monday's giveback event the opportunity to contribute to the GoFundMe account. The Massachusetts unemployment rate has ticked up slightly to 3.6 percent in July compared to 3.5 percent in June. The Bureau of Labor Statistics' preliminary job estimates indicate that Massachusetts added 4,800 jobs in July. During the past 12 months, the state has added about 66,800 jobs. Last month's unemployment rate was also slightly lower than the national rate of 3.9 percent. Since January 2015, Massachusetts has gained 213,600 jobs. Massachusetts Labor Secretary Rosalin Acosta said the job gains, combined with low unemployment rates and labor force growth, are signs of the continued health of the Massachusetts labor market. Some of the biggest private sector jobs gains came in: education and health services; professional, scientific and business services; construction; and manufacturing. When the blades of its 800-kilowatt wind turbine start turning, the small Greek island of Tilos will become the first in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power. The sea horse-shaped Greek island between Rhodes and Kos has a winter population of 400. But that swells to as many as 3,000 people in the summer, putting an impossible strain on its dilapidated power supply. This summer, technicians are conducting the final tests on a renewable replacement system that will be fully rolled out later this year. It will allow Tilos to run exclusively on high-tech batteries recharged by a wind turbine and a solar park. The European Commission says Tilos will be the first autonomous renewable green island in the Mediterranean. It plans to use the project as a blueprint for other small islands across the European Union that have limited grid connection to the mainland. The EU has largely funded the project, providing 11 million euros ($12.5 million) of the total 13.7 million-euro ($15.7 million) cost. "The innovation of this program and its funding lies in the batteries the energy storage that's what's innovative," project manager Spyros Aliferis said. "The energy produced by the wind turbines and the photovoltaics will be stored in batteries, so that this energy can be used for the grid when there is demand." The batteries store power during sunny and windy conditions, releasing it during periods of heavy demand and lower production such as at nighttime and the peak tourist season to keep the grid powered up. Named TILOS Technology Innovation for the Local Scale Optimum Integration of Battery Energy Storage the project uses a prototype battery system that improves storage of the excess energy generated until it's needed. To work, it required an overhauled grid with smart meters installed in homes and businesses to calculate times of peak demand. Currently, Tilos gets its energy from an underwater cable that runs from Kos to the island of Nisiros and on to Tilos. That creates an erratic, outage-prone service that routinely breaks appliances and has forced many businesses to rely on diesel generators. While lacking the dazzle of other Greek islands like Mykonos and Santorini, Tilos a 14-hour ferry ride from the mainland is a quiet vacation spot that sees an average of 13,000 visitors a year. It's known as a green island, popular with hikers and bird watchers, and most of it is now a protected nature reserve. Mayor Maria Kammas saw a green energy system as the island's natural next step. "For many years now, Tilos has plotted a course that is dedicated to protecting the environment," she said. "We are seeking visitors tourists actually people who will visit our island who love the environment and want to protect it and nature as it was given to us." Tourism is the main source of revenue for the island. But businesses have been plagued by lengthy blackouts, leaving hotels without air conditioning and restaurants without light or power, forcing them to discard food from warm refrigerators. Hotel owner Sevasti Delaporta has closely followed the project since its inception over two years ago. There were initial doubts about the idea among Tilos residents, but tests have run smoothly, even during peak times this summer. The grid is expected to be fully operational in a few months. "I'm very optimistic about this project because there are few negative consequences as a business, and for the guests of the hotel that I run," says Delaporta. "People are pleased with the service because they have no problem with their fridges and they have no problem with their air conditioning. They are happy." With long sunny days and average temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer, tourists spend their mornings at the beach and afternoons napping. The island comes alive in the evening, when businesses open and residents and tourists alike flock to bars and cafes. Eva Lemaire has visited the island every year for more than two decades. Coming from the Netherlands, which has one of the world's highest environmental standards, she says Tilos' green policies stand out in Greece. "I'm also a little bit proud of Tilos about what they are doing now, with the renewable energy," she said. "I think it's good for the island not to be dependent on other islands." One person is dead and at least 17 others have been wounded in shootings across the city of Chicago on Saturday, according to authorities. A man was fatally shot in the West Englewood neighborhood on the South Side. About 8 p.m., 26-year-old Matthew Hudson was found on a sidewalk with a gunshot wound to the back in the 2300 block of West 72nd, according to Chicago police and the Cook County Medical Examiners Office. Hudson was taken to Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, where later died, authorities said. He lived several blocks away from the shooting in the Ashburn neighborhood. Area Central detectives were conducting a homicide investigation. The last nonfatal shooting wounded a man in his 20s in the South Side Gresham neighborhood. About 11 p.m., the 24-year-old was outside in the 7800 block of South Paulina Street when he heard gunfire and realized hed been hit, according to police. He was struck in his leg and was transported to University of Chicago Medical Center, where his condition stabilized, police said. About 10:10 p.m., a woman and man were wounded in a shooting in the Gage Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side. They were outside at a gathering in the 5300 block of South Talman Avenue when two people in a passing black SUV opened fire, police said. The 23-year-old woman was struck in her pelvis and hand, and was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital, where her condition stabilized, police said. The 41-year-old man was grazed in his leg and refused medical treatment at the scene of the shooting. About the same time, a man was shot in the Albany Park neighborhood on the Northwest Side. The 21-year-old was walking when a male walked up to him and fired shots in the 3500 block of West Lawrence, police said. He was shot multiple times in the torso and was taken to Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was in critical condition, police said. An hour earlier, a man was wounded in a shooting in the Brighton Park neighborhood on the Southwest Side. The 39-year-old was standing outside about 9:10 p.m. when a male walked up and shot him in the 4700 block of South Rockwell, according to police. He was shot in the leg and groin and was taken to Mount Sinai, where his condition was stabilized, police said. About 8:45 p.m., a man crashed his vehicle after he was shot in the Hyde Park neighborhood on the South Side. The 27-year-old was driving in the 1600 block of East 50th Street when he was shot, possibly by his passenger, and crashed into two unoccupied parked vehicles nearby on Lake Shore Drive, police said. He was in good condition. In other shootings Saturday: Till Saturday afternoon, as many as 2,507 people were evacuated to safe places. Mumbai: A ship loaded with 40 tonnes of relief material, offered by the state government and the community groups in the city, sailed from Mumbai to the distressed state of Kerala on Saturday. The Coast Guard transported 100 tonnes of relief material including food, water, medicines, clothes and other necessities from Mumbai and Mangalore. The Coast Guard has currently deployed four offshore patrol vessels, five aircrafts and 31 disaster relief teams with Gemini boats and rafts, into action. The officials stated that till Saturday afternoon, as many as 2,507 people were evacuated to safe places and over 6,415 were provided with assistance by the Coast Guards. The officials said that most of the relief material has been sponsored by the state governments of Maharashtra, Karnataka and various NGOs. In coordination with National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), SDMA and other state authorities the Coast Guard teams are assisting people in flood-affected areas. Almost 1,000 Indian Coast Guard personnel are working day and night to provide disaster relief efforts. Coast Guard has been in action since August 9 in addition to dealing with five search and rescue (SAR) operations at sea. During SAR operation at sea 31 lives were saved off Kerala and Karnataka coast, stated a release issued by the Coast Guards. The Coast Guards headquarters at Kerala is working in tandem with state administration and NDMA to provide necessary assistance to the people. The Navys Operation Madad was further scaled up to meet the increasing requests for rescue from more and more parts of Kerala. Further, the Eastern and Western Naval commands with more rescue teams have been sent along with Gemini boats, divers and other resources. As of 4.30 pm on Saturday, which was the tenth day of Operation Madad, as many as 72 diving teams were deployed at multiple locations. Eight newly inducted teams were sent out to various locations since early morning, to augment those already in place. At least 42 teams with one Gemini boat each are deployed in Ernakulam district at various places. One team is at Pizhala island, one at Edapally, three at Perumbavur, 16 at North Paravur, 14 at Aluva, four at Muvattupuzha and two at Kadangallur. A 14-year-old from Chicago who was in critical condition after being pulled from Lake Michigan Saturday, was pronounced dead Sunday morning, police said. The teen was later identified as Malik Freeman, police said. Officials said Freeman was airlifted to Comer Childrens Hospital in critical condition, where he was pronounced dead Sunday morning. A 14-year-old from Chicago who was in critical condition after being pulled from Lake Michigan Saturday, was pronounced dead Sunday morning Porter police officers said they pulled the boy from the water around 6 p.m. and began CPR on him. He was first transported to Porter Regional Hospital, however, the boy was later airlifted to Comer Childrens Hospital in Chicago, where he was listed in critical condition. The incident happened shortly after another child was pronounced dead, also after being pulled from Lake Michigan, in a separate incident Saturday afternoon. A GoFundMe page has been set up in order to financially help the family with "funeral arrangements for their son," reads the site. According to Indiana Conservation Police, a 10-year-old Chicago boy was also found face down in the water approximately 40 yards from shore at the Indiana Dunes State Park on Thursday afternoon. Officers immediately began CPR on the boy, but he later died at Porter Regional Hospital. Restrictions limiting swimmers to waist-deep water were in effect at the park at the time of both incidents, authorities say. Both incidents are still under investigation. A Dallas priest is nowhere to be found amid allegations of sexual abuse that were found to be credible, according to the Diocese of Dallas. Church officials believe the Rev. Edmundo Paredes may have fled to his native country of the Philippines. Bishop Edward Burns informed the parishioners of St. Cecilia Catholic Church in a Saturday afternoon mass about the accusations made against their now-former pastor. According to the diocese, allegations of sexual abuse by Paredes came from three adult men. The adults said the incidents occurred more than a decade ago when they were in their mid-teens. Paredes had been a pastor at the church for 27 years. The Diocese of Dallas said they reported the allegations to local authorities after learning of them in February. When the men came forward in February the diocese said Paredes was being investigated and had already been suspended for unrelated accusations of theft. The Diocese of Dallas was informed of a theft that occurred at the parish while Paredes was pastor. According to a statement, the diocese said the priest admitted to financial misconduct. Church officials estimate he stole between $60,000 and $80,000 in cash. "Our priority was to determine the truth and protect the victims who showed courage by coming forward. With the utmost sensitivity to victims, I have pledged to continue efforts of transparency and need to make you aware of this atrocious and sad event," Burns said to the church during his message Saturday. "I want to assure the entire community that we are working to find solutions to create a safer environment. I offer my heartfelt apologies that these crimes have happened in your parish and please know I am praying for all victims of sexual abuse and for all of you here in the St. Cecilia community." Burns told parishioners the church is in the process of hiring private investigators to locate Paredes. However, Burns said that they had been contacted by authorities in the Philippines who stated that Paredes was not found there either. Paredes helped to oversee the parish school next to the church. Even though no accusations came from students, the bishop said there is "heightened concern." "When there is a wolf in sheep's clothing that is startling enough. But when there is a wolf in shepherd's clothing that is horrendous," Burns said. The bishop said he had a message to anyone who may be questioning or even faltering in their faith given the accusations against a priest. "Do not let any sinful man separate you from our Lord Jesus Christ," he said. And to the man accused of causing harm, Burns said "step forward." The Diocese of Dallas asked anyone who has suffered abuse by church personnel to report it to law enforcement and the Diocese's Victims Assistance Coordinator at 214-379-2819. An American Airlines flight headed to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport had to turn around Saturday morning after the crew noticed a strange smell on the plane. Flight 3671 took off from Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport just before 6:30 a.m. Saturday and turned around shortly after leaving the airport. The flight landed safely back at the airport. KNWA-TV reports emergency crews were on standby at Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport, but were not deployed. "These things happen. We have 20 to 25 of these a year. Most of the time it's nothing, and it appears it's the same in this case," Northwest Arkansas Regional Airport Director Kelly Johnson said. "They didn't ask for assistance, but they [fire trucks] were ready to go if they needed to." Airline officials said the cause of the smell was a mechanical issue. A maintenance team was brought in to inspect the aircraft. Most of the passengers were placed on other flights to DFW Airport. Fourteen Backstreet Boys fans were injured outside a concert after severe weather caused a structure to collapse outside WinStar World Casino and Resort Saturday night, a spokesperson said. At about 5:30 p.m. Saturday, a storm blew through Thackerville, Oklahoma with 70-80 mph winds and knocked over entrance trusses, injuring the fans, said WinStar spokesperson Kym Koch Thompson. Hey folks! Severe weather, high winds and rain just passed thru here in Thackerville, OK. Emergency crews are on the seen as tent calapsed and some folks who were seeking shelter were injured. Waiting to determine damage to our stage and production. Status of show TBD. Kevin Richardson (@kevinrichardson) August 18, 2018 Thompson said WinStar officials started to evacuate fans waiting to get into the outdoor concert venue at about 5 p.m. after lightning got within four miles of the casino. All concertgoers were asked to move inside before the storm hit, but Thompson said about 150 people stayed in line for the show. All 14 people who were injured were treated at the scene and then transported to area hospitals with minor injuries, Thompson said. All victims were later released. Emergency personnel had to use a forklift to remove the metal sign from on top of people waiting in line at the @backstreetboys concert. #oknews #okwx #WinStarCasino #BackstreetBoys pic.twitter.com/jOcR18sffa Sydney Stavinoha (@SydneyStavinoha) August 18, 2018 The show was ultimately canceled, and WinStar said tickets will be honored when the concert is rescheduled. Editor's note: Winstar originally said the trusses supporting the structure were concrete. On Monday they told NBC 5the trusses were not made of concrete but that they could not confirm the metal or composite used in their construction. More than 120 Vietnam War-era prisoners of war are reconnecting with one another at a Dallas-area reunion hosted by developer Ross Perot Jr. and a nonprofit veterans' organization. The "Return to Freedom" reunion marks the 45th anniversary of the repatriation of the 662 American POWs held by the North Vietnamese government. NAM-POWs Corp., the nonprofit veterans' group co-hosting the reunion, said 458 of those POWs are alive today with an average age of 78. "Our bond is strong. These opportunities to share time together means a lot to all of us," said retired U.S. Air Force Col. Joe Milligan, NAM-POWs president, in a statement. That bond is cited by some of the POWs as something that helped keep them alive in captivity. Retired U.S. Air Force Col. Ken Cordier and retired U.S. Navy Capt. Mike McGrath shared a cell in their Hanoi prison for more than five years. They said that reconnecting with one another helps their ongoing healing. The four-day reunion at The Omni Frisco at The Star hotel continues through Sunday. When the heat waves, droughts, wildfires and deluges come as they seem to with increasing regularity these days the question inevitably arises: Did climate change play a role? The answer scientists gave for years was that greenhouse gases created by humans likely contributed to extreme weather, but it was hard to definitively tie the warming atmosphere to any single episode. But that cautious approach is changing, NBC News reported. Now, scientists say that they will increasingly be able to link extreme weather events to human-caused global warming. So when a heat wave beset Northern Europe early this summer, bringing temperatures in Scandinavia into the 90s, researchers operating under the name World Weather Attribution whipped together a series of computer simulations. Within three days, the scientists issued a finding that the hot spell had been made at least twice as likely because of human-driven climate change. In less frequent instances, scientists taking more time have reached even bolder conclusions finding that some extreme events would not have happened at all in a pre-industrial era, when Earth's atmosphere had not been pumped full of carbon dioxide. The trend promises to become even more pronounced in the coming years, because national weather agencies in countries like Germany and Australia, and the weather service for the European Union, expect to begin issuing regular findings on whether unusual weather events grew out of climate change. A day after President Donald Trump claimed on Twitter his team is cooperating with the special counsel investigation out of "transparency," his lawyer Rudy Giuliani tamped down the idea of the president himself testifying for fear of being caught in a trap, saying that there is no truth, only "somebody's version" of it. Giuliani appeared Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press" and argued that he doesn't want his client to be "trapped into perjury." "When you tell me that, you know, he should testify because hes going to tell the truth and he shouldnt worry, well thats so silly because its somebodys version of the truth, not the truth," he said. When pressed by Chuck Todd, Giuliani doubled down, saying, "truth isn't truth." He referenced the accusations that Trump had discussed the investigation into his former national security adviser, Michael Flynn, with then-FBI director James Comey, who was later fired by the president. Giuliani continued: "Donald Trump says, 'I didn't talk about Flynn with Comey.' Comey says, 'You did talk about it.' So, tell me what the truth is?" The former New York City mayor also spoke directly about the New York Times report Trump responded to in his tweets, and he accused special counsel Robert Mueller of leaking the details "illegally" to the Times. He called Mueller "desperate." He brushed aside the notion that charges could be brought against the president anyway, specifically when it comes to the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between Trump campaign officials and a Russian government ally. Giuliani said the now-infamous meeting couldn't be used as evidence for collusion because damaging information on Hillary Clinton "was not pursued at all," despite the intention of that meeting being to receive damaging information. "Any meeting in regards to getting information about your opponent is something any candidate's staff would take," Giuliani added. "The president of the United States wasn't at that meeting, he didn't know about that meeting, he found out about it after. By the time he found out about it, it was nothing. If this is their case for collusion, good luck Mueller." Meanwhile, Trump continued his attacks on the special counsel investigation on Sunday, again tweeting that there was "no collusion and no obstruction." He said Mueller is "heavily conflicted" in the "Rigged and Disgusting Witch Hunt." In response to the Times' report that his laywer Don McGahn has been cooperating extensively with the special counsel team, Trump insisted that McGahn isn't "a John Dean type 'RAT,'" making reference to the Watergate-era White House attorney who turned on Richard Nixon. Trump's original legal team had encouraged McGahn and other White House officials to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller, and McGahn spent hours in interviews. The Times reported that McGahn handed over information both potentially damaging and favorable to the president. However, the Times said, he told investigators that he never saw Trump go beyond his legal authority. The Times reported McGahn and his attorney were worried Trump was setting him up to take the blame for any possible illegal acts. McGahn's attorney William Burck added in a statement: "President Trump, through counsel, declined to assert any privilege over Mr. McGahn's testimony, so Mr. McGahn answered the Special Counsel team's questions fulsomely and honestly, as any person interviewed by federal investigators must." Dean was White House counsel for Nixon, a Republican, during the Watergate scandal. He ultimately cooperated with prosecutors and helped bring down the Nixon presidency, though he served a prison term for obstruction of justice. Dean, a frequent critic of the president, tweeted Saturday night in response to the Times story that, "Trump, a total incompetent, is bungling and botching his handling of Russiagate. Fate is never kind to bunglers and/or botchers! Unlike Nixon, however, Trump won't leave willingly or graciously." He added Sunday in response to Trump's tweets that he doubts the president has "ANY IDEA what McGahn has told Mueller. Also, Nixon knew I was meeting with prosecutors, b/c I told him. However, he didn't think I would tell them the truth!" The Associated Press contributed to this report. When you sign up for home internet, you often pay a certain price based on the speed of your connection. The faster it is, the more you pay. It's important to know how to check if you're getting what you pay for. You might be surprised to find that you're not, in which case a call to your internet company may be in order. I'm going to explain why internet speeds matter and show you how to check the speed of your internet connection at home. Here's what you need to know. Why do internet speeds matter, anyway? As streaming services like Netflix and Hulu have become more popular, and as resolutions have jumped from HD to 4K, so too has the importance of having a fast home internet connection. If you're streaming a show from Hulu and it's not coming down in high definition, or if it's constantly pausing, chances are you don't have a fast enough connection. And remember: your internet is shared across all of the connected devices in your home, so that connection is divided up between people and devices. The more people in your home using the internet at the same time maybe a kid is playing "Fortnite" upstairs on her computer, for example, or your son is streaming Hulu on another TV the faster internet you'll want. How fast does my home internet speed need to be? Netflix recommends a connection speed of 5 Mbps or faster for HD streaming, but again, that's for each device that's connected to your network. It's also awfully slow, all things considered. If your home internet is capped at 5 Mbps, then technically only one device at a time is able to stream at that speed. Cable internet speeds vary widely around the U.S. Depending on where you live and who you buy internet service from, you'll find speeds from below 1 Mbps to more than 1,000 Mbps (1 Gbps). I think most family-of four households should have at least a download speed of 50 Mbps. To put that speed in perspective, it should allow you to download a 2 GB movie in a little more than five minutes. If you pay for 1 Gbps, you could download that same movie in 16 seconds. How do I check how fast my home internet is? Now that you know why you want fast internet, it's time to make sure you're actually getting the sort of speeds that your provider promises. If you're paying $70 a month for a plan that promises up to 250 Mbps, but you're actually only getting 60 Mbps (a plan that might normally cost $40 a month), then you should call your cable company and ask for a discount or to fix your connection speed. Often, they can resync with your cable modem to make sure the speeds are faster. Here's how to check your home internet speed: Connect to your home Wi-Fi network on a computer. Open your web browser. Navigate to www.speedtest.net. Tap "Go." Speedtest.net will show you your download and upload speeds. Sometimes you might be a little below or a little above what you pay for. That's fine, but you don't want the results to be drastically below the speed you're supposed to be paying for. Internet speeds can fluctuate throughout the day, so do multiple tests to see what your connection speed averages out to. What about on my phone? If you have a smartphone, you probably also pay for high-speed 4G LTE. You can download the Speedtest app for Android or iPhone to run a similar test. Unfortunately, since wireless data varies drastically on where you are when you test it, and how strong your signal is with a nearby tower, you can't really just call and have your modem reset as you would with home internet. Still, you can get a good idea of how your speed compares with your home internet, and where you get the best coverage. If you consistently see slow speeds at home, maybe it's time to find a new wireless provider. This story first appeared on CNBC.com. More from CNBC: Christopher Watts, a Colorado man accused of killing his pregnant wife and family came to San Diego with his wife, Shanann Watts, in June, less than two months before their alleged murders. In a Facebook video shot by wife Shanann Watts, 34, she shows their room at the Manchester Grand Hyatt on the bay. San Diegos gorgeous so far. Really, really pretty, Shanann Watts says to the camera in the video. Its going to be really pretty seeing the sunset and the sunrises here, she says as the camera pans out over San Diego Bay. She even makes a reference to her pregnancy. Im starving, she says in the video. Or should I say the babys starving because I dont eat this early this much. Shanann Watts was 15 weeks pregnant when she was killed. Christopher Watts can also be seen in the video, unpacking his bags. What up? Whats going on? he says casually to the camera. She also posted a Facebook Live of a harbor cruise with her husband and some friends and many photos of downtown, in Old Town and the beach. Christopher Watts was arrested last Wednesday on suspicion of killing Shanann and their two daughters, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. Their three bodies were found on property owned by Anadarko Petroleum, one of Colorados largest oil and gas drillers. Christopher Watts worked there, police said. The bodies of the two girls were submerged in crude oil for four days, according to court documents. Police have not released any information about how Shanann Watts or her daughters died. The family lived in Frederick, Colorado, a small town just north of Denver. Christopher Watts had been working at Anadarko for about six months and made around $61,500, but the family also had tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt. Shanann Watts and her girls were reported missing on Monday. Their bodies were found on Thursday. The San Diego trip seemed to be work-related. "I absolutely love what I do!" Shanann Watts said in the post with a picture of her feet in a San Diego pool. "I love helping people live a happier healthier life. Today is a chill day and Im helping my friends crush their goals and dreams and its not work. I absolutely LOVE helping people achieve their goals and dreams! This is life, when everyday is a vacation!" On her last San Diego post she wrote: "Had such an amazing last day in San Diego! Gorgeous weather and amazing friends!" A Lyft driver with two passengers in the back seat was critically wounded in what police believe to be a road rage shooting. The driver, a 24-year-old Hispanic man, was found inside his car around 4:35 a.m. Sunday with a gunshot wound to the head in Glassell Park, the Los Angeles Police Department said. He had just picked up two passengers when another driver, who witnesses said had an Uber sticker on his car, shot him and caused his car to shear a fire hydrant on Eagle Rock Boulevard, just south of Avenue 40, the LAPD said. The victim was taken in critical condition to USC Medical Center. The passengers, who were riding in the back of his car, were uninjured, the department said. While police believe the shooting to be the result of road rage, they are still investigating what exactly led to the gunfire. Police say the suspect may have driven off in a white Toyota Prius. Lyft and Uber representatives have not responded to requests for comment. As it was taking time to fill the tanks at Ratlam, 14 empty tanks were dispatched to Pune on Friday evening for filling. Mumbai: Western Railway (WR), acting on the directions of the Union home ministry, has prepared a special rake comprising 29 water tanks to combat the lack of potable water in Kerala. The rake, which departed from Pune on Saturday, is being sent to Kayamkulam Junction in Kerala bearing 14.50 lakh litres of potable water. WRs Ratlam division filled 15 wagons while Pune division of the Central Railway (CR) filled the remaining 14 wagons. Generally, wagon trains run at a speed of 25 kmph, but this train will run at 60 kmph. A senior CR official, requesting anonymity, said that the decision to send the potable water was taken after a meeting of the National Disaster Management Authority and the home ministry at New Delhi on Thursday. The WR cleaned the water tanks and prepared the special rake. He added that each wagon tank has a capacity of 50,000 litres. As it was taking time to fill the tanks at Ratlam, 14 empty tanks were dispatched to Pune on Friday evening for filling. He said, Fifteen wagon tanks departed from Ratlam at 8 pm on Friday and reached Pune on Saturday evening. Later, after a safety certificate was issued, the train departed from Pune at 5.25 pm. The train will reach Kayamkulam after covering 2,650km. Ravinder Bhakar, chief public relations officer of WR, said, All 15 tanks of the water special train were filled with potable water and the quality of water of each tank was tested before its dispatch. Southern Railway has also dispatched water special comprising seven wagons. A total of 2,740 cartons of bottled water from Parassala Rail Neer plant has also been sent while 10,000 cubic boxes of water bottles are being sent to the state," Mr Bhakar added. A conservative rally against "far-left violence'' was organized in downtown Boston a year after a similar demonstration drew tens of thousands of counterprotesters. A man, who wished to be identified only as Jon, said they were there to protect the Constitution. "No one here is saying anything hateful or violent," he said. Boston Free Speech, the group organizing the event, said on its Facebook page that its rally was scheduled for noon at City Hall Plaza. The rally spilled onto City Hall Plaza in the afternoon, remaining primarily near the John F. Kennedy Federal Building. A few dozen people with Boston Free Speech were surrounded by more than 100 counterprotesters, who tried to drown them out. "You can have your free speech, but that does not protect you from the consequences," said a counterprotester who wanted to remain anonymous. Brandon Navom, one of the organizers of Boston Free Speech, says they've been falsely labeled neo-Nazis and racists. "All we want to do is come out and peacefully express ourselves," he said. Navom sued Boston Mayor Marty Walsh for slander after last year's rally. "We're trying to engage in an open discourse, and it's these people who want to shut us down," Navom said. A heavy police presence helped separate both sides. There were a few shoving matches quickly broken up by police, but there were no reports of any arrests, serious violence or injuries. The protest lasted less than an hour. Police shut down the rally when the protesters tried to continue into Boston Common because they didn't have a permit. Authorities were seen escorting the group away. Counterprotesters Clash With Rally Attendees in Boston Organizer John Medlar said the event was meant to call out Internet censorship and "violent suppression of discourse in the public square.'' The counterprotesters gathered at the State House for a planned march to City Hall organized by Stand Against Hate-Boston and the Democratic Socialists of America. They could be heard shouting "cops and Klan go hand-in-hand." A conservative rally against far-left violence was organized in downtown Boston a year after a similar demonstration drew tens of thousands of counterprotesters. Last August's "free speech'' rally happened on Boston Common days after a white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, left one counterprotester dead and 19 injured. What to Know Mecca is the holiest city in the religion of Islam Every year, millions of Muslims make the trip to Mecca in the hajj pilgrimage More than 2 million Muslims began the annual hajj pilgrimage at first light on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca that Islam's faithful face five times each day during their prayers. The five-day hajj pilgrimage represents one of the world's biggest gatherings every year, and is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. The hajj offers pilgrims an opportunity to feel closer to God amid the Muslim world's many challenges, including the threat of violence and extremists in the Mideast and the plight of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority. "We are very blessed by Allah to be in this place, and we pray to Allah to make the Islamic nations from the West to the East in a better situation," said Essam-Eddin Afifi, a pilgrim from Egypt. "We pray for the Islamic nations to overcome their enemies." Muslims believe the hajj retraces the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as those of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail Abraham and Ishmael in the Bible. Muslims believe God stayed the hand of Ibrahim after commanding him to sacrifice his son, Ismail. In the Christian and Jewish version of the story, Abraham is ordered to kill his other son, Isaac. The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God. Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between the two hills traveled by Hagar, Ibrahim's wife. Mecca's Grand Mosque, the world's largest, encompasses the Kaaba and the two hills. Before heading to Mecca, many pilgrims visit the city of Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried and where he built his first mosque. After prayers in Mecca, pilgrims will head to an area called Mount Arafat on Monday, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon. From there, pilgrims will head to an area called Muzdalifa, picking up pebbles along the way for a symbolic stoning of the devil and a casting away of sins that takes place in the Mina valley for three days. At the hajj's end, male pilgrims will shave their hair and women will cut a lock of hair in a sign of renewal for completing the pilgrimage. Around the world, Muslims will mark the end of hajj with a celebration called Eid al-Adha. The holiday, remembering Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, sees Muslims slaughter sheep and cattle, distributing the meat to the poor. Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, the spokesman of the Saudi Interior Ministry, told journalists Saturday that over 2 million Muslims from abroad and inside the kingdom would be taking part in this year's hajj. Saudi Arabia's ruling Al Saud family stakes its legitimacy in part on its management of the holiest sites in Islam. King Salman's official title is the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques," at Mecca and Medina. Other Saudi kings, and the Ottoman rulers of the Hijaz region before them, all have adopted the honorary title The kingdom has spent billions of dollars of its vast oil revenues on security and safety measures, particularly in Mina, where some of the hajj's deadliest incidents have occurred. The worst in recorded history took place only three years ago. On Sept. 24, 2015, a stampede and crush of pilgrims in Mina killed at least 2,426 people, according to an Associated Press count. The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since only two days afterward. The kingdom has never addressed the discrepancy, nor has it released any results of an investigation authorities promised to conduct over the disaster. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also faces threats from al-Qaida militants and a local faction of the Islamic State group. Days earlier, the Interior Ministry acknowledged arresting a Saudi wearing an explosive vest in the kingdom's central al-Qassim region who shot at security forces. Meanwhile, a Saudi-led war in Yemen against Shiite rebels drags on without an end in sight. The rebels have fired over 150 ballistic missiles on the kingdom during a conflict that has seen Saudi airstrikes hit markets and hospitals, killing civilians. The suspect accused along with a South Florida pastor of repeatedly sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl who was also forced to steal Voodoo ritual items has been arrested. Avo Avard Roker, 32, was arrested on Saturday at an airport, according to Broward County Sheriff's Office records. Attorney information for Roker was not immediately available. Ricardo Strachan, the 40-year-old pastor, was arrested Wednesday in Lauderhill on a charge of lewd and lascivious battery on a person between 12 and 16, according to an arrest report. Strachan, who had been a pastor at Prophetic Worshipers International Church, began having sex with the girl around January 2016 when he was 38 years old, the report said. Police said Strachan was introduced to the girl through Roker who is also accused of abusing the teen. Roker allegedly sexually assaulted the girl from December 2015 through November 2016. During that time, he introduced Strachan to the girl, police said. Strachan also had sex with the girl about 10 times in his car in the parking lot of Dillard High School in Fort Lauderdale during school hours, the report said. They also engaged in sex acts at a local hotel, the report said. The victim told police she kept the sexual abuse a secret because she was afraid Strachan would "do harm to her family," the report said. She told investigators Strachan practiced Voodoo and had her steal property from her family members to give to him to "perform rituals," the report said. The girl told police that Strachan told her he was married to a police officer and had access to a gun, the report said. Strachan's attorney said he completely denies the allegations. Arianna Huffington is calling on Elon Musk to adopt a healthier work-life balance, but the Tesla CEO says that's not an option. In a tweet early Sunday after arriving home from a late night at a Tesla factory, Musk told the Huffington Post founder that his electric car company and Ford are the only two American automakers that have avoided bankruptcy. He then added, in an apparent reference to his long hours at work: "You think this is an option. It is not." Musk was responding to an open letter from Huffington on Friday in which she called on him to change the way he works so he can ensure he's taking more time to "refuel and recharge." Musk conceded in a wide-ranging interview with The New York Times last week that he's overwhelmed by job stress, has been working up to 120 hours a week and sometimes takes Ambien to get to sleep. Tesla has presented plenty of challenges for Musk. The company routinely loses money and is burning through cash as it ramps up development of its Model 3 sedan, a less-expensive electric car it hopes appeals to the mass market. A large number of investors known as short-sellers have bet against the company. Musk, who recently said he might take Tesla private, has added to those pressures with lofty projections for profits and production that the automaker often fails live up to. Plus, the eccentric billionaire is the head of at least two other companies, including the rocket company SpaceX. In her open letter, which referenced Musk's interview with the Times, Huffington urged Musk to ease up on the long hours at work. "Working 120-hour weeks doesn't leverage your unique qualities, it wastes them," she wrote. "You can't simply power through that's just not how our bodies and our brains work." What to Know A man shot his wife to death before killing himself after the two got into an argument Police received a report of gunshots fired on Wellington Road in Elmont around 11:40 a.m. on Saturday When officers arrived, they found Patrick Myrthil, 31, and Tertue Gregoire, 30, dead at the scene A man shot his wife to death before killing himself after the two got into an argument, officials said. Nassau County police received a report of gunshots fired on Wellington Road in Elmont around 11:40 a.m. on Saturday. When officers arrived, they found Patrick Myrthil, 31, and Tertue Gregoire, 30, dead at the scene, according to police. Myrthil apparently shot Gregoire several times before turning the gun on himself, police said. The investigation is ongoing. President Donald Trump on Saturday claimed that his administration has been "transparent" in special counsel Robert Muellers probe into Russian interference in the election and possible obstruction of justice, after the New York Times reported that the White House counsel has been cooperating extensively in the matter. The Times, citing a dozen current and former White House officials and others briefed on the matter, reported the White House Counsel Don McGahn has given at least three voluntary interviews with investigators totaling 30 hours over the past nine months. Trump has made several moves which could be seen as trying to control or limit the investigation into Russian interference in the election, such as firing FBI Director James Comey, calling on Attorney General Jeff Sessions to end the Mueller investigation, and reportedly seeking to fire Mueller in the past. What to Know Officials have captured one of the three suspects accused of ambushing and shooting two detectives in Camden, New Jersey. Juan Figueroa, 20, was arrested in Gloucester City, New Jersey. The two other suspects remain at large and there's a $60,000 reward for information leading to their arrest. Officials have captured one of the three suspects accused of ambushing and shooting two detectives in Camden, New Jersey, earlier this month. Juan Figueroa, 20, was arrested without incident in Gloucester City, New Jersey. Police continue to search for the two remaining suspects, Alexander DeJesus, 19, and Ammar Hall, 26. A $60,000 reward remains for information leading to their arrests. All three are charged with first-degree criminal attempted murder in the attack that happened on Aug. 7 at Mt. Vernon Street and Broadway. Police said the officers, who were operating undercover, were sitting at a red light when two of the men walked up and fired at least 10 rounds. One officer was hit in the hand and the other twice in the shoulder. The men were last seen fleeing the area in a white work van, police said. Authorities initially released surveillance photos of persons of interest, but Friday announced charges against the men. The officers were released from the hospital on Thursday. They remain on leave. Figueroa was remanded to the Camden County Jail without bail. If you have any information on DeJesus' or Hall's whereabouts, please call Camden County Police at 856-757-7042. What to Know A Delaware man was charged with his fifth DUI after crashing into two teen girls in Dover, police said. Smith was charged with his fifth DUI as well as leaving the scene of a collision resulting in injury and other related offenses. Two teen girls who were struck in the crash suffered non-life threatening injuries. A Delaware man was charged with his fifth DUI after crashing into two teen girls in Dover, police said. William S. Smith, 51, of Dover, was driving a 2013 Nissan Altima on North Dupont Highway and West Denneys Road Saturday when he lost control of his vehicle, traveled off the roadway and struck two 17-year-old girls, according to investigators. Police arrived at the scene around 7:15 p.m. and found the vehicle empty at the entrance of the Delaware Technical Community College after Smith allegedly fled the scene. Smith was later found in the parking lot of the college, police said. Police smelled alcohol on Smith and conducted a DUI investigation, according to officials. A computer check revealed Smith had four previous DUI convictions. Smith was charged with his fifth DUI as well as vehicular assault, reckless endangering, leaving the scene of a collision resulting in injury, driving while suspended or revoked and other traffic-related offenses. The two teen girls were taken to Bayhealth Kent General Hospital with non-life threatening injuries. Two passengers, a 47-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman, were not injured during the crash. Smith was arraigned and committed to the James T. Vaughn Correctional Center on $16,675.00 cash only bond. China is deadly serious about riding the robotic wave with an eye on its economy. The robot, which operated in conjunction with a doctor, asks patients a series of diagnostic questions and can also analyse X-rays. (Photo: AFP) Robots that can diagnose diseases, play badminton and wow audiences with their musical skills are among the machines China hopes could revolutionise its economy, with visitors to a Beijing exhibition offered a glimpse of an automated future. The popular stars of this year's World Robot Conference, which ends Sunday, were undoubtedly the small, amateur-made "battle bots" which smashed, hammered and sawed their way through their opponents to a cacophony of cheers and shouts from a rapt audience. "With this robot, I can fully express myself. I love the sparks," said Huang Hongsong, one of around a dozen Chinese youths whose creations went head-to-head. But while the battle bots are designed largely to entertain onlookers, China is deadly serious about riding the robotic wave with an eye on its economy. Cheap manufacturing propelled the populous giant to become the world's second-largest economy in just a few decades. But the country's population is ageing, leaving it facing a double whammy of a worker shortage and increased labour costs as it gets wealthier. Automated machines offer a possible way out with President Xi Jinping in 2014 calling for a "robot revolution." Under the ruling Communist Party's roadmap for its industrial future -- dubbed "Made in China 2025" -- state subsidies are pouring into the sector. And at the robot show, a vast array of machines demonstrated how technology may eventually replace human workers. In one corner, a mechanical arm -- designed to teach children -- painted an elegant Chinese character while a robotic fish explored its tank and a bat flapped its mechanical wings overhead. Delicate balance By 2020, China is aiming for half of the industrial robots sold in the country to be made by Chinese companies, up from 27 per cent currently -- with a target of 70 per cent by 2025. "Robots are the jewel in the crown for the manufacturing industry...a new frontier for our industrial revolution," said Xin Guobin, China's vice minister of industry, as he opened the conference. But it is a delicate balancing act for Chinese policy-makers due to the potential for human job losses -- a 2016 World Bank report said automation could threaten up to 77 per cent of jobs in China's current labour market. Nonetheless, a great robotic leap forward has already been made. China is now the world's number one market for industrial robots with some 141,000 units sold last year, accounting for a third of global demand, according to the International Federation of Robotics, which says demand could rise an additional 20 per cent per year until 2020. "China has huge opportunities to increase the level of its industrial automation (and) industrial robotisation," said Karel Eloot, an expert at consultancy firm McKinsey. He notes that China still has huge room for growth given that competitors like Japan and Germany have four times the level of robotisation in their factories compared to the Asian giant. Qu Daokui, president of local firm Siasun, which was showing off a snake-like robot that can operate in narrow passages, said China needs to increase the quality and sophistication of its robots, particularly in the field of AI. "We used to focus on the accuracy, reliability and speed of robots -- now it's their flexibility, intelligence and adaptability that makes the difference," he said, adding robots needed to interact and adapt to their environments and "make independent decisions". Doctor Bot Outside China's factories, robots are becoming a more visible presence, deployed in restaurants and banks and even delivering parcels. China's iFlytek, a specialist in speech recognition systems, presented a new "medical assistant" robot at the Beijing show which it said was able to help identify up to 150 diseases and ailments -- even passing a national medical qualification exam with a high score. The robot, which operated in conjunction with a doctor, asks patients a series of diagnostic questions and can also analyse X-rays. "It's already being used in hospitals since March and has made some 4,000 diagnoses," company president Liu Qingfeng said, adding such a device could be particularly useful for clinics in more remote parts of China. Chindex, a subsidiary of the conglomerate Fosun, also distributes the "Da Vinci System" in China, an American built robot with arms and high-tech cameras to aid surgeons in the operating theatre. "It transcends the limits of the (human) eye," chief operating officer Liu Yu enthused. But like the diagnostic robot, it still needs a helping human hand. "It only helps the doctor, it cannot replace them. It would not be ethical, the human body is still too complicated," he said. What to Know A $20,000 reward is being offered for the arrest of Shawn Richard Christy, 27, of McAdoo, Pennsylvania. Officials say Christy threatened both President Trump and Northamtpton County District Attorney John Morganelli on Facebook. Christy also allegedly stole a 2001 Jeep Cherokee in Kentucky. A $20,000 reward is being offered for the arrest of a Pennsylvania man accused of threatening President Trump and other elected officials. A federal warrant was issued on June 19 for Shawn Richard Christy, 27, of McAdoo, Pennsylvania. The warrant was related to threats Christy made against Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli and President Trump on Facebook, officials said. Investigators say Christy wrote, Keep it up Morganelli, I promise Ill put a bullet in your head as soon as I put one in the head of President Donald J. Trump, in a Facebook post. Christy also has multiple arrest warrants in Pennsylvania for burglary, probation violation, and failure to appear for an aggravated assault case. Officials say Christy has threatened to use, full lethal force on any law enforcement officer that tries to detain me. Christy is also a suspect in the theft of a dark green 2001 Jeep Cherokee with the Kentucky license plate 095-WYT. Officials say the vehicle was stolen on Aug. 9 around 8:30 a.m. on the 900 block of Brockman Keltner Road in Greensburg, Kentucky. The vehicle has a black hood, US Postal Service and Rural Carrier magnets on the sides and backs and a steering wheel on the right side. Officials also believe Christy abandoned a stolen 2012 Toyota Tundra in the area earlier this week. Christy stands 5-foot-10 and weighs about 160 pounds. He has a tattoo of a cross on his right upper arm, short dark blonde hair and a beard. He also speaks with a noticeable lisp and claims to be a survivalist, police said. Officials are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to Christys arrest. If you have any information on his whereabouts, please call the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-926-8332 or the FBI at 215-418-4000. Christy is considered armed and dangerous and anyone who spots him should not engage him but instead call authorities immediately. What to Know Six swimmers who were in distress were rescued from the water off of Seabrook Beach in New Hampshire by a Good Samaritan. A 49-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman, both from Methuen, Mass., were unconscious; the man was pronounced dead at the hospital. The woman suffered life-threatening injuries in the incident; choppy water conditions appear to have been a factor. One of two people rushed to hospitals after being pulled from the water off of Seabrook Beach in New Hampshire has died, according to authorities. Multiple agencies responded after receiving calls around 12:25 p.m. Sunday for multiple swimmers in distress in the area of 131 Ocean Drive. A Good Samaritan was able to help the six swimmers to shore. Four of the six were not injured, although two of the swimmers were unconscious when they reached shore and CPR was started. One of the two unconscious swimmers was a 47-year-old woman from Methuen, Massachusetts. She was transported to Portsmouth Regional Hospital with life-threatening injuries. The other was a 49-year-old male, also from Methuen, Massachusetts. He was taken to Anna Jaques Hospital in Newburyport where he was pronounced dead. The Good Samaritan who raced into the water to help the distressed swimmers spoke to NBC10 Boston/necn Sunday night. Matthew Tomaszewski says he looked out into the ocean from his porch and knew he had to act fact. "It looked like there were some people caught up in a really bad undertow and rip tide," he said. Tomaszewski grabbed his paddle board and jumped into the water, fighting powerful waves. About 100 feet from shore, he saw the first group of swimmers come in on their own surf board. "There was a group behind them that didn't have any boards and were sort of flailing," he said. After paddling out another 200 feet, Tomaszewski saw the next group. A man and woman were treading water, struggling to hold up their unconscious friend. "Looked to be in really bad shape," he said of the unconscious swimmer. Tomaszewski says he immediately put the unconscious man on the paddle board, had the other two people grab on and tried to swim back to shore. "And that's when we got hit by a massive wave," he recalled. The wave threw the unconscious man back into the water. Tomaszewski sent the other two on his paddle board, leaving him on his own. After struggling, he decided to swim back and says he barely made it. Emergency crews eventually showed up with a boat and found the unconscious man in the water, who was later pronounced dead. Tomaszewski says for a brief moment, he also didn't think he would make it. He adds that thinking of his wife and 17-month-old daughter gave him the strength to keep on going. "I'm glad I was able to help any way I could," he said. "My heart and prayers go out to those families affected." At this time, it appears that choppy water conditions may have been a factor in the incident. While the beach is not closed, authorities are advising people to stay out of the water until the currents calm down. CodeRed alerts, as well as posts on the Seabrook Police Department Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts, advised of the dangerous currents and to avoid swimming off of Seabrook Beach following the incident. New Hampshire State Police - Marine Patrol, the United States Coast Guard, Seabrook Police and Fire Departments, and the Hampton Fire Department responded to the scene. Neither of the two victims has been identified. Anyone with information regarding the incident is asked to contact Officer Nicholas Haroutunian at 603-293-2037. All aspects of the incident remain under investigation. What to Know William Costello, 71, was last seen at a condominium complex on Aug. 1 in South Padre Island, Texas, which is near the Mexico border. Costello was the pastor of St. Anthony's Parish in East Falmouth from 1999 to 2011; he moved to Texas three to four years ago. Investigators obtained information in the course of their investigation into Costello's disappearance that led them to the human remains. The remains of a retired Massachusetts priest who was reported missing Aug. 1 in southeastern Texas near the Mexico border may have been found. The human remains were found buried three miles east of Santa Monica, Texas, according to our affiliate KVEO in Brownsville, Texas. Investigators obtained information in the course of their investigation into William "Bill" Costello's disappearance that led them to a rural area in Willacy County, an hour northwest of where Costello was last seen, KVEO reported. The South Padre Island Police Department has been investigating Costello's disapperance after he was last seen at a condominium complex, KVEO said. Authorities told KVEO that 71-year-old Costello was likely with his dog Grace when he went missing. The dog also remains missing. Costello was the pastor of St. Anthony's Parish in East Falmouth from 1999 to 2011, according to a spokesman for the Roman Catholic Diocese of Fall River. He retired and moved to Texas approximately three to four years ago, John Kearns said. Though authorities have been unable to confirm the identity of the remains found, Kearns said, Certainly the news of the discovery of his body has saddened all of us. He added, The circumstances of it are very disturbing. We certainly await additional information on it. Monsignor Steve Avila, of St. Anthony's Parish, says Costello was a well-liked priest during his time at St. Anthony and called his death tragic. "Everyone that was with him and worked with him just thought he was just absolutely wonderful," Avila said. "He did a lot of great things for this parish." Monsignor Avila says he updated parishoners on the situation before Sunday services. "A lot of them spoke about, you know, how he was very present to them with their families and how he had baptized their children, how he had married them, so it was a lot of recollection," Avilla said of Sunday's discussion. Avila is asking for parishoners prayers as East Falmouth prepares for the worst. "It really is a sad day for us because he touched so many people's lives," he said. Texas authorities have not responded to a request for comment from NBC10 Boston/necn. Rhode Island's largest hospital system has reached a deal for a new contract with unionized nurses and health care workers. Lifespan and Local 5098 of the United Nurses and Allied Professionals announced late Friday they've reached a tentative deal on a new, five-year contract. The two sides say they'll provide more details about the agreement before the labor union's 2,400 members vote on the proposal Wednesday. The announcement could end a protracted contract battle that resulted in a weeklong worker's strike in late July, though union members voted down a previous deal. Lifespan operates Rhode Island Hospital in Providence, which is the state's largest, as well as other health care institutions. DANBURY Police caught two Danbury men suspected of fleeing Walmart after stealing $50 worth of electronics on Saturday. Police said 22-year-old Delton Rogers and 25-year-old Luis David Torrez were captured on surveillance video taking the electronics from the store on Newtown Road. A store detective tried to stop them, but Rogers shoved the employee and the suspects drove away, according to police. The employee described the mens orange Hyundai Sudan to officers, who found the car at Rogers home, where the two were arrested. Rogers was charged with two counts of larceny in the sixth degree, two counts of conspiracy to commit larceny in the sixth degree and robbery in the third degree. Torrez was charged with two counts of larceny in the sixth degree and two counts of conspiracy to commit larceny in the sixth degree. Rogers was released on a $2,500 bond, while Torrez was released on a $500 bond. Steep Rock Preserve in Washington will offer a senior citizens hike and picnic Aug. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon. The event will feature a short and leisurely, guided hike to an historic area, followed by a light picnic lunch. At the Angelus, Pope Francis explains the meaning of the Eucharist: "Jesus to enter into communion with Him" and to "share with Him the gift of life for the world". "It is so important to partake in communion, to go to Mass and receive communion to receive this living Christ". A call to solidarity with the people of Kerala and recitation of the Hail Mary. Young Ukrainians for peace. Vatican City (AsiaNews) - How to "render fruitful the evangelical love we receive in the Eucharist" was the path traced by Pope Francis in his commentary on today's Gospel (20 th Sunday by year, B, Jn 6, 51-58 ), before the Angelus prayer with the pilgrims gathered in St Peter's Square. After the Marian prayer, he launched an appeal for the flood victims in Kerala (South India), calling for the solidarity and help of the international community. The Pope's comments were inspired by the discussion that arose among those listening to Jesus when he offered himself as "living bread descended from heaven" and adde that "the bread that I will give is my flesh for the life of the world". "When the symbol of shared bread leads to its true meaning - Francis explains - that is, the gift of self to the point of sacrifice, misunderstanding emerges, even the rejection of the One who wanted to lead in triumph emerges". With the invitation to "eat" His flesh and "drink" His blood, "Jesus invites them to enter into communion with him, to" nourish themselves of "his humanity, to share with him the gift of life for the world. Other than triumphs and successful mirages! It is precisely the sacrifice of Jesus who gives himself, shares himself among us ". "This bread of life - continued the Pope - the sacrament of the Body and of the Blood of Christ, is given to us freely at the table of the Eucharist .... The Eucharist molds us so that we do not live only for ourselves, but for the Lord and for our brothers and sisters. The happiness and eternity of life depend on our capacity to make fruitful the evangelical love we receive in the Eucharist ". "Jesus - he concluded - repeats today to each one of us:" If you do not eat the flesh of the Son of man and drink his blood, you do not have life in you "(v. 53). It is not a material food, but a living and vivifying bread, which communicates the very life of God. When we go to communion we receive the very life of God. To have this life we need to nourish ourselves with the Gospel and the love of our brothers and sisters. Faced with Jesus' invitation to nourish ourselves with His Body and Blood, we might feel the need to argue and resist, as did the listeners of today's Gospel. This happens when we struggle to shape our existence on that of Jesus, to act according to His criteria and not according to the criteria of the world. But He never tires of inviting us to His banquet to fill ourselves with Him, "living bread descended from heaven". By nourishing ourselves with this food we can enter fully into harmony with Christ, with His feelings, with His behavior. This is why it is so important to communicate, to go to mass and receive communion to receive this living Christ ... May the Virgin Mary support our purpose of communion with Jesus Christ, nourishing ourselves with His Eucharist, to become in turn bread broken for our brothers and sisters" . After the Angelus, Francis recalled "the inhabitants of Kerala ... hard hit by intense rains, which caused flooding and landslides, with heavy losses of human lives, numerous missing and displaced people, and extensive damage to crops and houses". "May the concrete solidarity and support of the international community not be lacking to these our brothers and sisters. My thoughts are with the Church in Kerala, which is on the front line in bringing relief to the population. May we all be close to the Church in Kerala too. Let us pray together for those who have lost their lives and for all the people tried by this great calamity ". And after an invitation to pray in silence, he recited a Hail Mary together with the faithful in the square. Finally, greeting a group of young Ukrainians present, he encouraged them "to be operators of peace and reconciliation". Dhaka : Six people were killed on Saturday in a clash between two rival factions of a political party in Bangladesh's Chittagong district. A police officer told Xinhua news agency that the clash erupted in the Shonirbhor Bazar area of Khagrachari town at around 8.30 a.m. He said the clash occurred between two rival factions of the United People's Democratic Front (UPDF) which is a regional political party based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. "One of the six victims killed in the clash has been identified as a UPDF leader." Dhaka : Six people including a local political leader were killed on Saturday in a clash between two rival factions of a political party in Bangladesh's southeastern Chittagong Hill tracts. Police chief in Khagrachari Ali Ahmed Khan told Xinhua news agency that the clash erupted in the Shonirbhor Bazar area of the Khagrachari district town at around 8.30 a.m. He said the shootout occurred between two rival factions of the United People's Democratic Front which is a regional political party based in the Chittagong Hill Tracts. "One of the six victims killed in the clash has been identified as a UPDF leader." No further details were immediately available. Thimphu : The Election Commission of Bhutan has announced October 18 as the date for the third general elections. The election date was announced by the Chief of the Election Commission, after the approval by the King of Bhutan, through a televised programme on the National television -- Bhutan broadcasting services, Xinhua news agency reported. Prior to the general round, a primary election round would be held between four aspiring political parties on September 15. After that, only two parties will be selected to compete for the general round. Beijing : China's Defence Ministry said it has lodged a formal protest with Washington over a Pentagon report that claimed the Chinese military was training to carry out strikes against the US. The Pentagon report, published on Friday, said China was developing long-range bombers and "likely" training its pilots for strikes against the US and its allies, reports Efe news. "China's military expresses resolute opposition to this (report)," the ministry said in a statement late Friday, stressing that Beijing's only objective of modernising its military was "to protect the country's sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as global peace, stability and prosperity". The statement asks Washington to abandon its "Cold War mentality" and defends the "Chinese military's reform, weapons development and defensive capabilities in the internet space" as "just and reasonable". The Pentagon report had also said that Beijing was seeking to develop nuclear capabilities on its long-range bombers and that China's air force has been reassigned a nuclear mission. The report comes amid a trade war between the world's two largest economies, which led to imposition of high tariffs on imports. Rome : The death toll in a bridge collapse in the Italian city of Genoa climbed to 41 even as preparations were underway for a state funeral for all the victims on Saturday. The toll was raised after rescuers found a vehicle with the bodies of another three people -- a couple and their 9-year-old child -- from the rubble, Efe news reported. Thirty eight victims have been identified so far, including three children. Two people were still missing, according to the Civil Protection Department. Saturday's funeral would be officiated by Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, Archbishop of Genoa, and attended by Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte. Some families were reportedly staying away from the funeral ceremony because of anger at the government, according to the BBC. They will be holding private burials elsewhere in Italy. "Many do not want to take part in a showcase and I understand them," Father Mauro Brezzo, chaplain of Genoa's San Martino hospital, told the Italian media. The collapse of a section of the Morandi motorway bridge and the deaths of those crossing in vehicles led to a fierce debate in Italy about the nation's infrastructure. The government has set up a commission to examine the causes of the disaster and one member speculated that a broken cable rod was "a serious work hypothesis", the BBC said. Antonio Brencich, a University of Genoa lecturer, said there were "eyewitness accounts and videos that go in this direction". The bridge, which was constructed in the 1960s, has cables running directly from the deck to the top of the towers. Port Louis : India and Mauritius on Sunday discussed maritime cooperation during a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on the sidelines of the 11th World Hindi Conference here. "Connecting with a maritime neighbour!" Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted following the meeting. Both leaders discussed how to deepen special ties between the two countries, Kumar said. India and Mauritius agreed to cooperate in the Blue Economy sector in the Indian Ocean during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here in 2015. Around 68 per cent of Mauritius's population of nearly 1.3 million is of Indian descent. Many are descendants of Indian indentured labour brought to work on sugarcane plantations here in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Earlier on Sunday, Sushma Swaraj also met former Mauritian Prime Minister Paul Berenger. Berenger conveyed his condolence on the demise of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Sushma Swaraj then met Mauritian Opposition Leader Xavier Luc Duval. "Good exchange of views on furthering cooperation between our two countries," the Indian spokesperson tweeted. "Relations between India and Mauritius span across the broad political spectrum." As part of her engagements on the second day of the three-day conference that started on Saturday and is aimed at promoting Hindi, Sushma Swaraj inaugurated the Panini Language Laboratory at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute here in the presence of Education Minister of Mauritius Leela Devi Dookun and other dignitaries. The lab, gifted by India, deploys ICT-enabled methods to teach Hindi. Sorry! This content is not available in your region Code of conduct calls to protect vital industry THE apiary industry is calling for a boost to biosecurity efforts through a code of practice to protect Australias hives. Developed by the Australian Honey Bee Industry Council (AHBIC) and Plant Health Australia (PHA) in consultation with the Australian Government, the Biosecurity Code of Practice provides commercial and hobby beekeepers across Australia with a framework to engage in best-practice biosecurity. With the industry worth over $100 million annually in honey production, pest invasion presents a threat not only to commercial production but to the agricultural industry that relies heavily on bee pollination. Established pests and diseases like American foulbrood, small hive beetle and chalkbrood are causing significant economic and social harm to the bee industry and this would be exacerbated by an incursion of an exotic pest like the varroa mite, says AHBIC Chair Peter McDonald. MORE: Agribusiness gems set for Asian export upscaling The code details a set of measures for both hobby and commercial beekeepers those with 50 or more hives to follow in order to be compliant. These include instructions to: register as a beekeeper regularly inspect hives for significant pests and diseases report notifiable diseases control or eradicate pests and diseases, and manage weak hives maintain records of biosecurity related actions and observations appropriately construct and brand (label) hives protect hives from neglect or exposure allow their operation to be assessed by bee biosecurity officers. Thinking about keeping bees? Here are some tips, tricks and common mistakes:https://t.co/QbmIgmZyxB pic.twitter.com/lh3jxnFqKF ABC Science (@ABCscience) August 15, 2018 Also in Australian Food News Mat Lumalasi of beekeepers Melbourne City Rooftop Honey says additional biosecurity measures are crucial for maintaining Australias high standards of hive health. We have the healthiest bees in the world were one of the only countries to not have varroa mite so biosecurity plays a major role in protecting our honey and pollination industry, says Mr Lumalasi. I think any beekeeper in Australia would definitely embrace these biosecurity practices. Melbourne City Rooftop Honey manages hives in Melbournes CBD and fringe suburbs that individuals and corporations are encouraged to sponsor. Its a way for people to join the bee community, says Mr Lumalasi, while increasing awareness of the importance of bees for the agriculture industry. Bees play a major role in our food supply chain. The honey industry is valued at over $100 million but pollination is in the billions, says Mr Lumalasi. Its often the less-thought-about service that bees actually provide. China Is The Blueprint For The Censorship Tyranny Rollout In America The tech giants are using communist China as the testing ground for police state censorship technology testing. Once the tech is perfected by Apple, Google, YouTube, Facebook and Twitter, they then roll out the police state crackdown across America. In fact, the censorship purge now being witnessed in America is a communist China blueprint thats being deployed against the American people as part of a literal information warfare (infowar) chapter of an escalating world war on freedom and liberty. Tech companies like Apple, Google, Facebook and others are siding with communist China while diligently working to destroy the American republic and steal the elections. Watch my red alert warning video here, and share everywhere. You will probably never find this video on YouTube or Facebook, because they would instantly ban it: Brighteon.com/5823926033001 Over 350 video channels are now joining Brighteon.com each day, including astonishingly informative new channels such as : SHTFprepping101 Nearly 200 videos detailing lifesaving prepping how-to techniques for filtering water, storing food and even making your own bulletproof body armor. (This is an absolute must-see video channel.) Dr. Gabriel Cousens A living foods guru, Dr. Cousens has posted full lectures on how to beat diabetes, how to overcome heart disease and more. Pur Medicine A channel hosted by very knowledgeable Chinese Medicine practitioners, these 14 videos (so far) provide a wealth of knowledge about treating cholesterol, headaches, skin issues, mental health disorders and more. James Yeager, Tactical Response James Yeager, a renowned firearms self-defense instructor, has uploaded his entire Fighting Pistol DVD to Brighteon.com as a single episode, viewable for free. The Health Freedom Hub Now featuring 67 interviews with many of the top voices on health freedom. Plus, Brighteon.com now features a growing assortment of daily news channels such as Red List News, Shotgun Economics, InfoWars Network, Zolna Report, News Channel 428 and many others (growing each day). Explore hundreds of new channels that are joining each day at Brighteon.com. Shortly after arriving at the Buttermilk wildfire in Colorado, Sergio Liguori and the rest of the crew from Connecticut were told they would probably only spend a day or so ensuring the blaze had died down and the hot spots were controlled. The next day though, the crew watched as the fire blew up and and took off, consuming more acres. Instead of moving to another fire as planned, they spent a week on the line and in a crater to keep the fire from progressing by digging ditches into the soil and removing trees. They also used their gloved hands and tools to put out smaller hot spots in areas the fire went through. It looked like a meteor hit, said Liguori, 49, a New Milford resident who returned this week after spending 14 days fighting wildland fires in Colorado as part of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protections fire crew. The crew battled blazes at Buttermilk and then Green Mountain in the Aspen area. At the time, the fires totaled 800 acres. Both are no longer active. These are just two of the nearly 41,000 large wildland fires this year that have already burned more than 5.7 million total acres the size of New Hampshire. As of Friday, there were 103 large active fires. Its been said this year is going to be long, Liguori said, adding climate change has worsened the fires. The fire season spans from March to November. Connecticut lends a hand The 20-member crews are made up of DEEP employees and certified private firefighters, who are often volunteer or career firefighters in their own towns. These DEEP crews participate in a reciprocal aid program run by the U.S. Forest Service. Wildland firefighters must be certified and pass a pack test, which requires the firefighter to hike three miles in under 45 minutes while carrying 45 pounds the minimum weight they would carry at a fire due to their gear, shelter, tools and supplies. More News Connecticut firefighters return from Colorado blazes DEEP has 67 active people this year. The crews are determined based on needed qualifications, availability and ratios of new and experienced personnel. DEEP tries to send at least one crew annually and it has started more interagency crews, where Connecticut sends a few people along with crews from other nearby states, such as the crew that left this week, said DEEP spokesman Chris Collibee. Liguori has been a member of this crew since 2011 and fought fires in California, Montana and Colorado. Hes traveled with the crew every year but 2014, since his first wildfire in Montana in 2013. He began his firefighting career in the late 1980s, shortly after moving to New Milford from his native Brazil. One of his friends from high school volunteered with the Northville Volunteer Fire Department and invited Liguori to the firehouse. I came here and they welcomed me with open arms, he said. He rejoined the department around 2009, after moving back to town, as a way to give back to his community. He said he always wanted to get more involved and help with the wildfires he saw on the news, but thought he had to live out west to do so. The opportunity came when he discovered a DEEP brochure on the wildland crew at the firehouse. I do it because Im helping someone whether its my neighbor or someone I dont know, Liguori said. I have to help out. Its not just people. Its Mother Nature. Sometimes you have to help her out. East versus West Liguori said its hard to compare the wildland firefighting with the structure fires and brush fires he deals with as a volunteer with the Northville Volunteer Fire Department. Not only are the fires and techniques to extinguish them different, but the locations are also drastic contrasts, including the wetter climate in the Northeast compared to the dry heat out west. Altitude is also a factor. The Buttermilk fire was around 8,000 feet elevation and the Green Mountain fire was around 10,000 feet. New Milfords elevation is only about 240 feet. Liguori said adjusting to the altitude wasnt that bad, but the crew did have to take it slower. He said it was harder to navigate the 10 percent grade to get in and out of the crater, especially because the ground was so soft and loose due to the shallow-rooted sage that grows there. At the Green Mountain fire the bigger concern was that trees caught on other trees, called snags, would fall on the crews and the underground interconnected root system of the Aspen trees helps the fire spread. These differences often create reservations from the local crews about East Coast help, but the Connecticut team has repeatedly proven itself by its professionalism and expertise, Liguori said. Its what we do, he said. Were professionals. We do our job. The crew generally works 16 hours a day. The only way they stay for the maximum 21 days is if every member agrees, which can be hard because they all have their own jobs in Connecticut. Liguori sells parts for Harley Davidson in Danbury. We go out together, we come back together, Liguori said. We stay together like a family because we are a family. Entering the Southern Tier of New York along Interstate 81 about two miles north of Pennsylvania you feel welcomed, and its not just because of the pleasing scenery. New Yorks Welcome Center, renovated last fall, shows the states pride lots of local agriculture offerings in a sparkling clean, spacious facility. Honey, sauces, syrups, seasonal produce and more are for sale. Sandwiches or containers of fruit, all local, can be bought through a self check-out keypad. Along a wall heading to the bathrooms is a mural I love New York (with a heart for the love) where tourists can pose over the I for a fun photo. And outside, off an expanse of green near the parking lot, sits a life-sized sculpture of the I love New York slogan with a backdrop of green hills folding out in the distance. When I stopped there on the Fourth of July, lots of travelers took photos of each other on the cool sculpture. They were having a good time. I continued my journey upstate to the Finger Lakes with a smile, and fresh watermelon chunks. Three days later, returning home to Connecticut along I-84, the sign came up in Danbury near Exit 2 just over the border from New York. Rest Area CT Welcome Center with a smaller sign above it, Building closed 3:30 p.m. - 8:30 a.m. Some welcome. We may as well put up another sign: Youre in Connecticut but dont even think about stopping. The contrast of New York pride and Connecticut penny pinching could not be greater. Our states Welcome Centers, now unwelcome centers, were shut to travelers midday and through the night by the state Department of Transportation last year as a way to save money. Short-sighted officials estimated they could save $1.1 million over two years by eliminating the funding for about a dozen state workers who maintained the welcome centers and rest stops in Danbury, Southington, West Willington, East Willington, Wallingford, Middletown and North Stonington. Along all of I-84 that runs west to east through the state theres not one completely open rest area. The lack of hospitality in Connecticut is embarrassing. No matter how poor you are, when guests come to your home you welcome them warmly. The state has financial problems, no doubt about it, but telling guests they cant get relief if they happen to stop at say, 4 in the afternoon, signals defeat. And its noticed. A Maryland woman wrote in a Yelp review of the Danbury center April 29: Not a welcome center at all...they're only open from 7:30 am -2:30 pm which means they are closed most of the day and night. How hard is it keep a welcome center with bathrooms and vending machines open??? I mean come on Connecticut, get it together! Shes got a point. The hours open signs on the building and on the highway dont even agree. This Yelp review was posted by a traveler from Germany: There was nothing special about welcoming us to conneticut. We have been to actual cool welcome centers. This one not one of them. Cmon, Connecticut, we are better than that. Cant we show some pride in our state and showcase local produce, goods, even arts in welcome centers along the highway? A percentage of the sales could go toward keeping the centers open. A traveler with a favorable impression might want to come back and explore the area and, who knows, consider our state to open a business. New York got it right. Why cant Connecticut? Jacqueline Smith is editorial page editor of The News-Times and The Norwalk Hour. Email her at jsmith@hearstmediact.com or call 203-731-3344. Stores to welcome sweet newcomer INTENSE sweetener made from monk fruit extract will soon almost certainly be legal to sell in Australia and New Zealand. Currently monk fruit can only be used as a food and drink flavouring. But by January it could be on supermarket shelves as a table top sweetener, an intense sweetener, made to be used as a teaspoon-for-teaspoon equivalent to white sugar. Monk fruit extract is derived from the fruit of Siraitia grosvenorii, a perennial vine native to southern China. The sweet components of monk fruit extract are cucurbitane triterpene glycosides known collectively as mogrosides. The predominant component of commercial monk fruit extracts is mogroside V, which typically represents 30 to 40 per cent of the extract. Food Standards Australia New Zealand has called for submissions on an application to permit the new sweetener. FSANZ Chief Executive Officer Mark Booth said the sweetener was derived from monk fruit (or luo han guo). FSANZ has conducted a thorough safety assessment and concluded there are no public health or safety issues related to the use of monk fruit extract as a sweetener, Mr Booth said. The period for comment closes 31 August 2018. All submissions will be published the FSANZ website after the closing date. The closing date is 31 August 2018. An FSANZ spokesperson told Australian Food News that if there is no ministerial review is requested, the change to allow monk fruit as intense sweetener could become law around January 2019. Read the assessment reports How to make a submission MORE: Monk fruit emerges as a solution for calorie and sugar reduction Also in Australian Food News NEW HAVEN After more than 100 K2 overdoses last week, the crisis appears to be waning. Three of the citys 10 overdoses on Saturday were related to K2, a synthetic cannabis, while there was only one K2 overdose reported as of 1:30 p.m. Sunday, said Rick Fontana, the director of the Office of Emergency Management. He said these numbers are close to average and significantly less than last week, when people were dropping on the Green. What wed seen was unprecedented, he said. This is something we were not used to. [It was] all hands on. Now, its leveled off. Now, were back to normal, providing what we do on a regular basis. Fontana said Sundays lone K2 overdose might not have been from the same synthetic cannabis that people took last week. We think we got that off the street, he said. The police department did a magnificent job through their law enforcement and through their task force getting that off the street. Fontana said the type of K2 circulating last week was fast acting, but short lived, noting that victims brought to the hospital unconscious would walk off their stretchers and leave the hospital moments later. The stuff we had seen on the street was extremely, extremely, extremely potent, he said. But with that K2 off the streets, Fontana said that some people have already turned from synthetic cannabis to opiates. Its almost like pick your poison and thats the sad thing, he said. If they revert way from the K2, theyre going to go back to the other stuff. Fontana said that makes the work of mental health organizations all the more critical. Gov. Dannel Malloy will meet Monday afternoon at the Connecticut Medical Health Center with Jim Carroll, the nominee for federal drug czar and current deputy director of the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy, and other federal, state and local officials to discuss addiction and substance-use disorders. Still, Fontana stressed that normality is returning to the city. Your safety isnt compromised because youre coming to the city of New Haven, he said. Editors note: The second half of the story detailing the disappearance of Connie Smith continues this week with the investigation, possible suspects, and the idea that she may still be found. LAKEVILLE Its been 66 years since Connie Smith disappeared. Connie was only 10 and was attending summer camp in the Northwest Corner when she went missing. The case remains unsolved, but a new, recent interpretation of the vexing cases facts by a close family member combined with the recent rediscovery of human remains thousands of miles away (in the Grand Canyon) may bring resolution to the 66-year-old cold case. Suspect: William Henry Redmond Truck drivers were questioned in the disappearance of Connie Smith, as were traveling carnival workers, and gypsies from Arkansas who camped along Route 22 and were hired out as barn painters, according to police reports. Every time a lead was found, Smith boarded the earliest airplane back East, or to California, or to wherever he was needed at the moment. One suspect was William Henry Redmond, a former carnival worker who was charged in 1988 with strangling an eight-year-old Pennsylvania girl, Jane Marie Althoff, in 1951, which was one year prior to Connies disappearance. Redmonds arrest came after a cross-reference of Redmonds fingerprints found in the cab of a truck where Althoffs body was found with a recent motor-vehicle violation by Redmond, according to police reports. It was thought that Redmond may have been in the Lakeville area at the time. A retired Connecticut State Trooper, Leo Turcotte, residing in Florida in 1988, recalled an anonymous phone tip in 1955 from a man in Montreal who said he had worked for a carnival in the Lakeville area and knew about the girls disappearance. Redmond, who was 66 in 1988, also allegedly told a fellow prison inmate he had killed four people during his lifetime. Redmond passed a polygraph test concerning the Connie Smith case. He was determined too ill to stand trial for the 1951 Althoff murder, and died in 1992. As detailed on Connecticut historian and author John Tuohys Blogger.com sites article Vanished: What became of Connie Smith?, a number of women who claimed to be Connie and had amnesia consistently came forth through the years, but were discounted either under interrogation or analysis. Suspects: Frederick Pope and Jack Walker In April 1953, according to the cases police report confirmed by Detective Downs, nearly a year after Connies disappearance, a traveling jewelry salesman, Frederick Pope, confessed to the Ohio police that he knew where Connie Smith was. Pope alleged that he and an associate, Jack Walker (while traveling with a Rhode Island woman named Wilma Sames) picked Connie up on Route 44, promising Connie a ride back to Wyoming. Pope claimed that Walker killed Connie in Arizona and that Pope himself later beat Walker to death with a tire iron. This all seemed like gold to the Connie Smith case. Upon deeper examination, however, the story fell apart: no records of either Wilma Sames or Jack Walker existed. Pope later admitted the story was a hoax and was dismissed as a suspect. The Pope story, however, did yield a significant lead. On Halloween of 1958, an unidentified young girls remains were found on Skinner Ridge near Williams, Arizona. In 1962, acting on a tip from a letter received by the Connecticut State Police, a comparison of the teeth of the Arizona child (named Little Miss X) with Connies dental records was done and proved inconclusive. In 2004, after the Connecticut State Police collected DNA from the Smith family, but by then the girls remains had been reburied and the grave could not be located. That was before recent revelations brought to light that the remains were somewhere in Citizens Cemetery in Flagstaff, Arizona. Old memories On the continual waiting on any case developments, Dorothy Dike, 78, of British Columbia, Canada, who is Connies stepsister (Peter Smith was Dikes stepfather following the end of his first marriage), has said that it had not been easy for the family. Dike said she would be two years older than Connie today, if Connie were still alive. In a recent telephone interview, Dike shared her memories of the missing child: I knew Connie but I never lived with her, she said. But Peter (the father) thought about her all the time, searching everywhere for her. He went back East about calls from people thinking they had found her or from prisoners confessing to her murder. Dike, who now runs a resort in Bowen Island with her husband Rondy, added, He (Peter) even consulted psychics. He was doing everything he could to try to find his daughter. She added, It was a hard thing to go through for the whole family. I was 12; Connie was 10, a couple years younger than me. It was always on our minds. When asked what she thinks happened to her half-sister, Dike said, I doubt she is alive. Its been such a long time. I think about her every time I hear on the news about the disappearance of a child. Speculations Meaghan Good, 32, of Ohio, has been administrator for The Charley Project website since 2004. The site profiles approximately 10,000 cold case missing people, mainly from the U.S., from the 1800s up until now, with 10, 671 cases currently open. Good posits that Connie likely met with foul play: You see this a lot, especially in the 10-to-13 age group, she said. They start becoming more independent but they are still pretty naive. It is very, very sad, she said. The father lived to be a Biblical age and never found out about her. The suspect would likely be dead now. But it is possible for the case to be solved. Technology makes it resolvable. Michael Dooling, author of Clueless in New England: The Unsolved Disappearances of Paula Welden, Connie Smith and Katherine Hull published in 2010, said, Connies disappearance and the others I wrote about strikes fear in our hearts. Dooling, who is also an antiquarian and a news librarian for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper, added: How can a such a nice, normal 10-year-old girl be seen by so many people on her way to the center of Lakeville and then disappear so completely? Sean Munger, who runs a true-crime website and is an attorney in Portland, Oregon, said by telephone: Connie Smith lived in a time when a 10-year-old walking down country road wasnt thought of as a dangerous situation. Society has changed today. The same creeps were around at that time but there was no Amber Alert or anything like that. Nels J. Smith takes the case Researcher Sandy Bausch noted that she had met Connies brother, the tall and rugged Nels Smith, in person out West a few years ago, in an effort to dig into the case. The family is still very traumatized from the experience, she said. Nels never really had any opportunity to talk about it while his father was aged. When his father passed, he had lots of questions on the case. When Connies father, Peter Smith, died Feb. 22, 2012, at age 97, never learning what happened to his daughter, a baton of sorts was passed to his son, Nels J. Smith. Smith, of Sand Creek, South Dakota, was 13 at the time of her disappearance. Smith, now 79, spoke recently by phone about the case. Articulate and sharp-minded, Smith has since possessed a more optimistic view of the discovery of a little girls skeletal remains that were found in the late 1950s about 2,700 miles from the Connecticut camp in the Grand Canyon. A retired rancher and real-estate businessman, Smith stated in a telephone interview: When Little Miss Xs remains were found in 1958, I called the article to my mothers attention. She rejected the possibility that it could be Connie. (She had said) it was too far away from Connecticut, which was not really valid, but.... And the remains were described as possibly American Indian. Connie had rather high cheek bones, which could certainly account for the latter point. Dental evidence and Little Miss X At the time, by 1962, according to the Associated Press, the Denver sheriff, backed by evidence examined by a Colorado dental surgeon, Dr. David Berman, and a pathologist, Dr. George I. Ogura, announced that the skeletal remains were not that of Connie Smith. In the meantime, Connies mother died in December 1961, of a heart attack, at age 47. Mother had died before someone in the Connecticut State Police caught the similarities in Connies dental chart and that of Little Miss X, Nels Smith said. Of the five points of identification on the Little Miss X dental chart, one was a filling that could have been done after Connie disappeared on July 16, 1952. Smith added of Connies dental chart: The remaining four points (of dental identification and not necessarily just fillings) were identical to Connies dental chart. Three fillings were of the same technique and material used by Dr. Floyd Ward (the Smith family dentist at the time), who examined the Little Miss X skull and jaw. He recalled, He said three of the four fillings were identical to his work. He speculated they could be his work and materials. Smith added that one sticking point in consensus that Little Miss X was Connie was an aspect of the dental report. He said, The last point was a small indentation in the palate, directly behind and between the two incisors. The palate is the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities. He said, Dr. Ward said it was impossible for him to determine if this indentation was naturally occurring or the result of the surgical removal of a supernumerary tooth, which was the case with Connie. A supernumerary tooth is an extra tooth that appears in addition to the regular number of teeth. Supernumerary teeth are typically removed if they overcrowd the rest of the teeth. Smith went on, At this point the skull was examined by a pathologist in Denver in an attempt to determine whether the indentation was natural or the result of surgery. I was told that the pathologists opinion was that the indentation was natural. I have since learned and I believe reliably that it is virtually impossible to tell the difference after any surgery has completely healed and that the pathologists report so indicated. Smith said, That perspective on the case has stayed on my mind. He added, It is very strong. In my mind, I want to bring closure. It is a strong possibility that Little Miss X is Connie. Hence, Smith said, aside from the fourth filling, the Little Miss X skull matched the dental record for Connie Smith. The additional filling could have been somehow gotten perhaps in the time period between Connies disappearance and the discovery of the Grand Canyon remains. It could have been the remains, but nothing was done, Smith claimed. I didnt push it at the time. Mother died in 1961. It was thought that Helen Smith had died of a broken heart. Smith continued, The family dentist, Floyd Ward, had said three out of the four dental fillings were his work. He added of a similarity to Connies teeth: The gap in the teeth was still there, and Mother used to joke that it was so wide, you could throw something through it. Of his fathers reaction to the Little Miss X remains being discovered, Nels Smith said, The story at the time was that it was a naturally-occurring indentation and it was decided it wasnt Connie. He didnt want her to be gone. There was a lot of pain at that time, he said. An understandable reaction for any bereaved parent, it could have been that after so many years of searching for any living or dead traces of his daughter, that at a critical point in the cases history, the family patriarch Peter Smith couldnt accept tangible proof that his little girl might indeed be gone. Nels Smith stated, I am convinced that the remains are that of Connie. My take is that he was denying the evidence and just holding out hope for Connie. Dental experts weigh in Forensic and regular dentists were asked their opinions about the similarities between Connies dental records versus that of Little Miss Xs. A forensic dentist, or forensic odontologist, is a medical professional employed by a medical examiner who applies dental science in the identification of unknown human remains and bite marks. The work can involve postmortem dental examinations, digital imaging, and X-rays. None of the surveyed dentists had personally examined Little Miss Xs remains. When contacted by e-mail, Dr. Patrick Thevissen, a professor and head of the forensic odontology department at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (a research university in Flanders, Belgium), wrote, In my opinion, when examining a skull, a forensic dentist would not be able to distinguish between a naturally-occurring palate indentation and one that occurred from removal of a supernumerary tooth that had fully healed from years ago. Thevissen added, however, nearly-identical dental fillings do not constitute enough evidence for positive dental identification. He wrote, Identical dental fillings work, checked with a morphological comparison of available antemortem (before death) dental X-rays, is necessary. Dr. Richard Fixott, a forensic dentist in Redmond, Oregon, was asked about the comparison of Connie Smiths dental records and that of Little Miss X. Fixott, who is also a diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Odontology, explained that if no X-ray films exist for the antemortem record, then restorative patterns on the teeth can be compared. If they match with no unexplainable discrepancies, then a records-based rather than a radiographic match can be made, he stated. Fixott speculated: If I saw a small dent in the palate, I would not state that a supernumerary tooth had been extracted but would note the location if dent appeared unusual. If, as in this case, there was a record of a surgery to remove a tooth from the palate and a dent or healed site was noted in the palate, it would be an extra point of concordance but insufficient to be basis for a non-X-ray dental identification. For a records-based ID, Fixott explained that unless the dental work was unusual, additional modes of identification may be used including, radiology, cranio-facial superimposition, and items found at the recovery site. Fixott stated, When a tooth is removed there is healing over time that fills in the socket. In the case of a dent in the palate, it would not normally be diagnosed as a fully-healed extraction site on postmortem examination. He added this would depend on location and size of the dent. He added, However, if the dental records documented the extraction of a supernumerary tooth, finding a dent in that location would be another point of concordance with the dental record. Dr. Mark Horowitz, a private-practice dentist in New York who has assisted investigations to confirm deceased patients identities, including victims of the World Trade Center terrorism, was also asked about the dental records question in the Little Miss X-Connie Smith connection. Horowitz stated, Dental records and especially radiographs are used all the time for definitive identification of bodies and burn victims. I would think in this specific case of a young girl, deceased, sometime soon after removing a supernumerary tooth, there could/would certainly be evidence of the surgery. A depression or indentation could also be congenital, or naturally occurring. He added, I have no idea how common these things are. However, in such a case there would have been no reason to ever have known that such an indentation existed while the girl was living. I think that if there are records, specifically, radiographic records, of the existence and removal of a supernumerary tooth, this can certainly be compared to a skull with great accuracy, if the skull were still available. On the question of whether or not a naturally-occurring palate indentation and one completely healed from dental surgery could be indistinguishable, Horowitz added, Im not sure I am qualified to answer that. However, I would suspect that a forensic expert, aided by certain diagnostic tools and tests, would be able to. Although, the longer the time for healing, the more difficult it might be to differentiate. Nels Smith provided a DNA sample in 2004 that was entered into the FBI national database. Smith, being Connies brother, would have similar DNA to any possible found remains of Connie. The database periodically runs new samples across the country and compares them to those in the database to see if there are any matches. Finding a grave The stumbling point of where the remains of Little Miss X have been long-buried, since the initial discovery, may have been recently solved. According to Lieutenant Gerrit Boeck of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Coconino County Sheriffs Office, they now believe they know where Little Miss X is buried. The Offices Cold Cases & Missing Persons Department, working with the County Medical Examiners Office, plans to exhume the body and continue work to identify the remains, which are in an undisclosed location in Citizens Cemetery in Flagstaff, Arizona. Our intention is to exhume what we think are the remains in the cemetery, Boeck said in a telephone interview on July 20. We are working with the records to dig up the right person. A key figure in the exhumation of Little Miss X is Joe Sumner, a retired criminal investigator for the National Parks Service and a volunteer in the Sheriffs Offices Cold Cases Department. Sumner was on vacation in Europe for several weeks in July and could not be reached for comment. Boeck said Sumner and the Criminal Investigation Division had been working on the case for a long time. They worked with old photos from newspapers and burial records, coming up with the best possible scenario and location for the unidentified body, said Boeck of the process of narrowing down the location of Little Miss X, adding later, What is funny with cold cases is that we end up solving other cases. The other cases he spoke about may include the Connie Smith case, even though it was initially rejected as the girls body in the 1960s. This was despite the similar dental history and also prior the advent of DNA testing in criminal investigations. Exumation could bring clues The departments oldest unsolved homicide, Little Miss Xs skeleton was found Oct. 31, 1958, on a hillside off a dirt road on Skinner Ridge south of Grand Canyon National Park, according to long-missing Coconino County coroners inquest as reported in a round-up article in The Arizona Daily Sun in 2013. The body was unclothed and lying prone, having been there possibly more than one year. Clothes, a comb, and a nail file case had been found near the body. After determining that the body did not belong to missing local girls or that of Connie Smith, due to a 1960s interpretation of the dental records, the remains were buried afterward in Citizen Cemetery, long a resting place for unidentified bodies. Until recently, records of Little Miss Xs burial had been lost for decades. Currently we are awaiting permissions (for exhumation) from the Coconino County Medical Examiners office and from the State as well, said Boeck. He walked the location of the remains with Sumner about three weeks ago. We believe there is a good chance it is (Little Miss X). We wont know until it is exhumed. We are not sure what we have here yet. Once the exhumation is granted and performed, Im not sure exactly what the time frame will be, he said. There are a lot of details to be ironed out first. So, for the Connie Smith case, it appears that a piece of the long-unsolved puzzle may be finally put into place. Connies brother, Nels J. Smith, was recently alerted, and with his DNA sample in the FBI database, in Smiths words: The only thing left to do is to compare the DNAs and hope for a match. The lead police investigator in the Connie Smith case, Richard Chapman, was a rookie trooper when he answered the missing person call on Indian Mountain Road. Chappy had been obsessed with the cold case even after retiring in 1973 (he had lamented not solving the case in a retirement speech). He died in May 2011. A famous mystery Connie Smiths disappearance is still one of Connecticuts most famous cases, known as B-57-H in state records. After Chapman retired, the case files were turned over to Litchfields Western District Major Crime Squad. The detectives who had handled the case were former Salisbury resident state trooper Mark Lauretano and Detective Karoline Keith, who are now retired. Detective Michael Downs of the Western District Major Crime Squad at the Western District Headquarters at 452-B Bantam Road in Litchfield is now the caretaker of the one bankers box and three large ring binders containing about 650 pages of still-confidential files on the Connie Smith disappearance. Smiths vanishing prompted a national search and the largest manhunt in Connecticut history. Downs inherited the boxes of files from the Major Crime Squad predecessors. He is not allowed to show the contents of the folders, which remain confidential because the case is still open. Active criminal police investigations records are at least, in part, exempt in some circumstances from Freedom of Information Act requests. Downs, however, was able to confirm the details of the case mentioned in this article. There were some leads that were dead ends, Downs said. My thoughts are that its a good case. It all happened so long ago. In 1952 things were done differently, and technology was very old-school. If you think back to childhood, one could walk anywhere. Times change. A 10-year-old walking down an old dirt road crying would be remarkable today. Back then, it was nothing. Downs said, No one knows what actually occurred. Its been 66 years, and no one has found her. With the Internet and technology, you would think something would have come up, but no. It is a desolate, rural area with plenty of land, he said. There are farms with 200 acres where anything could have happened and a body could have been buried. He said, If a child were missing today, it would be found. With this case, there is hope for the familys sake. I tend to be hopelessly optimistic that something will come. Downs has been in touch with the Arizona police department on the next steps for Little Miss Xs future exhumation and matching of DNA. It will be a wait-and-see kind of thing because it takes a number of weeks to get the DNA result, said researcher Bausch on the cases possible next steps. I hope there will be closure for the Smith family or another family should the results turn out to not match Connie. She added later: It sounds promising. If you think the Republican and Democratic primary campaigns featured vicious attacks, just wait for the main event, when Republican Bob Stefanowski of Madison and Democrat Ned Lamont of Greenwich, along with the independent Super PACs aligned with each of them, raise the ante for the governors campaign by lowering the tone and buying up the TV time between now and Nov. 6. Wheres the mute button? With neither candidate joining the states voluntary public-financing program and their $6.5 million spending ceilings the sky could be the limit. The dueling duo will find themselves in the middle of a proxy fight, as Republicans try to align Lamont with the unpopular Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, and Democrats liken Stefanowski to President Donald Trump, for the heart and soul of Connecticuts blue-state reputation. In Bridgeport Mayor Joe Ganim, whose federal felony conviction precluded him from participating in the Citizens Election Fund, Lamont did not have an adversary who could attack him beyond a few uncomfortable minutes during debates. Ganim was ultimately unsuccessful in framing Lamont as an out-of-touch rich guy, and lost 168 of the states 169 towns. Stefanowski, though, having been on TV since January in his successful effort to turn the traditional GOP nominating process on its head, will have millions upon millions to attack and promote his candidacy. Lamont, from Greenwich, with a personal fortune estimated between $100 million and $300 million, will be able to go toe-to-toe. Its likely that spending in the 2018 race for governor will exceed the more than $15 million of 2014 campaign, in which Malloy was re-elected over Tom Foley of Greenwich for a second time. On the attack The statewide returns hadnt even arrived at the Secretary of the States Office the morning after the primary on Wednesday, and Lamont was calling his Republican opponent Trumpanowski, while the Republican gave the Democrat the Ned Malloy appellation. Jerry Dunklee, a Southern Connecticut State University journalism professor who spent four decades in radio and TV, says that the evolution in election law means that the candidates dont even have to truthful anymore in their ads. I think its clear that there is going to a deluge of outside money coming into both the governors race and the 5th Congressional District, Dunklee said Friday. A lot of it will be TV advertising. During the primary, I was amazed at the number of commercials on TV. Its a boon for TV and radio. Dunklee, who teaches a course on media law and ethics, says that the 2016 presidential election essentially bypassed Connecticut, but this year, TV and radio will be awash in cash. Out-of-state money might filter down to the races for attorney general, state treasurer, maybe even state Senate contests. He said that while the so-called equal-time rule is on the books with the Federal Communications Commission, exemptions have expanded to the point where talk shows dont even have to pretend to air views on the opposite side of political arguments. The need for equal time has really become very flaccid and its not as enforced as it used to be, Dunklee said. Im seeing this more and more in the national media. And with TV and radio stations safe from legal liability under requirements that they cannot censor political commercials, the battling candidates and PACs can say virtually anything they want. TV has to accept the advertising of legally authorized candidates, Dunklee said. Key state Judging by the initial rhetoric, Connecticut in 2018 will be a battleground. Today, Democrats in Connecticut doubled down on Governor Dan Malloys failed policies that have been disastrous for the states economy and for those who call Connecticut home, said Ellie Hockenbury, Republic National Committee spokesperson, on the day after the primary. In Ned Lamont, Democrats have thrown their support behind a candidate who proudly speaks of raising their taxes and supporting single-payer health care regardless of the $32 trillion price tag, she said. Voters have had enough of the Democrats destructive policies and will finally have someone who will fight for them when they elect Bob Stefanowski this November. Lets be very clear, this primary was a test of which Republican loves Trump the most, said Connecticut Democratic Party spokesperson Christina Polizzi. Theyve said it in debates, in mailers, and in interviews: They think Trump is doing a great job want to bring his policies to Connecticut. Lets call this contest what it is: a litmus test for Trump loyalty, Polizzi said. That means rolling back gun-violence prevention, dismantling health care, and attacking womens health. The stakes in this election could not be higher and a Republican governor would bring Trumps chaos to Connecticut and drag the state backward. Gary L. Rose, a Sacred Heart University professor and chairman of the Department of Government there, said it will be a grueling 11 weeks-plus. When all is said and done, well be very exhausted, he said. The amount of money spent will be incredible. In many ways, Trump and Malloy are both in this race. kdixon@ctpost.com Twitter: @KenDixonCT Editors note: This is the 35th story in the Registers Top 50 series. NEW HAVEN Its difficult to quantify just how many museums are in the Elm City on a given day because its always changing, if you consider museum a 20th century term, as does the man in charge of it all, Andrew Wolf, the citys director of arts, culture and tourism. Wolf, who said the goal is to make New Haven a global destination for creativity, said one must consider all the galleries, nonprofits and other spaces for art, ideas and objects. He said 82 nonprofit groups in New Haven specialize in arts and humanities. Its always changing and its never the same, he said of the museum status. Were a small city with big art. While many artistic gems are tucked around the city, the big ones stand out as being on many a must-see list among the 1.6 million to 1.8 million visitors per year. Museums are an important part of cultural ecosystems, Wolf said. The world-renowned Yale University Art Gallery sits at Chapel and York architect Louis Kahns first architectural masterpiece, Wolf said, noting that across the street is Kahns last masterpiece before his death, Yale Center for British Art, the largest collection of British art outside the United Kingdom. Wolf said he thinks of that as a miracle. Wolf said the center isnt called a museum because of the intellectual powers visit to study from around the globe. The building has no paint on it because Kahn wanted the artwork to be the only paint. Its gray, reflective panels are intended to reflect the clouds and moods of the sun throughout the day, Wolf said. The museum was funded by Yale University graduate and philanthropist Paul Mellon, a collector of British art. In 1966, Mellon gave the building, works of art, and endowment that established the center. Mellon also attended Choate Rosemary Hall in Wallingford. In the case of Kahns Yale University Art Gallery, the oldest university art gallery in the United States, its one of the few museums in the country that doesnt have glass facing the street in front. That was designed by Kahn so the sun would come in from the York Street side, which has glass, and from glass above. The museums permanent collection features more than 4,000 works that include ancient times vessels from the Tang-dynasty China, textiles from Borneo and masterworks by Degas, van Gogh and Picasso, to name just a few. Even the big museums change the creative landscape with special exhibits: The Yale University Art Gallery features a landmark exhibit which, according to its website, investigates a virtually unknown period in the career of Leonardo da Vinci, one of the most famous artists of the Italian Renaissance. Just blocks away, at the Knights of Columbus Museum, is an award-winning exhibit, World War I: Beyond the Front Lines. To the extent New Haven itself is something of a living museum, home to iconic institutions, classic architecture, and history itself, I have a special appreciation for the numerous, world-class, traditional museums that call New Haven home, Mayor Toni N. Harp said. They preserve and showcase artwork, artifacts and treasures to help visitors stay reminded of the beauty in this world, its rich history, and the fact that New Haven has long been known as a special place that attracts exceptional people. Another world-renowned city treasure is the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University, one of the oldest and largest university natural history museums in the world. Museum Director David K. Skelly, in his welcome message on the museum website, says 150,000 people visit the museum each year, including schoolchildren, scholars and scientists. Although many children in Greater New Haven know the museum on Whitney Avenue as the dinosaur museum, it is much more. Aside from dinosaurs, the museum explores birds, the history of human culture, gems and minerals, insects and plants, the wonders of the universe. Skelly writes the museum houses more than 13 million objects in 10 different divisions, representing more than four billion years of geological, biological and human history. The Great Hall of Dinosaurs is the centerpiece of the museum and features skeletons from the museums world-renowned paleontology collections, the website states. It is also home to Rudolph Zallingers famous mural, The Age of Reptiles. Opened in 1926, the Great Hall was designed to house some of the extensive fossils collected in the late 19th century for O.C. Marsh, among them the Peabodys largest mounted skeleton, a Brontosaurus. Nearby are the reconstructed skeletons of Camarasaurus, Stegosaurus and Camptosaurus, according to the website . The New Haven Museum has a theme one would infer from the name: 375 years of city and surrounding history come to life, From the colonys founding as a puritan village through its growth into a major industrial center and now a thriving metropolitan area, according to its website . The New Haven Museum was founded in 1862 as the New Haven Colony Historical Society, and from the beginning sought to collect, preserve and make available for research materials that document the history of Greater New Haven . The organization has always stressed scholarship. One of the most significant exhibits housed in the museum is The Amistad Gallery, subtitled, Cinque lives here. Cinque was an African captive who served as leader of the Amistad slave ship rebellion in 1839. He, along with 52 other men, who were simple rice farmers in their homeland of Sierra Leone, were abducted to be sold as slaves. The exhibit tells the story of the Amistad affair and features a portrait of Cinque and the painting of the ship, a letter from John Quincy Adams to the captives, and items of that time. The portrait of Cinque by New Haven painter Nathaniel Jocelyn is generally understood to be the first and one of the finest portrayals of an African in American art, the museum website states. The Knights of Columbus Museum at 1 State St. is housed in a building at the gateway to New Haven, visible from the highway, and designed by architect Kevin Roche. The museum showcases the Catholic fraternal organizations history and achievements with its founding principles of charity, unity, fraternity and patriotism evident throughout the permanent galleries, according to its website . The lobby of the museum is said to provide an impressive entryway to the museum, according to the website. It is the setting for a 400-year-old cross from atop St. Peters Basilica, a gift from Pope St. John Paul II in appreciation for the restoration of the basilicas facade funded by the Knights of Columbus in the 1980s, the Knights of Columbus website states. The Father Michael McGivney Gallery illustrates McGivneys vision for the role of laypeople in the Church and a fraternal society to unite men in faith and service resulted in the founding of the Knights of Columbus, which today is the largest Catholic lay organization in the world. The Papal Gallery recounts the longstanding relationship between the Knights of Columbus and the Vatican and the 170-foot-long Wall of History is a thematic and chronological presentation of the Knights of Columbus origins and development. Free-standing kiosks devoted to each of the supreme knights punctuate the timeline. The Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library must be counted among the great museums in New Haven, Wolf said. The library, according to its website, is one of the worlds largest libraries devoted entirely to rare books and manuscripts and is Yales principal repository for literary archives, early manuscripts, and rare books. The library is home to the Gutenberg Bible and John James Audubon collection of works. Audubon, who was born in 1785 and died in 1851, was once the countrys dominant wildlife artist, and the man for whom the Audubon Society was named. The striking building, of Vermont marble and granite, bronze and glass, was designed by Gordon Bunshaft. The marble panels filter light so that rare materials can be displayed without damage. Wolf refers to art as the creative sector, and counts New Havens legendary pizza among that. People tell me theres a wonderful new vibe in New Haven, Wolf said. Theres something every single day going on in New Haven. After 7 oclock at night you still see people on the street enjoying life. He considers New Haven to be the cultural hub of the state. We work to bring the world to New Haven, he said. An informal Facebook survey showed many who live in the area take advantage of the museums in the citys cultural ecosystem. Sarah Walker Caron, formerly of Connecticut, wrote on Facebook: I am a huge fan (of) the Yale Peabody the dinosaurs are breathtaking but its the changing activities and interactive stations that make it so special. Some said they love the interactive Childrens Museum. Arthur Bellucci, a musician and longtime music director, said he loves the Yale Collection of Musical Instruments. Small, overlooked museum that contains a treasure trove of vintage instruments including strings, woodwinds, bells, and antique harpsichords. World-renowned artists are invited to perform here. The staff is quite knowledgeable and, like the best things in life, its free! Milford Alderman and activist Bryan Anderson said he likes the Peabody for nostalgia, but another is his adult favorite. Like other children, I was fascinated by dinosaur bones. I spent many a Saturday there, and would often walk from home. Its especially a great place to visit on a rainy day when you cant be outside for enjoyment. However, as an adult, New Haven Museum captures both New Havens important historical moments, and unique place in New England and America. I especially love the Amistad collection that should be shared with everyone! Letters written by former captives, abolitionists and the former President of the United States are in their collection, Anderson wrote on Facebook. Terri Miles wrote on Facebook that the Peabody is her favorite. So much to see for young and old. I can sit and look at the brontosaurus skeleton forever and wonder what it was like back then. (I refuse to call it apatosaurus) my granddaughter cant get enough of the Egyptian exhibit, Miles wrote. Kathy Katella-Cofrancesco wrote on Facebook: Yale Art Gallery and the British Museum either/or, or both well I think my favorite is British. Its like a day trip to do once a year especially if there is something special like a concert as you walk in. The last time I went to British, we followed dancers though the galleries. The gift shop is awesome even if you dont buy anything. Then you have to stop for coffee or something at some place like Atticus or Book Trader. I love that. Karen Rousseau has romantic and love of natural history reasons to love the Peabody. She wrote on Facebook: The Peabody because I was proposed to on the bench outside. And the two of us went there every year on field trips. Janet Hubon Stratton wrote on Facebook that Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library is her favorite, Hands down. The building has thin marble panels that play with the light, she wrote. Sharon Porto chose the Peabody, as well, because when I was young my father took us every year, and it was the first place I ever saw dinosaur bones. Janet Kipphut Ainsworth wrote of the Peabody: Took my kids there so much, they could have given tours. NEW HAVEN James Thomas knows the exact locations where drug dealers have set up shop on the Green. A staff member of Trinity Episcopal Church on the Green and leader of a weekly spiritual fellowship group, Thomas has built familiar relationships with many of those who spend their days in the center of the city, including many who are homeless and many who are addicted to drugs. Anywhere on the upper Green, its all K2, Thomas said. The upper Green is where many people dropped to the ground last week as more than 100 K2 overdoses involving nearly 50 drug users jolted the city. Pointing to the bus stop on Temple Street, close to Trinitys front doors, Thomas said, You got your weed down here, the cigarettes. Turning to the bus stop on Chapel Street, between Church and Temple streets, Thomas said, All the lower part down here is heroin and pills. If Thomas, who spent a number of homeless years himself, knows where the dealing is going on, then certainly the police know too, he said, but the difficulty in stopping the dealing is hard to really explain because its not visible. They see the police before the police see them, and they got a lookout for the police, believe it or not. I say it before and Ill say it again. They need more presence. Instead of walking them through, they need to post them up. I dont see why they cant put seven cops right here on the Green. Walking through is just no good, Thomas said. Its like the neighborhood. Theyre doing the best they can do, but the problem is they need to be posted and (the dealers) wouldnt go there if they were posted there. Its not really a hard thing to get under control. Thomas said his big concern is the schoolchildren who are bused to the downtown stops, where they have to transfer to get home. All the kids that are going to the hood, theyve got to catch the bus here or on Chapel Street. The kids shouldnt see this. He is not alone in that idea. We want to move the (bus) transfer station from the Green, Mayor Toni Harp said. Weve been working on that since Ive been mayor. A study of where to move the bus stops has been going on for three years, she said. Police Chief Anthony Campbell said normally six to eight officers are patrolling downtown, with two or three on the Green, but after the overdoses began mounting on Wednesday, a unit of 15 to 20 officers was deployed to the central square. The difficulty is this: Were down 111 officers. The Police Department does not have a contract, has not had a contract for two years. It is very hard for us to retain police officers, he said. We cant pull officers away from other areas. Both Campbell and Harp said the need is not just for police but for social workers, crisis-intervention and other counselors. Harp said a class of recruits will start training on Sept. 17, and others may begin in November and in the spring. We do the best training but New Haven doesnt pay as well as other towns, she said. Police forces pick up our folks and they can leave and make $20,000 more. We have increased patrols but frankly not enough, Harp said. A lot of the people move from the Green to the library. Weve trained our librarians in mental health and first aid. New Haven is really in many respects a victim of our success in having programs that service our community. She said about a year ago the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services provided social workers who were stationed by Trinity Church. The contract went through Columbus House and for whatever reason Columbus House pulled them and brought them over to the Boulevard, Harp said. They are technically still around but they are not working on the Green anymore. But Alison Cunningham, executive director of Columbus House, which runs a homeless shelter and offers housing services, said a person on the agencys outreach staff is responsible for outreach on the Green and the downtown area. She said outreach case managers have always been downtown and they were there this week and theyll be there this weekend. Cunningham said her staff members who were downtown on Wednesday were all saying it was a really scary day for them. Our staff was pretty traumatized, moved because they were seeing the same thing the police were seeing. It was important for us to be there to help with that group of folks. However, she said, she couldnt say how many of the victims were homeless. I think its a myth that everybody on the Green is homeless and thats simply not true, Cunningham said. She said the atmosphere at the shelter Wednesday was pretty quiet. I think people were talking quietly among themselves. The overdose crisis that began Tuesday night and continued through Thursday, involving 47 people some overdosing multiple times put a spotlight on issues of addiction, drug dealing and policing, especially on the Green, the magnet for business people eating lunch, families enjoying the flagpole fountain and homeless people whiling away their time before the Columbus House shelter opens at 4 p.m. Its also a draw for those addicted to drugs and those who prey on them. Campbell said last week that 85 percent of those who hang out on the Green regularly are not homeless. Many of these people are associated with the APT Foundation, which treats people addicted to opioids with methadone, Campbell said. More than 50 percent are not city residents. More than 60 percent who come to the APT Foundation are not residents of the city. Lynn Madden, president of the APT Foundation, disputed Campbells assertion, saying 60 percent of patients come from Greater New Haven. She said she was given a list of 35 people who overdosed last week and only six were APT Foundation patients, one of whom receives psychiatric services and is not being treated for substance abuse. The APT Foundation has clinics at 1 Long Wharf and 495 Congress Ave. in New Haven, 352 State St. in North Haven, 184 Front Ave. in West Haven and 425 Grant St. in Bridgeport. The reason why we opened programs in West Haven and North Haven is so that people would not have to come into the city, Madden said. One of the challenges we have is that the bus routes are not very useful, forcing many to go downtown to catch buses home. Weve been in conversations with the city and others to see if we can have some impact on those bus routes, she said. I dont think scapegoating treatment providers is a very helpful response. Harp said the APT Foundation differs from some other treatment centers in that patients can receive methadone if your urine is dirty if the client has drugs in his or her system. They are bullish on their model. They think its a very successful model, Harp said. But Madden said that drug addiction, like other chronic illnesses requires five to seven treatment episodes, each of which may be interrupted by a relapse. Sometimes they stay in treatment as they relapse, she said. All addictive disorders are difficult to treat. This one happens to involve behavior that is considered illegal, putting the patient at risk of going into the criminal justice system, making it more difficult to get a job and to recover from addiction. In the front line Located near the Temple Street bus stop and the busy Chapel Street corner, Trinity Church is in the front line of this and therefore we try to empower people as best as possible with spiritual resources and this is a fine line, said the Rev. Luk De Volder, Trinitys rector. He and his maintenance staff said it is common to find drug powder, feces and blood along the church wall that faces the Green. The police do not have enough resources to cope with the magnitude of whats going on, De Volder said. Police are doing all that they can but as a structural thing it is bigger than they can address. We get the backlash. This weekend, De Volder called together a task force of church members who are specialized in public health, drug addiction, and pastoral care, according to an email sent to church members. The parish vestry also will discuss the issue this week, according to De Volder. He said church staff regularly deal with mentally unstable people trying to self-medicate in order to allieve pain and have some mental stability. Their presence is volatile, theyre accosting us constantly, and were used to it. Phil Costello, clinical director of homeless care for the Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, was manning a temporary setup on the upper Green on Thursday, where people who had overdosed could come for treatment and avoid a trip to the hospital. The effects of K2 are short-lived and so a trip to the hospital isnt always necessary, although an ambulance was standing by. Long-term, were very interested in setting up a walk-in center where the homeless can walk in and be safe, Costello said. The agency is looking at sites someplace close to the Green so we can take care of them and they have easy access to medical services, to take a shower, be watched. He said the project could be a collaborative project with other agencies such as Columbus House, Liberty Community Services or Community Action Agency. We have to be close to where they are, Costello said. We dont have to be on the Green, but a stones throw from it. However, he said, fundingwise for this were going to need some help. One woman on the Green on Thursday said the sudden attention to the problem of overdoses is overdue. Every day the ambulance is here picking up people, she said, refusing to give her name. Mike, who was homeless until March, said the police attention is misplaced. They try to catch anybody for drinking a beer, handing out a $99 ticket. Meanwhile, this is happening, he said. I think they should focus on the important stuff instead of drinking beer. He said police ignore Yale students drinking beer on the Green but ticket black men like himself. They target people but theyre not trying to save people. As they see in movies, catch the big fish. They got cameras all around here. Why dont they catch him? Cynthia Boll, of New Haven, who was waiting for a bus, said a lot of it has to do with a lot of pain when it comes to the vulnerable downtown population. Were trying, but nothing is being successful in their lives. They have nowhere to go. They have rehab but they need a long rehab. They need more down-deep help. Theyre fragile. They dont know what to do. Editors note: Ed Stannard is a member of Trinity Church. edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382. The chief of the Palisades Interstate Parkway Police Department has resigned, days after he was arrested for allegedly buying cocaine and having it shipped to his post office box. Michael Coppola, 43, handed in his resignation on August 15, according to Jim Hall, executive director of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. Hall said Coppola submitted his resignation as the department was preparing his rice notification that informs public workers their employment will be discussed at an upcoming meeting. Jock Watkins will head the department while the department seeks a new chief, Hall said. Coppola's resignation is one of a myriad of problems for the parkway police over the past year. The department has been under investigation by the Bergen County Prosecutor's Office since last November after two suspects died during separate police chases. The parkway police oversee the Palisades Interstate Park and patrol 11 miles of highway between the George Washington Bridge and the New York State line. In July, the prosecutor's office released a report of their findings which detailed a litany of inappropriate actions taken by the department. The report found that department routinely chased people needlessly or without permission; misused police tactics; did not properly investigate officers against whom allegations of misconduct had been filed; and rewarded officers with the most tickets and arrests. The park commission suspended Coppola, of Totowa, for three months without pay, after the report was released. Less than a month later, Coppola was arrested on Route 80 in Ridgefield Park and charged with attempt to possess cocaine and having drug paraphernalia. Investigators said Coppola "had been purchasing cocaine via the internet," and had the drug shipped to a post office box he maintained. Detectives placed a package containing fake cocaine in Coppola's post office box after he made what he thought was an online drug buy, according to authorities. The prosecutor's office has not said what started the investigation, or if any other members of the department were involved. Coppola is scheduled to make a court appearance Aug. 22. Coppola, who joined the police department in 1996, earned a $135,000 salary, according to pension records. He was named chief in 2014 after starting his career as a dispatcher before rising to sergeant, detective lieutenant and officer-in-charge of the agency. Olivia Rizzo may be reached at orizzo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @LivRizz. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips UPDATE: Remaining suspects wanted in ambush shooting of Camden cops arrested Authorities have arrested one of three men sought in the shooting of two Camden police detectives last week. Juan M. Figueroa, 20, of Camden, was arrested without incident on Saturday in Gloucester City, Camden police reported. Juan M. Figueroa Police have charged Figueroa, Alexander DeJesus, 19, of Philadelphia, and Ammar A. Hall, 26, of Camden, with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit attempted murder, aggravated assault and weapons offenses in the Aug. 7 assault. The plain-clothes detectives, a man and a woman, were wounded as they sat in their SUV at a red light in the Bergen Square neighborhood around 8:30 p.m. Two men in a white Chevrolet Uplander stopped nearby, exited and began firing at the cops, pumping 14 rounds into the unmarked vehicle. The male detective suffered wounds to the bicep and forearm, while the female detective was struck in the hand. Both have been released from the hospital. Neither has been named because of the undercover nature of their work. One of the detectives returned fire before the assailants fled. The Uplander was recovered hours later. Camden police announced charges against the trio on Friday afternoon. A $60,000 reward is offered for their arrest. Figueroa was placed in Camden County's jail pending hearings. Police Chief Scott Thomson, who called the three "homicidal maniacs" during Friday's press conference, encouraged DeJesus and Hall to surrender. All three have prior criminal records, he said Friday. Figueroa was sentenced to 5 years probation on a weapons charge in October 2017, according to court records. Hall was sentenced to 3 years in 2012 on drug distribution charges and sentenced to 180 days and 5 years probation in 2016 on another drug offense. No adult charges were listed for DeJesus. Anyone with information about the suspects can call Camden County Prosecutor's Office Detective Matt McKeown at 609-820-7192 or Camden County Police Detective Frank Cardoso at 609-519-5898. 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. The school board candidate who posted racist remarks on his Facebook page between 2013 and 2016 has removed himself from the race, a statement posted Saturday on Facebook confirmed. Richard Jankowski, 51, of Williamstown, dropped out of the race for a seat on the Monroe Township Board of Education in Gloucester County after his Facebook posts where he called black people "monkeys," and "animals," and advocated that "it's time to start firing bullets" to kill them, were reported by the New Jersey Globe. Richard Jankowski is seen in an undated Facebook photo. Jankowski's posts appeared to be his commentary on the Black Lives Matter protests and citizen reaction to, among other things, the 2013 not-guilty verdict for George Zimmerman, who was charged in the killing of Florida teenager Trayvon Martin. He also referred to the 2014 shooting of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. Jankowski announced his withdrawal from the election in a Facebook post to a Williamstown/Monroe Township Facebook group Saturday. The statement was posted by member Shawn Rutter, as Jankowski had deactivated his accounts. "I want you to know that I wrote those remarks in anger from what I have seen transpire through our country over the years," the statement said. "I acknowledge this is not an excuse for my actions." Jankowski was unable to be reached by NJ Advance Media. Rutter confirmed that he did post the statement on Jankowski's behalf, but said he did so because they lived in the same town. He didn't have a comment on the situation. Monroe Township Board of Education President George Caruso told NJ Advance Media Friday that the statements are "between that gentleman and the rest of the community." "He's not on the school board," Caruso said. Jankowski's withdrawal from the race leaves five candidates vying for three open seats on Nov. 6. Paige Gross may be reached at pgross@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @By_paigegross. A Bayonne woman was sentenced to two years' probation this week for causing a scene on a New York-bound flight and forcing an unplanned landing, according to the Associated Press. Robin Ducore, of Bayonne, pleaded guilty in federal court in May to interfering with the crew of a JetBlue flight from the Dominican Republic in July 2017. She was sentenced to two years' probation during a sentencing hearing Friday. Ducore drank "three or four" glasses of wine and began touching a male passenger next to her, according to the Associated Press. A female physician switched seats with the man and tried to calm her, but Ducore then started throwing water bottles, shouting profanities and was placed in flexcuffs. She then wriggled free and kicked a flight attendant. The plane was diverted and forced to land in Dulles Airport in Virginia. Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. JERSEY CITY -- A 36-year-old Kearny man has been charged with ramming a woman with his motorcycle, dragging her and then throwing her to the ground in a parking lot on Thursday, officials said. David Calabrese, who is described as being homeless, was arrested on the day of the incident and charged with aggravated assault and weapons offenses related to the motorcycle, the criminal complaint says. Calabrese is charged with hitting the woman with the motorcycle in a parking lot on the 200 block of Kearny Avenue at about 3:10 a.m., the criminal complaint says. He then allegedly grabbed her and dragged her while continuing to drive before throwing her to the ground. She suffered scrapes and marks on both arms and legs and required medical attention, according to the complaint, which says the pair had been in dating relationship. Calabrese made his first appearance on the charges yesterday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. At the hearing, the state moved to detain him through the course of his prosecution and a detention hearing is scheduled for Wednesday before Hudson County Superior Court Judge Paul DePascale in the Hudson County Administration Building in Jersey City. JERSEY CITY -- A man was seriously injured early Saturday morning when he was cut in the throat near the MLK Drive Light Rail station, according to a city spokeswoman. Police responded to the area of Virginia Avenue and MLK Drive just after 2 a.m. Saturday on a report of an assault, city spokeswoman Kim Wallace-Scalcione said. When officers arrived, they found a man who had suffered an injury to his neck from a sharp object. The 36-year-old victim was rushed to the hospital and is said to be recovering, she said. No arrests have been made. The investigation is ongoing, Wallace-Scalcione said. Corey W. McDonald may be reached at cmcdonald@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @coreymacc. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook. Authorities have arrested an Indiana couple on charges they plotted to have a North Brunswick woman killed. Narsan Lingala, 54, and his girlfriend, Sandya Reddy, 51, of Noblesville, Indiana, were arrested in Woodbridge Saturday afternoon when they met an undercover officer posing as a prospective hitman, according to the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office. Their alleged target was Lingala's ex-wife, authorities said. Lingala and Reddy were charged with first-degree attempted murder and conspiracy to commit murder. The arrests followed a three-month investigation by the Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office, Woodbridge Police Department and the FBI. The investigation is ongoing and anyone with information about the case is asked to contact Woodbridge Police Detective Michael Barbato at 732-635-7700 or prosecutor's office Detective Lucas Kitto at 732-745-3976. 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. The wide-ranging report from a Pennsylvania grand jury exposing the long-hidden secrets of predator priests is sparking calls for a similar accounting in New Jersey. New Jersey's Catholic bishops, in the wake of the report, said the disclosures "show a heartbreaking departure from our fundamental belief in the dignity and value of every child." At the same time, the head of the state's largest Catholic diocese has announced it will hire an outside firm to conduct an audit of alleged child abuse cases, although Cardinal Joseph Tobin of the Archdiocese of Newark has not committed to a release of any findings. Sen. Joseph Vitale, who has pushed for years to eliminate New Jersey's limits on civil lawsuits involving child sex abuse complaints against priests, said it is time for the attorney general to act, calling on the state to conduct an investigation similar to that in Pennsylvania. "This issue has not gone away and victims continue to suffer," said the Middlesex County Democrat. Indeed, the explosive grand jury reports out of Pennsylvania, with its monstrous narratives of hundreds of priests who preyed on more than 1,000 children, may be a game-changing moment, some believe. "In my mind, the Pennsylvania investigation begs the question--shouldn't this be something that every state should be doing?" asked Brigid Harrison, a Montclair State University professor who studies New Jersey politics. Harrison said the "horrific elements" of the Pennsylvania report--which demonstrated a level of collusion that had been hinted at and revealed in isolated instances--showed the power of a state-sanctioned investigation in revealing what many in the Catholic Church have tried to keep hidden from public disclosure. "Pennsylvania has been the only state that has conducted an investigation. It was an official governmental action and this was the result," she said, referring to the shocking disclosures revealed in the grand jury report naming names and describing in often raw detail of what they did. "I think other states will look at that and hopefully use their resources to conduct similar investigations." A spokeswoman for Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal said the office is reviewing the Pennsylvania grand jury report and the work undertaken by the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office "to determine what, if any, additional actions are appropriate in New Jersey." In Pennsylvania, the grand jury said abuse was allowed to go on for years, with no public accountability. "Priests were raping little boys and girls, and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing; they hid it all. For decades," said the report, which described in detail the criminal abuse of children. "There was the priest, for example, who raped a seven-year-old girl--while he was visiting her in the hospital after she'd had her tonsils out. Or the priest who made a nine-year-old give him oral sex, then rinsed out the boy's mouth with holy water to purify him," the grand jury wrote. At the same time, the report said those in charge knew what was going on, but did whatever it took to avoid scandal. One priest who finally decided to quit after years of child abuse complaints, asked for, and received, a letter of reference for his next job--at Walt Disney World. Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who announced the release of the findings, said the two-year probe found a systematic cover-up by senior church officials. "The cover-up was sophisticated. And all the while, shockingly, church leadership kept records of the abuse and the cover-up," he said. Victim advocates in New Jersey say the secrecy of the church keeps the stories of victims here from being told. A spokesman for the Archdiocese of Newark said the church is transparent about cases involving allegations against priests. Jim Goodness, the spokesman, said the parish is informed when allegations are brought, as well as other parishes where that person has been. Church officials also report or urge victims to report abuse allegations to local law enforcement, a requirement enacted by the U.S. bishops after the wave of sex abuse cases in the early 2000s. However, Phillipsburg attorney Greg Gianforcaro, who has represented a number of individuals alleging abuse by priests, said many of those cases are at the demand of the church, and are never revealed to the public. "I've been litigating these cases for approximately 20 years and I'm not shocked by anything that I saw that came out of the Pennsylvania grand jury report," he said. The attorney said there was nothing that came out of the state inquiry that he has not seen in court records in New Jersey. "The difference is that in New Jersey, the documents are sealed and never permitted to be disclosed to the public," he said. "I have tried on numerous occasions to plead to the courts to unseal documents and to no avail." While church officials insist they are transparent, Gianforcaro said they are anything but transparent. "It's like climbing Mt. Everest for the church to turn over anything," he said. Mark Crawford, an abuse survivor and New Jersey director of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said whether the Pennsylvania grand jury report will be a game changer is still unclear. He noted that public outrage over stories of clerical abuse has been seen before. "But I think people are starting to realize it may be systematic and pervasive. That this is in fact at the highest levels of the church," he said. Vitale, who hopes the scandal in Pennsylvania will bring more legislators to his side of the table, is looking to push forward on his bill that has languished for years. The bill would eliminate the statute of limitations on civil litigation by those who were sexually abused by priests as children. "I'm tired of waiting," said Vitale. Ted Sherman may be reached at tsherman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TedShermanSL. Facebook: @TedSherman.reporter. Find NJ.com on Facebook. By Alma Aparicio In many ways, I am just like many young Americans you may know. I am a 20-year-old university student who has often been more concerned with balancing my studies, a part-time job, and hanging out with friends than the ideological war being waged over immigration. I get it. "But I am not there." "I don't see it." "How does this affect my life?" Ask yourself, does that sound familiar? In those instances, however, when I, too, have wanted to tell myself that I am not walking in immigrants' shoes, my mother has always been there to remind me that I am. Since I was a young girl, she would tell me, "Remember, you are not like the others." It wasn't until I got much older, when I was starting to chart my own future - putting my dreams into action - that I realized what she had meant. As she would later explain to me, I was 3 years old when she made the tough decision to give us the prospects of a better life and travel from our native Puebla, Mexico, to live with my uncle in Camden. It is unfair to use DACA recipients as bargaining chips in these ongoing negotiations. At worst, it is cruel and inhumane. At best, it holds children accountable for choices that were made not of their own volition. (Photo courtesy of Alma Aparicio) Over the years, she would remind me that we were from Mexico, but it never registered that I wasn't American - or at least an American citizen. When I was a teenager, I began to apply for colleges and suddenly found myself asking what a Social Security number was and where I could find mine. "Wait, why don't I have one?" I asked. As my mother explained how the law works, the realization was understandably tough for me to take. In one moment, I was just like my classmates: dreaming of what I wanted to be, where I would attend school, and what my life would be like. The next, I was being told that a piece of paper - or the lack of one - said I was different than my peers. Fortunately for me, in the next breath, my mother has always been there to tell me that, although I will encounter obstacles that others won't face, I am smart, talented, and able to succeed no matter what comes my way. Consequently, after graduating in the top 10 percent of my class at LEAP Academy University Charter School in Camden, I enrolled at Rutgers University-Camden, where I am a rising senior English major with a double minor in Latin American studies and political science. I am also preparing for a career in law, working part-time for an immigration attorney in Philadelphia, where my bilingual skills have been helpful in communicating with clients. Since 2012, I have dutifully submitted the requisite documents every two years to maintain my protections under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program. But the clock keeps ticking on DACA. With so much uncertainty concerning the future of the program, there are many people like me - walking in my shoes - whose lives hang in the balance. We don't know what could happen to us or whether we are going to make careers out of all our hard work. As anyone can attest, it takes a certain bit of faith in yourself to accomplish anything in life. Imagine doing that with the specter of not knowing that all your hopes and dreams - and life as you know it - could one day be null and void. President Donald Trump has said that the future of DACA - and, more importantly, the path to citizenship for the more than 800,000 people who came to the U.S. illegally as children - hinges on increased border security, particularly the construction of a border wall. Meanwhile, Democrats have expressed the need for increased border security, but vowed not to support the construction of a wall. You may be surprised to know that I, myself, am a little conflicted about the idea of open borders. Part of me wants to support the idea, but I also believe that the United States should be able to guarantee its national security and keep out unwanted criminals or those who mean to cause us harm. However, I also believe that necessary steps must be taken to ensure that good people - those fleeing violence and prejudice, those seeking a better life for themselves and their families, just as my mother did for me - are not lumped into these same groups. And in doing so, the United States will remain a country that welcomes those seeking refuge with open arms. Regardless of where you stand on the issue, I think that it is unfair to use DACA recipients as bargaining chips in these ongoing negotiations. At worst, it is cruel and inhumane. At best, it holds children accountable for choices that were made not of their own volition. And in many instances, these children would not become aware of these made choices until many years - sometimes decades - later. If we learned anything from the horrific images showing children and their parents separated at the southern U.S. border, it was the visceral, appalled reaction from people across the political spectrum when you saw the faces - the actual lives - affected by the ongoing war over immigration. So then where are the pictures of us so-called DREAMers? You don't have to look too far. We are where we've always been: your friends, neighbors, classmates, co-workers, and relatives. We have - and continue - to make valuable contributions to society, although the political headwinds are making it much more difficult to do so. Several years ago, we were told to step out of the shadows, show our faces, and be granted temporary protections that once-upon-a-time we couldn't dream were even necessary. Congress doesn't have an answer just yet, we were told, but keep the faith; one is on the way. So here I stand. Waiting. Still dreaming. Hoping that we're going to get it right. There was a not-so-distant time ago when I, too, was scared to let anyone know my DACA status. I also didn't know the power of my words, and it is time for others to realize the power of theirs. Call your legislators and tell them to recognize the faces - the actual lives - of those seeking their rightful citizenship in a country that, for many of us, is the only one we have ever known. Alma Aparicio is a rising senior English major with a double minor in Latin American studies and political science at Rutgers-Camden. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. By John Atlas Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's shocking upset of U.S. Rep. Joe Crowley -- the 10-term Democrat from Queens, New York, whom many party insiders thought would be the next House speaker -- has caused a serious kerfuffle in the party's establishment wing. Ocasio-Cortez was one of a growing number of progressives -- disproportionately women -- who are running for office at the local and state levels as well as Congress. Last year, voters in New Jersey, which is considered a "blue" state but which recently suffered through eight years of Republican Chris Christie as governor, elected Democrat Phil Murphy as the state's chief executive. He's on track to become the most progressive governor in the country. Murphy embraced a platform long advocated by New Jersey's grass-roots leaders from unions such as Communications Workers for America, and community groups like Citizen Action, BlueWave, the NAACP, the Working Families Alliance and Planned Parenthood. He called for tax hikes on corporations and the wealthy, legalizing recreational marijuana and creating a public bank that would invest state deposits in New Jersey's communities rather than send the capital off to out-of-state and overseas banks for foreign investment. In his first several months he pushed through automatic voter registration, increased Planned Parenthood funding and extended contraception access to Medicaid recipients. Despite being a one-time Wall Street banker, Murphy has chosen sides with the party's progressive wing over its corporate wing. He promises to raise the minimum wage, protect immigrants, ban offshore oil drilling and promote wind energy. He has mandated one of the strongest equal-pay policies in the country and promises larger pension payments, universal pre-K, free community college and fixes to New Jersey's broken infrastructure. Attorney General Gurbir Grewal, a Murphy appointee, has filed lawsuits and amicus briefs against the Trump administration on issues ranging from immigration to taxes. So far New Jersey's establishment Democrats -- particularly those who control the party apparatus -- have not altered Murphy's course. Is Murphyism the best strategy for rebuilding the party? Is he an example of how to bridge the divisions of false choices between the progressive and establishment wing of the party? Mike Lux, a former White House staffer and a member of the Obama transition team, argues in his new book, "How to Democrat in the Age of Trump," that it's time to be bold, to embrace the issues that working Americans care about, and to reject the status quo that stagnated the party and led to its devastating loss in 2016. He advocates being honest with voters, rather than shrinking away from the tough debates and taking easy, safe positions. Public opinion polls reveal that a progressive agenda -- such as free college tuition, raising the minimum wage, "Medicare-for-all" -- have widespread support among Americans, even among some Republicans. One theme Lux suggests that would aid Murphy's appeal to voters of all classes, races, and backgrounds is to take back the word "freedom." The Republicans, he says, have taken ownership of "freedom" for far too long. Lux wrote: "They want the freedom to pay the lowest possible wages and benefits to their workers. ... They want the freedom to discriminate against any group of people they dislike. ... They want the freedom to pollute the air and water no matter the costs for other people or future generations. They want the freedom to crush their competitors and cheat their customers and even crash the economy without any consequences at all." Since the beginning of Franklin Roosevelt's presidency, Democrats have championed the freedoms of regular people to build a better life for themselves. Republicans are the party most associated with the word "freedom," but it's the Democrats who should embrace that idea. While resistance is necessary, Democrats have to do more than simply be anti-Trump. It is not enough to fight against something; Democrats need to fight for their own ideas and propose them. That's the lesson of the victories by Ocasio-Cortez and Murphy. While the rest of the country is neither Queens nor New Jersey, Ocasio-Cortez has become a huge new rock star with insurgent progressives. And an important voice and fundraiser for progressive Democrats, it is Murphy who is the brightest light for progressives. John Atlas, a Montclair resident, is a freelance writer and associate producer of the recent PBS documentary "ACORN and the Firestorm," inspired by his 2010 book "Seeds of Change: The Story of ACORN, America's Most Controversial Antipoverty Community Organizing Group" (Vanderbilt University Press). Cardinal Joseph Tobin took over in Newark in January of 2017 and has won nothing but praise since. He started with a huge advantage, since he replaced Archbishop John Myers, a grim enforcer of conservative dogma, a man who protected abusive priests over and over, used church funds to spend lavishly on himself, and insisted that people address him as "Your Grace." Tobin is refreshing change, our own version of Pope Francis. He asks visitors to call him Joe, he has no taste for personal luxury, he shares the Pope's humility, and he is eager to show a soft heart when it comes to church dogma. "Maybe my theology isn't sophisticated enough, but I don't believe that there's a compelling theological reason why the pope couldn't name a woman cardinal," he told Nicholas Kristoff of the New York Times. But now Tobin is facing the whirlwinds of the Church's sex scandal, raising the question of whether any Catholic leader can escape it without injury. He is under pressure to reveal the names of priests who have been credibly accused in the Newark diocese, to open sealed settlements of lawsuits, and to accept proposed changes in the state's statute of limitations that ban lawsuits over child rapes that occurred long ago. "It keeps me awake at night," Tobin told me, referring to the sex scandals plaguing the church. "It makes me sick to my stomach." Events have thrust the issue onto his agenda. First came the news that one of Tobin's predecessors in Newark, Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, sexually abused young men for years, and that the Newark archdiocese settled at least two lawsuits in secret rather than reveal the truth. And last week, a report from the attorney general in Pennsylvania found that 300 priests abused or raped at least 1,000 children in six different dioceses, using the same playbook on how to hide it from worshippers and shuffle accused priests from post to post, allowing them to find new victims at each stop. We can't let this lose its shock value. This is systemic, as if the church acted as a training ground for an army of child rapists. And Pennsylvania was nothing new. This has happened across the country, and all around the globe. So, I asked Tobin what he thinks is at the root of it, and whether he shared my suspicion that it has something to do with the church doctrine on celibacy for priests. Could that be making the church a haven for perverts? Or could the vow of celibacy be violated so widely that it feeds a culture of secrecy and rule-breaking, as suggested by Richard Sipe, a psychiatrist and former priest who is among the leading experts on the issue? Sipe, who died this month, estimated that 6 percent of priests abuse children, and that 50 percent violate their vows of celibacy. "I don't think it's per se a question of celibacy," Tobin said. "By far the greatest locus of abuse is people who are married in families." "But the Pennsylvania thing is awful. The best I can tell is that there's an immaturity, a lack of contact with people and their own sexuality. I don't think celibacy is the predominant reason for that." But he suspects some men join the priesthood as an effort to contain their own sexual deviancy. "They sort of spiritualize the problem and think that being a priest will help them do that," he said. "It's like an alcoholic who says I'll take the pledge, and God will give me the grace to do it. I think it's a lack of human formation that results in very sexually immature people. And unfortunately, they are placed in the position where they can do a lot of harm." The demons that drive a man to rape a child may remain a mystery forever. But what about the church's failure to stop it? That's where Tobin is certain to face more criticism as he tries to balance his duty to protect the church against his duty to help victims get justice. Sen. Joseph Vitale, D-Middlesex, has sponsored a bill to remove the statute of limitations on civil suits, which have already been removed in criminal cases. Current law in New Jersey bans lawsuits more than two years after the damage of abuse is discovered. Vitale would prefer to eliminate it, but is working on compromises. Tobin says he's open to compromise as well, but it's the Church's stated opposition that has stalled the bill in the Legislature. Vitale is at wit's end: "This ongoing Pennsylvania horror story underscores the widespread rape of children across the country at the hands of abusers and those institutions that are their partners in crime," he says. "It is tragically past time that my colleagues in the New Jersey Legislature finally join with me in my legislation that will once and for all give survivors of child sex abuse and rape access to justice. Holding accountable those who harmed them will now come down to choosing sides "Let me make it simple. Column A is rapists and their enablers, Column B is the survivors. No abstentions allowed." Tobin said the five dioceses in New Jersey have paid about $50 million combined to settle abuse lawsuits over the last decade. He is inclined to open even those that were sealed, like those against McCarrick, but he didn't commit to doing so. "My default mode is the optimum transparency," he said. "But I'd like to get some advice on that." I asked him about one case in which a priest who remains active in the diocese was accused of abusing an adult seminarian. The charge was deemed "credible" by the diocese's review board, but the charges were never proven, and the identity of the priest, who was a deacon at the time of the alleged abuse, remains secret. "I've reopened it," Tobin said. He has ordered an audit of all these cases by an outside firm, though its mandate is not yet clear. In the end, Tobin is an impossible spot. A flood of lawsuits could cripple the church and its mission, with its schools, hospitals, shelters, and soup kitchens on the line. But he says he's determined to bring justice for the victims. One thing seems certain: He will make enemies, no matter what he does. Thanks to this continuing plague of child rape, no leader in the Catholic Church can avoid that for long. This column has been updated to reflect that five dioceses in New Jersey combined paid about $50 million to settle abuse lawsuits over the last decade. Cardinal Joseph Tobin misspoke when he said that was the amount paid by the Archdiocese of Newark. More: Tom Moran columns Tom Moran may be reached at tmoran@starledger.com or call (973) 836-4909. Follow him on Twitter @tomamoran. Find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. By Michael Reagan What's the mainstream liberal media's most overblown Trump crisis of the week? First, it was the president's tweet calling former staffer Omarosa Manigault Newman a "dog" for betraying him and his administration with her new book, "Unhinged," and her stash of secret White House recordings. Then on Wednesday came the president's revocation of the security clearance of John Brennan, Obama's former CIA director and full-time Trump basher. From the liberal media's reaction, you'd have thought President Trump had sentenced Brennan to death and declared himself dictator for life. The New York Times called it "a striking act of retaliation against an outspoken critic." Poor hysterical Andrea Mitchell of NBC, who pretended to worry that the president was "denying his own CIA ... access to the wise counsel of Brennan," said the action was "akin to the Nixon enemies list." Trump's action was, as usual, pure Trumpian. Brennan definitely deserved to have his security clearance taken away. Instead of acting like a respectable ex-government servant and keeping his partisan comments to himself, he's been acting like a political hack or MSNBC talk show host. After the Trump-Putin press conference in Helsinki, for example, Brennan tweeted that the president's performance "rises to & exceeds the threshold of 'high crimes & misdemeanors.' It was nothing short of treasonous. Not only were Trump's comments imbecilic, he is wholly in the pocket of Putin. Republican Patriots: Where are you???" Other former Obama/Hillary partisans with security clearances who've been investigating or critiquing Trump and his staff are reportedly being considered for the same treatment - including James Clapper, James Comey and FBI super villains Peter Strzok, Lisa Page and Bruce Ohr. By the way, the whole security-clearance issue for former intelligence officials has been blown out of proportion by the media. There's a long history of allowing the clearances for certain officials to continue from one administration to the next. It's practical. It has worked. That's why it was done. But in the past the officials from the previous administrations were not professional public enemies of the new president. Some people apparently think that Brennan and the other ex-Obama people with security clearances are able to just walk into their nearest federal building and start looking at top-secret stuff. No, they can't do that. They have to be invited by the current administration to come and look at material or give them advice based on their experiences or knowledge. Even Mitchell knows there's no way in hell the Trump administration is going to ask any of those Obama/Hillary partisans to come in to help. As usual, the president messed up. He managed to turn a decision he had every right to make into a vindictive political and personal act. If he's going to pull security clearances on Obama alums, he should have done it on everyone at the same time and done it a long time ago. My problem with revoking the clearances is that once a president goes down this road, it's bar-the-door Sally. We Republicans may all be happy and excited about what Trump did to Brennan, but one day were going to be angry and upset when a Democrat president does it to one of our guys. We obviously live in a different presidency today than ever before. Things are much different. Can anyone ever remember a former CIA director pointing a finger and speaking ill of a sitting president? Or a former president speaking ill of a sitting president? This is the post-Trump world were living in now. We've lost complete respect for everything and everyone in Washington. We're now at a point where no one in D.C. works together. No one looks for common ground. The reality is, while this is going on in D.C., the American economy is growing at 4.1 percent, unemployment is down dramatically and taxes and regulations have been cut. What gets lost in the big media's over-the-top coverage of petty D.C. beltway crap like the Omarosa tapes and revoked security clearances is that America is doing pretty great - again. Michael Reagan is the son of President Ronald Reagan, a political consultant, and the author of "Lessons My Father Taught Me: The Strength, Integrity, and Faith of Ronald Reagan." Send comments to Reagan@caglecartoons.com. Some 10,000 New Jersey seniors and their families stand to benefit from a bill Gov. Phil Murphy signed a bill into law Friday. The governor gave final approval to a measure that protects people who pay fees to Continuing Care Retirement Communities, or CCRCs, which include assisted living facilities, independent living communities and long-term care units. Before moving into a CCRC, would-be residents pay a move-in fee, and when the resident dies, 90 percent of the fee is returned to the resident's estate. The fee is generally hundreds of thousands of dollars. The new law limits the amount of time a CCRC can hold onto a refundable entrance fee after a resident leaves the facility. One of the bill's prime sponsors, state Sen. Christopher "Kip" Bateman, introduced the legislation after NJ Advance Media reported a man's deceased mother's fee was held "hostage," which resulted in a nearly $90,000 loss for the family. "For far too long, retirees and estate holders have been victimized by a system that allowed greedy CCRCs to hold their scarce financial resources hostage for years on end. Today we put a stop to it," Bateman, R-Somerset, said in a statement. "The nightmare is over." Before the bill was signed into law, the facilities could hold on to that money indefinitely -- usually until a new resident moves into the unit, as spelled out in the contracts. The new law affects the more than 10,000 seniors who live in 25 CCRCs across New Jersey. NJ Advance Media contributor Karin Price Mueller contributed to this report. Matt Arco may be reached at marco@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MatthewArco or Facebook. A 73-year-old woman was killed in a three-vehicle accident early Sunday morning on the New Jersey Turnpike, state police said. Nilda Ortiz, of Roselle, was driving a Toyota Camry southbound around 2:45 a.m. in the truck lanes of the turnpike near Linden. She stopped in the right lane of travel and a tractor-trailer behind her struck the rear of her car. The driver of the truck, Arno Froehlich, 60, of Saint-Simon, New Brunswick, Canada, got out of his truck and stayed at the scene of the accident until authorities arrived, police said. As Froehlich waited, a Jeep Wrangler driving southbound hit Ortiz's car, and pushed it into Froehlich. Ortiz was pronounced dead at the scene, and Froehlich sustained moderate injuries, according to state police. The unidentified driver of the Jeep also stopped and waited for police to arrive. No charges have been filed and the crash remains under investigation, police said. The right two lanes of the turnpike were closed for about seven hours after the crash for the investigation, police said. Gianluca D'Elia may be reached at gdelia@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @gianluca_delia. Find NJ.com 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: volunteer organizer Liz McCartney. The icon: Liz McCartney. The legacy: Like countless others, Liz McCartney and Zack Rosenburg watched in horror as the depth of the devastation from 2005's Hurricane Katrina unfolded live on their TVs. Like so many others, they also decided to do something about it. Within a few months of the storm, they made the 17-hour drive from Washington, D.C., to New Orleans, determined to help however they could. Their planned two-week visit would become a permanent stay. It would also see them found a nonprofit, volunteer-based organization dubbed the St. Bernard Project, designed to help rebuild local homes both quickly and affordably. Since then, the program -- rebranded SBP -- has gone national, helping to restore more than 1,500 family homes in Louisiana and beyond, and turning McCartney into an emblem of the power of volunteerism. The artist: Queen Hope Parker. The quote: "In a way, I wish that we didn't need to exist. In a country with so many resources and innovators, it seems like we should be able to help communities both prepare for and recover from disasters a lot faster than we do now." -- Liz McCartney, in a 2015 interview with People magazine Explore more of Parker's work online at WhereYart.net and in person at the Where Y'Art gallery, 1901 Royal St. Before co-founding SPB -- for which she currently serves as chief operating officer -- McCartney was a middle-school teacher in Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, according to a profile on the SBP website. Source: The Times-Picayune archives; SBPusa.org; staff research More on 300 for 300: A 15-year-old boy was fatally wounded after being shot once in Algiers Saturday night (Aug. 18), New Orleans police said. The shooting was reported by NOPD shortly after 6:30 p.m. in the 3900 block of Sullen Street. Paramedics took the teen to University Medical Center, where police said he died shortly after. The youth's name has not been released. No other information was immediately available, the NOPD said. Police had Sullen Place blocked off between Maumus and Stratford streets during their investigation. First responders were seen rushing the victim from a house while performing CPR. 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 A woman on a phone ran up to the crime scene tape set up at the scene and asked, "Do you know what hospital they took him to?" She then turned and ran back to a car. Large groups of people gathered at the scene. "I'm tired of this stuff, I'll tell you what," one man said. "You hear gunshots too often. It's sad." The man declined to give his name but said he was inside at the time and did not hear the gunshots, but came outside to investigate when he heard sirens. A controversial sign has been removed from a Houston middle school's wall after generating controversy a week before the new school year has begun, the Houston Chronicle reported Saturday (Aug. 18). The sign, which said, "The more you act like a lady, the more he'll act like a gentleman," had been displayed above a bank of lockers inside a girls' locker room at Gregory Lincoln, a K-8 school, the story said. A Twitter user posted a now-viral photo of the sign on social media, describing it as "victim-blaming" against women for "sexual violence against them." School district officials said in a statement, "The quote does not align with HISD (Houston Independent School District) values, and it will be taken down." More than 30 years after horrific crimes against children in the Louisiana Diocese of Lafayette first exposed a culture of sexual abuse and systematic cover-up within the Catholic Church, the tragedy continues. The latest evidence comes in a scathing report issued Tuesday (Aug. 14) by a Pennsylvania grand jury that found bishops and other leaders of the church had concealed sexual abuse of children by more than 300 priests over a period of 70 years. The grand jury said there were more than 1,000 identifiable victims and likely thousands more whose records were lost or who were too afraid to come forward. Heartbreaking examples in the 1,400-page report included a priest who raped a young girl in a hospital visit after she had her tonsils out; another priest who was allowed to stay in ministry after impregnating a young girl and arranging for her to have an abortion; a 7-year-old boy who was sexually abused by a priest and then told to go and confess his "sins" -- to that same priest; another priest who forced a 9-year-old boy to perform oral sex, "then rinsed out the boy's mouth with holy water to purify him." As hard as it is to read about the physical abuses, the mental anguish heaped upon victims and their families as church leaders sought to intimidate or use cynical guilt against them to remain silent magnifies the damage done to both body and soul. "The main thing was not to help children, but to avoid scandal," the report said. "Priests were raping little boys and girls and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing: they hid it all." Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro said the grand jury reviewed more than 2 million documents, including from the church's "secret archives" that included reports of abuse leaders kept hidden from the public for decades. And it mostly worked. "As a consequence of the coverup, almost every instance of abuse we found is too old to be prosecuted," the report said. In Pennsylvania, victims of child sex abuse have until they are 30 to file civil suits and until they are 50 to file criminal charges. In Louisiana, a child abuse victim has until 28 to file a civil suit and 48 to file criminal charges. The Pennsylvania grand jury recommended ending such limitations for criminal cases and allowing older victims to sue the church for damage they suffered as children. It also urged tighter laws to mandate the reporting of abuse and an end to nondisclosure agreements when legal settlements have been reached. Many had hoped that the church was addressing these horrific practices after a high-profile Boston Globe investigation found widespread abuse in the Boston Archdiocese in 2002. The Boston Archdiocese agreed to pay $10 million to victims of Father John Geoghan and an additional $85 million to 552 victims and parents who had filed civil lawsuits over the ignored abuse. It was just the beginning. Five years later, the Archdiocese of Los Angeles reached a $660 million settlement with 508 abuse survivors. In May of this year, the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis announced plans to establish a $210 million trust fund for hundreds of victims of clergy sexual abuse there. The church's complicity in this tragedy is impossible to ignore. When Father Gilbert Gauthe arrived in Lafayette in the 1970s, he showed a special interest in young boys, organizing camping trips and inviting them for sleepovers in the rectory. He kept a gun at his bedside and threatened to use it when the boys refused to submit to his demands. He raped them and forced them to perform sex acts on each other while he took photographs. When complaints came, he was transferred to a smaller church in the diocese and nine families were offered settlements totaling $4 million. But the abuse continued until a lawsuit against Gauthe forced the district attorney to act. Gauthe became the first Catholic priest in U.S. history to face indictment for multiple cases of child molestation. Gauthe would eventually plead guilty to 34 criminal counts and be sentenced to 20 years in prison. He told a psychologist that he had abused more than 300 children. And he was not alone. The Diocese of Lafayette and its insurers have now paid $26 million to 123 victims of priest sex abuse between 1950 and 2002. But in June of this year, Bishop Douglas Deshotel declined to release the names of priests whose victims received settlements. Unless priests are charged by law enforcement, the records of the church remain private. Deshotel said none of the men remain in the ministry, but that doesn't mean they aren't in positions to abuse and exploit children. The church should realize that its reputation is long gone. It is time to open the "secret archives" and truly atone for its decades of failure. It is time for change. Tim Morris is an opinions columnist at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at tmorris@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter @tmorris504. Multiple injuries were reported after strong winds knocked over a pavilion at an Oklahoma casino where fans were waiting in line for a Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees concert Saturday evening (Aug. 18), according to the Dallas Morning News. Roughly a dozen ambulances rushed to the WinStar World Casino around 6 p.m., just after severe thunderstorms ripped through the area, the newspaper reported. At least 14 people were treated for injuries. Some people were trapped under large pieces of the metal structure and a forklift was used to remove the rubble, according to the report. The concert was postponed and the band Tweeted an apology to their fans. Roseburg, OR (97470) Today Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low near 50F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then off and on rain showers overnight. Low near 50F. Winds NNE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Managing Editor Having lived and worked in Indy on and off since 1977, and currently living in Carmel, I've seen the city change a great deal. I love covering the arts in all its forms, and the places where the arts and broader cultural issues intersect. These street co-namings are the equivalent of placing your flag in the neighborhood, said Laurie Cumbo, the City Council majority leader. We have placed a Haitian flag in this neighborhood today for people here and the future to always know that this is a Haitian community. But the naming of Jean-Jacques Dessalines Boulevard along Rogers Avenue between Farragut Road and Eastern Parkway and the neighborhood designation were not without complications. Some felt Little Haiti was redundant because the area had previously been christened Little Caribbean by another group. And the street co-naming was delayed because of Dessaliness controversial history. After Haitis victory against France, Dessalines became Haitis first emperor in 1804. Aware that the French wanted to re-enslave the country, Dessalines called for the slaughter of all remaining white Frenchmen. Thousands of white people were killed in the massacre, historians believe. Historical figures are being re-evaluated across the United States, with several Southern cities removing Confederate monuments in recent years, and Mayor Bill de Blasio establishing a commission to examine statues in New York. In that climate, the City Council committee that vets street co-namings flagged the Dessalines name as possibly offensive. Saturday was a red-letter day twice over for New York dance-goers: the 30th anniversary of the choreographer Frederick Ashtons death and the return to the American stage of the dancer Marcelo Gomes. Ashton, though British, always felt his work was better appreciated in New York over more than 50 years of his lifetime; Mr. Gomes who made an immediate resignation from American Ballet Theater in December after an allegation of sexual misconduct has been among the citys most missed dancers. The Sarasota Ballet, which returned to the Joyce Theater this week, combined the two occasions. It performed Ashtons Monotones I and II (1965-66) as part of a triple bill shared with Christopher Wheeldons There Where She Loved (2000) and Ricardo Grazianos Symphony of Sorrows (2012). On Saturday, however, it replaced the Graziano work with four further items of Ashton choreography: Mr. Gomes performed the last of these, the final pas de deux from The Two Pigeons (1961), in which the hero returns in repentance but with a pigeon or dove as a symbol of his rediscovered love. The Sarasota company had announced in June that it was bringing on Mr. Gomes as a guest artist after the end of his 20-year career at Ballet Theater, which said at the time that an investigation into the misconduct allegation had concluded. Neither the Ballet Theater nor Mr. Gomes has spoken publicly about it. Aaron Pedersen, an Aboriginal actor whos a major star in Australia, first played the Indigenous detective Jay Swan in the 2013 film Mystery Road (available on Amazon Prime). Swan is a classic type, the cop caught between his belief in the system and his loyalty to his own people, who automatically see him as a sellout. As embodied by the imposing Mr. Pedersen, hes also a classic western hero: white hat, casual swagger, stony, squinting stare. In the film Swan operated mostly on his own, a John Wayne-like warrior investigating and avenging the death of an Indigenous girl. (Mystery Road and another Swan feature, Goldstone, were written and directed by Ivan Sen.) But now the character has come to television, spun out in a six-episode Australian series also called Mystery Road that makes its American streaming debut Monday on AcornTV. For the six-hour story set in motion when a pair of ranch hands, one white and one Aboriginal, go missing on a vast cattle station Swan has been given a jousting partner, another cop to warily build a relationship with, perhaps for seasons to come. And while Mr. Pedersen would be reason enough to watch the moody, flavorful, handsomely photographed show, the thing that really sets Mystery Road apart is the actress who signed on to play the outback sergeant Emma James: the great Judy Davis, playing a police officer for the first time in her career and starring in an Australian TV series for the first time in nearly 40 years. Ms. Davis is so firmly identified in the American mind with intense, often neurotic city-dwelling characters (notably in Woody Allen movies) that it takes an episode or two to get used to her climbing in and out of a police car in the dusty, empty landscapes (shot on location around the town of Kununurra in Western Australia), wearing a baggy blue uniform that swallows her tiny frame. It seems at first as if she might not be right for the part, but eventually you see that shes perfect. James is a formidable woman stuck in the middle of nowhere because of the bonds of family and history, and Ms. Daviss preternatural intelligence and tightly capped energy serve her well. 1. The word of the week was clearance. As in security clearance. On Wednesday, President Trump revoked the security clearance of John O. Brennan, the former C.I.A. director, a striking act of retaliation against an outspoken critic. Mr. Brennan bit back in a Times Op-Ed in which he called the presidents denials of Russian interference in the election hogwash. And we learned from more than a dozen sources that the White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, has been cooperating with the special counsels investigation, sharing detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the question into whether Mr. Trump obstructed justice. His wife, Sotiria, went unpaid for almost a year in 2013, after the Greek supermarket chain where she worked declared bankruptcy. Another company bought it, and her monthly salary of 1,100 was cut to 800. She was eventually paid about half of what she was owed. But Mr. Zafiriou said he never received nearly 13,000 in back pay from his old firm. The familys bills quickly became insurmountable. They could no longer pay for electricity or a loan on their modest two-bedroom apartment in Keratsini, a working-class suburb of Piraeus, near Athens. The only thing shielding them from eviction along with thousands of Greeks in similar straits was a law forbidding banks from repossessing most borrowers primary homes. The family slashed spending on clothing and groceries, and halted therapy for their daughter, Anamaria, 13, who has dyslexia. Low on cash, Mr. Zafiriou sold all of their gold jewelry, except for the cross used at Anamarias christening. With his new job, things are looking up. The couple has rehired a tutor for Anamaria, and Mrs. Zafiriou no longer needs to shop for the very cheapest produce or meat. The primary aim is to pay down all the familys debts as quickly as possible, even if that leaves nothing at the end of the month. Jessica Sara Assaf and Alex Bradley Regenstreich were married Aug. 18 at a private residence in Malibu, Calif. Rabbi Lori Shapiro officiated. The bride, 28, is the founder of Cannabis Feminist, a web-based community that works to promote executive women in the cannabis industry, and she is also a founder of Hempia, a company that promotes legal cannabinoids found in the hemp plant for use in health and wellness. Both companies are in Los Angeles. She graduated from N.Y.U. and received an M.B.A. from Harvard. She is a daughter of Carrie R. Assaf and Ben J. Assaf of San Francisco. The brides father is an executive vice president of the Compass Capital Corporation, a company in San Francisco that provides acquisition, financing and management for aircraft, railroad equipment and other leased assets. Her mother is an independent fashion stylist, also in San Francisco. The groom, 31, will be changing his surname to Regen. He is in charge of partnerships, in Los Angeles, for Tribe Socks, a custom sock brand. He is also a photographer, with a website, I See Faces, which shows what appear to be faces in everyday objects, architecture and other unexpected spots. He graduated cum laude from Syracuse University. Mia Adrienne Solkin and David Ian Ban were married Aug. 18. Dr. Richard J. Kolker, an uncle of the bride who received permission from Massachusetts to solemnize the marriage, officiated at a rented private residence in Sheffield, Mass. Ms. Solkin Ban, 32, is the fashion director for the Paper magazine and website in Manhattan. She graduated from the University of East Anglia in Norwich, England. She is the daughter of David H. Solkin of London, and the late Sally M. Kolker. The brides father retired as the dean and deputy director of the Courtauld Institute of Art, which is a college of the University of London. Her mother was a reading teacher at the Princess Avenue School in London. Mr. Ban, also 32, is the business development director at Splice, a Manhattan technology company that develops software used to produce electronic music. He graduated from Carleton College in Northfield, Minn. BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. When a 7-year-old boys lemonade stand was shut down by a health inspector here last month, it became the talk of the town. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo weighed in. A New York State senator introduced legislation in the boys name, and the roadside drink entrepreneurs photo was splashed across newspapers around the country. But, at the end of the day, Brendan Mulvaney just wanted to sell lemonade. So, on Saturday, Brendan and his family reopened the lemonade stand for one more day. Instead of raising money for a trip to Disney, as Brendan had planned to do the first time around, he and his family sought to capitalize on his newfound fame to raise money for a local family in need. Last month, Brendan set up his lemonade stand on the side porch of his house, just as he had done for the past two years during the Saratoga County Fair. This year, Brendan hung new signs, printed by a family friend, and with the help of his parents, added water and snow cones to the stands menu. But an inspector with the state Department of Health soon told the Mulvaneys that they needed a permit because their venture was similar to those of permitted vendors at the fair, said Jill Montag, a health department spokeswoman. (Ms. Montag said at least four vendors inquired about the Mulvaney familys stand.) Ms. Garcia said that her department continues to monitor sites where litter baskets are removed. In Harlem, there has been improvement on corners where household trash was often piled alongside litter baskets, she said. Were just not seeing the same amount of litter and trash on those corners, she said. In Harlem, the removal of the 223 litter baskets still leaves more baskets there than in other neighborhoods, sanitation officials said. Currently, there are 1,399 litter baskets in Harlem, compared with 779 baskets on the Upper West Side and 719 on the Upper East Side. The officials also noted that the overall cleanliness of sidewalks in Harlem has improved in recent years, as reflected in city inspection reports. A total of 1,993 violations were issued to property owners for dirty sidewalks in fiscal year 2018, down from 2,434 the year before, according to city records. However, the number of violations during the same period for litter along street curbs rose to 6,079 from 5,796. Harlem residents counter that sanitation officials should be putting out more litter baskets and emptying them more often not taking them away and keeping a closer eye on the baskets to prevent misuse. Im an eighth-generation New Yorker, said Christina Fernandez, an elementary-school teacher. Never before have I experienced an intersection in New York without trash cans and usually at least three out of four corners have them. Gale A. Brewer, the Manhattan borough president, said she had received complaints for months about the missing litter baskets in Harlem, and more recently, the Upper West Side. Her office has sent multiple emails and letters to sanitation officials to protest the removal of the trash cans and to seek an explanation of the agencys policy. Residents asked for enforcement against dumping, more trash pickups and more trash cans, but it seems like what they got was fewer trash cans, a worsened dumping problem and even some inappropriate tickets, she said. The neighborhood deserves better. Federal authorities investigating whether President Trumps former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen, committed bank and tax fraud have zeroed in on well over $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that he and his family own, according to people familiar with the matter. Investigators are also examining whether Mr. Cohen violated campaign finance or other laws by helping to arrange financial deals to secure the silence of women who said they had affairs with Mr. Trump. The inquiry has entered the final stage and prosecutors are considering filing charges by the end of August, two of the people said. Any criminal charges against Mr. Cohen would deal a significant blow to the president. Mr. Cohen, 52, worked for the presidents company, the Trump Organization, for more than a decade. He was one of Mr. Trumps most loyal and visible aides and called himself the presidents personal lawyer after Mr. Trump took office. The bank loans under scrutiny, the total of which has not been previously reported, came from two financial institutions in the New York region that have catered to the taxi industry, Sterling National Bank and the Melrose Credit Union, according to business records and people with knowledge of the matter, including a banker who reviewed the transactions. Just seven months into his first term, New Jersey Gov. Philip D. Murphy is already resorting to emergency measures to try to fix New Jersey Transit, the state agency that has been failing to keep its trains running on time or at all. After admitting that he had underestimated the dysfunction at New Jersey Transit, Mr. Murphy now is calling for help from residents of other states. He asked for a waiver that would allow the agency to hire train engineers and other workers who do not live in New Jersey. Transit officials have cited a shortage of engineers as the main reason they have had to cancel hundreds of trains during the morning and evening rush hours this summer. Angry commuters have aimed their resentment at Mr. Murphy, who campaigned last year on a plan to restore the transit agencys reputation for efficiency. Like his counterpart across the Hudson River, New York Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, Mr. Murphy is experiencing the peril of taking responsibility for rescuing a failing transit system. Mr. Cuomo promised to fix the subways and now has a rival for his office, Cynthia Nixon, blaming him for the systems deteriorating service. In July 1992, the Sicilian Mafia sent a loud and gruesome message to those who would challenge it when it killed a prosecutor named Paolo Borsellino with a car bomb in Palermo. He was the second prosecutor to meet that fate in two months; in May, another bomb had killed Giovanni Falcone. The assassinations made news around the world, and the second one made the Mafia a new enemy: Rita Borsellino, Paolos younger sister. Before her brothers death she was a pharmacist. After it, she became a leading crusader against the Mafias longstanding, often ruthless grip on life in Sicily, where small businesses were routinely extorted for protection money and killings were commonplace. Ms. Borsellino was often frustrated over the years as she waged that fight. In 2006 she ran for governor of Sicily and lost to Salvatore Cuffaro, the incumbent, who had been linked to the Mafia and later went to prison. In 2009 at an anti-Mafia march, she told Agence France-Presse, I am angry and less optimistic than 17 years ago, when my brother was slain. Mafia influence remains a vexing problem in Sicily and elsewhere in Italy. Yet Ms. Borsellino, who died on Wednesday in Palermo at 73 after what Italian newspapers said was a long illness, lived to see some successes as well. Among others was that when Salvatore Riina, the head of Sicilys notorious Cosa Nostra crime syndicate and the man who ordered the murders of the two prosecutors, died last year, he was serving 26 life sentences. Authorities in Hong Kong want to ban the pro-independence Hong Kong National Party under a law that prohibits groups thought to endanger national security, public safety and public order. The latest punch came last week, when several pro-Beijing lawmakers and organizations spearheaded an effort to block a speech by the party leader at the citys Foreign Correspondents Club. Protesters demonstrated outside the talk, called Hong Kong Nationalism: A Politically Incorrect Guide to Hong Kong Under Chinese Rule, but the event ultimately went ahead. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for the Opinion Today newsletter. Fall may not be quite in the air yet, but the school year is already beginning on many campuses. And so college freshmen, who just a few months ago tossed their high school graduation caps into the air and heard Oh, the Places Youll Go!, begin a new season of angst. Did I choose the right school? What should I major in? Will I ever use that major? Does anyone ever use that major? The Times has a Facebook group for readers, and a member who is an incoming college freshman recently asked these questions. Vivian Phung, 18, who plans to major in computer science and mathematics at Bryn Mawr College this fall, said that these topics were the source of much stress every single day for high school students, and hoped that the groups responses might help struggling students feel better. More than 130 members of the group responded. Their consensus was that getting a higher education matters more than where you attain it or how you use it. Here is a condensed and lightly edited selection of the comments. We figured you might want to weigh in, too. Use the comment section to tell us about your own experience. A bachelors degree opens doors All the jobs Ive had have required a bachelors. I dont think I would have even gotten in the door for an interview without it. Asia Reid Narayan , Philadelphia An Illinois nonprofit bearing Abraham Lincolns name is so deep in debt that it is considering selling some of the 16th presidents possessions, including one of his iconic stovepipe hats and bloodstained gloves from the night of his assassination. In 2007, the private nonprofit, the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library Foundation, in Springfield, Ill., borrowed $23 million to buy an expansive collection of Lincoln artifacts from a private collector. More than a decade later, the foundation has more than $9 million remaining on the loan, Carla Knorowski, the foundations chief executive, said. For 11 years, the state-run Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum has had access to the collection, and that organizations leaders say their priority is to keep the items available for public viewing. Prior to our purchase of these items, the only way you would have ever seen the hat or the gloves would be to have known the collector, Ms. Knorowski said. And know her well enough to knock on her door. First, the facts were alternative, Kellyanne Conway, a counselor to President Trump, suggested last year. And now, Rudolph W. Giuliani, the presidents personal lawyer, said Truth isnt truth, adding his own phrase to memorable and sometimes head-scratching comments made by those close to the president. During an interview on Sunday on NBCs Meet the Press, the shows host, Chuck Todd, asked Mr. Giuliani about Donald F. McGahn II, the White House counsel, who The New York Times reported was cooperating extensively in the special counsel investigation. Mr. Todd asked how Mr. Giuliani had responded to requests by the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, to interview Mr. Trump and whether Mr. Giuliani had delayed the investigation. A man was driving his pregnant wife to a scheduled cesarean section on Wednesday when immigration officials arrested him leaving her to drive herself to a hospital and have the baby on her own, according to the woman and the familys legal representative. The couple had pulled into a gas station in San Bernardino, Calif., on their way to deliver their child. While they were there, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers came to their car window and asked for identification, said the woman, Maria del Carmen Venegas. Her husband, Joel Arrona-Lara, 35, did not have his drivers license with him, and officers arrested him, she said. The arrest quickly provoked outrage and fed into a growing anger toward ICE and the Trump administrations sweeping immigration policies, which have expanded who is considered a priority for officers to arrest. In recent months, immigrants have been arrested while delivering a pizza or watering the lawn. For Mr. Schumer and his fellow Democrats, it allows them to claim big increases in spending on social programs, health research and education initiatives. Republicans can celebrate a big boost in Pentagon spending and a military pay raise. Both sides want a surge of pre-election spending to combat opioid abuse. Passing the bills allows Mr. McConnell to declare that the Senate can be productive under his guidance, while also providing embattled Democrats in red states a chance to secure some victories. Everybody wins. This is a rare moment when it may be in the interest of both parties to get something done, and it shows, said Mr. Schumer, who called the appropriations harmony the mirror image of the court fight. By banding together, lawmakers can also fend off complaints from the administration that they are overspending by exceeding the White House requests in many areas under a two-year budget agreement struck in early February. The key element was a leadership deal to fight off killer poison pill amendments that have scuttled appropriations bills in recent years. Senate leaders have a deep aversion to forcing politically vulnerable members of their party to take difficult votes. The result has been that the spending bills were essentially drafted in leadership suites at the last minute, drawing complaints from the majority of members who were cut out of the deliberations. We need cooperation from both sides to process amendments while resisting the temptation to turn the appropriations process into a free-for-all on all manner of policy issues, Mr. McConnell said last week. But this year, thats exactly what we are doing. The Senate has already passed seven of the 12 annual spending bills and faces a major test this week with two more. The health and labor measure has always been a magnet for polarizing votes on abortion and is likely to be the same this year, leaving the leadership challenged to move the measure forward. If the Senate can pass that bill and an attached Pentagon measure, it will have, by Mr. McConnells account, tentatively approved funding for 87 percent of the government a real achievement for the Senate these days. Notably left out of the collection of measures being considered by the Senate is the bill that funds the Department of Homeland Security, which would contain money for President Trumps border wall. Spending levels are sure to be a sticking point in talks with both the House and the White House. The House has already called for $5 billion for the wall, while the Senate has moved to allocate $1.6 billion the amount, senators note, sought by the White House. Campaigning recently at a recreation center in Murray County a rural, mainly white bastion of Republicanism on the Tennessee border she stood before TV news cameras, reminding people of her work helping to pass a bipartisan billion-dollar transportation bill, and her support of legislation that supports grandparents and other family members raising children. I know how to work across the aisle when we need to, she said. Ms. Abrams, 44, who favors the expansion of Medicaid under Obamacare and the extension of state scholarships to the immigrants known as Dreamers, has given Republicans many opportunities to argue that she is too far left for a state like Georgia. Senator David Perdue recently called her the most radical liberal. Supporters like Gerald Griggs, a vice president of the state N.A.A.C.P. chapter, reject such descriptions as inaccurate and also hear in them a coded effort to scare off white voters. Definitely, its a dog whistle embedded, he said. [Democrats see opportunity for gains at the state level.] Ms. Abrams was elected to the General Assembly in 2006, two years after Republicans had taken control of the Georgia House for the first time in more than a century. She was young, but not green. She had served as student president at Spelman College, Atlantas storied African-American womens college, and kept her life ambitions, eventually including the goal of becoming president, listed in a spreadsheet. The sheer boldness of my ambitions gnawed at me, she recalled in her 2018 autobiography, Minority Leader: How to Lead from the Outside and Make Real Change. Style-wise, she was more of a listener than a glad-hander, more policy wonk than enforcer. She was a careful, prepared speaker with a bookish quality, a wry sense of humor and a tendency toward efficiency. She engendered a sense of loyalty in a lot of people that way, said Brian Thomas, who was a member of the House Democratic leadership at the time. A lot of people just respected the fact that she was just a lot smarter than some of us, and able to use that intellect in ways that were really effective. WELLINGTON, New Zealand Since taking office, New Zealands prime minister has broken boundaries and made headlines by becoming only the second sitting world leader to give birth, taking six weeks of parental leave and returning to her leadership role with a baby in tow and nary a fuss. Now comes the New Zealand minister who cycled to a hospital on Sunday to give birth. Julie Anne Genter, minister for women and associate minister for health and transport, posted photographs on social media of her mostly downhill trip to the hospital while at full term. She was due to have labor induced at Auckland City Hospital, and is expected to become the second New Zealand government minister to deliver a baby this year, after Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Ms. Genter, 38, noted on social media on Aug. 10 that she was 40 weeks + 4 days pregnant, and still waiting to give birth. She plans to take three months of parental leave after the birth of the child, her first. TAIPEI, Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen of Taiwan visited Houston over the weekend, her second brief stop in the United States in one week, a sign of efforts to deepen relations between Washington and Taipei despite vehement opposition from China. Ms. Tsai stopped in Los Angeles last Monday, on her way to Paraguay and Belize, and then in Houston on Saturday on her way back home. During the earlier stop, she met with three California lawmakers, including one, Representative Brad Sherman, a Democrat, who called on the United States to formally invite her to Washington, which would break with decades of American practice. The United States has not officially recognized Taiwan since 1979, when it shifted to recognizing Chinas Communist government. China hopes to absorb the self-governed, democratic island, which it has never controlled, and has campaigned to erase any recognition by other countries or corporations of Taiwans sovereignty. The visits to Houston and Los Angeles are considered transit stops rather than official visits, part of a longstanding restriction imposed by the United States to maintain better relations with China. But Beijing has objected even to such brief stopovers, and the most recent ones came after President Trump demonstrated willingness to provoke Chinas anger. KABUL, Afghanistan Even as insurgents in Afghanistan have escalated their attacks against government forces across the country, they have also been staging a simultaneous charm offensive of sorts in advance of Eid al-Adha, the Islamic Feast of Sacrifice, which starts this week. In the past week alone, the Taliban have overrun a city, burned down government facilities, hidden in civilians homes and killed hundreds of their opponents. At the same time, the group has been actively seeking for weeks to court Afghan civilians, promising last month to halt suicide bombings in civilian areas, and announcing on Twitter and other social networks that those who surrendered would not be harmed. The moves left many in the country expressing hope that the Taliban and the government would join a cease-fire and hold peace talks. Local anger is likely to grow apace with the number of travelers. The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimates there will be 1.8 billion international tourist-related trips by 2030, up from 1.2 billion in 2016. Officials in Dubrovnik have started to push back against the throngs. This summer, they have cracked down on street vendors, limited the number of outdoor restaurant tables crowding the ancient alleyways and most important have sought more control over the cruise ships that send thousands of passengers flooding into the old town, a Unesco World Heritage site. This year, the city has limited the number of people who can disembark from the cruise ships at a given time. Next summer, for the first time since they started pulling into port nearly two decades ago, cruise ships will face restrictions on when they will be allowed to dock. It is an attempt to find the right balance of welcoming tourists and their money without being overwhelmed. There is no unique solution for every destination, said Dubrovniks mayor, Mato Frankovic. But it has to start with recognizing the problem. Just as there is no single solution, there is no single kind of tourist in Dubrovnik. You can find day-trippers, families on holiday, people on cruise ship excursions, history buffs, party people and, in a relatively new phenomenon, set-jetters. Former presidential candidate and Forum for Democratic Change party president Rtd Col Dr Kizza Besigye is ready to support and work with any individual that a united opposition front forward to liberate the country. Besigye who has contested in four presidential elections since 2001 and controversially lost to the incumbent has lately, sometimes unfairly, come under criticism from within his own party, FDC and by other opposition politicians for being a main-stay like President Museveni in the country's politics. Seemingly bewildered by the accusations of selfishness and refusing to relinquish the face of opposition, Besigye told journalists during a presser at his Katonga office that there is no need to waste any more time because the country needs to be liberated immediately. Kizza Besigye (2nd L) has called for a united opposition "If Besigyes face is the problem, lets put another face and we move. It is urgent that we recover this country. I will not allow my face to be a problem - not at all. Not to be an obstacle to the liberation of this country, I wont. Nothing should hold the liberation of this country for any other day, nothing." said Besigye "Because the condition in the country is worrying, is horrendous - people have no food, people have no where to sleep, people have no jobsno healthcare, no education. We cannot keep on wasting time telling stories - this one is the problem, that one is the problem. We must solve this and get the country to move forward." The presser was attended by FDC party president, Patrick Amuriat Oboi, FDC chairperson, Wasswa Biriggwa, Lord Mayor Erias Lukwago, MPs Roland Kaginda, Francis Mwijukye, and William Nzoghu among others. Besigye said that it was unfortunate that incidents in Arua that led to the arrest of a number of MPs and opposition supporters, came at a time when the opposition is fractured. More than 30 people including MPs were arrested in Arua on Monday for allegedly stoning the president's convoy. "We must immediately close ranks; this is not the time for bickering, for making petty scores against each other. This is a time to rally and recover the country," Besigye said. He added that efforts are being made for opposition forces to form a united front by Monday so that all their actions are coordinated. He said that the togetherness in opposition that he, and others are calling for should not worry his critics that he will be its face. Besigye's call comes after a section of the FDC party leaders including the party chairperson, Biriggwa and deputy secretary general, Harold Kaija admitted that internal fights are tearing the party apart. The in fights in FDC became visible after Amuriat was voted party president to replace Gen Mugisha Muntu during last year's party delegates' conference at Namboole. After the release of the results, Muntu together with his campaign team resolved to have countrywide consultations to make a final decision about their next step. This has seen most of the members who were on Gen Muntu's campaign trail evade party meetings and activities. Some of the members include former Serere Woman MP Alice Alaso, former leader of opposition Winnie Kiiza, Kibweri MP Francis Gonahasa, and Bugweri MP Abdu Katuntu. In a recent interview, Alaso said she didn't believe in the defiance campaign of the current leadership and that she was not to go back until the belief is changed. In the recent Arua municipality campaigns, Gen Muntu together with the People Power movement headed by the now-jailed Kyadondo East MP Robert Kyagulanyi campaigned for an independent candidate, Kassiano Wadri, as opposed to the official FDC candidate Bruce Musema. Muntu has since said that he finalized his countrywide consultations and was to meet Amuriat and former FDC presidential aspirant, Besigye before the end of this month to talk about his final decisions. Kerala CM assures Rs 10,000 to even those who leave relief camps As Kerala stands devastated, nation comes forward to help India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 19: Several states have come forward to help the people of Kerala, which has been devastated by floods. Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had visited the state announced a relief of Rs 500 crore in addition to the Rs 100 crore that was announced earlier. Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said that the state government would provide financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to flood affected people and for rescue operations in Kerala. He said that the people of Kerala had been facing heavy losses of life and property due to severe floods, and Haryana is with Kerala in this hour of need. Also Read | Kerala floods LIVE updates: Mamata announces Rs 10 cr contribution for flood relief Punjab, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu have already announced aid for flood-ravaged Kerala. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today announced an immediate financial assistance of Rs 500 crore to the state, after reviewing the flood situation there. As many as 194 people have lost their lives and 36 are missing in Kerala since August 8 due to rains and landslides, while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. The southern state is facing its worst flood in 100 years with 80 dams opened and all rivers in spate. A body blow has been dealt to the scenic state, with its infrastructure, standing crops and tourism facilities severely hit. AP: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu spoke to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan over phone about the situation in the rain-ravaged state and assured him of providing all possible help in this hour of crisis. A release from the Chief Minister's Office said Naidu expressed grief over loss of lives and destruction of property in the monsoon fury. Also Read | Kerala girl trolled for selling fish donates Rs 1.5 lakh to CM's relief fund Naidu assured Kerala that his state was ready to provide all possible help to it in this hour of crisis. The Andhra Pradesh government had last night announced a financial assistance of Rs 10 crore to rain-ravaged Kerala. Naidu told Vijayan that he would assist in mobilising more financial resources for rehabilitation work in Kerala. Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh government despatched a special rescue team comprising 66 disaster response and fire services personnel, a district fire officer, 12 motorboats and other equipment to Kerala. Also Read | How to help flood-hit people of Kerala A team of National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) personnel from Mangalagiri also left for Kerala by a special aircraft, State Disaster Management Authority Commissioner M V Seshagiri Babu said. Bihar: Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar extended a financial aid of Rs 10 crore to flood-ravaged Kerala. Kumar said that he was deeply distressed and saddened by the tragic loss of lives and large scale damage to properties caused by the incessant rains that have been lashing the southern state for the past few days. Also Read | Much needed respite: Rainfall intensity in Kerala to reduce from tomorrow No one knows better than the people of Bihar about the miseries caused by natural calamities during flood. I am sending a small contribution of Rs 10 crore from Chief Ministers Relief Fund, Bihar, for relief and rehabilitation works in the flood affected areas, Kumar wrote in a letter addressed to his Kerala counterpart Vijayan. I believe that under your able guidance and leadership, the people of Kerala would recover soon from the losses that they have suffered. I am confident the strength and resilience of the people of Kerala will carry the state through this catastrophe, Kumar added. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 13:27 [IST] Big breakthrough: Dawoods top financial manager arrested India oi-Vicky Nanjappa New Delhi, Aug 19: In a major boost for the Indian security agencies, a top aide of fugitive underworld don, Dawood Ibrahim has been arrested in London. The London police arrested Jabir Moti from the Hilton Hotel. Moti is a key figure in the Dawood syndicate and managed his investments in UAE and UK. He was also instrumental in moving dirty money of the syndicate and the agencies suspect that the same was used to fund a series of nefarious activities, including terrorism. Another Dawood property auctioned off, this time for Rs 3.51 crore India had on the basis of its investigations made two requests to the UK to arrest Moti, who has been on the radar for long. The arrest was made in the nick of time as Moti was planning to move out of the UK. He holds a ten year visa in the UK and was planning on moving to Antigua as the heat on him had risen. Also Read | How India beat Pakistan in Thailand to secure Dawood's aide Munna Jhingada The arrest, Indian agencies say is important since his interrogation would help unearth the financial empire of the D-syndicate. Moti was privy to most of the financial operations of the Dawood Ibrahim gang. Centre to dispatch relief material including food grains, medicines to Kerala India oi-Vikas By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 19: With Kerala reeling under worst floods in a century which has left the state devastated, the Union Government has decided to dispatch relief material, including food grains, medicines and other essential commodities, to the flood-hit state. The National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) today directed the central ministries to focus on providing essential commodities and medicine and restoration of vital services in flood-hit Kerala. The NCMC, headed by Cabinet Secretary P K Sinha, in its review meeting directed that focus should now be on provision of emergency supplies of food, water, medicines and restoration of essential services such as power, fuel, telecom and transport links as flood water recedes in Kerala. T The Department of Food and Public Distribution has made available 50,000 metric tonnes of food grains (rice and wheat) to meet the immediate requirements with additional quantities in the pipeline, an official spokesperson said. The Department of Consumer Affairs has made arrangements to airlift 100 metric tonnes of pulses by tomorrow with additional quantities to be sent by train. The Petroleum and Natural Gas Ministry has made available 9,300 kilolitres of kerosene to Kerala. Additional 12,000 kilolitres of kerosene will be allocated. LPG bottling plant in Kochi has been reopened. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is airlifting 60 tonnes of emergency medicines on Monday. It has put six specialised medical teams on standby. [As Kerala stands devastated, nation comes forward to help] The Railways will provide blankets and bedsheets to meet the immediate requirements of the state government. The Air India has offered to airlift relief material without any cost. The NCMC, which met for the fourth consecutive day, reviewed the rescue and relief operations among the armed forces, NDRF, Ministry of Home Affairs and other central ministries and the Kerala government. Rescue and relief operations are continuing in full swing with the thousands of personnel of the Indian Navy, Air Force, Army, NDRF and CAPFs are engaged in the rescue, relief and evacuation operations in Kerala with the support of dozens of helicopters, aircrafts, hundreds of motorboats, the spokesperson said. [To help Kerala, Railways goes the extra mile] The operations will continue till the situation becomes normal. So far, they have rescued and evacuated more than 38,000 people from the flood-affected areas. Medical aid has been provided to more than 23,000 people. As many as 3,00,000 food packets have been supplied by the Food Processing Ministry. The Railways are running two special trains tomorrow to Kolkata from Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam to ensure travel of stranded people. Train services are expected to be restored on all lines by tomorrow evening. A special train with 14,00,000 litres of water and a Navy ship with 8,00,000 litres of water will reach Kerala by tomorrow. Commercial flights will start operating from Kochi naval base from tomorrow and all logistic arrangements for this have been put in place. The regular NCMC meetings are taking place following the directions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who made an aerial survey of the floods affected areas yesterday. OneIndia News with PTI inputs Hope real culprits are found soon says Dadholkars son India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 19: Hameed Dabholkar, son of slain rationalist Dr Narendra Dabholkar, today expressed satisfaction about the CBI's announcement that it had arrested one of the shooters involved in his father's killing, and said he hoped the "real perpetrators" will be found soon. "This is the second arrest in five years in the case and we hope that with this arrest, investigating agencies will get to the real perpetrators who were involved in the killing of Dr Dabholkar," he said. Mukta Dabholkar, Dr Dabholkar's daughter, said today's arrest was a crucial development. Also Read | Dabholkar murder case: CBI arrest man from Auranganbad, allegedly one of the shooters "Had similar action been taken in the past, killings of other rationalists could have been prevented," she said, in apparent reference to killings of communist leader Govind Pansare, Kannada scholar M M Kalburgi and journalist Gauri Lankesh. It is suspected that all these killings were carried out by right-wing extremists and were connected. Monitoring of the probe of Dabholkar case by the Bombay High Court also helped as the court was constantly putting pressure on the investigating agencies, Mukta Dabholkar said. Also Read | Dabholkar, Pansare murder cases: Bombay HC raps CBI, SIT for delay in investigation The arrest in the case comes before the fifth anniversary of Dabholkar's killing on August 20, 2013 in Pune. Maharashtra Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, the anti-superstition organisation founded by Dr Dabholkar, had earlier decided to intensify its protest against the slow pace of the probe. "It is just one arrest and the real perpetrators are yet to be arrested. So we will continue our protest till all real culprits are put behind bars," said Hameed Dabholkar. The CBI today arrested the alleged main shooter in the Dabholkar case, identified as Sachin Prakasrao Andure, a resident of Aurangabad in Maharashra, from Pune. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 12:38 [IST] Amit Shah spends night at CRPF camp in Pulwama; says will see a peaceful J&K 'in our lifetime' Balkanisation of India: Lt. Gen would look to further bolster Operation Tupac in Kashmir Terrorist who was going to kill shopkeeper in J&K gunned down J&K: Two JeM Over Ground Workers arrested in Handwara India oi-Vikas By Vikas Srinagar, Aug 19: Two Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) Over Ground Workers (OGW) were arrested Handwara region of Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. Arms and ammunition were also seized during a joint operation by Handwara police and 30 Rashtriya Rifles, said reports. In July, a Hizbul Mujahideen terrorist and an over the ground worker of the banned terror outfit were arrested in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar on Sunday. A huge cache of arms and ammunition was also recovered from the duo. On June 24, two over-ground workers of terrorist group Hizbul Mujahideen were arrested and a live grenade was recovered from them in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district. The two have been identified as Amin Ahmad Sofi, a resident of Charligund Awantipora and Tanveer Ahmad Bhat, a resident of Chechikot Awantipora. [J&K: Hizbul terrorist and an over the ground worker arrested in Kishtwar] Police investigation of the June 24 arrest revealed that they were assisting terrorist Hamad Khan in Tral area. They were involved in the grenade attack at Goriwan Chowk in the Bijbehara area on May 23 this year in which 10 civilians were injured, PTI report quoted police as saying. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 17:49 [IST] J&K: Unidentified militant killed in Baramulla India pti-PTI Srinagar, Aug 19: An unidentified militant was killed as Army foiled an infiltration bid along the Line of Control (LoC) in Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir. An infiltration bid has been foiled along the LoC in Kasturi Naar in Baramulla," Srinagar based defence spokesperson Col Rajesh Kalia said. He said one militant has been killed in the gunfight. The operation is in progress, he said. On August 16, four soldiers were injured in a gun battle with militants on the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said. The injured soldiers have been shifted to an army hospital. PTI Mysuru gang-rape case: HD Kumaraswamy says 'follow what was done in Hyderabad' Karnataka floods: Kumaraswamy conducts aerial survey of landslides, flood-affected areas in Kodagu India oi-Madhuri Bengaluru, Aug 19: Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy conducted an aerial survey of landslides and flood-affected areas in Kodagu for the second day. "There is a severe situation for the past three days," he said, according to PTI. "Now the central and state rescue teams are working on a war footing." Nearly 2,000 personnel from the Indian Army, the National and State Disaster Response Forces and the Karnataka Civil Defence are attempting to rescue people stranded due to rain and floods in Kodagu district of Karnataka, The Hindu reported on Sunday. Six people have died and over 11,000 houses have been damaged in rain-related incidents so far in Kodagu. The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh to the family of each deceased. Over 70 people are still waiting for urgent evacuation in Mukkodlu village, Kodagu Connect reported on Sunday. The daily said they have been stranded since the last three days. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 12:47 [IST] In pics: PM Modi interacts with President Biden, other world leaders at G20 Summit Karnataka rains: Modi speaks to Kumaraswamy, assures all possible support' India oi-Vikas By Vikas New Delhi, Aug 19: With parts of Karnataka, especially the Kodagu and Dakshina Kannada districts, reeling under incessant rains, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to state Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy and 'all possible support' from the Centre. "Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood-affected areas," the PM tweeted. Spoke to Karnataka CM Shri @hd_kumaraswamy Ji regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas. @CMofKarnataka Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) August 19, 2018 About 3,500 marooned people were rescued in Karnataka's worst flood-hit Kodagu district even as incessant rains hampered relief work, the government said today. "The Indian Army, Navy and other state and central agencies have rescued more than 3,500 people so far," a statement from Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy's office said. [Karnataka rains: CM Kumaraswamy to visit Kodagu to review flood situation] Of the hundreds stranded across this flood-hit hilly district, about 270 km from Bengaluru, the 3,500 rescued till Sunday noon have been shifted to 30 relief camps and efforts were on to reach the others held up on hilltops. [Karnataka rains: Kodagu-Mangalore highway roads blocked, 5 districts on high alert] While some parts of Karnataka are facing drought-like situation, some others are reeling under flood. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 20:08 [IST] Kerala CM assures Rs 10,000 to even those who leave relief camps Kerala floods: Amid row over foreign aid, state focuses on rehabilitation India oi-Madhuri Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 24: With rescue operations in rain-ravaged Kerala nearly over, the focus is now on taking care of the over 10.40 lakh people staying in relief camps and rehabilitating people whose houses were destroyed in the deluge, even as the row over accepting foreign aid for relief work saw the Congress and Left attacking the Centre. More than 50,000 volunteers have taken up the task of cleaning houses and public places filled with mud deposits and debris dumped by the floodwaters in the rain fury. Meanwhile, health department officials said post-floods their focus has shifted to ensuring medical attention for the injured and the people living in shelter camps, cleaning of houses and wells, distribution of medicines and cleaning materials to the affected people. As many as 387 people have been killed while over nine lakh are sheltered in relief camps in the state. How to help flood-hit people of Kerala Here are the Highlights on Kerala rains: Cochin Airport suspends operations till Aug 26 The waters may be receding in Kerala but previous post-flood scenarios in other states suggest it could take years for the southern state to help rebuild its people's lives, destroyed in one of the worst floods in a century, and some more to implement measures that could significantly minimise the impact of a similar disaster. [Kerala cancels Onam celebrations after worst floods hits the state] The Kerala government has estimated a loss of Rs 20,000 crore, with Idukki, Malappuram, Kottayam and Ernakulam districts being the worst affected. Government officials say the state's topmost priority is to rescue people and provide lakhs of the affected with relief materials. They, however, admit that rebuilding the state will be a "daunting task". Kerala girl trolled for selling fish donates Rs 1.5 lakh to CMs relief fund India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 19: A Kerala girl who was trolled for selling fish outside her college to meet her educational needs has contributed Rs 1.5 lakh to the Kerala Chief Minister's Disaster Relief Fund. The contribution by the 21 year old comes at a time when Kerala is grappling with a flood situation. Hanan, a B.Sc student at a private college at Thodupuzha in Idukki district, said the money was donated by various people after her struggle to fund her studies and take care of her family was widely shared on the social media. "I had got the amount from people and I am happy to give back the amount to the needy," she told PTI. The 21-year-old, who also worked as an anchor and flower girl for programmes to make ends meet had requested people to donate for relief funds. Her story had gone viral after a Malayalam daily reported her struggles. She was trolled as a section of media users had expressed doubts about her struggles and claimed it was "fake". How to help flood-hit people of Kerala Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had come in support of Hanan and praised her actions after the case was reported in media. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 8:55 [IST] Lockdown without aid package is inhuman and will cause huge suffering and damage: AAP AAP owns up to pasting posters critical of PM Modi Is Navjot Singh Sidhu joining AAP: Prove it he says Report on oxygen utilisation: What APP and BJP are sparring over Arvind Kejriwal makes 4 promises to people of Goa; All related to electricity, check details Kind gesture: All AAP MLAs to donate 1 months salary for Kerala India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 19: All AAP MPs, MLAs and ministers will donate one-month salary for the relief work in flood-ravaged Kerala, where 194 people have died. Delhi Chief Minister and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal yesterday announced Rs 10 crore relief for the state from the government. In a tweet, Kejriwal today said, "All AAP MLAs, MPs and ministers (are) donating one month salary for Kerala." Also Read | How to help flood-hit people of Kerala Kejriwal appealed to the public to make donations to the crisis-hit state. The Delhi chief minister also spoke to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan. "Spoke to Kerala CM. Del govt is making a contribution of Rs 10 cr. I sincerely appeal to everyone to donate generously for our brothers and sisters in Kerala (sic)," Kejriwal tweeted yesterday. This is the deadliest deluge in Kerala in close to a century, which has claimed 194 lives since August 8. Further, a body blow has been dealt to the scenic state, with its infrastructure, standing crops and tourism facilities severely hit. Also Read | Kodagu floods: Check here for helpline numbers Over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 9:46 [IST] No ATM to be replenished with cash after 9 pm from next year India pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 19: No ATM will be replenished with cash after 9 pm in cities and 6 pm in rural areas from next year even as two armed guards will accompany crisp notes in transit as per a new directive issued by the Home Ministry. The deadline for putting money in the ATMs located in Naxal-hit areas is 4 pm while private cash handling agencies must collect money from the banks in the first half of the day and transport notes only in armoured vehicles. In a notification, the Home Ministry said the new Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) would come into effect from February 8, 2019 in view of the spurt in incidents of attacks on cash vans, cash vaults, ATM frauds and other internal frauds leading to increased sense of insecurity. There are over 8,000 privately owned cash vans plying across the country, operated by non-bank private agencies, and they handle over Rs 15,000 crore daily on behalf of banks. Some times, the private agencies keep currency overnight at their cash vaults. "No cash loading of the ATMs or cash transportation activities shall be done after 9 pm in urban areas, after 6 pm in rural areas and before 9 am or after 4 pm in the districts notified by the central government as Left Wing Extremism affected areas," the notification said. The agencies shall provide private security for the cash transportation with the requisite number of trained staff, every cash van shall have one driver, two armed security guards, two ATM officers or custodians. One armed guard must sit in the front along with the driver and another in the rear portion of the van while in transit. During loading or unloading, nature's call, tea or lunch break, at least one armed security guard shall remain present with the cash van all the time. The ex-serviceman, otherwise eligible, may preferably be appointed for providing security for cash transportation. Every cash transportation shall be carried out only in secured cash vans fitted with GPS tracking device and it must be ensured that no cash van carries cash of more than Rs 5 crore per trip. No private security agency shall appoint anyone for the cash transportation unless the person has undergone thorough antecedent check like police, Aadhaar and residence verifications, previous employer check, credit history check and fidelity insurance. Each of the cash boxes shall be secured to the floor with separate chains and locks that can be opened only by using separate keys kept with different custodians. The cash van shall be provided with a small CCTV system with at least five days recording facility and three cameras installed in front, rear and inside of the cabin. A security alarm with GSM based auto-dialer shall be provided with a motorised siren. The cash van shall be equipped with hooter, fire extinguishers and emergency lights to ensure quick reaction in case of an attack. The private security agency will ensure that all cash handling, including counting, sorting, and bundling activities shall be carried out in secured premises in accordance with specific guidelines. The premises shall be designed to include two physically independent areas, one for general office purpose and other for secured cash processing and handling activities and it shall accommodate space for cash deposit, collection, sorting, counting and delivery and dispatch of cash on secured cash vans. PTI To make up with girlfriend, Pune man puts up 300 I am sorry banners India oi-Madhuri Mumbai, Aug 19: A man put up over 300 banners and hoardings in a plush locality of Maharashtra's Pimpri Chinchwad area apparently to make up with his girlfriend after a tiff, but the antic has riled the local police. Residents of Pimple Saudagar area of Pimpri Chinchwad, near Pune, woke up on Friday to see several posters, carrying the line "(name of the girl), I am sorry" in bold print with a heart symbol beside it in red, dotting the area especially prominent traffic intersections. The act, however, is likely get Nilesh Khedekar, a 25-year-old local businessman, in trouble with Wakad police approaching the Pimpri Chinchwad civic body to initiate action as per rules dealing with illegal hoardings and defacement of public property. A Wakad police official said that investigations into the matter started soon after they were alerted to the hoardings on Friday. Kiki Challenge: Court orders 3 youths to clean Vasai railway station "We managed to zero in on his friend Vilas Shinde who had helped Khedekar get the flex hoardings printed. Through him, we traced Khedekar who is the brain behind this act," the official said. He informed that Khedekar wanted to apologise and make up with his girlfriend after a quarrel and, therefore, came up with this "creative" idea. "The girl was coming on Friday to the area from Mumbai. Under the cover of darkness in the intervening night of Thursday and Friday, over 300 hoardings were put up on the route which the girl was likely to take," the official said. The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation had been intimated about the issue, the official said, adding that it was up to the civic body now to initiate further action against Khedekar. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 8:41 [IST] Explained: Why is raining so much in October despite the monsoon being over Weather forecast for Aug 20: Rains likely to continue in Kerala India oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 19: Here is the weather forecast for Bengaluru, Delhi, Hyderabad, Kerala and Mumbai for August 20. Bengaluru: The capital city of Karnataka, Bengaluru has been witnessing on and off rains. As per Skymet weather, throughout last 24 hours, Monsoon remained active to vigorous over Himachal Pradesh, Gujarat, Konkan Coast, Karnataka Coast, North Telangana, North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan. Maximum & minimum temperatures very likely to be around 26 and 21 degree Celsius respectively. However, the humidity will be around 82 percent. Also Read | Kerala floods: 23,213 people saved in rescue ops so far, says defence ministry Delhi: Delhi rains have been occurring over the national capital in terms of patchy showers on some occasions. As per Skymet weather, light to moderate rains will continue over some parts of the national capital. In fact, some parts may see sharp showers as well during the next 24 to 48 hours. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 35 degree Celsius and humidity will be around 72 percent. Hyderabad: As per Skymet weather, during the next 24 hours, heavy to very heavy rains are likely over North Coastal Andhra Pradesh, North Telangana, South Chhattisgarh and South Odisha. Meanwhile, the maximum temperature would be recorded around 25 degree Celsius and humidity around 93 percent. Mumbai: The intensity of rains was much more over Vidarbha and Marathwada wherein most pockets recorded rains in three-digit. As per predicted by Skymet Weather, Konkan and adjoining Madhya Maharashtra region may also receive some moderate rains for the next 48 hours. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 28 degree Celsius and humidity around 83 per cent. Kerala: In some respite from Kerala, red alert has been withdrawn from all the districts of Kerala. Eleven districts are on orange alert. The Indian Meterological department on Sunday issued a number of releases, where they announced that Thiruvananthapuram will receive light to moderate rainfall till Thursday. Kollam, however, will continue to receive heavy rainfall today, but will see the intensity reducing from Monday. The maximum temperature will be recorded around 28 degree Celsius and humidity around 84 percent. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 16:19 [IST] Hajj pilgrimage 2017: What is the Kaaba? All you need to know Hajj pilgrimage 2018: When is Hajj? Importance and its significance Over 1.28 lakh Indian pilgrims reach Saudi for Hajj International oi-Madhuri Jeddah, Aug 19: Over 1.28 lakh Indian pilgrims have reached Saudi Arabia to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage, officials said. A total of 1,28,702 Indian pilgrims are facilitated by the government to undertake the pilgrimage through the Hajj Committee this year. As many as 466 flights have brought the Indian pilgrims to perform the annual Hajj pilgrimage and the last flight landed Friday morning, according to the Indian consulate in Jeddah. A record 1,75,025 Muslims from India are going to Hajj this year. More than 47 per cent of the total number of pilgrims going for Hajj this year are women, which is the highest ever representation of women in Hajj from India. Also Read | First batch of Haj pilgrims leave for Saudi Arabia Till last year, it was mandatory for a Muslim woman to be accompanied by her husband or a mehram (a person with whom marriage is unlawful) for pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia. For the first time this year, Indian women will be going on Haj without the company of a male relative. This is the first year when Hajj pilgrimage is taking place without being provided any subsidy. The pilgrimage represents one of the five pillars of Islam and is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. Also Read | What is Hajj subsidy and here is the Supreme Court verdict that ordered its stopping Over 1.6 million Muslim faithful from abroad have arrived in Saudi Arabia for the pilgrimage. Since arriving, many have circled the Kaaba in Mecca Islam's holiest site. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 14:38 [IST] Businessman in Kolkata shot at after his car was stopped by 18 men Woman gets 2 months in jail for false sexual abuse charge Kolkata oi-Madhuri Kolkata, Aug 19: A city court has sentenced a woman to two months' imprisonment for falsely accusing a barber of sexually assaulting her minor daughter. During examination of witnesses in the case earlier this week, the woman admitted in the court that she had levelled false allegations against the man under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The woman had lodged a complaint at the Phoolbagan police station here in June, that the barber had sexually assaulted her eight-year-old daughter while giving her a haircut. Also Read | SC fumes, asks what action has been taken on child sex abuse The man, who is in his 40s, was arrested following the complaint and was in custody since then. During trial before the Special judge (P) Jimut Bahan Biswas at Sealdah Court, when the mother of the child was being questioned as a witness, the woman said she had made false allegations against the man, public prosecutor Vivek Sharma said. She admitted before the court that she had also made the allegations in a confidential statement made before a magistrate. Also Read | Monks hid sex abuse to protect Church reputation She, however, did not tell the court the reason for levelling the false charges, Sharma said. The judge acquitted the man of all charges and ordered his release. The Judge then initiated proceedings against the woman and sentenced her to two months in jail for bringing the false charges against the man, who had also been behind bars for over two months. Sharma said that under the POSCO Act, there is provision of sentencing a person up to six months in jail for bringing false charges. The woman was taken in custody and sent to a correctional home here. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 15:08 [IST] Lucknow family remembers Vajpayee's Eid visits, will keep festival low-key next week Lucknow pti-PTI Lucknow, Aug 19: Uttar Pradesh Urdu Akademi head Asifa Zamani will keep the Bakrid celebrations next week low-key at her household as a mark of respect for Atal Bihari Vajpayee, with whom she says her family shared a special bond. Her late husband, former UP minister Aijaz Rizvi and Vajpayee knew each other from the days when the BJP was a fledgling party, Zamani told PTI. If the BJP leader happened to be in Lucknow around Eid, he used to drop in. Rizvi, who was an advocate, used to handle the paperwork when Vajpayee contested the Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow. "We are deeply pained and anguished by the death of Atalji, her son Asif Zama Rizvi said. "The friendship between Atalji and my husband can be traced back to the days when the BJP was a party with two MPs. Both of them knew each other even before that, she said. So, whenever Atalji came to Lucknow from Delhi, my husband would go the Charbagh railway station to receive him, she said. Her husband became a member of the UP Legislative Council thrice, and she credits this to Vajpayee. Asifa Zamani, who has been head of department of Persian at Lucknow University, said the former prime minister had immense trust in her husband. He used to phone Aijaz in advance and tell him that all papers should be ready so that he can come and file his nomination papers," she said. If Vajpayee happened to be in Lucknow around Eid, he would turn up at her house to have the kimami sewai. The moment he entered the house, he would ask, 'Where is the sewai? Bring it quickly, she said. Keeping his health in mind, I used to make separate kimami sewai for him, which would be less sweet, she recalled. Vajpayee would complain about the sweetness. But he would eat it with a smile, she said. "While leaving the house, he would give a silver coin to my son Asif and daughter Sheema as an Eid gift," the 75-year-old said. After Rizvis sudden death in 1998, their daughter Sheema Rizvi stepped into her father's shoes . Vajpayee helped the family then too, Asifa Zamanis son Asif Zama Rizvi said. Sheema Rizvi was a member of the UP Legislative Council for two terms, and served as a minister under chief ministers Ram Prakash Gupta, Rajnath Singh and Mayawati. Sheema Rizvi died in 2009. Asif Rizvi said, "We are deeply pained and anguished by the death of Atalji. Hence, we have decided that Bakri Eid celebrations in our home will be a low-key affair this time as a mark of respect for the departed soul." PTI Godmother of crime in south Delhi's Sangam Vihar caught: Police New Delhi pti-PTI New Delhi, Aug 18: A 62-year-old woman known as the "godmother of crime" in south Delhi's Sangam Vihar, who was wanted in connection with the killing of a man, was arrested, police said. The accused identified as Basiran was declared a proclaimed offender, they said. A total of 113 criminal cases including that of bootlegging, murder, robbery, contract killing and snatching have been registered against Basiran and her family members, police said. Acting on a tip-off, the accused was arrested from Sangam Vihar where she had come to meet her family members to decide further strategy in connection with seizure of her property, said Romil Baaniya, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (south). In September 2017, a partially decomposed body was recovered from the jungle of Sangam Vihar. A case was registered in connection with the murder following which a juvenile was apprehended in this case in January 2018, he said. The juvenile then disclosed name of his associates namely Aakash, Vikash, Neeraj, Munni Begum and Basiran, he added. After the co-accused were arrested, Basiran fled away and was evading her arrest since then, the DCP said. On May 25, Basiran was declared proclaimed offender in connection with the case. Subsequently, her property attached and sealed, he said. Meanwhile, the accused also filed an application seeking anticipatory bail at Delhi High Court and also sought release of her property at Saket Court. However, the Delhi Police strongly objected to it, giving her previous criminal background following which both applications were then dismissed by the court, the senior officer said. During interrogation, Basiran admitted that she had taken a contract of Rs 60,000 to kill Miraz who was a step-brother of one of the accused Munni Begum, he said. Basiran along with her associates hatched a conspiracy to kill Miraz. As per the plan, on the intervening night of 8 and 9 September 2017, Munni Begum took Miraz to Basiran's house and from there her associates took Miraz to a jungle in Sangam Vihar's K block where they intoxicated him and strangulated him to death using leather belt. The accused then burnt the body to hide his identity and buried it in the jungle, the officer added. It was learnt that Basiran did not have any permanent source of income and so she started selling illicit liquor. The accused even motivated her eight sons including a minor to commit crime, the DCP said. Once, she acquired dominance in the area, with the help of her sons, she captured government water borewells in Sangam Vihar and was running a water supply mafia, he said. She was absconding since last eight months and was hiding in cities like Allahabad, Ahmedabad, Mainpuri and Firozabad, he added. Police said a case of Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, 1999 (MCOCA) has been registered against her son Shamim. She along with other family members will also be booked in connection with the case for amassing wealth from crime proceeds, the police said. PTI Man posing as AIIMS doctor arrested New Delhi oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 19: A 25-year-old man, who was allegedly posing as a doctor at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) here, was arrested, police said. Ashish Tripathi, a resident of Ghaziabad, was found roaming inside one of the wards of the hospital wearing a white coat, they added. When Tripathi was intercepted by the guards at the hospital, he claimed to be a senior resident doctor. However, when asked, he failed to produce an identity card, Deputy Commissioner of Police (south) Romil Baaniya said. Also Read | Delhi: 19-year-old boy arrested for posing as doctor in AIIMS for 5 months During interrogation, Tripathi told the police that his pregnant wife was admitted to the hospital and he thought it would be easy to enter the wards wearing a white coat, the DCP added. The police said the accused used to give training to the patients admitted to AIIMS regarding dialysis and was found to have a diploma in operation theatre and management from an institute in Lucknow. A case has been registered in connection with the incident. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 11:48 [IST] Wrong-doings at Karkardooma shelter home alleges Congress New Delhi oi-Madhuri New Delhi, Aug 19: Delhi Mahila Congress chief Sharmishtha Mukherjee alleged wrong-doings in a women's shelter home in Karkardooma area and demanded action by the city government and police in this regard. A complaint was lodged by the Delhi Mahila Congress workers at Anand Vihar police station claiming that "terribly wrong things" were detected by them in a sting operation at the facility, she said in a press conference. The Congress leader demanded the AAP government to order a social audit of government shelter homes for women by a neutral agency. Also Read | Daughter Sharmistha rules out Shiv Sena's 'Pranab Mukherjee for 2019' theory In the wake of the Muzaffarpur and Deoria incidents, Congress president Rahul Gandhi had asked the All India Mahila Congress to find out the condition of state-run shelter homes for women across the country, she said. The Delhi Women Congress volunteers approached seven shelter homes in the city with a plea of distributing sweets and fruits to the inmates. We were given access by three of the homes, Mukherjee said. "The condition at two of these shelter homes was satisfactory, while at the Karkardooma shelter home, the party workers found the condition terribly wrong," she added. A video of the sting operation was also released by the party. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Sunday, August 19, 2018, 12:07 [IST] Fridays newspaper headline blared, Hamilton County Schools see dramatic growth in student performance and that, my friend, is fake news at its finest. A better try might be, 90 Percent of Kids In Chattanooga Cant Do Math. Lets face it: We know that a full 70 percent of 43,000 students in our public school system are not on track, this based on state test scores, and -- with a record budget just opened in Hamilton County -- it is widely believed that once again well not get the bang for our bucks. The spin doctors will tell you that Hamilton County schools graded a 1 in numeracy (this on a 1-to-5 scale) but the staggering truth is less than 10 percent (this on a 1-to-100 scale) of children in our public education system are adequate in their numbers. What kind of life sentence is that? And, how much longer are the taxpayers going to tolerate a stealthy form of child abuse? I contend a huge part of the educational train wreck is that the state of Tennessees lawmakers and leaders may talk a good game but have not walked the walk in so long that now we all crawl from one end of the state to the other. This week the Knox County School Board sent a no confidence letter in the state Department Of Ed to Governor Bill Haslam. It arrived just several days after school leaders in Davidson County (Nashville) and Shelby County (Memphis) mailed the same. Indeed, what has taken place is a farce. What was refreshing in the Knoxville version was that it pointedly accused the State Department of Education for dodging the blame in the tumultuous reign of Commissioner Candace McQueen. Her greatest notoriety has been state testing that has failed in each of the last three years. Now its our Hamilton County leaders who are doing the dodge the truth is our middle and high schools are worse than they were just five years ago. Believe me, as the states education efforts continue to crumble, Hamilton Countys infamous last decade has been even worse. Tennessee as a state is in the bottom 20 percent of the United States when it comes to allocating money to educate our young. Thats why many believe the first steps a new governor must take is righting a crazy system that has gone askew, one that has poured millions of earmarked education dollars into our troubled schools while ignoring broader overall steps that most assuredly would benefit the whole. In Hamilton County it is the same way. Over half of our students qualify for free, or assisted, lunches and the greatest step in the climb out of poverty is an education. At the school board meeting this week everybody applauded the fact Hamilton County is now level 3 instead of level 2 (on a 1-to-5 scale) but the stark fact is that average is absolutely unacceptable with business and industry clamoring for entry-level workers and, I am telling you, these jobs are available right now! Plainly, we cannot meet the need and, when we find ourselves in the single digits on a 1-to-100 scale in numeracy (a phony word that means math), it is so disheartening that the belief is our children will need crayons instead of pencils in forthcoming text books. Thats right, HCDE is a record-low 9 in its race to the top. Instead of accepting accountability and harshly confronting it, Hamilton County educators are using gimmicks like career paths and various future-ready institutes rather than sticking to the timeless fundamentals of reading, writing, and arithmetic. As a result of such far-fetched education models, a full 25 percent of school-age children in Hamilton County are filling over 30-and-growing private schools and home schooling is growing. The Chattanooga School for Arts and Sciences, the STEM School, and others like the Girls Leadership Academy are proof public education works, but in a school district that today celebrates being average, the most fertile area of improvement would seemingly be to focus on the average schools within the system where the quickest gains could be made. As it is today, the HCDE can no longer idle, which has attributed to the entire states further slide in education. The poverty schools beg for a 12-month curriculum, replete with counselors and social workers, and perish the thought active programs like the Boy Schools and youth intramural teams. Outside of the box is the only place change can occur. Oh, its not just in Hamilton County and Tennessee. Deep reforms are overdue and equity and equality rhubarb is no more than mindless jabber and subterfuge. For example, chew on this tasty crumb: * * * The Army says it wants to recruit 76,500 new soldiers in 2018. But it has signed up only 28,000 in the first six months of the year. The problem, it seems, is not that young people don't want to join the military. It's that they can't; too many of them fail to meet minimum standards. Here's the math: One in three potential recruits are disqualified because they're overweight, one in four cannot meet minimal educational standards, and one in 10 have a criminal history. The unabashed fact is that 71 percent of 18-to-24-year-olds -- the military's target pool of potential recruits -- are disqualified the minute they enter a recruiting station. * * * Is it unfathomable that only 30 percent of todays 18-to-24 year-olds can qualify to serve their country? Sadly, there is not much we can do about that and dont dare think the requirements are going to be lessened anytime soon. What we can do is demand that our under-achieving public schools perform far better than has been revealed. And, for mercy sake, no true educator should ever set such an example that our children would believe that being mediocre or average is worth any type of a celebration. royexum@aol.com Serbia Moves Forward at Inaugural EGC Published August 19, 2018 by Lee R Serbia is looking to come out of its own antiquated regulation to become effective participants in the EU by this October. Serbia is modernizing its regulatory structure by bringing its gambling business out of the so-called shadow economy, with incoming events about to set the stage for a potential mainstreaming of the Serbian economy throughout the EU as well. The EGC Event The event is set for the 16th of October at Ljubljanas Grand Union Hotel will bring together industry experts for a platform optimising networking and learning opportunities for all. Timing Licensure The incoming event is European Gaming Congress EGC. In anticipation, Serbia is reaching out to all gambling establishments to apply for licenses at the Ministry of Finance. In return, the government jurisdiction has established its own version of favourable conditions for running gambling activities, supporting effective operation of established ranging from land-based casinos to slot machine halls to betting shops as well as online gambling sites. A key advantage Serbia is offering is a modest gambling tax of only 5%. Serbia at EGC The Serbian focus at the inaugural edition of European Gaming Congress is a key topic that will indicate how smaller countries in Europe can participate in the greater cross border economy. Gaming stands as one of those key gateways. Expert Speaker To this end, Serbia gaming expert Zoran Puhac is set to share his latest insights on the market and his own personal experiences working with Serbian regulation. Zoran currently serves as SecretaryGeneral of European Organization for Gaming Law (EOGL). He has previously served as Mozzartbet director of Corporate Affairs as well as Association of Gaming Providers coordinator, after graduating Air Force Academy and undergoing post graduate studies at Faculty of political sciences with specialization in crisis communications. Diverse Representation Other speakers set to be on hand at EGC include officials and operators representatives across France, Spain, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Slovenia, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, Montenegro, Greece, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Netherlands and Belgium. Overview The interweaving of large European economies with emerging nations operating on smaller scales is a key dynamic that will enable innovative small countries to get a strong foothold in the EU economy, and the EGC represents a great investment opportunity for attendees to discern which of these emerging economies look most strong for the near and mid-term. Two Oregon Coast History Curiosities: Nye Beach, Lincoln City's Redhead Roundup Published 08/18/2018 at 4:27 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Newport, Oregon) History is full of all kinds of funky little oddities and quirky tidbits, especially in light of the current culture of the times (which, ironically, will feel equally as funky to others in the future). (Above: photo courtesy North Lincoln County Historical Museum). On the central Oregon coast, theres lots of that. Only 100 years ago the region was still a kind of pioneer settlement that was only just acquiring a tourism industry. It was still so rough-edged its hard to even call it rural. Two curiosities of the Oregon coasts past typify this in different ways. One takes place in Newport 100 years ago, the other in Lincoln City just before the war. Above: a traffic jam in the '30s caused by the Redhead Roundup (courtesy North Lincoln County History Museum). Redhead Roundup Festival. History is dotted with all sorts of things we wouldnt exactly do today. On the borderline of that is a somewhat cringe-inducing yet amusing bit of trivia regarding a yearly event which took place on the central Oregon coast: the Redhead Roundup. It was a kind of beauty contest that actually honored red-haired women. And it did at least honor all body types, though its approach would be considered tacky today. By and large the Redhead Roundup was harmless and really kind of funny now. According to the North Lincoln County Historical Museum, the Redhead Roundup was started by Taft resident and businessman Manville Robison in 1931 (back before there was a Lincoln City), who owned a popular restaurant at the time called the Green Anchor in the tiny village. It quickly gained in popularity, and within a few short years it had become a full two-day summer festival, bringing in some 25,000 visitors at times. In 1935, it attracted 15,000 people. The focus was, however, the girls. Museum curator Jeff Syrop wrote: There were also contests for beauty, reddest hair, plumpest redhead, longest red hair, and more. The only stipulation to participate was that you had to have natural red hair. Syrop said that women from other states showed up to be a part of the event. Still, it soon attached other attractions such as rides, parades, dances, and games. It was known to create massive traffic jams throughout tiny Taft. This was back when Highway 101 had just been built, but even then most of the streets in Taft were still gravel. It only lasted ten years, however. Syrop said: The last Redhead Roundup was in 1941 when WWII brought gas rationing and a no large crowds during war policy. After the war, there were several attempts to bring back the festival throughout the decades, but none of them were a success. The idea is dead today. See the exhibit on the Redhead Roundup at the history museum in Lincoln City. Above: the Nye Beach Clambake in the 1910s, photo courtesy Lincoln County Historical Society, Newport. Newports Nye Beach is a nice mixture of history you can still see and fascinating historical aspects no longer visible. These days, its remodeling in the last decade gives it a sense of old town Americana and of old Europe to some degree. About 100 years ago, this burgeoning beach resort exploded rather quickly, in spite of the limitations of people getting here from the valley. Back then, it was a separate community from Newport connected only by a muddy road with wooden planks to assist driving. It was called the Honeymoon Capital of the World at that time, with a truly sizable number of newlyweds coming through. Just down the beach, a massive structure called Jump-Off Joe provided wind-sheltered makeout spots for the romancers, as well as photo opps for thousands of beachgoers over its 20-year existence. It crumbled by the 40s and another cliff next to it acquired that name Jump-Off Joe and it still has it. Back then, where the Nye Beach Turnaround is now, there was a wooden promenade very similar to that which Seaside acquired around the same time. While this one was much shorter, it too had a natatorium (hot salt water bath) and some other tourist attractions. There was a ramp going down to the beach then, and often the beach was full of parked cars packed with vacationers. One of the big yearly features of this small Oregon coast resort was the Nye Beach Clambake. Many of these took place on the beach, with wooden tables loaded with food. Clams were cooked in the sand inside a fire pit surrounded by rocks and with seaweed thrown in. The last one was apparently held in 1918, and then briefly resurrected in the early 2000s as the Nye Beach Clambake, just as the neighborhood finished up its remodeling process. Oregon Coast Lodgings in these areas - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Video: Mysterious Run of Sharks, Rescue Attempt of Shark on Oregon Coast Fails Published 08/18/2018 at 6:47 PM PDT - Updated 08/19/2018 at 2:07 PM PDT By Oregon Coast Beach Connection Staff (Seaside, Oregon) A spate of stranded sharks is making waves all over the Oregon coast this week, as young salmon sharks keep washing up everywhere, from the north coast down through at least the Bandon area of the southern coast. (All photos and video Seaside Aquarium). In Cannon Beach, some have been reportedly trying to swim upstream in Ecola Creek, while the bodies of others simply lay around just about every beach. Theyve been mistaken for baby Great White sharks, which is understandable as they do look much like a Great White. They are, in fact, salmon sharks, which are common to this coastline and dont get nearly as big. Near Gearhart, however, a live juvenile shark beached itself around Sunset Beach, and even though crew from the Seaside Aquarium attempted to rescue it and nurse it back to health it died a few hours later. Seaside Aquarium education specialist Tiffany Boothe said this one was 3.5 feet long, and was found still struggling in the surf on Saturday morning. An Astoria man whose daughter works at the Seaside Aquarium discovered the creature and called it in. Attempts to return the shark to the ocean by taking the shark back into the surf failed and shark kept returning to shore, Boothe said. Once staff from the Seaside Aquarium arrived, they quickly worked to get the shark into a holding tank to transfer the shark to the Seaside Aquarium. The plan was to get the shark stable, if possible, and then get it to a bigger facility with larger tanks for rehab and possible release. However, sharks that beach themselves rarely survive the ordeal and the shark passed away a few hours after arriving at the Seaside Aquarium. Boothe and aquarium manager Keith Chandler said the Oregon coast gets a lot of these juvenile salmon sharks this time of year, and they all mysteriously simply strand themselves. No one knows why, except that it is known that sharks do this when theyre ill in some way and thus are disoriented. In fact, they are strangely insistent on heading straight into the surf, a sure sign of some kind of severe disorientation. This case was also proof of that: those that were picking up the shark and trying to get it back into the sea only found the creature simply turned right around and headed straight for the beach again. The Aquarium often tries to collect those which have passed away, Boothe said. We use them for education, allowing people to watch the dissections, while we take tissue samples which are sent off to biologist studying this phenomena. Boothe said these are often mistaken for Great Whites for good reason. Though they do resemble Great Whites, and with only a couple small identification clues (the formation of their teeth and second caudal keel), it can be difficult to distinguish the two Boothe said. Oregon Coast Lodgings in this area - Where to eat - Maps - Virtual Tours ------ More photos below: More About Oregon Coast hotels, lodging..... More About Oregon Coast Restaurants, Dining..... Coastal Spotlight LATEST Related Oregon Coast Articles Back to Oregon Coast Contact Advertise on BeachConnection.net All Content, unless otherwise attributed, copyright BeachConnection.net Unauthorized use or publication is not permitted Surgical Rejuvenation Market to Surge at a Robust Pace by 2024 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/surgical-rejuvenation-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=12962 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=12962 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Surgical rejuvenation is a medical method focused on the practical reversal of the aging process or repair of impaired tissue with new tissue. Aging is a assembling of impairment to macromolecules, cells, tissues and organs. If any of that damage can be fixed, the outcome is rejuvenation. Rejuvenation is one of the life extension strategies. Surgical methods for rejuvenation are generally performed for face, skin, vagina, eye, hand.Facial rejuvenation is a non-invasive or minimally invasive cosmetic treatment (often accomplished over numerous sessions). The treatment aims to re-establish skin elasticity and help preserve a youthful presence on the face and neck region. Facial rejuvenation procedures are performed by beauty clinics, hospitals and full-service spas. The process is supported by the supervision of a dermatologist and plastic surgeons.View Report -Vaginal rejuvenation generally incorporates vaginoplasty i.e., tightening of the vagina and/or labiaplasty or vulvaplasty. Vulvaplasty is restructuring of the vulva or labia, the outer and inner lips of the vagina. It has become a progressively common option for women. For individuals who wish recon touring after childbirth, substantial weight loss, elderly or grievance to genital structures, vaginal rejuvenation offers increased self-confidence and comfort. Conditions that can be treated with skin rejuvenation are wrinkles, pigmentation, scars, vascular conditions and vascular conditions.Microneedling therapy or collagen induction therapy (CIT), and percutaneous collagen induction (PCI), are minimally invasive skin-rejuvenation techniques that includes the use of a device that comprises fine needles.Request to View Brochure of Report -Surgical Rejuvenation Market: Growth EnablersEarly appearance of elderly and increasing adoption of less painful minimally invasive rejuvenation techniques are major aspects driving the growth of the global Surgical Rejuvenation Market. Other trends include easier access to treatments, rising affordability, growing awareness about new innovative and less painful techniques, deeper penetration of beauty merchandises in the local markets, demand for faster results and shorter treatment duration preferred by patients. However, the lack of standardized regulations is leading to an arrival of many local companies in both the developed and developing regions. Furthermore, the absence of documented and approved product effectiveness is also hampering the growth of this market.Surgical Rejuvenation Market: Regional InsightGeographically, the global surgical rejuvenation market is segmented into five major regions: North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Rest of the World (RoW). North America followed by Europe accounted for the major market share for surgical rejuvenation due to the technical developments in the medicine and surgery field. These developments have enabled surgeries to be non-invasive and less painful. As the financial condition of developing countries has gradually improved, the disposable income in the hands of citizens has also improved drastically in recent years. This has led to a rise in the expenditure on luxuries such as facial rejuvenation.The growing complexity of surgical rejuvenation procedures, which has led to the development of pain-free and effective non-surgical techniques, is expected to hamper the demand for surgical rejuvenation. Asia Pacific, followed by Latin America are expected to exhibit the highest growth rate due to rising development, increase in disposable income, growing healthcare industry and the presence of a large patient population in these regions. However, unfavorable reimbursement scenario and increasing cost of surgical procedures are some of the factors that might hinder the growth of surgical rejuvenation market.Surgical Rejuvenation Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in the surgical rejuvenation market are: Merz GmbH & Co. KGaA, Lumenis, Mentor Worldwide LLC, Cynosure, Inc., Gal derma S/A, Alma Lasers, and Strax Rejuvenation.Enquiry for discount on this 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: Synthetic Peptides Market to Expand with Significant CAGR by 2027 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/synthetic-peptides-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=25949 https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=25949 http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Peptides are made up of chains of amino acid, linked with the peptide bond. Dipeptide are made of two amino acid, tripeptide are made of three amino acids and polypeptide are long, unbranched chain of amino acid joined by peptide bonds. Chain of amino acid up to 50 amino acid are known as peptides, greater than 50 amino acid is known as proteins. Peptides are used as a therapeutic agent, in the treatment of various disease condition, as peptides performs many metabolic functions in the body. Adequate amount of amino acid are necessary in the body to produce various hormones necessary for body functioning. Synthetic peptide are artificially produced outside the cell with the help of chemical reactions. Synthetic peptide are used for research purpose by various pharmaceutical and biotechnological companies. Due to the emergence of peptide synthesis, variety of antibody can be prepared involving new therapeutic technique used for biological research, drug discovery, and product development.View Report -Several companies are involved in generation of synthetic peptide, they provide special set of products and services. Peptide libraries are maintained by various companies that help in development of vaccines, drug screening, sequencing of amino acid for research activities and others. These days peptides are available as drugs, and various peptide drug candidates are under clinical trials that has the potential to address therapeutic challenges. Natural peptides are rapidly metabolized, and has low oral bioavailability, the concept that it cannot be orally available has contributed to the revival of interest in peptides as drug candidate by some of the pharmaceutical company.New strategies are adopted by scientists and researchers to lower the metabolism of the peptide by demonstrating alternative routes of administration, improve productivity so that large number of peptide- based drugs are available in the market. Synthetic peptide vaccine is a promising alternative approach to immunization that will fuel growth of the global synthetic peptide marker in the near future.Request to View Brochure of Report -The invention of peptide synthesis has unlocked different application area in which synthetic peptides are used as therapeutic agent, used to study protein characterization, establish enzyme substrate reaction within different enzyme classes that demonstrate essential role in cell signaling. It also plays a central role in mass spectrometry-based drug discovery, quantitation of proteins during biomarker study in early drug discovery and development.Increased demand for research and development for early detection and diagnosis of disease, increased expenditure on healthcare sector, increasing prevalence of cardiovascular disease and metabolic disorders, advancements in synthetic peptides vaccines due to high specificity, increased number of synthetic peptide clinical trials, technological advancement in the diagnostic and treatment process of infectious diseases, advancement in molecular techniques are some of the factors fuelling the growth of the global Synthetic Peptide Market. Various factors such as low oral bioavailability of peptide drugs, short half-life, rapid metabolism, patent expiration, high development and commercialization cost are some factors inhibiting the growth of synthetic peptide market.The global synthetic peptide market has been classified on the basis of application, route of administration, marketing status, distribution channel and geography.Enquiry for discount on this 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: Portland Police seized a stolen car and gun Saturday after officers arrested a man who police say fled after police tried to pull him over, according to a police press release. An officer tried to pull over a white Acura Integra after the driver broke multiple traffic laws, but the driver would not stop, according to police. The officer decided to not chase the car and instead called for backup, the release says. Police soon spotted the Acura, which is described in a press release as being spotted "straddling a sidewalk in the 1700 block of North Farragut Avenue." The officers noticed a man running away from the Acura and quickly broadcast a description of him to fellow officers, the release says. A search ensued. Police eventually arrested Armando J. Perez, 25, after finding him under a deck in a backyard, the release says. During the neighborhood search officers also found a gun that had been reported stolen. Police theorize that Perez dumped the gun while on the run, the release says. A records check on the Acura revealed it had been reported stolen on July 28 in Sandy, Oregon. Perez was booked into the Multnomah County Jail on numerous charges, to include driving while suspended and possession of methamphetamine. -- Bethany Barnes By Eva Sanders My professional life has been dedicated to helping Oregonians achieve their dream of homeownership, regardless of their stage in life. When a young couple could finally afford to move from a rented apartment into a home of their own, I was there to help make sure they were successful. When families needed to upgrade to accommodate additional children, I helped them navigate those decisions. When empty-nesters were ready to downsize, I've been able to help them convert a lifetime of home equity -- and memories -- into financial security in retirement. Today's real estate market is making it more challenging to buy a home. And the Oregon Legislature's proposal to reduce or eliminate the home mortgage interest deduction would only compound this challenge. That's why I'm working to pass Measure 104, which will be on the ballot this November. More than 20 years ago, Oregonians passed an amendment to the state constitution to prevent politicians from raising revenue without support from a three-fifths supermajority, as opposed to a simple majority. The intent was to prevent either party from passing highly partisan back-room deals by razor-thin margins. This seemed like plain language to voters, but then politicians and lawyers got involved and began parsing terms and weakening the will of the people. Now, politicians in Salem are working to raise taxes by taking away important deductions -- and doing it without the three-fifths supermajority that Oregon voters enacted. Measure 104 would clarify - once again - that politicians can't raise revenue without a supermajority vote. So, in addition to raising tax rates, they also can't eliminate tax deductions or create and increase fees and assessments without demonstrating broad support. This will ensure that balanced, bipartisan agreements are struck before struggling Oregonians are asked to pay more, particularly at a time when our state is becoming less affordable. The home mortgage interest deduction is often the critical financial piece that bridges the gap between renting and owning. Last year, politicians came close to eliminating or significantly limiting the home mortgage interest deduction for Oregonians across the state. In their continued search for more tax revenue, they were willing to take away one of our greatest tools for homeownership. We can't let that happen again, and Measure 104 will ensure it won't. The cost of housing is the most challenging issue confronting Oregonians today. And it is not just a problem in Portland. We're seeing it in nearly every corner of our state, both urban or rural. It's heartbreaking to meet with young couples trying to buy their first home only to discover they still can't quite afford it. Getting a start in life is hard enough, particularly for young people saddled with college debt. We should do whatever we can to make homeownership more affordable for everybody. Measure 104 will be a hotly debated ballot measure this fall. The fact that it's controversial, however, says more about today's "zero-sum" politics than the measure itself. Oregonians struggling to make ends meet need politicians to seek balanced, bipartisan solutions to funding state government. That's all Measure 104 will do. Voters spoke loud and clear on this question the last time it was on the ballot; they should do so again by passing Measure 104 in November. -- Eva Sanders is a licensed principal broker in Oregon and Washington and is a part owner of the Belmont Meadows Group office in Southeast Portland. Share your opinion Submit your essay of 800 words or less on a highly topical issue or a theme of particular relevance to the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and the Portland area to commentary@oregonian.com. Please include your email and phone number for verification. Cars burn rubber in parking lots, filling the night air with thick curtains of smoke and the sound of screaming engines. Inches away, spectators stand and watch -- many with smartphones raised to record the moment. The high-adrenaline scene is straight out of the action movie series "The Fast and the Furious," except the setting is the streets of Portland and this isn't make-believe. And on Sunday night, racers brazenly shut down the Fremont Bridge for half an hour, blocking traffic and defying police as they staged their souped-up rally-car performance. Across Portland, such gatherings play out frequently on Sunday nights, though they fly largely under the public radar as most people are home and fewer officers are on the streets. At the most popular event, called T5 by participants and police because of its proximity to the Port of Portland's Terminal 5, up to 1,000 spectators regularly flood onto sidewalks and empty parking lots as a couple hundred cars descend on the area. The gatherings can turn dangerous -- and deadly. Four people have been killed in Portland street racing-related incidents in the past three years. Many more have been injured, including a recent high-school graduate who ended up in a coma and is still in the hospital after being hit by a racer in June. In April, a meet-up ended with shots fired. The next month, a racer tried to ram a police vehicle. "It's so beyond what people can believe," said Portland police Officer John Fulitano, who for more than two decades has been working out of the North police precinct, where most races happen. Street racing is no new phenomenon. It's an adrenaline rush birthed the day automobiles were created, and video games and the movies have contributed to its evolution. But in recent years, it's accelerated in Portland. Engines rev. Small fireworks blast overheard. And the races begin. Cars shoot off in pairs while others crowd into parking lots, industrial complexes and intersections to drift and do burnout circles, commonly referred to as donuts. Racers say they know the police are relatively powerless to put an end to their fun. The Portland Police Bureau, already stretched thin by other overtime demands, has limited resources to combat the racers. And safety concerns hinder officers' ability to chase racers when they flee. Some in the car community are trying to create safer options for the enthusiasts. But both police and some participants are starting to ask what it will take to wake racers up to the escalating dangers of street racing. They hope it's not a catastrophic crash that takes multiple lives. A Deadly Game The racers often leave behind an obvious trail. Beer bottles and oil canisters litter parking lots. Dark black stripes and dozens of overlapping rings are burned across intersections and lots. But they've also left a trail of headstones and hospital bills. Street racing-related deaths have killed four people in the past three years, according to Portland police: Linda Johnson, 65, was killed on Dec. 4, 2015, after two racing motorcycles crashed into her car at Southeast 160th Avenue and Stark Street. Nick Alexandar Chernyavskiy, 20, was killed on Jan. 23, 2016, after crashing the motorcycle he was racing into another motorcyclist on Northeast Airport Way near 145th Avenue. Alexander Keppinger, 26, died in the hospital two weeks after he was injured as a passenger in a crash involving two racers on March 6, 2016, on Northeast Glisan Street near 139th Avenue. Daniel Kharlamov, 19, died on April 21, 2017, as the result of a high-speed crash on Southeast Powell Boulevard near 37th Avenue. Police believe he was racing another motorcycle. MOXIE AND MODERN MACHINES The young, tech-savvy racers use their phones and the immediacy of social media to coordinate logistics -- and create a lopsided game of cat-and-mouse with police. They also thrive off social media attention. At any given moment, dozens of phones record the gatherings. YouTube is a hive for T5 videos from over the years, and the phone app Snapchat brings more racers to the action in the moment. Snapchat maps, where people can post videos from their location and be seen by any user, show the action from any hotspot. The videos and evidence disappear after 24 hours, but that's plenty of time to alert the masses. On Sunday, one such video was posted from the Fremont Bridge about 10 p.m., where headlights lit up dozens of people who had stopped their vehicles and swarmed the bridge. At one point, three cars blasted circles around each other as people stood feet away amid southbound traffic lanes. About that same time, a large crowd began gathering at the Goodwill parking lot at Northeast Marine Drive and 122nd Avenue. Soon the action kicked off, with the cars at times barely visible in their own clouds of smoke. The party continued uninterrupted for at least 30 minutes. Police showed up, and the participants scattered, as usual. Officers often spend Sunday night chasing racers from one site to the next, but it's a temporary solution. "The cops are never going to stop us," said a man in his early 20s who would not provide his last name. "It's the adrenaline that keeps everyone coming back." It's almost as if the racers feel immune from police, said Fulitano, the officer. One Sunday in June, an officer responded to a report of street racing in the 5400 block of Northeast 148th Avenue. He was almost hit intentionally by a truck as he approached a group of about 50 people in his marked police car, according to police reports. When officers decided to chase the truck, drivers, many of whom remove their license plates, moved their vehicles in the way. Two people were eventually arrested. Map: Street racing incidents reported from January-June in 2016-2018 Racers' disregard for police was evident Aug. 5, as officers investigated a vehicle, presumably racing, that had just crashed off Marine Drive. As they inspected the car, the racing continued, with a pair of motorcycles at high speed blasting past the group of officers and their lighted vehicles. The bureau's current chase policies prevent officers from pursuing racers unless absolutely necessary, as chases can increase the danger to the public. To complicate the situation, a judicial ruling a few years ago impeded police ability to tow vehicles, said Sgt. Greg Stewart, who works out of the North Precinct. So racers can just come back and get their cars after police leave. For those with a suspended license, towing is a much more efficient deterrent than a ticket anyway, he said. "It probably took our best tool for addressing the situation," Stewart said. The bureau has 100 fewer officers now than when Stewart began 20 years ago, he said. And on any given Sunday night, less than than two dozen police officers cover the entire North Precinct as 500 to 700 racers and spectators spread out across the area. The goal is always to defuse the racing situations without force, but two officers going into a crowd of hundreds of racers can be dangerous, Stewart said. DANGER AHEAD Fulitano said he fears a driver will lose control and mow down a crowd of onlookers one of these days, comparing it to the devastation terrorists wreak on crowds with their vehicles. When Fulitano started in the precinct decades ago, most of the racers were in smaller groups on Swan Island. The scale has exploded. To make the stakes even higher, he said, many of the popular racing areas are far from emergency centers. "They're all my kids' age; I hate going out there and seeing them hurt," Fulitano said, adding that every day he feels the racers are just barely sliding by without a large-scale accident. Less-obvious victims include local businesses, which have reported property damage. Some truck drivers have been assaulted by racers refusing to let them leave on their routes, Fulitano said. Some property managers of businesses along Marine Drive, in the Delta Park area and on Swan Island are working to reduce the number of racers on their property. One company hired security for Sunday nights to photograph any racers driving past, Fulitano said. Another installed speed bumps, which may have deterred side-by-side racing but didn't stop racers from doing donuts. "The speed bumps just gave them little arenas," Fulitano said, pointing to fresh tire marks after a night of racing. Sunday night seemed more intense than usual, some said privately. Stewart said people began calling in tips Saturday night that participants from as far away as Oakland, California, were heading up to Portland for the races. The bureau prepared with as many extra officers as they could, though staffing remains limited, especially after so many officers worked overtime for recent protests. Police for the most part kept racers from their normal spots, like Marine Drive, Stewart said. But the added police presence seemed to agitate racers, he said. "Taking the bridge is almost like a temper tantrum," he said. Clearing racers from the Fremont Bridge presented its own challenges. Traffic was backed up on the one-way deck of the bridge, making it difficult and time-consuming for officers. But shortly after 10 p.m. they cleared the bridge and were able to identify and cite a few of the racers that night. But the majority made clean getaways. OFF THE STREETS Some adults are trying to provide safer, organized events to reduce illegal racing. Devin Hosking, 35, has for the past six years been the main organizer for the Red Door Meet, a family-friendly informal car show held every Sunday evening at Southeast Second Avenue and Belmont Street. Car enthusiasts gather along SE 2nd Ave. under the Morrison Bridge Sunday, Aug. 12, 2018, for the weekly Red Door Meet. The event takes place every Sunday. For Hosking, a parent, staying away from the illegal racing scene was an easy decision. "But for younger people it's a thrill and it's fun," he said. "You can stand right next to a car when it goes flying by you." Fulitano said, however, some racers show off their cars at the Red Door Meet but then still head north to race. "It starts as a unique, fun experience, and then breaks out into craziness," he said. Hosking stressed that his meet has no association with illegal racing, and he hopes it will keep kids off the street. Legal racing can be more expensive. Many of the illegal racing cars would need upgrades to comply with safety standards, and some drivers don't have licenses or insurance. Peter Belefanti, a Nike manager who builds race cars on the side, for three years has held independent, monthly racing events at local venues for experienced drivers. He recognizes the financial barrier for those getting into racing, so he also offers free lessons with an instructor to anyone cited for reckless driving, speeding or racing on the streets. No one has taken him up on his offer yet. "I'm just trying to get to them before they hurt somebody or themselves," Belefanti said. His main observation from more than 30 years in the racing world is that it's dangerous no matter what, but there's no safer place to race than on a track. Police are also trying to redirect racers. Without the ability to chase and tow like they used to, policing the racers has become a more thoughtful, education-driven process, Stewart said. The Oregon Department of Transportation and the police are working to create social media campaigns to inform racers of the costs and consequences of their decisions, he said. "We'd like to resolve as much of this as we can just talking to people without having to write tickets or arrest folks," Stewart said. "I JUST HOPE SOMEBODY LEARNS FROM THIS" Sunday marked two months since Taylor Jennison was admitted to the hospital. In June she was a passenger in a car turning onto Marine Drive when a racer hit it. The 18-year-old was rushed to the hospital with a broken pelvis, ruptured bladder, brain injuries and two broken femurs, according to a GoFundMe account to help pay for medical expenses. She was in a coma for 10 days and required a feeding tube to eat and a tracheotomy to breathe, the site said. Every day is filled with chronic pain and what has added up to hundreds of strokes, said her mother, Kristene Jennison. "I just hope somebody learns from this," Kristene said. "This is horrific, I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy." The most difficult part right now is the uncertainty, she said. They don't yet know when Taylor can move to a rehabilitation facility or how much the medical bills will total. Kristene, an outreach worker for individuals with substance abuse problems, said her job is rewarding, but she doesn't know if she'll be able to go back by Sept. 10 when her employer stops holding her position for her. It's been traumatizing for her and her other kids. She sleeps at the hospital five nights a week. She also has to move. The family's home of nine years has stairs, which won't be accessible for Taylor, who had planned to use her scholarship to study nursing at Portland Community College. "These street racers don't care about their future, don't care about others," Kristene said. "And she's completely the opposite. That's what makes this a little harder to swallow." --Anna Spoerre Wildfire smoke is expected to creep back into Portland air after 11 p.m. on Sunday, according to the National Weather Service. From there, it gets worse. The National Weather Service predicts widespread smoke Monday as well as Tuesday with temperatures in the 90s. Smoky skies are expected last through Wednesday, according to a release by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality. Just how bad the air will get remains unknown. The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and Southwest Clean Air Agency have issued an air pollution advisory that covers parts of Portland much of the Willamette Valley. The Pacific Northwest has been engulfed in smoke this summer due to wildfires. On some particularly smoke-filled days schools have shut down outdoor activities. At one point this summer, Portland's air quality ranked among the worst in the world, placing fourth behind cities such as Mumbai, India, and Dubai in the United Arab Emirates. The Department of Environmental Quality suggests the following precautions: - Be aware of smoke concentrations in your area and avoid the places with highest concentrations. - Avoid strenuous outdoor activity in smoky conditions. - If you have heart disease, asthma or other respiratory ailments, or are over 65, you have a higher risk of illness from wildfire smoke. - Small children and pregnant women are also at increased risk. These residents are encouraged to stay indoors. - People suffering from asthma or other respiratory problems should follow their breathing management plans or contact their healthcare providers. A police chase in Hillsboro Saturday night ended in a crash and an arrest, according to a police press release. A Washington County Sheriff's Office deputy saw a car driving recklessly and without headlights, but when the officer tried to pull the car over the driver took off, according to police. The three-minute pursuit ended when the Honda Civic struck a curb as well as a tree in a business complex in the 3600 block of NW John Olsen Place, police said. Although no one was injured, the scene looked grisly as the car ultimately flipped and landed on its top. Police arrested Cathie F. Ropati, 22, on several charges, including driving under the influence and reckless driving, after the chase. Ropati was already wanted by police on felony drug charges. She was booked into the Washington County Jail after being examined at a hospital. -- Bethany Barnes Email Bethany: bbarnes@oregonian.com It was worth the wait Saturday for several hundred aspiring actors. A line snaked out the front doors of Barbizon in Lemoyne and down Bosler Avenue, as nearly 800 people auditioned to be extras in the Netflix series "Mindhunter." "Netflix and 'Mindhunter' coming to Harrisburg is huge," said Jonathan Roth, owner of Barbizon in Lemoyne. "I knew it would be good. I didn't realize it would get as gigantic as it has," he added. The auditions were held as the series gears up for season two and extends its search for extras and walk-ons. So many people responded, Roth said Barbizon capped auditions off at 850. "I was a huge fan of 'Mindhunter' when it came out last year. And I also actually somewhat work in the field," said Rebecca Roditski of Middletown, who auditioned. "I thought the clinical aspect of it was pretty spot-on." The series stars Jonathan Groff - known for his roles in "Frozen," "Glee," "Looking," "The Normal Heart" and a Tony Award-nominated role in "Spring Awakening" -- originally hails from Ronks in Lancaster County. Also, the series, which centers around Groff's character, FBI agent Holden Ford, and his pioneering attempts to study the behavior of serial killers in the 1970s, is shot largely in and around the Pittsburgh area. Ted Martin, who works for the show's background casting, said he was shocked by the interest. "We've never had this kind of response for anything," he said. He said director David Fincher - known for "Fight Club," "The Social Network" and "The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo" - has a vision of what every scene should look like, down to the extras. Those who auditioned Saturday for the non-speaking parts filled out paperwork and were photographed. The information will be placed in a database, with callbacks happening between now and December, Martin said. "They are literally looking for just a variety of people from short to tall, dark to light. It ranges. They are really looking to fill their database for people for extras," Roth said. Those who are called back will have to travel to Pittsburgh for fittings - into appropriate 1970s clothing - and filming, Roth said. The auditions came about after Roth had helped the show with auditions in Pittsburgh where he owns a Barbizon. He suggested they expand the search to the Harrisburg area. The Catholic Diocese of Scranton announced it is conducting a "formal assessment" of its handing of the sexual abuse allegations outlined in grand jury report last week, according to a report from The Scranton Times-Tribune. The diocese will be looking at the actions of Bishop Emeritus the Most Rev. James C. Timlin, 91, who retired in 2003, according to the report. "The grand jury report noted Timlin was notified of at least 20 abuse cases during his nearly 20-year tenure as bishop and took questionable actions to deal with the allegations. In one instance, Timlin learned in 1986 that a priest, the Rev. Thomas Skotek, raped a young girl and impregnated her, then arranged for her to have an abortion," the report states. After his retirement, Timlin continued to assist in the diocese, "including presiding over confirmation ceremonies at several Lackawanna County churches," the report states. Read more: The review board was ordered by the current bishop of the diocese, The Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera. Recommendations are expected by Aug. 31. Timlin is not authorized to represent the diocese during review process, according to the report. Carolyn Dymond isn't sure how it happened to her 9-year-old dog, Bella. She isn't sure why it happened. But she's speaking out today, despite the pain, in the hopes that whomever did this will be caught. Bella was stolen, tortured and dumped on the side of the road in Swatara Township Friday, police say. "I just need to know who did this to her," Dymond said today through tears. "She was left there to die." Swatara Township police got the call around 7:47 a.m. Friday for a report of an injured dog along the 300 block of Rupp Road. A caller from the neighborhood told officers someone had dropped off the dog and quickly left the area. Although officers rushed the Boston terrier-Jack Russell mix to the veterinary hospital, she died due to the extent of her injuries. Dymond said those injuries were quite severe. Bella had been stabbed multiple times. Her throat was slit. She lost a tremendous amount of blood. "She was a wonderful dog. She was friendly and happy," Dymond recalled. "She used to jump and play, and she was just the happiest, friendliest dog." Bella slept every night with her 19-year-old son, Damien, and she was with Damien while he was visiting his father in Swatara Township that Friday. He left in the morning to have breakfast with a friend. Dymond said her ex-husband's girlfriend was still home when she saw a car pulling into the driveway, but she thought it was Damien's friend coming to pick him up. Whoever pulled into the driveway entered the basement apartment of the home that morning and took Bella, Dymond said. When they noticed she was gone, the family reported Bella missing, thinking she may have slipped out of the house. But Dymond got a call later that morning from the pet microchip company, telling her Bella had been found and was deceased. It was the police who told her what happened. The family is devasted, she said. And frightened. "I just don't know who would have done this to her," she said. Anyone with information should call the Swatara Township police, 717-558-6900. WILLIAMSPORT - Livestock dealers in New York State are accused of not paying for nearly $1 million worth of cattle bought from two Pennsylvania farms. One of the dealers also is accused of not repaying a $250,000 loan related to the sales. The allegations are contained in two suits brought under the Packers and Stockyards Act filed Thursday in U.S. Middle District Court. That law requires the packer, market agency or dealer purchasing livestock to pay the seller in full before the close of the next business day. The plaintiffs in both cases are Eugene Nicholas and Heidi L. Worden, who do business as Nicholas Farms, Worden, who also does business as Kuyahoora Valley Acres, both in the Loganton area, and Lynn R. Hottle, who does business as Hottle Livestock in Ulster. Nichols Farms claims it has not been paid for the 281 head of cattle shipped in June and July 2017. Hottle says it is owed for 350 head sold between December 2016 and July 2017. Nichols says the negotiated price for its cattle was in excess of $600,000 and Hottle says its was more than $350,000. The defendants in that case are Jeffrey and Valerie Snider, CAV Farms, and Medio Cielo, all of Montour Falls, New York. Medio had an agreement to procure cattle that CAV would then sell, according to the complaint. Representatives of the defendants visited Nichols Farms several times in 2017 and negotiated a price that resulted in an oral agreement for the sale of the 281 cattle, the document states. Defendants' representatives visited Hottle Livestock several times in 2016 and 2017 to negotiate a price that resulted in an oral agreement to sell the 350 head, the complaint states. In the other case, Worden and Kuyahoora Valley claim they have not been repaid the principal or interest on the $250,000 loan provided in March 2017 to Rogers Farms and Michael and Wendy M. Rogers of Beaver Dams, New York, for the purchase of cattle. Terms of the written loan agreement required repayment by this past March 12, the court complaint states. Petoskey library kicks off NASA@My Library program on Nov. 4 Shoot for the stars with the Petoskey District Librarys new NASA@My Library program, which will be launching on Nov. 4. By Dan Levine and Joseph Menn SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) The U.S. government is trying to force Facebook Inc to break the encryption in its popular Messenger app so law enforcement may listen to a suspects voice conversations in a criminal probe, three people briefed on the case said, resurrecting the issue of whether companies can be compelled to alter their products to enable surveillance. The previously unreported case in a federal court in California is proceeding under seal, so no filings are publicly available, but the three people told Reuters that Facebook is contesting the U.S. Department of Justices demand. The judge in the Messenger case heard arguments on Tuesday on a government motion to hold Facebook in contempt of court for refusing to carry out the surveillance request, according to the sources, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Facebook and the Department of Justice declined to comment. The Messenger issue arose in Fresno, California, as part of an investigation of the MS-13 gang, one of the people said. U.S. President Donald Trump frequently uses the gang, which is active in the United States and Central America, as a symbol of lax U.S. immigration policy and a reason to attack so-called sanctuary laws preventing police from detaining people solely to enforce immigration law. Trump called members of the gang animals this year when the Sheriff of Fresno County complained that California laws limited her co-operation with federal immigration enforcement targeting gang members. The potential impact of the judges coming ruling is unclear. If the government prevails in the Facebook Messenger case, it could make similar arguments to force companies to rewrite other popular encrypted services such as Signal and Facebooks billion-user WhatsApp, which include both voice and text functions, some legal experts said. Law enforcement agencies forcing technology providers to rewrite software to capture and hand over data that is no longer encrypted would have major implications for the companies which see themselves as defenders of individual privacy while under pressure from police and lawmakers. Similar issues came into play during a legal fight in 2016 between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Apple Inc over access to an iPhone owned by a slain sympathizer of Islamic State in San Bernardino, California, who had murdered county employees. WIRETAP OF VOICE CONVERSATIONS In the Apple case the company argued that the government could not compel it to create software to breach the phone without violating the companys First Amendment speech and expression rights. The government dropped the litigation after investigators got into the phone with a contractors help. Unlike the San Bernardino case, where the FBI wanted to crack one iPhone in its possession, prosecutors are seeking a wiretap of ongoing voice conversations by one person on Facebook Messenger. Facebook is arguing in court that Messenger voice calls are encrypted end-to-end, meaning that only the two parties have access to the conversation, two of the people briefed on the case said. Ordinary Facebook text messages, Alphabet Incs Gmail, and other services are decrypted by the service providers during transit for targeted advertising or other reasons, making them available for court-ordered interception. End-to-end encrypted communications, by contrast, go directly from one user to another user without revealing anything intelligible to providers. Facebook says it can only comply with the governments request if it rewrites the code relied upon by all its users to remove encryption or else hacks the governments current target, according to the sources. Legal experts differed about whether the government would likely be able to force Facebook to comply. Stephen Larson, a former judge and federal prosecutor who represented San Bernardino victims, said the government must meet a high legal standard when seeking to obtain phone conversations, including showing there was no other way to obtain the evidence. Still, the U.S. Constitution allows for reasonable searches, Larson said, and if those standards are met, then companies should not be able to stand in the way. A federal appeals court in Washington D.C. ruled in 2006 that the law forcing telephone companies to enable police eavesdropping also applies to some large providers of Voice over Internet Protocol, including cable and other broadband carriers servicing homes. VoIP enables voice calls online rather than by traditional circuit transmission. However, in cases of chat, gaming, or other internet services that are not tightly integrated with existing phone infrastructure, such as Google Hangouts, Signal and Facebook Messenger, federal regulators have not attempted to extend the eavesdropping law to cover them, said Al Gidari, a director of privacy at Stanford University Law Schools Center for Internet and Society. A messaging platform is excluded, maintains Gidari, who is not involved in the Fresno case. (Reporting by Dan Levine and Joseph Menn in San Francisco; editing by Greg Mitchell and Grant McCool) By Kwasi Kpodo and Stephanie Nebehay ACCRA/GENEVA (Reuters) Former U.N. Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan died on Saturday at the age of 80, his foundation said, after decades of championing efforts to try to end protracted conflicts in Africa, Asia and the Middle East. Annan, a Ghanaian national, died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland, in the early hours, his close associates said. In Geneva, the Kofi Annan Foundation announced his peaceful death after a short undisclosed illness with immense sadness, saying he was surrounded in his last days by his second wife Nane and children Ama, Kojo and Nina. After rising through the ranks of the United Nations, Annan served two terms as U.N. Secretary-General in New York from 1997-2006 and retired to live in a Swiss village in the Geneva countryside. His 10-year-old foundation promotes good governance and the transformation of African agriculture. In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination, U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, whom Annan had chosen to head the U.N. refugee agency, said in a statement. Annan and the United Nations shared the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for efforts to reform the world body and give priority to human rights issues. As head of U.N. peacekeeping operations, Annan was criticized for the world bodys failure to halt the genocide in Rwanda in the 1990s. As U.N. boss he was linked to peace efforts to reunite the divided island of Cyprus, submitting a reunification blueprint which was rejected in a referendum by Greek Cypriots in 2004. NOT PERFECT He staunchly opposed the U.S.-led invasion of Iraq in 2003 and later served as the first U.N. envoy at the start of Syrias war, but quit after world powers failed to fulfill their commitments, saying: I lost my troops on the way to Damascus. The U.N. can be improved, it is not perfect but if it didnt exist you would have to create it, he told the BBCs Hard Talk during an interview for his 80th birthday in April, recorded at the Geneva Graduate Institute where he had studied. I am a stubborn optimist, I was born an optimist and will remain an optimist, added Annan, who often joked about having learned from locals to wear earmuffs against the freezing cold during his undergraduate years at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota, in the United States. Raila Odinga, Kenyan opposition leader and former prime minister, said on Citizen TV: We didnt expect Kofi to pass that abruptly. Kofi Annan is a man of integrity; a great African, a great leader of the world. Former U.S. presidents praised Annan. George W. Bush called him a gentle man and a tireless leader of the United Nations, while Barack Obama described him as a diplomat and humanitarian who embodied the mission of the United Nations like few others. Kofi Annan devoted his life to making the world a more peaceful place through his compassion and dedication to service. He worked tirelessly to unite us and never stopped fighting for the dignity of every person, U.S. envoy to the U.N. Nikki Haley said. The Elders, a group of former leaders including Gro Harlem Brundtland and Mary Robinson, paid tribute to their inspiring chairman, noting his visits to South Africa and Zimbabwe in July. U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Raad al-Hussein, paid tribute to Annan as humanitys best example, the epitome, of human decency and grace. Zeid, who has criticized major powers and other countries during his four-year term that ends later this month, said that whenever he felt isolated and alone politically, he would go for long walks with Annan in Geneva. When I told him once how everyone was grumbling about me, he looked at me like a father would look at a son and said sternly: Youre doing the right thing, let them grumble. Then he grinned! (Reporting by Kwasi Kpodo in Accra, Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva, Michele Kambas in Athens and George Obulutsa in Nairobi; Editing by Janet Lawrence and Andrew Heavens) 517 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard WASHINGTON (Reuters) Special Counsel Robert Mueller recommended in a court filing on Friday that a judge sentence former Trump campaign aide George Papadopoulos to up to six months in prison for lying to federal agents investigating whether Russia interfered in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Papadopoulos pleaded guilty in October to lying to FBI agents and is scheduled to be sentenced on Sept. 7. According to Muellers sentencing memorandum to the judge, Papadopoulos lied about his contacts with people who claimed to have ties to top Russian officials, including his meeting with a professor who said Russia had dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. The defendants crime was serious and caused damage to the governments investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election, Muellers memo said. The defendant lied in order to conceal his contacts with Russians and Russian intermediaries during the campaign and made his false statements to investigators on January 27, 2017, early in the investigation, when key investigative decisions, including who to interview and when, were being made, Mueller said. Mueller said the government believed a sentence of up to six months in prison was appropriate and warranted along with a fine of $9,500. Papadopoulos unwittingly played a key role in triggering the FBI investigation into possible collusion between Trumps campaign in Russia, which the president repeatedly has denounced as a witch hunt. While drinking at a London bar in May 2016, he told the Australian ambassador to Great Britain that the Russians had hacked thousands of emails that could damage Clintons presidential campaign. When the emails began appearing publicly two months later, the envoy, Alexander Downer, told U.S. diplomats about what Papadopoulos had said, according to U.S. officials familiar with the events. Muller also told the judge that Papadopoulos had not fully cooperated with prosecutors. The defendant did not provide substantial assistance, and much of the information provided came only after the government confronted him with his own emails, text messages, internet search history and other information it obtained via search warrants and subpoenas, Mueller wrote. Mueller also said Papadopoulos avoided until the last moment telling prosecutors about a cell phone he used in London that had substantial communications on it between he and the professor who claimed to know about Russian information on Clinton. (Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Eric Beech and Sandra Maler) 1.6k SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard National Security Adviser John Bolton told ABC News on Sunday morning that Russia is just one of four countries that are probably interfering in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections. In an interview with This Week Co-Anchor Martha Raddatz Bolton said that the United States is also concerned about significant election meddling from three other countries: China, North Korea and Iran. I can say definitively that its a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that were taking steps to try to prevent it, so its all four of those countries, really, Bolton told Raddatz. Raddatz tried to get more information from Bolton and asked him, But have you seen anything in the past specifically to China? Bolton responded by simply saying, Im not going to get into the what Ive seen or havent seen, but Im telling you, looking at the 2018 election, those are the four countries that were most concerned about. On Saturday, President Trump had made the suggestion in a tweet that Muellers special counsel team should expand the scope their investigation into election meddling beyond Russia. He wrote: All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China. All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China. But in the end, if we are smart, tough and well prepared, we will get along with everyone! All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China. But in the end, if we are smart, tough and well prepared, we will get along with everyone! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 Earlier in the month, on August 2nd, Bolton and several other top intelligence officials made a surprise appearance at a White House press briefing to discuss the steps they are taking on foreign election interference, including but not limited to Russia. Our democracy itself is in the crosshairs, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristen Nielsen said at that time. Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, Bolton, DHS Secretary Nielsen and FBI Director Chris Wray each spoke in detail about how each of their agencies is working to combat the threat of outside election interference. With Boltons latest comments it appears that the Trump administration is preparing the American people to expect interference in the 2018 midterm elections by hostile foreign nations. We have no way of knowing if what Bolton says is true. There may be other countries involved, or there may not be. It could just be a clever way for Trump and his people to deflect blame and attention from Russia and its president, Trumps close friend Vladimir Putin. Boltons comments do make clear, however, that concerns about foreign interference in our elections are very valid, and we are probably not doing enough to protection our election processes. 408 SHARES Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Pinterest Reddit Print Mail Flipboard White House lawyer Don McGahn has been working closely with special counsel Robert Mueller in his Russia probe according to a blockbuster New York Times article published Saturday. Heres how the Times story began: The White House counsel, Donald F. McGahn II, has cooperated extensively in the special counsel investigation, sharing detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the inquiry into whether President Trump obstructed justice, including some that investigators would not have learned of otherwise, according to a dozen current and former White House officials and others briefed on the matter. It is highly unusual for a lawyer to talk openly with prosecutors during an ongoing investigation. One thing to keep in mind is that McGahn is not the presidents personal attorney and is not a criminal defense attorney. He is the White House Counsel which means his client is literally the White House. This means there is no attorney-client privilege between McGahn and anyone else, including the president, and as a result McGahn was free to talk openly with Muellers team. According to the Times, McGahn discussed accounts of several different White House events which have been at the center of Muellers probe into Russian meddling and also into whether or not President Trump obstructed justice by interfering in that probe. They wrote: In at least three voluntary interviews with investigators that totaled 30 hours over the past nine months, Mr. McGahn described the presidents fury toward the Russia investigation and the ways in which he urged Mr. McGahn to respond to it. He provided the investigators examining whether Mr. Trump obstructed justice a clear view of the presidents most intimate moments with his lawyer. McGahn reportedly discussed with prosecutors Trumps firing of former FBI Director James Comey and the presidents repeated pressuring of Attorney General Jeff Sessions to get involved in shutting down the special counsel investigation even though he had recused himself from the Russia probe. McGahns cooperation with Mueller began last year after Trumps personal lawyers at the time made the decision to give investigators as much information as possible. He was operating under the assumption that the president had nothing to hide, he said. However, the Times reported that McGahn later had many concerns about his personal exposure in the investigation. They said that he began to get nervous and was afraid that the president was setting him up to take the fall for obstruction of justice charges that might eventually be levied. McGahn then consulted with his own lawyer William Burck, and they decided that the White House counsel should work on his own to cooperate with Mueller, as a way to reduce any risk he might have of later being charged with any crimes. Trump responded to the report on Saturday, tweeting that he had allowed McGahn to work with Mueller: I allowed White House Counsel Don McGahn, and all other requested members of the White House Staff, to fully cooperate with the Special Counsel. In addition we readily gave over one million pages of documents. Most transparent in history. No Collusion, No Obstruction. Witch Hunt! I allowed White House Counsel Don McGahn, and all other requested members of the White House Staff, to fully cooperate with the Special Counsel. In addition we readily gave over one million pages of documents. Most transparent in history. No Collusion, No Obstruction. Witch Hunt! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 Responding to the Times story White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said: The president and Don have a great relationship. He appreciates all the hard work hes done, particularly his help and expertise with the judges, and the Supreme Court. Richard Nixons White House counsel John Dean said Saturday that he thought McGahn was doing the right thing. Dean had also been afraid that he would be a scapegoat for Watergate and was eventually fired by Nixon. After seeing the Times story Dean tweeted McGahn is doing right! McGahn is doing right! https://t.co/qqzhZRAFlY John Dean (@JohnWDean) August 18, 2018 Bobby Hitt is secretary of the South Carolina Department of Commerce. The state agency will pay the Army Corps of Engineers $100,000 a year over the next five years for an employee to help process economic development permits. Provided/S.C. Department of Commerce Get the SC business stories that matter. Our newsletter catches you up with all the business stories that are shaping Charleston and South Carolina every Monday and Thursday at noon. Get ahead with us - it's free. Paul Bowers is an education reporter and father of three living in North Charleston. He previously worked at the Charleston City Paper, where he was twice named South Carolina Journalist of the Year in the weekly category. Chloe Johnson covers the coastal environment and climate change for the Post and Courier. She's always looking for a good excuse to hop on a boat. David Slade is a senior Post and Courier reporter. His work has been honored nationally by Society of Professional Journalists, American Society of Newspaper Editors, Scripps foundation and others. Reach him at 843-937-5552 or dslade@postandcourier.com Syndicated and guest columns represent the personal views of the writers, not necessarily those of the editorial staff. The editorial department operates entirely independently of the news department and is not involved in newsroom operations. The Post and Courier provides a forum for our readers to share their opinions, and to hold up a mirror to our community. Publication does not imply endorsement by the newspaper; the editorial staff attempts to select a representative sample of letters because we believe its important to let our readers see the range of opinions their neighbors submit for publication. It's OK. The error is fixable and not intentional Terrible lack of due diligence I am not sure I don't care Vote View Results The International Film Series at Heritage House will present The Four Feathers (1939; restored) on Thursday. Review for The Four Feathers: A young man is pressured into military service by his over-bearing career military father but resigns on the eve of a campaign to retake the Sudan. Branded a coward, he sets off to redeem himself and his name . . . Critic Michael Sragow praises the The Four Feathers as "gritty magic," calling the film, "next to 1962's Lawrence of Arabia, the most harrowingly beautiful of all desert spectaculars." Rated 100 percent on Rotten Tomatoes, the 1939 version directed by Zoltan Korda is considered the definitive version (sorry, Heath Ledger) of the classic A.E.W. Mason adventure novel. Epically poetic in scope, the film features solid performances from all concerned, including Sir Ralph Richardson and Sir John Clements. Nominated for the Academy Award for Best Cinematography as well as the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival, the film is presented from a Criterion Collection 4K master. There will be two screenings at 2 and 7 p.m. Thursday. The running time is 2:10. Admission is free. Heritage House Arts & Civic Center is at 1428 Jenkins Road. The mind-boggling scandal of the Obama administrations treatment of the Trump presidential campaign continues to unravel, but youd never know from taking in your news via the mainstream media. Former Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr is scheduled to testify under oath this week before the House Judiciary and Oversight Committees on August 28. Ohr seems to have served as a conduit for Christopher Steeles continued service to the FBI after the FBI had supposedly terminated its relationship with Steele and while Ohrs wife worked for Steeles Clinton campaign contractor GPS Fusion/Glenn Simpson. What a tangled web. Can Ohr testify truthfully testify without grave legal risk to himself and his confederates? The congressional committees have obtained a raft of communications passing among Ohr, Steele et al. The Hills John Solomon broke the story in the August 7 column How a senior DOJ official helped Dem researchers on Trump-Russia case. Solomon reported that a close review of these new documents shows just how closely Associate Deputy Attorney General Bruce Ohr, who reported to Obama-era Deputy Attorney General Sally Yates, maintained contact with Fusion and, in particular, its primary source, former British spy Christopher Steele before, during and after the election. Solomon adds that the new memos make clear that Ohr, a man whose name was barely uttered during the first 18 months of the scandal, may have played a critical role in stitching together a Democratic opposition research project and the top echelons of the FBI and DOJ. The Examiners Byron York followed up in the August 8 column Emails show 2016 links among Steele, Ohr, Simpson with Russian oligarch in background. Drawing on the work of Solomon and York, Margot Cleveland stepped back to consider How Bruce Ohr Could Implicate High-Ranking Obama Officials In Spygate. This past week Sara Carter featured what might be the guiltiest sounding message from Steele. Her column puts part of the message in the headline: New Texts Reveal Steele Anxious Over Comey Testimony, Hopes Firewalls Will Hold.' Wow. Carter reports: In March, 2017, two days before former FBI Director James Comey testified to lawmakers that the bureau had an open counterintelligence investigation into President Trumps campaign, former British spy Christopher Steele sent an urgent message to Department of Justice official Bruce Ohr hoping that important firewalls will hold when Comey testified. Carter quotes the message: Were a bit apprehensive given scheduled appearance at Congress on Monday. Hoping that important firewalls will hold. Have they mentioned this over at CNN or MSNBC? In her weekly Wall Street Journal column Kim Strassel asks a good question: What was Bruce Ohr doing? My question is whether we will ever find out or whether those firewalls will hold (and, oh, yeah, what Ohr is doing at the Department of Justice). Andy McCarthy argues that there were excellent reasons to revoke the security of John Brennan, but that President Trump revoked it for the wrong reason. Trump, McCarthy says, revoked the clearance as an act of revenge for Brennans harsh criticism of him an improper basis for taking such action. I think Andy is probably right about Trumps motive and certainly right about the propriety of revoking a security clearance based on that motive. However, Im withholding final judgment until we see the extent, if any, to which the president revokes the clearances of other critics. McCarthy distinguishes, as I did, Brennans case from that of Gen. Michael Hayden. He writes: Brennans tweets about Trump are objectively outrageous. To compare, I think some of former CIA director Mike Haydens tweets are ill-advised particularly this one, comparing Trumps border-enforcement policy to Nazi concentration camps. But General Hayden is making anti-Trump political arguments, not intimating that he has knowledge of Trump corruption based on his (Haydens) privileged access to intelligence information (which he may or may not still have I havent asked him). Hayden is absolutely entitled to speak out in that vein. Generally, he is a voice of reason even when one disagrees with him, and lets be real here even his edgier tweets are pretty tame compared to the presidents. Brennan, by contrast, speaks out in a nod-and-a-wink manner, the undercurrent of which is that if he could only tell you the secrets he knows, youd demand Trumps impeachment forthwith. . . .Indeed, undercurrent is probably the wrong word: Brennan, after all, has expressly asserted that our treasonous president is wholly in the pocket of Putin and has exceed[ed] the threshold of high crimes and misdemeanors. Such demagoguery would be beneath any former CIA director, but it is especially indecorous in Brennans situation. There are ongoing investigations and trials. Brennans own role in the investigation of the Trump campaign is currently under scrutiny. . . . Other factors having nothing to do with Brennans attacks on and actions towards Trump support the revocation of his clearance. The fact that he flat-out lied about the CIAs breaking into the emails of Sen. Dianne Feinsteins staff a lie Brennan later had to apologize for is one. McCarthy cites another factor that I missed in my analysis Brennans politicization of intelligence during the Obama years (and before he weaponized intelligence against Donald Trump). McCarthy reminds us: Obama-administration national-security officials deceptively downplayed weapons threats posed by Syria, Iran, and North Korea. As The Weekly Standards Stephen Hayes notes, Brennan directed the CIA to keep under wraps the vast majority of documents seized in the raid on Osama bin Ladens Pakistani compound, precisely because that information put the lie to Obama-administration narratives about a decimated al-Qaeda, the moderation of Iran, and general counterterrorism success. (Since this weeks craze is the Trump administrations use of non-disclosure agreements, we should add Hayess reporting that Brennans CIA presented NDAs to survivors of the Benghazi terrorist attack at a memorial service for those killed during the siege in order to silence them while the Obama administrations indefensible performance was being investigated.) In 2015, over 50 intelligence analysts complained that their reports on ISIS and al-Qaeda were being altered by senior officials in order to support misleading Obama-administration storylines. Brennan himself was instrumental in the administrations submission to the demands of Islamist organizations that information about sharia-supremacist ideology be purged from the training of security officials. . . . It makes no sense for someone as dishonest and manipulatively partisan as Brennan to keep his security clearance now that, mercifully, he is out of government. Trump has done the nation a service by taking Brennans clearance away. But he will do it a disservice if his vindictiveness causes him to take away the clearance of those whose only offense is harsh criticism of Trump. The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun, says the federal government is committed to supporting the commencement of the Train-7 initiative of the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) plant. Mrs Adeosun stated this on Sunday during a visit to the NLNG plant in Finima, Bonny Local Government Area of Rivers State. She said the most important critical need from the government as a shareholder was the support for the investment to commence. That has been very critical and we have been for that approval. And with the support for commencement, it signals that the government has been committed to Train-7. Its very important to note that the government has done many things that signal its commitment to sustaining this investment in the NLNG and being part of its success story, she said. Mrs Adeosun said she was in Bonny to inspect the NLNG facility that had been generating huge revenue in taxes and dividends to the government. Describing the facility as impressive and a modern hi-tech plant, the minister said: We saw the old Trains 1 to 6, and the space for the incoming Train-7 which has the potential of creating 10,000 jobs in the next nine months. The jobs to be created will be sustainable for the next five to six years and this is extremely exciting because the multiplier effects will be huge. She also described the trip to the plant as very revealing, adding that more people would build houses and land value would go up. The minister said that the federal government had made fiscal changes to enhance the competitive position of the NLNG by removing the disparity in VAT in tax treatment between imported and local Liquefied Petroleum Gas. That will give an additional market share to NLNG-produced LPG, and of course it is a major objective that the management has campaigned for and the Federal Executive Council has approved it. So, we expect greater market share to the NLNG; of course, that has knock-on effects, it stops people from using firewood to cook, it stops deforestation. It has a lot of environmental benefits as well as more revenue to the NLNG, she said. Tony Attah, the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NLNG, commended the minister for visiting the plant. Mr Attah said that the NLNG model was working effectively as the organisation had been positioned as a global brand. Tayo Oginni, General Manager, Production, stated that the delay in investing in Train-7 would drop Nigeria to Number 10 from Number four in gas production by 2025. Mr Oginni, however, said that Train-7 would increase NLNGs production capacity by 35 percent and take the country to number three position in the world. He also stated that the global energy landscape was changing and Nigeria must lead the transition or lose if nothing was done. (NAN) Yewande Olubummo, a professor, is the daughter of the renowned late Professor Adegoke Olubummo, the first Mathematician in Nigeria. As the mango does not fall far from the tree, Yewande Olubummo herself is a professor of mathematics at Spelman College in Atlanta, and has been for over two decades. She made a First Class in Mathematics at the University of Ibadan and proceeded to study in the United States for higher degrees. She shares her insights and experiences with PREMIUM TIMES about her journey from being the daughter of an eminent mathematician to being a scholar of Mathematics in the United States. PT: Where were you born? Professor Olubummo: I was born and raised in Ibadan. I had a nice and pleasant upbringing. I am the oldest of three children. For the first ten years of my life, we lived on the campus of the University of Ibadan where my father was a professor of mathematics. My father was from Ekiti and my mother was from Calabar. I remember many interesting activities as a child: playing with other children of faculty members, swimming, birthday parties, and so on. My father loved books, music, and the theater. We saw a lot of plays and performances at the U.I. Arts Theater. We had lots of books in our house, not only math books. I was always reading as a child and got books as birthday presents. My father loved classical music and there was always music in our house. My father was a big influence on me and I have very pleasant memories of that period of my life. At the age of 10, we moved out of the university campus to Bodija. When I was 19, my mother passed away, and this left a big void in my life. PT: What elementary and high schools did you attend? Professor Olubummo: I attended the University of Ibadan Staff School for my elementary education, and the International School, Ibadan for my high school. PT: Where did you go after International School? Professor Olubummo: I attended the University of Ibadan to study mathematics. In fact, my father taught me some courses. I lived at home during my undergraduate years because my father insisted on it. I wanted to live on campus, but looking back, Im grateful for my fathers decision. I dont think I was mature enough to live by myself on campus during those years. I graduated in 1980 and did my national youth service in Keffi, Plateau State. As a Youth Corper, I taught mathematics at a high school. After my national service, I left for the U.S. immediately. PT: Why? Professor Olubummo: My father thought it was best for me to do my graduate studies in mathematics abroad. I didnt know much about graduate school and what was required, but my father encouraged me to go. I applied and got accepted to several schools including Oxford and Yale Universities. Oxford did not give any financial assistance but Yale did, so I went to Yale. I didnt really know what I wanted to do but Ive always wanted to teach. I didnt see many female professors as an undergraduate in mathematics, and had just one female professor. It has been a passion of mine to encourage women to go into mathematics. PT: What was your experience? Professor Olubummo: I didnt have a good experience at Yale. I didnt know what was expected and I didnt have any support. It was a lonely and isolating experience and I didnt do well in my doctoral oral exams. I was 21, a naive 21, and I was the only black person in my department. To stave off loneliness, I became active in the Nigerian community at Yale and New Haven. I went to parties and had a busy social life. I ended up getting my Masters degree in mathematics from Yale. It so happened that an African-American professor was visiting Yale from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst at the time. He took an interest in me and invited me to apply to UMass Amherst. I did, and was accepted. I spent the next 8 years getting my Ph.D. there. My father was disappointed I did not complete the Ph.D. program at Yale, but I felt I was lucky to find someone who took an interest in me and encouraged me not to give up. PT: Could you say something about how you think Math learning could be improved in Nigeria? Professor Olubummo: A lot of people find math difficult because they didnt have good teachers. I was lucky my father was a mathematician who cultivated the love of math in me. He had a passion for it and taught it well. We need good and effective teachers in our elementary and high schools, and also in our higher institutions who can teach math well. The anxiety about math is not just in Nigeria, it is here in the U.S. too. Maybe summer camps and fun activities around Math can improve the attitude and disposition of children for math. These will require government funding in Nigeria, but it can be done. Such programmes will improve skills and confidence in math. PT: Many people dont know what to do with Math degrees. Professor Olubummo: There are so many things people can do with Math. Mathematicians can go on to careers in Engineering, Computer Science, Data Science, Insurance (Actuarial Science), Biological Sciences, and so on. Many employers in many areas are looking for mathematicians because they have critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Math is highly marketable in different areas. PT: What did you do after Amherst? Professor Olubummo: I wanted to teach, so I started applying for teaching positions in universities around the country. This was in the early 90s. I was already teaching math full time at Smith College while writing my dissertation. The job market in the U.S. was tough and the situation in Nigeria was not good either. I was lucky to get a couple of offers. I got an offer from Spelman College in Atlanta. An African-American mathematician from Spelman was visiting Smith to evaluate their math department at the time. Her name is Sylvia Bozeman. She encouraged me to apply to Spelman. Its because of her that Im at Spelman today. She has been my colleague and mentor for over two decades. She and the other African-American professor who was visiting Yale, Professor Donald St. Mary, were critical to my professional advancement. They are both eminent black Mathematicians in the United States. PT: How long have you been at Spelman College? And could you tell us about the College? Professor Olubummo: I have been at Spelman since 1991. Spelman College is a four-year Liberal Arts College for African-American women located in Atlanta, Georgia. It has a population of approximately 2100 students. PT: You are also a member of some math-related organisations. Professor Olubummo: Yes. I am involved in organizations that help encourage minority students to pursue graduate studies in the mathematical sciences. One is the National Alliance for Doctoral Studies in the Mathematical Sciences, a community of faculty and students working to increase the number of people from underrepresented groups with doctoral degrees in mathematics. The National Alliance holds the Field of Dreams Conference every year. Im a faculty mentor in the organisation and I nominate students for this conference because of the opportunities and networking it provides them. Nominated students also have the opportunity of being paired with a faculty member to help them with the graduate school application process. I was also a co-director for three and a half years of a program at Spelman College, called Math Research and Mentoring Program (Math RaMP), funded by the National Science Foundation. The goal of the program was to encourage sophomore and juniors Math majors to continue on to graduate school in Math. Students in the program receive a scholarship, and in return conduct research with math faculty. These students are given the opportunity to present their work at Spelman Colleges Research Day and at other conferences. PT: What challenges do you face as a Math professor? Professor Olubummo: Funding. Being able to get funding for what one wants to do. For example, we couldnt sustain the Math RaMP program as we would have liked. There are lots of ideas of programs to help students, but the funding is not always there. PT: What is your experience as a black female immigrant Mathematics professor? Professor Olubummo: Ive had a very positive and rewarding experience at Spelman. My students see me as a role model, which is very fulfilling. I have great colleagues and as I said earlier, I owe my presence here to my colleague and mentor, Professor Sylvia Bozeman. Outside of Spelman, I feel treated at times as if I dont belong, because of the colour of my skin and gender. I feel not as valued as a part of the profession. PT: Are you talking about racism? Professor Olubummo: Yes. I felt it more as a student at Yale. It was not a positive experience. I didnt feel I belonged and I think the professors there gave more time and attention to the white students. PT: Some people think African immigrant and African-American professionals have conflicts. Your experience is different. Professor Olubummo: Yes. As I said earlier, two African-American mathematicians were instrumental in my career advancement here. I am forever grateful to them. If not for them, I wont be here today. They mentored and encouraged me. Im also lucky to be at Spelman and teaching young black women. So many of my students are excelling in their chosen careers and I am very proud of them. Spelman has some of the best American minds. It is worth noting that the National Association of Mathematicians is an organisation of black mathematicians in the US. My colleague and mentor, Professor Bozeman is an active member. The organisation is made up of African and African-American mathematicians who work to promote the mathematical development of underrepresented minorities. PT: What do you do for fun? Professor Olubummo: I love to read. I love reading the younger African writers such as Teju Cole and Chimamanda Adichie. PT: You just got back from Nigeria. What did you go for? Professor Olubummo: I went back to Nigeria for two months after sixteen years of being away. I got some funding from the Carnegie African Diaspora Fellowship Program to develop and teach a graduate mathematics course at Kwara State University in Ilorin. It was a gratifying experience because I had the opportunity to do something I have always wanted to do teach in Nigeria. I had seven students in my class, two women and five men. I felt I was giving back to Nigeria in a small way at the university there. PT: What course did you teach? Professor Olubummo: I taught a course called Banach Algebras in an area of Math called Functional Analysis. Functional analysis involves the theory of mathematical functions. Its an area of pure Math, and is more theoretical, unlike Applied Math. They dont have enough expertise in the mathematics department at Kwara State University, so I was able to help. PT: Given the great anxiety around learning Math, how do you think parents could help their children with Math? Professor Olubummo: Parents should try not to communicate their own anxiety to their children around math education. They should be actively involved and encourage their children to enjoy Math. There is a lot of information on the internet now on how a parent, even one who did poorly in Math as a student, can help his or her children. Apart from Math activities at home, children should be encouraged to participate in activities such as math fairs and competitions. Girls, especially, should be given attention. Parents can provide information to their children about the many professions they could enter as mathematicians. Math should be made fun, and not something to be dreaded. Parental attitude and encouragement matter a lot in childrens perception and performance in Math. PT: Thank you. President Muhammadu Buhari has returned to Abuja after 10 working days holiday in London. The presidential plane conveying Buhari and few of his aides landed at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at 6.38p.m. Mr Buhari was received at the airport by Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, Service Chiefs and the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari. Others at the airport to welcome the president included cabinet ministers, the acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and members of the presidential media team. Mr Buhari on August 3 commenced 10 working days holiday and transmitted a letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. While the president was in London, Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo acted in his stead in line with the constitution. (NAN) President Muhammadu Buhari on Saturday transmitted a letter to the National Assembly informing them of his resumption of duties as president. Garba Shehu, the presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, confirmed this in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. According to Mr Shehu, the transmission of the letter to the two arms of the legislature the Senate and the House of Representatives followed the completion of his 10-day working leave. Mr Buhari said: In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), I write to intimate the Senate, the House of Representatives that I have resumed my functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from today, Saturday, 18th August, 2018, after my vacation. Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, Hon. Speaker, House of Representatives, the assurances of my highest consideration. Meanwhile, Mr Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would not spare anyone found guilty of any corrupt practice or sabotaging the nations economy. He gave the assurance when he spoke to the NTA on arrival from London on Saturday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. Mr Buhari, who was reacting to happenings during his absence, including the cases of defections by politicians, said the incidents were part of the beauty of democracy. He, however, advised all eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them to elect public officers of their choice. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the president was received by well-wishers, party supporters, and other Nigerians. His jet landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, at about 6.38 p.m. Those at the airport to welcome the president included Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi, Service Chiefs, Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Musa Bello and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha. Others were the Chief of Staff to the President, Abba Kyari, the Acting Chairman, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim magu and members of the presidential media team. (NAN) Fresh FM, an Ibadan-based radio station owned by veteran musician, Yinka Ayefele, has been demolished. The demolition exercise, PREMIUM TIMES gathered, began a few minutes past 6o clock in the early hours of Sunday. The location of the station has been a subject of controversy in recent times, with the management of the station and the Oyo State Government locked in a war of words. The government had warned that it would take down the building. Earlier, reports said Mr Ayefele has taken the matter to court, alleging political victimisation. But on Sunday, our reporter gathered that the demolition exercise began. A staff of the radio station who craved anonymity confirmed the development to PREMIUM TIMES on telephone. They have destroyed the building; they have ruined multi-million naira investment, he said on telephone Sunday morning. It is not immediately clear whether the Oyo State Government authorized the demolition Sunday morning. Efforts to reach the Morohunkola Thomas, an aide to Governor Abiola Ajimobi on political matters, were unsuccessful. Toye Arulogun, the state Commissioner for Information, could also not be immediately reached Sunday morning. The management of Fresh FM is yet to react to the demolition exercise. Multiple calls placed to Akeem Kareem, a top management staff in the stations Human Resources department were not attened to Sunday morning. The demolition exercise was ongoing as at press time. More to follow. Ogbonnaya Chukwu, the general manager, Ebonyi State Fertiliser and Chemical Company Limited (EFCCL) sat behind a busy desk in his scantily-furnished office as he spoke glowingly about the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative while a generator coughed outside. Last year the company joined the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative (PFI) of the federal government and since then the company has grown through leaps and bounds and is now making serious impact, not only in Ebonyi State but in the South-east geo-political zone and in the South-south states, Mr Chukwu said proudly. Mr Chukwu said the fertiliser plant, set up 14 years ago with a capacity to produce 40 metric tonnes of fertiliser every hour, soon went comatose due to poor demand as a result of the proliferation of imported fertiliser. Mr Ogbonnaya Chukwu But in 2016, the state government breathe life back into the dying plant after it invested N100 million towards its revival which allowed the plant to participate in the PFI. In a swift turnaround, between April and August 2017, the plant, produced 100,046 bags of fertiliser as demand continued to soar, Mr Chukwu said. In order to meet that demand, the EFCCL is now constructing two new warehouses and a new blending facility. New fertiliser warehouse under construction in Ebonyi The Presidential Fertiliser Initiative During the visit of the King of Morocco, Mohammed VI to Nigeria in December 2016, the federal government and the Moroccan government facilitated a partnership between the Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers of Nigeria (FEPSAN) and the OCP, a state-owned Moroccan phosphate producer. The agreement was aimed at breaking the countrys reliance of the importation of compound fertilisers, which has replete with corruption, hoarding and has left the government with billions in unpaid debt. The partnership was mandated to help achieve the local production of one million metric tonnes of blended Nitrogen, Phosphorous and Potassium (NPK 20:10:10) fertiliser for the wet season farming, and an additional 500,000 metric tonnes for dry season farming. Ebonyi Fertiliser Plant According to the PFI, blending plants are to be supplied the four components of producing the NPK fertiliser urea and limestone granules, which are both locally sourced, discounted diammonium phosphate from Morocco and Muriate of Potash from Europe. The PFI caters exclusively for the production of NPK which is also referred to as a multi-nutrient fertiliser as opposed to single super phosphate and urea, which are already being manufactured in the country. Due to the discount negotiated with OCP, local blending plants are able to produce the finished products and deliver to farmers at N5,500 per bag. The blending plants are paid a blending fee of N620 per bag for their effort. Dealers who buy the bag at N5000 are allowed to make N500 as profit for each bag sold. Bags of NPK Fertiliser The PFI intervention fund is managed by the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority at 9 per cent per annum through a Special Purpose Vehicle known as the NAIC-NPK Limited. According to the arrangement, invoices from suppliers of the raw materials are passed to NAIC-NPK Limited, which pays the suppliers directly; takes delivery of the materials and passes them to the blending plants. After blending, the plants bag and sell the finished fertiliser to agro-dealer and interested state governments and remit the revenue to NAIC-NPK Limited. The government said the PFI will effectively remove the corruption that characterised the old way of importing compound fertilisers and to check the proliferation of substandard fertilisers. Last November, the government announced that it inherited a N65 billion debt owed fertiliser suppliers which it has since paid to pave way for the successful implementation of the PFI. Second Warehouse Ebonyi In December 2017, the Nigerian government also claimed that 11 moribund fertiliser blending plants across the country with the capacity to blend over a million metric tonnes of fertiliser have been revived as a result of the PFI. Praises for the PFI Mr Chukwu credited the good fortune being enjoyed by EFCCL to the successful implementation of the PFI. He said the ease of collecting the blending fee accrued to fertiliser plant is the commendable. One thing that has never ceased to marvel me is that any time you request the NSIA, to pay you the money for the blending fee, if you apply today, Monday, you may get it on Wednesday There is no delay. You get your money seamlessly, effortlessly. That encourages blending plants, he said. He said while the plant gets bulk demand from state governments, like in March when the Abia State Government ordered for 20,000 bags, it also gets consistent demands from agro-dealers from nearby Benue, Cross River and Akwa Ibom States. On how the plant meets the demand of local farmers in Ebonyi, Mr Chukwu who doubles as the senior special assistant to the state governor on Investment, said arrangements were made to move the fertilisers to local government headquarters of the state for easier accessibility to rural farmers. In Kebbi State, farmers who spoke to PREMIUM TIMES said the PFI was responsible for cutting the cost of fertiliser. Before the PFI, NPK fertiliser was sold for N10,000. But since the government introduced the N5,500 fertiliser, dealers were forced to bring down their price to N6,000, said Umar Al-Hassan, a rice farmer in Jega. PREMIUM TIMES visited an agriculture extension office where the government-tagged NPK: 20:10:10 was displayed and could be bought for stipulated price. Every farmer this reporter spoke with in Kebbi said they have zero problems getting fertilisers for their crop. They, however, complained that the government-tagged NPK20:10:10 is too dense and does not cover as much portion of land as that they sold for N6,000 at the market. In response, Ahmed Kwa, Executive Secretary Fertiliser Producers and Suppliers Association of Nigeria (FEPSAN), said the PFI fertilisers are standardised for quality and quantity and that the farmers must be mistaking the NPK20:10:10 fertilisers with Urea. Ahmed Kwa I dont know the logical explanation of what you are saying. Let me assure you and farmers that the fertilisers under the initiative are produced using the same raw materials, same process, it has been checked before it leaves the factory and as far as the density or the volume of the 50kg is concerned it is standardised, he said. Secondly, if it is because of the bag, there is difference between the bag of NPK and Urea because the density of urea is lower to that of NPK. So generally, Urea bags will appear a little bigger or filled than NPK bags. The weight is what matters, it must be 50kg. We set up some initiatives to check adulteration, less weight bags and even those that hoard markets. As far as it is under the Presidential Fertiliser Initiative, I assure you it is of good quality, standard weight, he added. Similarly, in Kaduna, farmers said they have no problem getting the NPK 20:10:10 to buy. However, Abdul-Rahman Musa, the Kaduna State coordinator of the Seed Poverty Eradication Multi-Purpose Co-operative Society (FEHDON), a subgroup of the All Co-operative Society of Farmers, alleged that dealers are extorting farmers. Fertiliser is sold between N7,000 and N7,500. The official price is N5,500. Before you make payment you must pay egunje (bribe) of the difference. You must make a cash deposit of the difference. Cash payment of N2500, he said. When asked to name those perpetrating the fraud, he simply described them as the drivers of the programme. I dont want to mention names. I am referring to those who are the drivers. We have evidence to back up our claims, he said. In response, Mr Kwa said though his association was unaware of this alleged sharp practice, it could have arisen due to scarcity and additional cost of logistics. As far as we are concerned the distributor is not allowed to sell for more than N5,500 that N500 will take care of his logistics and profit. But like experience has shown, the margin sometimes is too small. Someone wants to go to Lagos to buy fertiliser for N5,000. To bring it to up here each bag may cost more than N500. And he cannot bring it here and sell at a loss. So, some of the market forces has to be experienced. There is not much that can be done until the programme expands to cover more grounds where there are more blending plants across the country. If possible in each state, there should be a minimum of 102 blending plants so that they can be able to supply the fertiliser at a price without the traders trying to exploit the situation. Whatever you are doing in the market, the market forces have to be allowed to play. Nobody can control them because if there are scarcity, people will revolt and jack up the price. It is very difficult to control that if we dont have sufficient quantity on the ground. So, I cannot rule out that kind of thing, but we have not received that report, he said. No Fertiliser To Buy While the NPK 20:10:10 fertiliser is readily available in the north of the country and in Ebonyi and its environs, the same cannot be said for large parts of the South-west and parts of the South-south despite the presence of some of the revitalised blending plants in the regions. In large parts of the South-west and South-south regions, a bag of NPK fertiliser is sold for between N7,000 and N8,000. Several farmers interviewed in Ekiti and Edo said they have heard of the programme but havent benefitted from it. John Omoyajowo, the chairman, Maize Growers, Processors and Marketers of Nigeria, said the last fertiliser initiative his members enjoyed was during Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GESS) of the immediate past administration when government subsidised half of the cost of fertilisers. John Omoyajowo In Ekiti State, before we see fertiliser used to be around July and August, when we have harvest the first batch of our crop, No fertiliser. We dont get fertiliser at all. In Ekiti there is no fertiliser even in the open market. It is still difficult to get. We are not getting fertiliser. Though I dont like to talk to journalists because it would appear as if someone is criticising the government. In Ekiti Sate it is not easy to come by fertiliser easily. Our depot is at ADA (Agriculture Development Authority) Office along Odo Ado, when you get there now you wont see any fertiliser, he said. An official, however, gave a reason why farmers in Ekiti were not benefitting. Kehinde Odebunmi, the Commissioner for Agriculture in Ekiti State, told PREMIUM TIMES, that the state did not participate in the PFI because it was required to make an Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders (ISPOs) before they could be supplied fertilisers. Kehinde Odebunmi I know that we were invited to a meeting in Abuja when this issue of fertiliser came in that it should be blended locally. There were lots of proposals and they said the state should sign ISPO (Irrevocable Standing Payment Orders) it is an agreement signed by the state that a certain sum will be deducted from the states allocation and it is irreversible. Which is what is affecting Ekiti State now. The one the immediate past administration has signed. That is why what the state is getting is inadequate. So, the governor said he could no longer commit the state to further deductions from allocation otherwise everything will break down, he said. Emmanuel Odigie In Edo, the story was not different. Despite the presence of one of the revitalised blending plants in the state, Edo State Fertiliser and Chemical Company, Auchi Odigie, chairman of the states chapter of the All Farmers Association of Nigeria (AFAN), said the only fertiliser initiative enjoyed by members of his association since 2013 was the one initiated by the immediate past administration. This article is a product of a partnership between PREMIUM TIMES and #Buharimeter to fact-check the viability or otherwise of the federal governments PFI Programme. Buharimeter is an initiative of the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) with support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and the Department for International Department (DFID). Yusuf Lasun, the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, says he will not leave the All Progressives Congress (APC) inspite of losing the partys governorship primary in Osun. Addressing a news conference on Sunday in Osogbo, Mr Yusuf alleged that though there was a conspiracy against him in the primary, he would not leave the party. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)) reports that the deputy speaker was among the 17 aspirants that contested the APC governorship primary in the state on July 20. He came second with 21,000 votes, while Gboyega Oyetola, the Chief of Staff to Governor Aregbesola won the primary with 127,017 votes. He said: Although I was conspired against during the governorship primary, but I will not leave the party. I am still attending all the partys functions to that effect. My supporters and I are still members of the APC and we are not intending to leave the party in the nearest future. We will do our best to support the party during the Sept. 22 (governorship) election. I know in every contest, there will be a winner, whether it is free or not. Mr Yusuf, who also alleged that the party did not reach out to him after the primary, said maybe the party felt I dont have anything to contribute. The deputy speaker also claimed that many politicians in the state had been alienated from the party due to the agitation over the primary. We hope the party members will be able to put behind them all that happened during the primary, he said. Asked whether he had reached out to the winner of the governorship primary by congratulating him, Mr Yusuf said he had not. I did not congratulate the winner of the primary because when I became the deputy speaker in 2015, the party did not congratulate me. And till today, nobody told me what my offence was except that some people were saying that I went against the partys position. But for me, what they were referring to as party position was actually the position of few leaders of the party, Mr Yusuf said. (NAN) Two year ago in a radio broadcast, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo State said he had no reason to demolish Yinka Ayefeles Music House in Ibadan, the capital of Oyo state. In the broadcast, obtained by PREMIUM TIMES Sunday morning, Mr Ajimobi also revealed how he was allegedly told to demolish the building shortly after he was elected governor of the state. PREMIUM TIMES reported how the building, which houses Mr Ayefeles radio station, Fresh FM, was partly demolished Sunday morning. But in the 2016 broadcast, aired by Fresh FM, Mr Ajimobi revealed that he was asked to demolish the building during his first term as governor because the radio station and the owner were not in support of his political aspirations. He said, When we contested the first and won, a lot (of people) told us to demolish the radio station because your programmes and broadcasts are against my government. Your boss, Yinka Ayefele, was also using songs to insult us. I didnt see any reason why I should demolish the studio. If Ayefele is not for us today, he (will) support us later in future. Ayefele is beside me now and I pray the business will keep flourishing. Commenting further, Mr Ajimobi described the radio station as the best in Oyo State. Without any equivocation, I must confess that this radio station is the best in Oyo State, the governor said. But on Sunday, a part of the Music House was demolished. The location of the building has generated controversies in recent weeks, with the Oyo State Government alleging that it contravenes urban and physical planning laws of the state. The government said the building violated the originally approved building plan because it is structurally defective (and) poses danger or constitutes a nuisance to the occupier or the general public. Toye Arulogun, Oyo State Commissioner for Information, said the state government had also received petitions detailing about three accidents that took place around the building. Former Oyo State Governor, Abiola Ajimobi The government had served the management of the building a notice of demolition which expired August 15, but Mr Ayefele was reported to have headed to the court, alleging victimization. Reacting to the demolition exercise Sunday morning, Mr Ayefele took to his verified Facebook page to lament the incident. The musician, who arrived the scene of the demolition shortly after the exercise began, wrote: Oyo state government did at lastmy pains my sweat .So help me God. The Oyo State Government is yet to comment on the incident as at press time Sunday morning. The Music House, is said to be valued at N800 million. Last week, Nigerias political space was dominated mostly by the results of the just concluded by-elections in some parts of the country, uncertainty over reconvening of the National Assembly and calls for the resignation of Senate President, Bukola Saraki. Unlike previous weeks recently, however, there were little or no reports of movements of elected public officers between political parties. Below are some of the major stories last week: Sunday: In what could be best described as a morale boost, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) after losing some of its National Assembly members to other political parties, won three out of the four by-elections in parts of the country. APC won Bauchi South Senatorial District, Katsina North Senatorial District and Lokoja/Koton-Karfe federal constituency while the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) had the consolation of winning a House of Assembly seat in Cross-River State. The PDP through its spokesperson said it had uncovered a fresh plot to arrest Senate President Bukola Saraki and his deputy, Ike Ekweremadu. The party also alleged that the budget of the electoral commission, INEC, sent to the National Assembly by the presidency last month, was sent to the presidency by the electoral commission since February. The Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, said he has no preferred presidential aspirant for the PDP. About a dozen aspirants have declared interest in the ticket of the party. The governor also warned that Rivers people will resist any attempt by the APC federal government to rig the 2019 election, adding that the federal government has no single project on ground in the state to sell APCs candidates during the forthcoming general elections. Monday: The Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha, attributed the difficulty of the Igbo to produce a Nigerian president to the peoples alleged knack for dragging down their rising leaders. The Igbo do not know how to honour their own. They rather like to run down any of their rising leaders. The pull-him-down syndrome is high in Igboland. And it is very unfortunate, the governor who is the only one of the All Progressives Congress in the South-east, said. Former Imo State Governor, Rochas Okorocha The PDP rejected the result of the Bauchi South senatorial election held on Saturday, describing it as the most scandalous ever in the history of the state and Bauchi South in particular. Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Monday evening held a closed-door meeting with former President Olusegun Obasanjo in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital. He however declined comments after the meeting which came a week after he met with former military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida, in the latters home in Minna, Niger State. A PDP presidential aspirant, Ahmed Markafi, promised to restructure Nigeria to the best interest of every citizen if elected next year. According to a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, Mr Markafi said this on Monday in Asaba when he met with Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa, and delegates to the forthcoming national convention of the party from the state. Another PDP presidential aspirant, Attahiru Bafarawa, said he would not leave the party if he loses the primary election. Mr Bafarawa, who is a former governor of Sokoto State, stated this in Minna, the Niger State capital, on Monday at a meeting with the Niger State delegates of the party ahead of the PDP national convention slated for October 5 and 6. Tuesday: Contrary to the expectation of the National Assembly reconvening as earlier announced by the Deputy Speaker, Yusuf Lasun, the presiding officers of both chambers through their spokespersons announced that there is no date for the resumption of the lawmakers. National Assembly The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) issued certificates of return to senators-elect, Ahmad Kaita (APC, Katsina North) and Lawal Yahaya Gumau (APC, Bauchi South) elected in Saturdays bye-elections. Gombe State Governor and presidential hopeful under the PDP platform, Ibrahim Dankwambo, visited former President Olusegun Obasanjo as part of his consultations. The meeting came a day after Senate President Bukola Saraki also met with Mr Obasanjo. None of the officials spoke about the details of their meeting which held few days after Mr Saraki also met with ex-military ruler, Ibrahim Babangida. Wednesday: Reacting to a newspaper publication, the Nigerian presidency announced that President Muhammadu Buhari was not under pressure to drop his re-election bid ahead the 2019 election. The spokesperson to Mr Buhari, Femi Adesina, said in a statement that the story by Daily Independent newspaper with the headline, Pressure mounts on Buhari not to seek re-election, was a work of fiction parading as news. NEC registered 23 new political parties, ahead of the 2019 general election. This brought to 91, the number of registered political parties in Nigeria. The commission also extended the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise by two weeks. INEC initially said it would suspend the CVR exercise on August 17 until after the 2019 general elections. The National Chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole, appealed to the members of the party in the House of Representatives and the Senate to reconvene the parliament by all legal means. He insisted that Senate President Bukola Saraki must resign or be impeached by all legal means. Senate President, Bukola Saraki. The chairman of INEC, Mahmood Yakubu, was at the National Assembly to justify the increase in the 2019 election budget pegged at N189.2 billion. He listed amongst others, increase in number of political parties, increase on voters population and registered voters, high cost of logistics, exchange rates, increase in number of constituencies as reasons for the increase. Senate President Bukola Saraki said he was actively considering running against President Muhammadu Buhari in the 2019 elections. In an interview with Bloomberg Mr Saraki said he is still making consultations on the ambition. Like the senate president, Hamza Al-Mustapha, former Chief Security Officer to late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, said he will join the presidential race if prevailed upon by Nigerians to do so. Mr Al-Mustapha, a retired major, gave the indication in Kaduna during an interview shortly after a meeting with United Christian Leaders Eagle Eye Forum which backed him to join the 2019 presidential race. Thursday: An FCT High Court in Bwari restrained Senate President Bukola Saraki from declaring the seat of former Minority Leader of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, vacant. The court also restrained Mr Saraki from taking any action against Mr. Akpabio who recently dumped the PDP for the APC aimed at overreaching his privileges and rights as a senator pending the determination of the originating Summons of the applicant. The Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal, on Thursday alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is sick and a cabal is running his government. He also said that he was under pressure from many Nigerians and foreigners to run for president in 2019. Sokoto State Governor, Aminu Tambuwal For the second time, the National Assembly committees saddled with over-sighting INEC invited management of the electoral body to give further clarifications on the 2019 General Elections Budget. Friday: In an effort to boost Governor Udom Emmanuels morale after Godwill Akpabio, a senator, defected from the opposition PDP to the APC, Senate President Bukola Saraki led a delegation of PDP senators to Uyo, to visit the governor. The Ekiti State governor-elect, Kayode Fayemi, raised an alarm over incumbent Governor Ayodele Fayoses decision to recruit 1000 teachers and another 1000 workers into the states civil service. But Mr Fayose argued that the recruitment was in keeping his promise to the people of the state. Controversial senator, Dino Melaye, in a new video mocked his colleague, Godswill Akpabio. In the new video, he was seen praising the incumbent governor, Udom Emmanuel, as having surpassed the performance of his predecessor, Mr. Akpabio. Mr Melaye was among a handful of senators who accompanied the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on a solidarity visit to Mr Emmanuel in Uyo. The All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Rivers State Government have been trading blames over the suspension of Saturdays by-election for Port Harcourt III Constituency. The election was meant to fill the vacancy created in the state House of Assembly when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) member who represented the constituency resigned to contest the for the mayor of Port Harcourt, which he won. The PDP, which is the ruling party in the state, has been in a fierce, and oftentimes bloody, political battle with the APC which controls the government at the centre. The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), while announcing the suspension of voting on Saturday, said there was widespread violence and ballot-stealing by miscreants and hoodlums accompanied by heavily armed security personnel in uniform. The commission said many of its officials were manhandled, injured, and held hostage. Few hours after the suspension, the APC issued a statement blaming the Rivers State Government for the election violence. In the full view of the general public, the Chief Security Officer (CSO) to Gov. Nyesom Wike led armed policemen attached to the Government House to assault innocent APC party agents and supporters, snatch electoral sensitive materials and generally disrupt the bye-election with a view to rigging the process in favour of the PDP candidate or in some cases prevent lawful voters from exercising their franchise, the APC spokesperson in the state, Chris Finebone, said in the statement. Mr Finebone, however, in another statement said the APC was disappointed with the hasty decision of INEC to suspend the election. He said, The APC views the wording of the memo suspending the PHALGA 3 bye-election as substantially mendacious, unnecessarily alarmist and generally convoluted with sinister innuendos by the author in a way that does not represent an accurate assessment of the process so far. We hope that INEC will not be misled to derail or embark on a line of action that will leave her with a legal bad nose. This will neither be to the benefit of INEC nor the system in any way. The Rivers government on the hand is accusing the APC of being behind the election violence. The state governor, Nyesom Wike, said on Sunday in a statewide broadcast, while voting was underway, armed thugs from the APC led by the states factional chairman, Mr. Flag Ojukaye Amachree moved freely from one polling unit to the other, violently assaulted voters as well as INEC officials and carted away election materials, including smart card readers and ballot boxes. Flag Amachree and his gang of thugs successfully disrupted the elections in nearly all the 142 units of the constituency, thereby disenfranchising the electorates. Mr Wike alleged that those whom he said disrupted the election were protected by heavily armed Police operatives from the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (F-SARS) and the Inspector General of Polices Monitoring Unit. He said Rivers people have lost confidence in the ability of the police to stay impartial in future elections in the state. If the Nigerian Police cannot secure and guarantee the peaceful and successful conduct of election in a single State Constituency of 8 wards, then what will happen in 2019 when they would be contending with 319 electoral wards and 4442 polling units across 23 Local Government Areas of the state? Against the backdrop, it is up to the people of Rivers State to choose the option that will serve their interest, the governor said. The Commissioner for Information in the state, Emma Okah, while supporting the governors position on the issue, told PREMIUM TIMES that there was no way PDP would have disrupted an election they vigorously campaigned and were sure of victory. The police spokesperson in Rivers State, Nnamdi Omoni, told PREMIUM TIMES, Sunday evening, that the commissioner of police would be issuing a statement on the allegation by Governor Wike that the police aided the APC to disrupt the election. Meanwhile, the APC is calling on INEC to swiftly conclude the election and declare the winner, while the state government is against the release of the results of the suspended election. It will be strange for anybody in his right senses to support the release of results in an election that can best be described as broad daylight robbery by the APC and Nigeria police. The INEC and independent observers are all in agreement that there was no election and so there is nothing to declare, the information commissioner, Mr Okah said. The presidency on Sunday said President Muhammadu Buhari was not to blame for the seemingly late presentation of the budget of the electoral commission, INEC, for the 2019 election. Rather, the presidency said, in a statement by presidential spokesperson Garba Shehu, Senate President Bukola Saraki was to blame. Mr Shehus statement is the latest in the accusations and counter-accusations between it and Mr Saraki since the latter defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC). The INEC budget for 2019 elections was submitted last month by Mr Buhari to the National Assembly. The budget is yet to be passed by the lawmakers amidst allegations INEC had submitted the budget to the presidency since February. In his statement, Mr Shehu said it was not true that INEC submitted the budget to the presidency in February. He, however, refused to disclose what month the electoral commission submitted its budget to the presidency. It is not true that INEC submitted their draft budget to the presidency in February. No, it came much later but even then, this is not the real issue, he said. Read Mr Shehus full statement below. The Presidency wishes to respond to the false to accusations by Senator Bukola Saraki who alleged that President Muhammadu Buhari is to blame for the delay in approving the supplementary budget for INEC. On the contrary, the Senate President should look into the mirror and what he will see is his own face. He is solely to be held responsible for deliberately driving the nation to this cliff edge as far as the preparations for next elections are concerned. It is not true that INEC submitted their draft budget to the presidency in February. No, it came much later but even then, this is not the real issue. The fact that their proposals came well after the president had laid his budget for the year 2018 before the National Assembly meant that their own will be sent as supplementary budget. This was clearly stated to them by the Minister of Budget and National Planning. A supplementary budget cannot be submitted until the main budget is passed, and so the delay in passing the main budget was the reason for the delay. The National Assembly passed the 2018 budget seven months after the document was submitted to the National Assembly by President Buhari. Unless someone has forgotten, the budget was submitted to the National Assembly and it took the Saraki-led National Assembly seven months to release it. There is no way President Buhari could have submitted a supplementary budget while the main one was still pending. It is never done. Because Saraki did not return the main budget, we could not have submitted the supplementary one. After the long delays, the president was pained to sign the much distorted, butchered and debauched document. In giving his assent, President Buhari said that he was compelled to sign the budget so as not to keep the economy continuously on a standstill. In his words: When I submitted the 2018 Budget proposals to the National Assembly on 7th November 2017, I had hoped that the usual legislative review process would be quick, so as to move Nigeria towards a predictable January-December financial year. It is also worthy of note that this is the first time in Nigerias history that a government would bring together the cost of an election in one budget, with each agency involved invited to defend their portion of the budget before the National Assembly. It is all part of the transparency that this government is known for. In the past, governments would approve INEC budgets and funding without a breakdown, often using ways and means to fund it, not so under President Buhari. Monica Osagie, the woman at the centre of the sex-for-mark scandal that led to the sack of a professor at Obafemi Awolowo University, Richard Akindele, says she has found it difficult to get a job after exposing the randy lecturer. Ms. Osagie, who spoke in an interview with Sunday Punch, said her action has not helped her because of the threat she receives afterwards. I have been threatened on so many occasions and I am yet to get a job since then. The last job interview I went for about three weeks ago, the guy asked if I was the Monica Osagie and I said yes and the next thing he said was sorry ma, we dont need a whistle-blower! She also said the scandal has made her suffer serious psychological trauma, physical harassment at public places, especially in the banking halls and series of calls from strangers who would address her as ashawo home wrecker and career destroyer. Ms Osagie also said she has lost interest in the investigating of the case by the Independent Corrupt and other Offences Commission (ICPC), which she said described her as psychotic without taking her for medical examination. PREMIUM TIMES reported how OAU made headlines in April when Ms. Osagie leaked a phone recording, which showed Mr. Akindele asking for sex five times from from the post-graduate student for a pass in an examination. She repeatedly addressed the other person in the conversation as Prof. Akindele, who, later, protested: stop calling my name!. Later, the lecturer said he demanded five rounds of sex on one date as a deliberate attempt to discourage the student and invite her to his office to obtain evidence. OAU set up a committee and mandated it to submit its report within a week. It also issued a query to Mr. Akindele. On June 20, the university announced the dismissal of Mr. Akindele after he was found guilty of misconduct. He had earlier been placed on an indefinite suspension immediately the panel was set up. The Council, at its meeting of today, Wednesday, 20th of June, 2018, having considered the recommendation of Senate, as well as the report of the Joint Committee of Council and Senate, decided that Professor Richard I. Akindele should be dismissed from the services of the University for gross misconduct, the Vice Chancellor, Eyitope Ogunbodede, said. The Edo State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) has issued a 21-day ultimatum to the state government to provide adequate funding for education. The ultimatum is contained in a nine-point communique, issued in Benin on Sunday. The document was signed by the Chairman of the NUT in the state, Pius Okhueleigbe, and the Acting Secretary, Mike Itua. The association warned that the government would face dire consequences if it failed to meet the demands of the body before the expiration of the ultimatum. The union demanded immediate release of funds to cater for primary and secondary schools in the state, lamenting that teachers in public schools had been using their salaries to provide instructional materials. The union also demanded immediate implementation of the 2013 to 2015 primary school teachers promotions as approved by the government and payment of outstanding salary arrears to teachers. The body, similarly, sought the implementation of the N25,000 minimum wage to all primary school teachers with the arrears. According to them, no dime has been paid to anyone since 2016 when the State Government approved the minimum wage. The union said the ultimatum became necessary, following the expiration of 45 days grace period it gave the government to mutually resolve issues at its meeting with the union last July. The union decried what it described as a lack of manpower in public schools in the state, advising the government to commence immediate recruitment of about 9,000 teachers to meet the gap. (NAN) Eminent Nigerians took turns to pay tributes to Africas first professor of Geology, Mosobalaje Oyawoye, at the public presentation of his autobiography in Offa, Kwara. A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Alfa Belgore, described Mr Oyawoye, who clocked 91 years, as a kind-hearted and loving man of integrity. Mr Belgore, who said he never had cause to doubt the integrity of the don, also commended the celebrator for his love for his Offa community and Kwara. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the autobiography was entitled: Path of Destiny: An Autobiography. The Chief Presenter of the book and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Wale Babalakin, commended Mr Oyawoye for putting his thoughts into a book. He said future generations of Nigerians would learn from his wealth of experience. God gave Baba enormous talents, God gave him the time and the courage of conviction to reduce his thoughts into writing, he said. Mr Babalakin, who is the Pro-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, said everybody should read the book which he called a compendium. Announcing the sum of N5 million, Mr Babalakin said he was buying two copies each for all federal universities in Nigeria, two copies for Summit University, Offa, and two copies for Osun State University, Osogbo. Mr Babalakin also bought two copies for the University of Maiduguri where he was also a Pro-Chancellor between 2009 and 2013 as well as additional three copies for the University of Lagos. Ibrahim Gambari, a former Representative of Nigeria to the United Nation, said he was proud that Mr Oyawoye had blazed the trail as the first professor of Geology in Africa. I will take inspiration from Prof. Oyawoye to write my own autobiography. Prof. Oyawoye is a very humble prince from a royal family just like myself, and an accomplished academic, he said. The Agbaakin of Offa land, Wasiu Adepoju, said Mr Oyawoye made a great impact on his life through his constant counselling. The one enviable attribute of Baba Oyawoye is his consistency, a consistency borne out of his integrity, he said. NAN reports that part of the proceeds from the book presentation would go to the Monmodu-Jamiu Oyawoye Foundation (MJOF). MJOF Executive Director, Kola Oyawoye, said the foundation was founded in 2001 to support the socio-economic development of Offa in the areas of education, poverty alleviation and health. (NAN) The national chairman of the Action Democratic Party (ADP) has said the party opted out of a coalition with both the All Progressives Congress and Peoples Democratic Party because it realised it is only a regrouping for looters. Yabagi Sani, while speaking to journalists at the partys first south-west stakeholders meeting in Lagos on Saturday, called on all members of the National Assembly to be impeached. We opted out (of the PDP coalition) when we saw that it is just a ganging up of the same people that have been rejected by Nigerians over and over again, Mr Sani said. We believe Nigeria comes first and in the best interest of Nigeria, we must have a free and fair election and if the National Assembly needs to look at the budget of INEC, its a national duty and should not be made about APC and PDP, Mr Sani said the party, which was registered last year by the Independent National Electoral Commission, is reaching out to credible Nigerians to challenge the APC in the 2019 elections. We are not looking for those that are not proud of Nigeria and are not blind by our laws because that is why they steal the way they do, Mr Sani said. Look at the coalition, no one there that has not been rejected by Nigerians. We are looking for credible Nigerians instead. ADP was formed for one reason which has become more obvious today than when we started and that is to be a credible alternative. The so-called big parties today are not even a shadow of what they used to be. We can see the ganging up going on, people moving up and down. We believe this country needs stability and people that are committed to building this country for generations to come and we didnt see that in the coalition. Alani Bankole, the Board of Trustees Chairman of the party, said for Nigerians to rely on the APC would lead to a possible disintegration of the country, adding that to return to the PDP would be to go backwards into hopelessness. How can leaders of two leading government agencies be fighting themselves openly without the president intervening, said Mr Bankole, the father of a former speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole. PDP ruled for 16 years and had their bad days but there was no time two leading government agencies will be fighting without the president intervening. We thank God for the intervention of the vice president but we hope it is not too late. Yemi Adetoyinbo, the national publicity secretary of the party, asked Nigerians to reject the deceitful APC government. They said they are fighting corruption but we now have wider corruption. They recover loots to fund elections. It is a government of deceit, even in their fight of insurgency. Lai Mohammed said that comments of government paying ransom for the Dapchi girls release is hate speech but the United Nations have said that ransom was paid. Nasir Adewale, the Lagos State chairman of the party, said the party is ready to capture Lagos State in 2019 by empowering the youth and women. Their own strategy is to use and dump the youths and when they want to empower, give them Maruwa (commercial tricycle) as empowerment but we are saying no, put them in positions, make them councilors, chairmen, reps and so on. We have the youths and women in ADP and we are confident we can capture Lagos with our strategy. Babatunde Gbadamosi, a governorship aspirant in the party, said the ADP was established to put an end to misgovernance and idiocy in government that had been passing for governance in Lagos State. In the midst of all the nonsense that passes for governance in Lagos State especially in the last three years and 19 years by extension, those who have concern for the vulnerable people have watched in despair as our people are harassed by those elected to protect them, said Mr Gbadamosi. Traders are arrested and convicted for funny offences. As a party, ADP has had enough of the nonsense, the corruption, and ADP is saying enough is enough and we are ready to change the change where we all seem to be existing for the pleasure of one man and his family alone. Nigerias former President, Goodluck Jonathan, has described former Secretary-General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan, as a renowned icon of peace and a great son of Africa. In a tribute to Mr Annan who died Saturday at the age of 80, Mr Jonathan noted that his extensive reforms reinvigorated the UN systems and positively impacted international relations. I am deeply saddened by the death of Kofi Annan, a world renowned icon of peace and diplomacy. He was a distinguished and accomplished international public servant and one of Africas most prominent diplomats, Mr Jonathan said in a statement by his spokesperson, Ikechukwu Eze. As the United Nations Secretary-General, Annan introduced far-reaching reforms that reinvigorated the UN systems and positively impacted international relations. A consummate diplomat, Annan successfully managed the contending powers in the UN and stood firmly for development, human rights and a peaceful world; a commitment that earned him the Nobel Peace Prize. Even after leaving active service, Annan remained robustly engaged in promoting good governance, diplomacy, mediation, and humanitarian services. His demise is a sad loss to Africa and the World. In his reaction, a former Nigerian vice president, Atiku Abubakar, described Mr. Annan as a quintessential promoter of global peace, a great African, an astounding diplomat and one of the leading lights in the African continent of this century. Mr Abubakar, in a statement by his media office, called on Africans of the present generation to emulate Mr Anans commitment to the well- being and development of the African continent while serving as chief scribe of the United Nations. The presidential aspirant said even after retirement from the services of the UN, Mr Annan never retired from playing critical international roles that advanced the well-being of Africa and the world. In his reaction, a former Minister of External Affairs and one-time under-secretary general at the United Nations, Ibrahim Gambari, expressed sadness on the death Mr Annan whom he described as a friend, brother and former boss. The departed scribe of the UN will be remembered for his humane and compassionate nature. He fought for the interest of Africa and humanity in general. History will not forget him as one international figure that devoted his time, energy and intellect to minimizing global conflicts and humanitarian challenges. He showed great compassion in preventing conflicts and promoting peace building. Throughout my interaction with him, he never raised his voice in anger. I enjoyed a robust relationship with him on the job. I pray that he finds peace with his Creator, Mr Gambari said in a statement by his aide, Tajudeen Kareem. In his reaction to Mr Annans death, a national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Tinubu, said the late UN scribe will be remembered for his remarkable role in ensuring stability of democratic governments in Africa. Mr Tinubu, in a statement by his media officer, Tunde Rahman, said the late Mr Annan initiated interventions in conflict resolution around the world, aimed at achieving world peace. According to him, Mr Annan was Africas gift to the world and a wonderful servant to the international community. The death of former Secretary-General of UN, Mr Kofi Annan, in Bern, Switzerland today, August 18, 2018, is a loss to Africa and the entire world because of all that he represented. In his lifetime, Kofi Annan distinguished himself as an international statesman, global icon, finest diplomat and tireless champion of human rights for all. His time at the UN was also remarkable for his role in ensuring stability of democratic governments in Africa and intervention in conflict resolution around the world aimed at achieving world peace. His diplomatic achievements, both before or after becoming the UN Secretary-General, are legion, he said. Mr Tinubu said late Annan spearheaded several initiatives on Africa, including his chairmanship of the Africa Progress Panel and the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA). Specifically, he will be remembered for his important contributions to the fight against HIV/AIDS epidemic, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Also, he will be remembered for his commitment to defending vulnerable populations the world over, demonstrated by his key role in the development of the UNs epoch-making Responsibility to Protect doctrine. He provided leadership in developing the Millennium Development Goals, which made poverty eradication an achievable global imperative. He lived true to his reputation and recognition as Noble Peace Prize Laureate because he was an advocate of world peace and development throughout, he said. Muhammadu Modibbo, Nigerias Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, has urged the federal government to ban unemployed Nigerians from traveling to the Kingdom in search of jobs, to save Nigerias image. Mr Modibbo made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. I have sent a letter through the Foreign Affairs Ministry for government to ban such people from coming here (Saudi) because they are suffering. I am also appealing to Nigerians to try as much as possible to get something doing in Nigeria instead of coming here because it is not easy. Thousands of people from various countries have left here, the envoy said. He said that the embassy was also concerned about the increasing cases of women working as maids that are being abused, and some unscrupulous Nigerians involved in drug trafficking. According to him, the embassy has been intervening in cases of drug pushing by some Nigerians, adding there are many Nigerians on death row for the offence. There are many cases before I assumed office eight months ago; I always intervene but there is not much I can do even though we have some little successes. On the prevalence of Nigerians illegally residing in the Holy land, known as Tukaris, widely believed to be involved in shady businesses, the envoy said most of them refused to return home after the expiration of their entry permits. Many of them have been here for many years working and will not return home but if they are arrested, they are deported instantly. He blamed some agents for the woes of many Nigerians working in Saudi companies and other organisations. The agents manage to get passports and Visa for their clients and when they have problems, they come to the embassy daily. Some countries have banned their citizens from coming to work here because of problems being faced in Saudi Arabia. So why are Nigerians coming to face these hardships. He, however, commended the cordial relationship between Saudi Government and Nigeria, adding that Nigeria recently got a $10 milliondonation from the Kingdom to assist Boko Haram victims. (NAN) The management of PREMIUM TIMES on Sunday said the Nigerian Police did not pressure its reporter, Samuel Ogundipe, to implicate the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, during his detention. The newspaper also said in a statement by its Editor-in-Chief, Musikilu Mojeed, that its reporter was never tortured while in detention. The medium was reacting to claims on social media quoting its reporter as saying he was pressured by police investigators to, as condition for his release, name Mr. Saraki as the source who leaked a police report to him. The fake report also quoted Mr. Ogundipe as saying he was tortured. The reporter had promptly debunked the report, saying on his Twitter handle, At no time during my detention not when I was first interrogated and told to write a statement before my Editor-in-Chief @ Musikilu or at any other time during my three-day ordeal did Saraki ever come up. I was only pressured to say my source, an unreasonable demand I rejected. But despite Mr. Ogundipes rebuttal, the police believed the false narrative and went ahead to widely circulate a press statement reacting to the fake news. In a statement on Sunday, PREMIUM TIMES described the police as the latest victim of the growing fake news syndrome, saying its reporter never made the claim attributed to him. By issuing a statement to respond to a false narrative, the police became one of the latest victims of the fake news syndrome, Mr. Mojeed said. The truth is at no time during the interrogation of our reporter did police investigators pressure him to implicate anyone. All they wanted to know were the sources for his stories. The police also did not physically torture Mr. Ogundipe during his three-day ordeal in detention. Although we remain committed to fighting the latest onslaught on our reporters to a logical conclusion, we will do so with facts, decency and social responsibility. We will never accuse the police of offences they did not commit. READ FULL STATEMENT BELOW. PREMIUM TIMES PRESS STATEMENT Nigeria Police Victim of Fake News Syndrome At a time all lovers of civil liberties, especially freedom of speech and the press, are celebrating the latest victory against anti-democratic forces in Nigeria, a fake report putting words in the mouth of our reporter should be the last thing we should be responding to at PREMIUM TIMES. But since the Nigeria Police Force, an institution that has the capabilities to discern facts from fiction, has failed to live up to its calling, the buck has been passed to us to set the records straight. As you are all probably aware by now, the illegal attempt by the police to coerce our journalists to reveal the sources of a story suffered setback with the release of Mr Ogundipe on Friday on a court-approved bail. Samuel Ogundipe, a reporter at Premium Times, after his release from the Police Station Mr Ogundipes freedom after three long nights in polices illegal custody was widely celebrated not only in Nigeria but far beyond our shores. We released a statement thanking those who helped pressure the police and the Nigerian government to free the journalist and cease criminalising media practice. Mr Ogundipe also posted a message on his Twitter handle expressing his gratitude for the unprecedented show of solidarity which he received while in custody. But as congratulatory messages were pouring in for the PREMIUM TIMES team, some concerned citizens were also reaching out to verify the authenticity of a message which they said was gaining traction on social media. The message claimed Mr Ogundipe claimed he was pressured by the police to incriminate the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, as the source of his story. The poorly-written and obviously fake narrative, which was not published by any reputable media outlet in Nigeria or elsewhere, also quoted our reporter as saying he was tortured while in detention. Even on Nairaland where it initially appeared, it now seemed to have been taken down by the forums administrators who must have realised it was nothing but a gut-wrenching hoax. Despite the high volume of telephone calls and messages we received over the fake news on Friday, our initial resolve was to ignore the dubious propaganda so as not to amplify the lies. But we are now left to issue this rejoinder after the police swallowed the false narrative and thereafter widely circulated a statement reacting to it. PREMIUM TIMES did not publish the polices reaction to the fake news, but some bloggers did here. By issuing a statement to respond to a false narrative, the police became one of the latest victims of the fake news syndrome. The truth is at no time during the interrogation of our reporter did police investigators pressure him to implicate anyone. All they wanted to know were the sources for his stories. The police also did not physically torture Mr. Ogundipe during his three-day ordeal in detention. Although we remain committed to fighting the latest onslaught on our reporters to a logical conclusion, we will do so with facts, decency and social responsibility. We will never accuse the police of offences they did not commit. It is, however, disappointing that the police, with all the investigative resources placed before them by the Nigerian people, were unable to separate facts from fiction. For a law enforcement agency to make decisions based on rumours and unsubstantiated claims is frightening and unacceptable. On so many grounds, the police failed Nigerians, whose hard earned taxes go into funding their operations. If anything, this demonstration of incompetence could further fuel concerns by Nigerians about the polices ability to protect lives and properties. Crime rates have remained high across the country, even though budgeting to the force has largely improved. MUSIKILU MOJEED EDITOR-IN-CHIEF/CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER PREMIUM TIMES A federal lawmaker, Abdullahi Adamu (APC-Nasarawa), has called for probe into budgetary allocations to the National Assembly. Mr Adamu made the call while speaking with journalists in Abuja on Sunday. He said an audit had become necessary in view of the President of the Senate, Bukola Sarakis refusal to vacate his seat after defecting from the All Progressives Congress (APC) to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to him, Mr Sarakis refusal to vacate his seat after defecting to a minority party could be because he has something to hide. He said, I call for a forensic audit of the finances of the parliament which has been thoroughly messed up under the President of the Senate, Dr Bukola Saraki. We did not know what Sarakis agenda is. As we go through this tenure of his, the more we see things being unearthed. For him to refuse to move or leave the chair, there must be a reason for it. As the Chairman of the National Assembly, there is so much that he is doing that we want to take a look at. If he is clean let him move away and accept that there should be a forensic audit of the national assembly funds under his watch. Simple. Let him move so that we will see what he is sitting over. We have seen his unbridled ambition. We have seen now that even though the odds are so much against him, he went to a party that is now losing ground and that is now a minority in the National Assembly. On continued call by the leadership of the APC for Mr Saraki to vacate his seat, Mr Adamu said it is pretty obvious that Sarakis influence has diminished completely. Because he has lost the respect and confidence of majority of senators and well-meaning Nigerians, but hes just latching on to that seat because of the privileges he enjoys. Ordinarily, Saraki needed not wait for any pressure to be mounted on him before he resigns from his position as Senate president. You cannot command any respect or assert your authority as a leader when majority of those youre supposed to lead have lost confidence in you and are opposed to your leadership. So, if he is a self-respecting person, he does not even need anyone to ask that he should throw in the towel because he and his PDP have lost majority in the Senate. He stressed that Mr Saraki was entitled to aspire for any office, including that of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. However, he said, he should not try to destroy the system just because he wants to realise that ambition at all cost. On who succeeds Mr Saraki if he exits his seat as President of the Senate, the lawmaker said, you do not cross a bridge before you get to it. All the speculations about the purported rift is aimed at dividing us and distracting us from our determination to assert the interest of our party which enjoys the majority in the Senate. He added that the lawmakers were united and that the party had the goodwill of Nigerians in view of progresses being made in different sectors of the economy. While citing the partys victory in recent by-elections in Katsina, Kogi and Bauchi states, the lawmaker said it was a sign of victory for the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) come 2019. They were the clearest pointers to the victories that would be recorded by President Muhammadu Buhari and the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) during the 2019 General Elections. Senator Abdullahi Adamu Mr Adamu further said that his partys victory was not only remarkable, but pointed to the confidence that Nigerians had in President Muhammadu Buharis administration. He said the victories recorded would boost governments effort to accelerate empowerment of the ordinary citizens in order to reduce the level of poverty in the land. The senator stressed the need for the APC to galvanise all its teeming members, especially members of Mr. Presidents cabinet to accelerate the pace in executing capital projects as another avenue for deepening the rising public confidence in the administration. (NAN) The candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Garba Ahiya , has won Saturdays Takum 1 state constituency by-election into Taraba House of Assembly. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the election was to fill the vacant seat of the late Hosea Ibi, member of the Assembly, who was kidnapped on December 31, 2017 and murdered by his abductors in January 2018. Ayuba Kwada, the returning officer of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced the results on Saturday night in Takum. Kwada said Ajiya of PDP won five of the six constituencys ward with a total vote of 10,725 to emerge winner, while candidate of the All Progressive Congress (APC), Atem Ansho, polled a total vote of 3,268 with one ward. He disclosed that nine political parties participated, while results from nine polling units in Chanchanji ward were cancelled due to irregularities. According to him, The total number of vote cast was 14,717; total number of valid votes was 14,337 while 380 votes were rejected. Reacting to the election result, Governor Darius Ishaku of Taraba, described the process as a litmus test for the 2019 general elections in the state. He noted that the victory margin could have been wider if all those that turned out to exercise their franchise had their Permanent Voters Cards, (PVCs). Mr Ishaku, who commended the peaceful conduct of the election, restated the need for state police to permanently tackle insecurity. The country will be more efficient with pronounced secuty if it adopts state policing just like the United States of America where our democracy took it roots. The candidate of the APC has, however, rejected the outcome of the by-election. He alleged that collation were still ongoing in some wards when hired thugs forced electoral officers to leave some polling units to other destinations and changed the results. Mr Ansho, however, said he was in talks with his lawyers for advice on the next course of action. (NAN) In what appears a political earthquake, 252 special advisers and special assistants appointed by Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State have resigned their appointments, an ex-official said. The former officials said they returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC), instead of working under a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government. Ibrahim Haske, a special adviser to the former governor and spokesperson for all the aides, announced this at a news conference in Sokoto on Sunday. He said their decision followed Governor Tambuwals defection from the APC to the opposition PDP. Our appointment is based on the position that APC is the political party governing the state and now that the government belongs to PDP, we have no option other than to resign. We are bonafide members of APC and our position has always remained same; we therefore resign voluntarily from the PDP government, Mr Haske said. Mr Haske, who was a former Sokoto South Local Government Area chairman, further explained the decision was based on their desire to support APC to deliver on its mandate after the 2019 general elections. Abdullahi Sokoto, also a special adviser to Mr Tambuwal, restated the former aides commitment and dedication toward ensuring the success of the APC across the state. We will continue to remain in our party APC and as such we sacrifice our political appointments to clarify peoples doubt and show our stand on party supremacy. He restated the groups loyalty and support to the policies and programme of the Federal Government under President Muhammadu Buhari and the leadership of APC. In his reaction, the APC Chairman in the state, Sadiq Achida, commended the former aides to Mr Tambuwal for their demonstration of loyalty to the party. He said, the sacrifice of the special advisers is highly recommended and will surely be rewarded by the people and APC in future. The state government was yet to react to the defections at the time of the report. (NAN) The Kano State Governor, Abdullahi Ganduje, has challenged his predecessor, Rabiu Kwankwaso, to launch his presidential campaign in Kano, saying he would be rejected by voters in the state come 2019. Mr Ganduje said he believes Kano residents will not welcome Mr Kwankwaso, currently a senator, if he launches his presidential campaign in the state. We have all the rights to reject him at wish. We have already rejected him, the governor said. We never considered him from day one as a presidential material. We shall continue to maintain our position about him. We know nobody but President Muhammadu Buhari. Messrs Kwankwaso and Ganduje were political allies with the latter serving as deputy governor when Mr Kwankwaso was the state governor. They have since parted ways with Mr Kwankwaso leaving their All Progressives Congress (APC) to join the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), where he is hoping to achieve his presidential ambition. Mr Ganduje made his statements at an event to empower women held at the government house, Kano, on Sunday. At the event, 6,600 women drawn from the 44 local governments of the state were given the sum of N15,000 each. We, the great people of Kano, as he is aware, will use every democratic way possible to reject him (Kwankwaso) and show him an exit from political participation, even before the general election comes our way, the governor said. The governor, who is believed to have in the past, using security as an excuse, blocked a rally to welcome Mr Kwankwaso back to Kano, accused his predecessor of not showing concerns when unfortunate things happen in the state. We in Kano, we came across the demise of distinguished personalities, of which he chose not to come. And we had fire outbreaks in some of our markets, and this man did not care to come and sympathise with the victims, he said. When some of the popular markets in Kano experienced fire disaster, we raised a special committee that was given the responsibility of finding the remote causes of such disaster as well as given the mandate to collect contributions so as to alleviate some of the sufferings of the victims. Rabiu Kwankwaso We included as a member of the committee, somebody, a staunch follower of Kwankwaso. But this man didnt allow that person to participate in all the meetings of the committee. Neither did he send a penny as his contribution. Somebody will just wait somewhere telling his people that they should stay clear of anything about Kano. Is this how you want lead people? Where is the concern? Because he knows that he is not welcome in Kano and he will be never be welcome. That was why he chooses to stay away from our dear state and go somewhere, other places, not Kano, and be launching his unorganised and unpopular campaign, Mr Ganduje said. The governor said he believes Kano residents will support President Muhammadu Buharis re-election in 2019. The president got his largest votes in 2015 from Kano. Kano is solely for Buhari come 2019, not any other person. That is why we said we are waiting for him to come to Kano and launch his campaign. We shall use all democratically accepted ways and say no. On the empowerment programme, Mr Ganduje said, We are doing this to help in uplifting your living standard. To also make you self-reliant. It is known to all of you that we have greater concern for you and your families. This we are doing in compliance with President Muhammadu Buharis spirit of human development. We believe that any step taken by our dear president, deserves to be followed at any given time, he said. President Muhammadu Buhari Earlier on Sunday, Mr Ganduje presented N10,000 cash to 378 persons. He said the money was donated by the personal assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on broadcast media, Shaaban Sharada. Mr Ganduje also presented the identity card of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) to 1,000 beneficiaries of Shaaban Sharada health welfare at Koki quarters in Kano. In his address, Mr Sharada said the gesture is to assist the poor residents of Kano with free medical services and also reduce maternal mortality. Residents of flood ravaged Obakhawaye street in Benin metropolis have appealed to the Edo government to urgently address the recurring menace. Some of the residents, in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, said the menace gives them nightmares during the rainy seasons. They said the menace had compounded the environmental degradation of the city centre because of its strategic location. They said Obakhawaye street, being one of the longest streets within the city centre, lacked proper drainage, which constituted an environmental and health hazard to residents. A trader, Esosa Osayuwa, who has a shop on the street, said the area had been in a terrible state for many years. Ms Osayuwa said that during the rainy seasons, some residents do build canoes as means of transportation to access their houses. She called on the state government to urgently construct drains to address the menace. Ivie Omoye, a resident, said part of the reasons for the flood, was because people have also built on waterways, and this has compounded the flooding. Ms Omoye said years ago, some persons lost their lives while property worth millions was swept away by the flood after a heavy down pour. She called on the state government to channel the water to a river or a canal, adding that this would be a big relief to the residents. I am looking for a new apartment, because as I speak to you, my house is flooded. For the past three days, I have been staying in my friends house. The government should help us, we have been suffering for more than five years now, she said. Ms Omoye noted that the flood was a collection of water from link roads such as Oluku, Isekheri, Olotan and Uselu. Lucky Isime, another resident, said that the congestion on Obakwawaye street contributes to the flooding of the area. He said that the closure of park at the Ring road has led to the springing up of new motor park in area. This influx of people and their activities, such as blocking of road, dumping of refuse are things that leads to flooding. (NAN) The Chief of Army Staff, Tukur Buratai, has expressed his immense appreciation to Governor Ifeanyi Ugwuanyi of Enugu State, for the support his administration has been giving to the 82 Division of the Nigerian Army, in securing both the state and its neighbours. The Army Chiefs message of appreciation was conveyed to Mr Ugwuanyi by the new General Officer Commanding 82 Division, Nigerian Army, Emmanuel Kabuk, when he paid a courtesy visit to the governor at the Government House, to formally introduce himself. Your Excellency, I must quickly add that the Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai is highly appreciative of the support that you have been giving 82 Division. Some of the supports that you have given 82 Division had spilled over in ensuring security in neigbgouring states, the new GOC said. Mr Kabuk, a major general, appreciated Mr Ugwuanyi for entrusting Enugu State to the hands of God, which he said, was responsible for the existing peace and security in the state, stressing that there is peace in Enugu State because whatever a man places in the hands of God, no man can tamper with it. He stated that Enugu will continue to enjoy peace because you (Ugwuanyi) have handed over Enugu State into the hands of God, adding that the existing peace in the state has added value to the Divisions security operations in all the states within its command. The new GOC, who further appreciated Mr Ugwuanyi for his contributions towards the successes recorded by the Division during the leadership of the immediate past GOC, Adamu Abubakar, also expressed confidence that the governor will continue to give him the support even more than my predecessor had enjoyed from you. He maintained that the military will forever remain grateful and remember Mr Ugwuanyi for the water project recently built in the barrack that now supplies water to the area and its neighbouring communities; the roads his administration constructed for the military in the 103 Battalion and the one leading to the water project and the NOAWA pet project for the wives of fallen heroes, among others. Mr Kabuk equally expressed delight at the governors popularity and closeness to the people of the state as well as the overwhelming support and solidarity he enjoys from them, disclosing: I have also heard Enugu people saying that their governor is the best governor in Africa. I saw it Your Excellency, when the Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo visited. I saw the enthusiasm with which your people were rallying around you and, your security could not stop anybody from getting very close to you, which means that your people is your own security. That is what it should be in every level of leadership. The people are the security of the leaders. I want to encourage Your Excellency to maintain this level of cordiality with your people, he added. The GOC therefore, assured the governor of his commitment to discharge his responsibilities professionally, promising to be responsive and act within the ambit of law. In his address, Mr Ugwuanyi, who delightfully welcomed the new GOC to Enugu, also congratulated him for his posting to this very strategic office. The governor stated that Mr Kabuks new assignment was an eloquent attestation of the trust and confidence the Nigerian Armys hierarchy reposed in him. The governor assured the new GOC of his administrations highest regards, goodwill and friendship. In his words: I wish to assure you of our commitment to strengthening this relationship and to continue providing necessary assistance and support to the Division towards the successful discharge of its duties. I use this forum also to restate our unrelenting prayers, support and solidarity with the Nigerian Army and the Armed Forces of this country as a whole, in their current efforts to make the country a safer and more peaceful place for all. As a government, we have always maintained and enjoyed a cordial working relationship with your Division and indeed the Nigerian Army as an establishment. Along with other security agencies in the state, the Army, through your Division, shares in the credit for helping the state attain and sustain her current status as one of the safest, most secure and most peaceful states in the country. Following the crisis at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, the Students Union has called for the intervention of the federal government and the institutions chancellor, Bola Tinubu. The union in a statement signed by its President, Abiodun Oluwaseun, said the silence of Mr. Tinubu is callous and may not safeguard the dying educational standard of the university. LAUTECH has in the last two years been in one crisis or the other, resulting to series of strike actions embarked upon by staff of the institution as a result of non-payment of salaries and poor funding of the university by the Oyo State and Osun State Governments. In recent times, the myriad of issues facing this noble institution threatens to bring the institution to its knees, read the SUs statement. The funding of the tertiary institution remains the most pressing problem which has caused unstable academic calendar, infrequent payment of salaries and disconnection of electricity due to huge debts owed to providers It further stated that: The problem of joint ownership is also a problem steadily eating away at the survival of the university. It becomes very embarrassing when the two state governments fail to live up to their financial obligations. It is unreasonable that the IGR being generated within the institution even covers the everyday expenses of the school. The union, however, demands that the governments should implement the outcome of the Wole Olanipekun-led visitation panel and recommendations of the KPMG audit report to ensure the resumption of their lecturers who went on another strike to truncate the ongoing second semester examination of 2017/2018 session. While it is if negative psychological effects on students, the governments cannot continue to disrespect the valuable lives of over 35,000 students of the school We call on the intervention of the Chancellor of the institution, Bola Tinubu whose deafening silence in LAUTECH crisis is callous, and the federal government for immediate rescue as to safeguard the dying educational standard the institution. PREMIUM TIMES reported that members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, ASUU, from different zones of the country on Friday shut down Osogbo, the Osun State capital, as they protested the poor commitment of Osun and Oyo governments to the school. The Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP) of The Polytechnic, Ibadan, has declared a strike action, joining the non-academic staff of the school to protest the Oyo State Governments handling of workers welfare. In a statement, signed by the Secretary of SSANIP, Ajibola Oyetunde, on Friday, all senior workers have been notified not to resume to their offices on Monday, August 20. The above directives have no exemption to any office/offices, read the statement. There would be the monitoring unit on campus to keep watch on any erring member. The Non-academic workers unions of the institution had earlier threatened to further their agitations by disrupting academic activities and shutting down the institution. The Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Polytechnics (SSANIP), Gbenga Akinola, in a conversation with PREMIUM TIMES, said they made the decision after the ultimatum given last week expired. Weve been negotiating for a long time but they are dilly-dallying. We believe that education is part of the social responsibilities of the government, he said. Barely a month to the Osun State governorship election, several members (said to be about 3,000) of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) left the party for the Action Democratic Party (ADP) on Saturday. The members were led to ADP by Dotun Babayemi, an Osun West senatorial aspirant in Gbongan, headquarters of Ayedaade Local Government Council Area of the state. The Osun chairman of ADP, Toye Akinola, while receiving the defectors, said the recent happening to the party is a sign that victory is certain come September 22. He described ADP as a political party that respects peoples opinions and gives premium to equity and justice. The immediate past Secretary to State Government of Osun and governorship candidate of ADP, Moshood Adeoti, condemned Governor Rauf Aregbesolas leadership of the APC in the state. I built the structure of Osun APC, but the leadership style of Aregbesola who I trusted caused me to leave the party. (Approving) his anointed candidate, Gboyega Oyetola. APC is synonymous to nepotism and impunity. This is caused by Aregbesolas defiant attitude and other decision makers of the party. The elders of the All Progressives Congress conceded that Osun West should produce next governor under our party, but Aregbesola insisted on Gboyega Oyetola. Chief Bisi Akande and other council leaders had reiterated that the ticket should be zoned to the West. Aregbesola and other decision makers of the party insisted that Osun Central should produce the governor putting myself, the Speaker House of Assembly, Mr Najeem Salam and Peter Babalola aside. The anointed candidate of APC has never been part of government until the present one that hes part of. I managed the structure of the party and was also part of Aregbesolas cabinet for over seven and half years. Mr. Adeoti resigned and left APC after he alleged that the party manipulated the primary that produced Mr Oyetola as its flag bearer for next months election. Osun 2018: Several APC members defect to ADP PREMIUM TIMES reported how the deputy chairman of the APC in Odun, Azeez Adesiji, led eight members of the State Working Committee of the party and hundreds of party members to join the ADP early August. The APC could not be reached on the new defections. Its Director of Publicity, Kunle Oyatomi, did not pick calls or reply a message sent as at the time of filing this report. Oyo Global Forum, OGF, a Nigerian grassroots organisation, has partnered with the Centre for Enterprise Innovation, CEI, at the De Montfort University, the United Kingdom, to provide a platform, tagged Enterprise Bootcamp, to improve the entrepreneurial competencies of over 60 young Nigerians. The programme which was implemented in Oyo between Friday and Saturday targeted young entrepreneurs and those just nurturing ideas, who underwent a two-day intensive training. Oyo town covers four local government areas in Oyo State and has recently witnessed a rise in drug-related gang violence linked with high rate of poverty and youth unemployment. Organisers said the programme was aimed at addressing the menace. In a series of master classes and practical workshops, they took the participants through important processes, steps and tips on starting small, business planning, use of technologies, social enterprise, customer service, among others. The participants also worked in groups to tackle challenges on decision making, team building, partnership, and leadership. The facilitators at the training were Abiodun Egbetokun of the National Centre of Technology Management, Peggy Alexopoulou of the Loughborough University London, Seun Adepoju, an IT expert, and Biodun Adereni of HelpMum. Also, Seun Kolade, a senior lecturer at the De Montfort University and OGF leader, took the session on business plan. For many years, OGF has launched a wide range of practical interventions to tackle various challenges affecting the prosperity and security of our community, Rahaman Olorunpoto, OGF Vice-Chairman who was the coordinator said at the event. We are pleased this new partnership with De Montfort University (DMU) has been hugely successful. We also thank our Nigerian industry partners who generously offered their expertise and resources to deliver sessions. Special mention is also due to the governments owned Bank of Industry, who sent representatives. Mr Kolade, who is also a researcher with CEI, said the intervention provided the participants opportunity to obtain necessary information and acquire key skills to move their business ideas to actualisation. With necessary information and skills, along with practical and funding support from industry partners, we aim to unleash the entrepreneurial agency and creative energy of young Africans. This will chart a new era of prosperity and growth for the continent, he said. Mr Kolade, who initiated the partnership with OGF, said plan was underway to replicate the intervention in other cities in and outside Nigeria. We will be keen to capture the short and longer-term impact of the workshop through my colleagues, such as evaluations of the workshop, video interviews, case studies etc., David Rae, CEI Director, said in a letter on the event. We are very keen to support and evidence the impact of entrepreneurship education and development in African countries through initiatives such as this. The Bank of Industry, represented by Foluke Ogunmefun, told the participants they can access loans from up to N50,000,000 from the one billion naira OYO/BOI Fund. She said Oyo State Government and BOI had committed N500 million each to the fund. Every business located within Oyo State can access this loan provided the requirements are presented; a business plan, a registered business name and a business account. She urged interested business owners to visit the Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Oyo State, located in Ibadan to apply, after which other processes will follow. UK varsity train 60 budding Nigerian entrepreneurs UK varsity train 60 budding Nigerian entrepreneurs Participants were full of praise for the organisers, saying the programme has had a big impact on them. Even though, I have been in the IT service business for some years, my participation in this programme enabled me to learn new things necessary for business growth and sustainability, Muslim Habib said. The Bootcamp has not only been an avenue to learn for me but it has provided me with an opportunity to put to use my event planning skills once again as a member of the planning committee, another participant, Afees Akinola, remarked. This programme has afforded me the opportunity to network with big players in the entrepreneurship industry and connect with them. Commenting, OGF scribe, Taiwo Adebayo, said the organisation would explore further collaborations to build on the success of the Bootcamp. It was an excellent programme and the feedbacks have been impressive. We now have something to build on through further collaborations towards helping our secure funding and gain some more hard skills. 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. INKubator is a one-stop platform for managing and monetizing creative content and intellectual property. By applying blockchain technology to the global cultural assets market, Ink has created a decentralized market for creative content transactions and built a completely new global ecosystem for content creators. With INKubator, digital copyright can easily be established, creatives can efficiently monetize and protect original content, and IP tokens can be used for transactions to enable the free flow of assets and information. INKubator can be used by creators for crowdfunding with the distribution of personalized IP tokens. Fans or investors may use INK tokens or other digital currency to support the crowdfunding efforts in exchange for IP tokens. When the target has been reached, fans can then use the IP tokens they possess to pay for the promised content and more. This allows the free flow of IP tokens in INKubator's open digital currency market. Through this model, ordinary account holders can be angel investors and participate in the exciting startup stages of creative projects. At the same time, they get to reap the benefits when the project comes to fruition. What's more, they stand to gain when the IP tokens eventually increase in value. As for content creators and IP owners, the barriers of entry for fulfilling a dream project become virtually non-existent. These sophisticated systems reinvent the traditional business model of the arts and culture industry. Ink's vision is to build a vibrant, high-volume and secure market for IP assets. By connecting global cultural assets using blockchains, original content gets a boost on the global platform both in terms of value and transferability. "The global cultural assets industry represents a huge market, and it's one where the continual production of quality content is key to its success. Under the traditional business model, many quality IP assets lack an efficacious way to secure financing support. This seriously diminishes the creator's passion, not to mention suppress the creation and realization of quality content. The objective of INKubator is to create a completely new model, one that bridges thousands of cultural projects in-the-making to the market. By supporting and encouraging content creation, we hope that the global cultural assets ecosystem can flourish." Ink Co-Founder June Choi At the same event, INKubator's inaugural batch of creative projects and strategic partners were also introduced to the guests. They are: Wild Asia , a documentary series created by Nigel Marven , world-famous wildlife presenter, producer and host. Follow Marven through Asia's most exotic locale as he searches for rare creatures and immerses himself in local culture and delicacies. See him come face-to-face with snakes, bears, and monkeys while crawling into virgin forest and diving into sparkling seas. , a documentary series created by , world-famous wildlife presenter, producer and host. Follow Marven through most exotic locale as he searches for rare creatures and immerses himself in local culture and delicacies. See him come face-to-face with snakes, bears, and monkeys while crawling into virgin forest and diving into sparkling seas. Ho-jun Lee, renowned South Korean "manhwa" writer. His works focuses on introducing Korean culture to the public and topics range from" hansik" (Korean cuisine) to literature and the humanities. He has won several national awards including the Republic of Korea's Manhwa Grand Prize, and Bucheon International Cartoon Animation's Cartoon Grand Prize . . Tianya Online Network Technology, the leading value-added service platform provider on the internet. Tianya is known as a wildly successful incubation hub that was the birthplace of some of China's bestselling books, including Stories about Ming Dynasty, Ghost Blow Out the Light, and Get Away, Mr. Tumor. INKubator is now open for registration. Visit https://inkubator.ex.ink to experience it first-hand. For more news and updates about INKubator, follow us: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/inkubatorex/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/KubatorEx Medium: https://medium.com/@inkubatorex PR CONTACT: Sarah Guo [email protected] +65 96145213 SOURCE Ink MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., Aug. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Intermedia, a leading cloud communications and collaboration provider to SMBs and the partners that serve them, announced today that it has emerged the winner in the Collaboration [Support Winner, Partnership Winner, Managed & Cloud Services Winner] category of CRN's 2018 Annual Report Card (ARC) awards program. The Annual Report Card summarizes results from a comprehensive survey that details solution provider satisfaction across product innovation, support, and partnership for the hardware, services and software vendors they team up with. The vendors with the highest ratings are named to the prestigious Annual Report Card list of winners and celebrated as best-in-class by their partners. The results also provide the IT vendor community with valuable feedbackdirectly from their solution providersthat can be used to refine product offerings, enhance support offerings, and improve communication with partners. Intermedia has developed a tightly integrated suite of cloud-based UCaaS and business applications that enable SMBs to be more productive, collaborative, and mobile. To help their more than 6,500 active channel partners achieve greater success, Intermedia offers a powerful set of tools, content, and support that delivers everything a partner may need to sell more, and win more before, during and after the sale. Intermedia's Partner Program provides the flexibility to sell under the Intermedia brand or private label, a full library of brandable sales and marketing materials, a Partner Concierge Desk to assist in quoting and provisioning, handling billing and complex taxation issues for partners, and much more. "Many solution providers claim to be partner first, but Intermedia actually puts its partners at the center of it all," said Eric Martorano, Chief Revenue Officer, Intermedia. "By surrounding our partners with everything they need to be successful and profitable, they can realize higher margins and healthy and new recurring revenue streams, as well as longer-term customer relationships. The features of our partner program are designed to help our partners focus more on selling versus the common margin-pinching motions they may experience elsewhere, and being recognized by CRN's Annual Report Card is validation that our investments are resonating with our partners and their customers." This year's group of honorees was selected from the results of an in-depth, invitation-only survey by The Channel Company's research team. More than 3,000 solution providers were asked to evaluate their satisfaction with more than 65 vendor partners in 24 major product categories. The winners will be honored throughout The Channel Company's XChange 2018 conference (https://www.thechannelco.com/events/xchange-2018/about), taking place August 19-21st in San Antonio, TX. "An ARC award is one of the industry's most prestigious honors. It symbolizes a vendor's dedication to delivering high quality and innovative product and program offerings to their channel partners," said Bob Skelley, CEO, The Channel Company. "CRN's Annual Report Card provides solution providers with the rare opportunity to offer their invaluable insight on vendors' products and services, as well as their partner programs. As a result, the technology suppliers are equipped with actionable feedback to bolster their efforts to remain the best-of-the-best. Congratulations to each of this year's ARC award winnerswe look forward to honoring them at our XChange 2018 conference this August." The 2018 Annual Report Card results can be viewed online at www.crn.com/arc and will be featured in the October issue of CRN. Tweet This: @TheChannelCo recognizes @intermedia_net in 2018 @CRN ARC #CRNARC crn.com/arc About Intermedia Intermedia is a Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) and business cloud email provider hyper-focused on delivering easy-to-use and secure communication and collaboration solutions to SMBs and the partners that serve them. More than 110,000 business customers and 6,500 active partners rely on Intermedia for greater reliability and productivity. Intermedia's broad yet tightly integrated suite of cloud applications is managed through one intuitive point of control, and Intermedia services are backed by a 99.999% uptime service level agreement (SLA). Offerings include cloud voice, web/video/content sharing and conferencing, presence, file backup, sync and share, business email, identity and access management, security, archiving, and more. Intermedia's 360 approach to partner success makes it easy for channel partners to sell, set up, manage, and support the cloud while achieving strong margins and creating attractive new revenue streams through both branded and private label programs. Intermedia is the only business cloud application provider to have twice been certified by J.D. Power for its superior 24/7 technical support in 2016 and 2017. For more information, visit Our Website, or connect with us on LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook. About the Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com Follow The Channel Company: Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook Contact: Robert Gold Intermedia 314.750.0880 [email protected] Katie Halloran LEWIS for Intermedia 619.308.5222 [email protected] Jennifer Hogan The Channel Company (508) 416-1189 [email protected] SOURCE Intermedia Related Links http://www.intermedia.net MELBOURNE, Australia, Aug. 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- OneTrust, the global leader in privacy management and marketing compliance today announced its expansion in Australia and New Zealand. OneTrust is the most widely-used privacy management and marketing compliance software with 1,500 customers, including 200 of the Global 2,000, 500 employees and six global offices across Atlanta, London, Munich, Bangalore, Hong Kong and Melbourne. OneTrust's commitment to the Australia and New Zealand markets (ANZ) includes: A new local office in Melbourne to serve as a HQ for the region, led by technology veteran Robinson Roe as managing director to serve as a HQ for the region, led by technology veteran as managing director Integration of Australia and New Zealand privacy laws into the OneTrust platform to support privacy compliance operations beyond the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and privacy laws into the OneTrust platform to support privacy compliance operations beyond the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Two new local data centres in the region to support data residency preferences Expansion of PrivacyConnect, OneTrust's widely attended privacy workshop event series, in Australia Local presence at Gartner Security and Risk Sydney and IAPP ANZ events OneTrust is already working with dozens of well-known organisations across Australia and New Zealand to operationalise their privacy programmes. Sydney-based Cochlear Limited, the global leader in implantable hearing solutions, uses OneTrust technologies for privacy compliance in ANZ and across the globe. "As a global company with customers and employees in over 100 countries, keeping up with various privacy regulations is an ongoing and essential process," said Stephen Bolinger, Chief Privacy Officer at Cochlear. "Having used OneTrust from the outset of developing our privacy compliance programme, we are excited to see their investment in the ANZ region and their integration of the region's specific data protection requirements into the software. OneTrust is an essential element of our privacy compliance efforts locally and globally." Meet with OneTrust in Sydney: 20-21 August : Visit OneTrust at Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit Sydney stand #PR2 and hear OneTrust and Cochlear discuss "How to Tackle the GDPR: A Typical Privacy and Security Roadmap" at the Hilton Sydney on Tuesday, 21 August at 11:30 AEST : Visit OneTrust at Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit Sydney stand #PR2 and hear OneTrust and Cochlear discuss "How to Tackle the GDPR: A Typical Privacy and Security Roadmap" at the Hilton Sydney on Tuesday, 21 August at 11:30 AEST 22 August: Register for PrivacyConnect Sydney, a Free, In-Person ANZ, GDPR and International Privacy Law Workshop at the Hilton Sydney Supporting Privacy Reform in Australia and New Zealand Jurisdictions around the world, including Australia and New Zealand, have amended or created privacy legislation with the goal of adapting to the continuing technological advancements and reinforcing rights of individuals. Australia just named a new privacy commissioner, and recently amended the Australian Privacy Act introducing mandatory notification procedures for data breaches. According to the latest Notifiable Data Breaches Quarterly Statistics Report there were 242 notifications during the last quarter with the health and finance sectors reporting the highest number of data breaches. In March, New Zealand's government introduced a Privacy Bill to replace its Privacy Act from 1993. The Bill's explanatory notes the changes will align New Zealand's privacy law with international developments, such as the GDPR. The Bill gives individuals the right to access and correct their personal information, imposes strict requirements for privacy breach notifications and data transfer limitations. Read the report: OneTrust is the largest and most widely used dedicated software provider in privacy management, and according to Ovum Research, is positioned as a strategic leader in global privacy beyond the GDPR These recent legislative changes, as well as consumer's increased awareness and expectations around privacy, attest to the significant need for privacy management tools to enable companies in the ANZ's region to automate their processes. OneTrust is committed to supporting these new and updated ANZ privacy regulations. OneTrust will integrate these specific privacy guidelines into the award-winning privacy technology and marketing compliance platform. Customers will be supported by OneTrust's new Melbourne office led by Robinson Roe, privacy solutions experts with deep knowledge about local and global privacy laws and two new local data centres in Australia and New Zealand. "The GDPR, and more broadly, consumer awareness of privacy risks, are sparking businesses across sectors and jurisdictions to continuously reassess their privacy compliance across a growing matrix of regulatory requirements," said Robinson Roe, Managing Director of ANZ, OneTrust. "I am thrilled to lead OneTrust's new Melbourne offices and expanded ANZ support to further empower customers to meet both local and global privacy regulations. As the privacy landscape continues to mature, we remain committed to incorporating new data protection regulations and the most up-to-date guidance as it becomes available." "Our expansion in Australia and New Zealand shows our commitment to innovating and developing our technology, research, services and user community to serve the changing global privacy market," said Kabir Barday, OneTrust CEO and Fellow of Information Privacy (FIP). "With the most comprehensive solution supported by the largest team in the privacy industry, our customers can rely on OneTrust to serve them both locally in their regions and with regulations across the globe. OneTrust is the comprehensive privacy management and marketing compliance solution that customers can grow into, and not out of, as the global privacy market continues to evolve." Resources: Register for PrivacyConnect Sydney on 22 August, a Free, In-Person ANZ, GDPR and International Privacy Law Workshop at the Hilton Sydney Visit OneTrust at Gartner Security & Risk Management Summit Sydney stand #PR2 and hear OneTrust and Cochlear discuss "How to Tackle the GDPR: A Typical Privacy and Security Roadmap" at the Hilton Sydney on Tuesday, 21 August at 11:30 AEST. Register for OneTrust PrivacyTECH on 8-10 October in London , the OneTrust's annual global user conference, where 500+ industry leaders breakdown the latest technology innovations driving global privacy compliance , the OneTrust's annual global user conference, where 500+ industry leaders breakdown the latest technology innovations driving global privacy compliance Connect with OneTrust on Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook and Google+ For additional information, or to request a live OneTrust Privacy Management Software demo, visit OneTrust.com or email [email protected]. About OneTrust OneTrust is the global leader in privacy management and marketing compliance software. More than 1,500 customers, including 200 of the Global 2,000, use OneTrust to comply with data privacy regulations across sectors and jurisdictions, including the EU GDPR, ePrivacy (Cookie Law) and California Consumer Privacy Act. An additional 10,000 organisations use OneTrust's technology through a partnership with the International Association of Privacy Professionals (IAPP), the world's largest global information privacy community. The software, available in 50+ languages, is backed by over 20 awarded patents and can be deployed in an EU cloud or on-premise. The comprehensive platform is based on a combination of intelligent scanning, regulator guidance-based questionnaires, automated workflows and developer plugins used together to automatically generate the record keeping required for an organisation to demonstrate compliance to regulators and auditors. The platform is enriched with content from hundreds of templates based on the world-class privacy research conducted by our 100+ in-house certified privacy professionals. OneTrust helps organisations implement GDPR, California CCPA, and global privacy requirements, including Data Protection by Design (PbD), Data Protection Impact Assessments (PIA/DPIA), Vendor Risk Management, Incident and Breach Management, Records of Processing (Data Mapping), Universal Consent and Preference Management, ePrivacy Cookie Consent, Data Subject Access Rights, Portability and Right to Be Forgotten. PrivacyConnect, OneTrust's global user community, hosts in-person workshops in 85 international cities, and is attended by thousands of privacy professionals to share best practices. OneTrust is co-headquartered in Atlanta, GA and in London, UK, with additional offices in Munich, Bangalore, Hong Kong and Melbourne. The fast-growing team of privacy and technology experts surpasses 500 employees worldwide. To learn more, visit OneTrust.com. Media Contact: Gabrielle Ferree Public Relations +1 770-294-4668 [email protected] SOURCE OneTrust Related Links http://www.onetrust.com Washington, Aug 19 : US President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the US has ended the development fund for Syria, urging "rich countries" to pay instead. In a tweet, Trump said "the US has ended the ridiculous $230 million yearly development payment to Syria." "Saudi Arabia and other rich countries in the Middle East will start making payments instead of the US," he said. "I want to develop the US, our military and countries that help us!" Earlier on Friday, the US State Department said that the fund, which was targeted to support the stabilization initiative in Syria, has been ordered to be redirected, ramping up speculation that it would be withdrawn from the country. US former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced on February 13 that the US pledges $200 million in support of the anti-IS coalition efforts and recovery commitment in Syria, Xinhua reported. However, Trump reportedly ordered in March a hold on the funds, demanding more information on how the money is being used, and urging other countries to step up to the plate and pay more. He also said that his country will withdraw its troops in Syria "very soon," triggering speculation of the US possible retreat from Syria. Syria has always denounced the US military action in the country as uninvited aggression. Washington, Aug 19 : A bomb used by the Saudi-led coalition in a devastating attack on a school bus in Yemen was sold as part of a US State Department-sanctioned arms deal with Saudi Arabia, munitions experts told CNN. Working with local Yemeni journalists and munitions experts, CNN has established that the weapon that left dozens of children dead on August 9 was a 227 kg laser-guided MK 82 bomb made by Lockheed Martin, one of the top US defence contractors. The bomb was very similar to the one that wreaked devastation in an attack on a funeral hall in Yemen in October 2016 in which 155 people were killed and hundreds more wounded. The Saudi coalition blamed "incorrect information" for that strike, admitted it was a mistake and took responsibility. In the aftermath of the funeral hall attack, former US President Barack Obama banned the sale of precision-guided military technology to Saudi Arabia over "human rights concerns". The ban was overturned by the Trump administration's then Secretary of State Rex Tillerson in March 2017. The August 9 bomb's impact as it landed on the bus full of excited schoolchildren on a day trip was devastating. Of the 51 people who died in the airstrike, 40 were children. The UN has called for a separate investigation into the strike, one of the deadliest since Yemen's war began in early 2015. Mexico City, Aug 19 : A Mexican astrophysicist has identified some of the first galaxies in our universe together with a team of researchers. The National Autonomous University of Mexico on Saturday said that the newly-identified galaxies are: Segue-1, Bootes I, Tucana II and Ursa Mayor I. All were formed more than 13 billion years ago, reports Xinhua news agency. The Mexican scientist Carlos Frenk Mora is one of the world's best known astronomers for his theories on dark matter and its role in the formation of galaxies. His discovery backs a current evolutionary model of the universe, called the Lambda Cold Dark Matter Theory, which maintains that the elementary particles that make up dark matter drive cosmic evolution. The most weak galaxies near the Milky Way were considered unworthy subject for study by scientists a decade ago, but new researches have revealed treasures for us to learn about the primitive universe, said Mora. Cairo, Aug 19 : Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi has signed a new law that tightens controls over the internet. The legislation on "cybercrime" means websites can be blocked in Egypt if deemed to constitute a threat to national security or the economy, the BBC reported. Anyone found guilty of running, or just visiting, such sites could face prison or a fine. Authorities said on Saturday that the new measures are needed to tackle instability and terrorism. The Cairo-based Association of Freedom of Thought and Expression said more than 500 websites had already been blocked in Egypt prior to the new law being signed. Last month another bill was passed by parliament, yet to be approved by President Sisi, that would allow any social media accounts with more than 5,000 followers to be placed under supervision. Srinagar, Aug 19 : Soldiers shot dead a militant on Sunday near the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district, a Defence Ministry official said. "The militant was killed in Kasturi Naar area in Uri sector where a security operation is ongoing," Ministry spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia said. Mumbai, Aug 19 : Celebrities like Amitabh Bachchan, Shah Rukh Khan, Dulquer Salmaan and Jacqueline Fernandez have contributed towards relief work in flood-ravaged Kerala. They have also urged others to donate. "The devastation caused by incessant rain in Kerala is frightening. Hundreds and thousands of our sisters and brothers are in deep anguish! We must do all we can to contribute as much as we can towards the needs of the people of Kerala. I have. You must too," Amitabh tweeted. The death toll due to rains and floods in Kerala increased to 370. Shah Rukh's Meer Foundation has donated Rs 21 lakh to a relief group working amongst flood victims. Jacqueline committed to donate Rs 5 lakh to NGO Habitat for Humanity India's Kerala Flood Relief Programme. She said in a statement: "I am deeply pained to see the devastation caused by the floods in Kerala. My heart goes out to the people in need and in order to help them, I have decided to donate to Habitat for Humanity India. "I am happy that they have undertaken their disaster response work in Kerala. I appeal to all my friends, fans and peers from the film industry to come and support our flood relief work for the people of Kerala." Filmmaker Priyadarshan has already handed over his and actor Akshay Kumar's cheque to Kerala Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund. "Let's together build back Kerala back to its glory again. No politics, no religion only humanity. Let's stand together to save Kerala," he tweeted. Actress Chitrangda Singh has also urged people to "join hands and hearts" and "help our countrymen. Stand for Kerala". Oscar winner Resul Pookutty has thanked all the celebrities like Vidya Balan, Sonam Kapoor and Alia Bhatt who have contributed to the cause. Kolkata, Aug 19 : West Bengal will contribute Rs 10 crore to Kerala as relief fund following the devastating floods, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said on Sunday. "My heart goes out to the people of Kerala battling #KeralaFloods. In this hour of crisis, to stand beside the flood-affected people of Kerala, we have decided to make a contribution of Rs 10 crore to the Chief Minister's Distress Relief Fund," Mamata tweeted. "We are also ready to extend all other assistance and support that may be needed to tackle the calamity," she said in another tweet. Kolkata, Aug 19 : Groundwater depletion in the Gangetic aquifers of north India is possibly causing a reduction in the base flow of the mega Himalayan river, leading to it drying up during summer, according to a study. The research, undertaken by three scientists, including Abhijit Mukherjee, Associate Professor of Geology and Geophysics at IIT-Kharagpur, demonstrated quantitatively that the present phenomenon of the Ganges drying up in the summer months is possibly also dependent on the groundwater depletion in the Gangetic aquifers of north India because of extensive groundwater pumping. Research scholar Soumendra Nath Bhanja, currently in Canada, and Yoshihide Wada from the International Institute of Applied Systems Analyses (IIASA) in Laxenburg, Austria, were also involved in the study. "During the non-monsoon period, a river usually is fed either by glacier inflow or by input (base flow) from the groundwater system. In fact, groundwater input in the water volume of the Ganges during summer is at least 30 per cent. Decline in contribution from groundwater to the Ganges' water volume would lead to loss of its total water volume," Mukherjee told IANS. He said the "base flow might have decreased by over 50 per cent from the beginning of irrigation-pumping age in the 1970s". "Future (up to 2050) conservative, predictive analyses of Ganges river water-groundwater interactions, without effects of climate change or human interferences, provides an alarming scenario. The authors suggest that in the forthcoming summer for next 30 years, groundwater contribution to Ganges river water flow would continue to decrease in the impending years and can decrease up to 75 per cent of the 1970s, causing a catastrophic effect," the study suggested. Acknowledging the study, Observer Research Foundation's (ORF) Distinguished Fellow Jayanta Bandyopadhyay said there is "a mutual bilateral link" between the water flow on the river and ground water. A former professor at the Indian Institute of Management-Calcutta, Bandyopadhyay, pointed out that any large river feeds the ground water laterally when the level of water flow on the river is high and in return, when the flow is low, which is near to base flow, the groundwater feeds the river. "With no availability of ground water, lean season base flow of a river depends on water coming from upstream. It is true groundwater extraction reduces water flow of the Ganges," Bandyopadhyay told IANS. Mukherjee, however, pointed out the study is "based on satellite, modelling, chemical and isotope data as Ganges river level data is not available". "We found that 19 satellite-based virtual stations, out of 28 such stations, showed the reduction of water," he said. Professor K.J. Nath, one of India's foremost experts on Sanitation and Community Water Supply, Environmental Health and Public Health, termed the reduction in base flow of Ganges "a matter of concern". Nath, who served as a Member of the National Ganga River Basin Authority (NGRBA), formed during the previous United Progressive Alliance (UPA) regime at the Centre, said: "We have been advising the government about indiscriminate use of ground water as this will not only deplete the sub-surface water resource, but will also reduce the base flow to the Ganges from adjoining aquifiers. The health of the river will be seriously jeopardised." "It is unfortunate the Centre and the state governments have so far not developed a comprehensive policy about the conservation and utilisation of the ground water resources. Indiscriminate extraction of ground water is going on unchecked," Nath told IANS. The continuation of the groundwater exploitation at similar per-capita rates, might jeopardise the existence of the Ganges in several reaches in the near future. Bhanja, who ran the risk analyses, suggested that this could be "leading to a disastrous effect on the riverine ecology, as well as catastrophic effect on carbohydrate and other food scarcity for 115 million people inhabiting the study region by 2050, resulting in the unthinkable for the densely populated Ganga basin". Again, Mukherjee warned that such trend could pose a threat not only to food security but also to the development of National Waterway -I on the Ganges along with thermal power plants and surface-based drinking water plants of National Rural Drinking Water Programme situated in the gangetic plains. He said: "There should be a regulatory measure in place in terms of using groundwater resource for irrigation purposes because summer paddy does not need the huge amount of water which is currently being extracted." According to him, further studies need to be done to "intricately understand the groundwater and river water interactions at each location for better, integrated water management". Echoing Mukherjee, Bandyopadhyay said extraction of ground water "must be brought under some sort of regulation" and laws related to it need to be altered as ground water is a limited resource. (Bappaditya Chatterjee can be contacted at bappaditya.c@ians.in) Pyongyang, Aug 19 : North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, for the second time in less than a week, slammed international sanctions on his country, state media reported on Sunday. "The hostile forces' persistent sanctions and obstructive moves come as a serious setback to the advance of our socialism," Kim Jong-un said during the inspection of a reconstruction project in the Samjiyon district, where his late father and former leader, Kim Jong-il, was born. The North Korean leader, who was accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju and senior officials of the ruling Workers' Party, said that despite the sanctions, the country was making history with "legendary miracles despite the most difficult conditions", reports Efe news. Kim's comments comes two days after KCNA published a report where the leader had described the sanctions as "brigandish" during a visit to an under-construction site at the Wonsan-Kalma tourist area. Since Kim's meeting with US President Donald Trump on June 12 in Singapore, North Korea, through state and foreign media, has criticized the sanctions imposed on the country by the US and asked that they be lifted although Kim has rarely criticised the sanctions openly. The US insists that it would retain sanctions on the regime until it takes concrete steps toward denuclearization. On Wednesday, the US government imposed sanctions against Russian and Chinese companies with alleged links to North Korea for facilitating "illicit shipments" on behalf of Pyongyang. Islamabad, Aug 19 : US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo is likely to visit Islamabad in September for consultations with Pakistan's newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan and his team on issues of mutual interests, sources told Dawn news on Sunday. Pompeo, who is expected in Islamabad on September 5, will likely be the first foreign dignitary to meet Khan, who was sworn-in as Pakistan's 22nd Prime Minister on Saturday. During his talks with Pakistani officials, Pompeo may focus on two major issues: efforts to revive once close ties between the two states and Pakistan's support for a US-led move to jump-starting the Afghan peace process, the sources said. Alice Wells, who heads the Bureau for South Asian affairs at the State Department, may also accompany Pompeo. Earlier this week, US officials urged Pakistan to help end the Afghan war, adding that recent terrorist attacks in Afghanistan have not discouraged them from negotiating peace with some Taliban factions. On Saturday, the US State Department said that it recognises and welcomes the new Pakistani Prime Minister, dispelling the impression that Washington was not happy with Khan's election, reports Dawn news. In an earlier statement, a senior US official had hoped that the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf government would work with the US for translating tough issues into mutual achievements. "We recognise and welcome the newly elected Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on taking the oath of office," Nauert said. Relations between Pakistan and the US nosedived in January when President Donald Trump accused Islamabad of providing "safe haven" to the terrorists who kill American soldiers in Afghanistan while taking billions of dollars in aid from Washington. Kabul, Aug 19 : Afghanistan on Sunday marked the 99th anniversary of its independence from British occupation amid deteriorating security situation. President Ashraf Ghani laid a wreath at the Independence Minaret during an official celebration held inside the Defence Ministry compound after inspecting guards of honour here, reports Xinhua news agency. Ghani paid tribute to security forces who have sacrificed their lives for stabilising peace as the country, especially Kabul, has witnessed waves of terror attacks by the Islamic State (IS) terror outfit and Taliban insurgents over the past few months. Official ceremonies will take place in various parts of the country and thousands of families and friends will spend the day together to mark the event. In addition, a new flag, the biggest in the country, was hoisted on Wazir Akbar Khan hill in Kabul on Sunday morning. Although Afghanistan was never part of the British empire, it gained its independence after the signing of the Anglo-Afghan Treaty in 1919 - a treaty that granted complete neutral relations between Afghanistan and Britain. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 19 : President Ram Nath Kovind has praised the resilience shown by the people of Kerala while battling an unprecedented flood crisis. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said Kovind made the comment while speaking to him over telephone and inquiring about rescue efforts. Around 370 people have been reported killed and thousands displaced in the floods -- the worst since 1924. Abu Dhabi, Aug 19 : A United Arab Emirates (UAE)-based businessman has announced a 2.6 million dirhams ($707,837) donation towards relief operations in the flood-hit Indian state of Kerala. According to K.P. Hussain, chairman of Fathima Healthcare Group, about half of the amount will directly go to the Kerala Chief Minister's Relief Fund, while the rest will be allocated for medical relief aid, reports Khaleej Times. Hussain said that the group has coordinated with the state's health secretary to send volunteers from its medical faculty, which includes doctors and paramedics, to relief camps. Other UAE businessmen had also earlier pledged donation to help in flood relief operations. As of Sunday, the toll from the torrential rains and the subsequent floods that has ravaged Kerala since August 9 stood at 370. Washington, Aug 19 : Water is likely to be a major component of those exoplanets which are between two to four times the size of Earth, suggests new research that may have implications for the search of life in our galaxy. Water has been implied previously on individual exoplanets, but this work, presented at the Goldschmidt conference in Boston, Massachusetts, concludes that water-rich planets outside our solar system are common. The new research, based on data from the exoplanet-hunting Kepler Space Telescope and the Gaia mission, indicates that many of the known planets may contain as much as 50 per cent water, which is much more than the Earth's 0.02 per cent (by weight) water content. "It was a huge surprise to realise that there must be so many water-worlds," said lead researcher Li Zeng of Harvard University. Scientists have found that many of the 4,000 confirmed or candidate exoplanets discovered so far fall into two size categories -- those with the planetary radius averaging around 1.5 times that of the Earth, and those averaging around 2.5 times the radius of the Earth. For this study, the scientists developed a model for internal structures of the exoplanets after analysing the exoplanets with mass measurements and recent radius measurements from the Gaia satellite. "We have looked at how mass relates to radius, and developed a model which might explain the relationship", said Li Zeng. "The model indicates that those exoplanets which have a radius of around x1.5 Earth radius tend to be rocky planets (of typically x5 the mass of the Earth), while those with a radius of x2.5 Earth radius (with a mass around x10 that of the Earth) are probably water worlds," he added. "Our data indicate that about 35 per cent of all known exoplanets which are bigger than Earth should be water-rich," he said, adding that surface of these exoplanets may be shrouded in a water-vapour-dominated atmosphere, with a liquid water layer underneath. The researchers believe that these water worlds likely formed in similar ways to the giant planet cores (Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune) which we find in our own solar system. Mumbai, Aug 19 : Actor Adil Hussain, who has won the Best Actor award at the Amanda Award or the Norwegian National Awards -- the Scandinavian countrys top national film honour, has dedicated it to Goalpara in Assam. Adil, who won the award for the film "What Will People Say" by Iram Haq, on Sunday took to Twitter and said that the award is for all those who believe that art can break boundaries. "Grateful to have Received the Amanda Awards Norwegia National Awards for Best Actor in a leading role for, brilliantly directed by Iram Haq. This award is for Goalpara, Assam, India for all those who believe that art can break all boundaries of all kinds," Adil, who grew up in the small town of Goalpara, wrote. "What Will People Say" is set in Pakistan and Norway and traces how a Pakistani immigrant family deals with its teenage daughter's affair with a local boy in Norway. Panaji, Aug 19 : Goa Water Resources Minister Vinod Palienkar on Sunday said that he will donate one-month salary to the relief fund in floods-battered Kerala. "Deeply disturbed by the sufferings of our brothers and sisters in Kerala. As a small contribution towards resettling them and aid in the relief work, I have decided to donate one-month salary for Kerala relief work," he said in a Facebook post. On Saturday, Tourism Minister Manohar Azgaonkar had announced that he would donate his one-month salary for the flood-affected in Kerala. As many as 370 persons have died in Kerala floods this monsoon season, with more than three lakh persons evacuated. The southern state has set up around 2,000 relief camps to lodge the survivors. Bhubaneswar, Aug 19 : The Odisha government on Sunday requested the Kerala government to provide necessary support to the Odia people trapped in the devastating floods. In a letter, Shyamal Kumar Das, officer on special duty of Odisha Revenue and Disaster Management Department sent a list of 187 persons who have been trapped in the recent floods in Kerala. The letter has been sent to the Additional Chief Secretary, Kerala Disaster Management Department after the Odisha government received calls for help at the state emergency operation centre at the Special Relief Commissioner (SRC) office here. "It is requested to kindly make necessary arrangements for providing necessary support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to these people," said Das. Notably, the Odisha government has set up a 24-hour helpline -- 1070 and 0674-2534177 -- at the SRC office to coordinate help for the flood-affected people in Kerala. The government has also sent a team of 240 fire services personnel along with 75 power boats to flood-ravaged Kerala to carry out rescue operations. Tehran, Aug 19 : The US move to roll out an Iran Action Group (IAG) is aimed at toppling the Islamic regime, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Sunday. "The US overthrew the popularly elected democratic government of Mossadegh 65 years ago, restoring the dictatorship and subjugating Iranians for the next 25 years," Zarif said on his Twitter account, reports Xinhua news agency. "Now an 'Action Group' dreams of doing the same through pressure, misinformation and demagoguery. Never again," he said. The US State Department on Thursday announced the creation of the IAG to execute the administration's Iran strategy and pressure the country to change its behaviour. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Tehran has been engaged in "a torrent of violent and destabilizing behaviour" against the US and its allies for nearly 40 years. "We are committed to a whole-of-government effort to change the Iranian regime's behaviour." Iran has dismissed the allegations, citing Washington as the cause of instability in the region. Thimphu, Aug 19 : The Election Commission of Bhutan has announced October 18 as the date for the third general elections. The election date was announced by the Chief of the Election Commission, after the approval by the King of Bhutan, through a televised programme on the National television -- Bhutan broadcasting services, Xinhua news agency reported. Prior to the general round, a primary election round would be held between four aspiring political parties on September 15. After that, only two parties will be selected to compete for the general round. New Delhi, Aug 19 : The World Health Organisation South-East Asia chapter on Sunday commended humanitarian workers across the globe for their life-saving assistance and long-term rehabilitation of communities affected by acute events. On the occasion of 'World Humanitarian Day', WHO South-East Asia Regional Director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh praised these humanitarian workers for their courage and determination to operate in difficult situations. "Humanitarian workers are the backbone of every effective, life-saving humanitarian response. Though the role of a humanitarian worker is straightforward, the situations they must operate in are far from it: From natural disasters such as earthquakes and cyclones to disease outbreaks, war and even radiological emergencies, functioning effectively require a special set of skills and a deep well of fortitude," Poonam Khetrapal Singh said. "In recent years, frontline health workers have been provided critical training in mass casualty management and basic emergency protocol, while higher-level officials have engaged in risk communication training," she said. WHO's South-East Asia Region encompasses member-states of Bangladesh, Bhutan, North Korea, India, Indonesia, the Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Timor-Leste. "Our region has created its own innovative mechanism -- The South-East Asia Regional Health Emergency Fund (SEARHEF) -- to which member-states contribute funds which are then disbursed in case of an emergency," the WHO official said. "To date, SEARHEF funds have been used in nine of the region's 11 member-states and covered 37 emergency operations, with disbursements of more than $5.9 million," she added. Kodagu (Karnataka), Aug 19 : About 3,500 marooned people were rescued in Karnataka's worst flood-hit Kodagu district even as incessant rains hampered relief work, the government said on Sunday. "The Indian Army, Navy and other state and central agencies have rescued more than 3,500 people so far," a statement from Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's office said. Of the hundreds stranded across this flood-hit hilly district, about 270 km from Bengaluru, the 3,500 rescued till Sunday noon have been shifted to 30 relief camps and efforts were on to reach the others held up on hilltops. The exact number of people still stranded across the district could not be ascertained from the officials. Located in the Western Ghats mountain ranges, the coffee-growing district is the worst-hit due to the south-west monsoon rains since June first week. The incessant rains have been causing flooding and landslips across the region, damaging the arterial roads. Over 60 people have been stranded in Mukkodlu village of the district, but airlifting them has not been possible due to bad weather, Kumaraswamy said on Saturday. About 300 people were rescued on Saturday, including more than 30 senior citizens and 50 children. About 60 Dogra Regiment soldiers, 12 naval divers, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) officials, 525 fire service personnel and Home Guards are among those working on rescue operations. In total, over 1,000 rescuers from state and central agencies have been engaged in the rescue operations. Hundreds of volunteers from state capital Bengaluru and across the state have been gathering relief material, including dry food, water, milk, clothing and medicines, and distributing them to those in the temporary shelters in the district. The water being released from Harangi reservoir in the district across Harangi river, one of Cauvery's tributaries, has been adding to the flooding of towns and villages in the region. Over the last 24 hours, the district received an average rainfall of 5.4 cm, according to the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Few parts of the district received rain upto 11.5 cm. Revenue Minister R.V. Deshpande has been overseeing the rescue and relief operations. The state-run Karnataka State Road Transport Corp (KSRTC) on Sunday resumed all its intra-state bus services towards Kodagu and Mangaluru and inter-state services towards Kerala. The bus services were suspended over the past few days towards Kodagu, Mangaluru and flood-hit Kerala due to the landslips and damaged roads caused by the rains. The South Western Railway's (SWR) train services were, however, cancelled or partially suspended and diverted between Yesvantpur in Bengaluru and Kochuveli in Thiruvananthapuram, Mangaluru to Karwar in Uttara Kannada due to landslides and floods. The SWR on Sunday transported relief material including water, food, milk, clothing etc., for thousands of people living in shelters in neighbouring Kerala. New Delhi, Aug 19 : The Centre has set up 3,757 medical camps in flood-battered Kerala to prevent epidemic diseases even though no outbreak of any communicable disease has been reported there so far, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. "While no outbreak of any communicable disease has been reported, health experts opine that once floodwaters start to recede, the environment will become conducive for epidemic diseases. The state has been asked for daily surveillance to detect early warning signs of any outbreak," a Ministry statement said. Health advisories on infectious diseases, their prevention and control, safe drinking water, hygiene steps, vector control and others have been shared with the state. "Following the state's request, the first batch of 90 types of medicines in requested quantity will reach Kerala on Monday." It said that quick-response teams will also be sent to Kerala for emergency medical care. "We are extending all support and continuously monitoring the flood situation. The Health Secretary is in touch with the state's health functionaries and monitoring the situation daily through the disease surveillance network," the statement quoted Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda as saying. Nadda said that he had spoken to Kerala Health Minister K.K. Shailaja and is monitoring the situation and coordinating with other states providing medicines to the flood-affected state. Port Louis, Aug 19 : India and Mauritius on Sunday discussed maritime cooperation during a meeting between Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj and Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth on the sidelines of the 11th World Hindi Conference here. "Connecting with a maritime neighbour!" Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted following the meeting. Both leaders discussed how to deepen special ties between the two countries, Kumar said. India and Mauritius agreed to cooperate in the Blue Economy sector in the Indian Ocean during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here in 2015. Around 68 per cent of Mauritius's population of nearly 1.3 million is of Indian descent. Many are descendants of Indian indentured labour brought to work on sugarcane plantations here in the 19th and early 20th centuries. Earlier on Sunday, Sushma Swaraj also met former Mauritian Prime Minister Paul Berenger. Berenger conveyed his condolence on the demise of former Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Sushma Swaraj then met Mauritian Opposition Leader Xavier Luc Duval. "Good exchange of views on furthering cooperation between our two countries," the Indian spokesperson tweeted. "Relations between India and Mauritius span across the broad political spectrum." As part of her engagements on the second day of the three-day conference that started on Saturday and is aimed at promoting Hindi, Sushma Swaraj inaugurated the Panini Language Laboratory at the Mahatma Gandhi Institute here in the presence of Education Minister of Mauritius Leela Devi Dookun and other dignitaries. The lab, gifted by India, deploys ICT-enabled methods to teach Hindi. Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 19 : A total of 724,649 people are sheltering in 5,645 camps following "one of the worst ever floods" in Kerala that has claimed some 370 lives and caused widespread destruction, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said on Sunday. "Our prime concern was to save lives. It appears it has been met," Vijayan told the media amid signs that the most destructive phase of the floods had ended and that water overflowing numerous towns and villages had finally begun to recede. "The tragedy is perhaps one of the worst ever. Hence the loss caused is so huge. So we will accept all help," the Chief Minister said, revealing the extent of a tragedy which has not hit the state since 1924. He said a total of 22,034 people had been rescued from flooded homes and other buildings with the help of various agencies, including the Navy and Air Force. The death toll began on May 29 when Kerala got the first of the monsoon rains but the bulk of the fatalities were reported after August 9, when a tragedy of unprecedented proportion gripped the state after sluice gates of several rain-filled dams were opened. Vijayan said the biggest challenge now was to provide adequate compensation to those who had lost virtually everything they had as the swollen rivers simply washed away countless homes and left a trail of destruction. At the start of the press conference, the Chief Minister put the number of people in relief camps at 846,680 but scaled down the figure later. He said the next task would be to help people get back to normal life, for which a plan was being worked out. "Rehabilitation will be done by various agencies." The Marxist leader pledged that all towns and cities hit by the floods would be cleaned on a war footing. Ahmedabad, Aug 19 : The Gujarat Crime Branch on Sunday detained firebrand Patidar agitation spearhead Hardik Patel from his residence, hours before he could undertake a days token fast atop vehicles in Nikol industrial suburb here. He was to hold the day-long dharna in protest against the government not giving him permission for his indefinite fast demanding reservation for his community in government jobs and educational institutions under OBC quota and loan waiver to farmers. Patel had vowed to re-launch his agitation that had lost steam after the December Assembly elections on August 25, the same day in 2015 and at the same venue, GMDC Grounds in Ahmedabad, when he addressed a mammoth public rally. A posse of police force swooped down at Patel's Ahmedabad residence in the morning and after a scuffle whisked him and several of his supporters away to the Ahmedabad Crime Branch. Along with him, the police also detained his close associates Manoj Panara, Alpesh Kathiriya and Dharmesh Malviya. The police claimed that Hardik Patel was planning to hold the fast without any official permission. Patel had earlier announced he would sit atop parked vehicles in Nikol. The police have registered cases against him under IPC section 144 and 189. The action sparked off a chain of statewide protests from the Patidar community who have threatened to disrupt the programmes of Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 23 if Patel was denied permission to begin his indefinite fast from August 25 at the GMDC Grounds in Ahmedabad. Angry Patidars staged roadblocks at various places across the state and police had to intervene to disperse them. Meanwhile, Gujarat Pradesh Congress President Amit Chavda and Leader of Opposition Paresh Dhanani condemned the police action against Hardik Patel. Srinagar, Aug 19 : Ramon Magsaysay awardee Sonam Wangchuk, an engineer feted for his outstanding contribution to education and innovation in remote areas of Ladakh in Jammu and Kashmir, called on Governor N.N. Vohra on Sunday. Wangchuk was accompanied by Gitanjali, CEO of Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, Ladakh. Wangchuk told the Governor about the outcome of his endeavours to reform the education system and put it in sync with ground realities by pursuing locally relevant knowledge, values and skills through Students' Educational and Cultural Movement of Ladakh (SECMOL), which was founded in 1988. He also talked about his initiative of establishing the Himalayan Institute of Alternatives, a skill-based university, which will encourage experimental learning via practical application of knowledge. The Governor congratulated him on his receiving this year's Ramon Magsaysay Award and lauded his innovative contributions to improving the lives of people in the remote mountainous region of Ladakh, including the Ice Stupa for conservation of water in arid villages of Ladakh. Guwahati, Aug 19 : The BJP-led government in Assam will extend a financial aid of Rs 3 crore to the flood-ravaged Kerala, Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal said on Sunday. Sonowal also directed the state Revenue and Disaster Management Department to open a helpline to extend help to the people of Assam who are trapped in the deluge and by expediting their rescue and providing relief to them. The Department has opened two helpline numbers and a control room to help the people from the state affected by the floods in Kerala. The helpline numbers are 0361-2237219 and 0361-2237460. The control room can be accessed through dialling 9401044617. A large number of people from the state, particularly youths, go to south Indian states like Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu in search of jobs. Barnala, Aug 19 : Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday slammed his Punjab counterpart Amarinder Singh for not fulfilling his 2017 Assembly election promises. Kejriwal, who also visited Pandori village in Barnala district to condole the death of the father of Aam Aadmi Party's Mehal Kalan MLA Kulwant Singh, told party leaders and supporters that the people of Punjab had lost hope in Amarinder Singh, who has been in power for over a year now. "Before Amarinder Singh, the people of Punjab were sick of the Badals' dirty politics, corruption and drug menace and that is why they had voted for Amarinder Singh," Kejriwal said. "But now, the people from Punjab come to me and say that Amarinder Singh has not fulfilled even a single promise in over a year he has been the Chief Minister." The AAP leader criticised the Congress government for allegedly failing to implement even a single scheme it rolled out for people regarding jobs, pensions or smartphones. "Punjab Congress leaders used to go to every person's doorstep and asked them to fill up forms for either job cards, loan waivers for farmers, pensions or smartphones. Did anyone get a job in all these years? Or pension? Did any farmer had his loan waived off?" he asked. Kejriwal listed the steps his government had taken in Delhi to build world-class government schools, Mohalla Clinics and ACs in government hospitals and provide cheap electricity. "I invite you all to come and see all for yourself and decide if the world should praise the Delhi government for its efforts in building Mohalla Clinics and government schools or not," he said. Kejriwal assured party leaders and supproters that he will now make frequent visits to Punjab. Kejriwal was accompanied by his Deputy Manish Sisodia and Sangrur MP Bhagwant Mann. Kejriwal also met party MLAs at the residence of AAP MLA Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer in Barnala, before they went to Pandori village. Earlier, Kejriwal and Sisodia arrived in Sangrur by train from Delhi and drove to Barnala. New Delhi, Aug 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy about the flood situation in the state and assured him that the central government would extend all possible help. "Spoke to Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy ji regarding the flood situation in parts of the state. Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas," the Prime Minister said in a tweet. About 3,500 marooned people were rescued in Karnataka's worst flood-hit Kodagu district even as incessant rains hampered relief work, the government said on Sunday. "The Indian Army, Navy and other state and central agencies have rescued more than 3,500 people so far," a statement from Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy's office said. The rescued people have been shifted to 30 relief camps and efforts were on to reach the others held up on hilltops. The exact number of people still stranded across the district could not be ascertained from the officials. Located in the Western Ghats mountain ranges, the coffee-growing district is the worst-hit due to the south-west monsoon rains since June first week. The incessant rains have been causing flooding and landslips across the region, damaging the arterial roads. Over 60 people have been stranded in Mukkodlu village of the district, but airlifting them has not been possible due to bad weather, Kumaraswamy said on Saturday. About 300 people were rescued on Saturday, including more than 30 senior citizens and 50 children. New Delhi, Aug 19 : The Kerala government on Sunday informed the National Crisis Management Committee (NCMC) that the situation in the flood-ravaged state was gradually improving, even as some rainfall was forecast for the coastal state from Monday onwards. The information was shared in an NCMC review meeting -- the forth consecutive meeting since August 16 -- which was attended by Secretaries of Defence, Health, Civil Aviation, Food Processing and Power Ministries, Chairman of Railway Board and senior officers of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA). The NCMC meeting is held to coordinate rescue and relief operations in Kerala. "Kerala Chief Secretary (Tom Jose) participated in the NCMC meeting through videoconference. He said that the situation is gradually improving (in Kerala)," said the Union Home Ministry on Sunday. A Ministry statement said that "India Meteorological Department has forecast less rainfall from Monday onwards in Kerala". Cabinet Secretary P.K. Sinha, during the meeting, directed all Ministries concerned to focus on emergency supplies of food, water, medicines and restoration of essential services as flood waters recede. He said thousands of defence force personnel, NDRF and paramilitary forces were engaged in rescue and relief operations with support of dozens of helicopters, aircraft, and motorboats and the "operations will continue till the situation becomes normal". The Indian Railways said that two special trains will be run on Monday from Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam to Kolkata and that the train services are expected to be restored on all lines in Kerala by Monday evening. The Railways said it would provide blankets and bedsheets to the affected people in Kerala. "A train with 14,00,000 litres of water and a Navy ship with 800,000 litres of water will reach Kerala by Monday. Commercial flights will also start operating from Kochi Naval Base from Monday. All logistic arrangements have been put in place. Over 50,000 metric tonnes of food grains have made available, with more quantities in the pipeline. Arrangements are being made to airlift 100 metric tonnes of pulses by Mondy, with more to be sent by train. "Over 9,300 kilolitres of kerosene has been made available while another 12,000 kilolitres will be allocated. The LPG bottling plant in Kochi has also been reopened," the NCMC was told. The Civil Aviation officials informed the NCMC that Air India has offered to airlift relief material free of cost, while the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said that it was airlifting 60 tonnes of medicines on Monday and put six specialised medical teams on standby in the state. The NCMC, which commenced its meetings on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's directions, will meet again on Monday. In the worst ever torrential rains in Kerala in this monsoon season, 370 lives have been lost and 724,649 persons evacuated to 5,645 camps so far. Kabul, Aug 19 : Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani on Sunday announced a conditional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban starting on Monday. "As we approach Eid-ul-Adha... we announce a ceasefire that would take effect from Monday, the day of Arafa, till the day of the birth of the prophet (PBUH), Milad-un-Nabi, provided that the Taliban reciprocate," Ghani told a gathering celebrating the Independence Day, Xinhua reported. The Afghan leader also called on Taliban leadership to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long lasting and real peace. "We urge the Taliban leadership to get ready for peace talks based on Islamic values and principles," Ghani said, adding that the Afghan government has removed "all obstacles for a long lasting peace through these unprecedented steps." However, the Taliban group, which has repeatedly rejected an offer for peace talks with the Afghan government, has yet to react to President Ghani's offer for ceasefire. In June, the Afghan government announced a 17-day ceasefire to encourage the Taliban group to support the national reconciliation process. Reciprocating the government step, the Taliban announced a three-day truce during Eid-ul-Fitr which marked end of fasting month. New Delhi/Kodagu (Karnataka), Aug 19 : Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday assured Karnataka Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy of help in the rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit Kodagu district, said an official statement. "Modi called up Kumaraswamy and assured him of all help in rescue and relief operations in flood-hit Kodagu district," said the statement from the Chief Minister's camp office at Madikeri, about 270 km from Bengaluru. Kumaraswamy, who has been camping in the district since Saturday to supervise the operations, briefed Modi on the flood situation in the rain-hit district and how the Army, Navy and National Disaster Response Force were coordinating the efforts. Modi earlier tweeted that he spoke to Kumaraswamy from New Delhi on the flood situation in the affected district. "Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas," the Prime Minister said in a tweet. Kumaraswamy also briefed President Ram Nath Kovind on the rescue work in the district when the latter called on him from New Delhi earlier in the day. "The Chief Minister informed the President that the Indian Army, Navy and other state and central agencies have rescued over 3,500 people so far," the statement noted. Around 4,225 marooned people were rescued till Sunday evening from towns and villages across the district despite incessant rains hampering the operation. Of the rescued, 3,601 are staying in 36 relief shelters in the district and efforts were on to reach others stranded on hilltops. Located in the southern Western Ghats mountain range, the coffee-growing district is the worst-hit by the monsoon rains since June's first week. The incessant rains have caused flooding and landslips across the region, damaging the arterial roads. New Delhi, Aug 19 : Former Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Sunday attacked the Modi government on the falling value of rupee and said the manner of implementation of the GST is an example of tax terrorism. The senior Congress leader also said that stagnant investment, fiscal deficit under pressure and the state current account deficit is having an impact on the macroeconomic stability. Asked if absence of a regular Finance Minister in the Modi government is responsible for the economic slowdown, Chidambaram said: "I thought there were three Finance Ministers -- one is de facto, one de jure, and one invisible." On the falling rupee, the former finance minister said:"The investment is stagnant at 28.5 per cent. You cannot expect the GDP to grow more than 7 per cent. "There is something known as Implemental Credited Output Ratio (ICOR). In India, we normally take four ICOR. You divide investment by Incremental Capital Output Ratio. It gives you an indication of the growth. If investment is 28.5 per cent and you divide it by four you will get a growth of only 7 or 7.1 per cent. "Fiscal deficit is under pressure. The current account deficit in 2017-18 has already touched two per cent and I am told that in the current year, it will cross 2 per cent. All this is having an impact on the macroeconomic stability," he added. On whether the Goods and Services Tax is flawed despite amendments, Chidambaram said that it proved that it was implemented in a wrong manner. "I think, there are still grievances, there are still complaints. GSTR 2 and GSTR 3 have not been notified. Tax liability is being decided by temporary GSTR form called GSTR 3A. If you speak to business persons... they still face numerous difficulties in complying with GST laws," he added. Chidambaram said that extraordinary powers have been given to various tax departments and humongous numbers of notices are sent out by every department. "It only creates fear among the individuals as well as business persons," he said. "Somebody who runs a medium-sized business gets a notice practically every third month... what is he supposed to do? Does the department have the capacity to deal with one lakh notices and two lakh notices? They don't have the capacity. Yet these notices are sent." Chidambaram said that since this government had a majority in Parliament it should have repealed the so-called Vodafone amendment to the Income Tax Act. "Far from that, they have sent Retrospective Tax demands to many other transactions. Vodafone did not turn out to be one-off case. There are several other cases where demands for tax retrospectively have been levied, which is frightening away investors. "The way the GST is implemented is an example of tax terrorism... you ask someone to file 37 returns in a year in a single state. If he has all-India business, he has to file over 1,000 returns. What else is tax terrorism?" he asked. Islamabad, Aug 19 : Pakistan on Sunday welcomed the Afghan government's declaration of a three-month conditional ceasefire with the Taliban from Monday. "Pakistan fully supports all such efforts that contribute to achieving durable stability and lasting peace in Afghanistan. The people of Afghanistan deserve it. Coinciding with the Independence Day of Afghanistan, the announcement (by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani) has an even greater significance," a Foreign Ministry spokesman was quoted by Xinhua as saying. "As we approach Eid-ul-Azha... we announce a ceasefire that would take effect from Monday, the day of Arafa, till the day of the birth of the Prophet (PBUH), Milad-un-Nabi, provided that the Taliban reciprocate," Ghani said. "We also call upon all parties that in defence to the holy tradition of sacrifice during Eid-ul-Azha to implement a ceasefire in hostilities -- preferably for a more extended period of time," the Pakistani spokesman said, adding the ceasefire would allow the people of Afghanistan to celebrate the festival in comfort and peace. The spokesman said that Pakistan expects such steps will create an environment of enduring peace and stability. New Delhi, Aug 19 : Mystery surrounds the death of a 30-year-old man found with gunshot injury in his chest at his house in northeast Delhi, police said on Sunday. Police said certain suspects were being interrogated. The official said that it could be a case of suicide as the shot was fired from a close range. Suresh was found injured in Samta Vihar in Mukundpur by a relative and rushed to Kayakalp Hospital in Jharoda Majra in Burari where he was declared brought dead on Saturday. "Even though the weapon used has not been recovered, we are investigating the case from all angles. The gun could have been hidden by someone," an official said. He said that the victim's wife was in hospital when the incident happened. "She has been sick for sometime." New Delhi, Aug 19 : Delhi University's All India Students Association (AISA) President Kawalpreet Kaur and three others were assaulted by a group of youths here early on Sunday, following which four of the five accused were arrested, police said. In an FIR lodged by Kawalpreet's friend Ankit Pandey, the crime occurred at 12.15 a.m in Vijay Nagar area near the North Campus. "They made obnoxious comments at Kawalpreet. They abused us. When we objected, they attacked us," Pandey said in the police complaint. The arrested were identified as Ayush, Rahul, Shubham and Monu. One person Pawan, who allegedly brandished a pistol, is yet to be arrested. Kaur took to Facebook to accuse police of blaming her for being out late in the night instead of taking action against her attackers. "... told me that I should haven't ventured out at 12.15 a.m. and should have stayed in the room. The CCTV footage is clear. We hope Delhi Police shows some courage and take action," she said. New Delhi, Aug 20 : A 27-year-old man and his widow mother were killed by his friend, who failed to return their money, police said on Sunday. The accused has been arrested. Shahdara Deputy Commissioner of Police Meghna Yadav said that Ravi and his mother Beena, 45, were found dead with stab injuries in their house in Dilshaad Colony here on August 17. A call to the police was made by Beena's sister. Later, it was found that Ravi's friend Ankit from Nand Nagri, who was with him in a computer course a year back, had taken loan of Rs 25,000 from his mother. "She had been asking him to return the money. That is why he hatched this plan to eliminate her and Ravi. He was also hoping to get more valuables from the house." "The accused had a friendly entry in the house after which the woman Beena was murdered first, then Ravi who returned home was stabbed to death," the police officer said, adding that the mother's body was found in a bed box. She said that there was ransacking but as per the family there were not any valuables. "Further investigation with regard to weapon of offence and other details is on there is investigation on for a possible co-accused." Ravi was pursuing his higher education through corrspondence. He was working as a delivery boy for one food order app. Sanaa, Aug 20 : Yemen's Houthi rebels on Sunday handed over to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) 31 child soldiers whom the Houthis claimed to have been arrested during the battles, the Houthi-controlled state Saba news agency reported. According to Saba, the child soldiers have been "recruited by the aggression forces," in reference to the internationally-recognized government forces backed by a Saudi-led coalition, Xinhua reported. The handover took place at the Houthi-controlled Human Rights Ministry. Representatives of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) also attended the handover, according to the report. Officials from the ICRC and UNICEF did not immediately answer Xinhua's calls seeking comments over the handover. There have been no comments yet from the Yemeni government, which is based in the southern port city of Aden. The Yemeni warring forces, which have frequently exchanged prisoners, are set to attend a UN-brokered talk in Geneva next month to negotiate an end to the civil war. Yemen has been locked in a civil war since the Houthi rebels overran much of the country 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. Deborah Brady and Jody Fewster (pictured above) have opened a new Ray White office in Peppermint Grove in the heart of their local Perth market. There is 23 years real estate experience between them. They both came from the Acton agency. Ive always loved it and now Im really excited to run my own business for the first time," Ms Brady said. " Its one of the most exciting things Ive ever done, she said. When she started in real estate, Ms Fewster said her original intention was that it would be a stepping stone, but that she just fell in love with selling homes. Its never about just one sale were building lifetime relationships, she said. "Cottesloe, Peppermint Grove and Mosman Park offer a range of property types, from luxury multi-million dollar waterfront properties to small apartments but we want to sell everything in our and around our neighbourhood." Ray White WA CEO Mark Whiteman welcomed Ms Brady and Ms Fewster to the group. Residential project marketer Ausin China has collapsed leaving a trail of 100s of failed property settlements in Australia. Ausin China sold off-the-plan apartments and houses to buyers in China, with an investigation now underway into the whereabouts of the deposits along with settlement monies. Jin Tianyou, aka Harry Jin, who was in charge of running the Ausin China offices, is allegedly being sought by authorities. Video of hostile graffiti painted on the lobby walls of its Shenzhen office on Wednesday (below) have been circulated on WeChat, alleging "Ausin money launderer" and "black intermediary." The confirmation of the official investigation came after Chinese speculation that "the funding chain has broken." An August 15 letter to staff and others affected suggested "seven solutions" after the so-called "rogue" behaviour. Staff were told "because the company faces serious financial difficulties, the salary of the colleagues in July needs to be delayed." Ausin Australia, led by founder and chief executive Joseph Zaja, indicated on Friday there was evidence of fraud and the matter has been reported to the Australian police. Zaja has cancelled licensing agreements with Jin. "We have zero tolerance for any misappropriation of funds or corrupt behaviour," Zaja said. Zaja confirmed that around 8000 properties have been sold during the near decade long agreement with Shenzhen Ausin Investment Consulting Co. Ltd., which was licensed to use the Ausin brand in China. Jin ran all the China offices under a marketing and client referral agency agreement with Ausin Group. Ausin's China business was a separate entity to Ausin Australia. Jin resigned his Australian directorship earlier this year. The Australian Financial Review says Jin is still registered as a shareholder. A Chinese website has reported the relationship between the Australian headquarters and China outfit had "become tense" from 2015 in regard to a "truncation" of commission flow. Ausin Australia has advised that Ausin China was "expressly prohibited from the collection of any funds", although allegations have surfaced that deposit funds were paid directly to Mr Jin. The most recent appearance of Jin was in April at a press conference in China. In attendance were representatives from some of the biggest media channels in China, including Tencent and Sina Weibo. The event was marked by a speech from Harry Jin, managing director of Ausin China. It has been advised the collapse leaves a trail of 130 failed settlements of houses and apartments in Australia across 15 projects in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane. There have also been reports in China of "disguised exchanges." Charleston-based eCommerce marketing agency, Visiture, is honored to announce it has been named to Inc. 5000s 2018 list, an exclusive ranking of the nations fastest-growing private companies. This marks Visitures second appearance on the prestigious list. The Inc. 5000 list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economys most dynamic segment its independent small businesses. We are beyond honored to once again be recognized on the Inc. 5000 list, said Brian Cohen, CEO of Visiture. Over the past 10 years, weve grown from a one-man shop to an agency that supports over 130 brands. This is a true testament to our teams dedication to consistently deliver an innovative solution to our clients. Visiture, founded in 2008 in Charleston, South Carolina, ranked No. 1896 with a three-year sales growth of 236%. Visiture is an award-winning, premier digital agency for leading eCommerce brands. The company is on pace to continue its exceptional growth rate and looks forward to providing unmatched quality to their clients. Not only have the companies on the 2018 Inc. 5000 (which are listed online at Inc.com, with the top 500 companies featured in the September issue of Inc., available on newsstands August 15) been competitive in their markets, but the list as a whole shows staggering growth compared with prior years. The 2018 honorees collectively amassed $206.2 billion revenue in 2017 with a median growth rate of 171.8%. If your company is on the Inc. 5000, its unparalleled recognition of your years of hard work and sacrifice, says Inc. editor in chief James Ledbetter. The lines of business may come and go, or come and stay. What doesnt change is the way entrepreneurs create and accelerate the forces that shape our lives. Complete results of the Inc. 5000, including company profiles and an interactive database that can be sorted by industry, region, and other criteria, can be found at http://www.inc.com/inc5000. About Inc. Media Founded in 1979 and acquired in 2005 by Mansueto Ventures, Inc. is the only major brand dedicated exclusively to owners and managers of growing private companies, with the aim to deliver real solutions for todays innovative company builders. Winner of the National Magazine for General Excellence in both 2014 and 2012, total monthly audience reach for the brand has grown significantly from 2,000,000 in 2010 to over 13,000,000 today. For more information, visit http://www.inc.com. About Visiture Visiture is a full-service eCommerce marketing agency focused on helping online merchants acquire more customers through search engine optimization, pay per click management, conversion rate optimization, website development, and user experience design services. We help pave the way for online merchants to achieve higher returns from their online marketing channels and outpace the competition in a dynamic, digital world. Visit http://www.visiture.com. 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! READ ALSO: Speaking at the fourth edition of the annual Dalex games and awards ceremony held at the Legon Ajax Park on Saturday, Mr. Jackson said its high time the Bank of Ghana stamped its feet on the ground to boot out all unstable financial institutions. The Bank of Ghana should declare which financial institutions are good and which ones are bad. In other countries, the institutions get rated; so you publish your ratings. Let the Central Bank rate us. So that when a customer is coming to deposit money, he can look at the institutions rating and say 'no, no, no, your rating is not good'. By this, those institutions doing well will stand out. But until now, what has been happening is too much rumour, conjecture, and its not good, Mr. Jackson stressed. His comments come on the back of the collapse of several indigenous banks over issues ranging from mismanagement and instability. Last year, the Central Bank had to collapse the UT and Capital Banks, but the financial sector has since been plunged into further uncertainty after five other local banks were merged to form the Consolidated Bank. The merged banks are Sovereign, UniBank, BEIGE, Construction and Royal Banks. Mr. Jackson believes collapsing the said banks is not enough, and has advocated for the persons responsible to be duly punished. In his view, the Central Bank has so far delayed in meting out punishments to the persons whose misdealings led to this banking fiasco. The processes must happen quickly so that whoever is responsible will be held accountable. If people are innocent, fair and square. But if they are guilty, then of course let them be punished, he said. He further urged the Bank of Ghana to shine the light on financial institutions that are doing well so that the public will know. According to him, its unfair that the public is losing trust in almost all banks because of a few bad nuts in the industry. Let the light shine on everybody clearly, so that those who are doing well standout. The more we decide to manage it or keep it quiet, then all of us (financial institutions) are painted with the same brush. Whether you are doing good or you are doing bad; everybody is afraid [to invest with you]. I know Im doing the right thing, so I say shine the light on my business. And let people know that some financial institutions are okay. It is not fair that some few bad nuts in the business cause such fear and panic amongst everybody. There are institutions in Ghana that are doing well, that are growing. Not everyone is collapsing, but because of the earlier uncertainty about whos good and whos bad, customers are afraid, he stated. Mr. Jackson added that to restore confidence in the banking sector, the Central Bank must make sure that only fit and proper people" are licensed start a financial institution. "The family kindly requests privacy at this time of mourning. Arrangements to celebrate his remarkable life will be announced later," the family said in a statement. His wife Nane and their children Ama, Kojo and Nina were by his side during his last days, the statement further said. Kofi Annan was the 7th Secretary-General of the UN and is the founder and chair of the Kofi Annan Foundation. In 2001, he and the United Nations were jointly awarded the Nobel Prize for Peace. Kofi Annan was praised for being pre-eminent in bringing new life to the organization. (Norwegian Nobel Committee, October 2001). He was born in Kumasi, Ashanti Region on April 8, 1938. He once described himself as being "atribal in a tribal world." President Nana Akufo-Addo has declared a week long mourning in honour of the ex-UN chief. READ MORE: Analyst slams secret parliamentary probe into banking crisis The report in summary, indicted the board of misappropriating funds the Bank of Ghana advanced to the bank to make it solvent following liquidity challenges. Pastor Otabil had earlier in a statement absolved himself of blame in the collapse of Capital Bank, explaining that his role was "non-executive" and that he was not involved in the day to day running of the bank. "My position was a non-executive role. I was therefore not involved in the day-to-day management and operations of the Bank," he said in a statement. But many financial analysts have said he should take some responsibility for the collapse of the bank, despite his "non executive role" because he was the board chairman. Some have also said he is not demonstrating leadership by his posture. "This morning I came to make a response. There are three statements I want to give which I expect your to carry along to explain what has happened," he told his church members. "God is good," he said to loud applause and cheers. "My second statement is that God is good," the congregation responded "Amen! "And my third statement is that God is good," he said, sending the church into a frenzy. "I came this morning to declare the goodness of the lord." "We serve a good God, we serve a wonderful God. We serve a faithful good." He told his church members if anyone has a question regarding his role in the collapse of Capital Bank, "just tell them God is good." The license of Capital Bank and UT Bank were withdrawn in 2017 by the central bank. His death, according to his family in a statement from the Kofi Annan Foundation, was after a short illness. Often described as the "moral voice of the world," Mr Annan a Noble Peace Prize winner. How did Kofi Annan rise to prominence and became the UN General Secretary for two terms? Kofi Annan was born on April 8, 1938 in Kumasi when Ghana, then Gold Coast, was under British colonial rule. He was born into aristocratic family, had three sisters, two of them older and the third, Efua, his twin. His grandfathers were traditional rulers and his father was a provincial governor under British rule. He had his secondary education at Mfantsipim Senior High School, studied at the University of Ghana before moving to Geneva to study at the Macalester College in St. Paul and at the M.I.T Slogan School of Management. He got his first job at a UN agency in 1962, as a budget officer with the World Health Organisation, worked in Ethiopia with the UN Economic Commission for Africa before returning to the body's Europe headquarters. By 1993, he was appointed the under secretary-general and head of peacekeeping at the UN by former UN Secretary General Boutros Boutros Ghali of Egypt. In 1997, he became the first black African to be appointed as the UN General-Secretary, inheriting an organisation that was on a brink of bankruptcy. He reformed the organisation, got member states to take responsibility for the tragedies across the world and the United States to pay a blacklog of debt owed the UN. In 2001, Annan and the UN were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The award, which citation praised Annan for bring "new life to the organisation (UN)," propelled him to secure a second term mandate as UN General-Secretary. Kofi Annan described his greatest achievement as the Millennium Development Goals, which - for the first time - set global targets on issues such as poverty and child mortality. The drive is widely regarded as a success, according to the BBC. "Mr. Annan spent his life advocating for peace and human dignity during his long career at the United Nations. "Even after leaving his post as Secretary-General he embodied the mission of the United Nations, by sowing the seeds of peace as Chair of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders committed to advancing the cause of peace and promoting human rights around the world. "I join the international community in remembering his remarkable service to the world." Mr Annan, the seventh UN General-Secretary and the first black African to hold that position, died in Switzerland on Saturday. A statement from the family by the Kofi Annan Foundation said his wife and children were by him during his last days. A week long national mourning has been declared by President Nana Akufo-Addo in his honour and the Ghana flag will also fly at half-mast during the period. At the meeting the pair struck a vague agreement to denuclearise the Korean peninsula, but there has been little movement since. Meanwhile the North has criticised Washington for its "gangster-like" and "unilateral" demands for the complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantling of Pyongyang's atomic arsenal. On Saturday Rodong Sinmun, the North's most prominent daily, praised Trump for seeking to improve US-North Korea ties and achieve world peace, which it said would be the "feat of the century". "However, he faces too many opponents," it said in a signed commentary. The newspaper said Democrats and even some Republicans are hampering Trump's efforts for their own partisan interests while media hostile to Trump are undermining his policies. It accused bureaucrats and Trump's aides of "speaking and moving in contradiction to the president's will" and "distorting facts and covering up his eyes and ears in order to mislead him to a wrong decision". North Korea has demanded that America agree to declare an end to the 1950-53 Korean War, accusing the US of failing to reciprocate a series of its "goodwill measures". These include ending its nuclear and missile testing, the destruction of a nuclear testing site and handing over the remains of US troops killed in the Korean War. When Kim met South Korean President Moon Jae-in in April for their first summit, they agreed to push for a declaration of an end to the Korean War this year. But US officials insist denuclearisation of the North should be realised before such an event takes place. Trump's political opponents are "raising their voice, dismissing the Singapore joint statement and boycotting a declaration of an end to the war", Rodong Sinmun said. "The current deadlock in the DPRK-US relations requires President Trump's bold decision," it added. It also urged Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to brush aside speculation from opponents over the North's intentions. The other is the war in which most of that, according to official accounts, did not happen or at least was not as bad as it sounded. Not until late on the third day of the Talibans assault on Ghazni did President Ashraf Ghanis aides even inform him of the desperation level there, two government officials said privately; Ghani himself later confirmed that publicly. By then the Taliban had control of nearly every neighborhood. Government spokesmen, confronted with a crisis, basically responded by asserting that everything was fine. They repeatedly denied that Taliban fighters were in control of Ghazni. By day six, when the insurgents no longer were in control, official denials converged with the truth. The U.S. militarys chief spokesman, Lt. Col. Martin L. ODonnell, insisted there was no big problem just insurgents looking for inconsequential headlines. Discerning fact from fiction is challenging in any war, of course. But in Afghanistan, where most of the population has known only war, narratives are often total contradictions of one another. How We Reported We had a reporter inside Ghazni, canvassing neighborhoods. Although the countrys cellphone networks failed in Ghazni, making it hard to check the official narrative, we also found people who could get a cell signal on the outskirts or upper floors of Ghazni buildings, or who fled and brought their stories to us. One of our reporters, Fahim Abed, got through on the phone to the director of Ghazni Hospital, Baz Mohammad Hemat, who spoke from a hospital floor awash in blood, bodies stacked in storerooms because the morgue was full. Hemat counted 113 dead on day two, and more arriving hourly. Most were in uniform, belying official claims of minimal casualties. In Ajristan district, our Afghan reporters heard that disaster had befallen an elite Army commando unit defending that remote area. As our reporter Jawad Sukhanyar called around to officials in the surrounding areas, he found that the Ministry of Defense was doing the same thing; they didnt know what had happened either. It turned out that insurgent suicide bombers destroyed the commando companys base, and as the defenders fled, Taliban fighters picked them off. Out of a base force of more than 100 commandos, police and militia fighters, only 22 survived, fleeing into the desert with no water or food. Jawad reached a surviving commando, Sgt. Eid Mohammad, 30, on the phone. He described how they had drunk one anothers urine while fleeing pro-Taliban Kuchi nomads. The sergeant also repeated a version of something widely heard in 25 of Afghanistans 34 provinces actively at war now: No one from the government gave us anything. All we got was promises, no action. That was true 300 miles north of Ghazni, at a place called Chinese Camp, where an Afghan army company struggled through three days of heavy Taliban attacks, begging for resupply and reinforcements, and especially air support, which were promised, but never arrived. Our reporter Najim Rahim had been on the phone every day for a week with the defenders, including their captain, who had become Najims friend. On Sunday someone else answered the captains phone. I started crying when I heard he was killed, Najim said. By Tuesday the defenders at Chinese Camp were almost out of ammunition, they told Najim. Half were dead or wounded and the rest surrendered except for a lieutenant who escaped. Najim managed to track him down, so we knew what had happened. Afghan officials at the Ministry of Defense said they could not provide an account of Chinese Camp casualties. Were working on figuring out how many soldiers were there and when we do, well share it, said Ghafoor Ahmad Jawed, a ministry spokesman. Lots more happened this past week, more than we could cover except briefly. On Monday, Taliban fighters overran an Afghan border police unit defending the frontier with Tajikistan in northern Takhar province, killing 12. An Afghan National Army unit was destroyed in northern Baghlan province, where officials admitted that 39 soldiers were killed, two wounded and two escaped. Who is winning? This is often the first question arriving diplomats ask. Every year theres a new group of them most countries do not allow them to stay more than a year, sometimes two. They are usually well briefed in the official narrative that things are improving. But many spend their entire tours inside a fortified embassy. On paper, the Afghan government and its 40-plus international coalition allies, predominantly Americans, have all the advantages over the insurgents. The Afghan military and police have an authorized strength of 350,000, their payroll funded by international partners. The U.S. military numbers 14,000, a mix of trainers, advisers and Special Operations members. The Afghans also have their own small air force, and extensive support from U.S. drones, jet bombers and helicopter gunships. The Taliban have been estimated by U.S. military officials to number 20,000 to 40,000 active fighters, an estimate that has not changed much for years even though the Afghan government claims it has been killing nearly a thousand a month. The true size of the Afghan military is difficult to assess. The Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction, a U.S. government watchdog agency, reported in July that the Afghan national army was at 86 percent of its authorized strength, and that all security forces, police, army and specialized units totaled 310,000. The agency also said the attrition rate for the Afghan national army was running at 2 percent a month. If confirmed, that would translate into roughly a quarter of the total per year. Full data on attrition, which includes desertions, failure to re-enlist and casualties, was now secret, the agency said, a decision taken by the U.S. military, which the agency criticized. Also classified as secret since last year has been the true casualty toll for the Afghan military. When those figures were last released by Afghan government officials, in 2016, more than 6,000 soldiers and police officers were being killed annually. The outgoing U.S. military commander at the end of 2014, Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson, called the Afghan government losses, then about 5,000 fatalities a year, unsustainable. Many Afghan officials and military officers say privately that the losses have worsened since then. Casualties among Afghan forces are higher than they have ever been, said retired Gen. Atiqullah Amarkhel, a military analyst in Kabul. If the death toll of the past week more than 400 Afghan soldiers and police officers were to continue for a year, the annual total would be triple the worst known year so far. The Afghan military and its U.S. allies have officially shifted their strategy to one that emphasizes protecting population centers places like Ghazni city rather than holding onto territory places like Ghormach and Ajristan districts, where those army units were overwhelmed last week. The military has been slow to make that shift, however. The Taliban vowed this year to retake cities and provinces, but so far they have taken three cities, briefly, but no provinces. And most of Afghanistans population lives under government, not Taliban, control. Even by territorial standards, according to the U.S. militarys reckoning, the Afghan security forces have been doing well lately. When the international coalition reduced its 140,000-soldier presence, handing security responsibility to Afghan forces, the insurgents quickly expanded their control throughout the country. But in the past year, the military said, that expansion has been halted. As of July 30, the government controlled 58.5 percent of the country, the insurgents 19.4 percent, with the remaining 22 percent contested, according to the U.S. military. Other information raises serious questions about the accuracy of that data. In Ghazni province, for example, only one of its 19 districts was listed by the U.S. military as under insurgent control. But local officials said last week that only three Ghazni districts were clearly government-controlled. In northern Kunduz province, and in southern Helmand, Uruzgan and Zabul provinces, most districts are listed as under government control or contested. But in none of them would it be safe for a government official to leave the provincial capital without a heavily armed escort. Message Control Last week supporters of the Afghan government criticized reporting by The New York Times on the conflict, with some calling it The Taliban Times and questioning the casualty counts. One of our reporters, Fatima Faizi, responded by uploading Facebook excerpts from quotations from government officials the sources for those figures. Fatima is from Ghazni and at the time her cousin was among those missing in the fighting there. (He was later found, wounded but safe.) The governments efforts at message management often collide with an inclination by many ordinary Afghans and local officials to speak their minds. They are often the best sources for information. When phone service was restored in Ghazni and we finally reached Mohammad Arif Noori, the spokesman for the governor, he did not try to obscure what had just happened. There were too few security forces in the city, he said, and they were using outdated equipment. The reason most parts of Ghazni city collapsed was a lack of coordination between police and NDS forces, he said, referring to the National Directorate for Security, a paramilitary intelligence service. Safe Is a Relative Term Even parts of the country considered safe have been badly affected. Take Bamian province, home of the standing Buddhas destroyed by the Taliban. Bamian attracted a range of foreign aid groups with ambitious projects: a ski slope to promote tourism; a girls bicycle team. It is no longer possible to go there safely. The last airline that served Bamian, Kam Air, stopped flying this year after many foreign crew members were killed during an insurgent attack on Kabuls Intercontinental Hotel. Both roads into Bamian are blocked by Taliban units, in Wardak province and in Parwan provinces Ghorband Valley. The government has no will to clear the Taliban from Ghorband valley, said Ghulam Bahauddin Jilani, the Parwan provincial council chairman. In provinces like Oruzgan where the insurgents have much more support, the situation is even more difficult. Amir Mohammad Barakzai, head of the provincial council there, said officials have asked in vain for more resources to fight the insurgents, who are now are on the outskirts of the provincial capital, Tarinkot. The Taliban are winning this war, Barakzai said. In Helmand province, where the Taliban dominates, Bashir Ahmad Shakirn, head of the security committee, said corruption is the main reason the government does so poorly. I dont believe the Taliban are stronger than us, what makes them stronger is the incompetence of our officials, he said. Their priority is not winning the war but their personal benefits. Two Helmand army corps commanders in a row were replaced and charged with corruption in 2016 and 2017. The Afghan security forces and the police receive about $6 billion annually, most of it from the United States. But corruption eats away at that money, as reflected in the constant complaints by local units that they are underfed and outgunned. If we compare the anti-government forces with Afghan security forces, the Taliban are better equipped, have more resources, and have access to modern weapons, said a councilman, Abdul Wali, in Logar province. If things continue like this, the Taliban will be the winners. How This Ends Nesar Ahmad Mehari is the spokesman for the governor of western Farah province, where the capital city, Farah, was overrun by the Taliban for a day in May. Things are better now, he said, as U.S. troops fight with Afghan commandos. But other officials say that in some neighborhoods, insurgents walk around freely. I think no one will win this war, Mehari said. We have seen only destruction and human losses from both sides since 17 years and this will continue for years to come with the same bloodshed. U.S. commanders have long since stopped talking about winning in Afghanistan. None see how 14,000 American troops can achieve what 110,000 could not. Taliban leaders have always insisted that as long as any U.S. troops remained in Afghanistan, they would negotiate peace only with the Americans. But U.S. officials had insisted on an Afghan-owned, Afghan-led process. Aides to President Donald Trump, who once called the Afghanistan War a total disaster, have moved to authorize such talks. A State Department official met in July with Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, according to Taliban officials. In the past, Afghan officials have opposed that sort of American role, but apparently no longer. As President Ghani has indicated that hes ready to pursue something without conditions, that speaks for itself, said Gen. Joseph Votel, the head of the U.S. militarys Central Command, when asked about American-initiated talks during a visit here on July 23. Everything can be on the table here as we move forward with this Afghan-led process. In June, the Afghan government and the Taliban declared separate cease-fires, which overlapped for the Eid holiday that ended Ramadan. The cease-fire was so successful that no violent incidents broke out between Taliban and government sides. (There were some suicide attacks by their mutual enemy, the Islamic State.) Insurgents came into towns and cities and mingled with locals in a remarkable outpouring of pro-peace sentiment by people on both sides, who were taking selfies with one another. Even women came out to see the insurgents, who once had hounded them off the streets. It was a moment many hope to see repeated, and Ghani has offered another cease-fire for the Eid al-Adha holiday that begins Tuesday. Some analysts think the Talibans remarkable push on so many fronts in the past week may actually be an effort by the insurgents to gain as much ground as possible before a cease-fire and any further steps toward peace. They can join the peace process in a stronger position, and show they are not doing it due to military pressure, said Intizar Khadim, an Afghan political analyst. Others fear that Ghazni and the bloody past week may have made peace prospects dimmer than ever. The final death toll in Ghazni, a senior official told us, was 155 police and soldiers, 60 to 70 civilians, and 430 insurgents. As many as 200 security forces died elsewhere around the country last week. That left thousands of relatives and friends with reasons to harbor hatred. On the Taliban side, supporters may well be wary of people like Col. Farid Ahmad Mashal, the Ghazni police chief, who posted his own photo on Facebook with the corpses of Taliban fighters. Do not show any mercy to the enemy, he wrote on Facebook. This article originally appeared in The New York Times. Kenyatta asked the residents of Muranga to turn up in large numbers while condemning the Opposition leaders request of Western leaders to mediate the escalating standoff between the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and his party. Odinga was speaking at Chatham, United Kingdom on Friday where he made clear that he has withdrawn from the presidential elections by formally sending a letter. IEBC then said that he has not officially withdrawn as he has not submitted the necessary Form 24A which Odinga said was just a formality. Kenyatta went on to question the necessity of mediation saying that the only people who are protesting the situation are his supporters. Kofi Annan, this time you are not welcome here, the president declared, recalling the arbitration the former UN Secretary General carried out in 2008 after the 2007 Post Election Violence. The Jubilee leader asked his NASA counterpart to return and ask Kenyans to vote as they are the ones who will determine the fate of leadership in the country. He further insisted that there is no need for mediation as Kenyans will decide who they want to lead on October 26th. The president went on to thank the voters who turned up in large numbers on the August 8 polls and asked them to mobilize as much as they could come October 26th. The next Wilson Road Group meeting will be held Tuesday, Sept. 25, 6:30 p.m. at Ridgeland High School Theater at the corner of Highway 2 and Happy Valley Road. The topic for community discussion will be the upcoming public vote for Walker County Commission on Tuesday, Nov. 6. "Shall the governing authority of Walker County be changed from a sole commissioner to a five-member board of commissioners with the chairperson elected at large and four commissioners elected by district?" Vote Yes or No. Attending the discussion will be elected officials pro and con. The Wilson Road Neighborhood Group is sponsoring this meeting for the public. Everyone is invited to attend. For more information call David Roden at 760-4819. The actor, in an interview with Vanguard Newspaper, narrated how he got roles in the Television adaptation of Chinua Achebe's 'Things Fall Apart,' and NTA's longest running soap, 'Ripples.' "It will be very difficult to count or name all my films at the stretch of the finger because they are numerous. But I have counted 950 films till date since 1981. I believe that this is a Guinness Book of Records material. I doubt if any actor in Africa as well as the world over has such a record," Agu said. On some his many roles, Agu explained the series of event that led to some of the big projects he has starred in while acknowledging that he lost his chances to play in Kenneth Nnebue's historic home video, 'Living in Bondage.' Playing Aniikwu in Things Fall Apart "I started professional acting and formed a theatre troupe called INSPIRERS Theatre Group in 1983 with loads of performances around Nigeria. It was this group that was sought after when the performance was intricate both in Enugu and around Nigeria. I became guest actor, writer, and co-producer and co director at Nigerian Television Authority Enugu and former Anambra Television Channel 50 Enugu which was set up by then Governor Jim Nwobodo until 1986 when I was drafted into playing the role of ANIIKWU in THINGS FALL APART, the famous NTA network drama. The character was one of the fathers-in-law of the character OKONKWO, the leading character," Agu said. ALSO READ: 7 best villains in Nollywood movie/TV history Playing Chief Abunna in 'Ripples' Agu said, "It was my soap opera The Advocate that took me to Lagos NTA headquarters for co-production. It was within this period that I got co-opted to be part of Ripples by Zeb Ejiro. It was the longest running soap ever on NTA and I doubt if that record has been beaten." The announcement was made by the deputy Inspector-General of Police in charge of operation, Joshak Habila. Habila, who has met with the Special Anti-Robbery Squad commanders, briefed them about the planned overhaul and renaming of the police unit to Federal SARS. Speaking with commanders about the new working operational guidelines, Habila emphasised that all FSARS officers must strictly comply with the operational guidelines. ALSO READ: Osinbajo orders IGP Idris to reform SARS Abayomi Shogunle, the Head of the Public Complaint Rapid Response Unit of the Nigeria Police Force, also corroborated Habila's statement in a series of tweets. Shogunle stressed that the Force would carry out psychiatric tests on all FSARS personnel while the instituted committee headed by Habila would commence immediate visit to decongest SARS cells nationwide. He said, The Overhaul FSARS Committee will commence immediate visit to decongest SARS cells nationwide. FSARS will only handle armed robbery and kidnap cases. Only competent officers will remain as commanders in new FSARS. Those not measuring up to the acceptable standard will be redeployed and new courageous officers will be posted as replacements. Many of the personnel inherited will be posted out of FSARS. ALSO READ: Nigerians react to Osinbajo's order to overhaul SARS Osinbajo orders IGP Idris to reform SARS Acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, has ordered the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Ibrahim Idris, to "overhaul the management and activities" of notorious Police unit, the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS). This negative perception, default judgement and aversion toward seeing single women live alone is near general with our parents. Since most of them are landlords, it isnt beyond belief that similar ideas cut across board. Who are liberal women? Modern day women who live against the norms of pre-feminism Nigeria through several facets of their life in expression, freewill, sex, relationships and character people society would call promiscuous or ill-mannered because society likes to an idea it feels women should adhere to. Women owning their own apartment An August 15, 2018 BBC article by Abigail Ony Nwaohuocha says Many landlords in Nigeriasingle women of being prostitutes, making it difficult for them to rent apartments. As noted earlier, society holds women to higher moral standards and forces them to adhere through excessive judgements. Thus, through wanting to conform and not get shamed, a few women still live within conservative rules. One of the women Nwaohuocha interviewed for the article had spent Olufunmilola Ogungbile, a 30-year old project administrator with the Ogun State Government who spent more than 6 months squatting with a friend despite being financially independent. She says, The first question the landlord would ask me is if Im married? Id say No, and theyd follow with, Why not? What does my marital status have to do with me getting a place to live in? Ninety-nine per cent of the landlords I met did not want to rent to me because I am a single woman. Most landlords and agents would tell me, Can you bring your boyfriend or your husband? In these kinds of apartments, we dont like boys coming in. We just want decent people Ogungbile continued. In Nigeria, we believe marriage connotes responsibility. It is why Uche, a 30-year old programmer says, My mother keeps pressuring me to get married and now shes co-opted my dad who thinks I should get married to make me responsible. Olufunmilola Ogungbile agrees, In this part of the world, if you are not married then you are a prostitute. These moral standards have automatically influenced landlords that only promiscuous women who have the means live alone, thus they are to avoid the trouble that come with promiscuous women who are likely to bring trouble with them. In some scenarios too, landlords dont want their children to get influenced. The pressures of marriage that women avoid with their parents have also become a stable in their independence, asides the social media Shiloh slander that aims to abuse single, accomplished women with standards on the me they want. The man angle Women have to walk eggshells around things they enjoy doing or crave to enjoy endorsement from the populace. In part, the expectation that only men should have the advantages and gifts of financial freedom is why women get judged for living alone. The belief has been set that only men should afford certain expenses. To underline the ridiculousness, Nwaohuocha also interviewed a landlord named, Coleman Nwafor who bodly highlighted his aversion to renting homes to women and claims that men have more money, Most single ladies are under the responsibility of their parents or a lover. You can never tell what will happen after the first year. And every landlord wants a tenant who will pay without stress and renew their contract once it expires. Most single ladies are not working. There are more jobs for men than women in Nigeria. That is just the way it is. He continued to The BBC. Sadly, these factors also affected gender pay-gaps that women are still struggling to eradicate. If society feels men should automatically earn more than women because they are superior, or because they are the only ones allowed to live alone, then women who live outside that purview will forever be judged. Societal standards for women Society judges women that drives their own cars; go out to clubs; drink; smoke; have a deep sense of style; keep male friends; are sexually liberal and like to live by their own rules. The standards of promiscuity have been so limited that seeing a woman with one guy automatically causes raised eyebrows. The feeling that grown women shouldnt handle real-life situations on their own is forever a possibility sadly creeps its head and landlords are master purveyors of this standard. Yinka Oladiran, a 25- year old who moved from New York to Lagos for her career told The BBC that, My opinion didnt matter. The landlords try to police women. She had started that, There were landlords who said they did not want to rent to me until they had spoken to my father to make sure that he was OK with it, even though I was paying with my own money. She only got an apartment after six months of active search. Even worse, a woman driving a car could have only earned it through promiscuous acts. Do they ever consider that women also go to schools and get jobs, and get paid like men or does that only happen on Mars? Small girl, big god On July 25, 2018, Pulse wrote about small girl, big god and its connotation in pop culture. Sadly, it has also crept into this foundation in another dimension. As it seems, the idea of small girl, big god has long existed as a faceless monster ruling with an iron fist. Its nice to finally put a name to the face. Maybe the term does have greater positives than being means of power grabs by feminists. The BBC also interviewed a Sylvia Oyinda, a 31-year old retail store manager says, There is a saying small girl, big god that describes young single women who rent alone or squat with other females. The saying refers to single women who have sponsors, typically older men, who pay their rent. With that song, Solange Knowles highlighted the black sensitive to hair. For the songs review, Genius called asking to touch a black womans hair microagression. A couple of years earlier, on another song titled I Am Not My Hair, industry veteran, India Arie sang that, I am not my hairI am not the skin I am not your expectations no I am the soul that lives within The idea has been established that regardless of terrain, black people attach incredible premium to hair. Asides beings an exhibition of natures beauty, it is seen as pride. Who is a Dada? A Dadais simply a person born with natural dreadlocked hair. Sometimes, they can be long or short. On July 6, 2018, Face2face released an article by Alice Otchere Johnson. The article brilliantly articulates the historical perception of a Dada to the Yoruba or Elena to the Igbo and the esteem, nigh metaphysical fears they were held to in both societies. I should know. I was born a Dadaand I had my hair shaved on my first birthday. According to my late Dad, his and my mothers family members kicked up incredible fuss about my health and other things when he showed his intentions. Being who he was, he picked up a pair of scissors and cut the entire thing off. Those family members definitely bought into the esteem deadlocked children are held to. Johnson further says that, the Igbo version of Dadaroughly translates to Child King in English. The hair is likened to a crown and those children are believed to be tough. On the extent of Igbo beliefs, Johnson states For instance, it is believed that when the hair of a Dada child is combed or cut, the child would fall sick and could even die Of Dadachildren, she says, Dada Children are known to be very fragile and must be taken good care of especially in their formative years Generally, her take was Apart from the mother of a Dada, no other person must touch the hair of these children. If any other person touches the hair, he or she must give money to the child or tie a cowry to their locks to prevent them from falling ill. Her research also further states her belief that Traditional Nigerian families still revere naturally deadlocked children as gods and offer them to the shrine so the chief priest determine their fate. While in medieval times and still practiced by some people, special rituals accompany cutting a Dada hair. But in recent times, Christian parents consent to shaving by Catholic Priests. I do agree with her that The Trend is changing with the advent of modernization and many of them are now being largely accepted into mainstream societies. Families are also increasingly locking the hair of their children and hence it is generally hard to even distinguish a natural born dada and a made one. Malam Garba Shehu, the Presidents Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity confirmed this development in a statement in Abuja on Saturday. According to the presidential aide, the transmission of the letter to the two arms of the legislature, the Senate and the House of Representatives, followed the completion of his 10-day working leave. In the letter titled RESUMPTION OF OFFICE personally signed by him, on Saturday, President Buhari said In compliance with Section 145 of the 1999 constitution (as amended), I write to intimate the Senate (House of Representatives) that I have resumed my functions as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria with effect from today, Saturday 18th August, 2018,after my vacation. Please accept, Distinguished Senate President, (Hon.Speaker, House of Representatives) the assurances of my highest consideration. Meanwhile, President Muhammadu Buhari has assured Nigerians that he would not spare anyone found guilty of any corrupt practice or sabotaging the nations economy. The President gave the assurance when he spoke to a correspondent of the NTA on arrival from London on Saturday at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, after his 10 working day vacation. President Buhari, who was reacting to happenings during his absence, including the cases of defections by politicians, said the incidents were part of the beauty of democracy. He, however, advised all eligible Nigerians to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) to enable them elect public officers of their choose. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President was received by a large crowd of well-wishers, party supporters, and other Nigerians. The Air Force jet carrying the President landed at the Nnamdi Azikiwe international Airport Abuja at about 6.38p.m. Those at the airport to welcome him included Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi; Service Chiefs; Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Musa Bello and Secretary to the Government of the Federation Boss Mustapha. Others at the airport were the Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari, the acting chairman of Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, Ibrahim Magu and members of the presidential media team. The return of the president has put to rest the social media report that he had extended his vacation in London. Buhari on Aug. 3 commenced a 10 working day holiday and transmitted a letter to the President of the Senate and the Speaker, House of Representatives to that effect in compliance with Section 145 (1) of the 1999 Constitution. The Public Relations Officer of the command, SP Muhammad Shehu, disclosed this in a statement in Gusau on Sunday. Shehu said that the deployment was aimed at ensuring the effective provision of security before, during and after the celebration. He said policemen were deployed to cover all the praying grounds, shopping malls and recreational centres across the state. In view of this, the command reinforced and adjusted its personnel deployed to vulnerable communities particularly in Anka, Maru, Maradun, Shinkafi and Zurmi local government areas. We reinforced crime fighting logistics for effective high visibility patrols, stop and search as well as raiding criminals hideouts. Deployment of safer highway patrol teams to all major roads in the state to ensure security and safety of travellers and commuters. Utilizing other relevant platforms to ensure all security agencies are able to deal with any security threat, he said. The command spokesman urged people of the state to be security conscious while celebrating the Sallah festivals. Shehu further said that the personnel deployed for the assignment were under strict instructions to be civil and polite while discharging their duties. The governors condolence was issued and signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Charles Aniagwu in Asaba. Okowa described the death of the winner of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize for humanitarian work, as a great loss to the international community where he led efforts to finding peaceful solution to conflicts globally. The governor said, We have lost a global statesman who was deeply committed to global peace and conflict resolution. The highly revered diplomat will be long remembered for his towering role and dedication to improving lives through peaceful coexistence among people of diverse race. Mr Annan was bold and fearless as Secretary-General and told truth to power which led to his declaration of American invasion of Iraq in 2003 as illegal under international law. As UN Special Envoy to Syria, he proposed a six-point plan that would have led to the early resolution of the crisis in Syria which was, however, not implemented by the Syrian government which led to his resignation as Special Envoy. The governor noted that Late Annan touched lives with his Kofi Annan Foundation that was committed to overcome threats to peace, development and human rights around the world. Okowa extolled Annans extraordinary and committed leadership at the United Nations where he emerged as the first black African to take up the role of the worlds top diplomat. Where Annan served from 1997 to 2006 and his exceptional stewardship that led to the successful war against the HIV/AIDS pandemic including the establishment of the social investment fund The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria as well as the launching of the Millennium Development Goals, he said. The governor expressed hope that the international community and all those who mourn late Annan would continue to honour his legacy of selfless service and commitment to human dignity and global peace. The minister expressed the concern in Offa, Kwara, at the launch of the autobiography of Prof. Mosobola Oyawoye, the Africas first professor of Geology. Mohammed underscored the need to make reading much more attractive to encourage the youths to imbibe the habit of reading than craving for social media. I think we just need to make reading much more attractive. Technology is usually for good but the downside of technology at times is what we are seeing. I think we should continue to encourage our people to read because there is no alternative to reading, he said. The minister described the launch of the book by the 91-year old professor as a unique event. I am here to celebrate with an icon not just of this country but the continent and probably the world. He is not just 91-year old man, he is a man who has come first in many fields, the first African Professor of Geology and a man who has used his position to benefit the society . I was particularly impressed that he is among the moving spirit behind the establishment of University of Jos, which actually started as University College, Jos because of the potentials of minerals in Jos. You can see that he left the University almost 30 years ago but he has been active in the society and his community, he said. The Minister said he was particularly impressed by the premium which the author, in his book, placed on integrity. Prof. I think one thing that struck me very much about the book is that you put a lot of value on integrity. I think integrity is that single commodity that is so rare. Its about the single most important ingredient in the building of a person or a nation, he said. The celebrator, Prof. Oyawoye appreciated God for his life and expressed gratitude to the dignitaries present at the event. He said the book took him 10 years to write and he was inspired by God who guided his paths from his youthful age. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that dignitaries at the event included the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari; former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Alfa Belgore. The organisation also condemned what it described as the unlawful demolition of Fresh FM building, and the forced evictions of residents by the Oyo State government, adding that it is a grave violation of fundamental human rights and contrary to international law. The Oyo State Government early on Sunday, August 19, 2018, stormed Ayefeles Music Housewith bulldozers and pulled down the building. Court ruling According to SERAP, Ayefele had earlier sued the Oyo State government, the court ruled that there were serious issues to be determined, and adjourned the case to August 20, 2018. The organisation said that the Oyo State government was duly served. Gross abuse of powers SERAPs Deputy Director, Timothy Adewale, in a statement issued to newsmen described the incident as gross abuse of power. He said This is a gross abuse of powers by the Oyo State government and governor Ajimobi against a radio station simply doing their job. The action is politically motivated, patently arbitrary and entirely inconsistent with international human rights standards and national laws. The action amounts to executive rascality and seriously undermines the integrity and authority of our courts. This kind of action has no place in a democratic society that is based on the rule of law. The destruction of a radio station on the grounds that the Oyo state government dislikes their work is a textbook case of repression of media freedom and violation of the right to adequate housing. The authorities must immediately stop the demolition, ensure appropriate repairs of the building and adequate compensation, and guarantee of non-repetition. SERAP will challenge this violent and reckless destruction of Ayefeles Fresh FM in court. Oyo govt violated right to freedom of expression The Oyo State government has not only engaged in forced eviction but also violated the right to adequate housing, the right to freedom of expression and media freedom. It is the obligation of Oyo State government to ensure that Ayefele and everyone affected by this act of illegality is adequately compensated for the property of Fresh FM that has been demolished. Nigeria is a state party to the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights which requires Oyo State government to refrain from arbitrary forced evictions and arbitrary destruction of resources that individuals and families have invested in building their homes. Nigeria has also ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which protects individuals from arbitrary or unlawful interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, and guarantees everyone the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attack. ALSO READ: 4 things Ayefele said about demolition notice on Fresh FM In its Resolution on Forced Evictions, the U.N. Commission on Human Rights affirmed that forced evictions constitute a gross violation of human rights. The term forced eviction is defined for the purposes of international law as the permanent or temporary removal against their will of individuals, families and/or communities from the homes and/or land which they occupy, without the provision of, and access to, appropriate forms of legal or other protection. It is important to note that international standards focus on protecting individuals who occupy homes and land and do not depend on any particular form of ownership title to the land or house, nor on the legality of the occupancy, he added. Addressing a news conference on Sunday in Osogbo, Lasun alleged that though there was a conspiracy against him in the primary, he would not leave the party. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)) reports that the Deputy Speaker was among the 17 aspirants that contested the APC governorship primary in the state on July 20. Lasun came second with 21,000 votes, while Alhaji Gboyega Oyetola, the Chief of Staff to Gov. Aregbesola won the primary with 127,017 votes. He said: Although I was conspired against during the governorship primary, but I will not leave the party. I am still attending all the partys functions to that effect. My supporters and I are still members of the APC and we are not intending to leave the party in the nearest future. We will do our best to support the party during the Sept. 22 (governorship) election. I know in every contest, there will be a winner, whether it is free or not. Lasun, who also alleged that the party did not reach out to him after the primary, said maybe the party felt I dont have anything to contribute. The deputy speaker also claimed that many politicians in the state had been alienated from the party due to the agitation over the primary. We hope the party members will be able to put behind them all that happened during the primary, he said. Asked whether he had reached out to the winner of the governorship primary by congratulating him, Lasun said he had not. I did not congratulate the winner of the primary because when I became the deputy speaker in 2015, the party did not congratulate me. And till today, nobody told me what my offence was except that some people were saying that I went against the partys position. He said on Sunday in Lagos that the defectors wanted automatic tickets and sharing of the national wealth which the governing APC could not guarantee. The APC leader unfolded his mind in a lengthy statement he personally signed, entitled: They Go Away Because We Go the Right Way. According to him, the defectors left the party to return to a motley agglomeration that would promise them what true democracy could not: automatic tickets, sharing of the national wealth and other offices and privileges. Asiwaju Tinubu asked the people to go beyond the debate on the numbers in the Senate of House of Representatives, saying we must pull back from the shallow headlines to recognize that something fundamental is at stake. Nigeria is undergoing a historic transition. Sometimes awkwardly, tentatively, yet inexorably, we nurture political and governance reform. We steadily close the door on the old malpractices that have caused a rich nation to reside in the tenement of the global poor. On Tambuwal Speaking specifically on the Sokoto governors defection, the APC leader said: Governor Tambuwals exit can be distilled to one cause. He covets the presidency. However, he had not the stomach to challenge President Buhari in a primary. Tambuwal felt further insulted that he would be compelled to face a direct primary just to retain the governorship nomination. But for the promise made by PDP headliners like Rivers State Governor Wike that he would have the PDP presidential nomination, Tambuwal would not have left. His exit had nothing to do with governance of the nation. It was about forging a personal ambition predicated on the defeat of progressive reform not the advancement of it. Bukola Saraki On Senate President, he said: Much the same for Senate President Saraki. Returning to the PDP, he harbors dreams of the presidency but Tambuwals ambition will dwarf Sarakis when the two collide. If Saraki had remained in the APC, he would be unable to reclaim his Senate seat let alone the Senate Presidency. He thus bolted because he lusts for the presidency but was promised by the PDP, at least, a return to his position in the Senate. He also s aid: For Saraki to talk about lack of governance is for him to deny who he is and the position he holds. This man stands as Nigerias Number 3 citizen. Clothed is he in ample power and influence. If he saw areas where government and the nation needed help, he could have easily applied his energies to these areas. He could have drafted legislation and easily got laws passed. However, no progressive enactment bears his name for he cared not for progress. He has been more focused on changing the rules of the Senate to favour himself and changing the order of elections so as to coincide with his selfish designs. Read the full statement below: The defections of some people from the APC have generated sensational headlines and exaggerated talk as to what their departures foretell for the APC, the party to which I belong. Some have predicted the demise of the APC. Those who hope for our decline will be disappointed by the inaccuracy of their desires. The days, months and years ahead will bury such errant forecasts for these predictions are born more of bitterness than of objective analysis. (edited) Much of the attention has centered on which party now controls this or that state and which party maintains a majority in the National Assembly. These considerations are important to members of the political class and the electoral calculations of the political parties. But these calculations cannot be all there is. We must be careful not to reduce our horizon to a mere accounting of elected officials moving from one party to another. Many in the political class believe this score keeping between the parties encompasses all that is important. For such people, the mere holding of office is the sole objective. The quality of governance they provide means little to them. Yet, there are greater things at stake than the fortunes of individual politicians. The people of Nigeria focus their attention on something materially different than this narrow political game. The people are more deeply concerned with the quality of governance they experience than with the intense cunning by which the political game is played. They are more interested in helpful policies than in the tempests created by politicians in pursuit of personal ambitions. That which provides a better life in a more prosperous nation is what beckons to them. That which shines in the eye of the political opportunist is dross to the average person. We must pull back from the shallow headlines to recognize that something fundamental is at stake. Nigeria is undergoing a historic transition Tinubu said Nigeria is undergoing a historic transition. Sometimes awkwardly, tentatively, yet inexorably, we nurture political and governance reform. We steadily close the door on the old malpractices that have caused a rich nation to reside in the tenement of the global poor. The corruption of the past is ending; for it must end if we are to fulfill our collective purpose. With this correction, less public money will be diverted to private benefit. More will be afforded to the causes of the people. The economy is being transformed so that the average person will have a better chance of finding a better life. We move toward a more democratic union. The old days where a handful of uninformed men and those with deep pockets decided everything for everybody are being swept away. The will of the people can no longer be ignored. Those who would be the masters over the people must now be public servants. A party or elected official may no longer rule over the people. They must govern for the benefit of the people. By so doing, the arc of our national progress is shaped. Not everyone is happy with this trajectory. As a whole, the political class must relinquish some of its power and wealth so people can enjoy a more equitable portion of the national enterprise. Tackles schemers This is the correct and perhaps inevitable course Nigeria must pursue. To their credit, many politicians see the need for reform and even champion it. Yet, there are those in the political class who scheme against collective improvement. They seek to halt progress toward a fairer nation. They seek to hold to the old ways. The difference between the two parties and why some people returned to their PDP conclave must be seen in this light. This is more than competition over numbers. What rests in the balance is not whether one party has more elected officials on its roster, but which party has the right mindset and policies to reform Nigeria that she may become what goodness demands of her. We are in locked battle to define the future of this nation and the quality of its governance. This battle pits one party, the APC, with all of its imperfections, that seeks national reforms against another party, the PDP, which symbolizes the perfection of the most selfish designs of the most selfish politicians among us. Moral battle This moral battle informed the recent defections. Those who belong to that PDP mode of thought could find no permanent comfort in walking the path of progressive reform and progress. All the things we have inaugurated such as school-feeding programs for poor pupils, social security for poor families, affordable housing programs, greater access to credit for small businesses and greater access to education and health care, these things the defectors could not well abide. They detested President Buharis Treasury Single Account (TSA) innovation because it barred them from mis-directing funds into a maze of unaudited accounts from which they could siphon as they pleased. Buhari cut off their clandestine illicit spigot. These politicians see accountable good governance and lifting of the common person as the tearing down of their quest for great riches and power. Even more so, they detested the APC drive toward greater internal democracy. They bristled when we demanded that congresses and conventions be held; they had demanded giving themselves automatic extension in their positions. Manipulators They privately erupted as the APC decided that direct primaries where all party members vote on the partys nominations should be the way of the future. The injection of greater democracy meant a decrease in their ability to manipulate end results. Politics will be ushered out of the backroom and given to the people to whom sovereignty genuinely belongs. These men could not countenance such transformation. They saw it not as the gift of democracy but as an obstacle that complicated their self-interest. They left the party to return to a motley agglomeration that would promise them what true democracy could not: automatic tickets, sharing of the national wealth and other offices and privileges. Their defection statements swell with high-sounding words and the attempted grasp of lofty ideals. While I shall refrain from being so coarse as to call these statements counterfeit, I must invoke a sufficient level of common sense for the protection of all. Anyone who accepts their statements at face value will quickly experience buyers remorse. Their attempt at fine notions aside, what compelled these people was galloping yet blind ambition. Tambuwal covets the presidency Governor Tambuwals exit can be distilled to one cause. He covets the presidency. However, he had not the stomach to challenge President Buhari in a primary. Tambuwal felt further insulted that he would be compelled to face a direct primary just to retain the governorship nomination. But for the promise made by PDP headliners like Rivers State Governor Wike that he would have the PDP presidential nomination, Tambuwal would not have left. His exit had nothing to do with governance of the nation. It was about forging a personal ambition predicated on the defeat of progressive reform not the advancement of it. Saraki's lust Much the same for Senate President Saraki. Returning to the PDP, he harbors dreams of the presidency but Tambuwals ambition will dwarf Sarakis when the two collide. If Saraki had remained in the APC, he would be unable to reclaim his Senate seat let alone the Senate Presidency. He thus bolted because he lusts for the presidency but was promised by the PDP, at least, a return to his position in the Senate. For Saraki to talk about lack of governance is for him to deny who he is and the position he holds. This man stands as Nigerias Number 3 citizen. Clothed is he in ample power and influence. If he saw areas where government and the nation needed help, he could have easily applied his energies to these areas. He could have drafted legislation and easily got laws passed. However, no progressive enactment bears his name for he cared not for progress. He has been more focused on changing the rules of the Senate to favour himself and changing the order of elections so as to coincide with his selfish designs. PDP assurance The rest of the defectors were given similar assurances by the PDP as to their offices. The APC refused to make such bargains as they are part of the ancient regime; these bargains are not of our democratic new way. There is nothing wrong with ambition. Without a degree of ambition, we would never strive to improve and develop ourselves. But ambition, restrained by nothing but itself, is a dangerous commodity. Unwedded to social conscience, it leads to ruthlessness; it is the father of the deception that leaders are meant to lord over instead of to serve the populace. ALSO READ:7 things Tinubu said about Obasanjo In the final analysis, the reason for the defections is as clear to see as it is crooked in its motives. The APC seeks to reform governance and politics. However, many powerful people believe the established system assures their maximum benefit. Progressive reform would defeat them. They must fight reform and never be allied to it. Thus, they had to leave the APC. In a fundamental way, the APC may be better for their exit. It would be untrue to say their departures did not generate concern. As the air clears and we can better assess what is lost and gained by their exit, I can truthfully say the APC will be better off because they are gone. Let us focus We can now focus more wholly on democratic governance inside and outside the party. Inside the party, we have adopted direct primaries to discourage corruption of the democratic process. Regarding public policy, we can now better articulate our progressive stance without having naysayers among complaining that we are going too far or that the good we seek for the people ought not to be done. We can more decisively push for the jobs program, expansion of social security for the poor, affordable housing programs and a viable mortgage system, national infrastructural program that will provide adequate power and potable water, basic health care for all, and educational reform. Each of these is important in itself. In combination, these objectives shall reshape the very landscape of our political economy. They shall bring fairness and prosperity where none has been. They will give the average person a government that serves them and the land that they deserve. Be courageous But this prospect means a large segment of the political class will oppose the APC. We, as a party, must have the courage to accept this reality. Having decided to place the public welfare above the private welfare of the few, we must forge ahead no matter the foes aligned against us. This struggle toward a better Nigeria is hard, described more by difficult obstacles than by smooth passages. Had reform been easy, the task would have already been accomplished. Powerful hands have gathered to halt our collective move forward. Not everyone wants a better Nigeria for all. Those who profit from the imbalances of the past are those who fear a fairer tomorrow. Come the general election, the people will face a stark choice. If they want to relive the certain failure and inequality of the system the PDP had erected against their very interests, the people will walk the way of the defectors. If the people want to give themselves a better chance at an excellent nation they will adhere to the path elected in 2015 when they voted for reform and the APC. I believe in the collective wisdom of the people. They will choose the right way for they are Nigerians which means they shall do what is right and just. "Our forefathers were robbed of their dignity through brutal colonialists" who seized land, she said. "The majority of the people in this country are black. Yet they are the poorest. Let's expropriate without compensation!" said the mother with her fist raised. As elections due in 2019 approach, President Cyril Ramaphosa has intervened to accelerate land reform in order to "undo a grave historical injustice" against the black majority during colonialism and the apartheid era that ended in 1994. Twenty-four years on and the white community that makes up eight percent of the population "possess 72 percent of farms" compared to "only four percent" in the hands of black people who make up four-fifths of the population, according to Ramaphosa. To remedy the imbalance, the president recently announced that the constitution would be altered to allow for land to be seized and redistributed without compensation to the current owners. Many black voters welcomed the announcement that provoked unprecedented concern among the white minority that has been aired at a series of public hearings across the nation this June, July and August to debate the combustible issue. In a public hall in Vereeniging, a town an hour south of the commercial capital Johannesburg, more than 1,000 people turned out to make their voices heard. In the front row sat a group of women wearing traditional Sotho dress. 'We never stole land' "Why should we compensate people who didn't acquire the lands rightfully?", asked Tsabeng Ramalope, a 30-year-old black nurse. "Are we waiting for a civil war for this matter to be resolved?" she asked, speaking into a microphone, referring to several illegal land occupations seen in mostly urban areas in recent months. A lawmaker who mediated the debate, Vincent Smith, will on September 28 submit to parliament a report either recommending or rejecting the proposed constitutional change, considering feedback from the local consultations. "What the Zimbabwean experience is telling us is that expropriation without compensation is a catastrophically bad idea," warned white 37-year-old Carley Denny. Carley spoke on behalf of her father who owns a farm of 100 hectares (245 acres) that has been in her family for five generations. "The Zimbabweans might have seized land without compensation, but they are still paying for it through years of economic decline," she added, referring to the disastrous legacy of land reform launched by former leader Robert Mugabe in 2000. The smattering of white audience members applauded her point. "We all paid for our properties. We never stole our land," said another of their number, animal breeder John Knott. Land reform was a potent issue before the dawn of non-racial democracy and the election of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). 'Time bomb' The party had long promised to redistribute land more equitably but has never delivered on its election promises. "The land reform has been a huge failure because of corruption and lack of political will," said Edward von Bodenstein passionately as he challenged the president's proposals. In a recent report former head of state Kgalema Motlanthe -- an ANC member -- highlighted the grindingly slow process of past efforts to reallocate land more fairly. "You are sitting on a time bomb," said Khethisa Khabo, a local organiser for the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party. "We are not advocating for a white genocide. But the land belongs to us. We will do everything we can to get it back," he said, encouraged by the majority of those at the Vereeniging hearing. His party, which has wooed voters disillusioned by the ANC, has kept pressure up on the liberation party of Nelson Mandela. And at the end of July, Ramaphosa took to the airwaves to announce the constitution would be changed to fast-track land reform in favour of the black majority -- even before the nationwide land hearings had concluded. Constance Mogale of the Alliance for Rural Democracy -- a network of associations supportive of land expropriation without compensation -- has described the proposed change to the highest law in the land as a mere "election ploy". The constitution already allows for land to be expropriated without compensation, she said, echoing the view of several experts in the field. "Amending the constitution is going to take forever, it is not going to bring the land to the people," she said. Roselyn Seaga, 67, was in tears as she spoke to the assembled local residents. The award is presented to leaders with outstanding contribution in the promotion of entrepreneurship, arts, philanthropy, innovation, sports, media and journalism among others. Awel Uwahinganye, Co-Founder of the award disclosed that The Deputy President is a key voice and strong proponent of youth empowerment. The DP was hailed as a leaders who represents a generation of new youthful leaders across the continent who have a passion for young peoples well-being. His rise to the office of Kenyas Deputy President is a story worth sharing to inspire young people not only in Uganda, but Africa. Ruto joins a team of elite African heads of states, entrepreneurs and philanthropists who have won the award including Presidents Yoweri Museveni of Uganda and Paul Kagame of republic of Rwanda. The award was in recognition of his commitment and role in the promotion of youth empowerment initiatives in a bid to curb rising unemployment. Ruto received the award at Serena Hotel in Kampala, Uganda where he also delivered the key-note speech. Sian Simpson, the Director of Content and Community at Kiwi landing pad joins RadioLIVEs Vaughn Davis to discuss what the company does, and how they do it. Kiwi Landing Pad is designed to support entrepreneurs and businesses through the journey of having an idea to building a global business. Ms Simpson describes how the entire mission of the kiwi landing pad is to help high growth NZ technology companies expand off shore. The organisation provides access to companies, and helps them to connect the dots and help them grow. They can hit the ground running The company started in 2010 and are the third co-working space in San Francisco. A co working space is a place where individuals can go and work, and pay for a hot desk opposed to hiring a full time work space. Ms Simpson describes how the advantage of a co working space is that kiwis that travel off shore have a place to work without the hassle of visas etc. To check out Kiwi Landing Pad click here. Listen to the full interview with Sian Simpson above. Sunday Social with Vaughn Davis, 7pm - 8pm on RadioLIVE and streaming live to the Rova app on Android and iPhone. RadioLIVE. Marine biologist Rochelle Constantine joins RadioLIVEs Graeme Hill to take a look at our marine reserves and their ecological management. Dr Constantine describes the effects of our marine reserves on our wider marine environment. She also takes a look at new ways to protect special ocean ecologies. Dr Constantine provides insight on the ecological stand point a variety of species, including a type of blue whale found on our own shores. Listen to the full audio with Rochelle Constantine above. Weekend Variety Wireless with Graeme Hill, 8pm - midnight Saturdays and Sundays, on RadioLIVE and streaming live to the Rova app on Android and iPhone. RadioLIVE. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate Athens, GA (30605) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 50F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 50F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. The giant rocky outcrop known by locals as La Cobaltera offers a glimpse into northern Chile's mining past, and a hint of its future. Slag from an ancient furnace is piled at the entrance of a mine shaft that hasn't seen commercial activity since World War II. Inside, eucalyptus posts still support narrow tunnels, placed there by German engineers as a kind of alarm system: when they creaked it was a sign the tunnel might collapse. Now the global hunt for cobalt, a key commodity in the electric-vehicle revolution, is rousing the sleepy community on the edge of Chile's northern desert. Trucks are bouncing down the meandering dirt road from Freirina, carrying modern mining equipment to La Cobaltera. On a recent morning, workers operated a drilling machine that rattled the ground as they dug as deep as 90 meters (295 feet) for mineral samples. When a drill core was pulled out, the workers cheered the appearance of a column of compact rock peppered with bright green for copper, and black for cobalt. Chile, known for its vast copper deposits, is joining the search for cobalt amid soaring demand for a metal that's mostly mined in the politically risky Democratic Republic of Congo. Cobalt had been a niche commodity used in jet engines and gas turbines; now it's entering the mainstream because of properties that keep rechargeable batteries from overheating. "A year ago, I hadn't even heard about cobalt in Chile," says Ignacio Moreno, a general manager at Chilean Cobalt Corp., which is hoping to develop the site into a working mine. "Now it's been five months of drilling in places where there used to be cobalt mines and the findings look very promising." Renewed interest in La Cobaltera began to emerge last year after Chilean authorities discovered records long buried in the archives of the national geological agency. They showed more than 7 million tons of cobalt ore was mined in the country between 1844 and 1941. The mineral was extracted mainly by German immigrants, who sent it to Europe presumably to manufacture military equipment. News of the presence of cobalt around Freirina generated a flurry of foreign companies and Chilean intermediaries looking to buy mining rights from locals in the general vicinity, said Mario Robles, a member of the local mining association. At first unaware of the value of cobalt in a region known for copper and gold mining, some residents sold rights to what they thought was barren land for less than half of what it was worth, he said. While cobalt prices have backtracked in 2018 as carmakers such as Tesla Inc. try to reduce the amount of the metal they use, they are still more than double the levels of just two years ago. Demand is set to remain strong for the next five to 10 years, said George Heppel, senior cobalt analyst at CRU Group. Founded in Santiago in January, Chilean Cobalt is the first company to explore for the mineral in the country in more than 70 years. A subsidiary of Genlith Inc., a Philadelphia-based investment management firm focusing on clean energy and strategic materials, the company signed an agreement with the Callejas Molina family, the biggest land owners in the area. The explorer has the mandate to produce cobalt as soon as possible. "We are focusing on the historic area, where we know cobalt was mined in the past, and we'll build up our resources from there," Moreno said. "So far the hypothesis of the geologists is being confirmed: we have found veins of mineral that are long and run deep." Samples show grades of 4 percent to 12 percent, he said. By comparison, grades from the DRC tend to be 2 percent to 3 percent, and sometimes more than 10 percent for artisan miners, according to CRU's Heppel. Junior miners exploring elsewhere are looking to operate with grades of about 0.5 percent. Early results suggest La Cobaltera could become a small to midsized operation, churning out small amounts of high-quality ore, Moreno said. Setting it up probably would require an investment of $80 million to $100 million. Guido Narria, 73, was born in Freirina and grew up at a nearby mining camp. His father had been an aid to a truck driver and Narria recalls the stories of the German engineers who managed the operation. When World War II drew to a close, the Germans disappeared, leaving behind the dusty mineral flotation plant where Narria and his friends used to play as kids, as well as houses full of rare imported German goods that locals took to their own homes. While Narria remembers stories from grandparents about how difficult mining was decades ago, when people worked "almost with their bare hands," he remains optimistic for the future. "Knowing that they are looking for cobalt again is such great news," he says. "I would love to see my grandchildren working in a modern operation." TORRINGTON A local car dealership joined forces with a nonprofit health agency to donate blankets and messages of hope for cancer patients at Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Center for Cancer Care in Torrington. As part of the Subaru Loves to Care event, Center Subaru in Torrington partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society to support patients undergoing cancer treatment at CHH Center for Cancer Care. Center Subaru donated 80 blankets to the Cancer Care Center. Center also encouraged customers to write messages of love and hope on notecards throughout the month of June. These notecards will be handed out to patients at the center. This is what we truly enjoy doing, said Phil Porter of Center Subaru. We love giving back to the community, and this provided us an opportunity to give back right in our own backyard. These patients are true heroes, and we want to make sure they know we love and support them. This is the third year of the nationwide collaboration between LLS and Subaru of America to benefit local hospitals and cancer centers. O&Gs Oneglia named to 40 Under 40 List TORRINGTON R. Bradford (Brad) Oneglia, Vice President of Asphalt Operations at Torringtons O&G Industries, has been named to the Hartford Business Journals 40 Under 40 List for 2018. Oneglia has been active at O&G for seventeen years and is a member of the firms 4th generation of family leadership. In addition to his O&G leadership, Oneglia serves an advisor to the Central Connecticut State University construction management program, the board of directors of Torringtons KidsPlay Museum and is president of the Connecticut Asphalt & Aggregates Producers Association. Webster Investments Jonathan Farens earns CFP designation WATERBURY Jonathan Farens CFP, financial associate at Webster Investments in Connecticut, has been authorized by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards (CFP Board) to use the CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER and CFP certification marks in accordance with CFP Board certification and renewal requirements. Farens has been with Webster Bank since 2013 and has been a Financial Associate with Webster Investments since 2015, providing holistic wealth management services to help local families and businesses seek to expand and preserve their wealth. He gets to know his clients to fully understand their financial goals and concerns. Working closely with his clients, he then customizes a plan to address their specific needs regarding investments, life insurance, family finances, and retirement and estate planning. Farens, of Shelton, is a graduate of the University of Connecticut, where he earned a bachelors degree in economics. Executive Presence open to professional women BRISTOL Executive Presence: What is it? Why does it Matter? How to Achieve it? will be held Thursday, Aug. 23 at the DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton in Bristol from 12-5 p.m. Open to professional women statewide, Executive Presence began in 2017 with five women through professional networking and their recognition of the common thread of understanding the importance and personal power in an individuals appearance and its impact in the workplace and beyond. Amy Hudak of Connecticuts Channel 8 and an Executive Committee member at large will MC the event which will include a presentation on Can Non-verbal Communication Affect Your Career?, fashion designer Nora Gardner will participate in an interactive panel discussion titled, Tailor Your Look and Creating Your Own Wardrobe Story. Entry to the event will include lunch, happy hour, raffle prizes and the collective energy of amazing women. Net proceeds from Executive Presence will be donated to Dress For Success. Executive Presence is being hosted by DoubleTree Hotel by Hilton Bristol. It is being sponsored by The Town and County Club; Merrill Lynch, The Manasevit Group; John Hancock; Bob Gemmis Connecticut Clothing Company; Sandler Training; A Wardrobe Story; Aurora Consulting; DoubleTree by Hilton Bristol and The Farmington Chamber of Commerce. Sponsorships are still available by calling Donna Ewers at 860-500-0595. Entry to Executive Presence at the DoubleTree by Hilton at 42 Century Drive in Bristol, Connecticut is $75/person and $70/person for members of any Chamber of Commerce. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. For more information, email to WomenandExecutivePresence@gmail.com, visit Facebook at ProfExecPresence. To register, visit www.farmingtonchamber.com. SERC director a keynote speaker at conference MIDDLETOWN SERC Executive Director Ingrid M. Canady of Torrington was the morning keynote speaker at the 4th Annual Dads Matter Too! Fatherhood Conference at Central Connecticut State University in New Britain Aug. 17. Canady grew up in Costa Rica without a father, and describes how her identity has shaped her perception of fatherhood. She touched upon race and racism in America, their impact on families, and how personal stories and experiences bring different perspectives on a fathers role and the importance of father-like figures. I am so grateful to be invited to deliver a keynote at this important eventand also humbled by the commitment of the Fatherhood Engagement Leadership Team, she said. . The team was created to address the need to engage more fathers in the caseload of the Department of Children and Families (DCF), to practice a full family engagement model. This initiative also addresses the impact of implicit biases and institutionalized racism on families. The Fatherhood Engagement Leadership Team and CCSU Fatherhood Group hold the conference annually. This years theme was fatherhood involvement and implicit biases from a womens perspective. The 2018 event also featured an afternoon keynote by advocate Dwight Stitt and remarks by Rodrick L. Bremby, Commissioner of the CT Department of Social Services, and Joette Katz, Commissioner of DCF, as well as a range of breakout topics. For more information on the conference, go to https://bit.ly/2nGcEGE. Editors note: The second half of the story detailing the disappearance of Connie Smith continues this week with the investigation, possible suspects, and the idea that she may still be found. LAKEVILLE Its been 66 years since Connie Smith disappeared. Connie was only 10 and was attending summer camp in the Northwest Corner when she went missing. The case remains unsolved, but a new, recent interpretation of the vexing cases facts by a close family member combined with the recent rediscovery of human remains thousands of miles away (in the Grand Canyon) may bring resolution to the 66-year-old cold case. Suspect: William Henry Redmond Truck drivers were questioned in the disappearance of Connie Smith, as were traveling carnival workers, and gypsies from Arkansas who camped along Route 22 and were hired out as barn painters, according to police reports. Every time a lead was found, Smith boarded the earliest airplane back East, or to California, or to wherever he was needed at the moment. One suspect was William Henry Redmond, a former carnival worker who was charged in 1988 with strangling an eight-year-old Pennsylvania girl, Jane Marie Althoff, in 1951, which was one year prior to Connies disappearance. Redmonds arrest came after a cross-reference of Redmonds fingerprints found in the cab of a truck where Althoffs body was found with a recent motor-vehicle violation by Redmond, according to police reports. It was thought that Redmond may have been in the Lakeville area at the time. A retired Connecticut State Trooper, Leo Turcotte, residing in Florida in 1988, recalled an anonymous phone tip in 1955 from a man in Montreal who said he had worked for a carnival in the Lakeville area and knew about the girls disappearance. Redmond, who was 66 in 1988, also allegedly told a fellow prison inmate he had killed four people during his lifetime. Redmond passed a polygraph test concerning the Connie Smith case. He was determined too ill to stand trial for the 1951 Althoff murder, and died in 1992. As detailed on Connecticut historian and author John Tuohys Blogger.com sites article Vanished: What became of Connie Smith?, a number of women who claimed to be Connie and had amnesia consistently came forth through the years, but were discounted either under interrogation or analysis. Suspects: Frederick Pope and Jack Walker More for you After 66 years, missing Lakeville camper's case remains unsolved In April 1953, according to the cases police report confirmed by Detective Downs, nearly a year after Connies disappearance, a traveling jewelry salesman, Frederick Pope, confessed to the Ohio police that he knew where Connie Smith was. Pope alleged that he and an associate, Jack Walker (while traveling with a Rhode Island woman named Wilma Sames) picked Connie up on Route 44, promising Connie a ride back to Wyoming. Pope claimed that Walker killed Connie in Arizona and that Pope himself later beat Walker to death with a tire iron. This all seemed like gold to the Connie Smith case. Upon deeper examination, however, the story fell apart: no records of either Wilma Sames or Jack Walker existed. Pope later admitted the story was a hoax and was dismissed as a suspect. The Pope story, however, did yield a significant lead. On Halloween of 1958, an unidentified young girls remains were found on Skinner Ridge near Williams, Arizona. In 1962, acting on a tip from a letter received by the Connecticut State Police, a comparison of the teeth of the Arizona child (named Little Miss X) with Connies dental records was done and proved inconclusive. In 2004, after the Connecticut State Police collected DNA from the Smith family, but by then the girls remains had been reburied and the grave could not be located. That was before recent revelations brought to light that the remains were somewhere in Citizens Cemetery in Flagstaff, Arizona. Old memories On the continual waiting on any case developments, Dorothy Dike, 78, of British Columbia, Canada, who is Connies stepsister (Peter Smith was Dikes stepfather following the end of his first marriage), has said that it had not been easy for the family. Dike said she would be two years older than Connie today, if Connie were still alive. In a recent telephone interview, Dike shared her memories of the missing child: I knew Connie but I never lived with her, she said. But Peter (the father) thought about her all the time, searching everywhere for her. He went back East about calls from people thinking they had found her or from prisoners confessing to her murder. Dike, who now runs a resort in Bowen Island with her husband Rondy, added, He (Peter) even consulted psychics. He was doing everything he could to try to find his daughter. She added, It was a hard thing to go through for the whole family. I was 12; Connie was 10, a couple years younger than me. It was always on our minds. When asked what she thinks happened to her half-sister, Dike said, I doubt she is alive. Its been such a long time. I think about her every time I hear on the news about the disappearance of a child. Speculations Meaghan Good, 32, of Ohio, has been administrator for The Charley Project website since 2004. The site profiles approximately 10,000 cold case missing people, mainly from the U.S., from the 1800s up until now, with 10, 671 cases currently open. Good posits that Connie likely met with foul play: You see this a lot, especially in the 10-to-13 age group, she said. They start becoming more independent but they are still pretty naive. It is very, very sad, she said. The father lived to be a Biblical age and never found out about her. The suspect would likely be dead now. But it is possible for the case to be solved. Technology makes it resolvable. Michael Dooling, author of Clueless in New England: The Unsolved Disappearances of Paula Welden, Connie Smith and Katherine Hull published in 2010, said, Connies disappearance and the others I wrote about strikes fear in our hearts. Dooling, who is also an antiquarian and a news librarian for the Waterbury Republican-American newspaper, added: How can a such a nice, normal 10-year-old girl be seen by so many people on her way to the center of Lakeville and then disappear so completely? Sean Munger, who runs a true-crime website and is an attorney in Portland, Oregon, said by telephone: Connie Smith lived in a time when a 10-year-old walking down country road wasnt thought of as a dangerous situation. Society has changed today. The same creeps were around at that time but there was no Amber Alert or anything like that. Nels J. Smith takes the case Researcher Sandy Bausch noted that she had met Connies brother, the tall and rugged Nels Smith, in person out West a few years ago, in an effort to dig into the case. The family is still very traumatized from the experience, she said. Nels never really had any opportunity to talk about it while his father was aged. When his father passed, he had lots of questions on the case. When Connies father, Peter Smith, died Feb. 22, 2012, at age 97, never learning what happened to his daughter, a baton of sorts was passed to his son, Nels J. Smith. Smith, of Sand Creek, South Dakota, was 13 at the time of her disappearance. Smith, now 79, spoke recently by phone about the case. Articulate and sharp-minded, Smith has since possessed a more optimistic view of the discovery of a little girls skeletal remains that were found in the late 1950s about 2,700 miles from the Connecticut camp in the Grand Canyon. A retired rancher and real-estate businessman, Smith stated in a telephone interview: When Little Miss Xs remains were found in 1958, I called the article to my mothers attention. She rejected the possibility that it could be Connie. (She had said) it was too far away from Connecticut, which was not really valid, but.... And the remains were described as possibly American Indian. Connie had rather high cheek bones, which could certainly account for the latter point. Dental evidence and Little Miss X At the time, by 1962, according to the Associated Press, the Denver sheriff, backed by evidence examined by a Colorado dental surgeon, Dr. David Berman, and a pathologist, Dr. George I. Ogura, announced that the skeletal remains were not that of Connie Smith. In the meantime, Connies mother died in December 1961, of a heart attack, at age 47. Mother had died before someone in the Connecticut State Police caught the similarities in Connies dental chart and that of Little Miss X, Nels Smith said. Of the five points of identification on the Little Miss X dental chart, one was a filling that could have been done after Connie disappeared on July 16, 1952. Smith added of Connies dental chart: The remaining four points (of dental identification and not necessarily just fillings) were identical to Connies dental chart. Three fillings were of the same technique and material used by Dr. Floyd Ward (the Smith family dentist at the time), who examined the Little Miss X skull and jaw. He recalled, He said three of the four fillings were identical to his work. He speculated they could be his work and materials. Smith added that one sticking point in consensus that Little Miss X was Connie was an aspect of the dental report. He said, The last point was a small indentation in the palate, directly behind and between the two incisors. The palate is the roof of the mouth that separates the oral and nasal cavities. He said, Dr. Ward said it was impossible for him to determine if this indentation was naturally occurring or the result of the surgical removal of a supernumerary tooth, which was the case with Connie. A supernumerary tooth is an extra tooth that appears in addition to the regular number of teeth. Supernumerary teeth are typically removed if they overcrowd the rest of the teeth. Smith went on, At this point the skull was examined by a pathologist in Denver in an attempt to determine whether the indentation was natural or the result of surgery. I was told that the pathologists opinion was that the indentation was natural. I have since learned and I believe reliably that it is virtually impossible to tell the difference after any surgery has completely healed and that the pathologists report so indicated. Smith said, That perspective on the case has stayed on my mind. He added, It is very strong. In my mind, I want to bring closure. It is a strong possibility that Little Miss X is Connie. Hence, Smith said, aside from the fourth filling, the Little Miss X skull matched the dental record for Connie Smith. The additional filling could have been somehow gotten perhaps in the time period between Connies disappearance and the discovery of the Grand Canyon remains. It could have been the remains, but nothing was done, Smith claimed. I didnt push it at the time. Mother died in 1961. It was thought that Helen Smith had died of a broken heart. Smith continued, The family dentist, Floyd Ward, had said three out of the four dental fillings were his work. He added of a similarity to Connies teeth: The gap in the teeth was still there, and Mother used to joke that it was so wide, you could throw something through it. Of his fathers reaction to the Little Miss X remains being discovered, Nels Smith said, The story at the time was that it was a naturally-occurring indentation and it was decided it wasnt Connie. He didnt want her to be gone. There was a lot of pain at that time, he said. An understandable reaction for any bereaved parent, it could have been that after so many years of searching for any living or dead traces of his daughter, that at a critical point in the cases history, the family patriarch Peter Smith couldnt accept tangible proof that his little girl might indeed be gone. Nels Smith stated, I am convinced that the remains are that of Connie. My take is that he was denying the evidence and just holding out hope for Connie. Dental experts weigh in Forensic and regular dentists were asked their opinions about the similarities between Connies dental records versus that of Little Miss Xs. A forensic dentist, or forensic odontologist, is a medical professional employed by a medical examiner who applies dental science in the identification of unknown human remains and bite marks. The work can involve postmortem dental examinations, digital imaging, and X-rays. None of the surveyed dentists had personally examined Little Miss Xs remains. When contacted by e-mail, Dr. Patrick Thevissen, a professor and head of the forensic odontology department at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven (a research university in Flanders, Belgium), wrote, In my opinion, when examining a skull, a forensic dentist would not be able to distinguish between a naturally-occurring palate indentation and one that occurred from removal of a supernumerary tooth that had fully healed from years ago. Thevissen added, however, nearly-identical dental fillings do not constitute enough evidence for positive dental identification. He wrote, Identical dental fillings work, checked with a morphological comparison of available antemortem (before death) dental X-rays, is necessary. Dr. Richard Fixott, a forensic dentist in Redmond, Oregon, was asked about the comparison of Connie Smiths dental records and that of Little Miss X. Fixott, who is also a diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Odontology, explained that if no X-ray films exist for the antemortem record, then restorative patterns on the teeth can be compared. If they match with no unexplainable discrepancies, then a records-based rather than a radiographic match can be made, he stated. Fixott speculated: If I saw a small dent in the palate, I would not state that a supernumerary tooth had been extracted but would note the location if dent appeared unusual. If, as in this case, there was a record of a surgery to remove a tooth from the palate and a dent or healed site was noted in the palate, it would be an extra point of concordance but insufficient to be basis for a non-X-ray dental identification. For a records-based ID, Fixott explained that unless the dental work was unusual, additional modes of identification may be used including, radiology, cranio-facial superimposition, and items found at the recovery site. Fixott stated, When a tooth is removed there is healing over time that fills in the socket. In the case of a dent in the palate, it would not normally be diagnosed as a fully-healed extraction site on postmortem examination. He added this would depend on location and size of the dent. He added, However, if the dental records documented the extraction of a supernumerary tooth, finding a dent in that location would be another point of concordance with the dental record. Dr. Mark Horowitz, a private-practice dentist in New York who has assisted investigations to confirm deceased patients identities, including victims of the World Trade Center terrorism, was also asked about the dental records question in the Little Miss X-Connie Smith connection. Horowitz stated, Dental records and especially radiographs are used all the time for definitive identification of bodies and burn victims. I would think in this specific case of a young girl, deceased, sometime soon after removing a supernumerary tooth, there could/would certainly be evidence of the surgery. A depression or indentation could also be congenital, or naturally occurring. He added, I have no idea how common these things are. However, in such a case there would have been no reason to ever have known that such an indentation existed while the girl was living. I think that if there are records, specifically, radiographic records, of the existence and removal of a supernumerary tooth, this can certainly be compared to a skull with great accuracy, if the skull were still available. On the question of whether or not a naturally-occurring palate indentation and one completely healed from dental surgery could be indistinguishable, Horowitz added, Im not sure I am qualified to answer that. However, I would suspect that a forensic expert, aided by certain diagnostic tools and tests, would be able to. Although, the longer the time for healing, the more difficult it might be to differentiate. Nels Smith provided a DNA sample in 2004 that was entered into the FBI national database. Smith, being Connies brother, would have similar DNA to any possible found remains of Connie. The database periodically runs new samples across the country and compares them to those in the database to see if there are any matches. Finding a grave The stumbling point of where the remains of Little Miss X have been long-buried, since the initial discovery, may have been recently solved. According to Lieutenant Gerrit Boeck of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Coconino County Sheriffs Office, they now believe they know where Little Miss X is buried. The Offices Cold Cases & Missing Persons Department, working with the County Medical Examiners Office, plans to exhume the body and continue work to identify the remains, which are in an undisclosed location in Citizens Cemetery in Flagstaff, Arizona. Our intention is to exhume what we think are the remains in the cemetery, Boeck said in a telephone interview on July 20. We are working with the records to dig up the right person. A key figure in the exhumation of Little Miss X is Joe Sumner, a retired criminal investigator for the National Parks Service and a volunteer in the Sheriffs Offices Cold Cases Department. Sumner was on vacation in Europe for several weeks in July and could not be reached for comment. Boeck said Sumner and the Criminal Investigation Division had been working on the case for a long time. They worked with old photos from newspapers and burial records, coming up with the best possible scenario and location for the unidentified body, said Boeck of the process of narrowing down the location of Little Miss X, adding later, What is funny with cold cases is that we end up solving other cases. The other cases he spoke about may include the Connie Smith case, even though it was initially rejected as the girls body in the 1960s. This was despite the similar dental history and also prior the advent of DNA testing in criminal investigations. Exumation could bring clues The departments oldest unsolved homicide, Little Miss Xs skeleton was found Oct. 31, 1958, on a hillside off a dirt road on Skinner Ridge south of Grand Canyon National Park, according to long-missing Coconino County coroners inquest as reported in a round-up article in The Arizona Daily Sun in 2013. The body was unclothed and lying prone, having been there possibly more than one year. Clothes, a comb, and a nail file case had been found near the body. After determining that the body did not belong to missing local girls or that of Connie Smith, due to a 1960s interpretation of the dental records, the remains were buried afterward in Citizen Cemetery, long a resting place for unidentified bodies. Until recently, records of Little Miss Xs burial had been lost for decades. Currently we are awaiting permissions (for exhumation) from the Coconino County Medical Examiners office and from the State as well, said Boeck. He walked the location of the remains with Sumner about three weeks ago. We believe there is a good chance it is (Little Miss X). We wont know until it is exhumed. We are not sure what we have here yet. Once the exhumation is granted and performed, Im not sure exactly what the time frame will be, he said. There are a lot of details to be ironed out first. So, for the Connie Smith case, it appears that a piece of the long-unsolved puzzle may be finally put into place. Connies brother, Nels J. Smith, was recently alerted, and with his DNA sample in the FBI database, in Smiths words: The only thing left to do is to compare the DNAs and hope for a match. The lead police investigator in the Connie Smith case, Richard Chapman, was a rookie trooper when he answered the missing person call on Indian Mountain Road. Chappy had been obsessed with the cold case even after retiring in 1973 (he had lamented not solving the case in a retirement speech). He died in May 2011. A famous mystery Connie Smiths disappearance is still one of Connecticuts most famous cases, known as B-57-H in state records. After Chapman retired, the case files were turned over to Litchfields Western District Major Crime Squad. The detectives who had handled the case were former Salisbury resident state trooper Mark Lauretano and Detective Karoline Keith, who are now retired. Detective Michael Downs of the Western District Major Crime Squad at the Western District Headquarters at 452-B Bantam Road in Litchfield is now the caretaker of the one bankers box and three large ring binders containing about 650 pages of still-confidential files on the Connie Smith disappearance. Smiths vanishing prompted a national search and the largest manhunt in Connecticut history. Downs inherited the boxes of files from the Major Crime Squad predecessors. He is not allowed to show the contents of the folders, which remain confidential because the case is still open. Active criminal police investigations records are at least, in part, exempt in some circumstances from Freedom of Information Act requests. Downs, however, was able to confirm the details of the case mentioned in this article. There were some leads that were dead ends, Downs said. My thoughts are that its a good case. It all happened so long ago. In 1952 things were done differently, and technology was very old-school. If you think back to childhood, one could walk anywhere. Times change. A 10-year-old walking down an old dirt road crying would be remarkable today. Back then, it was nothing. Downs said, No one knows what actually occurred. Its been 66 years, and no one has found her. With the Internet and technology, you would think something would have come up, but no. It is a desolate, rural area with plenty of land, he said. There are farms with 200 acres where anything could have happened and a body could have been buried. He said, If a child were missing today, it would be found. With this case, there is hope for the familys sake. I tend to be hopelessly optimistic that something will come. Downs has been in touch with the Arizona police department on the next steps for Little Miss Xs future exhumation and matching of DNA. It will be a wait-and-see kind of thing because it takes a number of weeks to get the DNA result, said researcher Bausch on the cases possible next steps. I hope there will be closure for the Smith family or another family should the results turn out to not match Connie. She added later: It sounds promising. A Russian woman who has been charged in the United States with acting as an unregistered agent for the Russian government has been transferred from a jail in Washington, D.C., to another one in Alexandria, Virginia, her attorney and jail officials say. No reason was given why Maria Butina, 29, was moved to the new facility on August 17. She is being held without bail pending trial. Butina's attorney, Robert Driscoll, told the Russian state-run TASS news agency that he had not been notified of the transfer prior to the move and that he was not given any reason for the action. The Russian Embassy said in a statement early on August 19 that its diplomats had visited with Butina after the transfer. Butina has been accused of attempting to infiltrate political groups, including the powerful National Rifle Association, to advance Russian interests while reporting back to a high-ranking official in Moscow in violation of the U.S. foreign-agent law. On July 18, Butina pleaded not guilty to two criminal charges of conspiring to act as a foreign agent without registering, and acting as a foreign agent. The first charge brings a maximum five years in prison, while the second carries a maximum 10 years. The Russian government has described her arrest as politically motivated and has called for her release. In May, she received a master's degree in political science from American University in Washington, D.C. Based on reporting by The Washington Post, TASS, and The Daily Beast Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called on Iran's authorities to immediately release prominent lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, saying her arrest and the new charges against her reveal the "grave degree the Iranian judiciary is criminalizing human rights activism." "Especially when it comes to cases of human rights defenders like Nasrin Sotoudeh, Iranian authorities blatantly disregard due process rights," HRW Middle East Director Sarah Leah Whitson said in an August 17 statement. "Apparently what authorities fear greatly is advocating respect for human rights." Authorities arrested Sotoudeh in June to serve a five-year sentence issued against her in absentia in September 2016 for allegedly carrying out "activities against national security in collaboration with domestic and foreign antirevolutionary elements," HRW said. The verdict also cited her public support for Step by Step to Stop the Death Penalty, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to reducing executions in Iran. The Iranian authorities had neither previously informed Sotoudeh about nor publicly announced the 2016 conviction or sentence. 'Repressive Crackdown' Sotoudeh's lawyer, Payam Derafshan, said last week that Tehran prosecutors informed her a complaint had been filed against her for defending a woman who faces charges for taking off her head scarf off in public in January to protest compulsory hijab laws. Sotoudeh was also charged with membership of the Step by Step to Stop the Death Penalty group. Sotoudeh's lawyers said they saw a January letter in Sotoudehs dossier from the Intelligence Ministry asking prosecutors to carry out her sentence because she has resumed her "soft war against the country and has created propaganda material for foreign media with her continuous acts against national security, propaganda activities, portraying the government in a negative light, and publishing false information." Sotoudeh -- the co-winner of the European Parliament's 2012 Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought -- has denied all charges against her. HRW said Iranian authorities have taken actions targeting human rights defenders and activists in recent months, citing the case of Farhad Meysami, a human rights defender who was arrested by Intelligence Ministry officials on August 1 for protesting compulsory hijab laws. The Ministry of Intelligence under President Hassan Rohani "has tried to present itself to Iranians as a more 'lenient' security agency, but like the Revolutionary Guards Intelligence Organization it is an integral part of the states repressive crackdown against human rights defenders," Whitson said. The jailed leader of Russia's opposition Levy Front (Left Front) movement, Sergei Udaltsov, has been hospitalized, observers and his social media channels say. Udaltsov was taken to a Moscow hospital suffering from "dehydration" on August 19, five days into a hunger strike, a post on his Twitter account said on August 19. Ivan Melnikov of the Public Monitoring Commission NGO in Moscow told the TASS news agency that Udaltsov was hospitalized on "doctors orders." "In our presence he was evacuated by paramedics," Melnikov added. Udaltsov was active in protests last month against the government's proposal to raise the retirement age. A court in Moscow on August 14 found him guilty of repeatedly violating public gathering regulations, and sentenced him to 30 days in jail. Two days later, a post on his Twitter account said Udaltsov had started a "dry hunger strike," meaning he was refusing both food and water. Tens of thousands of Russians rallied across the country on July 28 against legislation now under consideration by lawmakers to raise the retirement age to 63 for women by 2034 and to 65 for men by 2028. Udaltsov was one of the organizers of rallies in Moscow, where thousands protested against the proposed reforms. President Vladimir Putin's public approval ratings have slipped noticeably since the plan was announced in June, sparking outrage across Russia. Udaltsov, a prominent Russian opposition activist, was released from prison in August 2017 after serving 41/ 2 -year prison sentence he received over a May 2012 protest against Putin and the Russian government. In that case, Udaltsov was convicted of organizing "mass disorder" after the 2012 protest descended into violence. Demonstrators and police blame each other for the violence. With reporting by AFP The Kremlin says German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a "very serious and detailed" three-hour discussion during their meeting outside of Berlin, including an exchange of views on Ukraine, Syria, Iran, and a crucial pipeline project. The remarks to reporters early on August 19 by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov were the first comments after the meeting of the two leaders at Meseberg Castle north of Berlin. Few details were revealed. Officials had said the leaders would not be holding a news conference following their talks, and no other official statements were immediately released. In his comments, Peskov said Merkel and Putin had a "general exchange of opinions" over the situation in Ukraine and that the leaders expressed regret that implementation of the so-called Minsk accords had stalled. The Minsk agreements are September 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow-backed separatists have been fighting Kyiv government forces in a war that has killed more than 10,300 people since 2014. Peskov also said the two agreed to continue the four-party dialogue involving Russia, Germany, France, and Turkey in efforts to end the civil war in Syria. Moscow, along with Iran, has given President Bashar al-Assad crucial support throughout the war in Syria. Hundreds of thousands of people have been killed since the conflict began with a government crackdown on protesters in March 2011. The United States and the West support Syrian rebels in the war, while Turkey also backs antigovernment fighters in the country, although not always the same ones as U.S. forces support. Prior to the meeting, Merkel said she would discuss the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as Iran and the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline project with Putin. Addressing reporters at Meseberg Palace outside of Berlin before their talks, Merkel said she would also raise human rights issues and bilateral relations. "I am of the opinion that controversial issues can only be addressed in dialogue and through dialogue," she said. The two leaders took no questions after the premeeting briefing with reporters. Nord Stream 2 On the planned Nord Stream 2 pipeline to carry Russian gas under the Baltic to Germany, Merkel said that "Ukraine must continue to play a role in the transit of gas to Europe once Nord Stream 2 is in place." She welcomed the start of discussions among the European Union, Ukraine, and Russia on the issue. Putin told reporters that such a move had to make sense for Moscow from a business perspective. "I would like to stress that the main thing is that the Ukrainian transit -- which is traditional for us -- meets economic demands," he said. "Nord Stream 2 is exclusively an economic project." The United States is against the pipeline and claims it will increase Germany's dependence on Russia for energy. Ukraine fears the pipeline will allow Russia to cut it off from the gas transit business. Germany's eastern European neighbors, nervous of Russian encroachment, have also raised concerns about the project. But Merkel has maintained that the Nord Stream project is an economic, not political matter for Germany. She is also under pressure from German businesses to maintain ties with Russia on that and other important economic projects. Peskov confirmed that Nord Stream was brought up during the talks. "Both Putin and Merkel agreed that it would be absolutely wrong to somehow politicize this project," Peskov said. The Russian leader also said ahead of the meeting that he would discuss the 2015 nuclear deal between world powers and Iran which he labelled an important agreement. U.S. President Donald Trump exited the deal in May. Merkel warned on August 17 against expecting too much from her discussions with Putin. The two leaders last met in Sochi in May and struggled to overcome differences. With reporting by Reuters and TASS The deputy director and two other top executives of Russia's Energia Rocket and Space Corporation have been arrested on suspicion of attempted fraud, investigators say. "Energia's deputy director, Aleksei Beloborodov, and two of his subordinates were arrested and charged with attempted fraud," the Investigative Committee of Russia said on August 19. Russia's state-run TASS news agency reported that Beloborodov has been working with Energia since 2016 and served in the military for 13 years prior to that. Energia, a major player in Russia's space industry, designs and manufactures the Soyuz and Progress spacecrafts and also produces ballistic missiles. The Investigative Committee statement said the arrests were made as part of a probe undertaken "with the active assistance" of the Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB), the countrys main intelligence agency. Russian media reported that the FSB carried out several searches targeting the Russian space industry as part of an investigation into "high treason." Russian daily Kommersant said a dozen Russian space industry employees are suspected of having sent classified information about Russian hypersonic weapon projects to Western security services. Investigators did not mention those accusations in the statement on August 19, only that the charges are in reference to an alleged "attempt at fraud by an organized group in an especially large amount." Based on reporting by AFP and TASS BUNGUR, Russia -- Pitted roads, intermittent electricity and water supplies, dilapidated housing, nonexistent health care -- the complaints heard in this village of 600 people near the city of Novokuznetsk are not unusual for rural Russian communities. But these villagers' approach to getting the government's attention to their woes just might be. Locals in Bungur have launched an initiative to rename their village Syria -- reasoning that if Moscow has a few tens of millions of dollars to invest in the Middle Eastern country, it might be able to spare a little investment for a Syria closer to home. "We don't have any expectations," says local resident Sergei Zhavronkov, who is spearheading the renaming drive. "The only thing we want is to rename Bungur as Syria. Then we will apply to the Russian Federation for humanitarian aid." "Write this," Zhavronkov urges RFE/RL's journalist: "We hope that instead of Bungur there will be the Syrian Arabian Republic. We'll invite some Arabs. The government is helping Syria and the destruction here is just as bad as it is there. But we aren't getting any attention." Zhavronkov says he has been discussing the idea with his fellow villagers and everyone agrees it is a good idea. "I'm not joking," he says. "I'm completely serious." The village has struggled to get any attention from officials for decades, without any success. "I worked in a collective farm [in the Soviet period]," local Aleksandr Volkov says. "We saw the regional committee secretary and the other bigwigs three times a year. They came for the planting, the haymaking, and the harvest. You could ask them whatever you wanted. Now there is not a single deputy in the local administration from Bungur." Volkov adds that no one is representing the village at the Zagorsk Rural Settlement, the regional administration that oversees about two dozen rural communities in the Novokuznetsk region. Bungur has no school and no kindergarten. Eighteen village schoolchildren are bused to Zagorsk, while 30 others travel to Rassvet. Due to the poor state of the only road connecting the village to the outside world, locals fear buses will stop coming. "We had a school, but they 'optimized' it," Zhavoronkov says. "We had a library, but it is closed. All they left was a village council and a monument to participants of World War II. There is nothing here. Just a cemetery." Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has called a "conditional" cease-fire with the Taliban to mark the Eid al-Adha holiday, just hours after insurgents said they had seized a district center in the northern province of Faryab. The cease-fire will commence on August 20 and run for three months, Ghani said during an Afghan Independence Day ceremony on August 19. The United States said it welcomed the move, which is conditioned upon Taliban participation. "We announce a cease-fire that would take effect from tomorrow, the day of Arafa, until the day of the birth of the prophet [November 19], provided that the Taliban reciprocate," Ghani said. He did not say whether Taliban authorities had agreed to the cease-fire, the Kabul government and the Taliban had declared a three-day cease-fire in June coinciding with the Eid al-Fitr holiday. U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement that the last cease-fire revealed the "deep desire" of the Afghan people to end the conflict, "and we hope another cease-fire will move the country closer to sustainable security." The United States and our international partners support this initiative by the Afghan people and the Afghan government, and we call on the Taliban to participate. It is our hope, and that of the international community, that the Afghan people may celebrate Eid al-Adha this year in peace, free from fear," the statement added. "The United States supports President Ghani's offer for comprehensive negotiations on a mutually agreed agenda. We remain ready to support, facilitate, and participate in direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban. There are no obstacles to talks. It is time for peace." The announcement comes days after Taliban militants captured a military base in the same region. Provincial Governor Naqibullah Fayeq said on August 19 that the Balcharagh district fell into the hands of Taliban fighters late on the previous day following several days of heavy clashes because the Afghan soldiers did not receive reinforcements. There were no immediate reports of casualties. Differing Accounts Two provincial council members said government forces had surrendered but gave differing accounts of how it happened. Police officers, soldiers, and local government staff surrendered after spending months surrounded by the Taliban and receiving no help from government forces located in Faryab Provinces capital, Maymana, according to council member Abdul Ahad Elbek. Another member of the council, Aaq Mohammad Noori, said that 60 police officers surrendered after mediation by tribal elders following the retreat of an army battalion. The development comes as Afghanistan is marking on August 19 the 99th anniversary of its independence. President Ashraf Ghani and other top officials attended a wreath laying ceremony inside the Defense Ministry compound in Kabul. Earlier this month, Taliban fighters overran an Afghan National Army base elsewhere in Faryab Province. The Defense Ministry said the Taliban gained control of the operations base in the Ghormach district late on August 13 following a gunbattle in which 17 soldiers were killed and 19 others were wounded. Some reports said dozens of Afghan soldiers were also captured by the Taliban. Taliban Calls For Direct Talks With U.S. The Western-backed government in Kabul has been struggling to fend off the Taliban and other militant groups since the withdrawal of most NATO troops in 2014. In a statement on August 18, Taliban leader Mullah Haibatullah Akhundzada repeated his call for direct talks with the United States to end what he said was the foreign "occupation" of Afghanistan. Akhundzada said the militant group wanted "sincere, transparent, and result-oriented negotiations" with Washington, adding that any peace settlement negotiated between the two sides must "preserve our Islamic goals, sovereignty of our homeland, and ensure an end to the war." Akhundzada, believed to be living in hiding in neighboring Pakistan, had previously said the militants would not negotiate with the Afghan government, which he labelled a puppet. With reporting by dpa and Khaama Press U.S. President Donald Trump has denounced an investigation into ties between Russia and his 2016 election campaign, calling the probe "McCarthyism at its WORST!" In a series of tweets on August 19, Trump again characterized Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether there was collusion between Russia and his campaign as a "witch hunt" and said he had encouraged White House counsel Don McGahn and other aides to be fully transparent in their testimony to help bring the issue to a quick conclusion. Trump was responding to a report in The New York Times that said McGahn had cooperated completely with Mueller to protect himself from legal jeopardy after sitting through more than 30 hours of testimony over the past nine months. "The Failing New York Times wrote a story that made it seem like the White House Councel [sic] had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite - & the two Fake reporters knew this. This is why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People. So bad for America!" he said. "I have nothing to hide...and have demanded transparency so that this Rigged and Disgusting Witch Hunt can come to a close," Trump tweeted. "So many lives have been ruined over nothing - McCarthyism at its WORST!" he added in reference to a campaign in the 1950s led by Senator Joseph McCarthy against alleged communists in the U.S. government and other institutions. Many of those accused were blacklisted or lost their jobs, even though most were innocent and did not belong to the Communist Party.. Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been tasked with determining whether Trump's campaign team coordinated with Russia to sway the election in his favor. Trump has so far denied any collusion with Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has denied his government interfered in the election, despite the conclusions of U.S. intelligence and law enforcement agencies and congressional committees that Moscow intervened with its own state-directed campaign of e-mail hacking and public opinion manipulation. Trump's former campaign manager, Paul Manafort, is currently on trial in federal court in Virginia on tax- and bank-fraud charges not thought to be directly related to the alleged Russian meddling in U.S. elections. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has said that a newly established Iran Action Group in the U.S. State Department aims to overthrow Irans clerical establishment, but it would fail. Zarif made the comments on Twitter on August 19, the 65th anniversary of a U.S.-backed coup that overthrew democratically elected Iranian Prime Minister Mohammad Mossadegh. The 1953 coup restored to power Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, who was later toppled in the 1979 Islamic Revolution. "65 years ago today, the US overthrew the popularly elected democratic government of Dr. Mossadegh, restoring the dictatorship & subjugating Iranians for the next 25 years. Now an 'Action Group' dreams of doing the same through pressure, misinformation & demagoguery. Never again," Zarif tweeted. Accusing Iran of unleashing a "torrent of violence and destabilizing behavior against the United States, our allies, our partners and, indeed, the Iranian people themselves," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on August 16 announced the creation of the Iran Action Group, saying it will drive U.S. policy in Washington and overseas. "We're committed to a whole-government effort to change the Iranian regime's behavior, and the Iran Action Group will ensure that the State Department remains closely synchronized with our interagency partners," Pompeo said. The group will be led by Brian Hook, who is currently the State Department's director of policy planning. The move came after President Donald Trump pulled the United States out of the 2015 nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers in May, and early this month reimposed economic sanctions that were lifted under the agreement. Trump has called on Iran to negotiate a new deal that would entirely rid Iran of nuclear weapons capability and also curb its development of ballistic missiles, which has been a point of contention between Tehran and Washington for years. The U.S. administration has consistently said it is not seeking regime change in Iran but a "change in behavior." With reporting by Reuters Kasey Harvey, the very first Savvy Giving recipient after seeing her room for the first time. Environmental officers confiscate tarantulas prepared for taco filling Mexico City, Mexico Environmental officers in Mexico City have confiscated four spiders that had been prepared for taco filling from a restaurant. The confiscated spiders were four dead tarantulas that are on the endangered species list of Mexico. Officers from the Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection inspected the Mexico City restaurant Mexico en el Paladar located inside the Mercado de San Juan in the Colonia Centro de la Delegacion Cuauhtemoc. Photo: Profepa Photo: Profepa The visit was made after officials saw a video circulating on social media promoting the taco tarantula special for 500 peso. Inside the restaurant, environmental officers found four dead Tarantula Red Hips ready for consumption. Tarantula Red Hips are listed in the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora. The Mercado de San Juan restaurant is known for its menu of insects including worms, scorpions, escamoles (ant eggs) and grasshoppers. Environmental officers say 113 sea turtle deaths remain a mystery Puerto Arista, Chiapas The Federal Attorney for Environmental Protection says as of August 13, 113 sea turtles have been found dead in the area of the Tortuguero Sanctuary of Puerto Arista in Chiapas. In a statement, the agency says they are continuing to work with the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas and monitor the area of the Tortuguero Sanctuary where sea turtles began washing up on shores in July. They report that as of August 13, 102 of the 113 dead sea turtles are that of the olive ridley who are classified as Endangered by Extinction in Mexico. Numerous agencies continue to work on the reasoning behind the deaths. Involved are the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources, the National Commission of Aquaculture and Fisheries, the Miguel Alvarez del Toro Zoo, the Secretariat of Environment and Natural History and the Secretariat of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Government of the State of Chiapas. On July 24, the first of the dead sea turtles began appearing. Since then, dozens more have appeared along a 30-kilometer stretch of Pacific coast. Although officials have suggested scenarios including asphyxiation or death by fishing hooks, the reasoning behind the deaths of the sea turtles remains a mystery. Water samples have been taken along the beaches of Puerto Arista where the turtles have been washing up. Profepa officers say that liver samples of the dead turtles have also been taken. Officials say they continue to wait for the results. Record diamond output In July this year, the Kimberley Process once again published statistics on diamond mining and trade by the countries of the world in 2017. Last year, the same 23 countries were engaged in industrial diamond mining as in 2016 (Table 1). Table 1 Diamond production by countries of the world in 2017 The table is based on the data of the Annual Global Summary 2017 Production, Imports, Exports and KPC Counts. An analysis of the Kimberley Process data shows that 2017 was a record year in all respects. Diamond output in carats went up by 12.52% compared with 2016. The worlds mined diamonds increased their value by 27.98%, while their average price increased by 13.74% reaching $105.20 per carat. This growth was due to a favorable conjuncture in the rough diamond market, as well as due to the fact that many countries significantly reduced their diamond stocks in 2016. Diamond value by country The most expensive diamonds are mined in Cameroon, Namibia, Sierra Leone, China, South Africa and Lesotho - from $300 to more than $500 per carat - due to the extraction of alluvial diamonds and primitive mining technology (excluding Namibia), when only large diamonds are mined. Among the countries that extract diamonds from the primary deposits, South Africas diamonds are significantly higher in value compared with the worlds average - $ 319.04 per carat and the same is true for Namibia, Botswana (where De Beers is operating) and Angola. The value of diamonds produced by Russia is slightly lower, which is due to the different technology used in diamond ore concentration. Russian concentration plants use autogenous grinding mills for ore-preparation allowing to extract diamonds ranging from 50 to 0.5 mm in size, while other countries use multi-stage grinding permitting to extract diamonds larger than 1 mm. It should be added, that the preservation of diamonds extracted by foreign technologies is slightly higher and this is especially true for large stones (larger than 20 mm). Nevertheless, in 2017, despite the tragic accident at the Mir mine in August, Russia strengthened its leadership in global diamond mining, and now its diamond production share is 28.25% by volume and 25.91% by value. African countries with a low value of mined diamonds ($50 or less per carat) are suffering from flourishing crime and corruption and their diamonds are bought at a low cost by various intermediaries, who then sell them at a much higher price through other countries on their diamond exchanges. One exception is Australia, which has diamond deposits of an impact type where small diamonds predominate. The BRANCS countries In 2017, the pool of BRANCS countries (the term coined by the author of this article embracing Botswana, Russia, Angola, Namibia, Canada and South Africa), which produce diamonds worth more than $ 1 billion and are engaged in beneficiation (developing diamond manufacturing along with diamond mining), played a leading role in the worlds diamond production, mining more than 72% of diamonds by volume and over 92% by value, which indicates a high level of technology for extraction and organization of diamond trade (Table 2). Table 2 Diamond production by the BRANCS countries in 2015-2017 The table is based on the data of the Annual Global Summary: 2015, 2016, 2017 Production, Imports, Exports and KPC Counts. In addition to the BRANCS countries, the following countries can be added to the list of major diamond mining nations in terms of production and value of diamonds mined: DRC, Australia, Zimbabwe, Sierra Leone and Lesotho. Including these, the 11 countries mining diamonds produce more than 99% of the global diamond output by volume and 98% by value. Brief conclusion As the worlds rough diamond market is now in a stable state and the demand for diamonds is high enough, there will hardly be a drastic change in the situation for diamond-mining countries and global diamond trade centers in 2018, while Russia will still retain its leading diamond mining position in the world. Yury Danilov, Director of the "Expert" Information and Analytical Center, Department of Regional Economic and Social Studies of the Yakutia Scientific Center at the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences Hospitality chain Sarovar Hotels Hospitality chain Sarovar Hotels will open 15 hotels across the country and overseas by the end of 2019 as part of its expansion plans, a top company official said. The hospitality firm has close to 80 hotels in over 50 cities, at present. "We will be opening 15 hotels by 2019-end. Of these, two hotels in Africa, one each in Dar Es Salaam in Tanzania and Lusaka in Zambia will be opened by the end of 2018," Sarovar Hotels Pvt Ltd Managing Director Ajay Bakaya told PTI. Sarovar Hotels will open 15 hotels across the country and overseas Advertisement In India the company plans to open hotels at locations such as Jaisalmer, Gorakhpur, Katra, Dehradun and extension of a hotel in Agra in 2018, he added. "The eight hotels that will be opened in 2019, will be in Dahisar in Mumbai, Dibrugarh, Morbi, Junagadh, Dalhousie, Bodh Gaya and Jalandhar in India and in Auxum in Ethiopia," Bakaya said. The upcoming hotels will be mainly under the Sarovar Portico brand, three of them will be Sarovar Premiere and one each will be under the Park Plaza and Hometel brands, he added. Sarovar Hotels operates properties in the premium, mid-range and budget segments When asked about the business model the company follows, Bakaya said: "We are a predominantly a hotel management company, though we also own two hotels." Founded in 1994 by Anil Madhok, Sarovar Hotels operates properties in the premium, mid-range and budget segments. In January 2017 French hospitality major Louvre Hotels Group, part of Chinese Group Jin Jiang International, had acquired a majority stake in Sarovar Hotels for an undisclosed amount. Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh All MPs and MLAs of the Punjab Congress, led by Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh, will donate their one-month salary to support the Kerala flood relief measures. The decision follows a directive from AICC president Rahul Gandhi to all Congress members of Parliament and members of legislative assemblies across the country to give away a months salary each to help the flood-hit people of Kerala. MPs and MLAs of the Punjab Congress donate their one-month salary Advertisement According to a party spokesperson, the Chief Minister has announced his decision to immediately donate his one-month salary to ensure speedy relief for the flood-ravaged south Indian state. Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee (PPCC) president Sunil Jakhar said he had also directed all party MPs and MLAs to provide the monetary help on priority. Party workers have been asked to ensure that the money reaches the Kerala authorities over the next two-three days, without delay. Speedy relief for the flood-ravaged south Indian state Both Captain Amarinder and Jakhar said the Kerala floods were a national catastrophe, necessitating all possible help from every citizen of the country. The decision to donate a months salary comes a day after the Chief Minister announced Rs. 10 crore worth of relief for the flood-ravaged state. While Rs 5 crore has been transferred to the Kerala CMs Relief Fund, the remaining is being sent in the form of ready-to-eat food and other essential supplies. Advertisement 40,000 food packets weighing 40 MT have already been dispatched A total of 40,000 food packets weighing 40 MT have already been dispatched today while another 60,000 packets will be flown out from the Halwara airport tonight, according to an official spokesperson. Two more sorties have been scheduled for Monday and Tuesday. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal Railway Minister Piyush Goyal said that his ministry was doing everything to help people stranded in flood-hit Kerala. According to state disaster management authority, 194 people have lost their lives and 36 are missing in Kerala since August 8 due to rains and landslides, while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. "We are concerned about the well being of people affected by Kerala floods & the Central government is committed to providing all possible help. Tanks carrying 2.8 lakh litre of drinking water was dispatched Advertisement "Railways will now provide free transportation of relief material for Kerala through various State Govt. agencies, PSUs and other Government agencies," Goyal tweeted. While rakes of 14 trains with drinking water is being sent from Pune, 15 rakes of mail will set off from Gujarat's Ratlam. According to a statement by railways yesterday, a special train with seven open wagons (BRN) containing tanks carrying 2.8 lakh litre of drinking water was dispatched from Erode station in Tamil Nadu on Friday. The Railways has made arrangements for the emergency movement of drinking water by this train to Kerala. I-Hariyali App is a Unique Initiative: Sadhu Singh Dharamsot Punjab is the first state that has launched its Android mobile app 'i- Hariyali' to provide its citizens saplings of their choice free of cost. The initiative is proving to be immensely successful. Disclosing this, the Punjab Forest Minister Mr. Sadhu Singh Dharamsot said that till now, 3,25,000 online orders have been received in the state through the 'i-Hariyali' app whereas more than 3 lakh citizens have downloaded this app through their Android phones. He said that so far 13 lakh saplings have been provided to people of the state through this app. Punjab is the first state that has launched its Android mobile app 'i- Hariyali' Advertisement He informed that till now, more than 32 lakh total saplings have been supplied free to the people of the state under 'Ghar-Ghar Hariyali' campaign and 'i Hariyali' app. The Forest Minister further said that the entire process of 'App' has been completed and soon the 'IOS' the App will be launched. He said that after the release of IOS 'App, those using Apple phones will also be able to download the 'i-Hariyali' app and book their favorite saplings and contribute to the increasing greenery in Punjab. Dharmsot urged the people of the state to prefer planting and distributing plants on birthdays or functions Mr. Dharmsot urged the people of the state to prefer planting and distributing plants on birthday's or other important occasions. Mr. Dharmsot also said that according to the report of the Forest Survey of India-2017, there has been an increase of 35,853 acres of land under forests and trees in Punjab, which is a matter of joy. He informed that the Forest Department is reaching out to the people via an awareness campaign to motivate them to plant saplings. He also appealed to the general public, social and religious institutions, eco and youth clubs and other government organizations to get maximum saplings planted and join the noble cause of human welfare. Kofi Annan dies at age 80 Kofi Annan, one of the world's most celebrated diplomats and a charismatic symbol of the United Nations who rose through its ranks to become the first black African secretary-general, has died. He was 80. His foundation announced his death in Switzerland in a tweet, saying that he died after a short unspecified illness. "Wherever there was suffering or need, he reached out and touched many people with his deep compassion and empathy," the foundation said in a statement. Annan spent virtually his entire career as an administrator in the United Nations. His aristocratic style, cool-tempered elegance and political savvy helped guide his ascent to become its seventh secretary-general, and the first hired from within. He served two terms from Jan 1, 1997, to Dec 31, 2006, capped nearly mid-way when he and the UN were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. During his tenure, Annan presided over some of the worst failures and scandals at the world body, one of its most turbulent periods since its founding in 1945. Challenges from the outset forced him to spend much of his time struggling to restore its tarnished reputation. His enduring moral prestige remained largely undented, however, both through charisma and by virtue of having negotiated with most of the powers in the world. Advertisement It is with immense sadness that the Annan family and the Kofi Annan Foundation announce that Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the United Nations and Nobel Peace Laureate, passed away peacefully on Saturday 18th August after a short illness... pic.twitter.com/NDOy2NmAAs Kofi Annan Foundation (@KofiAnnanFdn) August 18, 2018 When he departed from the United Nations, he left behind a global organization far more aggressively engaged in peacekeeping and fighting poverty, setting the framework for the UN's 21st-century response to mass atrocities and its emphasis on human rights and development. "Kofi Annan was a guiding force for good," current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said. "It is with profound sadness that I learned of his passing. In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination." Advertisement Even out of office, Annan never completely left the UN orbit. He returned in special roles, including as the UN-Arab League's special envoy to Syria in 2012. He remained a powerful advocate for global causes through his eponymous foundation. Annan took on the top UN post six years after the collapse of the Soviet Union and presided during a decade when the world united against terrorism after the Sept 11 attacks then divided deeply over the US-led war against Iraq. The US relationship tested him as a world diplomatic leader. He remained a powerful advocate for global causes through his eponymous foundation "I think that my darkest moment was the Iraq war, and the fact that we could not stop it," Annan said in a February 2013 interview with TIME magazine to mark the publication of his memoir, "Interventions: A Life in War and Peace." "I worked very hard I was working the phone, talking to leaders around the world. The US did not have the support in the Security Council," Annan recalled in the videotaped interview posted on The Kofi Annan Foundation's website. Advertisement "So they decided to go without the council. But I think the council was right in not sanctioning the war," he said. "Could you imagine if the UN had endorsed the war in Iraq, what our reputation would be like? Although at that point, President (George W.) Bush said the UN was headed toward irrelevance because we had not supported the war. But now we know better." Despite his well-honed diplomatic skills, Annan was never afraid to speak candidly. Annan was never afraid to speak candidly That didn't always win him fans, particularly in the case of Bush's administration, with whom Annan's camp spent much time bickering. Much of his second term was spent at odds with the United States, the UN's biggest contributor, as he tried to lean on the nation to pay almost USD 2 billion in arrears. Kofi Atta Annan was born April 8, 1938, into an elite family in Kumasi, Ghana, the son of a provincial governor and grandson of two tribal chiefs. Advertisement He shared his middle name Atta "twin" in Ghana's Akan language with a twin sister, Efua. He became fluent in English, French and several African languages, attending an elite boarding school and the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi. He finished his undergraduate work in economics at Macalester College in St Paul, Minnesota, in 1961. From there he went to Geneva, where he began his graduate studies in international affairs and launched his UN career. He died after a short unspecified illness Annan married Titi Alakija, a Nigerian woman, in 1965, and they had a daughter, Ama, and a son, Kojo. He returned to the US in 1971 and earned a master's degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management. The couple separated during the 1970s and, while working in Geneva, Annan met his second wife, Swedish lawyer Nane Lagergren. They married in 1984. Annan worked for the UN Economic Commission for Africa in Ethiopia, its Emergency Force in Egypt, and the office of the High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, before taking a series of senior posts at UN headquarters in New York dealing with human resources, budget, finance, and staff security. He also had special assignments. After Iraq invaded Kuwait in 1990, he facilitated the repatriation from Iraq of more than 900 international staff and other non-Iraqi nationals, and the release of western hostages in Iraq. He led the initial negotiations with Iraq for the sale of oil in exchange for humanitarian relief. Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press 2018 Gov. Jerry Brown, who leaves office in January, has just appointed his 29-year-old deputy legal affairs secretary, Katherine Williams Dodd, to the seven-member California Workers Compensation Appeals Board at an annual salary of a $153,689. Dodd is the daughter-in-law of state Sen. Bill Dodd, D-Napa co-chair of the Senate-Assembly conference committee hearing a series of bills dealing with the utility companies wildfire liabilities, including one backed by the governor. It happens over and over, he says. Uber emails him about a ticket he received from SFO for a violation, such as not displaying the Uber logo. The $100 fine, a big chunk of his daily earnings, is subtracted from his wages with no way to appeal. Thats the situation reported by Mustafa Ayubi of San Ramon and plenty of other Uber drivers. San Francisco International Airport requires Uber and Lyft to pay any traffic tickets incurred by their drivers, relieving the airport of the hassle of tracking down payments and guaranteeing it will get the money. Lyft covers the cost of tickets. Uber pays the tickets and deducts them from drivers earnings. Many drivers say that deprives them of due process. Often they dont even know about the ticket until theyre notified several months later. You cant do anything; you cant fight back, said Ayuba, who drives 10 to 12 hours a day to support his wife and three children. Hes been slapped with $100 airport fines three times for lacking trade dress (a legal term for the distinctive physical appearance of a commercial brand) even though he said he has Ubers vinyl decals on his Toyota Camrys front and back windshields, plus his Uber SFO permit in the front. He tried to appeal. He went to Ubers Greenlight Hub in Daly City, a kind of Apple Genius Bar for drivers. They said the only way to protest is to say you were not using the Uber app, he said. That would mean I have to lie. I wont do that. The money adds up. SFO billed Uber and Lyft $1.74 million in administrative fines last year for 16,617 violations by drivers, largely for lacking trade dress, not displaying an SFO placard, or parking outside designated ride-hailing lots. Of those, 10,026 were for Uber drivers, 6,576 for Lyft and 15 for Wingz, a service that exclusively provides airport rides. SFO said the system makes sense, because Uber and Lyft have operating permits from the airport and are therefore responsible for ensuring that drivers play by the rules. It said the companies must initiate any appeals. Issuing fines to (Uber and Lyft) increases compliance and gives them an incentive to correct behavior, SFO spokesman Doug Yakel said in an email. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle SFO used to issue lots of tickets for drivers who waited in the public cell phone lot, instead of the designated ride-hail lot, for example. Uber and Lyft responded by blocking drivers from receiving ride requests in that lot, which squelched the behavior. That was a good resolution that would not have been possible if the companies were not in touch with the source of infractions, Yakel said. SFOs ground transportation compliance officers and San Francisco police can spot Uber and Lyft cars, even without decals, thanks to an app SFO developed and shares with other airports that lets officers check license plates to see if the cars are registered with Uber or Lyft. But many drivers say the practice smacks of a setup, with them as the patsies. Its a collusive arrangement, said Zakhary Mallett, a former Bay Area Uber driver and former BART District 7 representative, who received SFO tickets for lacking trade dress and parking in the wrong location. He received a notice in July about something that happened in April. Its a way for (SFO) to easily get revenue. With parking violations, youre supposed to have an administrative hearing and be able to escalate to the courts if you want, Mallett said. They are voiding the opportunity to protest. Its a constitutional question; Im being violated of my due rights. Hes considering finding an attorney to sue over the issue. Most Uber drivers have agreed to mandatory arbitration, which means any disputes must be settled individually, but a suit against SFO and the city could be done as a class action. Veena Dubal, an associate law professor at UC Hastings, who studies gig worker issues, agreed that the practice appears to violate due process. The drivers often do not even know when they are ticketed until the amount is subtracted from their wages, she said in an email. They have no opportunity to contest it. Some drivers I have talked to say that they believe they were wrongfully ticketed. The airport obviously benefits from this arrangement. They get an influx of revenue from the tickets. Uber said it hopes to get the system changed. Uber shares the drivers concerns regarding the fairness of this process, and we plan to share our view directly with the airport, spokesman Davis White said. Drivers deserve a transparent and fair way to resolve citations. Lyft covers the full cost of the SFO tickets and then helps drivers comply with regulations at SFO through written communications and support at driver hubs and on the ground, spokesman Campbell Matthews said in a statement. While our approach changes with each airport, our priority has been to ensure all drivers at SFO have the information necessary to best be in compliance with regulations and continue earning at the airport. SFO isnt the only airport with this arrangement. SherpaShare, which helps on-demand drivers track their earnings, surveyed drivers about airport tickets and heard from drivers in Baltimore; Columbus, Ohio; Minneapolis; New York (LaGuardia); Philadelphia; and Phoenix that theyd incurred airport tickets that were deducted from their earnings. Oakland International Airport fines Uber and Lyft and does not directly fine the drivers, a spokeswoman said. Surveyed drivers who took a hit on their earnings from tickets said they would have contested the citation if they could, and feel the practice is unjust. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes It seems like the driver should be able to participate in the conversation around any citation, especially one that could potentially cost them a whole days pay, said Jen Israel, a SherpaShare spokeswoman. I appreciate SFO wanting a swift resolution to issues that clog up airport roadways and pickup points, but they should find a way to hold the company accountable separate from the individual, so they maintain the same rights as the rest of us. Another due process issue for drivers is that the airport tickets dont include any evidence, such as photos. When the police give you a ticket, they say, Sign here and give you a copy, said Issam Hazboun of San Bruno. But the airport, it doesnt give nothing, no picture or proof. Hazboun said he gets new decals from Uber and Lyft every six months because the sun bleaches them out. Still, hes racked up five or six airport citations for lacking trade dress. If you were a customer, would you come to my car without a sticker? he asked. No! If a customer doesnt see a sticker on my car, he wont come. Those people in the airport, they are just using this to make extra money. Likewise Scott Wallace of Los Gatos was cited for lacking a rear placard. But his Honda Odyssey has a standard factory tint on the rear window, which could have made it difficult to see the Uber logo, he said. And there was a considerable lag time. I received the notice last month but the ticket was written four months ago, Wallace said. It said, youre out $100, we got a ticket were paying for you. Meanwhile Ayubi, the San Ramon driver, said hes looking for other work. Besides the SFO tickets, hes been getting ones in the city for other issues, like double-parking. Its not worth it anymore, he said. I have to put new tires on twice a year, change the oil all the time and other expenses plus all these tickets. Carolyn Said is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: csaid@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @csaid Rafe Swan/Getty Image An 85-year-old man is in custody in connection with the shooting of his adult nephew during a family dispute Saturday morning, officials said. San Francisco police officers responded to the 1100 block of Fell Street near Alamo Square Park just before 9 a.m. and found a 49-year-old man suffering from a least one non-life-threatening gunshot wound, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The coldest drink I ever had was a frozen summer cocktail in San Francisco. Frozen libations are popping up at more Bay Area bars than ever before. Unbearable heat may not be the driving force, since our summers as the notorious, misattributed Mark Twain quote goes can be frosty. The motivation for going frozen, rather, is simply to bring back fun. Reacting to a perception that cocktail culture has gotten a little too serious, even the most fastidious cocktail bars have begun loosening up their ties. Witness the explosion of new tiki bars and demand for tropical drinks that confirm how much we all need some escapism these days. The frose craze broke the ice in 2016, and the trends persistence has proven that demand for frozen drinks isnt just a fad. Slushy machines and blenders are now showing up in bars that wouldnt have dreamed of it a couple of years ago, and bartenders are using the tools and new techniques to make great frozen drinks. [The 12 Best Bay Area Bars for Frozen Cocktails.] Like other categories of cocktails previously thought of as lowbrow (the Fern Bar comes to mind), today sickly sweet Day-Glo concoctions are being fine-tuned with better ingredients in blenders and slushy machines. And as it turns out, making frozen cocktails to San Francisco craft-cocktail standards is a lot more challenging than it looks. Some bartenders do manage to keep it simple. At Blackbird, bar manager Matthew Grippo has taken the bars blenders out of retirement to create an icy version of the Saturn, a tiki classic that combines gin with passion fruit, lemon and orgeat. His Saturn Returns retools the drink by adding rum, then whipping it up in the blender. And no, its not sweet. I like to keep these drinks very dry and balanced, because I do think most people expect them to be sugary and sweet, says Grippo. Blenders are easy to come by, but slushy machines, which often cost thousands of dollars, are a bigger investment. The biggest difference between the two mechanisms is the amount of water required: In a slushy machine, as little as 1 ounces of water per standard cocktail will give you the correct texture, but in a blender, you need a volume of ice that is equal to the cocktail itself. For years, bartender Carlos Yturria had been itching to make slushy cocktails, but hed never convinced an employer to buy him a machine. Thats why, when he partnered in the Treasury in 2016, he insisted on making slushy cocktails: not only seasonal fruit daiquiris but also creative drinks like the slushy adaptation of a San Francisco classic, the Chartreuse Swizzle (green chartreuse, pineapple, lime, falernum). The drinks became so popular that the Treasury had to buy additional slushy machines to keep up with demand. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle So earlier this year, when Yturria helped to open White Cap, having a slushy machine was a given. There, he crafts frozen drinks like the Sun Dress, a blend of vodka, Sherry, watermelon, lemon and lime leaf. I see it as another medium to create with, like painting oil versus acrylic, says Yturria. Freezing a drink contributes a different texture, a different temperature and allows him to use funky glassware. But a lot can go wrong in a slushy machine. Make a perfectly balanced cocktail and freeze it (in the slushy machine), and you will immediately notice the drink will taste dry, says Julian Cox, director of bar operations and development at Tartine. Cox says that the perception of sweetness diminishes when the cocktail reaches freezing temperature, so he always adjusts the sweetness. To ensure theres enough sugar, Cox uses a digital refractometer, a tool that measures sweetness in liquids, and aims for around 14 brix. (One brix is equal to 1 gram of sugar in 100 grams of liquid.) Too much sugar, on the other hand, can prevent the cocktail from freezing properly in the machine. Dilution is necessary. But when Nicky Beyries, bar manager at Foreign Cinema and Laszlo Bar, first got a slushy machine a year and a half ago, she was surprised to learn just how much water it takes to get the texture of a cocktail right. Water makes the crystalline texture, so all you taste is the other ingredients, Beyries says. Cox has learned that water isnt the only liquid that can effectively dilute a frozen cocktail. Sometimes other liquids like juice work best. If you are trying to make a drink frozen, like a negroni or even a basic sour, its definitely important to dilute with flavor as opposed to just water, Cox says. The best frozen negroni Ive had was easily at Parsons in Chicago. They use both grapefruit and orange (juices) to make that negroni work water dilution (alone) wouldnt make the drink pop. Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Dilution is a much bigger challenge for blended drinks as opposed to slushies, which already require a lot of ice, Grippo notes. Blender cocktails need to be extremely concentrated in order for their flavors to translate over large volumes of ice. Luckily, alcohol and sugar dont inhibit the texture of blended drinks, as they do in slushies. That explains why frozen drinks have been traditionally sweet and fruity. You just have to shoot for unbalanced, and then throw it in the blender to test it out and go from there, Grippo says. When it comes to working with fat, slushy machines cant always do the job. For a summer dance party at Laszlo, Beyries created a drink called the ABBAcado Margarita, which incorporates avocado. The drink was too thick to work in the slushy machine, but the blender, which is designed to liquefy solids, was powerful enough to handle the fatty fruit. Dairy, too, can be a problem. If youve ever made ice cream at home and overmixed it, you know the pain of ending up with chunky butter instead of smooth ice cream. Since slushy machines are continuously mixing and freezing, they are much more likely to produce chunks from high-fat dairy than a blender, which whips its contents in short bursts. Guess what the milkfats in cream do when they get cold? asks Beyries. Clump together. When she tried creating a frozen Irish coffee using half-and-half and cream, things didnt go well. It was awful, she says. I had to toss the whole batch. Too little (cream) and the drink tastes light, watered down and a little icy, says Adam Rosenblum, executive chef at Alba Rays, of his own experiments with a frozen Irish coffee in a slushy machine. Too much and the drink separates and is off-putting, both in texture and sight. Making great frozen drinks may not be easy. But when theyre done right, they can be great and entertaining. I think it just opens up a whole lot of opportunities for fun, Beyries says. With the return in popularity of bad drinks or fern bar and tiki bar drinks, its another way to make folks smile. Maybe thats the best reason to drink a frozen cocktail right now. Theyre just plain fun. And they may help you feel like you live in a place where August is hot enough to warrant a very cold drink. Lou Bustamante is a Bay Area writer and author of The Complete Cocktail Manual. Email: food@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @thevillagedrunk Gabrielle Lurie / The Chronicle Turning cocktails into gelato For a different perspective on frozen cocktails, we spoke with bartender-turned-gelato maker Trevor Morris, co-founder of East Bay gelato company Gelateria Naia. Morris is known for turning cocktails into sorbet, gelato and ice-cream bars. He's crafted frozen versions of gin and tonics, single malt whiskey, strawberry margaritas and white Russians, meant to be eaten with a spoon. Alcohol Using alcohol lowers the freezing-point depression of gelato and sorbet, meaning it's much harder to turn into a solid. Over time, alcohol will even break down ice cream that's already been set. "The one trick is adding it at the end," Morris says. "If you're making ice cream, when that ice cream's done, that's when you would add (the alcohol) in." Sweetness Morris explains that sugar in gelato and sorbet isn't just for sweetness but has a functional purpose: to keep it from freezing solid. That means that any cocktail you're trying to turn into frozen form needs to be sweet. Drinks without sugar aren't good candidates for gelato. Fat While delicious in frozen treats, fat is hard on your taste buds. As you eat the ice cream, a layer of fat begins to build over your tongue, inhibiting your ability to taste other flavors.That means that ice creams with higher fat content will lose subtleties and intensity of flavor as you eat them, a problem if your base doesn't have enough concentration of flavor. Translating the drink For Morris, turning a cocktail into a sorbet or gelato is all about separating out the flavors, including alcohol. For example, to turn a mai tai into a frozen treat, he'd think about the individual flavors of lime, orange, almond and rum. Whole citrus would go in, along with marzipan for the almond flavor, and he'd finish the whole thing with a dark rum. Using whole fruit, rather than just juice, bumps up the needed flavor intensity. So does staying away from anything that will dilute the flavor, like soda (use a syrup instead) and subtly flavored spirits like light rums and vodka. Some cocktails may simply be too boozy to ever make a good frozen treat, says Morris. "Vodka doesn't taste like anything, so it doesn't help," he says. It "doesn't provide anything but laughter." See More Collapse Recipe: Saturn Returns by Matthew Grippo of Blackbird This blended drink updates the Saturn, a classic tiki cocktail. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. 1 ounce gin 1 ounce white rum ounce orgeat ounce lemon juice ounce Small Hand Foods passion fruit syrup ounce Fee Brothers falernum syrup ounce creme de cacao Peychauds bitters, to garnish Instructions: In a blender, combine all the ingredients except the bitters. Fill a 14-ounce mixing glass with ice and add to the blender. Blend until texture is smooth and no large chunks of ice remain. Pour into a pint glass and garnish with 5 dashes of Peychauds bitters. Recipe: Avocado Margarita by Nicky Beyries, Laszlo This fun frozen drink is based on the avocado margarita at Curras Grill in Austin, Texas. The recipe yields two good-size servings if youd like to share, or one big ole fishbowl of a glass if you dont. 4 ounces blanco or reposado Tequila 2 ounces fresh lime juice 1 tablespoon coarsely chopped cilantro ounce rich simple syrup (2 parts sugar to 1 part water) 1 ounces triple sec (or other orange liqueur) 1 avocado, slightly underripe, skin and pit removed 4 cups ice cubes Lime wheels and cilantro sprigs, to garnish Instructions: Moisten the rim of two serving glasses, then dip into a saucer with coarse salt to coat. Set aside. Combine all of the ingredients except the garnish in a blender. Blend until smooth. Pour into prepared glasses, and garnish with a lime wheel and bouquet of cilantro. This is the blog of China defense, where professional analysts and serious defense enthusiasts share findings on a rising military power. Three people were shot at a Berkeley park Saturday late afternoon, police said. Two of the victims, all male, suffered serious injuries, while one had a minor injury, according to Officer Peter Hong, a Berkeley Police spokesman. Initial information indicates that at just after 5:30 p.m., shots were fired from a passing car into a group of people at San Pablo Park in West Berkeley, Hong said. UNDISCOVERED SF: Night market descends on SoMa As of early evening, officers were at the crime scene gathering information and there was limited information on the suspects, who were still being sought, he added. Now Playing: UC Berkeley law professor and criminologist Frank Zimring describes how violent crime rates have changed over the last 30 years in the Bay Area. Video: Drew Costley/San Francisco Chronicle HIT-AND-RUN: Pedestrian seriously injured in Tenderloin hit-and-run early Saturday The condition of the two victims transported to a local hospital was not immediately known, Hong 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. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker While President Trumps Interior Department was mapping out oil and gas leases off Californias coast, the Legislature debated what to do. The sanctified cause of a drilling ban turned into a fight over a pair of bills that aimed to put hard restrictions on the White House idea. Last week, lawmakers followed through on protecting the coast. The nearly identical bills won approval on the final day of committee work, a cliffhanger win for efforts to safeguard fishing, tourism and recreation along the 1,000-mile coast. Though polls repeatedly show California residents dont want to see derricks on the horizon, the notion of a sweeping ban stalled in the Legislature last year. The announcement by Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke to open up all of the nations waters to new drilling revived a dormant cause. Two bills, SB834 and AB1775, sought to answer the call. The measures instructed state land managers to deny permits for infrastructure such as pipelines, docks and platforms needed to service potential oil and gas facilities that might spring up beyond the states three-mile limit. Without such permits, drilling rigs would be cut off from shoreline processing refineries. Zinkes plan calls for three zones off the coast with up to 47 leases. Though derricks pump oil off Southern California, there hasnt been new activity in decades. In the past, the state Lands Commission, which controls development in the three-mile offshore area, has signaled it wont be granting approvals, though future decisions will hinge on political officeholders. Both candidates for governor, Democrat Gavin Newsom and Republican John Cox, have pledged to block new drilling. Opposition includes some 65 cities and counties up and down the state along with a consortium of unions, environmental and outdoor groups. The bills push the matter onto the rule books, a deeper step than the state has taken so far. That prospect drew lobbying and opposition from oil producers, business groups and the state Chamber of Commerce. A flat denial of drilling access by the state goes too far, they argued, and rules out any chance for exploration. But that argument falls short in a state thats compelling an energy switch away from fossil fuels and prizes its watery edge. Californias not alone in bucking the Trump plan: A string of coastal states are against offshore drilling. A statewide vote in Florida on the topic is due in November. The legislative votes here could have a resounding effect in Washington. Zinke is still fine-tuning the leasing plan. Federal law obliges him to weigh the laws and policies of affected states such as California. If those standards hold true, its hard to see how new leases could be issued. Sacramento is making it clear that theres no support for oil drilling here. When Donald Trump isnt blaming foreigners for everything that ails America, hes blaming regulations. This month, he even blamed regulations for the wildfires now ravaging California. Theyre made so much worse, he tweeted, by the bad environmental laws which arent allowing massive amounts of readily available water to be properly utilized. I have news for Trump. Californias tough environmental laws are among Americas (and the worlds) last bulwarks against climate change. And its climate change, not regulation, thats wreaking havoc across California as well as much of the rest of the world. Oh, and Californians are using water very carefully. Yet Trump is pushing in the opposite direction. Hes now proposing to let cars pollute more and to strip California of its right to set higher air-quality rules. Trump is also gutting other regulations that protect consumers, workers, investors, students and children. The Trump regime is now contemplating a loophole through which companies can apply to use asbestos a known carcinogen banned by most developed countries in making adhesives, roofing material, floor tile and other products. Whats the justification for all of this? The Administrations agenda of deregulation is unleashing the ... true potential of American businesses, trumpets Trumps Council of Economic Advisers in its 2018 economic report. Translated: Cutting regulations means more corporate profits. More profits satisfies Trumps donor class. Dont get me wrong. Some regulations should be eliminated because theyre just too costly relative to the protections they provide. But many regulations protect you and me from being harmed, fleeced, shafted, injured or sickened by corporate products and services. And theyre worth it. Yet Trump is taking a meat ax to all regulations. In so doing, hes creating a new form of trickle-down economics where the benefits go to corporate executives and major investors, while the costs and risks land on the rest of us. Trumps Education Department under Betsy DeVos intends to repeal a regulation limiting the amount of debt that students attending career programs at for-profit colleges can pile up. It has already stopped investigating for-profit colleges. These moves will result in more profits for the for-profits. But they will leave many young people and their parents more vulnerable to fraud. After heavy lobbying by the chemical industry, Trumps Environmental Protection Agency is scaling back the way the government decides whether some of the most dangerous chemicals on the market pose health and safety risks. This may increase the profits of the chemical industry. But it will leave the rest of us less protected from pollutants that can make their way into dry-cleaning solvents, paint strippers, shampoos and cosmetics. Trumps Labor Department is reducing the number of workers who are eligible for overtime pay. And its proposing to allow teenagers to work long hours in dangerous jobs that child labor laws used to protect them from. Again, more profits for business. But more cost and risk for the rest of us. Trump is weakening banking regulations put in place after the financial crisis of 2008, even rolling back the Volcker Rule, which prevented banks from gambling with commercial deposits. The result: More profits for the banks, more risk for you and me. It would be one thing if corporations were plowing all these extra profits into higher pay for average workers. Maybe that would help make up for some of the extra costs and risks borne by average Americans. But theyre not. Theyre using most of the profits to buy back shares of their own stock thereby boosting share prices. Thats good for the richest 1 percent of Americans, who own 40 percent of the stock market, and the top 10 percent, who own 80 percent of the market. But, like trickle-down tax cuts, this does nothing for most Americans. Trumps gang of industry lobbyists and executives who are busy deregulating the same industries they once represented will no doubt do very well when they head back into the private sector. The rest of us wont do well. We may not know for years the extent to which were unprotected until the next financial collapse, next public health crisis, next surge in fraud, or next floods or droughts because the EPA failed to do what it could to slow and reverse climate change. Make no mistake: Trumps attack on regulation is just another form of trickle-down economics where the gains go the top, and the risks and losses trickle down. 2018 Robert Reich Robert Reich is a professor of public policy at UC Berkeley. His latest book is The Common Good, and his newest documentary is Saving Capitalism. To comment, submit your letter to the editor at SFChronicle.com/letters. There is some question about which of San Franciscos gay bars was the oldest and longest operating. The Old Crow opened on Market Street in 1935, closing in 1980, while the Gangway on Polk opened in 1910, but was not clearly LGBT-affiliated until much later. In terms of historical preservation, however, the question is moot. Both are gone. The Gangway shut down in January, destined to become a hip theme bar. And the 1907 building that housed the Old Crow was leveled this year to make room for a Market Street condo and boutique hotel. Places of LGBTQ history, effectively erased. In a city known for its long and pioneering LGBTQ history, the buildings and businesses that are part of that heritage have been disappearing from the citys landscape. Local historians say the losses are the result of the same gentrification and displacement affecting the Mission and South of Market neighborhoods. Community and city leaders, however, are hoping to slow the loss of sites by establishing special districts that recognize concentrations of cultural heritage. Already two districts have been approved for LGBTQ-related culture, and a third is in the works. Such districts are meant to bring more attention to the historic sites within. But they do not in fact provide any legal protection for them. A 2016 study that focused on the citys LGBTQ history identified more than 60 bars, nightclubs, homes, public spaces, bathhouses, hotels and other landmarks that may be eligible for City Landmark, California Register, or National Register status. Since the studys release, at least two of those sites have been demolished. The struggle is between places as a source of meaning versus places as a source of money. The money erases the meaning, says Gerard Koskovich, a historian who works with LGBTQ organizations. Were working hard to find some methods to mediate between those two forces. One of those methods, according to Koskovich and others, are these new cultural heritage districts. The ordinance passed by the Board of Supervisors in May defines these as a geographic area or location that embodies a unique cultural heritage. Such districts are not entirely new the Comptons Transgender Cultural District in the Tenderloin was approved in June 2017 but new rules help standardize the process. Until recently, the city had been recognizing cultural assets in a very ad hoc fashion, said Tim Frye, historical preservation officer for the City Planning Department. Weve been doing that on an as-needed basis, trying to learn as we go. The ordinance sets up a process with specific goals, responsibilities and deadlines for city departments working with community leaders on creating a district. The process depends on people in that community taking the initiative. It really has to be a bottom-up approach. It has to be the goals and vision of the community, Frye said. Already six districts have been approved or were already established, including the Comptons Transgender area and the Leather and LGBTQ Cultural District in South of Market, which was approved in May. The others are Japantown, Chinatown, the Missions Calle 24 Latino Cultural District and the SoMA Pilipinas Filipino Cultural Heritage District. According to Frye, theres a plan in the works for a cultural heritage district in the Castro. A cultural district designation, however, does not come with a lot of enforceable protections, Frye said. Even having National Register status doesnt legally prevent a property owner from bulldozing a historic home, provided theres no federal money involved. The lack of regulations can make it more likely that property owners will buy into the concept. But are these designations coming too late to slow the loss of historic sites? Its never too late to start, according to Koskovich and others. And in terms of timing, its easy for minority communities to become complacent when times are good, said Fred Baumer, a docent at the GLBT History Museum in the Castro. It took us a while to wake up and say, Hey, these places are closing. Landlords are using this for other stuff. And you reach a critical mass at some point and its like the whole neighborhoods changed, Baumer says. And then its too late. We take the status quo for granted. We get lazy. Then we wake up in the morning and suddenly its gone. While not all historically significant spots disappear as a direct result of gentrification, most are in what have become high-demand neighborhoods for development. The Mission alone has lost the former home to La Rondalla restaurant (closed in 2016), Esta Noche nightclub (2014) and the Lexington Club (2015), which was considered the last lesbian bar in San Francisco. Sites where even the original building is gone or threatened include the Grubstake diner on Pine Street, the Lucky 13 bar in the Castro, and the Metropolitan Community Church site in the Castro. The plan for the church site is to save the front of the building and construct the development behind it, a move that historian Koskovich calls facade-ism. And the Old Crow, along with the Rainbow Tavern, once occupied a portion of the two-story Dean Building at 950 Market St., a popular area with transgender performers and sex workers. Crews were preparing the now-vacant site last week to begin building a modern new hotel-condo project. City efforts up until recently have been limited by what communities and property owners have been willing to do themselves and, often, support financially. The standards for preservation in general, according to Koskovich, favor sites related to wealthier communities and patrons who can afford to restore and maintain the physical structure. That means largely only sites that involve architecture and financial stability will be remembered, Koskovich said. Much LGBTQ culture revolved around social spots that were never architecturally significant: bars, nightclubs and other places hidden from a judgmental public. Of San Franciscos 273 designated landmarks and 13 landmark neighborhoods, only three are directly related to LGBTQ history: the Twin Peaks bar, for having been the first recorded gay bar in the country with clear windows; the Jose Theater, founding site of the Names Project quilt; and the Castro Theatre. Neither the Castro nor Polk Gulch is a landmark neighborhood. According to Frye, a hearing in September will determine whether a fourth site will get landmark status, the building at 524 Union St. that had been Paper Doll, which opened in 1949 as the first restaurant in San Francisco that catered to an LGBTQ crowd. The lack of recognition for LGBTQ historical sites isnt limited to the city. There are no San Francisco sites listed in the National Register of Historic Places directly associated with LGBTQ culture or history. In fact, of the 10 LGBT sites with national historic status in 2017, including Stonewall National Monument and the Gerber House in Chicago, none is west of the Mississippi River. While its unclear what good the cultural districts will do in the long run historical sites inside the cultural district could still be razed and paved over the practical motivation for now is to make sure sites of historical significance are not overlooked when new development is proposed, according to Frye of the Planning Department. It allows the community within the district to identify what it values, Frye said. And by doing that, because we have better information about what the community values, when a potential conflict arises, were able to intervene. If there wasnt already enough incentive to preserve the history and culture, the current political climate in Washington, D.C., should add urgency to the effort, according to Kathy Amendola, an LGBTQ rights activist who sits on multiple boards and committees related to the citys cultural districts. It takes more than a flag hanging outside a bar to be a heritage area, says Amendola, who also operates Cruisin the Castro Walking Tours. We recognize that we have to raise more education and awareness about our cultural heritage, and we have to preserve it. So our flags will never be removed and our identity will never be erased. Spud Hilton is an editor of The San Francisco Chronicles Travel section. Email: shilton@sfchronicle.com Twitter and Instagram: @SpudHilton I was recently out at San Francisco International talking about the best things about each Bay Area airport-- which include SFO, Oakland and San Jose. I rattled off what I think are the highlights of each airport which you can check out in the short video above. For SFO, I love the fact that you can get just about anywhere in the world on a nonstop or one stop flight from the "Gateway to the Pacific." Oakland is best for great deals, especially and most recently to Europe. Mineta San Jose's modern terminals, easy parking and proximity to the red-hot Silicon Valley are strong points. A man was driving his pregnant wife to a scheduled cesarean section last week in Southern California when immigration officials arrested him leaving the woman to drive herself to a hospital and have the baby on her own, according to the woman and the familys legal representative. The couple had pulled into a gas station in San Bernardino on their way to deliver their child. While they were there, Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers came to their car and asked for identification, said the woman, Maria del Carmen Venegas. Her husband, Joel Arrona-Lara, 35, did not have his drivers license with him, and officers arrested him, she said. The arrest quickly provoked outrage and fed into a growing anger toward ICE and the Trump administrations sweeping immigration policies, which have expanded who is considered a priority for officers to arrest. In recent months, immigrants have been arrested while delivering a pizza or watering the lawn. On Saturday, ICE said in a statement that Arrona-Lara, a citizen of Mexico, was in the United States illegally. Later, the agency released a second statement saying he was wanted for homicide in his home country. Mr. Arrona-Lara was brought to ICEs attention due to an outstanding warrant issued for his arrest in Mexico on homicide charges, the statement said. Emilio Amaya, the director of the San Bernardino Community Service Center who is acting as Arrona-Laras legal representative, contested ICEs account. He said the paperwork from ICE does not mention homicide. According to the family, he has no criminal history in Mexico, and we did our own search through Mexican channels and we didnt find anything under his name, Amaya said. No matter what the warrant was for, Amaya said, that does not explain why officials appeared to disregard Venegas medical condition. Even though the officers knew that she was pregnant, they didnt really care and they still proceeded to do the arrest, he said. So for us, on top of the unjustified arrest is the fact that they compromised the well-being of the child and the wife. The couple have four children and now five: While her husband was in custody, Venegas gave birth to a boy. Jacey Fortin and Sarah Mervosh are New York Times writers. California Highway Patrol ANTIOCH (BCN) At least two people - including a child - were taken to hospitals and another person arrested following a multiple-vehicle collision on eastbound state Highway 4 in Antioch on Saturday night that closed the freeway for an hour, according to the California Highway Patrol. The collision was first reported between the 1997 Ford pickup truck and a 2002 Dodge van at 10:35 p.m. just west of the Lone Tree Way and A Street off-ramp. RIO VISTA (BCN) The Rio Vista Bridge, which connects Solano and Sacramento counties on state Highway 12, is closed until 3 a.m. Monday to allow for ship traffic to pass beneath the drawbridge. Motorists are advised to take alternate routes between Solano and Sacramento counties. Because of an ongoing problem with the mechanism that raises and lowers the bridge, the drawbridge is remaining temporarily raised to allow for large ships to sail under the bridge. The mechanism was damaged earlier this month, according to a Caltrans news release. The damaged motor gearbox has been sent to a manufacturer to expedite repairs. As an interim measure, Caltrans contractors are using equipment to manually raise the bridge, and the agency is coordinating with the U.S. Coast Guard to coordinate a schedule to lift the span for maritime traffic. Motorists can take the following alternate routes while the bridge remains closed: State Route 113 and Interstate 80 for detours involving Sacramento County origins and destinations. State Routes 12, 4 and 160 along with segments of Interstates 80 and Highway 680 for other detours. Highway 12 from Interstate 5 is also closed to westbound motorists until 5 a.m. Monday because of construction. Bay Area motorists can check 511.org for more information on traffic alerts and detours. Additional routes around the traffic restrictions are the ferries on state Highways 84 (Real McCoy) and 220 (Ryer Island). More information is available on the Cal Trans Delta Ferries website at www.dot.ca.gov/d4/deltaferries 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. By Bay City News Dutch Bros Coffee will host a fundraiser at its Napa, Fairfield and Vacaville locations on Monday to benefit the family of California Highway Patrol Officer Kirk Griess, who was killed in a crash on Interstate 80 earlier this month. The company will donate $1 from every drink sold Monday to Griess' family. Griess, 46, and the driver he pulled over, Jaime "Jim" Bueza Manuel, were killed when a Chevrolet pickup struck them on the shoulder of eastbound I-80 near Manuel Campos Parkway in Fairfield around 9 a.m. Aug. 10. The pickup driver, Sean Matthew Walker, 36, of Rocklin, was charged Thursday with two counts of gross vehicle manslaughter and one count of reckless driving. Walker posted bail and is scheduled to be arraigned in Solano County Superior Court on Sept. 12. A GoFundMe account has been established by Manuel's friend Rick Naval to pay for returning Manuel's remains to his family in the Philippines. As of Sunday morning, $14,210 has been raised. The fundraiser is available at https://www.gofundme.com/6q4dd-funeral-funds Dutch Bros said in a Facebook post that it also will contribute to the fundraiser for Manuel's family and give customers during Monday's giveback event the opportunity to contribute to the GoFundMe account. 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 man was seriously injured early this morning when he was hit by a car in the 300 block of Jones Street, San Francisco police said. The driver of that car didn't stop, and police were searching this afternoon for the vehicle, described as an orange or metallic red car, likely with front-end damage. The victim was crossing Jones Street between Eddy and Ellis Streets about 3:13 a.m. today, and the car that hit him was headed south. The victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, said police Sgt. Michael Andraychak. The car that hit the man was last seen headed south on Jones Street. Anyone with information about this hit-and-run is asked to call the SFPD's tip line at (415) 575-4444, or text to TIP411 and begin the text with "SFPD." 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 driver was arrested for allegedly taking part in a sideshow that blocked traffic on the Bay Bridge this morning, the California Highway Patrol said. Before the incident, the CHP received multiple calls of cars engaged in sideshow activity in the Oakland area. Vehicles were then seen stopping traffic on the bridge west of Treasure Island heading into San Francisco, according to a video shot by a passerby around 10:45 a.m. that was posted on social media. Multiple CHP units responded and took the driver of a white Mustang into custody on suspicion of reckless driving and exhibition of speed. His vehicle will be impounded for 30 days, the CHP said. Officers cited drivers of other cars that were stopped for mechanical violations, and one vehicle was impounded because the driver was determined to be unlicensed. In a Facebook post, the CHP thanked members of the public for reporting the alleged crimes and providing them with video evidence. Copyright 2018 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Two people were seriously injured and a third suffered a minor gunshot injury Saturday night when an unidentified suspect fired a weapon into a gathering at San Pablo Park in Berkeley, police said. Police responded about 5:30 p.m. Saturday to the park, between Mabel and Park Streets in south Berkeley, to find that three men had been hit by gunfire. Preliminary indications are that a man got out of a car and fired on a group of people in the park, but few details were available Saturday night. Two of the injured men were taken to a local trauma center; one was listed in critical condition and the other in stable condition, Berkeley police said. A 30-year-old Sunnyvale woman was killed Saturday afternoon on Highway 101 in unincorporated Santa Clara County near Morgan Hill when the motorcycle the woman was driving slid under the wheels of a big-rig trailer, the California Highway Patrol reported. Vanessa Rodriguez was driving a Honda motorcycle south on 101 north of Cochrane Road about 2:20 p.m. Saturday when, while "lane-splitting" between traffic lanes, she struck the rear of a big-rig driven by Pedro Vargas, 62, of Bloomington, near San Bernardino. The CHP said Rodriguez and the motorcycle became entangled in the rear axles of the trailer, and were dragged about 300 feet by the truck, moving at about 15 mph. It took the big rig 300 feet to stop, the CHP said. Rodriguez was pronounced dead at the scene. Work is expected to start this fall at the Port of Oakland on the first building of the Seaport Logistics Complex, aimed to boost the port's capacity for distributing freight, port officials said Friday. Site preparation by Illinois-based CenterPoint Properties on a 440,000-square-foot, $52 million facility at Maritime and 14th streets will start in October, port officials said in a news release. Construction is expected to begin next spring, and the building is expected to open by summer 2020. The CenterPoint facility will anchor the Seaport logistics center, envisioned as a transload center where shippers can prepare cargo for transfer from ships to trucks or rail. A man was seriously injured early Saturday morning when a car in the 300 block of Jones Street hit him, San Francisco police said. The driver of that car didn't stop, and police were searching Saturday afternoon for the vehicle, described as an orange or metallic red car, likely with front-end damage. The victim was crossing Jones Street between Eddy and Ellis streets about 3:13 a.m. Saturday, and the car that hit him was headed south. The victim was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, said police Sgt. Michael Andraychak. The car that hit the man was last seen headed south on Jones Street. Three people were wounded in separate shootings on Friday in Oakland, police said. A 36-year-old woman was shot in the leg in Oakland's Eastlake district, according to police. The incident happened at 2:30 a.m. Friday in the 600 block of International Boulevard. The woman made it to a hospital on her own and was in stable condition Saturday morning. Police said there were two suspects, but no arrests have been made. On Friday night, a man was in critical condition after suffering two gunshot wounds to the back at 9:30 p.m. in the 700 block of 29th Street, police said. The victim's age was not available. At 2 p.m. Friday, a male victim was wounded when he was shot during an attempted robbery in the 1400 block of Madison Street, according to police. He was taken to a hospital and was in fair condition, police said Saturday. His age was not available. No suspects in the Friday shootings were in custody, police said. Some mosquitoes, dead birds and chickens have recently tested positive for West Nile virus, the Contra Costa Mosquito and Vector Control District reported Friday. Mosquitoes from Oakley, Martinez, Holland Tract, Discovery Bay and Quimby Island, along with dead birds from Brentwood, Discovery Bay, Antioch and Concord and chickens from Holland Tract, have tested positive for the virus. This is the first West Nile virus activity of the year in Antioch, Quimby Island and Concord, the district reported. Ten groups of mosquitoes, eight dead birds and 13 chickens from Contra Costa County have tested positive for the virus, according to the vector control district. The Orinda City Council on Tuesday will discuss potential options for a future ordinance to regulate gun storage within the city. The Orinda discussion, which is also expected to touch on gun sales regulations, was prompted by a group of residents who asked the city to consider gun storage and sales ordinances after the neighboring town of Moraga approved an ordinance in February requiring owners of firearms to store them securely or use approved gun locks on them when they weren't being used. A city staff report acknowledges an ordinance would be largely symbolic, in that police officers would not go house to house to check gun storage compliance. However, police called to a home for other reasons could consider gun storage compliance as part of another investigation. 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. KABUL Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has called for a conditional cease-fire with Taliban insurgents for the duration of the Eid al-Adha holiday. President Ghani made the announcement Sunday during celebrations of the 99th anniversary of Afghanistans independence in the capital Kabul. The cease-fire should be observed from both sides, and its continuation and duration also depends on the Taliban stand, Ghani stressed. He added that, should the Taliban agree, it will start Monday. He said he hoped it could even last until Nov. 20, which will mark the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammed. The Taliban did not immediately respond to the announcement. The government had previously announced a cease-fire with the Taliban during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in June. The Taliban accepted that three-day cease-fire, but later rejected a call by the president to extend it. President Ghanis call comes just a day after the leader of the Afghan Taliban said that there will be no peace in Afghanistan as long as the foreign occupation continues, reiterating the groups position that the countrys 17-year war can only be brought to an end through direct talks with the United States. In a message released on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha holiday, Maulvi Haibatullah Akhunzadah said Saturday that the group remains committed to Islamic goals, the sovereignty of Afghanistan and ending the war. The Taliban have resurged in recent years, seizing districts across the country and regularly carrying out large-scale attacks. This month, the Taliban launched a major assault on the city of Ghazni, just 75 miles from Kabul. Afghan security forces battled the militants inside the city for five days, as the U.S. carried out air strikes and sent advisers to help ground forces. The battle for Ghazni killed at least 100 members of the Afghan security forces and 35 civilians. NICOSIA, Cyprus An Egyptian man who hijacked a domestic EgyptAir flight in 2016 and ordered it to land in Cyprus has been extradited to his homeland after giving up a drawn-out legal fight, authorities said Sunday. Seif Eddin Mustafa was transferred to Egyptian custody and flown back to Egypt late Saturday, where prosecutors are investigating the incident. Cyprus Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou said Mustafas extradition went ahead after he dropped a three-year court battle to avoid extradition. Mustafa had challenged extradition on the grounds that he could face torture or an unfair trial in Egypt. Mustafa hijacked the EgyptAir flight in March 2016 using a fake suicide belt and diverted it to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. A six-hour standoff with Cypriot authorities on the tarmac of Cyprus Larnaca airport ended peacefully after all 72 passengers and crew were released and Mustafa was arrested. Mustafa told a Cypriot court that he meant no harm to anyone. He said he was trying to expose what he called the fascist regime of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and to help secure the release of 63 female dissidents being held in Egyptian prisons. But prosecutors said Mustafa admitted in a written statement to police that he only carried out the hijacking in order to reunite with his Cypriot family, from whom he had been estranged for 24 years. Mustafa dismissed the statement as misinformation by the Cypriot and Egyptian governments put out to discredit him. Doros Polycarpou, with the migrant support group KISA that assisted Mustafa, said the 62-year-old decided of his own accord to return to Egypt and face prosecution there, despite fears that he may be tortured. Egypt and Cyprus have a 1996 extradition treaty. Polycarpou said Mustafa told his legal team he was willing to risk suffering mistreatment at the hands of Egyptian authorities because he could no longer take his holding conditions in Cyprus prison. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights blocked Cyprus from extraditing Mustafa until it could rule on whether doing so would violate its prohibition on returning individuals to countries where they may face torture or inhuman treatment. Menelaos Hadjicostis and Samy Magdy are Associated Press writers. SEOUL Lee Soo-nam was 8 the last time he saw his older brother. Sixty-eight years ago this month the boy watched, bewildered, as his 18-year-old brother left their home in Seoul to escape invading North Korean soldiers who were conscripting young men just weeks after invading South Korea to start the Korean War. An hour later, his brother, Ri Jong Song, was snatched up by North Korean soldiers near a bridge across Seouls Han River. Lee always assumed Ri died during the three-year war that killed and injured millions before a cease-fire in 1953. But Ri survived the war, living in North Korea. The brothers, now 76 and 86, will be among hundreds of Koreans who will participate, starting Monday, in a week of temporary reunions of divided families. Many have had no contact with each other since the war cemented the division of the Korean Peninsula into the North and South. The elderly relatives gathering at North Koreas scenic Diamond Mountain resort know that, given the fickle nature of ties between the rival Koreas, this could be the last time they see each other before they die. Im nervous. Im still unsure whether this is a dream or reality. I just want to thank him for staying alive all these years, Lee said in an interview in his home in Seoul, not far from where he last saw his brother. Since the end of the war, both Koreas have banned citizens from visiting relatives on the other side of the border or contacting them without permission. Nearly 20,000 people have participated in 20 rounds of face-to-face reunions since 2000. No one has had a second chance to see their relatives. This weeks reunions come after a three-year hiatus during which North Korea tested three nuclear weapons and multiple missiles that demonstrated the potential of striking the continental United States. At past meetings, elderly relatives some relying on wheelchairs or walking sticks have wept, hugged and caressed each other in a rush of emotions. According to Seouls Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, more than 500 separated South Koreans and their family members will cross the border for two separate rounds of reunions between Aug. 20 and 26. The limited number of reunions cannot meet the demands of divided family members, who are now mostly in their 80s and 90s, South Korean officials say. More than 75,000 of the 132,000 South Koreans who have applied to participate in reunions have died, according to government figures. Kim Tong-Hyung is an Associated Press writer. 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Augustine Nadrea, of the 100th block of Treadwell Avenue, allegedly passed a note to a teller demanding money at Citibank at 445 Forest Ave. on Saturday, said police. However, he was arrested at the scene before any money was handed over, police said. Nadrea was unarmed, and no one was injured in the incident, police said. WASHINGTON - U.S. officials are concerned that not only Russia but also China, Iran and North Korea will try to meddle in this fall's midterm elections, national security adviser John Bolton said Sunday. "Well, I can say definitively that it's a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that we're taking steps to try and prevent it," Bolton said on ABC News' "This Week" when asked about a tweet by President Donald Trump saying that "all the fools" are focused on election meddling by Russia alone. "So all four of these countries, really." Bolton said elections are not the only potential targets for hostile international hackers, and he cited a "whole range of vulnerable systems" in both the government and the private sector. "What we want is not war in cyberspace, we want peace in cyberspace," he said. "And to do that, I think you need to establish structures of deterrence so that our adversaries who have conducted cyber operations against us or who are contemplating it come to understand they will pay a much higher price if they do that than if they simply refrain." Bolton is currently in Israel. He is set to head to Geneva and Ukraine for talks on Russia, North Korea and Syria. He also said Sunday that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will travel to Pyongyang "soon" for his fourth visit in recent months, one of them a secret trip disclosed after the fact and the last two accompanied by a handful of journalists. Bolton said the administration expects that Pompeo will meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who did not grant an audience to Pompeo during his last visit there. The purpose of the visit will be to urge progress on negotiations to denuclearize North Korea. Bolton said the administration expects it to happen within a year. "This is to fulfill the commitment that Kim Jong Un made in Singapore, that he had previously made to the South Koreans, and to move on with the process of denuclearization (that) remains our highest priority," Bolton said, referring to the June meeting between Trump and Kim in Singapore. (c) 2018, The Washington Post. Carol Morello wrote this story. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- After years of planning by the MTA, Staten Island's newly redesigned express bus network has now officially been put in place. The complete overhaul of the network has resulted in 21 new express bus routes designed to increase the speed and reliability of your daily commute. The previous express bus network was primarily developed in the 1960s and 1980s. The borough's demographics and reliance on certain routes have shifted in the decades since then -- and increased congestion, particularly in Manhattan, had made bus trips long and sometimes unreliable. The previous routes were at points circuitous, traveling away from the intended destination, and have been redesigned to offer more direct service with fewer stops. The new network offers riders more direct routes and less frequent stopping. However, to make room for those efficiencies, some riders have to catch the bus at a new stop that's farther away than their previous one. The redesigned network improves end-to-end run times by reducing time spent on congested Manhattan streets, reducing the number of turns at intersections and increasing the miles spent running non-stop on highways. FINDING YOUR NEW BUS Express buses connecting Staten Island and Manhattan are now given "SIM" designations, as opposed to the previous "X" designations. The table accompanying this report shows what new routes you may consider taking based on your previous route. BUS SCHEDULES The MTA recently unveiled the peak, off-peak and weekend schedules for 19 of the 21 new express bus routes. OFF-PEAK AND WEEKENDS As part of the new network, the MTA has expanded off-peak and weekend service for Staten Islanders traveling to and from Manhattan. The SIM2 will travel to downtown Manhattan, with the SIM1C, SIM3C and SIM4C traveling to midtown. PARK-AND-RIDE ROUTES The MTA is operating an experimental express bus service from two of Staten Island's Park-and-Ride locations. The buses will pick up passengers at the Staten Island Mall and South Beach (Father Capodanno Boulevard) Park-and-Rides, and will offer them direct, non-stop service from the Park-and-Ride location to Manhattan. The SIM4x and SIM8x will leave from the Staten Island Mall, traveling to Downtown and Midtown, respectively. The SIM5x and SIM6x will leave from South Beach, traveling to Downtown and Midtown, respectively. COMMUTER CONCERNS In the weeks leading up to the new system, riders have continued to voice various concerns regarding the changes to their daily commute. South Shore residents have complained that the late-night weekday service in their area has been cut, with residents only being able to travel as far south as the Eltingville Transit Center after 8:15 p.m. Out-of-borough commuters traveling to the College of Staten Island have expressed concerns that reductions in early morning and late night service could impede their ability to get to school and/or work on time. Riders have also noted large gaps in service during transitions from peak to off-peaks hours, and vice versa. The MTA announced during last week's live Twitter chat with New York City Transit President Andy Byford that it will make temporary changes as needed to the new express bus schedules, with a "major schedule revision" slated for January 1. WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED We'll be checking on how riders are adjusting to the system on Sunday, so be sure to turn to SILive.com for new information later on. In addition, we'll be providing live updates on the first weekday morning commute with the new bus network on Monday, starting at 6:30 a.m. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- The second annual African Arts & Cultural Festival kicked off on Saturday at the Petrides School in Sunnyside. This year's festival hosted more than 50 vendors and local businesses and represented 40 countries. Vendors sold herbal ointments, hair products, jewelry, dashikis, and more. Several food and arts and crafts vendors were also present. The festival features a wide variety of visual and performative arts as well as food and African music. Artists featured include Mmah Doumbouya of Guinea, Esraa Warda of Morocco, Dancing Dolls of Liberia, Bonkandeye Dance Group, Salieu Susso & Jaliya Kafo Ensemble of Gambia. The festival is organized by the Nigerian American Community Association, a group that was founded to address the needs of New York City's African immigrant community. Co-organizers Olu Ajayi and Oumie Ceesay came up with the idea to put together an annual festival after they attended FESTAFRICA in Maryland. Bobby Digi Olisa, one of three Democrats running for the North Shore Assembly seat, was in attendance. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Having immigrated to the U.S. when she was 18-years- old, Imelda Castillo Hernandez, 46, of Castleton Corners was an undocumented immigrant for many years. "It was out of desperation that she fled her home country of Mexico and left everything behind to seek a better life," wrote her daughter, U.S. Army Sgt. Keila Nayeli Manchester in a letter to the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services. "Mexico was facing a severe economic depression compounded with the high rates of poverty and crime level. Her only chance for a life of better quality, as well as to raise a family or any life at all was to come to the United States," added Manchester, who is stationed in Hinesville, Ga. She said her mother loved America so much she allowed her two oldest children -- Manchester and Frank Hebreo, a U.S. Marine -- to join the military. "I am extremely [proud] of them that they are serving their country. As a Mexican immigrant, I am proud they are serving the U.S. Armed Forces," Hernandez told the Advance. Although she has never been detained and has a clean criminal record, Hernandez has recently felt "unsafe" in the country she loves, due to the current administration's crackdown on undocumented immigrants. DEPORTATION WOULD HAVE 'SHATTERED DREAMS' "Being deported would have shattered my children's dreams as I am the only support they have in this country," said Hernandez, who lives with her three youngest children and husband, Artemio Rosales. "I would also leave behind my three young children who are citizens. Our lives would be filled with sadness being separated from each other. It's painful just to think about being away from my children. I always want to be by their sides," she added. Said Manchester in her letter: "I am worried that my own government, rather than a foreign enemy, can separate my beautiful family." Hernandez applied for her green card during President Donald Trump's political campaign. But she feared the red-tape and paperwork would take a longtime to process. LITTLE KNOWN U.S. POLICY However, she was able to take advantage of a little known U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services policy. And her dream came true: She obtained her green card last week due to her children's military service. "Not a lot of military service members, let alone the public, know about this law," said Cesar Vargas, a Mexican immigrant who became New York's first undocumented attorney. "In military law and immigration law, the Department of Defense recognized that that U.S. Service members have to go through rigorous training and career that requires their full attention. They want to make sure those service members who have undocumented family members are able to adjust their immigration status in a way that they don't have to leave," added Vargas, who is co-director of the Dream Action Coalition. He helped guide Hernandez through the process of obtaining her green card. "This provision cured the illegal entry and allowed Imelda to get her green card here. ...We had to establish to the federal government that the deportation would cause great hardship on her children, particularly those in the military," said Vargas. The green card has allowed her to no longer live in fear. "I feel super happy especially now that I have peace of mind to walk without fear or worry," said Hernandez. However, she said she won't feel truly free "until I am a U.S. citizen." FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER 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! Barrington, 36, predicts the on-demand market will grow. "More and more people are moving online, there is an emerging marketplace with people moving online to make their purchases," he says. 7-Eleven chief executive Angus McKay says the convenience chain was attracted by Tipple's rapid growth. "We have been pretty clear we would like to sell alcohol but we are not legislatively enabled to," he says. "We like the last mile delivery platform Tipple has." McKay is keeping an eye on the movement in the sector. "There are various players in this space, it seems to be heating up," he says. "We think this is a model that satisfies the consumers need for immediacy." Matt Walsh, director of Tipple, Ryan Barrington, founder and chief executive of Tipple and Angus McKay, chief executive of 7-Eleven. The lure of capital and expertise Just last month competitor BoozeBud sold up completely to ZX Ventures, a subsidiary of brewing giant AB InBev which also owns CUB. Co-founder Andy Williamson launched BoozeBud in 2014 when he couldnt find the craft beers and boutique wines he wanted in any bottle shop. Williamson says there is plenty of opportunity as the alcohol sector has low online penetration rates which lag other retail industries. "We've set about building our business as quickly as possible, but it takes a lot of time and investment to build a large nationwide e-commerce network," he says. "The deal with ZX gives us the capital and international expertise to accelerate those plans and the development and growth of our e-commerce platform and logistics network." Alex Gale of Boozebud, Rodolfo Chung of ZX, Andy Williamson and Mark Woollcott of Boozebud (left to right). Williamson won't reveal how much ZX paid for BoozeBud or the startup's turnover but an industry insider estimates revenue was about $10 million last year. BoozeBud will continue to operate as a standalone business and the founders have committed to running it "for the long term". Were passionate about supporting Australias diverse and growing alcohol market and helping customers discover better drinks, Williamson says. Staying independent One alcohol delivery business that is staying independent is Beer Cartel which was founded in 2009. Beer Cartel offers same-day delivery and, while it does not have on-demand delivery yet, co-founder Richard Kelsey, says it is something the startup will look at down the track. "We know particularly in the craft beer space consumers want to buy independent beer from independent retailers," he says. "There were a few buyouts that happened last year of brewers like Pirate Life and Four Pines and each time they got bought there was huge negative response to it. Our standpoint has always been to support independents. A lot of people want to buy independently brewed beer from an independent retailer." Beer Cartel turns over more than $2 million a year and Kelsey can see why corporates are snapping up the startups. "It's a sector that does have the opportunity to become a bit more consolidated and, as well as that, the guys who have been bought up so far all have capabilities that the likes of Woolies and CUB don't have in these areas," he says. "It's all about online and need-it-now delivery." Richard Kelsey and Geoff Huens of BeerCartel are staying independent. Time is the new currency Gary Mortimer, associate professor in marketing and international business at the Queensland University of Technology, says part of the attraction of alcohol-delivery startups is that laws regulating alcohol are very complicated and differ greatly from state to state. Australia has the worlds longest single electricity grid, running more than 5000 kilometres from Port Douglas in Queensland to the bottom of Tasmania providing power to the majority of the country. Its importance goes unrecognised by Australians despite the role it plays in millions of lives every day, but a single determined hacker can take it all away. The east coast's electricity network is the longest on earth, and a potential target for hackers. Last year, hackers disabled millions of computers through the WannaCry and Petya cyberattacks, taking down the UKs national health service and Ukraines electricity networks respectively. EY listed cyber attacks as the single largest threat to the worlds power and electricity companies worldwide. The Turnbull government is considering waiving the debts of former students who were conned by dodgy private colleges during one of the country's biggest education rorts. Eighteen months after scrapping the botched vocational loan scheme known as VET FEE-HELP, the Coalition is working on measures to wipe the debts of those who had loans issued without their knowledge when they enrolled in a course. Careers Australia was one of the most aggressive recruiters of VET students. Credit:Eddie Jim The move comes after Fairfax Media revealed that the federal Student Loans Ombudsman had received more than 5000 complaints in nine months from former students claiming they had been ripped off by dodgy providers or substandard training. The highest proportion of complaints came from people who say they were never told they would incur a debt if they signed up to a course, or who only discovered once they lodged their tax return that a VET FEE-HELP study loan had been taken out in their name without their consent. Sydney University is targeting India as it tries to diversify its international student market and take advantage of the subcontinent's unease about Donald Trump's America and Brexit. With Australia on the verge of overtaking Britain as the second-most popular destination for international students after the US, the university is positioning itself as a politically stable option. Sydney University Vice Chancellor Michael Spence said overseas students were worried about uncertainty in the US and Britain, as well as "cultural backlash of a kind that hasn't been as strong here in Australia". "It no longer being immediately obvious that you might want to go to the United States or the United Kingdom, Indian students are looking a bit more imaginatively at other English language speaking jurisdictions," Dr Spence said. Group of Eight universities, such as Sydney, have traditionally attracted Chinese students, who prefer highly ranked universities and living in cities. The Indian market is more price sensitive; its students tend to choose cheaper, regional universities. The collapse of a "stalwart" Melbourne book distributor has stranded hundreds of tiny publishers and self-published authors in the lead-up to the Christmas buying spree. Dennis Jones & Associates has been the go-between for small publishers and self-published authors and bookstores since its formation in late 1991. It ceased trading last week and voluntarily appointed a liquidator. Dennis Jones (left): a "passionate supporter of the small press network". Credit:Graham Tidy "It's been pretty devastating for many," said Juliet Rogers from the Australian Society of Authors, which is representing the interests of their members who are creditors as the liquidators arrange the orderly wind-up of the company. "As I understand it from the liquidators there are 1300 creditors, most of whom will be tiny publishers and self-published individual authors. There should be more random breath tests in the ACT to curb the effects of alcohol, while cannabis criminal diversions should be expanded to all illegal drugs, according to the territory's peak body for the drug and alcohol sector. The ACT Drug Strategy Action Plan was recently released for community feedback and highlighted 39 priority actions for the territory. There have been calls to expand cannabis diversions to all illicit drugs. Among actions considered in the draft plan was raising the legal purchase age for tobacco, considering the need for additional smoke-free areas and looking at ways to reduce the promotion of drinking at sporting events. In response to the draft strategy, peak body for the drug and alcohol sector ATODA made a range submissions covering illicit drugs, alcohol and tobacco. Blake Corney was in his element, singing along to his favourite music as he travelled with his family to a toy shop. Tragically, they never made it. Blake Corney plays with his toy trains. The four-year-old died at the scene of a multi-vehicle crash on the Monaro Highway near Mugga Lane on July 28. The four-year-old boy died in a crash involving a truck and three cars on the Monaro Highway at Hume, near Mugga Lane, on July 28. Now, the Canberra community is rallying around Blake's parents, Camille and Andrew, and his two-year-old brother Aidan. Climate change is expected to considerably change Australia's marine environment with fish stocks moving further south as ocean temperatures rise, a new CSIRO report warns. Report co-author Dr Alistair Hobday said that global warming could have positive and negative impacts on fish numbers around the country. "The southeast of Australia will experience ocean warming that will allow some fish species to move south into temperate waters," he said. "That could have, for example, a positive impact for recreational tuna fisherman. "The negative impact would be that southern fish species are pushed too far south, meaning their numbers will decline because they will not have a suitable habitat to survive in." Jae's surfing was interrupted. But not for long. "I was back surfing like two weeks later," he said. ''We still surf after school. I surfed at Lighthouse Beach yesterday. It's where I surf most often." His dad, Alex Waters, is a lifetime surfer. "It does scare me but it's just what we do and we'll keep surfing. We have had a few people saying we are crazy but from a surfer's point of view it is everything for us. It's meditation or what we do to relax on the weekend or after work." His wife, Gina, interrupts. "I hate it though," she said. "I make them call me when they come in. We are proud of all three of the boys, we couldn't be prouder." Cooper, 17 at the time, said: "It's good to see they get recognition for what they did. In their situation I would like to think I would have done the same thing but it's a really scary situation so it's hard to say how I would react. "I surf now as much as I possibly can. I still surf as per normal. My mum always worries. I think all mothers always worry. I guess the less she knows the better." You can't swipe if your iPhone screen is covered in blood Dr Martha Knox-Haly was trying to swipe her phone to call 000 but the blood dripping from her head wound was smearing the screen. Dr Martha Knox-Haly, to receive the Star of Courage. Credit:Steve Siewert She'd intervened on arrival at work in South West Sydney after seeing a colleague being attacked in her car by a man. The man, the colleague's husband, dragged her from the vehicle before stabbing her several times with a knife. Dr Knox-Haly, an organisational and clinical psychologist who also practices martial arts (Wing Chung Fu), yelled at the offender to get away and advanced towards him. It was as she pushed him away that she was struck by the knife. She knelt to assist her colleague as the offender got in his car and drove towards them at speed. The car twice hit the colleague before the driver sped off. Both women were taken to hospital and survived. Dr Knox-Haly today receives the Star of Courage (SC), the highest award announced in this year's Australian Bravery Decorations by Governor-General, Sir Peter Cosgrove. She said: "I didn't know the guy had a knife. Would that have changed what I did? Frankly, no. She would have died because he was about to stab her through the heart. [In my job] I have to think through scenarios like this but I never thought that I'd be in one like this. "Prior to this time I had worked very happily in male-dominated work forces. I was never scared of men or saw them as a risk. What does happen now is that if a stranger comes up to me in a public place, I will automatically assess. What would I have to do if that person suddenly took a violent action against me? "The way in which it has affected me is that the perpetrator was from my demographic. White, middle classed, educated and from the Inner West. After this occurred I was shocked by the number of people who assumed the perpetrator was a refugee. "I was shocked that it was someone as educated as the perpetrator, because they held a doctorate, and I assumed domestic violence is the resort of people who are inarticulate and who have issues. This person had every opportunity in their life. I do forensic assessments with people in prison and I can see how people end up perpetrating the kind of things they do but this person had everything going for them. "It affected my husband very badly. He needed counselling. It affected my child because he saw that I had been injured. He became incredibly clingy and emotionally susceptible." Her martial arts training came into play on the day. "You are trained to keep your head while there is violence around you and keep functioning through pain. That's how I was able to keep on responding to what the situation needed even after I got stabbed. "The problem was that all the blood was going over my iPhone When you get liquid on an iPhone you can't do the swipe function so that was really annoying because I was trying to use the phone to call for an ambulance. "What was also annoying was that I kept on saying to people 'Call an ambulance. Get moving.' No one was particularly listening to what I was saying and I can understand why because I had blood all over my face. I would have looked pretty awful. I was getting really shirty that nobody seemed to be listening." Her message is, if you see somebody in trouble and there's no possibility of getting the police to the scene quickly, then intervene, do something about it. Don't walk past. She cried when she heard she was recipient of the Star of Courage. "I felt overwhelmed. I am still coming to terms with it. I'm still a bit stunned because, you know, I'm an ordinary person. I don't go and have tea and scones with the Governor General." An award after 166 years of waiting In terms of loss of life, it was Australia's most devastating flood. On June 24, 1852, the Murrumbidgee River was swollen to its highest recorded level, inundating the first established township of Gundagai. Over a period of three days and two nights some 89 people lost their lives. A bronze statue in Gundagai honours the actions of Wiradjuri men Yarri and Jacky Jacky during the great flood in 1852. Credit:NSW Aboriginal Land Council It would have been more but for the actions of James (Yarri) McDonnell and John (Jacky Jacky) Morley. From their bark canoes they worked, sometimes by moonlight, to rescue about 68 locals before the torrent could snatch them away. A monument was erected on McDonnell's grave in 1990. The gold lettered inscription states 'In memory of Yarri, hero of Gundagai' an Aboriginal man who rescued 49 people'. Then last year, the 165th anniversary of the flood, saw the unveiling of an impressive statue depicting the twosome's heroism. It even gets a 'five' on Tripadvisor. Further recognition now comes today for the two men with award of the Bravery Medal (BM) in the annual Australian Bravery Decorations. The citation states: 'Mr McDonnell observed many people climbing out of their lofts and clinging to their rooftops. A number of people had already fallen into the water and were swept away. 'He paddled his bark canoe to those who were stranded avoiding the debris as he went. The next day he was joined by Morley who arrived with a larger canoe enabling them to rescue several people at a time.' Posthumous awards are not uncommon but recognition for endeavours mid-nineteenth century, are well, less so. The Secretariat of the Governor General said it received nominations for the two which were processed according to normal procedure and were presented to the Australian Bravery Decorations Council earlier this year. "The Council was provided with a considerable amount of evidence and, after careful consideration, awards at the level of Bravery Medal were recommended," a spokesman said. "The late Messrs John Morley and James McDonnells next of kin were contacted and the awards were accepted." Sonia Piper, 74, an elder in Gundagai said ''somewhere along the line'' she was related to Yarri and Jacky Jacky. She said: "Being an Aboriginal person myself, I am very proud knowing what these men did for our community. Something should have been done years ago. This is part of our history and the details about it should be taught in schools. To me this was the start of reconciliation Yarri and Jacky Jacky didn't care what the colour was of those they rescued." But don't blame the flood and the loss of life as an act of God. An account in the Sydney Morning Herald of July 5, 1852, notes: ' After the township was laid out, application, on the ground of its being exposed to floods, was made to the government to shift the site, and allow those who had purchased allotments to change them, but they were sternly refused.' Australia's push for a Sydney woman to be made a saint has received a significant boost from the Vatican. Eileen O'Connor has been officially declared a 'Servant of God', the first major step towards sainthood. It comes six months after Archbishop of Sydney Anthony Fisher began the formal process for the beatification of Eileen, who founded the religious order Our Lady's Nurses of the Poor. A painting depicting Eileen O'Connor, who helped found the Brown Nurses. Credit:Peter Rae The order - also known as the 'Brown Nuns' because of their distinctive brown cloaks and bonnets - was committed to caring for the sick and dying poor in their homes, inspired by Eileen's own family's financial struggles after her father's death. It was heartwarming to see the generosity of the farming community in the delivery of truckloads of much-needed feed for desperate NSW farmers. However, given the utterly barren state of pasture and without any sign of rain or relief, and with the feed only going to last for several weeks perhaps it would be better for farmers and livestock if the returning empty trucks took the cattle and sheep to the green pastures of Western Australia as temporary assistance, rather than convoys of trucks returning with feed every couple of weeks. - James Cheeseman, North Ryde Some American friends who we met in Europe during the second Bush presidency assured us during introductions that they did not vote for Bush. They didnt need to do so regarding the present incumbent! In a recent email expressing concern for our worsening drought was an attached copy of The Washington Posts view on the matter: Australia struggles with a devastating drought while the government ignores climate change. You would think the Government would be enthusiastically joining the effort to reduce carbon. Our friends signed off: Could it be your guy is trying to be like ours? - Brian Holley, Yamba Incoherent and incompetent What a bunch of incoherent incompetents we have running the country (PM approves radical NEG redesign in bid to prevent backbench revolt, August 18-19). Apparently the worst drought in 120 years and all they can argue about is the so-called NEG and who is going to be PM. Not who is going to run the country, because no one seems to care about that. - Ingrid Strewe, Bronte Malcolm Turnbull has attempted and failed to lead the country to the future. Now others are seeking to lead the country back to the past. Our country, going forward, does not deserve such behaviour by our leaders. Perhaps it is now time to change our leader. Mr Turnbull, please, give us the opportunity and call an election for the sake of the future of our country. - Rita McGuire, Windsor Downs It amazes me that people express concern about the role of climate change in bushfires and the planet theyll leave for their children and grandchildren when the issue that should be foremost in our minds is the prime ministers political future. - John Ziegler, Bellevue Hill Thanks Tony, filling in for Bill so well while he was on hols. You actually did a better job on Malcolm than he ever did. Maybe we should consider a redundancy/replacement? - Bruce Mumford, Moss Vale Dear Jacinda: If Peter gets the job can I stay at your place? - Jim Doyle, Concord West Disappointed for my country As a 14-year-old Australian living overseas, formerly of Pemulwuy, NSW, I am writing on behalf of the next generation to express my disappointment in our government in their decision to not reduce the amount of carbon emissions we create. I think they should reduce the emissions to help the environment and to prevent global warming. As a high school student I am worried about the future when I become an adult. I wish our government would think of the future further than the next election. - Daniel Curtis, Yokohama (Japan) Lets never forget that Bob Brown (Negative outcome starts with NEG, Herald August 18-19) made his name by opposing the one source of renewable energy capable of providing base and peak demand. Because of his efforts, Tasmanians now enjoy the right to burn brown coal in the LaTrobe Valley via Bass Link. Yet, despite his efforts, hydroelectricity still supplies half of Australias renewable electricity and remains capable of supplying energy to meet peak demand. His piece remained silent on the major source of emissions-free electricity generation globally nuclear and on the energy source that has allowed the US to meet its emissions reduction target gas. Instead, he launched a tirade on the alleged fossil fuel subsidy to the mining industry. The reason primary industries (yes, farming, forestry and fishing also enjoy the same concession) dont pay the diesel fuel tax is that they predominantly dont use the roads that it is meant to fund. Their use of diesel fuel is in the paddocks, forests, waters and mines where they conduct their activities. Brown also deliberately confuses the timber industry with land clearing. The latter is a source of carbon emissions while the former sequesters carbon that would otherwise be emitted to the atmosphere. -David Cromarty, Lavington A sacred place I agree with George Miller ( A shame on us all: locals resist South Head plans, August 18-19) about the threat posed to South Head, which was and is a sacred place for Sydneys Eora. Writing in February 1790, Navy Lieutenant Daniel Southwell, sent by Governor Arthur Phillip to the lookout post at South Head, was told by Nanbarry or Nanbree, the young nephew of the Gadigal leader Colebee, that it was a place of Aboriginal combats and a burial ground. More about this can be read in the Southwell Papers in State Library. - Keith Vincent Smith, Artarmon Perhaps Leunigs excellent cartoon, The Awfulisers (Spectrum, August 18-19), could have been more usefully juxtaposed with the report on the proposed commercialisation of South Head national park as our nearly time-expired Lib/Nat government continues to scrape away at the bottom of the barrel. - David Baird, Burradoo Two years, surely Now let me get this straight (Quinn had left hard years behind, August 18-19). A home invader armed with offensive weapons (knuckledusters) injures two innocent people in their own home. They chase him outside and retaliate and they are charged with murder. I suppose if they had taken the samurai sword to this violent individual inside the house they would not even be charged but would rightly claim self-defence. However, by chasing the individual outside and delivering the fatal blow theyre charged with murder. At a maximum they should be charged with manslaughter and be out immediately on bail. Unless Im missing something here, a two-year sentence, suspended, and perhaps some community service might be the proper penalty. Lastly, McKee is now permanently off the streets and wont be terrorising any further innocent parties. - Michael Clarey, Pyrmont Rusty bridge I well remember travelling over the ill-fated Morandi Bridge in Genoa last year. At the time I noted with dismay the rusty iron poles attached to concrete blocks along the roadway. It looked like it was cobbled together as a temporary measure many years ago, but never improved on. Sadly, it seems I might have been correct in my assessment. - Meg Brownscombe, Carlingford 39 years wrong NRL boss Todd Greenberg claims that his late grandfather, Dr Len Greenberg, was the first medical officer to the NSW Rugby League (No hiding from footy fans for NRL boss, August 18-19). Todds claim is 39 years wrong. Dr F. Quirk was appointed the first chief medical officer for the NSWRFL on April 23, 1913, only to be replaced a year later by Dr Selwyn Harrison. When Dr Harrison enlisted in 1916, he was replaced by Dr J.P. Tansey. Dr Greenberg was not appointed to the League until June 3, 1952, when he replaced the late Dr H.C. Finn. - Paul Miles, Gorokan A prayer for Aretha In 1990 I announced over lunch that my favourite song by Aretha Franklin was I Say a Little Prayer For You. (Franklins great gift, August 18-19). My parents exchanged one of those looks. I now realise that the song was probably playing at my conception. Is this an example of genetic imprinting? - Jo Rainbow, Orange I would like to highlight a lesser known song of Arethas (Five must-hear Aretha tracks, August 18-19): The First Snow in Kokomo, a celebration of family life written by her. - Geoffrey Watts, Sawtell Yes, she was great, but Aretha never recorded The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face (Letters, August 18-19). That was the incomparable Roberta Flack. - Rowland Banks, Surry Hills Prematurely super Police on Sydney's northern beaches were forced to call for reinforcements from the air wing, dog squad and strike force Raptor, which targets outlaw motorcycle gangs, to disperse more than 250 drunk people from separate wild house parties on Saturday night. More than 100 intoxicated youths were moved on from an "out-of-control" house party at Charles Street in Freshwater after northern beaches police were called to the residence about 8.15 on Saturday, police said. A further 50 people were moved on from the nearby Freshwater Reserve. About an hour later, police were called to a second wild party at Kooloora Avenue in Freshwater, metres away from the first party. A 28-year-old Brazilian woman was arrested during the second incident after allegedly throwing a bottle at police officers. Some parts of Sydney cannot handle extra development, says the NSW Premier, Gladys Berejiklian. But she is not saying which. Ms Berejiklian on Sunday visited first home buyers in the inner-western suburb of Marrickville, touting the benefits of a tax break she introduced last year. But she also addressed another leg of her housing policy, which has been to increase the supply of new dwellings across Sydney, even as that has risked a political backlash in areas. Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Treasurer Dominic Perrottet meet with first home buyers Emma Di Francesco and Daniel George in Marrickville Credit:Jessica Hromas The challenge for government is to find that right balance and that's why it is important for us to prove what we call mixed housing opportunities, for extra new housing in areas which can obviously sustain that, Ms Berejiklian said. Perfect weather has helped Brisbanes 2018 Ekka to record its biggest attendance figures since 2011. In 2011, there were 413,000 Queenslanders who made their way to Sideshow Alley as they shook off bad memories of that year's traumatic floods. This year 415,000 people came through the gates for the 141st Ekka over the 10 days and ate 220,000 dagwood dogs. The Brisbane Ekka 2009 opened today at the RNA Showgrounds. Credit:Scott Casey That official crowd is up 20 per cent from the 2017 attendance figures, which were impacted by a savage strain of flu. A 31-year-old Brisbane entrepreneur who developed a smaller, stronger and cheaper screw to fix fractures has been given the approval to sell it in the US. Dr Chris Jeffery can now add US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for his medical micro screw to his list of accolades, which includes the 2018 QUT Young Alumnus of the Year and the 2017 Lord Mayor Young Business Person of the Year. Dr Chris Jeffery, founder of Field Orthopaedics which has won FDA approval for a tiny screw that it claims allows faster and more accurate repairs of delicate hand fractures. Field Orthopaedics chief executive Dr Jeffery said the response to the product in the US was overwhelming and proved Australian products were not just competitive, but also world leading on the international stage. Our initial orders of the product from 15 US states have been encouraging and we expect that by the end of the calendar year we will easily make back our initial investment, he said. Bus passengers and motorists from Kenmore, Riverhills and Fig Tree Pocket can save 10 minutes from trips to and from the city after $60 million improvements to the Inner City Bypass were opened on Sunday. A wider, four-lane section of the Inner City Bypass near the entrance of the Legacy Way tunnel now connects Brisbanes western suburbs to the city. Inner City Bypass is widened from three lanes to four lanes and a new ramp is added to the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital to get more access to buses. The ICB has been widened from three lanes in this section, after Brisbane City Council sold it to Transurban in March 2017, meaning ratepayers contributed just $4 million to this project. A new bus ramp was added from Bowen Bridge Road up to the Inner Northern Busway to improve access between the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital and the Inner City Bypass and Bowen Bridge Road. The state government says it will put safety first as it pays thousands of dollars to households to install solar-electric systems on their roofs, in a $1.2 billion election promise made on Sunday. Premier Daniel Andrews said up to 650,000 home owners across the state are expected to take advantage of the plan, which would see upfront costs of $4450 for a medium-sized solar system paid by the state government, allowing families to save up to $890 a year on their electricity bills. Half the money would then be repaid, interest-free, to the government over a four-year period while the household benefited from lower power bills. Families living in their own homes worth up to $3 million and with annual household incomes of less than $180,000 would be eligible for the payments, with the government saying 90 per cent of home owners in the state would be able to apply. The state Labor government looks set to splash millions of dollars of taxpayers money to buy industrial peace on Melbournes bus networks. An 11th-hour intervention by the government last week averted a 24-hour shutdown of many of the citys public buses, with 1000 drivers working for operators Transdev and CDC preparing to walk off the job. A thousand bus drivers were preparing to walk off the job before the peace deal. Credit:Daniel Pockett It is understood that the peace deal came at the cost of millions of dollars from Treasury coffers over the next three years. All the parties to Wednesday's last-minute deal to avert the strike were tight-lipped about what exactly was put on the table. A reward of $500,000 has been offered to help investigators solve a ''heinous'' sexual attack on a woman who was dragged into a North Melbourne laneway before she was bashed, kicked and sexually assaulted five years ago. Crime Stoppers Victoria have released a rare re-enactment video of the attack in the hopes that the vision may jog the memory of potential witnesses from the night. This is the first time police have produce a re-enactment in over a decade. Police believe they are close to making an arrest, but are hoping to hear from four men that Chloe may have spoken to as she made her way north up King Street after her first night out as a new mother, then aged 22. Keith Power and Roslyn Wilson, grew up in the Mernda area, were among thousands to ride the first public trains to Mernda in 59 years. Credit:Meredith O'Shea Its hard to imagine today, but in the 1950s, Roslyn Wilson would hail trains to pick her up at Stopping Place Number 9, across the road from her house in Plenty Road, south of Mernda. There was no platform the driver of the train would let down a ladder for you to climb up. Mrs Wilson remembers her mother, Lyla, running out to collect day-old chickens sent up on the train. Dorothy Street, Ashfield. Credit:Google Maps A home in Perth's east has been burned to the ground following an argument between two men on Saturday evening. It's understood a fight broke out at the home on Dorothy Street in Ashfield at around 6.20pm. During the argument, a fire started at the house. A 32-year-old man was injured during the blaze, and emergency services attended the address. The ACT government will bring in new reforms designed to tackle problem gambling by the end of the year, in the wake of an auditor-general's report into the gaming industry. While the details are still to be ironed out, ACT attorney-general Gordon Ramsay revealed amendments to current regulation would be finalised by December. Attorney-General Gordon Ramsay will introduce reforms to the ACT's gaming regulations by December. Credit:Rohan Thomson That includes updating the definition of problem gambling to leave less room for interpretation by club staff, Mr Ramsay said. Clearer guidelines will be developed to help staff spot the signs of gambling harm, considering the impact on families as well as individuals, and both club employees and board members will undergo "better training more often", he said. More than $3.8 million the ACT branch of the CFMEU received from the Dickson land swap deal helped the union cover $1.5 million in legal bills stemming from the Trade Union Royal Commission. The union also incorrectly reported $2.9 million worth of donations in 2015, as proceeds of the unions investment in the IQ Apartments, rather than a donation from the club, as was actually the case. CFMEU ACT secretary Jason O'Mara said the union's financial reporting error was being sensationalised. Credit:Fairfax Media But union secretary Jason O'Mara, who was not involved in the reporting at the time but has since investigated the issue, said the errors in reporting came about due to differing interpretations of the union's accounting advice from one year to the next. The Canberra Times has previously revealed the Tradies Club gave the union $3.8 million in proceeds from the controversial Dickson land swap deal with the ACT government in 2014-15. One Liberal estimated the chances of a spill at 50:50 but said the odds are increasing not only because of the dispute over the National Energy Guarantee but the wider argument over the governments direction. No formal headcount has been conducted and supporters of the Prime Minister say that he still enjoys the support of the party room, but several days of frenetic phone calls among MPs has agitated the party and destabilised the government. The fact that Mr Dutton took 24 hours on Friday and Saturday to respond to leadership speculation led MPs to predict he would move at some point if Mr Turnbull could not manage the discontent in the party room. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, flanked by potential leadership rival, the Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Turnbull brought cabinet ministers to Parliament House on Sunday night to discuss policy over dinner, ahead of a formal meeting on Monday night to finalise a package to go to the party room on Tuesday. One supporter of Mr Dutton noted the ministers tweet of support for Mr Turnbull on Saturday morning had avoided any pledge not to challenge the leader. He supports the Prime Minister 'till the moment hes challenging him, the MP said. Loading With the situation fluid on Sunday night, some Liberals said a leadership change was increasingly likely while others flatly said they had no interest in a spill. One Liberal disputed claims that marginal seat MPs were in favour of a shift to Mr Dutton, pointing to several in NSW and Victoria who would fare better at the federal election with Mr Turnbull as leader. In a federal Liberal party room of 85, those supporting Mr Dutton estimate he has a majority comfortably above the 43 votes required to win. While he is the candidate of the partys conservative wing, he has also won over some moderates who are despairing at Mr Turnbulls leadership. Some of the conservative members of the Coalition backbench already were campaigning against the National Energy Guarantee, but Mr Turnbulls sudden change to the policy on Friday alienated more of his colleagues. Malcolm likes to talk about how he runs good cabinet processes, but that was a captain's call and it was desperate, said one of his cabinet ministers. Rather than fix the problem of the NEG he has exacerbated it. The NEG is now dead. The Prime Minister is expected to take the revised NEG to the Coalition party room for approval on Tuesday. It doesnt matter what the NEG turns out to be now, said a conservative Liberal. Its broader than that its now about our direction, our base, and our personnel. Mr Turnbull has lost ground to Opposition Leader Bill Shorten on key measures of voter satisfaction, narrowing the gap between the two men when Australians are asked who they prefer as prime minister. The fall in support for the Coalition was matched by a boost for minor parties including Pauline Hansons One Nation rather than a gain for Labor, which saw its primary vote increase marginally from 34 to 35 per cent. Support for the minor parties rose from 15 to 19 per cent while the Greens saw an increase in their primary vote from 12 to 13 per cent. A narrow majority of voters back the NEG, with 54 per cent in favour while 22 per cent are against it and 24 per cent are unsure. Support for the flagship energy policy is strongest among Coalition voters, at 64 per cent, but the scheme is also backed by 59 per cent of Labor voters and 44 per cent of Greens voters. Even so, 56 per cent of all voters believe the government is doing too little to address climate change amid the argument over the scale of the cuts to greenhouse gas emissions in the new scheme. In a sign of discontent among conservative voters, the number who believe the government is doing too much on climate change has jumped from 7 to 13 per cent of all respondents since Fairfax-Ipsos asked the same question three years ago. The slump in the Coalitions primary vote is expected to trigger a storm over the findings, as Mr Turnbull and his allies warn against placing too much faith in the polls. The poll is robust and reliable, conducted to the same methodology as used for the Fairfax-Ipsos polls since 2014, said Ipsos public affairs director Jess Elgood. As with our previous polls in 2018, our sample of 1,200 means that the aggregate findings are statistically reliable to plus or minus 2.9 per cent, at the 95 per cent confidence level. The result in two-party terms, with the government lagging Labor by 45 to 55 per cent, is based on preference flows at the last election. The result was the same when respondents were asked how they would allocate their preferences, a dramatic gain for Labor compared to the dead heat for the two major parties on this measure in the last Fairfax-Ipsos survey. In a personal blow to Mr Turnbull that matches the shift against his government, his support as preferred prime minister has fallen from 57 to 48 per cent over the last month, while Mr Shorten has improved his standing from 30 to 36 per cent. The gap between the two leaders as preferred prime minister has shrunk to 12 percentage points, the closest it has been since May last year. The proportion of voters who approved of Mr Turnbulls performance fell from 55 to 46 per cent over the last month while those who disapproved rose from 38 to 48 per cent. Mr Turnbulls net approval rating the difference between those who approve and disapprove of his performance plunged from 17 percentage points last month to minus 2 points in this poll, his first negative result since last November. Lynn Simpson returns to Canberra bracing for reminders of the ordeal that changed her life after she became a whistleblower. The insignia of the Australian government on the doors of its agencies is a cue for some memories she would rather not dwell on, reminding her of the fallout that saw the former Department of Agriculture public servant leave the national capital last year. Dr Simpson became an accidental whistleblower, and grew isolated in her own workplace, after someone at the department in 2013 uploaded to its website a report she wrote - not meant to be public - documenting the appalling conditions for Australian animals on live export ships. Lynn Simpson is a whistleblower who raised the alarm about mistreatment of animals by the live exports industry. Credit:Jamila Toderas "I lost my entire social network and had to build an entire new one," she said. The Herald acknowledges there are, rightly, concerns within the Liberal and National parties with the National Energy Guarantee and other policies. Indeed there should always be sensible and rational discussion about significant issues affecting all Australians. No collection of individuals can succeed as a group without at least outwardly displaying a semblance of unity and competence. Any acceptance of this has become merely peripheral for some members of the federal Coalition government. But many government MPs appear to have lost the ability to canvass their concerns in private with the leadership group. The discontent being expressed publicly by some in government, led by former prime minister Tony Abbott, is at fever pitch. They are tearing each other apart. Just four weeks ago, we wrote that the next election was shaping up as a contest, with our July Fairfax-Ipsos poll indicating voters remained unconvinced by Opposition Leader Bill Shorten and the prospect of a Labor government. Indeed, we gave Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull credit for managing the flaring tensions between left and right in his own party. But what we also described last month as Abbotts guerilla campaign against the PM now resembles open warfare. On Sunday afternoon, Abbott tweeted: Emissions targets that made sense three years ago when all countries were supposed to be in Paris and we didnt need policy change and wouldnt face economic dislocation do not make sense now. @TurnbullMalcolm take note. Abbott will surely have a spring in his step this morning after reading the results of todays Fairfax-Ipsos poll. The two party-preferred vote has swung significantly to Labor, taking it out to a 10 percentage point lead over the Coalition, 55-45. Its important to note that while the primary vote for the Coalition has plunged 6 points in the past month, Labor has only picked up one of those points. The poll shows primary votes for the Coalition of 33, Labor on 35. Trying to interpret polls and their fluctuation is far from an exact science, but a couple of ideas emerge. Malcolm Turnbulls government has been singed by a few sparks and the odd flare-up in recent months, but it is now about to be consumed by a sudden bonfire, in the words of a cabinet minister. A growing number of Liberals over recent days has despaired of Turnbulls leadership and lined up to ask Peter Dutton to challenge him. And Dutton is now preparing to, according to his supporters. Dutton is the candidate of the Liberal conservatives faction, and he might not end up as the winner. Partly that depends on Turnbulls tactics from here on. And partly it depends on whether Julie Bishop, the leading moderate alternative, decides to run. Point Piper is home to more multi-billionaires than any other suburb in Australia. Credit:James Alcock It was the August winds, not the winds of change, that buffeted the Sydney harbourside mansions of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's home turf, as leadership speculation swirled in Canberra. The palm and pine trees of the 39-hectare Point Piper peninsula swayed in the breeze, as a blustery sou-wester caused white caps to interrupt the water views to Shark Island. The camellias and magnolias were in bloom and the solar panels on the Prime Minister's north-facing property gleamed in the sunshine as the issue of energy, yet again, threatened to topple Turnbull from the top job in the country's conservative party. But the people of Point Piper, 2027 remained largely unwavering in their support for their neighbour. For most, any talk about the National Energy Guarantee (NEG) is just a lot of hot air coming out of Canberra. "I think it is ridiculous," said one neighbour, who lives two doors from the Liberal leader but wanted to remain anonymous. "To be so close to an election and talking about a leadership challenge show these people are not thinking about the best interests of the political party or the community it's destructive for our democracy." The Turnbull government is contemplating a new plan to accelerate small business corporate tax cuts as a face-saving way of killing off its increasingly unpopular signature economic policy within days. The Coalition's $35.6 billion bid to lower the tax rate for Australia's biggest businesses heads the list of government legislation before the Senate on Monday, but is widely expected to be voted down by despite months of negotiations with an unconvinced crossbench. Coalition MPs - including potential leadership rival Peter Dutton - have openly called for Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to reconsider the package if the Senate rejects it. The government's chief negotiator, Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, has been strong defender of the package, arguing it was the right economic policy for the country despite being a tough sell politically. Under legislation that has already passed Parliament, small firms earning up to $50 million will have their tax rate lowered to 27.5 per cent this year. Should the larger package die in the Senate this week, the Coalition is considering bringing forward a further reduction for small businesses to 25 per cent, which is not scheduled to come into force until 2026. Labor has claimed such a move would cost the budget $1.8 billion over four years. A controversial academic at Sydney's most prestigious university is under official investigation for defending a "death to Israel" badge worn by a Stalinist former colleague with whom he recently visited North Korea. University of Sydney senior lecturer Tim Anderson who has raised eyebrows with his support for Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad and North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un came to the defence of ex-Sydney University staffer and current PhD candidate Jay Tharappel, who tutored human rights in the same department. Sydney University lecturer Tim Anderson, left, and former tutor Jay Tharappel during their recent trip to North Korea. Credit:Facebook Mr Tharappel was photographed in a jacket bearing what Dr Anderson described as a "Yemeni (Ansarallah) badge" that said "Death to Israel". In a tweet and Facebook post, Dr Anderson defended Mr Tharappel as a "great friend of Syria" and a "Syrian solidarity activist" who was "under attack from zionists" and "friends of Israel". United Nations: Kofi Annan left the United Nations far more committed than it had been to combating poverty, promoting equality and fighting for human rights - and until his death on Saturday he was speaking out strongly for nations working together to solve problems and worried about the rise of nationalism. As secretary-general of the United Nations from 1997-2006, Annan saw as his greatest achievements the programs and policies he put in place to reduce inequality within and between countries, to combat infectious diseases and to promote human rights and protect civilians from war crimes including genocide. He launched the UN Millennium Development Goals at a summit of world leaders in 2000 to cut extreme poverty by half, promote equality for women, ensure every child has a primary school education, reduce maternal and child mortality, and halt the spread of AIDS - all by 2015. Those goals - only a few of which were fully achieved - were succeeded by an expanded list of UN Sustainable Development Goals for 2030 that adds issues such as climate action, affordable and clean energy, and promoting peace and justice. The updated list is a major focus of the UN's current agenda. "It immediately brings back the whole concept of the 'enemies list' under President (Richard) Nixon," Mullen said, adding that it was also reminiscent of the anti-communist crusade led by Joseph McCarthy in the 1950s. In an appearance on Fox News Sunday, Mullen said that while Trump has the authority to pull the security clearances of former national intelligence and other officials, his doing so is "incredibly problematic." Washington: Mike Mullen, a retired US Navy admiral and former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on Sunday that President Donald Trump's threat to revoke the security clearances of former CIA director John Brennan and other former officials who have been critical of him is a sign that the president is "creating a list of political enemies." Brennan has been among the president's most vocal critics. Mullen said on Sunday that he does not support the former CIA director being as critical of Trump as he has been but believes that Brennan and other former officials should not have to fear that they will be stripped of their security clearances because of their criticism. "I am concerned about the whole issue of free speech. And as long as John is not revealing classified information that he shouldn't, then I certainly think he has a right to speak," Mullen said. Earlier, 14 former CIA directors and deputy directors from Republican and Democratic administrations, as well as a former director of national intelligence, called Trump's revocation of Brennan's clearance a blatant attempt to "stifle free speech" and send an "inappropriate and deeply regrettable" signal to other public servants. As criticism of Trump's move has intensified, the president has showed no signs of backing down. According to senior administration officials, the White House has drafted documents revoking the clearances of other current and former officials who Trump has demanded be punished for criticising him or playing a role in the investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election. Others on Sunday morning rallied to Trump's defense. Washington: The White House's top lawyer has co-operated extensively with the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 US election, sharing detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the inquiry into whether US President Donald Trump obstructed justice, the New York Times has reported. Citing a dozen current and former White House officials and others briefed on the matter, the newspaper said White House Counsel Donald McGahn had shared information, some of which the investigators would not have known about. White House counsel Donald McGahn has been talking to the Mueller investigators. Credit:AP McGahn voluntarily co-operated with Muellers team as a regular witness, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the White House asked many staffers to do. He was not subpoenaed nor did he speak to them under any kind of proffer or co-operation agreement. The person also said he did not believe McGahn provided Mueller with incriminating information about Trump. McGahn provided the facts but nothing he saw or heard amounts to obstruction of justice by Trump, the person told Reuters. In most species, they found a single active LIF gene. But in the modern African elephant - as well as in the manatee and the rock hyrax, both distant cousins of the elephant - they found between seven and 11 additional copies of the LIF gene, called pseudogenes. In every species but the elephant, these LIF genes and their extra duplicates were inactive: That is, they didn't turn on or off to produce proteins. If they had been active in the past, their function had been phased out. In the march of evolution, they had fallen by the wayside and been left for dead, like vast stretches of every species' genomes. But in the elephant, Lynch and his colleagues saw that one of the additional copies of the LIF gene was active. When the researchers induced cell stress - a step that would have led to cancer in most other animals - a widely recognized tumor-suppressor mechanism turned on. That, in turn, activated the LIF6 pseudogene. Stirred to life, the zombie gene proceeded to carry out its grim program, entering the internal machinery of damaged cells and ordering them to kill themselves. In elephant tissue, the damaged cells turned themselves inside-out, and cancer was thwarted before it could gain any momentum. And when the researchers suppressed the action of the LIF6 "zombie gene," they found that stressed cells were more likely to form tumors in elephant tissue. Sao Paulo: The Brazilian government will send troops to the border town of Pacaraima after angry residents there attacked Venezuelan migrants as retribution for the robbing and beating of a local restaurant owner. Pacaraima is a major border crossing with Venezuela, where economic and political turmoil has driven tens of thousands to cross into Brazil in recent months. After attacking the man on Friday night, groups of angry demonstrators roamed the town hurling rocks at the migrants, setting fire to their belongings and forcing them to flee their makeshift camp. Temporary shelter for Venezuelan migrants in Boa Vista, capital of the state of Roraima, Brazil. Credit:Agencia Brasil "The Brazilians came running with sticks and bottles. They burnt all our things, even the children's clothes," said Joana Perez, a 24-year-old mother holding a six-month-old baby. "I'm scared. I don't know where to sleep tonight or if there will be another attack. We lost everything. All I have is my ID card." On the reverse of this circa 1940 to 1950 picture is printed: The Old City Hall, Georgetown, S.C. This unique building was erected in 1843. On front of the building has been placed a bronze plaque commemorating the first landing of Lafayette in 1777 on North Island. This image shows a hydraulic drill being used to create excavation boundaries for the forthcoming Giant Magellan Telescope. More than 4,000 cubic meters of rock will be removed in preparation for the pouring of the concrete foundations for the giant scope and its support buildings. The construction of a gigantic new telescope has kicked into high gear in the Chilean Andes. The Giant Magellan Telescope (GMT) has now entered the "hard-rock excavation" phase, which will make way for the huge structure's foundations, leaders of the $1 billion project announced on Tuesday (Aug. 14). Construction services company Mineria y Montajes Conpax (known as Conpax) is performing the work at the telescope project site, which is part of Las Campanas Observatory in northern Chile, Giant Magellan Telescope Organization (GMTO) Corp. representatives said. [Space.com in Chile: Giant Magellan Telescope Groundbreaking Travelogue] Hydraulic drilling and hammering of the site is expected to take five months. The foundations that will be poured in after that will support the weight of the telescope, which is estimated to be about 1,600 metric tons (1,700 tons), according to a GMTO statement. The telescope is expected to begin operations in 2024. "In total, we expect to remove 5,000 cubic meters [6,500 cubic yards], or 13,300 tons, of rock from the mountain and will need 330 dump-truck loads to remove it from the summit," GMTO Project Manager James Fanson said in the statement. That newly initiated digging work will go about 23 feet (7 m) down into the rock at Las Campanas, GMTO representatives said. When it's completed, GMT will have seven primary mirrors, which together will have a combined light-collecting surface that's 82 feet (25 m) wide. These mirrors will be supported by a steel structure, which will be placed on the concrete pier that Conpax's current excavations are paving the way for. The 21.3-foot-wide (6.5 meters) mirror of one of the Magellan telescopes at Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. Photo taken Nov. 11, 2015. (Image credit: Mike Wall/Space.com) Las Campanas sits beneath very dark and clear skies, which provide exceptional views of the universe. GMT team members believe this location, paired with the telescope's technology, will allow astronomers to make groundbreaking discoveries in a variety of fields, from cosmology and astrophysics to astrobiology. "The GMT mirrors will collect more light than any telescope ever built, and the resolution will be the best ever achieved," project team members wrote on the GMT website. "This unprecedented light-gathering ability and resolution will help with many other fascinating questions in 21st-century astronomy," the team members added. "How did the first galaxies form? What are [the] dark matter and dark energy that comprise most of our universe? How did stellar matter from the Big Bang congeal into what we see today? What is the fate of the universe?" GMT is named after Ferdinand Magellan, the Portuguese sailor whose voyages expanded European understanding of the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. According to a 2013 GMT video, the project will similarly explore the "uncharted seas" of space. (It's worth noting, however, that local Pacific Island peoples possessed extensive navigational knowledge of the region, so Magellan was far from the first person to explore those seas. GMT's deep exploration of the cosmos will certainly be more groundbreaking.) Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter@salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. T he thing about living in London is there's rarely an opportunity to see the stars. With light pollution and regular pollution, there is a permanent barrier between our eyes and the night sky that surrounds us. As this week marks 50 years since the Apollo 11 mission, and half a century since Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the moon , we've rounded up the best places in the world to star gaze. From New Zealand to Cornwall, below are some of the world's darkest places that offer the perfect vantage point to see Earth's original night lights. Aoraki Mackenzie International Dark Sky Reserve, New Zealand Unsplash In 2012, this 4,300 square kilometre area was designated at the southern hemisphere's first and only dark sky reserve - one of only 12 in the world. A dark sky reserve is where light pollution is strictly controlled in the area to allow astronomical research to take place. To enter the reserve, you can take a star gazing tour that starts at just 23 - and watch the Milky Way dance before your eyes. Find out more here, mackenzienz.com/ Atacama Desert, Chile Pixabay The Atacama Desert - one of our must-visit October destinations - is also the home of South America's largest public observatory. Learn about the Zodiac, look through telescopes and just bask under the light of the glistening stars. Namibrand reserve, Namibia Unsplash The NamibRand Nature Reserve in south Namibia is the only International Dark Sky Reserve on the African continent, meaning it is one of the best places in the world to star gaze. Around 1,000 Namibian school children visit the reserve each year to view the lights - which boasts stunning views of Jupiter and Saturn - and tourists can also get in on the action. Find out more here, namibrand.com/ Mauna Kea Volcano, Hawaii Unsplash This dormant volcano is the highest peak in Hawaii and offers a free star gazing session on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 7pm to 10pm, weather permitting. Telescopes are provided for an evening watching the stars. Find out more here, ifa.hawaii.edu/ La Palma, Canary Islands Shutterstock The Canary Islands are home to the 'clearest skies in Europe', so much so that they are protected under the Law for the Astronomical Quality of the IAC Observatories. The low level of light pollution in the area means that the islands are home to three starlight reserves - with La Palma and Tenerife being the home of the reserves. To find out more, visit hellocanaryislands.com/ Uluru, Australia Unsplash Australia is known for its expansive outback and Uluru sits right in the middle. Take a journey across the Milky Way and spot the famed Southern Cross while looking out for shooting stars. Find out more here, australia.com/ Sagarmatha National Park, Nepal Unsplash Watch the stars fill the sky over Mount Everest in what could possibly be the most epic star gazing spot in the world. Mountainous Nepalese villages are the ideal spot for star gazing as they are a far cry from light pollution. Jasper National Park, Canada Shutterstock The second-largest dark sky preserve in the world, Jasper National Park in Canada is the ideal spot for a bit of star gazing. October is the perfect time to celebrate the skies with the annual Jasper Dark Sky Festival. Find out more here, jasper.travel/ St Just in Penwith, Cornwall, UK Unsplash The south-western tip of the UK is free from light pollution, making it the perfect close-to-home spot to look at constellations. Refuge des Merveilles, Tende, France Unsplash/Denis Degioanni Denis Degioanni, the photographer of this pictures, said: I took this shot in a middle of the vallee des merveilles in the south Alps. I couldnt see anything neither hear a single sound, everything was so quiet and so dark. But gradually I started to hear a breath, a whisper. And I think for the first time in my life I heard the stars sing. Yosemite National Park, United States Unsplash Bring along a star chart and search for constellations in one of the US' most beautiful national parks. P olice have discovered hundreds of cannabis farms in London over the last few years, official figures show. One cannabis farm is found every two days in the capital, according to the Scotland Yard data. The full scale of cannabis farming operations have been revealed in figures obtained via a freedom of information request. The figures show that from January 2016 to April 2018, the police uncovered 314 cannabis farms, with instances of more than one farm appearing on the same street. There were 143 found in 2016, 134 in 2017 and in four months of 2018, 37 were found. Cannabis farms, or factories, were found in every single borough of London, with a high amount being found in south London. Loading.... A policeman who works in Croydon, Sutton and Bromley also revealed that he has encountered a serious problem of Vietnamese teenagers who are being forced to work in such farms. Detective Superintendent Lee Hill said there is a human, emotional level to recovering cannabis farms because he is often finding children being exploited and in dangerous situations. Vietnamese boys and young people, he found, are being asked to watch over properties in case of police raids or rival gangs arriving. He said: Ive recovered children who are being exploited. They are there to protect the properties. He added this was a big concern to police, saying that often they are encountering victims of modern slavery and the operation of farms is destroying young peoples lives. Of all the boroughs, Croydon had the highest number of cannabis factories, with 30 in total being found. DSI Hill explained that the number in Croydon was high for a number of reasons. Police raid large cannabis farm in Bexley / Twitter/BexleyMPS Its large population the biggest in London was one, as well as the area having gang and violent activity in it. He said: I think we can make links to gang activity. Some of the recoveries are within gang territory areas. A lot of it does comes down to organised criminality. He added: Theres a link between violence and drugs, we do recognise that drugs underpin some of that. He said: When we look [at the number of] these raids, probably two thirds comes from information that has been generated by Crimestoppers and community intelligence. From there, DSI Hill said the police are really proactive and robust in their approach to uncovering such farms. After Croydon, the borough with the second highest number was Lewisham, 18, then Newham, with 17 and then Lambeth, with 16. By contrast, the boroughs with the lowest number of factories were jointly Wandsworth and Kensington and Chelsea, with only two. Addresses across the capital where factories were found have also been revealed by the police. Busy high streets such as Kingsland Road, in Dalston and Streatham High Road, in Streatham were among the 292 streets the police said factories were found. DSI Hill explained that, historically, farms were uncovered in industrial estates but the police is finding it more common to find them in attics, or residential properties. The numbers of factories found do appear to be falling, though. In 2016, there was 143 found and in 2017, this number fell to 134. Although it is too early to tell about the numbers in 2018, DSI Hill says this is because locating and uncovering cannabis farms is a priority for the police. A professionally lit and irrigated cannabis farm in Woolwich Peter Reynolds, from CLEAR Cannabis Law Reform said he believed the number of farms in London would have been higher. Mr Reynolds posed this may be because the police are not as tough as they once were in terms of cracking down of cannabis possession, saying they were disinterested. He added it was right the Metropolitan Police were discovering farms and prosecuting though. He said: Theres just as many, if not more [farms] then there has been. Its absolutely right that the police should crack down on major operations. These are operations ran by wicked people that are associated with violence and trafficking. Its a good thing to see operations like that stopped. Mr Reynolds argued it would be safer for all parties concerned if the distribution of cannabis was done legally. B oris Johnson's official Facebook page is host to hundreds of Islamophobic messages, it was reported today. An investigation into online abuse carried out by the Sunday Times uncovered calls to ban Islam, deport Muslims and "vile" attacks on London mayor Sadiq Khan. A source close to the former foreign secretary said he "totally condemns" the "hateful" views posted by a small minority of respondents. Mr Johnson is currently facing an internal Conservative Party investigation for an article he wrote for The Daily Telegraph likening women who wear the Muslim full face veil to "bank robbers" and "letterboxes". The posts on his Facebook page also include calls for "no Muslims in government, police or army". One is said to read: "That's crazy to trust them. They are just waiting for the Jihad sign to turn on us. #islamophobicandproud." A source close to Mr Johnson said: "Mr Johnson totally condemns the hateful views posted by a small minority on these Facebook pages, brought to light by The Sunday Times. "However it is ridiculous to attack Mr Johnson for comments made by individuals on social media when even the official website and Facebook page of the Times and Sunday Times host racist and Islamophobic messages from page visitors." Allies of the former foreign secretary indicated that, to date, his team had not "censored" comments on his Facebook page - including those attacking him - as he believed in free speech and that people should be able to contact their elected representatives easily. They pointed out that Facebook was responsible for moderating Facebook pages, with a staff of 15,000 to investigate and remove offensive postings. The Muslim Council of Britain has called for a "full and transparent" investigation into Islamophobia within the Conservative party and for police to investigate the comments. J amie Oliver has been accused of cultural appropriation for launching quick-cooking 'punchy jerk rice'. MP for Brent Central Dawn Butler weighed in on criticism Jamie Oliver has been facing over the product. She wrote online that the celebrity chef's Jerk Rice "is not ok" and that his "appropriation from Jamaica needs to stop." The MP, who is the daughter of Jamaican immigrants, posted online yesterday: "I'm just wondering do you know what Jamaican jerk actually is? "It's not just a word you put before stuff to sell products. "Your jerk rice is not ok. This appropriation from Jamaica needs to stop." The product sparked an angry backlash from people who pointed out that jerk is not a seasoning traditionally used on rice. It is used on chicken and fish. Jamie Oliver has been accused of cultural appropriation / PA The spice mix contains allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers - neither of which are on the ingredients list for Jamie's jerk rice product. After reading the ingredients, David Llewellyn wrote online: "On what planet can "garlic, ginger and jalapenos" be described as "Jerk"? Row: Jamie Oliver's jerk rice product / Twitter "I've made jerk marinade, and the only ingredient of those three that I used - following about half a dozen different recipes for reference - was garlic. It had scotch bonnet pepper, soy sauce, lime zest (you can also use juice), brown sugar and thyme," he wrote. "It's like stamping a Union Jack on "traditional fish and chips" except the fish is a salmon en croute and the chips are crisps." Regina Holland wrote: "There's no such thing as jerk rice apart from what Jamie Oliver has concocted. That's her point. Anybody from any nationality can eat anything they want, there are just some dishes that are best left alone and enjoyed how they're supposed to be made." Another person wrote online: "Whats this jerk rice youve been banging on about - how do you even jerk rice... we dont want or need any of your help thanks." But others leapt to Jamie's defence. MP Neil O'Brien wrote: "If Jamie Oliver isnt allowed to make Jerk chicken because its cultural appropriation shes going to go mad when she finds out about Jamies Italy Others accused Ms Butler of sending an "embarrassing" tweet highlighting that Britain is a multicultural society and food in the UK comes from all over the world. One woman wrote online: "Being a London MP you'd think that you had more important things to worry about, no? I assuming Jamie called it Jerk rice as he was inspired by Jamaican cooking when creating it. Why not see it for what it is - a tribute." A baby boom is brewing at a US hospital where 16 intensive care nurses recently discovered they are all pregnant. The nurses at Banner Desert Medical Centre in Mesa, outside Phoenix, Arizona, joked that they thought are all expecting babies between October and January. Nurse Rochelle Sherman, who is nearly eight months pregnant, said: "I don't think we realised just how many of us were pregnant until we started a Facebook group." Nurse Jolene Garrow joked: "We all formulated this plan to have the holidays off!" The nurses joked that there must be something in the water / AP Ms Garrow said that as their pregnancies have progressed, the patients have begun noticing that most of the nurses around them are expecting. She added that their non-pregnant colleagues have been great at helping with patients they should not be exposed to because of conditions or treatments that are potentially dangerous for expectant women, such as tuberculosis or shingles or chemotherapy because of the radiation. But Ashley Adkins worried that the other nurses are getting tired of their pregnancy-focused conversations. "They just roll their eyes!" she laughed. "More baby talk!" The nurses attended a press conference where they discussed all being pregnant at the same time / AP Hospital officials said the Banner medical centre chain has a pool of floating nurses that should ensure shifts are covered when the ICU nursing specialists begin taking their 12-week maternity leave in the autumn. The nurses said their colleagues are throwing a group baby shower next week. A British woman has been miraculously saved from the Adriatic Sea more than 10 hours after she fell off a cruise ship. Croatias coastguard said the woman fell from the Norwegian Star cruise ship just before midnight on Saturday while it was about 60 miles off the coast. A rescue ship was scrambled and a desperate search continued through the night without any sign of the woman. But ten hours later, on Sunday morning, she was found swimming in the sea not far from where she was believed to have fallen in. The woman, who has not been identified, was taken to hospital in the town of Pula and is believed to be in a stable condition. The ship's captain, Lovro Oreskovic, said that she was exhausted but added that "we were extremely happy for saving a human life." The circumstances of the incident are being investigated and the British Embassy in Croatia has been informed. It happened as the Norwegian Star was returning to Venice, Italy, from a week-long cruise around Greek islands. It had last docked at the Croatian city of Dubrovnik and was heading back to Italy. B ritish Second World War wrecks in Asia have reportedly been plundered by grave robbers. The government is investigating claims that remains of four ships off the Malaysian and Indonesian coasts have been looted. It comes after six wrecks, including Royal Navy battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, were also feared to have been damaged or destroyed by scavengers. All wrecks are thought to be the final resting place for hundreds of Royal Navy sailors and civilians. Defence secretary Gavin Williamson said the government "absolutely condemns" the unauthorised disturbance of any wreck containing human remains. Gavin Williamson: 'I am very concerned' / PA "I am very concerned to hear any allegations of incidents of Royal Navy wrecks being plundered in the Far East. "We will work closely with the Indonesian and Malaysian governments to investigate these claims." The Mail on Sunday said wrecks of HMS Tien Kwang, HMS Kuala, HMS Banka and SS Loch Ranza had recently been targeted by pirates for their metal. Looters are said to favour targeting the Second World War-era wrecks because of the ship steel's properties. Built before the advent of atomic weapons, the metal has absorbed little background radiation, making the material suitable for sensitive instruments. T he Indonesian holiday island of Lombok has been struck by two earthquakes within hours of each other. A 7.2-magnitude tremor hit the island on Sunday afternoon, with a depth of just 1km. It follows a 6.3 quake in the morning. No casualties have yet been reported. These were the fourth and fifth earthquakes to hit Lombok in the space of three weeks. More than 430 people were killed in a 7.0 quake on August 5. The UK foreign office has advised against "all but essential travel to areas in the north of the island. People were left terrified by the earthquake on Sunday morning. Asmaatul Husna, who works at a shopping mall in Lomboks main town of Mataram, said: It was very strong. All the lights went out. Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, the islands disaster mitigation agency spokesman, said we are still monitoring for casualties. Thousands of people have been left homeless by the series of earthquakes, with shortages of food, water and medicine also reported. Lombok suffered 268m of damage from the quake on August 5. More than 350,000 people fled their homes after to shelter in government-provided tents or makeshift structures in open fields. Authorities said aid was slow getting to some of the hardest-hit areas as they are remote. T his was the miraculous moment an exhausted British woman was rescued from the Adriatic Sea ten hours after falling off a cruise ship . Pictures show the 46-year-old climbing aboard a Croatian rescue ship following a desperate search for her through the night. The passenger, who has not been named, reportedly fell from the Norwegian Star cruise ship late on Saturday evening, while it was around 60 miles from the Croatian coast. A rescue ship was scrambled by the Croatian coastguard and the woman was eventually found at around 9.45 on Sunday morning. The woman thanked the "wonderful" rescuers who found her / MORH She was brought aboard the rescue ship before being taken to a hospital in the town of Pula, where she was said to be in a good condition. The rescued passenger told Croatian news channel HRT: "I fell off the back of the Norwegian Star and I was in the water for 10 hours, so these wonderful guys rescued me." She added: "I am very lucky to be alive." The British passenger pictured with members of the rescue team on Sunday / MORH She was reportedly found just over a kilometre away from where she is believed to have fallen into the water. The ship's captain, Lovro Oreskovic, said that the woman was exhausted but added that "we were extremely happy for saving a human life." The rescue operation continued through the night / MORH The circumstances of the incident are being investigated and the British Embassy in Croatia has been informed. It happened as the Norwegian Star was returning to Venice, Italy, from a week-long cruise around Greek islands. It had last docked at the Croatian city of Dubrovnik and was heading back to Italy. The Norwegian Star cruise ship was travelling from Dubrovnik, Croatia to Venice, Italy / Shutterstock / StudioPortoSabbia A spokeswoman for Norwegian Cruise Line said: "On the morning of August 19th, a guest went overboard as Norwegian Star made her way to Venice. "The Coast Guard was notified and a search and rescue operation ensued. We are pleased to advise that the guest was found alive, is currently in a stable condition, and has been taken ashore in Croatia for further treatment. "We are very happy that the individual, who is a UK resident, is now safe and will soon be reunited with friends and family." A black man in America had police called on him when he tried to get into his own car. Corvontae Davis said he was confronted by a white woman after he was locked out of the car and tried to get back inside. He claimed it was racially motivated. It happened as he went for lunch in the city of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He posted a video of the incident on Facebook, saying: This lady here is calling the cops on me because I was getting ready to put money into the meter and she has nothing else better to do than ask if I was breaking into my car. She says shes gonna call the cops so Im actually gonna wait for them to prove that this is my vehicle, because she has nothing else better to do. Milwaukee Police confirmed officers responded to the call and that no action was taken against Mr Davis. Volunteer opportunities available at local organizations Weber Human Services is looking for people who can help Northern Utah nonprofits. For more information on volunteer opportunities or to post an opportunity for your organization, call 801-625-3777 or 801-778-6897. If you are interested in volunteering and do not see what interests you please call us as we have many more opportunities available and will help you find what interests you and best uses your skills. If your organization is in need of volunteers, please give us a call. Hill Air Force Base Retirees Activities Office (RAO) is looking for retired military or spouses of ... Romania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MAE) announced on Saturday that the Romanian national injured in the collapse of the Morandi road bridge in Genoa, Italy, died. "The Romanian citizen injured by the collapse of the Morandi Viaduct passed away today. His death was notified by doctors both to his family and to members of the Consulate General of Romania in Turin who were at the hospital. The consular team is in touch with the family of the Romanian citizen, providing the necessary consular assistance, including the issuing of documents required for the repatriation of the body. The Romanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs is extending sincere condolences to the mourning family at these extremely difficult moments," according to MAE. The Romanian had been hospitalised in a deep coma at a medical unit in Genoa.The Italian news agency ANSA on Saturday said that death toll of 40 was still unofficial.Saturday was declared a national day of mourning in Italy, while in Genoa official public funerals of many of the victims of the tragedy ere held, but many families decided to boycott the event in protest and bury their deaths privately.The Morandi Bridge collapsed during a thunderstorm on Tuesday, with more than 30 cars falling 45 metres down. To the despair of State Department professionals (who are very professional indeed), the art and craft of US diplomacy have taken a very nasty knock since the appearance of Donald Trump on the world stage. To be sure, the practice of sending rich political donors to prime ambassadorial posts such as Berlin, Tokyo and London has been the norm for decades, but some of Trumps appointees have stretched the bubble of amateurism a little too far. The man in Germany, for example, was only in the job for a day, in May this year, before he gave orders that German companies doing business in Iran should wind down operations immediately, which debut debacle was met with derision by the German people. The pompous ass in London, billionaire Woody Johnson, was interviewed by Sky News in June 2018 and cast an intriguing light on his expertise concerning his host country. When he was asked the nature of his relationship with Sadiq Khan he replied with whom? The interviewer then told him that Sadiq Khan is the Mayor of London, whereupon Woody announced that My relationship is very good. Then President Trump informed Londons Sun newspaper that You have a mayor who has done a terrible job in London. He has done a terrible job. Theres not much joined-up diplomacy in the Trump Administration, but although these examples are mildly amusing and show the people involved to be the fools they are, there is a most serious side to the international diplomatic devastation created by Trump, the man so well described by dismissed White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman as tawdry, cruel, vindictive. The disconnect was highlighted on August 13, the day before Pakistans Independence Day, when US Secretary of State Pompeo messaged On behalf of the Government of the United States of America, I would like to extend my best wishes to the people of Pakistan as they celebrate their independence day. For more than seven decades, the relationship between the United States and Pakistan has rested on the strong foundation of close ties between our two peoples. In the years ahead, we hope to further strengthen these bonds, as we continue to look for opportunities to work with the people and Government of Pakistan to advance our shared goals of security, stability, and prosperity in South Asia. This supposedly friendly greeting was sent to a country about which Trump had tweeted that The United States has foolishly given Pakistan more than 33 billion dollars in aid over the last 15 years, and they have given us nothing but lies & deceit, thinking of our leaders as fools. They give safe haven to the terrorists we hunt in Afghanistan, with little help. No more! Strengthen bonds, anyone? Washington must be unhinged (to employ the title of the Omarosa book) to imagine that a few cliches about shared goals might in some way cancel out Trumps malevolent insults. Not only this, but Washington has made one of the gravest diplomatic errors of its many with Pakistan by suspending the US International Military Education and Training (IMET) programme. This doesnt sound much, but it is probably the most serious setback in Pakistan-US relations thus far in the Trump regimes fandangos of international incompetence. The most important part of IMET was the annual training in the US of some 60-70 Pakistan armed forces officers, including at the US Army War College (one of the most professional that word again military academies in the world). It cannot be emphasised too much that this sort of hosting pays enormous dividends. Not only is participation in specialised discussion and mixing with people of different views most beneficial to students and hosts, but personal contacts build trust and expand horizons. It cannot be valued in money. You simply cant put a price on it, which I found an enormous and indeed insuperable hurdle when I was trying to convince pointy-headed Australian bureaucrats that hosting foreign students and sending our people abroad would pay dividends in the future. Not for nothing is the motto of the US War College Prudens Futuri, which is usually translated as Be provident for the future. But at the moment, Washingtons thinking about the future appears to be limited to the mid-term elections and (appalling thought) the re-election of Trump in 2020. Meantime, Pakistan suffers from US bullying and intimidation, with the bond-strengthening Pompeo making threats about what might happen as a result of a loan to Pakistan by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). He issued a warning that an IMF credit would be conditional on a promise that none of the money is used to repay Chinese debt, which is a weird way of trying to advance our shared goals of security, stability, and prosperity. Pompeo told CNBC that Make no mistake. We will be watching what the IMF does. Theres no rationale for IMF tax dollars, and associated with that American dollars that are part of the IMF funding, for those to go to bail out Chinese bondholders or China itself. But the arrogant assumption that Washington can dictate everything to the world doesnt intimidate China, Russia or Pakistan. The China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project linking Chinas western provinces through Pakistan to the Arabian Sea is worth $62 billion, and other economic and defence links with China are commercially, politically and socially of much more importance to Pakistan than its tenuous and increasingly fragmenting connections with the United States. There are some who scoff at CPEC, like Husain Haqqani, a former Pakistani ambassador to Washington and CIA asset, who, according to the Washington Post, quipped that the Chinese-Pakistan Economic Corridor . . . actually should be called Colonizing Pakistan to Enrich China. Washingtons growing arrogance doesnt intimidate Russia, either, and in the light of increasing confrontation by the US-NATO military alliance it is apparent that a new era in Moscow-Islamabad cooperation has dawned. For a start, as reported by Voice of America on August 8, Pakistan has wrapped up a ground-breaking contract with Russia that would, for the first time, open doors for Russian military training of Pakistani army officers. The rare deal comes amid deteriorating relations between Islamabad and the United States, which has resulted in the halt of all military exchange programs with Pakistan and left a void that Moscow has stepped in to fill. Washington will rue the day it closed the doors of professional colleges to Pakistans military officers. Not only that, but Russia has provided Mi-35M combat helicopters to Pakistan, and the two countries armies have held two counter-terrorism military exercises, while their navies recently participated in joint antidrug exercises in the Arabian Sea. The latest naval collaboration took place last week in St Petersburg, where a Pakistani warship participated in the major Russian Navy Day parade. Their cooperation will develop and expand, to their mutual benefit. Pakistan is wise to engage with China and Russia, and should ditch the Washington Empire. Prudens futuri. The Western mass media recently ran stories about how al Qaeda members in Yemen often took bribes to abandon territory and sometimes al Qaeda members switched sides and fought in pro-government militias. The implication was that the United States provided some of the bribe money and quietly condoned or encouraged the use of bribes as well as former al Qaeda members fighting for the government. The reality was that these practices are local customs, have been reported on for decades and known by American Special Forces troops and intel agencies since the 1970s. It was no secret. It was simply the way things were done in Yemen. Its actually worse than the recent headline stories imply and gotten worse since 2008 when many survivors of the al Qaeda defeat in Iraq fled to Yemen, where Arab Islamic terrorists could always find some sanctuary among the Sunni Arab tribes of southern and eastern Yemen. The bin Laden family came from Yemen as did many recent Islamic terrorists. Yemeni sanctuary is easier to obtain and sustain if the Islamic terrorists have the cash to share with their hosts. If a Sunni Arab dominated government later comes along with more cash and other gifts the Islamic terrorists, especially local tribesmen serving al Qaeda, will take the money and disperse or even join government forces. American involvement in Yemen has been limited (to UAV attacks and intel gathering) since 2014 and mainly directed at areas where Islamic terrorists were most active. This has often been in central Yemen, especially Baida province. Most of Baida province is controlled by Sunni tribes, many of them hospitable to Islamic terrorists (or anyone with a lot of cash). Baida is where most of the American UAV attacks on AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) members take place. The American UAV attacks continue in Yemen and many of the attacks are not announced. So far in 2018, there have been about 30 attacks. As in 2017 (when there were 131 attacks), the ones in 2018 have been mainly against AQAP and ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) camps and key personnel in central Yemen (especially Baida province). This greatly reduces Islamic terrorist capabilities in Baida, which had long been an Islamic terrorist stronghold. East of Baida province are Shabwa and Hadramawt provinces. The later stretches from the sea to the Saudi border and is largely desert. Along with Baida, these two provinces used to host most AQAP personnel and base areas. But since 2017 AQAP has been under heavy attack by the Americans and the Arab coalition and the Islamic terrorists have responded by shifting more of their attacks to the government and Arab coalition forces. AQAP took credit for 273 attacks in 2017 and in the first six months of that year, some 75 percent of these attacks were against the Shia rebels. But in the second half of 2017 half, the attacks were against fellow Sunnis (government and coalition forces). In 2018 the remaining AQAP are mainly fighting for survival against the government and coalition forces. All this is taking place in the midst of a civil war in Yemen which began in 2014 as Iran backed Shia tribes from the north seized the capital (Sanaa). The Yemen government is backed (often reluctantly) by the majority Sunni Arabs. That is why Saudi Arabia and other Sunni Arab states in the region oppose the Shia rebels. These Arab states intervened during 2015, first with air power followed by ground troops. The Shia rebels have been losing, slowly, ever since and while Arab air power performed well Arab cash was key to achieving victories on the ground, By 2017 the war in Yemen had morphed into two separate conflicts. In the northwest and along the Red Sea coast it is Iran-backed Shia rebels versus the Yemeni government backed by Saudi Arabia (and their local allies plus the United States). The rest of Yemen is a fight between Yemeni government (backed by the Saudi coalition) and Yemeni tribal separatists who often host AQAP factions. In the past Yemen was rarely united and that separatism divides the country between the north (where most of the Shia are) and the south (mostly Sunni Arab tribes. The current civil war is not unique, the last one was in the 1990s. At the same time Yemen has serious economic and social problems that are getting worse because of all the unrest since the 2011 Arab Spring (and outright civil war since 2015). Before the civil war began in 2011 the Yemeni GDP was $37 billion. Now it is less than half that and falling. Hunger and disease are increasing as are associated deaths. Foreign aid efforts are often plundered by locals. Yemen has long been considered one of the most corrupt nations on the planet. In 2016 Yemen ranked 170th out of 176 countries. Most Yemenis will agree that corruption is a major problem. Yet most Yemenis are less willing to admit that Yemen is not a country but rather a collection of tribes that dont get along and cannot agree on how to work together to make a united Yemen work. Poverty and hunger are nothing new for Yemen and the primary causes, in addition to corruption, have been around for a long time. The population problem is the result of a high birth rate, which is made possible by modern technology and encouraged by ancient customs and religious beliefs. The impact of conservative forms of Islam also means there has been little economic or educational improvements, at least compared to the non-Islamic world, for a long time. The economy is primitive and unproductive. Even before the unrest escalated in 2011 water, food and power shortages, as well as growing unemployment made life miserable for most Yemenis. Because of all these pre-existing problems and all the unrest since 2011 Yemen is now broke, disorganized, desperate and still fighting itself. While most adult males in Yemen are armed (its an ancient tradition) few of those armed men are trained soldiers or even members of some kind of organized combat unit. What does exist is a lot of local tribal leaders who can quickly organize a few dozens to a few hundred armed men to oppose someone they fear or simply dont like. This means, and has always meant, that Yemen never had sufficient security forces (reliable soldiers or police) to impose order if large segments of the population disagreed with the central government. This has long been a problem with the Shia tribes of the north and many of the Sunni tribes in the south and southeast. Since 2011 both these groups have been very unhappy and since early 2017 the separatist Sunni tribes in the south have become more hostile to the government and more willing to tolerate the presence of Islamic terrorists, especially if these groups contain some locals and know how to behave themselves. Because of this inability to occupy and police much of the country there are large areas where armed groups can freely move (sometimes only at night) and thus threaten government claims that the area is under government rule because it is no longer occupied by Shia rebels or Islamic terror groups. This is most evident in the southwest where the Shia rebels and local allies can still wander about. A similar situation is evident in the southeast where large areas along the coast between the two largest ports in the country (Aden and Mukalla) are home to separatist tribes who are not only hostile to the government but often willing to tolerate the presence of AQAP (Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula) groups. Because of this until April 2016 AQAP controlled more territory than the Shia rebels. This included the southeastern port of Mukalla, about 600 kilometers of coastline and much of the surrounding Hadramawt province. AQAP took control of Mukalla in April 2015. For over a year AQAP controlled most of the roads near the southeastern coast. As a result, government forces or anyone else was subject to attack or, if armed, a request for a contribution of cash or goods before passing without violence. As a result of this government forces had to move in heavily armed convoys to avoid ambushes or extortion attempts. Aid convoys are also subject to demands for taxes. AQAP was trying to operate like a government in the southeast but was hampered by a shortage of money and regular air attacks by Arab warplanes and American UAVs. AQAP obtained most of the cash needed to run its government by taxing everything (commercial goods and aid supplies) coming through Mukalla. This income enabled AQAP to pay most of its government workers on a regular basis. By the end of April 2016, AQAP lost control of Mukulla and with it a major source of income. After that AQAP was scattered to the countryside and actively seeking allies. These were found among separatist-minded tribal leaders. For this reason, AQAP can still travel regularly from the areas north of Mukulla all the way north to the Saudi border or all the way west to the outskirts of Aden. Since early 2017 American UAVs have been more active in these areas, monitoring the traffic and carrying out more missile attacks on AQAP personnel. But it most cases the local tribesmen and the AQAP look identical from the air. It requires electronic eavesdropping and some informants on the ground to identify vehicles carrying just AQAP members who are worth a missile or two. Between the rebel west and the separatist tribes in the east, there is a large area from the coast north to the Saudi border that is under government control. This is largely because of friendly (and often well compensated) local tribal leaders. Because of that government forces are now within 20 kilometers of the rebel-held national capital Saana and even closer to the remaining Red Sea ports the rebels hold and use to raise money and through which Iran smuggles military supplies. This includes, so far, components for over a hundred ballistic missiles which are assembled in Yemen with the help of Iranian advisors and then fired at targets in Saudi Arabia. All of these missiles have either landed in the empty desert or been intercepted by Saudi operated American Patriot anti-missile missiles. But in most of Yemen, the most potent weapon has been cash. If you want to get AQAP camps away from important roads or oil facilities (Yemen has much less of that that the other Arabian states) large cash payments are more effective, and unlike smart bombs, avoid any civilian casualties. This use of bribes instead of bloodshed is an ancient tradition worldwide and especially in Arabia. The United States ambassador Scott Brown and his wife Gail dropped into Tauranga for the first time this week, and they made some special time for four local teenagers and two instructors from the Tauranga-based Youth Search and Rescue volunteer group. The YSAR group has just returned from the USA, where they joined a major search and rescue exercise at Yosemite National Park in California. They left just days before deadly wildfires closed parts of the park. Their American hosts included a senior firefighter who is currently battling the blazes. The YSAR students showed Ambassador Brown photographs of them learning rope climbing skills at Yosemite, searching for a missing person at Yosemite Falls, visiting the local sheriffs office and fire department and training around the Golden Gate Bridge. They quizzed students Sophie Wardell, Jack Niles, Laura Degas and Tom Hoffart and volunteer instructors Neil Penniston and Mark Dingo Noack about what they had learned in the US, and how the YSAR programme worked. The ambassador also wasnt above a story or two at his own expense, telling the students about his wayward teenage years. However, the self-confessed rebel did become a prominent political leader, attorney, National guardsmen and diplomat. He was also a model who won Cosmopolitan magazines Americas Sexiest Man award and he remains a keen athlete. Ambassador Brown also presented each of the YSAR students with a personalised challenge coin designed by him to reflect his 35-year military history, former US senator role and dual ambassadorial posts in New Zealand and Samoa. An American contingent from Marin County SAR is expected to make a return visit to Tauranga in April next year. They will stay with local families and participate in a joint exercise with YSAR. The initial visit happened as a result of a social media connection after a Marin County Search and Rescue leader found YSAR on Facebook. They liked what they saw and wound up asking if wed be willing to do an exchange, says Neil Penniston. The exchange also attracted interest from information technology company Eagle Technology and the US Embassy in Wellington, both of whom offered sponsorship. Bay of Plenty Our client has plenty of work in the pipeline and as such they are in need of qualified or experienced carpenters for an... View or Apply on GoodWork.co.nz Heavy rain is being forecast to hammer the Bay of Plenty area today. A severe weather watch remains in place for the region after it was issued by the MetService on Sunday. A complex low pressure system and associated fronts and troughs was expected to move east onto New Zealand from the Tasman Sea on Sunday, then across the country during Monday and Tuesday, followed by westerlies overnight Tuesday, says the weather organisation. These features are forecast to bring periods of rain to western and northern parts of New Zealand, with some heavy falls, possible thunderstorms and strong northwesterly winds. The watch is for the possibility that rainfall accumulations could meet warning criteria in northern Westland, Buller, Nelson, Marlborough from Richmond Range to the Sounds, Mount Taranaki, Tongariro National Park, and the eastern ranges of Bay of Plenty during Monday and early Tuesday. People are advised to keep up to date with the latest forecasts in case parts of the Watch are upgraded to a full Warning, or other areas are added. Heavy Rain Watch Area: The ranges of Bay of Plenty east of Opotiki Valid: 12 hours from 11am to 11pm Monday Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, and thunderstorms possible. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts during this time. Area: Tongariro National Park Valid: 6 hours from 5pm to 11pm Monday Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts during this time. Area: Mt Taranaki Valid: 14 hours from 7am to 9pm Monday Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms possible. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts during this time. Area: Nelson west of Motueka, Buller Valid: 28 hours from 5am Monday to 9am Tuesday Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms possible. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts during this time. Area: Nelson from Motueka eastwards, Marlborough from Richmond Range to the Sounds Valid: 14 hours from 6am to 8pm Monday Forecast: Periods of heavy rain, with thunderstorms possible. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts during this time. Area: Westland north of the Glaciers, especially about the ranges Valid: 24 hours from 6am Monday to 6am Tuesday Forecast: Periods of heavy rain. Rainfall accumulations may approach warning amounts during this time. Click the image above to watch the video In today's forecast we are expecting showers developing in the morning then rain from the afternoon, with a chance of it being heavy. Northeasterly will be tending northwest. A severe weather watch is in place for the eastern ranges It's a three-clothing layer day today with a high of 17 and an overnight low of 9 degrees. Humidity is 96 per cent. High tide is at 2pm and low tide is at 8pm. There's a sea swell of .2m with a sea temperature of 15 degrees. Sunset tonight is at 5.40pm. If you're going fishing today the best fish bite time is between 9.30am and 12.30pm. In NZ history on this day in 1904 was the first known use of kiwi as unofficial national symbol. The New Zealand Free Lance printed a J.C. Blomfield cartoon in which a plucky kiwi morphed into a moa as the All Blacks defeated Great Britain 93 in the first rugby test between Motherland and colony. This may have been the first use of a kiwi to symbolise the nation in a cartoon. In 1940 Turakina was sunk by German raider in the Tasman Sea. It was the first naval battle in the Tasman Sea. The New Zealand Shipping Company freighter Turakina was intercepted and sunk by the Orion nearly 500 km off the Taranaki coast with the loss of 36 lives. Twenty survivors were taken prisoner. In world history on this day in 1619 the first group of twenty Africans was brought to Jamestown, Virginia. In 1913, 700 feet above Buc, France, parachutist Adolphe Pegoud became the first person to jump from an airplane and land safely. In 1940 radar was used for the first time, by the British during the Battle of Britain. Also on this day, in a radio broadcast, Winston Churchill made his famous homage to the Royal Air Force: Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few. In 1953 the USSR publicly acknowledged it had tested a hydrogen bomb eight days earlier. In 1960 the USSR recovered two dogs, Belka and Strelka, the first animals to be launched into orbit and returned alive. In 1961 East Germany began erecting a wall along its western border to replace barbed wire put up August 13. In 1978 NASA launched Viking 1; with Viking 2, launched a few days later, it provided high-resolution mapping of Mars, revolutionizing existing views of the planets. Today is the birthday of Benjamin Harrison,who was the 23rd President of the United States. Born in 1833, he once said "Prayer steadies one when he is walking in slippery places - even if things asked for are not given." To get involved in some of the many activities happening around the Bay, please check out our What's on page. Have a great day! A new bus app for visually impaired people in Tauranga is being deemed a success by those who have used it. The new Bayhopper Transit App, launched by Bay of Plenty Regional Council in May, has been used 84,000 times by passengers. Feedback to Regional Council from visually impaired bus users has included comments about the app being clear to read and working well with the Voiceover and Talkback features. As a result of feedback several colour changes were made to make the app easier to read. The app allows users to see the next buses arriving at their location, set a favourite route number, and plan their journey in real-time. Bay of Plenty Regional Council Public Transport committee chairman, Lyall Thurston says theyve had great feedback from a wide variety of users. To be able to make such a difference in the visually impaired community has been fantastic. Many people are saying how it has transformed their bus travel with the real time data and map feature showing the location of the bus really helpful. The success of the app on Tauranga and Te Puke urban routes, as well as Katikati/Omokoroa, has the public transport committee looking at rolling it out in other parts of the Western Bay of Plenty. The app has enabled Regional Council to provide notifications of route changes and bus stop changes directly to users phones. Transit App is supported in over 165 cities in 10 countries around the world, showing local information as you travel. NEW HARTFORD, N.Y. -- A 32-year-old New Hartford man allegedly made multiple threatening phone calls to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office. Deputies arrested Frank Bommarito, Jr., 32, around 2:30 a.m. today. He's charged with making a terroristic threat, a felony, according to the sheriff's office. Bommarito called the office and threatened to kill deputies who were trying to make contact with him on Friday, according to investigator Justin Copperwheat. He did not say why deputies were trying to contact Bommarito on Friday. Bommarito was taken to the Oneida County jail, where's being held and awaiting arraignment. The New Hartford Police Department assisted the sheriff's office in Bommarito's arrest, Copperwheat said. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The suspect in a Summit County (Ohio) murder is in custody, according to the State Highway Patrol. "The suspect has been captured and is now in OSHP custody," the State Highway Patrol said Saturday in a tweet. The suspect has been captured and is now in OSHP custody. Thank you for your support! pic.twitter.com/unitm7BFwP Ohio State Patrol (@OSHP) August 18, 2018 Paul D. Randall, Jr., 34, of Dolgeville, New York, is accused of running over Scott Reichard, 34, of North Olmsted, Ohio, at a rest stop. Troopers first responded to a fatal crash at about 11:15 p.m. Friday involving a pedestrian at a northbound rest stop on Interstate 77 in Bath Township. Witnesses told troopers that two men were in a verbal altercation before one of the men got in the other's Ford F-350 and ran him over without stopping, troopers said. Reichard's truck was later found abandoned in a downtown Cleveland parking lot. Maria del Carmen Venegas was on her way to deliver a baby boy, her fifth child, by Caesarean section in a planned operation Wednesday afternoon. Her husband, Joel Arrona-Lara, was driving her car to the hospital. Two SUVs swooped in to block the vehicle at a San Bernardino, California, gas station. They belonged to Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the agents asked for Venegas' identification, she later told CBS Los Angeles. She complied. The agents also asked for Arrona's identification. The couple was in a hurry when they left, and his ID was at home, Venegas told Univision affiliate KMEX. The agents searched the car and led Arrona away in handcuffs, leaving his wife stranded and frantic. After a version of this story published Saturday afternoon, ICE officials released previously undisclosed details about Arrona's arrest. He is wanted in Mexico under a warrant issued for homicide charges, ICE spokeswoman Lori Haley said, which brought the attention of agents. Details about the homicide charges were not immediately available. Venegas drove herself to the hospital and delivered her baby, she told local media. Surveillance video from inside the store shows her crying and distraught. Arrona is a Mexican national illegally living in the country and has been detained pending removal proceedings, ICE Lori Haley told The Washington Post on Saturday. "ICE continues to focus its enforcement resources on individuals who pose a threat to national security, public safety and border security. ICE conducts targeted immigration enforcement in compliance with federal law and agency policy," Haley said. Arrona's legal representative, Emilio Amaya Garcia, told The Post he believed Arrona was not suspected of crimes within the United States, but did not say if he was suspected of crimes elsewhere. He is representing Arrona through San Bernardino Community Service Center, a nonprofit group. His concern was how the arrest affected Venegas. She had preeclampsia, he said, a pregnancy complication marked by high blood pressure. The couple explained the condition to the agents, he believes. "They left her alone," he told The Post on Saturday. "They put the well-being and safety of the mother and baby at risk." Garcia said Venegas remains in the hospital. Haley declined to say whether the arresting agents considered delaying Arrona's arrest until after the birth or could have escorted Venegas to the hospital, given her condition. She also declined to provide any regulations either allowing or prohibiting such agent-level decisions. ICE has ramped up arrests under the Trump administration following executive orders that directed the agency to pursue any undocumented alien in the country. Given budget and resource constraints, ICE had previously used what it called "prosecutorial discretion" to bypass nonviolent offenders in favor of criminals and recent migrants. That has changed since President Trump took office. "If you're in this country illegally, and you committed a crime by entering this country, you should be uncomfortable, then-ICE director Thomas D. Homan told lawmakers in June 2017. "You should look over your shoulder." The Trump administration has also removed protections from certain classes to align with the executive orders. For instance, the administration in March rescinded an Obama-era directive that generally ordered immigration officials to release pregnant women from custody. (c) 2018, The Washington Post. Story by Alex Horton. A former correction officer who admitted taking a bribe in exchange for smuggling a cellphone to an inmate at a federal prison in the Adirondacks faces up to 15 years behind bars, prosecutors said. On Friday, Carlos Ochoa of Puerto Rico pleaded guilty in federal court to accepting a bribe between September and October 2012, while employed as a guard at the medium security federal lockup at Ray Brook in Essex County. Authorities said that in September 2012, inmate Richard Coleman directed his girlfriend to purchase a cellphone for him to use while at Ray Brook. The next month, Coleman told the woman that a prison guard would smuggle the phone into him and that she should get in touch with another woman, who was friends with his cellmate, prosecutors said. Coleman's girlfriend bought an iPhone and withdrew $500 in cash from her account, activated the phone and took out $400 more in cash from her account, authorities said. She then drove to Saranac Lake and met with Coleman's cellmate's female friend and gave her the phone and at least $600 cash. That woman met with Ochoa and gave him the iPhone and cash. In October 2012, Ochoa then smuggled the iPhone into the prison and gave it to Coleman and his cellmate, while keeping the cash. His colleagues found the cellphone in March 2013. Ochoa, 32, also faces a fine of up to $250,000. "For a few hundred dollars, Ochoa sold his integrity as a federal corrections officer to a prisoner by smuggling in a cell phone," said Grant Jaquith, U.S. attorney for the Northern District of New York, in a news release. This case was jointly investigated by the FBI, the U.S. Department of Justice's Office of the Inspector General, and the U.S. Bureau of Prisons, and is being prosecuted by assistant U.S. attorneys Katherine Kopita and Douglas Collyer. Additionally, Ochoa faces unrelated charges related to bribery, providing contraband in prison, guns and drugs in U.S. District Court for the District of Puerto Rico. -- Paul Nelson, Times Union, Albany, N.Y. High winds during a thunderstorm Saturday afternoon caused the collapse of trusses supporting the entrance to an Oklahoma concert featuring the Backstreet Boys, injuring at least 14 people, according to news reports. The concert at the WinStar World Casino and Resort, which also featured 98 Degrees, was postponed after the accident, the Associated Press reported. The casino in Thackerville said in a notice posted on Twitter Saturday that the accident occurred after it had begun an evacuation at about 5 p.m. due to lightning strikes within four miles of the casino. However, it said, 150 patrons standing in line for the concert did not heed warnings to evacuate before the storm hit with winds of up to 80 mph, which caused the collapse of supports at the entrance to the outdoor arena, USA Today reported. "We know that fans often suffer through inclement weather for their favorite acts, but this was an unusual event and our thoughts are with those who were injured during this storm," the casino statement added. Official statement regarding the situation at the Colosseum at WinStar: https://t.co/AMP7UJhY4C WinStar World Casino and Resort (@WinStarWorld) August 19, 2018 At least 14 people were taken to a hospital. Two were later released. Back Street Boys band member Kevin Richardson tweeted that the concert had been sold out with about 12,000 fans. Syracuse has seen many famous visitors over the years, but few could match the improbable story of Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan. His brief, one-hour appearance in Syracuse on Aug. 17, 1938 emptied downtown shops and offices for an impromptu ticker-tape parade. Douglas "Wrong Way" Corrigan said he got lost flying back to California before landing in Ireland in July 1938. Maybe if Corrigan had only known about the role Central New York had played in making him famous he might have stayed longer. Douglas Corrigan, 31, of Texas was called the last of the glory-seeking fliers of aviation's early days. He caught the flying bug early and was a skilled airplane mechanic, working on Charles Lindbergh's Spirit of St. Louis before its trans-Atlantic flight. He became a stunt pilot, but he wanted to do something big, like Lindbergh. In 1933, he found a 1929 Curtiss Robin plane in a New York cow pasture and paid $310 for it. "It looked pretty good and it flew all right," he said. He named her "Sunshine" because, he said, "I had always considered my plane as a little ray of sunshine." He spent $600 fixing the plane and equipped it with a new motor, then flew "Sunshine" across the country, from California to New York City on July 9, 1938. Transcontinental flights had by then become old-hat, but reporters were impressed that he had done it in such an unimpressive plane. Corrigan planned immediately to do something even greater: fly his rattletrap "Sunshine" across the Atlantic Ocean. His plans were nixed by aviation officials who thought it was a suicide mission; Corrigan would only be allowed to fly back to California. On the morning of July 17, Corrigan took off heading west, then, much to the puzzlement of onlookers, turned 180 degrees to the east and disappeared into the clouds. With no radio, a 20-year-old compass, a door held in place by baling wire and a fuel tank which had sprung a leak in his cross-country flight, Corrigan ventured into the unknown. At one point, his feet became cold from leaking gasoline and he used a screwdriver to punch holes into the plane's floor to let the fuel drain out before causing an explosion. The Syracuse Journal had a little fun when "Wrong Way" Corrigan visited Syracuse on Aug. 17, 1938. It ran the letters of his nickname backwards. Twenty-eight hours later he landed in Dublin, Ireland. Without a passport or any papers, Corrigan told authorities he had taken off in New York, lost his sense of direction in the clouds, had his compass malfunction and ended up in Ireland. Few bought his story and his flying license was suspended but he became a national hero. Nicknamed "Wrong Way," he was honored with a ticker-tape parade in New York City far larger than Lindbergh had received. He began a national tour after returning home and flew into Syracuse aboard his "Sunshine." He was met at the airport by the mayor and was given an open-top automobile tour of the city. "When Salina Street was reached the noisy entourage turned south and rolled swiftly through ever-growing crowds as the cry went up, 'Corrigan's here!' - 'Here he comes!'" the Syracuse Herald reported. Hasty attempts at Syracuse's own version of a ticker tape parade was tried, but the Herald joked that a shower of paper was never more than a "drizzle." On the stage at the Syracuse Airport, Corrigan met a Baldwinsville turkey farmer named Leonard "Slim" Cramer, who introduced himself as having previously owned Corrigan's Curtiss Robin. Leonard "Slim" Cramer poses with a propeller which had been on the airplane made famous by Douglas Corrigan. Cramer, a turkey farmer and stunt flyer, had lost the propeller after crashing into a fence while performing at Ogdensburg in the summer of 1933. "She was nothing but a source of trouble to me," Cramer told Corrigan. "I don't see how you did it." Corrigan's little plane had also received quite a bit of attention since its trans-Atlantic flight, almost all of it bad. Journalist H.R. Knickerbocker called "Sunshine" a "most-wretched-looking jalopy" and he "marveled that anyone should have been rash enough to go in the air with it, much less try to fly the Atlantic." It was often called Corrigan's "crate" or "heap." Before ending up in a pasture, "Sunshine" had flown all over Upstate New York and was owned by at least three different owners, endured at least six crashes and was deemed "unairworthy." John Lane of Fulton bought it originally right from the assembly plant in Bridgeport, Connecticut in the fall of 1930. He thought he had struck quite a bargain. Owing to the Depression, he purchased the brand-new plane for $1,600, far below the original asking price of $4,250. "The ship was nothing but trouble," Lane told the Syracuse Journal. Twice he had to make an emergency landing after motor trouble. He said the plane "had a jinx." After logging 140 hours in flight, Lane decided to sell it to "Slim" Cramer for $475 in June 1933. Cramer, who operated a turkey farm near Baldwinsville, was widely known for his daring flights and many brushes with death. He purchased the Curtiss Robin to be part of a flying circus he was in during the summer of 1933. In Ogdensburg, he crashed through a fence and then in Malone he flew the plane through a grandstand: "At Malone, Tommy Baker erected a stand out of wood and galvanized iron so that he could sell tickets. I came in with a passenger and the stand just got in the way. There was nothing left of the stand except a few splinters. The Robin fared better." Despite the mishaps, Cramer thought the plane was a "dandy," but underpowered. Looking to find a plane more suited for passenger travel, Cramer sold it in August to Shelly Edmondson of Rensselaer for $350. He had learned to fly while in the Navy and had owned at least 20 planes, but he was terrified to fly this one. "I only flew it three times," he told a reporter in 1938. "I didn't like the ship very well." Philip Sharkey, superintendent at the Albany Airport, remembered "Sunshine" as "strictly a jalopy" and not favored by any of the pilots. "I wouldn't say it was worth $400. I know nobody at the airport wanted to fly it and even Edmondson was a bit afraid of it." Edmondson sold it to an Albany insurance broker who owned it briefly before it was sold again. The trail for the little plane goes cold until Corrigan revived it and made it famous. Corrigan would publish his autobiography and star in the movie adaptation of it. He became an endorser of many "wrong-way" products including a watch that ran backwards. The bill of sale of the Curtiss Robin airplane when it was sold from Leonard Cramer to Shelly Edmondson. It sales the plane was sold for $1, the article said Cramer asked for $350. He maintained to his death in 1995 he had flown across the Atlantic by accident. No matter the truth, the fact that he had rehabilitated the small plane with Central New York roots and flew it across the ocean, proved what a great mechanic and brave pilot he was. "I don't see how he did it. Even with the motor he installed," "Slim" Cramer told the Syracuse Journal in 1938. "She just wasn't a ship built for trans-Atlantic flying." "Sunshine" was placed in storage in California earlier this year by Corrigan's son, until a museum can be found to display the plane. This feature is a part of CNY Nostalgia, a section on syracuse.com. Send your ideas and curiosities to Johnathan Croyle: Email | 315-427-3958. T-Mobile has announced that it will be backing the new smartphone from OnePlus. This will enable people to buy the phone directly from the carrier's storefront. Months before the release of the highly anticipated phone, rumors surfaced that the Chinese manufacturing company is negotiating with the largest carrier in America. Considering that the phone functions on Verizon and Sprint, many have speculated that the partnership will either be AT&T or T-Mobile. An Optimized OnePlus 6T According to reports, T-Mobile stores and the website will not just be selling the regular OnePlus 6T, it will make a T-Mobile-specific variant. The said phone will possibly be optimized for the use of the carrier's customers. It will even support band 71. Many phones that are compatible with 600MHzh have been released, however, an affordable flagship that works with 600MHzh will be T-Mobile's edge. Users of other carriers such as AT&T do not need to worry because OnePlus will still be selling an unlocked version of the phone that would work for other carriers. The only challenge OnePlus might encounter with the partnership is the go signal from the carrier's technical teams. Now, the approval process is still ongoing and might even cause a delay if things do not go smoothly. The partnership between a Chinese brand such as OnePlus and an American company such as T-Mobile also raises eyebrows because of the unstable relationship between the two countries. Because of this, political issues might be a hindrance to the product's successful launch. Influence Of Carrier Partnership In Sales Studies report that many Americans buy their phones directly from their carrier. In fact, almost 75 percent of smartphone sales are because of carriers. This indicates that partnering with a carrier is important if OnePlus wants to be a mainstream brand such as Apple and Samsung. "Getting carrier shelf space is a prerequisite to volume sales in the US," said Avi Greengart, a Global Data analyst. OnePlus will be using the partnership as an advantage to boost their sales as tons of new audiences are expected to be exposed to the product due to the partnership. The new OnePlus smartphone is significantly cheaper at $550 than the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9 and new iPhone, which are both priced at $1,000 or more. Furthermore, the release also corresponds with the decrease of LG and HTC sales. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA admitted that the Opportunity rover may be lost forever due to the massive dust storm ravaging Mars. However, hope remains that it will be able to beep back to life. NASA shut down Opportunity in June due to the Martian dust storm, which is bigger than North America. By early July, NASA still believed that Opportunity will still be able to wake up after being in low-power mode, but that confidence seems to have declined since then. NASA Worried Over Mars Opportunity Rover Mars Opportunity Rover has been silent since June 10 when the massive Martian dust storm cut off the rover from solar power. NASA engineers, however, are hoping to soon hear from Opportunity, and have even prepared a wake-up song playlist to try to wake up the rover from its forced slumber. In a new blog post, NASA explained the three fault modes that Opportunity can get into when it experiences a problem. The first is the low-power fault, which is what Opportunity likely went into when it was shut down to conserve power, with the plan to wake up once the sunlight is available to recharge its batteries. The second is the clock fault, which will make it harder for the rover to determine if it is time to communicate with Earth. However, the rover will still be able to use environmental clues, such as increased sunlight, to assume the time. The third is the uploss fault, which is a warning that its communication equipment may be broken if it has not heard from the Earth after a certain period. The rover will check its equipment and attempts other methods to contact NASA. While engineers are preparing for these three fault modes once they hear back from the rover, NASA admits that even if Opportunity is able to wake up and contact Earth, it may not be the same. There is a real possibility that the massive dust storm on Mars has damaged the rover too much and that its batteries have had their capacities drastically reduced due to discharging so much power and staying inactive for so long. There Is Still Hope For Opportunity NASA, however, has not lost all hope for Opportunity. Due to the batteries being in relatively good health before the rover was consumed by the Martian dust storm, optimism remains that there has not been too much degradation. With the dust storm also warming the environment, and the fact that it is summer in the part of Mars where Opportunity is located, the rover may have stayed just warm enough to survive. NASA has not yet heard back from Opportunity for over two months now. However, it will still be listening for any communication from the rover, especially now that the worst of the dust storm is apparently over. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Trumpeter Derrick Shezbie plays with other musicians as people celebrate the life and music of Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, in the Treme neighborhood in New Orleans, La. Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018. Franklin who was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist passed away at age 76 Thursday morning from pancreatic cancer. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission 'He steals your heart': 5 quotes to learn about Baton Rouge's new bishop Michael Duca Prison Enterprises, the for-profit arm of the Louisiana Department of Corrections that uses inmate labor in various businesses, was scrutinized for the second time in two decades by the state Legislative Auditor's office, finding some of the same issues have lingered. The commission that regulates costs of shipping on Louisiana's waterways asked Tuesday for a retired judge to intervene and decide how much to Does Gov. John Bel Edwards really want to get reelected? You wouldnt think so from what he's been up to lately. If you have had enough of the hustle and bustle of this city, and just want a little peace and quiet, this listing would be perfect for you. This is a hidden architectural gem, set on over six acres on the banks of the Little Bogue Falaya River, said Jennifer Rice, the listing agent with Berkshire/Hathaway Properties. The modern exterior blends beautifully into the backdrop of nature's wonderland while maintaining a sleek interior overlooking outdoor entertaining areas around the pool. The house itself is set amid six acres of land and the entrance has a large circular drive. The two-story foyer is protected by a solid six-paneled front door and has plenty of light. The kitchen is absolutely huge, with a restaurant stove complete with hood, two large ovens, an eat-on island and enough room for a breakfast area. It has recessed lighting and a charming wooden plank floor. Theres also a separate dining room. The back yard has a beautiful pool and patio area, perfect for morning coffee and entertaining your family and friends and the entire compound is surrounded by woods and a peaceful creek. This listing is comprised of a two-story main house with a glass wall breezeway into the studio/mother-in-law suite with a separate entrance and apartment on top, said Rice. The out buildings include a pool house, an office and a greenhouse/workshop, which are not included in the living square footage. If you have a family member or friend who is living with you, there is a separate apartment on top of the garage for them. It has its own entrance, and offers privacy, yet is close to the main house. Covington is the parish seat of St. Tammany Parish and iss located at a fork of the Bogue Falaya and the Tchefuncte rivers. The earliest known settlement by Europeans in the area was in 1800 by Jacques Drieux, during the British West Florida period. In 1813, John Wharton Collins established a town with the name of Wharton. He is buried on the corner of the city cemetery directly across from the Covington Police Department. There are conflicting stories about how the city came to be named Covington. Many historians believe the city was renamed for General Leonard Covington, a hero of the War of 1812. Local historian Judge Steve Ellis floats another theory centered on the suggestion by Jesse Jones, a local attorney, that the city be named in honor of the Blue Grass whiskey---made in Covington, Kentucky---enjoyed by town officials. In any case, Leonard Covington is the namesake of both towns. Originally, commerce was brought to Covington via boat up the Bogue Falaya River, which used the Tchefuncte River as a means of passage to and from Lake Pontchartrain. Then in 1888, the railroad came to town. Much of the former railroad right-of-way is now occupied by the Tammany Trace, a thirty-one mile bike trail running east and west through several communities on the north side of Lake Pontchartrain. In the late 20th century, with the expansion of Louisiana's road system, many people who worked in New Orleans started living in Covington, commuting to work via the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway. With the expansion of the interstate system, Covington experienced a boom of growth. Many people moved to the Northshore for more affordable housing, larger lot sizes and a small town feeling. Hurricane Katrina made landfall near Slidell, but Covington was sufficiently elevated to escape the massive storm surge. Following the storm, Covington experienced a population boom as a result of many former inhabitants of the New Orleans area being forced to move out of their storm-ravaged homes. The Covington trail head is the start of Tammany Trace which connects Covington with Mandeville, Abita Springs, Lacombe and Slidell. Angela Carll may be reached at angcarll@gmail.com About this House Address: 40 Pine Edge Lane in Covington Living area: 4,391 square feet Acres: 6.800 acres Bedrooms: Four Baths: Four full/one half Extras: Two-story main house with a glass wall breezeway into the studio/mother-in-law suite with a separate entrance and apartment on top Price: $1,285,000 Marketing agent: Jennifer Rice Berkshire/Hathaway Properties 729 East Boston Street Covington, LA 70433 Phone: 985-892-1478 Most every time a lawsuit is settled, it seems, the terms will be confidential and the loser will claim that absolutely no wrong was committed. It was a purely business decision, because it would have cost more to defend the suit than to pay off the plaintiff. The latest to trot out this line is Louisiana State Police Superintendent Col. Kevin Reeves, four of whose troopers were sued over their 2015 arrest of Lyle Dotson, then 17 years old, in the French Quarter. Although a jury awarded Dotson diddly squat, federal judge Susie Morgan granted a new trial, deciding that she had erred in allowing state police attorneys to strike a venireman who, like Dotson, was black. The cops declined the rematch, and Dotson, according to his attorney, Jim Craig, will use his settlement to pay for his college education, so Louisiana taxpayers must be shelling out quite a lot of money. Although the parties are forbidden to reveal the amount of the settlement, it should be in the public domain once it becomes final. Perhaps it would indeed have cost more to pursue the case, but this habit of throwing in the towel must surely cost the taxpayer more in the long run. It is an invitation for unscrupulous attorneys yes, they do exist to file frivolous lawsuits. If it is established that a government agency will pay up to avoid the costs of litigation, even when not at fault, shysters will be lining up for their share of easy money. The most prudent business decision is to fight whenever there is a chance of winning. The craven approach now embraced by the state police is likely to prove a false economy when the costs of barratry are factored in. This settlement is by no means an admission of liability, Reeves claimed, but it might as well be. Either way, Dotson gets paid. In any case, a party that really believes itself to be in the right should disdain capitulation as a matter of principle. Justice is more important than money. Although it is anyone's guess what would have happened at a retrial, proceedings thus far gave state police no reason to despair. It all began when Dotson got separated from a group of Indiana students his father, a Ball State professor, was leading on a tour of architectural gems. In fact, young Dotson was on the phone with his father when state police collared him in the French Quarter. Apparently, he fit the description of another young man the cops thought showed excessive interest in an undercover drug deal they were conducting. The cops grabbed Lyle Dotson's smartphone, and a certain amount of shoving seems to have taken place. He objected when they took his picture as he lay on the ground, and it was off to the slammer, where he spent 36 hours. He alleged his civil rights had been violated, drawing the classic riposte from the cops, a booking for battery on a police officer. That charge was dismissed, and Lyle Dotson filed his suit, claiming that he had been racially profiled and illegally detained. The trial lasted four days in January. Those long and expensive proceedings fizzled out with three of the defendant troopers exonerated while the jury decided that, although the fourth had violated Lyle Dotson's Fourth Amendment rights by detaining him after any reasonable suspicion for the stop had dissipated, no damages should be awarded. Craig, claimed victory insofar as the jury had upheld his right not to be seized by a Louisiana state trooper for the purpose of taking his picture. Lyle Dotson, moreover, had demonstrated his integrity, courage and strength of character in his willingness to come back to New Orleans to challenge the oppressive state police tactics in court, according to Craig. That was laying it on a bit thick, perhaps, and no doubt Lyle Dotson would have preferred a monetary award. When Morgan granted a retrial, he had another chance to win one. It was his lucky day when state police decided to fold what they believed was a winning hand. Zoya Patel is a complex young woman. Feminist, Fijian-Indian, Australian, vegetarian, partner, daughter, sister, writer, community advocate. There are many descriptors that define her yet she struggles with the whole concept of identity. Her book No Country Woman is the story of never knowing where you belong, a collection of essays that discuss race, feminism, religion, family. Its an intelligent conversation, opinionated and critical, harsh at times even, yet one that is still full of love, for her family and her culture. Zoya Patel: 'I don't get to choose how people see me.' Credit:Jamila Toderas Shes a young woman who uses words such as zeitgeist and diaspora, she calls herself audacious. She admits she is a little angry at the moment, that her patience is tested more easily. Shes just 28 and full of passion and fury and when I ask her if she thinks shell ever reach that point in her life where shell be happy to say Im Zoya without any descriptors she pauses. Scaramouche Jones By Justin Butcher The Arts Centre Until August 25 The more I see him act, the more I become convinced Colin Friels only flowers with a sharp-minded director behind him. That doesnt always happen, as the MTC productions of Becketts Endgame, say, or David Hares Skylight showed, though his most recent stage outing for the company, Faith Healer (directed by Friels formidable wife Judy Davis) was an acting masterclass. He shone, too, under Alkinos Tsilimidos, portraying Mark Rothko in the biographical two-hander Red, so its no surprise the two have collaborated on this solo show. And Friels is on song here, giving as vigorous and lyrical and assured as you could ask for, while failing to dispel lingering doubts about the play itself. When Debby arrives at the cheery cafe she has chosen for our interview, she ignores my outstretched hand and instead pulls me in for a hug. Her openness and enthusiasm are endearing, especially as she's likely to have endured a rough couple of days since the petition surfaced. "What I've learnt from the reception to the trailer is that the size of the reaction is the size of the wound," she says philosophically, after we've ordered Earl Grey tea and sit in the corner." "Clearly this is striking a sensitive chord but the humour is not in the fat-shaming. The redemption is in identifying the bullies and saying, 'This is not okay.' And just because this one thing happened to Patty that changed her on the outside, it doesn't solve her problems because she's not free of compulsion and addiction." Debby enthuses about her huge affection for Australia and says she's a frequent visitor. "Anyone who knows me knows the only place in the world outside the US that I would live would be Australia," grins the actor, whose 2017 movie Rip Tide was filmed 130 kilometres south of Sydney in the coastal town of Kiama. She will be back in December when her boyfriend, Twenty One Pilots drummer Josh Dun, tours with his band. "For as long as we've known each other, travel's been a huge part of it," she says excitedly. "I can't wait to visit him this year and have more time to watch him play his drums, and to spend more time wandering in Australia and seeing my friends there." The couple have been so under the radar that Debby declines to provide specifics of the length of their on-again, off-again relationship. "I'm in love and very happy," she says. "We've evolved and grown so much in our careers, in the relationship, as people since we first met," she says proudly. "It's cool and special to have that support system and we are each other's biggest fans." That includes Josh returning the favour by accompanying her to offer support. "He visited me every month in Atlanta with our puppy while I was making the show," she beams. Deborah Ann Ryan was born in Huntsville, Alabama, but spent most of her childhood in Europe with her older brother Chase, her mother Sandy, a schoolteacher, and her father Chris, who worked closely with the US military. She lived near an American military base in Oberjosbach, a small town in Germany, for three years until she was 10, when the family moved back to the US and settled in Keller, Texas. "It was an adventurous childhood," she reflects. "When we weren't on the base, my mom home-schooled us often and we'd travel around Europe while she was creating curriculum like 'mummifying Barbie because we're learning about Egypt'." Ryan performed in theatre productions on the military base and later at her Keller school, but quickly realised she wanted more. "I can't believe I'm going to tell you this," she giggles with embarrassment, "but when I was 12 years old, I prayed for boobs and an agent. In four months, I went from size AA to CC and also got an agent, so there is a god!" Her first professional job, booked on her 13th birthday, was the production Barney: Let's Go to the Firehouse, in nearby Dallas-Fort Worth. "I had three lines: 'I lost my dog'; 'Barney, can you help me'; and 'Thank you'," she recalls. "But I loved every minute of it!" In March 2008, Debby moved to California after being cast in the Disney Channel show The Suite Life on Deck, which ran for three seasons. In 2011, she co-produced and starred in her own Disney series, Jessie, and when it ended in 2015, she and her band, the Never Ending, opened for Fifth Harmony, discovered through the US version of The X Factor on a world tour. As a key member of that first wave of young actors who became famous thanks to Disney shows including Miley Cyrus in Hannah Montana, Selena Gomez in Wizards of Waverly Place and Demi Lovato in Sonny with a Chance Debby understands why people would be curious about her reaction to Demi's apparent overdose. "Demi's story is not my story and I don't know enough to speak deeply into what happened to her," she carefully points out. "But I do think it's really important to talk about the fact that there's no number of engagement rings or number of followers or a number on a scale that can bring you what you're looking for. We need to just give grace to the people around us and remember nobody owes us their secrets." Debby's social networks are a mix of fun personal photos (including a birthday wish and flashback photo of her and Josh posted two months ago), promotion for Insatiable, and carefully curated mentions of designers such as Max Mara, Diane Von Furstenberg and shoe guru Stuart Weitzman. After I compliment her on the espadrille sandals she's wearing, she finds me on Twitter the following day and DMs a link to the brand, Chloe Gosselin. But social media hasn't always been her friend. Debby admits she was devastated four years ago when she was viciously trolled after gaining weight. "I'd gone through heartbreak and my close friend was going through cancer and I emotionally ate and was dealing with a full-blown eating disorder," she says. "I put on 12 pounds [5 kilos], which isn't much on the Hollywood scale, but everyone online was calling me fat and speculating that I was on drugs. It enraged me so much." She still remembers some of the incidents. "There were casting directors who looked me in the eye a few months later and said, 'How are you? You look great!' And I knew for a fact that I'd been rejected from reading for them because I'd gained weight. There were also fashion designers who were commenting on my Instagram photos 'Love you babe' but I knew that they had not allowed my stylist to borrow a dress for me." Despite this, her Patty's desire for revenge is one aspect of her Insatiable character Debby can't embrace. "The Patty in me who will forever live inside me, and I will forever live inside her sees my face on billboards right now, looking down at the people who said and did horrible things to me, and there's not even a tiny part of me that can say, 'Ha! Now I'm on a billboard looking down on you!' "All I can think about is marking and celebrating the days of going without being unhealthy and falling back into bad habits. The redemption for me is that this whole struggle can now live outside of me on the show, and is no longer hidden." For Debby Ryan, that's the only accomplishment that really matters. Insatiable is available now on Netflix. All of this, to me, smacks of just another form of ideology and thus loses several levels of credibility. Robert Brown, Camberwell You can't argue against the evidence Since when has evidence-based science become "ideology"? Stephen Galilee claims that those who don't want new coal-fired power are driven by ideology. Nonsense! They are driven by a deep scientific understanding. The recent "hothouse" paper by Steffen et.al ("Many parts of planet could become uninhabitable: study", The Age, 8/8) is just one of dozens of recent scientific papers warning of the severe consequences of unmitigated climate change. The "ideologues" are those who seem to have some sort of faith that somehow the Earth will look after us, despite what we are doing to the atmosphere. This flies in the face of the huge amount of scientific evidence that increasing the atmospheric greenhouse gases increases the greenhouse effect. Hardly surprising really. For most of the past few hundred million years the Earth has been in a "hothouse" state: sea level tens of metres higher and a very different climate. What we are doing to the atmosphere could easily drive it back to that state with disastrous consequences for humanity. Keith Burrows, Fairfield What is the cost if nothing is done? In any analysis of the cost of reducing emissions, there should be some thought given to the converse the cost of not reducing emissions. Climate change is driven by these emissions, and the impact of climate change is only just beginning to dawn on us. Those whose work it is to analyse the force of these changes are sounding alarm bells that seem to be beyond the hearing range of most of us, who find them too terrifying to take seriously. It would, however, be fair to ask of those weighing up costs related to emissions reduction, to address this question. Without this, none of the energy debate makes much sense. Carolyn Ingvarson, Canterbury FORUM Man of delusion Tony Abbott must be delusional if he still believes he was only divested of his prime ministership by Malcolm Turnbull. He is choosing to ignore the results of a succession of polls that clearly revealed that a large number of voters disapproved of even detested his constant negativity, his aggressiveness and his self-confessed willingness to do anything to stay in power. Abbott's behaviour since being relegated to the backbench has only confirmed many voters' belief that he is not an appropriate person to lead this country. Maureen Kutner, Glen Waverley The vegan way Eleanor Steafel ("Fussy food fad tribes have all spoken", The Age, 17/8) is mistaken when she throws "the plant-based brigade" under the bus along with "paleos" and "uber-foodies". She imagines vegans have been "conned" whereas it is she who has been conned by the meat, dairy and industrial egg farming lobby, to all of whom governments give a free ride. It doesn't suit these pressure groups to have us know that it takes between 5000 and 20,000 litres of water for 1 kilogram of steak; or that cows are kept permanently pregnant just so we, instead of their calves, can drink their milk; or that male chicks are gassed or macerated because they serve no industrial function. Let's not confuse fads with fair treatment of other species and our environment. Rosemary Clerehan, Armadale Chipping Nelson's column Brendan Nelson ("Historians call out War Memorial chief"', The Age, 18/8), questions the retrospective historic scrutiny of soldiers caught up in battle with the glibly dismissive line, "war is a messy business". This is a variation of the "fog of war" rationalisation for unauthorised military behaviour on the grounds that war is so complex that the mind cannot comprehend all the variables under extreme combat stress. Dr Nelson should welcome a "without fear or favour" examination of our troops' behaviour in wartime, out of respect for the vast numbers of servicemen and servicewomen whose military service has been premised on ethical idealism. Jon McMillan, Mount Eliza Admirable traits Thomas Hogg's comment about the value of cultural diversity is spot on (Letters, 18/8). Residential aged-care provision would collapse without the commitment of nurses and personal carers from a multicultural background to work in relatively low-status, undervalued and poorly paid occupations. Furthermore, their respect for, and pleasure they demonstrate in, caring for the elderly is admirable. Diana Yallop, Surrey Hills One rule for Katz Just remember this rule Danny Katz regarding the pronunciation of Castlemaine (Forum, 18/8). There's no "R" in Castlemaine. Simple, really. Michael Rayner, Castlemaine Out of time Justine Hanley ("University students feeling the pinch", The Age, 13/8) reports that students working to support themselves while at university "comes at a cost to their studies". It certainly does. They have no time to do the reading, report and essay writing, computations and reflecting essential to their taking full responsibility for learning at a tertiary level. Twenty years ago, on exhorting students to do the reading and coursework necessary for their engineering course, I was met with, "But you're supposed to be teaching us. We shouldn't have to do that." Coupled with the need to pass a significant percentage each year to keep the "bums-on-seats" funding coming in to the department, this inevitably leads to graduates with no idea how to continue learning post-university and, thus, to a thinking-impoverished workforce. The cost of this to society is colossal. Tertiary study should be free, with all universities properly funded, with tenured, full-time academics, so that real, university-level education can be achieved Don Jordan, Mount Waverley Two sides of city So, Melbourne remains one of the easiest cities for major international companies to transfer their executive staff to. Little danger of civil unrest, high-quality private healthcare and private education, quality housing in wealthy suburbs and no choking air pollution. How is life in Melbourne for someone living on Newstart, or raising a family on the minimum wage? Most of us are fortunate enough not to know, and self-absorbed enough not to care. A genuine "liveability index" might at least confront us with some uncomfortable truths. Richard Barnes, Canterbury Here's a thought Perhaps Parliament should start every session with the Prime Minister and the Opposition Leader shaking hands. Jim Picot, Altona What a mess What part of "electoral poison" does Tony Abbott and his backers fail to grasp? That he is prepared to snipe about not being allowed to "finish my term" (Insight, 18/8) amply demonstrates his unsuitability for the office of PM. The Liberal Party's inability to tap him on the shoulder and say, "Pull your head in", plays directly into Labor's hands. Meanwhile, citizens of the most resource-rich nation on Earth are held hostage to rising energy prices as the ever-diminishing NEG withers away in Canberra. Leon Burgher, Stony Creek The real crisis We wouldn't have such a housing crisis ("The invisible and their outside hope of home", The Age, 18/8) if federal and state governments had developed decent public and community housing policies 20 years ago. Instead, they defunded housing justice voices like Shelter Victoria, sold off public housing and opened more doors to the private sector. It's a housing justice crisis not a population one. Jenny Macaffer, Essendon Crime and punishment, 1 John Silvester (Naked City, 18/8) is right but he has used facts, reason and perspective. Of course, he doesn't have a political agenda, that is, to see the defeat of the Andrews government. Elements of the Liberal Party have abandoned conscience in the pursuit of political power. It is impossible to imagine past Liberals like Dick Hamer, Alan Hunt or Alan Brown even venturing into the race territory. They were champions of multiculturalism. It appears that state Liberals have been prepared to campaign solely on "crime out of control" to capitalise on tabloid media-induced racist fears as they relate to feelings of security. No matter that the latest ABS figures show that Victoria has the lowest crime rates for any mainland state, no matter that crime rates are actually falling. The one thing that experience tells us is that more police and more jails lead to more crime simply because there is no effort made to tackle causation or rehabilitation, which is seen as being weak. Paul Kennelly, Caulfield North Crime and punishment, 2 John Silvester hits his stride in busting the myth of an African gang crisis. In the white noise of political opportunism are the harsher realities of crime the failed "war on drugs" policy that maintains the status quo (ie. a flourishing black market of illicit drug trade) and the human fallout. As to the "true" serious "black crime problem" in Australia of disproportionately high rates of incarceration of Indigenous youth in contrast to the small number of Sudanese youth committing crime, we have to get smarter at rehabilitating young offenders. Whether tackling drug policy or youth offending, complex social problems require sophisticated problem solving. Jelena Rosic, Mornington Consider the future In the past month there have been record floods in Kerala, winter bushfires in NSW and the hottest European summer on record. To our shame there are still climate science deniers in the Australian Parliament. These are the politicians who are trying to change the focus from effective environment policy to one where propaganda about power prices becomes the argument. This is a plea to the politicians consider the future beyond the next term of government. Create a framework for a stable energy market where investment in renewables is a realistic option. Regulate the power price to consumers (and stop producers and suppliers creating an artificially high price which is then blamed on renewables). Stop subsidising coal-fired power stations and don't buy into the miners' myth of clean coal. The NEG is deficient in so many respects that it deserves to be ditched. However, the shenanigans of the past week illustrate the priority of the Liberal National Coalition, stay in power whatever the cost and live with the current vacuum of environment policy. Deborah and Fergus O'Connor, Berrys Creek Courage needed It is surely hypocritical to congratulate ourselves on our multicultural society and to cite "a fair go" as "the Australian way" while we lock up innocent people on islands to prove a point. Where is the leader with the courage to stand up for what is right rather than what is thought popular and to undertake to bring every last one of these suffering people to a fair go in Australia? Many a country town may well volunteer to welcome a family and so put an end to the futility and hopelessness of these lives. Julie Pawsey, Coromandel Valley Big issues for rural folk When it comes to the big issues that worry Victorians ("The big issues that worry all Victorians", The Age, 18/8), what counts is not only when you were born but where you live. For many country people, the recurring dangers of drought, bushfires and possibly floods all likely to be aggravated by climate change would top the list. Claude Forell, Glenlyon AND ANOTHER THING Politics In his defence of Fraser Anning, Bob Katter seemed to wear ignorance like a badge of honour. They could do well to remember Cicero: "To be ignorant of what happened before you were born is to remain forever a child." Brian Tait, Blackburn North I see the federal Liberals are doing their best to lose the next election. Tony Abbott should be happy. James Moseley, Frankston George Norrish (16/8), in relation to Fraser Anning's comments, there is no commonsense or accuracy, just xenophobia. Steve Haylock, Mount Waverley Ipsos survey of issues that worry Australians. The winner, fear. The pollies' elixir, the people's poison. Rob Walter, Horsham With all the dog-whistling and Katterwauling it is no wonder Parliament is full of do-littles. Ken Machin, East Geelong The biggest "power cut" is Turnbull's loss of power. The energy seems to have gone out of him. Myra Fisher, Brighton East Malcolm & the Malcontents playing at a pub near you. Julie Conquest, Brighton Crime outstrips all other issues. Well done Peter Dutton. Dianne Lewis, Mt Martha Furthermore I was impressed by the insightful observation ("In the funeral trade", The Age, 18/8) that "in the longer-term the trend for death remains positive". John Williams, Clifton Hill Danny Kaahhhhhhhhhhz. Sounds ridiculous. Bruce Watson, Clifton Springs I resent being lumped in the "Silent Generation" category (Ipsos survey, 18/8). Invisible we may be, but silent we are not. It is hard not to feel a little sorry for the man. On Tuesday, emerging from his party room meeting, he glowed with satisfaction. After months of squabbling, Coalition MPs had backed his energy policy. Across the land, reporters hailed it as an important victory. But by the end of the week, Turnbull was facing questions about his leadership. His smile was still there, but it had lost its sincerity. This week, Malcolm Turnbull will register at least one achievement. He will overtake Gough Whitlam on the list of longest-serving prime ministers. If he were to be removed soon afterwards, as is now being discussed in some quarters of the Liberal Party, what would Turnbullesque come to mean? My suspicion is the definitions used by both sides would be similar for Turnbull, depressingly so. Like most words, Whitlamesque means different things depending on which side of politics is using it. From the Liberals it stands for recklessly extravagant. For Labor people, it is an expression of boundless ambition, likely to be uttered in hushed, admiring tones. That the Coalition might be about to tear itself apart over climate again is an indication of insanity. The symmetry is incredible. In 2010, Turnbull crossed the floor to vote with Labor on climate policy after losing the Liberal leadership to Tony Abbott. Now, having lost the Liberal leadership to Malcolm Turnbull, Tony Abbott is preparing to cross the floor to vote with Labor on climate policy. Some reckon those who dont read history are doomed to repeat it. Theyre wrong. Humans or at least politicians - are stupider than that. Turns out theyre doomed to repeat history even if they lived through it themselves, and pretty recently. One of the oddest, saddest things about Australias climate debate is that it has been based almost entirely on a series of verbal fictions. Every couple of years we get a new code word or phrase that means nothing to voters, but furiously divides our politicians. Right now its the National Energy Guarantee before that the emissions intensity scheme. And before that it was a carbon price, or perhaps a carbon tax. Id be surprised if more than a hundred Australians could explain the difference between the four. And yet each, for at least a few months, has taken on mystical significance for Coalition MPs. Abbott last week described explanations of Turnbulls policy as merchant bankers' gobbledygook. It was an incisive line, but not in the way Abbott meant. For voters, everything that is said in this debate is gobbledygook. That should be cause for concern. But for Abbott, it is an opportunity. Wherever complexity and confusion prosper, Abbott sees the chance to insert fiction. Koala conservation experts will meet in Brisbane on Monday to debate a major emerging conservation problem in Queensland. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said on Friday she was happy to look at any recommendations that came from the meeting. At the heart of the meeting at the Department of Science in George Street is Queenslands koala translocation policy. Young koala emerges to view his surroundings. Credit:Fairfax Media Translocation of koalas is illegal under Queensland legislation unless it has been allowed for allegedly scientific reasons. CERES chief executive Cinnamon Evans (left), with chair Jo Barraket. The sustainability centre is fighting a planned six-storey apartment development on its doorstep. Credit:Paul Jeffers After decades of work by green volunteers and activists, it now attracts almost half a million visitors a year. Not every proposed apartment block, though, is immediately next door to CERES Environment Park, the 36-year-old sustainability centre that was once a quarry and then a municipal tip. With high-density development in Melbournes inner north booming, a six-level apartment block in East Brunswick wouldnt normally make many waves, beyond perhaps irritating its immediate neighbours. An artist's impression of apartment planned to the west of CERES Environment Park. Credit:Lucent Capital While many of its buildings sprawling across the four-hectare site have been designed to carefully nestle into the Merri Creek valley's settings, the centre's managers argue a proposed $25 million apartment block a developer wants to build next door would jar badly with the bucolic scene below. The apartment building would be twice the height of any other in the locality and, says chief executive Cinnamon Evans, tower over CERES and the Merri Creek valley. Developers Lucent Capital would build the 75 apartments on a 3500-square-metre site next door that is now used for offices and to park limousines. Designed by architects Clarke Hopkins Clarke, with interiors by Austin Maynard Architects, apartments in the project would start from $560,000 for two bedrooms. The land, for which Lucent will pay more than $8 million, is covered by rules protecting the Merri Creek's environmental significance. Ms Evans said any project needed to respect these. Celebrity chef Adriano Zumbo plans to resurrect his debt-ridden pastry empire, but only narrowly avoided disaster earlier this year when he discovered he was being played by a notorious Melbourne conman. After an apparently "chance" encounter outside his South Yarra patisserie, prolific scam artist Rocco Calabrese offered to act as a white knight for the embattled dessert king. Conman Rocco Calabrese and celebrity pastry chef Adriano Zumbo. Credit:Jason South / Supplied Mr Calabrese, adopting the persona of a multimillionaire who "didn't have to work", suggested he could help stave off creditors by investing in Zumbo's sweets empire, which was ultimately put into external administration last month with debts of nearly $10 million. "I knew him just as Rocco," said Mr Zumbo, who had leveraged his regular appearances on MasterChef to build a business spanning eight eponymous outlets and a high-end tea salon. "I had no idea who he actually was." Cairo: Two Coptic Christian monks have been sent to trial over the killing of a bishop in an Egyptian desert monastery last month, Alexandria's public prosecutor says. Bishop Epiphanius, 64, the abbot of the St Macarius Monastery in the Wadi al-Natrun area, about 110 kilometres north-west of Cairo, was found dead on July 29. The killing of a respected bishop in a desert monastery north of Cairo has opened a rare window onto the cloistered world of Egypts Coptic Orthodox Church. Credit:AP Wael Saad and Ramon Rasmi Mansour, known by their monastic names Isaiah al-Makari and Faltaous al-Makari, were referred to the Damanhour criminal court for alleged involvement in killing the bishop. Saad was defrocked this month over what church officials called violations of monastic life, and later detained. Judicial sources said he had confessed under questioning to killing the bishop. There has been no indication of a motive. The national tour of Waitress, playing at the SHN Golden Gate Theatre in San Francisco October 16-November 11, is looking for two young girls to perform the role of Lulu for the duration of the engagement. The "Search for Lulu" will take place in San Francisco on Friday, September 7, 10am-noon, and then again 1pm-3pm, at the Alonzo King LINES Ballet Dance Center (26 Seventh Street, San Francisco). The audition will consist of the child speaking two lines from the show. If possible, parents should bring a current head shot and resume for each child. Headshot, resume, and prior acting experience is not required. Lulu will be cast locally in each tour market and two girls will be chosen to share the role throughout the engagement, performing in four performances each week. The character is described as "a sweet and care-free 4 to 5-year-old who appears in the production's final scene. Qualified young girls should be shorter than 4'2" and be no older than 5 years and 3 months. Individual applicants are welcome, as are sets of twins or siblings. Space is limited to the first 60 applicants to sign up. For complete details and to sign up, click here. Based upon the 2007 motion picture written by Adrienne Shelly, Waitress tells the story of Jenna, an expert pie maker in a small town, who dreams of a way out of a loveless marriage with her husband Earl. A baking contest in a nearby county and the town's new doctor may offer her a chance at a new life, while her fellow waitresses offer their own recipes to happiness. But Jenna must find the courage and strength within herself to rebuild her life. Currently running at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre, the musical features a book by Jessie Nelson, a score by Sara Bareilles, choreography by Lorin Latarro, and direction by Tony Award winner Diane Paulus. Meghan Markle. Photo: Dominic Lipinski/Getty Images Meghan Markle is traveling to Canada alone in her first solo trip since marrying Prince Harry. According to Royal Central, Markle is flying to Toronto to visit her former home on an Air Canada flight. Kensington Palace reportedly sent a letter to Air Canada, making the reasonable request that no one take pictures with the duchess or otherwise approach her. Theres no official confirmation from the palace about Meghans reported itinerary, but it makes sense, given that her close friend and stylist Jessica Mulroney still lives there. Hopefully this trip will give Markle a break from the family drama stirred up by her father, and maybe she can wear suits again now that Harry is not around. 14 Fans Injured at Backstreet Boys Oklahoma Concert After Freak Storm An outdoor concert in Oklahoma featuring 90s boy band favorites Backstreet Boys and 98 Degrees was canceled on Saturday after an intense storm struck the area and injured at least 14 people, venue officials said. We never want to put our fans in harms way and with tonights weather and the injuries from earlier, we have decided to cancel the show and will attempt to reschedule, the Backstreet Boys said on the bands Twitter page. Patrons at the sold-out show held at the WinStar World Casino and Resort in Thackerville, nearly 130 miles south of Oklahoma City, were asked to seek shelter at around 5:00 p.m. local time when lightning appeared within four miles of the casino, the resort said in a statement. About 150 people ignored the warnings and continued to wait in line for the show. At approximately 5:30 p.m., the storm hit and knocked over the concert entrance trusses with 70-80 mile an hour winds and heavy rain, resort officials said in a statement. Fourteen people were treated at the scene and taken to local hospitals. Two have been released, officials said. The Backstreet Boys, best known for hits like I Want It That Way and Everybody (Backstreets Back), and 98 Degrees, famous for their love ballad I Do (Cherish You), were scheduled to perform for more than 12,000 fans. Backstreet Boys member Kevin Richardson told fans via his Twitter account that safety inspectors had checked the stage for damage after the storm. Unfortunately, due to damage sustained in the storm earlier this evening, we are unable to perform the show tonight, Richardson tweeted later on. Safety is always #1. Keep your tickets because, Backstreet WILL BE BACK, he said. Organizers said the concert would be rescheduled and tickets to Saturdays show would be honored on the new date. We are disappointed that tonights show was canceled due to the inclement weather, said 98 Degrees via the bands Twitter page. We know many of you traveled to be here today. Sending you all our love and hope to see you soon. Brazilian Border Town Residents Drive out Venezuelan Immigrants Angry residents of a Brazilian border town, Pacaraima, ran riot and drove out Venezuelan immigrants on Saturday after a local restaurant owner was stabbed and beaten, residents and government officials said. The demonstrations forced hundreds of Venezuelans to flee back across the frontier on foot and residents set fire to the belongings they left behind and to tires to block the only road crossing between the two countries, video images released by the state of Roraima government showed. The outburst of anger was sparked by the robbery and severe beating of a resident in his home on Friday night, Roraima state security secretary Giuliana Castro said by telephone. After crossing back into their country, Venezuelans attacked a group of 30 Brazilians who were shopping across the border and who had to be taken to a shelter, Castro said. Venezuelas Information Ministry did not immediately respond to a request for information. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have poured over the border into Roraima state over the last few years, fleeing economic and political turmoil in their country. The influx has overwhelmed the states social services and brought a rise in crime, prostitution and disease, as well as incidents of xenophobia, Brazilian government officials say. A Pacaraima resident who asked to be identified only as Ismael said by telephone that four Venezuelans allegedly entered the restaurant owners home, tied him and his wife up and stabbed and beat the man severely before robbing his house. The people here are up in arms. They are burning the belonging of Venezuelans who were camped out here, Ismael said. He said police were looking for the four men. Out, out, out, go back to Venezuela, demonstrators shouted at the Venezuelans as they rushed passed the border post carrying what they could, video images distributed by the Roraima government showed. The four Venezuelan suspects stole 23,000 reais ($5,800) from the restaurant owner, identified only as Raimundo. He suffered head injuries and was taken to hospital unconscious but was reported to be out of danger, Castro said. Brazilian army soldiers stationed at Pacaraima to help maintain order asked Venezuelan immigrants to return across the border for their own safety, Castro said. Venezuelas economy has been in steep decline and there are periodic waves of protests against the leftist government of President Nicolas Maduro. Maduro argues that he is the victim of a Washington-led economic war designed to sabotage his administration through sanctions and price-gouging. The only people responsible for this tragedy are Maduro and his gang, tweeted Venezuelan opposition politician Ismael Garcia about the flare-up in Brazil. The Roraima government has declared the immigration influx a social crisis and asked Brazils federal government to close the border, which it will not do for humanitarian reasons. Chris Watts glances back at a Weld County Sheriff's Deputy as he is escorted out of the courtroom on Aug. 16, 2018, at the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley, Colo. (Joshua Polson/The Greeley Tribune/AP) Chris Watts: Colorado Fathers Affidavit Expected to Be Made Public Monday The affidavit in the case of Chris Watts, the Colorado father accused of murdering his pregnant wife Shanann Watts and their two young daughters, is expected to be made public on Monday, Aug. 20. The affidavit will include the suspected motive for the alleged killer, reported CBS. The release of the affidavit will come as Watts, 33, is formally charged. Autopsies were completed on Friday on Shannan Watts, 34, and the two young girls, Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3. The cause of death for the three females has not been released. All three bodies were found on the property of Anadarko Petroleum, a company that employed both Shanann and Chris Watts. The latter was fired after his arrest. The bodies of the two girls were found submerged in oil inside of containers, a move investigators believe Chris Watts made so that they wouldnt be found for some time. They were in the containers for four days. Chris Watts requested through his lawyer on Friday for DNA samples to be taken from the throats of the girls, the hands of the girls and mother, and the nails of the mother, a request the judge denied. The request led some to believe the mother and two daughters may have been strangled by Watts. He was scheduled to appear in court next on Tuesday, Aug. 21. Watts Demonstrated Arrogance Chris Watts initially pleaded for his wife and two daughters to return, claiming he didnt know what happened to them. This house isnt the same. Last night was traumatic. Last nightI cant really stay in this house again like, with nobody here, Watts said in an interview broadcast on a local television station 9News. I wanted that knock on the door. I wanted to see those kids running, just barrel rush me and give me a hug and just knock me on the ground, but that didnt happen. Wattss assertation that he was living in a situation like a nightmare and other comments indicate an arrogance and lack of empathy, a former FBI profiler stated. When somebody kills their own family and then they go on TV to say But I didnt have anything to do with it, that ability to be so very sure of your own interpersonal skills that you can attempt to fool a national and international audience is very unusual, former FBI senior profiler and forensic behavioral expert Mary Ellen OToole told CBS. Thats a lot of arrogance and confidence that you could pull this off, and thats not typical, she said. She said he made the plea in an attempt to push the investigation away from him, and his comments never displayed empathy, according to OToole. There is a noticeable absence of emotional behavior or words of emotion like, Im so scared, Im so worried about them,' OToole said. He talks about the house being empty, but thats not the same as expressions of empathy. There is an absence of that. Watts made the plea on Aug. 13; he was arrested on Aug. 15. From NTD.tv Chris Watts Unusual DNA Request Denied by Judge A request by the defense attorneys for Chris Watts, the Colorado father accused of murdering his pregnant wife and two daughters, was denied by a judge. The bodies of Shanann Watts, 34, Bella Watts, 4, and Celeste Watts, 3, were found on Thursday, Aug. 16. Strange DNA Request The defense on Friday made the unusual request, originating with Chris Watts, that DNA samples be taken from the girls throats, their hands, the mothers hands, and her nails. The request led some to believe that Watts may have strangled the girls. The request was denied by a Weld County judge, reported KMGH. A forensic expert presented by the defense said the presence of oil wouldnt destroy DNA, referring to how the bodies of the girls were found submerged in oil inside of canisters. The bodies were submerged for around four days before being discovered near the body of Shanann Watts on the property of Anadarko Petroleum, who employed both Chris and Shannan Watts before the murders. Richard Eikelenboom, the expert for the defense, was actually not allowed to testify as an expert witness in a 2016 sexual assault trial, reported the Denver Post. That decision by a Denver District Court judge came after Eikelenboom admitted he had no direct experience in DNA extraction of analysis and that his lab was unaccredited. I would be shocked if the defense tried to use him in front of a jury after he has been discredited as an expert witness, former Denver District Attorney Mitch Morrissey told KMGH. Autopsies on the bodies of Shannan, Bella, and Celeste Watts were completed on Friday but the cause of death for each has not been made public as yet. Formal charges against Chris Watts are expected to be filed on Aug. 20, including the suspected motive, and he is scheduled to appear next in court at 10 a.m. on Aug. 21, during which time the charges will be read. Candlelight Vigil Outside the familys home in Frederick, north of Denver, a memorial of stuffed animals, balloons, flowers, and messages grew and a candlelight vigil drew dozens of people Friday night. This is to celebrate, mourn, and get closure for a family that didnt deserve this, said vigil organizer Kelley Trippy. This is a horrible, horrible, horrible story. Its affected us all whether you do know them or dont know them. Christine Gentert said a prayer, adding that she wanted Shanann Watts to be remembered for her smile and her love for others. I dont want the horror to replace how beautiful she was, Gentert said. Ashley Bell, a friend of Shanann Watts, said Shanann had planned a party Saturday to reveal the gender of her baby. Frankie Rzucek said his sister planned to name her baby boy Niko. The Associated Press contributed to this report. From NTD.tv Photo: Contributed Join our wine writer, Allison Markin, every week for a wine review complete with food and music pairings. Featuring Okanagan and Canadian wines, with an occasional international bottle, Castanet celebrates the bottles of our Valley and the diversity of the Canadian wine industry and influences from around the world. For current availability and pricing, consult the winery. Unless indicated, international selections are generally available at government liquor stores or private wine shops. Wine: Arome, 2017 Winery: Roche, Naramata Bench Why drink it? And now for something very different, from Roche, now in its second year on the Naramata Bench: Schonberger. This grape is a pinot noir, muscat, chasselas cross and the name aptly describes the intense nose from this white wine. Beautifully aromatic, imagine that youre on a tropical beach next to exotic flowers, with freshly sliced papaya and guava next to you. The flavours are fresh and light, refreshing but not overly acidic. If youre looking for a bottle to get you through the rest of summer, this will gently prepare you for the autumn transition to weightier whites and light reds. Price: $19 Pair with: Take-out sushi, but also lightly spiced Thai dishes or curries, like mango chicken curry or Indian dishes featuring tropical fruit. Make your own fruit salsa with cilantro, and serve with grilled halibut, cod, or sole. Music pairing: Molly Town, Joss Stone Have a wine to suggest? Email Allison at [email protected] Funding Boosted to $1.8B for Drought-Stricken Communities Communities battling the worst drought in decades will receive extra funding, as the federal government significantly ramps up its drought assistance measures. Sixty drought-affected councils36 in New South Wales, 22 in Queensland, and 2 in Victoriawill be given $1 million each to spend on anything from drinking water to building new community facilities. The measure is part of the $1.8 billion emergency relief package, including $250 million in new money, announced by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull today in Forbes, NSW. The local councils will have access to a pool of $75 million to fund projects, including providing emergency water supplies. This is really important, to get some more cash into these communities, to do long overdue work of the type the councils are always attending to, Turnbull said in a video on Facebook. Thats going to provide some more jobs and some more income into the town. Loans and Tax Breaks For Farmers About $1 billion of this additional funding will be offered to farmers in the form of low-interest loans, which can be spent on fodder and water. These loans will assist with financing immediate needs such as purchasing feed and fodder, the government said in a statement, the ABC reported. The first five years of these loans will remain interest-only. Farmers with existing government loans will also be able to refinance to take advantage of the interest-only concessional period. The current $1 million cap on low-interest loans will be doubled to $2 million. The total amount available for loans each year will also be doubled from $250 million to $500 million. In a measure aimed at building drought resilience, farmers who invest in infrastructure to store livestock feed will also be given tax breaks, the prime minister said. Farmers will immediately be able to deduct the costs for building new silos, hay sheds, or other storage structures, rather than let it depreciate over three years. This measure is on top of the existing $20,000 instant asset write-off for small businesses. One of the most important things to do if youre on the land in Australia is to prepare for drought. And fodder storage, grain storage is absolutely critical, Turnbull said. Were changing the law to make that [silos and hay sheds] able to be written-off in one year. Thats providing even more incentive for farmers to put themselves in a position where they absolutely are giving themselves the best chance of getting through a drought. National Drought Co-ordinator Appointed Retired Army Major-General Stephen Day has been appointed the federal governments new national drought co-ordinator. The former officer will help tie together the efforts of various bodies working in drought relief, including not-for-profit organisations, farming organisations, and the NSW Drought Co-ordinator. Its very important to bring all of our efforts across all the affected regions together, the prime minister said. These further relief measures comes two weeks after Turnbull announced the federal governments $190 million support package, which included lump-sum payments of $12,000 to struggling farmers through the Farm Household Allowance program. From NTD.tv Rescuers evacuate people from a flooded area to a safer place in Aluva in the southern state of Kerala, India on August 18, 2018. (Sivaram V/REUTERS) More Heavy Rains Likely in Indias Kerala as Flood Death Toll Jumps India deployed thousands of soldiers and dozens of helicopters to rescue people marooned by the worst floods in a century in the southern state of Kerala, where the death toll of 186 people as of Saturday could rise fast as rains continue. The weather office warned of more heavy red category rains on Saturday as tens of thousands of people were still stuck on the rooftops of houses and community centers. Rescue workers have yet to reach many flooded areas, some too narrow for boats to navigate. People trapped without food, water and electricity worried about being left without help as their phone batteries were dying. An adviser to the states chief minister put the initial loss estimate at $4 billion. There are seven families in this apartment now. Were safe compared to many others, but were cut off, said James Joseph Moolakkaat, owner of an agricultural business who lives in a 10-story building across the southwestern states Periyar river. This is my second phone and to save power I have been turning data on and off intermittently. If this goes out, I will have some charge left in my laptop and then it will be incommunicado. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was taken by helicopter over inundated farmland and villages, promised more helicopters, boats and other equipment needed to expand the rescue operation in the still unfolding emergency. He said the Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard were assisting disaster relief agencies in the rescue, and a total of 38 helicopters had been pressed into service along with a number of aircraft and ships to ferry resources. More helicopters, boats and other equipment are being sought and Modi promised to provide all of these as fast as possible, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told journalists. The air marshal in charge of the air operations said more helicopters are on the way. According to a lawmaker in Pathanamthitta district, some 10,000 people were stranded and in grave danger unless they were rescued urgently. A Reuters witness in Aluva town, nearly 250 km (155 miles)from state capital Thiruvananthapuram, said army helicopters airlifted up to 14 marooned residents, including children and elderly people from an apartment. Food Shortage With hundreds of thousands of people converging in halls and auditoriums of schools, temples, churches, and mosques with little or no toilet facilities, people from less affected areas moved in to help those badly in need. But some people in the relief camps were finding it difficult to access food and water. Videos on social media showed groups of people breaking open shops to take food. Chief Minister Vijayan has estimated that more than two million people have been forced to move into relief camps since the monsoon season brought torrential rains three months ago. He put the death toll from floods and landslides since the start of the rainy season at 324. One of his advisers, Prabha Varma, told Reuters 186 people had died since Aug. 8, when the waters began to rise. She said the floods had destroyed 26,000 homes and damaged crops across as much as 40,000 hectares, with estimated losses of 277 billion rupees. Modi declared initial assistance of 5 billion rupees ($71 million) and promised more later. He also assured that the federal government would send desperately needed grains, as storage in the state had been flooded and stocks destroyed. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates, where many Keralites work, said he had formed a committee to extend emergency assistance to the flood victims of the state, whose people he said have always been and are still part of our success story. By Jose Devasia and Sivaram Venkitasubramanian North Carolina Fugitives Caught in Florida Two North Carolina men who shot at North Carolina police officers during a chase were apprehended in Treasure Island, Florida. The two fugitives, Donald Alfred Billings, 50, and Alton Smoot, 26, were signaled to stop by Allegheny County, North Carolina deputies on at about 11:35 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018. The pair, in Billingss blue 2001 Toyota Tundra, fled instead of stopping. As they fled, they fired an AR-15 rifle and a handgun at the pursuing deputies. No deputies were hit or hurt, but they did cut off the pursuit. Allegheny deputies said Billings abandoned his truck, stole a Chevy Tahoe, and headed to Florida with Smoot, according to a Pinellas County Sheriffs press release. Federal marshals tracked the pair to Pinellas County, Florida. On Aug. 17, marshals informed detectives from the Pinellas County Sheriffs Violent Offender Warrant Unit about Billings and Smoots possible whereabouts. The detectives found Smoot at the apartment of Billingss ex-girlfriend, Tiffany McCord, 34, who lived in Treasure Island. Smoot was taken into custody around noon on Saturday, Aug. 18. Pledged to Kill and Die Billings had said he was not going to be taken alive, according to witnesses. Billings made a black-powder pipe-bomb and had the pistol and rifle, and a machetehe planned to shoot it out with law enforcement and take his own life if he could not escape, witnesses told deputies. Pinellas SWAT surrounded the apartment and spent several hours trying to convince Billings to surrender peacefully. Billings refused to communicate. After many hours standoff, SWAT decided to use tear gas to drive Billings out of the apartment. When that didnt work, SWAT officers forced entry and tossed flash-bang grenades into the apartment. As the deputies were breaking down the various doors of the apartment and making entry, a fire broke out. Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri said at a press conference that no one was certain if the grenades started the fire, or if Billings had started it. When deputies entered, they found Billings immobile on the floor, his face and hands badly burned. He was taken into custody at 12:45 a.m. on Aug. 19. Billings was transported to Tampa General Hospitals burn unit. The fire department was able to control and extinguish the fire. Tiffany McCord was not charged. Pinellas Sheriff Bob Gualtieri told the press, She was cooperativeshe was scared of them. These Guys Were Bad People Theres no question that Smoot and Billings are bad people. They have extensive histories of violent crime Sheriff Gualtieri told the press. Billings was charged with warrants out of Alleghany County, North Carolina, for one count of attempted first-degree murder on law enforcement, one count of felony conspiracy to commit first-degree murder on law enforcement, and possession of firearm by felon. Smoot was charged with warrants out of Alleghany County, North Carolina, for one count of attempted first-degree murder on law enforcement, one count of felony conspiracy to commit first-degree murder on law enforcement, one count of aggravated assault with gun, one count of aggravated assault with a weapon and one count of fleeing and eluding law enforcement. These guys are bad people and they were engaged in activity where they were willing to shoot it out with a cop. We are very fortunate that nobody was hurt and no law enforcement were hurt, said Gualtieri. From NTD.tv Orange County Man and 2 Children Have Gone Missing on Neversink River UPDATE: As of 8 p.m. EDT, the man and his 8-year-old son are still missing. Crews have announced they will continue the search on Sunday morning. UPDATE: As of 6 p.m. EDT, authorities say the 16-year-old boy was rescued by a friend of the man who is still missing along with his 8-year-old. No details of his condition are available. CUDDEBACKVILLE, NEW YORKLocals are searching for a man, his 8-year-old son, and a 16-year-old boy after the two boys got swept away while water rafting and the father attempted to rescue them in the Neversink River near the Oakland Valley campground. The incident occured at approximately 11 a.m. on Aug. 18. The two kids were on a raft about three miles west of the D&H Canal Park on Hoag Road in Cuddebackville, New York, when raging waters swept them away. The 8-year-olds father and a friend were standing nearby in the water fishing at the time. The father and friend went after the two boys in an attempt to rescue them. The father got swept up in the raging water. The fathers friend continued to search for the three. Emergency services, underwater search and rescue, helicopter, and canine units from across Orange County were dispatched around 3 p.m. local time and are actively searching. The river current is faster than usual after heavy rains over the last two days. No further information is available as requested by the family. FILE PHOTO: Cardinal Donald William Wuerl from U.S. waves as he arrives for a meeting at the Synod Hall in the Vatican March 7, 2013. (Reuters/Alessandro Bianchi) Second Cardinal Withdraws From Ireland Congress Amid Abuse Scandals DUBLINThe Archbishop of Washington, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, withdrew on Aug. 18 from next weeks World Meeting of Families in Dublin, the second senior cleric to pull out of the Roman Catholic event amid clerical sexual abuse scandals in the United States. The meeting, a major congress held every three years, will be closed by Pope Francis during the first papal visit in almost 40 years to Ireland where a series of abuse scandals has also rocked the churchs standing in the once staunchly Catholic country. The withdrawal from the Dublin event followed a bombshell grand jury report this week that detailed widespread abuse by hundreds of priests in Pennsylvania and a systematic cover-up campaign by their bishops over a 70-year period. Wuerl, who was Bishop for the Diocese of Pittsburgh in western Pennsylvania from 1988 to 2006, has not himself been accused of any wrongdoing against children. The report found that Wuerl notified the Vatican in 1989 of several priests who had been accused of sexually abusing children but that over subsequent years he granted requests by some to be reassigned to other parishes or to retire early, and in one case approved a loan to assist one such priest with personal debts. In a statement on Aug. 14, Wuerl said that while he understood the report may be critical of some of his actions, he believed it confirmed that he acted with diligence, with concern for the victims and to prevent future acts of abuse. A spokeswoman for the World Meeting of Families said she could confirm that Cardinal Wuerl would no longer be attending the Dublin event. No reason was provided. In the most wide-ranging U.S. investigation into sexual abuse by priests since the scandal burst into the public eye in Boston in 2002, the two-year Pennsylvania investigation found evidence that at least 1,000 people, mostly children, had been sexually abused by some 300 clergymen. The report said the numbers of actual victims and abusers could be much higher. The Archbishop of Boston, Cardinal Sean OMalley, who was due to host a panel discussion on safeguarding children at the congress, withdrew earlier this week to oversee an investigation into separate allegations of inappropriate behavior at a Boston seminary. By Padraic Halpin Ontario's Minister of Finance Vic Fideli and Attorney General Caroline Mulroney deliver remarks following an announcement on the provinces's cannabis retail model, in Toronto on Aug. 13, 2018. (THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov) Richmond Hill, Markham, and Oakville Plan to Reject Marijuana Retail Stores Waterloo police chief notes 'alarming' rates of marijuana use among youth, suggests fostering prevention Mayors from some municipalities in the Greater Toronto Area are saying their residents dont want marijuana stores in their community and are planning to opt out of allowing retail stores to open next April. The majority of comments that we received from our community was that they were not interested in a retail outlet at all, said an emailed statement to The Epoch Times from Richmond Hill Mayor David Barrows office. Markham and Oakville municipal governments have also said their cities will be opting out. When approached by the previous provincial government to be one of the first locations, Mayor [Frank] Scarpitti rejected that opportunity and subsequently Markham Council also passed a motion rejecting a retail outlet, reads an emailed statement from a City of Markham spokesperson. The new plan announced by the Ford government on Aug. 13 lays out a two-part process which gives the Ontario government control over online sales, with the retail component given to the private sector. Municipalities are allowed to opt out of having retail stores if they so choose. The previous Liberal provincial governments plan was to have 150 retail stores in place by 2020, run by the provinces liquor control board. Barrow said the changes to the legislation are welcomed, as there was no dialogue with federal or provincial governments since the previous Ontario governments plan was announced in 2017. Council stated that Richmond Hill would not be a willing host at that time, he said. Barrow has also indicated that over 1,000 residents have signed a petition asking that no marijuana stores be opened in Richmond Hill. The concern with the community is the fact that it will be seen to be an acceptable thing to do, and most parents dont want their children to be thinking that thats the case, he said in an interview with CTV. Oakville Mayor Rob Burton is also planning to opt out of the retail channel, which will be run by heavily vetted private sellers and is scheduled to open on April 1, 2019. Voters want to know where you stand, and so Im letting people know that Im for opting out. I and most of council werent happy with the previous governments plan for a government store in Oakville, Burton told Global News on Aug. 17. Several other municipalities across in the GTA, including Ajax, Brampton, and Vaughan are waiting for more information before deciding. Toronto Mayor John Tory has said Canadas largest city will likely choose to opt in to retail distribution. Extensive consultations between the provincial government and local municipalities are expected to take place over the next eight months. Details related to public health, law enforcement, and the business community need to be worked out prior to the opening of retail marijuana outlets. Marijuana is set to be legalized across the country on Oct. 17. Weve got a substance use challenge The three-day Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference took place this week and included a panel discussion on cannabis legalization on Aug. 22. One of the speakers, Waterloo Regional Police Services Chief Bryan Larkin, raised the issue of the high rates of marijuana use among young people and how to curb that trend. If you look at our rates of use of cannabis and other drugs amongst young people, we should pause for a moment and recognize its alarming. We should pause for a moment as municipal leaders and recognize that weve got a substance use challenge in Ontario and in Canada, he said. I think were not talking enough about prevention, he added, noting Canada should be looking at the Iceland model that has seen cannabis use among young people drastically reduced. I think that really we have to move the discussion upstream, he said. Ideally we should be reducing, and our goal should be to reduce. Perpetual substance use is not healthy. Larkin said that by raising the issue of cannabis use among young people he wanted to change the thought process or dialogue a little bit from policing and enforcement to public health, to prevention, and to building a healthier community. Theres a larger dialogue behind the scenes we should be having, he said. Dr. Paula Stewart, chief medical officer of health for the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit in Ontario, provided some statistics on marijuana use among youth. Looking at the data, we have about one in four people in grades 9 to 12 say that theyve used cannabis in the last year. And it goes up60 percent of those in grade 12 say they used cannabis in the last year. Stewart said in an interview. She said young people need to understand that marijuana is a chemical that is not natural to our bodies. [Legalization] doesnt mean that this is a healthy product and its OK to use it. The Pediatricians Alliance of Ontario (PAO) has warned that the legalization of marijuana could pose a serious risk to the health of children and teens, noting that after marijuana was legalized in Colorado in 2014, a childrens hospital in the state saw a fourfold increase in the number of teenagers coming to emergency rooms due to marijuana intoxication. The public needs to understand that marijuana use has been proven to cause serious damage to the developing brains of children, said PAO president Dr. Hirotaka Yamashiro in a statement last year. Parents and caregivers should be taking precautions. With additional reporting by Rahul Vaidyanath Suspects in Missing Teachers Death Admit Slaying: Court Doc New court documents suggest that within weeks of a south Georgia teachers 2005 disappearance, two of her ex-students told friends at a party they had killed her and burned her body. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports Ryan Alexander Duke and Bo Dukes made the admission a month after Tara Grinstead was reported missing in October 2005. Court documents filed this week in Irwin County Superior Court say their comments were reported to police but they werent arrested until 2017. Dukes attorneys say in court motions that because it took so long to arrest them, all but the murder charge should be dropped, due to the statute of limitations. It is undisputed that Irwin County law enforcement knew of these crimes within months of the disappearance of Tara Grinstead, a court motion states. In fact, a search of the area where Ms. Grinsteads body was allegedly burned was conducted Grinstead, 30, an Irwin County High School teacher and former beauty queen, was last seen on Oct. 22, 2005, when she left a cookout and said she was going straight home. Two days later, she was reported missing when she didnt show up to teach history. Because Duke and Dukes were identified as suspects later in 2005 but not charged until 2017, all but the murder charge should be dropped, Dukes public defenders claim in one of two dozen motions filed in the past week. Duke and Dukes were identified as suspects and known to law enforcement in 2005, the motion states. By a generous application of the statute of limitations of four years, the statute would have run (expired) near December of 2009. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation declined to comment and referred questions to the district attorney who could not be reached for comment on Aug. 17. Apple, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. In another motion, Dukes attorney asks that his indictment be dismissed because the language used is too vague, ambitious and indefinite. In April 2017, a grand jury indicted Duke on six counts, including malice murder, felony murder, aggravated assault, burglary and concealing the death of another. In June 2017, Dukes was indicted on charges including concealing a death, tampering with evidence, and hindering apprehension of a criminal. A hearing on the motions has been scheduled for Sept. 20 in Irwin County. Tea Meets Maple Syrup in Runamok Maples Latest Infusion Add a drizzle of sophistication to your breakfast game with Runamok Maples latest release: Jasmine Tea Infused Maple Syrup. With delicate notes of jasmine and a lingering fragrance, the syrup is perfect atop pancakes or crepes, or swirled into yogurt or oatmealor in any other dish that begs a touch of floral sweetness. Located in northern Vermont, Runamok Maple hand-taps 81,000 trees each sugaring season to make their all-natural, certified organic, small-batch maple syrups. In addition to their pure maple syrup, Runamok Maple also offers a varied collection of infused, smoked, and barrel-aged maple syrups, with both familiar and intriguing flavors like cinnamon and vanilla, elderberry, and makrut lime leaf. The Jasmine Tea infusion is their latest concoction. We found maple syrup to be compatible with so many surprising flavors that we thought it was time to start infusing with tea, co-owner Laura Sorkin said. We really liked the floral notes of jasmine tea, and thought it would be a really nice product. It turned out beautifully. $16.95 for a 250ml bottle at RunamokMaple.com. 20 percent off through August. Jack Dorsey speaks during The New York Times 2017 DealBook Conference at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City, on Nov. 9, 2017. (Michael Cohen/Getty Images for The New York Times) Twitters Dorsey Says Bias Among Companys Employees Is More Left-Leaning Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said in an interview that the majority of the companys employees share a left-leaning editorial bias. In response to accusations that the company smothers conservative voices, Dorsey told CNN in a televised interview on Aug. 18 that he fully admit[s] such a bias exists and that the social-media platform is trying to operate with impartiality regarding company policies. We need to constantly show that we are not adding our own bias, which I fully admit is left, is more left-leaning, he said. I think its important to articulate our bias and to share it with people so that people understand us, but we need to remove all bias from how we act, and our policies, and our enforcement. In undercover videos released by Project Veritas in January, multiple current and former Twitter employees indicated that the company censors conservatives and shadowbans people who express conservative viewpoints. Shadowbanning is the practice by social-media platforms of reducing or blocking the visibility of a users content. Dorsey insists that any biases at Twitter dont affect the work the company carries out. But the real question behind the question is, are we doing something according to political ideology or viewpoints? And we are not. Period, he said. On Aug. 18, President Donald Trump weighed in on Twitter, criticizing social-media companies for closing down the opinions of many people on the RIGHT, while at the same time doing nothing to others. Recently, both Twitter and Facebook reversed a decision to block a campaign video by California Republican candidate Elizabeth Heng, upon further review. Hengs video included graphic footage of the Cambodian genocide, which she claimed had personal relevance because her parents narrowly escaped death in Cambodia and emigrated to the United States. Alex Jones, the host of InfoWars, was recently suspended from Twitters platform for violating the companys rules on hate speech. The week-long suspension came after Google, Facebook, Apple, and Spotify all removed a large part of InfoWars media from their platforms. Far left Antifa extremists gather at Martin Luther King Jr. park in Berkeley , California on Aug. 27, 2017. The extremists attacked small groups of pro-Trump and conservative protesters. (AMY OSBORNE/AFP/Getty Images) Unmasking Antifa Bill Is Introduced as Bulk of #DisruptJ20 Rioters Go Free US Unmasking Antifa bill Is Introduced as Bulk of #DisruptJ20 Rioters Go Free Antifa rioters who cover their faces while committing violent crimes may soon be held federally liable in the United State, if Congress approves a bill that would provide enhanced penalties against rioters who use clothing to conceal their identities. Antifa is short for anti-fascist. Despite its name, Antifa uses heavy-handed fascistic tactics and is infamous for assaulting conservatives, Republicans, and those who identify with the so-called alt-right. These violent modern-day agitators trace their roots to Weimar Germany, where they assaulted Nazi brownshirts but also emulated their tactic of using force to silence political rivals. The anarchists and communists of the Antifa movement are well-known for smearing their victims as fascists, Nazis, and racists. Earlier this month, Toronto Sun photographer Stan Behal was attacked by a man at an anti-racism rally in downtown Toronto described by Toronto Sun columnist as an Antifa-like rally meant to be a counter-demonstration to a World Coalition Against Islam Canada rally. The introduction of the proposed Unmasking Antifa Act of 2018 by U.S. Rep. Daniel Donovan Jr. (R-N.Y.) comes after prosecutors in Washington recently dropped charges against the remaining accused Inauguration Day 2017 rioters, who set fires and looted in downtown Washington on the day Donald Trump was sworn in as president. The civil disturbance stretched more than 16 blocks in the nations capital. One of the key reasons prosecutors were unable to win convictions against all but a handful of the accused #DisruptJ20 (J20 refers to the date of Trumps inauguration, January 20, 2o17) rioters is because the black masks the Antifa activists wore made the positive identification of suspects impossible. Wearing masks to escape criminal liability amounts to a get-out-of-jail free card for Antifa rioters, some critics say. The sartorial tactic of dressing entirely in black, including covering ones face, is known as the black bloc style of activism or direct-action protest. The thinking is that this manner of dress creates a sense of group solidarity, in addition to making criminal prosecution difficult. The term is frequently used when participants within the larger black-bloc group intend to commit violence or destruction of property, according to court documents filed as part of the Washington prosecution. Not all leftists approve of the approach. Journalist Chris Hedges once wrote that black-bloc participants were the cancer of the Occupy movement and that they confuse acts of petty vandalism and a repellent cynicism with revolution. Although some criticize anti-mask laws as overbroad and an infringement of constitutional rights, statutes of that sort go way back in American history. Some date back to the Jim Crow era, when they were enacted to combat the Ku Klux Klan whose members wore white hoods to prevent being identified as they committed violence against black Americans, Republican Party supporters, and their property. Donovan, a Republican who represents Staten Island, N.Y., said his legislation expands upon long-standing civil-rights statutes to make it a crime to deprive someone of constitutionally guaranteed protections while masked or disguised. He added, Americans have the natural right to speak and protest freely; it is not a right to throw Molotov cocktails and beat people while hiding behind a mask. Escaping Responsibility Law-enforcement officials complain that Antifa activists often escape responsibility for their violent acts. Where is the accountability for the people that come with the intent to harm, destroy, and to tear things up and to come and physically fight other people? said Police Chief Danielle Outlaw of Portland, Oregon, during a press conference about a violent counter-protest that Antifa demonstrators staged against the peaceful conservative group Patriot Prayer on Aug. 4. In an interview with OPB, Outlaw said, I personally saw, whether they were fireworks, M-80s, explosives, I saw those being set off by the anti-racist groups. The projectilespieces of cement that are large as a grapefruit, pieces of brick, broken glass bottlesall of that was not coming from the Patriot Prayer side at that time. The black-bloc practices of those who rioted in the nations capital on Jan. 20, 2017, appear to have helped the perpetrators escape justice. In all, 234 individuals were arrested and charged with rioting. In the end, only 21 were convicted of anything and those convictions only came about as a consequence of defendants guilty pleas. That represents a conviction rate of just 11 percent. Only one of the 21 defendants was convicted of a felony. According to Bill Miller, public information officer for the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, 20 of the defendants entered guilty pleas to misdemeanor rioting charges. Miller identified those 20 individuals as Devin Bartolomed (also known as Devin Mardvich), William Bogin, Gabriella Bruce, Kyle Burcham, Sara Callahan, Zachary Callahan, Hannah Demarte, Matthew Fichtner, Ian Grape, Nathaniel Jaffe, Andrew Joung, Sydney Leslie, Jocelyn Mitchell, Christopher Patrick, Benjamin Pennacchio, Matthew Pink, Jack Sorensen, Cody Stewart, Robert Toomey, and Peter Soeller. The sole rioter to be convicted of a felony was Dane Powell, Miller said. He pleaded guilty April 28, 2017, to felony rioting and felony assault on a police officer. After signing a plea bargain document, Powell was sentenced July 7 last year to 36 months in prison, but the court suspended all but four months of that term on the condition that he successfully complete two years of supervised probation. Dropping Charges It took a year and a half for the courts to dispose of the 234 cases. Charges against 19 of the individuals apparently didnt survive the grand-jury process. The grand jury returned a superseding indictment against 215 defendants on April 27, 2017, according to court documents. All were charged with Urging or Inciting a Riot (felony), Engaging in a Riot, Conspiracy to Engage in a Riot, and five counts of Destruction of Property (felony), according to a motion to consolidate the cases that Jessie K. Liu, U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, filed in the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. Liu was nominated by President Trump and assumed office Sept. 24, 2017. The number of defendants steadily continued dropping as time went on. Jurors in Washington then acquitted or were unable to reach verdicts on six of the co-accused on Dec. 21, 2017. Prosecutors demonstrated the individuals participated in a mass protest but could not prove they committed specific acts of vandalism, as many of them were dressed head-to-toe in black attire intended to obscure their identities. By Jan. 18, 2018, the list had been pared to 59 defendants. On May 31 of this year, a trial judge, Robert E. Morin, threw out charges against seven defendants because, as the Washington Post reported, prosecutors intentionally misrepresented information and withheld evidence from the defense. Among that evidence was undercover video footage of the protesters planning meeting shot by the investigative journalists of Project Veritas, a good-government and media-accountability group headed by James OKeefe III. On June 1, prosecutors announced they were dropping charges against three defendants. Days later, a D.C. Superior Court jury failed to convict four accused #DisruptJ20 rioters. While prosecutors presented photographs and videos they said showed defendants engaging in acts of vandalism, defense lawyers said the images were less than clear. The jury foreman, identified in a June 7 Washington Post article only as a 52-year-old woman from Adams Morgan [a Washington neighborhood] who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect her privacy, said the evidence wasnt convincing. It came down to identity, she was quoted as saying. We could not without a reasonable doubt say that these were the ones who were rioting. On July 6, prosecutors announced they were throwing in the towel, by moving to dismiss all charges against the remaining 38 defendants. Christopher Watts is escorted into the courtroom before his bond hearing at the Weld County Courthouse in Greeley, Colorado on Aug. 16, 2018. (Joshua Polson/The Greeley Tribune/Pool via AP) Vigil Held in Colorado Town for Slain Pregnant Woman and Daughters Mourners gathered on Friday in a small Colorado town where the remains of a pregnant woman and her two young daughters were reportedly discovered in oil storage tanks the day after police took the father into custody for their murders. Shanann Watts, 34, and her daughters Bella, 4, and Celeste, 3, were reported missing from their home in Frederick, 25 miles north of Denver, by a family friend on Monday afternoon, touching off an exhaustive search by law enforcement agencies. Chris Watts was taken into custody on Wednesday on suspicion of murder, a day before the bodies of his wife and children were found. Watts, 33, had pleaded for the safe return of his pregnant wife and two young daughters while the search was underway. About 200 people gathered in front of the familys two-story home, where they created a makeshift memorial with flowers, stuffed animals and toys. They sang Amazing Grace and prayed during a candlelit vigil as the sun set. I call it a highway to heaven, said neighbor Mary Ann Bogner, 64, fighting back tears as she arranged candles in the form of a cross. Authorities have declined to confirm media reports that Watts had confessed to killing his family. The warrant for his arrest was sealed by a judge. The two young girls were strangled and their bodies were found inside an oil tank, the Denver Post reported, citing a motion filed in court by an attorney for Watts. The remains of all three victims were found at Anadarko Petroleum oil field where Watts worked until his arrest, the newspaper reported. Watts is being held at the Weld County jail on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of tampering with physical evidence, jail records show. Apple, iPhone, and iPad are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Prosecutors will formally charge him on Monday, District Attorney Michael Rourke said. The killings have shaken the commuter community of Frederick, a former mining town of 13,000 people. This is what small towns do. We support each other and unite whether it is in tragedy or joy, said Rusty ONeal, 42, town trustee, during the vigil. By Keith Coffman Former Ambassador to the United Nations John Bolton speaks to guests at the Iowa Freedom Summit in Des Moines, Iowa on Jan. 24, 2015. Bolton has suggested allegations of Russia hacking the elections could be a "false flag." (Scott Olson/Getty Images) White House Working to Thwart Election Meddling by China, Iran, North Korea, Bolton Says The White House is taking steps to prevent meddling in the 2018 midterm elections by China, Iran, and North Korea, according to national security adviser John Bolton. While the threat of election interference by Russia is well-known, President Donald Trump has said on multiple occasions that other foreign powers also are attempting to meddle in Americas political affairs. I can say definitively that its a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling, and North Korean meddling that were taking steps to prevent it, Bolton said in an interview on ABC that aired Aug. 19. Im not going to get into what Ive seen or havent seen, but Im telling you, looking at the 2018 election, those are the countries were most concerned about, Bolton added. Boltons comments came in response to a query regarding Trumps message on Twitter on Aug. 18 suggesting that the real threat to the United States is China, not Russia. All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China, Trump wrote. But in the end, if we are smart, tough and well prepared, we will get along with everyone! All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China. But in the end, if we are smart, tough and well prepared, we will get along with everyone! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea were also the four nations named by Vice President Mike Pence earlier this month as the top potential threats to Americas military assets in space. Bolton said that he spoke to the Russian president about election meddling ahead of the summit between Trump and Putin in Helsinki in June. I had a discussion about it myself with President Putin when I went to Moscow originally to prepare the groundwork for his meeting with President Trump, he said. President Trump raised it with President Putin. The heads of the nations intelligence agencies provided a briefing on Aug. 2 about a comprehensive effort to protect American elections. There are a lot of things were doing that we cant talk about specifically, Bolton said. And that includes both defensive and offensive cyber operations to protect the integrity of the election process. Special Events Wednesday, Aug. 22 Wonderful Wednesdays: Living in Space, 4-5 p.m. Come to Wilton Library and see a program from the Connecticut Science Center. What does it take to stay protected in space? Investigate various dangers that astronauts encounter and how they overcome them. Use a Geiger counter to safely measure radioactive materials and see how objects behave in a vacuum. Supported by the Amadeo Family. Registration required, for grades 3 to 5. Register online or call 203-762-6336. Tuesday, Aug. 28 Harry Potter Camp Fundraiser, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Summer is coming to an end and its almost time to go back to school. Harry Potter is always happy to leave the Dursleys and go back to Hogwarts. This year, you can go, too! At Wilton Library, we will be hosting a fundraiser commemorating 21 years of Harry Potter. This program is for children in grades 3-5. Children will be sorted into the four houses and attend a variety of magical classes and fun activities. They will search for magical artifacts guarded by fearsome creatures; learn about the science of Divination from Professor Trelawney, and much more. There will also be a visit with the head dragon wrangler from House Slytherin! Lunch donated by Wiltons own Pinocchio Pizza. Advance registration required in person; $50 per child. Inquiries: 203-762-6336. Calendar Monday, Aug. 20 Summer STEAM: Its Electric, 10:15-11:30 a.m. Need something fun to do on a Monday morning? Be a maker! Join Wilton Library in fun, hands-on STEAM activities. This week we will be making our own flashlights. For kids entering grades 5-6 only. Space is limited; registration required. Supported by the Amadeo Family. Register online or call 203-762-6336. Mondays through Sept. 10 Caregiver Support with Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County, 6-7:30 p.m. Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County and Wilton Library invite you to attend this caregiver group where you will find support, empathy and understanding with others in similar circumstances. This support group is free of charge and open to the public but pre-registration is required. For more information, call Laurie Petrasanta at Visiting Nurse & Hospice of Fairfield County at 203-762-8958, ext. 316. Registration filled. Tuesday, Aug. 21 Galaxy CraftsGalaxy Stones, 4:15-5 p.m. If you love DIY crafts, then head on over to the Childrens Library every Tuesday to follow easy step-by-step instructions to create a Galaxy-themed craft that is out of this world. Supported by the Amadeo Family. For ages 6 and up; registration required. Register online or call 203-762-6336. Tuesday, Aug. 21 Breast Cancer Survivors Support Group, 6-8 p.m. Post-treatment breast cancer survivors are invited to join in this monthly support group led by Nina Marino, LCSW. Marino was the clinical director for 15 years of the former Breast Cancer Survival Center and is a breast cancer survivor. Please email Marino at Cancersurvival2@aol.com with any questions. No charge. Registration highly encouraged. Register online or call 203-762-6334. Wednesday, Aug. 22 SAT, ACT & PSAT Testing for High School Students, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Take a free practice test for the SAT, ACT or PSAT. C2 Education of Wilton will administer the test you decide which one. Afterwards, you can schedule an appointment with C2. Theyll give you the written results and review your test, section by section. If you then want to hire them for tutoring, you can make arrangements directly with C2 Education. Registration required. Space limited. Please indicate which test you wish to take. Register online or call 203-762-6342. Wednesday, Aug. 22 Paint It Up for Teens!, 4-5:30 p.m. Teens and tweens entering grades 6-12, come join us and let your creative juices flow. Well supply the canvas, paints, brushes and a collection of masterpieces to copy and inspire you. No art experience required, just a desire to pick up a brush, have fun. Sponsored by the John and Patricia Curran Teen Fund. Space limited. Registration required. Register online or call 203-762-6342. Wait list only. Now through Aug. 28 74th Annual Wilton Artists Summer Show Exhibition Exhibition celebrates more than 50 Wilton artists displaying diverse styles, media, and subjects in this two-month long annual summer show. A majority of the works are available for purchase with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the library. Classes in Innovation Station this week Monday, Aug. 20: New Life for Old Videos, 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m.; Stitch Time for Knitters and Crocheters, 1-2:30 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 21: Embroidering with the Janome Memory Craft, 10-11:30 a.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 22: Vinyl Adornments with the Cricut Die Cutter, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.; Thursday, Aug. 23: Scanning Slides into Digital Images, 2-3:30 p.m. WILTON LIBRARY 137 Old Ridgefield Road 203-762-3950 www.wiltonlibrary.org The library is closed Sundays for summer hours through Sept. 2. See More Collapse Childrens programs this week Monday, Aug. 20: Fantastic Fours and Fives, 4:15-4:45 p.m.; Tuesday, Aug. 21: Terrific Tales for Twos and Threes, 10:15-10:45 a.m.; Galaxy Crafts, Alien Ship, 4:15-5 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 22: Books for Babies, 10:15-10:45 a.m.; Wonderful Ones and Twos, 11-11:30 a.m.; Thursday, Aug. 23: Movie Theater Thursdays, Spark: A Space Tail, 10:15-11:45 a.m.; and Sherlock Gnomes, 2-3:30 p.m.; Friday, Aug. 24: Space Crafts, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. There is an excellent chance that western Washington is going to be hit by a major lowland snow event. And yes, the mountains will be b... Can watching movies make you more compassionate? Could listening to music help you see the world differently? Some Central Michigan University faculty are using pop culture to help their students explore difficult topics and pressing issues. Pop culture as a common language The thing that enables the greatest success in my classroom is our capacity to communicate well with each other, student to student and professor to student alike. Pop culture is a language we share I study it and experience it, my students do as well, said Joe Sommers, a faculty member in English language and literature. Education happens when we can take difficult concepts and, without reducing or oversimplifying them, explain them to each other in a language we both know. Sommers frequently teaches classes that focus on pop culture: courses on graphic novels, comic books and even a class exploring Harry Potters United Kingdom. This fall, hes teaching the works of author Neil Gaiman, who often uses popular culture to discuss complex issues such as religion, immigration or even abuse. Many of his students have seen the show American Gods, based on Gaimans novel of the same name. Others have read his graphic novels, such as The Sandman, or seen one of the films based on his work, like Coraline. Their familiarity with the material makes them more comfortable discussing touchier themes that are in the books and in their day-to-day experiences, Sommers said. Fun, familiar and fitting In Nancy Whites business law courses, its not unusual to see familiar films included on the syllabus. Shes used clips from the film The Devils Advocate to illustrate the difference between legal and factual issues. Shes seen her class chuckle watching a scene from The Wedding Crashers during discussions of mediation. The movie clips cover some concept I want to get across in a more interesting way than an academic rendition of the same concept. Often the law and the legal process is not depicted accurately in the movies, but when it is, then it is done in a very interesting and professional manner. The actors, lighting and music make it more engaging for students, she said. The best part is that students may feel more comfortable discussing ideas once they realize theyve already been introduced to them. Concepts like contracts and due process of law become more familiar when seen in clips from Harry Potter films, she said. Popular culture provides historical context Students in Mitchell Halls history course on the Vietnam War use pop culture as a way to understand American thinking before, during and after the war. This class is not just about military history its about American society and the experience of the Vietnam War. Warfare is one of the most consequential human events. In this way, we can look back and see the entire range of attitudes toward the war. His students discuss clips from prewar films that supported the governments choice to enter the conflict, such as The Ugly American or The Green Berets, as well as postwar films that attempt to accurately portray the experiences of soldiers and civilians, such as Platoon and Coming Home. Even films like Rambo can help the students understand certain American sentiments about the war, Hall said. Hall provides students with a list of more than 30 films to help them build a cultural and historical context for the war. A gateway to learn new skills Learning to write complex computer code for 2D and 3D modeling can be intimidating especially for multimedia design students who may not have a strong background in computer science. To ease them in, faculty member Tony Morelli encourages his students to work with what they know, using their favorite books, movies, games and music to guide their design. Students gravitate toward what they are interested in, and theyll spend more time on these projects because they are personally invested in bringing their interests to life, he said. Hes seen students bring their favorite Game of Thrones characters to life and create lifelike landscapes from horror films. One student even created a game that involved collecting Facebook likes, leaping over Twitter birds and dodging Snapchat ghosts. Many of the students come in feeling nervous about their ability to write code. Within a short period of time they are self-teaching more advanced concepts because they are so motivated to see their ideas come to life, he said. Building compassion through characters Nicole Barco uses shows like the recently remade Battlestar Galactica and The Handmaids Tale to aid discussions in her English classes. She said pop culture helps her students consider issues of social justice. In the former show, androids called Cylons struggle to be accepted as equals to humans. In the latter, women who can reproduce become possessions of the state. When the character is seen as subhuman, or other than human, how are they treated by other characters? What does this treatment reveal about the ethics of a particular society, whether real or imagined? In this way, we can explore the patterns that lead people to commit atrocity. Her students look for this otherness in the form of zombies, vampires and cyborgs, but also in human characters perceived as foreigners, criminals or outsiders. Using The Handmaids Tale, for example, her class discusses the fictional societys attitudes towards gender, sexuality, and other cultures and religions. Books, film and television are the means by which students connect to people who are different from themselves and build empathy, Barco said. Ultimately, she hopes it helps them recognize injustice in their own communities and take a stand for what is right. Critical thinking about pop culture can promote meaningful dialogue and improve our understanding of its significance. Just because something is popular doesnt mean it cant be impactful. Jalan, Jalan - Malaysian Street Food Festival The exploration of food in Malaysia lies in their peoples favourite pastime, which they fondly call Jalan Jalan. In the most simplest of terms, this means to have a stroll with friends and have a good time. Invariably the good time bit translates to navigating the hawker-lined streets and sampling the rich cultural food heritage with each stall visit. Malaysian street food is a varied affair, with influences drawn from its trade heritage and mixed-race culture of Malay, Chinese, Indian and Indonesian people. Dining By David Jacklin Sunday 19 August 2018, 09:00AM Street food delights including roti, sambal and rendang dishes Having experienced the culturally chilled concept of Jalan, the very thought induces a spontaneous urge to pack my bags and head straight to the streets of Kuala Lumpur. Luckily for me I was saved the effort courtesy of Le Meridien, Karon, who last week hosted a Malaysian Street Food Festival. This authentic event starred two of the finest chefs from their Kuala Lumpur resort, E. Kalaivanan Elumalai and Afzainizam Bin Basri. The festival food was served as a buffet, presenting diners with a wide range of Malaysian street food delicacies to savour the rich and exciting convergence of Asian flavours. Most favourably the chefs insured the dishes were left rustic, delivering hawker style tastes and presentation for an authentic street food experience. I spoke with Chef E. Kalaivanan Elumalai about the essence of street food. Our people like to look around and taste the variety of food on offer across the hawker stalls. One stall can serve very light food like Roti Canai, the next one something heavier such as Nasi Lemak, he explained. As a youngster I was inspired to be a chef by watching the food cooked on the streets, seeing the stall owner at work behind the flamed woks at night. My goal was to cook the best Char Kway Teow, and its still my signature dish. For those who havent had the pleasure, Char Kway Teow literally means "stir-fried ricecake strips", usually served with prawns and blood cockles. Pretty much everyone in Malaysia has a favoured vendor and technique for this dish, and insist upon a visit to experience the wok wonder for yourself. The spread at the buffet was impressive. Like the festivals namesake there was a range of different stations to stroll around, watch the chefs in action and sample a captivating mix of colour and character. The rendang is always a popular Malay choice, which is a spicy beef dish which originated from Indonesia. Here it was served as Braised Buffalo Tenderloin, a meat that is firm and rich to the dark, almost chocolate flavours of the chili-laden sauce. Along the lengthy buffet line there were treats in store with contrasting, but complimentary spices. The Red Snapper Fillet was paired with a warming red tamarind sauce. The Indian Fish Curry showed again such variety of flavour and depth in the array of the Malaysian curry repertiore. And the dry, sweet crunch of the Sambal Tiger Prawns opened an entirely new perspective to the plate. But I must profess my love for the Assam Laksa, a sour, tangy, fish based noodle soup. My penchant here is for the Penang variety, which has in its almost contradictory list of ingredients - mint, cucumber, pineapple, raw onion, chili, sardines, tamarind soup and rice noodles. Its like nothing youve had before, but Im certain youll come back again. Chef Afzainizam Bin Basri confessed that the secret to a fine laksa is to use both sardines and mackerel to embellish the dish. All in all, Le Meridien put on a fine display of both taste and cultural reference. Other than the obvious luxurious surroundings of a 5-Star resort, the food took me back on a nostalgic stroll along the good time hawker stalls lining our neighbours streets. Nan hard-hit by flooding NAN: The flooding situation in Nan province remains serious with three districts being hard hit as a result of heavy downpours which came a few days earlier when tropical depression Bebinca weakened into a low pressure cell to cover the upper North of Thailand. weather By Bangkok Post Sunday 19 August 2018, 11:54AM A flat-bottomed boat is deployed to distribute necessary items to people in flooded-hit areas in Nan as the Nan River and its tributaries burst their banks, sending a huge volume of water to flood several districts. Photo: Rarinthorn Petcharoen / Bangkok Post The Nan River and its tributaries burst their banks yesterday (Aug 18), flooding more than 1,000 households in seven districts. The water levels at the Nan River kept rising and was measured at 8.30 metres at Kadlaeng water station. The rising water caused the river and its tributaries to burst their banks. A large volume of water flooded riverside houses in seven of 15 districts -- Chiang Klang, Pua, Tha Wang Pha, Mae Charim, Santisuk, Muang and Phu Phiang. More than 1,000 households were affected. Nan Governor Paisarn Wimonrat yesterday led municipal officials and soldiers to put up sandbag walls along the water embankment at Ban Suan Tanlang in Muang district to prevent runoff from entering inner and economic areas. In the Nan Municipality, six communities Suan Tan, Don Kaew, Don Si Soem, Tha Chang, Muang Len and Hua Wiang Tai Lang on both sides of the Nan River remained 20-50 centimetres under water this morning as a result of the overlflow. Most of the water gushed into the municipality area through a large hole under the flood wall at Ban Don Kaew. About 500 sandbags were dumped on the spot but the hole was not yet completely blocked, allowing water to continue to flow into the town. In Phu Phiang district, the overflow from the Nan River had put Rong Tong, Si Boonruang, Thalo and Saeng Dao villages in tambon Muang Tid 2-3 metres under water, making it difficult for officials to deliver food and drinking water to flood-hit villagers. In Tha Wang Pha district, the water at four villages in tambon Si Phum was 1-2 metre high. Access roads were completely blocked. More than 600 households had been left without electricity since last night. In Muang district, hardest-hit was Ban Don Mun Pattana in tambon Du Tai where about 100 houses were under one to two metres of water. Soldiers from the 38th Military Circle were deployed to deliver food, drinking water and medicine by boats to flood victims. Read original story here. Phuket Opinion: Passing the baton PHUKET: Come October, Phuket will have a new Provincial Governor, the 10th Governor that Phuket will have had in the past years 10 years a Perfect 10. opiniontourismimmigrationeconomicsdisasterstransportSafetypollutionenvironmentcorruption By The Phuket News Sunday 19 August 2018, 09:00AM Pakkapong Tawipat will take up the post of Phuket Governor on Oct 1. Photo: PR Dept Pakkapong Tawipat, who is currently serving as the Governor of Phitsanulok will take up the top post in Phuket on Oct 1, bringing with him little more than a bachelors degree in political science and a masters in public administration from the American International College, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA. Hes going to need them, both. Phuket and Phitsanulok could not be more different if you tried. Phitsanulok is a landlocked province with little more than 84,000 people, where temperatures soar to an average daily high of more than 37C in the hot season before more than 240mm of rain belts down on average during the wet season months of August and September. The northern province, although historically important, today is a farmers field, but what Phitsanulok does have is a major Army base. Maybe he should bring that with him. Governor Pakkapong should be bracing for a baptism of fire, not something any person would welcome at the age of 57 and approaching the twilight of their public career. The problems he will face have been left unsolved by every single Phuket Governor who has gone before him. The issues he will be affronted with range from tourism, boat safety, lack of lifeguards and tourists drowning, traffic, drugs, issues specifically affecting foreigners such as work visas and so on, wastewater being pumped directly into the water at popular tourist beaches, trash dumped everywhere to government land stolen with no action by ofcials despite a Supreme Court order. We wont mention the possibility of corruption in Phuket. We welcome any changing of the guard that brings new hope, but historically that is all that the people of Phuket have been left to hold on to. The policy of the past 10 years for any Governor not staying in office more than one year has not allowed any incumbent enough time to fix any of the real problems as they are too busy playing whack-a-mole and posing for photos to make any real headway. At least this time, the incoming Governor has been given more than a days notice to move to an entirely new province with a buffet of woes to counter that he has never encountered before. 4. Their founding member Jeremy Spencer abruptly left the band in 1971 to join the Children of God cult. The first Fleetwood Mac guitarist Jeremy Spencer disappeared before a show the band was set to play in LA in 1971. He didn't turn up for days. It turned out that he had joined a Children of God cult and didn't want to rejoin the band. 5. Guitarist Danny Kirwan was fired from the band in 1972. Danny Kirwan was asked to leave the band after he flipped out while the band was tuning up before a concert. He ran into the bathroom and smashed his head against the wall before destroying his guitar, then refusing to go on stage and play. 6. More than 1 in every 6 househoulds in America owns a copy of 'Rumours'. Fleetwood Mac have sold over 140 million album copies across their career to date, making them one of the best selling bands of all time. 7. The follow-up album to 'Rumours' flopped in the marketplace because it was priced much higher than other albums at the time. 'Tusk' was sold at $15.99 for the double vinyl set, which was much higher than the cost of most albums at the time. The band also allowed the album to be aired in full on the radio, where people were able to tape directly from the broadcast. 8. Fleetwood Mac were originally led by Peter Green. Widely considered to be one of the world's greatest English blues guitarists, Peter Green led the original Fleetwood Mac, but he left the band in 1970. 9. Nicks' cocaine habit in the 70s and 80s was so bad that she burned a hole in the cartilage of her nose. "He said to me: 'The next toot you do could be your last. The tissue in your nose is very delicate. It could go straight up to your head, and then you could drop to the floor and die a lousy, two-hour death.'" said Nicks, talking of what her doctor said to her. She managed to quit cocaine after a stint in rehab, but that led to going into psychiactric treatment, which led to her getting hooked on the powerful perscription tranquilizer Klonopin. 10. In the 1970s, Fleetwood Mac was one of the most debauched bands of all time. Stevie Nicks was with Lindsay Buckingham, but was having an affair with Mick Fleetwood while he was ending his marriage. Christine McVie was married to John McVie but was also sleeping with the band's lighting director. All of the members were also heavily into cocaine. Missed Delivery? If missed delivery or wet paper please call our office 909-628-5501 ext 110 Leave a detailed message with name, address, and phone number. Readers must call before 1 p.m. on Saturday. Re-deliveries are available for Chino residents until 1 p.m. Saturdays. Click Here Realtor Andrew Harrild is sitting outside the Tip Top Lofts on Lake Shore Blvd. W., looking up at the balconies on the Fort York condos across the street. Its a blue sky day but theres not a soul in sight on those tiny, ubiquitous terraces. I see a lot of stuff on the balconies but not a lot of people, says Harrild, a partner in Condos.ca. More than half his clients put balconies on their condo wish lists. But Torontos short summers and the diminutive size of those concrete slabs means that sought-after outdoor space is frequently under-used and often relegated to storage, a repository for cafe tables and bikes. In a city of shrinking apartment sizes, its hard not to wonder why balconies are incorporated in so many new buildings when home buyers might get more use from the same space indoors. Could you live here, tweeted Toronto writer and urbanist Matt Elliott referring to a floor plan for a unit in a waterfront development called Sugar Wharf. It touts a 402 sq. ft. condo, including a 325 sq. ft. interior. The remainder, a 77 sq. ft. balcony, is relatively generous, providing just a little less space than two king mattresses laid end to end. Even if they recognize the balcony is going to be too small, too overlooked, too hot or too shadowed, people like the idea of that door leading outside, said Harrild. In the back of (a condo buyers) head, if theyre going to be stuck in a glass box up in the sky theyve got to have, maybe even subconsciously, some kind of connection to the outside world, he said. The balcony was everything, when Anne Marie Aikins bought a River City condo off a builders plan more than four years prior to moving in last month. Throughout construction, the spokeswoman for Metrolinx would visit the site to admire her future view of the Don train yard, the Hearn generating station and Corktown Common. But when she went for a pre-occupancy inspection, Aikins learned that she had misunderstood the position of her unit. The truth that her balcony not only had a lake view to the southeast, but a stunning downtown vista to the west, including the CN Tower had her so verklempt, the construction inspector had to leave her alone to recover. It was better than I ever imagined, she said, and Aikins admits she cant stop tweeting pictures of the views. Have your say The balcony, she says, is especially important because she lives alone. There are times when you want to feel connected to your city and other people. Having a spectacular view like that makes you feel like youre right there in the city with other people. Its a great way to feel still connected to your city, she said. She has decorated her deck with flowers and a pub-height dining set that lets her enjoy the views unobstructed by the railing. Stephanie Widenoja, who used to co-own a house with a yard, would love to grow plants on her balcony near Bloor and Sherbourne Sts. But the space, just big enough for two facing chairs, is too small. When I started looking for a condo I needed to know that I could step outside, she said. Since then, however, another taller building has gone up next door. I feel very exposed when Im out on my balcony now so I dont go out a lot. But some days when Ive been at the desk all day and I get home, its nice to sit outside for a half hour or 45 minutes and just breathe some air, said the IT manager. Still, Widenoja says she wouldnt trade the outdoor space for more room inside because some of her guests smoke and she isnt about to send them down 22 storeys to indulge. For developers, who sell apartments off building plans and renderings, there is no downside to building balconies, said Capital Developments vice-president Matt Young. The cost some extra concrete, rebar and railings is, in the grand scheme of high rise projects, minimal. It certainly costs less than finished interior space, he said. Im not saying you need (balconies) to sell but the business is all about managing risk. So if youre going into an unknown market and you know that most people would rather have a balcony than not, as long as you can provide it, its a lot less risky to sell that way, said Young. Most investors want to see some outdoor space. They dont necessarily care how much it is, so whether its a full-wrapped balcony or a smaller 50 sq. ft. balcony, just the idea of having outdoor space is important. If youre an end-user, like with anything else, you think in your head how youre going to live and when reality comes in you might find thats actually not how Im living in the space, he said. In his previous condos, Young admits his balconies served as a retreat for smokers or private phone conversations. Now he has a ground-floor terrace that he uses for entertaining. Young figures a balcony has to be at least 5 ft. wide to be useable. At that size, he said, Youre not going to have a dining room set but you can have a little cafe table and a few chairs and some planters. If you start getting smaller 4 ft., 3.5 ft. thats where it really just becomes a place where you can open up, go outside, get some fresh air and come back in. You cant really program that space very well. Ontario Association of Architects president John Stephenson sees the psychological advantages outdoor access gives condo dwellers, particularly as the size of apartments seems to be shrinking. But he says those concrete slabs jutting out from Toronto towers can have a negative environmental impact called thermal bridging. The structure that runs from the inside to the outside conducts heat to the exterior, said Stephenson. If you imagine these tall buildings that are ringed with balconies these balconies function like big radiator fins. They deliver heat to the outside and impact the overall thermal performance of buildings that are marginal to begin with. If we are trying to reduce our carbon footprint and reduce the energy consumption for these buildings rethinking the balconies would be important, he said. A more practical solution might be what Stephenson calls French balconies. Think of a French window in Europe with shutters on the outside and big doors on the inside and then a railing so when (it) is open you have a railing between you and falling that is safe. But you are standing on the edge of the heated floor slab, he said. Although he says his wife never uses it, Stephen Weir, a sales and marketing manager, spends hours most days reading and putzing on the balcony of their Regent Park condo, where he has a hammock, a chair and planters of veggies and herbs. If he looks north, theres a sea of green city trees. To the west, he can watch the citys development progress. The majority of the time spent out there is solo for me, said Weir. I just like being out there the noise and the city I find it soothing. Stephenson likes the idea of common outdoor areas in high rise developments because they have social benefits. But he believes there is room for more creativity in designing private outdoor spaces too. The design industry needs to be challenged to come up with new ideas for tall buildings to meet this need, he said. The design industry and architects in turn need to challenge their clients to think differently about the design instead of just taking the brief given to them by the developer. CALGARYParks Canada and the owners of Banffs Sunshine Village resort are in a tussle over proposed parking changes to the year-round tourist site. Sunshine Village sits about 143 kilometres west of Calgary, inside Banff National Park. The owners of the resort lease the land it occupies from Parks Canada; the 42-year lease is set to expire in 2020. As part of the lease-renewal process, Parks Canada is asking the resort to complete Site Guidelines. The guidelines are required for all national park ski areas; they help protect the park environment and visitor experience by setting environmental standards, and by limiting future growth and development, according to a fact sheet on the guidelines from Parks Canada. When a ski area operator and Parks Canada agree to a finalized version, those guidelines are attached to the new 42-year lease, the fact sheet says. Sunshine Village is the last ski area to complete Site Guidelines, according to the fact sheet. Among Parks Canadas proposed changes with which Sunshine disagrees is how the resort ought to expand its parking capacity. The federal agency calls for an increase in peak daily skier capacity, from 6,500 daily skiers to 8,500 daily skiers, which in turn would affect parking. Sunshines communications and brand manager, Kendra Scurfield, said that the resorts current parking lot, located at its base, can hold up to about 1,400 vehicles. That equates to about 4,500 people, she said. The remaining 2,000 people is made up by skiers and snowboarders using free transit from Banff or parking their vehicles on the access road, called Sunshine Road, leading up to the base site. Parks Canada has suggested a big, monstrous parking garage that would essentially be over 1,000 parking stalls we think it would be a bit of an eyesore, Scurfield said. She said she thinks it would be bigger than the parkade at the Calgary International Airport. But Scurfield admitted she doesnt know how many stalls are in the airport parkade. She also said Parks Canada hasnt shown Sunshine architectural renderings or building measurements for such a proposed structure. Frequency of use and environmental impact are the resorts two other concerns with such a structure, she said. Its only used for about 50 days of the year (at peak skier capacity), so it would sit empty for over 310 days of the year, Scurfield said. As part of the Healy Creek Wildlife Corridor, the resorts base site is a regular movement route for wildlife passing through the area, she added, which can include the current parking lot. A concrete, parkade-type structure would disrupt that wildlife movement, she said. Sheila Luey, whos the acting field unit superintendent with Parks Canada in Banff, underscored that parkade size and number of stalls havent been specified in the Site Guidelines. Along with a parkade at Sunshines base, Parks Canada has proposed increasing mass transit, and/or additional terraced parking off of (Sunshines) existing parking lot, Luey said. She said that the three options arent mutually exclusive to each other Sunshine can use any or all of them. As an alternative to a 1,000-stall parkade, Sunshine has proposed a smaller, 200-stall parking structure at its base site along with a 700-stall parking lot, about halfway down our access road, Scurfield said. That 700-stall lot is outside of the resorts leased land area, Luey noted. We havent specified how they have to solve it. The Site Guidelines give them some options. And its up to the operator to determine which of those options they want to pursue and to what degree, the superintendent added. Sunshines ask for parking stalls outside of its lease area would effectively increase the size of the ski area, Luey said. Hence, the Site Guidelines propose a 15 per cent lease reduction to Sunshine Village to allow the operator to pursue other types of development in the future that wouldnt typically be allowed, such as water reservoirs, increased parking, new terrain development and widening/reconfiguring the ski out, the fact sheet says. Sunday marked the end of a 60-day public input period during which Parks Canada gathered feedback on its proposed changes for the ski resort. The next step is for Parks Canada to present Sunshine with finalized Site Guidelines, based on the public feedback, and for Sunshine to present the public with its long-term plan, also seeking public input, Luey said. Sunshine Village has created its own online website with information and details about the proposed changes to the areas Site Guidelines. Clarification Aug. 23, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that said Kendra Scurfield is Sunshine Village's marketing and brand co-ordinator. In fact, she is the resort's communications and brand manager. Read more about: EDMONTONUrban dwellers in the province may despise the drifting smoke clouds caused by B.C. wildfires, but farmers may actually benefit off the apocalyptic-looking conditions. On Wednesday, Edmontons Air Quality Index reached a very high risk 10+ which can cause people to experience coughing, throat irritation, headaches and shortness of breath. As of Friday, the index sits at a seven which is still considered unhealthy. But while farmers working outdoors experience the discomfort caused by the haze over much of the province, they may still be able to find reason to smile. Ryan Mason, a farmer with Reclaim Agriculture, said the smoke cloud helped with irrigation at his six acre farm near Pigeon Lake southwest of Edmonton. Like last week when it was 35 degrees but smoky, we were in a much better situation because we could irrigate without having everything dry out, he said. Its a bit of a silver lining since some of the farms six staff working hard labour outdoors suffered while breathing in the harsh air. But the smoke cloud cut down their irrigation labour time by half. Read more: Air quality warnings issued for Alberta as smoke from B.C. wildfires continues to plague prairies How the smoke lingering over Alberta is affecting everything from athletes to songbirds Air quality improving overall, but pollution spiked with 2017 wildfires The smoke will reflect heat from the sun back upward and allow moisture to stay in the ground longer which helps with this. Usually during mid-August, the sun is so strong and irrigation so frantic that crops will dry out and die, causing stress for farmers who need those crops for their livelihoods. Because of the smoke we havent had much of that happen in this extreme heat, said Mason. Gordon Graves, who farms about 2600 acres of canola, wheat and cattle near Bonnyville in the far west of Alberta, said the moisture kept in the ground helps his crops as well since he is all dry land farming which doesnt use irrigation and relies on rain. He has asthma and finds the smoke aggravates it, but he sees the positives of the smoke cloud as well with what it transports within. Theres carbon and thats what our plants need to grow and the particulates that come with the smoke is mostly potassium potash, which our plants need. Am I for it? No. Am I against it? No, he said. I recognize that there are probably more negatives than positives but there are some positives. He understands the annoyance of those who bike to work through downtown Edmonton, host outdoor cocktail parties and get suffocated in a concrete jungle of smelly car fumes mixed with smoke and ash. You look at it in terms of, I wanna get a sun tan, I wanna have a barbecue, he said of city folk. Youre not connected to nature, and to plants and animals the way that an agricultural producer is. Everything is relevant, whats relative to you is probably not relevant to a farmer, except that we all hate winter. However, Tam Andersen, a farmer for 34-years cultivating over 5500 acres of northern farmland mostly near Westlock and Bon Accord, said folks who buy her produce may taste a nice surprise thanks to the smoke cloud. Because the crop is coming in slower, it has a chance to build some sugars in it, and so amazingly the broccoli has a beautiful sweet back flavour to it, which is unexpected, she said. Some of the crops she grows include broccoli, kale, cauliflower and bok choy, all of which are thriving under the protection provided by the smoke cloud. Usually during this time of year, the heat can cause bolting which means some crops grow their flower too soon, effecting the quality. However, what doesnt kale you makes you stronger, laughed Andersen. Weve got some of the most beautiful broccoli in all the years Ive been growing broccoli, she said. Read more about: EDMONTONResidents woke up to worsening air quality Saturday morning as smoke plumes from wildfires in British Columbia continue to drift into the city. Environment Canada issued an air quality advisory, urging residents to avoid outdoor activities for the day. Satellite observations show that the heaviest smoke is beginning to thin just to the north of the capital region, however, smoke and poor air quality will persist today, said a statement issued by Environment Canada. Outdoor activities are strongly discouraged for most of today, with some improvement likely later this afternoon and evening. For much of the morning, the air quality health index in Edmonton was over 10, which is classified as very high risk. Environment Canada dropped the index to a four in the afternoon, which is considered moderate risk. During a wildfire, smoke conditions can change quickly over short distances and can vary considerably hour by hour. The Edmonton Eskimos and the CFL said in a news release that the team's evening game against the Montreal Alouettes would go ahead as scheduled. In Calgary, the Ride to Conquer Cancer cycling fundraiser posted on its website Saturday that all participants should stop riding on the first day of the two-day, 200-kilometre ride. It said buses would sweep the route and transport riders back to Calgary, where the air quality health index on Saturday was at nine. At that level, Environment Canada's website advises members of the general public to consider reducing or rescheduling strenuous outdoor activities if they experience symptoms such as coughing or throat irritation. Air quality advisories remain in place in B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba from the smoke from hundreds of wildfires burning in B.C. Individuals may experience symptoms such as increased coughing, throat irritation, headaches or shortness of breath. Children, seniors and those with cardiovascular or lung disease such as asthma are especially at risk. People with lung diseases, such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, can be particularly sensitive to air pollution. They will generally experience more serious health effects at lower levels. Pollution can aggravate their diseases, leading to increased medication use, doctor and emergency room visits, and hospital visits. Environment Canada recommends that people with breathing difficulties stay indoors in a place that's cool and ventilated. It recommends avoiding opening windows in case smoke drifts indoors. With files from The Canadian Press. Read more about: EDMONTONCanadians might soon take flight, courtesy of municipal landfills. According to a Friday announcement made by the federal government, Alberta could cash in on a new initiative to curb greenhouse gas emissions in the aviation industry. The Liberal government announced it was issuing a nationwide challenge to develop clean and affordable biojet fuel for the aviation sector. At an announcement made at the Alberta Aviation Museum, Minister of Natural Resources Amarjeet Sohi said the challenge would benefit both the economy and the environment. Its a win-win situation for the economy, its a win-win situation for the environment, he said. It will help us grow our economy, create jobs here. In 2016, Canada signed onto an international aviation agreement to curb emissions, with participants aspiring to achieve carbon-neutral growth by 2020 and a 50 per cent reduction in emissions by 2050. Biojet fuel is made from sustainable sources like vegetable oils, sugars, animal fats and even waste biomass. In Alberta, such fuel can be manufactured from agriculture and forestry byproducts and municipal solid waste. Sohi said the government doesnt have a definite date for when the aviation sector could be running entirely on renewables, but said industry in Alberta can take advantage of the government incentives. We have wealth of natural resources, including our agricultural production here, that can be definitely used to foster that kind of innovation. As per the announcement, Ottawa will launch two competitions. The green aviation fuels innovation competition will provide $2 million apiece for four teams who develop the most economical and environmentally sustainable aviation fuel. The winner gets a $5-million grand prize. Another competition will award the first participant to fuel a Canadian commercial flight using a minimum 10 per cent blend of made-in-Canada biojet fuel a prize of $1 million. There is tremendous potential to develop biojet fuels in Alberta, said Mike McNaney, vice-president of industry, corporate and airport affairs with WestJet. Youve got refining expertise; youve got infrastructure expertise, he said. We have two major airports and we have a series of smaller airports, so the demand will be there for it. Both Air Canada and WestJet announced their participation in the challenge Friday by serving as carriers for the cross-country flight competition. To date, we have operated eight biofuel flights, including our most recent one from Edmonton to San Francisco earlier this spring, demonstrating the potential to reduce our carbon footprint, said Teresa Ehman, director of environmental affairs with Air Canada. The challenge is the second of five planned under Natural Resource Canadas $75 million Impact Canada initiative, which aims to drive innovation and accelerate the clean growth economy. According to Environment Canada, transportation accounted for 23 per cent of overall emissions in Canada. Of that 23 per cent, air transport consisted of five per cent of emissions. Read more about: COLLINGWOOD, ONT. A judicial inquiry into the sale of half of this towns electrical utility and how council spent some of the proceeds has begun six years after the deal went through. While there is fierce disagreement on whether an inquiry is needed, many hope the public airing will lift the cloud of scandal exacerbated by an ongoing Ontario Provincial Police investigation hovering over this booming vacation-retirement community on the southern shore of Georgian Bay. At an introductory session last week, Frank Marrocco, the Ontario Superior Court associate chief justice who is presiding, told residents packed into a library room that the inquiry, which will include sworn testimony, is not a trial. No one is charged with criminal activity. No one is being sued, Marrocco reiterated the next day at a hearing to consider requests from people to participate and, in some cases, to receive funding for legal representation. After public hearings, Marrocco will prepare a report that will be turned over to the Town of Collingwood. Janet Leiper, Torontos former integrity commissioner, is lead counsel tasked with running the proceedings. Supporters of the inquiry, including Deputy Mayor Brian Saunderson, insist it is absolutely a necessity. We owe it to our residents to understand what happened. He pushed for and voted last February to ask the province to convene the probe. A lawyer running for the Collingwood mayors job in this falls election, he was not on council when it decided to sell a 50 per cent stake in the power utility for $8 million. Nor was Saunderson on council when it voted to use some of the proceeds to award a sole-source $12.4-million contract to a construction company that installed a tension fabric membrane on top of an ice rink and community pool. The decision resulted in a $756,740.42 payday for former Liberal MP Paul Bonwick, brother of current Mayor Sandra Cooper, for his work as a consultant on the project. Cooper voted in favour of the contract. Her brothers role was not disclosed publicly at the time. Coopers lawyer declined to comment to the Star for this article. Cooper has previously denied any wrongdoing. She opened the June council meeting by reading a prepared statement saying she was unaware of any family member being involved in the recreation facility deal. David OConnor, Bonwicks lawyer, said while he believes the inquiry was pushed by people trying to ruin Bonwicks reputation with false accusations and allegations, his client welcomes the chance to clear his name. We are looking forward to the public in this community hearing the real truth about what happened, OConnor said, adding that his client should be applauded for helping bring the recreation facilities to the town. A July 2014 information to obtain (ITO) document, produced by the OPP and unsealed by a judge in Barrie earlier this year at the request of CBC News, alleged the payment to Bonwick was shrouded in various layers of secrecy and is evidence of fraudulent activity to which the ... Town of Collingwood is the victim. ITOs are filed by police when they are requesting a courts authorization to perform certain tasks, such as obtain a search warrant. None of the allegations contained in the document have been tested in court, and the OPP have laid no charges in the matter. OConnor said the ITO included allegations in order to obtain banking records, which did absolutely nothing to advance their investigation. Saunderson, the deputy mayor, said answers are needed on who, if anyone, benefited from that (utility sale) transaction and then how those proceeds were spent. Opponents of the inquiry see it as part of a continued witch hunt, driven by a crop of council candidates running in the upcoming municipal election. Cooper is not running for re-election. All this happened six or more years ago, yet there are still some people in the community who are angry about those decisions, said former Collingwood councillor Ian Chadwick, who is running for deputy mayor. The current council has had three years to request an inquiry into those decisions, yet it was called for only a few weeks before nominations opened for the upcoming municipal election. Doing so now was clearly politically motivated. Saunderson scoffs at that assertion. Theres not many politicians that would want to be spending $1.5 million of town money ... at the time of an election to pursue something like this, he said. Steve Berman, a Collingwood resident running for council, began filing freedom of information requests to the town when he started reading about the sole-source contract, which didnt pass the smell test, he said. He provided that information to OPP investigators and now hopes the inquiry can clear the air. If its all fine, if this is the way things are done, then the inquiry will come forward with a set of recommendations that hopefully the next council will adopt and we can make things more transparent. Berman believes whats happening in Collingwood has broader application to towns across Ontario that are transitioning to a more businesslike and transparent way of operating. OConnor, Bonwicks lawyer, acknowledged the optics werent the best, given that his client is the mayors brother and also played a role as a consultant to PowerStream, the company that purchased a 50 per cent stake in Collingwoods power company, Collus, in 2012. Yet he noted that at the time, the Municipal Conflict of Interest Act didnt require the mayor to declare a conflict, because siblings were not included. Before the sole-source contract was signed, the town wanted to upgrade its recreational facilities but did not have the money to pay for a proposed $35-million facility. Bonwick helped to put together an alternative solution that cost roughly a third as much, OConnor said. The construction company agreed to pay him a percentage of its contract with the town, which was a 6.5 per cent commission, and he fulfilled his obligation to them and was paid, he added. I think what the inquiry is going to find out is the mayor didnt even know her brother was involved. That might seem far-fetched, but if you know the mayor, its not. Shes a very innocent, lovely woman. EDMONTONAs marijuana goes corporate in Canada, some police officers are making the move from busting grow-ops to protecting them. Rick Martens, head of security for the 800,000-square-foot Aurora Sky cannabis production facility just south of Edmonton, was a police officer for 26 years before retiring as a sergeant in 2012. When Aurora Sky began construction near his home he said he applied for its top security job, saying he was more intrigued than anything. Now hes protecting thousands of kilograms of weed at one of the worlds biggest grow-ops. I get to be with the people that, under some circumstances, I probably would have arrested. But now its becoming legal, and some of these people are actually very good people, Martens said. Martens said he learns something new about cannabis every day and the people he works with are the pearl of his new job. It can be a point of contention, however, with friends and family. My wife is still a police officer, so around our table we have some very dynamic discussions in relation to cannabis for example being a gateway drug that was the perception for years and years, he said. A lot of police officers are drawing a fine line in the sand and trying to figure out exactly which side theyre on. But the bottom line is, its going to be law, so youre either part of the solution or youre part of the problem. Martens said the security challenges he deals with at Aurora are nothing new, thanks to his experience as an officer. He worked in numerous units during his time with the Edmonton Police Service, including surveillance. At one point, he was tasked with raiding and taking down illegal marijuana grow-ops. We had to go into houses and, under search warrants, bag up multiple plants and grow-ops where theres lights and all kinds of stuff that ended up having to be seized, he said. Martens said wouldnt necessarily feel differently about busting up illegal grow-ops if he had to do it over again. While every household will be allowed to grow four plants come Oct. 17, the basements and warehouses he raided involved dozens of plants and were sometimes linked to other crimes. The types of calls that I was involved in, they would still be illegal, he said. Edmonton police have continued shutting down dispensaries since legalization was announced. Last December, EPS announced they had arrested several people in separate raids of two facilities selling marijuana, including a storefront that required customers to show a medical cannabis prescription before buying. In February, EPS arrested five people in connection to three cannabis operations, including a storefront on Whyte Avenue. Dwain Barat, a security specialist with WeedMD who works at the companys Aylmer, Ont., production centre, was a former police officer in Ontario and spent part of his law enforcement career as an investigator. He busted several grow-ops in his time, but said he always had a soft spot when dealing with minor marijuana possession cases, when officers are allowed to exercise some discretion. Ill be honest with you, I havent broken up a lot of fights with people that have been under the influence of cannabis. Alcohol has always been something that Ive seen as more of a tyrant, he said. Ive always had a bit of a soft spot in that sense. A chance interaction with medical cannabis gave him a whole new perspective on the plant. He was on duty when he came across a man in his twenties, who he had dealt with before, carrying pot. The man claimed it was medical marijuana for his uncle, but Barat was skeptical, so he offered him a ride to his uncles home. Basically I said, OK, Jack, prove to me what youre telling me, he said. The young man gave the marijuana to his uncle, who had Parkinsons disease, and Barat sat with them as the mans uncle consumed it. I saw it with my own eyes. Within 20 minutes it was a complete turnaround for him. I was shocked, I was almost disbelieving to some degree, how well it worked for him, Barat said. At that point, it tugged at my heartstrings a bit. It really did. And Ill remember for the rest of my life, because that was a pinnacle moment that I appreciated it on a different level. He left law enforcement in 2011 to care for a sick family member, who also turned to medical marijuana successfully. He worked as an EMT for four years before running into WeedMDs master grower and striking up a conversation that led to a job offer. Barat began working his way up the company ranks, starting as a cutter and moving to client services, where he heard every day from medical marijuana patients who said the drug was changing their lives for the better. Eventually, he worked his way into security. Barat said he knows other officers who have started their own marijuana companies, and said views among current and former officers he knows seem to be shifting as legalization looms. The Canadian government will legalize the drug for recreational purposes on Oct. 17. Were all grown-ups, we see it for what it is and we understand the benefits now. I think theres more and more officers that are understanding it, Barat said. Theyre doing some reading on their own, theyre being educated. Auroras security director for all of Canada, Randy Jozwiak, is a former Calgary fire captain who served with the citys fire department for 32 years before retiring. For the last four years he has been stationed at Aurora Mountain, the companys first facility, located north of Calgary. Having had negative experiences dealing with pot at his previous job, he was hesitant about supporting the budding industry but said hes been enlightened since starting his new job. Jozwiak said hes proud of the work he does at Aurora. When I was on the fire department the only time we ever dealt with drugs was when we found them in homes with house fires, or when we assisted the police in lab raids, he said. I wasnt too sure about cannabis when I first started at Aurora, but as I learned more and more about cannabis and the effect it has especially for medical, I became more and more positive. Read more: Canadas most storied pot felon ponders legalization How high will they go? What cannabis legalization could look like in Albertas mountain towns Countdown to Cannabis: The case for amnesty Christian Leuprecht, a security expert and political science professor at Queens University and the Royal Military College of Canada, said hiring former first responders can act as additional insurance and bolster a companys stock price. From a security standpoint, he said it can be valuable to have someone who knows the local crime landscape. If youre looking to have somebody who can basically assess vulnerabilities proactively, and you have somebody whos spent 20 years investigating local crime in that municipality and understands the local dynamics, they might be well placed, he said. Cannabis production facilities have to follow strict security guidelines under Health Canadas Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). According to Aurora Cannabis Inc. spokesperson Heather MacGregor, all of Auroras facilities have state-of-the-art surveillance technology with multiple layers of protection, including video surveillance, laser perimeter motion sensors, intrusion detection, and optical and pressure sensors. All video footage is kept for two years. At Aurora Sky, no one can enter without donning protective gear and swiping key cards behind someone who has security clearance. There are security devices on ventilation systems and every square foot of the facilities are monitored to identify everyone entering and exiting at all times, day and night, MacGregor said. She said the company specifically seeks out people with experience as first responders to run the complex security systems. Their training as first responders and law enforcement is just so critical for them to be able to do the job we need them to do effectively. Read more about: Toronto police have arrested a man in connection to a double stabbing in Etobicoke Saturday evening. Emergency services responded to a call at 6:37 p.m. in the area of Kipling Ave. and Dixon Rd. They found a 32-year-old woman in a plaza with life-threatening injuries and transported her to hospital. Her condition was since upgraded to stable. Eleven minutes later, paramedics found another woman, 84, with stab wounds in a private residence nearby. She was pronounced dead at the scene. Police declined to comment on any relationship between the two victims. Const. Allyson Douglas-Cook told the Star police believe the man in custody is responsible for both stabbings. He was arrested near the home. It was one of the first acts of Premier Doug Fords new government. Just hours after being sworn in, the Progressive Conservatives postponed the implementation of new police oversight legislation, one day before it was scheduled to come into effect. Done quietly via an order in council, the move has been characterized by the Ford government as a temporary halt to allow for time to review the new law, which granted greater powers to the provincial police watchdog, the Special Investigations Unit (SIU). We have pressed pause on this, Attorney General Caroline Mulroney said last month, when questioned at Queens Park. We want to work with our front-line police officers to make sure that we have the right answer on this issue. During heated exchanges that ensued during question period, NDP Opposition Leader Andrea Horwath accused the Ford government of secretly slamming the brakes on the legislation, comments that later prompted Ford to call the NDP police haters. The SIU legislation was just one part of an overhaul of police legislation passed this spring by the previous Liberal government. When the legislation package, known as Bill 175 or the Safer Ontario Act, was unveiled late last year it was hailed as historic and overdue. But with promises from the Ford government to fix the bill, the halt on the SIU Act may be only the first alteration to laws with still-drying ink. Michael Tibollo, minister of community safety and correctional services, said last month that the province is committed to fixing Bill 175 and treating our front-line officers with respect. Though no details have been released, some police experts are expressing concerns about the Ford government halting or altering hard-fought changes tinkering with legislation meant to work as a whole. I think that many people including myself feel that, although there are certain parts of it that arent perfect, it put Ontario really at the forefront of balanced policing legislation, said Kent Roach, a professor of law at the University of Toronto whose expertise includes policing. Roach notes that the ongoing debate about the future of the new bill has great importance within Ontario, but also nationwide. The history of police regulation in Canada, Roach says, often sees Ontario as the innovator. If Bill 175 is delayed or repealed or knocked back, that also sends a signal beyond Ontario which I think would be unfortunate, he said. Below, a look at where things stand with policing legislation in Ontario, and how and why they could change. What is Bill 175? Also known as the Safer Ontario Act, the omnibus legislation passed in March and created new laws and regulations around policing and its governance and oversight. The changes are varied, and include the first update to the Police Services Act in more than 25 years modifications that include increasing police chiefs ability to suspend officers without pay. The bill also enhanced the provinces three oversight bodies, including the SIU, and established a plan for independent investigations of public complaints about police. The bill also increased training for police boards; included measures to support the sustainability of First Nations policing; mandated anti-racism training for police watchdog personnel, and more. It also created the Missing Persons Act and the Forensic Laboratories Act, made changes to the Coroners Act including making coroners inquests mandatory when a police officers use of force causes death, and more. Whats the status of Bill 175 is it all on hold? The Ford government has stalled one part of the legislation: the implementation of the new act for the SIU. Ford and others have said the pause will allow for further consultation on its changes, which had included new powers to impose penalties on police officers who fail to co-operate with the watchdogs investigations. No details have been released about changes to other parts of the bill, many of which are expected to come into effect by next year. But Ford has been clear that other aspects of the bill pertaining to policing will be under the microscope. In a letter to some of Ontarios largest police unions, including the Toronto Police Association, Ford called the postponement of the SIU law just the first step toward delivering on our promise to fix policing legislation. We believe that the previous governments Bill 175 hurts policing efforts in the province and undermines confidence in the police, said the letter, dated June 29, the date of Ford was sworn in. What are the points of contention changes that might hurt policing? Much of the pushback against Bill 175 has centred on defining the core duties of police officers in law. The move would set parameters around the responsibilities of sworn and highly paid police officers, in turn identifying which tasks could be performed by civilians. Those duties might include securing and guarding a crime scene, performing administrative tasks, traffic control and more. The definition would help municipalities cut the ever-growing cost of policing by enabling communities to civilianize certain tasks performed by police contracting out scene securing, for example, to a private security company. But it received strong pushback from police associations worried that it opened the door to privatizing policing. Respectfully, we cant trust security guards to perform critical duties that help protect the public and maintain law and order. Ontarios safety should not be for sale, Bruce Chapman, president of the Police Association of Ontario, told the provinces Justice Committee earlier this year. The change was also criticized by a police board member from London, who raised concerns about the Walmart-ization of policing. Fred Kaustinen, executive director of the Ontario Association of Police Services Boards, said members have expressed strong support for an alternative delivery model. While he stresses that the government has the prerogative to amend legislation as it sees fit, he says altering this part of the bill would be delaying whats unavoidable. If that happens, all the governments doing is deferring the inevitable. Because at some stage here, public safety will become more and more and more market driven, Kaustinen said, saying labour costs are high in the public model compared to the private sector. Other controversial aspects of the bill include changes to the police disciplinary tribunals, which involve independent adjudication. While stressing they support an impartial process, police associations have claimed the change strips away almost every right a police officer has to due process and procedural fairness, Ontario Provincial Police Association president Rob Jamieson said. They have also said the independent adjudication of misconduct allegations should not only occur for public complaints, but for all cases including when, for example, a colleague or supervisor complains about an officer. The Ford government has promised further consultation on policing and police oversight. Wasnt that just done? Many of Bill 175s changes came as a direct result of the police oversight review conducted by Ontario Court of Appeal Justice Michael Tulloch, completed last year. During the year-long review, 17 public consultations were held across Ontario and Tulloch had 130 private meetings, which included consultations with police services, chiefs, associations and members of police boards. It also included meetings with families of people killed by police, and members of Black, indigenous and racialized communities. The consultation efforts were heroic, said Roach, adding that there was also significant participation from stakeholders at the justice committee hearings before the bill was passed. He noted that further consultation risks fatigue amongst participants. Thats going to put demands on all of us who were consulted the last time around, but perhaps particularly on racialized and vulnerable communities, he said. Asked how the proposed consultations will be different from those just conducted, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services said in a recent email: We are going to consult with our community safety partners. We want to make sure that any legislation brought forward gives our police services the tools and resources they need to ensure community safety. Where does carding fit into all this? Carding the practice of stopping, questioning and documenting someone not suspected of a crime is not part of Bill 175. Also known as street checks, carding was regulated by the previous Liberal government in 2016, creating new rules about when and how police stop citizens and aiming to ban race-based collection of identifying information. But with talk of changes to policing and ensuring officers have the tools they need, critics including Horwath have asked whether Ford is opening the door to carding once again in our province. Ford has said he will not bring back the practice. Tulloch, the judge who reviewed police oversight, is now more than a year into an independent review of the provinces carding regulation, which came into effect last year. Tullochs final report is expected in January 2019, and a spokesperson for the ministry of community safety told the Star last month: We look forward to reviewing his recommendations. While we await the results of the report, Premier Ford has been clear: he will not bring back carding. Wendy Gillis is a Toronto-based reporter covering crime and policing. Reach her by email at wgillis@thestar.ca or follow her on Twitter: @wendygillis Read more about: But if you might assume that such forced candor would inspire a newfound honesty in Lara Jean's life, think again: She still doesn't have the guts to deal with her attraction toward Josh, and quickly finds herself faux dating popular jock Peter (Noah Centineo of "The Fosters"), whom she once kissed during a game of Spin the Bottle, thus ending her friendship with grade-school friend Genevieve (Emilija Baranac). As it happens, Peter and Gen just broke up, and he hopes that pretending to go out with Lara Jean will make her jealous, or some such, while Lara Jean uses the arrangement to hide from the other guys who just got her notes. A 31-year-old man has been charged with first-degree murder and attempted murder after allegedly stabbing his 84-year-old grandmother to death and seriously injuring her 32-year-old caregiver in Etobicoke on Saturday evening. Michael Colastosti appeared in Old City Hall court on Sunday morning after his arrest at about 6:30 p.m. on Saturday outside the home on Acme Cres., near Kipling Ave. and Dixon Rd. where his grandmother, Elena Marcucci, lived. Police confirmed Marcucci is the citys 61st homicide victim this year. Adewale Oluwatosin, who lives across the street and occasionally helped Marcucci carry groceries into her house, said he saw police enter the home on Saturday evening through the side door and come out with a man in handcuffs. His hands were covered in blood and he was screaming, Please! Please! Please! to the officers. Oluwatosin said he didnt know Marcucci well, but she was a very nice woman. Derek Doucette was among a group of bystanders who helped the second stabbing victim after she ran from the house looking for help. Doucette told the Star he was drinking behind the Westway Plaza, just steps from Acme Cres., when he saw the woman walking toward them, screaming for help with her hands in the air. She was covered in blood, he said, adding that she had multiple stab wounds in her back and neck. She was screaming, Help me! Help me! Another bystander called 911 and Doucette helped put pressure on the womans wounds. She kept saying, I dont want to die like this, he said. Doucette said the woman frantically tried to explain that she was a caregiver for an elderly couple and the couples grandson had attacked her and his grandmother. She said, Hes over there killing her. We had to tell the 911 operator to send police to the house and an ambulance over here. The woman was transported to hospital with life-threatening injuries, but her condition was later upgraded to stable, police said. Police said Colastosti was arrested near the home. Yellow caution tape was wrapped around the suburban bungalow on Sunday, while police, including forensic investigators, went in and out of the house. There was a wheelchair in front of the garage. Some neighbours who spoke to the Star said they were familiar with Marcucci, but only to wave hello. Three people in total were killed Saturday night. In addition to Marcucci, one man died in hospital after being stabbed near Sherway Gardens mall and another man in his early 20s was gunned down in a building at Adelaide and Parliament Sts., bringing the citys homicide count to 63. With files from Ilya Banares Prison authorities are investigating the death of a Toronto man who was convicted in a massive drug bust that the RCMP called a tremendous blow to organized crime in Canada. Witton Luu, 25, died at the Joyceville medium security prison near Kingston last Wednesday. He had been there since May 17, after being sentenced to three years and nine months for his role in Project OTremens, an RCMP led-case that targeted reputed high-level members of the Mafia in Canada and New York. Corrections Canada had no comment on the death, other than to call it non-natural. The loss of a life is a tragedy at any time, Corrections Canada spokesperson Kyle Lawlor said in an email. Due to the Privacy Act and an ongoing review of inmate Luus death, we are unable to provide the cause of death. Luu was one of nine people charged last November with 75 offences including trafficking fentanyl, carfentanil, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, MDA, LSD, weapons and contraband tobacco and bookmaking. When they announced the arrests, the RCMP said they had infiltrated the top levels of traditional organized crime, or the Mafia. The three-year RCMP case relied on a police agent who was inducted into the Mob during the investigation. Also arrested in the massive police operation were two sons of murdered mob boss Paolo Violi of Hamilton and Montreal. One of Violis sons, Giuseppe (Joe) Violi, 47, of Hamilton, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in June for fentanyl and cocaine trafficking. His older brother, Domenico Paolo Violi, 52, was also charged in the case and has not yet come to trial. Paolo Violi was murdered in 1978 in Montreal during a Mob war with the crime family of the late Vito Rizzuto. Two of Paolo Violis brothers were also slain during the same conflict in Montreal. CARACAS, VENEZUELAResidents across Venezuelas capital spent a nervous weekend bracing for dramatic measures that President Nicolas Maduro has announced to rescue a downward-spiraling economy, including a more-than-3,000 per cent hike in the minimum wage. The changes start to kick in Monday with the introduction of a new currency that lops five zeros off the countrys fast-depreciating bills. Maduro says hell also raise gasoline prices to international levels a combination of measures critics say will only make things worse. Opposition leaders seized on tension among residents, calling for a nationwide strike and protest Tuesday. They hope to draw masses into the streets against Maduros socialist ruling party something theyve failed to do in over a year. Banks will close Monday as they prepare to release the sovereign bolivar, the new currency printed with five fewer zeroes in a bid to tame soaring inflation. Maduros government says that in late-September, the worlds cheapest gas will rise to international levels to curtail rampant smuggling across borders. Maduro said Friday that the minimum wage will also soon jump dramatically. Economists say the package of measures is likely to accelerate hyperinflation rather than address its core economic troubles, like oil production plunging to levels last seen in 1947. The bolivars redenomination will be like going under the knife of one of Caracas famed plastic surgeons, Johns Hopkins University economist Steve Hanke wrote on Forbes website. Appearances change, but, in reality, nothing changes. Thats whats in store for the bolivar: a facelift. Lines on Saturday were longer than normal at a Caracas street market, where people stocked up due to uncertainty about what will come this week. Many were frustrated by bank card readers that were slow to register or that failed altogether, forcing some to leave their goods walking away empty-handed. You have to be patient, a shop worker selling grains told a growing line of customers. Many other stores remained closed, uncertain what prices to set for their goods. Venezuela was once among Latin Americas most prosperous nations, holding the worlds largest proven oil reserves, but a recent fall in oil prices accompanied by corruption and mismanagement under two decades of socialist rule have left the economy in a historic economic and political crisis. Inflation this year could top 1 million per cent, according to economists at the International Monetary Fund. Inflation has made it difficult to find paper money. The largest bill under the outgoing cash system was the 100,000-bolivar note, equal to less than 3 cents on the commonly used black market exchange rate. A cup of coffee cost more than two million bolivars. The new paper bills will have two coins and paper denominations ranging from 2 up to 500. The lowest represents the buying power of 200,000 current bolivars while the highest stands in for 50 million. The old and new currencies will remain in circulation together during a transitional period. The government made a similar move in 2008, when then-President Hugo Chavez issued new currency that eliminated three zeros to combat soaring inflation. Maduro also announced Friday a more-than-3,000 per cent leap in the minimum wage, bringing it up to around $30 at the widely used black market rate. Its unclear when the change will start. Adding to confusion, Maduro said he wants to peg wages, prices and pensions to the petro a cryptocurrency announced in February but which has yet to start circulating. He said one petro would equal $60, with the goal of moving toward a single floating exchange rate in the future tied to the digital currency. The next few days will be very confusing for both consumers and the private sector, especially commercial retailers, said Asdrubal Oliveros, director of Caracas-based Ecoanalitica. Its a chaotic scenario. A coalition of opposition leaders and union officials said Sunday they are calling for a strike and protest on Tuesday. The measures announced on Friday are not any economic recovery plan for the country, opposition leader Andres Velasquez said. On the contrary, they represent more hunger, more ruin, more poverty, more suffering, more pain, more inflation, more deterioration of the economy. Business owners say they fear the sudden wage hike would make them unable to pay employees without sharply increasing prices, despite Maduros call to help small and mid-sized businesses for the first three months. Jesus Pacheco, who employs six people at his butcher shop in Caracas, said Sunday that he may have no option but to let go some of his employees to stay in business. He expects the slaughterhouse prices will go up for him. Youre going to buy products, and theyre more expensive, Pacheco said. We are going to have to fire employees. What else can you do? Read more about: Cost of ending green energy programs, August 15 Letter writer Nathan Sollman should realize that the money about which he is concerned has already been spent on green energy some $40 billion over the past decade. This amounts to almost $11 million a day. I suppose that Mr. Sollman would prefer that this continue for the next four years and beyond while the negative impact on hydro rates causes industry to flee Ontario, taking jobs with them, and those less well off to choose between food and keeping their lights on. We can see that a bad choice was made with the Ontario Green Energy Act favouring wind and solar over the only source of green energy that is simultaneously sustainable, renewable, clean, non-emitting and dispatchable. That source is hydroelectricity. Had more been invested in hydroelectricity, we would not have needed any of the gas turbine plants or the billion-plus scandal over their locations. When the electricity system was nationalized in 1906, the slogan was power at cost. Until the Pickering Nuclear Generating Station first came online in 1971, Ontario relied exclusively on hydroelectricity and had low electricity rates. Ontario Power Generation can produce hydroelectricity for less than 2.4 cents per kilowatt-hour. Had we stuck with hydroelectricity, we would have a 100 per cent green electricity system, we would have very low electricity rates, and there would be no global adjustment (now the single largest line item on most hydro bills, even greater than the electricity consumed). We were sold a bill of goods by people who should have known better. The cost of cancelling the outrageously priced green energy that has been forced on us can be made up in less than 10 days of the money presently being squandered on it. Lets get back to hydroelectric sanity and have a 100 per cent green electricity system! Uber drivers take riders the long way at Ubers expense, Aug. 14 Is anybody really surprised about this? Uber drivers are not trained like taxi drivers, and are not subject to municipal bylaw inspection, as are taxi drivers. I drove cabs decades ago, and back then there was a term in the business for unlicensed taxicabs which would now be considered offensive. It seems Ubers are similar to those unlicensed cabs we disparaged. If you want to ensure you are not taken out of your way or overcharged, take a proper taxi. There are more than 4,000 of them in Toronto, and I believe they are all honest. Joel L. Hertz, Toronto Read more about: VANCOUVERPumping smoke from B.C. wildfires into the sexy boudoir of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is the hook being used by a pair of Vancouverites to raise funds for disaster relief. Sean Devlin, a member of the Sh*tHarperDid advocacy group known for its comedic critique of Canadian politics and politicians, started an Indiegogo campaign with his colleague Shane Supernova on Thursday. The facetious goal is to build a pipeline to fill Trudeaus residence with wildfire smoke from B.C.s blazes to drive home how federal energy policy is contributing to climate change. A bunch of us woke up and there was just smoke everywhere, Devlin said in an interview, adding the surreal experience was at once alarming and motivating. He and Supernova came up with the image of piping the smoke directly into Trudeaus bedroom as a way to connect the federal leader with what might seem like a distant, West Coast problem. And it was just a funny joke, he said. We thought by using the joke to raise money to help people who are harmed by this stuff, we could find another way to hold (Trudeaus) feet to the fire. Devlin and Supernovas goal is to use this far-fetched scenario to raise awareness around how the federal governments purchase of the Trans Mountain pipeline signals a disinterest in taking the impact of fossil fuel production on climate change seriously. In doing so, they hope to encourage donations to their fund, which will go to support wildfire relief in Canada, and to support the impoverished community of Anibong, Leyte in the Philippines whose members continue to suffer since the category 5 typhoon Haiyan displaced more than four million people in November, 2013. The severity of both of these weather events, Devlin said, can be attributed to climate change. Trudeau himself, he points out, has acknowledged the link between climate change and extreme weather events. During a 2016 news conference regarding the forest fires that devastated Fort McMurray, Trudeau said, Its well known that one of the consequences of climate change will be a greater prevalence of extreme weather events around the planet. But Devlin believes Trudeau is deeply disconnected from the realities facing average Canadians as annual damage caused by annual weather events around the country becomes more severe. Trudeau grew up a child of privilege and wealth, he said, and has far more in common with the executives of Kinder Morgan from whom the federal government recently purchased the Trans Mountain pipeline project than he does with the people whose homes, families and livelihoods are threatened by climate change. The Filipino community to whom half the funds will go is the same community Devlins mother grew up in. Meanwhile, Devlin said, B.C. is literally on fire, and some residents are on the run from a fire. And for him, that direct connection to a devastated population is something Trudeau seems to be missing. Ive seen the devastation first hand, and I know its something this prime minister has not seen, Devlin said. Its real to me, but I dont think its really real to him. The B.C. government declared a state of emergency on Wednesday as the number of fires across the province pushed past 560. The 2017 state of emergency lasted 70 days, with 1.2 million hectares of the province burned in that years fires. Lori Daniels, associate professor at the UBC Department of Forest and Conservation Sciences, said in an interview Wednesday that the record-breaking fire seasons reported in the province every year over the last near-decade point to extreme weather as a new normal for region. I thought, to be honest, we would have a few more decades to adapt, Daniels said, adding, Climate change is here with us. Devlin and Supernovas online disaster-relief fundraiser exceeded its modest goal of $500 in the first hour of going live. As of Sunday, it had raised nearly $1,200 thanks to the donations of 40 individuals. Devlin said using a lighthearted frame to raise funds is one way to ease people out of the low-level terror produced by living under a cloud of smoke from a smouldering province. And hopefully, he said, donating to help people in need will give people a sense of empowerment, even without ideological support from a prime minister whose continued co-operation with the fossil fuel industry Devlin called irresponsible given the historical and ongoing wildfire situation in B.C. In the long term, he said, its better for everyones mental health if we can face these problems head on and not just feel terrified. Read more about: The Sales Officer will handle prospectivecustomers, explain our service, and guide clients through the order process. Weare seeking a candidate who is persuasive, energetic, and ready to go the extramile to ensure customer on boarding and satisfaction. The successful candidateshould be detail-oriented, results-driven and effective at working with clientsfrom different backgrounds. As I nip up to the cobblestones-paved Gardos Hill on the outskirts of Belgrade, the Serbian capital city, an enchanting view of terracotta-hued rooftops and the Danube riverside opens out before me. I'm in Zemun, a border town that straddles the erstwhile Ottoman and Austrian Empires and stretches all the way from Old Belgrade across the azure expanse of the Danube. Located in one of the oldest parts of Belgrade, and wrapped around Gardos Hill, it is peppered with narrow lanes, quaint buildings and private residences painted in powder pinks, yellows and greens. Cafes do brisk business selling the famed Serbian espresso coffee as well as a variety of beers and German brews. Gardos Hill is the perfect lookout point over the Danube. Right below me is a panoramic sweep of Belgrade with skyscrapers rising out of its concrete legoland. Across the Danube, beckons the bucolic landscapes of Vojvodina, one of South-Central Europe's most significant agricultural regions. Further afield lies the Great War Island, situated at the confluence of the Danube and Sava rivers. Zemun leverages its riverside location to good effect. I see colourful boats clustering around its atmospheric shores taking tourists on cruises along the Danube. Fine dining restaurants offer delicious fish dishes and fine wines. Its old town is a historically preserved area which showcases life in the 18th and 19th century and was earlier known as Taurunum. Adjacent to the old town is the Zemun Quay, a popular walking zone in Belgrade. A slew of orthodox and catholic churches, an old post office, houses of traders from the 18th and 19th century, and a few schools add character to the landscape. Zemun sits on layers of history. Ruled by the Romans, Byzantine and Austro-Hungarians, it bears eclectic influences on its architecture and culture. As I move my gaze around Gardos, the turreted, brick red and white tower of Janos Hunyadi or the millennium tower veers into view. It was built, the guide explains, in 1896 to celebrate a millennium of Hungarian settlement in the area. The 17th-century derelict hostelry Beli Medved (The White Bear), the oldest in Belgrade, sits adjacent. The Zemun cemetery located close to the millennium tower is where Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Muslims and Jews were buried. "Until World War I, Zemun was a standalone town, the last frontier of the Austria-Hungarian empire," the guide elaborates as I soak in breathtaking views of Belgrade from Gardos Hill. "However, after the Second World War, New Belgrade was built between the two old towns, connecting them." Zemun is today classified as a neighbourhood and municipality of New Belgrade. It became an official part of Belgrade in 1934 and remains fiercely independent to this day. Proud local residents spurn claims that their town is just a Belgrade "neighbourhood". To them, Zemun has its own distinct personality with deep roots that go back to Roman times. After the Romans, the town passed through many handsthe Byzantines, Bulgarians, Hungarians, Mongols, Serbs, and Ottomansbefore becoming part of the Hapsburg Empire. Despite multifarious ownerships, or perhaps because of it, Zemun's past is riddled with tragedy and tumult. Up until the 19th century, it was a quarantine centre for people travelling between the Austrian and Ottoman Empires. Travellers and tradesman alike would be lodged here for months before being cleared for further travel. One of Zemun's architectural centrepiecesthe Yugoslavias Air Force Command Building built in 1935was also bombed during NATO's 1999 campaign of aggression against Yugoslavia. It now stands forlorn and abandoned. After World War II Zemun was drafted into the Independent State of Croatia, a Nazi puppet regime, which granted permission for the establishment of the horrific Sajmiste concentration camp. During the first phase of the camp, from autumn 1941, Sajmiste primarily functioned as a "Judenlager" or a place to house the Jews rounded up in Belgrade in inhuman conditions. Later the camp saw extermination of an estimated 20,000 people, mostly Serbian Jews. Today, however, there's little evidence of this turbulent history as there are no museums nor memorials in Zemun to commemorate the camp's victims. Perhaps it's a conscious effort on the part of the ruling political dispensation to eradicate this chapter from Serbian history? Whatever it is, there's no denying that Zemun's history bestows upon it dignity and gravitas. As I bid adieu to the town that had me completely under its spell, I try to capture in my mind's eye its mesmerizing landscape where the air is rife with intrigue and time seems to stands still. Over the years I've seen parents unwittingly cultivate fragility by misusing the term bullying. I knew a student who had her own circle of friends but wanted to join a more popular group. The girls in the desired group were close-knit, with families that had been friends for decades. They weren't mean to this girl. In fact they were polite, even friendly. If she sat by them at lunch, they would engage and include her. They talked with her at school. If she invited one of them to a movie, they would go and have fun. But they didn't include her in their inner circle. Every time they did something on the evenings or weekends without inviting her, the girl's parent accused them of bullying. As the meteorological department announced a possible reduction in rainfall intensity in the state from Monday, the rescue operations were intensified, especially in the districts of Pathanamthitta and Thrissur. Kerala is not expected to receive heavy rainfall from August 20, Mritunjay Mohapatra, IMD additional director general said. He said the southern state received 170 per cent more precipitation than its normal from August 1 to August 17. "Day before yesterday, there was heavy rainfall in almost all districts of Kerala. Yesterday, there was heavy rainfall in three-four districts. We were expecting heavy rainfall in isolated places, but not very heavy rainfall." Red alerts were revoked in 11 districts; it was downgraded to an orange alert in Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha. The rescue workers have yet to reach some flooded areas, like parts of Chengannur city, some too narrow for boats to navigate. People trapped without food, water and electricity worried about being left without help as their phone batteries were dying. "There are seven families in this apartment now. We're safe compared to many others, but we're cut off," said James Joseph Moolakkaat, owner of an agricultural business who lives in a 10-story building across the southwestern state's Periyar river, told Reuters. "This is my second phone and to save power I have been turning data on and off intermittently. If this goes out, I will have some charge left in my laptop and then it will be incommunicado."Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was taken by helicopter over inundated farmland and villages, promised more helicopters, boats and other equipment needed to expand the rescue operation in the still unfolding emergency. He said the Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard were assisting disaster relief agencies in the rescue, and a total of 38 helicopters had been pressed into service along with a number of aircraft and ships to ferry resources."More helicopters, boats and other equipment are being sought and Modi promised to provide all of these as fast as possible," Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told journalists. "The air marshal in charge of the air operations said more helicopters are on the way."According to a lawmaker in Pathanamthitta district, some 10,000 people were stranded and in grave danger unless they were rescued urgently. Chief Minister Vijayan has estimated that more than two million people have been forced to move into relief camps since the monsoon season brought torrential rains three months ago. He put the death toll from floods and landslides since the start of the rainy season at 324. One of his advisers, Prabha Varma, told Reuters that 186 people had died since August 8, when the waters began to rise. He said the floods had destroyed 26,000 homes and damaged crops across as much as 40,000 hectares, with estimated losses of 277 billion rupees. Modi declared initial assistance of 5 billion rupees ($71 million) and promised more later. He also assured that the federal government would send desperately needed grains, as storage in the state had been flooded and stocks destroyed.Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates, where many Keralites work, said he had formed a committee to extend emergency assistance to the flood victims of the state, whose people he said "have always been and are still part of our success story". In many places, the local people were in the forefront of the evacuation along with defence and NDRF personnel. Lack of information about the isolated areas and houses, where a large number of people are believed to be stuck, is a worrying factor for rescuers, official sources said. Over 54,000 people were rescued in Ernakulam district, mainly in Paravur and Aluva taluks which had witnessed heavy rains and severe water logging in the past two days. According to Navy sources, two sets of siblings from Kalady were rescued and brought to the naval base in Kochi and are waiting to join their parents. Local leaders said thousands of people are stuck in Paravur region of Ernakulam district. With several people yet to be rescued, authorities today issued orders to release private boats and school buses for rescue operations. Fishing boats are already being using for the mission. The plantation town of Nelliyampathy in the battered Palakkad district is fully cut off as a bridge was washed away and massive boulders fell on a main road in incessant rains and landslides. Huge granite blocks, which had fallen from atop mountains, could be seen perched precariously amidst gushing flood waters. Youngsters could be seen helping women and the elderly cross the waters by lifting them. Fresh landslides were also reported in high range Idukki. Dead bodies were seen floating in several places, including Pandanad, Aranmula and Nenmara, where a massive landslide was reports two days ago. Those returning home from relief camps were in for a shock, seeing muddy interiors of their homes, floating furniture, damaged books and reptiles and snails crawling inside. District authorities have asked people living downstream of Kakki dam in Pathanamthitta to be vigilant as three of its four shutters were lifted up to 75 cm-90 cm. The Delhi Police has registered a case against unidentified persons for allegedly assaulting and heckling social activist Swami Agnivesh near the BJP headquarters here. The social activist claimed that the accused were BJP workers. A complaint was submitted by one Vithal Rao on behalf of Agnivesh at the Parliament Street police station. It was later transferred to IP Estate police station in central district. Today, an FIR was registered in the matter. A video of the alleged attack doing the rounds on social media showed some people heckling the 79-year-old social activist. "I was attacked while walking towards the BJP headquarters to pay my respects to Atal Bihari Vajpayee. Around 20-30 BJP workers came and surrounded me and pushed me. My 'pagdi' (turban) fell down and they started calling me a 'traitor' and asked me to leave the country," the activist had said yesterday. "They pushed me towards the Vishnu Digamber roundabout and kept abusing me. Some policemen were standing there and these persons, including some women carrying slippers, kept abusing me," he had said. The policemen then escorted Agnivesh in a vehicle back to his office on the Jantar Mantar Road. The complainant alleged that despite the police presence, they (miscreants) continued with their 'gundagardi' (hooliganism). This is against law and democratic values, he stated. In the police complaint, Rao also sought police security for Agnivesh. Swami Agnivesh was allegedly assaulted by Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) activists during his visit to Pakur in Jharkhand last month. Ecologist Madhav Gadgil, who headed the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP), claimed that the floods Kerala were a man-made disaster as illegal constructions on river beds and unauthorised stone quarrying contributed to the calamity. The government-constituted WGEEP, in its 2011 report, had recommended that several areas in Kerala which come under the Western Ghats should be classified as ecologically sensitive. However, the state government had opposed the panel's recommendations. While the magnitude of rainfall witnessed in Kerala this season was not exactly unprecedented, the flooding seen this time was never experienced before. "There are two components to it. One is the intense rainfallof a higher level than normal. One of my students has done a thesis on intense rainfall events in Kerala... He says certainly this year it's quite intense but not unprecedented," he said. "He [the student] hails from Kerala. The experience of his father and grandfather is that earlier there was occasionally intense rainfall but never this level of flooding or landslides," the 76-year-old ecologist said. The flooding has definitely brought to light existence of illegal stone quarries or large number of unauthorised constructions on river beds, he said, adding, "In this sense it is definitely a man-made calamity where intense rainfall and human intervention have made it a serious disaster." Gadgil, the founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, in his report on the Western Ghats in Kerala had recommended strict restrictions on mining and quarrying and on use of land for non-forest purposes. Asked if the Kerala government should implement the recommendations of the WGEEP, also known as Gadgil commission, he said all that is needed to be done is to follow the law. "Nobody has been able to point out any factual mistake in our report. The recommendations are entirely within constitutional provisions and various laws. Implementing the report means government stopping flouting our own laws and government stopping suppression of our own people," Gadgil said. "Forget our report. The government must begin to behave lawfully and then automatically it means our report is implemented," he said. According to the state authorities, 194 people have lost their lives and 36 are missing in Kerala since August 8 due to rains and landslides, while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. An untimely visit to Germany when his state is battling the worst floods in close to a century may cost forest minister K. Raju his cabinet post. His party, the CPI, is likely to withdraw him from the ministry after his tour sparked off an outrage in the state. The minister had gone to Germany on August 16 reportedly to attend the global conference of World Malayali Council. "His travel to Germany at this moment suggested a kind of indifference that the CPI found unacceptable," sources in the party told Onmanorama. However, there was no official confirmation from the CPI leadership on the likely action against Raju. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who was scheduled to leave for the US for treatment, had cancelled his journey to coordinate the rescue and rehabilitation operations. Flash floods and and series of landslides triggered by incessant rains have left a trail of destruction in the tourist state with more than two lakh people forced into relief camps in various districts. Government said the floods had destroyed 26,000 houses and damaged crops across as much as 40,000 hectares, with estimated losses of Rs 277 billion. The Gujarat government on Saturday announced the setting up of a judicial commission to look into fires that took place in godowns of groundnuts in the state. Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani said that the judicial inquiry commission under the Commission of Inquiry Act would be under retired high court judge H.K. Rathod. Rupani said that the commission has been instituted to look into the reasons of the fire and discover the culprits. Minister of State for Home Pradeepsinh Jadeja said that the CID (Crime) was already looking into the fires that took place in godowns of groundnuts in Gonda, Shapar, Hapa and Gandhidham. Forensic science teams are also involved in the inquiry. While a time frame has not been set for submission of report, government officials said that a detailed report would be presented after an unbiased inquiry. Lakhs of tons of groundnuts were destroyed in the fires. Jadeja said that it had come to the notice of the state government that several cooperative societies had mixed sand and pebbles in the groundnut stock. The guilty would be punished, he said. Observing that nobody would want to have poor quality stock, Jadeja said that in the last two years NAFED has auctioned around five lakh metric ton groundnut. So far, about 30 persons have been arrested in connection with the multicrore scam. Moreover, it is alleged that some people associated with the BJP are also involved. The minister said that stringent action would act as a deterrent against any person indulging in such activities in future. Setting up of an inquiry is a clear indication that ahead of Lok Sabha elections next year, the state government wants to come out clear on the issue. The move is also seen as an effort to pre-empt the opposition Congress from making the issue big. The Congress had already stepped up the agitation against the alleged scam, and opposition leader in the state assembly, Paresh Dhanani, had sat on a three-day hunger fast from August 16. He had demanded an inquiry by a sitting judge of the Gujarat High Court. The adage that failures can teach many lessons seems quite... Kashmir police on Sunday detained an engineer who was deported from Dubai on charges of being an Islamic State (IS) sympathiser. The UAE authorities deported Irfan Ahmad Zargar, 36, a resident of Bemina on August 14. He was earlier held in detention by Dubai police for four months. After being deported he was detained in New Delhi for questioning for two days before being handed over to Kashmir police. The UAE police arrested him after he returned from Muscat in April. Zargar had been under surveillance for months after it became clear through his social media activity that he was sympathetic toward the IS. After his arrest in Dubai, Zargar lost touch with his family in Srinagar for nearly a week, sources said. His brother then flew to Dubai and lodged a missing complaint with the police, sources said. His family members also had sought the help of external affairs minister on Twitter. Zargar spoke with his family on 27th day of Ramzan. The call was allowed on the condition that he would speak in English. On Sunday morning he again called home to inform that he has been handed over to police in Jammu. According to sources, Zargar is being questioned by the Kashmir police's intelligence wing. He has been working in Dubai for the last five to six years. He had gone to Muscat to set up a shop after taking leave for one month. According to sources, he was planning to quit his job and focus on business in Muscat. A young man from Maihar town of Madhya Pradesh was arrested yesterday for allegedly posting an objectionable comment against former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in a local WhatsApp group. A garment businessman in Maihar local market, Javed Ansari was arrested after a group member and local resident filed a complaint before police saying that Javed had posted objectionable comments against Vajpayee on August 17. Maihar police station in charge Ashok Pandey told media that he had received a complaint about an objectionable comment by Javed in a local group. Acting on the complaint, the police conducted an initial investigation and found that the group admin had objected to the comment of Javed and removed him from the group. There was no role of the admin as he took corrective measures immediately. Later, the police arrested Javed for publishing and circulating a statement or rumour with the intent of inciting feelings against another community. Though Javed told police that he had merely forwarded a post which was already in circulation in social media, his plea was not accepted by the police, and he was booked under various sections of IPC and Information Technology Act. Maihar town, in last two years, have seen several cases of commmunal tension and violence. A senior Iranian diplomat, Kazem Gharibabadi urged OPEC's secretary general to keep the group away from the political agenda of some members and said none should be allowed to take over another's share of its oil exports, Tehran's oil ministry news agency said. He also said that OPEC should not let few countries to misuse the organization to pursue their political aims. He made the remarks n a Sunday meeting with Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, Secretary General of OPEC, in Vienna. "No country is allowed to take over the share of other members for production and exports of oil under any circumstance, and the OPEC Ministerial Conference has not issued any licence for such actions," SHANA quoted Kazem Gharibabadi, Irans permanent envoy to Vienna-based international organizations was quoted as saying. Barkindo said that ensuring the independence of OPEC has vital importance and the organization should always remain nonpolitical. Touching upon close ties with Iran and Iranian Oil Minister, he said that Iran is one of the founders of OPEC and it has always played a central role in decisions adopted by the organization. Iran has asked OPEC to support it against new US sanctions and signalled it is not yet in agreement with Saudi Arabias views on the possible need to increase global oil supplies. With inputs from PTI Although victory over ISIS has been declared in Iraq, American involvement there will remain necessary for years to come, according to Sen. Joni Ernst, because the United States cannot win the peace for the Middle East nation on its own. This is going to take a long time, the first-term Republican senator said. Weve been there 15 years. We have a long ways to go yet. The United States must remain a partner of choice for Iraq as it develops into a young democracy. "We'll keep troops there as long as we think they're needed ... The main reason, after ISIS (Islamic State) is defeated militarily, is the stabilization efforts and we still need to be there for that, so that's one of the reasons we'll maintain a presence," Colonel Sean Ryan said. So until the United States is confident in the capacity and ability of Iraqi security forces to defend their country, a US military presence will remain necessary to protect American interests, the Iraq War veteran, Ernst told the United States Institute of Peace on August 16 in Washington, D.C. The number of American soldiers could go down however, depending on when other forces from the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation deploy to help train the Iraqi army, he said, adding that about 5,200 US troops are currently based in Iraq.NATO defence ministers agreed in February to a bigger "train-and-advise" mission in Iraq after a US call for the alliance to help stabilise the country after three years of war against Islamic State. So the United States, through diplomatic efforts and working with international partners and agencies such as the Institute of Peace, must continue to foster that desire among the Iraqi people and provide training and guidance. Ernst, who served as an Iowa Army National Guard company commander in Kuwait and Iraq, said the institute extended an invitation to speak because of her membership on the Senate Armed Services Committee and her service in Iraq. Its a natural fit for me and something that ties in so nicely with the Armed Services Committee as well Ernst added. Congress created the institute as an independent agency to work toward peace in global conflict zones. It identifies ways to counter extremism and ways to improve the rule of law after violent conflicts, according to its website. Iraq officially announced victory over the militants in December, five months after capturing their stronghold Mosul.The United States also has about 2,000 troops in Syria, assisting the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) clear pockets still under the control of Islamic State along the border with Iraq. In her speech, Ernst acknowledged a weariness with the US effort in the region even among her Senate colleagues. Ernst also rejected the school of thought that just because Iran also seeks to defeat ISIS that its interests are aligned with those of the United States. A key to limiting Irans influence in Iraq and the region is a free and prosperous Iraq, she said. That is reason enough for the United States to continue countering these efforts. in the meantime, Colnel Ryan said, SDF operations to finish off the militants on the Syrian side have been delayed by hundreds of explosive devices planted by Islamic State. Prafulla Kumar Mahanta PRAFULLA KUMAR MAHANTA was at the forefront of the students movement in Assam in the 1970s and 80s. He, along with Bhrigu Phukan and Biraj Sharma, signed the Assam Accord with the Rajiv Gandhi government, in which it was agreed that all illegal immigrants from Bangladesh who came after March 24, 1971, would be sent back. Mahanta is excited about the draft NRC. Excerpts from an interview: What do you feel about the list? First, this is not the final list. It is the complete draft with errors. So, there will be more checks, and the number may even change. There are accusations that you are against Bengalis. Thats utterly wrong. Bengalis from India and Bangladesh talk the same language and dialect. But, we know how to differentiate between them. Because we have had protests against illegal immigrants, mostly from Bangladesh, it does not mean that we are against Bengalis. We love Bengalis, and there are many legitimate Bengalis living in Assam. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee says the NRC is a ploy to push the Bengali-speaking community to Bangladesh. Check her statements when she was in the NDA government, and when she was the opposition leader in West Bengal. She supported our cause and even took up the issue of Bangladeshi influx in West Bengal. What she is doing now is negative politics, which we, the people of Assam, dislike. The draft is full of errors. Yes, it is full of errors. Even indigenous Assamese were left out. I know that a former chief minister and her family members were left out. However, that does not take away the credit from the NRC employees engaged in this huge task. They have done a great job. While signing the deal with Rajiv Gandhi, did you think that such a huge number of people would be out of the second NRC list? When we fought for it, just seven districts of Assam had the problem. Today, it has spread almost all over the state. So one can believe that the influx was a continuous process. But, it took more than three decades to prepare a draft. It was stuck in the administrative logjam. Actually, the Congress was in power most of the time, and they were not eager to push it. Even after the Supreme Court order, they delayed it. So, would you give the Modi government the credit for the turnaround? No, it has nothing to do with Prime Minister Modi or the BJP. It is monitored by the Supreme Court and the Central government. The prime minister would have to abide by the Supreme Court [instructions]. Grass-root workers of the government worked hard and we got this list, though with errors. A section of the people who did not feature in the list is saying that they might be allowed to live in India without rights. That would be part of the discussion which would begin after the final list. I told you it will be a long-drawn process. Will you demand that they be sent to Bangladesh? Why not? Immigrants are immigrants. They should not stay in our country. But the Bangladesh government said they will not accept as many people from Assam. Have they officially told this to the government of India? I think they have not. So when the issue is taken up officially by the ministry of external affairs and the bilateral talks start, I think Bangladesh would understand the situation. Ayushman Bharat CEO hopeful of pvt hospitals' participation Bengaluru, Aug 19 (PTI) The national health protection scheme would attract participation of big private hospitals as it offered a business opportunity of serving 40 per cent of the country's population, Ayushman Bharat Chief Executive Officer Indu Bhushan said today. The central scheme, which is to be launched on September 25, would also drive private players to open hospitals in rural areas which was not happening earlier, he said. Ayushman Bharat scheme, touted as the world's largest healthcare scheme, aims at providing a coverage of Rs five lakh per family annually, benefiting more than 10 crore poor families. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his independence day address, has said his government will launch on September 25 the ambitious scheme which aims at benefiting 50 crore people. "We are in talks with a few private hospitals to be part of the scheme. A very few have already shown interest... I think, the private hospitals will not want to miss the business opportunity of rendering services to 40 per cent of the country's population," Bhushan told PTI. Replying to a question about participation of private hospitals, including corporate hospitals, he said such hospitals hitherto did not venture into rural areas since people there could not afford the high cost of treatment. But, the Ayushman Bharat scheme would 'hypothetically' encourage setting up of private hospitals because the government would make the payments, instead of poor people, he said. On tackling the problem of inadequate infrastructure, including government hospital beds, in implementing the scheme, Bhushan said only two lakhbeds would be needed, assuming very large usage. "With 2 per cent hospitalisation, about one crore people will need assistance.One bed can cover about 50 people a year. Therefore, the overall number is not a problem," he said. Distribution of beds would be a problem, he added. Asked whether they have the data to figure out the areas where there was dearth of hospitals, Bhushan replied in the positive and said the health ministry was trying to map public hospitals across the country. "Yes, we do not have numbers, we have a bit of an idea of where the gaps are by knowing the socio-economic status and supply of services in such districts and blocks," he stated. Bhushan said different states were having various schemes to increase supply of hospitals in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. Uttar Pradesh has a scheme to encourage public-private partnership model, he said. On measures to prevent potential frauds, he said in order to ensure hospitals do not enrol a non-eligible person as a beneficiary, the patient's Aadhar and biometrics have to be matched. For this to happen, hospitals should have the requisite hardware, space and adequate human resources. Replying to a query, he said UIDAI Chairman and former IT Secretary J Satyanarayana was helping the Ayushman Bharat team in creating a robust IT platform for implementing the health care scheme. PTI BDN VS VS VS Mumbai, Aug 19 (PTI) Every time Rajkummar Rao decides he will do only two films a year, but the "greedy" actor says he cannot let go of a good script as everyone is replaceable in the industry. Last year, Rajkummar had as many as six releases with films such as "Trapped", "Bareilly Ki Barfi" and "Newton". The actor began 2018 with "Omerta", followed by "Fanney Khan" and is geared up for his third release, "Stree", a horror comedy directed by Amar Kaushik. Rajkummar says he finds it impossible to refuse a good film and hence ends up doing it. "Whenever I think I'm going to do two films a year, I get another wonderful story, like 'Stree', and I'm like wow! Everybody is replaceable, nobody is irreplaceable here. If I'm going to say no to it because I want to do two films a year and sit at home, someone else will," he says. "I am a greedy actor, I want all the scripts to come to me. So I do all the good films which come my way, even if it means I'll rest a little less. Every time I think I'm going to take it slow, a good script comes along," he adds. It is not that the 33-year-old actor has not turned down a project, but whenever he has he has been honest about it. "I've said no to some important people and they were kind and sweet to understand where I was coming from. Somehow I couldn't see myself in those scripts. It's important to say 'no' and say it rightly. My mantra is to be honest about it. They've been here for so long, you can't try to be smart with them," he says. For the actor, who made his debut in 2010 with Dibakar Banerjee's "Love Sex Aur Dhoka", almost everything fell into place last year where he got a chance to perform in films of genres ranging from comedy, romance, drama to thriller. Rajkummar says, over the years, he has learnt that he cannot land films by "networking" or attending parties. "There's no formula to success. No formula that you go to filmy parties and you might get work, or do some networking. All that doesn't matter anymore, it's your work which speaks. I still believe that. My work has to speak. "I can't do networking, I can't go to parties, I can't just be in touch with someone because I might get work. I can't be sending good morning messages to people. I'd rather work on my craft because I'm still not sure of my craft. I still get nervous before I start a new film. It happens every time." Working on the craft, Rajkummar explains, involves him completely nose-diving into the character, which includes creating back stories and learning a new language. For "Stree", also featuring Shraddha Kapoor, the actor learnt stitching and using manual sewing machines. "I picked up an accent (from Madhya Pradesh) and tried to keep it authentic, which is tough. It's easy to make it into a caricature. So, if possible I visit the place and spend some time with the locals to get it right. It's exciting to explore new characters every time," he adds. Produced by Raj Nidimoru and Krishna DK and Dinesh Vijan, "Stree" releases on August 31. PTI JUR RDS RDS Colombo, Aug 19 (PTI) Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a "true friend" of Sri Lanka and had assisted the country in the civil war against the LTTE, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said here today. Wickremesinghe made these comments after visiting the Indian High Commission here to sign a condolence book for Vajpayee, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. "He was one of the great prime ministers. He was a true friend of Sri Lanka, he stood for Sri Lanka at all times," Wickremesinghe said. "When I was the prime minister of Sri Lanka previously, the LTTE was in a very strong position. Our economy was weak. Mr Vajpayee helped us develop the economy and extended military training. We were able to stop the sea Tigers (LTTE's sea wing) because of him," he said. Wickremesinghe said he met Vajpayee for the first time in 1975. When Vajpayee later became India's foreign minister in 1977, Wickremesinghe as Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister carried on the friendship, he said. "He gave me his personal telephone number when he returned as the prime minsiter, and we continued the friendship," Wickremesinghe said. The nearly three-decades long civil war in Sri Lanka ended in 2009 with the defeat of Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE). PTI CORR PMS PMS New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 1700 hours: FGN13 PAK-PUNJAB-LD ASSEMBLY Usman Buzdar elected chief minister of Pak's Punjab province Lahore: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan Buzdar was elected as chief minister of Punjab today, ending a 10-year rule of Shahbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in the country's most populous province. By M Zulqernain FGN14 UAE-KERALA-INDIANS UAE-based Indian-origin tycoons pledge Rs 125 mln for Kerala flood victims Dubai: Indian-origin billionaire businessmen based in the UAE have announced Rs 125 million donation for flood relief operations in the deluge-hit Kerala, according to a media report. FGN9 US-POMPEO-PAK US secretary of state likely to visit Pak in Sept to hold talks with Imran Khan Islamabad: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is likely to visit Pakistan in the first week of September to hold talks with newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan on issues of mutual interests, a media report said today. FGN8 US-PAK-IMRAN Looking forward to work with new civilian govt in Pak: US New York: The US has said that it was looking forward to work with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in the country and in the region as it welcomed the swearing-in of Imran Khan as the new Prime Minister. By Yoshita Singh FGN7 PAK-IMRAN-LD CABINET Imran Khan announces 21-member Cabinet; Qureshi gets foreign ministry, Umer finance Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has unveiled his 21-member Cabinet, most of whom previously held key posts in the regime of former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. By Sajjad Hussain FGN5 UK-SIKH-RALLY UK government distances itself from Khalistan issue London: The UK government has distanced itself from the issue of a pro-Khalistan rally organised by Sikh separatist groups at London's Trafalgar Square earlier this month. By Aditi Khanna FGN15 LANKA-RAJAPAKSA Rajapaksa hopes to return as Lanka president for third term Colombo: Sri Lanka's two-time former president Mahinda Rajapaksa hopes to return as the head of the state despite a constitutional provision that bars a person from contesting the presidential election for a third term. PTI AMS AMS Vatican City, Aug 19 (PTI) Pope Francis today called on the international community to provide "concrete support" to the victims in flood-battered Kerala. Pope Francis prayed for the victims of the flooding at St Peters Square, the Vatican News reported. "The inhabitants of Kerala have been harshly struck by intense rains, which have caused flooding and landslides, with heavy loss of human life, with many people missing and displaced, with extensive damage to crops and homes, he said. He voiced his hopes that these brothers and sisters would be supported by "our solidarity, and by concrete support from the international community". He expressed his closeness to the Church in Kerala, which is at the forefront of efforts to bring aid to the population. Pope Francis than led the crowds gathered at St Peters Square in prayer for those suffering from this great calamity. Nearly 200 people have been killed since August 8 in the state's worst floods in a century while over 3.14 lakh people have been moved to relief camps. PTI PMS PMS New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) Following are the top foreign stories at 2000 hours FGN18 POPE-KERALA Pope calls on international community to help flood victims in Kerala Vatican City: Pope Francis today called on the international community to provide "concrete support" to the victims in flood-battered Kerala. FGN20 SWARAJ-MAURITIUS Swaraj meets top leadership of Mauritius, discusses bilateral ties Port Louis: India and Mauritius today discussed measures to further strengthen bilateral ties and cooperation in the field of maritime security as External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj held talks with the country's top leadership. FGN17UK-DAWOOD UK police arrest Dawood's key aide Jabir Moti at London hotel London: A key aide of Dawood Ibrahim, Indias most wanted terrorist, was arrested by British police at Londons Hilton Hotel on Friday. By Aditi Khanna FGN13 PAK-PUNJAB-LD ASSEMBLY Usman Buzdar elected chief minister of Pak's Punjab province Lahore: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan Buzdar was elected as chief minister of Punjab today, ending a 10-year rule of Shahbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in the country's most populous province. By M Zulqernain\R FGN14 UAE-KERALA-INDIANS UAE-based Indian-origin tycoons pledge Rs 125 mln for Kerala flood victims Dubai: Indian-origin billionaire businessmen based in the UAE have announced Rs 125 million donation for flood relief operations in the deluge-hit Kerala, according to a media report. FGN9 US-POMPEO-PAK US secretary of state likely to visit Pak in Sept to hold talks with Imran Khan Islamabad: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is likely to visit Pakistan in the first week of September to hold talks with newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan on issues of mutual interests, a media report said today. FGN8 US-PAK-IMRAN Looking forward to work with new civilian govt in Pak: US New York: The US has said that it was looking forward to work with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in the country and in the region as it welcomed the swearing-in of Imran Khan as the new Prime Minister. By Yoshita Singh FGN7 PAK-IMRAN-LD CABINET Imran Khan announces 21-member Cabinet; Qureshi gets foreign ministry, Umer finance Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has unveiled his 21-member Cabinet, most of whom previously held key posts in the regime of former dictator General (retd) Pervez Musharraf. By Sajjad Hussain FGN5 UK-SIKH-RALLY UK government distances itself from Khalistan issue London: The UK government has distanced itself from the issue of a pro-Khalistan rally organised by Sikh separatist groups at London's Trafalgar Square earlier this month. By Aditi Khanna FGN15 LANKA-RAJAPAKSA Rajapaksa hopes to return as Lanka president for third term Colombo: Sri Lanka's two-time former president Mahinda Rajapaksa hopes to return as the head of the state despite a constitutional provision that bars a person from contesting the presidential election for a third term. RUP RUP Islamabad, Aug 19 (PTI) Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan today said he will not be staying in the sprawling Prime Minister House but in the military secretary's three-bedroom house here. Khan, announcing austerity measures to cut down his own as well as the country's expenditure during his maiden address to the nation, said that he wanted to live in his own house in Banigala "but was told by security agencies that my life was under threat which is why I am living here". He said that the prime minister house has 524 servants and 80 cars. "The prime minister, which is me, also has 33 bulletproof cars. We have helicopters and aeroplanes to fly us. We have massive governor houses and every conceivable luxury. "On one hand we don't have money to spend on our people; on the other hand, we have a section of our people living like our colonial masters used to live," he said. "Look at how we live. Look at how much money is spent by prime ministers on foreign tours? Where do these people spend Rs 650 million? Where does the speaker spend the Rs 160 million budget allotted to him? Are they going abroad to conquer land?" Khan said. Detailing plans on how he will cut down his own as well the country's expenditure, he said "I will keep two people with me out of the 524. I will be staying in a three-bedroom house. I will have to keep two of the cars because my intelligence agencies tell me my life is under threat. I wish I did not have to move out of Banigala, but I have been forced to do so." Khan said his government would auction off all the other bullet proof cars and invited businesses to come and buy them. "We will put the proceeds of that auction in the state treasury," he added. He said I wish that all the governor houses are kept as simply as possible. Khan said that he wished that the PM House be turned into a research university. "I am forming a committee under Dr Ishrat Husain to figure out how to cut expenses nationwide. I also want you to understand that the money we lavish on ourselves could have been spent on those who our state has left behind. Naya Pakistan also requires a new soch. We have to think about those who we have left behind," he said. PTI SMJ SMJ SMJ Islamabad, Aug 19 (PTI) US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is likely to visit Pakistan in the first week of September to hold talks with newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan on issues of mutual interests, a media report said today. Pompeo, who is expected in Islamabad on September 5, would be the first foreign dignitary to meet Prime Minister Khan, Dawn reported, quoting the diplomatic and official sources. Khan, 65, was sworn in as Pakistan's 22nd prime minister at a simple ceremony in Islamabad yesterday. The US has welcomed the swearing-in of Khan as new Prime Minister and said that it was looking forward to work with Pakistan's new civilian government to promote peace and prosperity in the country and in the region. The relations between Pakistan and the US nose-dived after President Donald Trump in January accused Islamabad of giving nothing to Washington but "lies and deceit" and providing "safe haven" to terrorists. The US Congress also passed a bill to slash Pakistan's defence aid to USD 150 million, significantly below the historic level of more than USD one billion per year. Citing its sources, the paper said that during his talks with Pakistani officials, Pompeo may focus on two major issues: efforts to revive once close ties between the two countries and Pakistans support for a US-led move to jump-starting the Afghan peace process. Alice Wells, who heads the Bureau for South Asian affairs at the State Department, may also accompany Pompeo, the paper added. In recent statements, US officials have expressed the desire to restore their once close ties with Pakistan. In her speech at the Pakistan Embassy earlier this week, Wells not only welcomed Khan's election but also expressed the desire to work with his government for resolving difficult issues. Wells noted that the new leader had also recognised the importance of US-Pakistan relationship in his public statements and in his first meeting with US Embassy officials in Islamabad. In his victory speech last month, Khan said he wants a balanced relation between Pakistan and America which should be mutually beneficial, not one sided. PTI ZH ZH Gujarat dams receive 556 MCM water in two days of rain Ahmedabad, Aug 18 (PTI) Two days of rainfall in Gujarat saw the Sardar Sarovar Dam as well as 203 other dams and reservoirs receiving 278 million cubic metre (MCM) of water each. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani directed the administration to release water from Sardar Sarovar Narmada canal network into Tappar Dam in the state's Kutch district which had not received adequate rainfall as yet, an official release informed today. "Sardar Sarovar dam has received 278 MCM water in the last two days. Other 203 dams and reservoirs in the state like Panam, Karjan, Kadana and south Gujarat's Ukai have received another 278 MCM water," the release said. Several districts in north and central Gujarat, including Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar and Kheda, have received heavy rainfall. As per data provided by the state emergency operation centre, in the part 24 hours till morning today, Gandhinagar's Kalol received the maximum 111 mm rainfall followed by Sanand (Ahmedabad) at 110 mm, Sayla (Surendranagar) at 106 mm and Ahmedabad city at 104 mm. The state government also said that Rupani had asked the administration to continue supplying fodder for cattle at subsidised rates in regions, including Kutch, which had received less than 125 mm of rains. He also reviewed the preparedness of the National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF), the state disaster management and control rooms, the release added. PTI KA BNM BNM BNM New Delhi, Aug 18 (PTI) The BJP today hit out at Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu for his "deplorable act" of hugging Pakistan Army chief at the swearing-in ceremony of Imran Khan as Pakistan's Prime Minister, and asked Rahul Gandhi if he would suspend the leader for doing so. Speaking at a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) President Masood Khan was seated next to Sidhu but the latter did not object to it. The Congress, however, downplayed the matter. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala did not reply to a question on the Punjab minister embracing Pakistan Army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa at the event today. Asked to comment on Haryana minsiter Anil Vij's statement that Sidhu was attending the oath taking event amid fanfare at a time the nation was mourning, Surjewala said, "You should not take him seriously. It will be better". Patra, however, said Congress had committed a "big crime" and it cannot wash its hands off the issue by describing it as an "individual's act". "This is a very serious issue. Congress president Rahul Gandhi should hold a press conference and say if he supports Sidhu's act. If not, what is the action he is taking? Will he immediately suspend Sidhu before his arrival back home? The country wants a clear answer," the BJP leader said. He also demanded the Congress president's response as to whether the party had granted the Punjab minister permission to participate in the oath taking ceremony. Patra said if the present government had not permitted Sidhu to attend the event, it would have been accused of being "intolerant". Sidhu is the only Indian to attend Khan's swearing-in ceremony. He was seen sitting next to PoK chief and hugging Bajwa at the event. Patra also wondered as to how Sidhu could forget the death of innocent civilians and jawans because of Bajwa. He said while Congress leader Sushil Kumar Shinde had accused the BJP and its ideological mentor RSS of being "Hindu terrorists", the Congress leaders have not only praised Pakistan but have criticised India from their soil. The BJP spokesperson was referring to senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid's statement at a seminar in Pakistan in 2015 where he reportedly said Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not want peace with Pakistan though the PM there was in favour of peace. Mani Shankar Aiyar (Congress leader) also said that the Modi government should be unseated. Besides, Ghulam Nabi Azad also spoke against the Army, Patra alleged. PTI SAN SKC SRY SRY Mumbai-based NGO pitches in to help Kerala flood victims Mumbai, Aug 19 (PTI) A Mumbai-based NGO has started a campaign to collect food and other items here to help the flood victims in Kerala. It has formed 12 collection centres across the city where citizens can donate food, clothes and other items which would be sent to the flood-affected people, NGO Muse founder Nishant Bangera said. "We have collaborated with 'anbodu kochi', a Bengaluru -based organisation that is sending relief material to Kerala," Bangera said. The items collected at the centres here would be airlifted to Kochi by the Indian Air Force, he said. "We have two truck loads of material, like ready-to- eat food items, toiletries, medicines and clothes," Bangera said. He said those willing to help the flood victims with food and other items could contact him on the mobile number: +91-9833500987. The Kerala floods have left 357 people dead since May 29, when the south west monsoon hit the southern state, according to authorities. Over 3.53 lakh people are in 3,026 relief camps across Kerala after the rains savaged the state. Agriculture crops in over 40,000 hectares have been destroyed, the authorities said. More than 1,000 houses are fully destroyed and 26,000 suffered partial damage, they said. Officials said 134 bridges and 16,000 km of roads were also completely destroyed, causing a total loss of Rs 21,000 crore. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reviewed the flood situation in the state at a high level meeting in Kochi, yesterday announced an ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakh per person to the kin of those killed and Rs 50,000 to the seriously injured people from the Prime Minister's National Relief Fund. PTI MM GK GK GK Ahmedabad, Aug 19 (PTI) A man, who held a family hostage in Gujarat's Mahisagar district, was shot dead by the police, an official said today. Three policemen were also injured in the incident. Sajid Hanif, a history-sheeter, held four women and a child hostage last night at a house in Lunawada town, about 130 km from here, Mahisagar Superintendent of Police Usha Rada said. "The police received information that a man, accused in cases of loot and extortion, was roaming in Lunawada, wielding sword and terrorising people in Polan School area of the town," she said. "When the police tried to corner Hanif, he entered a house and held four women and a child hostage," she said. When the policemen tried to rescue the women and the child, Hanif attacked them with a sword, injuring two personnel. A police sub-inspector then shot at Hanif. He sustained three bullet injuries and was killed on the spot, Rada said. "Two policemen were injured when Hanif attacked them with the sword. Another policeman was hit by a bullet that bounced after the sub-inspector fired it from his revolver," she said. There were already 48 FIRs registered against Hanif, the SP said, adding that he was recently released after serving a jail sentence. "He was trying to create terror and was seen on several occasions roaming around with a sword. There were several FIRs against him, mostly pertaining to cases of extortion and robbery," Rada said. PTI KA GK TIR TIR Engineering essential in solving society's problems:Chatterjee Kolkata, Aug 19 (PTI) Engineering is becoming increasingly essential to solve societys problems and not at all losing its relevance, the founder Chairman of the Chatterjee Group Purnendu Chatterjee said. "Technology, Design and Entrepreneurship are imperative to make a good engineer into a great engineer, Chatterjee said at the 68th Foundation Day function of IIT Kharagpur yesterday. Chatterjee egged on the IIT KGP to deliver on all three fronts and emphasised on "experiential learning" that the institution delivered. "Engineering is absolutely essential to solving societys problems and not losing its relevance," he said and advocated greater diversity and collaboration in research. Chatterjee, who has been awarded Life Fellowship by the institute, is deeply involved in IIT KGP's diverse initiatives that range from the setting up of a world class VLSI laboratory to supporting research in Artificial Intelligence. The Foundation Day programme also saw announcement from its Director Partha Pratim Chakrabarti about the Institutes intention to make its presence felt in four top cities of the country. "We also wish to involve the massive potential of our 60,000 alumni in both research and education," he said. Chakrabarti said that the IIT KGP had evolved into a Tech-centred university with multifarious departments that ranged from the core sciences to the newly set up 400-bed super speciality hospital and research facility." The 68th Foundation Day of IIT Kharagpur saw the Young Alumni Achieve Award being conferred on 13 outstanding persons below the age of 40, who are high achievers as professionals, academics, scientists, and mentors. Many of the awardees are already mentoring the students at IIT KGP and are likely to further deepen their involvement in the institute. Around 160 school students from class VIII-IX from eight schools around IIT Kharagpur campus also attended the Institutes Foundation Day. The students got an opportunity to run experiments at the undergraduate chemistry laboratory and attend interactive sessions with the director and seminar on quantum physics and the National Digital Library of India. PTI SUS PR PR PR PR Odisha requests Kerala to provide assistance to Odia people Bhubaneswar, Aug 19 (PTI) Odisha government today requested Kerala government to provide necessary support and assistance to Odia people who are trapped in the devastating floods in the rain-battered southern state. A list of 187 people of Odisha who have been trapped in the recent floods in Kerala has been sent along with the letter sent by the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in Revenue and Disaster Management Department, S K Das, an official said. The letter was sent to the Additional Chief Secretary in the Disaster Management Department of Kerala on the basis of information received by the state emergency operation centre at the Special Relief Commissioner's (SRC) office here, the official said. "It is requested to kindly make necessary arrangement for providing necessary support in terms of food, drinking water and other necessities to these people," the letter said. Earlier on August 17, Odisha government had requested Kerala to provide assistance to around 130 labourers from the state trapped in Odapally following a distress call by some Odia people in flood-ravaged southern state. Odisha government also set up helplines in SRC's office here to help the people in distress. Any person from Odisha who has been affected may call up through the helpline numbers 1070 (toll free) and 0674-2534177, sources said. Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had also spoken to his Kerala counterpart Pinarayi Vijayan over phone about the situation and offered support required to tackle the calamity, as Odisha has expertise in dealing with disasters like flood and cyclone. Odisha Government yesterday sent a special team of fire service personnel armed with modern equipment to assist in rescue and relief operations in flood-ravaged Kerala. Trained and experienced in flood rescue, the team including 225 fire service personnel, 15 supervisors and other officers left for Kerala in a special aircraft of Indian Air Force (IAF) carrying 75 power boats and state-of-the-art equipment, said an official. The team also carried underwater equipment, 10 tower lights, power saws, solar search lights, tents, 137 life buoy, 31 lifelines, 30 sleeping mats and other sophisticated gadgets to carry out rescue work, he said. PTI SKN RG RG RG New Delhi, Au 19 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today spoke with Karnataka Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy regarding flood situation in parts of the state. "Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas," the PM tweeted. While some parts of Karnataka are facing drought like situation, some others are reeling under flood.PTI NAB RCJ RCJ New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today to enquire about flood situation in the state. "He acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people of Kerala in coming together in this trying hour. Assured the people of the state that entire nation was with them," Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted today. President Kovind expressed satisfaction that the Union and state governments were working together and in synergy in rescue and relief operations in the flood-hit state. "He praised relief agencies such as NDRF and public officials at state and central level for their response and commitment," it said. The death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days. Many people are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them. PTI AKV DPB DPB About an hour later, the 14-year-old was rescued by two Porter police officers about 50 yards from shore, the release said. The older boy was taken to Porter Regional Hospital but was airlifted to Comer Childrens Hospital, where he was in critical condition. New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) The country needs a change and that change will come, as my family and Rahul Gandhi are working very hard for it, Sonia Gandhi's son-in-law Robert Vadra said today. He said the people of India have suffered a lot, but did not elaborate what he meant by that. Vadra, who is on a spiritual quest across the country, visited the Tirupati temple in Andhra Pradesh this morning and posted a message along with his photographs on Facebook. "A change is required and I feel the change will come. I think my family is working very hard, Rahul is working very hard and we are always there to support. Priyanka and myself are always there to support Rahul. "I think the people want the change and I can see that they have suffered a lot and we all need to be secular, most important for our country. We are here with the people of India and we will all struggle for them and do our best," he told reporters after "darshan" at Tirupati temple. "I had a very good darshan. I felt the energy and take it back for my family, my children and, for my mother-in-law, for their good health, happiness and for all the people in our country to have happiness, peace and harmony," he said. Vadra said "we are all going through a lot of change, but all we should feel is love and affection and I feel that I am blessed. I want to take this energy and spread it around". "Blessed to visit Tirupati and Tirumala Venketaswara Temple on my spiritual Journey," he said in the Facebook post. He said one can only understand the devotion of people visiting Tirupati, when that person makes the effort to visit as many historical temples and follows their rituals. He initially prayed at Shri Padmavati Ammavaru Temple (Lakshmi ji) and then ascended to Tirumala, but waited till 2 am for the darshan called "Suprabhatam". The BJP hit back at Vadra, saying his comments showed the restlessness in the Gandhi family to claim power. When asked about the comments, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said, "So finally, it is from Mr Robert Vadra that the country is to get sermons on governance". "There is a sense of restlessness within the Gandhi family, because the Gandhi family is used to the seat of power and, it is because of this sense of restlessness, when they are out of power, that we see every member of the Gandhi family coming out and claiming their 'claim to throne'," he said. Patra said Vadra may get his seat of power, but the country is asking the question to the Gandhi family that this country does not belong to a dynasty, this country does not belong to a family. "This country belongs to the people of India and this is the reason as to why through democratic means, and not through dynastic means, that the governance agenda would be furthered," he said. PTI SKC ABH ABH New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) Japanese Defence Minister Itsunori Onodera arrived here today on a two-day visit with an aim to further strengthen military cooperation between the two countries, particularly in the maritime sphere in the wake of China's growing influence in the Indian Ocean. He will hold talks with Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman tomorrow covering a range of bilateral and regional issues of mutual interests, official sources said. Interestingly, his visit comes two days ahead of Chinese Defence Minister Wei Fenghe's four-day trip here. Wei is scheduled to arrive here on Tuesday. Sources said Sitharaman and Onodera are also expected to review the situation in the Korean peninsula and explore ways to deepen bilateral cooperation in the Indian Ocean where China has been ramping up its presence. They are likely to deliberate on the proposed joint exercise, between Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force and the Indian Army, later this year. Sitharaman and her Japanese counterpart are also likely to exchange views on India's long-pending proposal to procure the US-2 ShinMaywa amphibious aircraft from Japan for its Navy. PTI MPB NSD NSD Lucknow, Aug 19 (PTI) Poems penned by former prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, which have inspired BJP workers for decades, may soon be recited in jails of Uttar Pradesh so that they leave a positive impact on the minds of inmates, if a suggestion made by a state minister is accepted. Minister of State for Jails, Jai Kumar Jaiki, said the former prime minister's compositions could inspire many who have a criminal past to join the mainstream of the society. "I would request the Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister (Yogi Adityanath) that if inmates of various jails in the state are told about the life, deeds and history of Atalji, and his poems are read out among them, it will definitely have a positive impact," Jaiki told reporters. If jail inmates seek inspiration from Vajpayee's life, poems and struggles, I am confident they will shun crime and embrace the mainstream, he added. Adityanath holds the jails department in the state and a minister of state, Jaiki is his deputy. When Vajpayee turned 93 last December, the Yogi Adityanath government released 93 prisoners in his honour from various jails of Uttar Pradesh. These prisoners had completed their tenure in jail but could not be released due to non-payment of fines imposed on them. In Uttar Pradesh, there are 71 jails with around 98,000 prisoners (including undertrials and convicts), a senior official said. Former Prime Minister Vajpayee, one of India's most charismatic leaders who led the nation through several crises while holding together a tenuous coalition with his inclusive politics and superlative oratory, died on August 16. Vajpayee is the first and till now the only non-Congress leader who completed his full term as prime minister. Born in 1924, he had his baptism in politics during the Quit India movement in 1942. He was also the first External Affairs Minister to deliver a speech at the UN General Assembly in Hindi. PTI NAV ADS ADS New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) Three men were allegedly thrashed and threatened at gunpoint after they objected to vulgar gestures by a group of men towards their female friend in northwest Delhi's Vijay Nagar, police said today. Five people were arrested in connection with the incident, they said. The police received information about the incident at at 12.29 am today, but by the time they reached the spot the injured were shifted to a hospital in Delhi's Ashok Vihar, a senior officer said. The woman is said to be a member of the Left-backed All India Students' Association (AISA), the officer said. The injured were identified as Sumeet Verma (23), Rishabh (23) and Ankit Pandey (23), all residents of Vijay Nagar, he said. They told police that some men in an inebriated state made vulgar gestures towards their female friend. When they objected, the accused verbally abused them and called some other men, one of whom also had a pistol. They thrashed the tiro and also threatened to kill them, the police said. Based on statements of the victims and CCTV footage, teams were formed and subsequently, the five men were arrested, he added. The accused have been identified as Gautam Sonkar (26), Kundan (23), Aayush Bhatia (24), Manish (23) and Shubham (20), while another accused Pawan (25) is still absconding, the police officer said. A case has been filed in connection with the incident at Model Town police station and investigation is underway, the police said. PTI SLB AMP NSD NSD New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) Tribal students have appealed to the Centre to ensure "quality education" and proper facilities, including schools and hostels, for those belonging to scheduled tribes and said that reservation in government institutions and jobs alone is not the solution to their problems. They also urged the central government to formulate policies on the "basis of ground realities" for the welfare of tribal children. Tribal students from across the country participated in a convention organised by the Adivasi Adhikar Manch and the Centre for Adivasi Research and Development here on Saturday to highlight their issues. "Please tell the government that we are not getting a quality education. There are no schools in some tribal areas. Even if there are, there are no teachers. At some places, tribal students have to travel miles to reach school. "We need more hostels and good facilities. The government talks about reservation (in jobs), but what will we do if we do not get a proper education?" asked Sunil Tirki from Jharkhand. Tribal students, who had come from faraway villages of Jharkhand, West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, Karnataka, Tripura, and other states, also complained about poor hostel facilities at residential government schools. They said that hostels do not have proper drinking water and toilet facilities. At some places, there are no ceiling fans. So, the students sleep in the open during summers. "Sometimes, we have to fetch water from nearby wells. Very often students fall sick and return home, as there are no proper medical facilities available for us," Lata Soren, a tribal student from Chattisgarh, said. The organisers claimed that because of the "flawed" policy framework of the government which is detached from the ground reality, "Adivasi children cannot sustain their education". "The Centre is cutting down on the number of schools based on the number of students attending the classes. Now, in tribal areas, this is proving to be disastrous. Because of the geographical locations of these areas, one cannot hope that Adivasi children will sustain their education without a decentralized approach. "That's why compared to other children, the dropout rate among tribal students is higher. If the government wants to bridge this gap, then it needs a different policy framework," Brinda Karat, CPI(M) leader and member of the Adivasi Adhikar Rashtriya Manch, says. The students' parents, who also attended the convention, said that there are many villages which do not have schools. "I want my two children to study, but there are no schools. If they want to go to school, they need to travel miles through forests. It is unsafe. Why cannot schools be built near our villages?" asks 25-year-old Phula Bai, who belongs to the Bhil tribe of Rajasthan. According to a recent survey conducted by the Adivasi Adhikar Manch and the Centre for Adivasi Research and Development, some tribal areas have recorded an increase in the dropout rate among girl students, as not many parents feel safe to send their daughters to the schools far-off. "My school is very far from my village. It takes more than two hours to reach there. I am able to continue with my studies because my brother accompanies me. But there are many in my class who have stopped coming to school as they are scared to travel alone and they do not have money to pay for the transport. There is no hostel for girls," said Varsha Sihem, a class 8 tribal student from Madhya Pradesh. The tribal students also demanded that the government "stop its policy of shutting down and merging schools based on the number of students attending them". PTI CSN GVS TIR TIR Death toll in Kerala mounts to 210, 3.5k rescued in Karnataka (Eds: Incorporates flood situation in Kerala TN, Karna) Thiruvananthapuram/Bengaluru/Chennai, Aug 19 (PTI) The deadly monsoon rains that savaged Kerala claimed 13 more lives today, taking the toll to 210 in the last ten days as parts of neighbouring Karnataka and Tamil Nadu too reeled under floods. More than 3,500 people have been rescued till today in Kodagu district of Karanataka, where six people lost their lives in floods and landslides in the past few days, while major rivers, including Cauvery, were in spate in Tamil Nadu, inundating low-lying areas along the banks. In Kerala, which bore the brunt of the south west monsoon fury, the number of those displaced in the torrential rains was today put at 7.24 lakh by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, who also said most of the affected had been rescued and the government's focus would now be their rehabilitation. In all, nearly 400 people had died in rain-related incidents, mainly landslides and floods, since the monsoon set in on May 29 in the state which received a body blow with its tourism industry wrecked, standing crops in thousands of hectares destroyed and huge damage to infrastructure. High-range Idukki district, Malappuram and Thrissur and Ernakulam are among the worst hit in the state which saw its mighty Mullaperiyar Dam and Idukki reservoirs being opened, so as scores of other water bodies, causing floods downstream. In a big relief, there was respite from the rains in most parts of Kerala today after nearly two weeks of virtually non-stop onslaught and the red alert has been lifted in several districts. The rainfall intensity over Kerala has decreased over the past two days, the meteorology department said, adding there is no alert of heavy precipitation for the next four days. President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to Kerala Governor P Sathasivam and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and enquired about the situation and acknowledged the grit and resilience of the people in coming together in this trying hour. "Assured the people of the state that entire nation was with them," the Rashtrapati Bhavan tweeted. Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday undertook an aerial survey of monsoon ravaged areas and announced an immediate assistance of Rs 500 crore. Thirteen people lost their lives today and 7,24,649 lakh people were in 5,645 relief camps, Vijayan told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram after a review meeting. Around 22,000 people were rescued today, he said lauding the efforts put in by personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, NDRF, fishermen and local people in the operations. The Chief Minister said in each panchayat six health officers would be deployed to ensure there was no outbreak of any communicable diseases as the flood water recedes. Commercial flight operations from Kochi, hit following the closure of its international airport due to flooding, would resume tomorrow from the Naval airport to Coimbatore and Bengaluru, bringing some relief to travellers. Rail traffic continued to be disrupted in several parts of the state with railways cancelling at least 18 trains. Meanwhile, as flood waters receded in some areas, people in relief camps have slowly started returning to their homes. Efforts are on to restore power and water supply in areas where the power systems have been completely destroyed. In Karnataka's Kodagu, bordering Kerala, as many as 317 people, including a two-month-old infant, were rescued and shifted to relief centres since yesterday and the operations continued in and around Makkandooru and other affected areas today, officials said. President Kovind and Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke over phone to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy, camping in the rain-battered district, and enquired about the situation. "Extended all possible support in the rescue and relief operations. I pray for the safety and well-being of those in the flood affected areas," the PM tweeted. Nearly 1,000 personnel from the Armed Forces, National and State Disaster Response Forces, Civil Defence Teams, Fire and Emergency are engaged in the rescue work since August 15. Describing the situation as a difficult time, Kumaraswamy said the government's focus was to rescue the people. There were also reports about flooding and landslides in a few districts of coastal and Malnad region, especially in Chikkamagaluru district, affecting road connectivity. In Tamil Nadu, a flood alert was sounded for 13 districts, including the Cauvery delta regions, besides Madurai and Theni as the Periyar and Vaigai dams too received copious inflows. Heavy discharges were being made from dams, including Mettur, in view of copious inflows from Karnataka, leading to inundation of several villages and submergence of standing crops along the banks of Cauvery and its tributary Bhavani. Water level in Vaigai dam in Madurai district touched 69 feet (maximum 71 ft), prompting officials to open its shutters, officials said. Nearly 14,000 people have been moved to relief camps in different districts so far in the state, officials said. Chief Minister K Palaniswami, who inpsected flood-hit areas in western districts, assured compensation for crop loss due to the floods and permanent houses to the affected. His ministerial colleagues O S Manian, R B Udayakumar and S P Velumani visited flood-hit villages in Nagapattinam, Kanyakumari district and Valparai in Coimbatore district, worst hit by heavy rains. PTI TEAM VS VS VS \R Bengaluru, Aug 19 (PTI) More than 3,500 people have been rescued in Karnataka's Kodagu district till today, where six people have lost their lives due to floods and landslides. President Ram Nath Kovind spoke to Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy over phone to enquire about the situation in the rain-battered southern district, bordering Kerala. Kumaraswamy informed Kovind that the district administration was managing the rescue-and-relief work efficiently, along with the army, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and other agencies, and have rescued more than 3,500 people so far, the chief minister's office said in a statement. Operations are on to rescue those stranded at various places. Kumaraswamy, who had conducted an aerial survey in Kodagu yesterday, undertook another one for more than an hour in Somwarpet, Suntikoppa, Madapura, Mukkodlu, Harangi backwaters, Siddapura, Kushalnagar and surrounding areas. He also assessed the situation in the affected areas between Piriyapatna and Madikeri. According to officials, as many as 317 people were rescued and shifted to safer places in the district yesterday, and rescue operations were on around Makkandor and other areas of the district today. Among those rescued include a two-month-old infant, they said, adding that food had been arranged at all the 31 relief shelters. There are reports about a landslide near Kuduremukha in Chikkamagaluru district, affecting road connectivity in the region. Several districts of coastal and Malnad regions like Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Chikkmagaluru, Kodagu, parts of Hassan and Uttara Kannada, have been facing the wrath of the nature due to incessant rains in the last few days. PTI KSU SS HMB HMB Pithoragarh, Aug 19 (PTI) A 27-year-old Malaysian woman died allegedly after she complained of breathing problem while on her way to Munsiari village, a major tourist attraction in Uttarakhand. Naveena Vadival was part of a group of four women travellers from Malaysia, Pithoragarh Superintendent of Police Ramchandra Rajguru said. She complained of breathing problem following which she was taken to a health centre in Gangolihat where doctors declared her brought dead last night, he said. A post-mortem is being conducted to ascertain the cause of her death, the SP said, adding, the Malaysian embassy has been informed about the incident. The group had reached India on a three-month tourist visa on August 7 and were on way to Munsiyari when the incident occurred, the SP said. "The companions of the deceased said they had also suffered similar breathing problems earlier while touring other places," he said. PTI Corr ALM DPB DPB \R Pilibhit (UP), Aug 19 (PTI) A 45-year-old Dalit man was beaten to death in Uttar Pradesh's Pilibhit district allegedly by his niece's lover who is from a different caste, police said today. The incident happened a couple of days back at Bhagwantpur village in Bilsanda area -- 215 km northwest of Lucknow. The victim, Shiv Kumar, had gone to call back her niece who went to her lover's house, resulting in a dispute between Kumar and the youth, an OBC, said Pilibhit Superintendent of Police Balendu Bhushan Singh. When Kumar was returning home without his niece, he was allegedly attacked with sticks by the youth and some others, the SP said. Kumar was taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead on arrival, the officer said, adding that a case had been registered against seven people. PTI CORR NAV HMB HMB I-Day weekend boosts short-break bookings: Industry Mumbai, Aug 19 (PTI) With more and more Indians wanting to utilise long weekends for short breaks, there was up to 49 per cent growth in bookings during this the Independence Day week, the industry said. While overall air bookings increased over 30 per cent from last year, hotel bookings saw a 50 per cent spike during the week with demand growing for high-end properties. An interesting feature was the rise in the number of women holidayers, which rose by 5 percentage points. "With the Independence Day falling in the middle of the week this year, we saw increased bookings both for the prior weekend as well as for the weekend after August 15. "The number of air bookings made at least 15 days in advance has increased by 49 per cent from last year. On the hotels front, we observed that 64 per cent of the bookings were made in the last four weeks and 34 per cent over the previous six weeks," Cleartrip Vice-President for accommodation and activities, Ankit Rastogi told PTI. He said the average stay for domestic round-trip bookings increased by a day from last year. "Over 57 per cent of the hotel bookings were for three nights or above. Interestingly, people are more inclined towards spending on luxury properties, with almost 33 per cent of the bookings for 4 and 5-star hotels against 23 per cent last year," he added. Bookings by couples, families, and group bookings amounted to 39 per cent, 29 per cent and 19 per cent of the total booking pie for hotels, he said. Echoing a similar view, Expedia India Marketing Head Manmeet Ahluwalia said as this Independence Day fell on Wednesday, travel enthusiasts took a couple of days off and combined it with the weekend, making it a mini vacation. "We have seen a rise in bookings which increased by 30-35 per cent throughout the week. Delhiites preferred going to Shimla, Kathmandu and Goa, while Mumbaiites flew to Goa, Jaigarh, Matheran and Pune. We also saw rise in international bookings for destinations like Bhutan, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Indonesia and Dubai this week," he added. Paytm Vice-President Abhishek Rajan said, "We have registered a significant surge in bus bookings to these destinations compared to last month. There has been a 50 per cent month-on-month growth in bus passengers, while train and air passengers grew by 9 per cent and 6 per cent, respectively. This growth is higher from key tier II cities compared to tier I cities." Around 70 per cent of these passengers were men and the rest women, compared to 75 per cent men and 25 per cent women on normal days, he added. Anand Menon, vice-president and head, travel tours, leisure business at FCM Travel Solutions -- the Indian subsidiary of Flight Centre Travel Group of Australia -- said simplified visa processes have made an easy access to international destinations like Abu Dhabi, Pattaya in Thailand and Singapore for the August 15 long weekend. "Despite falling on a weekday, we have observed a rise of 23 per cent overall in travel bookings for domestic and international travel compared to the I-Day weekend last year," he added. Meanwhile, Ixigo Chief Executive and Co-Founder Aloke Bajpai said his company has witnessed over 46 per cent jump in travel compared to corresponding weeks. "Many major domestic airlines and travel portals announced their Independence Day sales, which contributed to this growth. The preferred travel dates are between August 3 and 16, with most people taking short trips, many back to their hometowns. "The peak was observed for travel from Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Kolkata and Mumbai," he added. PTI SM BEN ABM ABM RDS RDS RDS She locked the gate behind her and went inside. Several minutes passed and she went outside again and spotted him in her front yard. He confronted her, drew a gun and demanded cash. He sexually assaulted her before fleeing, police said. Surat, Aug 19 (PTI) Tension gripped this Gujarat city with mobs setting ablaze a BRTS bus and vandalising a bus stand tonight, apparently in protest against the arrest of Patidar quota agitation leader Alpesh Kathiriya, a close aide of Hardik Patel, by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch in an old sedition case. The bus was set ablaze in the Yogi Chowk area and the bus stand in the Varachha area. The mobs also burnt tyres on roads and indulged in stone pelting. Kathiriya is a leader of the Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS), an outfit organising protests demanding reservation for the Patidar community. He was arrested by the Crime Branch in Ahmedabad when he was on his way to stage a symbolic fast. Surat Police Commissioner Satish Sharma said the situation was under control and the police were trying to ascertain who were behind the violence. "A BRTS bus was set ablaze and a bus stand damaged by mobs, but we have brought the situation under control. We are trying to ascertain who all were behind the violence. It appears that those behind the violence are PAAS members and those sympathising with the outfit," he said. Sharma added that patrolling was intensified since evening, anticipating violence, after Kathiriya, who is from Surat, was arrested by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch in an old sedition case. Kathiriya was detained, along with Patel, who is spearheading the protest demanding reservation for the Patidar community, and seven others by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch this morning when they were on their way to a protest site to observe a symbolic fast. While eight of them were released on bail after being booked under sections 143 (punishment for unlawful assembly) and 186 (obstructing public servant in discharge of public functions) of the IPC, Kathiriya was shown as arrested in a sedition case dating back to 2015, in which he was an accused, a Crime Branch official said. This had apparently irked the PAAS members and sympathisers, who indulged in violence, Sharma said. Meanwhile, Patel released a video clip, appealing for peace. "I request the people to maintain peace and not destroy public property. Whatever the police did was not right, but what is being done now is also not right. Protest, but peacefully and constitutionally, not by destroying government property. I appeal for peace," he said in the clip. PTI KA PD RC RC New Delhi, Aug 19 (PTI) A 29-year-old non-teaching staff of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) here was allegedly stabbed to death while his cousin was injured, following a scuffle over asking directions to a cigarette shop, police said today. The police were informed in the early hours today about the incident which happened in the Vijay Vihar area of Rohini. The duo was rushed to a hospital, where Rahul was declared brought dead while his cousin Naveen was stated to be critical, the police said. Rahul worked on an ad-hoc basis with the varsity while his cousin is a lab assistant in the university. Yesterday, Rahul had come to Naveen's house in Rohini and the latter came to see him off when he was leaving. When Naveen asked the man directions to a cigarette shop, the man, who was in an inebriated condition, got into an argument with the cousins. Later, he also called his accomplices who attacked Rahul and Naveen, the police said. The police have arrested three men and apprehended a juvenile in this regard. Brawls over trivial issues -- such as not sharing a cigarette -- led to a spate of killings in the national capital in the first four months of the year, according to the Delhi Police. Till April 30 this year, 27 of the 167 reported killings took place because of a sudden provocation or a trivial issue, the second most common reason for bloodshed after personal enmity. PTI SLB SNE SNE Buckeye Partners, L.P. owns and operates liquid petroleum products pipelines in the United States and internationally. The company operates through three segments: Domestic Pipelines & Terminals, Global Marine Terminals, and Merchant Services. The Domestic Pipelines & Terminals segment transports liquid petroleum products, including gasoline, jet fuel, and various distillates. This segment also provides crude oil services, including train loading/unloading, storage, and throughput; and turn-key operations and maintenance, asset development, and construction services for third-party pipeline, terminal, and energy assets, as well as operates and/or maintains third-party pipelines. It owns and operates approximately 6,000 miles of pipeline located primarily in the northeastern and upper midwestern portions of the United States, and services 100 delivery locations; 110 active terminals that provide bulk storage and throughput services with aggregate storage capacity of 55 million barrels; and 2 underground propane storage caverns. The Global Marine Terminals segment provides marine accessible bulk storage and blending, rail and truck rack loading/unloading, and petroleum processing services located primarily in the East Coast and Gulf Coast regions of the United States, as well as in the Caribbean. This segment owns and operates seven liquid petroleum products and crude oil terminals. The Merchant Services segment is involved in the wholesale distribution of refined petroleum products, including gasoline, natural gas liquids, propane, ethanol, and biodiesel, as well as petroleum distillates, such as heating oil, diesel fuel, kerosene, and fuel oil. This segment also provides fuel oil supply, butane, and distribution services. Buckeye GP LLC serves as the general partner of the company. Buckeye Partners, L.P. was founded in 1886 and is based in Houston, Texas. Read More Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, August 19) Amid news of chaos at Terminal 1 of the Ninoy Aquino International Airport, a video of a pilot's emotional farewell to passengers on his last flight is tugging at heartstrings online. In a video shared by Kathrine Sheree Lobrigas Tandingan Saturday, Capt. Rizalino "Totoy" Irizari was shown holding the mouthpiece of the plane's public announcement system to announce his farewell voyage. "I would like to inform you that in my career, this is my last flight here. My 48 years of flying in aviation (have been) a big thing for me," he said. Irizari could be heard getting choked up as he made the announcement. Passengers cheered and clapped after the speech. Tandingan told CNN Philippines there was a slight delay in their Cebu Pacific flight from Davao to Cebu as Irizari made his announcement. "Unusual kasi na biglang lumabas ang Captain holding the (mouthpiece) like meron siyang i-aannounce. So yun na po pala, he shared everything on the video tapos sabi pa nya pagdating namin sa Cebu may dalawang trucks who will offer him a water salute," she said. [Translation: It was unusual because the Captain suddenly appeared holding the mouthpiece like he was about to announce something, So there it was, he shared everything on the video and he said when we go to Cebu, there were two trucks who would offer him a water salute.] Tandingan added Irizari's family was also on the flight. She also said after the plane made a full stop in Cebu, the door opened and Irizari was welcomed by his fellow pilots. Still, the Republican governor has put $95.3 million of his own money into his campaign fund since March 2013, when he announced his first candidacy for governor. In December 2016, Rauner made a record one-time contribution of $50 million to his re-election fund. Medtronic Plc is a medical technology company, which engages in the development, manufacture, distribution, and sale of device-based medical therapies and services. It operates through the following segments: Cardiac and Vascular Group; Minimally Invasive Technologies Group; Restorative Therapies Group; and Diabetes Group. The Cardiac and Vascular Group segment consists of products for the diagnosis, treatment, and management of cardiac rhythm disorders and cardiovascular disease. The Minimally Invasive Technologies Group segment focuses on respiratory system, gastrointestinal tract, renal system, lungs, pelvic region, kidneys, and obesity diseases. The Restorative Therapies Group segment comprises of neurostimulation therapies and drug delivery systems for the treatment of chronic pain, as well as areas of the spine and brain, along with pelvic health and conditions of the ear, nose, and throat. The Diabetes Group segment offers insulin pumps, coninuous glucose monitoring systems, and insulin pump consumables. The company was founded in 1949 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More Colonie It's a daily ritual for Saratoga County commuters. Rush-hour traffic often grinds to a halt a couple of exits on either side of the Thaddeus Kosciusko Bridge, also called the Twin Bridges, the nearly 60-year-old arches that carry the Adirondack Northway across the Mohawk River. Related: Northway's history: On time, under budget, not without controversy The journey can take a half-hour longer than in off-peak hours. Relief may be slow in coming, however. Other than extended merging lanes at Exit 4 in Colonie, transportation planners say there are no projects in the works that would add lanes or construct a new highway. "You have environmental constraints in terms of expanding," said Rocky Ferraro, chairman of the Clifton Park planning board and retired executive director of the Capital District Regional Planning Commission. He said the costs of putting in another highway would be "significant." The Twin Bridges have no room for additional lanes beyond the three in each direction now in place. The new eight-lane Tappan Zee span on the New York State Thruway handles 140,000 vehicles a day, while the daily vehicle count at the six-lane Twin Bridges is 120,000, said Sam Zhou, Region One director for the state Department of Transportation. But technology changes and demographic shifts are making planners hesitant to add capacity. Related: Fast lane to change, for better and worse Michael Franchini, executive director of the Capital District Transportation Committee, a regional planning agency, says many transportation planners believe that adding capacity another lane, for example induces demand. People may use the road more or make more vehicle trips. "In the end, induced demand basically eliminates that increased capacity," he said. The CDTC's New Visions 2040 report, a long-range look at transportation needs, points to a number of trends that may take some of the pressure off. "Americans are driving less, not obtaining drivers licenses, not buying cars, moving to urban areas, and biking and using transit more," the report states. "These trends along with the deployment of totally automated vehicles will decrease traffic congestion and decrease the need for more road capacity." And in many cases, employers are following employees to the suburbs. "As the demographics shift, it makes it easier" to shift the workplace, observed John Scavo, Clifton Park's planning director. In Saratoga County, officials are pushing industrial development of something called Area 3, vacant land near the Hudson River on the county's eastern edge with infrastructure that includes rail and water. "It means heading east instead of (south)," said Pete Bardunias, CEO of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County. "It would help to avoid adding to the traffic heading south." In Clifton Park, DCG Development has posted signs saying "Avoid the bridge," suggesting the benefits of working closer to home, in office space DCG has on offer. The town's slogan, "Clifton Park A Great Place to Live, Work and Play!" drives home that point. DCG has been using the "Avoid the bridge" campaign "for the better part of 20 years," said DCG Vice President Donald MacElroy. "There are some businesses that feel they've got to be in Albany. There are others (for which) a downtown Albany location is not as important as a place that's accessible," MacElroy said. During the morning rush hour, "you can get from Albany to Clifton Park faster than you can get from Clifton Park to Albany," he said. Steve Spano may be the target of some of that advertising. The president and chief operating officer of the nonprofit CIS, the Center for Internet Security, works in East Greenbush but lives north of the Twin Bridges. Spano said his schedule drives his commute to and from the CIS offices. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "If I have to be in for an 8 o'clock meeting, I factor that in," he said. CIS is growing rapidly and plans a second office to make itself more accessible to potential employees who live farther north. "The northern office is an opportunity to tap talent that's on the edges" of the region, Spano said. Other companies have expanded to the north of the bridges. On Friday, Plug Power officials gathered to cut the ribbon on a new facility in Clifton Park that will create 97 new jobs. And one of the region's largest employers, GlobalFoundries, built its plant in Malta. One factor that made the site attractive was the "opposite commute" that wouldn't add to Northway congestion. But not all employers are heading north. Last week Galesi Group and financial services firm Ayco Corp. broke ground for a new Ayco headquarters Galesi is developing in Colonie. Officials picked the site because in addition to being close to the airport and train station, it was in the center of the region, a short commute from Schenectady, Albany and Troy. That dispersion of population centers in the Capital Region has had its advantages. "Overall, our commuting in this region is not out of hand, compared to other areas," said Ferraro. "Our employment centers are more dispersed than in other metros. "The bad news: They're more dispersed, which makes it more difficult to design a mass transit system." "With mass transit," said Franchini, "you need density and you need ridership. "A lot of land use plans we have in the suburbs encourage the opposite of density," Franchini added. So the Northway congestion is likely to be with us for awhile. "Most of the congestion on the Northway is still caused by incidents crashes, weather, cars getting pulled over, breakdowns," all of which slow traffic flow, Franchini said. And sometimes, the traffic flows smoothly. That often happens during summer as locals take vacations. Today," Spano said Thursday, "it was smooth sailing." eanderson@timesunion.com 518-454-5323 An accuser said she and Sauer met on a dating app and began a long-distance relationship. She moved to Chicago in 2017, but they broke up in March 2018 after she found out he was seeing other women. She said she later discovered an Instagram account with nude photos of her and said Sauer had been using the photos in conversations with other men, the report said. FINANCIAL THE BONADIO GROUP Joseph Romanello joined as director of sales in the Enterprise Risk Management practice. Romanello is experienced in the financial services industry. HEALTH CARE ALBANY MEDICAL CENTER Dennis McKenna was appointed executive vice president, president of the faculty practice and senior associate dean for clinical affairs, effective Sept. 1. A practicing emergency physician and retired Navy captain, McKenna serves as chief medical officer and senior vice president. Cassandra Denefrio joined the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and was appointed an instructor in the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Albany Medical College. Denefrio will treat general obstetrical and gynecological patients. SARATOGA HOSPITAL MEDICAL GROUP Pamela Daly joined as a podiatric surgeon in the Surgical Podiatry practice. Daly previously worked in private practice and specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating foot and ankle conditions. MEDIA BRAWN MEDIA Kelly Law was promoted to senior PPC specialist. Law has 10 years of experience with digital account management, Pay-per-Click and strategic planning and advanced reporting methods. Josh Mozer joined as a client strategist. Mozer has more than 15 years of experience with traditional and digital media planning and buying. PROFESSIONS CHA TECH SERVICES Matthew O'Brien joined as an on-site project manager. O'Brien has experience providing construction management assistance on federally funded renovation, streetscape, bus shelter installation and new facility projects. Tim Sullivan joined as an on-site project manager. Sullivan has experience in semiconductor sales and project management, overseeing teams to strategically grow organizations and revenue while maintaining hands-on involvement. Lori Holmes joined as an administrative assistant. Holmes has 28 years of experience, working as a client support manager, client service supervisor, branch manager, vendor documentation coordinator and SAP administrator. Julie Neidrauer joined as an administrative assistant. Neidrauer has 10 years of experience working with learning management systems and as a help desk specialist. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. TECHNOLOGY PASSPORT FOR GOOD Francis Spor joined as a principal and software development lead. Spor previously served as a senior software developer and engineering lead for SportsSignup.com. INTEGRA OPTICS JoAnn M. Swapp joined as engineering manager. Swapp recently retired from the U.S. Navy as a lieutenant commander following a decorated 22-year career. Paul Bliss joined as an engineer. Bliss previously worked as a data and network engineer. Luis Reyes Taveras joined as an engineer. Taveras has more than 20 years of experience as a sales and network engineering leader. Lewis Claspell joined as an engineer. Claspell has worked for more than 20 years as a senior-level system architect and technical support engineer. Jennifer Patterson Women's Press Club celebrates Travers The Women's Press Club of New York State will celebrate Travers week with a private tour and breakfast, starting at 7:30 a.m. Thursday, at Saratoga Race Course. The free tour will be led by club member Joanne DeVoe. Meet at Gate C on Nelson Avenue. A trackside buffet breakfast will follow the tour. Cash only. Tickets are $20. For reservations, contact Mary Alice Molgard at 518-728-5296 or email molgardm@strose.edu. Theater company takes center stage "Pookahs and Yams" will be performed on select Thursdays in Lake George by the Lake Theatre (the former Lake George Dinner Theatre), an ensemble of local actors, interns and a musician. The new venture is described as a theatrical experience for the whole family. The ensemble uses percussion, one other and audience member's imagination to create a visual storytelling experience. "Pookahs and Yams" was originally performed by Joseph Hart and The Shoestring Players. The new production is directed by Corinda Bravo. The actors are all part of the newly developed Lake Theatre Intern Program, where interns learn about the rigors of backstage work including set building, light hanging and focusing, and stage management. The one-hour show will be performed at 6 p.m. Thursdayand Aug. 30 at the Holiday Inn Resort, 2223 Canada St., Lake George. Tickets are $10. The Lake Theatre also offers professional productions at the resort. For information, call 518-668-5762 or email thelaketheatreinfo@gmail.com. Theater Voices announces season A nonprofit company of actors and directors, Theater Voices has announced its offerings for 2018-2019. The 31st annual season of free professional staged readings presented at Steamer No. 10 Theater, located at 500 Western Ave. in Albany kicks off on Oct. 12 with "Marjorie Prime," by Jordan Harrison. The play, which runs through Oct. 14, is directed by Krysta Dennis. "Circle Mirror Transformation," by Annie Baker, directed by Jacqueline Donnaruma, runs Feb. 15-17. "The Subject Was Roses," by Frank D. Gilroy, directed by Brian Sheldon, runs April 12-14. "Chapatti," by Christian O'Reilly, directed by Patricia Bunce, runs May 17-19. Performances will be held at 8 p.m. Friday, 3 and 8 p.m. Saturday and 3 p.m. Sunday. For information, see http://www.theatervoices.org. Paris architecture Clark exhibit focus The "A City Transformed: Photographs of Paris, 18501900" exhibit at the Clark Art Institute in Williamstown, Mass., explores the documentary role of photographers commissioned to record the architectural renovations, demolitions and new construction that transformed the French capital in the second half of the 19th century. The works on view demonstrate the technical exactitude and artistry of many of the leading architectural photographers of the era, who provided government officials with minutely detailed, large-format photographs that served as practical reference tools intended to document the changes under way. They helped to preserve the memory of the city's architectural heritage, and to direct future restoration efforts. The exhibit presents 30 photographs and will be on view through Sept. 23 in the Eugene V. Thaw Gallery for Works on Paper. For information, call 413-458-2303 or go to http://clarkart.edu. Jennifer Patterson Washington Hours after Melania Trump moved into the White House in June of last year, she peered out a window and took in a stunning view of the Washington Monument: "Looking forward to the memories we'll make in our new home!" the first lady cheerily wrote on Twitter. But Trump understood that her efforts to forge her own role would be second-guessed and scrutinized at every turn. A little more than a year later, Trump remains an intensely private first lady still adjusting to the demands of a new life. She has few friends in Washington, keeps a light public schedule and when not watching over her 12-year-old son, Barron, returns home to New York at least once per month, two people close to her say. Unlike other modern first ladies, friends say Trump has insulated herself from the chaos and leaks of the White House by directing the East Wing to operate independently from the West Wing. Her staff is small and she has struggled to put substance behind a public service project, which the role of first lady now demands. The nascent progress of Trump's signature policy effort, a child-focused campaign called "Be Best," was stymied this month with the departure of her policy director after six months on the job. Trump "is staying true to the independent woman that she is by doing things her own way," Stephanie Grisham, her communications director, wrote in an email. "This should be celebrated, not criticized. Her priorities remain her family, her personal health and her role as first lady." Allies describe Trump as warm, engaging and witty, traits at odds with the totemic stance she often takes in public. Like her husband, she often ignores guidance from aides in favor of her own instincts, and directs her staff to fight back against news coverage she dislikes. But Trump remains a Rorschach test for public perceptions of Donald Trump's White House: People tend to see in her what they already believe about the president. To conservative supporters of the president, she is a quietly loyal helpmate. To his critics, she is an enabler trapped in a gilded cage, occasionally breaking out to express a divergent opinion before retreating again into silence. In June, the Slovenian-born Melania Trump, 48, was the only senior administration official to visit multiple detention facilities near the United States' border with Mexico after thousands of migrant children were separated from their parents as part of the administration's zero tolerance immigration policies. But any good intentions were overshadowed by her decision to wear a jacket emblazoned with the phrase "I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?" on an official trip to Texas. It was widely seen as inappropriate, insensitive and unbecoming of her office. The East Wing insisted the jacket had no underlying message. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Several friends and aides of the Trumps insist that the dynamic of the first couple's marriage has not fundamentally changed from their days in Trump Tower. One friend of the Trumps said Melania Trump entered the relationship with Trump with her eyes open, and has weathered 13 years of scandal-plagued marriage and a rocky transition into the White House primarily for the benefit of keeping life stable for their son. She has faced questions from critics who want to know why she can remain with Trump. In January, Melania Trump was said to be infuriated by reports of her husband's attempt to pay off the pornographic film actress known as Stormy Daniels, with whom he is accused of having an affair shortly after Trump gave birth to their son. In private, a former White House official said, Donald and Melania Trump give the impression that they like one another, but their rapport is not particularly warm. The president does not often accede to anyone's influence, but those close to the family say Trump is the strongest voice in the president's life. Several people in the president's orbit have relied on Trump to try to get back in Donald Trump's good graces. The sort of Twitter fisticuffs that tend to recharge her husband's batteries exhaust Trump, who has political views different from her husband's on some issues, one friend of the family said, and has at times been frustrated by his inability to compromise. At the White House, Trump tends to stay in the residence, where she has worked with the kitchen staff to arrange more-healthful meals for her husband. She does regular Pilates workouts and consults with the White House Historical Association on residence renovations and upkeep. She maintains a separate bedroom from her husband, and when the two travel, they stay in separate hotel suites. BROOKLYN Gov. Andrew Cuomo continued his attack on President Donald Trump Sunday, calling Trump "un-American," and a "slick salesman," in front of a crowd of allies at a black church in Crown Heights. The 20-minute speech at the pulpit of the First Baptist Church did not address what Cuomo called the "inartful" statement he made last week when he said the country "was never that great." Instead, the governor focused on Trump, saying the president has enabled hate and discrimination in America. Cuomo touched on the points he has made previously, attacking everything from the proposed border wall, to separation of immigrant families, to Trump's inaction on mass shootings. "Mr. Trump I've known you for 30 years," Cuomo said. "You may be a slick salesman who fooled many people in this country. But you didn't fool me and you didn't fool New Yorkers." "We're going to rise up and tell this nation the truth about who you are," Cuomo said. The speech came a week after the president's visit to Fort Drum in Jefferson County and a Republican National Committee fundraiser in Utica, where Trump claimed Cuomo told him in a private conversation that he would never run for president against him. The remark hit at what some have speculated about why Cuomo is continuing to attack Trump through everything from official government letters to social media posts that instead of focusing on Cuomo's current campaign for third term as governor, he is continuing to mull a 2020 presidential run. Cuomo has yet to unleash the same amount of vitrol at his current gubernatorial challengers, Democrat Cynthia Nixon and Republican Marc Molinaro. Some think attacking the president is an attempt to attract more progressive voters in light of Nixon's challenge in the Sept. 13 Democratic primary. The governor's remarks Wednesday at an event promoting his equality agenda that America "was never that great," drew a national backlash from Republicans, including Molinaro, who went on Fox News to demand an apology from Cuomo. Nixon in an interview with NY1 said that Cuomo "was trying to figure out what a progressive sounds like and missing by a mile." On Friday, Cuomo said in a conference call with reporters that the comment was referencing Trump's "Make America Great Again," slogan, but that "what he believes establishes American greatness is not greatness at all." The governor on Sunday did briefly promote some of his accomplishments in office, such as the $15 minimum wage, parental leave and what he said was most prison closures made by any New York governor. But almost all the focus was on Trump. Cuomo got a standing ovation from parishioners when he launched into the most fiery part of his speech when he said "I believe this president is un-American." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. "I believe it's un-American to take babies out of the arms of their mothers, because they want to come into this country. I believe it's un-American to put children in cages," Cuomo said, referencing the previous Trump administration policy to separate children from their parents if they were found crossing the border. "Don't tell me there's any American who would stand up and justify that behavior." Cuomo also noted the two black women who had been recently insulted by Trump, Omarosa Marigault Newman and Maxine Waters, had descriptions used against them that they are a "dog," a "low-life," and "have a low IQ." "If a woman dares to speak up, then King Trump attacks her," he said. The governor wrapped up with a depiction of the president as the type of person who can be found in "every neighborhood." "The scared, small man in the house with the high fence and the shiny mailbox, afraid of people who are different, afraid of people who are a different religion, who speak a different language, who come from a different place," Cuomo said. "The person threatened by the diversity, who then uses anger to hide his fear. But New York quells the fear, and New York overcomes the naysayers, and New York rises above." Meanwhile, after Cuomo's remarks at the Brooklyn church Sunday, Nixon tweeted out "a reminder" that Cuomo has not returned $64,000 in Trump campaign donations. In June, Congressman Sean Patrick Maloney jumped into this year's surprise Democratic primary to replace state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman, who had suddenly resigned a month earlier amid abuse allegations. Early polling has shown Maloney to be a viable contender in the hotly contested four-way race, but his candidacy may have an unusual byproduct: Giving Maloney unfair campaign fundraising advantages in his simultaneous bid to keep his congressional seat in the 18th district. Maloney, a veteran attorney, is currently polling second in the Democratic attorney general primary to replace Schneiderman. But if he loses the September primary, Maloney plans to still run for re-election to his Hudson Valley congressional seat. Some legal experts had doubted the legality of that novel plan, but Maloney is indeed set to be on the attorney general Democratic primary ballot. Meanwhile, Maloney's Republican opponent for Congress in November, James O'Donnell, was always going to be a heavy underdog against the incumbent Maloney. Yet Maloney's dual runs this fall may have created a playing field further stacked against the Republican a situation that could raise serious election law questions. O'Donnell's campaign said it is considering filing a complaint with the Federal Election Commission. "According to state law, we believe Sean Maloney running for two offices at once is illegal and certainly unethical on its face, and now we are learning he is trying to escape campaign finance laws, too," said O'Donnell spokeswoman Jessica Proud. "This is further proof of our argument that he is pursuing incompatible offices and skirting FEC regulations." O'Donnell has a congressional campaign account that can take donations up to $2,700 for the general election contest. By contrast, Maloney has not only such a congressional campaign account, but a New York State account for the attorney general bid that under the state's far looser election rules can take essentially unlimited donations through the so-called "LLC loophole," as well as donations from individuals upwards of $60,000. Maloney's largest donor has been Douglas Durst, the major New York City developer, who last year gave Maloney the biggest possible donations to his congressional campaign account two gifts of $2,700 each. Recently, Durst gave an additional $150,000 for Maloney's attorney general campaign through eight limited liability companies. In total, 60 people have given Maloney at least $2,700 for his congressional campaign since 2017 the limit for his bid against O'Donnell while also donating, again, to his recently launched attorney general campaign. The "double" givers account for $710,300 of Maloney's fundraising for the attorney general race, or about 38 percent. Another double donor is Maloney's old boss, former Gov. Eliot Spitzer, who has given the maximum $2,700 to Maloney's congressional campaign, and $1,000 for attorney general. Maloney was a top staffer during Spitzer's brief tenure as governor. As Maloney uses that money to campaign across New York for attorney general, the statewide political campaign will inevitably cross into his congressional district where Maloney would also want to woo voters running for re-election to Congress in November. Appearing before the Times Union editorial board last week, Maloney dismissed the notion that he had somehow entered the attorney general primary to gain advantage in the congressional re--election; it is a re-election he was already expected to win handily. Still, the byproduct of Maloney's efforts to win the attorney general race may be the unusual advantage in the congressional run. Maloney said while it was "fair question," he did not want to engage in a hypothetical legal debate. "We obey every rule, and the letter of the law," Maloney said. Maloney said his congressional campaign had completely suspended its operations as the attorney general bid unfolds. Maloney also noted that the polling front-runner in the attorney general primary, New York City Public Advocate Letitia James, could benefit in the future from her current campaign. Even if James were to lose the Democratic primary for attorney general, the increased name-recognition could help James if she runs for New York City mayor in 2021. Of course, Maloney's situation is somewhat different because he is running for two offices at the same time. Similarly, Maloney noted that his Republican opponent for Congress, O'Donnell, is an Orange County legislator who has a campaign account for that office. But O'Donnell has taken only one contribution into that account since 2016; he was elected the next year to a four-year term to the Orange County Legislature that's up in 2021. The donation limits for that local office are also vastly lower than the statewide limits for an attorney general campaign account. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Maloney's purchase of television airtime for his attorney general bid offers one indication of the crossover with his congressional campaign. Records state that in early August, Maloney's campaign purchased $231,000 with a Spectrum channel that, among other areas, covers Orange and Dutchess counties. Those counties are within Maloney's congressional district so the attorney general ads would promote him not only for the Democratic attorney general primary, but also to his congressional constituents. Maloney's 2018 attorney general campaign is also spending heavily on airtime with broadcast networks based in New York City and Albany, from which Maloney's congressional campaign also purchased airtime in 2016. Under federal election law, a federal candidate (such as Maloney) generally must abide by federal election rules in raising or spending money even out of a state-level campaign account. In Maloney's attorney general campaign, he is not following those stricter federal rules, such as the far lower donation limits. However, there is an exception in the federal law if a federal candidate is running for a state-level office, and their public communications for that office refer only to candidates for the state office. The question, some legal experts say is: can a candidacy for attorney general the state-level post really be separated from a candidacy for Congress, when they are being conducted by the same person, at the same time? Maloney's campaign did not respond to further specific questions from the Times Union about the specifics of the federal election law. While Maloney's political opponents have halted recent efforts to keep him off the attorney general ballot, Republicans still are trying in court to keep him off the congressional ballot. Maloney defeated a Republican, Nan Hayworth, to win the Hudson Valley congressional district in 2012. The first openly gay member of Congress in New York, Maloney has since solidified his standing to the point that Republicans have not put a serious emphasis on defeating him this year. If Maloney wins the Democratic primary for attorney general, he is planning to decline his Democratic nomination for Congress, which would then mean a last-minute scramble to replace him on the ballot and mount a campaign against O'Donnell, who could suddenly become more viable. Maloney, a Clinton White House staffer who also ran for attorney general in 2006, said that while he had thought hard about not giving up his hard-won congressional seat, there was also a cost to not running to be New York's top law enforcement official, especially during the controversial presidency of Donald Trump. He said considering the money the Republican National Committee is pouring into other races, he didn't believe the GOP could take over the 18th congressional seat even if he doesn't run for re-election in it. It's hard to imagine what upstate New York would be like without the Northway, a 176-mile stretch of road that residents and businesses depend on every day. The highway, pieced together over nearly a decade, changed the economies of cities and towns from Albany to Montreal. It led to population and job growth for some areas while siphoning off foot traffic and business from others. It boosted tourism upstate, made it easier for companies to transport goods to markets, trimmed residents' commutes and affected the development and perception of mass transportation. "The Northway truly has its place in New York state's economy," said Kajal Lahiri, an economics professor at the University at Albany. "It wouldn't have been the same (without it). I cannot think of another highway like this." The road is part of Interstate 87, itself part of a national network spanning more than 46,000 miles. Spearheaded by President Dwight Eisenhower in the 1950s, the system "changed and irrevocably altered the economic fabric of this country," said Tom Lewis, a retired English professor at Skidmore College and the author of "Divided Highways: Building the Interstate Highways, Transforming American Life." It had "as great an effect on the nation" as railroads did in the 19th century, Lewis said. Similar to the towns and cities that sprang up around stations, each of the exits on the interstate highway system "created a node for potential economic development," he said. The system facilitated interstate freight movement, enabling the transportation of materials and products to more places. "What the interstate system has become economically is a rolling warehouse," Lewis said. But it also decimated certain neighborhoods, he pointed out. The path the Northway took through the state ran through largely unpopulated areas and was not the "engineering rape of the human population" that occurred in places like Overtown, a historically black neighborhood in Miami, he said. Thousands of people were displaced in the 1960s to make way for the construction of I-95, which runs along the East Coast. "The interstate system destroyed certain communities, it blew them away, like Overtown," Lewis said. In the Capital Region, the Northway made it possible for residents to live in one part of the Capital Region and work in another, said Pete Bardunias, president of the Chamber of Southern Saratoga County. It also connected tourists to upstate communities and places they might not otherwise explore and spurred growth in places like Clifton Park. "People could find their way up here before the Northway was built, but it's made it more convenient," he said. The areas in closest proximity to the Northway saw substantial growth and investment, said Stillwater Town Supervisor Ed Kinowski. "Any town along the Northway, and not that far away from the Northway, has benefited significantly from the growth of that thoroughfare," Kinowski said. "The way exits are laid out makes all the difference," Bardunias added. One such area is Saratoga County, which has attracted residents, businesses and companies like GlobalFoundries. Among the top 10 municipalities that saw their populations increase between 2010 and 2017, six were in Saratoga County, according to the Capital District Regional Planning Commission. The towns of Halfmoon, Ballston and Malta saw the largest residential gains in the Capital Region, and among the area's 56 towns and cities, Halfmoon and Ballston were the only places to experience double-digit upticks. "There are a lot of reasons: taxes, popularity, location, school districts," Dan Harp, the commission's senior planner, told the Times Union in July. "This has been going on for decades in Saratoga County, ever since the construction of the Northway. Growth shifted away from Bethlehem and Guilderland and went north." Without the Northway the county's economy would be quite different, said Dennis Brobston, president of the Saratoga Economic Development Corp. The highway made it easier both for people commuting to work across the Capital Region and for visitors coming to the area, he said. It drove tax and job growth, fostered the expansion of bustling communities like Clifton Park and Halfmoon and helped attract a diverse group of businesses that benefit from the access, he said. Proximity is a crucial factor for site selectors and companies assessing the area. "You take out the Northway and it's a totally different county from Day 1," Brobston said. "It's been the driver of development since it was prepared." But the resulting growth also "profoundly" affected farmers and the agricultural makeup of the county, said Teri Ptacek, executive director of the Agricultural Stewardship Association. As more people move in, more housing is needed, and competition for land "is pretty fierce," she said. Farms have become more fragmented, and farmers are also facing a host of other issues, like immigration concerns and an aging population. "It completely changed the face of agriculture," Ptacek said. Lewis cites Saratoga Springs and Glens Falls as examples of how the Northway changed upstate New York. In the mid-1950s, the former was struggling with gambling, drinking and prostitution problems, he said. When Lewis moved there in 1968, "You could fire a gun down Broadway in September and you wouldn't hit a soul," he said. "It was that vacant." Glens Falls, on the other hand, was flourishing, in large part because of its paper mills. The city was so popular that visitors had trouble finding parking, he said. "Today, it's almost the reverse," and the location of the Northway exits played a tremendous role in both cities' development, Lewis said. The proximity of exits 13, 14 and 15 to the heart of Saratoga Springs made it easier and quicker for drivers to get to downtown and to Saratoga Race Course, Lewis said. Young entrepreneurs launched their businesses in the city, and people with ample disposable income began traveling north to shop and dine. Meanwhile, the routes into Glens Falls' core from exits 17 and 18 were farther away, Lewis said. The mills in Glens Falls were also starting to decline and national awareness of pollution was growing. The development that did occur around the exits took drivers through "a corridor of seediness," detracting from the downtown area, Lewis said. The establishment of malls and shopping centers like Aviation Mall in Queensbury also changed people's shopping habits, and while the city hasn't, it's seeing improvements and investments, Lewis said. Pockets like Pottersville, a hamlet in Chester, also suffered. A dance hall, roller-skating rink, drive-in theater, circus venue and amusement park "drew thousands" to the area between the 1870s and the early 1960s, John Warren wrote in his book "Historic Tales from the Adirondack Almanack." Chestertown and Schroon Lake also attracted a plethora of summer vacationers, and hotels, boardinghouses and summer camps were built to accommodate them. "This all ended with the construction of the Adirondack Northway, which diverted traffic over the historic hamlet," Warren wrote. "Today, only the long-abandoned drive-in screen remains, a silent sentinel to Pottersville's past as an amusement mecca." "Certain communities have benefited from the Northway and others have been left out," Bardunias said. "Once-vibrant factory towns are now often ignored because it's less convenient to locate facilities there." Before the Northway, Route 9 was the main road people took to get to Lake George and other cities to the north, said Ed Bartholomew, president of the Economic Development Corp. in Warren County and a former Glens Falls mayor. He recalls spending time with friends at Crandall Park and counting the out-of-state license plates on passing cars. "Within a few minutes, you could count several that were not from the area," he said. "It was jam-packed all through (Glens Falls)." The construction of the Northway took a significant number of cars off Route 9, and some of the smaller communities that weren't located near an exit saw restaurants and stores close, Bartholomew said. Businesses that did stick around were never able to recapture the same traffic. But the highway also provided a channel for visitors looking to explore upstate New York and continues to draw tourists and businesses to the North Country, he continued. Bartholomew noted new or planned welcome centers and signs that will serve newcomers, the expansion of companies like Chester-based medical marijuana producer Etain and development in Moreau, Queensbury and other parts of the county. As development creeps north, Warren County is looking to address the needs of prospective businesses by working with several partners to create a database documenting land availability and infrastructure from exits 18 through 26, he said. "Our area would be truly undiscovered to a great extent (without the Northway)," Bartholomew said. "Overall, I believe that it has been a considerable plus for the area. I don't think that we would have these opportunities to grow ... and you can't have it both ways. Going back would not be the answer." The freight transportation the Northway facilitated made it "an important engine for economic growth" in the Capital Region, said Todd Shimkus, president of the Saratoga County Chamber of Commerce. He cited the distribution facilities that Target and ACE Hardware have opened in Saratoga County, which he estimates employ "well over" 1,500 people collectively. As more trucks and cars use the highway, upgrades to the infrastructure must keep pace, like improving the bridge at Exit 16 and access to Albany International Airport, Shimkus said. In March, he and a group of town supervisors met to discuss the highway's future. "We've got to make sure I-87 is modernized," Shimkus said. As congestion in certain parts worsens and hot spots like Colonie, Clifton Park and Halfmoon continue to grow, there are also workforce and transportation challenges to address. Bringing more jobs to Saratoga County could take residents who ordinarily drive elsewhere for work off the Northway, Brobston said, but he emphasized the need for jobs that pay a living wage. In many parts of the county, people have to have a car to get around, and the average commute to work is 25 minutes, he said. Some employers in Saratoga County haven't been able to find enough workers to fill open positions and have started raising their wages, Shimkus said. "We've got to figure out how we better link where the jobs are with where people live," he said. Public transportation could help, but the development of the Northway limited it or, as Lewis puts it, the highway "largely killed" public transit. Rocky Ferraro, chairman of the Clifton Park planning board and former executive director of CDRPC, takes a more tempered view. "Our investments were in the car," he said simply. There's been more reinvestment in downtowns and urban centers in the Capital Region, with new mixed-use projects and repurposing of abandoned buildings, and Ferraro praised the Capital District Transportation Authority's expansion of bus rapid transit to serve area corridors. Options like a light rail system could further revitalization efforts while getting people around efficiently without a car, but it's not financially feasible and the critical mass of customers needed to support it isn't present yet, he said. People moving out of the state and the region's population dispersal are other factors. But he still ponders it. "If we had invested in light rail, would that serve as a further impetus for the attractiveness of those corridors for people to live and work?" Ferraro said. Figuring out a comprehensive public transportation system for Saratoga County is more complicated in part because of how the population is dispersed, but there have been "lots of discussions" about different routes, Shimkus said. "The challenge is getting more people in the county to view public transportation as a logical, convenient option," he said. Bardunias suggests capitalizing on other assets, like railroads and waterways, to create a more balanced approach and ensure that routes like the Northway aren't overburdened. "The future is going to hold powerful economic developments along the Hudson River," he said. Regardless of transit options, communities need to look for ways to address and mitigate the rising congestion on the highway as well as local streets, Ferraro said. It's each community's responsibility to determine internally what capital investments need to be made to support growth in places like Clifton Park. John Carl D'Annibale/Times Union "Rarely does one project generate enough traffic to support improvements to transportation, but cumulatively, that's where I think we fall short," he said. "To what extent are we taking a look at the cumulative impact on our communities and investing in these improvements before it becomes a very serious situation?" If the Northway were built today, it would take place in quite a different setting, Lewis said. In the 1950s and 1960s, the possibilities an interstate highway system held for New York and elsewhere were endless and unrealized. But attitudes have shifted and the public today is more aware of the environmental effects of cars and vehicles and of the havoc roads can wreak on communities like Overtown, he said. "We don't have the same thinking today about what our capabilities are," Lewis said. "Then, we all knew that we had a very bright future. Few people today are all that enchanted with America's future." Ensuring future generations' access and comfort on the Northway and the broader interstate highway system will require more investment in roads that "are looking more and more like a third-world country" and mass transit, he continued, echoing Ferraro. "We depend on this system," Lewis said. "For all its faults, it's still what we have, what we created and what we have to live with. Economically, we're stuck with it." miszler@timesunion.com 518-454-5018 @madisoniszler The Northway changed the course of Dan Musselwhite's life. Born and raised in Tampa, Fla., he was 20 in 1966 and worked for 75 cents an hour as a surveyor. The Vietnam War was going on and Musselwhite tried twice to join the military, but couldn't pass the physical because he was partially deaf. He met a man who worked for Brown Engineers, one of the companies hired to build a new highway in New York's Adirondack Mountains. "He said it was going to change the whole area," Musselwhite said. "He said if I came up there, he would give me a job." Work on the 176-mile route from Albany to the Canadian border had been underway for almost 10 years in 1966 and was nearly complete. Musselwhite knew none of that, had never heard about the stretch of road (between Lake George and Pottersville) that readers of Parade magazine would pick as America's Most Scenic New Highway in 1967. He'd never been on an airplane, but he took the offer and traveled north in June 1966 reaching Schroon Lake via plane to New York City, then a smaller plane to the Warren County Airport, and finally by a bus that crawled through the traffic on Route 9 to arrive in the tiny town in the wilderness under cover of darkness. Musselwhite looked out the window of his rented room the next morning to see Schroon Lake. It was deserted and looked inviting. He ran down the dock and jumped in, without checking the water temperature. He found out quickly just how far he was from Tampa. The water felt freezing cold. Musselwhite, now 72 and an upstate resident for 50 years, laughs at the memory. It was only the first of many things he would learn that summer. His job was to check the contractors' work on grades and bridges as an inspection surveyor. He was paid $3.50 to $4 an hour, a big raise from his job in Florida. "It was something to see the bulldozing and blasting," Musselwhite said. "They hadn't started paving yet, they were bringing in fill for the dips." Musselwhite had his first legal drink in New York, which was nearly two decades from raising the drinking age from 18 to 21. The crews brought brownbag lunches and relaxed at Flanagan's bar in Schroon Lake on the weekends. They worked a lot, Musselwhite said. There was enough daylight for the bosses to squeeze in two shifts, and they were in a hurry. John Carl D'Annibale/Times Union Gov. Nelson Rockefeller, the third governor associated with the highway, wanted it done in time for the world's fair in Montreal in 1967, and the goal was in reach. The idea for a northern spur of roadway that would alleviate traffic congestion on Route 9 originated in 1954 under Gov. Thomas Dewey, just as the first stretch of state Thruway was completed between Utica and Rochester. In 1956, Congress passed the Federal-Aid Highway Act, which authorized the construction of 41,000 miles of highways. In 1957, work began on the highway in Albany. In 1958, the Albany-Canada connector that came to be called the Adirondack Northway was included in the national highway system, which meant federal money could be used for 90 percent of the $208 million price tag. There are no tolls on the Northway because federal money was used to build it. The construction was lauded as a great advance for the region, our own piece of a vast modernization effort going on around the country. But it was not without heartbreak for people who owned land where the highway was built. Gloria Blum of Glenville grew up in the area around what is now Exit 4 in Colonie. In the 1940s and '50s it was farmland, including land that belonged to her grandfather. After the highway was built, what was left of her grandfather's acres was not enough land to support the next generation of the family, Blum said. She also remembers family and friends who saw their houses burned to make way for the roads. As road construction moved north, there was debate over which route the highway would take as it approached the Adirondack Park. The route preferred by the state Department of Public Works (the Department of Transportation had not yet been created) went through the protected Forest Preserve, using about 250 non-contiguous acres. A study of alternative routes by the DPW reads in part, "The objective of the designers is to make all interstate routes in New York examples of ideal construction with a minimum dislocation of economic and natural features...there will be a minimum of clearing and selective cutting of trees especially in the median area roadside scenery will not be marred by billboards, hot dog stands, gas stations or motels. Instead, motorists will be treated to such splendid views of the forest lands that many more visitors will be attracted to the Adirondack area." People opposed to disturbing the park argued the highway would, among other things, create a fire hazard, cost too many trees and introduce pollution from the automobile traffic. They preferred a route that would run through the Champlain Valley, close to the Vermont border. It was more expensive and consumed more farmland. But, writes Ann Breen Metcalfe in her book, "The Schroon River, A History of an Adirondack Valley and its People," even Paul Schaefer, "a long-time advocate of Adirondack preservation thought the Northway was a fait accompli; he wanted the superhighway to be routed where it would do the least harm." He supported the route recommended in the DPW's report. Times Union research In July 1959, the Council of Conservationists bought a full-page ad in The New York Times to support the Adirondack route. It read, in part: "It is essential that the Northway reach those areas that cannot now be effectively reached. The alternative is the economic isolation of these areas and increased taxes for everyone else. This makes the problem important for every taxpayer, not just wilderness enthusiasts." The disturbance to the forest preserve would not be precedent-setting, the authors argued, and would actually further protect the park by confining major traffic to one road instead of building many roads. In November 1959, voters approved, by a 330,674-vote margin an amendment to the state constitution allowing for the construction of the highway. As road construction continued, it became a backdrop for daily life and locals started using the completed sections of road. In the summer of 1962, Tony Solomon of Troy drove back and forth to Altamont from his home in Troy to work as a laborer. When the job ended, Solomon got a job at the Airport Inn. He discovered the road crew on the section on the Northway from Latham to Lake George would let him drive along the road on his motorcycle, although it wasn't open to the public. "I used the unopened Northway on my commute. It was quick and fun. The workers always waved me on," Solomon said. There were celebrations along the way, too. When the first section opened in 1959, Gov. Rockefeller spoke and the reigning Tulip Queen cut a ribbon. When the first Warren County section opened at Exit 19 in 1961, the governor was there to give a speech. State and local officials celebrated in Glens Falls, where a bypass was built around the city, up until then called the worst bottleneck on Route 9 between Albany and Canada. According to a 1963 report, the chairman of the highway and traffic committee at the time used a Mohawk word, "chepontuc," to describe the city. It means "hard to get around." But the days of fanfare would soon be over. The stretch of highway from the Canadian border to Keeseville was done in 1963, and by August 1967, the last stretch 30 miles between Underwood and Keeseville was ready for traffic. A road crew simply rolled away the barriers at 5 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 31, and the road was open in both directions. lhornbeck@timesunion.com 518-454-5352 @leighhornbeck ALBANY I know I overstep a lot I care for you in a crazy twisted way. That May 2017 text message is among the scores of exhibits in an ongoing case, now before the State Education Department, that claims administrators at Albany High School failed to take appropriate action against a male student who allegedly sent text messages containing obscene, even pornographic content about female classmates over a period of at least two years. Among the text messages: the alleged perpetrator's description of a fantasy in which he abducts and repeatedly rapes his tied-up victim, who was one of his classmates. In this fantasy of mine, I spend months researching bondage, chloroform, etc, I take her and tie her down to a comfortable bench in my basement, reads part of the text. The districts reaction, according to the plaintiffs, amounted to a series of half-steps and reversals that failed to satisfy the female student's family, according to the narrative embedded in an ongoing administrative appeal submitted in February to state Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia. The appeal, running hundreds of pages, is part of a legal proceeding that allows people to challenge and possibly reverse decisions made at the local school level. The case raises questions about the school district's ability to ensure student safety, and police the torrent of text messages and other electronic communications sent during the school day. The appeal calls for the district to set up a school-wide program to tell students about the Dignity for All Students Act, a state law designed to guard against bullying and harassment. It also petitions for an independently funded gender bias monitor who would report directly to the state Department of Education, attorney general, the federal Department of Education and city residents. The petition was filed after the district concluded that the male student had violated the schools code of conduct, but hadnt harassed or discriminated against the female student. School officials said the matter involves a lone incident that involved peer-to-peer conflict. The alleged perpetrator, the district said, took responsibility for his actions and engaged in a reteach to address what is and is not acceptable behavior. That conclusion is contested by the plaintiffs, whose names as well as the name of the alleged perpetrator were redacted in a version of the appeal obtained by the Times Union under a Freedom of Information Law request. The plaintiffs say the conflict dated to 2015, although it may have come to a head in a May 2017 incident that is the central focus of the appeal. The classroom subject matter that day centered on sexual harassment, the debate over an Equal Rights Amendment, and the Monica Lewinsky affair. "In the midst of a regularly scheduled class in Albany High School, the perpetrator sent approximately 19 separate tests to male students in the class mocking and disparaging by name two female students who were also enrolled in the class and physically in the same classroom," the appeal states. The plaintiffs contend that these and other incidents amounts to harassment and bullying, and interfered with the victim's ability to access educational and other extracurricular activities. After the school district made its conclusions, officials hired former State Education Department lawyer Kathy Ahearn, who is now in private practice, to conduct her own investigation. Ahearn's findings comported with the district's. She found that the texts were "wholly inappropriate." But she said they amounted to a violation of the district's code of conduct but did not rise to "discrimination, harassment or bullying." Her review cost $11,246. The district also paid its regular lawyer, Jeff Honeywell, $12,564 to deal with the case a sum paid on top of his $162,000 annual retainer. This isnt the first disciplinary issue the district has faced recently. Last December, more than 30 Albany High School students were suspended after participating in a melee in front of the school. In the texting case, however, there is no indication in the appeal that a suspension was handed down. School district officials noted in their response to the appeal that the alleged perpetrator owned up to his mistakes and underwent a "reteach" where he learned about gender issues. The Albany school district is currently operating under an Assurance of Discontinuance with the state attorney generals office. In that agreement, district leaders agreed to address what was said to be disproportionately harsh discipline for students of color and those with disabilities. The attorney generals office was contacted about this case, but concluded the matter didnt rise to the level of a violation of Title IX, the federal law prohibiting sexual discrimination in education. Title IX violations fall within the jurisdiction of the attorney general's office. Following our inquiry, it looks like the district has taken steps beyond those required by Title IX, AG spokeswoman Amy Spitalnick said in an email. She added that the office didnt have jurisdiction to open a full formal investigation. If students or families have additional info we should be aware of, they should contact our office, she said. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The school district defended its actions. "The district fully and appropriately addressed this matter within the parameters of our Student Code of Conduct and the New York Dignity for All Students Act," spokesman Ron Lesko said in a prepared statement. "We have responded to the complaint and disagree with many if not most of the factual and legal assertions asserted in the complaint. We are awaiting a decision of the commissioner." While the appeal focuses on one alleged victim, the filings say more than one female student was allegedly victimized. All of those who were involved graduated in June. The appeal to the State Education Department outlines a number of complaints and allegations, including claiming that the alleged perpetrator at the end of a history class walked up to a female student and used graphic anatomical language to say she had the body "of an 80 year old man, according to the filing. A number of the offensive texts allegedly sent by the student continue to circulate in waves among the student body, the plaintiffs wrote in their appeal. And they noted that while the district focused on one episode, similar texts date to 2015 and the school has copies of them. Lesko, however, said that the district hadn't been made aware of the issue until May 2017. The female student victim and her father wanted to speak to the school board about their concerns, but the board refused. Entering the school each morning gave me anxiety, the girl wrote in a rebuttal to the district's findings that DASA hadnt been violated. The district, however, had concluded that the affair involved a peer conflict. High school administrators at one point issued a stay-away order instructing the boy to avoid the girl. The complaint alleges that the girl had to forego a number of classroom opportunities because the boy refused to avoid the classes and activities they shared despite the stay-away order. The stay-away order was cancelled in January 2018, some seven months after it was put in place. Assistant Superintendent (Lori) McKenna unilaterally revoked the Stay Away requirement as well as a Safety Plan developed to protect the Petitioner female student victim, reads the complaint. The initial February petition sought restoration of the order. A different order in which the two students were told to avoid one another was apparently put in place. After the victims parents heard about the Dignity for All Students Act, the schools then-principal, Dale Getto, signed off on a DASA report saying it was a single incident among friends. Principal Gettos report did not delve into other incidents of verbal, electronic or physical harassment despite the fact that the female student victim informed the school of such incident, the petition alleges. Lesko added that "The safety and security of every student in our school district is a top priority for us every day. We investigate every student matter that comes to our attention by the same standards within the context of our Student Code of Conduct." "When we determine that consequences or other responses are warranted, we apply them within the parameters of the Student Code of Conduct, which is in alignment with New York's Dignity for All Students Act and federal Title IX," he said. "That is how the process of this matter was handled when it came to our attention in May 2017." "We encourage all of our students and families to report any incident that makes them feel uncomfortable or unsafe in any way," Lesko said. rkarlin@timesunion.com 518 454 5758 @RickKarlinTU Washington The White House counsel, Don McGahn, has cooperated extensively in the special counsel investigation, sharing detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the inquiry into whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice, including some that investigators would not have learned of otherwise, according to a dozen current and former White House officials and others briefed on the matter. In at least three voluntary interviews with investigators that totaled 30 hours during the past nine months, McGahn described the president's furor toward the Russia investigation and the ways in which he urged McGahn to respond to it. He provided the investigators examining whether Trump obstructed justice a clear view of the president's most intimate moments with his lawyer. Among them were Trump's comments and actions during the firing of former FBI Director James Comey and Trump's obsession with putting a loyalist in charge of the inquiry, including his repeated urging of Attorney General Jeff Sessions to claim oversight of it. McGahn was also centrally involved in Trump's attempts to fire the special counsel, Robert Mueller, which investigators might not have discovered without him. McGahn's cooperation began in part as a result of a decision by Trump's first team of criminal lawyers to collaborate fully with Mueller. The president's lawyers have explained they believed their client had nothing to hide and they could bring the investigation to an end quickly. McGahn and his lawyer, William Burck, could not understand why Trump was so willing to allow McGahn to speak freely to the special counsel and feared Trump was setting up McGahn to take the blame for any possible illegal acts of obstruction, according to people close to him. So he and Burck devised their own strategy to do as much as possible to cooperate with Mueller to demonstrate that McGahn did nothing wrong. The president wrongly believed that McGahn would act as a personal lawyer would for clients and solely defend his interests to investigators, according to a person with knowledge of his thinking. In fact, McGahn laid out how Trump tried to ensure control of the investigation, giving investigators a mix of information. McGahn cautioned investigators that he never saw Trump go beyond his legal authorities, though the limits of executive power are murky. McGahn's role as a cooperating witness further strains his already complicated relationship with the president. Though Trump has fought with McGahn as much as with any of his top aides, White House advisers have said, both men have benefited from their partnership. McGahn has overseen two of Trump's signature accomplishments stocking the federal courts and cutting government regulations. But the two rarely speak one-on-one and Trump has questioned McGahn's loyalty. In turn, Trump's behavior has so exasperated McGahn that he has called the president "King Kong" behind his back, to connote his volcanic anger. This account is based on interviews with current and former White House officials and others who have spoken to both men, all of whom requested anonymity. Through Burck, McGahn declined to comment. A spokesman for the special counsel's office also declined to comment. "The president and Don have a great relationship," the White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement. "He appreciates all the hard work he's done, particularly his help and expertise with the judges, and the Supreme Court" nominees. The president stressed that the White House had been cooperative with the investigation, tweeting Saturday after this article was published that McGahn had been allowed to speak to the special counsel. McGahn's route from top White House lawyer to a central witness in the obstruction investigation of the president began around the time Mueller took over the investigation into whether any Trump associates conspired with Russia's interference in the presidential election. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. When Mueller was appointed in May 2017, the lawyers surrounding the president realigned themselves. McGahn and other White House lawyers stopped dealing on a day-to-day basis with the investigation, as they realized they were potential witnesses. In the following weeks, Trump assembled a personal legal team to defend him. He wanted to take on Mueller directly. But two of his newly hired lawyers, John Dowd and Ty Cobb, have said they took Trump at his word that he did nothing wrong and sold him on an open-book strategy. McGahn was dubious, according to people he spoke to around that time. As White House counsel, not a personal lawyer, he viewed his role as protector of the presidency, not of Trump. Allowing a special counsel to root around the West Wing could set a precedent harmful to future administrations. Though he was a senior campaign aide, it is not clear whether Mueller's investigators have questioned McGahn about whether Trump associates coordinated with Russia's effort to influence the election. McGahn's decision to cooperate with the special counsel grew out of Dowd and Cobb's game plan. In fall 2017, Mueller's office asked to interview McGahn. To the surprise of the White House Counsel's Office, Trump and his lawyers signaled that they had no objection, without knowing the extent of what McGahn was going to tell investigators. McGahn was stunned, as was Burck, whom he had recently hired out of concern that he needed help to stay out of legal jeopardy, according to people close to McGahn. Burck has explained to others that he told White House advisers that they did not appreciate the president's legal exposure and that it was "insane" that Trump did not fight a McGahn interview in court. At the same time, Trump was blaming McGahn for his legal woes, yet encouraging him to speak to investigators. McGahn and his lawyer grew suspicious. They began telling associates that they had concluded that the president had decided to let McGahn take the fall for decisions that could be construed as obstruction of justice. Worried that Trump would ultimately blame him in the inquiry, McGahn told people he was determined to avoid the fate of the White House counsel for President Richard Nixon, John Dean, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice in the Watergate scandal. McGahn decided to fully cooperate with Mueller. It was, he believed, the only choice he had to protect himself. If they can justify suspicions, federal officers at U.S. ports of entry are authorized, without the need for warrants, to require some disrobing for genital and rectal inspections, and monitored bowel movements to check for drugs, according to a CBP handbook. At the same time, the detention-and-search handbook instructs officers to record a solid justification for every step beyond a frisk, and to respect detainees' dignity and "freedom from unreasonable searches." The handbook also warns against what could be considered a "visual or physical intrusion" into body cavities. Gov. Andrew Cuomo's recent statement that America was never that great was probably politically unwise. However, I agree that President Donald Trump's mantra of "making America great again" is superficial and meaningless. As the governor suggested, what would we want to return to in order to make America great? Might it be when we forcibly removed native peoples from their homelands, putting them on the poorest land in the country to live lives of deprivation and poverty? Might it be when, for more than a century, we captured, enslaved and abused millions of African people? Might it be the period following slavery when we re-enslaved hundreds of thousands of African-Americans in a system often called neo-slavery? Saratoga Springs It was still dark on Friday morning when Wonder Gadot stepped out of her stall at trainer Mark Casse's barn on the backstretch at Saratoga Race Course. Casse stood nearby and instructed his help to wait a few minutes before taking the 3-year-old filly to the track for her final workout before next Saturday's $1.25 million Grade I Travers Stakes. Once there was light, it still took some doing to pick up the fast moving Wonder Gadot as she zipped through a four-furlong work in a fast 47.60 seconds. Exercise rider Chris Galloway was on board for the work, which began just after 5:30 a.m. Her time was the best of 67 at the distance. According to clockers from the New York Racing Association, she went the first quarter mile in a time of 23.81 seconds and and galloped out five furlongs in 1:00.66 "She is a push-button horse," Galloway said. "Anything you ask her to do, she does. It is just a privilege to be around a filly like that." Casse was beaming like a proud father after he found out the time. He stood in front of Wonder Gadot, who is named for "Wonder Woman" actress Gal Gadot, while she was bathed and talked to a small group of writers. "She goes in 47.60 like most horses go in 51 (seconds)," Casse said. "She's truly amazing. She's sharp. She has a high level of energy all the time." Wonder Gadot will be the first filly to run in the Travers since Davona Dale finished fourth as the favorite in 1979. The last time a filly won the Midsummer Derby was 1915. She has won two of eight starts this year -- against males in the first two legs of the Canadian Triple Crown -- and has four seconds and two thirds. Casse says the heavy lifting is done and all that is left is to count the days. "You get them to a point where you are ready and now you are sitting here and you are waiting," he said. The only major business left is to find a jockey to ride Wonder Gadot. John Velazquez, who rode her in the past two starts -- the Queen's Plate and the Prince of Wales -- is going to ride Vino Rosso for his main trainer, Todd Pletcher, in the Travers. Casse said he expects to have a rider in place by Monday and said the final decision will come from owner Gary Barber. Casse said there are three riders on the "small list of possibilities." They are Hall of Famer Mike Smith, who has won the past two Travers (West Coast and Arrogate), Tyler Gaffalione and Florent Geroux. Good Magic good Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Probable Travers favorite Good Magic worked five furlongs in a time of 1:00.44 on the main track. He worked by himself but did have some unexpected company when an unraced 2-year-old from trainer Eric Guillot's barn -- Lucid Dream -- came up alongside Good Magic, who was being ridden by Walter Malasquez. But there was no harm, no foul. "He wasn't really affected, (Lucid Dream) was only there for a small portion of the work," trainer Chad Brown said. "It was fine. It didn't bother me." Brown worked Good Magic on Friday because of an unsettled weather pattern, which has seemingly been over the Spa the entire meet. Good Magic, who won the Haskell at Monmouth Park in his latest start and was second in the Kentucky Derby, would have worked Saturday but Brown took advantage of the better weather on Friday. Brown's other Travers runner, Belmont runner-up Gronkowski, will work either Saturday "or more likely Sunday with the weather coming." Here and there Wood Memorial winner Vino Rosso worked four furlongs in 49.02 seconds with John Velazquez in the saddle for the Pletcher runner. He worked in company with Tapwrit, last year's Belmont winner. ... The New York Racing Association announced that UAE Derby winner Mendelssohn and Seahenge, who was fifth, are expected to come from Ireland for the Travers. The two, trained by Irishman Aidan O'Brien, are expected to arrive here on Tuesday. Mendelssohn, after the 181/2-length win in the UAE Derby in Dubai, finished last in the Kentucky Derby. Both colts ran in the Dwyer on July 7 at Belmont in their latest race; Mendelssohn was third and Seahenge was fifth. twilkin@timesunion.com 518-454-5415 @tjwilkin [August 19, 2018] Sophos Sweeps Network and Endpoint Security Categories in CRN's 2018 Annual Report Card - Again! BURLINGTON, Mass., Aug. 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sophos (LSE: SOPH), a global leader in network and endpoint security, today announced that it has once again swept the Network and Endpoint Security categories of CRNs 2018 Annual Report Card (ARC) awards. Sophos has been named Overall Winner in Network Security for the third year in a row, as well as Overall Winner in Endpoint Security. In both categories, Sophos ranked highest in all sub-categories based on solution provider satisfaction across product innovation, support, partnership, and the new sub-category, managed and cloud services. Sophos also scored a 100 in Ease of Doing Business in Network Security, and is the only vendor to receive that score for that criteria across all categories. This years group of honorees was selected from the results of an in-depth, invitation-only survey by The Channel Companys research team. More than 3,000 solution providers were asked to evaluate their satisfaction with more than 65 vendor partners in 24 major product categories. For the first time, the survey asked the channel to rate vendors on managed and cloud services. This new subcategory includes the following criteria: consumption-based or subscription pricing; integration with services management tools; cloud readiness of channel program; field teaming and channel compensation alignment; and profit margins/profit potential. ARC Award recipients will be honored throughout The Channel Companys XChange 2018 conference, taking place August 19th-22nd in San Antonio, TX. Sophos is a next-generation cybersecurity company with a commitment to be channel best across its entire business, said Kendra Krause, vice president of global channels at Sophos. Its exciting to be recognized by our partners for our innovative network and endpoint security technologies, comprehensive support, partner program benefits, and managed services. As a recognized leader in both endpoint and network security, Sophos is in a unique position to offer an intelliget synchronized security system of best of breed products. Sophos partners recognize the value of this layered security approach and the CRN ARC results demonstrate Sophos accomplishments and dedication to innovation in security and the channel. At XChange 2018 conference, Sophos Director of Sales Engineering Dean Shroll is presenting a Security University keynote on how Sophos leverages multiple advanced techniques, including deep learning, anti-ransomware and anti-exploit technology, to stop both known and unknown malware on Wednesday, August 22nd 11:00am ET. In addition, Sophos will participate in eight boardroom sessions at XChange SLED, which will be co-located with XChange 2018, and will also offer demo opportunities to See the Future of Cybersecurity on Sunday, August 19th at 7:45pm ET and Monday, August 20th at 7:30pm ET. An ARC award is one of the industrys most prestigious honors. It symbolizes a vendors dedication to delivering high quality and innovative product and program offerings to their channel partners, said Bob Skelley, CEO, The Channel Company. CRNs Annual Report Card provides solution providers with the rare opportunity to offer their invaluable insight on vendors products and services, as well as their partner programs. As a result, the technology suppliers are equipped with actionable feedback to bolster their efforts to remain the best-of-the-best. Congratulations to each of this years ARC award winnerswe look forward to honoring them at our XChange 2018 conference this August. The 2018 Annual Report Card results can be viewed online at www.crn.com/arc and will be featured in the October issue of CRN. About Sophos Sophos is a leader in next-generation endpoint and network security. As the pioneer of synchronized security Sophos develops its innovative portfolio of endpoint, network, encryption, web, email and mobile security solutions to work better together. More than 100 million users in 150 countries rely on Sophos solutions as the best protection against sophisticated threats and data loss. Sophos products are exclusively available through a global channel of more than 39,000 registered partners. Sophos is headquartered in Oxford, UK and is publicly traded on the London Stock Exchange under the symbol "SOPH." More information is available at www.sophos.com . Press Contact: Samantha Powers Account Supervisor, March Communications sophos@marchcomms.com +1 617-960-8896 About The Channel Company The Channel Company enables breakthrough IT channel performance with our dominant media, engaging events, expert consulting and education, and innovative marketing services and platforms. As the channel catalyst, we connect and empower technology suppliers, solution providers and end users. Backed by more than 30 years of unequaled channel experience, we draw from our deep knowledge to envision innovative new solutions for ever-evolving challenges in the technology marketplace. www.thechannelco.com CRN is a registered trademark of The Channel Company, LLC. All rights reserved. Channel Company Contact: Kim Sparks The Channel Company (508) 416-1193 ksparks@thechannelco.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Nvidia is holding the Gaming Celebration "BeForTheGame" event at an offsite location in Germany the day before Gamescom 2018 begins. The company is expected to announce new a major new consumer GPU, which we believe will be called the RTX 2080. Nvidia's announcement said the event will be loaded with "new, exclusive, hands-on demos of the hottest upcoming games, stage presentations from the worlds biggest game developers, and some spectacular surprises," so there will surely be a few exciting announcements at the show. As expected, Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang will host the event. Nvidia's Pascal debuted in May 2016. After more than two years of Pascal, Nvidia announced its Turing architecture last week. The Turing architecture debuts in the Quadro RTX graphics cards for the workstation segment, but of course we are far more interested in the forthcoming gaming GPUs. We do have quite a bit of information that tells us what to expect from the Turing-based gaming GPUs. Graphics card maker PNY recently listed the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti Overclocked XLR8 Edition and its RTX 2080 8GB XLR8 Gaming Overclocked Edition for a jaw-dropping $1,000 and $800, respectively. These are premium overclocked models, so pricing is obviously much higher than what we will see for vanilla cards. It's also possible this pricing is subject to change, or merely a placeholder. Regardless, PNY's leaked specs are far more interesting. You can head over to our article on the subject for the full details, and also check out our Nvidia RTX 2080 Could Launch Aug. 20: What You Need to Know feature for the latest news on other new features, like VirtualLink, a standard over USB Type-C for next-gen VR headsets. Finally, pictures of MSI's GeForce RTX 2080 & 2080 Ti GPUs leaked out yesterday, so there is plenty to feast your eyes on while you wait for the livestream to start at 9 AM PT on August 20. Johnson Co. man charged with raping child younger than 14 A Johnson County man is being held on a $500,000 bond after being accused of sexually abusing a child. Media describe him as an "Overland Park Man" but our conservative pals will be checking immigration status given the horrific deets of the alleged misdeeds . . . Read more: Venegas said she and her husband came to the U.S. 12 years ago from the city of Leon in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato. They do not have legal authorization to live in the U.S., and all five of their children are U.S. citizens, she said. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 18 Four jail inmates were booked for allegedly possessing intoxicant tablets, a mobile phone and substance abuse here today. Those booked were identified as Kuldeep Singh alias Goldy of Rani Walaar village in Tarn Taran, Gurpreet Singh alias Prince of Guru Arjan Dev Avenue, Tarn Taran, Maninder Singh Gokulpura, Tarn Taran and Balbir Singh of Bathinda. According to jail authorities, the jail staff found 10 grams of intoxicant substance from Kuldeep during a search operation while 410 intoxicant tablets and 8 grams of narcotic substance was found from Gurpreet and Maninder. A mobile phone and 5 grams of heroin was recovered from Balbir Singh. Separate cases under sections 21, 22, 61 and 85 of the NDPS Act and section 42 of the Prisoners Act were registered in this connection. pardeepdhull@gmail.com London, August 19 Iran told OPEC on Sunday no member country should be allowed to take over another members share of oil exports, expressing Tehrans concern about Saudi Arabias offer to pump more oil in the face of US sanctions on Iranian oil sales. In a meeting with OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo, a senior Iranian diplomat urged him to keep the group out of politics. No country is allowed to take over the share of other members for production and exports of oil under any circumstance, and the OPEC Ministerial Conference has not issued any licence for such actions, Irans oil ministry news agency SHANA quoted Kazem Gharibabadi, the permanent envoy to Vienna-based international organizations, as saying. In May, U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of an international nuclear deal with Iran and announced sanctions against the OPEC member. Washington is pushing allies to cut imports of Iranian oil to zero and will impose a new round of sanctions on Iranian oil sales in November. Iran is the third-largest oil producer in the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries after Saudi Arabia and Iraq. Trump has called on OPEC to pump more oil to bring down prices. Energy ministers of Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, and Russia said in May they were prepared to ease output cuts to calm consumer worries about supply. Iran believes that OPEC should strongly support its members at this stage and stop the plots of countries trying to politicise this organisation, Gharibabadi said. Regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran are involved in proxy wars, including in Yemen and Syria. Iran and other signatories of the nuclear deal, including Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, have been working to find a way to salvage the agreement despite US pressures. Irans vice president said on Sunday that the government was seeking solutions to sell oil and transfer its revenues despite fresh US sanctions on Iranian energy and banking sectors. We are hopeful that the European countries can meet their commitments but even if they cannot, we are seeking solutions to sell our oil and transfer its revenues, Eshaq Jahangiri was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA. Jahangiri said European countries had promised to make up for Irans loss after the new round of US sanctions hit its energy and banking sectors, but did not give more details. In August, Washington imposed sanctions on acquisition of US dollar bank notes by the government of Iran, Irans trade in gold and precious metals, and its automotive sector. On November 4, Washington will reimpose sanctions on Irans oil exports and energy sectors, financial institutions conducting transactions with the Central Bank of Iran, as well as sanctions related to Irans port operators and shipping sectors. Reuters editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 18 More than a year after former Chief Minister of Himachal Pradesh Virbhadra Singhs relative Akansh Sen was crushed to death under the wheels of a BMW car in Sector 9, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has refused to take up the probe. Information to this effect was given to the Punjab and Haryana High Court as the case came up for a resumed hearing. Taking up the matter, Justice Rajan Gupta questioned Chandigarh Home Secretarys order directing the CBI probe. Justice Gupta wanted to know whether the procedure prescribed had been followed. The CBI was also asked to elaborate on the reasons behind its refusal. The counsel for the UT Administration, Randeep Singh Rai and Gautam Dutt, were also asked to assist the Bench on the issue on the next date of hearing. Dutt, on the previous date of hearing, had told the court that an order had been passed by the Administration for probe by the premier investigation agency, but he was not aware of the terms of reference. An FIR in the matter was registered on February 9 last year for attempt to murder and another offence under Sections 307 and 34 of the IPC at the Sector 3 police station. The development took place on a petition filed by Ramanjit Kaur against the UT Administration and other respondents. The mother of one of the accused, she, through counsel Pawan Kumar, sought issuance of direction to the UT Administration for referring the matter to the CBI for investigation. It was alleged that the petitioner and her family were being harassed in the name of investigation. Victim Akansh was allegedly hit and dragged under the wheels of the BMW in Sector 9 on February 9 last year. Following the incident, the police slapped murder charges against two accused Balraj Singh and Harmehtab Singh. Referring to the events narrated in the FIR, one of the accused had earlier claimed that Akansh and another person visited on Deep Sidhus house early morning to enquire about a friend, Shera. They apprehended that Shera and Harmehtab were together in the house. It was then Balraj got into his car with Harmehtab sitting on the passenger side and drove the car over the victim. editorial@tribune.com Chandigarh, August 19 A cook has been arrested by the Chandigarh Police for allegedly stealing Rs 5 lakh from a house in Sector 16. According to the police, the complainant, Ashwani Kumar Chopra, reported that he had gone to Delhi on August 17 and when he returned after a day, he found the window grills of his bedroom broken. Someone had entered the house and stolen the cash lying in a drawer of a cupboard. The police questioned several suspects, including servants and helpers, working in the house. The police said one of the suspects, Raju Kumar Shah, a native of Bihar, who was working as a cook in the house of the complainants son in Sector 16 for the past 11 years, was also questioned. Raju, a frequent visitor to the complainants house, confessed to the crime. The police also recovered the stolen cash from him. A case under Sections 457 (lurking house trespass or house-breaking by night), 380 (theft in a dwelling house), 381 (theft by a clerk or a servant of a property in possession of the master) and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the IPC has been registered against the accused at the Sector 17 police station. The accused was arrested in the case. TNS editorial@tribune.com Akash Ghai Tribune News Service Mohali, August 19 Twentynine-year-old Sumit Kumar, the kingpin of the gang involved in card cloning cases across the country, led a lavish life with the ill-gotten money he received through ATM/credit debit card frauds. According to a senior official of the Punjab state cyber crime cell at Mohali, Sumit, a commerce graduate, used to stay in five-star hotels and spend lavishly on other comforts. Cyber sleuths, who arrested Sumit from Lucknow, said he was using expensive phones and branded clothes. Banaras-based Sumit belongs to a Saraswat Brahmin family and one of his family members is said to be a priest in a temple in Banaras. Besides, his family members also run a shop dealing in products used for religious ceremonies in front of the main temple of Banaras, said the police. The police said Sumit came into the crime world around six years ago while staying in Mumbai where he used to work at a call centre. There, he tried to pursue MBA, but dropped his studies midway. He came into contact with some miscreant at Mumbai and jumped into the crime world, said the police. Two cases of fraud were registered against Sumit in Mumbai in 2015. According to Inspector Samarpal Singh, Station House Officer of the Punjab state cyber crime police station at Phase 4 here, the gang members only knew Sumit. They were not aware of each others identities. Sumit was in touch with his gang members and used to provide them devices, including skimmers, to commit ATM/credit and debit card frauds. Sumit used to give the members their share of the ill-gotten money, said Inspector Samarpal Singh. The police have already nabbed six accused, including the kingpin Sumit, from different places. The other accused are Rahul Sharma, a resident of Mumbai, Arun from Madhya Pradesh, Mahesh from West Bengal, Karun Inder Pal from Agra and Saurabh. The police have also recovered skimmers, computer software and other such devices and cash from the possession of the accused. They have defrauded a number of persons across the country of several lakhs of rupees. The number of victims is being assessed, said the cyber crime police. A police team is away to South India to nab another member of the gang. With the arrest of nearly all members, the gang has been busted, said the police. Sumit entered crime world 6 years ago Banaras-based Sumit belongs to a Saraswat Brahmin family and one of his family members is said to be a priest in a temple in Banaras. Besides, his family members also run a shop dealing in products used for religious ceremonies in front of the main temple of Banaras, said the police. The police said Sumit came into the crime world around six years ago while staying in Mumbai where he used to work at a call centre. Sumit was in touch with his gang members and used to provide them devices, including skimmers, to commit ATM/credit and debit card frauds. Faizan Mustafa Faizan Mustafa Vice-Chancellor of Nalsar University of Law There is no doubt that Vajpayee was a statesman, though few critics have also pointed out his inability in fulfilling his own raj dharma and justifying Gujarat riots in the infamous Goa speech on the basis of the action-reaction thesis. But his government also contributed to the Constitution and law which was underplayed. It is well-known that the RSS had rejected the Constitution in 1949 itself. On February 22, the Vajpayee government constituted an 11-member Constitution Review Commission under the chairmanship of Justice MN Venkatachaliah. The primary purpose was to declare naturalised citizens like Sonia Gandhi ineligible from holding top constitutional positions. But the members were equally divided on this issue and the chairman did not exercise his casting vote. Unfortunately, the Vajpayee government disregarded the commissions other useful recommendations. Since he was the Prime Minister of a minority government, 14 constitutional amendments during his premiership was not a mean achievement and demonstrates his abilities in developing political consensus. The Vajpayee government must be complimented for enacting the Information Technology Act, 2000, which deals with electronic commerce and cyber crimes. The Act is based on the United Nations Model Law on Electronic Commerce, 1996. Unlike other Acts which do not extend to J&K, this Act extends to the whole of India. It even punishes a foreigner if his crimes involve a computer or network located in India. The whole country is now debating the NRC drive in Assam. The Vajpayee government had amended the Citizenship Act in 2003 and made getting Indian citizenship more stringent by laying down that those born after 1987 can become citizens only if both parents were Indian citizens or one was citizen and other was not an illegal immigrant. The Freedom of Information Bill, passed in 2002, was a huge but incomplete step in the direction of accountability and transparency. The Bill had some shortcomings. There was no independent appeal mechanism against the denial or giving of misleading information and it did not say that information about life and liberty be provided immediately. The UPA drastically improved it when it enacted the current Right to Information Act, 2005. The Vajpayee government also promulgated an Ordinance and subsequently made an amendment to the Representation of Peoples Act to overturn the Supreme Courts judgment on the declaration by the candidates at the time of their nomination. The Vajpayee government diluted the apex courts decision and tried to protect candidates with criminal antecedents. But the court struck down the controversial amendment. To tackle the problem of terrorism, the Vajpayee government enacted the Prevention of Terrorism Act (POTA), 2002, replacing TADA, 1985. Civil liberty organisations criticised its provisions and the UPA government finally repealed POTA in 2004 and brought it in the new avatar in the Unlawful Activitives (Prevention) Act. The government in 2000 asked the Justice VS Malimat committee to suggest measures to overhaul the criminal justice system. The committee made 158 recommendations and was not happy about the accused-centric adversarial criminal justice system and favoured the adoption of some features of inquisitorial legal system. Another controversial recommendation was to dilute the right of the accused to remain silent. Due to widespread opposition, Vajpayee could not pass laws implementing these recommendations. But the Criminal Law (Amendment) Bill, 2003, addressed a number of issues such as protection of witnesses. The introduction of plea bargaining was another milestone. Subsequently the UPA passed a law making it available in cases punishable with imprisonment up to seven years. In contrast, a progressive legislation was the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act, 2000, which gave effect to the 1989 UN Convention on Rights of Child. Ignoring the distinction between bailable and not-bailable offences, it said all children are to be released on bail except in three situations. It also laid down that all crimes by children will be tried by the Juvenile Justice Board that has replaced the Juvenile Court. But the Act still used the word juvenile which is a negative term. The Civil Procedure Code was amended and Section 89 was inserted which provided for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) so that disputes are resolved outside the courts. But the drafting of Section 89 was widely criticised, with even the Supreme Court terming it as trial judges nightmare, not happily worded and there are creases to be ironed out. The Competition Act, 2002, was a major legislative initiative of the Vajpayee government aimed to prevent practices having an adverse impact on competition. The Consumer Protection Act brought the delayed supply of goods and services under restrictive trade practices, widening the definition of manufacturing to include mere assembling parts of good manufactured by others. Similarly, offering consumer gifts or concessional rates or discounts were included within unfair treatment to consumer. Vajpayee certainly enriched the Indian legal regime with several new laws and necessary changes in the existing laws. "The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type 'RAT,'" Trump wrote, misspelling the word "counsel," as he often does. "But I allowed him and all others to testify - I didn't have to. I have nothing to hide......" editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Yamunanagar, August 19 A 25-year-old deaf and mute woman was allegedly gang-raped by three persons in a village of the district on Friday evening. In a complaint to the police, the father of the victim alleged that his daughter had gone to answer the natures call outside the village in the evening on August 17. He alleged that she was gang-raped by three unidentified persons in the fields. After returning home, she gestured to her-in-laws about the incident. He said that he was a resident of Ambala district and his daughter got married about five years ago in a village of Yamunanagar district. Ramesh, SHO, Chhappar police station, said that a case had been registered against three unidentified persons under Section 376-D (gang rape). Three teams under the supervision of Bilaspur DSP Ashish Chaudhry have been formed to solve this case. We are hopeful that the accused will be arrested soon, said the SHO. editorial@tribune.com Parveen Arora Tribune News Service Karnal, August 19 A priest and a sewadar were allegedly killed in an attack by unidentified assailants at Bhai-Behan Mandir (brother-sister temple), also known as Gobinddham Mandir, on the Haryana-UP border near Manglora village in the district on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. Three others were injured in the attack. The attackers also cut out the tongue of one of the injured. The incident occurred a little distance away from the Manglora police post. The deceased were identified as Vinod Sharma, a priest and resident of Kaithal district, and Sultan, a sewadar and resident of UP. The injured are Ajay, a resident of Sangoha village, Ravinder, a resident of Bhambharehri village, and Harjinder Singh. The attackers allegedly cut out the tongue of Ravinder, said Surinder Singh Bhoria, Superintendent of Police (SP). As per the residents, a puja was to be performed by the priest on Sunday. So Ajay, Ravinder and Harjinder had come to the temple last evening. All the three injured were rushed to Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College and Hospital (KCGMCH) from where they were referred to PGI, Chandigarh. Their condition is said to be critical. As per the police, the attackers also tied the hands and legs of all the victims. The reason behind the attack is yet to be ascertained. Four teams have been constituted to crack the case. On the statement of one of the injured, we have registered a case under Section 302 against seven persons, including one by name Sunil Kumar, a resident of Manglora, said the SP. We have also rounded up some of the suspects, he added. Demanding the arrest of the accused, members of the Brahmin community led by Surinder Barota blocked the road at hospital chowk. On the assurance of arrest at the earliest, they lifted the blockade. The protesters demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh each for the deceased and gave an ultimatum of three days to the police. The incident came to light on Sunday at around 7 am when some devotees came to the temple and found that the main door was locked. When they looked inside from beneath the door, they saw bodies lying in a pool of blood. They informed the residents and also the police. SP Bhoria, DSP Virinder Kumar, along with forensic experts, rushed to the spot and inspected the crime scene. The police also found liquor bottles from the crime scene. The preliminary investigation suggests that sticks were used in the attack, the SP said. uttara@tribuneindia.com Parveen Arora Tribune News Service Karnal, August 19 In a brutal attack, a priest and a sewadar were allegedly killed, while three other injured in an attack by unidentified assailants in Bhai-Behan Mandir (brother-sister temple), also known as Gobinddham Mandir, on Haryana-UP border near Manglora village in the district on the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. The attackers also cut out the tongue of one of the injured. The incident occurred some distance from Manglora police post. The deceased were identified as Vinod Sharma, a priest and a resident of Kaithal district, and Sultan, a sewadar, a resident of UP, while the injured are Ajay, a resident of Sangoha village, Ravinder, a resident of Bhambharehri village and Harjinder Singh. The attackers allegedly cut the tongue of Ravinder, said Surinder Singh Bhoria, Superintendent of Police (SP). As per the residents a puja was to be performed by the priest on Sunday, so the other persons Ajay, Ravinder and Harjinder came to the temple last evening. All the three injured were rushed to Kalpana Chawla Government Medical College and Hospital (KCGMCH), from where they were referred to PGI, Chandigarh. Their health conditions are said to be critical. As per the police, the attackers also tied the hands and legs of all the deceased and injured. The reasons behind the attack are yet to be ascertained. Four teams have been constituted to crack the case. On the statement of one of the injured we have registered a case under section 302 against seven persons including one by name that is Sunil Kumar, a resident of Manglora, said the SP. We have also rounded up some of the suspected, he added. Demanding arrest of the accused members of Brahmin community led by Surinder Barota blocked the road at hospital chowk. With the assurance of arrest at the earliest, they lifted the blockade. The community members demanded a compensation of Rs 50 lakh each for deceased and served an ultimatum of three-days to the police. The incident came to light on Sunday morning at around 7am, when some of devotees came to temple and found the main door was locked. They looked inside the temple from the beneath of door and found bodies were lying in the pool of blood inside the temple. They informed the residents and also the police. SP Bhoria, DSP Virinder Kumar along with forensic experts rushed to the spot and inspected the crime scene. Police also found liquor bottles and some other material from the crime scene. The preliminary investigation suggests, sticks were used in the attack, the SPs said. laxmi@tribune.com Biodiesel from used cooking oil is a healthy and environment-friendly option, else it is sold to the roadside vendors for frying snacks, which poses threat to health of gullible citizens, says Vijay C Roy INDIA saved Rs 4,000 crore worth of foreign exchange last year due to ethanol blending in petrol. It plans to take this figure to about Rs 12,000 crore in the next four years. The number appears small compared to the country's total crude oil import bill of $87.73 billion (Rs 5.65 lakh crore) in 2017-2018. But, it is an encouraging beginning. It is heartening that ethanol blending in petrol has grown by over 270 per cent in just four years from 38 crore litres in 2013-14 to about 141 crore litres in 2017-18. The government aims to produce nearly 450 crore litres of ethanol in the next four years as its target is to increase ethanol blending to 10 per cent by 2022. It wants to achieve a 20 per cent ethanol blending and 5 per cent biodiesel blending by 2030. India is the third largest fossil fuel importer after the US and China. It needs to cut its dependence on imported energy. Biofuel is a viable alternative that would not only ensure additional income for Indian farmers but also accelerate industrial growth. Above all, it will help to proportionately reduce the anxiety over the volatility of international fuel prices. Fossil fuel is finite. The global uproar about the rapidly-declining reserves of fossil fuels has prompted power producers to explore commercially viable and environmentally-friendly alternatives. One of the most viable options is biofuel. The use of biofuels will reduce our energy import dependence. Currently, India imports more than 80 per cent of the crude oil it processes. Shifting the fuel consumption profile to biofuels derived from domestic feedstocks would lead to a decrease in this dependence on crude oil imports. One of the most promising biofuels is ethanol. It is extracted mainly from sugarcane molasses. It is being used since 2003 with a twin purpose - reducing India's dependence on energy imports and providing a remunerative price to sugarcane farmers. The policy, however, lacks political will due to various lobbies. However, in December 2014, the cabinet approved the usage of non-food feedstocks besides molasses as a source of ethanol that could be blended in fuel. The government wanted to expand the policy to other agricultural produce. In 2016, Minister of Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari gave the idea of making ethanol from bamboo to boost the economy of the North East. The idea was to create additional income for the inhabitants and set up industries that would have generated employment opportunities. The minister had brought the idea from Italy and he was convinced that the North East could supply 40,000 litres of second-generation ethanol. The second-generation ethanol can also be produced from rice straw, wheat straw and cotton straw. Ethanol production in India is inadequate. In 2017-18 (October-September), sugarmills were contracted to supply a record 113 crore litres. The previous record was of 111 crore litres in 2015-16. It is estimated that mills would realise over Rs 5,000 crore from the sale of ethanol to oil marketing companies. The government aims to achieve 10 per cent blending of ethanol with petrol. For that 313 crore litre of ethanol is required, says the Indian Sugar Mills Association. Unless the supply of ethanol is increased from sources other than sugarcane, this target is elusive. "With the supply of 66.5 crore litres of ethanol in 2016-17, we had 2.1 per cent blending in petrol," Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan said at a conference on advanced biofuels. According to the minister, the increased production of ethanol in 2017-18 (139.5 crore litres) would help the government achieve only four per cent blending. In the case of biodiesel, palm stearin, acid oil, fatty acids and used cooking oils are the sources. The total biodiesel production in the country is likely to touch 12 crore litres this year compared to 0.75 crore litres last year. Compared to India's 8,100 crore litre diesel consumption annually, the current biodiesel production is insignificant. According to Biodiesel Association of India president Sandeep Chaturvedi, there's a yawning demand-supply gap. "We are heavily dependent on palm stearin for making biodiesel, despite the fact that used cooking oil is a great source of biodiesel. The recent initiative by the Food Safety and Standard Authority of India (FSSAI) to launch RUCO (repurpose used cooking oil) is likely to boost biodiesel," says Chaturvedi. RUCO is an ecosystem that will enable the collection and conversion of used cooking oil to biodiesel. India is one of the largest consumers of vegetable oil and so has the potential to recover almost 220 crore litres of used cooking oil for the production of biodiesel by 2022. India generates around 3-4 million tonnes of used cooking oil annually. Therefore, it has immense potential. Currently, used cooking oil is sold to roadside vendors for frying, which poses a threat to citizens' health. The use of biodiesel is, however, insignificant. In 2017-18, fuel retailers procured 4.36 crore litres of biodiesel against 3.59 crore litres in the previous year. For 2018-19, the target is to procure 8.63 crore litres of biodiesel. It is expected that procurement may go up as the GST rate on biodiesel has been reduced from 18 per cent to 12 per cent in January, this year. The industry, however, is demanding that the tax be brought on a par with ethanol. Considering the huge potential, oil marketing companies are in the process of setting up a dozen second-generation bio-refineries at an investment of around Rs 10,000 crore across the country. An encouragement to biodiesel will help reduce the consumption of fossils fuels, generate rural employment and protect environment. In this direction, the Centre recently unveiled a comprehensive biofuel policy, which, among other things, allows farmers to divert surplus crops for biofuel production. The National Biofuels Policy-2018 also seeks to expand the range of feedstock available for ethanol production beyond sugar molasses. Sugarcane juice, sugar-containing crops like beet, sorghum, corn and cassava, and damaged grains unfit for human consumption, such as rotten potato, wheat and broken rice, can be considered for ethanol production. The policy will offer a mechanism to dispose of municipal solid waste by converting it into drop-in fuels. Biofuel policy Ethanol from sugarcane, corn, cassava, damaged food grains, rotten potatoes Use surplus food grains for production of ethanol Rs 5,000 crore viability gap funding for bio-refineries Expected benefits 1 crore lts of E-10 saves Rs 28 crore of forex 150 crore lts ethanol saves forex worth Rs 4,000 crore 1 cr lt E-10 saves 20,000 tonne of CO2 emissions A solution to 62 MMT of municipal solid waste generated annually 1 bio-refinery can generate 1,200 jobs Please email your feedback at infocus@tribunemail.com editorial@tribune.com Arun Joshi It is a tough way ahead for India and Pakistan to repair their relations, though the words spoken by the leaders of the two sides after the recent elections in Pakistan are encouraging. This expression of seeking bonhomie should open a new window of opportunity for them. The two countries had hit the lowest point in their relations in November 2008. The spine-chilling terror that the Lashkar-e-Toiba unleashed in Mumbai on November 26, 2008, continues to haunt India. It is not easy to forget and forgive, particularly when Pakistan has been playing a hide and seek game in bringing the culprits to justice. The mastermind of the 26/11, Hafiz Saeed, is roaming free. Pakistans attitude in protecting such lethal elements has prevented repair in the relationship with India. There can be no real reconciliation between the two countries until Pakistan prosecutes those responsible for the Mumbai attack, and now there are more men who appear on the list to be prosecuted for terror atrocities in India. The terror attack at the Indian Air Force base in Pathankot, Punjab, in the opening days of 2016, and the September 2016 massacre of the armed personnel in Uri in Kashmir have served as deadly interruptions in improving the ties. Pakistans new Prime Minister Imran Khan has a very delicate task ahead when it comes to fostering better ties with India. Its delicate because he doesnt have the freedom to operate on his own. For his foreign policy, he would have to abide by the GHQ, Rawalpindi the army headquarters in Pakistan. Indian politician and Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhus image of hugging Pakistan army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa on the occasion of Imrans swearing-in ceremony as the 22nd Prime Minister on August 18 can be seen as two Punjabis greeting each other in the manner typical to Punjab on both sides of the border. But on the same day, General Bajwas army pushed infiltrators into this side of the Line of Control that divides Jammu and Kashmir in the Tangdhar sector of Kashmir. This is just a glimpse of what Pakistani army does and cherishes. The friendly gestures of India were responded with hostile actions in the past too. The Pakistan army did it with Atal Bihari Vajpayee when his bus journey to Lahore was rewarded with the Kargil war in 1999. Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit to Lahore on December 25, 2015, was responded by a terror attack at the Pathankot airbase within a week. Political leaders in Pakistan are constrained and may not be able to deliver on their promise for peace in the region. Imran has to break this jinx. But can he? It is for him to decide, but Imran has to invent a moment that the whole of India can cheer at some stage. The virtues of peace with India are far more important for Pakistan than ever before because Islamabad can find a real friend in India at the time when it may soon have to approach the International Monetary Fund to bail it out of economic distress. And it is yet to get a clean chit from Financial Action Task Force that is worried about the terror funding in Pakistan. These are really difficult times for Pakistan, and one of the clearest ways to address its problems is to build friendly ties with India without conditions. What should matter to Imran, as Gen Pervez Musharraf had said on September 19, 2001, Pakistan first. Hopefully, Imran knows what it means. editorial@tribune.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 19 A Kashmiri engineer who was recently deported to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on suspicion of being an Islamic State sympathiser was handed over to the J&K Police for investigation. Irfan Zargar, 36, a resident of Bemina in Srinagar, had gone missing from Dubai in April and was deported to India on August 14. Irfan shifted to Dubai in November 2014 where he got a job in a telecom company. We received Irfans call from Jammu this morning. He said he has been handed over to the J&K Police, Irfans mother Fareeda said. His elder brother immediately left for Jammu, she said. The family said no case was registered against Irfan in Srinagar and they expected him home in the coming days. He is a religious boy and there is no case registered against him. We are sure he will be home soon, said his uncle, Nazir Ahmed, a retired government employee. Relatives thronged Irfans Bemina residence after hearing that he has been handed over to the police. Irfan had last visited home in 2017. The police said Irfan went missing from Dubai on April 28 and his cousin informed his family about it after two days. After about a month his brother went to Dubai and after a lot of delay, the Sharjah police station registered a missing report, the police said. During Irfans police custody in Dubai, he called his family in Srinagar and informed them he did not know where he was and who had confined him at an unknown place. Security sources said he was detained in Dubai for his social media activities as he shared Islamic videos and uploaded pro-Islamic quotations. He also used to share videos on Facebook depicting the plight of Muslims around the globe, particularly Rohingya. After he went missing, the issue was flagged by Peoples Democratic Party youth leader Waheed Parra on Twitter, seeking the intervention of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj. She had promised help. He was subjected to intensive questioning for his appreciation of the Islamic State activities in Syria and Iraq, security sources said. After his questioning in Dubai, he was deported to India where the National Investigation Agency questioned him. It is likely that he may be released as nothing substantial has been proved against him. uttara@tribuneindia.com Srinagar, August 19 A Kashmiri man, suspected to be a sympathiser of the militant Islamic State group, was recently deported to India from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), officials said here on Sunday. The 36-year-old Irfan Ahmad Zargar, a resident of Chattatabal area on the outskirts of Srinagar, was deported from the Gulf country on August 14 and subjected to questioning by various security agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), they said. He was then handed over to the Jammu and Kashmir police who were carrying out detailed investigations. However, there was no case pending against him in the state. Zargar, an engineer, is alleged to have been "quite active" on social media and had been expressing his liking for the activities of Islamic State in Syria, they said. The NIA, the central probe agency tasked with investigating terror cases, questioned him for over two days before handing him over to the state police. Zargar was picked up by the authorities in Dubai on April 28 this year when he was entering into the Gulf country from Oman, they said. He was subjected to intensive questioning by Dubai sleuths about his activities on social networking sites, especially his appreciation of Islamic State activities in Syria and Iraq. Working with a telecom company in Dubai, Zargar maintained that he had travelled to Oman for setting up a business of handcrafts. The Dubai officials had carried out thorough search of his apartments in Sharjah and later whisked him away to an undisclosed location. He was deported to India on August 14. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had been approached by one of his kin on her Twitter handle asking for help. The minister had assured them help and the Indian Consulate General in Dubai had initiated a hunt for the man. However, the Dubai authorities had refused to entertain any plea until they had not completed their own investigation in the case. Zargar is a third Kashmiri to have been deported for allegedly being sympathisers of the terror group. Srinagar-resident Afshan Parvaiz was deported from Turkish capital of Ankara on May 25. Parvaiz had left home after an argument with his father, who wanted him to join a college while he was interested in religious studies. He booked himself a seat on a flight to Teheran on March 23 and was later deported after he crossed into Turkey. Another youth from Ganderbal, Azhar ul Islam, was deported from the UAE last year for being an alleged Islamic State sympathiser. PTI editorial@tribune.com Majid Jahangir Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 19 The state is likely to retain over 15,000 additional security personnel, deployed for the Amarnath yatra, to ensure the smooth conduct of panchayat polls scheduled to be held between October and December. The authorities had deployed over 200 additional companies of the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for the two-month yatra which is ending on August 26. These additional forces for the yatra are deployed apart from the Central forces and police. The CAPF companies will surely be retained for panchayat election duties, a senior security officer said. However, a final decision in this regard will be taken in the next few days by the Union Home Ministry, he added. The officer said some more forces may also be inducted for the conduct of the upcoming civic polls. The biggest advantage of retaining the additional forces is that they have acclimatised with the operational situation which is always helpful in Kashmir. J&K is planning to hold elections to urban local bodies in September or October and the panchayat polls are slated to be held between October and December this year. On August 15, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and J&K Governor, in their respective Independence Day speeches, announced holding of panchayat elections. The conduct of the panchayat polls will be a big security challenge, especially in south Kashmir where the situation remains fragile. The civic elections will be a test for the security grid ahead of next year Parliamentary elections, a government official said, while pointing to the bypoll to the Anantnag Lok Sabha seat which was deferred because of security reasons last year. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, August 19 The authorities in Kashmir have booked Zahoor Ahmad Bhat, the younger brother of Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front leader Maqbool Bhat, under the Public Safety Act. As per the detention orders passed by the District Magistrate, Srinagar, Bhat has been ordered to be lodged at the high-security Kot Bhalwal Jail in the Jammu province. In April 2014, the J&K Police had booked Zahoor Bhat, who is also a senior JKLF leader, for murder and criminal conspiracy in the June 2013 Hyderpora attack on an Army convoy and was facing a trial in the case. It is not, however, known if fresh charges have been slapped against him as the PSA dossier has not been made public. Sources said Zahoor Bhat, who originally hails from the Trehgam area of Kupwara district, was picked up by the Nowhatta police station on Saturday evening as he has been slapped with the PSA by the Srinagar District Magistrate. Since he lives in the Badamwari area of Srinagar at present, the police station concerned arrested him to execute the PSA detention orders, a senior police officer said. He, however, did not give the exact date of his detention. On March 29, 2014, Bhat was booked and detained under the PSA in the same case on the orders of the District Magistrate, Budgam. After the PSA detention order was quashed by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, he was later booked under the PSA on the orders of the District magistrate, Kupwara, in April 2015 and lodged at Baramulla Sub-Jail. Jammu Kashmir Liberation Front founder Maqbool Bhat is considered the pioneer of militancy in Kashmir. He was executed in Tihar Jail in 1984 in a murder case and is buried there. "In 2016 I attended the Mencken conference in question and delivered a stand-alone, academic talk titled 'The Intelligentsia and the Right.' I said nothing objectionable and stand by my remarks completely," Beattie said in the statement. "It was the honor of my life to serve in the Trump Administration. I love President Trump, who is a fearless American hero, and continue to support him one hundred percent. I have no further comment." laxmi@tribune.com WITH ore than 5,00,000 students from India expected to travel abroad for studies this year, airlines are offering travel packages to them. Jet Airways has launched eduJetter programme for this year. eduJetter includes a host of benefits which include an exceptional baggage allowance of up to 69 kg tagged and checked-in till the final destination, 7500 JPMiles, 8 per cent discount on Base fare, as well as a bouquet of partner benefits such as Forex Card from Cox & Kings, free SIM card with exclusive calling rates from Uniconnect, as well as 10 per cent discount on JetEscapes travel/holiday packages. Apart from the above-mentioned benefits, the airline has also simplified the entire process of eduJetter application and booking, as part of enhancing the appeal of the programme. The new, automatic application process is extremely user-friendly and allows students to apply in three simple steps book a flight ticket, visit the eduJetter page on the Jet Airways website (www.jetairways.com) to fill an online request form. The student then receive an updated ticket from the airline with applicable eduJetter benefits within 72 hours. The eduJetter programme has been expanded to include flights operated by Jet Airways 21 codeshare partners such as Etihad Airways, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Qantas and Virgin Atlantic which offers students to reach 200+ destinations in North America, 100+ destinations in Europe and an equally robust network in the East. With its codeshare partners, Jet Airways has assured connectivity from 40+ destinations in India to almost anywhere in the world via the airlines gateways in Amsterdam Schiphol, Paris (Charles De Gaulle), London Heathrow, and Abu Dhabi offering seamless travel with through check-in and baggage tagged till the final destination. The programme will make it easier and convenient for Indian students with confirmed admissions to universities and institutions in UK, Australia, Europe, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, USA to start on their overseas academic journey. All that a student needs to be eligible of the eduJetter offer is student visa and a copy of the university acceptance letter. For more information, students may log on to jetairways.com/eduJetter vinaymishra188@gmail.com GS Paul Tribune News Service Attari, August 19 Barely 2 km from the Attari-Wagah border, the open-air Museum of Peace opened on the premises of Sarhad, a restaurant that specialises in Amritsari-Lahore cuisine, on Sunday the mission being to promote peace through food. Parked outside Sarhad are two mini vans painted in vibrant colours by Pakistan artist Haider Ali, India-Pakistan Friendship boldly emblazoned on the front. Ironically, less than 10 km away on the same road is the War Museum that celebrates military conquests. Designed and curated by retired Punjab civil servant DS Jaspal, the Museum of Peace was conceived to celebrate the common culture of pre-Partition Punjab in general and that of Amritsar-Lahore in particular. The museum has 48 panels mounted on pedestals 7 feet high, depicting pre-Partition Punjab in three sections Maharaja Ranjit Singhs military conquests, the capture of Peshawar and Jamrud forts and the Zamzama gun. The dove logo on each panel symbolises peace, with India and Pakistan flags painted on the inside of the wings. At the bottom of each panel is the tagline: Borders without Barriers. Also on display is the map of Ranjit Singhs empire with the observation: Ranjit Singhs greatest achievement was not military conquest, but political. He was able to unite Hindus, Muslims and Sikhs under one banner and deliver peace and prosperity to Punjab. The museum also depicts the symbiotic link between the twin cities of Amritsar and Lahore with the advent of railways, education and trade in British India. One of the panels exhibits a 100-year-old Lahore-Pathankot rail ticket priced at Rs 3. The horror of Partition is brought out through blowups of old issues of The Tribune (1938 to July 1947) sourced from the Lahore archives. Another panel has a 1946 picture of a British lady leaning against the Lahore Railway Station signboard in English, Punjabi, Hindi and Urdu. Interestingly, a number of panels depict blockbuster movies made in Lahore before Partition. Sarhad owner Aman Jaspal, giving all credit to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee for the endeavour, makes an unusual suggestion. The governments of India and Pakistan must announce a Vajpayee Day Visa at least once a month for students and senior citizens who wish to meet people and visit places across the border. This will remove misgivings, if any, on either side, he says, with conviction. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 18 Congress chief Rahul Gandhi on Saturday revoked the suspension of veteran leader Mani Shankar Aiyar who had in December last year called PM Narendra Modi neech kism kaa aadmi. The suspension was revoked late at night on the recommendation of the partys central disciplinary panel headed by ex-minister AK Antony. An order from AICC general secretary in charge of organisation Ashok Gehlot said: Rahul has approved the recommendations of the central disciplinary committee of AICC for revocation of suspension of Aiyar from the primary membership of the Congress with immediate effect. Aiyar was suspended on December 7 after he described Modi as a neech aadmi on the eve of the first phase of December 9 Gujarat Assembly elections. The remarks triggered a massive backlash from the BJP with the PM campaigning across Gujarat and speaking of how Aiyar had called him a low caste person. Rahul, who was yet to assume charge as Congress chief then, had reacted strongly to Aiyars language and taken to Twitter to ask him to apologise. On December 7, 2017, he had tweeted: BJP and PM routinely use filthy language to attack the Congress. The Congress has a different culture and heritage. I do not appreciate the tone and language used by Aiyar to address the PM. Both the Congress and I expect him to apologise for what he said. When Aiyar did not apologise to Gandhis satisfaction, he was served a notice and later suspended from the partys primary membership. Though no specific reason was given for the revocation of Aiyars suspension, its learnt the punishment was considered harsh and enough. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM New Delhi, August 18 The BJP has drawn an extensive programme for the "asthi visarjan" (immersion of ashes) of Atal Bihari Vajpayee. His ashes will be immersed in various rivers across the country, starting with the Ganga at Haridwar on Sunday at a ceremony attended by Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, his Uttarakhand counterpart Trivendra Singh Rawat among others, said BJP leader Bhupender Yadav on Saturday. An all-party prayer meeting for the BJP stalwart will be held in Delhi on August 20 followed by another in Lucknow on August 23. Apart from the Home Minister and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, Vajpayee's relatives will attend the Lucknow prayer meeting, he said, adding the former PM's ashes will also be immersed in the Gomati there. The prayer meeting in Delhi will be attended by leaders from different political parties and noted citizens. "His (Vajpayee's) ashes will be immersed in various sacred rivers across the country and the 'asthi kalash' taken to all districts headquarters and state capitals. Prayer meetings will take place in the state capitals, district headquarters and at the panchayat level," he added. TNS vinaymishra188@gmail.com New Delhi: The Centre has set up 3,757 medical camps in flood-battered Kerala to prevent epidemic diseases even though no outbreak of any communicable disease has been reported there so far, the Health Ministry said on Sunday. While no outbreak of any communicable disease has been reported, health experts opine that once floodwaters start to recede, the environment will become conducive for epidemic diseases. The state has been asked for daily surveillance to detect early warning signs of any outbreak, a ministry statement said. "We are extending all support. The Health Secretary is in touch with the states health functionaries and monitoring the situation daily through the disease surveillance network," Health Minister JP Nadda said. tNS Amid grief, a wedding in relief camp Malappuram: Even as Kerala battles the worst flooding in 96 years, a young couple taking shelter in a relief camp in Malappuram district got married on Sunday - cheered by others also sheltering with them. Anju, who had moved into the MSP School near here three days ago, tied the knot with Saiju at the Thiripunthra temple, watched by her relatives and others from the relief camp. Three fourths of our house is submerged in water. Initially, we decided to postpone the marriage. But when we got the support of the people here, we decided to go ahead as planned, a relative of the bride said. IANS UAE-based tycoons pledge Rs 125 million Dubai: Indian-origin businessmen based in the UAE have announced Rs 125-million donation for flood relief operations. Kerala-born businessman Yusuff Ali MA, CMD of Lulu Group, has announced Rs 50 million for the rain-hit state, Khaleej Times reported. KP Hussain, chairman of Fathima Healthcare Group, has donated Rs 50 million. BR Shetty, chairman of Unimoni and UAE Exchange, had pledged Rs 20 million. Azad Moopen, Indian physician and philanthropist and founder CMD of Aster DM Healthcare, pledged Rs 5 million. PTI ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, August 18 Paneer on sale at prominent sweets shops in Patiala the hometown of Punjabs Chief Minister and Health Minister and being sourced to other parts of Punjab and Haryana may well be refined oil mixed with detergent, urea and processed with acid, police investigations have revealed. The same may also be true of ghee in branded packages, which in some cases has been found to be processed refined oil mixed with chemicals. After conducting raids and grilling an owner of a fakeproducts factory, police officials claimed that the Health Department staff were hand in glove to ensure that such samples got the green signal from the government food-testing laboratory at Kharar. The officials allegedly got a bribe of Rs 5,000 per month per dealer and Rs 10,000 to ensure a safe certificate for the samples collected. On Thursday, SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu sealed a dairy product factory after recovering refined oil, soda, acid and detergent powder. The owner, Anil Kumar Singla, was arrested and the police seized 7,000 litres of spurious milk, 323 bags of skimmed powered milk, 250 litres of chemicals used in making adulterated milk, 20 quintals of paneer and 12 quintals of ghee. No milk was procured, yet milk products were being sold by the factory owner. Nearly 45 quintals of adulterated paneer and tonnes of milk were supplied from the factory daily. The owner would sell paneer at a relatively cheaper rate, an official said. The police also found a borewell in which the owner would dispose of waste products. Singla confessed supplying paneer to certain dairy owners at Rs 120 per kg, which would then be sold by middlemen to sweets and bakery shops in Punjab and Haryana. SSP Sidhu told The Tribune that the nexus was well-knit and all such factory owners would be in touch with middleman dairy owner Sukhwinder Singh. Farmer unions in the state are already protesting that they are suffering losses as unscrupulous elements are supplying cheap milk products. Health Department officials found guilty must be dismissed from service, demanded Consortium of Indian Farmers Association chief Satnam S Behru. Mission Director, Tandarust Punjab, Kahan Singh Pannu confirmed he had received several complaints about the functioning of the Kharar food-testing lab. He said he had written to the authorities for action. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 18 After an exchange of letters with his Punjab counterpart Capt Amarinder Singh on firming up the resolve to effectively eradicate the drug menace from the region, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar is hosting a conference of CMs on the issue on August 20. Khattars Principal Secretary Rajesh Khullar confirmed that while Capt Amarinder Singh, Himachal Pradesh CM Jai Ram Thakur and Uttarakhand CM Trivendra Singh Rawat have confirmed their participation, a similar confirmation from Rajasthan CM Vasundhara Raje Scindia was awaited. Chandigarh will be represented by the Administrator, VP Singh Badnore. Khattar had recently exchanged letters stressing the need for a joint action plan to deal with the menace of drugs from the region. In response, Capt Amarinder Singh had called for joint action by all states in the region to eradicate the drug menace. vinaymishra188@gmail.com In 2013, after the Uttarakhand disaster, I wrote an article in Malayalam explaining how disasters are cyclical and often impact people who are least prepared for it. It read as follows: An astounding quantity of water rushes through the rivers at once during floods. It could raise water levels to unprecedented heights, and impact places far away. But such floods are rare and happen only after a gap of 50 or 100 years. That exactly is the problem too. With the passing of generations, people forget how far the river will swell, but nature never forgets. Even after decades or centuries, the river reclaims its natural boundaries. But by that time, humans may have built a resort or a hotel there, and all of that will be destroyed. Remember the Great Flood in July 1924. Most parts of Kerala then two separate kingdoms went under water. But most people have forgotten it. After the dams were built in Idukki, people are vying to build beautiful houses on the banks of the Periyar. During the last 50 years, it is in those parts that were submerged that we have built establishments ranging from pesticides factories to airports as part of our development. Statistically, it is a certain fact that such rains will occur again, and these places will also be submerged again. So, before we build more flats or supermarkets, it would be wise to check whether such places were submerged in floods earlier. There is a general understanding that dams prevent floods, and it is true during most of the years. But during huge floods, dams are double-edged swords. During the floods in Pakistan in 2010, and in Thailand in 2011, the dams actually worsened the situation. When water levels rise beyond limits, when its shutters are raised only considering the safety of dams, it multiplies the intensity of the tragedy that unfolds below. At the same time, if dams are not opened during floods, it could turn into a tragedy for people who live above the dams. In many places, during the time of floods, there are often arguments and fights between people living below and above the dams. In Pakistan, people got together to open the dams; in Thailand, the army had to be deployed to protect dams. What needs to be done is to reserve enough land for the river to expand during floods. That means, not to build houses near the river, but reserve them for agricultural purposes, and declare in advance that farmers will be compensated for any loss due to flooding, if at all it occurs. If there are cities near rivers, they have to be protected by building safety walls, but never let the density of population rise beyond a point. That is what is happening in many parts of Europe now. The disasters due to floods are worsened by landslides and landslips near the origins of the river. Both are man-made disasters caused by occupying steep hill slopes, building roads, and constructions there. These actions invite disasters. In Kerala, in addition to all these crimes, there is extensive quarrying too. Nature can be protected by preventing these. Actually flood is not a natural disaster, it is a natural phenomenon. It is due to floods that many positive things happen like the recharging of groundwater and the increase in micro-nutrients, etc, in the river valleys. If we adopt Land Use Planning that recognises the natural boundaries of rivers, do not destroy forests in the catchment areas, or the hills, any huge rain will finds its way through land. Instead, if we build houses, hotels, factories and airports along river valleys, and when the river reclaims its rightful space, we cant complain about them as natural tragedies. It is as absurd as parking your car on the railway track and blaming railways for it. While it may appear that even after this clear warning, nothing was done in Kerala to prevent this, that is only partly true. The situation of communities forgetting about disasters is not a Kerala-specific phenomenon. To give Kerala its credit, in 2017, the state Assembly prompted by my writings invited me to speak about climate change and extreme events. The Speaker, CM, half the Cabinet and more than half the MLAs sat for two-and-a-half hours to listen to me. I gave specific recommendations for action and many were picked up. However, events unfolded too fast and we now have to show our true resilience. I would say this is also an opportunity for us to bounce back and build a truly safe state, not passing on the risks we inherited from our parents to the new generation. The writer is the Chief of Disaster Risk Reduction in the UN Environment Programme. The views expressed are his own vinaymishra188@gmail.com Sreevalsan Thiyyadi Seven years after he submitted a detailed report that prescribed ways to conserve Keralas Western Ghats, renowned ecologist Madhav D Gadgil is aggrieved again that his 2011 study of the fragile mountain ranges met with total stonewalling from administrators. The experts worst fears have come true: the southern state is battling its fiercest floods in a century. At age 76 and away in Maharashtras Pune along the northern stretch of the same 1,600-km mountains also called Sahyadri, Gadgil told The Tribune that he feels for the people of Gods Own Country where he had worked intensively for a year as the head of a Centre-deputed committee on environmental protection. Its task was three-fold: compile information on the biodiversity hotspot that is the Ghats, develop a geo-spatial database and interact with government bodies as well as civil-society groups. The nine-member Gadgil panel recommended a regulation on natural exploitation and concrete construction along the Kerala stretch of the Ghats, wanting it to be divided into three zones and conserved with separate levels of intensity. None of it yielded a positive response from the then Oommen Chandy regime. Whats more, protests arose against those homilies made public in 2012, following which another committee headed by scientist K Kasturirangan effectively muted the Gadgil recommendations by preparing a watered-down version in October 2013. Almost every political party had its interest in scuttling our recommendations. They resorted to false propaganda, says Gadgil, founder of the Centre for Ecological Sciences in Bengaluru. Corrupt netas, hand-in-glove with one mafia or the other, sensed a sure slide in slush money. For instance, we found plenty of illegal mining quarries along the hilly tracts of Kannur and Pathanamthitta. They had the patronage of this political party or that religious group. Today, such high ranges on Keralas eastern belt bordering Tamil Nadu are among the worst-affected. Landslides across the week have uprooted their trees, buried buildings along with people and dumped mounds of earth on to rivers. But, arent rains primarily the trigger? Not exactly, says Gadgil, dispassionately. Kerala gets heavy rains over long spells like it did this monsoon too. But this is the first time the state experienced such a flood (after 1924). Why? Id blame ecological degradation aided by mindless construction. In 2018 Kerala, Gadgil says he finds a parallel in 2013 Uttarakhand, when a multiday cloudburst in June led rivers to breach their banks after debris from both sides blocked their course along the Himalayas. Obviously, its human intervention adding to the havoc, he says. On the Western Ghats, stone quarries were polluting the air and water, debilitating the topography. My panel had sought for devolution of power, but they (top rulers) wont permit it. All the same, the administration is keen on building more dams. The present Pinarayi Vijayan regime would quietly make moves to go ahead with a proposed hydel-power project in Thrissur districts Athirappally, famed for its waterfalls, even as resistance from green activists would force it to speak for a consensus. Well, Im no expert on reservoirs, Gadgil shrugs. But I can say my own Maharashtra suffers from such construction lobbies. A Rs 21,000-crore dam got designed by contractors, not engineers! Critically, the ambivalent 163-MW Athirappally project is conceived to come up across the Chalakudy river, which was among the most furious in the present deluge. Wont it be unwise to re-create buildings on floodplains? Oh, wetlands serve as reservoirs, too. One shouldnt tamper with them, Gadgil says. Also, mangroves or paddy fields. A tropical state like Kerala, with sunlight aplenty, can make better use of solar power instead of relying on conventional sources of energy, he agrees. And cites a cruel irony: Most months of a year, the shelved dam-waters simply evaporate. Then, in an emergency, you suddenly open all shutters, and aggravate the floods! vinaymishra188@gmail.com Ajay Banerjee Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 19 In an effort to go green, the Indian Air Force intends to fly planes using a blend of bio-fuel with aviation turbine fuel (ATF). The plan is to fly AN-32 a transport plane over the Rajpath at the forthcoming Republic Day parade in January 2019, says the August 2018 issue brief of the IAF-backed think-tank, the Centre for Air Power Studies (CAPS). The move could reduce the import bill of oil and in turn augment farm incomes in India, says Wing Commander Asheesh Srivastava, a research fellow at CAPS, in the issue brief that has been put in public domain on the website of the CAPS. IAF Chief Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa while addressing an industry seminar on Technology infusion and indigenisation plans of the IAF held last month spoke about the IAFs effort in joining hands with various institutes for this purpose. The Air Chief has offered IAFs aircraft and entire range of in-house testing facilities along with financial support to the project under the IAFs indigenisation (R&D) fund. The fuel will need to be tested and validated using the expertise of the Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP), Dehradun, Defence Research and Development Organisations Centre for Military Airworthiness & Certification and Directorate General of Aeronautical Quality Assurance. Once proven, the technology can be commercialised across the country to augment farmers income. Farm waste and few more forest products may soon have to be re-classified as cash crops in lieu of non-edible waste and could herald a new era in economics of the Indian aviation industry, which aligns with the Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision on biofuels, argues the CAPS paper. The IAF and Indian aviation industry would join the select group of nations who have flown military and commercial aircraft on indigenous bio-jet fuel. The ultimate aim is to fly fighter aircraft with bio-jet fuel just as the United States Air Force (USAF) did in 2010, the difference being that unlike the US case, the fuel would be sourced from non-food produce, harvested from non-agriculture land holdings. Bio-fuel planned to be produced in India is sourced from non-edible vegetable oil, therefore, negating the Food vs Fuel debate. Going green I think these guys understand what theyre supposed to do, not supposed to do, Renteria said Saturday. I think they understand where they can make things (happen). The steal of third got us a run. The steal of second got us a run. Ultimately these guys are learning who they are and what they can bring to the table. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Aurangabad, August 18 An AIMIM corporator has been arrested on charges of trying to promote enmity and incite riot after he opposed a resolution in the municipal corporation to pay tribute to former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee, police said on Saturday. The police later also registered a case against five BJP corporators, including the deputy mayor of the city, for allegedly thrashing the AIMIM corporator at the meeting of the civic body in Aurangabad in central Maharashtra. Syed Mateen Sayyad Rashid, a member of the Aurangabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) belonging to the All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM), was arrested on Friday night, a police official said. The arrest was made after a complaint was filed against him by the AMCs security officer, he said. Rashid said he was opposing the move to pay homage to Vajpayee in a democratic manner, but was assaulted by BJP corporators. PTI Bihar Prof beaten up for FB post An assistant professor of Mahatma Gandhi Central University was allegedly beaten up by a group of youths for sharing a Facebook post critical of Atal Bihari Vajpayee Sanjay Kumar had reportedly shared a post questioning Vajpayees political ideology. He claimed that the post was opposed on the site, but he did not suspect the attack to be a fallout of that. He said campus rivalry could be the reason for the attack. A clip showed a group of youths dragging him out of his house, stripping and thrashing him . vinaymishra188@gmail.com The rescue operations in flood-ravaged Kerala entered the last phase with week-long rains largely abated and daily death toll sliding to 16. Rehabilitation work gained momentum with the Centre set to send cereals and medical items amid increased participation of governmental bodies and voluntary organisations. The death toll touched 210 on a day several riverine towns and villages resurfaced from the deluge. Waste disposal became the area of focus, with more people returning to their homes littered with muck even as 5,645 refugee camps housed 7.25 lakh displaced in the disaster. Red alert has been withdrawn in all 14 districts. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said most of the states 39 dams had begun shutting more of their sluice gates. Most of the marooned had been rescued and the focus would now be on rehabilitation, he added. Road traffic resumed partly on vital roads like national and state highways, while the Railways announced it wouldnt charge freight if the consignment to Kerala was relief material. Most of the 23,213 rescued persons expressed anger over the delay in moving them to safer places. TNS uttara@tribuneindia.com New Delhi, August 19 Over 6,000 candidates have shown interest in 10 posts of joint secretaries in the central government offered to private sector specialists as part of the Modi government's bid to bring in fresh talent in bureaucracy, officials said on Sunday. The Personnel Ministry had recently announced recruiting 10 joint secretaries in select government departments through "lateral entry" mode, thus allowing private sector talents to join the government on contractual basis. A total of 6,077 applications have been received for the joint secretary posts, the officials said. The posts of joint secretaries are in revenue, financial services, economic affairs, agriculture and farmers welfare, road transport and highways, shipping, environment, forest and climate change, new and renewable energy, civil aviation and commerce departments. The deadline to apply for the posts was July 30. The term 'lateral entry' relates to the appointment of specialists, mainly those from private sector, in government organisations. There are a maximum of 1,100 applicants against one post, depending on the department concerned. The minimum application for a post is 290. "The central government has started the process of short-listing the candidates," a senior Personnel Ministry official said. There are about 5,004 Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, against the strength of 6,500, working across the country. Usually, the posts of joint secretaries are manned by the IAS, IPS, IFS, IRS officers recruited through civil services examination conducted by the UPSC. Citing the names of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, who was also a bureaucrat, and the then Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission Montek Singh Ahluwalia, who was appointed through the lateral recruitment route, the government had last month informed Parliament that there has been no adverse effect on the morale of the civil servants due to such appointments. In a written reply to Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Personnel Jitendra Singh said the government had decided to undertake lateral recruitment of 10 joint secretaries on contractual basis in order to achieve the twin objectives of bringing in fresh talent as well as augmenting the availability of manpower. On whether this practice had been followed earlier also, the minister said there was lateral recruitment of some prominent persons to man specific assignments from time to time. "This includes, among others, appointment of Manmohan Singh, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, Vijay Kelkar, Bimal Jalan, Shankar Acharya, Rakesh Mohan, Arvind Virmani, Arvind Panagariya, Arvind Subramanian and Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, Parameswaran Iyer and Ram Vinay Shahi. No adverse effect on the morale of the civil servants has resulted from lateral recruitments," he said. Kelkar had been former Finance Secretary, Jalan the ex-RBI Governor, Mohan former Deputy RBI Governor, and Acharya, Virmani and Subramanian, the former chief economic advisers. Panagriya had been Vice Chairman of Niti Ayiog (formerly Planning Commission) and Kotecha is Secretary, Ministry of Ayush. Iyer, a former IAS officer and sanitation expert, is Secretary, Ministry of Drinking Water and Sanitation. Shahi was former Power Secretary. Government think tank Niti Ayog, in its three-year action agenda 2017-18 to 2019-20, highlighted that it is essential specialists be inducted into the system through lateral entry on fixed-term contract, the minister said. The Sectoral Group of Secretaries (SGoS) submitted a report in February, 2017 in which it has inter alia been observed that there is shortage of officers at the Joint Secretary, Director, Deputy Secretary levels, due to reduction in recruitment in the service during 1995-2002. "Based on the recommendation of SGoS, government has decided to undertake lateral recruitment of ten Joint Secretaries on contract basis in order to achieve the twin objectives of bringing in fresh talent as well as augment the availability of manpower," Singh said. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Ahmedabad, August 19 A Pakistani fishing boat with nine crew members on board has been apprehended by the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) from the Arabian Sea off the Gujarat coast, a release said on Sunday. The coast guard ship, Meera Behn, noticed the boat towards the Indian side of the International Maritime Boundary Line (IMBL) last evening. The boat, Al Asha, and its nine crew members were apprehended for allegedly fishing in the Indian waters, the defence statement said. The crew members were taken to the Okha Port in Devbhumi Dwarka district of Gujarat, where they were handed over to the local marine police, the release said. Fishing activities and the presence of Pakistani boats close to the maritime boundary line are reported regularly by intelligence and securities agencies, due to which the ICG personnel patrol the area round-the-clock, it added. PTI pardeepdhull@gmail.com Kochi (Kerala), August 19 A deluge in flood-stricken southwestern state of Kerala finally let up on Sunday, giving some respite for thousands of marooned families, while authorities feared an outbreak of disease among two million people crammed into relief camps. The death toll due to the devastating rain and floods in Kerala increased to 370, as two more deaths were reported on Sunday with rescue operations continuing in the worst-affected districts of Alappuzha, Ernakulam and Thrissur. Authorities also withdrew the red alert which was issued in these three districts and the India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Sunday predicted moderate rain in a few districts of the state. The worst-affected places, where people have remained stranded for the past three days without food or water, include Chengannur, Pandalam, Thiruvalla, several areas in Pathanamthitta district and in Ernakulams Aluva, Angamaly and Paravur. But there were reports of fresh rain from these places resulting in a decrease in the water levels. The Indian Army has led rescue efforts to reach people in communities cut off for days by the floods, with many trapped on roof tops and the upper floors of their homes, and in desperate need of food and potable water. Rescue teams were focused on the town of Chengannur on the banks of the Pamba River, where some 5,000 people are feared to be trapped, officials said. Anil Vasudevan, who handles disaster management at the Kerala health department, said authorities had isolated three people with chickenpox in one of the relief camps in Aluva town, nearly 250 km (155 miles) from state capital Thiruvananthapuram. He said the department was preparing to deal with a possible outbreak of water-borne and air-borne diseases in the camps, where an estimated two million people have taken shelter since the monsoon rains began three months ago. Late on Saturday, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that there was no shortage of food in the state as traders had stocked up ahead of a local festival. The only problem is transporting it, he told reporters. The central government and public have cooperated well in this effort to fight this disaster. He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who visited the state on Saturday, announced an assistance of Rs 500 crore against his request for Rs 20,000 crore. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum of the United Arab Emirates, where many Keralites work, has also offered assistance to the state. Meanwhile, a group of stranded fishermen who came to help with the rescue work in Alapuzzha from the state capital complained over the lack of coordination between authorities. We rescued several people but now there is no one to help us return to where we came from with our boats. We risked our lives in the rescue work but now theres no help for us, the group said. V.D. Sateeshan, a Congress legislator from Paravur, Ernakulam, slammed the state Health Ministry over its failure to send relief teams. In response, Health Minister K.K. Shailaja said that although the water level has come down in many areas, medical facilities might not have reached certain regions due to the magnitude of the crisis. This is because medical professionals found it difficult to reach the affected areas and by now it has been almost resolved. We need a huge quantity of medicines. A major health drive is being planned to prevent communicable diseases, the minister said. She added that medical teams from neighbouring states will arrive soon. Now the problem is that with the water level coming down, it might not be able to operate the big boats and hence we will have to use small or rubber boats. There are areas in Chengannur where rescue missions are yet to reach and also in some interior water logged areas in Alappuzha, said a group of rescue workers in Alappuzha. Rain in the catchment areas of the big dams in Idukki district has also subsided with the authorities shutting two of the five floodgates at the Idukki dam. The outflow of water from both the Mullaperiyar and Idukki dams have also reduced. As a result of this, the water flow into the Periyar and its tributaries that flow through Ernakulam and Thrissur has come down. On Sunday, the Kottayam rail sector restarted operations with special passenger trains, The state-run Kerala State Road Transport Corporation also restarted operations on the MC Road to Kottayam. Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) General Secretary Sitaram Yechury, who arrived in the state capital earlier on Sunday, told the media that the central assistance that has been sanctioned was too little. The response from all across the country has been very well what needs to be done now is that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should declare this crisis as a national disaster, said Yechury. Responding to the Kerala oppositions demand that the rescue operations should be handed over to the Army, state CPI-M secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said Leader of Opposition Ramesh Chennithala was playing politics when the state was facing one of the worst ever natural disasters. The rules are very clear and it is that the Army should act under the National Disaster Management Authority. Its not possible to hand it over to the Army and Chennithala is playing politics, said Balakrishnan. Kerala is facing the heaviest rain and consequent widespread floods and destruction since 1924, which the state estimates has caused a loss of over Rs 19,500 crore. Agencies ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Sreevalsan Thiyyadi State-run buses and private rescue boats on Saturday plied back and forth along the flooded roads of Kerala even as rehabilitation efforts received a fresh impetus with the Centre announcing an interim relief of Rs 500 crore for the monsoon-battered state. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after an aerial view of the deluge that has killed 200 people this week, also announced Rs 2 lakh for each of the bereaved families and Rs 50,000 for the grievously injured. In Kochi, he was all praise for residents for joining hands to overcome the crisis. He promised that damaged houses would be rebuilt at the earliest. The Pinarayi Vijayan government put the loss at Rs 19,512 crore and sought an aid of Rs 2,000 crore. We expect more aid soon, the CM said in Thiruvananthapuram, emphasising the need for more helicopters and motorised boats to rescue the marooned. Pointing out that rains had damaged stocks in godowns, he anticipated food shortage and sought additional grain from the Centre. The weekend saw grocery shops and milk kiosks running out of stock, fuel stations running dry and ATMs out of cash. Road and rail services have been restored partially. With Kerala facing the threat of more rains from a fresh low-pressure trough moving southwest from the Odisha coast, the authorities have placed all but three of the states 14 districts under red alert and partly opened some dams. Even as all 39 reservoirs, including the massive Mullaperiyar and Idukki, recorded lower water levels, hill tracts along the Western Ghats continued to report landslips in Wayanad and Pathanamthitta districts. At least 3,000 people are stuck in Palakkads upper Nelliyampathi range. The Muvattupuzha river, 35 km east of Kochi, has changed course along a stretch. At least 24 more deaths were recorded on Saturday. A body was found floating in the submerged bus stand of south-central Keralas Tiruvalla town in Pathanamthitta district. Four corpses emerged under a bridge near Chengannur. Some refugee camps saw waterlogging. The water receded in the riverine towns of Aluva (Ernakulam) and Chalakudy (Thrissur). But in the suburbs of Potta, rescuers found two persons dead at a meditation centre. Meanwhile, the Opposition Congress blamed the state government for not having sought Army help when rains began to look menacing four days ago. Partys state leader Ramesh Chennithala blamed the delay on the CMs false pride" while in Delhi, Congress national president Rahul Gandhi appealed to the Centre to declare Kerala floods as a national disaster. Even as desperate calls for help continued amid disrupted communications, the social media struck notes of optimism. Hashtags suggesting We will overcome found currency on Facebook and Twitter. The police cyber cell announced it would book those raising a false alarm and sharing videos. The BJP also expressed solidarity with the people of Kerala and said its workers will visit each house in the affected areas as a part of the rehabilitation measures. Alert in AP, Tgana With the Godavari in spate, a red alert has been sounded in East and West Godavari districts of Andhra and Bhadradri district of Telangana Water level in Bhadrachalam, Telangana, continues to rise. CM K Chandrasekhar Rao announced Rs 25 crore for Kerala Karanataka CM HDK undertook an aerial survey to assess damage in Coorg and announced help TNS 3.14 lakh people in relief camps Monsoon mayhem 194 persons dead since second spell of rain fury hit Kerala on Aug 8 357 have died since May 29 when south-west monsoon hit the state 58 NDRF rescue teams deployed, highest ever by the agency 40,000 hectares of agricultural land inundated 1,000 houses fully destroyed and 26,000 partially Relief on way Kochi naval air strip to be opened for commercial aircraft from Monday Truckloads of relief material sent by Punjab; Rajasthan SDRF team leaves for Kerala Rainfall to abate from Aug 20: Weather dept 16,000 km of PWD roads, 82,000 km of local roads destroyed; 134 bridges damaged vinaymishra188@gmail.com Tribune News Service Mumbai, August 19 The CBI has detained Shrikant Pangarkar, a former member of the Jalna Municipal Corporation representing the Shiv Sena, in connection with the murder of rationalist Narendra Dabholkar in 2013. According to police sources, Pangarkar was picked up by the CBI after key accused Sachin Prakashrao Andure named him as one of his associates. Andure was on Sunday produced before the court of Judicial Magistrate First Class AS Mujumdar at Shivajinagar, Pune, amid heavy security. While seeking his custody for 14 days, CBI counsel (public prosecutor) Vijaykumar Dhakane said the investigation revealed that Andure had received shooting training at various places in Maharashtra and Karnataka before executing Dabholkars killing. The CBI needs to investigate where he underwent the shooting training and also people who provided the required infrastructure to both the shooters, he said. After hearing the arguments, the court sent Andure to the CBI custody till August 26. Investigators said Andure was one of the main men who gunned down Dabholkar while he was on his morning walk on August 20, 2013. Andure, who worked as a salesman in a cloth shop, is presently in the CBI custody. Sources say Pangarkar and Andure were both part of a hardline Hindutva network with links to the Sanatan Sanstha and the Hindu Jangruti Samiti. Pangarkars Facebook profile has several articles from the Hindu Jangruti Samiti featured on it. Some of the articles are openly abusive of Muslims living in different part of Maharashtra and those espousing the campaign against superstitious practices. Reports quoting CBI officials said Andure had told investigators that Pangarkar, 40, was riding pillion with him when he stopped to shoot Dabholkar. Andure was among several Sanatan Sanstha activists who were picked up following the arrest of three people with explosives from different parts of Maharashtra last week. (With PTI inputs) Andure got training in Maha, Ktaka: CBI gspannu7@gmail.com Vibha Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 19 The BJP on Sunday berated the Congress for revoking the suspension of senior Congress leader Mani Shankar Aiyar and also accused Punjab minister Navjot Singh Sidhu of trying to enter the forbidden zone of diplomacy reserved only for the Central Government during his controversial visit to Pakistan. Upping the ante against Sidhu, BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said diplomacy was always the duty of the Central Government and no state government could ever enter into it. No chief minister, no minister of a state can ever enter the zone of diplomacy. What Navjot Singh Sidhu tried to do is enter into the forbidden zone reserved only for the Central Government through pappi and jhaphi (a kiss and a hug). This is absolute immaturity, when you go and hug the army chief of Pakistan it sends out a message. While India maintains strictly that Pakistans deep state is involved in killing of innocent Indian citizens and jawans, to hug him and say that you hugged him because he talked peace is why we are asking Congress president Rahul Gandhi to explain the double standards of his party leaders, said Patra in his renewed attack against Sidhu. However, some foreign affairs experts have questioned Patras logic citing West Bengals role in Indias foreign policy with Bangladesh and of Tamil Nadu with Sri Lanka. Sidhu said when Pakistan army chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa walked to him to greet and hug him, he reciprocated the gesture when he was informed about the proposal to provide free access to Sikh devotees to historic Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib, one of their holiest of holy shrines. Meanwhile, Patra again demanded to know whether he had taken permission from Congress chief Rahul Gandhi for the visit. Though as per some political observers Sidhu, as a legislator, had sought permission from the Centre, which was given and perceived as an attempt to keep communication channels open with Pakistan. On being pointed about the Centres clearance, Patra said: This is a sovereign country and anyone trying to get a visa or a passport for any other country is something which should not be seen under the ambit of diplomacy. pardeepdhull@gmail.com Thiruvananthapuram, August 19 Thousands of people in flood-hit areas in Kerala are battling all odds to survive as the death toll has touched 197 in the past 10 days in the second spell of monsoon fury since August 8. Many are still stranded in their homes with no food and sheaths of water around them at various places in Alapuzha, Thrissur and Ernakulam districts. The maximum death toll has been reported from Idukki district, where 43 people have lost their lives so far, as per official estimates. Twenty eight deaths were reported in Malappuram and 27 in Thrissur. At Chengannur in Alapuzha district, at least 5,000 are stranded, according to revenue officials. Over six lakh people are in relief camps across the state. This is a second birth for us. We did not have any food for the last four days and there was neck deep water all around, said a woman survivor in a relief camp at Ranni in Pathanamthitta district. A woman at Aranmula near Alapuzha said they had not had any food or water for two days. Many people are still stranded as they prefer to be in their homes. At Paravur in Ernakulam district, six persons are said to have been killed as a portion of a church collapsed on Wednesday night. At least 600 are stranded in the church and no help has come from any quarter so far, an angry survivor in chest deep water told a television channel. There is no food or drinking water... no one has so far come to help us. However, there is no official confirmation about the deaths of the six persons in the church so far. Agriculture minister V S Sunil Kumar said at least 42 villages in Kole wetlands in Thrissur were inundated after the Karivannur river changed its course following breach of a bund road. Over 2 lakh people in Thrissur district are in relief camps, he said. In some relief, Kochi Naval airport will start operating commercial flights from tomorrow. This was due to closure of the Kochi International airport till August 26 following flooding of the runway and airport areas in the heavy rains. The Railways has cancelled at least 18 trains, partially cancelled nine and diverted todays Kanyakumari-Mumbai CST express train via Nagercoil, Tirunelveli, Madurai, Dindigul and Erode. With several stretches across the state being destroyed, the services of the Kerala State Transport Corporation and private buses have also been affected. Along with personnel of the Army, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard and the NDRF, hundreds of fishermen and local people are engaged in relief operations. A young officer safely winched to safety a baby from a building marooned by flood waters yesterday, while at another place girl students from a hostel were rescued in a similar manner. A 24-year-old man, who rescued his mother and siblings after their home was fully flooded, lost his life as he tripped and fell into the fast flowing waters while helping his aged father. His body was recovered yesterday. His father, who held on to a fallen tree branch, was saved from the flood water. Some confections, like Reeses Peanut Butter Cups, Hersheys bars and Baby Ruths have been popular ever since trick-or-treating came into vogue. But other candies have gone in and out of fashion (and production). What was in your trick-or-treat bag when you were going door-to-door? To determine the top candy of every decade, The Daily Meal researched treat trends and when todays most popular candies debuted. So, take a walk down memory lane and see the newest and most beloved Halloween candies of every decade. ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Shahira Naim Tribune News Service Lucknow, August 18 The Uttar Pradesh Government has decided to build four memorials as a tribute to former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. A proposal to this effect is likely to be tabled and approved in the next Cabinet meeting. Vajpayees memories would be kept alive at his ancestral village of Bateshwar in Agra district from where his family had migrated to Gwalior. On the orders of CM Yogi Adityanath, Sub Divisional Magistrate Arun Kumar of Bah tehsil, under which Bateshwar falls, has already visited the village to review the state of the ruin which was once Vajpayees ancestral house. The second memorial is to come up in Kanpur where Vajpayee was a student of DAV College from where he acquired a Masters degree in political science. He stayed in room number 104 of DAV hostel, which is scheduled to be renamed after him. The third memorial will come up in Balrampur from where 33-year-old Vajpayee won his first electoral battle in 1957 and entered the Lok Sabha and then repeated the feat in 1967. The fourth memorial would be built in Lucknow described by him as his karmabhoomi. He not only represented Lucknow in the Lok Sabha for five consecutive terms from 1991 to 2004 but had a personal connect with the city where he first came as a journalist. The state government has also announced to immerse Vajpayees ashes in 42 rivers of Uttar Pradesh so that people in the state also get a chance to connect with his last journey. The CM is travelling to Haridwar on Sunday to be present for the immersion of his ashes at Har ki Pauri. Later, his ashes will arrive at Lucknow airport in the afternoon and would be escorted in a cavalcade to the BJP headquarters. Selected sites editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Khamano, August 19 Six labourers were killed and four sustained severe injuries after a wall at the site of an under-construction rice mill collapsed at Lakhanpur village here on Sunday. Five of them died on the spot. The injured were rushed to Government Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh, where another succumbed to his injuries. The condition of the remaining four is stated to be critical. Sources said at least 16 labourers were plastering the 30-ft high wall when it suddenly collapsed. The victims were trapped under the debris. Hearing their cries, villagers rushed to the site and informed the police. Khamano SHO Navdeep Singh reached the site and joined the rescue work. The labourers were pulled out after over 30 minutes. While five were found dead, the injured were rushed to Khamano civil hospital from where five were referred to Chandigarh. The deceased were identified as Harpreet Singh of Manawala village in Sangrur, Rajvir Singh of Dhuri, Jagjit Singh and Manjit Singh of Lakhanpur village, Rameshwar and Raghvir Singh of Farour village, near Khamano. The injured are Lakhvir Singh of Dhuri, Makhan Singh of Gaggarpur, near Dhuri, and Jasvir Singh and Bhajan Singh of Farour village. Raju Lakhanpuri, a villager who was present at the site, said a Sangrur resident had purchased land in the village and started constructing the mill about three months ago. Some villagers alleged that the foundation was built using substandard material and the wall was being watered daily which resulted in its collapse. The SHO said they had registered a case against Rajesh Kumar Puri and Himanshu Bansal, site owners and residents of Dhuri, and Avtar Singh Bhola, a contractor, under Section 304 of the IPC. He said the bodies would be handed over to the families after a post-mortem examination on Monday. Last month, three labourers had been electrocuted in New Punjabi Bagh locality of Ludhiana while they were plastering the wall of a house. One labourer had died after he came into contact with a high-tension wire. The others had got a fatal shock when they attempted to save him. The deceased had been identified as Satranjan Rai and Mukesh from Uttar Pradesh and Rakesh from Bihar. They were living in a rented accommodation in the Jodhewal area. CM announces Rs 1 lakh relief Chandigarh: CM Capt Amarinder Singh on Sunday announced ex gratia of Rs 1 lakh each to the kin of the deceased labourers. The CM directed Fatehgarh Sahib DC Shivdular Singh Dhillon to ensure best possible medial aid to the five injured. He said the entire cost of their treatment would be borne by the state government. The CM has directed the PWD to submit a report on the reasons for the wall collapse. TNS editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Attari, August 19 Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday returned from Pakistan after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad. Though the visit was approved by the Centre, it evoked strong reactions from various quarters. Sidhu even faced a protest outside the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari. Activists of Pagri Sambhal Jatta, carrying anti-Sidhu placards, showed black flags to the ministers cavalcade. He tried to pacify his critics by saying that Imran Khan intended to improve ties between India and Pakistan and has pledged to take two steps if India takes one. Now the need is to take that one step convincingly. The decisions are made at the government level. I was just an invitee in my personal capacity, but I have retunred loaded with love and warmth, he said. What had offended some back home was his preference of attending Khans oath-taking ceremony over the last rites of his political mentor and former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also drew flak for hugging Pakistans Army chief Omar Javed Bajwa and sharing seat next to PoK president Masood Khan. Clarifying his stance, Sidhu said: When the General walked down to greet me, a brief conversation started on a lighter note. He said to me, Navjot, we want peace. Then on his own, he cited a proposal to open the corridor leading to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. It is a four-decade-long demand. How could have I reacted to it in a better way other than giving him a hug, he said. On sharing seat next to the PoK president, he said: I was sitting with another Indian friend of Khan Sahib when the protocol official asked me to take a seat in the front row. I just abided by it as it was an official function. Many Pakistan dignitaries were sitting there whom I did not recognise. The PoK president was among them. What is the point of giving it a political colour? he said. The Congress had on Saturday defended Sidhus Pakistan visit, calling it a step in the right direction. PPCCchief Sunil Jakhar had said: Sidhu has shown sportsmanship by accepting the invitation from Imran Khan. The ball is now in the latters court, whether he can reciprocate the gesture and show hes his own person and not a Pakistan Army proxy. rajivbhatia82@gmail.com GS Paul Tribune News Service Attari, August 19 Tourism Minister Navjot Singh Sidhu on Sunday returned from Pakistan after attending the swearing-in ceremony of Prime Minister Imran Khan in Islamabad. Though the visit was approved by the Centre, it evoked strong reactions from various quarters. Sidhu even faced a protest outside the Integrated Check Post (ICP) at Attari. Activists of Pagri Sambhal Jatta, carrying anti-Sidhu placards, showed black flags to the ministers cavalcade. He tried to pacify his critics by saying that Imran Khan intended to improve ties between India and Pakistan and has pledged to take two steps if India takes one. Now the need is to take that one step convincingly. The decisions are made at the government level. I was just an invitee in my personal capacity, but I have retunred loaded with love and warmth, he said. What had offended some back home was his preference of attending Khans oath-taking ceremony over the last rites of his political mentor and former PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He also drew flak for hugging Pakistans Army chief Omar Javed Bajwa and sharing seat next to PoK president Masood Khan. Clarifying his stance, Sidhu said: When the General walked down to greet me, a brief conversation started on a lighter note. He said to me, Navjot, we want peace. Then on his own, he cited a proposal to open the corridor leading to Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib on the occasion of 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev. It is a four-decade-long demand. How could have I reacted to it in a better way other than giving him a hug, he said. On sharing seat next to the PoK president, he said: I was sitting with another Indian friend of Khan Sahib when the protocol official asked me to take a seat in the front row. I just abided by it as it was an official function. Many Pakistan dignitaries were sitting there whom I did not recognise. The PoK president was among them. What is the point of giving it a political colour? he said. editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Ferozepur, August 18 Three motorcycle-borne assailants freed a cross-border drug peddler from custody after opening fire at a police team here on Saturday. He was identified as Harbhajan Singh alias Rana, a resident of Nihala Khilcha village in the district. Head Constable Lachhman Singh, who received two bullet injuries in the thigh, was taken to Government Medical College, Faridkot. A three-member police team had brought Rana, who was lodged in the high-security Nabha jail, for a court appearance here. After the court proceedings, the cops were taking him back to Patiala district in a police van. They had halted for lunch at a dhaba near Ghall Khurd village on the Ferozepur-Moga road when the bikers arrived and fired at them. Two cops escaped unhurt, even as the assailants fled with Rana. In June, the police had arrested four gangsters in Moga and recovered three pistols from their possession. They had planned to help Rana escape from the Ferozepur Central Jail, following which he was shifted to Nabha. In December 2015, the Ferozepur police had arrested Rana, following an intelligence input, from Gatti Rajoke area along the India-Pakistan border. The cops had recovered 22.5-kg heroin from his possession. His accomplices, Rishi alias Babbar of Zirakpur and Saurabh of Phillaur, had also been arrested. Pritam Singh, SSP, said Rana had been booked in several cases under the NDPS Act, adding that he was a key conduit of Pakistan-based operatives. Sources said the police team which brought Rana here did not give prior information to their local counterparts about their arrival. Mukhwinder Singh, SP (Headquarters), said the police would probe the lapses that had led to Ranas escape. editorial@tribune.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 18 The Punjab and Haryana High Court is set to launch a formal online system for receiving feedback from litigants. Chief Justice Krishna Murari will unveil the initiative on Sunday. It will enable people to give feedback or air grievances related to the High Court, besides subordinate courts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. High Court Computer Committee chairman Justice Rajesh Bindal said the status of the feedback/grievance could be tracked online till its disposal. The judge said the lawyers and litigants would not only be able to view the case status, but also be reminded of the pending litigation a day before it was listed for hearing. He added that the android-based mobile application was one of the IT-based initiatives to be launched by the Chief Justice for the benefit of litigants. The app, which can be downloaded from Google Play Store, will help the user search the case status though case number, advocate name or party details. He will also be able to save details using the My Diary module. The benefits editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 18 Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh visited the residence of former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee here on Saturday to pay homage to the departed leader. The CM met Vajpayees foster daughter Namita, son-in-law Ranjan Bhattacharyya and other family members, an official spokesperson said. He also wrote in the condolence book. The CM recalled that Vajpayee had visited Punjab in 1970 for campaigning. Capt Amarinder was then contesting his first election (Dakala bypoll) after sitting MLA Basant Singh was killed by Naxalites. The CM remembered the former Prime Minister as a great leader, an excellent statesman, a dignified politician and a fine human being. His death had left a vacuum that would be hard to fill, Capt Amarinder said. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 18 All MPs and MLAs of the Punjab Congress, led by CM Capt Amarinder Singh, will donate their one-month salary to support the Kerala flood relief measures. The decision follows a directive from AICC president Rahul Gandhi to all Congress members of Parliament and members of Legislative Assemblies across the country to give a months salary each to help the flood-hit people of Kerala. According to a party spokesperson, the Chief Minister has announced his decision to immediately donate his one-month salary to ensure speedy relief for the flood-ravaged south Indian state. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 19 A 38-year-old man stabbed his brother and sister to death after an argument in Amritsar on Saturday night. The deceased are Chandan Kumar (40), a police inspector posted in Kapurthala district and Bindu Bala (45). The accused, Deepak Kumar, has been arrested and a murder case has been registered against him on the statement of his mother Usha Rani. Usha is a Class IV employee in the local Municipal Corporation. While Bindu died on the spot, Chandan succumbed to his injures in a hospital two hours later. The incident occurred around 12.30 am. It was Chandan who had informed the police about the incident. Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police Lakhbir Singh said the police reached the spot and rushed them to a hospital, where doctors declared Bindu dead. Both victims had sustained a number of stab injuries. He said while Chandan and Bindu were both divorced, Deepak was unmarried. Another sister of them was married in Jalandhar. A preliminary probe revealed that Deepak was upset as he wanted to marry, but Chandan and Bindu didnt agree as he was not employed. On Saturday, they had an argument over the issue and in a fit of anger, Deepak stabbed them to death with a knife. Usha Rani was sleeping in another room at the time of the incident. Hearing the noise, she raised the alarm, following which neighbours came and found the two siblings in a pool of blood. Lakhbir said the police arrested the accused and recovered the murder weapon. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Sangrur, August 18 A group of liquor smugglers allegedly opened fire on a police party of the Ranike police post here on Saturday. While five were arrested, five of them escaped from the spot. The police also confiscated 180 boxes of smuggled liquor, which was being transported in three different vehicles. The police party led by incharge Pritpal Singh during patrolling saw three vehicles coming from Alal village side near Mullowal village school at 3 am. A motorcycle was leading all three vehicles. When the police signalled them to stop, three youths stepped out of a car, fired upon the police party and fled towards fields. The police caught five persons from three vehicles, including Corolla, Innova and Maxi cab, and seized 180 boxes of Haryana-made liquor. We are conducting raids to arrest the remaining accused, said Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Pritpal Singh. The arrested include Lakhvir Singh, Gaurav Sharma, Gurpreet Singh, Gurjant Singh and Balwant Singh. Those who escaped have been identified as Devinder Singh, Bunty, Sonu, Balwant Singh and Rinku. The police have registered a case under Section 307 of the IPC, Sections 25, 54 and 59 of the Arms Act and 61/1/14 of the Excise Act. The police are conducting raids to arrest all absconding accused, said Akashdeep Aulakh, Dhuri Deputy Superintendent of Police. Constable, aide held Muktsar: The Lambi police on Friday arrested two persons, including a constable, for allegedly smuggling 11 boxes of liquor from Haryana in a car near Killianwali village. The accused have been identified as constable Sandeep Singh and Tejpal Singh, both of Abulkhurana village. The cop was posted at Sadar Muktsar police station. A case has been registered against them. tns editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 18 Gobind Singh Longowal, SGPC president, has asserted that violent incidents with the minority Sikh community in different parts of the country are like reminding them of being second-class citizens in the country. A week after Akal Takht Jathedar expressing his displeasure over violent incidents against Sikhs and disrespect to their religious symbols, the SGPC shot off a communique to the Union Home Minister and heads of Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan governments over atrocities against some Sikh families in these states. He pointed out that in a recently reported incident in Hisar of Haryana a Sikh family was humiliated and in another incident at Rajasthans Bikaner a Sikh was beaten up and his kes (hair) were desecrated. In a communique to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhra Raje, Longowal demanded strict action against those who violated the law by physically assaulting Sikhs and disrespecting their religious symbols. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Gurbachan Singh asked the governments of Haryana and Rajasthan to take action against the offenders who assaulted Sikh families. The SGPC has also sought the intervention of the External Affairs Ministry in impressing upon the US government to prevent hate crimes against Sikhs. Ensure Sikhs security: Dal Khalsa to Imran Amritsar: Dal Khalsa, in a communication forwarded through Pakistans High Commissioner in New Delhi, has requested Prime Minister Imran Khan to resolve Sikh issues on priority. Dal Khalsa head Harpal Singh Cheema hoped that Imran would safeguard the interests of all Pakistani citizens, including the minority Sikh population. He urged Imran to celebrate Guru Nanaks 550th birth anniversary at Nankana Sahib. tns gspannu7@gmail.com Chandigarh, August 19 To resolve the infighting plaguing the AAP in Punjab, the partys national convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said he was not averse to holding talks with the dissident group of MLAs led by Sukhpal Singh Khaira, in the interest of the party. Kejriwal also ruled out any alliance with the Congress for the next years Lok Sabha polls, saying, No, that is not happening. During his visit to Punjab today, mainly to attend the bhog ceremony of party MLA Kulwant Singhs father at Mehal Kalan, Kejriwal went to residence of party MLA Aman Arora in Sunam, where he had an informal meeting with 11 of the AAP legislators from Punjab. Notably, on the call of the AAPs legislative wing, Arora has already initiated talks with the dissident group of legislators ahead of the Punjab Assembly session slated later this month. The AAP had replaced Khaira with Cheema as the leader of opposition last month, triggering a revolt by eight out of its 20 MLAs that plunged the state unit into crisis. Khaira had dubbed his removal undemocratic. The holding of talks by Sunam MLA Aman Arora with Khaira group assumes significance as the main opposition party AAP would like to be seen as united in the crucial Assembly session, during which Justice Ranjit Singh Commissions report on sacrilege issue would be tabled. Punjab Vidhan Session will start from August 24 till 28. Interacting with reporters at Aroras residence, Kejriwal was fielded questions on the issue of dissident MLAs who have reportedly opened a front against their own party. On the Khaira issue, Kejriwal said, In every party, in every family, there are issues and fights. I believe that some colleagues who are unhappy will be persuaded. I have also asked some of my MLAs to reach out to them and if need is felt, even I will talk to them. When asked why the Khaira group was not invited for todays meeting with MLAs at Sunam, the Delhi chief minister, who was accompanied by his deputy, Manish Sisodia, said, No formal meeting was planned today. Notably, Khaira also maintained a distance from Kejriwal at the bhog ceremony. Kejriwal said, Whosoever holds some grudge, maybe they have some good suggestion, we will implement that. Our aim is to unite the entire Punjab and the entire country. We will attempt to reach out to all those who hold any kind of grudge. If need be, I will talk to them (the dissidents). Dissident MLAs, led by Khaira had earlier declared the partys Punjab unit autonomous and dissolved its current organisational structure during a convention at Bathinda on August 2. PTI editorial@tribune.com Ruchika M Khanna Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 18 The Justice Ranjit Singh Commission has indicted the previous SAD-BJP government for its failure to either trace the theft of bir of Guru Granth Sahib from Burj Jawahar Singh Wala village and for police firing on protesters at Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan. It, however, stops short of holding former CM Parkash Singh Badal responsible with any degree of surety. The report, claim sources, has given Badal the benefit of the doubt, saying either he or the then DGP (Sumedh Singh Saini) ordered the use of force against protesters at Kotkapura on October 14, 2015. Quoting a witness, the report says Badal had agreed with the Faridkot administration and local Akali MLA Mantar Singh Brar that the police should not use force to lift the dharna. As per the witness, the situation changed after Brar spoke to DGP Saini thrice on October 14, who assured that the dharna would be lifted within 10 minutes, and this resulted in police action. The decision to use force came from the DGP without giving due consideration to the views of the administration, an official source, quoted the inquiry report. The report, it is learnt, says that the DGP had his ways and the CM also could not tell him to desist from using force. Several people, who were protesting at Bargari were injured in a stampede caused after the police used force. On the same day, a police team led by the then Moga SSP Charanjit Singh Sharma used force on another group of protesters at Behbal Kalan village, wherein two persons were killed. Sources say while the report categorically blames top police officers, including Saini, IG PS Umranangal and SSP Sharma among others for use of force on protesters at both Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan, the report is only indicative of the complicity of the former CM in the police action, and that too, only in the Kotkapura incident. It may be mentioned that while Badal and former Deputy CM Sukhbir Badal had declined to appear before the Commission, Saini, too, has not deposed before it even as he was summoned twice. He had only sent an affidavit regarding 12 questions that the Commission had posed to him in the summons in June. Top cops named Sources say the panel has held police officers Sumedh Singh Saini, Paramraj Singh Umranangal, Amar Singh Chahal, SS Mann, Charanjit Sharma, Raghbir Singh responsible for Kotkapura firing It says that though none of them is seen using firearm, a case be registered against them under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC The FIR in Kotkapura police firing case registered last week has not named any officer Officers in loop? vinaymishra188@gmail.com Aditi Tandon Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 19 One in four food samples in India failed the quality test over the past two years, while 90 per cent food testing labs were found unaccredited and many food operators were found to be either unregistered or running on expired licences. These are a few of the damning observations by the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health, which in its latest report has recommended restructuring of the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the apex food regulator. It has said the regulator should be headed by a food scientist rather than a bureaucrat. The report, The Functioning of FSSAI, red-flags food safety lapses, saying peoples fundamental right to pure food was being compromised. Existing food laws and policies are inadequate and weakly enforced. This poor implementation has resulted in rampant food adulteration and various food scandals. Substandard quality food has been reaching the market and causing irreparable damage to public health, notes the panel. Major concerns documented include the presence of unregistered food business operators (FBOs) and FBOs operating with expired licences, lack of accreditation of food-testing labs and high levels of food adulteration coupled with low conviction rates under the FSS Act. The Food Licensing and Registration System (FLRS) should be updated regularly, the committee said. It listed audit findings on instances of expired licences and registrations under the FSSAI Act in nine states and six Central offices of FSSAI. Of 7,056 licences test-checked in states, 2,616 (37.07 per cent), and out of 2,863 licences test-checked in CLAs, 626 (21.87 per cent) were expired. Out of 2,299 registrations test-checked in states, 698 (30.36 per cent) were expired, reveals the report. On food quality, the committee expressed anguish over low conviction rates, noting that one in four food samples failed the quality test in 2016 and 2017. Even more shocking was the revelation that 65 out of the 72 (90 per cent) state food labs to which FSSAI and state food safety authorities were sending food samples for testing didnt have the National Accreditation Board for Testing and Calibration Laboratories accreditation. editorial@tribune.com Saurabh Malik Tribune News Service Chandigarh, August 19 Launching the facility of pay now, order later, the Punjab and Haryana High Court on Sunday said litigants could get judgments home-delivered by making online payments. Chairman of the High Court Computer Committee Justice Rajesh Bindal said the litigants could use the service to procure certified/uncertified copies of decided cases only. Describing it a user-friendly programme, Justice Bindal asserted it was part of the High Courts initiative to make all transactions cashless. As part of the process, a payment gateway had been launched for online transfer of money, wherever it was required to be deposited for different services. Special prepaid cards shall also be issued by the bank for payment of charges in the High Court as well as district courts in Punjab and Haryana, Justice Bindal added. He along with Chief Justice Krishna Murari and other judges of the High Court were attending a state-level conference of district and session judges of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh. The Chief Justice also launched five IT-based apps and programmes, including a formal online system for receiving feedback from litigant and an android-based mobile application to help the user search case status though case number, advocate name or party details. He would also be able to save details using My Diary module and get notification of saved cases a day before the date fixed. He would even be able to fetch the cause list of pending cases and generate cause list of own cases. Another initiative, Surety Information Management System, would provide online verification of a person standing surety in multiple cases. Functional at Sessions Division and Subordinate Courts, it was expected to check fake sureties and identify persons repeatedly furnishing sureties in different cases. Besides, the status of judicial court complexes and residential houses could be monitored though infrastructure web application. District judges, too, would be able to monitor progress of cases more effectively with the introduction of Crystal Reports Software. Justice Bindal told the gathering that video-conferencing facility would be provided at all juvenile homes to solve the problem of non-production of juveniles. DSP-level officers are to be appointed nodal officers in cases involving juveniles. The decision by the police is expected to solve the problem of frequent transfers of nodal officers responsible for smooth conduct of cases, as DSPs have assured stay of one-year minimum at the place of posting. System to check fake sureties editorial@tribune.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, August 18 Ruling that a fair investigation is a part of right to fair trial guaranteed under Article 21 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has set aside the conviction under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act of a man from Punjab who was allegedly caught with 4 kg opium by a police officer. A three-judge Bench headed by Justice Ranjan Gogoi emphasised that in cases under the NDPS Act where the burden of proof was reversed, the investigation carried out should be free from apprehension of bias or unfairness. The Bench, which set aside the conviction of accused Mohan Lal sentenced to 10-year imprisonment with a fine of Rs 1 lakh in a 21-year-old case said a law with certainty was required to be laid down owing to the importance of a fair investigation as a constitutional right under Article 21, particularly from the point of view of an accused. The ruling clears the air on the contentious issue on which two-judge Benches of the top court had earlier expressed contradictory opinions. A question like this cannot be left open to be determined on the individual facts of a case, it said. Normally, it is for the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused in any criminal case. But under the NDPS Act, the burden of proof has been shifted to the accused, who has to prove his/her innocence. However, writing the judgment for the Bench, Justice Navin Sinha said this presumption was rebuttable. The Bench, which also included Justice R Bhanumathi, said the requirement of the prosecution to prove a prima facie case beyond a reasonable doubt cannot be done away with based on the presumption under the NDPS Act, especially when the provisions are so stringent. The accused was caught by Sub-Inspector Chand Singh of the Balianwali police station while on patrol duty on February 3, 1997. He was accompanied by sarpanch Darshan Singh and Assistant Sub-Inspector Balwinder Singh. Rajinder N Dhoke (IPS officer) was called and the appellant was searched, leading to recovery of 4 kg of opium in a bag carried by him. Allowing the appeal, the Bench said, In a case like this with a reverse burden of proof, if the informant police official was himself carrying out the investigation, the investigation will be marred by serious apprehensions regarding his impartiality and fairness. The result of such an investigation will be viewed as a foregone conclusion. editorial@tribune.com Aman Sood Tribune News Service Patiala, August 19 Samples collected by the Health Department from Singla Chilling Centre at Devigarh in the district passed tests at the Kharar-based state food testing laboratory in the past three years, even though the owner had allegedly been using detergent, chemicals and acid to prepare the items. The accused factory owner, Anil Kumar Singla, revealed during the interrogation that he had struck a deal for Rs 15,000 for the sample collected on Tuesday, said Patiala SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu. The police procured four-day police remand of the accused. As per documents in possession of The Tribune, a fortnight before Diwali in 2015, some shops getting supply from the accused were raided in Arya Samaj area by the local police and health officials. Health Department officials collected samples in 2017 from Singla Chilling Centre, where spurious products were made without using milk. The samples of paneer and milk passed the tests at the state lab, a senior police official said. Meanwhile, the court of Judicial Magistrate (first class) Shagun on Sunday ordered that the confiscated material, including paneer, ghee and milk, be destroyed as it was unfit for human consumption. The court ordered videography of the process following an application by the factory owner, who had stated that the perishable items be sold in the market. Sources said the Patiala police had sought legal opinion to register a fresh FIR against the firm owner after spotting a borewell on the factory premises in which he allegedly dumped acid and waste material after making spurious cheese. An investigation is also underway to ascertain how shopkeepers bought paneer for Rs 130 per kg when the market price is about Rs 240. It indicates that the health officials never checked the items at any shop, knowing well that these had come from the manufacturer who paid them a monthly sum of Rs 5,000, the sources added. Health officials to face music Patiala SSP Mandeep Singh Sidhu said: We have recommended a departmental probe by the health authorities. Our own probe is on to expose those who went scot-free despite buying products from the accused. 237-kg paneer seized in Fazilka Fazilka: Officials seized a large quantity of milk products, including 237 kg of paneer, from various shops here. Dr Hans Raj Malethia, Civil Surgeon, said the samples had been sent to a government laboratory for a quality check. oc editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Ludhiana, August 19 Sixteen days after Rajwinder Singh (45) had murdered his cousin Gurvinder Kaur (52), her maternal grandson Hitik Bassi (6) and granddaughter Mandeep Kaur (8) at their residence in Kishore Nagar, the Ludhiana police on Sunday nabbed him from Sangrur. He was staying in Himmat Singh dharmashala (inn) near the bus stand in Sangrur for the past three days. Addressing a press conference on Sunday, Police Commissioner Sukhchain Singh Gill and DCP (crime) Gagan Ajit Singh said the real name of the accused was Ravinder Singh Bakhshi, son of Jaswant Singh. He had changed his name to Rajwinder Singh, son of Ajit Singh, after he was booked in a dowry harassment case by the Amritsar police and was declared a PO in the same case in 2009. He had solemnised his first marriage in 1997 which broke down due to dowry harassment case against him in 2000. Later, he married an Amritsar-based girl, who also left him in 2006 when she came to know about his first marriage. The only reason behind committing three murders was that his second marriage broke down due to Gurvinder Kaurs husband, who had told the accuseds second wife about his first marriage. He had been hatching a murder conspiracy for the past two years. He had bought hammer, paper cutter, a piece of cloth, electricity cable and chilli powder to kill Gurvinder and her husband, but couldnt get a chance. On August 3, when he found Gurvinder alone at home he first hit her head with a hammer on the first floor. He then tied her hands and took her to a room on the ground floor, where he again hammered her head, the police said. Later, he killed the children too when they came from school. He waited for Davinder, but when he did not come for 20 minutes he locked the house and fled, said the DCP. He didnt want to kill the children, but when they saw the blood in the house, he murdered them to eliminate witnesses. editorial@tribune.com Neeraj Bagga Tribune News Service Amritsar, August 19 The Focal Point Industries Association has demanded an investigation into the installation of the new gate at the Attari-Wagah Joint Check Post. The Central Public Works Department has allotted Rs 22 lakh to the contractor for it whereas its market price is not more than Rs 60,000, the association said. Meanwhile, contractor Baldev Singh said that the gate weighed 5.5 tonne, not 5.5 quintal what the media reports have been claiming. It has written to the Prime Minister as well as the President for a thorough probe. Association chairman Kamal Dalmia said cost of the gate, weighing around 550 kg, was quoted Rs 22 lakh in the media reports. It shouldnt have cost more than Rs 60,000. The concerned government agency must have enquired from the market before paying such a huge money for the gate, he said. People gather in large numbers at the JCP to view the Beating Retreat ceremony everyday in which opening of the gate with full force by BSF jawan is a major attraction point. He elaborated that the gate, made of mild steel, was 11-foot high and 51-foot wide with a replica of the BSF emblem on its top and Ashoka Emblem on the pillars. The contract to build the said gate was given to a private firm for Rs 22 lakh which is highly inflated. Even if we include the cost of labour and other expenses, its cost should not exceed Rs 60,000, Dalmia said. Quoting local market price, he said the best quality of mild steel was priced between Rs 60 to Rs 70 per kg. Additionally, Rs 20 per kg cost of labour and other overhead expenses make it roughly Rs 100 per kg. Multiplying 550 kg with Rs 100 makes it Rs 55,000. Industrialists were shocked as they went through the cost of the gate, he said. It seems that the hard-earned money of the taxpayers is being spent without any check. We are not fully aware of the system or checks being applied by the government agencies for the approval of tenders for supply of material to private agencies. The system needs to be reviewed, he said, adding that a proper investigation must be carried out and the members of the sanctioning committee should be dealt with strictly if any mala fide intention surfaces. The new gate is a part of the Rs 33 crore revamp project of the visitors gallery, which has been expanded to have a sitting capacity of around 20,000. When contacted, BSF DIG RS Kataria said the force had nothing to do with it. The Central Public Works Department (CPWD) has installed the gate after following due procedure. The BSF didnt release the price of the gate as it is the CPWD which carries out construction work. The price of gate was quoted by the gate fabricator. If there is some objection over it, the law will take its own course, he added. No official of the CPWD could be contacted for comments. laxmi@tribune.com Pithoragarh, August 19 A 27-year-old Malaysian woman died allegedly after she complained of breathing problem while on her way to Munsiyari village, a major tourist attraction in Uttarakhand. Naveena Vadival was part of a group of four women travellers from Malaysia, Pithoragarh SP Ramchandra Rajguru said. She complained of breathing problem following which she was taken to a health centre in Gangolihat, where doctors declared her brought dead on Saturday evening, he said. Malaysian embassy had been informed about the incident. The group had reached India on a three-month tourist visa on August 7 and were on way to Munsiyari when the incident occurred, the SP said. PTI singhking99@yahoo.com Baghdad, August 19 In the middle of Baghdads busy commercial neighbourhood of Karrada, where most retail outlets sell home appliances, shoppers can now also buy handguns and semi-automatic rifles legally for the first time in decades. After the toppling of Saddam Hussein in 2003, illegal weapons trade flourished across the country. Looted guns from ransacked police stations and military bases were sold in streets and public areas to residents seeking to protect themselves in a state that was largely lawless. The authorities have since been battling to curb illegal weapon sales and the government has stepped up efforts to control gun ownership through regulation. The latest initiative came into force this summer and allows citizens to own and carry handguns, semi-automatic rifles and other assault weapons after obtaining official authorisation and an identity card that also details the individuals weapons. Previously, gun sales were restricted to firearms for hunting and sport. Hamza Maher opened his new gun shop in Karrada after receiving official approval from the Interior Ministry and says there has been growing demand for his wares. Customers are mainly men, but the number of women buyers is growing, said Maher who has a variety of pistols and assault rifles on display. The reason for buying is self-defence, and its safer for citizens to buy a weapon from an authorised store instead of from an unknown source. Pistol prices in Mahers shop range from $1,000 to $4,000, while Kalashnikov can be had from as little as $400 up to $2,000, depending on the brand and manufacturing origin, he said. Haider al-Suhail, a sheikh from Baghdad, welcomed the legalisation of gun stores. Yes, it will decrease crime, he said on a visit to Mahers shop to buy assault rifles for his ranch guards. Reuters US forces to stay in Iraq as long as needed singhking99@yahoo.com Tehran, August 19 Iran will unveil this week a new jet fighter and upgrade its missile defences to meet threats from Israel and the US, Tasnim news agency said on Sunday quoting the defence minister. Our first priority is our missile capability and we must enhance it... given the enemys efforts in missile defence, said Amir Hatami in an interview on television yesterday, according to Tasnim. He added that a new fighter jet will fly on National Defence Industry Day, which falls on Wednesday. Hatami said the defence programme was motivated by memories of the missile attacks Iran suffered during its eight-year war with Iraq in the 1980s, and by repeated threats from Israel and the United States that all options are on the table in dealing with the Islamic republic. We have learned in the (Iran-Iraq) war that we cannot rely on anyone but ourselves. We saw that wherever we are not capable, no one will have mercy on us, he said. Our resources are limited and we are committed to establishing security at a minimum cost. We upgrade our missiles according to our enemies threats and actions, as a deterrent, he added. Hatami added that regional rival Saudi Arabia has the largest military budget in the world after America and China... while our defence budget is limited. Hatami dismissed the idea of an Arab NATO an old concept that has recently resurfaced as Washington tries to push regional countries to accept a greater share of their defence. AFP ROBINSINGH@TRIBUNE.COM Kofi Annan, one of the worlds most celebrated diplomats and a charismatic symbol of the United Nations who rose through its ranks to become the first black African Secretary-General, died on Saturday. Annan spent virtually his entire career as an administrator in the United Nations. His aristocratic style, cool-tempered elegance and political savvy helped guide his ascent to become its seventh Secretary-General, and the first hired from within. He served two terms from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2006, capped nearly mid-way when he and the UN were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He will be remembered as a dedicated humanitarian whose career was tarnished by ugly conflicts that spun out of control. During his tenure, Annan presided over some of the worst failures and scandals at the world body, one of its most turbulent periods since its founding in 1945. Annan was unable to bring peace to Syria and bring to rest the failures of diplomacy in Rwanda, Bosnia, Darfur, Cyprus, Somalia and Iraq, which are likely to drown out the plaudits for his softly spoken mediation and efforts to eradicate poverty and AIDS that won him the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. Annan was brought up in an ethnically divided culture in his native Ghana, but one where dialogue was prized and outright conflict rare. It was a time of optimism and confidence as Ghana headed for independence from Britain. His reputation as a mediator was burnished by his success in halting a spiralling conflict in Kenya in 2007, when rival claims to the presidency caused ethnic massacres in which more than 1,200 died. Annan put the rivals in a room and told them: There is only one Kenya. He helped persuade one of them to accept the post of prime minister in a joint government. The violence ended. But earlier in his career, Annans record was less successful. He was head of UN peacekeeping in 1994, when he acknowledges he should have done more to help prevent the slaughter of 8,00,000 Rwandan Tutsis and moderate Hutus. The greatest reproach was that Annan failed to act on a telegram from the UN peacekeeper commander, General Romeo Dallaire, urging a move against arms caches being built up by Hutu extremists as they prepared mass murder. When his UN career ended in 2006, he listed his main achievements as establishing the concept of a responsibility to protect civilians when their rulers will not or cannot. But his tenure was littered with diplomatic disasters. His worst moments, Annan said, included not being able to stop the bloodshed in Sudans Darfur, the oil-for-food debacle and the Iraq war, after which he lost his voice for months. Then came the most painful event: the bombing of UN headquarters in Baghdad on August 19, 2003, that killed 22 persons after Annan had decided, at the urging of the US, to send senior UN staff back to Iraq, including his envoy Sergio Mello, who was among the victims. We have had difficulties in the past but in some cases leadership has made a difference, he said, ending on an upbeat note: I am a stubborn optimist, I was born an optimist and will remain an optimist. The moment I lose hope all is lost, I encourage you to keep hope as well. Agencies In many ways, Secretary-General Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organisation into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination. Antonio Guterres, UN Secretary-general Kofi Annans significant contribution to the MDGs (Millenium Development Goals) will always be remembered. My thoughts are with his family and admirers in this hour of grief. May his soul rest in peace. Narendra Modi, PM uttara@tribuneindia.com Vienna, August 18 Russian President Vladimir Putin attended the wedding of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl on Sunday, in a visit that the opposition says has damaged Austria's reputation for political neutrality. Putin was one of around 100 guests at Kneissl's wedding to businessman Wolfgang Meilinger in the picturesque village of Gamlitz in southeastern Austria. The Russian leader was pictured dancing with Kneissl during the festivities. He also brought a Cossack choir to perform for the newly weds. Austrian opposition politicians had criticised the invitation to Putin saying it undermined Austria's claim to be an "honest broker" between Europe and Russia, with the Green party calling for Kneissl's resignation. Russia has been accused of seeking to weaken and divide the EU, notably by maintaining links with populist parties in several European countries. Hundreds of police officers were deployed for the ceremony and the road from nearby Graz airport to Gamlitz was shut in both directions for Putin's arrival and departure. Putin was accompanied to the airport by Chancellor Sebastian Kurz and went straight on to Germany for a planned meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. Among the other guests at the wedding were Kurz, of the centre-right People's Party (OeVP) and Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache, of the far-right Freedom Party (FPOe). Kneissl was nominated for the post of foreign minister by the FPOe, which since 2016 has had a "cooperation pact" with Putin's United Russia party. Since last December, the FPOe has been in government in coalition with Kurz's OeVP after a campaign in which both parties ran on an anti-immigration platform. Putin's visit comes amid reports of other Western countries becoming warier of intelligence co-operation with Austria because of suspicion that the FPOe and its Interior Minister Herbert Kickl are trying to exert influence on intelligence agencies. Unnamed intelligence officials told the Washington Post newspaper that police raids on the BVT domestic intelligence agency in February caused particular concern. "The alarms are going off. What happened in Austria reminds me of what autocrats would do," one senior European intelligence official told the paper. AFP singhking99@yahoo.com Lahore, August 19 Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidate Sardar Usman Ahmed Khan Buzdar was elected as chief minister of Punjab today, ending a 10-year rule of Shehbaz Sharif-led Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz government in the countrys most populous province. Buzdar got 186 votes while his rival and PML-N nominee Hamza Shahbaz bagged 159 votes, Punjab Assembly Speaker Pervaiz Elahi said, announcing the result after the voting in the house. Hamza is the son of PML-N chief Shehbaz Sharif, who was the chief minister of Punjab from 2008 till 2018. Chief Minister-elect Buzdar was a member of Sharifs team in the past. PTI dominates Punjab Assembly with 179 seats, whereas PML-N has 164 seats in the house. A support of 186 members, in the 371-members House, is needed for a party to form a new government in the province. Seven members of the Pakistan Peoples Party remained present in the house but did not cast vote. The newly-elected chief minister comes from one of the most backward areas of Punjab, the tribal area of Dera Ghazi Khan division, some 400-km from Lahore, the provincial capital. In his maiden address to the provincial assembly, 49-year-old Buzdar vowed to focus on neglected areas of the province. I belong to an underdeveloped area myself. Our priority is good governance and ending corruption, he said, adding that he will take forward Imran Khans vision. He thanked Prime Minister Khan for nominating him for the top post. There has been no electricity in my area. We will try to break the status quo. I will bring forth the best time to fight corruption and poverty. We will bring reforms in police, he said. The voting for the top post was delayed by nearly three hours as the session was scheduled to be started at 11am. Shortly after the speaker commenced the session, PML-N lawmakers staged a protest raising slogans rigged polls, referring to the July 25th general elections. Prime Minister Imran Khan had strongly backed Buzdars candidature, saying the candidate understands the problems of the people of neglected areas and will strive to ensure their uplift as chief minister. PTI HIS JOURNEY TO TOP Uh-oh! It could be you, or it could be us, but there's no page here. The reason the developers came before the Finance Committee was because the city and Pizzuti are entering into a development agreement on the Corporate Boulevard extension. Pizzuti will go ahead and build the road, and the city will repay the about $2.8 million for it out of tax increment financing funds. Beloved is an excruciatingly intense novel about the slave experience written by Toni Morrison, an acclaimed African American writer. She is the only black woman to have won the Nobel Prize in Literature. She also won a Pulitzer Prize for Beloved in 1987. In 2012, US president Barack Obama presented her with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest award that can be bestowed on a civilian. My uncle and I are traveling to the Dominican Republic next month. He is about 70. This is his first time. I have been many times. We have each booked a room at the Bavaro Princess. I know this is a more budget friendly resort and I told him that. I actually have been to the BP before and I thought it was a decent resort for the price. I like the beach and the tropical atmosphere there. He joined the trip after I had already booked for myself. Anyways, I would like to take him to a newer, more upscale resort so he can see what the newer resorts look like, what they have to offer, compare architecture, maybe go to the spa, check out the food and drinks, take a dip in the pool etc. I'd like it to be more geared towards adults, but not necessarily adult only. At the end of the day, he and/or I might decide we want to stay there in the future. I was thinking maybe the Excellence El Carmen might be a good choice since that is also a totally different beach area. Is this a good choice? All of the areas you mention are well worth visiting given your interests in Nature/Beach/Food/Wine etc. You would need the full two months to fit it all in, but it is certainly doable in that time frame. It would make sense to leave WA/Ningaloo to last and fly out of there, as the whales will definitely be in. Also, Easter is 19-22 April and the weeks either side of this can be school holidays in various states, so I would avoid Great Ocean Road and Sydney at that time if at all possible as these dates will be very busy/expensive. I would start in Melbourne/Tasmania and then work up the east coast and then over to Perth/Ningaloo if you are including this. The later in March/April you visit Cairns, the less chance of cyclone/wet season affecting you. If you choose to only come for a month you are going to have to pick and choose your locations. Cheers. Im going to do a 2 day jaunt this week as if its the best season ever then got to see some of the northern wild flowers. Our plan is to to do some of the Everlasting Trail- go up past Cervantes then across to Arrowsmith to stay Western Flora camp site. Then take the small sealed road across to Three Springs and camp at Perenjorie or the better road to Dongara to Mingenew then south for overnight. Will see how we feel. Might from that bit go across to Perenjori and stay there- caravan park is near the pub so that sounds a good spot for us! Weve chosen this route as only want 2 nights- we have a tent so happy to camp at the caravan parks. We are also very experienced country drivers so can do some kms where we need to. Also hope to optimise the opportunities for everlasting. We also like seeing what the farmers are up to in the wheat belt country. I see that theres a community bus in Coorow: So- we are not going as far as Geraldton. As I mentioned previously you could look at a doing a specialised tour out of Geraldton- they should know what to see and where. Ill do a quick trip report on return. I use updates in my wild flower search term. Looks like wreath flowers and Everlastings are now in bloom up north. In Kings Park theres some everlastings in display areas and kangaroo paws coming out on bush tracks. In Perth Hills things are starting to come out in the bush. South I gather still not at the best till September. Edited: 3 years ago Re: Problem to drive from Nuevo Arenal to La Fortuna after dark? 5. Re: Problem to drive from Nuevo Arenal to La Fortuna after dark? -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. -:- Message from Tripadvisor staff -:- This topic has been closed to new posts due to inactivity. We hope you'll join the conversation by posting to an open topic or starting a new one. To review the Tripadvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html We remove posts that do not follow our posting guidelines, and we reserve the right to remove any post for any reason. Hi all! My wife and I are taking our first trip without kids for our 10th anniversary and wed really like to head to Vietnam. Since its our first trip without kids, we can really only do 1 week max. Ive read all the posts about 1 week not being enough time, but its the best we can do. Were going to limit to either north or south and hope to come back again to experience the rest some other time. We will be in Vietnam from May 4 arrival to May 11 departure. This trip for us is about a mix of culture, food, experiences, and relaxation. Its also a bit of a splurge trip for us, so it will be honeymoon-esquire. To that end, Ive come up with 2 possible itineraries, looking for sone feedback on both and which you think is the better of the two with all the prior info considered. Itinerary 1 (North/Central): May 4 - arrive Hanoi May 5-6 - explore Hanoi May 7-8:: 1 night cruise of Halong Bay May 8 - fly to Danang airport/arrive in Hoi An May 9-11: Hoi An May 11 - depart Danang airport for home. Itinerary 2 (South): May 4 - arrive HCM May 5 - explore HCM May 6-7: 1 night Mekong Delta cruise May 8: transfer to Phu Quoc May 9-11: Phu Quoc May 11 - depart for home Thanks much in advance!! Six places in that short amount of time would be too much for me. And only five days in the whole trip where you're not packing up / unpacking / checking in / checking out would drive me nuts. You waste soooo much time moving between destinations over there. Scott We will have 10 days in Kyoto at the beginning of April, and plan to use 4-5 of them for day trips. The initial options for day trips include the following: Osaka, Nara, Himeji & Kobe, maybe Hikone, Miho museum, Kurama & Kibune. We cannot see all of them. Three questions, assuming that you are familiar w. these places: - are any of these locations too far (or require complex transportation) for an easy day trip? We have to include in the estimated duration getting lost and/or wasting time to figure out stations, local transportation, etc. - is the combination of Himeji & Kobe too much for a day trip? - if you had to drop 3 or 4 of these day trips, which ones would you leave out? Thanks. Hi All Looking for ideas for our honeymoon next year. We are arriving in Sapporo for the Snow Festival and then heading to Niseko to go snowboarding for just under a week. We get back to Sapporo on Wednesday 13th of Feb 2019. From there we are looking for ideas from anywhere between Sapporo to Tokyo as we will fly home from one of these airports. Looking at something maybe a bit more "traditional" honeymoon style with a cozy intimate setting and a bit of privacy for roughly 1 week to 10 days Thanks in advance Emma The Drewes were, of course, still struggling to deal with the death of their son when Josie Mondragon was killed in such close proximity and at the almost exact time of day. But rather than dwell on this cruel coincidence, Drewes, a contractor who lives in St. Charles, said they prefer to look at the glass they have been handed as half full. Need some help with my first trip to Japan? Need some help with my first trip to Japan? Hello, So i am planning my first trip to Japan and i've been doing research on it but i need to figure out if what im planning is reasonable. My trip is from US to Tokyo to Kyoto then return a total of 15 days or so. April 2nd - April 17th. First things first. Flight looks like i was able to snag round trip tickets for just under 800 per person. (it will be my girlfriend and I) I believe that's a good deal right? i originally saw them around 740 but they increased as i waited. My 2nd thing was Airbnb but i guess since the new regulation many are no longer available. Is it still recommended to book an airbnb? or should i look at alternatives? I also wanted to stay at a Ryokan at least once in my trip so any recommendations are greatly appreciated. JP rail pass - I will be going from Tokyo to Kyoto to OSAKA (day trip) and from kyoto back to Narita Airport. worth it ? 7 or 14 day? I know i was recommended to get a suica card? is this only for public transportation? Since it is currently August, any recommended time frame to book? Accommodations / Airfare? I was thinking 7 days in city. I do want to check out DisneyTokyo/DisneySea and Universals? (is this too much to do?) This will also be my first big international trip so any advice or anything i may have missed let me know. If it is reef you want then you need to go to Cairns/Port Douglas. There is also an enormous amount of land based activities in this area - world heritage rainforest, Mossman Gorge, Kuranda Skyrail, Atherton Tablelands etc. I prefer this to the Whits as Im not a sailor or a partying backpacker which is what Airlie Beach is all about these days. One other option for the reef is to fly from Redcliffe in Brisbane to Lady Elliot Island for a couple of s could be a simple solution depending on where your family live. Also, Moreton Island is well worth a day trip or overnight. I dont love the town of Byron Bay because it is super busy and traffic is awful. That said, the lighthouse walk is lovely, but I would just make it a day trip (again, depends on where your family live - if they live Northside, then day trip tomCaloundra instead - equally lovely views and much better traffic in town. Avoid either destination on a weekend if you can. Cheers. As a frequent tourist to the USA albeit mostly Florida- I know the advantages of planning trips well in advance - however this is so early Im not even able to book anything Please bear with me as this trip to NYC is a wee bit out of my comfort zone So myself aged 67 and my sister aged 78 are coming to New York in early December 2019 for 4 nights She is recently widowed so I really want her to have a memorable trip - my husband is paying for our flights which enables us to stay in a half decent hotel I am perfectly fit and able to walk around however although my sister is great mentally she is a bit slower on her feet - Im thinking we might be better off with taxis and tours rather than using the subway as she wasnt that good with the underground in London - thats another story We will take a cab from the airport to our hotel as my sister doesnt travel light and I dont fancy the subway with luggage We want to see as much as possible without being knackered all the time and would like to take in a Broadway show - maybe the Lion King for my birthday Ive looked at using for a full day tour - they get good reviews We would also like to visit Bryant Park for the Christmas market and maybe take a tour of Central Park We are keen to visit Ellis Island and to see the Christmas decorations at the Rockefeller Center My sister loves shopping- Im hoping a visit to Maceys combined with the Rockefeller Center will suffice Ive been recommended a few hotels - we will need a twin room - they are Room Mate Grace, Broadway Plaza, The Edison, Fairfield Inn Times Square and Elements Hotel - these are all within our budget I think ($2000 for 4 nights) - a refrigerator in the room would be a bonus What do you think about these for location and ease of getting about? Im thinking we will be pretty tired at night so apart from a light supper and maybe a cocktail or two we arent planning any expensive meals - what do you think about Rosie O Grady's for a meal before a show, also Ellens Stardust Diner was recommended as a great experience- is it? I know its very early to be even thinking about plans but Im an avid organiser and Im guessing 4 nights in NYC will take way more organising than my Florida holidays Thanks for your patience reading this rambling post - any input will be most welcome The name of the company is in the tittle. Its a warning for others not to make the same mistake. At 3 in the morning without a "backup" plan,an already paid service ($120) and a international flight to catch it was a dreadful experience (and yes I have had a blessed life and travel through the whole world to have a base to compare it to-thanks for asking ). The night manager (Hampton Inn Times Square North) tried to get us a cab or other service but it wasn't available at that time (and the dispatch from CityExperts claimed the car was "almost there"). I didn't expect the driver to arrive in a tuxedo,but flip flops and shorts is inappropiate for costumer service (or anything beyond your own livingroom). I arranged an meet and greet with Relier at arrival and assumed it was safe to book a transfer recommended by the hotel's concierge (my mistake of course). The point of the post (as all are) is to let people know so they won't have the same bad experience. - Ruto will make the key speech focusing on recognising young innovators and entrepreneurs - Award founders will also crown him with a Lifetime Achievement Award owing to his journey to political elitism - The founders said Ruto had an excellent record from way back during his university days and political activism in KANU - Uganda and Rwanda Presidents Yoweri Museveni and Paul Kagame are among individuals who have received the award in the past Deputy President William Ruto will deliver a keynote address at the 2018 edition of Young Achievers Awards in Kampala, Uganda owing to his story of grass to grace in Kenyan politics TUKO.co.ke has established. Ruto will also receive the 2018 Lifetime Achievement Award in the event scheduled for Saturday, August 18, and join the list of prominent East African leaders including Uganda President Yoweri Museveni and Rwanda's Paul Kagame who got the award before. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: William Ruto expected to address public lecture themed journey to success Award founders said William Ruto's journey to the pinnacle of Kenya's politics was inspiring and fitted their model of mentorship. Photo: William Ruto/Twitter. Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Go after the corrupt, you have my support- Uhuru to EACC According to tweets by the awards founders seen by TUKO.co.ke on Saturday, August 18, Ruto will deliver the key speech under the 2018 theme of Rewarding Innovation And Excellence Recognizing of Young Entrepreneurs and Inspiring the Next Generation of World Leaders His story from modest beginnings to the pinnacle of Kenyan politics is remarkable not only for its obvious inspiration, but also for its critical lessons of tenacity, determination and dreaming big, for Africas young people trying to surmount various odds to success," read a tweet by Young Achievers. The founders justified why they would award Ruto, saying since his days at the University of Nairobi where he emerged best student in his undergraduate class,he has proved his mettle in leadership. READ ALSO: Huyu ndiye afisa wa polisi mwenye macho na shepu maridadi zaidi Kenya? Young Achievers also noted Ruto was an active political activist since his days in KANUs youth wing, before breaking into the ranks of Kenya's political heavyweights. The Awards Founders observed William Ruto was a true inspiration to young leaders owing to his courage and determination. Photo: Emmanuel Saito/Facebook. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Ruto pleads with Raila, Mudavadi to support his bid in 2022 "Precisely Ruto leaves behind an admirable trail of hard work and excellence. He is thus a fitting champion to inspire East Africas young entrepreneurs and change agents. We look forward to officially hosting him on Saturday, and to especially have him interact with our young change makers," the founders of the awards stated. The founders further noted Ruto being the deputy president had distinguished himself as a champion for increasing rural access to technology, youth innovation and enterprise which were laudable. Other winners of the award are entrepreneur and industrialist the late James Mulwana, educationist Senteza Kajubi, social justice campaigner, Noelina Kareeba, and Tanzanian businessman and philanthropist Ali Mufuruki. TUKO.co.ke understands that Kenyatta University had also invited Ruto to give a public lecture under the theme Journey to Success, raising varied opinions from the public. 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 Trending News: Nazlin Umar - Ruto Is Behind The Sugar Scandal | Tuko TV Source: Tuko The death of former UN Secretary of State, Kofi Annan, on Saturday, August 18, has sent shock waves to the entire world with tributes flowing in massively. Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo, led leaders from across the globe, among them President Uhuru Kenyatta, in paying tribute to the late hero after his passing in Switzerland. While Akufo-Addo described Kofi Annan as one of Ghana's greatest compatriots,Uhuru described the iconic figure not only in Africa but across the globe whose contribution in search for cohesion would not go unnoticed. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Huyu ndiye afisa wa polisi mwenye macho na shepu maridadi zaidi Kenya? READ ALSO: Kofi Annan dies in Switzerland As Ghana prepares to fly, in Annan's honour, its national flag at half-mast across the country and in all of its diplomatic missions across the world from Monday, August 20, his family has requested for privacy as they mourn. TUKO.co.ke has since gathered and compiled some facts about the late iconic leader. 1. He was born on April 8, 1938 in Kumasi, Ghana He was born to Henry Reginald Annan and Victoria Annan. Both his grandfathers were tribal chiefs. After retirement, his father was elected as provincial governor of Ghanas Asante province. 2. He had a twin sister, Efua Atta, who died in 1991. Annans first name means born on a Friday. They both had the same middle name, Atta, which means twin in their local language Akan. 3. His dad was a former Ashanti regional minister. READ ALSO: Go after the corrupt, you have my support- Uhuru to EACC Kofi Annan died peacefully in his sleep at the age of 80. Source: Twitter 4. He attended Mfantsipim School, a boarding school in central Ghana, where he learnt that suffering anywhere concerns people everywhere. He graduated in economics from Macalaster College in Minnesota, studied international relations at Graduate Institute Geneva, Switzerland and got a masters degree in management as a Sloan Fellow at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 5. Is fluent in French, English and several African languages. 6. He married Nane Lagergren Annan (1984-present) after divorcing Titi Alakija (1965-1983, ) 7. As the UN Secretary General, he once visited iconic political activist Baffour Akoto at Asokwa bungalow in 2001. 8. Through assistance he sought from Kumasi Traditional Council, the long chieftaincy feud in Akwamu was brought to an end. READ ALSO: Ruto pleads with Raila, Mudavadi to support his bid in 2022 9. He still has family members living in Kumasi. 10. The last time he visited Kumasi was in 2017, during the funeral rites of the late Asantehemaa. Kofi Annan is respected across the world as the force of peace and reconciliation. He was a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations from January 1997 to December 2006. Annan and the UN were the co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. 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. Ruto is Behind The Sugar Scandal - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko - Alex Kipuchumba Tarus was accused of altering the county government's records leading to loss of the said amount - The county's Public Service Board interdicted Tarus after which a decision was made to sack the employee - Tarus was given 90 days to appeal his dismissal to the Public Service Commission if not happy with the decision The County Government of Elgeyo Marakwet has summarily dismissed one of its senior employees working in the Department of Finance and Economic Planning over alleged misconduct. Alex Kipuchumba Tarus was sacked based on accusations that he altered the county government's records leading to loss of KSh 800 bob. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Mbunge avua nguo zote mbele ya lango kuu la bunge Elgeyo Marakwet County Public Service Board accused Alex Kipuchumba Tarus of interfering with county government records and gross misconduct. Source: UGC READ ALSO: Fear grips Elgeyo Marakwet residents as earth cracks rip through villages A dismissal letter obtained by TUKO.co.ke on Sunday, August 19, indicated Tarus had appeared before the County's Public Service Board in relation to the alleged misconduct, after which the board resolved to send him packing. "I wish to convey the decision of the County Public Service Board to summarily dismiss you from service with effect from July 30, 2018, on grounds of gross misconduct," Francis Bartoo, Secretary of the Elgeyo Marakwet County Public Service Board stated in the letter dated August 9, 2018. READ ALSO: Elgeyo-Marakwet teacher escorts his pupils home with bows and arrows According to the letter, the Board's decision to fire Tarus came after the county employee was interdicted on March 15, 2018, and following his appearance before the Board on July 31, 2018. "The findings of the investigations ordered by the Board established that you altered County Government records which led to a loss of KSh 800," the letter further stated. READ ALSO: Elgeyo Marakwet man slashes pregnant wife to death Tarus was given 90 days to appeal his dismissal to the Public Service Commission in the event that he was dissatisfied with the decision of the county government. Meanwhile, seven Homa Bay county officials are wanted by the DCI for alleged theft of KSh 26 million taxpayer's money. As of August 18, 2018, none of the accused county employees had been dismissed with some of them said to be on the run following the DPP's arrest order. 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. Ex-Nairobi Governor Evans Kidero Arraigned in Court Over Corruption Charges - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Diamond platnumz's ex-lover Zari hassan has finally announced she has bagged herself a new man months after walking away from her cheating baby daddy. The mother of five has been throwing hints that she could be in a new relationship but has been careful enough to hide her bae from the world. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Mbunge avua nguo zote mbele ya lango kuu la bunge READ ALSO: 16 adorable photos from Diamond's daughter fancy birthday photoshoot as she turns 3 Through an Instagram post seen by TUKO.co.ke on Sunday, August 19, Zari announced she was officially taken and her fans could not keep calm. "Off the market, taken," Zari wrote. READ ALSO: Child support could never fund my expensive lifestyle - Zari Hassan declares The beauty's followers kept saying they had their suspicions and always knew Zari was waiting for Mr Right. Some even went ahead to suggest the only reason the mother of five stayed that long without a man was because she was getting rid of the frogs as she tried to find her prince charming. For a while there, the internet was convinced the Ugandan beauty still had the hots for Diamond thanks to her social media posts. On many occasions, Zari was caught attacking the musician's women and throwing shade at him for one reason or the other. At one point, the mother of five even referred to Diamond's ex Wema Sepetu as a dirty woman who would make her mansion extremely inhabitable. Well, at least now she will have someone to focus on and try to put to rest her savagery. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Socialite Bridget Achieng wants to be Kenya's next president - on TUKO TV Source: Tuko Kenya - The US challenged President Museveni to demonstrate to the world that Uganda respects human rights - Political tension is boiling up in Uganda following arrest of three MPs accused of attacking Museveni's convoy - Among those in jail is Bobi Wine whose increasing popularity in Uganda's politics is believed to have shaken the status quo - Wine's ally faced off with and defeated Museven's candidate in chaotic by-election in Arua town, northern Uganda The United States has expressed concerns over the building political tension in Uganda following a chaotic by-election in Arua town, northern Uganda, which led to arrest of several individuals including three opposition MPs. The US urged the Ugandan government to respect the country's Constitution and human rights amid calls to free East MP Robert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine who was arrested in connection with attack on President Yoweri Museveni's convoy. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Bobi Wine's ally badly humiliates Museveni's candidate in Arua by-election Kyadondo East MPRobert Kyagulanyi alias Bobi Wine went missing after Yoweri Museveni's car was on smashed and vandalised by hooligans following a chaotic political rally in Arua town, northern Uganda. Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Bobi Wine, 2 other MPs arrested following attack on Museveni's motorcade In a statement seen by TUKO.co.ke on Sunday, August 19, the US Mission in Uganda noted the jailed opposition politicians also had rights that the Ugandan authorities must respect. "We urge the government to show the world that Uganda respects its Constitution and the human rights of all of its citizens. All of those detained have the right to humane treatment, due process, access to lawyers and to their families, and a prompt, fair, and transparent trial," the US Mission Uganda tweeted. READ ALSO: Mbunge avua nguo zote mbele ya lango kuu la bunge Wine and two other MPs, one of whom was his ally Wadri who defeated Museveni's candidate Nusura Tiperu in the Arua Municipality by-election, were accused of stoning of Museveni's convoy on the night of Monday, August 13. The lawmakers were also accused of being in possession of illegal firearms and consequently charged with treason. READ ALSO: Bobi Wine escapes death, driver shot dead by police The whereabouts of the politicians however remained unknown despite Parliament having suspended business in protest of their detention and despite mounting pressure for them to be freed. Photos showing the detained politicians were being tortured had emerged online, further fueling the political tension in the country. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Top-5: How to be an African president - detailed guide by Tuko - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko Breaking News It is critical that every voice is heard, so that the count can truly capture the demographic representation of Elgin. Any misrepresentation could mean fewer federal dollars to support essential programs, including but not limited to housing, mental health and infrastructure, Elgin Communications Specialist Molly Center said. - The suspect has on several occassions bragged about taking advantage of kids - His acts were exposed on a popular Facebook page - Kenyans are now calling on police to arrest the child predator promptly Police are on the hunt for a disgraceful man who has allegedly been engaging in indecent acts with young young teenagers. This is after the emergence of a Facebook page of a man who was seemingly bragging about defiling several underage children, including girls as young as five years. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Mbunge avua nguo kusalia na chupi wakati wa kutoa hotuba bungeni READ ALSO: Magufuli breaks down after visiting ailing sister in hospital The page was exposed at a popular Facebook group and was linked to one Sami Dali who incidentally is also a member of the group. Police to investigate man exposed on Facebook sleeping with children Source: Twitter READ ALSO: Kamba leaders snub Foreign Affairs CS Juma's homecoming A quick background check by TUKO.co.ke revealed the man, who looks to be in his mid twenties, was once a student at Pwani University college and if his Facebook profile was anything to go by, he currently works at Wells Fargo. One of his more outrageous posts was one where he boldly bragged about abusing a little girl after enticing her with sweets. The posts have ignited much debate online with a number of Kenyans sharing the story with the DCI to prompt investigations. 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 Phenny Awiti Story: Meet HIV Positive Mom Raising HIV Negative Kids | Tuko TV: Source: Tuko Kenya - Deputy President William Ruto was awarded for serving as an example; he has steadily risen from poverty to political elitism - He joins the league of Ugandas President Yoweri Museveni and Rwandas Paul Kagame who scooped the award earlier - He has urged young people to work hard, embrace creativity and foster launching the country on a transformative course - The ceremony has however left a sour and sweet taste in the mouths of social media users On Saturday, August 18, Deputy President (DP) William Ruto was honoured for his exemplary political performance in the just concluded Young Achievers Awards convened in Uganda. During his keynote address after he was conferred with the award which he termed as a Lifetime Achievement, Ruto slummed the old adage that time for youth leadership was coming tomorrow. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens. READ ALSO: Mbunge avua nguo kusalia na chupi wakati wa kutoa hotuba bungeni On Saturday, August 19, Deputy President (DP) William Ruto was honoured for his exemplary political performance in the just concluded Young Achievers Awards convened in Uganda. Photo: DP Ruto Source: Facebook READ ALSO: Tension in Uganda as MP Bobi Wine goes missing after murder of his driver by police He insisted that time for the young generation to take up the transformative role had come. His award and speech, as usual, has left both a bitter and sweet taste in the months of netizens who took to various social media platforms both to scold and congratulate him for his achievement. READ ALSO: Kajiado pastor on the run after clobbering wife The talk on democracy, human rights and lobbying for the release of Ugandas celebrity MP Bobi Wine who is still in painful detention punctuated the reactions. The vocal opposition legislator was arrested on Monday, August 13 for what TUKO.co.ke understands was related to his opposition to the ruling party shortly after his driver was shot dead. One by the name DJ Ramosh congratulated the DP for his achievement but stated that it was imperative for him to remind Ugandas Head of State Yoweri Museveni to set Bobi free. Congratulations DP but remind President Museveni that former Zimbabwe President Robert Mugabe was also in power tell him to free Bobi Wine, he tweeted. READ ALSO: Ignore fake news, Bobi Wine is fine - Museveni Those who reacted also noted that if Ruto really professed to uphold the rule of law, then he shouldn't have left Uganda mum on the topic. Bethwell Obondo possed and demanded to be educated on why the Ruto was being awarded since he had not seen or heard of him winning in any competition and or do anything that would warrant him the award. The 'tanga-tanga' narrative did not also fail to feature. TUKO.co.ke understands that Ruto had attended a public function in Kirinya County, a thanksgiving ceremony of Lurambi MP Bishop Titus Khamala in Kakamega County and also a wedding ceremony in Narok County before he graced the award fete in Uganda. READ ALSO: Magufuli breaks down after visiting ailing sister in hospital Leo umeamua kutangatanga huko Uganda, Steve Omollo made fun of the DP on his Twitter account. Byegon Ken wondered how energetic Ruto was to have managed to traverse three counties and then outside the country in less than 24 hours. Moses Wanami expressed concern why the DP was being awarded in the Young Person's awards category while he understood he was older than 35 years, hence not a young person. Last time I checked Kenyan constitution, the definition of young is limited to 35 years....someone can educate me if I lost trace on this, wrote Wanami. 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 Trending News: Nazlin Umar - Ruto Is Behind The Sugar Scandal | Tuko TV. Source: Tuko News The couple, who have been coming to Riverfest since they moved to town in 1998, said the lunch lines are much more manageable than those later in the day. As of Monday, alcohol will be allowed to be served at bars and restaurants that fall under t At the start of the talks, Merkel underscored her expectation that Ukraine should continue to have a role in gas transit to Europe, and welcomed the start of discussions among the European Union, Ukraine and Russia on that issue. Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as Iran and a gas pipeline project that has drawn U.S. ire during tough talks outside Berlin that ended with no clearcut progress. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters no agreements were reached, but the meeting had simply been intended to "check the watches" after Merkel's meeting with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in May, as reported by Reuters. Ties between the two countries have been strained since Russia's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014. The two leaders both viewed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project as a purely commercial venture, despite persistent fire by the U.S. and Ukrainian governments, Peskov said. "That's why it is necessary to take measures against possible non-competitive and illegal attacks from the third countries in order to complete this project eventually," he told reporters shortly before Putin flew back to Russia. It was not immediately clear what such "measures" could entail. Read alsoGermany to seek establishment of ceasefire in Donbas by start of school year Merkel At the start of the talks, Merkel underscored her expectation that Ukraine should continue to have a role in gas transit to Europe, and welcomed the start of discussions among the European Union, Ukraine and Russia on that issue. Putin, speaking at the German government's Meseburg castle, said such a move had to make sense from a business perspective. "The main thing is that the Ukrainian transit which is traditional for us - meets economic demands," he said. "Nord Stream 2 is exclusively an economic project." The United States is pressing Berlin to halt the pipeline that will carry gas from Russia under the Baltic Sea, arguing it will increase Germany's dependence on Russia for energy. Ukraine fears the pipeline will allow Russia to cut it off from the gas transit business, while Germany's eastern European neighbours worry about Russian encroachment. Peskov said the threat of possible U.S. sanctions against companies involved in the project was not discussed on Saturday. Standing beside Putin before the talks, Merkel said both countries but especially Russia as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council had a responsibility to try to solve the ongoing fighting in Ukraine and Syria. She said she also planned to raise potentially thorny human rights issues with Putin, and discuss bilateral relations. "I am of the opinion that controversial issues can only be addressed in dialogue and through dialogue," she said. Both leaders raised concerns about Syria and the plight of the many refugees created by the seven-year-old war there. Merkel said it was important to avert a humanitarian crisis in Idlib, Syria and the surrounding region, and said she and Putin had already discussed the issue of constitutional reforms and possible elections when they last met in Sochi in May. Read alsoPoroshenko, Merkel coordinate positions ahead of Putin's Berlin visit Putin told reporters that everything must be done to help Syrian refugees to return to their country and that Syria needed assistance to rebuild. The two leaders took no questions. On Ukraine, Merkel said she hoped fresh efforts could be undertaken at the beginning of the new school year to disentangle Ukrainian military forces and separatists on the front lines in the Donbas region. Putin arrived in Germany on Saturday evening after a stop at an Austrian vineyard where he danced with Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl at her wedding to entrepreneur Wolfgang Meilinger. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper Germany hoped to "create new momentum" in the Minsk peace process. Sanctions relief for Russia would only be negotiated if the Minsk accord was implemented, he added. Maas said he had spoken with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin this week, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was due to visit Berlin again on Sept. 14 after a meeting with Merkel in the German capital last month. The criminal charges, reported by Alieva's lawyer Edem Semedlyaev on August 10, come less than a month after a search lasting several hours was carried out of the Aliev home. Russia's Investigative Committee has initiated criminal proceedings against Gulsum Alieva, a Crimean Solidarity activist and the daughter of recognized political prisoner, Muslim Aliev, over a widely circulated photo, which the 21-year-old simply reposted on Facebook. In Russian-occupied Crimea, this has been termed 'inciting enmity' (towards Russians) with the charges, under Article 282 1 of Russia's criminal code, carrying a sentence ranging from a fine to up to five years' imprisonment, the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group wrote. Read alsoUkrainian court sentences Crimean woman for treason media This is the second criminal prosecution against a young Crimean Tatar woman over social media reposts, however in this case it seems likely that Alieva has become the latest of many activists to face persecution because of their involvement in Crimean Solidarity, the civic initiative created to provide support for the ever-growing number of political prisoners in occupied Crimea and their families. The image with text that Alieva reposted was, it seems, something that purports to be a quote from the Russian philosopher Ivan Ilyin, whom Russian President Vladimir Putin has been known to quote. The words about Russia falsely attributed to Ilyin are extremely unflattering, with captions at the top and bottom in a different colour reading: "Russia is a country of moral monsters" and (at the bottom) 'Death to Russian occupiers!" However much Russians may not like the comments, it would be difficult to imagine them being viewed as inciting enmity in a democratic country. Since this was simply a repost in May 2018, with no added comment from Alieva, it is likely that it is to be used as a pretext. The criminal charges, reported by Alieva's lawyer Edem Semedlyaev on August 10, come less than a month after a search lasting several hours was carried out of the Aliev home. The operation on July 19 was officially not a search, but an 'inspection'. Such verbal distinctions appear to be a mere ploy allowing Russia's enforcement officers to carry out the same armed searches without fulfilling the formal requirements for a search. Gulsum Alieva has been active over the last two years in the Crimean Solidarity civic initiative which has increasingly irritated the occupation regime through its active work in providing information about the ongoing spiral of repression in Crimea. Some of its most active participants have now been in detention for many months and are facing long sentences on trumped-up charges. Crimean Solidarity arose after the second mass arrest of Crimean Muslims, including Gulsum's father, on February 11, 2016. Muslim Aliev; Refat Alimov; Envir Bekirov; Arsen Dzhepparov; human rights activist Emir-Usein Kuku and Vadim Siruk; were arrested in Russia's second illegal prosecution of Ukrainian Muslims in occupied Crimea on so-called Hizb ut-Tahrir charges. A 77-year-old VAZ driver and a 63-year-old passenger died on the scene. Another 74-year-old passenger died in the ambulance. Three people have been killed in a road accident with the participation of an ex-official of the Kharkiv City Council. The accident took place near the village of Pishchane in Kharkiv region on August 19, an UNIAN correspondent was told in the communications department of the General Directorate of the National Police in Kharkiv region. According to preliminary data, a collision of VAZ and Lexus cars occurred on the Kharkiv-Volchansk highway. A 77-year-old VAZ driver and a 63-year-old passenger died on the scene. Another 74-year-old passenger died in the ambulance. A driver of the Lexus SUV, born in 1953, received a chest injury. His state of health is satisfactory. According to a source, former chief architect of Kharkiv, a person involved in criminal proceedings on the theft of communal land by the cooperative scheme, Serhiy Chechelnytskiy, was driving the Lexus SUV. An UNIAN correspondent called Chechelnytskiy. "This is a huge trouble. I cannot speak now, I'm sorry, please," the ex-official said and put the phone down. Two enemy troops were reportedly killed and another six were wounded in fighting with Ukraine's Joint Forces. Russia's hybrid military forces mounted 43 attacks on Ukrainian army positions in Donbas in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as killed in action (KIA) and another two as wounded in action (WIA). "According to intelligence reports, two occupiers were killed and another six were wounded," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation (JFO) said in an update on Facebook as of 07:00 Kyiv time on August 19, 2018. Read alsoUkraine's air defense forces spot four flights of enemy UAVs in Donbas on Aug 17 JFO spokesperson The Russian occupation forces opened aimed fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms to attack the defenders of the towns of Avdiyivka, Maryinka, Zolote and Popasna, and the villages of Krymske, Novotoshkivske, Kriakivka, Novo-Oleksandrivka, Pivdenne, Novotroyitske, Verkhniotoretske, Pisky, Chermalyk, Vodiane, Hnutove, Lebedynske, Pavlopil and Shyrokyne. In certain areas, the enemy engaged infantry fighting vehicles. Along with this, the enemy shelled the defenders of Krymske, using 120mm mortars, while the defenders of Kriakivka, Avdiyivka and Verkhniotoretske came under fire from 82mm mortars. "Since Sunday midnight, Russian-led forces have mounted four attacks on the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Katerynivka, Pavlopil, Vodiane and Shyrokyne. No heavy weapons were used," the report says. No casualties among Ukrainian servicemen have been reported. Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas twice from 07:00 to 18:00 Kyiv time on Sunday, August 19. Read alsoUkraine reports 2 KIA's, 2 WIA's amid 43 enemy attacks in past day "The occupiers opened aimed fire from grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms at the Ukrainian positions near the villages of Lebedynske and Luhanske," the press center of Ukraine's Joint Forces Operation said in an update on Facebook as of 18:00 Kyiv time on August 19, 2018. "There have been no casualties among the Ukrainian troops. The situation in the area of the Joint Forces Operation remains under control," the press center said in a statement. Having entered the fifth year of the crisis, over 3,000 civilian men, women and children have been killed and more than 9,000 injured in eastern Ukraine. On the 10th commemoration of World Humanitarian Day (WHD), the United Nations Office in Ukraine calls for urgent action to protect millions of Ukrainian civilians severely affected by ongoing active hostilities in the east of the country. The United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine, Ms. Osnat Lubrani, urges increased support by the international community to scale up much-needed humanitarian assistance to respond to the large-scale humanitarian needs generated by the crisis, United Nations in Ukraine said in a statement. "I am deeply concerned that millions of Ukrainian men, women and children living near the 450-km-long 'contact line' are regularly exposed to sniper and small-arms fire, shelling and unacceptable risks from extensive mine and unexploded ordinance contamination," Ms. Lubrani says. "I implore the international community to increase their support for scaling up efforts to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population affected by the crisis wherever they reside within Ukraine's territory and reiterate appeals for full respect for international humanitarian law." Read alsoOSCE: Over 160 people killed this year in Ukraine fighting Having entered the fifth year of the crisis, over 3,000 civilian men, women and children have been killed and more than 9,000 injured in eastern Ukraine. More than 3.4 million people struggle daily to find food, water, shelter, health care and education, exacerbating their vulnerabilities and undermining their resilience. "On this important day commemorating humanitarian action, I would like to acknowledge the tireless efforts of the humanitarian community who are helping to alleviate the suffering of millions of civilians affected by the hostilities in Ukraine," Ms. Lubrani says. In the first six months of 2018 alone, more than 600,000 Ukrainian civilians have been reached with vital humanitarian relief in all affected areas of Ukraine. "For this critical life-saving work to be undertaken, safe and secure humanitarian access to all affected people is necessary. I'd therefore like to stress that, as is the practice for humanitarian response, United Nation's humanitarian activities in Ukraine are undertaken in accordance with the well-established principles of humanity, impartiality and neutrality, as well as being in line with relevant UN resolutions reaffirming support for the sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of Ukraine". Ms. Lubrani also sought to acknowledge the progress being made to find solutions for Ukrainians that have been displaced by the crisis. "I wish to take the opportunity to recognise the importance of the Government's action plan covering Internally Displaced People in Ukraine and reiterate the United Nation's continuing commitment to provide full support with its implementation," she says. Ms. Lubrani stressed that whilst she is confident that the important work of the humanitarian organisations will continue, more funding is urgently required to fully cover the vast humanitarian needs in eastern Ukraine. "I am concerned that the humanitarian response is funded at less than a third of the required amount," Ms. Lubrani says. Despite this shortfall, local, national and international humanitarian actors aim to reach 2.3 million vulnerable men, women and children in 2018. "I call on Member States to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and support our tireless efforts." Putin brought a small Cossack men's choir along to entertain about 100 guests at the wedding. Russian President Vladimir Putin made a flying visit to Austria to attend the wedding of the country's foreign minister Saturday before heading to Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Photos showed Putin dancing with the bride, who was dressed in a traditional Austrian costume, CBS News reported. Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern border with Slovenia, where Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl married her partner Wolfgang Meilinger, a businessman. Kneissl, an independent, was nominated by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party, whose leaders also attended the wedding. Read alsoUkraine furious over Putin's plans to attend wedding of Austria's top diplomat According to Austrian public broadcaster ORF, Putin also brought a small Cossack men's choir along to entertain about 100 guests at the wedding. Austrian lawmaker Joerg Leichtfried of the opposition Social Democratic Party criticized Kneissl's decision to invite Putin to the wedding, saying it called into question Austria's role as a neutral intermediary in the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where Russia-backed rebels are battling government forces. Austria currently holds the European Union's rotating presidency. Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that the Russian president spent about an hour at the wedding. Putin gave the newlyweds a cold press oil machine, a traditional Russian samovar and a landscape painting that "depicts the place where the groom hails from," according to Peskov. Peskov said Putin said "quite a long toast in German in which he said he was thankful and happy that he got a chance to visit the hospitable Austria." MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th August, 2018) Russia will sign several intergovernmental agreements at the upcoming defense industry forum Army-2018, the head of the Russian Federal Service for Military-Technical Cooperation (FSMTC) told Sputnik. "It is, first and foremost, about intergovernmental commissions which we have planned to coincide with the forum. Such commissions will be held with Egypt, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, Botswana. Besides, several intergovernmental agreements, commercial documents will be signed. But I would rather not disclose any details before the beginning of the forum," Dmitry Shugaev said. The FSMTC head added that there had been growing interest in the forum from abroad. "We use this platform extensively to hold talks on defense cooperation. In particular, we are planning to sign a defense cooperation agreement with Sierra Leone," Shugaev said. The forum will be held from Tuesday through Sunday in a Moscow suburb. KHARTOUM, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Aug, 2018) Upon the directives of the wise leadership, led by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and the monitoring of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler's Representative in Al Dhafra Region and Chairman of the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, an ERC delegation, headed by Saeed Suhail Al Mazrouei, Director of the Relief Department, arrived in the Sudanese capital, Khartoum. The delegation, which included Ali Al Ketbi, Representative of the ERC Relief Department, held a meeting with Dr. Othman Jaafar, Secretary-General of the Sudanese Red Crescent, in the presence of Ali Al Suaidi, First Secretary at the UAE Embassy to Khartoum, to discuss the latest developments and situation in the countrys flood-affected areas. The delegation visited some of these areas in Khartoum, which include Shaqla, Faihab and Abu Saad. Al Mazrouei highlighted the willingness of the UAE, represented by the ERC, to provide urgent aid to those affected by rain and floods in Sudan. He said that the UAEs wise leadership is keen to support Sudan in facing floods and other disasters, and noted that the purpose of the delegations visit is to assess the damage caused by the floods and provide urgent humanitarian aid and shelter to those affected. Al Mazrouei stressed that the ERC will start an aid campaign in Khartoum, which will expand to other affected areas, according to the needs of the local residents. Dr. Jaafar praised the ERCs visit and noted that it is the first to visit the Sudanese Red Crescent. He also thanked the delegation for its support, which highlights the strong ties between the UAE and Sudan. Jaafar said that areas affected by floods include Kasla, Kurdfan, Khartoum, Al Jazira and Sanar, while adding that relevant authorities have evacuated local residents to safe areas and provided them with relief supplies, with the help of the Sudanese Red Crescent. JEDDAH, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Aug, 2018) Sheikh Shakhbout bin Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, UAE Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, received 260 pilgrims from the families of the martyrs and wounded servicemen, who arrived at the King Abdul Aziz International Airport in Jeddah on Sunday to perform Hajj. Ambassador Sheikh Shakhbout expressed his pleasure over their safe arrival and said that preparations have been made to ensure they can perform the pilgrimage rituals in an easy and safe manner. (@ChaudhryMAli88) ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 19th Aug, 2018) The UAE has won the respect and acclaim of the world for providing significant humanitarian assistance to civilians affected by wars and natural disasters, stated Dr. Hamdan Al Mazrouei, Chairman of the board of Directors of the Emirates Red Crescent, ERC, ahead of the World Humanitarian Day, WHD. ''The UAE has been providing assistance through its humanitarian and relief arm, the ERC, out of its commitment to the policy adopted by the late Founding Father, Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, and in implementation of the far-sighted vision of the current leadership,'' he said. He noted that the UAE leadership's keenness to standing with crisis-stricken people has earned the country a leading rank as the world's largest donor of official development aid addressed to the needy whether they are in Africa or Asia, without distinction to colour, religion or gender. ''This year's celebration of the WHD, which runs under the theme - #NotATarget - calls for supporting volunteers who are risking their lives to reach out to those in need and provide them with life-saving assistance,'' he stressed. Dr. Mohammed Ateeq Al Falahi, Secretary-General of the ERC, called for maximising humanitarian assistance to those hit by wars, natural disasters and displacement. In a statement on the occasion, Al Falahi noted that Sheikh Zayed was the first to set out a clear approach for humanitarian and developmental work which later solidified the UAEs stature as a key international aid donor. Al Falahi stated, "The UAE leadership, under 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; His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, and Their Highnesses Rulers of of Emirates, is pursuing Sheikh Zayed's path which has propelled the country into the top rankings of world's largest providers of official development aid.'' ''The UAE's key relief arm has reached out to needy people in more than 120 countries, delivering massive humanitarian assistance to them regardless of their colour or faith. ''Carrying Sheikh Zayed's philanthropic philosophy during the Year of Zayed, our dedicated aid workers and volunteers have reached out to needy people in remote areas in sisterly and friendly African, Asian and Latin American countries,'' he said. ''Humanitarian actors are facing an increasing risk to their lives because they are operating in extremely exceptional conditions,'' he added. He called for facilitating the work of those courageous aid workers so they can help the underprivileged and needy people whose numbers are increasing day by day. WHD is held every year on 19th August to pay tribute to aid workers who risk their lives in humanitarian service, and to rally support for people affected by crises around the world. BEIJING, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Aug, 2018 ) :Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani has said that Pakistan hoped to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Liaoning, northeastern province of China, in fields of port construction, economic trade, high-tech and education. He made these remarks during his meeting with Xia Deren, chairman of the Provincial Political Consultative Conference in Dalian, the provincial capital. Xia Deren welcomed the distinguished guest and his delegation and briefly introduced the economic and social development of Liaoning. He said that Liaoning is an important industrial base of China and one of the earliest coastal provinces in China to implement the policy of opening up to the outside world. It has abundant port resources. At present, Liaoning is actively integrating into the construction of the "Belt and Road" to promote a higher level of opening up. He hoped that the chairman Senate will take the opportunity to actively promote the friendly exchanges and economic and trade cooperation between the two sides to achieve mutual benefit and common development. The CPPCC organizations at all levels in Liaoning Province will also work hard to promote pragmatic cooperation between the two sides. Sadiq Sanjrani expressed his willingness to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with Liaoning in port construction, economic and trade, high-tech, education and training, and continuously strive to consolidate China-Pakistan friendship. Han Fangming, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Gao Ke, vice chairman of the CPPCC Provincial Committee, were present at the meeting. Earlier, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Li Zhanshu met with the chairman senate at the Great Hall of the People in the Chinese capital. Li Zhanshu said that China-Pakistan friendship is as rock-solid and time-honoured, and it has always received the support and support of the two peoples. In recent years, the two sides have actively participated in the internship reached by the leaders of the two countries during the visit to Pakistan in 2015, and the cooperation in various fields has made great progress. He said that China-Pakistan relations should be a model of good-neighbourly friendship, a pillar of regional peace and stability, and a benchmark for international cooperation in the "Belt and Road". The National People's Congress of China attaches great importance to strengthening exchanges and cooperation with the Senate of Pakistan and is willing to work together to be a staunch defender and active promoter of China-Pakistan friendship and push China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partnership to a new level. The chairman senate said that Pakistan-China friendship is the cornerstone of Pakistan's foreign policy and Pakistan is willing to strengthen cooperation with China in all areas and jointly deal with various challenges by both sides. Meanwhile, Head of the International Department of CPC Song Tao met with the delegation, led by the chairman senate. The Chairman Senate is visiting China on the invitation of Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), Wang Yang and leading a multiparty and multi-region delegation of senators and businessmen. Livestock and Dairy Development Department launched anti-congo campaign in Bajaur tribal district aimed to protect animals from the possible outbreak of Congo fever in the region. BAJAUR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Aug, 2018 ) :Livestock and Dairy Development Department launched anti-congo campaign in Bajaur tribal district aimed to protect animals from the possible outbreak of Congo fever in the region. Talking to reporters, the Assistant Director of Livestock department, Dr Ahmad Younas said the drive launched on the special directives of senior officials of Livestock and Dairy Development, Fata secretariat. He said the drive part of a strategy to prevent any possible outbreak of Congo fever in the district. He said that during the campaign, free anti-tick vaccine distributed among the farmers across the district. He told that several teams comprising veterinary doctors and vaccinators taking part in the campaign. He said that the teams would visit houses and all cattle markets to spray the animals. He said that the people were informed about precautionary measures against Congo fever. Dr Younas said that several teams were also deployed at the exit and entry points of Bajaur to spray the animals coming to the region. Dr said that precautionary measures were the best and only way to cope with the possible outbreak of Congo fever. (@ChaudhryMAli88) A Proclaimed Offender has been arrested by police after exchange of fire said police on Saturday. KOHAT, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Aug, 2018 ) :A Proclaimed Offender has been arrested by police after exchange of fire said police on Saturday. Proclaimed Offender Irfan has been arrested and recovered Kalashnikov and and cartridges from his possession. He was arrested from Naway Kalay area of Kohat situated on Kohat Hangu road. Irfan was wanted to police in many cases. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Aug, 2018 ) :Punjab Emergency Service (PES), Rescue 1122 Rawalpindi has finalized arrangements for Eid ul Azha while more than 400 rescuers will remain on special duties in Rawalpindi district. According to District Emergency Officer (DEO) Rawalpindi Dr. Abdul Rehman, the Rescue-1122 personnel will remain alert during Eid ul Azha holidays at emergency rescue stations with 23 fully equipped emergency ambulances, nine fire vehicles, five rescue and recovery vehicles, two water bowzers, two specialized vehicles and 45 motorbike ambulances. The Rescue posts will be established at Cattle Mandi on Gulzar-e-Quaid, KRL road near Chhatri chowk, Wheat Godown IJP Road, Dhama Syedan (Jarahi stop) Adyala road, car Chowk Bostan Khan Raod Gulraiz and UC Lakhan Chakri Road on 9th Zil Hajj whereas key points to cover Eid-ul-Azha Prayers will be established at Eidgah Shareef, Children Park Gawalmandi, Liaqat Bagh Ground, Chungi No. 22 Chowk, Jamia Masjid Faizan-e-Madina Adyala Road and Capt. Bilal Shaheed chowk Chaklala-III. The rescuers will also perform their duties on three days of Eid ul Azha and provide emergency cover to GPO Chowk Saddar, Koral chowk, Jinnah Park, Ayub National Park, Nawaz Sharif Park and T-Chowk Rawat. The emergency officers have been directed to organize meetings with local mosque committees and ensure that local volunteers are available in case of any emergency. Meetings with management of hospitals have also been held for better management of any untoward incident. Rescue 1122, emergency ambulances, rescue and fire services will remain on emergency alert during Eid ul Azha holidays in all tehsils of the district to provide emergency cover to the citizens in case of any emergency. The DEO has reviewed special emergency arrangements in a meeting held here at Rescue 1122 central Rescue Station Rawal Road which was attended by all heads of the Rescue Stations. The arrangements have been finalized for deployment of emergency ambulances, rescue and fire services at important mosques and Eidgahs. Rescue mobile posts of emergency paramedics will also be deployed at important places of mass gatherings to provide emergency cover. The District Control Room will be functional round the clock for provision of effective emergency services to the public and leaves of the rescuers have been restricted in this regard. Special mobile posts will also be established for providing effective medical cover to the Eid gatherings. The DEO advised the motorists to drive safely with families particularly while leaving or returning from hometowns before, during and after Eid ul Azha holidays. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Aug, 2018 ) :Regional Transport Authority (RTA) Rawalpindi has formed three squads to check overcharging by the transporters on Eid ul Azha and warned the transporters against overcharging public transport fares from people going to hometowns to celebrate Eid with the families. Talking to APP, Secretary RTA, Khalid Yameen Satti said that it is common feature that with the coming of Eid people go to their hometowns to celebrate the festival with their loved ones. People from abroad as well as major cities make it a point to be home with their kith and kin for the festivities. However, the transporters have a habit of fleecing the home bound citizens by charging exorbitant rates. He said, stern action would be taken against transporters found overcharging and overloading the passengers. The staff concerned have been directed to check overcharging and overloading of passengers in buses and vans specially before Eid ul Azha. The checking will be carried out randomly at different places. Strict action will be taken on the spot and excess fares will be returned to the passengers. To a question he informed that a meeting in this regard was arranged and the transporters have been directed to display the fare charts at prominent places at the bus and van stands. The transporters have also been warned of strict action against overcharging and overloading with punitive measures will be placed at different locations. He requested the commuters to cooperate with the authorities concerned and inform on RTA's UAN Number 0800-02345 or on the complaint number 051-9270011, if any transporter charges extra fare or misbehaves with them. He said that special squads have been deployed to conduct raidsto check overcharging and overloading to facilitate the commuters. (@FahadShabbir) ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Aug, 2018 ) :Against the silhouette of British era picket manning the craggy green hills at considerable altitude, the pale disc of sun heralding an end to another sultry day sets down behind a maze of man-made concrete and iron structures in the nearby private housing societies. Beneath, at the foothills of the serpentine hilly area, flows the Korang river, known in local dialect as Korang nullah, on its centuries old course, through its fresh or brackish muddy waters have turned blackish due to pollutants, garbage dumping and sewage water released directly without being treated by the adjoining private housing societies near the Islamabad Expressway. An inquisitive peep by a nature lover into deep down river course can petrify the mind and the Wordsworthian's concept of 'crystal clear brook' gliding through the meandering hills turns into the ugliest experience by the beholder. Heaps of trash regularly dumped at the extreme corner of Islamabad Expressway near the Korang bridge by the private housing societies, ultimately pushed deep into the nullah which exposes the callous and indifferent human attitude towards Mother nature. Huge sewage drain pipes at the closer proximity of human dwellings, opposite the bridge can be easily spotted where untreated toxin carrying stinky water is released directly into the river course. It is observed that even the rotten vegetables, fruits, offals, animal waste and all kind of putrid reeking junk are being left near the road and disposed of into the flowing waters of river. An unbearable malodour surrounds the whole area and after the recent monsoon rains and humidity, the situation has turned into worst. "Besides, adding degradation to environment, the decomposing material proves as health hazard, exposing human beings to polluted air, causing various ailments," a concerned professor of private university Dr Munsif Rasheed commented. Other residents, including a septuagenarian and resident of Rawat , Zafar Noon recollected his cherished memories, narrating how the clean Korang nullah waters looked like some twenty years back. Dr Muzaffar Shah says another common practice includes burning of trash, causing harmful particles to mix into the air which causes various skin, throat and nasal allergies. According to environmentalists, disposing of solid waste appeared as back-burner for the city managers as much of trash ends up in the streams, nullahs and rivers and turns into breeding grounds for various pathogens and poisonous flying and crawling insects. From Sohan upto Rawat, heaps of discarded plastic shopping bags and other compost can be seen on both sides of the Expressway, turning as eye sore. Moreover, unchecked practice of disposing waste material in different nullahs flowing right through the different sectors of the Capital including G/7 and G/8 has turned the once natural water courses into streams of floating garbage with unbearable stink. The Katchi abadis which propped up on these nullahs are also directly releasing all the waste material into the downstream with impunity. According to different surveys by various organizations, Islamabad produces around some 700 tonnes of garbage on the daily basis, but the exact figures about garbage produced by the private housing societies located near the Islamabad Expressway are not available. Majority of these societies have no proper mechanism to manage the solid waste material. Another survey by a private firm has put the volume of solid waste generated in the city at around 1,000 tonnes per day, including 60 and 65 per cent as organic and 2030 per cent as recyclable. The Capital Development Authority (CDA) under a recommendation from the Islamabad environmental commission had mulled for a proper landfill site near Rawat and another site near Kallar Syedan road, but nothing was yet finalized to deal with the garbage generation issue of housing societies near the Expressway. Though the sanitation wing of Metropolitan Corporation Islamabad (MCI) had been directed to start collecting garbage from these societies along the Expressway, but the residents expect drastic steps to deal with the magnitude of the challenge which is swirling into a snowball. Algiers, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Aug, 2018 ) :Algeria and Mauritania on Sunday opened a first ever border crossing between the two countries, Algerian media reported. Algeria's Interior Minister Noureddine Bedoui and his Mauritanian counterpart Ahmedou Ould Abdallah inaugurated the post near the Algerian town of Tindouf, telling journalists that it would boost security and trade. The national news agency APS said the crossing, agreed in a November 2017 accord, had cost Algiers almost $10 million to build. The border stretches across 460 kilometres (275 miles) of desert, a region used by smugglers and armed groups. It has been declared a military zone on the Mauritanian side. Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, has described former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a "great leader and statesman" in a tweet mourning the death of the Ghanian diplomat on Saturday. UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Aug, 2018 ) :Pakistan's Ambassador to the United Nations, Maleeha Lodhi, has described former UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan as a "great leader and statesman" in a tweet mourning the death of the Ghanian diplomat on Saturday. Pakistan, she said, was saddened by Annan's passing away. His contributions to the UN and international peace will always be remembered, the Pakistani envoy said. Ambassador Lodhi also sent a similar message of condolence to her Ghanian counterpart, Martha Ama Akyaa Pobee. (@rukhshanmir) Sofia, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Aug, 2018 ) :Bulgarian soldiers who took part in crushing the 1968 Prague Spring democracy movement under orders from Moscow bristle at being considered aggressors. "If we were aggressors in Czechoslovakia, having been sent there by the Warsaw Pact, what are our soldiers today who've been sent to Iraq and Afghanistan for NATO?" asks reserve colonel Lyubcho Banov. His irritation is visible as he recalls commanding a company tasked with protecting Prague's Ruzyne airport as the Czech Republic marks the 50th anniversary of the Soviet crackdown. "It was a political decision: it was inconceivable that Czechoslovakia would be allowed to escape. As soldiers we carried out our duty, without firing on civilians," Banov says. "We weren't aggressors." Pencho Valkov, a businessman from the central town of Drianovo, bears a small scar on his chest from where he was scraped by a rebel bullet, fired from a house close to the airport. "I took cover, we weren't allowed to respond to the shot," he recalls. Valkov was just 18 at the time and says he did not know why his unit was being deployed when the soldiers were flown from their base near the Turkish border to the then Soviet republic of Ukraine on July 28, 1968. "We flew very low over the Black Sea, at an altitude of 200-300 metres, to avoid detection by Turkish radar," says Gospodin Chonkov, who led Valkov's unit, tasked with communications. As Romania was the only Warsaw Pact country not to support the crackdown on the Prague Spring, the troops also had to avoid Romanian airspace. Chonkov says the men were "surprised" to arrive in western Ukraine. There they were awakened at dawn on August 21 and told of their mission just before re-boarding their plane. "A commander explained that our 'Czechoslovak brothers' had asked for help, that it was 'worse than a war'," Valkov recalls. Those who were scared of the mission were invited to make themselves known, but no-one dared. When they arrived at Prague's Ruzyne airport, the Russians were already there. The Bulgarian troops took control of movements at the airport and quickly dug trenches around the perimeter. Information reached them through a newspaper printed in Bulgarian called the "Ruzyne Guardian". - 'Go home!' - Relatively isolated from the dramatic events in the city of Prague itself where Soviet tanks rolled down the streets, the Bulgarians saw some signs of hostility -- although they maintain that the local population was generally positive towards them. "There were young people protesting at the airport entrance with banners in Russian reading 'Idite domoy!' ('Go home!')," Chonkov says. "It was the first time we had seen a civilian protest." On September 9 one Bulgarian was found dead. His fellow soldiers never learned the exact circumstances of his death. The soldiers experienced few qualms about their mission, during it or afterwards. "We were convinced by the propaganda, we thought we weren't fighting against ordinary people but against those who wanted to split Czechoslovakia off from the socialist community," says Chonkov. They received a hero's welcome on their return to Bulgaria and were given three days' leave. Those who wanted to were given the opportunity to go to university without sitting the normal entrance exam. Despite the international condemnation the crushing of the Prague Spring attracted, Chonkov insists: "We never fired on any Czechs". For the 40th anniversary of the operation in 2008, Chonkov held a reunion for a dozen of his old comrades and had T-shirts made for them symbolising their self-image: a Kalashnikov with a rose -- Bulgaria's national flower -- emerging from its barrel. (@ChaudhryMAli88) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday ahead of the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that she saw positive developments in Syria and noted the importance of preventing a humanitarian catastrophe in the country. MESERBERG (Germany) (UrduPoint news / Sputnik - 18th August, 2018) German Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Saturday ahead of the talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin that she saw positive developments in Syria and noted the importance of preventing a humanitarian catastrophe in the country. "An important topic, of course, will be Syria. We, of course, should first of all avoid the humanitarian catastrophe around and in this country. We are seeing a decrease in hostilities, but this does not mean that we have a peaceful situation there," Merkel said. At the same time, Putin called for provision of support to those Syrian regions, which can experience a return of refugees, including from the European countries that suffer from the overflow of migrants. "We will discuss the situation in the middle East, primarily in regards to Syria. It is important to develop the humanitarian component of the Syrian conflict, meaning, first of all, the provision of humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people and help to those areas where refugees from abroad can return," Putin told reporters. The Russian leader noted that even though most refugees returning to Syria come from Jordan and Lebanon, both of which host a million of them as well as Turkey that hosts three million, such situation puts potential pressure on Europe. "To help in restoration of most basic things: water supply and sanitation, revival of medicine. I think everyone is interested in it, including Europe," Putin underlined. Following a series of high profile visits in the past two weeks, Moscow and Islamabad have upgraded their bilateral ties just as a new government is poised to come into power in Pakistan. BEIJING, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Aug, 2018 ) :Following a series of high profile visits in the past two weeks, Moscow and Islamabad have upgraded their bilateral ties just as a new government is poised to come into power in Pakistan. The Russian Ambassador to Pakistan Alexey Dedov recently carried a special message from President Putin to newly-elected Prime Minister Imran Khan conveying "wishes to improve relations with Pakistan (and) foster economic cooperation and people-to-people contact as well." In response, Khan also expressed his keen interest in enhancing ties with Russia, according to an article published by China.org.cn on Saturday. Sharing many objectives, both nations are focused on regional peace and have a similar diplomatic stance on important issues, such as the U.S. decision to abandon the JCPOA nuclear deal with Iran, containing terrorism in Afghanistan to stabilize it for advantageous regional trade and smooth completion of China's Belt and Road Initiative. Strengthening Track II diplomacy, encouraging academic and cultural ties, as well as improving people-to-people links are also on the agenda. Economic ties have improved in the last few years, especially with their largest ever economic deal worth $2 billion in 2015, and developing a 1,100-kilometer gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore. Thus, business ties are on an upward trajectory as in the 1970s era when the erstwhile Soviet Union built the Pakistan Steel Mills. Now, both Russia and Pakistan are part of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and have common economic and strategic regional interests in this region. Along with the agreed North-South gas pipeline, Russia has plans for a similar Iranian-Pakistani-Indian offshore one worth $10 billion, which could transit across the China Pakistan Economic Corridor and become a parallel energy corridor. In the future, there are also possibilities for Pakistan to become a member of the Eurasian Development Bank. Enhancing multi-dimensional ties with Moscow, further incentives are to be provided to Russian companies for investments in the domestic energy sector and efforts will be made to increase the trade volume. On the military front, removal in 2014 of an arms embargo against Islamabad has been hailed as a milestone in defense ties. Agreeing to sell four Mi-35M helicopters to Pakistan back then, Russia went on to hold the joint exercise "Druzhba" in 2016 and 2017 and the naval exercises "Arabian Monsoon" in 2014 and 2015. Visiting Islamabad for the first session of the Russian-Pakistani Military Consultative Committee on Defense and Security Issues last week, the Russian Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin met with both the military and political top leadership to discuss bilateral cooperation. While the two sides shared views on "regional security and the state and prospects of bilateral cooperation in the military and military-technical areas," ties were further elevated. A Russian foreign ministry statement said the meeting confirmed a bid to deepen the dialogue and develop contacts in the defense sector. Further possibilities could exist for the sale of more military equipment to Pakistan after these high-level dialogues. The new agreements between Pakistan and Russia happened to coincide with the recent suspension of a decade-old arrangement for Pakistan Army officers to train at American military institutions such as the NDU. The International Military education and Training (IMET) program has been a hallmark of U.S.-Pakistan relations in the past. Even as the U.S. mulled over options to fill the 66 places falling empty in the next academic year, Russia and Pakistan pre-empted that move by agreeing to establish an apparent alternative educational military mechanism. In retrospect, even the American-Indian strategic partnership may have set off the chain reaction of altered South Asian power dynamics of recent years. Having the potential to bring non-traditional countries together in a different paradigm, foreign relations do have a ripple effect. Even a decade ago, such a Russia-Pakistan equation might have been considered an unlikely prospect. Upgrading relations has been an ongoing process based on mutual benefits and on a solid footing, it is not transitory phenomenon. Undoubtedly, a positive development in the complicated geopolitics of this region, Russia-Pakistan ties are essential for stability and have great value. Leaving the Cold War era behind, both countries have converging interests in Afghanistan and maintaining the peace there remains top priority. Though both countries had been on opposite sides of the fence since the last few decades, this improvement in their ties proves that there are no permanent friends and enemies in geopolitics. MEXICO CITY (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 18th August, 2018) Perus Interior Minister Mauro Medina confirmed Friday that Venezuelans would need passports to enter the country, in an effort to curb the inflow of migrants from the impoverished neighbor. "Peru will require a passport to be shown by Venezuelan citizens starting at midnight on Saturday, August 25, 2018, to guarantee an orderly and safe entry," he said at a press conference in Lima. Reports about Perus plans to tighten entry rules came shortly after Ecuador announced that Venezuelans would no longer be able to cross the border with their national ID cards as of Friday. Economic and social turmoil has gripped Venezuela for years, driving hundreds of thousands to neighboring countries. The exodus led South American nations to distance themselves from the leftist government in Caracas and demand that it address the humanitarian crisis. Chilean miners at the world's biggest copper mine, Escondida, signed an agreement on Friday with Anglo-Australian owners BHP to avoid a strike announced two weeks ago when unions rejected as insufficient a proposed salary hike. Santiago, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Aug, 2018 ) :Chilean miners at the world's biggest copper mine, Escondida, signed an agreement on Friday with Anglo-Australian owners BHP to avoid a strike announced two weeks ago when unions rejected as insufficient a proposed salary hike. BHP said "a new collective contract" had been agreed with the No.1 union, which represents 2,500 miners, preventing a potentially crippling shutdown at the mine, which produces five percent of the world's copper. Neither the union nor BHP divulged the terms of the new deal but local media reported miners would get a 2.8 percent salary increase and a bonus of almost $28,000 per worker for ending negotiations. The union had called for a five percent salary increase and bonus of about $34,000 while BHP's counter offer was 15 million Chilean pesos ($23,000) per worker. Chilean miners earn between $2,500-3,000 a month -- a comfortable sum in a country where the minimum wage is $800. But the workers argue they deserve such a premium because of their harsh working conditions. Negotiations had dragged on for weeks, increasing fears that miners would go on strike for the second year in a row. Last year, Escondida miners spent 44 days on industrial action, provoking a 39 percent drop in production over the first half of the year -- and costing the company $740 million. BHP is a multinational mining, metals and petroleum company that posted revenues of $38 billion and $5.9 billion in bottom line profit last year. Escondida is one of the most profitable copper mines in the world. It earned almost $1.2 billion last year, a 20 percent increase on the previous year, despite the lengthy industrial action. That hurt the local economy, though, in a country that produces almost a third of the world's copper, around 5.6 million tons, fueled largely by China's insatiable appetite for the red metal. The Escondida mine is located in the world's driest desert, the Atacama in northern Chile, at more than 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) in altitude. It's the same area where eight years ago, 33 men were trapped 700 meters underground for 69 days following a cave-in at the Copiapo mine. Last month, at another mine in Chuquicamata, run by the state-owned Codelco company, workers briefly went on strike to demand the reinstatement of sacked colleagues. (@ChaudhryMAli88) MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th August, 2018) Taliban militants have taken control of Bilchiragh District in Faryab province in the northwest of Afghanistan, local media reported Sunday. At the same time, several dozen troops from a military base in the same province remain unaccounted for, ToloNews reported, citing a source. The Taliban movement captured Sainia base, which hosted 76 government troops, a spokesman for Shaheen Camp, Mohammad Hanif Rezaee, told Sputnik earlier this week. According to media reports, at least 18 Afghan troops were killed and 12 were injured during the attack on the base. The government forces in Afghanistan have been fighting the Taliban radical movement for years. Warsaw, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Aug, 2018 ) :Three people were killed and 38 injured in southeastern Poland when a bus with Ukrainian tourists headed for Austria plunged off a winding mountain road, officials said Saturday. The bus had been travelling from the Ukrainian city of Lviv to Vienna late Friday when it missed a turn on a national highway near the village of Leszczawa Dolna and crashed through the guard rail. The vehicle plummeted off the road and overturned several times, local fire service spokesman Grzegorz Latosekf said. "Three people have died in the accident," he told TVN 24 television. Ukraine's foreign ministry said 38 Ukrainians were injured, one of them in serious condition. Prosecutors announced that the bus driver had been charged over the accident, with initial reports suggesting he had been driving at between 70 and 80 kilometres (between 40 and 50 miles) an hour in a 30 kph zone. A number of accidents have already taken place near the spot where the bus crashed, Polish media said. DAKAR, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Aug, 2018 ) :Turkey's national flag carrier Turkish Airlines flew 6,000 Malian Muslims to Saudi Arabian cities Jeddah and Madina by direct flights for their Islamic pilgrimage. Turkish Airlines Financial Office Director Serkan Ozbuyukyoruk told Anadolu Agency Turkish Airlines won this year's hajj transportation bid held by the Malian Ministry of Religious Affairs and Worship. Ozbuyukyoruk said 6,000 Malian Muslims were flown to Jeddah and Madina by direct flights from Mali. In addition, almost 1,000 Muslims from Burkina Faso, Niger and Guinea used Mali as a hub and reached these holy lands by direct or connecting flights in Istanbul. Turkish Airlines, founded in 1933 with a fleet of just five aircraft, now has 325 aircraft, including passenger and cargo planes, and flies to more than 300 destinations in 121 countries. Last year, it carried 68.6 million passengers with a 79.1 percent seat occupancy rate. KIEV (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 19th August, 2018) The United Nations on Sunday called for an immediate increase in humanitarian relief to the civilians in the Ukrainian crisis-torn region of Donbas, the UN Office in Ukraine said in a statement on the occasion of the 10th commemoration of World Humanitarian Day. "I implore the international community to increase their support for scaling up efforts to alleviate the suffering of the civilian population affected by the crisis wherever they reside within Ukraines territory and reiterate appeals for full respect for international humanitarian law," UN Humanitarian Coordinator in Ukraine Osnat Lubrani was quoted as saying in the statement. Over 3,000 civilians had been killed and 9,000 injured since the outbreak of crisis, while almost 3. 5 million people in the Donbas region were vulnerable due to food and water shortages, the UN Office stressed. "I am concerned that the humanitarian response is funded at less than a third of the required amount I call on Member States to stand in solidarity with the people of Ukraine and support our tireless efforts," Lubrani stressed. The military operation in Donbas was launched by Kiev in 2014, after residents of the region refused to recognize the new Ukrainian government. In 2015, a ceasefire agreement brokered by the leaders of the so-called Normandy Four group (France, Germany, Russia, and Ukraine) was reached in Minsk, but the situation has remained tense, with both sides accusing each other of violating the truce. Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and Russian President Vladimir Putin will meet for talks amid concerns among both leaders about US sanctions and Washington's criticisms over trade, energy, and the NATO military alliance. Merkel wants to seek a balance between Western sanctions against Russia and Germany's own interest in a natural gas project with Moscow. By Stefan J. Bos Germany's Chancellor Angela Merken and Russian President Vladimir Putin meet Saturday at the German governments guest house outside Berlin at an awkward moment for both nations. A German government spokesman has confirmed that topics include Russia's role in the civil war in Syria, an ongoing conflict in Ukraine and energy questions. The two leaders meet at a time that President Putin is facing possible more U.S. sanctions on Russia imposed by his American counterpart Donald Trump. Putin seeks to soften or head off any European support amid economic turmoil at home. At the same time, both Germany and Russia want to move ahead with the Nord Stream 2 natural gas pipeline. But that project has been criticized by U.S. President Trump as a form of Russian control over Germany. TRUMP CONCERNED He wants countries such as Germany to spend more on defense as they are part of the NATO military alliance. "I think its a horrific thing thats being done, where youre feeding billions and billions of dollars from Germany primarily, and other countries, but primarily from Germany into the coffers of Russia when were trying to do something so that we have peace in the world," he told reporters last month. "I think its a horrible thing that Germany is doing. I think its a horrible mistake...I think its a horrible thing that you have a pipeline coming from Russia, and I believe that Germany is going to be getting 50, 60, or even, Ive heard, numbers of 70 percent of their energy coming in from Russia," Trump said. " And how can you be working for peace and working from strength when somebody has that kind of power over your country?" He added: "I dont think its good. Youre not working from strength; youve given up all of your strength. I think its very bad for Germany, very bad for the German people. And I dont think its very good for NATO..." But the project would add another natural gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea, allowing more Russian gas to bypass Ukraine and Poland. EASING FRICTIONS? In an attempt to ease frictions with allies over the plan, Merkel is expected to push for a Russian commitment to keep at least some gas transiting Ukraine. That country earns transit fees from it. Putin has already said hes open for shipments to continue if Ukraine settles a natural gas dispute with Russia. Germany also has a keen interest in seeing some of the Syrian refugees in Germany return home. That's why it wants to see at least some settlement of the civil war in Syria. Russia's support is crucial as it backs Syria's President Bashar Assad with military force. Putin has pushed Germany and other Western nations to help rebuild Syrias economy ravaged by more than seven years of civil war. He argues that it would help encourage refugees from Syria to return home, easing the pressure on Europe. It now remains to be seen whether Germany will be able to bridge its differences with the US and other allies on how to deal with Russia. On Friday evening, August 17, Las Vegas 18-year-old, Sarah Hodge, learned her wish for a home music studio was coming true thanks to Make-A-Wish Southern Nevada, which partnered with Wynn Nightlife to underwrite and orchestrate a wish reveal worthy of music royalty (Pictured: Make-A-Wish Recipient Sarah Hodge with Wynn Nightlife Resident DJ Duo The Chainsmokers at Intrigue Nightclub Photo credit: Danny Mahoney for Wynn Nightlife). With help from Wynn Nightlife resident act, The Chainsmokers, along with DJ Marc Stout, Hodge was presented with a MacBook Pro loaded with a suite of music editing software and was told she would receive further instruction to ensure she could create and edit her own music. Photo credit: Danny Mahoney for Wynn Nightlife Hodge, who was told she was attending a Make-A-Wish event as one of the organizations many wish child/teen ambassadors, was both surprised and thrilled to learn her wish was coming true and that the party was just for her! She was especially excited when The Chainsmokers stopped by to extend their best wishes, giving her the ultimate selfie moment that is sure to make her the envy of friends far and near. The grand wish reveal, which began with the arrival of Hodge and her family via limousine provided by Wynn, took place at Intrigue The Nightclub at Wynn before doors opened for operation that evening. Hodges family and close friends, along with Make-A-Wish board members, volunteers and staff, were joined by the entire Wynn Nightlife executive staff, including Alex Cordova, Executive Vice President of Nightlife; Ronn Nicolli, Senior Executive Director of Nightlife Marketing; Pauly Freedman, Executive Director, Wynn Nightlife; Michael Waltman, Executive Director of Operations, Encore Beach Club; and Ryan Jones, Executive Director of Operations, Wynn Nightlife. Photo credit: Danny Mahoney for Wynn Nightlife Following the wish reveal party that included a special mocktail and appetizers, Hodge and her family were treated to a hosted dinner at Lakeside at Wynn before returning home later that night via limousine, also provided by Wynn. Born with Cystic Fibrosis, Hodge undergoes twice daily treatments and says her bathroom looks like a pharmacy because of all the medications required to keep her lungs clear. Her condition, which is complicated by pulmonary manifestations, makes everyday life challenging for Hodge who goes out of her way to avoid stairs or anything that will cause her to be short of breath. An avid music lover who listens to nearly every genre, Hodge says music is the one thing that can lift her spirits when the challenges of her condition make life especially difficult. According to market research company Mintel, between 2010 and 2015 the market grew by 256 percent, with an additional 15 percent growth expected each year until 2020. Last month banking group Santander UK, in partnership with the China-Britain Business Council, took 11 maternity, children and baby product suppliers to the Children Baby Maternity Expo in Shanghai. "The UK domestic retail environment has been stagnant, so a lot of retailers are trying to find new growth opportunities," said Dennis Lin, head of the Santander UK China desk. "British companies are thinking about China, but they don't know where to begin in terms of first steps, so that's where Santander wanted to help, and build this connectivity and build this bridge between the two countries." China's maternity, children and baby market is estimated to be worth more than 339 billion pounds ($432 billion) in 2018, with further growth forecast. Because it is such a lucrative market, the trade mission was part of Santander's focus on helping British brands to build trade partnerships with China, giving small and medium-sized enterprises an opportunity to meet Chinese buyers and network with key stakeholders. Companies that attended the expo include soft toy manufacturer Jellycat, food producer Piccolo Baby Foods and clothing company Frugi. "The trade mission was really valuable in putting us in contact with a number of brick and mortar retailers in China," said Sarah Pritchard, sales director at London-based Jellycat. "After participating in the trade mission in 2017, we decided to exhibit at the Children Baby Maternity Expo for the first time this year," Pritchard said. Chinese consumers' demand for high-quality British products remains strong. Global research by Barclays Corporate Banking found that consumers in emerging markets such as China and India perceive British products to be more reliable and of higher quality than rival suppliers. VOA Global English gives you the latest news and information around the clock Music Time in Africa is VOAs longest running English language program. Since 1965, this award-winning program has featured pan African music that spans all genres and generations. Ethnomusicologist and Host Heather Maxwell keeps you up to date on whats happening in African music with exclusive interviews, cultural information, and of course, great music -- including rare recordings from the Leo Sarkisian Library of African Music. Brazil is sending troops to its border with Venezuela amid growing tensions in the Brazilian border town of Pacaraima in the state of Roraima, after Venezuelan immigrants were blamed for robbing and severely beating a local merchant. The troops are scheduled to arrive Monday. Over the past three years, tens of thousands of Venezuelans have sought refuge in Brazil from Venezuela's economic, political and social crises. The merchant was beaten early Saturday and local residents blamed Venezuela immigrants. Afterwards, locals invaded the Venezuelans' makeshift camps and burned their belongings. "It was terrible, they burned the tents and everything that was inside," said Carol Marcano, a Venezuelan. "There were shots. They burned rubber tires." Brazilian police said hundreds of Venezuelans crossed back into their country to escape Saturday's violence. The death toll of Genoa's bridge collapse has risen to 43 as rescuers confirm they found remains believed to be of a missing family. Firefighters discovered the three bodies, reported to be those of a couple and their nine-year-old daughter, early Sunday inside a car extracted from the rubble of the viaduct. All those reported missing after Tuesday's collapse have now been accounted for, although rescuers say they will continue combing the wreckage. The announcement followed the discovery Saturday of the body of a man in his 30s in the rubble and the death of another man in hospital. Italy observed a national day of mourning Saturday for the victims of the tragedy. Applause broke out at state funerals in Genoa as rescuers and members of the civil defense department arrived to take part in the service. Authorities used an exhibition center in the area of the Genoa fairgrounds as a church. Large screens were set up outside as Italians from all over the country and tourists turned out to follow the service. Many said they came out of solidarity with relatives of the victims because what happened could have happened to anyone. The archbishop of Genoa, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, presided over the solemn service. Italy's top officials and politicians, including head of state Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, attended. But not all the families of the victims agreed to take part. Some decided to bury their dead relatives in their towns of origin, while others declined to participate in anger at having lost their loved ones in an accident that may have been caused by poor design or improper maintenance. President Sergio Mattarella, who visited the site of the disaster and the injured in the hospital before attending the service, has defined the bridge collapse as "absurd and frightening," saying the tragedy "struck not only Genoa but the whole nation." The government has set up a commission to investigate the causes of the bridge collapse. The disaster sparked a huge debate in Italy about the state of the country's infrastructure. Autostrade per l'Italia, the company that manages Italy's highway system, held a news conference Saturday in Genoa, maintaining it has always acted responsibly as the operator of the toll road. CEO Giovanni Castellucci said it was premature to respond to the government's plans to revoke the company's concession, but said his company could build a new bridge in eight months. The Morandi viaduct dates from the 1960s and has been riddled with structural problems for decades, leading to expensive maintenance and criticism from engineering experts. Google has been in the headlines recently, and the news was not good. The technology company left the Chinese market eight years ago to protest Beijing's censorship, but now appears ready to return with a new search engine. But the project is shrouded in secrecy, even as Google's employees demand transparency. Meanwhile, the company tries to defend itself against accusations it has been invading user's privacy, despite claiming it doesn't. Faiza Elmasry has the story. Faith Lapidus narrates. Israel has closed its only crossing for people on the Gaza Strip. The crossing was closed Sunday. Humanitarian cases, however, will be able to cross the border, Israeli officials say. On Friday, Palestinian health officials said two Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire and 60 were injured at a protest along the Baz border, as Egyptian mediators worked to broker a cease-fire. Palestinians have been protesting at the Gaza border since the end of March in part for an end to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza. Palestinian health officials say 170 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli fire since the protests began. Egyptian officials have been meeting in Cairo with representatives of Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist group that runs Gaza, hammering out details of a possible truce with Israel. Israel and Egypt placed severe economic restrictions on Gaza after Hamas seized the coastal territory in 2007 from the internationally recognized Palestinian Authority. Israel says the economic blockade is needed to contain Hamas, a militant group that seeks Israels destruction. The closure has greatly harmed Gazas economy, but it has failed to oust Hamas or ease the groups hold on power. Won Yun last saw his grandmother and sisters on the banks of the Taedong River during the January Fourth Retreat of the Korean War. Eventually, Yun, his grandfather, parents and three brothers made it to the South, while his grandmother and two younger sisters remained. The 8-year-old Yun believed the entire family would reunite after the war. They could not. Like thousands of other Korean-Americans, Yun, now 76, yearns to be reunited with relatives in North Korea. Hopes raised For many of them, the recent summit meeting between President Donald Trump and North Koreas Kim Jong Un raised the hope of family reunions. [Korean-American divided families are] the last living human link between the U.S. and DPRK, said Jason Ahn, board chair of the Divided Families USA (DFUSA). He referred to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea. This is a humanitarian issue and we need to act quickly to resolve this as soon as possible. Since the Korean War split the Korean Peninsula in 1950, an estimated 100,000 Korean-Americans have been cut off from relatives in North Korea. While the U.S. and North Korea do not have a formal reunification channel for Korean-Americans and their North Korean relatives, since 2000, North and South Korea have held 20 reunions for their divided families, both physically and virtually. The next is scheduled for Aug. 20-26 at North Koreas Diamond Mountain resort. The greatest deterrent to reuniting Korean-Americans and their North Korean families has been the tense relationship between the U.S. and North Korea, now warming somewhat, and the precedence of the denuclearization issue. Ive argued that human rights issues ought to be part of any conversation that the United States has with North Korea, said Ambassador Robert King, the former special envoy for North Korean human rights issues in the Obama administration, adding that denuclearization is an extremely important issue and theres no question that its the most important. But the divided families issue cannot wait. These [divided family members] theyre all in their 70s, 80s, theyre all going to die, Yuns son, David Yun, said. So that 100,000 is no longer 100,000 anymore. DFUSA and its partner organization, the National Coalition for the Divided Families (NCDF), each keep a registry of Korean-Americans with family members in North Korea. Within the last year, several Korean-Americans on the registries have died. Others decided they no longer wanted to be registered. Some just fell off the radar. We need to be prioritized even before normalization [of relations between the U.S. and North Korea] or even before the nuclear issue is resolved, Ahn said. That may take many years and people are dying. Literally dying. Tracking down relatives Some Americans have made their own way to North Korea. Thats what Heang Ki Paik did. A 69-year-old taekwondo master who lives in San Francisco, Paik is the son of a North Korean mother and a South Korean father who married before the Korean War. Paik, his parents and his five brothers fled to the South in 1951, leaving behind his mothers side of the family. My mother spoke in a North Korean dialect, and everyone knew that she was North Korean, so she was discriminated against in the South, Paik said in a translated interview with VOA. When Paiks mother died in 1991, she left him the last known addresses of her North Korean family. Paik moved to the U.S. in 1992 and began seeking her family. Fifteen years later, in October 2007, Jung Woo-jin, a Korean-American taekwondo grandmaster and publisher of Taekwondo Times, hosted North Koreas national Taekwondo Demonstration Team to perform and tour five cities in the U.S. The North Korean group consisted of 18 taekwondo athletes and seven officials. Among them was Ung Chang, who represents Pyongyang on the International Olympic Committee. Paik, who coordinated the event in San Francisco, stuck close to Chang over the course of three days. I knew this person was my only chance, so I worked hard to become friendly with him, Paik said. On the meetings last day, he asked Chang to find his mothers relatives. Three months later, a U.N. representative for North Korea contacted Paik and confirmed that his aunt and uncle were alive. Three years later, on Oct. 22, 2010, in his mothers hometown Nampo, Paik met his family and spent three days with them. Other avenues Other divided Korean-American families seek different avenues. Yuns parents never gave up looking for their daughters. When they died, Yun, who had been living in the U.S. since 1965, continued their quest. He contacted a Canadian organization that said they had located his sisters. I was very skeptical I think thats the feeling that everyone had, said David Yun, whose doubts failed to deter his father. On Oct. 13, 2007, Yun flew to Pyongyang, then trekked to Anju. There, at a four-story hotel, he opened the door to a room and his younger sisters, Won Bok and Won Sil, flew into his arms. Yun, who documented his time in North Korea, showed the videos to his family in New Jersey when he returned. Our jaws dropped, because this lady was the spitting image of my grandmother, David Yun said in reference to Won Bok, the older sister. It was as if my grandmother rose up from the dead and she was living in North Korea. Although Paik and Yun were able to reunite with their families, thousands of Korean-Americans remain frustrated. Third-party organizations, brokers or black marketers often demand tens of thousands of dollars from those seeking their families. Sometimes people are cheated of their money. [The divided families] went from one broker to another to hoping the next time would be successful to find out whether their parents were still alive, said Chahee Stanfield, NCDFs executive director. Although legislation for divided families has been introduced and passed under the Bush and Obama administrations, they did not yield the formal mechanism for reunions that the families and their advocates want. When VOA asked about the possibility of the Korean-American divided families being discussed with North Korea, the U.S. State Department referred to the first point in the Singapore statement that the United States and the DPRK commit to establish new U.S.-DPRK relations in accordance with the desire of the peoples of the two countries for peace and prosperity. In June, Democratic Congresswoman Karen Bass of California introduced a resolution that would require the U.S. government to hold a reunion within 60 days of the resolutions passing. In accordance with the binding nature of the resolution, which is with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Bass believes that reunions should not be dependent on the United States relationship with North Korea. I think reunification should happen. Period, she said in an interview with VOA. Pushing for more Stanfield, NCDFs executive director, appreciates the congresswomans resolution and wants the Trump administration to do more. DFUSA [has] met high-ranking officials at the vice presidents office, the presidents office the people we have met are in the decision-making positions, Stanfield said. So right now, we appreciate the resolution, [but] we have passed that stage. Long time ago. Hannah Y. Kim, who wrote the Divided Families Bill that passed Congress in 2016 as the chief of staff to former Congressman Charles Rangel, believes resolutions are not sufficient. Its not enough for a politician or an elected official to introduce a bill, Kim said. That doesnt mean anything unless people do something about it, keep on raising the issue. And that has to be led by Korean-Americans. Organizations like the Council of Korean Americans (CKA) and the Korean American Grassroots Conference (KAGC) urge Korean-Americans to raise the issue with their Congressional representatives. Part of what were trying to do at CKA is to educate our community around the power that we wield, Interim Executive Director of CKA Jessica Lee said. Until we have more people doing that with this [divided families] issue, I think its going to be difficult to make the progress that we all want. Ahn, who has been involved with the divided families issue for 12 years, looks at the success of the repatriation of remains from North Korea and wants the same for the divided families. Really, with a handshake between President Trump and Chairman Kim, it could happen, Ahn said. They just need to declare it and it will happen. Hannah Kim recognizes that facilitating a meeting for thousands of families has its challenges. At the very least, lets do a virtual [reunion]. Nothing, nothing, nothing will be better of course than being united in person, to be able to hug and kiss and talk to each other, she said. But just knowing that theyre even alive on the other end of the screen, sometimes thats just good enough for them. Standardization is essential to the convergence of the health industry and information and communication technology (ICT), said Luo Zhong, chairman of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU)-T Study Group (SG) 16 in an exclusive interview with China.org.cn on Friday. Luo was invited to the Belt and Road Internet Plus Health Conference, a subsidiary meeting of the China Hospeq 2018 held in Beijing from August 17 to 19. Luo said he is convinced that the convergence of ICT and medicine, one of the oldest professions in human history, will create a new future for the medical and health industry. He said ICT is a fundamental enabling technology which aims to improve global health development by providing broader, easier, and faster access to health and medical services. The latest technologies, including artificial intelligence, machine learning, expert system, neural network, and big data analysis, are able to unlock the medical expertise, experiences and raw data accumulated throughout the entire history of medical development, said Luo. However, according to Luo's keynote presentation on the ICT and health convergence for better human sustainable development at the opening of the conference, a major challenge to advancing the convergence is lack of uniform standards on compatibility and interoperability between different digital medical systems as well as the quality of smart equipment products and health management services. At a meeting in Ljubljana last month, the ITU-T SG 16 established the ITU-T Focus Group on Artificial Intelligence for Health (AI 4H). AI 4H will work in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO) to develop an international "AI for health" standards and assessment framework, and will identify AI cases in the health sector which can be scaled-up for global use. According to Luo, the focus group, which will operate for a life-cycle of two years starting this September, is a very effective way for all interested parties to quickly come on board without having to join the ITU due to its open-door nature. A focus group was adopted to boost the broadest possible participation by ITU-T in support of the "AI for Good" strategic vision of the ITU and the UN, Luo said. He said the demand for such a platform was first identified by the ITU and WHO senior management at the second AI for Good Global Summit held in Geneva from May 15 to 17 this year. Luo also said that China is playing an increasingly active role in the international standardization work. Through the cooperation with the ITU and other international standardization organizations, more and more excellent Chinese technical innovations are being introduced to the rest of the world, he said. Luo described China's ICT development in the past three decades as "magical" and "phenomenal." He said under the guidance of China's policies to promote the integration of ICT with traditional industries such as the Internet Plus action plan, China's ICT development is accelerating on a fast track and more successful outcomes are expected. The ITU-T SG 16 is ITU-T's leading study group on multimedia and e-services, which enjoys a friendly cooperation with the WHO and a long history of working on e-health related standards in collaboration with other important standards organizations in the health and medicine domain. Tucked away in an industrial block in the New York City borough of Queens is an ordinary-looking warehouse containing an extraordinary treasure: a quarter-million sheets, shards and pieces of multicolored and iridescent glass that together make up the largest collection of Tiffany glass, The Neustadt Tiffany Glass Archive. Magnificent windows While stained glass has been produced since ancient times, the colorful cathedral windows created during the 15th century of the Renaissance period are perhaps the best known. But the art was transformed in the late 19th and early 20th centuries by Louis Comfort Tiffany, an American artist and designer who used his unique talent to essentially create paintings out of glass. Lindsy Parrott, executive director and curator of the collection, holds up a medium-sized piece of glass as she explains its uniqueness. This is called dichroic, rippled glass and so its one color this greenish color in reflected light. But then look at this, she says, as she holds it up to the window. When you illuminate it, it becomes a wonderful reddish-yellow glass. And thats what is significant about The Neustadt Tiffany Glass Archive, she says. It documents this unbelievable chapter in the history of stained glass, by introducing all of these incredible colors and textures, various patterns, different opacities of glass. Distinctive style of glass Tiffany glass derives its name from the distinctive style of glass produced by Tiffany and his team of designers from 1878 to 1933. Working out of the Tiffany Studios in New York, Tiffany became famous for the color-infused, leaded glass lampshades and stained glass windows that have come to define his name. The Neustadt Collection was founded in 1969 by collector Egon Neustadt and his wife, Hildegard, who discovered their first Tiffany lamp in 1935. That $12.50 purchase inspired a lifelong passion. This one wonderful daffodil lamp kicked off an entire collection, Parrott says. The Neustadts became deeply passionate about Tiffany lamps after that initial purchase, transfixed by their beauty, and spent the rest of their life building a massive collection. A passion for Tiffany glass The couple would eventually amass more than 200 Tiffany lamps, each one unique, including the purchase in 1967 of a huge cache of Tiffany glass left when the companys furnaces finally closed in 1937. Tiffanys furnaces were originally located in Corona, Queens, and so much of the glass that you see here was made here in New York City, Parrott says. The collection represents a variety of forms of glass, from drapery glass meant to mimic a flowing robe, rippled glass meant to represent water, and pressed glass jewels and 3D glass jewels to adorn lamps, mosaics and windows, all carefully sorted and ordered by color, size, texture and type. The warehouse containing the Tiffany Glass Archive will open to the public for exclusive monthly tours later this year. And The Neustadt will provide a sneak preview of some of these glass treasures in a new exhibition in their dedicated gallery at the Queens Museum, opening October 7. The White House's top lawyer has cooperated extensively with the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, sharing detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the inquiry into whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice, the New York Times reported on Saturday. Citing a dozen current and former White House officials and others briefed on the matter, the newspaper said White House Counsel Donald McGahn had shared information, some of which the investigators would not have known about. McGahn voluntarily cooperated with Mueller's team as a regular witness, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters, as the White House asked many staffers to do. He was not subpoenaed nor did he speak to them under any kind of proffer or cooperation agreement. The person also said he did not believe McGahn provided Mueller with incriminating information about Trump. McGahn provided the facts but nothing he saw or heard amounts to obstruction of justice by Trump, the person told Reuters. According to the New York Times, McGahn in at least three voluntary interviews with investigators that totaled 30 hours over the past nine months, described Trump's furor toward the Russia investigation and the ways in which the president urged McGahn to respond to it. The newspaper reported McGahn's motivation to speak with the special counsel as an unusual move that was in response to a decision by Trump's first team of lawyers to cooperate fully. But it said another motivation was McGahn's fear he could be placed in legal jeopardy because of decisions made in the White House that could be construed as obstruction of justice. McGahn, the newspaper said, shared information on Trump's comments and actions during the firing of the F.B.I. director, James Comey, and the president's obsession with putting a loyalist in charge of the inquiry, including his repeated urging of Attorney General Jeff Sessions to claim oversight of it. The newspaper said McGahn was also centrally involved in Trump's attempts to fire the special counsel, Robert Mueller, which investigators might not have discovered without him. McGahn cautioned to investigators he never saw Trump go beyond his legal authorities. A source close to the president told Reuters on Saturday the extent of McGahn's cooperation was "a tactical or strategic mistake" instigated by Trump's first legal team and it should not have been allowed to happen because McGahn should have been covered by executive privilege. The person also said Trump is not worried because he does not feel he did anything wrong. One lawyer familiar with the matter said McGahn could have been subpoenaed to testify to the grand jury if he did not cooperate with Mueller voluntarily and might have lost legal battles if he tried to invoke executive privilege. William Burck, McGahn's personal lawyer, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump's former personal lawyer, John Dowd, told Reuters on Saturday he was aware McGahn had spoken extensively with Mueller's team. "Lot to cover," Dowd said in text message. "Did a great job. McGahn was a strong witness for the President according to Burck and debriefs of DM (Donald McGahn). Not aware of any of the alleged apprehensions manufactured by the NYT." Dowd said a decision was made by the president's legal team for McGahn to cooperate with the investigation. Rudy Giuliani, who joined the president's outside legal team after Dowd resigned, told Reuters on Saturday that Trump's lawyers had been in contact with McGahn's counsel after he was interviewed and possessed "emails that say he provided nothing that was damaging or incriminating to the president." Giuliani said McGahn's cooperation with Mueller was part of a legal strategy. As an officer of the court, he added, McGahn would have had to resign if he thought the president did anything illegal. Giuliani said he did not believe McGahn was cooperating against the president, noting Trump's lawyers and McGahn's have a joint defense agreement that would have otherwise ended. Former White House lawyer Ty Cobb, who resigned in May after joining the administration last summer to assist the president with the Russia probe, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Peter Carr, a spokesman for Mueller, declined to comment. Trump has repeatedly denounced the investigation into whether his campaign colluded with Moscow as a "witch hunt." "The president and Don have a great relationship," the White House press secretary, Sarah Sanders, said in a statement. "He appreciates all the hard work he's done, particularly his help and expertise with the judges, and the Supreme Court" nominees. Others in the White House have described the relationship as strained. In the U.S. case against five Guantanamo detainees who are accused of aiding in the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, a military judge has ruled that prosecutors may not use statements the detainees made to FBI interrogators after they were removed from a secret CIA prison. Army Colonel James Pohl, the judge for the proceedings, ruled on Friday that the detainees' statements, made to FBI "clean teams," were not to be used in the death penalty trial. The detainees had been interrogated while being held in a network of secret overseas prisons run by the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA). After the detainees were transferred to the Guantanamo detention center, an FBI "clean team" -- agents who were not privy to the detainees' previous statements or interrogations -- again questioned the detainees. Defense attorneys had argued that the detainees' statements to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) could have been tainted by the previous interrogations. As part of their defense, the attorneys had sought to investigate the conditions under which the CIA had interrogated the accused men. The five detainees include Khalid Sheik Mohammed, who has been described as the main architect of the Sept. 11 attacks. Pohl's ruling prevented the defense from investigating the detainees' interrogations by the CIA. But, he added, in order to provide the defense with substantially the same ability to make a defense as would discovery of or access to the specific classified information, the government will not be permitted introduce any FBI Clean Team Statement from any of the accused for any purpose. The ruling is seen as a potential setback to the prosecution, which may now have to rely on documents seized in Afghanistan and Pakistan, and other evidence, rather than the detainees' statements, according to the McClatchy report. On Sept. 11, 2001, 19 terrorists hijacked four airplanes, crashing two into the World Trade Center in New York, and one into the Pentagon, located in Virginia, near Washington. A fourth plane crashed into a field in near Shanksville, Pennsylvania, and was believed to be headed toward the White House or the U.S. Capitol. Nearly 3,000 people were killed. Senior U.N. Human Rights officials condemn the decision by the Republika Srpska National Assembly in Bosnia and Herzegovina to take back its endorsement of a report acknowledging the massacre of thousands of Muslims in Srebrenica. U.N. Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Adama Dieng, warns the decision by the Republika Srpska National Assembly to revoke its endorsement of the 2004 Srebrenica Commission Report is a step backwards for Bosnia and Herzegovina. He says it undermines the rule of law and efforts to achieve justice for victims of crimes committed against people of all ethnicities during the 1992-1995 Bosnian war. The High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Ra-ad al-Hussein agrees. He says this action will worsen the divisive, nationalistic rhetoric ahead of the general elections in October. His spokeswoman, Ravina Shamdasani, says this decision will disrupt reconciliation efforts among the splintered communities. The 2004 Srebrenica Commission Report established that from the 10th to the 19th July 1995, between 7,000 and 8,000 Bosniaks went missing in the area of Srebrenica," she said. "It also found that more than 1,000 Bosniaks were killed during this period. Two international courts have determined that this massacre of Bosnian Muslims constituted genocide. The war in Bosnia and Herzegovina broke out after the breakup of Yugoslavia, pitting Bosnian Serbs, Croats and Muslims against each other. When it ended in 1995, around 100,000 people had been killed and more than two million displaced, making this the most devastating conflict in Europe since the end of World War II. High Commissioner Zeid accuses the Srpska Parliament of withdrawing from the agreement for political gain ahead of the October elections. He says he fears it will increase existing tensions, divisions and mistrust in the country. Despite a call for more migrants and refugees to be resettled beyond Australia's big cities, new figures show finding work can be tough. Refugees from a special 2015 humanitarian intake of refugees from Syria and Iraq who moved to regional parts of Queensland have run into problems getting a job. Only one in five are employed, and some have abandoned their initial plans and moved to a large city. For the last 18 months, Dalya Banani, an Iraqi refugee, has lived with her family in the Queensland city of Toowoomba, 125 kms west of the state capital, Brisbane. She was resettled in Australia under a 2015 plan to give emergency sanctuary to 12,000 people affected by conflict in Iraq and Syria. She said was attracted to a regional center because of safety and work opportunities, but she is now moving to Sydney because jobs in Toowoomba have been hard to find. "We love Toowoomba, actually, but we need job[s]. My husband cannot find [a] job because of his English, and he in Iraq worked in oil company for 19 years. If he want to start in same area he needs maybe five years to learn English and work in oil companies here. He is now 45 and, you know, we have not any money." Statistics from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS) show high rates of unemployment among refugees in regional parts of Queensland, including the cities of Logan and Toowoomba. About 3,500 Syrian and Iraqi refugees have been resettled in regional centers in Queensland. "Of the people we interviewed only about 20 percent had found jobs, and that was less in Logan and Toowoomba than it was in Brisbane. The key issue here, though, is that most are still doing English language classes," said Jock Collins, a professor of Social Economics at UTS. Language problems are only part of the story for many of the refugees from Syria and Iraq. Many need medical attention before they can even think about looking for work, while some suffer the lingering consequences of torture and trauma. The Australian government and charities offer a range of resettlement services, including language class tuition and employment advice. The number of refugees accepted by Australia each year varies. In 2016, Australia granted protection visas to more than 24,000 refugees. In 2015, the figure was 17,500. Center-left politicians in Australia believe the annual refugee quota should be increased to 50,000 people. The U.S. is ready to "support, facilitate and participate in direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday, the same day Afghan President Ashraf Ghani announced details for a new cease-fire. "The United States welcomes the announcement by the Afghan government of a cease-fire conditioned on Taliban participation. This plan responds to the clear and continued call of the Afghan people for peace," Pompeo said in a statement. "The last cease-fire in Afghanistan revealed the deep desire of the Afghan people to end the conflict, and we hope another ceasefire will move the country closer to sustainable security," the statement added, referring to a three-day cease-fire in June. There are "no obstacles to talks. It is time for peace," it added. Earlier Sunday, Ghani announced a three-month unilateral, conditional cease-fire with the Taliban, hours after authorities confirmed the Islamist insurgency overran a northern district and apparently captured dozens of government soldiers. Ghani explained Afghan forces will halt their operations from Monday, provided the insurgents reciprocate and respect also his truce. The cease-fire coincides with the Muslim festival of Eid-ul-Adha marking the culmination of the annual pilgrimage to the holy city of Mecca and commemorating the sacrifice of Abraham. There was no immediate reaction from the Taliban to the announcement. A similar gesture by Ghani had prompted the Taliban in June to observe a temporary cease-fire during the three-day Eid-ul-Fitr festivities that marked the end of the fasting month of Ramadan. Sunday's government peace gesture followed fighting in northern Faryab province. Faryab Governor Naqibullah Fayiq told VOA the embattled Bilchiragh district had been under attack for several days and fell to insurgents Saturday because besieged Afghan security forces there could not receive timely reinforcements. Fayiq would not discuss the fate of the government forces.Local media reported around 100 Afghan security personnel are missing. A Taliban spokesman claimed its fighters entered the district without facing resistance from government forces. He added Afghan security forces "welcomed and joined hands" with the insurgency. It was not possible to verify insurgent claims from independent sources and Afghan military officials were not available to discuss the battlefield details. Post-fighting Ghazni situation Elsewhere, the embattled southeastern Ghazni city, with an estimated population of 270,000, began receiving relief supplies Sunday, days after Afghan forces regained full control of the provincial capital from Taliban insurgents following several days of clashes. The fighting caused massive damage to buildings and other infrastructure in Ghazni, leading to critical food and water shortages. The U.N. estimated the fighting for the control of the strategically important city killed around 200 civilians while Afghan officials and media said the government and the Taliban collectively lost about 400 combatants. Violence against aid workers Meanwhile, a U.N. statement on World Humanitarian Day warned attacks against aid workers in the country this year have increased by 20 percent, with 23 killed, 37 injured and 74 abducted.It said during the first six months of this year, 1,692 civilians were killed by conflict, the highest number in the past decade. More than 130 schools were attacked and two health facilities were destroyed. Toby Lanzer, U.N. Humanitarian Coordinator for Afghanistan, renewed his call for all parties to the conflict to abide by their obligation under international humanitarian law and avoid targeting civilians and staff of relief groups in the country. Last year, armed groups closed more than 140 health facilities, denying two million people access to health care. "This worrisome trend continues in 2018. In July and August, more than 300,000 people were temporarily deprived of access to health care in Zabul province as a direct result of closure of health facilities," the U.N. agency said. President Donald Trump is lashing out at The New York Times for Sunday's story reporting that White House lawyer Don McGahn has cooperated extensively with the special investigation into Russian election interference. According to the Times, McGahn shared detailed accounts on the question of whether Trump tried to obstruct justice, giving investigators information they may never have gotten otherwise. "The Failing New York Times wrote a story that made it seem like the White House Councel (sic) had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite - & the two Fake reporters knew this," Trump tweeted. "This is why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People. So bad for America!" Trump was also angry that the Times drew a parallel between McGahn and John Dean -- the White House counsel for President Richard Nixon whose testimony of what Nixon knew about Watergate helped lead to his resignation in 1974. "... because White House Councel (sic) Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel (sic), he must be a John Dean type 'RAT.' But I allowed him and all others to testify - I didn't have to. I have nothing to hide... ," the president tweeted. Trump's first legal team encouraged full cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller, believing it would help bring a speedy end to the probe of possible collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. But according to the Times, McGahn and his own lawyer feared Trump was setting him up to take the blame if there was any obstruction of justice. They decided on their own to cooperate with Mueller as much as possible, the newspaper reported. On NBC's Meet the Press on Sunday, Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, accused the special counsel's office of illegally leaking the story to the Times. But Giuliani still sounded confident. "The president encouraged him to testify, is happy that he did, is quite secure that there is nothing in the testimony that will hurt the president," he said. But Giuliani said he will not let Mueller rush the president into testifying because he fears Trump could get trapped into perjury. "When you tell me that he should testify because he's going to tell the truth and he shouldn't worry, that's so silly because it's somebody's version of the truth," Giuliani said. When Meet the Press host Chuck Todd reminded him that "truth is truth," Giuliani shot back, "truth isn't truth," briefly taking Todd aback. Todd told Giuliani that he may have just created a "bad meme (funny image or video shared on social media)." A British parliamentarian Kate Hoey says targeted sanctions imposed on former president Robert Mugabe and his inner circle should remain in place until there is tangible evidence that the ruling Zanu PF party will in future respect the rule of law, conduct free and fair elections and respect peoples rights. Hoey, who visited Zimbabwe under the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association before Zimbabwe held its harmonized elections on July 30th, says there is no need to remove the sanctions now as indications are that peace that prevailed in the country during the polls may not be long-lasting in the troubled southern African nation. Hoey, a Labor Member of Parliament for Vaxhaul in London says there is no doubt that Zimbabwe recorded some political transformation during the past six months but what is needed is to see whether the change is permanent. In our report which we did we said that even if there was an election which could be proved to be slightly free and fairer we shouldnt be instantly jumping into lifting sanctions because actually we needed to have caution and skepticism and whoever was elected needed to prove that the change that was, there was no doubt Zimbabwe changed over the last six months or so but we needed to see that real change was permanent and not just for the purpose of the election. .. And that is why any re-engagement with the current government has to be very, very careful and certainly to automatically lift all sanctions and treat Zimbabwe as a normal democratic open country at this stage would be premature. But Believe Gaule, a Zanu PF Central Committee member says his party is not surprised about the British lawmakers remarks. People are now able to tell that these people (British) have a hidden agenda. At first they said they want to measure, they want us to hold free and credible elections and this is what we have done as a party, as a government but they are now shifting goal posts. Zimbabwes harmonized elections were recently condemned by the Commonwealth but praised by the Southern African Development Community. The Commonwealth cited several irregularities, including the lack of transparency in the printing of ballot papers and provision of a voters roll as indications that the ruling party is not yet prepared to hold free, fair and credible elections. The West imposed targeted sanctions on former president Robert Mugabe and his inner circle following claims of human rights violations and election rigging. Incumbent president Emmerson Mnangagwa has suspended the vice chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe (UZ), who allegedly unilaterally awarded former first lady Grace Mugabe a Doctor of Philosophy degree without following proper procedures. According to the state-controlled Herald newspaper, Mnangagwa suspended Professor Levy Nyagura using powers vested in him as chancellor of the countrys universities. The newspaper quoted a statement issued Friday by the universitys registrar, Dr. Noah Mutongoreni, who noted that Professor Paul Mapfumo has been appointed acting vice chancellor until the finalization of Professor Nyaguras case. Ten lecturers from the Department of Sociology early this year protested over the awarding of the doctorate to Mrs. Mugabe claiming that Professor Nyagura conducted himself in an unprofessional manner over the manner in which the former first lady was admitted at the UZ and wrote her thesis, which she defended as her Mazowe Farm. They claimed that Professor Nyagure appointed his own people who supervised Mrs. Mugabe in violation of laid down departmental procedures and regulations. The Anti-Corruption Commission recommended that Professor Nyagura should be arrested after receiving complaints over Mrs. Mugabes PhD from staff members and students, who claimed that the former first ladys degree had dented the image of the university. Mnangagwa, who was aided by the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, staged a defacto military coup which resulted in the removal of former president Robert Mugabe from office. Mugabe was allegedly in the process of grooming his wife to be his successor. A few weeks ago Mugabe claimed that he wanted former Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi to succeed him. Mrs. Mugabe allegedly led a Zanu PF faction known as Generation 40 while Mnangagwa is said to have been in charge of another group well known as Team Lacoste. Mnangagwa was sacked by Mugabe for claiming that he was poisoned while attending a Zanu PF event in Gwanda, Matabeleland South province. Mugabe dismissed the claims and sacked his then deputy who was also attacked by Mrs. Mugabe for undermining the authority of the president. Mnangagwa made a dramatic comeback after he sneaked out of the country claiming that his life was in danger and the seized power in style being aided by the military, members of the public and parliament, which was engaged in impeachment proceedings before Mugabe threw in the towel last November. A spokesperson for the Chinese military said it resolutely opposes a report by the U.S. Department of Defense on China's military and security developments, claiming the report misinterpreted China's strategic intention and hyped up the so-called "China military threat." The U.S. Department of Defense's 2018 report to Congress also distorted relations and situation across the Taiwan Strait, said Wu Qian, the spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, Friday. "We have lodged solemn representations to the U.S. side over the report," said Wu. China, as a facilitator of world peace, a contributor to global development and a maintainer of international order, has firmly taken the path of peaceful development and steadfastly pursued a national defense policy that is defensive in nature, he said. In recent years, Chinese soldiers and officers have carried out more and more missions involving peacekeeping and disaster relief in foreign lands, and borne more international responsibilities and provided more public security goods. "The contribution and endeavor by China have won universal praise from the international community," said Wu. China's efforts to strengthen modernization of its military aims at safeguarding its sovereignty, security, and development interests, as well as for safeguarding world peace, stability and prosperity. China's military reform, weapons and equipment development and its defense capability building in cyberspace are justifiable and reasonable, said Wu, noting that U.S. accusations in the report are pure conjecture. "It is an iron-clad fact that Taiwan is a part of China," Wu stressed. "We urge the U.S. side to adhere to the one-China policy and the principle of the three joint communiques, and to discreetly deal with Taiwan-related issues." The Chinese military will as always stand firm in safeguarding China's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, Wu said. China's stance on maritime issues is consistent and clear-cut, and China is committed to resolving disputes peacefully through direct negotiations with related parties. China's peaceful construction activities on the islands and reefs in the South China Sea, which are legitimate rights of a sovereign state, aim at safeguarding national territory and meeting demand of the people, so as to better fulfill its international responsibilities and obligations, the spokesperson said. The U.S. side, which has frequently sent warplanes and vessels to the South China Sea in the name of "freedom of navigation," and caused tensions, is a real threat to the regional peace and stability, said the spokesperson. "The release of such reports by the U.S. side year after year has harmed mutual trust and is not in line with the common interests between China and the United States," said Wu. "We ask the United States to abandon its Cold War mindset, adopt an objective and rational attitude towards China's defense and military developments, stop issuing such irresponsible reports, and make concrete efforts to maintain the stable development of relations between the two militaries." Ren Minghui, WHO assistant director-general for communicable disease, speaks with China.org.cn during the High-Level Meeting on China-Africa Health Cooperation in Beijing on August 17. [Photo by Gong Yingchun/China.org.cn] China's extensive experiences in strengthening its health system and primary health care are critical for African countries. They can learn from China, working to establish health systems based on their own needs, an official with the World Health Organization (WHO) said Friday. China's experiences are relevant to African countries as they both "have similar diversity of geography, culture, and population," said Ren Minghui, WHO assistant director-general for communicable disease. Ren made the remarks in an exclusive interview with China.org.cn during the High-Level Meeting on China-Africa Health Cooperation in Beijing on August. 17. "China has grown up with the same economic situation [of African countries] and its health system has grown stronger over the past few decades. China is now ready to share its experiences with other countries," he said. "China can share a lot rather than just the technical and clinical services provided by Chinese doctors," Ren said, adding that the health cooperation between China and African countries has become more systematic and comprehensive in recent years. "We saw a kind of shift [of China's support] last year, which included building hospitals and supporting African countries to establish effective and efficient health systems," Director for Program Management at the WHO Regional Office for Africa Joseph Waogodo Cabore told China.org.cn. "China is not just providing support, but also sustaining that support by building capacity and helping countries build health systems," Cabore said. China has sent approximately 21,000 medical workers to 48 African countries since 1963, and some 200 million African people have benefited from the medical services of Chinese medical teams in Africa. Over the past five decades, China's assistance to Africa in the area of public health has grown at an enormous rate, including sending medical teams to provide all-round support, building medical institutions, providing medicine and medical devices, organizing training sessions, and offering scholarships to assist Africa's health infrastructure building, capacity building and talent training. Obama isnt the only big name to give this novel a boost this year. Oprah Winfrey chose it for her book club in February, and she plans to make a movie adaptation. The story is a perfect blend of thoughtful drama and social issues. When a husband is sent to prison for a sexual assault he didnt commit, he must deal with the horrors of incarceration, and his wife must deal with the challenges of living without him. Obama described it as a moving portrayal of the effects of a wrongful conviction on a young African-American couple. 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 I am very concerned about the impact this will have on them in the future, but she is not someone with whom we can reason. I have tried to counteract by discussing with the girls the value of saving money, and we hope to set up savings accounts for them. These girls are with their mother two-thirds of the time, so I worry that our message won't get through to them. The fate of DACA is going to have enormous repercussions on our country, our economy and most importantly, these human beings who have benefited from its protections, said Justin Cox, a staff attorney with the National Immigration Law Center. It will say a lot about who we are as a country and what the rule of law means. The most concerning problem is fentanyl overdose. Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid pain reliever 50 to 100 times more potent than morphine. It can be prescribed for legitimate uses such as for cancer patients. But most of the overdoses and deaths are from illegally manufactured fentanyl, sold on the street for its heroin-like effects, often combined with heroin or cocaine, with or without the users knowledge. It originates in China and cartels in Mexico, and some laboratory production may be occurring in the United States. Fentanyl-heroin combinations are a main driver behind the escalating death rates. A second crisis is the flow of illicit opioid painkillers from doctors and pharmacies to people who abuse the drugs. While by no means a crisis resolved, there is some evidence that these deaths may have reached a plateau with more strenuous efforts to control the pills, although it is still a huge problem. A Gallup poll this month found that Democrats are warming up to the idea of socialism or at least to the word. While 57 percent of Democrats polled said they view socialism positively, only 47 percent said the same of capitalism, down from 56 percent in 2016. Republicans, meanwhile, remain pretty enthusiastic about capitalism, with 71 percent rating it positively. Still, 16 percent of GOP voters said even they view socialism through a friendly lens, which raises the question: When Americans say they view socialism one way or the other, what exactly do they have in mind? I think there are questions raised as to whether or not this president has followed the executive order and whether or not hes provided due process to those that are going to have their security clearances revoked, Panetta said. Yes, the president of the United States has power, but that power is limited by the Constitution and by the checks and balances in our system. It turned out to be a meeting about another subject, and it was not pursued at all, he said. Of course, any meeting with regard to getting information on your opponent is something any candidates staff would take. If someone said, I have information about your opponent, you would take that meeting. The result has been a remarkable bifurcation between the continued rhetoric of the Trump administration and local messaging of some Republican campaigns. It has also lead to confusion about the policy focus of the party. At a recent rally in Tampa, for instance, Trump told the crowd that we have to make sure that Rick Scott wins, even though Scott says he supports a stand-alone bill opposed by the president to give a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants brought to the country as minors. Some observers, though, said they thought the Ghazni attack the most serious assault on an Afghan city since 2015 was not intended to sabotage peace talks but to give the insurgents an advantage at the negotiating table. Ghani had proposed extending the June cease-fire, but the Taliban did not respond. This time, he made his offer conditional on the groups acquiescence. The reunion program began in 1985, stalled, then got underway at the turn of the millennium. In all, more than 17,000 South Koreans have taken part in more than 20 meetings, seeing their relatives in person or over video link. But more than 130,000 have registered as members of divided families since the program began, and more than half of them died before getting to see their relatives again. Many on the waiting list are older than 90. If they can justify suspicions, federal officers at U.S. ports of entry are authorized, without the need for warrants, to require some disrobing for genital and rectal inspections, and monitored bowel movements to check for drugs, according to a CBP handbook. At the same time, the detention-and-search handbook instructs officers to record a solid justification for every step beyond a frisk, and to respect detainees dignity and freedom from unreasonable searches. The handbook also warns against what could be considered a visual or physical intrusion into body cavities. You have to deal with things like terminal cancer and miscarriages when youre working as a sonographer. But this occasion, it still sickens me to this day. They said something along the lines of We need to know the sex, because if its a girl we are going to terminate it, they said. A number of years ago, the sonographer was asked by a couple at their scan around 12 weeks to tell them the gender of their developing baby. New Australian research, revealed this month, has indicated that a group of parents could be aborting female babies because of a preference for sons. Its led to questions over whether it is necessary to provide parents with early information about the sex of their fetuses. Already, many obstetricians and sonographers dont routinely provide gender information at the 12-week scan when people can still readily access abortion, largely because its not always accurate and there is rarely any medical purpose. Yet there is an unwillingness to follow in the path of China and India, where abortion of female foetuses is a well-identified problem, and there are bans on early gender reveals. Advances in science and technology mean Australians are now able to find out the sex of their baby from as early as 10 weeks, via a blood test that also screens for chromosomal disorders such as Down syndrome. Others may find out their babys sex during an ultrasound around the 12-week mark. While ultrasound providers have different protocols on whether they reveal the gender of the baby at the first scan, its the stance of the Australasian Sonographers Association that they should play no part in the debate around gender selection. The associations chief executive, Jodie Long, said if the sonographer was confident in being able to identify the gender, then they would provide that information if asked. The federal aged care minister has urged anyone with concerns about the states aged care system to speak up after an anonymous whistleblower alleged patients at two facilities south of Perth could be at risk of elder abuse. Using an alias, John called into 6PRs Jane Marwick on Sunday and said he was looking to report two care workers based on what his partner and friend, who both work in the system but are too afraid to come forward, told him. John is reporting the abuse on behalf of his friend and partner. I have a friend that works at a care facility south of the river and they witness some pretty horrific abuse, he said. What she witnessed was a care worker - who is quite a big, hefty guy - breach protocol. In 2012, as editor of the Brisbane Times, I wrote what, in those relatively genteel times, seemed a provocative op-ed describing then billionaire Clive Palmer as a duplicitous fool. The piece, written before Palmers subsequent political career, came after a bizarre press conference rant alleging conspiracies between the CIA and Greenpeace. "Like his fellow Queenslander Bob Katter, Mr Palmer has carved out a fantastic niche for himself where hes considered important enough that people listen, but renegade enough that his more preposterous claims are simply laughed off after the fact. It worries me, however, how Palmer, Katter and their ilk manipulate the media with their outlandish actions to dominate the agenda." Fast forward six years and it appears the media has grown no more sophisticated at dealing with this threat, while the number of people employing it has expanded dramatically. Malcolm Turnbull's eleventh-hour refit of his signature energy policy has plunged the Coalition into disarray, with MPs split on the proposed changes and critics maintaining they will cross the floor to vote against their own government. Although an imminent leadership challenge remains unlikely, MPs are now casting the future of the government's flagship National Energy Guarantee as an explicit test of Mr Turnbull's tenure. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton was forced to play down reports he is considering a leadership tilt, pledging his support for the PM in a tweet on Saturday. Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton played down reports of a leadership tilt on Saturday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The latest NEG revision abandons the government's plan to legislate an emissions reduction target of 26-28 per cent by 2030. Instead, it would be regulated by the minister but their discretion would be constrained by other factors, including advice from the competition regulator. Senator Kristina Keneally, who has led Labor's probe into the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, during an estimates hearing at Parliament House in Canberra in May. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Kristina Keneally has done the country a favour. By holding the government to account and Malcolm Turnbull in particular over a grace and favour grant of $443.8 million to an obscure non-government organisation she has amplified a much wider Australian governance problem. If nothing else, revelations emerging from the banking royal commission, that was opposed tooth and nail by the government, has revealed systemic shonkiness in the financial system, and more broadly. This rottenness has in turn exposed the fecklessness of the countrys regulatory agencies, principally the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). Unusual though the Turnbull bequest might seem to the Great Barrier Reef Foundation this slipshod approach to disbursing taxpayers funds to an entity which did not even request the money is hardly unique. "It's obvious" some Coalition MPs don't support Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, cabinet minister Christopher Pyne said, as frontbenchers flew into Canberra to shore up support for the National Energy Guarantee and put leadership speculation to rest. The Minister for Defence Industry acknowledged the open dissent within the Coalition on before a high-stakes cabinet dinner at Parliament on Sunday night. "There are some people who dont support the current leader and that is quite obvious," he said. "The overwhelming majority of my party room are 100 per cent behind Malcolm Turnbull as is the cabinet. We have the right policy mix and if we are united we will win the next election." Malcolm Turnbull has been given a reprieve on leadership while he faces a test on policy. His fate depends on an unlikely perhaps impossible settlement to his own partys endless wars on climate change. The Prime Minister has given his critics a huge concession on the National Energy Guarantee but it is not enough. It will never be enough. A clash is certain. 'It's personal': former prime minister Tony Abbott. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Tony Abbott attacked the original energy plan to legislate a cut to carbon emissions in the electricity sector. Now he condemns the idea of using regulation instead. Whatever the policy, his goal is simple: Turnbulls head on a plate. Good eggs in Parliament Fraser Anning in Parliament House on Wednesday. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen As it happened TFF was in Parliament House on republican business on Tuesday, the day when Anning made his speech. Even before his remarks I was impressed with just how truly appalled politicians from both major parties were with the rising frequency of such sentiments in the public domain. Despite it all, we do have many decent people in Canberra. And they are the ones we need to hear more from. For the political dynamic described above equally applies to the media. Yes, there might be ratings and circulation bumps to be found by providing a platform for bigots see Nazi supporter Blair Cottrell on Sky After Dark, for example but for the good of the country, the way forward is to resist the temptation to do so. Those of us who want a decent Australia are in the vast majority and the outcry against Sky has to be the exemplar of how we can make our weight felt. Tweet of the week Goes to Rob Oakeshott he of 17 minutes of fame commenting on Tony Abbott and Barnaby Joyce's denial of climate change. Take it away, @RobOakeshott1: The Riverview School science department has a lot to answer for ...." Joke of the week Adam and Eve turn their faces skyward and speak to the heavens: Lord, yes we love each other, but so too are we sometimes lonesome for company. Loading The lord booms back: No problem! I will create a companion for you that will be a reflection of my love for you. Regardless of how selfish you may be, this new companion will accept you as you are and will love you as I do. And God creates a wonderful new animal, which never ceases wagging its tail, no matter the circumstances. God says: Because I have created this new animal to be a reflection of my love for you, his name will be a reflection of my own name and you will call him Dog. And Dog lives with Adam and Eve and is a companion to them and loves them. But after a while it comes to pass that the Archangel Gabriel comes to the Lord and says: Lord, Adam and Eve have become filled with pride. They strut and preen like peacocks and they believe they are worthy of adoration. Dog has indeed taught them that they are loved, but perhaps too well. And God says: "No problem! I will create for them a companion who will be with them forever and who will see them as they are. The companion will remind them that they are not always worthy of adoration." And God creates Cat to be a companion to Adam and Eve. And Cat will not obey them. And when Adam and Eve gaze into Cats eyes, they are reminded that they are not the supreme beings. And Adam and Eve learn humility. And they are greatly improved. And God is pleased. And Dog is happy. And Cat really doesnt give a damn one way or the other. Quotes of the week There was hardly a group in Australia he didn't offend. Unless you were almost a member of the Ku Klux Klan. - Senator Derryn Hinch, one of the many MPs objecting to Fraser Anning's maiden speech, which called for a plebiscite on Muslim immigration as part of a final solution. Senator Derryn Hinch takes his seat on Wednesday after speaking on Senator Fraser Anning's first speech. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Bat Out of Hell's lead actor Andrew Polec is to step down from the role of Strat. Polec has been fronting the show since its inception and is to leave on 1 September 2018. His plans are yet to be announced as is his replacement. Polec won the Best West End Debut in the Stage Debut Awards in 2017 for his performance. He said: "Bat Out of Hell The Musical has changed my life it's a true gift. I've never felt so warmly welcomed and loved by so many thoughtful, generous people who hold Jim Steinman and Meat's music so close to their hearts. It's been an honour being part of this show, and phenomenal to work with this amazing cast and team. Plus I get to sing this brilliant music night after night for the best fans in the world!" Bat Out of Hell originally opened in Manchester in 2017 and has since run at the London Coliseum and is now in the Dominion Theatre, where it opened on 2 April. Jim Steinman's show is about rebellious youth set in a post-cataclysmic city. Songs included in the piece are "You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth", "Bat Out of Hell", "I Would Do Anything For Love" and "Two Out of Three Ain't Bad". Include a visit to The Dark Side of F Street in your Halloween hauntings! Take some canned foods and grocery ... When you see the flags flying at schools, you dont generally think about who put them up or how they... Flash UN and European leaders on Saturday paid their tributes to former Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Kofi Annan, who passed away on the day at the age of 80 in a Swiss hospital. In a mourning statement issued immediately after Annan's passing, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described Annan as "a guiding force for good", saying that "in many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations". Michael Moller, Director-General of the United Nations Office at Geneva, said that with the passing of Annan, "Humanity has lost its strong moral voice, and I lost my mentor, my role model and great friend". "He was an exceptional human being, with an amazing balance, infallible political instinct and ever present compassion, always caring for others, particularly the less fortunate of us," he said. Joining the UN system in 1962 as an administrative and budget officer with the World Health Organization in Geneva, Annan has spent much of his life in this Swiss city, including being as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and later as the head of the Kofi Annan Foundation. "Since the 1980s, when he worked in Geneva until his last years he remained an enduring voice on behalf of refugees and all who are oppressed," UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi said. In him, the millions worldwide forced to flee wars and persecution had a constant champion at the highest international levels, Grandi added. For UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein, Annan was "irreplaceable" and "humanity's best example and the epitome of human decency and grace". Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, called Annan as "a great defender of peace", saying that he was the very embodiment of peace and of a resolutely modern vision of the United Nations. "His conviction that a culture of peace should be developed was fully in line with the mandate and daily commitment of UNESCO," she said. While mourning Annan, European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker said that Annan, as an old friend and inspiration for him, had devoted his life to making the world a more peaceful and united place. "His achievements as UN Secretary-General were rightly recognized with the Nobel Peace Prize and many other accolades throughout his life. But the greatest recognition we can give Kofi Annan is to keep his legacy and his spirit alive," he added. French President Emmanuel Macron on Saturday also paid tribute to the former UN chief, saying that the world will never forget his calm and resolute approach to matters, nor the strength of his commitments. "France pays tribute to him," Macron wrote on his twitter account. A statement released by the office of Italian President Sergio Mattarella said that with Annan's demise, the international community lost a landmark figure, and the United Nations lost a former leader of peace, human rights and sustainable development. British Prime Minister Theresa May also expressed her sadness at Annan's death. Saying that Annan was a great leader and reformer of the UN, the British prime minister said that Annan had made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into. Describing Annan as a great peace builder, Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said Saturday that with the passing of the former UN chief, the world has lost "a most staunch supporter of the rule-based international order". "It was with great regret that I received information about the death of former UN Secretary General Kofi Annan; in our memory he will remain as a person who worked tirelessly to protect human rights and improve living conditions in Africa," Polish President Andrej Duda wrote in a condolence telegram. Born in Ghana in 1938, Annan was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, served from 1997 to 2006 and was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations staff. As Secretary-General, one of Annan's main priorities was a comprehensive program of reform aimed at revitalizing the United Nations and making the international system more effective. He was a constant advocate for human rights, the rule of law, the Millennium Development Goals and Africa, and sought to bring the Organization closer to the global public by forging ties with civil society, the private sector and other partners. Annan was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize for Peace, jointly with the UN. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/8/2018 (1168 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion Its difficult to figure out what officials at CancerCare Manitoba were thinking. In June, the provincial cancer agency was notified that a medical equipment issue had prevented an estimated 175 patients from receiving full doses of three cancer-treatment drugs over a period of two years. Apparently, there were problems with IV tubes and pumps that administer the drugs did not function properly, leaving small amounts of the drugs behind in the tubes. It was a national problem that was originally discovered in Ontario but quickly transmitted to provincial cancer agencies across the country. And while most of those provinces affected moved quickly to inform patients about the error, national media reports confirmed that Manitoba withheld the information. CancerCare Manitoba said the amounts of drug left behind in the tubes was so small, it did not materially affect treatment. "In our estimation, this was not something our patients needed to be alarmed about," said Dr. Piotr Czaykowski, CancerCare Manitobas chief medical officer. On Sunday, CancerCare reversed its decision and confirmed it will reach out to all those patients involved. Czaykowski said the agency accepted the criticism that had been levelled at it, and apologized. CancerCare Manitoba had no good excuse for keeping the information from patients. The agencys attempt to downplay the impact of the medication error did not justify the decision to keep patients in the dark. In fact, it was a rather strong case for telling patients, and the public at large, everything. CancerCare should be commended for moving quickly to adjust its response to this problem. However, even in offering an apology, the agencys handling of this matter proves, once again, that in their drive to master the vagaries of the human body and the methods for healing it, medical professionals often lose sight of medical ethics. Instead, we are treated to yet another example of just how low accountability ranks on the list of priorities of medical professionals. On its surface, accountability in health care seems to be a simple equation. The system in Canada is fully funded by taxpayers, and as such, should be completely transparent. There are aspects that can never be revealed, such as the intimate details of an individuals private health information. But when it comes to the errors of commission and omission that are simply part of the reality of modern health care, the system should be able to make more information available on a timely basis. That is certainly not the situation we find today. It has long been accepted that medical professionals do not easily reveal the details of the mistakes they make or witness. The cultural predisposition to secrecy is buttressed by self-regulation, where the professionals themselves have the power to field, investigate and discipline any member accused of wrongdoing. Not surprisingly, the groups that represent the interests of physicians and nurses tend to withhold, on principle, the full extent of what they learn about critical incidents, both from patients and from the provincial governments that fund health care. All this takes place in a system that fully admits the failure to report mistakes eliminates opportunities to learn and ensure they never happen again. This has led to some perverse solutions that seek to encourage health-care professionals to admit mistakes while still protecting themselves from legal repercussions or public shaming. The Manitoba solution came in 2006, in the form of a "no-blame" critical-incident reporting system. Doctors and nurses are free to report an incident with the knowledge it will not "lay blame on individuals." Early on, there was an increase in the number of critical incidents being reported. However, it was not a cure-all for the systems lack of accountability. The most serious cases result in disciplinary investigations by government and by self-governing bodies. On rare occasions, those bodies will issue a public notice if someone has been suspended or stripped of their credentials. But in cases that fall short of that remedy, most if not all of the fine details are withheld, even from patients and their families. The province tried to fill the gaps in this system by publishing a quarterly critical-incident summary. However, in its current form, it is less a tool of accountability and more a triumph of obfuscation. Dan Lett | Not for Attribution A weekly look at politics close to home and around the world that is sent every Tuesday. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The summary reports include details about alarming incidents many of which fall into the category of a gross act of malpractice that are, on their own, enough to cause the average citizen concern about the competency of some medical professionals. However, these incidents are reported very casually and without specific mention of the individuals or the facility involved. When it comes down to it, there is evidence that even this no-blame shelter does not reveal all of the systems mistakes. When pressed, the stewards of the system acknowledge they are still only capturing a fraction of the total number of mistakes. Its enough to make you wonder if the trade-off confidentiality in exchange for full disclosure is working. Its important to acknowledge that Czaykowski and other professionals at CancerCare Manitoba perform heroic work in one of the most difficult areas of health care. They have a right to defend their reputations and that of their agency. However, the agencys decision to withhold information about a dosage problem something that medical professionals here could not have prevented is clear evidence that the first concern in this instance was preventing embarrassment or controversy. The rights of patients to have a full accounting of the quality of their care was clearly little more than an afterthought. Many medical professionals will argue that admitting a mistake is the first step toward creating a safer health-care system. If thats true, we are left to wonder when those professionals will start practising what they are preaching. dan.lett@freepress.mb.ca Flash U.S. President Donald Trump said on Saturday that the United States has ended the development fund for Syria, urging "rich countries" to pay instead. In a tweet, Trump said "the United States has ended the ridiculous 230 Million Dollar yearly development payment to Syria." "Saudi Arabia and other rich countries in the Middle East will start making payments instead of the U.S.," he said. "I want to develop the U.S., our military and countries that help us!" Earlier on Friday, the U.S. State Department said that the fund, which was targeted to support the stabilization initiative in Syria, has been ordered to be redirected, ramping up speculation that it would be withdrawn from the country. U.S. former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson announced on Feb. 13 that the United States pledges 200 million U.S. dollars in support of the anti-IS coalition efforts and recovery commitment in Syria. However, Trump reportedly ordered in March a hold on the funds, demanding more information on how the money is being used, and urging other countries to step up to the plate and pay more. He also said that his country will withdraw its troops in Syria "very soon," triggering speculation of the U.S. possible retreat from Syria. Syria has always denounced the U.S. military action in the country as uninvited aggression. The following companies are subsidiares of Barnes Group: AS Monterrey S. de R.L. de C.V., Adval Tech - Foboha Mold Making Business, Associated Spring (Tianjin) Company Ltd., Associated Spring (UK) Ltd., Associated Spring Asia Pte. Ltd., Associated Spring Corporation, Associated Spring Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Associated Spring Raymond (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Associated Spring Raymond GmbH, Associated Spring do Brasil Ltda., Barnes Airmotive Malaysia SND. BHD., Barnes Financing Delaware LLC, Barnes Group (Bermuda) Limited, Barnes Group (Delaware) LLC, Barnes Group (Germany) GmbH, Barnes Group (Scotland) Limited, Barnes Group (Thailand) Ltd., Barnes Group (U.K.) 2 Limited, Barnes Group (U.K.) Limited, Barnes Group Acquisition GmbH, Barnes Group Canada Corp., Barnes Group Finance Company (Bermuda) Limited, Barnes Group Finance Company (Delaware), Barnes Group Holding LLC, Barnes Group Luxembourg (No. 1) S.a r.l., Barnes Group Luxembourg (No. 2) S.a r.l., Barnes Group Spain S.R.L., Barnes Group Suisse Industries GmbH, Barnes Group Switzerland GmbH, Barnes Industrial Group India Private Limited, Barnes Korea Ltd., Barnes Molding Solutions (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Blitz F16-34 GmbH, Curtis Industries, Curtiss Industries (U.K.) Limited, Di-Dro Manifold System Product Line, Euro Stock Springs & Components, Foboha (Germany) GmbH, Foboha Holding GmbH, Forward Industries LLC, GF Controls GmbH, Gammaflux, Gammaflux Controls Inc., Gimatic, Gimatic Automation Engineering (Changshu) Co. Ltd., Gimatic Automation India Pvt Ltd. , Gimatic Automation Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Gimatic Balkan d.o.o. Beograd Savski Venac, Gimatic Czech Republic s.r.o., Gimatic France S.a.r.l., Gimatic Japan Limited, Gimatic Korea Limited, Gimatic Nordic A.B., Gimatic Otomasyon Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Gimatic Polska sp. z o.o, Gimatic S.r.l., Gimatic Sisteme RO SRL, Gimatic Sistemi industrijska avtomatizacija d.o.o., Gimatic Spain S.L., Gimatic Vertrieb GmbH, Gimatrade S.r.l., Heinz Haenggi Gmbh Stanztechnik, Industrial Gas Springs, Industrial Gas Springs Group Holdings Limited, Industrial Gas Springs Inc., Industrial Gas Springs Limited, Kar Products, Kratz-Wilde Machine Co, MTM S.r.l., Manner Hong Kong Limited, Manner USA Inc., Orflam - Nitropush Product Line, Otto Manner, Otto Manner GmbH, Otto Manner Immobilien GmbH, Otto Manner Innovation GmbH, Premier Farnell - KENT Division, Priamus System Technologies, Priamus System Technologies GmbH, Priamus System Technologies LLC, Raymond Distribution-Mexico S.A. de C.V., Resortes Argentina S.A., Ressorts SPEC SAS, Seeger-Orbis GmbH & Co. OHG, Service Plus Distributors, Sign Holdings Limited, Spectrum Plastics Molding Resources, Stromsholmen AB, Synventive Acquisition B.V., Synventive Acquisition GmbH, Synventive Acquisition Inc., Synventive Acquisition UK Ltd., Synventive Acquisition Unlimited, Synventive B.V., Synventive Fertigungstechnik GmbH, Synventive Holding B.V., Synventive Holding Limited, Synventive Holding SAS, Synventive Molding Solutions, Synventive Molding Solutions (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Synventive Molding Solutions B.V., Synventive Molding Solutions Canada Inc., Synventive Molding Solutions Co. Ltd., Synventive Molding Solutions GmbH, Synventive Molding Solutions Inc., Synventive Molding Solutions JBJ Private Limited, Synventive Molding Solutions K.K., Synventive Molding Solutions LDA, Synventive Molding Solutions LLC, Synventive Molding Solutions LTDA., Synventive Molding Solutions Limited, Synventive Molding Solutions Pte Ltd., Synventive Molding Solutions SAS, Synventive Molding Solutions SL, Synventive Molding Solutions s.r.o., Synventive Parent Inc., Teledyne Fluid Systems, The Wallace Barnes Company, Thermoplay, Thermoplay Brasil Sistemas de Injecao Ltda, Thermoplay Deutschland GmbH, Thermoplay France S.a.r.l., Thermoplay Hot Runner Systems (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Thermoplay India Private Limited, Thermoplay Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Thermoplay S.p.A., Thermoplay U.K. Ltd., Toolcom Supplie, Windsor Airmotive Asia Pte. Ltd., and manner Japan Co. Ltd.. 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.. Flash Kenyan police said on Saturday that they are interrogating 19 Nigerians who were arrested in Nairobi for engaging in electronic fraud targeting Kenyans. The detectives from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) rounded up the suspects in Nairobi's three residential estates. The suspects are expected to appear in court next week. Director of Criminal Investigations George Kinoti said the suspects target Kenyans especially through the social media before they embark on lying to them. According to the police, the Nigerians arrested on Friday night promise to send their victims 'goodies' at the airport through DHL courier company. "The fraudsters start by befriending you on social media (Facebook) and once you accept the friend request they initiate a friendly chat that promises the victim goodies to be sent through DHL at the airport," Kinoti said. According to Kinoti, a call will be made the following day by someone pretending to be a DHL employee. The person then asks the victim to pay clearance fees for the same parcel they claim to have sent you. As soon as the victim sends the money through Mpesa, another call is made requesting for some more money for other documentation and taxes. "After paying the dues demanded, your calls demanding for your parcel will not be picked. That is the time you realize that you have been conned," Kinoti said. The DCI director cautioned Kenyans against such fraudsters even though they did not reveal how much has been lost in the scam so far. The fraudsters are currently in police custody and are expected to appear in court to be charged with electronic fraud. The swoop followed a barrage of complaints filed with police over the incidents. One victim told police he had been promised an iPhone and paid 700 U.S. dollars for the gadget. During the swoop, several electronic gadgets were recovered from the suspects' houses. Some of them had come to Nairobi as students and as businessmen. American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected]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. Bank of America Corp. is a bank and financial holding company, which engages in the provision of banking and nonbank financial services. It operates through the following segments: Consumer Banking, Global Wealth and Investment Management, Global Banking, Global Markets, and All Other. The Consumer Banking segment offers credit, banking, and investment products and services to consumers and small businesses. The Global Wealth and Investment Management provides client experience through a network of financial advisors focused on to meet their needs through a full set of investment management, brokerage, banking, and retirement products. The Global Banking segment deals with lending-related products and services, integrated working capital management and treasury solutions to clients, and underwriting and advisory services. The Global Markets segment includes sales and trading services, as well as research, to institutional clients across fixed-income, credit, currency, commodity, and equity businesses. The All Other segment consists of asset and liability management activities, equity investments, non-core mortgage loans and servicing activities, the net impact of periodic revisions Read More BlackRock Resources & Commodities Strategy Trust is a closed-end investment fund/investment trust. Its primary investment objective is to seek high current income and current gains, with a secondary objective of capital appreciation. It invests all of its assets in equity securities issued by commodity or natural resources companies, derivatives with exposure to commodity or natural resources companies or investments in securities and derivatives linked to the underlying price movement of commodities or natural resources. The company was founded on November 19, 2010 and is headquartered in Wilmington, DE. Read More Wall Street analysts have given iShares Morningstar Small-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 Morningstar Small-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. You are here: World Flash Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held an in-depth discussion on the current situation over phone on Saturday. Wang made clear China's principle and stance in developing the strategic cooperative partnership with Turkey, and expressed China's support for Turkish efforts to maintain national security and stability and carry on economic and social development. He voiced his belief that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish people will be united and overcome these temporary difficulties. China stands ready to work with Turkey to safeguard the justified rights and interests of developing countries, especially emerging economies. Cavusoglu, for his part, briefed Wang on the current situation in Turkey and Ankara's stance. He stressed that Turkey will overcome the challenges that it is facing, saying his country is willing to strengthen strategic communication with China. Turkey hopes to further deepen the mutually beneficial cooperation with China and will actively participate in the construction of the Belt and Road, he added. CAE Inc., together with its subsidiaries, designs, manufactures, and supplies simulation equipment and training solutions to defense and security markets, commercial airlines, business aircraft operators, helicopter operators, aircraft manufacturers, and healthcare education and service providers worldwide. The company's Civil Aviation Training Solutions segment provides training solutions for flight, cabin, maintenance, and ground personnel in commercial, business, and helicopter aviation; flight simulation training devices; and ab initio pilot training and crew sourcing services, as well as end to end digitally-enabled crew management, training operations solutions, and optimization software. Its Defence and Security segment offers training and mission support solutions for defense forces across multi-domain operations, and for government organizations responsible for public safety. The company's Healthcare segment provides integrated education and training solutions, including surgical and imaging simulations, curriculum, audiovisual and centre management platforms, and patient simulators to healthcare students and clinical professionals. The company was formerly known as CAE Industries Ltd. and changed its name to CAE Inc. in June 1993. CAE Inc. was founded in 1947 and is headquartered in Saint-Laurent, Canada. Read More Flash Former Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan passed away at the age of 80 at a Swiss hospital on Saturday. While mourning him, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres described Annan as "a guiding force for good", and UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein called the former UN chief "irreplaceable" and "humanity's best example, epitome of human decency and grace". Kofi A. Annan, born in Kumasi, Ghana, on April 8 of 1938, was the seventh Secretary-General of the United Nations, served from 1997 to 2006 and was the first to emerge from the ranks of United Nations staff. He studied at the University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana , and completed his undergraduate work in economics at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1961. In 1961-1962, he undertook graduate studies at the Institute of International Affairs in Geneva, and in 1972 earned a Master of Science degree at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Sloan School of Management. Annan joined the UN system in 1962 as an administrative and budget officer with the World Health Organization in Geneva. He later served with the Economic Commission for Africa in Addis Ababa, the UN Emergency Force in Ismailia, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees in Geneva, and in various senior posts in New York dealing with human resources, budget, finance and staff security. Immediately before becoming Secretary-General, he was Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping. As Secretary-General, one of Annan's main priorities was a comprehensive program of reform aimed at revitalizing the United Nations and making the international system more effective. He was a constant advocate for human rights, the rule of law, the Millennium Development Goals and Africa, and sought to bring the Organization closer to the global public by forging ties with civil society, the private sector and other partners. At Annan's initiative, UN peacekeeping was strengthened in ways that enabled the United Nations to cope with a rapid rise in the number of operations and personnel. It was also at Annan's urging that, in 2005, Member States established two new intergovernmental bodies: the Peace-building Commission and the Human Rights Council. Annan likewise played a central role in the creation of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, the adoption of the UN's first-ever counter-terrorism strategy, and the acceptance by Member States of the "responsibility to protect" people from genocide, war crimes, ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity. His "Global Compact" initiative, launched in 1999, has become the world's largest effort to promote corporate social responsibility. Annan undertook wide-ranging diplomatic initiatives. In 1998, he helped to ease the transition to civilian rule in Nigeria. Also that year, he visited Iraq in an effort to resolve an impasse between that country and the Security Council over compliance with resolutions involving weapons inspections and other matters -- an effort that helped to avoid an outbreak of hostilities, which was imminent at that time. He was responsible for certifying Israel's withdrawal from Lebanon in 2000, and in 2006, his efforts contributed to securing a cessation of hostilities between Israel and Hizbollah. Also in 2006, he mediated a settlement of the dispute between Cameroon and Nigeria over the Bakassi peninsula through implementation of the judgement of the International Court of Justice. His efforts to strengthen the Organization's management, coherence and accountability involved major investments in training and technology, the introduction of a new whistleblower policy and financial disclosure requirements, and steps aimed at improving coordination at the country level. In 2007, Annan established the Kofi Annan Foundation, an independent, not-for-profit organization that works to promote better global governance and strengthen the capacities of people and countries to achieve a fairer, more peaceful world. Following the outbreak of violence during the 2007 Presidential elections in Kenya, the African Union established a Panel of Eminent African Personalities to assist in finding a peaceful solution to the crisis. As the head of the panel, Annan managed to convince the two principal parties to the conflict to participate in the Kenya National Dialogue and Reconciliation Process. He also once served as the UN-Arab League joint special envoy to Syria and developed a six-point plan for peace. Annan was awarded the 2001 Nobel Prize for Peace, jointly with the UN. He has also received numerous honorary degrees and many other national and international prizes, medals and honors. He is fluent in English, French and several African languages. He and his wife have three children. The following companies are subsidiares of Exxon Mobil: AKG Marketing Company Limited, Aera Energy LLC, Al-Jubail Petrochemical Company, Ampolex (Cepu) Pte Ltd, Ancon Insurance Company Inc., Barnett Gathering LLC, Barzan Gas Company Limited, Caspian Pipeline Consortium, Celtic Exploration Ltd., Coral FLNG S.A., Cross Timbers Energy LLC, Ellora Energy Inc., Esmeroon Oil Transporta Imperial Oil Limited, Esso (Thailand) Public Company Limited, Esso Australia Resources Pty Ltd, Esso Deutschland GmbH, Esso Erdgas Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 15) Limited, Esso Exploration Angola (Block 17) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Angola (Overseas) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Chad Inc., Esso Exploration and Production Guyana Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Deepwater) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria (Offshore East) Limited, Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, Esso Exploration and Production UK Limited, Esso Global Investments Ltd., Esso Italiana S.r.l., Esso Nederland B.V., Esso Norge AS, Esso Petroleum Company Limited, Esso Raffinage, Esso Societe Anonyme Francaise, Exxo Holdings Inc., Exxon Azerbaijan Limited, Exxon Chemical Arabia Inc., Exxon International Finance Company, Exxon Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Exxon Mobile Bay Limited Partnership, Exxon Neftegas Limited, Exxon Overseas Corporation, Exxon Overseas Investment Corporation, ExxonMobil (China) Investment Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil (Taicang) Petroleum Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil Abu Dhabi Offshore Petroleum Company Limited, ExxonMobil Alaska Production Inc., ExxonMobil Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., ExxonMobil Australia Pty Ltd, ExxonMobil B Resources Company, ExxonMobil Capital Finance Company, ExxonMobil Capital Netherlands B.V., ExxonMobil Central Europe Holding GmbH, ExxonMobil Cepu Limited, ExxonMobil Chemical France, ExxonMobil Chemical Gulf Coast Investments LLC, ExxonMobil Chemical Holland B.V., ExxonMobil Chemical Services (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ExxonMobil China Petroleum & Petrochemical Company Limited, ExxonMobil Development Africa B.V., ExxonMobil Development Company, ExxonMobil Egypt (S.A.E.), ExxonMobil Exploracao Brasil Ltda., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Malaysia Inc., ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Norway AS, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Romania Limited, ExxonMobil Exploration and Production Tanzania Limited, ExxonMobil Finance Company Limited, ExxonMobil Financial Investment Company Limited, ExxonMobil France Holding SAS, ExxonMobil Gas Marketing Europe Limited, ExxonMobil General Finance Company, ExxonMobil Global Services Company, ExxonMobil Golden Pass Surety LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Company Holland LLC, ExxonMobil Holding Norway AS, ExxonMobil Hong Kong Limited, ExxonMobil International Services SARL, ExxonMobil Iraq Limited, ExxonMobil Italiana Gas S.r.l., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Inc., ExxonMobil Kazakhstan Ventures Inc., ExxonMobil LNG Services B.V., ExxonMobil Lubricants Trading Company, ExxonMobil Oil Corporation, ExxonMobil PNG Limited, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical BVBA, ExxonMobil Petroleum & Chemical Holdings Inc., ExxonMobil Pipeline Company, ExxonMobil Production Deutschland GmbH, ExxonMobil Production Norway Inc., ExxonMobil Qatargas (II) Limited, ExxonMobil Qatargas Inc., ExxonMobil Ras Laffan (III) Limited, ExxonMobil Rasgas Inc., ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company, ExxonMobil Russia Kara Sea Holdings B.V., ExxonMobil Sales and Supply LLC, ExxonMobil Technology Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Finance Company, ExxonMobil Ventures Funding Ltd., Fujian Refining & Petrochemical Co. Ltd., Golden Pass LNG Terminal Investments LLC, Golden Pass LNG Terminal LLC, Gulf Coast Growth Ventures LLC, Imperial Oil Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Limited, Imperial Oil Resources N.W.T. Limited, Imperial Oil/Petroliere Imperiale, Infineum Italia s.r.I., Infineum Singapore Pte. Ltd., InterOil Corporation, Jurong Aromatics Corporation Pte Ltd, MPM Lubricants, Marine Well Containment Company LLC, Mobil Australia Resources Company Pty Limited, Mobil California Exploration & Producing Asset Company, Mobil Caspian Pipeline Company, Mobil Chemical Products International Inc., Mobil Corporation, Mobil Equatorial Guinea Inc., Mobil Erdgas Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH, Mobil Exploration & Producing Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil International Petroleum Corporation, Mobil Oil Australia Pty Ltd, Mobil Oil Exploration & Producing Southeast Inc., Mobil Oil New Zealand Limited, Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, Mobil Producing Texas & New Mexico Inc., Mobil SerLimited, Mobil Venezolana De Petroleos Inc., Mobil Yanbu Petrochemical Company Inc., Mobil Yanbu Refining Company Inc., Mountain Gathering LLC, Mozambique Rovuma Venture S.p.A., Palmetto Transoceanic LLC, Papua New Guinea Liquefied Natural Gas Global Company LDC, Permian Express Partners LLC, Phillips Exploration LLC, Qatar Liquefied Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited, Ras Laffan Liquefied Natural Gas Company Limited (II), SPI Limited, Saudi Aramco Mobil Refinery Company Ltd., Saudi Yanbu Petrochemical Co., SeaRiver Maritime Inc., South Hook LNG Terminal Company Limited, Tengizchevroil LLP, Terminale GNL Adriatico S.r.l, Trend Gathering & Treating LLC, Wolverine Pipe Line Company, XH LLC, XTO Delaware Basin LLC, XTO ENERGY, XTO Energy Canada, and XTO Holdings LLC. Vivint Solar, Inc. provides distributed solar energy primarily to residential customers in the United States. It owns and installs solar energy systems through long-term customer contracts. The company also sells photovoltaic installation products, as well as solar renewable energy certificates. As of December 31, 2019, it had an aggregate capacity of 1,294.0 megawatts covering approximately 188,300 homes. The company was formerly known as V Solar Holdings, Inc. and changed its name to Vivint Solar, Inc. in April 2014. Vivint Solar, Inc. was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Lehi, Utah. Read More 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. Wall Street analysts have given iShares Short-Term Corporate 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 Short-Term Corporate Bond 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 North American Palladium 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 North American Palladium 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 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). The following companies are subsidiares of Carnival Co. &: 1972 Productions Inc., 6348 Equipment LLC, A.C.N. 098 290 834 Pty. Ltd., A.J. Juneau Dock LLC, AIDA Kundencenter GmbH, Adventure Island Ltd., Air-Sea Holiday GmbH, Alaska Hotel Properties LLC, Barcelona Cruise Terminal SLU, Bay Island Cruise Port S.A., Belize Cruise Terminal Limited, CC U.S. Ventures Inc., CCL Gifts LLC, CSSC Carnival Italy Cruise Investment S.r.L, Carnival (UK) Limited, Carnival Bahamas FC Limited, Carnival Bahamas Holdings Limited, Carnival Corporation & plc Asia Pte. Ltd., Carnival Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Carnival Corporation Korea Ltd., Carnival Corporation Ports Group Japan KK, Carnival Finance LLC, Carnival Grand Bahama Investment Limited, Carnival Investments Limited, Carnival Japan Inc., Carnival License Holdings Limited, Carnival Maritime GmbH, Carnival North America LLC, Carnival Port Holdings Limited, Carnival Ports Inc., Carnival Support Services India Private Limited, Carnival Technical Services (UK) Limited, Carnival Technical Services Finland Limited, Carnival Technical Services GmbH, Carnival Technical Services Inc., Carnival Vanuatu Limited, Costa Crociere PTE Ltd., Costa Crociere S.p.A., Costa Cruceros S.A., Costa Cruise Lines Inc., Costa Cruise Lines UK Limited, Costa Cruises Shipping Services (Shanghai) Company Limited, Costa Cruises Travel Agency (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Costa Cruzeiros Agencia Maritima e Turismo Ltda., Costa Group Digital & Strategic Services GmbH, Costa International B.V., Costa Kreuzfahrten GmbH, Cozumel Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Creative Travel Lab Ltd., Cruise Ships Catering & Services International N.V., Cruise Terminal Services S.A. de C.V., Cruiseport Curacao C.V., D.R. Cruise Port Ltd., Ecospray Technologies S.r.L., F.P.M. SAS, F.P.P. SAS, Fleet Maritime Services (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services Holdings (Bermuda) Limited, Fleet Maritime Services International Limited, GXI LLC, Gibs Inc., Global Experience Innovators Inc., Global Fine Arts Inc., Global Shipping Service (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Grand Cruise Shipping Unipessoal LdA, Grand Turk Cruise Center Ltd., HAL Antillen N.V., HAL Beheer B.V., HAL Cruises Limited, HAL Maritime Ltd., HAL Nederland N.V., HAL Properties Limited, HAL Services B.V., HSE Hamburg School of Entertainment GmbH, Holding Division Iberocruceros SLU, Holland America Line Inc., Holland America Line N.V., Holland America Line Paymaster of Washington LLC, Holland America Line U.S.A. Inc., Ibero Cruzeiros Ltda., Iberocruceros SLU, Information Assistance Corporation, International Cruise Services S.A. de C.V., International Leisure Travel Inc., International Maritime Recruitment Agency S.A. de C.V., Milestone N.V., Navitrans S.R.L., Ocean Bahamas Innovation Ltd., Ocean Medallion Fulfillment Ltd., Operadora Catalina S.r.L., P&O Princess American Holdings, P&O Princess Cruises International Limited, P&O Princess Cruises Pension Trustee Limited, P&O Properties (California) Inc., P&O Travel Limited, Prestige Cruises Management S.A.M., Prestige Cruises N.V., Princess Bermuda Holdings Ltd., Princess Cays Ltd., Princess Cruise Corporation Inc., Princess Cruise Lines Ltd., Princess Cruises and Tours Inc., Princess U.S. Holdings Inc., RCT Maintenance & Related Services S.A., RCT Pilots & Related Services S.A., RCT Security & Related Services S.A., Roatan Cruise Terminal S.A. de C.V., Royal Hyway Tours Inc., Santa Cruz Terminal S.L., SeaVacations Limited, SeaVacations UK Limited, Seabourn Cruise Line Limited, Shanghai Coast Cruise Consulting Co. Lda, Ship Care (Bahamas) Limited, Sitmar Cruises Inc., Spanish Cruise Services N.V., Sunshine Shipping Corporation Ltd., T&T International Inc., Tour Alaska LLC, Transnational Services Corporation, Trident Insurance Company Ltd., Westmark Hotels Inc., Westmark Hotels of Canada Ltd., Westours Motor Coaches LLC, Wind Surf Limited, and World Leading Cruise Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd.. TBC Bank Group PLC, through its subsidiaries, provides banking, leasing, brokerage, and card processing services to corporate and individual customers in Georgia, Azerbaijan, and Uzbekistan. The company operates through Retail; Corporate; and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises segments. It offers various current/settlement accounts, and term deposits; mortgage, consumer, retail, and corporate loans, as well as loans for micro, small, and medium enterprises; credit cards, credit lines, letters of credit, and guarantees; and money transfer and currency exchange services. The company also provides motor, life and personal accident, property, health, and other insurance products; investment, brokerage, and corporate finance solutions; and card processing, leasing, PR and marketing, real estate management, asset management, computer and software, e-commerce, and postal services. In addition, it offers internet and mobile banking services. The company operates through a network of 157 branches; 1,570 automated teller machines; 25,163 point of sale terminals; and 3,905 self-service terminals. TBC Bank Group PLC was founded in 1992 and is based in Tbilisi, Georgia. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Illinois Tool Works: A V Co 1 Limited, A V Co 2 Limited, A V Co 3 Limited, ACCU-LUBE Manufacturing GmbH - Schmiermittel und -gerate -, AIP/BI Holdings Inc., Accessories Marketing Holding Corp., Advanced Molding Company Inc., Allen Coding GmbH, Allen France SAS, Alpine Automation Limited, Alpine Engineered Products, Alpine Holdings Inc., Alpine Systems Corporation, Anaerobicos S.r.l., AppliChem GmbH, Arylux Hungary Elektromechanikus Alkatreszgyarto Kft, Avery Berkel France, Avery India Limited, Avery Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Avery Weigh Tronix, Avery Weigh-Tronix (Suzhou) Weighing Technology Co. Ltd., Avery Weigh-Tronix Finance Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Holdings Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix International Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix LLC, Avery Weigh-Tronix Limited, Avery Weigh-Tronix Properties Limited, Azon Limited, B.C. Immo, Beijing Miller Electric Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Berkel (Ireland) Limited, Berrington UK, Brapenta Eletronica Ltda., Brooks Instrument (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Brooks Instrument B.V., Brooks Instrument GmbH, Brooks Instrument KFT, Brooks Instrument Korea Ltd., Brooks Instrument LLC, Buell Industries Inc., CAPMAX Logistica S.A. de C.V., CCI Realty Company, CFC Europe GmbH, CS (Australia) Pty Limited, CS (Finance) Europe S.a.r.l., CS Mexico Holding Company S DE RL DE CV, CSMTS LLC, Calvia Spolka z Ograniczona Odpowiedzialnosci, Capital Ventures (Australasia) S.a r.l, Capmax Logistica S.A. de C.V., Celeste Industries Corporation, Coeur, Coeur (Shanghai) Medical Appliance Trading Co. Ltd, Coeur Asia Limited, Coeur Holding Company, Coeur Inc., Compagnie Hobart, Compagnie de Materiel et d'Equipements Techniques-Comet, Constructions Isothermiques Bontami C.I.B., Crane Carrier Company, Despatch Industries, Diagraph Corporation Sdn. Bhd, Diagraph ITW Mexico S. de R.L. De C.V., Diagraph Mexico S.A. DE C.V., Dongguan Ark-Les Electric Components Co. Ltd., Dongguan CK Branding Co. Ltd., Dorbyl U.K. (Holdings) Limited, Duo Fast de Espana S.A.U., Duo-Fast Korea Co. Ltd., Duo-Fast LLC, E.C.S. d.o.o., ECS Cable Protection Sp. Zoo, ELRO (Holding) AG, ELRO Grosskuchen GmbH, ELRO-WERKE AG, Elga Skandinavian AS, Elro Group, Eltex-Elektrostatik-Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Envases Multipac S.A. de C.V., Eurotec Srl, FEG Investments L.L.C., Fasver, Filtertek, Filtertek De Mexico Holding Inc., Filtertek De Mexico S.A. de C.V., GC Financement SA, Gamko B.V., Gun Hwa Platech (Taicang) Co. Ltd., HOBART Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung, Hartness International, Hobart (Japan) K.K., Hobart Andina S.A.S., Hobart Brothers International Chile Limitada, Hobart Brothers LLC, Hobart Dayton Mexicana S. de R.L. de C.V., Hobart Food Equipment Co. Ltd., Hobart Foster Belgium, Hobart International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Hobart Korea LLC, Hobart LLC, Hobart Nederland B.V., Hobart Sales & Service Inc., Hobart Scandinavia ApS, Hobart Techniek B.V., Horis, ILC Investments Holdings Inc., ITW (China) Investment Company Limited, ITW (Deutschland) GmbH, ITW (EU) Holdings Ltd., ITW (European) Finance Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance II Co. Ltd., ITW (European) Finance III Co. Ltd., ITW (Ningbo) Components & Fastenings Systems Co. Ltd., ITW AEP LLC, ITW AOC LLC, ITW Aircraft Investments Inc., ITW Alpha Sarl, ITW Ampang Industries Philippines Inc., ITW Appliance Components EOOD, ITW Appliance Components S.A. de C.V., ITW Appliance Components S.r.l.a, ITW Appliance Components d.o.o., ITW Australia Holdings Pty Ltd, ITW Australia Property Holdings Pty Ltd., ITW Australia Pty Ltd, ITW Automotive Components (Chongqing) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Components (Langfang) Co. Ltd., ITW Automotive Japan K.K., ITW Automotive Korea LLC, ITW Automotive Parts (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Automotive Products GmbH, ITW Automotive Products Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Bailly Comte, ITW Befestigungssysteme GmbH, ITW Belgium, ITW Brazilian Nominee L.L.C., ITW Building Components Group Inc., ITW CER, ITW CP Distribution Center Holland BV, ITW CS (UK) Ltd., ITW Canada Inc., ITW Celeste Inc., ITW Chemical Products Ltda, ITW Chemical Products Scandinavia ApS, ITW Colombia S.A.S., ITW Construction Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Construction Products (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., ITW Construction Products AB, ITW Construction Products AS, ITW Construction Products ApS, ITW Construction Products CZ s.r.o., ITW Construction Products Italy Srl, ITW Construction Products OU, ITW Construction Products OY, ITW Contamination Control (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Contamination Control B.V., ITW Covid Security Group Inc., ITW DS Investments Inc., ITW DelFast do Brasil Ltda., ITW Delta Sarl, ITW Denmark ApS, ITW Dynatec, ITW Dynatec Adhesive Equipment (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Dynatec GmbH, ITW Dynatec Kabushiki Kaisha, ITW EAE B.V., ITW EAE Mexico S de RL de CV, ITW EF&C France SAS, ITW EF&C Selb GmbH, ITW Electronic Business Asia Co. Limited, ITW Electronic Components/Products (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Electronics (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Epsilon Sarl, ITW Espana S.A., ITW FEG Hong Kong Limited, ITW FEG do Brasil Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW Fastener Products GmbH, ITW Finance Designated Activity Company, ITW Finance Europe S.A., ITW Fluids and Hygiene Solutions Ltda., ITW Food Equipment Group LLC, ITW France Finance Alpha S.A.S., ITW GH LLC, ITW GSE ApS, ITW GSE Inc., ITW Gamma Sarl, ITW German Management LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings LLC, ITW Global Investments Holdings Y Compania Sociedad en Comandita por Acciones, ITW Global Investments II Inc., ITW Global Investments Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Europe GmbH, ITW Global Tire Repair Inc., ITW Global Tire Repair Japan K.K., ITW Graphics (Thailand) Ltd., ITW Graphics Asia Limited, ITW Graphics Italy S.R.L. in liquidazione, ITW Great Britain Investment & Licensing Holding Company, ITW Group France (Luxembourg) S.ar.l., ITW HLP Thailand Co. Ltd., ITW Holding Quimica B.C. S.L. Sole Shareholder Company, ITW Holdings Australia L.P., ITW Holdings I Limited, ITW Holdings II Limited, ITW Holdings III Limited, ITW Holdings IV Limited, ITW Holdings IX Limited, ITW Holdings Inc., ITW Holdings UK, ITW Holdings V Limited, ITW Holdings VI Limited, ITW Holdings VII Limited, ITW Holdings VIII Limited, ITW Holdings X Limited, ITW Holdings XI Limited, ITW Hungary Finance Beta Kft, ITW ILC Holdings I Inc., ITW IPG Investments LLC, ITW Imaden Industria e Comercio Ltda., ITW India Private Limited, ITW International Holdings LLC, ITW Invest Holding GmbH, ITW Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, ITW Ireland Unlimited Company, ITW Italy Finance Srl, ITW Italy Holding Srl, ITW Japan Ltd., ITW Korea LLC, ITW LLC & Co. KG, ITW Limited, ITW Lombard Holdings Inc., ITW Lys Fusion S.r.l., ITW M FILMS II LLC, ITW MH LLC, ITW Meritex Sdn. Bhd., ITW Metal Fasteners S.L., ITW Mexico Holding Company S. De R.L. de C.V., ITW Mexico Holdings LLC, ITW Morlock GmbH, ITW Mortgage Investments II Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments III Inc., ITW Mortgage Investments IV Inc., ITW Netherlands Administration BV, ITW Netherlands Beta B.V., ITW Netherlands Finance Alpha BV, ITW New Universal LLC, ITW New Zealand, ITW Novadan Sp. Z.o.o., ITW PPF Brasil Adesivos Ltda., ITW Packaging Technology (China) Co. Ltd., ITW Participations S.a r.l., ITW Pension Funds Trustee Company, ITW Performance Plastic (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Japan Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids Korea Limited, ITW Performance Polymers & Fluids OOO, ITW Performance Polymers (Wujiang) Co. Ltd., ITW Performance Polymers ApS, ITW Performance Polymers and Fluids Group FZE, ITW Peru S.A.C., ITW Philippines Holdings LLC, ITW Poly Mex S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Polymers Sealants North America Inc., ITW Pronovia s.r.o., ITW Pte. Ltd., ITW Qufu Automotive Cooling Systems Co. Ltd., ITW Real Estate Germany GmbH, ITW Residuals III L.L.C., ITW Residuals IV L.L.C., ITW Rivex, ITW SMPI, ITW SPG Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Simco-Ion (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., ITW Slovakia s.r.o., ITW Spain Holdings S.L., ITW Specialty Film LLC, ITW Specialty Films France, ITW Specialty Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., ITW Spraytec, ITW Sverige AB, ITW Sweden Holding AB, ITW Test & Measurement Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, ITW Test & Measurement GmbH, ITW Test and Measurement Italia Srl, ITW Test and Measurement Services Industry and Trade Ltd., ITW Texwipe Philippines Inc., ITW Thermal Films (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., ITW UK, ITW UK Finance Beta Limited, ITW UK Finance Delta Limited, ITW UK Finance Gamma Limited, ITW UK Finance Limited, ITW UK Finance Zeta Ltd., ITW UK II Limited, ITW Universal II LLC, ITW Welding, ITW Welding AB, ITW Welding GmbH, ITW Welding Products B.V., ITW Welding Products Group FZE, ITW Welding Products Group S. DE R.L. De C.V., ITW Welding Products Italy Srl, ITW Welding Products Limited Liability Company, ITW Welding Produtos Para Solgdagem Ltda., ITW Welding Servicios Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., ITW Welding Singapore Pte. Ltd., ITW de France, ITW do Brasil Industrial e Comercial Ltda., Ideal Molding Technologies LLC, Illinois Tool Works (Chile) Limitada, Illinois Tool Works (ITW) Nederland B.V., Illinois Tool Works Norway AS, Impar Comercio E Representacoes Ltda., Industrie Plastic Elsasser GmbH, Inmobiliaria Cit. S.A. de C.F., Innova Temperlite Servicios S.A. de C.V., Innovacion y Transformacion Automotriz S.A. de C.V., Instron (Shanghai) Ltd., Instron (Thailand) Limited, Instron Brasil Equipamentos Cientificos Ltda., Instron Foreign Sales Corp. Limited, Instron France S.A.S., Instron GmbH, Instron Holdings Limited, Instron International Limited, Instron Japan Company Ltd., Instron Korea LLC, International Leasing Company LLC, International Truss Systems Proprietary Limited, Isolenge - ITW Sistemas de Isolamento Termico Ltda., KCPL Mauritius Holdings, Kester, Kester Components (M) Sdn. Bhd., Kleinmann GmbH, Krafft S.L., Loma Systems, Loma Systems (Canada) Inc., Loma Systems BV, Loma Systems sro, Lombard Pressings Limited, Lumex Inc., Lys Fusion Poland Sp. z.o.o., M&C Specialties (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., M&C Specialties Co., MAGNAFLUX GmbH, MEHB Holdings Limited, MGHG Property LLC, MOA Enterprises Inc, Manufacturing Avancee S.A., Meritex Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Meurer Verpackungssysteme GmbH, Miller Electric Mfg. LLC, Miller Insurance Ltd., NDT Holding LLC, NOVADAN APS, Norden Olje AB, North Star Imaging Europe, North Star Imaging Inc., Nova Chimica S.r.l., Orbitalum Tools GmbH, PENTA-91 OOO, PR. A. I. Srl, PT ITW Construction Products Indonesia, Pacific Concept Industries Limited (Enping), Panreac Quimica S.L., Paslode Fasteners (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Peerless Machinery Corp., Penta Dnepr LLC, Penta Sever OOO, Penta Volga OOO, Polyrey, Premark FEG L.L.C., Premark HII Holdings LLC, Premark International, Premark International LLC, Prolex Sociedad Anonima, QSA Global Inc., Quimica Industrial Mediterranea S.L., Ramset Fasteners (Hong Kong) Ltd., Rapid Cook LLC, Refrigeration France, S.E.E. Sistemas Industria E Comercio Ltda., ST Mexico Holdings LLC, Sealant Systems International Inc., Sentinel Asia Yuhan Hoesa, Shanghai ITW Plastic & Metal Co. Ltd, Simco (Nederland) B.V., Simco Japan Inc., Societe de Prospection et dInventions Techniques SPIT, Speedline Holdings I Inc., Speedline Holdings I LLC, Speedline Technologies GmbH, Speedline Technologies Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Speedline Technologies Mexico Services S. de R.L. de C.V., Stokvis Celix Portugal Unipessoal LDA, Stokvis Danmark ApS, Stokvis Holdings S.A.R.L., Stokvis Promi s.r.o, Stokvis Prostick Tapes Private Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, Stokvis Tapes (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Taiwan) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., Stokvis Tapes BVBA, Stokvis Tapes Benelux B.V., Stokvis Tapes Deutschland GmbH, Stokvis Tapes France, Stokvis Tapes Italia s.r.l., Stokvis Tapes Limited, Stokvis Tapes Limited Liability Company, Stokvis Tapes Norge AS, Stokvis Tapes Oy, Stokvis Tapes Polska Sp Z.O.O., Stokvis Tapes Sverige AB, Stolvis Holdings II S.A.R.L., Technopack Industria Comercio Consultoria e Representacoes Ltda., Teknek (China) Limited, Teknek (Japan) Limited, Teksaleco Ltd., The Miller Group Ltd, Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny, Tien Tai Electrode (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., Tien Tai Electrode Co. Ltd., Unichemicals Industria e Comercio Ltda., VR-Leasing Sarita GmbH & Co. Immobilien KG, VS European Holdco BV, Valeron Strength Films B.V.B.A., Veneta Decalcogomme S.r.l., Versachem Chile S.A., Vesta, Vesta (Guangzhou) Catering Equipment Co. Ltd, Vesta Global Limited, Viltronics Soltec, Vitronics Soltec B.V., Wachs Canada Ltd., Wachs Subsea LLC, Weigh-Tronix Canada ULC, Weigh-Tronix UK Limited, Wilsonart International Holdings LLC, Wynn Oil (South Africa) (Pty) Ltd., Wynn's Automotive France, Wynn's Belgium BVBA, Wynn's Italia Srl, Wynn's Mekuba India Pvt Ltd, ZF TRW (Engineered Fasteners and Components), and Zip-Pak International B.V.. Wall Street analysts have given Enel Generacion Chile a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Enel Generacion Chile wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Americas very first dog cafe makes sipping a cup of coffee way more magical. Los Angeles-based The Dog Cafe serves as a halfway home for pups in search of humans. Their mission puts a twist on pet adoption, reinventing how people connect with rescues by serving up coffee along with cuddle time. They work closely with volunteers at local kill shelters to rescue dogs in need, regardless of age, breed, or behavioral issue. Visit virtually with our video above and just try not to fall in love with the little mutt Vienna. If youre in the L.A.-area snag a spot with an online reservation ($15 per person, drinks are separate). The cover charge goes towards providing a home, medical care, food, toys, etc., for their furry residents. The business is nonprofit; all proceeds go towards helping the dogs. We know our rescues extremely well and can match adopters with their perfect puppy-soulmate, the website proudly promises. Follow them on Instagram for sweet snaps to show their success stories. People who just need a puppy fix for an afternoon are also welcome; adoption plans are not a must. The Dog Cafe is open Wednesday through Sunday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Learn more about the awesome work they are doing on their website and Instagram. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. New court documents suggest that two Colorado children who were allegedly murdered by their father may have been strangled, according to multiple news outlets. Denver NBC affiliate 9News reports the two motions were filed on Friday morning in Weld County court by defense attorneys representing Chris Watts, 33, who has been accused of murdering his 34-year-old wife Shanann who was 15-weeks-pregnant at the time as well as their two young daughters, Celeste, 3, and Bella, 4. In the motions, attorneys asked that DNA samples be taken from both the two children as well as from the mother during their autopsies, which were scheduled to begin on Friday, reported CBS4. DNA expert Richard Eikelenboom claimed in the filings that DNA samples would remain on the necks of the decedent children, according to ABC affiliate Denver 7. The motion also asked that DNA samples be taken from the hands and nails of the girls mother. RELATED: Man Accused of Slaying Pregnant Wife & Kids Is Scott Peterson, Just Less Charismatic: Profiler RELATED: Before Husband Allegedly Murdered Her, Pregnant Woman Had Gushed: Hes the Best Thing Attorney James Merson wrote in the docs that while the bodies of the two children had been in an oil well filled with crude oil for several days, Eikelenboom believed DNA would still be present, according to 9News. The DNA expert was also quoted in the motion saying he believed that samples can still be obtained after strangulation, according to Denver 7. However, the outlet went on to report that in 2016 the Denver District Attorneys Office released a statement discrediting Eikelenboom after a Denver prosecutor got Eikelenboom to admit that he had no direct DNA extraction or analysis experience. Eikelenboom has disputed the claim. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Story continues Chris Watts and Shanann Watts RELATED: Slain Pregnant Womans Brother Grieves an Entire Family Lost: Sorry Uncle Couldnt Save You Shanann and her two daughters were reported missing by a friend on Monday afternoon, about 12 hours after returning from a business trip. Before he was taken into custody, Chris had given multiple interviews pleading for their safe return. Chris Watts During one such appearance, he said that shortly she disappeared, he and Shanann had an emotional conversation. Without providing any further information on the subject, he added, Ill leave it at that. RELATED VIDEO: Pregnant Mom & 2 Daughters Likely Killed at Home Allegedly by Husband Before Bodies Were Dumped Following her husbands arrest, Shananns body was found Thursday on the property of Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, an oil and gas company where Chris had worked. Remains believed to be daughters Bella and Celeste were located later Thursday near Shananns body, officials said. Chris was arrested Wednesday on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of tampering with a body. While investigators have not publicly confirmed a motive, a family friend previously told PEOPLE that there was marital discord between Chris and Shanann and public records show they had faced financial issues in the past, including a bankruptcy in 2015. Chris is next scheduled to appear in court on Tuesday, where he will face formal charges. 18-year-old who pushed friend off 60-foot bridge now facing charges originally appeared on goodmorningamerica.com The 18-year-old who pushed her teenage friend off a 60-foot bridge in Washington state, leaving her with multiple injuries, has been charged with one count of reckless endangerment. Prosecutors filed the charge Friday, with a declaration of probable cause from the arresting officer stating in part, "it is clear that Taylor Smith engaged in conduct which created a substantial risk of death and resulted in serious physical injury to Jordan Holgerson." Reckless endangerment is considered a gross misdemeanor that is punishable by up to a year in jail and a maximum fine of $5,000. "I accept the charges maturely and all I can do is hope for the best for Jordan and myself," Smith told ABC News late Friday. Smith pushed Holgerson, 16, off a bridge over the Lewis River at Moulton Falls Regional Park near Vancouver, Washington, Aug. 7. Holgerson plunged the equivalent of three stories before belly-flopping into the water below. She suffered "significant injuries" including six broken ribs, a punctured lung and air bubbles in her chest, officials said. The incident was captured on a cellphone video that went viral on social media but has since been removed. Surveillance camera video also shows the moment Smith shoved Holgerson off the bridge ledge. PHOTO: Jordan Holgerson, 16, was pushed off the bridge in Vancouver, Wash. (KATU) According to the complaint filed in Clark County district court, Holgerson told authorities that Smith was the one who pushed her and that it was unwanted. Smith admitted to pushing Holgerson off the bridge but told authorities she did so in an attempt to help her friend overcome her fear and not to injure her. Earlier Friday, in an exclusive interview with ABC News' "Good Morning America," Smith said she didn't consider the repercussions beforehand. "She wanted to jump and she was scared and she had asked me to give her a push, and I didn't think about the consequences," Smith told "GMA" co-anchor Michael Strahan. "I thought she would be fine." Story continues In an interview last week with ABC Portland, Oregon, affiliate KATU from her hospital bed, Holgerson described the moments leading up to the push. She had initially wanted to jump off the bridge after seeing a friend do it, she said "I went to the top of the bridge and my other - my friend ... she came up to the bridge with me," Holgerson told KATU Aug. 9. "And so, she was counting down but I didnt think anything of it. And I was like, 'No, dont count down, like, I wont go if you count down. Im not ready.' And then she pushed me." Holgerson said she didn't feel any pain but adrenaline kicked in after she hit the water. "And then an EMT that was off-duty helped me onto the rocks and just a whole bunch of people surrounding me were helping me, calming me down," she told KATU. "I am happy to be OK." (MORE: Teen pushed from bridge speaks out from hospital) PHOTO: Jordan Holgerson, 16, who was pushed off the bridge in Vancouver, Wash., suffered five broken ribs and lung injury. She talks to ABC News's affiliate KATU on Aug. 9. 2018. (KATU) Smith told "GMA" that she immediately reached out to Holgerson after the incident and "apologized several times," and even tried to visit her in the hospital but was "asked to leave." Holgerson has since stopped communicating with her, Smith said. The two were "pretty close" friends for years, she added. "I love that girl," Smith said during Friday's interview. "I never intended to hurt her ever, nor would I intend to hurt anyone. I'm really sorry it turned out that way. I just pray that she heals and gets better." (MORE: Prosecutors mulling charges against woman who pushed friend off bridge) PHOTO: Jordan Holgerson and Taylor Smith in an undated photo. (Courtesy Taylor Smith ) Investigators from the Clark County Sheriff's Office wrapped up their probe of the incident earlier this week and turned over their finding to prosecutors, who announced the reckless endangerment charge Friday afternoon. Earlier, Smith told "GMA" that the prospect of facing charges is "scary" but she will "accept whatever the prosecutor gives me." "I accept whatever the prosecutors think is best for me, considering I caused not only bodily harm but emotional trauma as well," she said. "But I just hope for the best." ABC News' Michael Harris, Santina Leuci and Jim Vojtech contributed to this report. Trump adviser: Russia, China, North Korea and Iran could meddle in US midterms originally appeared on abcnews.go.com National Security Adviser John Bolton said Russia is only one of four countries that could potentially try to interfere in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections. In an exclusive interview Sunday morning, Bolton told ABC News Chief Global Affairs Correspondent and "This Week" Co-Anchor Martha Raddatz that the U.S. is also concerned about possible election meddling by China, North Korea and Iran. PHOTO: National security adviser John Bolton listens during a meeting with President Donald Trump, not pictured, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Aug. 16, 2018. (Oliver Contreras/Pool via Bloomberg via Getty Images) I can say definitively that it's a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that we're taking steps to try to prevent it, so it's all four of those countries, really, Bolton said in the interview at Jerusalem's King David Hotel. Top intelligence officials make surprise visit to White House briefing to stress election security Trump: 'I have full faith and support' in intel community's conclusion on Russian election meddling, but adds 'could be other people also' Raddatz pressed, But have you seen anything in the past specifically to China? Bolton responded, I'm not going to get into the - what I've seen or haven't seen, but I'm telling you, looking at the 2018 election, those are the four countries that we're most concerned about. On Saturday, President Trump suggested in a tweet that investigators should expand the scope of election meddling beyond Russia, writing, All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China. All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China. But in the end, if we are smart, tough and well prepared, we will get along with everyone! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 18, 2018 Raddatz spoke with Bolton in Jerusalem at the King David Hotel on the first leg of his foreign trip. He is also set to meet with his Russian counterpart next week in Geneva, a follow-up to the July 16 summit between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki. Story continues President Trump came under harsh and widespread criticism for a comment at a news conference with Putin in Helsinki when he appeared to accept the Russian leader's denial of meddling in U.S. elections despite American intelligence agencies' having concluded the opposite. "I have President Putin, he just said it's not Russia," Trump said. "I will say this. I don't see any reason why it would be." He added, So I have great confidence in my intelligence people, but I will tell you that President Putin was extremely strong and powerful in his denial today. Trump has also said previously that "it could be other people also" besides Russia behind the U.S. election meddling in 2016. Do you remember the first time you had a real talk with female friends about sex, feelings, or bodies? One of the reasons Sex and the City, for all its issues, struck such a chord with its viewers is because of just how purely and raunchily it addressed all three. Breaking into an honest place about the nature of the female experience can be upending and uplifting at once. It could happen at age 13 while listening to music in your besties room or at 42 over a couple of bottles of rose. The feeling of female solidarity is a powerful but elusive one. Its probably partly why the new-this-year Angela Garbes book Like a Mother: A Feminist Journey Through the Science and Culture of Pregnancy is making such waves. I am 42 and dont have children, but even my childless friends are recommending it to me. It is an instantly seminal book. Garbes wrote a 2015 piece titled The More I Learn About Breast Milk, the More Amazed I Am which went viral and became the most-read piece in the history of Seattle newsweekly The Stranger. The nutritional and immunological components of breast milk change every day, according to the specific, individual needs of a baby, she wrote, thrilling at the fact of this thing shed learned about the power of the female body. Like a Mother showcases Garbess intellectual curiosity as much as it does her empathy. Unlike a lot of the popular pregnancy books on the market, it neither lectures nor endorses. Primarily, it educates. Shes not afraid to talk about the rawness of her own labor, which didnt go at all according to her birth plan, nor the pain of her two miscarriages, which she details here. She busts into the nitty-gritty of her own sex life, her C-section, and the things that kept her marriage strong after the birth of her first child. (Hello, chore wheel!) To break a book as essential as this oneI would rank Garbes right alongside Naomi Wolf, Germaine Greer, and other feminist writersinto mere bullet points would be to do it a disservice, largely because of how personal, funny, and sisterly its author is in her writing style. But she is also an extraordinary researcher and reporter, with a thorough bibliography of every study she cites. Its worth briefly summarizing a few of the mind-blowing points she makes, although there are so many more that its worth checking this book out yourself. Story continues RELATED: Unsolicited Pregnancy Advice, Examined The data on drinking alcohol while pregnant is problematic Yes, the Mayo Clinic writes that there is no amount of alcohol thats known to be safe to consume during pregnancy, and the CDC would echo that [a]ny amount of alcohol during pregnancy is harmful. But its fascinating looking at the research and timeline that got us here. As recently as 1977, public health officials suggested that expectant mothers have no more than two alcoholic beverages daily, writes Garbes. By 1981, the surgeon general was recommending that even those considering becoming pregnant abstain completely. Because testing the effect of alcohol on pregnant women is unethical, its difficult to discern whether, say, a drink a week actually has a negative effect on a fetus. Garbes notes that author Emily Oster, a data-driven economist, examined the original research, and found what she called overinterpretation of flawed studies. Osterwho is not, its worth mentioning, a physicianconcluded that occasionally drinking alcohol was probably fine. This is a personal choice, and its worth reiterating that many doctors, including The American Academy of Pediatrics, recommend against drinking any alcohol at all. Constant caretaking can shorten labor and lower C-section rates Doulaspeople, typically women, certified by an international association who provide support throughout pregnancy and laborhave been having real, positive effects on birth, studies show. (This article is a great deep dive on New Orleanian doulas.) Garbes writes that continuous, nonjudgmental labor support and care can produce lower C-section rates, less use of pain medications, fewer vacuum-assisted births, and shorter births, by 40 minutes on average. RELATED: What Is a Doula? 4 Reasons Pregnant Women Might Want One Due dates are bullsh*t Garbes cites the American Pregnancy Association in that only about 5% of babies emerge on their estimated due dates. Five percent! It feels about as likely as winning Plinko on The Price is Right. She suggests itd be more accurate to anticipate a four-week window for a babys arrival. Dont say, You can try again. Say, You will recover. Pregnancy lossso common and so frequently not talked aboutcan be a source of massive grief for women, who sometimes spiral into anxiety and depression. Though it may be tempting to offer a woman who has miscarried the encouragement that she can try again, writes Garbes, according to Kristen Swanson, RN, PhD, an expert whose Theory of Caring has been adopted by hospitals nationwide, one should instead tell a patient that she can recover and work through her loss. For a woman who has just miscarried, the last thing she might want to consider is trying again. RELATED: I Had a Miscarriage at 30 and 35and Each One Felt Wildly Different A third of us have a pelvic floor disorder Heres a fun one! A full third of us have a pelvic floor disorder, which can cause pain during sex or incontinenceespecially when you sneeze, laugh, or work out. Good times. Eighty percent of the women this affects are moms. In France, writes Garbes, new mothers routinely get physical therapy to strengthen their pelvic floors, which is subsidized by the government. Garbes cites a physical therapist who thinks we should have routine physical therapy starting at six weeks postpartum in America, too. So if youre experiencing this less joyful side effect of motherhoodor of being a womanknow that, as is true of so many things, its not just you. Alex Van Burenfollow her on Instagram and Twitter @alexvanburenis a Brooklyn-based writer, editor, and content strategist who has written for The Washington Post, Bon Appetit, Travel + Leisure, New York Magazine, Conde Nast Traveler, and Epicurious. For years, Americans have been warned that China was coming for us. The Sleeping Giant will awaken and beat the United States. Whatever that exactly means is up to individual interpretation, but heres one surprisingly example where the prediction has become true: China now drinks more of Americas most iconic beer brand than America does! According to new data from Rabobank, for the first time ever, more Budweiser beer is being drunk in China than in U.S. meaning China also drinks more Bud than any other county in the world. The transformation is stark. Starting in 2000, American consumption of Budweiser was over 4 billion liters whereas Chinese consumption was comparatively negligible. But as U.S. consumption of Bud has steadily declined since 2005, Chinese consumption has grown, topping 1 billion liters in 2013 and currently inching above U.S. consumption for the first half of 2018 which is now estimated to be under 2 billion liters for the year. Though clearly part of the story here is Budweisers declining sales in the U.S., the King of Beers is still the countrys fourth best-selling brand, so its not like Americans have given up on Bud entirely. Instead, Rabobank offers up a global phenomenon as an explanation: Sales of mass market domestic brands are declining while sales of craft and import brands are growing. Thats true in China as well, but on that side of the globe, Budweiser is regarded as a desirable import. Analysists imply that this is actually partly Budweisers own doing. The largest ten brewers in the world saw their market share double, from one-third to two-thirds over the past 20 years, the report states. As brewers gained an on-the-ground presence overseas, trading up consumers from low-margin local brands to high-margin international brands became part of their strategy. Of course, population likely plays a big role in all of this as well. Chinas current population is around 1.38 billion people more than four times greater than that of America with its paltry (cough) 325 million people. America still drinks far more Budweiser per capita. Still, setting aside any connotation of China beating us when it comes to drinking Budweiser, this change at the very least speaks towards a continued globalization that we havent seen before. But as funny side note to this report, many imported beers arent actually imported at all; theyre brewed in the same country theyre sold in. A classic example of this is Fosters which is practically non-existent in Australia and is produced for the American market right here in the States. The same goes for Budweiser: The Bud sold in China is actually made in China. Wouldnt it be the most unthinkable irony if one day, decades down the road, Budweiser was almost impossible to find in the U.S. but continued an amazing run in China? Photo credit: WES ALLISON From Road & Track COMPACT LUXURY SUVS are 4000 pounds of contradiction. They must blend handling chops with usability, at a price that balances sales goals with premium clout. Its a complex, increasingly critical job- one that the Acura RDX in particular has never mastered. The first generation, which debuted in 2007, was eccentric. It was Honda/Acuras first U.S. production vehicle with a turbocharged engine and had a stiff ride. For 2013, Acura blunted the second generation so severely, it became comfortable but bland, both in design and driving dynamics. The new Acura RDX nails it. Behold the exterior. Prismatic, angular, and sleek, the RDX is a handsome, sometimes striking SUV-tidy like a Nakamichi receiver and as Japanese as a Gundam robot. Its not self-consciously restrained like rivals from the Continent. Even the handsome Volvo XC60 looks uneventful by comparison. The RDX announces Acuras renewed commitment to sportiness. To that end: a plunging roofline, wide stance, and low overhangs. An A-Spec package blacks out the exterior trim and headlights, ups wheel size from 19 to 20 inches, and adds LED fog lights. The interior reveals further sporting intent. See the red-mist tachometer. Or the doorknob-sized dial on the center stack that controls drive modes. Sport is the default setting-a statement in and of itself-with Comfort, Snow, and Sport Plus as options. A newfangled touchpad interface controls an impressively wide display. Rather than work like a trackpad on a laptop, where your finger controls a cursor, any touch on the pad translates to the exact location on the screen.Need navigation? Simply press the upper-right corner of the pad. No scrolling needed. Acura execs admit it takes some getting used to, but they think the system hits a sweet spot between the predictability of hard controls and the adaptability of a touchscreen. It didnt feel faster or easier to manipulate than a traditional touchscreen, but works well with practice and doesnt require you to take your eyes off the road. Story continues To show the RDX is prepared to scrap with elite company, Acura brought an array of competitors-the Audi Q5, BMW X3, Mercedes-Benz GLC, and Volvo XC60-to its press program for back-to-back, unsupervised driving impressions. The move is unusual and speaks volumes of Acuras faith in what it has achieved. The RDXs turbo 2.0-liter four-banger is gruff and flexible, delivering 280 lb-ft of torque from 1600 rpm and 272 hp at 6500 rpm. Compared with its rivals, the RDXs engine feels the burliest. Its not emotive, but which of these turbo fours is? Photo credit: WES ALLISON In its top-level Advance trim, the RDX receives adaptive suspension dampers that work wonders for road manners. So equipped, the RDX irons out rutted mountain roads with aplomb. It nearly matches the Benzs refinement but is more planted around curves. Scything into tight turns, the RDXs steering feels quick and immediate, yet also heavy, particularly in Sport Plus mode. Its hypersharpness gives the illusion of connectivity. But hopping into the X3 exposes the nuance Acuras missing: whiffs of road texture under harder driving, a gradual, intuitive buildup in effort as you smear in steering angle. The difference in handling is most apparent as you reach the limit. Approaching an apex, the BMWs steering rack feels tightly coiled. Its tires warble a warning before the front end gives up, whereas the RDXs tires and chassis communicate less, then break free more suddenly. The RDXs 10-speed auto, developed and manufactured by Acura in-house, couldnt quite match the Bimmers terrific, ubiquitous ZF eight-speed. The RDX would often clunk down a gearchange mid-corner, delivering throttle inputs just a fraction late. None of this hair-splitting should diminish the RDX. Acura set out to build a luxury SUV that handles like a BMW, is as quiet as a Mercedes, as beautiful as a Volvo, and as alluring as an Audi. On every count the RDX hit its mark, or at least got damned close-and it still undercuts them in price. Most refreshing here is the ambition. The RDX reestablishes Acura as an automaker that rewards buyers with Honda reliability but also a hit of adrenaline. For a brand that has struggled to express itself, it is more than just a very good crossover-its a statement piece. ('You Might Also Like',) Kabul (AFP) - Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared a provisional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban in a televised broadcast Sunday, a move welcomed by Washington but yet to receive a reply from the militants themselves. The announcement followed a bloody week of fighting across Afghanistan which saw the Taliban launch a massive assault against the provincial capital Ghazni. Anticipation had been mounting ahead of Ghani's speech following mixed signals from the presidential palace over whether the government would offer a fresh truce -- following a brief, unprecedented ceasefire earlier in June. That three day pause in the fighting saw thousands of insurgents pour into cities across Afghanistan to celebrate. "I once again announce a ceasefire from tomorrow until the prophet's birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate," said Ghani, referring to the Prophet Mohammeds birthday which Afghanistan celebrates on November 21. Ghani said his administration removed "all obstacles" to peace with the announcement following consultations with religious scholars, political parties and civil society groups. But he said the truce would hold only if the insurgents reciprocated. "We call on the leadership of the Taliban to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long lasting and real peace, and we urge them to get ready for peace talks based on Islamic values and principles," he said, in an announcement as Afghans celebrated their independence day. - 'Time for peace' - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed Ghani's announcement and called on the Taliban to participate. "We remain ready to support, facilitate, and participate in direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban," he said in a statement. "There are no obstacles to talks. It is time for peace." NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg tweeted: "I encourage the Taliban to demonstrate their concern for Afghans by respecting it." Story continues Ghani's announcement was also swiftly welcomed in neighbouring Pakistan, which has long been accused of fostering links with the Taliban's leadership and providing sanctuary to its fighters. However the offer drew mixed responses among Afghans, with some slamming the idea of welcoming Taliban fighters back into their cities to eat ice cream and pose for selfies like they had during the three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday in June. We should not be begging for peace with the Taliban. I promise, if I see any Taliban eating ice cream in Kabul, I will hit him with a stone, wrote Facebook user Rahman Ahmadi. Others seemed more optimistic if the deal ensured an end to fighting. Now it is up to the Taliban to make this best ever opportunity for peace & security in Afghanistan, tweeted analyst M. Shafiq Hamdam. - Desperation? - The June ceasefire -- the first such truce in the country since the 2001 US invasion -- spurred hopes that a new path was opening for possible peace talks in the country to the end the nearly 17-year-old war. But violence has surged in the weeks since as talk of a new ceasefire continued. The days-long fight for Ghazni, which concluded on Wednesday killed hundreds and saw Taliban fighters ransack the provincial capital, torching buildings and destroying infrastructure. That battle coincided with blistering attacks on government installations across the country. Analysts have suggested the Taliban were seeking to demonstrate strength ahead of any possible talks. Ghani did not mention any cease in fighting with the Islamic State group, which has expanded since it first emerged in the region in 2014 and was not included in the June ceasfire, or any of the other militant groups plaguing Afghanistan. Kabul-based analyst Haroon Mir said the move might be perceived as an act of desperation by the government following mounting battlefield pressure from insurgents. I doubt the Taliban would reciprocate given their past stance and recent gains on the ground, said Mir. Afghan security forces, beset by killings, desertions and low morale, have taken staggering losses since US-led NATO combat forces pulled out at the end of 2014. But it is ordinary Afghans who have borne the brunt of the violence in the grinding conflict, especially in Kabul, which the United Nations has said is the deadliest place for civilians in the country. The Taliban did not immediately respond to the offer but in a message from its leader published over the weekend to mark the upcoming Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha the group continued to push for direct talks with the US. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. Last month, however, Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar, though little is known about the details of the meeting. Vereeniging (South Africa) (AFP) - "We live like sardines while white farmers live on hectares of land. Bring back our land!" declared Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, a black civil servant. Her intervention prompted enthusiastic applause at a public hearing organised by parliament on the hugely sensitive issue of reforming land ownership in South Africa. "Our forefathers were robbed of their dignity through brutal colonialists" who seized land, she said. "The majority of the people in this country are black. Yet they are the poorest. Let's expropriate without compensation!" said the mother with her fist raised. As elections due in 2019 approach, President Cyril Ramaphosa has intervened to accelerate land reform in order to "undo a grave historical injustice" against the black majority during colonialism and the apartheid era that ended in 1994. Twenty-four years on and the white community that makes up eight percent of the population "possess 72 percent of farms" compared to "only four percent" in the hands of black people who make up four-fifths of the population, according to Ramaphosa. To remedy the imbalance, the president recently announced that the constitution would be altered to allow for land to be seized and redistributed without compensation to the current owners. Many black voters welcomed the announcement that provoked unprecedented concern among the white minority that has been aired at a series of public hearings across the nation this June, July and August to debate the combustible issue. In a public hall in Vereeniging, a town an hour south of the commercial capital Johannesburg, more than 1,000 people turned out to make their voices heard. In the front row sat a group of women wearing traditional Sotho dress. - 'We never stole land' - "Why should we compensate people who didn't acquire the lands rightfully?", asked Tsabeng Ramalope, a 30-year-old black nurse. Story continues "Are we waiting for a civil war for this matter to be resolved?" she asked, speaking into a microphone, referring to several illegal land occupations seen in mostly urban areas in recent months. A lawmaker who mediated the debate, Vincent Smith, will on September 28 submit to parliament a report either recommending or rejecting the proposed constitutional change, considering feedback from the local consultations. "What the Zimbabwean experience is telling us is that expropriation without compensation is a catastrophically bad idea," warned white 37-year-old Carley Denny. Carley spoke on behalf of her father who owns a farm of 100 hectares (245 acres) that has been in her family for five generations. "The Zimbabweans might have seized land without compensation, but they are still paying for it through years of economic decline," she added, referring to the disastrous legacy of land reform launched by former leader Robert Mugabe in 2000. The smattering of white audience members applauded her point. "We all paid for our properties. We never stole our land," said another of their number, animal breeder John Knott. Land reform was a potent issue before the dawn of non-racial democracy and the election of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). - 'Time bomb' - The party had long promised to redistribute land more equitably but has never delivered on its election promises. "The land reform has been a huge failure because of corruption and lack of political will," said Edward von Bodenstein passionately as he challenged the president's proposals. In a recent report former head of state Kgalema Motlanthe -- an ANC member -- highlighted the grindingly slow process of past efforts to reallocate land more fairly. "You are sitting on a time bomb," said Khethisa Khabo, a local organiser for the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party. "We are not advocating for a white genocide. But the land belongs to us. We will do everything we can to get it back," he said, encouraged by the majority of those at the Vereeniging hearing. His party, which has wooed voters disillusioned by the ANC, has kept pressure up on the liberation party of Nelson Mandela. And at the end of July, Ramaphosa took to the airwaves to announce the constitution would be changed to fast-track land reform in favour of the black majority -- even before the nationwide land hearings had concluded. Constance Mogale of the Alliance for Rural Democracy -- a network of associations supportive of land expropriation without compensation -- has described the proposed change to the highest law in the land as a mere "election ploy". The constitution already allows for land to be expropriated without compensation, she said, echoing the view of several experts in the field. "Amending the constitution is going to take forever, it is not going to bring the land to the people," she said. Roselyn Seaga, 67, was in tears as she spoke to the assembled local residents. "Since I was born, I never had a piece of land that I can call home," she said. Another day, another Trump aide gaslighting the American public. The latest: Rudy Giuliani's declaration Sunday that "truth isn't truth," which is mind-numbingly WTF and yet somehow perfect for our post-"fake news" era. SEE ALSO: Rudy Giuliani's puzzling unfinished tweet brings out the best in Snark Twitter Speaking to Chuck Todd on NBC's Meet the Press, President Donald Trump's lawyer was attempting to explain why his client hasn't spoken with the special counsel's office regarding its probe into Russia's involvement in the 2016 election, citing fears that the president may get "trapped into perjury." "When you tell me that, you know, he should testify because he's gonna tell the truth and he shouldn't worry, well that's so silly because it's somebody's version of the truth, not the truth," Giuliani said. "Truth is truth," Todd interjected. "No, it isn't truth. Truth isn't truth," Giuliani retorted. In addition to somehow topping Kellyanne Conway's infamous "alternative facts" statement (which, coincidentally, also happened in a Meet the Press interview), the comment is also the perfect phrase to describe what's unfolded on the internet over the last year. Trump, who has long attacked media with whom he disagrees as "fake news," has recently taken to describing journalists as the "enemy of the people." Giuliani's comments serve as a timely reminder that not only does the Trump Administration like to single out journalists it also has zero interest in actual facts. All this, it seems, was not lost on Todd, who was clearly taken aback by the comment. He visibly cringed and covered his face in exasperation, appearing to be at a loss for words. "This is going to be a bad meme," he said. Photo credit: Stephen Morton - Getty Images From Esquire Winfred Rembert is a remarkable artist who lives in Connecticut. He creates his art out of leather, having learned his leather working skills in a Georgia prison in between shifts on a chain gang. Born in 1945, Rembert grew up in Cuthbert, the county seat of Randolph County in southwest Georgia. As a teenager, he got involved in the civil rights movement. He told Greg Cook of WBUR in Boston the rest of his story. "I ran away from the cotton fields and I started hanging out at Jeffs Pool Room on Hamilton Avenue. All the civil rights work was based on Hamilton Avenue. I was 14. They was doing street protesting for different things, trying to get equal rights in restaurants, theaters, all over Georgia and Alabama. I wasnt a big part. I was just making up the numbers, just being part of the body...Among the protests he participated in was one in Americus, Georgia, in the mid 1960s against blacks receiving much harsher sentences than whites for similar crimes. It was a kind of big demonstration, bigger than usual. They had the fire department deputized and they had citizens deputized. And things got out of hand. White people started shooting. And we started running and everything. So I ran down this alley trying to get away and these two white men were running behind me. There was this car sitting there and I took that car and got away. Within hours, police caught him: They just pulled up behind me. And they put me in jail in Cuthbert. Rembert managed to overpower a deputy and escape. Then things got worse. I went to some peoples house who I thought I could get some help from. But they went in the next room and called the police. They threw me in the car. First, they put me in the back seat and escorted me to the jail. Then two, three hours later, they threw me in the trunk [of a police car] and drove me out to an isolated place where they had these noose hanging from a tree. Then they took me out and hanged me upside-down. Then the same guy that I locked in the jail, in the cell, he tried to castrate me. Until another man, a white man, came up and stopped him and saved me from being castrated. Then they cut me down and took me back to the jail bleeding like a pig...There was no new trial. One day they took me to a kangaroo court. They had a judge, but there was no plea, guilty plea, and all that kind of stuff. They just gave me some time. Judge gave me five years for escape, two years for pointing a pistol, and he gave me 20 for robbery. And I asked him, Who did I rob? He says, You robbed a man of his pistol. I said, Well, he was pulling the pistol to shoot me. He says, Well, you should have let him shot you. Story continues Rembert went to prison, got out and moved to New Haven, where he has worked at his leather crafts ever since. But Randolph County, where he nearly was murdered in custody, is back in the news again, with history echoing loudly through the years back to the time when Winfred Rembert grew up there. From The New York Times: The Randolph County elections board is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss a proposal that would eliminate seven of nine polling locations in the county, according to the American Civil Liberties Union of Georgia. Included in the proposed closures is Cuthbert Middle School where nearly 97 percent of voters are black. "There is strong evidence that this was done with intent to make it harder for African Americans," ACLU of Georgia attorney Sean Young said. The ACLU has sent a letter to the elections board demanding that the polling places remain open and has filed open records requests for information about the proposal to close the polling places. This is appalling enough on its face, but the sheer brass it takes to make this kind of decision right out in the open is testimony to the success that the Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts has achieved at rolling back the hard-won blood-gains of the civil rights movement, a project that truly has been Roberts's life's mission ever since he was a young lawyer in the Justice Department under Ronald Reagan. Photo credit: Barry Williams - Getty Images Under the old Voting Rights Act, gutted by the Roberts Court in Shelby County v. Holder, the decision in which Roberts declared the arrival of the Day of Jubilee, nobody would have dared pull a stunt like this. The pre-clearance provisions of the VRA would have kicked in. The DOJ would have been breathing down their necks within the hour. According to the latest census figures, Randolph County's population is more than 61 percent of black, double the statewide percentage.The median household income for the county was $30,358 in 2016, compared to $51,037 in the rest of the state. Nearly one-third of the county's residents live below the poverty line, compared to about 16 percent statewide, according to U.S. Census figures. The closure of polling places will affect those who lack reliable transportation, the ACLU says. Public transit doesn't exist in much of the rural county, and 22 percent of the county's residents have no car. People who currently vote at the polling places that would close under the proposal would have to travel an additional 10 miles to vote, the ACLU says. With no car or bus to reach a different polling location, this predominantly black, Democratic county will not be able to fairly vote, ACLU of Georgia executive director Andrea Young said. It shouldn't be this easy to do this kind of thing in 2018. People shouldn't feel comfortable doing it so plainly in the open. It shouldn't be such a simple job to dress up the evil ghosts of the past in modern clothes and parade them down the rural highways where Winfred Rembert once broke rocks because he "stole" a gun from a white man who was trying to shoot him. The bastards at least should have to work harder for it. Respond to this post on the Esquire Politics Facebook page here. ('You Might Also Like',) https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f5/Hitler_and_Mussolini_June_1940.jpg Warfare History Network, Roy Morris Jr. Security, Europe Here's what happened. Axis Denied: Mussolini Tried and Failed to Invade Greece. Hitler Had to Bail Him Out. Twenty-four hours earlier, Grazzi had hosted a gala reception for Metaxas and Greeces figurehead king, George II, at the Italian consulate following a performance of Giacomo Puccinis opera, Madame Butterfly. There, he had toasted Greek-Italian friendship with fine French champagne and a large cake bearing the words Long Live Greece. The new message he had been ordered to deliver to Metaxas at the behest of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini was far less cordial. Although cloaked in the usual diplomatic pleasantries and written, as was still the custom of foreign ministries throughout the world, in formal French, the notes underlying meaning was clear: Italy was invading Greece. The only question was how the vastly outnumbered Greeks would respond. Grazzi waited silently for the answer as Metaxas, clad only in a nightshirt, a flowered dressing gown, and slippers, read over the message while sitting on the sofa in his trinket-laden study. The 69-year-old Metaxas, a former general, was not a well man. A lingering throat infection had sapped his strength, and the day before he had received word from his doctor that he would have to undergo a dangerous operation to determine the underlying cause of the infection. He had been sound asleep when Grazzi arrived. Now, however, he was wide awake. His hands trembled slightly as he read the document, and behind his reading glasses his dark eyes glistened with tears. Alors, CEst La Guerre The gist of the message was unmistakable. Italyalready at war with Greeces ally Great Britain as part of Italys Pact of Steel with Adolf Hitlers Nazi Germanywas demanding the right to occupy various strategic points within Greece for the duration of the war in the Mediterranean. The ultimatum accused Greece of allowing the British Royal Navy to use her territorial waters and ports to attack Italy, as well as permitting the buildup of British secret forces on Greek islands. These provocations, the ultimatum declared, can no longer be tolerated by Italy. The Italian government demands that the Hellenic government shall not pose any resistance to this occupation. Should the Italian forces meet with resistance, such resistance will be crushed by force of arms. Story continues Metaxas looked up from the document. Alors, cest la guerre (So, this is war), he said in French. Not necessarily, Grazzi urged. If you order your troops to let our forces enter freely, then Metaxas cut him off. There is no need for you to continue, he said. For one thing, I will never issue such an order, and for another, your ultimatum is expiring in almost one hour. There is no time. I could not make a decision to sell my own house on a few hours notice. How do you expect me to sell my country? Then Metaxas, with a fine sense of drama, switched to his native Greek to make his formal reply to the Italian demands. Ochi, he snapped. That single wordNowould soon become the battle cry for millions of Greek patriots. It was also an accurate assessment of Italys military prospects on the Balkan Peninsula, although it would be some weeks yet before that forecast would be fully proven. Italy Encroaches Upon Greece In many ways, Metaxas was an unlikely figure to rally Greek resistance against the Italians. If in all Greece there was a single man who really had a feeling of affection for Italy, that man was John Metaxas, Grazzi said later. A fascist himself, he had ruled Greece for the past four and a half years, having persuaded the weak-willed King George that the only way to face the mounting threat of communism within the country was to install a dictatorship, with Metaxas himself at the head of the government. Since then, the decidedly unmilitary-looking prime minister had instigated a milder, if still ruthless, form of fascism as it was currently being practiced in Italy and Germany. His soldiers had adopted the familiar stiff-armed salute, and Metaxas had created a secret police modeled on the dreaded Nazi Gestapo. A national youth group, the Neolia, or EON, imitated the larger countries pure-bred youth movements, marching stiff-legged down city streets and singing bloodcurdling songs of conquest. At the same time, Metaxas had instituted total censorship of the national press, banned the works of Plato and other subversive hymns to democracy, and exiled enemies of his regime to out-of-the-way islands. Although he was not a murderous despot like Hitler and Mussolini, he was nevertheless a despot. But in his way Metaxas was also a patriot, and he had been keeping a wary eye on Italy ever since Mussolinis legions had occupied neighboring Albania in April 1939. Like most Greeks, Metaxas was awareMussolini said so, again and againthat the Italian strongman believed he had an outstanding account to settle with Greece over the murder of several visiting Italian diplomats in 1923 during an ongoing territorial dispute concerning the Greek-Albanian border. In recent months, the Italians had committed a number of carefully calibrated provocations against Greek targets as a way of testing the smaller nations resolve. Italian bombers had attacked Greek ships and coast guard stations, and an Italian submarine had torpedoed the Greek destroyer Helle as she lay anchored off the island of Tenos during one of the countrys holiest days, the Feast of the Assumption. Thirty religious pilgrims had been killed or wounded during the attack. At the same time, the Italian press had inflated the murder of an obscure Albanian murderer, rapist, and cattle-rustler named Daut Hoggia into an international incident. Hoggia, said the Italians, was a man animated by great patriotic spirit who had been killed by Greek agents while attempting to liberate the Tsamouria region of Greece for his fellow Albanian countrymen. In actuality, Hoggia had been killed by two other Albanian bandits during a quarrel. Publicly, Metaxas ignored the Italian provocations, but secretly he began mobilizing four divisions of troops, two of which were already in place on the Albanian border. So secret was the mobilization that the Greek public, to say nothing of the Italian Embassy, did not even realize it was taking place. Recommended: Imagine a U.S. Air Force That Never Built the B-52 Bomber Recommended: Russia's Next Big Military Sale - To Mexico? Recommended: Would China Really Invade Taiwan? Dissent Among Italian Ranks While the Greek forces were busy mobilizing, the Italian high command was busy arguing. The overall blueprint for the invasion of Greece, code-named Contingency G, had been worked and reworked for the past three months, and still there was no final decision on strategy, tactics, or primary objectives. The confusion reflected the indecisive and mercurial Mussolini himself, who sometimes changed his mind on a subject five times in 15 minutes. Like his idol, Adolf Hitler, Mussolini fancied himself a brilliant military strategist. But unlike the Fuhrer, who had his own limitations as an army commander, Il Duce had not won the Italian equivalent of two Iron Crosses for heroism. The closest Mussolini came to duplicating Hitlers valorous World War I service was to be struck by shrapnel while observing the demonstration of a new mortar by his own comrades in the Italian Army. One fellow soldier saidapparently with a straight facethat the future dictator wasnt much under fire. As commander in chief, Mussolini presided over a quarrelsome group of generals and advisers, including most particularly his son-in-law, Foreign Minister Galeazzo Ciano. Arrogant, bombastic, and ambitious, the 35-year-old Ciano had married Mussolinis eldest daughter and favorite child, Edda, 10 years earlier and thereafter had risen swiftly in the halls of Italian government. As a favored kinsman, Ciano naturally had Mussolinis ear in a way that the other members of the inner circle did not. On the subject of Greece, Ciano was both hawkish and dangerously overoptimistic. He wanted a little war in the Balkans to establish Italian domination of the region and to checkmate the spreading German presence, begun with Hitlers unopposed occupation of Bulgaria earlier that same month. An invasion of Greece, Ciano believed, would be useful and easy. Over the objections of a majority of the general staff, called the Supermarina, Ciano convinced Mussolini to attack. And despite the fact that a previous battle plan had estimated that it would take at least a year and 18 full divisions to successfully bring off such an invasion, Mussolini decided in mid-October to attack in two short weeks. To make matters worse, General Visconti Prasca, commanding the Italian forces in Albania, would have less than one-third that number of divisions with which to attack. Nevertheless, Il Duce was adamant. Dear Visconti, Mussolini wrote on October 25. Attack with the greatest determination and violence. The success of the operation depends above all on its speed. Prasca, who had literally written the book on such an operationhe had titled it Lightning Warseemed like a good choice to lead the attack. Events would soon prove otherwise. Three days later, at dawn on the 18th anniversary of Mussolinis triumphant March on Rome,Prasca did as he was told. Even before the three-hour waiting period on the Italian ultimatum had run out, the forward elements of Prascas 100,000-man army began streaming across the Greek-Albanian border. At his villa in Rome, a poised and confident Mussolini waited patiently for the inevitable announcement of victory, entirely convinced that his people would welcome joyously the news of the invasion. I shall send in my resignation as an Italian, he told Ciano, if anyone objects to our fighting the Greeks. Hitler Continues to Work on Franco But if the Italians were happy to learn of the invasion, another European peopleor at least their leaderswere not. Adolf Hitler had already spent a frustrating last few days trying fruitlessly to convince Spanish dictator Francisco Franco to enter the war on the Axis side. Franco, whose rise to power in Spain had been aided materially by Hitlers air power and steady stream of supplies, did not think the timing was right for a new war, coming as it did so soon after his own countrys brutal civil war. To Hitlers frank astonishment, Franco refused to help. I would rather have three or four teeth yanked out than go through such an interview again, Hitler said after his final nine-hour meeting with Franco on the Spanish-French border. He had just departed by train for Berlin when he received word that Mussolini had invaded Greece. How can he do such a thing? Hitler raged. This is downright madness. If he wanted to pick a fight with poor little Greece, why didnt he attack in Malta or Crete? It would at least make some sense in the context of war with Britain in the Mediterranean. Ordering his train to turn around and head for Italy, Hitler and his bone-weary staff arrived at the train station in Florence on the morning of October 28. Mussolini and a 60-man band were waiting for him. On Il Duces signal, the band began playing a stirring version of the Italian Royal March, then hurriedly realized their mistake and switched to the German national anthem. Hitler, smiling grimly, cracked open his compartment window as Mussolini strode down the side of the train to meet him. Fuhrer, he cried, we are on the march! Victorious Italian troops crossed the Greco-Albanian border at dawn! That was the last thing in the world that Hitler wanted to hear. His own carefully thought-out blueprint for world conquest called for one more year of peace in the Balkans while he completed his buildup for a massive invasion of the Soviet Union in the spring of 1941. Nothing must interfere with the flow of oil, aluminum, lead, copper, chrome, tin, and other raw materials from the Balkans. That was the whole reason he had recently proposed a Tripartite Pact with Romania, Bulgaria, and Yugoslavia, the three countries directly bordering Greece. A Pigs Mess Now, in a stroke, Mussolini had destabilized Germanys entire southern flankand all without a word of warning. With surprising restraint, Hitler assured the beaming Mussolini that Germany would fully support him in his venture, although privately the Nazi leader murmured to his staff that the Greek invasion was nothing less than a schweinereia pigs mess. Ciano, at Mussolinis side, noted in his diary: We are attacking in Albania and talking in Florence. In both places things are going well. In spite of the bad weather, the troops are advancing rapidly, though air support is lacking. In Florence the talk is of great interest and shows that German solidarity has not ceased. As usual, Ciano was too optimistic. Hitler was furious and immediately began reinforcing the 600,000 German troops already stationed in Romania for a possible Greek invasion of his own, should Mussolinis pigs mess live upor downto its name. Worse yet, the initial Italian advance was not going well at all. Torrential rainfall had drenched the region in the two days preceding the jumping-off point of the attack, turning previously dry stream beds into raging rivers and reducing dirt roads to muddy swamps. General Francesco Rossi, sent from Rome to inspect the front lines on the eve of the invasion, recommended that the advance be postponed. Atmospheric conditions particularly adverse without expectation of early improvement, he telegraphed Mussolini. Supply and movement extremely difficult. Conditions for air force prohibitive. Bad weather hampering unloading of ships. He advised that Prasca, commanding the invasion, be allowed to wait until the weather cleared. But Mussolini, who set great store in overt displays of symbolism, liked the notion of attacking on the anniversary of his grandiose March on Rome. Nor did Prasca want to wait. As a comparatively new army commander, he was still low on the overstuffed list of Italian generals, and he was afraid that any delay in the Greek invasion would result in his being replaced by a more senior general. Mussolini deliberately played on Prascas fears, telling him disingenuously: You know, and if you do not I am telling you now, that I have opposed all attempts to take your command away from you on the eve of the operation. I believe that events, and above all your actions, will justify me. With Mussolinis veiled warning fresh in his mind, Prasca commenced the invasion as planned, at 5:30 am on October 28. Moving in total darkness through the icy rain, three columns of Italian troops began the assault. On the Italian left, the 11,000-man Julia Division, under Prascas direct control, headed toward the towering Smolikas Mountain, nearly 9,000 feet high, en route to the village of Metsovon and the critical Larisa-Yanina road. The division was comprised of tough Alpine fighters who were used to fighting at high altitudes. Despite the freezing weather, which caused the soldiers sodden puttees to grip their legs like pails of concrete, the division broke through the advanced Greek positions and pushed up the Aoos Valley in northwestern Greece. Greece Prepares a Counterstroke In the center, the Ferrara and Centauro Divisions, with 17,000 men between them, struck for Yanina. Some 3,500 Albanian volunteers accompanied the advance. Greek minefields and artillery fire slowed their progress. Farther south, on the Italian right, the Siena Division captured the village of Filates, crossed the raging Thiamis River, and swung north to encircle the Greek position at Yanina. Italian air superiority was rendered completely useless by the terrible weather conditions, which also forced the cancellation of a planned amphibious assault on the island of Corfu off the west coast of Greece. For four days the Italians slogged eastward, laboriously crossing streams and rivers swollen twice their size and pouring with yellow mud, broken tree trunks, and the sodden carcasses of drowned sheep and other animals. On November 1, the weather suddenly cleared, and Ciano, who had come to Albania to observe the fighting, ordered a slap-up bombing raid on Salonika, in Macedonia, to divert Greek attention from the west. The bombing raid was a failurepoorly briefed pilots came close to wiping out a building full of Italian nationals who were waiting in Salonika for their forced repatriationand the clearing skies permitted the skilled Greek artillery to begin shelling the Italian positions. Prasca, who had airily predicted on the eve of the invasion, Greeks dont like to fight, soon had occasion to eat his words. On November 2, Italian forces in the Julia Division captured Vovossa. It would prove to be their deepest penetration into Greece. Already there were signs of disintegration and disorganization within the Italian ranks. General Quirino Armellini of the Supermarina, on hand to observe the invasion, complained of utter chaos within the high command, which he attributed to the generals ill-advised tendency to operate on the principle, First well make war and then well see. Ciano reported back to Mussolini, There are complaints here about the ill will of the General Staff, which did not do all it should have done in preparation for the operation. Specifically, Ciano pointed to Italian Chief of Staff Pietro Badoglio, who he said had undercut the offensive from the start, since he was convinced that the Greek question would be solved at the conference table. Mussolini, however, professed himself to be satisfied with the development of operations in the first phase, and Prasca assured him, The Greeks have put up little resistance or have run away, even leaving tables laid and hot food behind them. But while Prasca was busy congratulating himself on his success, Greek General Alexander Papagos was preparing a swift and audacious counterstroke. On the morning of November 1, even as Mussolinis air force was ineffectually bombing Salonika to keep the Greeks pinned down in Macedonia, Papagos launched a sudden attack across the Devoli River in southeastern Albania. Catching a battalion of the Italian 83rd Regiment as it was moving into line, the Greeks opened a gap in the enemy front. Advancing over Mount Morova and other precipitous hillsides on roads cleared of snow with the help of peasant women from nearby villages, the hardy Greeks infiltrated Italian positions all along their left flank, creating absolute consternation within the Italian camp. Before the invasion began, Prasca had been assured that the Macedonian sector would remain quiet while he advanced into Greece from the west. But General John Pitsikass three divisions forced back the Italian 9th Army in wild, rocky terrain that was largely inaccessible to tanks, trucks, or the favorite Italian light transport, the motorcycle. Meanwhile, Greek mountain cavalry, riding small, agile horses accustomed to the most difficult footing, carried out lightning-quick sorties against the suddenly besieged enemy. On November 4, the crack Albanian Tomor Battalion was counterattacked in the Lapishtit Mountains and driven down the sheer face of the elevation. Italian carabinieri tried to intervene to stop the rout, at which time the panic-stricken Albanians began firing at them, too. Only 120 of the 1,000-man Albanian battalion remained in place when the shooting was over. Italians Withdraw In Depth With their backs literally against the wallor at least the mountainsthe Italians along the Macedonian front dug in and awaited reinforcement. Meanwhile, the Siena Divisions offensive in the south bogged down between Policastro and Kalpaki, where the Greek defenses held firm. In the middle of the Italian line, the Julia Division was in danger of being cut off from either wing by rapidly circling Greek troops. The original Italian battle plan had called for a continuous advance on all fronts, but General Gabriele Nasci, commanding the XVI Army in the north, reported ominously that owing to the aggressiveness and mobility of the Greek troops facing me as well as the strong support they have so far had from their artillery and mortars, it is not possible to make contact with the Julia Division. He ordered the division to withdraw to Konitsa and wait for help. Under intense machine-gun and artillery fire from Greek soldiers and civilian volunteers who had also rushed to the front, the Julia Division fell back in near disarray. Making matters worse, the notoriously fickle Balkan weather changed again. Rain turned to sleet and then to snow, and the temperature plunged to several degrees below zero. A biting north wind made it seem even colder, if that was possible. Thousands of troops on both sides, ill prepared for the brutal weather, suffered severe frostbite. Weapons froze up and would not fire; uniforms became as stiff and brittle as parchment paper. At night, groups of shivering men dug deep holes and slept together, piled like cordwood beneath their blankets. During the day, some Italians took to killing their pack mules and stuffing their helmets with the dead animals steaming brains. Others urinated on their hands to unstiffen their fingers. On November 14, the Greeks began a full-scale offensive all along the line. By this time, Prasca had been relieved of command and replaced by General Ubaldo Soddu, an eccentric dilettante who amused himself by composing elaborate musical scores for imaginary movies. Soddu reluctantly decided on November 19 to begin a withdrawal in depthin effect conceding all the territory the army had gained during the first three weeks of the campaign. Back in Rome, Mussolini urged Soddu not to rush matters, but three days later the Italians began falling back. The retreat was comparatively orderly, but so swift that Italian cargo planes sent to supply the army found themselves inadvertently dropping bags of grain onto the pursuing Greeks. Given his almost pathological hatred of the Greeks, the armys unilateral abandonment of Greek territory was a bitter pill for Mussolini to swallow. I want the truth, he thundered at General Cesare Ame, his head of military intelligence, because I am going to have various heads blown off by a firing squad. They Should Carry Mandolins Instead of Rifles No one was executed. Mussolini settled for sacking his defeatist chief of staff, Pietro Badoglio. His mood was not improved by a letter that Ciano hand-delivered to him from Adolf Hitler, whom Ciano had just met with in Berlin. In the letter, Hitler complainedfairly mildly, given his personality and the immense stakes involvedthat the Italian invasion had had displeasing psychological consequences and very grave military consequences throughout the region. Mussolini was forced to agree. This time he really has slapped my fingers, Il Duce told his son-in-law. While the Italian army settled into a new position 20 miles inside Albania, the onrushing Greeks were almost puzzled by the lack of resistance. General Papagos, fearing a trap, hesitated to order an all-out pursuit. Had he seen a copy of the confidential supply report forwarded to Mussolinis new chief of staff, General Ugo Cavallero, Papagos might have been more assured. In it, Cavallero was informed that the army in Albania was virtually naked: Reserve rations, nil. Equipment, minimal. Woolen clothing, zero. Infantry ammunition, none. Artillery ammunition, insignificant. Arms and artillery, all supplies exhausted. Engineering equipment, practically nil. Medical equipment, inadequate. When the first Italian prisoners were led into Athens, Greek citizens did not know whether to laugh or cry. I feel sorry for them, an old woman said. They are not warriors. They should carry mandolins instead of rifles. At Menton, on the French-Italian border, a Gallic wag put up a sign that advised, This is French territory; Greeks, dont pursue the Italians past this point. With the worst winter in two decades settling over the Balkans, the Greeks had no intention of going any farther for the time being. All along the 156-mile front, both sides settled in for a miserable season of waiting and suffering. Like a macabre replay of World War I, the men shivered together in trenches carved out of ice and frozen mud. Cases of frostbite numbered in the thousands. Particularly dreaded was the so-called dry gangrene, also known as the white death. The affliction started painlessly, and men did not even know they had it until they looked down and saw their feet and legs swollen to twice their size and turning black. Amputation was the only treatment, and hundreds died anyway in the overcrowded field hospitals. In Rome it snowed on Christmas Day, moving Mussolini to observe callously: This snow and cold are very good. In this way our good-for-nothing men and this mediocre race will be improved. Angry and embarrassed by the stalemate in Albania, Mussolini placed the blame on the soldiers themselves, complaining, The human material I have to work with is useless, worthless. At the end of the year, he sacked their dreamy commander, Soddu, and gave the post to Cavallero, a cultured intellectual who spoke both German and English and held a degree in mathematics. His enemies, unimpressed with his academic credentials, called him the profiteer general, owing to his frequent transfers from military posts to lucrative industrial positions within the government. Addressing the Troops on the Albanian Front There was little profit for Cavallero in his new position. Reinforcements poured in by boat across the Adriatic Sea, but there was no room left for them to maneuver, and the net effect was a further reduction in the armys already scant rations. The Greeks fared somewhat better. Frontline units were transferred regularly to the rear, and Greek civilians in the region provided additional food and shelter. There was also a notable difference in the mens morale. The Greek forces were jubilant; they continued localized attacksdescribed by Cavallero as frenziedand on January 9, they captured the key crossroads village of Klisura, decimating the famous Lupi di Toscana (Wolves of Tuscany) Division in a driving snowstorm. After the defeat, cynics renamed them the Lepri di Toscana, or Hares of Tuscany. Not even the death in January of Prime Minister John Metaxas, who succumbed unexpectedly after a botched operation on his throat, dimmed the Greeks esprit de corps. Conversely, the Italian soldiers at the front grumbled loudly about their empty stomachs, threadbare uniforms, and flapping boots; and back in Italy the number of new enlistments dropped significantly. Even more troubling to Mussolini personally was the stone-faced silence that greeted his appearances in movie newsreels and his radio broadcasts. Determined to somehow break the stalemate and put an end to this passivity, Mussolini flew himself to the Albanian front in early March. Decked out in the beribboned uniform of First Marshal of the Empire, Il Duce toured the front, reviewed the troops, and made a brief visit to a field hospital. Leaning over the bed of one soldier whose stomach had been torn open by a Greek grenade, Mussolini beamed, I am the Duce and I bring you the greetings of the fatherland. Well, now, isnt that great, the soldier retorted. Other soldiers, as yet unwounded, cheered their leader and begged him to give them the order to attack. At least one of their number, a bearded veteran, ignored the stage-managed demonstration. A member of Mussolinis staff watched as the soldier stood apart from the crowd, quietly eating his lunch. While raising his spoon to his mouth he kept gazing at his excited fellow soldiers, wrote Francesco Priccoli, and every now and again his hand stopped over his mess tin as if he were dumbfounded by a scene that was obviously incomprehensible to him. [He] went on eating for a moment, and then began slowly backing into the bushes and disappeared from my sight. Undeterred by his mixed reception, Mussolini climbed to the top of a 2,500-foot hillside at dawn on March 9, 1941, to watch the long-awaited offensive begin. Some 50,000 soldiers massed in the Desnizza Valley west of Klisura, while Italian artillery fired a ground-shaking 100,000 rounds at the Greek line in the space of two hours. Italian dive-bombers contributed to the bombardment. Unfortunately for the attackers, the Greeks had already captured an Italian officer with a complete set of plans for the operation in his possession. The Italians were sitting ducksor moving targets. A Final Fiasco for Mussolini and Hitler For the next five days, the Italians made charge after charge against the Greek lines, only to be driven back easily by the entrenched enemy. Mussolini himself made several trips up and down the hillside to watch the attacks, carrying his marshals baton with him like a stage prop. Once, a Greek fighter plane strafed the observation post, and Il Duce was hustled into an air raid shelter. Aides reported to the public that he behaved courageously. Finally, on March 16, Mussolini and Cavallero called off the attack. Twelve thousand Italian casualties1,000 per divisionhad been added to the list of the fallen in a campaign that failed to regain a single foot of lost territory. Five days later, Mussolini left Albania, telling his aide Pricoli: I am disgusted by this environment. We have not advanced one step. They have been deceiving me to this very day. I have a profound contempt for all these people. Even more disgusted than Mussolini was Adolf Hitler, who had been watching the Italian campaign with a jaundiced eye. As he had predicted at the outset, the entire misguided adventure had been a fiasco. Even worse, by encouraging the Greeks to open their airfields to British warplanes, the impasse in the Balkans now threatened to compromise Hitlers cherished invasion of the Soviet Union. To prevent that from happening, the Fuhrer reluctantly prepared to invade Greece himself with 600,000 battle-hardened troops. All he asked of Mussolini was that he not undertake any further operations in Albania. That, at least, was a promise Il Duce would be able to keep. Originally Published December 22, 2016 This article by Roy Morris Jr. originally appeared on the Warfare History Network. Image: Wikimedia Commons Read full article MINSK, Belarus (AP) Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has fired his Cabinet, emphasizing the need to strengthen the economy to preserve the nation's post-Soviet independence. Lukashenko said he fired Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov's Cabinet for failing to execute his orders and for paying too little attention to the country's social needs. He appointed banker Sergei Rumas to succeed Kobyakov. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for 24 years, maintaining rigid Soviet-style controls over the economy and showing little tolerance for dissent or independent media. He said Saturday that Belarus won't turn into a "vassal" of its giant neighbor, Russia, even though he underlined the importance of close ties with Moscow. Belarus has long depended on cheap energy and other subsidies from Russia, which is facing its own economic woes and warned that it would scale down assistance to its ally. Lukashenko criticized Russia for failing to honor its agreements with Belarus. "We will never become a vassal to anyone," he said, warning against any attempts to encroach on Belarus' independence. "We will remain independent for as long as our economy develops as needed," the Belarusian leader said, adding that "we won't be able to maintain our independence if we ruin the economy." Observers noted that the Belarusian leader was facing pressure to reform the economy as Russia's assistance dries up. "It doesn't mean that the country is going to have full-fledged free-market reforms, but some movement is possible," independent Minsk-based analyst Alexander Klaskovsky said. "Lukashenko hasn't turned into a reformer, but he realizes that Moscow is turning off the taps and he needs to raise money himself and turn to the West." Capricious EPA forbidden from delaying the enforcement of chemical safety rule drawn up by Obama administration The rule, which came in the wake of a 2013 chemical explosion that killed 15 people in West, near Dallas, set stricter standards for operators risk management plans. Photograph: Jason Reed/Reuters A federal court has blocked an attempt by the Trump administration to delay safety regulations for chemical plants the latest in a string of recent legal setbacks for the administration in its attempts to reverse environmental standards. An appeals court in Washington DC ruled on Friday that the Environmental Protection Agency could not delay the enforcement of a chemical safety rule drawn up by the Obama administration. The EPAs attempt to impose a two-year delay on the rule was arbitrary and capricious, the court ruled, with judges criticizing the agency for making a mockery of the Clean Air Act. The rule, which came in the wake of a 2013 chemical explosion that killed 15 people in West, near Dallas, set stricter standards for operators risk management plans. Plant operators complained the rule was too burdensome, a view shared by the former EPA head Scott Pruitt, who announced the delay in June last year. A total of 11 states allied with environmental groups to successfully challenge this rollback. Again and again, the Trump EPA has tried to push through policies that jeopardize our health and fly in the face of the law and again and again, weve taken them to court and won, said Barbara Underwood, attorney general of New York, a state that has fought the EPA on the chemical rule and a host of other environmental issues. This is a victory first and foremost for the neighborhoods most susceptible to dangerous and toxic chemical releases, said Andrew Rosenberg, director of the center for science and democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. Families who live under the shadows of chemical facilities deserve safer practices to prevent future disasters. The loss for the Trump administrations EPA is the third such setback for the agency in a week. On Thursday, a judge ruled that the administration had improperly attempted to delay clean water protections that Trump had called horrible. Story continues This followed another defeat in which the EPA was ordered properly to address the dangers posed by chlorpyrifos, a toxic pesticide linked to brain damage in children. EPA scientists had recommended a ban on the chemical, only to be overruled by Pruitt a few weeks after he met with Dow Chemical, the worlds largest manufacturer of chlorpyrifos. District judge Jed Rakoff said there remains no justification for the EPAs continued failure to respond to the pressing health concerns presented by chlorpyrifos. The state department has also fallen foul of the courts in its attempt to implement Trumps agenda of sweeping away environmental rules and backing major fossil fuel projects. This week, a federal court ruled that the state department must conduct a more thorough environmental impact assessment in order to justify the construction of the controversial cross-border Canadian-US Keystone oil pipeline. Police have identified the body of a boy found in a New Mexico compound as Abdul-Ghani Wahhaj, who was reported missing in November. The Office of the Medical Investigator identified the remains of three-year-old Abdul-Ghani, who was from Jonesboro, Georgia, when he was reported to be missing. Prior to identifying Abdul-Ghanis body, the Taos County Sheriffs Office in New Mexico had raided the compound they referred to as a makeshift residence on 3 August and found 11 children ranging in age from one to 15 years old. Taos County officials said their raid followed a search warrant which came after a two-month investigation following allegations that Abdul-Ghanis father, Siraj Wahhaj, abducted the child from Georgia. Police said Mr Wahhaj was among the five adults found at the compound during the raid. All five adults face 11 counts of child abuse, CNN reported. They have pleaded not guilty. Authorities claim to have found firearms including an AR-15 on the property. An aerial view shows the makeshift compound in a desert area of New Mexico (AP) Owners of the compound, Jason and Tanya Badger, claimed in an interview with CNN that they alerted authorities that they saw the child months prior to the raid. Taos County Sheriff Jerry Hogrefe said that information was not reported to him at the time. Mr Hogrefe said in a press release that he began working on a search warrant for the property when they received a tip that children on the compound were starving and in need of food and water. Abdul-Ghanis mother had told authorities that her son suffered from seizures, developmental and cognitive delays and Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy, a birth injury caused by lack of oxygen and blood flow to the brain. "Our thoughts and prayers go to Wahhaj's family, said Alex Sanchez, public information officer for The University of New Mexico Health Sciences Centre. We certainly understand the heartbreak this news will cause and want to stress our commitment to investigating this death to serve the living." Story continues Prosecutors say the adults were training the children to use firearms and that the boy died during a religious ritual. This was not a camping trip and this was not a simple homesteading, the kind that many people do in New Mexico, said prosecutor Timothy Hasson. The evidence as a whole suggests that this family was on a mission. And it was a violent one, and it was a dangerous one." Thomas Clark, Mr Wahhaj's lawyer, said: "If these were white people of a Christian faith who owned guns, that's not a big deal because there's a Second Amendment right to own firearms in this country." Prosecutors argued that the suspects be held in jail without bail pending trial but a state district judge allowed the release of four of the suspects not Mr Wahhaj to house arrest with conditions. A bond was set at $20,000 (16,000). According to the Associated Press, Mr Wahhaj will remain in jail pending a Georgia warrant for his arrest for accusations of child abduction. Sao Paulo (AFP) - Brazil will send troops to its border with Venezuela on Monday after residents of the Brazilian border town of Pacaraima drove out Venezuelan immigrants from their improvised camps, amid growing regional tensions. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have crossed the border into Brazil over the past three years as they seek to escape the economic, political and social crisis gripping their country. The latest show of tensions began early Saturday, hours after a local merchant was robbed and severely beaten in an incident blamed on Venezuelan suspects, in Pacaraima, where an estimated 1,000 immigrants are living on the street. Dozens of locals then attacked the two main immigrant makeshift camps and burned their belongings, leading Venezuelans to cross the border back into their home country. Shots were fired, stores were shuttered and debris littered the streets. "It was terrible, they burned the tents and everything that was inside," said Carol Marcano, a Venezuelan who works in Boa Vista and was on the border returning from Venezuela. "There were shots, they burned rubber tires." Marcano said that some Venezuelans reacted to the attack by destroying a car with Brazilian license plates. She and her companions were among many who took refuge at checkpoints on the Venezuelan side of the border. Three Brazilians were hurt in the clashes, a spokesman for military police said. No information was immediately available on the state of the Venezuelans involved. The merchant who was attacked "is known, he is a neighbor, and there was indignation when it was learned that he had been robbed," a local told AFP on condition of anonymity. "People began to expel Venezuelans who were in the center of the city, forcing them to return to their country." Roraima state Governor Suely Campos made a plea to temporarily close the border and asked Brazilia to send security reinforcements to "face the increase in crime" she links to Venezuelans in the region. Story continues In turn, the public security ministry vowed to send a contingent of 60 troops due to arrive Monday to join teams in the area. - Venezuelan immigrants reviled - Tensions are rising in Latin America over migration triggered by the crises in Venezuela and in Nicaragua, where President Daniel Ortega has led a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters. Peru and Ecuador are halting immigrants at the border by requiring would be border-crossers to show their passports -- which many lack -- instead of simple identity cards. Last week alone, 20,000 Venezuelans entered Peru, authorities say. The restrictive measures there go into effect August 25. Colombia has said it fears that Ecuador's border controls, which went into effect Saturday after the country declared a migration emergency, will leave thousands of Venezuelans stranded in Colombia. An estimated 3,000 people cross every day from Colombia to Ecuador in the border town of Rumichaca. The United Nations estimates that 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled the crisis looking for work and to escape poverty, while Colombia has given temporary residence to more than 800,000. -'Guarantee safety'- Many Venezuelans are aiming further afield to settle in Peru, Chile, Argentina or even Uruguay. Peru said 5,100 Venezuelans crossed into the country on August 11, a record for a single day. In Costa Rica, hundreds of people took part in sometimes violent protests Saturday using Nazi symbols to repudiate Nicaraguan migrants. Some demonstrators, carrying swastikas and shouting anti-immigrant slogans, tried to attack Nicaraguans gathered in the central La Merced park in San Jose, and clashed with police who tried to contain them, Security Minister Michael Soto said, adding that there were only some minor injuries. The clashes in Brazil took place amid an increase in robberies and violent incidents in the city of 12,000 people that locals blame on immigrants, while the government points to a lack of resources to address the situation and calls for the closure of the border. In response to the latest violence, the Venezuelan Foreign Ministry urged Brazil to "guarantee the safety of Venezuelan nationals and take measures to protect and safeguard their families and belongings." By nighttime, the streets were quiet again, authorities said. Brazilian federal police, in charge of immigration, estimates that about 500 Venezuelans cross over to Brazil every day. In January alone, around 900 and 1,200 Venezuelans came to Brazil -- a peak so far. In the first semester of this year, around 56,740 Venezuelans sought to legalize their situation in Brazil requesting refuge or temporary residence. Sao Paulo (AFP) - Brazil's President Michel Temer called an emergency meeting of key ministers Sunday after ordering troops to the border with Venezuela as regional tensions build over the exodus from its crisis-hit neighbor. The move comes after residents in the border town of Pacaraima clashed violently with Venezuelan migrants, driving them out of makeshift camps. Temer met at his presidential palace in Brasilia with key ministers, including those of defense, public security and foreign affairs to discuss Brazil's response to the crisis. The situation in Pacaraima, on the opposite side of the border to the Venezuelan town of Santa Elena de Uairen, was calm following Saturday's violence, in large part because almost all the Venezuelans had been forced out. "More than 1,200 Venezuelan migrants returned to Venezuela," after Saturday's violence, a spokesman for a Brazilian migration task force told AFP. On average, some 500 Venezuelans cross daily into Brazil but on Sunday, the "flow was much lower than the previous days," the spokesman said. "The city looks deserted today, it's very quiet because police reinforcements have arrived and the markets are reopening," said a local in the town of around 12,000, who did not wish to be identified. The public security ministry announced it was sending a contingent of 120 troops as well as a health specialists to join teams in the area on Monday. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have crossed the border into Brazil over the past three years as they seek to escape the economic, political and social crisis gripping their country. Caracas was set to roll out radical new measures on Monday to curb runaway inflation, including issuing new banknotes. Brazil is the main destination for Venezuelans fleeing their country because it is one of the few countries in the region not to require them to produce a passport. The latest tensions began early Saturday, hours after a local merchant was robbed and severely beaten in an incident blamed on Venezuelan suspects, in Pacaraima, where an estimated 1,000 immigrants had been living on the street. Story continues Dozens of locals then attacked the immigrants' two makeshift camps and burned their belongings, forcing the Venezuelans back across the border. Shots were fired, stores were shuttered and debris littered the streets. "It was terrible. They burned the tents and everything that was inside," said Carol Marcano, a Venezuelan who works in Boa Vista and was on the border returning from Venezuela. "There were shots, they burned rubber tires." Roraima state Governor Suely Campos made a plea to temporarily close the border and asked Brasilia to send security reinforcements to "face the increase in crime" she links to Venezuelans in the region, particularly in the capital Boa Vista. Meanwhile, Caracas called on Brazil Saturday to provide "corresponding guarantees to Venezuelan nationals and take measures to safeguard and secure their families and belongings." - Ecuador and Peru tighten controls - Tensions are rising in Latin America over migration triggered by the crises in Venezuela and in Nicaragua, where President Daniel Ortega has led a brutal crackdown on anti-government protesters. Peru and Ecuador are halting immigrants at the border by requiring them to present passports -- which many lack -- instead of identity cards. Last week alone, 20,000 Venezuelans entered Peru, authorities say. On Sunday, 18 undocumented Venezuelans were detained in the capital Lima, according to police. Peru's passport measures go into effect August 25 -- and the government has also narrowed the window for Venezuelans to apply for a temporary work permit, which it has granted for the past two years. Previously, applications were open to Venezuelans who entered Peru by December 31, and the deadline was June 30, 2019. But now, only Venezuelans who enter Peru by October 31 can apply -- and they have until December 31 to do so. Colombia has said it fears that Ecuador's border controls, which went into effect Saturday, will leave thousands of Venezuelans stranded in Colombia, from where an estimated 3,000 cross every day. Argentina also announced tougher new measures to counter an influx of migrants. Horacia Garcia, head of the migration department in Buenos Aires, said stricter new measures would come into force next month. The United Nations estimates that 2.3 million Venezuelans have fled the crisis looking for work and to escape poverty, and Colombia has given temporary residence to more than 800,000. Brazilian federal police estimate about 500 Venezuelans enter Brazil every day. In the first semester of this year, around 56,740 requested refuge or temporary residence. Meanwhile, Nicaraguan migrants fleeing months of deadly unrest faced similar difficulties. In San Jose, Costa Rica, hundreds of people took part in sometimes violent protests Saturday using Nazi symbols to repudiate Nicaraguan migrants. Venezuelan people rest in hammocks along the street as they wait to show their passports or identity cards next day at the Pacaraima border control - REUTERS Brazil will send troops to its border with Venezuela on Monday after residents of the Brazilian border town of Pacaraima drove out Venezuelan immigrants from their improvised camps, amid growing regional tensions. Tens of thousands of Venezuelans have crossed the border into Brazil over the past three years as they seek to escape the economic, political and social crisis gripping their country. The latest show of tensions began early Saturday, hours after a local merchant was robbed and severely beaten in an incident blamed on Venezuelan suspects, in Pacaraima, where an estimated 1,000 immigrants are living on the streets. Dozens of locals then attacked the two main immigrant makeshift camps and burned their belongings, leading Venezuelans to cross the border back into their home country. Shots were fired, stores were shuttered and debris littered the streets. As the Venezuelan refugee crisis spirals out of control, neighbors are abruptly closing their doors. Ecuador and Peru are tightening entry requirements. And in Brazil yesterday, a mob chased Venezuelan refugees back across the border and then destroyed their camp. pic.twitter.com/dtr9MiDrLt Hannah Dreier (@hannahdreier) August 19, 2018 "It was terrible, they burned the tents and everything that was inside," said Carol Marcano, a Venezuelan who works in Boa Vista and was on the border returning from Venezuela. "There were shots, they burned rubber tires." Marcano said that some Venezuelans reacted to the attack by destroying a car with Brazilian license plates. She and her companions were among many who took refuge at checkpoints on the Venezuelan side of the border. Three Brazilians were hurt in the clashes, a spokesman for military police said. No information was immediately available on the state of the Venezuelans involved. Story continues A Venezuelan man, whose eye is infected with conjunctivitis, holds his son at the Pacaraima border control Credit: REUTERS/Nacho Doce The merchant who was attacked "is known, he is a neighbor, and there was indignation when it was learned that he had been robbed," a local told AFP on condition of anonymity. "People began to expel Venezuelans who were in the center of the city, forcing them to return to their country." Roraima state Governor Suely Campos made a plea to temporarily close the border and asked Brazilia to send security reinforcements to "face the increase in crime" she links to Venezuelans in the region. In turn, the public security ministry vowed to send a contingent of 60 troops due to arrive Monday to join teams in the area. Crew from HMS Astute, the first of the biggest hunter-killer submarines to be ordered by Britain's Royal Navy, look out as they sail into the River Clyde and up the Gareloch to her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde in Faslane near Glasgow, Scotland November John Hemmings Security, Asia London will find ways to compete and cooperate with other navies in the Indian Ocean, such as China's PLAN. What China Could Expect from a Global Britain As India celebrates seventy-two years of Independence from the British Empire this week, a grand historical milestone for the ancient nation, it is notable to see the Royal Navy sailing in Indias waters once morehowever this time it comes as an ally to India to sail together in an increasingly troubled world. Pulled from its forty-two-year involvement in the European project, the United Kingdom has begun a major re-think of its global posture. What does Global Britain mean? Where might it best orient itself in relation to a growing Indo-Pacific region, where trade, rising powers, and naval grand strategies reveal a region that is increasingly a central part of the global economy and political center? Stretching from the Gulf of Aden to the Malacca Strait, the Indian Ocean is vital to international trade and commerce, with 50 percent of the worlds maritime oil trade passing through every day. It is a global market that the United Kingdom cannot afford to ignore. The global significance of this region has seen many vested naval powers transit this ocean to maintain their own interests. But rather than coming as an imperial trading poweras it once didthe Royal Navy is coming to the region under a liberal democratic trading nation. The United Kingdom seeks to uphold an open and inclusive rules-based order, an order where all have rightsnot simply great powers. And this commitment is more than just rhetoric. Over the past year, London has committed to three separate missions across the Indo-Pacific region. HMS Albion, Sutherland and Argyll have all made their way through the Indo-Pacific region this year to carry out sanctions enforcement against North Korea and to conduct freedom of navigation operations to counter the growing Chinese naval activity. These missions have revealed the role the Royal Navy will play in a Global Britain strategy. Story continues The sudden and rapid rise of Mahanian strategies among Asias powers has seen sea lane security re-emerge as a major geopolitical issue after three generations of U.S. naval preponderance. The most active driver of change in the Indian Ocean has been the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army Navy (PLAN). Far from its traditional sphere of influence of the first island and second island chains, the Chinese navy has rapidly established itself as a naval power in the Indian Ocean, and beyond into the Mediterranean Sea. Beijing has done this by developing blue-water capabilities and a port strategy that secures its Beijings trade routes and energy supply line from the Middle East. The emergence of Chinas blue-water navy and greater power projection has complimented Chinas long-term grand strategy of becoming the Asian hegemon, an ambition not lost on Indias ruling elite. Beijing has sought to ensure that all roads lead to China, with the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the Maritime Silk Road projects. Furthermore, China has encroached upon the territory and neighborhood of the regions fastest-growing powerIndiadeveloping economic dependencies with nearly all of New Delhis neighbors. As powers that are dependent on Indian Ocean trade routes, liberal democracies like Britain and India (and others) will have to learn to manage relations with Beijing. This will include balancing some of Chinas more predatory behaviors such as the debt diplomacy. The Royal Navy and Indian Navy will also have to learn to operate in close proximity to the PLAN, which has rapidly up-scaled its presence in the Indian Ocean, with recent estimates indicating a presence of at least fourteen PLA Navy ships throughout August 2017, including SSN class nuclear-powered submarines, with that number rising throughout 2018. There have already been positive examples of recent UK-Sino naval cooperation, including the arrival of two PLA Navy frigates in London last year for a goodwill visit. It is precisely from these exchanges that the Royal Navyrespected for its long traditionscan impart best practices and norms to the still-young PLAN. Possible areas of planned cooperation might take place in the anti-piracy missions and with humanitarian responses to natural disasters. As the Indo-Pacific once again takes center stage in global politics, we will see China and India each attempting to stamp their influence on the international order. This does not have to be confrontational, of course. As part of a wider Anglo-American security alliance which helped construct the current global order, the UK has a vested stake in seeing that these changes abide by the current norms underpinning the rules-based international system. This includes respect for national sovereignty, freedom of navigation, and free trade. As Global Britain approaches the Indian Ocean, it will work closely with all navies, including the Indian Navy and the PLAN. No doubt, it will work more closely with some more than others. And, of course, it will have to ensure that its resources match its ambition. Should Beijings quasi-imperial approach toward the Indian Ocean continue, the UK and other European powers will begin to lend their support to the India-Japan-US-Australia Quad. Regardless of geopolitical trends, the Royal Navy will seek to support joint naval drills and uphold the maritime principle of freedom-of-navigation. Bolstered by its own bases in Duqm and Singapore, the Royal Navy will seek to cooperate with all, including the United States, Australia, Singapore, and India. Global Britain as a philosophy will promote a collaborative approach toward Beijing while aligning carefully with like-minded friends and allies. Dr. John Hemmings is director of the Asia Studies Centre at the Henry Jackson Society. Image: Crew from HMS Astute, the first of the biggest hunter-killer submarines to be ordered by Britain's Royal Navy, look out as they sail into the River Clyde and up the Gareloch to her new home at HM Naval Base Clyde in Faslane near Glasgow, Scotland November 20, 2009. REUTERS/David Moir (BRITAIN MILITARY IMAGES OF THE DAY) Read full article Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel's top court on Sunday doubled the prison sentence of a police officer who shot dead a Palestinian teenager in 2014, an incident documented by video footage. The supreme court ruling said the original nine-month prison term handed to Ben Deri by the Jerusalem district court earlier this year did not sufficiently reflect the severity of his actions. Deri had admitted to fatally shooting Nadeem Nuwarah, 17, on May 15, 2014 during a day of clashes in Beitunia, south of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters. The clashes were on the anniversary of what Palestinians call the Nakba, or "catastrophe", when more than 700,000 fled or were expelled during the war surrounding Israel's creation. Footage recorded by US broadcaster CNN captured a group of five or six border police officers in the area, one of whom could be seen firing at the time when the youth was hit. Some five minutes earlier, Nuwarah was seen on other CNN footage throwing stones at Israeli forces. But when Deri shot him, he was not engaged in any such action, simply walking in the general direction of Deri's force with his hands to his sides, the Sunday decision noted. Deri had said during his trial he had mistakenly introduced live ammunition into his M-16 instead of rubber bullets. But even the firing of rubber bullets was not justified at that point, the court said. The April district court sentencing had "not sufficiently given expression to the value of the human life severed by Deri," Sunday's ruling read. "The prison term sentenced by the district court is not close in expressing the severity of such an intentional deed, combined with the severe negligence that caused the deceased's death," supreme court justice Noam Solberg wrote in his decision, supported by another judge and opposed by one. Right-wing legal aid organisation Honenu, which represented Deri, said the supreme court's ruling could "jeopardise the motivation and operational abilities of our soldiers." Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that while Deri's actions might have been wrong, "that doesn't mean his punishment should be increased". "Those fighting terror on a daily basis, exposed to provocations, have feelings too. They're not robots," he told Israel's public broadcaster Kan. Donald and Melania Trump's relationship has come under scrutiny during his White House tenure - AP The furniture Melania Trump chose for the White House was replaced with glitzier items preferred by her husband, Donald Trump, it has been claimed in a new profile of the first lady. The profile, published by the New York Times, tells that Mr Trump overruled his wife on the elegant and modern furniture she selected for their new home in favour of a more lavish interior design scheme. The 48-year-old Slovenian was portrayed as a woman with a steely core, however, who does at times choose to overrule her husband. It also reported that Mr Trump suggested she not mount her kids' campaign against cyberbullying, saying she would likely be mocked because he frequently abuses people on Twitter, but she dismissed his concerns. When she became the highest-ranking White House official to visit the US-Mexico border, in the midst of outrage at a policy of separating immigrant children from their parents, she wore a jacket emblazoned with the phrase I really don't care, do u? to silence her critics inside and outside the Trump orbit, the paper reported. Melania Trump in her "I REALLY DON'T CARE DO U?" jacket, on June 21 Credit: Reuters The paper reported that Mrs Trump and her husband maintain separate bedrooms inside the White House and when travelling, and said that she spends much of her time in the East Wing of the building, keeping up with her Pilates schedule and tending to their 12-year-old son, Barron. Constant rumours that Mrs Trump lives in a different house, near Barrons school in Maryland, are repeatedly denied. Mrs Trump has few friends in Washington DC, and her staff is small 10 people, compared with more than 25 who worked for Michelle Obama or Laura Bush. She returns to New York around once a month to visit her sister and hair stylist, and see her friends who she reportedly stays in touch with via emoji-heavy text messages. Melania Trump and the rise of 'Republican chic' She is a woman of grit, never afraid to speak her mind, said Karen LeFrak, wife of a New York property developer and one of Mrs Trumps friends. Story continues As a friend, Ive seen how she handles her role as first lady with the same finesse and care as she uses in her friendships always quality over quantity. Another of her allies, Thomas Barrack, a friend of her husband, said the president respects her. He listens to her more intently than anyone and respects her advice and counsel not only because she is his wife, but because her loyalty, grace, trust, elegance under fire, intellect and instincts are time tested and proven, he said. Melania Trump Credit: TASS The paper spoke to several friends and aides of the Trumps who said that their relationship was unchanged by the move to Washington. A Palm Beach friend said Mrs Trump entered the relationship with Mr Trump with her eyes open, and has weathered 13 years of scandal-plagued marriage and a rocky transition into the White House primarily for the benefit of keeping life stable for their son. The presidents allies, the paper claimed, say he remains concerned about her reaction whenever headlines about his affairs emerge, and he has told friends he feels guilty about the criticism she has faced. A former White House official told the paper that Mr and Mrs Trump give the impression that they like one another, but their rapport is not particularly warm. Another person said Mrs Trump was far more relaxed outside the presence of her husband than when he was around. Her spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, defended the Be Best cyber bullying initiative. Donald and Melania Trump Credit: AFP It is exactly what she wants it to be, and has been a success, said Ms Grisham said. We look forward to continued success in her mission of helping children. She added that Mrs Trump is staying true to the independent woman that she is by doing things her own way. This should be celebrated, not criticised. Her priorities remain her family, her personal health and her role as first lady. She said that Mrs Trump was entirely happy with her husbands furniture. They both chose the decor, she said. By Alexandra Valencia and Mitra Taj QUITO/LIMA (Reuters) - Venezuelans entering Ecuador and Peru will soon be required to show their passports, rather than national identity cards, the Ecuadorean government and Peruvian official sources said on Thursday, amid concerns over an influx of economic migrants. Ecuador and Peru have hitherto allowed Venezuelans to enter using national ID cards, providing desperate Venezuelans with an easier route out of their crisis stricken homeland. "As of this Saturday the government will require that anyone entering Ecuador present his or her passport," Ecuador's Interior Minister Mauro Toscanini said. The Foreign Ministry later said it would apply specifically to Venezuelans. Ecuador declared a state of emergency in three provinces this month after a spike in Venezuelan migrants crossing the Ecuadorean-Colombian border high in the Andean mountains. Authorities said up to 4,500 Venezuelans were crossing daily, compared with around 500 to 1,000 previously. An official at Ecuador's Foreign Ministry told local radio that some 600,000 Venezuelans had entered the country so far this year, with around 109,000 staying on. Unable to afford flights and often earning a minimum wage of just a few dollars a month, Venezuelans have been taking days-long bus rides across South America, many passing through Ecuador on their way south to Peru or Chile. Peru is also planning to require passports from Venezuelans soon, two government sources said on condition of anonymity ahead of a pending announcement. Immigration officials estimated that there are nearly 400,000 Venezuelans in Peru, most of whom entered this year. About 20 percent of Venezuelans enter Peru without a passport, Peru's interior minister said earlier this week. Venezuelans selling food or knick-knacks on the streets have become a common sight in Lima and Quito, raising fears among locals that the migrants could take their jobs and increase crime. Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno is left-wing like his Venezuelan counterpart Nicolas Maduro, but he has distanced himself from Caracas since taking office last year. Centrist Peruvian President Martin Vizcarra took office in March after his predecessor, Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a vocal critic of Maduro, resigned in a scandal. (This version of the story removes incorrect reference in second paragraph to Venezuela being a member of the Andean Community.) (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia and Mitra Taj, Writing by Alexandra Ulmer and Mitra Taj, Editing by Rosalba O'Brien & Simon Cameron-Moore) Cairo (AFP) - An Egyptian man accused of hijacking a plane and diverting it to Cyprus has been sent back from the Mediterranean island to his homeland after a two-year extradition battle, officials said Sunday. Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa, 61, allegedly used a fake suicide belt to seize an EgyptAir airliner from Alexandria to Cairo in March 2016. "Cypriot authorities yesterday handed over to the Egyptian authorities, Egyptian detainee Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa," a statement from Cyprus's justice ministry said. Officials at Cairo airport confirmed his arrival amid tight security late Saturday. Egypt's attorney general said that Mostafa was being handed over to prosecutors in the country for further investigations. State-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported that prosecutors in the city of Alexandria on Sunday ordered him held for a preliminary 15 days in custody. Mostafa fought his extradition on the grounds he would not receive a fair trial in Egypt, but the Cypriot supreme court dismissed his appeal against being sent home last year. Mostafa's request for asylum was refused as Cypriot authorities deemed him a "perpetrator of serious crimes". During hearings, Mostafa described himself as a liberal who wanted democracy for an Egyptian people subjected to "abductions, disappearance, illegal detention and extrajudicial killings". Mostafa said his motive for hijacking the domestic Egyptian flight was to seek asylum in Italy and tell the world about the "repressive" Egyptian government. The justice ministry in Cyprus said Mostafa eventually "expressed the wish to go back to his own country" and withdrew an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights that stayed the extradition. "Egyptian authorities have given assurances that Mostafa will face legal procedures that comply with international standards," the ministry said. According to Cypriot police, Mostafa gave a voluntary statement admitting to the hijacking, which ended peacefully with his arrest. Most of the 55 passengers were quickly released after the plane landed, but some escaped only minutes before the six-hour standoff finished. Athens (AFP) - The summer was meant to have been a chance for Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras to bask in the success of Greece finally turning the page on the bailout era. But the wildfires outside the capital Athens that killed nearly one hundred people also laid waste to a hoped-for political rebound ahead of elections due next year. As recently as June, Tsipras was tapping into a sense of optimism about Greece putting behind it nearly a decade of economic crisis as its third international bailout ends on August 20. "Day by day, uncertainty will be replaced by stability. Danger will be replaced by security and safety," a beaming Tsipras told political allies and friends at a reception at the majestic Zappeio pavilion in Athens. But within a month, jubilation came crashing down as scores died in wildfires near Athens, torching both Tsipras' boyish appeal and possibly his government's legacy too. "(This) is the most difficult moment from the time we took over the government," Tsipras' telecoms minister and close advisor Nikos Pappas acknowledged earlier this month. Anger at Greece's deadliest fire disaster has mixed with disbelief as a combination of tactical errors by the fire brigade and police on July 23 trapped hundreds of vacationers at the coastal resort of Mati near the capital. The blow came just as Tsipras was trying to bounce back from months of poor ratings. While polls have not always proved reliable in recent electoral contests, Tsipras' Syriza party was trailing the conservative New Democracy party by up to 14 points even before the fire tragedy. - 'Time to go' - Tsipras' "government is worn out, it is morally discredited and its managerial shortcomings have been exposed," says Thanassis Diamantopoulos, politics professor at Panteion University in Athens. "I think we're reaching the point where people who were kind of middle-of-the-road and had an open mind are very angry with Syriza now," added Nikos Konstandaras, a veteran columnist for liberal daily Kathimerini. Story continues "And I think you're going to be getting a lot of people saying 'anybody but them, let's get them out," Konstandaras said. The opposition has also stepped up its attacks on Tsipras. "It's time for him to go," New Democracy leader Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the Athens Voice portal earlier this month. But elections are not due until September 2019, although Tsipras could call them early, possibly to coincide with European and local elections in May. But the government might not last that long in office. His coalition partner Panos Kammenos, head of the nationalist Independent Greeks party, has threatened to leave the government over a disputed name deal with neighbouring Macedonia. Highly controversial, particularly in Greece's northern region of Macedonia, the deal foresees the neighbouring state renaming itself North Macedonia after 27 years of diplomatic deadlock. If the Macedonians approve the deal in a September referendum, Greece's parliament must ratify it in early 2019. How Tsipras will continue to govern at that point if Kammenos defects is anyone's guess. - Skills to fight back - The premier is likely to stick to the issues which helped him to office, the economy and corruption. Tsipras insists he has done more than any recent leader to combat poverty, and is expected to announce a fresh batch of low-income benefits in September. "Tsipras has the skills to articulate a vision and to present the work of his government in a way that can win him votes," said Vassilis Monastiriotis, associate professor of political economy at the London School of Economics' European Institute. "The fact that the adjustment programme was concluded should be seen a great achievement in itself: many previous governments tried and failed, so whoever managed to close the programme deserves credit," he said. Tsipras has also consistently hammered New Democracy -- which ruled the country for 15 out of the last 30 years -- on corruption and economic mismanagement issues. Earlier this month, the health ministry said it had found a 90-million-euro ($100 million) hole at the state disease watchdog during a seven-year period of conservative and socialist governments. "It is possible that Tsipras may be able to turn it around, although this remains the least likely scenario," said Monastiriotis. ACCRA/GENEVA (Reuters) - Leaders around the world paid tribute to former United Nations Secretary-General and Nobel Peace Prize laureate Kofi Annan, who died in hospital in Bern, Switzerland, in the early hours of Saturday aged 80. U.N. SECRETARY GENERAL ANTONIO GUTERRES: "In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination." - - - - GHANAIAN PRESIDENT NANA AKUFO-ADDO: "Consummate international diplomat and highly respected former Secretary General of the United Nations, Mr. Kofi Annan was the first from sub-Saharan Africa to occupy this exalted position. He brought considerable renown to our country by this position and through his conduct and comportment in the global arena. He was an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanaian to chart his or her own course onto the path of progress and prosperity." - - - - RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN: "Many years of the life of this remarkable person and great politician were devoted to the service of the United Nations. Heading the UN at a difficult time, he did a great deal to realize the purposes and the goals of the organization, strengthening its central role in world affairs. His personal contribution to building the UN's peacekeeping potential, as well as in the settlement of a number of regional conflicts, was particularly significant. I sincerely admired his wisdom and courage, his ability to make balanced decisions even in the most difficult, critical situations." - - - - U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE MIKE POMPEO: "Mr. Annan spent his life advocating for peace and human dignity during his long career at the United Nations. Even after leaving his post as Secretary-General he embodied the mission of the United Nations, by sowing the seeds of peace as Chair of The Elders, an independent group of global leaders committed to advancing the cause of peace and promoting human rights around the world." - - - - FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BILL CLINTON AND FORMER U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE HILLARY CLINTON: "Kofi Annan was a truly great UN Secretary-General. It was an honor to work with him in his efforts to reform the UN, strengthen global health and peacekeeping, and reduce poverty. He made the fight against AIDS and the responsibility to protect civilians in conflict zones true priorities for the UN." - - - - FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT GEORGE W. BUSH: "Kofi was a gentle man and a tireless leader of the United Nations. His voice of experience will be missed around the world." - - - - FORMER U.S. PRESIDENT BARACK OBAMA: "Kofi Annan was a diplomat and humanitarian who embodied the mission of the United Nations like few others. His integrity, persistence, optimism, and sense of our common humanity always informed his outreach to the community of nations. Long after he had broken barriers, Kofi never stopped his pursuit of a better world, and made time to motivate and inspire the next generation of leaders." - - - - THE ELDERS (group of global leaders): "He played a vital role in leading The Elders' work, and was a voice of great authority and wisdom in public and private. He was a constant advocate for human rights, development and the rule of law. Kofi Annan had a life-long commitment to the cause of peace and was known for his staunch opposition to military aggression, notably the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003." - - - - NIGERIAN PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI: "Annan's humility, nobility and love for humanity set him apart for global greatness, achieving recognition and commendation for the reform of the United Nations' bureaucracy and multiple interventions to bring peace to the world." - - - - U.S. AMBASSADOR TO THE UNITED NATIONS NIKKI HALEY: "Kofi Annan devoted his life to making the world a more peaceful place through his compassion and dedication to service. He worked tirelessly to unite us and never stopped fighting for the dignity of every person." - - - - GERMAN CHANCELLOR ANGELA MERKEL: "Kofi Annan never gave up working for the good in the world. (He) knew how to get people engaged, and became a role model, especially for young people all over the world." - - - - BRITISH PRIME MINISTER THERESA MAY: "A great leader and reformer of the UN, he made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into." - - - - FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUEL MACRON: "France pays tribute to him. We will never forget his calm and resolute approach to matters, nor the strength of his commitments." - - - - IRANIAN FOREIGN MINISTER MOHAMMAD JAVAD ZARIF: "A towering global leader and an unwavering champion for peace, justice and rule of law. Rest in peace my dear old friend." - - - - ISRAELI FOREIGN MINISTRY: "A champion of Multilateral Diplomacy, a Nobel prize recipient and a world statesman who dedicated his public life to striving towards global peace and the alleviation of poverty and reducing child mortality. As UN Secretary General, he resisted the delegitimization of Israel. He fought actively against Holocaust denial and supported in 2006 the UN initiative on the International Holocaust Remembrance Day." - - - - RAILA ODINGA, KENYAN OPPOSITION LEADER AND FORMER PRIME MINISTER: "A great African, a great leader of the world. We here in Kenya remember him for the role that he played in presiding over the process of reconciliation following the crisis that followed the 2007 general elections. Kofi Annan was able to bring the different factions in our country together." - - - - FORMER GHANAIAN PRESIDENT JOHN MAHAMA: "He lived and worked for global peace, security and sustainable development in very challenging times. A proud son of Ghana and Africa." - - - - SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA: Annan was "a great leader and diplomat extraordinaire" who had advanced the African agenda within the United Nations and had "flown the flag for peace" around the world. - - - - CYPRUS PRESIDENCY "Despite the fact that his efforts to solve the Cyprus problem, and the plan which bore his name were not met with success, his name has been linked to the issue of occupied Cyprus." (Reporting by Reuters bureaus; Editing by Angus MacSwan, Ros Russell and Frances Kerry) The campaign of Donald Trump is under investigation - AP Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating links between Donald Trump's campaign and Russia, has detailed how the FBI missed a chance to question a London-based professor caught up in the inquiry. Prosecutors working for Mr Mueller filed court documents recommending a jail sentence for George Papadopoulos, a former Trump campaign foreign policy adviser. Mr Papadopoulos has admitted lying to the FBI about his contacts with Professor Joseph Mifsud. The professor is alleged to have told Mr Papdopoulos that the Russians possessed "dirt" on Hillary Clinton in the form of emails, before those emails became public. Prof Mifsud, who is Maltese, has denied doing so. The Mueller court documents said Mr Papadopoulos caused irreparable damage to the Russia investigation because he lied repeatedly to agents during a January 2017 interview. Those lies, prosecutors said, resulted in the FBI missing an opportunity to properly question Prof Mifsud. Joseph Mifsud denies telling a former Trump aide he had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton It was suggested in the documents that the FBI had contact with Prof Mifsud while he was in the US during the early part of the investigation. FBI agents"located" him in Washington about two weeks after Mr Papadopoulos' January 2017 interview. But Mr Papadopoulos' lies "substantially hindered investigators' ability to effectively question" the professor. The court filing said: "The defendant's lies undermined investigators' ability to challenge the professor or potentially detain or arrest him while he was still in the United States." It noted that the professor left the US in February 2017 and has not returned since. Russia investigation timeline: Every step in Robert Mueller's probe of Trump campaign alleged collusion The documents said: "Had the defendant told the FBI the truth when he was interviewed in January 2017, the FBI could have quickly taken numerous investigative steps to help determine, for example, how and where the professor obtained the information, why the professor provided the information to the defendant, and what the defendant did with the information after receiving it." Story continues Prof Mifsud was previously honorary director of the London Academy of Diplomacy, which is affiliated to the University of Stirling in Scotland. It was not clear if he still holds that role. In October he told The Telegraph he had known nothing about emails containing "dirt" on Mrs Clinton, and that he had a "clear conscience". The professor said he was upset" by the claims because they were "incredible". Chicago Tribune Six-term Republican U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger, an ardent opponent of former President Donald Trump and his continued leadership of the GOP, announced Friday he would not seek reelection. Kinzingers announcement came just hours after state legislators passed a new congressional map drawn by Illinois Democrats that put him into a new district with Trump-supporting U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood. As a ... Paris (AFP) - The death 40 years ago of Pope John Paul I, who reigned for just 33 days in 1978, paved the way for the Roman Catholic Church to have three pontiffs in three months. And his death was followed by the election of the first non-Italian pope in 400 years, John Paul II. - The 'smiling pope' - On August 6, 1978, Pope Paul VI dies aged 80 of a heart attack after 15 years at the Vatican. On August 26, Cardinal Albino Luciani -- the patriarch of Venice -- is elected pope under the name John Paul I. Aged 65, the son of a bricklayer from northern Italy has "two deep creases which go right down to his chin, features which tell of his peasant origin: Venetian mountain people, simple, honest and hospitable," AFP reports at the time. He demonstrates a more direct leadership style than his predecessors and avoids ceremony wherever possible. Highly sensitive to poverty, the man known as the "smiling pope" for his warm and pastoral demeanour, calls for a fair wage for all. But on the night of September 28-29, he suddenly dies, apparently of a heart attack, just 33 days after his election. He becomes one of the shortest-lived popes in history. The next morning, Vatican workers gather around little portable radios under the porch to discreetly listen to the news, AFP reports. "To pilgrims who enter the basilica, they have to answer the question 'is it really true that the pope has died?' They reply 'yes' nodding their heads solemnly." - Poisoned? - The Vatican refuses to perform an autopsy, with speculation stirred by discrepancies between the official story of the discovery of his body and the facts. "The pope was found on Friday morning with a serene face, whereas, according to a reliable Vatican source, the reported myocardial infarction should have affected his limbs or his facial features," AFP wrote. Providence, negligence -- intentional or not -- of his own health, or a conspiracy: numerous theories will question the official account. Story continues In 1984, British author David Yallop, who writes mostly about unsolved crimes, publishes "In God's Name" which suggests John Paul I was poisoned because he was determined to oppose the domination of the Vatican by the notorious P-2 masonic lodge. The Holy See dismisses the theory as "completely absurd". The book is published in 30 countries and is translated into nine languages. According to other conspiracy theories, the pope wanted to address alleged corruption at the Vatican Bank, notably involving its president, Monsignor Paul Marcinkus, who was suspected of links to the mafia. A 2017 book by Italian journalist Stefania Falasca, however, refutes the criminal hypotheses. She says he was found in the early morning by a nun who said he was sitting on his bed wearing reading glasses with several typewritten sheets in his hands. The Vatican baulked at the idea of telling the world a woman had been in his bedroom and seen the body, so it changed the story, Falasca claims. - First non-Italian pope - Rocked by the death of two popes in the space of two months, the Church has to find a successor. "It was already difficult to find a successor to Paul VI. How will the cardinals find such a good, such a cordial pope as Pope Luciani?" one retired woman tells AFP. On October 16, after eight rounds of voting, white smoke finally emerges from the Sistine Chapel, the signal from the 111 cardinals that a new pope has been elected. The massive crowd waiting in St Peter's Square celebrates joyfully. "Non-Italian pope elected" AFP flashes, even before giving the name. Against all expectations, the 58-year-old Polish Archbishop of Krakow, Karol Wojtyla, is chosen by the conclave. It is a small revolution for the Church, which has not had a non-Italian pope in more than 400 years. Wojtyla adopts the name of John Paul II in homage to his predecessor. He is enthroned on October 22, 1978 at the height of the Cold War. Charismatic, a stickler for tradition, a doctrinal conservative while embracing modern ways of spreading the Gospel, he is credited with helping to bring down communism in eastern Europe while fighting against unbridled capitalism. Although he does not succeed in fulfilling all his commitments, he is idolised by many worshippers as "God's athlete" for his physical presence. He dies in 2005 after suffering for years from Parkinson's disease and is made a saint in 2014. Following the collapse of the Morandi bridge in Genoa, left, a French survey has warned the country's bridges are also vulnerable - 2018 Laura Lezza More than 800 road bridges in France are at risk of collapsing within a few years, according to a survey carried out for the Transport Ministry that has raised alarm following the Genoa tragedy. The July report, commissioned by the ministry from two private consultancies, predates the Italian motorway bridge collapse in which four French holidaymakers were killed on Tuesday, but French media have highlighted its findings this week. It says that about 840 French bridges, a third of those maintained by the state, show evidence of damage that could present a risk of collapse if they are not reinforced. The report also pointed out that bridges in France are only repaired, on average, 22 years after the appearance of the first deterioration. Pressure is mounting on the government to specify which bridges are affected, but no list has so far been made public. The Transport Ministry is playing down the danger. An official told France Info radio that there was no cause for panic. When bridges are described as being in poor or very poor condition, you have to take into account that we are talking about fragility over the long term. No structures will be open to the public if they are not completely safe. If there is the slightest risk, action will be taken immediately. But a French engineer who worked with Norman Foster, the British architect, on the design of the Millau Viaduct, a four-lane motorway bridge across the Tarn river valley in southern France, was less reassuring. Michel Virlogeux told France 3 TV: Money and skilled engineers are needed [to maintain infrastructure]. But I think there are fewer human resources than we had 20 years ago. The Transport Ministry says it has increased funding allocated for repairs by nearly 15 per cent to about 600,000 this year. We wish to make further large increases, said Elisabeth Borne, the minister. This decision will be discussed and debated in parliament in the autumn. Dominique Bussereau, who served as a junior transport minister under the presidency of Nicolas Sarkozy, said far too little had been spent on maintaining infrastructure in recent years. Weve been spending 700 million a year but it should be 1.3 billion. Accra (AFP) - Ghana is backpedalling out of a banking crisis as the government takes on debt to save a troubled sector and vows to punish the executives responsible. Early in August, Ghana's central bank revoked the licenses of five local banks and combined them into one -- the newly created state-run Consolidated Bank -- issuing 5.8 billion cedis ($1.2 billion) in bonds to clear their debt. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) accused the collapsed banks of a range of issues, including poor corporate governance, questionable transactions and dishonest reporting. The merger was just one step out of many that President Nana Akufo-Addo's government has been forced to take in order to reform Ghana's rotten banking sector, brought close to collapse as a result of bad governance and weak lending. This past week, Ghana's deputy central bank governor Elsie Addo Awadzi said in an interview that law enforcement agencies will "further investigate criminal behaviour" connected to the failed banks. Ghana faces a "now or never" decision to clean up the banking sector, economist Eric Osei-Assibey told AFP. "This central bank is carving a niche for itself. It is beginning to bite and that alone could engender some confidence in the medium and long term," Osei-Assibey said. - 'Good progress' - The banking intervention will add to Ghana's already high debt burden, said Razia Khan, Africa economist at Standard Chartered, in a note to investors earlier this month. Ghana is currently in its final year of an IMF bailout totalling almost $1 billion, with its debt as a percentage of gross domestic product hovering over 60 percent. Along with the Consolidated Bank loan, the central bank will give support to other banks in order to help them meet a minimum capital requirement of 400 million cedis by the end of 2018. Despite the turmoil, "Ghana has made good progress on fiscal consolidation in recent months", said Khan. Story continues "The action taken to strengthen the banking system is likely to be viewed as a necessary measure by the fund and we do not expect this to disrupt disbursements under the current IMF programme," she said. If Consolidated Bank is run properly, it may even play a positive role in the economy, said Souhir Mzali, Africa editor at Oxford Business Group, a London-based research firm. "It might transform from a debt burden to an asset by the time the government is expected to offload shares in 2020," Mzali said. - 'Lost confidence' - Of course, there will be consequences. "It's going to affect banking habits," said Kwesi Jonah, senior research fellow at the Institute of Democratic Governance in Ghana's capital of Accra. "Some people will lose confidence in the banking system altogether, other people will be more inclined to move towards the foreign banks," Jonah said, blaming the previous administration for letting the sector rot. "There was lack of political will to deal with the problem," he added. President Akufo-Addo was voted into power in 2016 on a pledge to revamp Ghana's economy after it had to turn to the IMF for a bailout the year before. Ghana became Africa's fastest-growing economy in 2017 thanks to a surge in oil and gas production, recording a blistering 6.8 percent growth in the first quarter of this year. But there is no getting away from the fact that West African gold and cocoa producer still has work to do in order to restore integrity to the tarnished financial sector. As Ghana's Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta put it this past week, the days of being "soft" on laws are over. "Hopefully (with) what we are going to do in the banking sector, everybody will begin to realise that those periods are gone." Henry Holst Security, Are carriers too big to fail? What Happens if a Navy Aircraft Carrier Is Sunk? Are carriers too big to fail? If so, U.S. policymakers need to break themselves from the assumption that carriers are the end product of the evolution of naval technology. The United States must maintain its leadership role in military innovation; not fall into the age-old trap of other great powers by absconding modernization and relying instead on time-tested dogma and tradition. In the future our carriers and Navy servicemen may pay the ultimate price due to our complacency and failure to innovate. Various defense pundits, scholars, and journalists have spent a considerable amount of digital ink debating the various threats to Americas carrier fleet while avoiding a more central question. In the cliche phrase of our time: Are carriers too big to fail? (This first appeared in 2016.) Clausewitz tells us, war is the continuation of politics by other means. Is there any political situation of such gravity that losing a carrier would be deemed an acceptable risk? In other words, how expendable are carriers? The answer to this question has large implications for the tactical and strategic options available to U.S. policymakers. Total security from all risk is impossible. The aircraft carrier is not invulnerable to attack. The new U.S. Ford-class aircraft carrier will be a floating home to over 4,000 sailors and comes in at the hefty price tag of around $12 billion dollars. In light of the development and proliferation of anti-access/area-denial (A2/AD) weaponry, does this enormous investment of human resources narrow U.S. tactical and strategic options? What are the implications of the sinking of a U.S. carrier? Political Implications: Over 4,000 American soldiers died during the recent eight and a half year Iraq war. These casualties played a large role in the extensive domestic opposition to the conflict. Imagine for a moment that a similar number of sailors perish in less than an hour. Such an event would be a national catastrophe and would likely create enormous political pressure to end combat operations. Such a catastrophic scenario is characteristic of naval warfare. In his book Seapower, Naval strategist Geoffrey Till tells us that: Story continues The nature of forces engaged in maritime operationsare expensive, hard to replace, and even the smallest units represent a sizeable investment in human resources, whose loss can be sudden and instantaneous and very hard for publics and governments to bear. The U.S. public is not conditioned to enduring high amounts of casualties. The last time commensurate numbers of U.S. troops died in a single military engagement was in 1950 during the Korean War. Knowing that, what would be the reaction if a U.S. carrier were attacked and sunk? (This first appeared in 2014.) How it Could Happen: To those who doubt such a scenario will ever unfold, consider this: Nothing is ever truly invulnerable. The sinking of the Titanic and the Bismarck as well as the passing of the Battleship era can all attest to that. Consider the various threats from Beijings A2/AD missile arsenal, specifically the DF-21D anti-ship ballistic missile (ASBM) and YJ-12 anti-ship cruise missile (ASCM). The International Institute for Strategic Studies 2013 global defense assessment, The Military Balance, states that the DF-21D has gone through limited testing and has been deployed to the Second Artillery, the branch of Chinas military that controls its nuclear and conventional missile arsenal. Managing Editor for The National Interest Harry Kazianis brings up the point that simple math weights in the favor of the attacker when it comes to anti-ship weapons like the DF-21D. The U.S. Navy has a total of 30 ships equipped with the state-of-the-art Aegis Ballistic Missile Defense (BMD) system. Even if Washington utilized every Aegis BMD-equipped ship from across the globe, there is a limited amount of interceptors America could bring to the fight. American ships would be sitting ducks once they ran out. Worse, thousands of such missiles can be expended and not even come close to approaching the cost required to field a fleet capable of taking on the U.S. Navy. Recommended: How China Plans to Win a War Against the U.S. Navy Recommended: How the Air Force Would Destroy North Korea Recommended: 10 Reasons No Nation Wants to Fight Israel Strategic Implications: The threat of a full carrier-strike group anchoring offshore has always been a cornerstone of U.S. deterrence. The sinking of a U.S. aircraft carrier--possibly by A2/AD style weapons--would likely be the defining moment where the era of perceived U.S. global military dominance would come to an end. Such an event--greatly magnified by a 24-hour global news cycle and the rise of social media--would alter the entire globes political and strategic balance. Any regime seeking to carve out local spheres of interest would scramble to seek the means to fend off the U.S. Navy. After all, the U.S. Navy is the single most important force providing security for the globalized economic system. Clearly American security assurances wouldnt carry as much weight with a carrier sitting at the bottom of the sea. If the Navys worst nightmare came true and U.S. adversaries strengthen their ability to threaten aircraft carriers, how does the Navy reorganize itself to project power? The entire concept of a carrier strike group (CSG) is based on putting bombs on target by primarily carrier-based planes. This is a large part of the Navys new operational concept, Air-Sea Battle. Air-Sea Battle (ASB) integrates forces from all domains: space, air, land, sea, and cyber, in order to defeat adversaries equipped with sophisticated anti-access and area denial capabilities. An asymmetric weapon that can bypass a carriers layered defenses and have even a remote chance at hitting a carrier would throw a wrench in a plan that may be costing U.S. taxpayers around half a trillion dollars. Too Many Eggs in One Basket? While the chances of a U.S.-China conflict are remote, Beijing is investing heavily in A2/AD weapons. More importantly, in our current age of breakneck technological development and cyber espionage, nobody can predict what military technologies U.S. rivals may have in five or ten years. Those who believe in the invincibility of the U.S. carrier strike group are tempting fate. The U.S. Navy may be limiting its options by putting too many of its eggs--or shrinking defense dollars--in one basket. Captain Henry Hendrix sums up this fear in a Center for New American Security paper, stating that aircraft carriers are: Big, expensive, vulnerable and surprisingly irrelevant to the conflicts of the timeThe national security establishment, the White House, the Department of Defense and Congress persist despite clear evidence that the carrier equipped with manned strike aircraft is an increasingly expensive way to deliver firepower and that carriers themselves may not be able to move close enough to targets to operate effectively or survive in an era of satellite imagery and long-range precision strike missiles. There is a considerable amount of inertia behind the carrier program in the United States. In a recent article about Chinas DF-21D Time magazine quoted retired Navy Captain naval-strategist Bernard Cole explaining how our Navy, domestic industry, and politicians all have a deep-rooted interest in keeping carriers as the centerpiece of our naval strategy. Indeed, these behemoths have accompanied us during the entirety of our rise to military preeminence. However, our close relationship with the carrier has its drawbacks. Historically, one advantage that developing militaries have is that they get to base their doctrine and fighting methods on current technology in the relative absence of entrenched interests. Conversely, consider the damage that obsolete ideas of warfare wrought during the beginning of World War One. Hundreds of thousands of soldiers died before the major European militaries were able to shed themselves of their dogmatic doctrine and antiquated leadership. If aircraft carriers are being eclipsed by various A2/AD weapons systems and asymmetric strategies, the military-industrial inertia behind the carrier program is a strategic disadvantage to the United States. Carriers Have Been Threatened Before: Despite very real dangers to U.S. carriers there are very legitimate arguments that caution against overstating potential threats. According to Chairman of National Security at the U.S. Naval War College and Johns Hopkins SAIS professor Dr. Thomas Mahnken, Chinas growing A2/AD abilities and precision munitions are causing the military balance to: Go back to a situation in terms of risk that much more resembles the Cold War than the past two decades. So risk will go up, but weve dealt with risk before. We are just unused to deal with that type of risk in recent experience. It will be a learning process on our side to develop the appropriate ways to respond. Conclusion: Are carriers too big to fail? If so, U.S. policymakers need to break themselves from the assumption that carriers are the end product of the evolution of naval technology. The United States must maintain its leadership role in military innovation; not fall into the age-old trap of other great powers by absconding modernization and relying instead on time-tested dogma and tradition. In the future our carriers and Navy servicemen may pay the ultimate price due to our complacency and failure to innovate. Image: U.S. Navy Flickr. Read full article The larger exoplanets are thought to be more watery and better candidates for life - NASA/Ames/JPL-Caltech The chances of finding alien organisms have been boosted by the discovery of hundreds of water worlds capable of supporting life. New analysis by Harvard University estimates that one in three exoplanets outside our solar system that are larger than Earth are likely to contain an abundance of water. The scientists say the planets that are two to four times bigger than Earth that have the best chance of supporting life. Analysis of data from the exoplanet-hunting Kepler Space Telescope and the Gaia mission indicates half their weight may be water - either flowing or frozen. In comparison, the amount of water on Earth makes up just 0.02 per cent of its complete mass. Lead researcher Dr Li Zeng, said: "It was a huge surprise to realise that there must be so many water-worlds." Exoplanets were first discovered in 1992 and since then about 4,000 have since been confirmed to exist. An impression of one of the Trappist exoplanets, whose discovery was announced in 2017 Credit: NASA Scientists believe they fall into two broad categories: those with a planetary radius averaging around 1.5 the size of Earth, or 2.5. Now the group of international scientists has developed a model of their internal structure. This is based upon their recent mass and radius measurements from the Gaia satellite. Dr Zeng said: "We have looked at how mass relates to radius, and developed a model which might explain the relationship." The model indicates the smaller planets tend to be rocky planets - with typically five times as much mass as Earth. In numbers | Kepler mission The larger ones have about 10 times more mass - and "are probably water worlds," said Dr Zeng. Presenting the findings at the Goldschmidt conference in Boston, he explained: "This is water, but not as commonly found here on Earth. "Their surface temperature is expected to be in the 200 to 500 degree Celsius range. "Their surface may be shrouded in a water-vapour-dominated atmosphere, with a liquid water layer underneath. By Bozorgmehr Sharafedin LONDON (Reuters) - Iran told OPEC on Sunday no member country should be allowed to take over another member's share of oil exports, expressing Tehran's concern about Saudi Arabia's offer to pump more oil in the face of U.S. sanctions on Iranian oil sales. In a meeting with OPEC Secretary-General Mohammad Barkindo, a senior Iranian diplomat urged him to keep the group out of politics. "No country is allowed to take over the share of other members for production and exports of oil under any circumstance, and the OPEC Ministerial Conference has not issued any licence for such actions," Iran's oil ministry news agency SHANA quoted Kazem Gharibabadi, the permanent envoy to Vienna-based international organizations, as saying. In May, U.S. President Donald Trump pulled out of an international nuclear deal with Iran and announced sanctions against the OPEC member. Washington is pushing allies to cut imports of Iranian oil to zero and will impose a new round of sanctions on Iranian oil sales in November. Trump has called on OPEC to pump more oil to bring down prices. Energy ministers of Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, and Russia said in May they were prepared to ease output cuts to calm consumer worries about supply. "Iran believes that OPEC should strongly support its members at this stage and stop the plots of countries trying to politicize this organization," Gharibabadi said. Regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran are involved in proxy wars, including in Yemen and Syria. Iran and other signatories of the nuclear deal, including Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China, have been working to find a way to salvage the agreement despite U.S. pressures. Iran has set a series of conditions for European powers if they want Tehran to stay in the nuclear deal, including steps by European banks to safeguard trade with Tehran and guaranteeing Iranian oil sales. EU'S PLAN Iran's vice president said on Sunday the government was seeking solutions to sell oil and transfer its revenues despite fresh U.S. sanctions. Story continues In August, Washington imposed sanctions on acquisition of U.S. dollar by Iran, and its trade in gold and precious metals. Washington will reimpose on Nov. 4 sanctions on Iran's oil exports, and banking sector. "We are hopeful that the European countries can meet their commitments but even if they cannot, we are seeking solutions to sell our oil and transfer its revenues," Eshaq Jahangiri was quoted as saying by the state news agency IRNA. In similar remarks, Iranian foreign minister praised the European signatories for their efforts to salvage the deal, especially for EU's so-called blocking statute that aims to mitigate the impact of U.S. sanctions for European businesses. However, Mohammad Javad Zarif said such measures have not been enough. "The European have so far expressed their stance, but have failed to present an action plan ... We believe the Europe is not ready yet to pay a price," Zarif was quoted as saying by the Young Journalists Club (YJC) website. Zarif also tweeted on Sunday that the formation of a new Iran "Action Group" in the U.S. State Department to coordinate Trump's pressure campaign against Iran aimed to overthrow the Islamic Republic, but it would fail. (Reporting by Bozorgmehr Sharafedin; Editing by Jane Merriman and David Evans) Jerusalem (AFP) - Israel closed Sunday its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip except for humanitarian cases after weekend border clashes, the latest tightening of its blockade on the Palestinian enclave despite truce efforts. The move could prevent Gazans from travelling via the crossing for this week's Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which runs from Monday night until Thursday night, but Israeli officials did not say how long the closure would last. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said in a statement the closure was due to "violent incidents on the border last Friday". The Palestinian Authority civilian affairs office in the Gaza Strip also confirmed the closure except for medical cases and Palestinians seeking to cross back into the enclave. Border protests and clashes on Friday saw two Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire. Israel's army said firebombs and improvised explosive devices were also hurled at the border fence, while a number of Palestinians briefly crossed into Israeli territory. No Israelis were reported wounded. The closure and border incidents occurred despite attempts by Egypt and UN officials to reach a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the blockaded Gaza Strip. Israel has enforced an air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip for more than a decade, but grants permission to a limited number of people to cross for various reasons. The two sides have fought three wars since 2008. Israel had just last week reopened its only goods crossing with Gaza after closing it to most deliveries for more than a month over border tensions. Gaza's only other border is with Egypt but the Rafah crossing with the enclave had largely been kept closed in recent years. Cairo opened it in mid-May and it has mostly remained so since. Separately on Sunday, US President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton arrived in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a time of shared concerns over Syria, Iran and the Gaza Strip. Story continues - 'A big step forward' - Protests and clashes began on the Gaza border on March 30 and have continued at varying levels since then. At least 171 Gazans have been killed by Israeli fire during that time. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July. There have also been several severe military flare-ups, including three since July. The latest was on August 9, when Israel responded to some 180 rockets and mortars fired from Gaza with widespread air strikes. UN officials and Egypt have been seeking to secure a long-term truce between Hamas and Israel to allow for humanitarian issues in the impoverished enclave of two million people to be addressed. Israel is demanding calm and a return of the remains of two soldiers Hamas is believed to be holding. Two Israeli civilians, both said to be mentally unstable, are also believed to have entered Gaza and to be held by Hamas. Israel is also seeking their return. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya told AFP on Friday that he believed a durable truce with Israel was near. He said that UN and Egyptian talks taking place in Egypt with various Palestinian factions have "taken a big step forward towards understandings with the occupation... and the possibility of restoring calm". An Israeli official said on condition of anonymity Wednesday that an initial set of "understandings" had been reached with the help of the UN and Egypt, leading to several days of calm on the border last week and the opening of the goods crossing. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has however expressed concern over any agreement that bypasses the Palestinian Authority. Hamas and Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank, have been deeply divided for more than a decade. By Nidal al-Mughrabi GAZA (Reuters) - Israeli troops killed two Palestinians and wounded scores of others taking part in weekly Gaza border protests on Friday, medics said, as Egyptian mediators tried to clinch a truce deal that would calm the impoverished enclave. In Jerusalem's Old City, another area that Palestinians want for a future state, Israeli police said they shot dead an Arab who attacked them with a knife after leaving a mosque complex. After a more than four-month surge in confrontations over the Gaza Strip border, Israel this week eased its clampdown on the enclave's commercial traffic and fishing. Cairo said it was finalizing details of a longer-term accommodation between Israel and the dominant Palestinian Islamist group Hamas. Some 20,000 people participated in Friday's protests, which took place a few hundred meters from the fence, though dozens came closer, with some rolling burning tires, witnesses said. Medics said Israeli gunfire killed two men and wounded at least 270 other Palestinians, 50 of them with live bullets. An Israeli army spokeswoman said troops had responded with "riot-dispersal means" to prevent breaches of the border. Friday's deaths brought to 170 the number of Palestinians killed by Israeli forces since the weekly protests began on March 30. The campaign is pressing for rights to land that Palestinians lost to Israel in the 1948 war of its foundation, and for an end to the Israeli-Egyptian blockade of Gaza. Anger in Gaza has also been stoked by funding cuts by the Western-backed administration of Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, which dominates the West Bank and is the rival of Hamas, which runs Gaza. Their efforts at agreeing on a power-sharing unity deal with Egyptian mediation have not borne fruit. Cairo had no immediate comment on Friday's incidents. Hamas official Izzat Reshiq said the group, and other Palestinian factions, concluded a round of talks with Egyptian security officials over a possible truce with Israel and that further talks were scheduled for later this month. "Efforts will resume after the holiday of Eid Al-Adha," Reshiq said on Twitter, referring to a Muslim festival that begins on Aug. 21 and ends on Aug. 24. Israel sees the Gaza protests as a bid by Hamas, against which it has fought three wars in the last decade, to use civilians as cover for cross-border attacks. Hamas denies this. Separately, Israeli police said they were attacked on Friday by a knife-wielding man after he emerged from a complex housing Al Aqsa mosque, Islam's third-holiest shrine, in East Jerusalem. The man was shot dead, police said, describing him as a resident of an Israeli Arab town where pro-Palestinian sympathies are strong. CCTV video from the scene showed a man lunging at a police trooper with a knife, but not what followed. Palestinians said that, after the incident, Israeli authorities barred Muslim worshippers from Al Aqsa mosque. "This is a grave escalation that may lead to unpredictable consequences," Abbas said in a statement carried by the official Palestinian news agency Wafa. (Reporting by Nidal al-Mughrabi; Writing by Dan Williams; Editing by Mark Heinrich) James Clapper (left) suggested that the strong criticism of President Trump by former CIA director John Brennan (center), has overshadowed the real threat to U.S. institutions. (Yahoo News photo Illustration; photos: AP, Getty) James Clapper, former Director of National Intelligence, said that former CIA Director John Brennan has the subtlety of a freight train and that his rhetoric has become an issue in and of itself. After Trumps summit meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki last month, Brennan leveled some incendiary accusations against the White House. He called Trumps actions nothing short of treasonous. Jake Tapper, the host of CNNs State of the Union, asked Clapper on Sunday morning whether he thinks Brennans hyperbole is cause for concern. Well, I think it is. I think John is subtle like a freight train, and hes going to say whats on his mind, Clapper said. Clapper added that the intelligence professionals speaking out share a genuine concern for U.S. institutions and values but may express themselves in different ways. He suggested that inflammatory language can distract from the important issues at hand. John and his rhetoric have become, I think, an issue in and of itself, he said. Brennan has been particularly outspoken in his criticisms of Trump, after the president cast doubt on the intelligence communitys conclusion that Moscow launched a multifaceted campaign to disrupt American democracy and meddle in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. Trump revoked Brennans top-secret security clearance last week in reaction to what he called unfounded and outrageous allegations. Former top intelligence officials, including several who served under Republican administrations, condemned Trumps actions. They agreed that security clearances should be based on concerns of national security not political ideology. In an appearance on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday morning, Brennan doubled down on the accusation that Trumps behavior has been treasonous. I called his behavior treasonous. I stand very much by that claim, Brennan said. These are abnormal times. I have seen the signs blinking red on what Mr. Trump has done and is doing. Story continues _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Jimmy Carter is the only modern-era president to return full-time to the house he lived in before he entered politics. In fact, hes also the only living president who saves taxpayers money, specifically less than half the $952,000 budgeted for George H.W. Bush and the $1 million for Bill Clinton, George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Carter, who will become the second president ever to reach age 94, opened up about his modest life in Plains, Georgia, with wife, former first lady Rosalynn, telling The Washington Post, It just never had been my ambition to be rich. Unlike his successors, the Democratic former president, who served one term, purposefully chose not to join corporate boards or get paid as a public speaker because he didnt want to capitalize financially on being in the White House. While others choose to fly via private jet, the Carters fly commercial. RELATED: The Inside Story of the Ex-Presidents Club Hurricane Aid Video That Conspicuously Excluded Donald Trump While he doesnt see anything wrong with other former presidents collecting monetary gain from their White House experiences, (I dont blame other people for doing it, he tells the Post), Carter, who is now cancer-free three years after a melanoma diagnosis on his liver and brain, reveals that he prefers a simpler life. He enjoys spending time in his study or swimming in the pool, even occasionally building furniture and painting in the garage. Meanwhile, his wife likes to practice tai chi and meditate in the mornings. After making their own yogurt, the couple watches Atlanta Braves games or Law and Order in the afternoons inside their two-bedroom rancher assessed at $167,000. WATCH: Barack Obama Bemoans Head-Spinning and Disturbing Events in Speech After Trump-Putin Meeting The Carters frugal living may have to do with their failed peanut business. They returned to Plains from 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. when he was 56 years old as his peanut business was $1 million in debt. We thought we were going to lose everything, Rosalynn told the Post of the company her husband was forced to sell. Story continues These days, they live off the income of his numerous books as well as the $210,700 annual pension all former presidents receive. He doesnt like big shots, and he doesnt think hes a big shot, said Gerald Rafshoon, who was the 39th presidents former White House communications director. As for what he thinks of current commander in chief, President Donald Trump? I think hes a disaster, Carter, who has rarely spoken out about Trump, told the Post. In human rights and taking care of people and treating people equal. Former CIA Director John Brennan testifies before the House Intelligence Committee on the Russia Investigation Task Force on May 23, 2017. (The Washington Post via Getty Images) On Wednesday afternoon, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders informed the country that President Donald Trump had revoked the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, pointing to wild outbursts on the Internet and television to justify the unprecedented decision. As part of this new standard, the president is evaluating the security clearance status of nine other former intelligence directors and national security leaders like James Clapper, James Comey and Michael Hayden. In his haste to punish those who disagree with him on cable television and social media, Trump seems to have violated Executive Order 12968, first signed by President Bill Clinton in 1995 and updated by President George W. Bush in 2008. The order was established to ensure that when there are credible allegations that someone has compromised classified information or is unfit to continue having access to classified information, their security clearances may be suspended and revoked if substantiated through an investigation. It should go without saying that disagreeing with the president on television or on Twitter does not constitute the means to question a persons trustworthiness, honesty, reliability, discretion, and sound judgment as the executive order requires. While Trump compromises our national security to fulfill his revenge fantasies, he has looked the other way and given his own aides special treatment. Under the executive order, security clearance holders are entitled to due process procedures. It certainly doesnt appear as if Trump initiated any kind of investigation or process before terminating Brennans clearance. On Thursday, House Oversight and Government Reform Committee ranking member Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) sent a letter to White House chief of staff John Kelly requesting a detailed briefing regarding the process used to evaluate Mr. Brennans suitability to maintain a security clearance as well as the processes used in the decision not to suspend or revoke the security clearances of General Michael Flynn, Staff Secretary Robert Porter, and others. Story continues As Cummings pointed out, if making outrageous statements or engaging in wild outbursts on the Internet and television were grounds for denying access to classified information, many of the Presidents top aides indeed the President himself would be swept into this unprecedented new category. The fact is, Trump has verified that revoking security clearances is an act of political revenge and has nothing to do with national security. Trump told The Wall Street Journal on Wednesday that he viewed Mr. Brennan as among those he held responsible for the investigation, which is also looking into whether there was collusion between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin. While Trump compromises our national security to fulfill his revenge fantasies, he has looked the other way and given his own aides special treatment. The notion that the president could take such unprecedented actions without adhering to existing national security standards raises legitimate questions about his fitness for office. As Cummings notes in his letter, President Trump failed to suspend the security clearance of his former National Security Advisor, General Michael Flynn, for several weeks after the Department of Justice informed the White House that General Flynn was under investigation for lying about his secret conversations with the Russians. President Trump also failed to suspend the interim security clearance of Staff Secretary Robert Porter after the Federal Bureau of Investigation provided the White House with multiple derogatory reports about his actions. Lets not forget that the presidents son-in-law, Jared Kushner, has a security clearance despite his role in special counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe and appearing to use his position in the White House to secure $500 million in loans for his business enterprises. The most important function of the presidency is our national security. The notion that the commander-in-chief could take such unprecedented actions without adhering to existing national security standards raises legitimate questions about his fitness for office. White House officials will almost certainly avoid answering any questions about the process, or lack thereof, surrounding their new security clearance standards. For the time being, they may get away with it. But if Democrats retake control of the House in November, John Kelly better be prepared to sit in the Oversight Committee hearing room for a few hours on live television and explain why he subverted national security protocol to help a mentally unstable lunatic jeopardize our security for the sake of personal revenge. Kurt Bardella is a HuffPost columnist and a former spokesman for Reps. Brian Bilbray (R-Calif.), Darrell Issa (R-Calif), Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) and the House Oversight & Government Reform Committee. Follow him on Twitter: @kurtbardella By Latifah Muhammad Kofi Annan, the former United Nations secretary-general and Nobel Peace Prize-winning Ghanaian diplomat died Saturday (Aug. 18) at age 80. Annan passed away peacefully Saturday (Aug. 18) after battling a short illness, his family said in a statement. Kofi Annan was a global statesman and deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful wold, the statement reads. During his distinguished career and leadership of the United Nations he was an ardent champion of peace, sustainable development, human rights and the rule of law. In 1997, Annan became the first black African to lead the U.N. He won a second term in 2001, and retired as chief in 2006. After stepping down, Annan continued to work tirelessly to champion peace around the globe, through his Kofi Annan Foundation, and as chair of The Elders, the group founded by Nelson Mandela. Wherever there was suffering or need, he reached out and touched many people with his deep compassion and empathy, the family statement added. He will be greatly missed by so many around the world, as well as his staff at the foundation and his former colleagues in the United Nations system. He will remain in our hearts forever. Annan is survived by his wife Nane, and their children, all of whom were by his side in his last days. The family is asking for privacy during their time of mourning, and will make an announcement regarding funeral arrangements at a later date. See below for touching tributes to Annan from President Barack Obama, the United Nations, and more. In these turbulent and trying times, he never stopped working to give life to the values of the United Nations Charter. His legacy will remain a true inspiration for all of us. @AntonioGuterres on the passing of @KofiAnnan, 18 Aug 2018 pic.twitter.com/dLdnBOJFLF United Nations (@UN) August 18, 2018 .@KofiAnnan, our #African and global icon who lived a life deeply committed to serving humanity. He did it with dignity and gave hope to the voiceless. My Friend, My Hero, My Inspiration. #RIPKofiAnnan pic.twitter.com/i7aqSiuYvG Amina J Mohammed (@AminaJMohammed) August 18, 2018 We are shocked and deeply saddened at the passing of our dear friend, colleague and Chair, Kofi Annan. Statement: https://t.co/jldgJ40AnM pic.twitter.com/iuUXfVbpMj The Elders (@TheElders) August 18, 2018 This post Kofi Annan, Former United Nations Leader And Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dies At 80 first appeared on Vibe. Kofi Annan, the soft-spoken Ghanaian diplomat who served as the first United Nations secretary-general from sub-Saharan Africa, has died. Annan died Saturday after an unspecified short illness, according to a statement from his family and the Kofi Annan Foundation. He was 80. Current UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Annan was a guiding force for good. In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations, he said. He rose through the ranks to lead the organization into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination. Annan devoted almost his entire working life to the UN, navigating through multiple wars in the Middle East, the Balkan breakup, African genocides and a raft of other crises over a career that spanned more than five decades. He was the co-recipient, along with the UN, of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize, to recognize work for a better organized and more peaceful world. His opposition to the Iraq War in 2003 endeared him to antiwar groups and drew sharp criticism from U.S. conservatives, including John Bolton, the former U.S. ambassador to the UN who became national security adviser to President Donald Trump. Admiration, Criticism Although broadly admired as a bureaucratic reformer and quiet insider, Annan was often assailed as ineffective. He was criticized for his handling of UN peacekeeping operations at the time of the genocide of Rwandan Tutsis in 1994 and the killing of Muslims from the Bosnian town of Srebrenica the following year. His reputation was tainted further by a corruption scandal that touched his family and a failure to help resolve the Syrian crisis in 2012, when it was in its infancy. A lot of his time as secretary-general was devoted to redeeming both the UNs battered reputation and his own, said Richard Gowan, a fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations. Annan and his advisers managed to nurse UN operations back to life, and launch new blue missions in trouble spots like Congo and Liberia. If Annan hadnt pushed the UN back into peacekeeping in Africa, the organization would be even less credible in global security than it is today. Story continues Following his two terms as secretary-general, Annan became a member of the Elders, an elite group of retired liberal leaders, including Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter, partly financed by Richard Branson to resolve conflicts around the world through informal counsel. In February 2012, Annan was appointed the first UN special envoy to Syria in an attempt to end the civil war that had broken out the previous year. He resigned six months later, citing intransigence of both government and rebels. He called for UN peacekeeping troops to be deployed, but world powers could not agree to such a plan. In his 2012 memoir, Interventions: A Life in War and Peace, Annan wrote that Syrian President Bashar al-Assads response to the popular uprising confirmed my more troubling suspicion that he was a man beholden to a small group of Alawite security officers and willing to employ any means to retain power. Nonetheless, Annan maintained his stature in world diplomacy and in 2016 was appointed to head a UN commission to investigate the Rohingya crisis in Myanmar. Leaders React Tributes poured in Saturday from world leaders expressing their sadness at the news of Annans death. Ghanaian President Nana Okufo-Addo said on Twitter that Ghanaian flags would fly at half-staff for a week starting Monday. He called Annan an ardent believer in the capacity of the Ghanaian to chart his or her own course onto the path of progress and prosperity. U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said of Annan on Twitter that as a great leader and reformer of the UN, he made a huge contribution to making the world he has left a better place than the one he was born into. French President Emmanuel Macron said on Twitter, France pays homage to him. We will never forget his calm and determined demeanor, nor the force of his efforts. Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed condolences in a message to Guterres, according to an emailed statement from the Kremlin. I sincerely admired his wisdom and courage, and the ability to make informed decisions even in the most difficult, critical situations, Putin wrote. Gro Harlem Brundtland, deputy chairwoman of the Elders, said the group was devastated by his death. Kofi was a strong and inspiring presence to us all, and the Elders would not be where it is today without his leadership, she said. South African Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu, whom Annan succeeded as chairman of the Elders in 2013, said in a statement, We give great thanks to God for Kofi Annan, an outstanding human being who represented our continent and the world with enormous graciousness, integrity and distinction. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa paid tribute to Annan in an emailed statement as a great leader and diplomat extraordinaire who had advanced the African agenda within the United Nations and had flown the flag for peace around the world. Gold Coast Annan was born on April 8, 1938, in Kumasi, Gold Coast, which later changed its name to Ghana. He attended an elite boarding school in Cape Town before studying economics at the Kumasi College of Science and Technology. He received a Ford Foundation grant to complete his studies at Macalester College in St. Paul, Minnesota. After graduation in 1962, Annan joined the World Health Organization, a UN agency, as a budget officer before leaving to earn a masters degree in management at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1971. Annan returned to the UN as head of personnel for the UN High Commission for Refugees in Geneva before moving to New York to become an assistant secretary-general. In 1992, after Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali established the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, Annan became its head. In January 1994, Annan failed to authorize UN peacekeeping troops to seize a Hutu arms cache to preempt plans for mass killings in the capital. Annan ordered the local commander not to take any action and failed to keep the Security Council informed even as the genocide had started. Accepts Responsibility In his memoir, Annan accepts responsibility, and writes that the UN had no genuine, deep expertise on the country. Months after the Rwandan massacre, UN troops stood by as more than 8,000 Muslim men and boys were killed by Serbian paramilitary units in the town of Srebrenica. Annan later apologized. Annan was appointed secretary-general in 1996 after the U.S. said it would veto a second term for incumbent Boutros-Ghali of Egypt. Annans rise to head the UN was a moment of joy and pride for me, all of us, his mates, the school, Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa, said Nana Nsaful, 76, a school friend. During the buildup to the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Annan called on the U.S. and the U.K. not to attack without the support of the UN. He later called the invasion illegal. Toward the end of his tenure, Annan became embroiled in charges that his son, Kojo Annan, had received payments from the Geneva-based Cotecna Inspection SA, which had won a lucrative contract under the UNs oil-for-food program for Iraq. Volckers Inquiry An inquiry led by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker found in September 2005 that Annan knew about Saddam Husseins corruption of the almost $70 billion program and did little to stop the illegal activity. Annan maintained a passive attitude and made no serious effort to curtail the surcharge scheme, the report said. His response to the smuggling reveals a pattern of inaction and inadequate disclosure. He finished his term at the end of 2006, succeeded by Ban Ki-moon of South Korea. After the UN, Annan, set up the Kofi Annan Foundation, which works to promote good global governance and peace. In 1984, Annan married Nane Lagergren, a Swedish lawyer at the UN and the niece of Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat who saved thousands of Jews in Nazi-occupied Hungary. His son, Kojo, and daughter, Ama, were from an earlier marriage. Nane Annan has a daughter, Nina Cronstedt de Groot, from a previous marriage. Sokcho (South Korea) (AFP) - With tears and cries, dozens of elderly and frail South and North Korean family members met on Monday for the first time since the peninsula and their relationships were torn apart by war nearly 70 years ago. Clasping one another, they tried to bridge the decades of separation through precious physical contact and by showing each other pictures of their relatives. Many of the North Korean women were clad in traditional dresses, known as hanbok in the South and joseon-ot in the North, and all had the ubiquitous badges of the North's founder Kim Il Sung or his son and successor Kim Jong Il, while the Southerners wore their best suits. As soon as 99-year-old South Korean Han Shin-ja approached their table, her two daughters -- aged 69 and 72 -- bowed their heads deeply towards her and burst into tears. Han also broke down, rubbing her cheeks against theirs and holding their hands tightly. "When I fled during the war..." she began, choking back tears as if she were about to apologise for leaving them behind. Millions of people were swept apart by the 1950-53 Korean War, which separated brothers and sisters, parents and children and husbands and wives. Hostilities ceased with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war and the peninsula split by the impenetrable Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), with all direct civilian exchanges -- even mundane family news -- banned. The three-day reunion at Mount Kumgang, a scenic resort in North Korea, is the first for three years and follows a diplomatic thaw on the peninsula. According to pool reports, the event began with a popular North Korean song "Nice to meet you" -- also well known in the South -- blaring out from speakers. - 'Never imagined this day would come' - Lee Keum-seom, now tiny and frail at 92, met her son for the first time since she and her infant daughter were separated from him and her husband as they fled. Story continues At the time Ri Sang Chol was aged just four. Lee shouted his name when she saw the now 71-year-old, before hugging him as both were overcome with emotion. Her son showed her pictures of his family in the North -- including her late husband -- telling her: "This is a photo of father." Before leaving for the meeting, Lee told AFP: "I never imagined this day would come. I didn't even know if he was alive or not." With time taking its toll, such parent-child reunions have become rare. Since 2000 the two nations have held 20 rounds of reunions but most of the more than 130,000 Southerners who signed up for a reunion since the events began have since died. More than half the survivors are over 80, with this year's oldest participant Baik Sung-kyu aged 101. South Korean Park Ki-dong, 82, met his two North Korean siblings, who had brought dozens of family photos with them. Pak Sam Dong pointed at one of the images, telling his brother: "This is you." The older man stared at the picture silently, deep in thought, while his North Korean sister quietly wiped tears from her eyes. Tomas Ojea Quintana, the UN's Special Rapporteur on human rights in the North, called for Seoul and Pyongyang to hold more family meetings. "Bearing in mind the ages of those affected, I encourage both sides to arrange more of these reunions as soon as possible so that more people can get together with their relatives and are allowed to remain in touch with them," he said in a statement. - Bittersweet - The reunions are resuming after a three-year hiatus as the North accelerated its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and relations worsened. But after a rapid diplomatic thaw the North's leader Kim Jong Un and the South's President Moon Jae-in agreed to restart them at their first summit in April in the DMZ. The two Koreas have since discussed cooperation in various fields at meetings between officials. But while Kim and US President Donald Trump held a landmark summit in Singapore in June, Pyongyang has yet to make clear what concessions it is willing to make on its nuclear arsenal, while Washington is looking to maintain sanctions pressure on it. Families at previous reunions have often found it a bittersweet experience, with some complaining about the short time they were allowed together and others lamenting the ideological gaps between them after decades apart. Some of those selected for this year's reunions dropped out after learning that their parents or siblings had died and they could only meet more distant relatives whom they had never seen before. Over the next three days, the 89 families will spend only about 11 hours together, mostly under the watchful eyes of North Korean agents. They will have only three hours in private before they are separated once again on Wednesday, in all likelihood for the final time. Macy's Inc. (NYSE: M) stock has taken quite a beating this week, dropping roughly 15 percent after second-quarter earnings disappointed the market. Unfortunately for Macy's investors, analysts say the second half of 2018 will be more challenging. Bank of America analyst Lorraine Hutchinson says Macy's should be commended for its performance in the first half of the year -- shares are still up roughly 40 percent year-to-date -- but it will be much more impressive if the company can deliver the same performance over the next two quarters. Lorraine says improvements to same-store sales in the first half of the year were driven by a stronger U.S. consumer population and a much tighter inventory that generated higher average unit retail. AUR was up 4.6 percent in the first two quarters of the year, and total transactions were up 0.5 percent. At the same time, unit sales were down 2.6 percent. Lorraine also says Macy's recent comparisons have benefited from aggressive beauty and housewares discounting in the first half of 2017. [See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy for 2018.] "We see risk to the [second half] owned comp guide for 1.9 percent to 2.4 percent as comparisons are tougher, the tourist benefit wanes, and the calendar shift flips to a headwind," Lorraine says. She also says Macy's is facing major gross margin headwinds in the second half of the year, including a rise in shipping expenses associated with the free shipping promotion for credit card users who spend more than $500 per year. Bank of America is projecting Macy's gross margins will drop 0.25 percent in the second half of 2018. "For 2H18, M will need to rely more on its sales initiatives to drive comp, in particular, its updated loyalty program, the Backstage roll-out and investments in its top 50 stores," Lorraine says. CFRA analyst Efraim Levy says Macy's loyalty program will be a double-edged sword in coming quarters. Story continues "Loyalty program growth will likely help sales and credit income but should result in higher delivery costs in the second half," Levy says. However, the post-earnings sell-off has made Macy's dividend more appealing for investors. "The company's 4.1 percent dividend yield adds to total return potential," Levy says. [See: 7 Stocks That Soar in a Recession.] Bank of America has a "neutral" rating and $39 price target for Macy's. CFRA has a "hold" rating and $42 target for Macy's stock. Wayne Duggan is a freelance investment strategy reporter with a focus on energy and emerging market stocks. He has a degree in brain and cognitive sciences from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and specializes in the psychological challenges of investing. He is a senior financial market reporter for Benzinga and has contributed financial market analysis to Motley Fool, Seeking Alpha and InvestorPlace. He is also the author of the book "Beating Wall Street With Common Sense," which focuses on the practical strategies he has used to outperform the stock market. You can follow him on Twitter @DugganSense, check out his latest content at tradingcommonsense.com or email him at wpd@tradingcommonsense.com. Mataram (Indonesia) (AFP) - At least 10 people are dead after a string of powerful quakes rocked the Indonesian holiday island of Lombok, authorities said Monday, in a fresh blow just weeks after earlier tremors left hundreds dead and thousands more homeless. The latest quakes struck Sunday, with the first measuring 6.3 shortly before midday. It triggered landslides and sent people fleeing for cover as parts of Lombok suffered blackouts. It was followed nearly 12 hours later by a 6.9-magnitude quake and a string of powerful aftershocks. The picturesque island next to holiday hotspot Bali was already reeling from two deadly quakes on July 29 and August 5 that killed nearly 500 people. Ten people were killed in the strong quake Sunday evening, mostly by falling debris, including six people on the neighbouring island of Sumbawa, according to the national disaster agency. Some two dozen people were injured in Lombok and more than 150 homes and places of worship damaged, the agency said. Tens of thousands of homes, mosques and businesses across Lombok had already been destroyed by the quake earlier this month. Most people caught in the latest tremor had been outside their homes or at shelters when it struck which kept casualties low, said national disaster agency spokesman Sutopo Purwo Nugroho. "The trauma because of the earlier quake on Sunday (morning) made people prefer to stay outside," he added. Aid agencies vowed to boost humanitarian assistance on the island as devastated residents struggle in makeshift displacement camps. Indonesia's disaster agency said it was accelerating efforts to rebuild destroyed homes, hospitals and schools, while Save the Children pledged to escalate its humanitarian response. "We are gravely concerned about the repeated distress caused to children by the multiple shocks," the relief agency said. - 'Too scared at home' - Video images from an evacuation camp in Lombok showed children and adults taking cover inside makeshift tents. Story continues "I'm too scared to stay at my house because it's damaged," said resident Saruniwati, who like many Indonesians goes by one name. "I've been here since the quake (earlier this month). I went home two days ago and now I'm back here again." Local Agus Salim said the powerful tremor jolted him awake Sunday evening. "The earthquake was incredibly strong. Everything was shaking," he told AFP. "Everyone ran into the street screaming and crying." There were landslides in a national park on Mount Rinjani where hundreds of hikers had been briefly trapped after the quake in late July. The park has been closed since then. Sunday's tremors were also felt on Bali but there were no reports of damage there. - 'Ring of Fire' - The latest tremor follows the a shallow 6.9-magnitude quake on August 5 that killed at least 481 people and left thousands more injured. The hardest-hit region was in the north of the island, which has suffered hundreds of aftershocks. A week before that quake, a tremor surged through the island and killed 17. The disasters have raised fears that Lombok's key tourism industry would take a beating, but the international airport was operating normally Monday with no exodus of frightened tourists. Indonesia sits on the so-called Pacific "Ring of Fire", where tectonic plates collide and many of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur. The Australian and Eurasian plates, which sit under the archipelago, have been colliding and putting stress on key area fault lines, according to a geologist. "Clearly there are different parts of the fault that are moving at the moment releasing those stressors," said Chris Elders, an expert in plate tectonics and structural geology at Curtin University in West Australia. In 2004 a tsunami triggered by a magnitude 9.3 undersea earthquake off the coast of Sumatra in western Indonesia killed 220,000 people in countries around the Indian Ocean, including 168,000 in Indonesia. BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) Western-backed Afghan defenses will not break under the weight of Taliban violence in advance of scheduled parliamentary elections in October, U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said. In his most detailed comments on the Taliban's assault on the eastern city of Ghazni since it began Aug. 10, Mattis said the Taliban had six objectives in and around the city and failed to seize any of them. He would not specify the six sites. In Ghazni, provincial police chief Farid Mashal said Thursday that roads were being cleared of mines planted by Taliban who temporarily held entire neighborhoods of the city that they had besieged. The fighting continued for five days with more than 100 members of the Afghan National Security forces killed and 20 civilians. Scores of Taliban were also killed, according to Afghan officials. Mattis said Thursday some Taliban fighters were still holed up in houses in the city "trying to get resupplied." He said businesses are reopening, and overall, "it's much more stable" in Ghazni, showing that the Taliban have fallen short. "They have not endeared themselves, obviously, to the population of Ghazni," Mattis said. "They use terror. They use bombs because they can't win with ballots." The Taliban operation followed a familiar pattern, Mattis said in remarks to reporters flying with him Thursday evening to Bogota, Colombia, where he was winding up a weeklong tour of South America. The insurgents likely were trying to gain leverage in advance of an expected cease fire offer by Afghan President Ashraf Ghani, he said. And they likely were hoping to sow fear in advance of the October elections, he added. "They achieved a degree of disquiet," he said, but nothing more. "So we'll continue to see this sort of thing," he said, even though the Taliban lack the strength to hold territory they seize for brief periods. "They will never hold against the Afghan army." Story continues The Afghan war has been stalemated for years. The Taliban lack the popular support to prevail, although they benefit from sanctuary in Pakistan. Afghan government forces, on the other hand, are too weak to decisively break the insurgents even as they develop under U.S. and NATO training and advising. Mattis has said he believes the Afghan security forces are gaining momentum and can wear down the Taliban to the point where the insurgents would choose to talk peace. So far that approach has not produced a breakthrough. Next week will mark one year since President Donald Trump announced a revised war strategy for Afghanistan, declaring there would be no time limit on U.S. support for the war and making a renewed push for peace negotiations. (CNN) Tommy Frenck is the proud owner and proprietor of The Golden Lion, a traditional, half-timbered guesthouse surrounded by meadows in a small village in central Germany. Schnitzel topped with a fried egg is the specialty here, but his patrons come for more than food and drink: they come to share what they call "patriotic" views. "I bought the guesthouse because we could not go into the other guesthouses," says Frenck. "Every time the police or other people would kick us out: 'Don't let the right-wing in! Don't let the Nazis in!'" Germany has seen a resurgence in far-right sentiment over the last few years, along with the rapid rise of the anti-immigration, anti-Islam Alternative for Germany (AfD). But few embrace their political identity as flamboyantly as Frenck, whose neck is tattooed with the word "Aryan." "I am proud of my nation. I am proud of my heritage," he says. "That's the thing in Germany: if you are proud of your heritage, you are the bad guy... Every person who's not politically correct is somehow a 'Nazi.'" Frenck bought the guesthouse in 2015 not just as a place for like-minded citizens but also as a warehouse for his growing business in Nazi merchandise, much of which barely skirts Germany's stringent hate speech laws. The place is decorated with World War II memorabilia, including the German imperial flag and a row of liquors named after tank, air force and SS commanders. On a top shelf, a wooden doll has its arm permanently raised in a Nazi salute and several cushion covers are printed with "I heart HTLR" logos. And with the AfD surging in Germany, the pub is far from alone in spreading its message to far-right supporters, despite Germany's criminal code prohibiting the public use of "symbols of unconstitutional organizations" -- that includes the swastika, the Celtic cross, the Nazi salute and other symbols associated with the Nazi Party. Punishment can range from fines to three years in prison. As a result, far-right supporters have developed a coded language, in which Frenck is fluent. One T-shirt reads "88," signifying "HH" or "Heil Hitler" (H being the 8th letter of the alphabet). Every April 20 -- Adolf Hitler's birthday -- customers at the guesthouse can enjoy a "HTLR SCHNTZL" for 8.88 euros. According to Frenck, sales of his products have grown 10% since the beginning of 2016, coinciding with the arrival of more than 1 million refugees in Germany in 2015. And his customers are not all tattooed, middle-aged men. On the day CNN visits, a family from the southern state of Baden-Wurttemberg is also visiting with their primary-school-aged daughter. She picks out a pink "Little German" T-shirt and pays with her pocket money, fishing around in her purse for the right coins. Her mother, who does not want to be named, says the family makes a point of visiting the guesthouse every year. "We come here because this is what we think," she told CNN, "This is how we want to live." Politics must be 'for the German people' Frenck wants to stop immigration to Germany and ban Islam. He voted for the AfD in last year's federal elections, when the party won 12.6% of the vote nationally -- and 22.5% in Frenck's home state of Thuringia. Echoing the party's politicians -- who now occupy 92 seats in the country's parliament -- he says he is not a white supremacist, but just doesn't like globalization and the mixing of cultures. "Most important for me is that the German government makes politics for German people and not for the European Union or refugees in Africa," he says. "They have to be for the German people." He points to his world map of travels, studded with pins across Asia and the Middle East. "I love all these countries and I have friends all over the world! I like the food there. The thing is, they want to make from all these nice cultures just one culture. You know what I mean?" Across Europe, such views are becoming more common, and those who hold them more vocal. Anti-immigration politicians in former Soviet bloc nations such as Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban -- who in February likened immigration to a "flu epidemic" -- have been joined by party leaders in countries such as Denmark, France and Austria, previously considered bastions of liberalism. Far-right parties are gaining ground across much of the continent, and are now in power in Italy, Austria and Hungary. "We are currently engaged in a political cultural struggle in Europe," said Hajo Funke, professor of political science at Berlin's Free University. "We have this right-wing shift in parts of (the continent)." He believes German Chancellor Angela Merkel has resisted this shift, by refusing to form a coalition with the AfD and by defying the attempts of her interior minister to drift to the right on immigration. Her approach "represents a middle course," he said. "And this middle course is what the majority wants." Far-right concerts are 'dangerous for society' While central government may be holding a relatively steady centrist course, the impact of right-wingers such as Frenck (and his merchandise) is a big concern for some Germans. "Superficially, some of the T-shirts try to be funny," says Stefan Herdegen, a local activist who monitors far-right extremist groups in Thuringia. "They are not funny. They are serious because they promote Nazi ideas to people. And that is dangerous." He's also concerned about the music festivals Frenck organizes in the state each year. "These events are dangerous, not only because there have been violent incidents reported, but because of their political nature they are dangerous for society. Neo-Nazi content is spread here." Frenck's activities have put him on the radar of local police. The domestic intelligence service in Thuringia became especially concerned last year when Frenck organized a "Rock for Identity" music festival that attracted around 6,000 people, according to a statement sent to CNN by the domestic intelligence service in Thuringia. Following heavy criticism of their tactics at that event, police took a tougher approach at this year's event -- a "Day of Identity" concert in June featuring far-right heavy metal bands and guest speakers from the AfD. Fewer than 2,500 people came, according to police, attendance dampened by rain and an overwhelming police presence that cut off road traffic to the event. Police said they recorded 84 violations at the concert, some of which were hate speech offenses including the display of banned symbols -- but one journalist was also punched in the face by a concert-goer. Funke is concerned that authorities have allowed Frenck too long a leash in the past and was pleased to see more police intervention at this year's concert. "But more can always be done," he said. Frenck knows he is monitored by police but insists he has broken no laws and has no criminal record. He says that police concerns about his music festivals are overblown and that he was happy with this year's turnout. "For me, it was a good business day. We had people from Switzerland, Norway, some Swedes, also Poland, Hungary and Russia," he says, rifling through a guestbook in which concert-goers left messages. "We're hoping that at the next event, police will stop searching us before going in to listen to bands. It just intimidates us and keeps people from attending." He's planning another event this summer and also has a fresh batch of designs and new products for his online business, including a set of queen-size bedsheets emblazoned with the German imperial flag. "I am a regular guy who pays his taxes like anyone else. I am not doing anything wrong," he says. "If people label me as a Nazi it's not my problem." This story was first published on CNN.com, "'Htler Schntzl,' Nazi salute dolls, SS-themed liquors: How far right skirts German hate laws." Jerusalem (AFP) - Photographer Ron Amir spent years visiting African migrants in the Israeli desert to understand the new world they had created. He came back with a provocative set of pictures -- without people in them. The human-less photographs include objects such as a makeshift bench and gym or a mud oven, composed in a way that hints at the migrants' desperation and their attempts to manufacture new lives. The exhibition, previously on display in Israel, is set to move to the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, where it will open on September 14 and run until December 2. Amir said recently at the Israel Museum, where the exhibition appeared in 2016, that keeping people out of the pictures was a way to stimulate questions about what the viewer sees. It was a means to "open another channel of observation that enables developing broader connotations on these sites," the Israeli photographer said. In one, a plank of thin metal sits atop three stones, wild shrubs behind it leading to a cloudless sky and a red ball attached to power lines. The understated photograph, its yellowish desert shades punctuated by red flecks of garbage, is named "Hamed Alnnil's Bench." Alnnil, one of the thousands of African migrants who were held at the Holot detention centre near Israel's border with Egypt, had ventured out of the open facility's boundaries to create his much-needed personal space. Amir had visited Holot over the years 2014-2016 and befriended some of the facility's residents, who showed him the spaces they had created -- most of them hidden away in the desert land surrounding Holot. Those held at the now-shuttered facility were allowed to leave during the day. - 'Time to kill' - Amir created a series of photographs of the special spaces, with some of them serving clear functions, such as the gym, an oven for baking bread or a row of stones delineating the outline of a small mosque. Story continues Others, such as a line of empty water bottles half-buried in the hard desert ground, give no hint as to their purpose. The 30 photographs show "what happens when people have a lot of time to kill," Amir said. The oven ultimately "tells more about us, about Israel, about the system, about the limitations it imposes -- and less about the people who came from Africa," he said. His decision to keep the migrants unseen in some ways matched what they were facing. At the time of Amir's work, the Israeli government was seeking a way to make the approximately 42,000 African migrants in the country vanish, with religious and conservative politicians portraying the presence of Muslim and Christian Africans as a threat to Israel's Jewish character. Many of the migrants, predominantly from Eritrea and Sudan, arrived in Israel illegally through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. They settled in a number of poor neighbourhoods in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, the country's economic capital. Others were eventually sent to Holot. In April, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled an agreement with the UN refugee agency aimed at avoiding forced deportations of thousands of the migrants. Under the deal, some 16,000 migrants were to be transferred to Western countries, with Israel giving residency to an equal number of them. Netanyahu faced heavy pressure to cancel the deal from his right-wing base, who want to see all the migrants expelled. Their fate now remains in limbo. - 'Expand the limits' - Accompanying Amir's photographs are six videos from outside Holot which do contain people -- migrants chatting, posing for a picture, making coffee or listening to music and waiting. "In Ron's videos, nothing happens," said Noam Gal, the curator for Amir's exhibition in Jerusalem and Paris. "That's just the point -- you can see what's happening at Holot only if you take upon yourself to sit and kill time from your day, and understand that what happens to the people there is the same time as yours," he said. The exhibition arrives in Paris as France and other European states also seek ways to deal with an influx of migrants. To Gal, the Israel Museum's curator of photography, the exhibition is also "an opportunity to draw public attention to the phenomenon (of asylum seekers) from the artistic perspective," he said. Doing so could even "expand the limits of the discourse so that it's not just between decision-makers of the high political and diplomatic echelons, but maybe there's room here for other voices," Gal said. Fox News Special prosecutor Robert Mueller has recommended a former foreign policy aide to Donald Trump's 2016 campaign be jailed for up to six months for lying to the FBI. George Papadopoulos had pleaded guilty to the charge in 2017 as part of a plea deal in one of the first indictments handed down by the FBI and Mr Mueller's team as part of the investigation into alleged collusion between the campaign team and Russian officials. Prosecutors said in court filings the former aide severely hindered the early days of the investigation because he lied "at least a dozen" times in a January 2017 interview with the FBI about his contacts with a professor called Joseph Mifsud. It was at that point "key decisions" were being made by the FBI regarding who to interview, when, and what to ask. They also said in the filing he lied "to minimise both his own role as a witness and the extent of the campaign's knowledge of his contacts". As a result, the prosecutors claimed because of Mr Papadopoulos's deliberate deception, the FBI was "substantially hindered [the FBI's] ability to effectively question" Mr Mifsud, who had been in contact with the campaign aide regarding emails which contained "dirt" on then-opponent Hillary Clinton. The filing by the special counsel's office strongly suggests the FBI had "located" Mr Mifsud while he was in the US during the early part of the investigation, approximately two weeks after Mr Papadopoulos's interview. The filing stated "the defendant's lies undermined investigators' ability to challenge the Professor or potentially detain or arrest him while he was still in the US," but did not reveal details about the interview which was conducted. Mr Mifsud left the country in February 2017 and has not returned since. Had Mr Papadopoulos "told the FBI the truth when he was interviewed in January 2017, the FBI could have quickly taken numerous investigative steps to help determine, for example, how and where the professor obtained the information, why the professor provided the information to the defendant, and what the defendant did with the information after receiving it," according to the court filing. Story continues Mr Mueller's team also stated the former campaign aide did not provide "substantial assistance" after his arrest in July 2017 and recommended he also pay a fine of $9,500 (7,447). Mr Papadopoulos had said his interactions with Mr Mifsud were "a very strange coincidence" and not related to his campaign work. However, prosecutors indicated in the court document Mr Papadopoulos and Mr Mifsud began communicating in March 2016, claiming Mr Mifsud "showed interest in the defendant only after learning of his role on the campaign" as an aide. According to the timeline of events outlined in the court filing, Mr Papadopoulos learned about the "dirt" the Russians had on Ms Clinton the following month, after he began working for the campaign. On the same day as his January 2017 interview with the FBI in Chicago, Mr Papadopoulos applied for a deputy assistant secretary position in Trump's Department of Energy, according to the filing. It took four interviews with the FBI for Mr Papadopoulos to confirm the existence of a foreign mobile he had used, which logged conversations with Mr Mifsud. His lawyers have until 31 August to file their own pre-sentencing memorandum. The former aide is scheduled to be sentenced in the US District Court for the District of Columbia on 7 September. Read more In December 2017, former National Security Advisor Michael Flynn also pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI about contacts with former Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Mr Gates pleaded guilty to several counts of financial fraud, unrelated to the campaign, as well. Mr Manafort is currently on trial for 18 counts of tax evasion and bank fraud. The jury is set to reconvene on 20 August for deliberations. A Nebraska woman was all smiles after being arrested for allegedly attacking her boyfriend with a sword, her mugshot showed. Ivy Moore, 26, was arrested early Wednesday after she called police to tell them her boyfriend wouldnt leave her Lincoln apartment, officials told KLIN-TV. Law enforcement arrived at the scene to reportedly find Moores boyfriends hand cut and his shirt bloodied. Moores boyfriend told police that they were arguing over a previous relationship when she told him to leave. He was in the process of collecting his things when Moore swung a sword at him, police said. He suffered a blow to his thumb when he lifted his hand to defend himself, according to KLIN-TV. The unidentified boyfriend did not need medical attention. Moore was charged with domestic assault in the second degree. She appeared to be smiling widely when her mugshot was taken. Police alleged that Moore appeared intoxicated when they arrived and reportedly observed a marijuana pipe in the home. Moore was booked into the Lancaster County Department of Corrections and was being held on $7,500 bail. She has not yet entered a plea. RELATED STORIES Stormy Daniels Poses for Glamorous Mugshot Following Arrest at Strip Club Man Accused of Stealing Frances McDormand's Oscar Seen in a Series of Mugshots Hairdresser Turns Mugshot into Marketing Tool: 'It's Taking Off Very Well' Related Articles: Jerusalem (AFP) - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu went through a new round of questioning on Friday, police said, amid graft allegations that have threatened to topple him. The premier was questioned at his official residence in the context of investigations by the national economic crimes unit, a police statement in Hebrew said. It gave no further details. Investigators arrived at the premier's Jerusalem residence in the morning to interview him over allegations of corruption involving local telecoms giant Bezeq and its largest shareholder, Shaul Elovitch, according to Israeli media reports. It was the 12th time Netanyahu has been questioned in various cases, either as a suspect or a witness. In the Bezeq case, Netanyahu is alleged to have sought favourable coverage from another Elovitch company, the Walla news site, in exchange for government policies that could have benefited the mogul's interests to the tune of hundreds of millions of dollars. A statement from Netanyahu's personal spokesman after Friday's questioning said there was no such trade-off. "The numbers prove unequivocally that coverage of Netanyahu by Walla during the Elovitch era was more negative than under the (previous) owner Amos Shoken," it said. Elovitch was arrested in February along with six other people including Nir Hefetz, a former media adviser to the Netanyahu family. In addition to the premiership, Netanyahu also held the communications portfolio between November 2014 and February 2017, covering the run-up to the March 2015 elections, when he is alleged to have made the deal with Elovitch. Netanyahu was interrogated for more than five hours in July, reportedly over the same affair. In a separate case, his wife Sara was charged in June with misusing state funds to buy catered meals costing $100,000 (85,000 euros) by falsely declaring there were no cooks available at the premier's official residence. In February, police recommended the premier be indicted in two cases, though the attorney general has yet to decide whether to do so. Story continues Netanyahu, prime minister for around 12 years in total, has maintained his innocence in all of the cases, talking of a "witch hunt" and saying he was determined to stay in his job. He would not be legally obliged to resign if charged. So far his coalition partners have stood by him despite the allegations, but the investigations have gradually ratcheted up speculation over whether he will eventually be forced from office. Sitting on the terrace of a Paris cafe, a young Chinese woman glances nervously at her mobile phone as a message from a police officer in her native Xinjiang region pops up. A member of China's Muslim Uighur minority, Mariem travelled halfway around the world to study in France, but has found herself pulled into a mass security crackdown under way back home. "They want to know where I live, what I do, how I spend the weekend. They want me to give them information about Uighurs here. They threaten my family who beg me do do what they ask," she said, visibly stressed. Mariem is one of several ethnic Uighurs in France who shared accounts of harassment by Chinese authorities and expressed concern for missing family members caught up in sweeping security operations back home. All their names have been changed to protect their identity. AFP saw messages several Uighurs received from the authorities on China's messaging application WeChat. "Do you have your degree now?" one officer asks a student. "Send me your address and tell me who you work for and what your degree is," reads another message. "Why don't you send photos?" another person returning from holidays is asked. - 'Orwellian society' - On Monday, Chinese officials were grilled by a UN human rights committee in Geneva over reports that it is holding up to one million Muslims, mostly Uighurs, in camps under cover of a massive anti-terrorism drive. China has pointed to a series of attacks in Xinjiang by suspected Islamist radicals in recent years as justification for a draconian clampdown in a region with a long history of tensions with Beijing. But it has called the reports of internment camps "completely untrue", saying that the "education and training centres" to which "minor criminals" are assigned serve merely "to assist in their rehabilitation and reintegration". Several NGOs and China experts believe that what is under way is far more sinister, saying accounts from former detainees and official documents point to a massive programme of political and cultural indoctrination. Story continues Last year, China banned "abnormally long" beards and Muslim veils in Xinjiang and ordered all car owners in the region to install GPS tracking devices. In December, New York-based Human Rights Watch reported that Xinjiang authorities were planning to collect biodata from all residents. "An Orwellian society has been put in place in Xinjiang," Thierry Kellner, a politics professor at Belgium's Universite Libre de Bruxelles specialising in China and the Muslim world, told AFP. A report published by US-based security analysis group Jamestown Foundation in May estimated that "at least several hundred thousand and possibly just over one million" people had been interned as part of a "pacification drive". "This is unprecedented and exceeds anything that China has done in any other region including Tibet," the report's author, Adrian Zenz, told AFP. Surveillance of overseas Uighurs is also "a very common practice", Kellner said. Questioned about the allegations the Chinese foreign ministry said it was "not aware" of any such practices. - Passport 'blackmail' - Nijat, a young man who arrived in France on a student visa in 2007, deleted his WeChat account after getting a call from a person claiming to be a police officer who asked for a copy of his passport and visa. "He said if I didn't cooperate my family would get into trouble," he told AFP. For months now he has been without news of his sister and his parents, who asked his brother in Canada to stop calling home, fearing the contact was inviting unwelcome attention. At a Uighur rally in Paris in July, AFP also met Adil, who held aloft a photograph of his grandmother and brother, who he claimed were being held in camps in Xinjiang. Adil first moved to Turkey, which has close religious and cultural ties to Xinjiang. But after Turkey began cracking down on "anti-Chinese" forces at Beijing's request he fled to France, leaving behind another brother, of whom he also has no news. Mariem says her family is also in the state's sights. One of her brothers has been arrested and the other has disappeared. "I cannot get hold of him. When I ask about him I get conflicting information. I think he has been sent to a camp," she said. She fears she could face a similar fate if forced to return home to renew her passport, a service usually available to overseas citizens through their embassy but which has been denied to her. Questioned by AFP about similar claims of passport "blackmail" from other France-based Uighurs, the Chinese foreign ministry said that the issuing of travel documents was China's "internal affairs". "Chinese embassies and consulates have always been issuing passports and other travel documents to overseas Chinese citizens in accordance with laws and regulations," it added. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is ready to support and facilitate direct peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday, welcoming a Muslim Eid holiday ceasefire announced by President Ashraf Ghani. "The United States welcomes the announcement by the Afghan government of a ceasefire conditioned on Taliban participation," Pompeo said in a statement. "This plan responds to the clear and continued call of the Afghan people for peace." He said Washington was ready to back direct negotiations between the government and militant movement. "There is no obstacles to talks. It is time for peace," Pompeo said. (Reporting by Lesley Wroughton; Editing by Peter Cooney) Former U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara had some critical words for President Donald Trumps lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, on Fridays broadcast of Real Time with Bill Maher. Trump fired Bharara from his post as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York last year. Giuliani, the former New York mayor, was in the same post from 1983 to 1989. Giuliani is supposed to be a professional lawyer, Bharara told host Maher. He had a great reputation, some people thought he went too far in some cases, but he was a trial lawyer by training and understood what integrity, I think, in speaking about cases in court and outside of court, meant generally. But in recent times, Bharara said he thought Giuliani had taken on an aura of someone who doesnt remember what the truth is. I gotta tell ya, its fairly disconcerting, he added. Check out the interview above. Related Coverage Unleashed Trump Could Now Create Legal Trouble For Himself, Warns Preet Bharara Preet Bharara: 'High' Likelihood Michael Cohen Is Going To Be Charged Bill Maher Taunts Donald Trump Over Omarosa: 'He Lost His One Black Friend' Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Doha (AFP) - Qatar on Sunday said its citizens were unable to take part in the annual hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia as the two countries remain bitterly locked in a diplomatic dispute. "There is no chance this year for Qatari citizens and residents to travel for hajj," a government official told AFP. "Registration of pilgrims from the State of Qatar remains closed and residents of Qatar cannot be granted visas as there are no diplomatic missions," added the official. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been locked in a political feud for more than a year, with Riyadh banning all flights to and from Doha and severing diplomatic and trade ties with its neighbour. Saudi authorities have said Qatari pilgrims were welcome at the hajj and last week denied it was blocking them from travelling to the kingdom's holy sites. The Qatari official said the border closure and the lack of diplomatic missions and direct flights between the two countries effectively meant that no Qataris could undertake the pilgrimage. The row over hajj is the latest frontline in a highly fractious 14-month long diplomatic dispute between the two states. Qatar has been isolated since June 2017, accused by Saudi Arabia and its allies of supporting terrorism and being too close to Riyadh's archrival, Iran -- charges Doha denies. Sanctions imposed by Riyadh as part of the dispute stop Qataris from travelling to Saudi Arabia. However, an exception was made for hajj, according to official Saudi statements. Under a quota system established by Saudi Arabia, some 1,200 Qatari citizens should be able to attend the hajj -- which attracts two million Muslims from around the world each year. But many Qataris have complained that registration on a Saudi Arabian ministry website specifically for the pilgrimage has proved impossible. By Sivaram Venkitasubramanian and Gopakumar Warrier KOCHI/BENGALURU, India (Reuters) - The worst floods in a century in the Indian state of Kerala have killed 164 people and forced more than 200,000 into relief camps, officials said on Friday, with the toll expected to rise as heavy rain pushes water levels higher still. As the southwestern coastal state's chief minister sought military reinforcements to boost rescue efforts, a disaster management official said that, since the monsoon season started about three months ago, more than 320 people had died due to flooding and landslides. As the waters have risen, many people have found it increasingly hard to access food and other basic amenities, or to reach safety. "In some areas, airlifting is the only option... thousands are still marooned," Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said. Vijayan said he was hoping the military could step up its support for rescuers already using dozens of helicopters and hundreds of boats. "I spoke to the defense minister this morning and asked for more helicopters," he told a news conference in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram, adding that he planned to send 11 more helicopters to the worst-hit areas. During the current monsoon, Kerala has been hit with over a third more rain than average, according to India's weather office. Vijayan said the floods were the worst in a century. In the latest bout that began nine days ago, 164 people have died and some 223,000 moved into more than 1,500 relief camps, Vijayan said. Further heavy rainfall has been forecast for most parts of the state on Saturday, and authorities said they planned to implement controlled releases of water from dams to manage flows and minimize damage. Rains are expected to subside to "light to moderate" levels on Sunday, India's weather office said. GRAPHIC - Map: https://tmsnrt.rs/2OKhKNt STRANDED AND DESPERATE A Reuters witness in a relief helicopter in Chengannur, a town in southern Kerala, saw people stranded on roof tops and waving desperately for help. "The town looked like an island dotted with houses and cars submerged in muddy flood waters and downed coconut trees," he said. Two circling navy helicopters dropped food and water in metal baskets and airlifted out at least four people, including a three-year-old child. Anil Vasudevan, the head of the Kerala health disaster response wing, said his department had geared up to meet victims' needs. "We've deployed adequate doctors and staff and provided all essential medicines in the relief camps," he said. His teams were also making arrangements to minimize the risk of people contracting water-borne diseases once they return home after the floodwaters subside. The rains have also disrupted transport networks in Kerala, a major destination for domestic and foreign tourists. The flooded airport in the main commercial city Kochi has suspended operations until Aug. 26, and rail and road traffic has been interrupted in many places. "Water levels continue to overflow on tracks and surpassing the danger level of bridges at different places," Southern Railway said in a statement, adding it had canceled more than a dozen trains. Some crops have also been inundated. The state is a major producer of rubber, tea, coffee and spices such as black pepper and cardamom. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Twitter he would travel to Kerala "to take stock of the unfortunate situation". GRAPHIC - Kerala underwater : https://tmsnrt.rs/2L0MiIw (Reporting by Sivaram Venkitasubramanian in Kochi and Gopakumar Warrier in Bengaluru; Additional reporting by Jose Devasia in Kochi, Sudarshan Varadhan in New Delhi, Swati Bhat and Rajendra Jadhav in Mumbai; Writing by Euan Rocha and Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Robert Birsel and John Stonestreet) Robert Wickens was injured in a violent and terrifying crash during the IndyCar Series race at Pocono on Sunday. Wickens was tended to by IndyCar safety personnel after the crash. IndyCar said Wickens was awake and alert when he was taken to the infield care center and was airlifted to a hospital in nearby Allentown, Pennsylvania, for evaluation. Two other drivers, Pietro Fittipaldi and James Hinchcliffe, underwent X-rays at the infield care center following the crash. IndyCar said Sunday evening that Wickens had suffered orthopedic injuries in the crash. His Schmidt Peterson Motorsports team said he had injuries to his lower extremities, right arm and spine. He had also sustained a lung bruise. A medical update on Robert Wickens: pic.twitter.com/8FSOg83Sup Schmidt Peterson (@SPMIndyCar) August 20, 2018 Wickens was on the inside of Ryan Hunter-Reay as the two entered turn 2 in the early laps of the race. The two made contact and Hunter-Reays car started to spin around. Wickens car smashed into the wall and climbed up into the catchfence. When the car got into the fence it then started spinning around like a top while in the air. The car then slid across the track and came to a halt on the inside of the track. Other cars were collected in the scary scene. And look at how close Wickens car came to hitting Hunter-Reays head. This is scary how close Roberts car was to hitting Ryans car Watch the spinning car take out the camera pod at the top left. I love Indycar racing, but man everytime I attend a race or put it on, someone always gets hurt pic.twitter.com/jPc9LTmd77 Ryan Pistana (@ryanpistana) August 19, 2018 The race was delayed for two hours because of repairs to the catchfence, which suffered major damage. IndyCar driver Justin Wilson was killed at Pocono in 2015 when he was struck in the head by debris from a car that crashed ahead of him. Story continues Alexander Rossi won the race. Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Google workers' outrage over the notion of censoring searches to appease Chinese officials highlights the dilemma US tech companies face in accessing the lucrative market. Using technology to make the world better is a well-worn mantra in Silicon Valley, preached so strongly by internet companies such as Google and Facebook that it has become part of their identity. That idealism has repeatedly run headlong into a wall of reality when it comes to internet firms needing to compromise with the interests of governments that have oppressive approaches to online activity. "The tech industry had a utopian view of the world and of itself," said Irina Raicu, director of the internet ethics program at Santa Clara University in Silicon Valley. "It's running up against its own narrative of how it holds certain values." After portraying itself as a champion of making all the world's information freely available, Google would be hard-pressed to explain taking part in online censorship in China, according to Raicu. Hundreds of Google employees were said to have signed a protest letter after reports that the company is working on a censor-friendly search engine to get back into China. The employees are demanding to know more about the supposed "Dragonfly" project so they can weigh the moral significance of their work at the company. "We are seeing technologists start to flex their power," Raicu said. "They do want to change the world for the better, and this goes against that." - 'Do no evil' - Silicon Valley companies share global ethics challenges with other industries, but they face employee rebellion and user scrutiny because of having built images of being devoted to doing good, or at least "no evil." Facebook is banned in China, but that has not stopped the leading online social network from exploring the potential to establish a beachhead there, even if only for an "incubator" that nurtures local entrepreneurs. Story continues Facebook last year discretely released a photo sharing mobile application, named Colorful Balloons, in China. Two years ago, it reportedly worked on a censorship tool that would filter out posts on forbidden topics there. Even Apple, the world's most valuable company, has had to make concessions in China, pulling items from its App Store and transferring control of cloud storage accounts of Chinese customers to a company there. Meanwhile, Chinese internet firms such as Baidu, Tencent, Alibaba, and WeChat have thrived. - Money over morals? - Google and other publicly-traded US tech titans are legally obligated to maximize shareholder value, but being viewed as "oppression's little helper in China" can hurt their businesses along with their reputations, noted Human Rights Watch senior internet researcher Cynthia Wong. Wong called on tech firms looking to do business in China to have plans in place to improve the censorship and the human rights situation, which she said has worsened since Google pulled out. "Google wants to organize the world's information; Facebook wants to connect everyone," Wong said. "I think the engineers really do believe in those missions, and that accounts for some of the difference in how Silicon Valley reacts than, say, the oil sector." Google is among the Silicon Valley companies that pride themselves on open cultures in which workers are encouraged to share views, creating an environment ripe for employee activism when values seem compromised, according to Ann Skeet, senior director or leadership ethics at Santa Clara University. "Google has led with this strong culture, and now has its own employees calling it on hypocrisy," Skeet said. Employees, many of them Millennials, also feel a right to know how what they are working on is going to be used -- and to be able to decide whether to participate. A scene from the film Hailed as a watershed moment for Asian American representation in Hollywood, the new romantic comedy Crazy Rich Asians has been given a more muted reception in Singapore, the setting of the colourful tale of glamour and excess. As the first Hollywood movie to feature an all-East Asian cast in 25 years, it has been widely touted as a progressive win for Asian Americans who have long been shortchanged on US screen time. The film has an impressive 92 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, where critics praise it for having a terrific cast and a surfeit of visual razzle dazzle. Jon Chu, the director, has described his creation as more than just a movie, its a movement. But in Singapore, where the movie will premiere on Wednesday, locals are watching the glowing reviews unfold with bemusement and a more critical eye of how their tiny Southeast Asian city-state is being portrayed to the world. This image released by Warner Bros. Entertainment shows Sonoya Mizuno in a scene from the film "Crazy Rich Asians." An embarrassing red carpet malfunction when the film opened in Los Angeles on 7 August, did not go unnoticed. As the films stars Constance Wu, Henry Golding and Michelle Yeoh smiled and posed in the foreground, the Singapore Tourism Boards logo on the backdrop panel read Sincapore: Passion Made Poss ble, a misspelling of the official slogan Singapore: Passion Made Possible. The organisers later explained that the lettering had melted in the extreme heat. However, more serious concerns have been raised that while the movie does offer more representation for Asians in the United States, that it does not take care to depict Singapore in the same representative way. Based on a novel of the same name by Singaporean author Kevin Kwan, the narrative follows a Chinese American economics professor who flies Singapore to attend a wedding with her boyfriend, only to find out that her partner comes from one of the city-states richest families. But when the trailer was released in April this year, Singaporeans immediately pointed to a lack of Singlisha local patois spoken across the island. A parody Singlish dub of the trailer swiftly began to circulate on social media. Story continues Singaporean cast members have said that they wished theyd been able to speak more Singlish in the film. A scene from "Crazy Rich Asians." When we watch American movies, I know what they sound like in America But I just wish that somebody else watching us somewhere else would know our lingo and our slang words as well, actress Selena Tan told Yahoo! News. The exclusion of Singapores non-Chinese minorities has also been pointed out in the rom-coms glossy portrayal of a secret, moneyed elite. While 76 per cent of the countrys population are Chinese, 15 per cent of the islands citizens are Malay, and 6.6 per cent are Indian. Critics note that they have been relegated to the background, rather than taking prominent roles that would paint a more accurate picture of Singapores cultural diversity. In its representation of Singapore, I definitely had to constantly remind myself of the context in which this film was made - for Asian Americans in America looking onto Singapore, said Singaporean actor Shrey Bhargava. I did yearn to see more minority Singaporeans in the film and Singapore's muticultural diversity to be celebrated, especially given that [Crazy Rich Asians] was marketed as a win for representation. Attendees pose for a picture at a booth promoting the new movie "Crazy Rich Asians" Credit: MIKE BLAKE Yet despite its flaws, the rare focus on Singapore in such a high profile Hollywood movie and, moreover, one which stars several much-loved local actors, has also been warmly welcomed. Being fictional, the movie obviously does not reflect the whole of Singapore nor the lives of Singaporeans in general, said Lynette Pang, Assistant Chief Executive of the Marketing Group at the Singapore Tourism Board. We do think the story is an engaging one and with Singapore being prominently featured, we hope that the movie can pique the interest of viewers, especially in the North American markets. Ms Pang said the making of the film had employed 297 local crew members as well as 12 Singapore-based cast members, including Tan Kheung Hua and Janice Koh. All in all, this is a win for Singapore as we think the movie can help further profile Singapores home-grown talents, she said. Some of the 141 people aboard the Aquarius (Getty) An international stand-off involving the UK over who should help 141 people stranded at sea on the Aquarius charity rescue ship has been resolved by a deal involving six countries. Malta is to allow the Aquarius safe harbour to disembark the people on board before they are distributed to five other countries: France, Germany, Luxembourg, Portugal and Spain. The people pulled from two wooden boats in the Mediterranean on Friday include 73 children the majority of them unaccompanied and two pregnant women. Most of them are suffering from chronic malnutrition, according to the Doctors Without Borders group which helps run the humanitarian rescue ship. Frederic Penard of SOS Mediterranee, the NGO behind the Aquarius, welcomed the compromise at a press conference in Paris. He said: Maybe European states have finally understood that this concerns our common border at the south of Europe, that this is a problem for the 28 member states, and that we cant avoid responsibility and should work together. The ship has been waiting in international waters while European countries argued over who should take responsibility. Charity rescue ship, the Aquarius, which carries the Gibraltar flag (Getty) Italy and Malta, the two closest countries, had both refused to let the ship dock. Italys government instead called on the UK to take responsibility because the Aquarius carries a Gibraltar flag. In response, the UK government said it was deeply concerned for the welfare of those on board but insisted that they should be disembarked at a nearby safe port. Todays responsibility sharing exercise was brokered by the governments of Malta and France with the support of the European Commission. In a statement, the Maltese government said it was making a concession by offering the Aquarius safe harbour because it has no legal obligation to do so. The Maltese government considers this to be a concrete example of European leadership and solidarity, it said. European commissioner for migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos, commended the countries who had offered to help. Story continues But he added: We cannot rely on ad-hoc arrangements, we need sustainable solutions. It is not the responsibility of one or a few Member States only, but of the European Union as a whole. MORE: Italy tells UK to help 141 people stranded at sea on Aquarius rescue ship Longtime Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy is under investigation by the Department of Justice for claims he has attempted to sell his influence with President Donald Trumps administration to foreign officials, three sources familiar with the matter told The Washington Post in a story published Friday. According to those sources, the DOJ is inquiring as to whether Broidy a major Trump fundraiser whos no stranger to scandal promised those foreign officials that the U.S. would deliver on specific government actions in exchange for their paying him tens of millions of dollars. The allegations under scrutiny were leaked in emails sent to HuffPost earlier this year and reported on by several outlets. As one part of the alleged investigation, prosecutors are looking into whether Broidy tried to convince the Trump administration to extradite a Chinese dissident back to China a move desired by Chinese President Xi Jinping. In another part of the investigation, they are reportedly exploring whether Broidy attempted to earn $75 million from a Malaysian business official in exchange for getting the DOJ to end its investigation of a development fund run by the Malaysian government. Broidys lawyer issued a statement Friday firmly denying those allegations. Statement from @ELLIOTT_BROIDY's lawyer: "Elliott Broidy has never agreed to work for, been retained by nor been compensated by any foreign government for any interaction with the U.S. Government, ever. Any implication to the contrary is a lie." Kenneth P. Vogel (@kenvogel) August 17, 2018 In April, Broidy resigned from his position as Republican National Committee deputy finance chairman after after admitting that hed used Trumps personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to reach an agreement to pay $1.6 million to a Playboy model who became pregnant while he was having an extramarital affair with her. Story continues Related Coverage Leaked Emails Appear To Show A Top Trump Fundraiser Abusing His Power Playmate Who Had Affair With Major GOP Fundraiser Has Never Met Trump, Sources Say Also on HuffPost Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of Puerto Rico residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan on Oct. 3. Trump reacts as he sits in a truck on March 23 while welcoming truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting at the White House regarding health care. Trump registers his surprise as he realizes other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the ASEAN Summit in Manila, Philippines, on Nov. 13. Trump, along with first lady Melania Trump, Saudi Arabia's King Salman bin Abdulaziz al-Saud and Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, put their hands on an illuminated globe during the inauguration ceremony of the Global Center for Combating Extremist Ideology in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on May 21. Trump looks up toward the solar eclipse while standing on the Truman Balcony at the White House on Aug. 21. Trump and British Prime Minister Theresa May are pictured ahead of a photo opportunity of leaders as they arrive for a NATO summit meeting in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25. Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing, China, on Nov. 10. Trump holds up a pen after signing the HBCU executive order in the Oval Office of the White House on Feb. 28. Trump and German Chancellor Angela Merkel wait for reporters to enter the room before their meeting in the Oval Office on March 17. Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany, on July 7. Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio to the White House on Sept. 15. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the White House lawn, was invited to work for a day along the National Park Service staff. Trump and Putin shake hands as they take part in a family photo at the APEC summit in Danang, Vietnam, on Nov. 10. Trump jokes with French President Emmanuel Macron about their handshakes at the start of the NATO summit at their new headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, on May 25. Trump holds a mechanical tool as he attends a Made in America roundtable in the East Room of the White House on July 19. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Jerusalem (AFP) - US President Donald Trump's national security adviser arrived in Israel on Sunday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a time of shared concerns over Syria, Iran and the Gaza Strip. Ahead of a joint dinner at Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence, John Bolton said that "the Iran nuclear weapons programme, the ballistic missile programmes are right at the top of the list" of global challenges. "I'm delighted to be here, and look forward to our discussions," he told Netanyahu in a video released by the Israeli premier's office. Netanyahu told Bolton the most important issue he was looking forward to discussing was "how to continue to roll back Iran's aggression in the region and to make sure that they never have a nuclear weapon." In an interview with ABC News in the United States broadcast earlier, Bolton said he planned to discuss Iran's presence in Syria with Netanyahu. "Certainly the objective of the United States, of Israel -- President Putin said it was Russia's objective -- is to get Iran, Iranian forces, Iranian militias, Iranian surrogates out of the offensive operations they're in both Syria and Iraq and frankly, to end Iran's support for (Lebanon's) Hezbollah," Bolton said. He argued that Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and his reimposing of sanctions had "put a real crimp into the Iranian economy" and affected Tehran's ability to "conduct offensive operations" in the region. Bolton's trip will also take him to Ukraine and Geneva, where he will meet with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on Thursday. The meeting in Geneva is a follow-up to Trump's highly controversial July summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, according to the White House. Iran is backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war along with Russia and Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. Story continues Netanyahu has pledged to prevent Iran, his country's main enemy, from entrenching itself militarily in neighbouring Syria, and a series of recent strikes that have killed Iranians there have been attributed to Israel. Israel has also lauded Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Netanyahu has held a series of recent talks with Putin on Iran's presence in Syria, pressing Moscow to guarantee that Iranian forces and their allies, such as Hezbollah, will be kept far away from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Bolton's visit comes as speculation increases over efforts by Egypt and UN officials to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip. Months of tension along the Gaza border have led to fears of a fourth war between Israel and Hamas since 2008. On Sunday, Israel closed its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip following border clashes at the weekend, the latest tightening of its blockade of the Palestinian enclave. Despite the closure, the past week has been notably calmer along the Gaza border. Trump adviser John Bolton on possibly privatizing US war in Afghanistan: I'm 'always open to new ideas' originally appeared on abcnews.go.com President Donald Trumps national security adviser addressed the idea of using private contractors to help fight the U.S. war in Afghanistan, saying he is "always open to new ideas." In an exclusive interview Sunday, John Bolton responded to a question from ABC News This Week Co-Anchor and Chief Global Affairs Correspondent Martha Raddatz about possibly privatizing some part of what is now Americas longest war, the nearly 17-year-old conflict in Afghanistan. Would you consider privatizing [in Afghanistan], with using contractors instead of U.S. military? There have been some reports about that this week, Raddatz said. There's always a lot of discussions, the president's national security adviser said. I'm always open to new ideas, but I'm not going to comment on what the thinking is. That will ultimately be the president's decision. PHOTO: National security adviser John Bolton listens during a meeting with President Donald Trump, not pictured, in the Cabinet Room of the White House in Washington, D.C., Aug. 16, 2018. (Oliver Contreras/Pool via Bloomberg via Getty Images) According a report from NBC News Friday citing current and former administration officials, the president is showing interest in a proposal by Blackwater founder Erik Prince to hire private military contractors to support the war. It is not a private army," Prince told NBC News of his proposal for Afghanistan. "It is a very clear delineation of whos in charge, OK? Afghan government working for a U.S. government official funded by the United States at a fraction of the cost were spending now. Prince, who now heads Hong Kong-based security firm Frontier Services Group, also told NBC News that Trump advisers who oppose his plan are painting "as rosy a picture as they can" of the recent U.S. efforts for peace talks with the Taliban. PHOTO: Erik Prince, founder of CEO of Blackwater, listens during a hearing in front of the House Oversight and Government Reform committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 2, 2007. (Chuck Kennedy/TNS via Newscom, FILE) Bolton told Raddatz there are signs conversations between the Taliban and Afghan government are moving in the right direction. We've looked at several different possibilities to get the Taliban and others directly engaged with the government of Afghanistan. There have been some signs that's moving in the right direction," Bolton said. Story continues I don't rule out that we'd have a change in some of the things we're doing there, but the president's view is that he'll support the government of Afghanistan in its efforts to see if the Taliban are finally ready to talk seriously, Bolton said. Raddatz pressed, I feel like I've heard these arguments for 17 years, the same thing: 'The Taliban is desperate.' Bolton responded, Well, what I remember over 17 years is the attack on 9/11. And I think the administration is determined that it never happen again. The bottom line is the security of the United States, he said. President rails against 'censorship' in latest Twitter rant: Getty Donald Trump denounced the treatment of Republicans and conservatives by social media companies, claiming right-wing voices were being censored. The US presidents Twitter rant about censorship also featured another assault on the mainstream media, but he insisted he would not dare remove outlets like CNN and MSNBC. The flurry of tweets began shortly after 7am on Saturday. Social Media is totally discriminating against Republican/Conservative voices, he stated. They are closing down the opinions of many people on the RIGHT, while at the same time doing nothing to others. Mr Trump then added: Censorship is a very dangerous thing & absolutely impossible to police. If you are weeding out Fake News, there is nothing so Fake as CNN & MSNBC, & yet I do not ask that their sick behavior be removed. I get used to it and watch with a grain of salt, or dont watch at all. Mr Trump has previously threatened news outlets by stating that licenses must be challenged and, if appropriate, revoked. Following an October 2017 NBC News story not to his liking, the president said: At what point is it appropriate to challenge their License? Bad for country! His latest tweets follow controversy over the handling of the notorious conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, host of Infowars, by major US media platforms. Facebook, YouTube, Apple and Spotify all pulled Infowars content from their platforms earlier this month. A lawsuit was launched by the parents of Sandy Hook school shooting victims after Mr Jones claimed the attack was hoax. But Twitter only suspended Mr Jones account for one week for a violation of platform rules. Mr Trump ended his tirade about censorship with a plea to allow everybody to have their say online. Too many voices are being destroyed, some good & some bad, and that cannot be allowed to happen. Who is making the choices, because I can already tell you that too many mistakes are being made. Let everybody participate, good & bad, and we will all just have to figure it out! Almost 350 of US newspapers co-ordinated their editorials on Thursday, condemning Mr Trump for his repeated attacks on the media and his description of journalists as enemies of the people. By Jeff Mason and Jonathan Landay WASHINGTON (Reuters) - President Donald Trump faced an unprecedented outcry from former intelligence officials on Friday after stripping the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan, but Trump defended his move and said he planned another one soon. The bipartisan group, which included Robert Gates, George Tenet, David Petraeus, James Clapper and Leon Panetta, lashed out at the president in a scathing letter released late on Thursday. By Friday evening, another 60 former intelligence officers added their voices in their own letter. Brennan, a former official in the Obama administration and sharp critic of Trump, has said he will not be deterred by the removal of his security clearance. Brennan described Trump's actions at a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki last month as treasonous. In an interview on MSNBC on Friday night, Brennan did not back down on his criticism of Trump's conduct as president, but he did walk back his comment in July that Trump's behavior in Helsinki was "nothing short of treasonous." "I didnt mean that he committed treason, but it was a term that I used, 'nothing short of treasonous,'" Brennan said in the interview. Trump defended his decision, announced on Wednesday, saying it had elevated the former CIA chief rather than hampering his freedom of speech. The president also told reporters he was likely to revoke the clearance of Bruce Ohr, a Department of Justice official who is linked to a dossier on Trump's campaign and Russia that was compiled by former British spy Christopher Steele. Trump lashed out again at Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading an investigation into possible collusion between his 2016 campaign and Moscow. Without citing evidence or offering proof, Trump said that Mueller had conflicts of interest. In the statement released late on Thursday, officials who served under Republican and Democratic officials said they did not necessarily agree with Brennan's harsh criticism of the president, but that security authorizations should be based on national security, not politics. "We all agree that the president's action regarding John Brennan and the threats of similar action against other former officials has nothing to do with who should and should not hold security clearances - and everything to do with an attempt to stifle free speech," the former CIA directors, deputy directors and directors of national intelligence said. "We have never before seen the approval or removal of security clearances used as a political tool," they wrote. Petraeus, one of the signers, was once considered by Trump as a candidate for secretary of state. Like the signatories of the first letter, the 60 former CIA officers said that while they do not necessarily agree with Brennan's opinions, "It is our firm belief that the country will be weakened if there is a political litmus test applied before seasoned experts are allowed to share their views." The second group included Henry Crumpton, who also served as the State Department's top counter-terrorism official and Letitia Long, a former head of the National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency, which oversees the military satellites used for intelligence collection, navigation and communication. In another pushback against the president, retired Navy Admiral William McRaven, who oversaw the operation that killed Osama bin Laden, praised Brennan and asked Trump to revoke his own security clearance as well, writing in a Washington Post opinion piece that he would "consider it an honor." MORE TO COME Trump challenged the suggestion that he was trying to silence critics by taking away security clearances. "There's no silence. If anything, I'm giving them a bigger voice," Trump said. "Many people don't even know who (Brennan) is, and now he has a bigger voice. And that's OK with me, because I like taking on voices like that. I've never respected him." The White House said it was studying a list of other individuals for security clearance review, and Trump suggested Ohr was at the top of that list. "I think Bruce Ohr is a disgrace," he said. "I suspect I'll be taking it away very quickly." Ohr, who works in the Justice Department's criminal division, was in contact with Steele, the former British spy who compiled a dossier of allegations of possible collusion between Trump's camp and Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign. Russia denies having meddled in the 2016 election, but three U.S. intelligence agencies reported in January 2017 that Moscow had intervened and tried to help Trump beat Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. Putin told reporters in Helsinki, while standing next to Trump, that he had wanted the former New York businessman to win the White House. (Reporting by Jeff Mason and Jonathan Landay; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey; editing by James Dalgleish and Leslie Adler) President Trump compared the investigation of Robert Mueller (right) into Russian meddling in the 2016 election to the hunt for Communists in the U.S. government by Sen. Joseph McCarthy (center) in the 1950s. (Yahoo News photo Illustration; photos: AP, Getty) At the tail end of a Sunday morning tweet storm, President Trump compared Robert Muellers probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 election to Sen. Joseph McCarthys infamous hunt in the 1950s for Communists in the U.S. government. Trump called on his followers to study McCarthy, whose smear tactics and often baseless accusations of treason led to his censure in the Senate. The president claimed that Muellers investigation into Moscows interference in the 2016 U.S. elections has been far more nefarious than anything McCarthy ever did. Study the late Joseph McCarthy, because we are now in period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Rigged Witch Hunt! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 Its interesting that Trump would want to compare Muellers probe to McCarthyism. McCarthys chief counsel during the red scare of the 1950s was Roy Cohn, a prominent figure in the infamous Army-McCarthy hearings. Cohn later became Trumps attorney when he was a prominent New York real estate developer in the 1970s and 80s. Trumps allegation that Muellers investigation constitutes a modern-day version of McCarthyism capped a torrent of insults he launched on Sunday morning against his actual and perceived political adversaries. Trump began his diatribe by condemning the New York Times report that White House counsel Donald F. McGahn II has been cooperating with Muellers team and generously sharing information about key moments to the inquiry that investigators would not have known otherwise. Trump objected and insisted that McGahn would never rat on the president as John Dean had in the 1970s. As counsel to former President Richard Nixon, Dean was involved in the events leading up to the Watergate burglaries and subsequent coverup, but he became a key witness for the prosecution. Story continues The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type RAT. But I allowed him and all others to testify I didnt have to. I have nothing to hide Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 .and have demanded transparency so that this Rigged and Disgusting Witch Hunt can come to a close. So many lives have been ruined over nothing McCarthyism at its WORST! Yet Mueller & his gang of Dems refuse to look at the real crimes on the other side Media is even worse! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 Trump upbraided the press for supposedly fixating on the Mueller investigation and said it should focus more energy on the corruption of Democrats. No Collusion and No Obstruction, except by Crooked Hillary and the Democrats. All of the resignations and corruption, yet heavily conflicted Bob Mueller refuses to even look in that direction. What about the Brennan, Comey, McCabe, Strzok lies to Congress, or Crookeds Emails! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 The Failing New York Times wrote a story that made it seem like the White House Councel had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite & the two Fake reporters knew this. This is why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People. So bad for America! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 According to Trump, the New York Times has been promoting Fake News since the day he announced that he was running for president. He went on to argue that the situation at the New York Times is only likely to get worse after the hiring of former Verge tech writer Sarah Jeong to its editorial board. A series of anti-white tweets Jeong posted in 2014 have sparked widespread outrage. Some members of the media are very Angry at the Fake Story in the New York Times. They actually called to complain and apologize a big step forward. From the day I announced, the Times has been Fake News, and with their disgusting new Board Member, it will only get worse! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 19, 2018 _____ Read more from Yahoo News: Donald Trumps lawyer Rudy Giuliani has claimed that truth isnt truth as he tried to explain his concerns about the president testifying for Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Mr Giuliani suggested that Mr Trump should not testify as part of Mr Muellers investigation into Russian election meddling and any possible collusion with Trump campaign officials over fears that the president could be trapped into a lie that would lead to a perjury charge. The former New York City major insisted he would not be rushed into making his client available for something that could become a chargeable offence under the law. So what I have to tell you is, look, Im not going to be rushed into having him testify so he gets trapped into perjury, Mr Giuliani told Chuck Todd on NBCs Meet the Press on Sunday morning. He dismissed the idea of Mr Trump having foreknowledge of Russias efforts, or potentially obstructing the inquiry. When you tell me that, you know, he should testify because hes going to tell the truth and he shouldnt worry, well thats so silly because its somebodys version of the truth. Not the truth, Mr Giuliani added. Truth is truth, Mr Todd responded. No, it isnt truth, Mr Giuliani said. Truth isnt truth. The President of the United States says, I didnt A startled Mr Todd answered: Truth isnt truth? to which Mr Giuliani responded: No, no. Mr Giuliani also said that a 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between top Trump campaign officials and a Russian lawyer could not be evidence of collusion even though the intention of the meeting was to get damaging information on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton. "It turned out to be a meeting about another subject and it was not pursued at all. Any meeting in regards to getting information about your opponent is something any candidate's staff would take, Mr Giuliani said. The president of the United States wasn't at that meeting, he didn't know about that meeting, he found out about it after. By the time he found out about it, it was nothing. If this is their case for collusion, good luck Mueller. Story continues The meeting in question took place at Trump Tower in June of 2016, when Donald Trump Jr, Trump son-in-law Jared Kushner and then-campaign chairman Paul Manafort met with a Russian lawyer with the understanding that she would pass along damaging information about Ms Clinton, Mr Trump's opponent in the 2016 presidential election. Mr Giuliani reiterated the presidents position that he didnt discuss his former National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn with the FBI director he ultimately fired, James Comey. The latter, however, has said the opposite, and Mr Mueller is said to be looking into the issue for any possible obstruction of justice. Comey says, You did talk about it. So tell me what the truth is? Mr Giuliani asked. Mr Todd said that the exchange would become a bad meme online, and it did not take long for the mockery to begin on social media. In response to Mr Giulianis remarks, Merriam-Webster tweeted a link to the definition of the word truth in its dictionary. The bizarre exchange was not the first time Mr Giuliani has found himself facing ridicule for his statements on television, particularly in relation to a possible interview between the president and Mr Mueller. In May, Mr Giuliani told The Washington Post about the Mueller investigation: They may have a different version of the truth than we do. Earlier this month, Mr Trumps legal team, led by Mr Giuliani, replied to special counsel Mr Muellers proposal for terms of a possible presidential interview, but would not disclose the details of the answer other than it involved a counter-offer. Mr Trump tweeted on Sunday that he had nothing to hide from the Mueller investigation. He has previously said he is willing to talk to the special counsel, but his legal team has advised against it. The president also denounced The New York Times for a story saying White House counsel Don McGahn had cooperated extensively with Mr Mueller. I allowed him and all others to testify I didnt have to, Trump said in a tweet. Trump said the newspaper made it seem like Mr McGahn had turned on the president as White House counsel John Dean had in the Watergate investigation of former president Richard Nixon when in fact it is just the opposite. Citing a dozen current and former White House officials and others briefed on the matter, the Times said on Saturday that Mr McGahn had shared information, some of which the investigators would not have known about, in at least three voluntary interviews that totalled 30 hours over the past nine months.. On Saturday evening, Mr McGahns lawyer confirmed the White House counsel had cooperated with Mr Muellers team. Mr McGahn answered the Special Counsel teams questions fulsomely and honestly, William Burck said, explaining the president did not ask Mr McGahn to refrain from discussing any matters. Mr Giuliani told NBC said Mr McGahns cooperation would help bolster Mr Trumps claims that he did nothing wrong. The president encouraged him to testify, is happy that he did, is quite secure that there is nothing in the testimony that will hurt the president, Mr Giuliani said. He then accused Mr Muellers team of leaking the information to the press, claiming it had to be them as Mr Trumps team would not leak. Mr Dean, who has criticised Mr Trump in recent years, voiced support for Mr McGahn. McGahn is doing right! he wrote on Twitter. Mr Trump denies his campaign colluded with Russia and has repeatedly attacked the probe as illegitimate. On Sunday, he compared Mr Mueller with 1950s-era senator Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-communist crusade eventually led to his censure by the Senate. Study the late Joseph McCarthy, because we are now in a period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Rigged Witch Hunt! Mr Trump wrote on Twitter. By Susan Cornwell and Jan Wolfe WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had "nothing to hide" from the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, and denied that his top lawyer had turned on him by cooperating with the probe. Trump, in a series of tweets, denounced the New York Times for a Saturday story saying White House Counsel Don McGahn has cooperated extensively with the special counsel, Robert Mueller. The Times said McGahn had shared detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the inquiry into whether Trump obstructed justice. "I allowed him and all others to testify - I didn't have to," Trump said in a tweet. Trump said the newspaper made it seem like McGahn had turned on the president - as White House counsel John Dean had in the Watergate investigation of former President Richard Nixon - "when in fact it is just the opposite." As White House counsel since the beginning of the Trump administration, McGahn could have rare insight into the president's thinking. His lengthy testimony - 30 hours over three voluntary interviews, according to the Times - could be crucial in determining whether the president acted with an improper, or corrupt, intent when he took actions like firing former FBI Director James Comey, legal experts said. That is a key part to an obstruction of justice case. Citing a dozen current and former White House officials and others briefed on the matter, the Times said that McGahn had shared information, some of which the investigators would not have known about. On Saturday evening, McGahn's lawyer confirmed the White House counsel had cooperated with Mueller's team. "Mr. McGahn answered the Special Counsel team's questions fulsomely and honestly," William Burck said, explaining the president did not ask McGahn to refrain from discussing any matters. Trump's outside legal counsel, Rudy Giuliani, said McGahn's cooperation would help bolster Trump's claims that he did nothing wrong. "The president encouraged him to testify, is happy that he did, is quite secure that there is nothing in the testimony that will hurt the president," Giuliani said on NBC's "Meet the Press." Dean, who has criticized Trump in recent years, voiced support for McGahn. "McGahn is doing right!" he wrote on Twitter. According to the New York Times, McGahn described Trump's furor toward the Russia investigation and the ways in which the president urged McGahn to respond to it. BEHIND THE SCENES Jens David Ohlin, a professor of criminal law at Cornell University, said that even if McGahn told investigators he thought Trump acted lawfully his testimony would still be pivotal. The McGahn interviews will add a lot of detail about what was happening behind the scenes and make Muellers account much fuller," said Ohlin. Trump has denied his campaign colluded with Russia and has repeatedly attacked the probe as illegitimate. On Sunday, he compared Mueller with 1950s-era U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, whose anti-Communist crusade eventually led to his censure by the Senate. "Study the late Joseph McCarthy, because we are now in a period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Rigged Witch Hunt!" Trump wrote on Twitter. The newspaper reported McGahn's motivation to speak with the special counsel as an unusual move that was in response to a decision by Trump's first team of lawyers to cooperate fully. But it said another motivation was McGahn's fear he could be placed in legal jeopardy because of decisions made in the White House that could be construed as obstruction of justice. The newspaper said McGahn was also centrally involved in Trump's attempts to fire the special counsel, which investigators might not have discovered without him. McGahn cautioned to investigators he never saw Trump go beyond his legal authorities. His testimony would be even more important if Trump does not sit for an interview with Mueller. Giuliani said that discussions over a presidential interview continue with Mueller's office and that he would not be rushed into having Trump testify "so that he gets trapped in perjury." In trying to make his argument with "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd, Giuliani said "Truth isn't truth," to which Todd replied: "This is going to become a bad meme." (Reporting by Susan Cornwell and Jan Wolfe; Additional reporting by David Lawder; Writing by Andy Sullivan and Mary Milliken; Editing by Lisa Shumaker) By Maggie Serota According to The Daily Beast, President Trump once spent a significant portion of a meeting with a coalition of veterans groups arguing over a detail from the 1979 Vietnam war film Apocalypse Now. Whats weirder (and also entirely believable) is that Trumps reported argument was factually, demonstrably wrong and yet he refused to concede his point, instead wasting time that had been allotted for veterans organizations to lobby for things like expanded medical benefits for former soldiers. In a March 2017 meeting organized by former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman, the president, along with staffers including Stephen Miller, Kellyanne Conway, and Sean Spicer, met with a coalition of groups advocating for veterans. The American Legion, American Veterans, and Veterans of Foreign Wars were among the groups in attendance, but it was during his interaction with the rep from Vietnam Veterans of America that the meeting reportedly went sideways. Sources who were in the room told The Daily Beast that VVA founder and former medic Rick Weidman brought up the need to make medical benefits available to more veterans who were poisoned by Agent Orange during the Vietnam War. Trump is said to have initially dismissed the concern as something that was already taken care of before asking if Agent Orange was that stuff from that movie, which people in the room eventually figured out meant Apocalypse Now. The stuff from that movie is actually napalm, as name checked by Robert Duvalls famous I love the smell of napalm in the morning line, but Trump simply refused to let it go. From The Daily Beast: He then went around the room polling attendees about if it was, in fact, napalm or Agent Orange in the famous scene from that movie, as the gatheringorganized to focus on important, sometimes life-or-death issues for veteransdescended into a pointless debate over Apocalypse Now that the president simply would not concede, despite all the available evidence. Finally, Trump made eye contact again with Weidman and asked him if it was napalm or Agent Orange. The VVA co-founder assured Trump, as did several before him, that it was in fact napalm, and said that he didnt like the Coppola film and believed it to be a disservice to Vietnam War veterans. According to two people in attendance, Trump then flippantly replied to the Vietnam vet, Well, I think you just didnt like the movie, before finally moving on. Story continues One attendee described the meeting as really fucking weird. Sounds about right. Perhaps Trump would be better able to discern the difference between the two chemicals if he hadnt deferred military service five times. This post Trump Spent a Meeting With Vietnam Vets Arguing About Napalm and Apocalypse Now: Report first appeared on SPIN. London (AFP) - A man accused of crashing his car into the security barriers surrounding Britain's Houses of Parliament was charged Saturday with attempted murder, police said. Salih Khater, 29, a Sudanese-born British national living in Birmingham, central England, will appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates Court in London on Monday, police said. He is charged with one count of attempting to murder members of the public and one of attempting to murder police officers following the incident outside London's iconic Palace of Westminster on Tuesday. The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), England's state prosecutors, are treating the case as terrorism, the police said. "The charges follow an incident in which Khater drove his car into a stationary group of members of the public then at police officers, before crashing into the barriers outside the Houses of Parliament," London's Metropolitan Police said in a statement. "Due to the methodology, iconic location and the alleged targeting of civilians and police officers, the CPS are treating this case as terrorism." Khater is being charged under the Criminal Attempts Act 1981. Nixon administration attorney John Dean told Slate on Saturday that White House counsel Don McGahn did the right thing cooperating extensively with the ongoing Russia investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller, as reported by The New York Times. McGahn is doing exactly the right thing, not merely to protect himself, but to protect his client. And his client is not [President] Donald Trump; his client is the office of the president, said Dean, who was White House counsel under Richard Nixon. He also said McGahn was smart to make an early move and avoid the risk of being blamed for any potential illegalities. I think there is good reason for McGahn to believe that Trump would throw him under the bus, since Trump throws almost everyone under the bus, Dean said. Self-preservation is a real motive. McGahn is doing right! https://t.co/qqzhZRAFlY John Dean (@JohnWDean) August 18, 2018 Dean was in a similar situation during the Watergate scandal of the early 1970s. He ended up pleading guilty to conspiracy to obstruct justice, but also ultimately cooperated with prosecutors. McGahn told people that he wanted to avoid Deans fate, according to the Times. Dean said that Nixon, just as Trump reportedly does, treated the White House counsel as his own personal attorney. The difference between the presidents, Dean tweeted Saturday, is that Nixon was generally very competent, even though he bungled and botched his handling of Watergate. Trump, on the other hand, is a total incompetent who is also bungling and botching his handling of Russiagate, he tweeted. Dean also speculated that unlike Nixon Trump wont leave willingly or graciously. Nixon, generally very competent, bungled and botched his handling of Watergate. Trump, a total incompetent, is bungling and botching his handling of Russiagate. Fate is never kind to bunglers and/or botchers! Unlike Nixon, however, Trump wont leave willingly or graciously. John Dean (@JohnWDean) August 18, 2018 Dean had one more piece of advice, via a tweet, for Trumps staff: Get out while you still can: Story continues Memo To Trumps White House Staff: FYI. Very few people who worked at Nixons White House later included that fact on their resumes. It doesnt do much for a career to be on the wrong side of history, nor to have worked for the worst president in American history. John Dean (@JohnWDean) August 17, 2018 CORRECTION: A previous version of this story misstated the first name of White House counsel Don McGahn. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Also on HuffPost This article originally appeared on HuffPost. https://www.flickr.com/photos/usnavy/7507837208/sizes/k/ Justin Mohn Security, We have our generations battleships in nuclear aircraft carriers. They are majestic, imposing, ocean-going and potentially fading into obsolescence as missiles threaten to outrange and outpunch their organic fighter complement. The future is not bigger ships with more armor. Why the Navy Doesnt Need New Battleships Recent discussions of how to answer current naval challenges in the Pacific would do the old U.S. Navy Gun Club proud. The last few years have seen calls to bring the Iowa-class fast battleships out of retirement (again) and refit them for a new age, or for building a new class of battleship entirely to force its way into A2/AD environments being created by the Peoples Liberation Army Navy in the Pacific. On the surface, these arguments have some merit. At present, the U.S. Navy is struggling to find real estate for new systems and more firepower on its Block-III Arleigh Burke-class workhorses, even as China prepares to launch a formidable modern class more cruiser than destroyer. Battleships were built to gun carriers intended to give and take punishment in brutal, broadside slugging matches against peer or near-peer competitors. As pro-battleship advocates have noted, some venerable World War II battleships took significant punishment to sink. But sink they did. By the time Germanys Bismark sortied into the Atlantic or Japans Yamato and Musashi began their suicidal runs toward Leyte Gulf and Okinawa the age of battleship slugging matches had already passed, and juggernauts which did not travel under the protective umbrella of fighter escorts and destroyer screens were swiftly dealt a death blow by enemy forces which were cheaper to build and deploy. When battleships did fight one another in the modern era, luck was as much a factor as skill or strategy, with unappreciated design flaws or technological obsolescence killing entire crews. Advocates for modern battleships would do well to reflect less on the class of warship itself and more on the capabilities offered by those warships in their time and build on that reflection by asking themselves whether a large battlewagon is truly the best solution to achieve those capabilities in the twenty-first century. A close analysis shows that the concept of leviathans like the U.S. Navys old Missouri and Wisconsin are best suited as historical artifact rather than the capital ships of tomorrow. Story continues Fleet Capital Ships The first and most important role of battleships in their classic conception were to be the nucleus of fleets which were the primary means for killing the big ships of other fleets. Different schools of naval thought sought to employ them in slightly different ways, with followers of Mahan seeing them as the primary weapons to wrest control of the seas by engaging and destroying enemy fleets (a school which Japanese military planners heavily subscribed to, both in their surface and carrier operations) while thinkers like Corbett would have seen them as weapons to exercise limited control of the sea for discrete purposes and periods of time, or else deny the enemy total control (a school which found adherents in Russian and Soviet naval thought and endures today). This was a highly traditional view of battleship use, which can be traced in a nearly unbroken line from major fleet actions during the colonial period through Trafalgar and on to Jutland. This changed during World War II, however, as it became increasingly clear that the maturation of carrier air power allowed large fleets to engage over the horizon without ever sighting one another. It was carrier-based air wings, not battleships, which halted Japanese offensives at Coral Sea and Midway and then fought the major fleet actions of the Allied counter-attack. Even members of the U.S. Navys Gun Club of battleship aficionados recognized the change in combat paradigms, with Admiral William Lee declining an opportunity to chase the enemy fleet during the Marianas campaign independent of the carrier striking force of the 5th Fleet. While engagements were fought between battleships during the Bismarks attempted breakout, the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal, and as a part of the Battle of Leyte Gulf, they were not decisive engagements between battle fleets. Recommended: Imagine a U.S. Air Force That Never Built the B-52 Bomber Recommended: Russia's Next Big Military Sale - To Mexico? Recommended: Would China Really Invade Taiwan? Surface vessels continued to fade in prominence during the Cold War, with the primary striking assets of Allied and Soviet navies being strategic submarine forces and aviation assets. Recently, it has become clear that even a relatively modest anti-ship missile complement will make a platform a potent ship killer. Wargames have raised the possibility of Iranian small boats being able to successfully attack or even sink supercarriers through swarm attacks. Ultra-quiet diesel submarines have demonstrated that they can be a potent threat to all manner of surface and sub-surface assets by virtue of stealth and modern torpedoes. And the United States dominance in the naval sphere means that the greatest threat posed to it is not lacking the latest large capital ship in a critical fleet engagement, but an asymmetric navy meant to nullify the advantages of its large and modern fleet. Carrier air groups, ultra-quiet nuclear attack submarines, Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, and the future frigate expected by the early 2020s arrayed in small groups or in full fleets possess similar if not superior firepower in their array of torpedoes and anti-ship missiles than even the beefiest battlewagon fleet of the World War II. Its not a matter of lacking firepower so much as not being able to bring that firepower to bear on a target that will prove decisive, and a new platform will not fix that problem. Land Attack Battleships got a second life in the World War II as naval artillery in support of amphibious assaults. Pre-war battleships which were too slow to escort the fast carriers and participate in fleet actions were seconded to the task groups to bombard Japanese bunkers and troop concentrations in the Pacific and performed similar duties in the Mediterranean and Normandy landings. The battle wagons would contribute their big guns to American efforts in Korea and Vietnam as well. Even in this new role, however, the battleships were not to remain prominent for long. Destroyers were preferred by Marine shore detachments for their ability to bring down fire with greater precision, discretion, and rapidity. In time, the evolution of naval aviation allowed carrier-based aircraft to put more and more accurate fires on target, on-demand. The debut of land-attack cruise missiles deployed on ships effectively rendered big gun bombardment obsolete a smaller ship could deliver the same fire effect with greater accuracy from international waters, removing the requirement for big ships to be risked in littoral waters. Apart from a diversionary bombardment of Kuwait during Operation Desert Storm, this was the end of shelling as a main strategic component of operations. America has operated massive bombardment campaigns of targets in Desert Storm, Operation Enduring Freedom, and Operation Iraqi Freedom (alongside more limited interventions in the Balkans, Libya, and Syria) through the use of land-attack missile and in each case rendered a superior effect than the often underwhelming performance of flat trajectory gunfire in the latter stages of the Pacific campaigns during World War II. Fears that these capabilities will not prove sufficient to reduce artificial islands being constructed by the Chinese in the Pacific are not due to a lack of vessels large enough to carry land-attack elements, but because of extensive anti-aircraft defenses, a shortage of ships generally, and a hardening of the targets making them resilient to any bombardment. If the concern is that a heavier weapon is necessary to address this problem, that would call for a new land-attack missile or stealthier aircraftnot a bigger boat. Showing the Flag Battleships also had diplomatic and symbolic value, making a deep impression on foreign allies and competitors during port visits and reviews which played a role in peacetime as crucial in some ways as their role in wartime. Theodore Roosevelts Great White Fleet announced the United States entry as a power in world affairs. Bismark and Tirpitz projected the impression of a great Germany, even if its army, navy, and air force were actually not quite so modern or so capable as the propaganda let on. This can be seen as even more important today, where nuclear weapons and an interconnected global economy make the avoidance of war through soft power ever more important. Here again, however, the battleships have been supplanted. Aircraft carriers and amphibious assault ships are every bit as physically imposing as their battleship cousins and, to be honest, even destroyers and frigates look menacing and impressive to the vast majority of people who will not have warships outside of news reports or movies. Aircraft carriers and landing ships also have the flexibility to be many things at oncestrike platforms for land and air forces, human assistance platforms, and diplomatic symbols all in one fell swoop. One tends to suspect that if a modern battleship were capable of the same dexterity it would, in fact, simply be an up-armored aircraft carrier. What are their Weaknesses in the Modern Environment In addition to having been thoroughly replaced in naval operations by other platforms in the modern context, even new battleships would retain the same limitations as contemporary platforms. Vulnerability to submarines is a factor not of platform deficiencies but the wasting away of the Navys anti-submarine warfare skillset and toolkit. Vulnerability to anti-ship ballistic missiles and cruise missiles is not a question of armor, but of the difficulty of intercepting such weapons and the fact that the cost-benefit analysis favors their use. Multiple such weapons can be launched against a warship and render it combat ineffective in short order, paying a relatively cheap cost to take an expensive warship and crew out of the fight. A warship need not sink in order to be lost to a commander, and the concussive power alone would be sufficient to damage sensitive systems and injure crew. World War II battleships were known to suffer self-inflicted concussive damage from the guns that they were designed specifically to carry and fire, proving that armor is no cure all to battle damage. Worth considering is the fact that the U.S. Navys current woes stem more from a lack of ships in enough numbers and sailors to crew them than the lack of any specific platform. Operations all over the world have severely degraded the effectiveness of the force, with too many missions and not enough ships to go around. When the John S. McCain and Fitzgerald both experienced fatal collisions in the Pacific Theater, fatigued and inadequately trained crews were highlighted as some of the causes for the accident. Consolidating construction dollars and manpower in fewer, larger hulls would exacerbate this problem. Additionally, introducing new capital ships into the fleet would drain resources even more by their very presence. Carriers sortie in consort with at least five escort and support ships of various types. Ships escorting a modern battleships are destroyers and submarines which cannot operate independently in regular freedom of navigation exercises, on patrols, or in support of Special Operations and counterterrorism forces. Beyond the lost opportunity cost of an array of escort vessels and the strain on a Navy already short of manpower, the financial cost would be considerable. To mount the kind of armor, powerplant, and array of weapons that would justify the creation of a floating arsenal would constitute an effort akin to building a nuclear aircraft carrier. Robert Farley wrote in Foxtrot Alpha that the anticipated cost of a modernized battleship example would be $4-10 billion, not less than the Zumwalt-class stealth destroyers and probably more in the neighborhood of the Ford-class supercarriers. Without an existing Gun Club in the Navy, its inconceivable planners would countenance the cancellation of planned carriers or ballistic missile submarines to accommodate new dreadnoughts; any purchases would therefore be in addition to existing expensive ships. Conclusion We have our generations battleships in nuclear aircraft carriers. They are majestic, imposing, ocean-going and potentially fading into obsolescence as missiles threaten to outrange and outpunch their organic fighter complement. The future is not bigger ships with more armor. Not only does history bear out the folly of putting most of ones resources and striking power into singular ships vulnerable to the prevailing weapons of the day, it also bears out the reality that armor has never been a sufficient or enduring advantage in warfare. Russian battleships at Tsushima were well-armored, but fell victim to superior Japanese seamanship and gunnery, and to the innovation of modern torpedoes in fleet action. Even if armor ensures the ships remain afloat, simply existing is not a sufficient condition for a warship to be useful. Even the most advanced ships are ultimately merely conveyance for weapons and their human operators, and no amount of armor would be sufficient to ensure the survivability of the delicate weapons and supporting systems necessary for modern warfare. As one naval officer argued in 2017, the naval paradigm has shifted for the foreseeable future away from big and heavy-hitting and toward small, stealthy, and multi-capable ships. Further experimentation in drones and swarm technology will cement this paradigm, as large ships with large crews become even more inviting and vulnerable targets for technologically adept nations of the world. In the meantime, U.S. guided missile submarines and destroyers, bolstered by the new future frigate will continue to prove adept at their responsibility for the capabilities once assigned to battleships. Concerns about A2/AD environments in U.S. operations are valid, but are better addressed via more capable weapons rather than a renaissance for heavily armored behemoths. Justin Mohn is a writer based in Kansas City whose work has appeared in The Center for Insurance Policy and Research. Justin previously worked in NATOs Defence Investment Division, and received his masters in security studies in 2017 from Kansas State University. Read full article Could 3D printing save the planet's coral reefs? That's the theory behind an experimental project in the Maldives which aims to help coral reefs survive the ravages of climate change and warming waters. Developed using computer modeling and a 3D printer at a lab in Melbourne, Australia, the artificial reef was designed to resemble reef structures typically found in the Maldives. Printing the 3D molds took 24 hours. They were then cast in ceramic, an inert material similar to the calcium carbonate found in coral reefs, explains industrial designer Alex Goad of Reef Design Lab. The molds were shipped to the Maldives, filled with concrete, assembled on-site at Summer Island and then submerged seven meters below the surface. Live coral was then transplanted within the artificial reef, where it's hoped that within two to three years, it will grow and colonize the structure. With global warming, bleaching and environmental pollution, it's hoped that 3D printing technology can offer a new way of saving the corals. "The technology allows us to mimic the complexity of natural reef structures, so we can design artificial reefs that closely resemble those found in nature," said Goad in a statement. "We hope this will be a more effective way of growing and restoring corals." Watch how the artificial reef was assembled below. WASHINGTON - The White House's top lawyer has cooperated extensively with the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 US election, sharing detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the inquiry into whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice, the New York Times reported on Saturday. Citing a dozen current and former White House officials and others briefed on the matter, the newspaper said White House Counsel Donald McGahn had shared information, some of which the investigators would not have known about. On Saturday evening, McGahn's lawyer confirmed the White House counsel had cooperated with Mueller's team. "Mr. McGahn answered the Special Counsel team's questions fulsomely and honestly," William Burck said, explaining the president did not ask McGahn to refrain from discussing any matters. According to the New York Times, McGahn in at least three voluntary interviews with investigators that totaled 30 hours over the past nine months, described Trump's furor toward the Russia investigation and the ways in which the president urged McGahn to respond to it. Israel partially closed the Erez border crossing in the Gaza Strip on Sunday morning in response to violent demonstrations staged by the residents over the weekend, and following a delay in the reaching of an expected ceasefire agreement with Hamas. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Israel made the decision to close the crossing located on the northern tip of the Gaza Strip in retaliation for a weekly March of Return demonstration on Friday afternoon that descended into violence on the border, during which the rioters threw Molotov Cocktails, improvised bombs and in which two Palestinians were killed. Erez Crossing (Photo: Roee Idan) While Israels decision will see the crossing closed, it will be reopened at times on humanitarian grounds. The closure is a symbolic move by Jerusalem since the Erez Crossing is used by few Palestinians. Those who do use the crossing do so with official authorization on humanitarian grounds, mainly belonging to aid organizations. On Saturday night, Palestinian media outlets also reported on the partial closure against a background of stalled talks in the ceasefire arrangements. Gaza border riots (Photo: AFP) Officials from Hamas who participated in the ceasefire talks discussed the matter with senior Egyptian diplomats, who have been working to broker a deal to put an end to months of almost daily violence on the Gaza border, which has threatened to thrust Gaza and Israel into yet another war. While the round of talks between Palestinian faction officials concluded on calming tensions with Israel and on implementing a reconciliation deal signed between Hamas and Fatah at the end of last year, disagreements remained on the former issue at the end of the week. Hundreds of Palestinians demonstrated near the border fence on Friday, which resulted in the killing of two Palestinians by IDF live fire. Despite the relative calm that had prevailed over the past few days, the rioters gathered at the border and, in addition to throwing Molotov Cocktails and improvised bombs, also launched incendiary balloons, setting fires nearby, with one erupting in the Beeri Forest. An Israeli source confirmed Thursday that Egyptian Intelligence Chief Abbas Kamel visited Israel as the guest of the head of the National Security Council, Meir Ben Shabbat, and met with Netanyahu and Shin Bet chief Nadav Argaman. Palestinian sources told Al-Hayat that Kamel discussed the final details of the arrangement with the Israeli side, including the completion of humanitarian projects in the Gaza Strip and future negotiations with Hamas over the exchange of prisoners and captives. Abbas Kamel Meanwhile, Hamas officials have been meeting with Egyptian officials in Cairo, hammering out details of a possible truce with Israel. Kamel visited Israel after two delegations of senior Hamas and Islamic Jihad figures attended the talks in Cairo in recent weeks. In addition, a Hamas delegation headed by Hamas deputy leader in the Gaza Strip, Khalil al-Hayya, headed to Cairo Thursday. Almost all Palestinian factions sent representatives to the Egyptian capital, except for Fatah, whose members are still boycotting the talks. Education Minister Naftali Bennett continued Saturday night his attacks against Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman over the indirect ceasefire talks with Hamas, warning that "his surrender will bring war on us all." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Sources close to the defense minister hit back, saying that "Bennett is willing to sacrifice the blood of our soldiers with his recklessness." "Lieberman chose surrender that will lead to war," Bennett told Ynet's print-publication Yedioth Ahronoth. "His irresolution, and the delusional beliefthat talking to Gaza residents will bring down Hamas and bring security to the residents of the Gaza borderare complete nonsense and irresponsible." Education Minister Bennett and Defense Minister Lieberman (Photos: AP, EPA) "The same Lieberman who declared he would bring down Hamas and eliminate (Hamas leader) Haniyeh is now giving them rewards at the expense of Israel's security," Bennett continued his charge. "The weak policy he's leading under the guise of responsibility and pragmatism has been allowing Hamas to burn the south for 140 days and dictate to the residents there when to run for shelter and when to come out." "Those who surrender to terrorism, bring terrorismand Lieberman surrendered. His attitude endangers the State of Israel and will lead to an inevitable conflict under terms Hamas will dictate and at a time of its convenience." The defense minister's office chose not to respond, but a spokesman for Lieberman's Yisrael Beytenu party noted that "The Israeli government's policy is determined by the Cabinet, at least by those who are present in those meetings. He who is willing to sacrifice the blood of our soldiers at the altar of political considerations with his recklessness is unworthy of dealing with issues of defense, and should instead dedicate his time to the opening of the school year, for which he is responsible." Bennett chose to target the defense minister with his criticism rather than Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu or the security services that support reaching an agreement with Hamas. Rioting on the Gaza border (Photo: AFP) The reopening of the Kerem Shalom border crossing , for example, was recommended by all security services. Sources close to Lieberman blamed Bennett of waging a personal political war against him. "He doesn't attack the Cabinet, not the prime minister, not the IDF, and not any of the security services," one source said. "It's completely about the elections." While the round of talks between Palestinian faction officials on calming tensions with Israel and on implementing a reconciliation deal signed between Hamas and Fatah at the end of last year concluded in Cairo over the weekend, disagreements remained on the former issue. Now, the announcement on a ceasefire is expected to be delayed but at least a week as Muslims mark Eid al-Adha. Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who opposes any agreement that doesn't include him, insisted this weekend that any aid to the Gaza Strip must go through the Palestinian Authority. Speaking at the closing session of the Palestinian Central Council meeting, Abbas said that "There is no state in Gaza nor an autonomy in the West Bank, and we will not accept this. We will never accept the separation of Gaza (from the West Bank)." "Either we take control of authority as it is in Gaza and the West Bankwith one state, one system, one law and one weaponor they (Hamas) takes control instead (in Gaza)," he said. "Reconciliation for us does not mean a truce, ceasefire or humanitarian assistance. Reconciliation means that unity should be reinstated," Abbas added. Three people suspected of involvement in an attempted terrorist stabbing attack in Jerusalem on Friday were released to house arrest for a week following their hearing on the extension of their remand, despite opposition by the police. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter At the opening of the hearing, a police representative told Judge Abbas Assi that the three were seen walking around the market with Ahmad Muhammad Mahamid, 30, before his attack on a policeman , which was brought to a swift end by officers in Jerusalem's Old City. Mahamid, a resident of Umm al-Fahm, was shot dead a short while after attacking the police officer at HaGai Street, near the Damascus Gate. CCTV footage of attack ( ) X No one was hurt by the stabbing, except for a policewoman who suffered from anxiety. Footage of the attack showed the terrorist lunging at a police officer with a knife who was on his phone. The defense attorney of one of the suspects noted that the judge had determined that there was no evidence against his client and that he must therefore be released on Sunday. There is no evidence connecting the three suspects to the incident The police saw the family name Mahamid and immediately arrested them due to a possible chance that the family was connected, the lawyer, Mustaffah Mahamid, told Ynet. With the same information, they could have arrested me. Daafini Mahamid, the brother of one of the suspects also complained to Ynet about the arrest. My brother is 50 years old and he just had a grandchild who he will only be able to see tomorrow. Its an outrage. Everyone knows and reported in the media that the man who carried out the attempted stabbing was mentally ill, said Daafini. We have no contact with him, we dont know him at all and we categorically condemn the act. On Saturday, another one of the terrorists brothers, Naseem, told Ynet He suffers from a mental illness and he tried several times to commit suicide. We did not know he was in the Al-Aqsa Mosque on Friday, he never usually goes there. Nassem also added that his brother had tried to commit suicide on several occasions. Ahmad Muhammad Mahamid At the conclusion of the hearing, Judge Abbas said that the evidence against the suspects did not hold water. The suspicion is based on the fact that the three were seen on security cameras walking with the stabber. This can be seen as circumstantial evidence, Judge Assi said. From the material in the evidence, there is no visual evidence beyond that. The terrorist travelled with the three suspects on a bus and left Umm al-Fahm to go to al-Aqsa mosque. Given the new investigative actions, I believe that an alternative to detention is sufficient. According to the police, the perpetrator left the Council Gate located at the entrance to the Temple Mount at about 5:30pm. He then noticed a group of policemen stationed a few meters away, and tried to stab one of them with a knife he was holding. After a fight between the police and the suspect, he was shot and killed by police officers at the scene. The police responded to the incident by blocking the alleys surrounding the scene and opening an investigation into the identity of the perpetrator. Uriah Hatzroni, 15, from Moshav Yated near the Gaza border, wrote a moving letter to UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres, describing what life is like for him under the threat of rockets from the strip. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Read Uriah's full letter here "It is now (the) summer holidays, when children like myself should be playing, enjoying games, being with friends. Instead, we have been in shelters and inside, afraid to go out in case a rocket is fired or an incendiary kite sent towards us. Mr. Secretary-General, children deserve to be outside playing, not in bomb shelters!" Uriah wrote. "In recent months, my family and I had no (quiet) day and no (quiet) night! Just 'Code Red.' Mr. Secretary-General, Have you heard of 'Code Red'? This is the warning we receive when rockets & mortars are fired at us. Did you know that we have 15 seconds (!!) sometimes even less to find shelter. Fifteen seconds separating life and death!" Uriah Hatzroni (Photo: Dana Kopel) In a letter sent for Youth Day, which the UN marks on August 12, Uriah noted that "My friends and I, thousands of children and teenagers, living in the communities surrounding the Gaza Strip, have lived in protected areas for years." "Not the ones that the UN resolution refers to, but those that are meant to protect me and save my life from rocket attacks, mortar shells, terrorist tunnels, and recently balloons and firebombs launched from Gaza, which is controlled by the internationally recognized terrorist organization Hamas," he went on to say. "Often, the protected space, which (is) supposed to make you feel safe, becomes the exact place where deep fears and anxiety are floating," Uriah wrote. He explained that "While you are huddled with your family or friends in the protected space, listening to the horrifying sound of the rocket hits or the siren searing through the air, your mind can not stop wandering about members of your family or friends who may not (have) found a hiding place and are in danger. You wonder about what the missile might destroy when it will hit the ground. You pray with all your heart for luck." Uriah Hatzroni outside one of the public shelters "Mr. Secratery-General," the teenager wrote in his letter, "in the last (few) monthsin fact even yearsthis has become routine for thousands of children like myself living in the south of Israel, with the terrible fear that at any given moment the silence may be disturbed by the shelling of missiles. The sense of anxiety and deep insecurity permeates even the strongest of us." Uriah stressed that "what hurts no less is the fact that we, children of Israel, feel that the world, including the UN, (has) abandoned us, as if our rights, our future, is somehow less worthy or not important." The teen concluded his letter with a hope for a better future. "My friends and I will continue to believe and dream that the day will come when the walls of hatred will become bridges of friendship and coexistence, in which the children of the entire region, Israeli and Palestinian, will experience a beautiful, good and safe childhood," he wrote. A copy of the letter was also sent to Israel's Ambassador to the UN Danny Danon and to UN Special Envoy to the Middle East Nickolay Mladenov. Graffiti was sprayed overnight Saturday on a wall in near the Arab neighborhood Isawiya in east Jerusalem, describing Jerusalem Arabs as terrorists. One of the offensive slogans scrawled on a wall read: Jerusalem Arabs are terrorists. Underneath was written Havat Gilad, in reference to a settlement in which an Israeli woman was killed last week by a Palestinian driver in a hit-and-run that police said turned out not to be a terror attack. In addition, a few tires in the area were slashed. Police have launched an investigation. Gunmen on two mopeds opened fire at a jeep at the upscale Kikar HaMedina area in Tel Aviv on Sunday morning. Police forces arrived to the scene and began searching for the shooters. The jeep apparently fled the scene as well. There has been no damage of injuries or damage. The Health Ministry held an emergency discussion on Sunday after over 40 Israelis contracted leptospirosis Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter So far, 253 suspected cases of leptospirosis have been reported to the Health Ministry, with 42 confirmed. Last week, a teenager with meningitis suffered complications after contracting leptospirosis. "The Health Ministry is examining the streams, closely supervising the matter," Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman said in comments to the media ahead of the discussion. "The streams that are bad, the ministry closes. And the ones that are good, it leaves open. We think the situation is under control." Deputy Health Minister Litzman (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) He said that with cooperation from all authorities invited to the emergency discussion, leptospirosis will not be an issue next summer. Prof. Itamar Grotto, the deputy director-general at the ministry, said the list of locations that are unsafe is "constantly being updated" on the Health Ministry's website. "It's important to stress that there are no limitations everywhere else (that is not on the list), and leptospirosis cannot be contracted through the air or in pool water," Prof. Grotto said, adding it's safe to travel in northern Israel. (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) The Nature and Parks Authority reported Saturday that the number of visitors to north Israels water destinations has dropped due to the leptospirosis scare. At Horshat Tal, the number of visitors dropped from 1,800 to 800 in a week. In Nahal Snir, visitor numbers dropped from 1,650 to 700, and Gan Hashlosha saw only 1,700 visitors, 1,100 less than last week. The reason for the infection outbreak is yet unclear. It is thought to be related to cattle herds that graze in the Golan Heights and contaminated streams with feces, as well as low volume flow due to the continuing drought. Prof. Michal Hovers, who runs the infectious diseases unit at the Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba, explained that the infection is caused by the Leptospira bacteria, which originates in animals. Hexagons Pool closed for bathing (Photo: Avihu Shapira) "Animals infected the waters and streams, and people who either bathe there or come into contact with mice urine in outdoor habitats can catch this infection," she said in an interview with Ynet. "Symptoms can be mild in some cases but in others the infection can become severe and lead to kidney and liver failure, she continued. Prof. Hovers added that symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms and sometimes corneal infections but emphasized that not all symptoms require admission to the hospital. There are over 1 million cases of leptospirosis recorded every year, mostly in third world countries. In Israel, it's fairly rare, with an average of 10 cases a year. The Supreme Court accepted an appeal filed by the state on Sunday to double the 9-month prison sentence handed down in April to Border Policeman Ben Deri , who was convicted of the negligent homicide of 17-year-old Nadim Nuwara during Nakba Day clashes in Beitunia four years ago. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The ruling came after two of three judges in the Supreme Court voted in favor of doubling the sentence to 18 months, a mere four months after the District Court ordered that Deri serve nine months behind bars. CCTV footage of incident () X In April, the Jerusalem District Court also handed Deri an additional six-month suspended sentence and ordered him to pay the Palestinian teen's family NIS 50,000 in compensation. Prosecutors had originally filed full manslaughter charges against Deri, accusing him of deliberately switching his rubber bullets for the live round. The amended indictment agreed to by Deri and approved by the Jerusalem District Court as part of a plea deal, described the switch as accidental. The incident was caught on camera and the video was circulated around the world. A soldier or policeman who finds himself in a combat situation can make mistakes and his actions must be examined against a background of the complex situation, wrote Justice Noam Sohlberg, who drafted the explanation behind the majority decision. The gun that was given to Deri in order to save lives was useddue to malicious intent against the victim and serious negligence that accompanied itto shed blood. Deri failed in this test and he must be held accountable, the judge wrote. Sohlberg also criticized the original sentence given to Deri. At the end of the day, in the overall balance, the sentence did not grant appropriate expression to the value of human life that was cut short by Deri, nor to considerations based on the obligation to adhere to the principle of purity of arms, he said. The double negligence by Deri by the fact that he did not make sure that the magazine contained either blank cartridges and didnt load a rubber bullet in his gun is grave. But what is even more grave is Deris intention to harm the victim when he constituted no threat to the forces and the result was death, Sohlberg continued. The sentence imposed on Deri, Sohlberg emphasized, was not close to reflecting the severity of a deliberate act as this, which adds to it the serious negligence that caused the deceased's death. Justice Noam Sohlberg (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) Huge responsibility falls on a soldier and policeman who carries a weapon. A trigger happy finger, nor a heavy hand (is acceptable). A responsible hand must be on the trigger, and a distinction must be drawn between saving a life and shedding blood, he added. Justice Yosef Elron explained his reasons for opposing the decision to double the prison sentence. I believe that there is no reason to reject the possibility that even though an objective observation shows that there was no danger posed (by the deceased), as was written in the amended indictment, the respondent felt a subjective feeling of danger or a threat from the deceased, who participated in throwing rocks and riots, and a mere four minutes afterwards marched toward the forces for a reason that is unclear, in a manner that absolutely could have aroused suspicion of the respondent, he said. Elron also pointed out that at the time of the incident, Deri had under his command a soldier in mandatory service who was sent by the state to carry out his job. The respondent was confronted by a wave of rioters, an enraged crowd, who were throwing rocks at him in order to hurt him. In these circumstances, he sensed a threat to his life, Elron wrote. Justice Yosef Elron (Photo: Gil Nehushtan) For that reason, we must act with extra caution while we are assessing the actions of members of the security forces around operational activity or in combat situations, the lone dissenting judge urged, adding the importance of taking into account the conditions in the field, the feelings experienced by the security personnel and their actions taken in real time. While acknowledging that Deri had caused death and that he needed to be held to account, Elron insisted that the a malicious intention could not be attributed to the officer. His actions should not be considered punitive but rather viewed against a background of circumstances surrounding the incident, he concluded. An IDF commander who abused his subordinates will only serve two months in prison under a plea deal accepted last week. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The case was first reported by Ynet a year ago following the hospitalization of a trainee enrolled in a vocational course on a technical air force base in Haifa. The soldier claimed his commander, identified as Cpl. R, humiliated and physically abused him and other soldiers on the course, mere months after their enlistment. As part of the plea bargain, which was approved by a panel of three IDF judges, the convicted soldier was also ordered to carry out extra maintenance work on the base and to pay NIS 1,500 in compensation to the soldier. The case of another commander who was said to be involved in the affair has yet to reach its conclusion. School in Haifa base where abuse took place (Photo: Avishav Sha'ar-Yashuv) Cpl. R, who served as the direct commander and instructor of the complainant, denied all charges leveled against him throughout the entire judicial proceeding and only retracted his denials at the last moment, after which he received a lighter sentence. The defendant employed violence against a few cadets under his wing, ordering them to place their hands on the wall (with their backs to him) and then smashed a mop stick on their backs, the judges wrote in their ruling. On one of the soldiers, he did that with a wooden board. In their ruling, the judges described how Cpl. R confiscated a cell phone of one of the complainants and told him he could come and get it back from the commanders office. When the soldier arrived at the office, Cpl. R once again ordered the soldier to face away from him with his hands on the wall so he could break a stick on his back. When the cadet refused, the commander began hitting him and told him that he would only stop when his subordinate stood against the wall. After being subjected to a series of blows, the solder managed to leave the room and asked for help from his friend. Cpl. R ordered him to return to the officeforbidding the other soldiers to accompany themwhere he repeatedly hit him. After feeling unwell in the wake of the beating he had just endured, the soldier, who was covered in bruises, went to hospital and given several days rest. While his victim was in hospital and taking his days off, the commander got his version of events in order with another course commander, and the two told their superiors that the bruises could be attributed to the soldier falling down stairs on the base. The fabricated version was also given during an investigation that was carried out by more senior commanders on the base. The course commander subsequently provided documents to another commander so that the injured soldier would receive more sick days to ensure his absence from the disciplinary hearing and so he would not be able to clarify what had taken place. But testimony collected in the investigation made it clear the soldier had been the victim of extreme violence and that the commander himself had been subjected to similar treatment when he was a cadet on the course. Archive photo of military court in Jaffa (Photo: AFP) There can be no dispute that the actions undertaken by the defendant are extremely grave and dispicable, the judges wrote in their decision. On the other hand, the plea bargain takes into account the defendants confession, which entails an acceptance of responsibility for his actions; the positive assessment of his commanders; the fact this is a common phenomenon in the unitwith the incident in question being an expression of the same phenomenon; and the fact that the complainant has given his consent to the agreement. "The actions carried out by the defendant, beyond the bodily harm caused to the cadets, severely hurt their dignity as people and as those serving in a hierarchical system, the judges explained. The defendant abused his authority to a forbidden end, which has no place in the base. A commander on a course is expected to care for his subordinates and ensure that their needs are met, they judges continued. In addition, the judges subtly criticized the IDF's Criminal Investigation Division (CID), claiming the case revealed evidentiary difficulties despite the defendant's admission of the acts. I am sorry for my actions. It was a mistake done early in my army service. This is what I was taught. It should not happen, neither in the army nor in civil life, Cpl. R told the judges. My motivation to return to service is high. I ask that I be permitted to return to my original job upon completion of my punishment, and I aspire to be accepted into officers course, he added. It appears Israel and the government in Gaza are nearing an agreement on an "arrangement," and that is a good thing. Out of all of the alternatives Israel faces, this is the "lesser of evils." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The main factor that makes this agreement possible is the change to the Egyptian position. Until recently, the Egyptians demanded that as part of the agreement the Hamas government must agree to give up its authoritiesincluding securityto the Palestinian Authority, tying the agreement with Israel to the internal Palestinian reconciliation. Hamas was in no way willing to swallow this bitter pill. And so, despite the fact both Israel and Hamas have a shared interest to reach a ceasefire, it could not be achieved because of the joint demand from Cairo and Ramallah. Gaza protest (Photo: EPA) Recently, the Egyptians have given up that demand, and instead they are willing to settle for Hamas committing to stop its aid to the ISIS branch operating in the northern Sinai Peninsula. This is a price Hamas can afford to pay. And so in this situation, the three playersIsrael, Hamas and Egyptare all focusing, and rightly so, only on the narrow, most vital interests. For Israel, that interest is of course quiet on the border; Egypt will get the isolation of ISIS in the Sinai; while Hamas will get a form of legitimacy and a promise of economic aid. It's important to understand Hamas would not have been able to accept the formula of "quiet for quiet," because in such a case it would've been left to deal with a worsening economic crisis entirely on its own. Israel has erred for a long time in refusing to recognize that. The Israeli position, which was somewhat sanctimonious, was to emphasize its willingness to send hundreds of trucks carrying food into the Gaza Strip every day. It's not enough. When the unemployment rate in the strip reaches 60-70 percent, the residents have no purchasing power even if the food does arrive. Moreover, to prevent further exacerbation of the economic and humanitarian crisis in Gaza, there must be infrastructure for that. You can't have a state (and Gaza has been a de facto independent state for 12 years now) with electricity that runs only five hours a day, no water in the tap, overflowing sewage and hundreds of destroyed buildings. Kerem Shalom border crossing (Photo: AFP) The moment Israel, Egypt, and gradually some parts of the international community, have given up the political aspiration of reinstating Abbas in Gaza, a real opportunity was created both to reach an agreement with Hamas and to rehabilitate the infrastructure in that miserable enclave. The promise of a long-term quiet won't be achieved solely based on Israel's power of deterrence, but also by convincing the donor countries to condition their aid for infrastructure on Hamas's commitment to keep the peace. Therefore, Israel needs to encourage European nations and Arab states to reach agreements with the government in Gaza (yes, with the government there, and not behind its back) on vital projects of infrastructure, while at the same time caution Hamas that if the peace is not kept, Israel would go back to attacking with full strength, and then all of the efforts and money invested in rehabilitating the strip would go down the drain. Instead of dodging and stuttering and continuing to recite that we won't talk to a terror organization, it's better to acknowledge the reality according to which Gaza is a state and has a stable government, which was elected in a fairly democratic manner. Ismail Haniyeh and Saleh al-Arouri (Photo: EPA) In this regard, we should also consider the regular contradiction in our position. When an errant organization like Islamic Jihad is shooting rockets at Israel, Israeli officials are quick to say that "We consider Hamas responsible for keeping the peace." We're willing to recognize Hamas's authority to run the military matters in the strip, but unwilling to recognize its authority to run the civilian matters. What's the logic in that? It's better to see reality as it is, favor the use of one giant stick along with one giant carrot, and focus on what's truly important to us. And a word on the MIAs and POWs: It is precisely a broad agreement that could facilitate the return of our sons for a reasonable price of freed terrorists. The explanation is simple: When there are several topics on the table, the different players' priorities are different. What matters most to one side, could matter less to the other, and vice versa. In such a way, it's easier to achieve mutual concessions. The MIAs and POWs issue is the only issue in which the other sidewhether it's Hezbollah or Hamashas more leverage than we do. That is why it must not be isolated and discussed separately. As evidence to that is the price we paid in the Gilad Shalit deal. Reseaches at Ramat Gan Safari attached a surveillance transmitter to a seagull's leg for research purposes and set it free. Unfortunately, the bird landed in Tripoli, where it was soon caught and transferred to the authorities on suspicion of spying for Israel. How does a wounded gull becomes an Israeli spy? Ask the media outlets in Arab countries. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter This story began a few months ago when a sick seagull discovered in Eilat was transferred to the veterinary hospital at Ramat Gan Safari. In April, the bird recovered and was released near Atlit, a small town located on the northern coast. A wounded seagull Before its release, researchers attached a GPS-based satellite transmitter onto the seagull's leg, in order to track the bird's migration route. The gull arrived at Tripoli, Libya. Unfortunately,locals noticed the transmitter attached to its leg, and apparently transferred the bird to the authorities. The authorities suspected that the seagull was part of an Israeli espionage plot, and Arab media outlets published pictures of the seagull with the transmitter alongside a caption accusing the bird of espionage: "engaged in spying for Israel." The transmitter indicated that the bird was later transferred to a villa in Beirut, Lebanon. Apparently, the flapping bird had undergone a thorough examination there, perhaps by Hezbollah members. On August 15, the GPS device stopped transmitting signals on its location, apparently because it had been neutralized. The seagull's fate remains unknown. A flying Seagull (Photo: Kobi Saadon) Amir Ben Dov, the ornithologist who attached the transmitter to the seagull's leg, said on Friday that the device was one of 12 transmitters given by Dr. Nir Sapir, a senior lecturer at the University of Haifa, who received them as donations from a German university. Ben Dov made it clear that the device was not used for espionage purposes, but rather as a mere tracking device used to track the Armenian seagull's migration route. "We invested a lot in understanding the migratory trajectory of the seagulls, and to our delight we received 12 transmitters for that purpose,"Ben Dov said. "We were sorry to discover the pictures of the seagull after being caught by Libya's authorities, and we fear for its life. We see that the bird's captors keep moving with the transmitter, but there is no telling what happened to it," he continued. In a message to the bird's captors, Ben Dov said:"I ask for its immediate release. Let the bird live and set it free. It will also contribute to our study, which aims to trace the movement of the Armenian seagull, which is an endangered species, and its nesting sites." "Unfortunately, there are those who have decided that this innocent bird is a sophisticated Israeli spy," the ornithologist concluded. The heads of the Health Ministry convened on Sunday for an emergency meeting in order to discuss an outbreak of leptospirosis , during which it had been decided on a number of measures that will be undertaken to eradicate the diseaseincluding vaccination of infected cattle herds and improvements in sanitation. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter During the meeting it was revealed that 42 people have been infected with the virus so far and there are another 242 suspected cases of infection. Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman addressed the situation, warning the public from entering the infected area. Health Ministry emergency meeting (Photo: Alex Kolomoisky) "We think the situation is under control. We ask the public to comply with the instructions of professionals and to stay away from entering potentially dangerous areas," Litzman added. Among other attendees were also Deputy General of the Health Ministry Moshe Bar Siman Tov, Deputy Director General of the Health Ministry Prof. Itamar Grotto, Director General of the Ministry of Tourism Amir Halevi and representatives of the Ministry of Environmental Protection, the Nature and Parks Authority, the Water Authority, the Cattle Breeders Association and local councils. It was decided that various government ministries will work together in a coordinated manner in order to eradicate the disease, with a number of steps to be implemented soon, which include: 1. Regulating the sources of drinking and grazing areas of cattle herds, as well as fencing the springs in order to prevent cattle from accessing the water sources. 2. The flowing of water by the Water Authority into the springs. It was clarified that the efforts should mostly be invested in regulating the livestock and wild boars that transmit the disease. 3. Vaccination of infected cattle herds. 4. Activities to improve levels of sanitation by the local authorities. (Photo: The Israel Nature and Parks Authority) In addition, the Ministry of Health will continue to update the public on a regular basis regarding a state of the infected streams and springs. "The Health Ministry is examining the streams, closely supervising the matter," Litzman said in comments to the media ahead of the discussion. "The streams that are bad, the ministry closes. And the ones that are good, it leaves open. Moshe Bar Siman Tov assured that "things are under control, and we're monitoring both the water sources and the sickness patterns on a daily basis. Heed our instructions, because there have been a lot of unfounded, false and biased things (being said)." He said that with cooperation from all authorities invited to the emergency discussion, leptospirosis will not be an issue next summer. Prof. Itamar Grotto said the list of locations that are unsafe is "constantly being updated" on the Health Ministry's website. "It's important to stress that there are no limitations everywhere else (that is not on the list), and leptospirosis cannot be contracted through the air or in pool water," Prof. Grotto said, adding it's safe to travel in northern Israel. The Nature and Parks Authority reported Saturday that the number of visitors to north Israels water destinations has dropped due to the leptospirosis scare. (Photo: Avi Moalem) At Horshat Tal, the number of visitors dropped from 1,800 to 800 in a week. In Nahal Snir, visitor numbers dropped from 1,650 to 700, and Gan Hashlosha saw only 1,700 visitors, 1,100 less than last week. The reason for the infection outbreak is yet unclear. It is thought to be related to cattle herds that graze in the Golan Heights and contaminated streams with feces, as well as low volume flow due to the continuing drought. Prof. Michal Hovers, who runs the infectious diseases unit at the Meir Hospital in Kfar Saba, explained that the infection is caused by the Leptospira bacteria, which originates in animals. "Animals infected the waters and streams, and people who either bathe there or come into contact with mice urine in outdoor habitats can catch this infection," she said in an interview with Ynet. "Symptoms can be mild in some cases but in others the infection can become severe and lead to kidney and liver failure, she continued. Prof. Hovers added that symptoms include fever, flu-like symptoms and sometimes corneal infections but emphasized that not all symptoms require admission to hospital. (Photo: The Israel Nature and Parks Authority) The ministry listed several streams the public is not allowed to enter: Zaki, Yehudiya, Meshushim, Zavitan, Jilabun, and Daliyot (at the Majrassa Nature Reserve), as well as the Jordan River (only in the Jordan Park area). Those who came into contact with either water or wet mud from the infected streams since the start of July and are suffering from fever higher than 38C for more than 24 hours during a period of less than three weeks after initial contact are advised to call their GP. The ministry emphasizes that pregnant women, the elderly, children and people suffering from chronic diseases are at a greater risk of being infected. Recently, a series of incidents in which Israeli authorities questioned US citizens at border crossings has highlighted a growing gulf between the Israeli government and liberal Jewish Americans who say they support Israel but oppose its policies. The most recent incident involves a Jewish American living in Israel who was grilled for four hours about her political views at the Israeli border with Egypt. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter When Simone Zimmerman arrived at the check-in window at the Israeli border with Egypt, it didn't take long for the young activist to run into trouble. Zimmerman, a Jewish American living in Israel, quickly became a person of interest after telling the border agent that she worked for an Israeli advocacy group that assists Palestinians. She says that led to a series of "super-charged" questions about her professional activities and political views. Airport security check (Photo: shutterstock) The agent wanted to know why she worked with Palestinians, not Jews, and asked for the names of Palestinian contacts in the West Bank. Agents unlocked her phone, asked her opinion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and threatened to deport her if she lied. After four hours, Zimmerman, who had taken a brief vacation in Egypt, was allowed to return to Israel. A series of similar incidents at Israeli border crossings has highlighted a growing gulf between the country's hard-line government and liberal Jewish Americans who say they support Israel but oppose its policies on issues including religion, US President Donald Trump, and the situation in the West Bank. For example, last week, Peter Beinart, a prominent Jewish-American critic of Israeli policies who writes for US publications and Israel's Haaretz, was detained by Israeli airport authorities and interrogated about his political views before he was allowed to enter the country. Peter Beinart (Photo: AP) These incidents already appear to be having important implications for what historically has been a close relationship built on almost unquestioning bipartisan support. Some Jewish leaders have begun to criticize Israeli policies publicly, and some predict that the US Democratic Partyhome to an estimated 70 percent of American Jews could soon turn away from its support for Israel. A poll published by the American Jewish Committee in June showed deep differences between US and Israeli Jews on issues like Israeli settlements, religious pluralism and Trump's policies. Only 34 percent of American Jews, for instance, supported Trump's handling of relations with Israel, compared with 77 percent of Israeli Jews. A separate poll conducted by the Pew Research Center early this year found deep partisan differences in attitudes toward Israel, with Republicans more sympathetic to Israel than Democrats by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. The differences between the world's two largest Jewish communities have been in the making for years. Non-Orthodox American Jews have long identified with liberal causes, such as civil rights and social justice, and have become well-integrated into mainstream American society. They have a high rate of intermarriage with non-Jews, are less engaged in Jewish communal life than their parents, and tend to hold relatively dovish attitudes in Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, according to Steven Cohen, a prominent sociologist who studies the American Jewish community. In contrast, many Israelis have more conservative world views. They generally oppose mixed marriage, have a more collective identity and take a harder line toward the Palestinians, Cohen said. "Essentially, you have a liberal American Jewry confronting an increasingly conservative Israeli electorate, specifically an Israeli Jewish electorate," Cohen said. Despite these differences, the Jewish American establishmentled by the influential pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAChas firmly backed the Israeli government and its policies over the years. But a series of decisions by Netanyahu's government has begun to soften that support. The prime minister upset many American Jews by appearing to side with Mitt Romney over Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election. He openly welcomed Trump's election in 2016 and has angered many American Jews by forging a close relationship with a US president they see as anathema to their values. The relationship hit a major turning point last year when Netanyahu, under pressure from religious political partners, called off an agreement to create an egalitarian space where men and women could worship together at the Western Wall, Judaism's most holy prayer site. The Reform and Conservative movements, which represent most affiliated American Jews, slammed his decision. The prime minister's government has also passed legislation aimed at curbing the influence of anti-occupation advocacy groups, banned gay couples from receiving state-funded surrogacy services and approved a ban on activists who support boycotts of Israel or Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Last month, Israel approved the Nation-State Law which enshrines the status of the State of Israel as the nation state of the Jewish people. The new law was criticized by many in Israel's Arab minority, who said it rendered them second-class citizens. Jewish American groups have strongly condemned the law, as have Israeli liberals who saw it as undermining democracy and needlessly provoking the country's Arab minority. This week, a coalition of anti-occupation Jewish groups in the US pledged to demand explanations from any visiting Israeli lawmaker who supported the law. Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, wrote in The New York Times this week that some Diaspora Jews "wonder if the nation they cherish is losing its way." He said this sentiment is especially prevalent among younger Jewish Americans. "Jewish millennials are raising doubts that their parents and grandparents never raised. Passing the torch to this younger generation is already a difficult undertaking. But when Israel's own government proposes damaging legislation, this task may well become nearly impossible," Lauder claimed. Israel still has significant support in the American Jewish community. AIPAC continues to wield influence in Washington; the White House and Congress remain strongly pro-Israel; and the smaller but more politically engaged Orthodox Jewish minority fervently supports Israel. Elad Strohmayer, spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, said Israel and American Jews have a special bond "that Israel does not take for granted and which must always be nurtured." He said all of Israel's diplomatic missions in the US are engaged in "extensive outreach to American Jews and work to strengthen the connection of all Jews to Israel, regardless of their denomination." Ben Gurion airport Zimmerman, 27, said she grew up in a mainstream Jewish family in Los Angeles and was raised to show unwavering support for Israel. She only began to ask questions after heading to college, where she said she found it difficult to defend Israel against critics of its policies toward the Palestinians. This led to disillusionment with the Jewish establishment. She became involved with J Street U, the campus arm of a Jewish lobby group that supports Israel but opposes the occupation. "That really for a lot of young Jews is how the process started for many of us. It was actually just about wanting the space to ask the hard questions that didn't exist in the community," she said. Three years ago, Zimmerman formed "IfNotNow," a grassroots group that opposes Israel's occupation. The group claims to have nearly 2,000 trained activists, with chapters in 16 cities and a dozen college campuses. "Our contribution is to bring the crisis of American Jewish support for the occupation into the center of public discourse and to force a difficult conversation," she said. In recent weeks, several other vocal critics of Israeli policies have been detained and questioned about their political views when entering the country. Among them was Peter Beinart, a journalist, TV commentator and university professor who is well known in Jewish circles. Beinart warned "there is no question" American Jews are growing ever more distant from Israel. "The depth of animosity and alienation has grown dramatically," he said, predicting that Israelis will be "shocked" by how critical of Israeli policies Democratic presidential candidates in 2020 will be and how much support they will get from young American Jews. "When you think about how liberal American Jews think about Donald Trump, that's the way they feel about Netanyahu," he said. "That's the emerging demographic majority in the United States." Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US National Security Advisor John Bolton at his Jerusalem residence on Sunday. Netanyahu told Bolton at the start of their meeting: " I look forward to discussing with you a whole array of topics, but the most important one is how to continue to roll back Irans aggression in the region and to make sure that they never have nuclear weapons." "Obviously weve got great challengesThe Iran nuclear weapons program, the ballistic missile programs are right at the top of the list. So Im delighted to be here, and look forward to our discussions," said Bolton. At the opening ceremony for the Ariel University Faculty of Medicine Sunday, Deputy Health Minister Yaakov Litzman spoke about the difficulty involved in keeping young Israeli doctors in the country. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Two and a half months ago, I visited the United States and spoke with many Jewish physicians. Unfortunately, there are departments in which the majority (of doctors) are Israeli. I cannot tell a doctor, who receives a measly salary here in Israel, not to accept a more lucrative position in the United States, Litzman said. Yaakov Litzman (Photo: Amit Huber) My consolation is that doctors who have spent a long time abroad return and serve as department heads here in Israel, Litzman added. But we need them here day to day. Dep. Minister Litzman also discussed the large disparity in medical care between the center and the periphery of the country. The periphery is behind the center by a few years. This means that they live shorter lives. Even three years is substantial. We need to close the gap and I believe that by increasing the number of physicians we will succeed in doing just that Litzman said that the Health Ministry is working to increase the number of MRI and PET-CT machines in hospitals in the periphery of the country. Litzman, seated between President Rivlin, Education Minister Bennett (Photo: Amit Huber) A month ago, the Council for Higher Education approved the establishment of Ariel Universitys medical school, which will join the existing five: University of Tel Aviv, Technion, Hebrew University, Ben Gurion and Bar Ilan University. Critics: Hospitals cant absorb more students Critics say that the medical industry is not yet ready to absorb additional medical interns. The system cannot absorb more students as it is limited by the number of hospital beds necessary for the clinical studies that make up the last three years of medical training, said Hebrew University President Prof. Asher Cohen. According to Prof. Cohen, the opening of a new medical faculty will only cause damage and harm current students, in the quality of their education, patients, and the entire public health system, he said. There will be insufficient placements at hospitals which might lead to lengthening their school year and the end result will not be more doctors. In order to increase the number of medical practitioners in Israel it is necessary to increase the amount of hospital beds required for clinical studies. Then, the existing medical faculties will be able to accept more students and train them as doctors. Any attempt to portray our resistance as political is incorrect, Cohen asserted. Education Minister Naftali Bennett commented on the resistance to the opening of the new medical faculty: Many sought to stop this and it must be said that there exists a university cartel in Israel. They sought to halt the establishment of the first private college in Israel as well A year and a half ago we declared that a medical faculty will be established here and so it is. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, met with US National Security Advisor John Bolton Sunday evening over dinner at the prime minister's official residence in Jerusalem. The meeting was also attended by US Ambassador to Israel David Friedman and Israeli Ambassador to the US Ron Dermer. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter At the start of the meeting, Netanyahu turned to the American advisor and said: "I look forward to discussing with you a whole array of topics, but the most important one is how to continue to roll back Irans aggression in the region and to make sure that they never have nuclear weapons." The meeting between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and John Bolton (: Ziv Sokolov/U.S. Embassy Jerusalem) X Netanyahu complimented Bolton, the former US ambassador to the United Nations, and a right-wing member of the Trump administration, who pushed Trump to cancel the nuclear deal with Iran: "Ambassador Bolton, John, its a pleasure to see you." PM Benjamin Netanyahu and US National Security Advisor John Bolton (Photo: Haim Zach/GPO) "Weve been friends for many years, and I can testify that in and out of office, youve been a tremendous friendtremendous friend of Israel, tremendous champion of the American-Israel alliance," he said. "Its particularly momentous to welcome you here, after the momentous decisions of President Trump, to move the embassy to Jerusalem, and get out of the terrible Iran deal," The prime minister added. John Bolton (Photo: EPA) US National Security Advisor Bolton replied that "Its a great honor to be here. Its great to see you again and talk about the US-Israel relationship." "Its been an exciting year and a half in the Trump administration with some of the things youve mentioned. Obviously weve got great challenges, for Israel, for the United States and the whole world," said Bolton. The Iran nuclear weapons program, the ballistic missile programs are right at the top of the list. So Im delighted to be here, and look forward to our discussions," Bolton added. Eighty three people, including four employees of the Population and Immigration Authority and residents of eastern Jerusalem, were recently arrested on suspicion of being involved in a large-scale bribery affair at the center of which was an illicit trade of appointments at the busy Population Authority branch in Wadi al-Joz in eastern Jerusalem, worth hundreds of thousands of shekels. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Six of the detainees are suspected of brokering the trade and the remaining 73 are suspected of paying hundreds of shekels each time theyd been advanced in queues. They are charged with multiple bribery offenses including breach of trust and money laundering. The arrest of the four employees was extended until Wednesday, and the rest have been released under restrictive conditions. The arrests were carried out at the end of an undercover investigation that lasted four months and involved an undercover agent. Police arrest suspects in the case (Photo: Police Spokesperson) The investigation revealed a method the brokers used to allegedly link the suspected Population Authority employees with dozens of eastern Jerusalem residents who required the ministrys services, such as the issuance of identity cards or travel permits, and could make appointments with no waiting period in exchange for a monetary bribe. During the wave of arrests, the police raided the homes of 23 key suspects, including the four employees and six real estate agents, and confiscated, among other things, luxury cars and tens of thousands of shekels in cash. (Photo: Police Spokesperson) Approximately 350,000 residents of eastern Jerusalem are assigned to the Wadi al-Joz branch, which results in appointments being made months in advance. According to the police, in order to exhaust the residents patience and force them to resort to bribes, the brokers used a smartphone application My Visitwhich was developed in order to facilitate services at the branch, through which they would purchase appointments and subsequently sell them. One of the brokers, allegedly had personally scheduled no less than 2,700 appointments months ahead. (Photo: Police Spokesperson) The police issued an official response explaining the mechanism behind the scheme. "According to the suspicions, the suspects exploited the shortage of available appointments and long waiting periods at the branch in order to collect bribes. In some instances, services to the applicants had been provided without them physically visiting the branch or providing the required documents," the statement concluded. The Population and Immigration Authority also issued a response, refusing to elaborate further on the alleged offenses. "The matter is under police investigationinitiated by us, and therefore we will not be able to respond," read the statement. US President Donald Trump said on Sunday he had "nothing to hide" from the special counsel investigating Russian interference in the 2016 US election, and denied that his top lawyer had turned on him by cooperating with the probe. Trump, in a series of tweets, denounced the New York Times for a Saturday story saying White House Counsel Don McGahn has cooperated extensively with the special counsel, Robert Mueller. The Times said McGahn had shared detailed accounts about the episodes at the heart of the inquiry into whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice. JERUSALEM - White House national security adviser John Bolton arrived in Israel on Sunday on the first leg of an overseas trip, and met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, with Iran the focus of talks. Bolton is one of the US administration's leading hawks in dealing with Iran's nuclear programme. He was meeting Netanyahu at a working dinner at the Israeli leader's residence in Jerusalem. The two are set for further discussions on Monday. "We've got great challenges for Israel, for the United States, for the whole world - the Iran nuclear weapons programme and ballistic missile programmes are right at the top of the list," Bolton said. In his welcoming remarks, Netanyahu said the two would discuss how "to continue to roll back Iran's aggression in the region and to make sure that they never have a nuclear weapon". Bolton will meet Russian officials in Geneva later in the week as a follow-up to the summit meeting that President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had in Helsinki last month, the White House said. He will also visit Ukraine. Bolton told ABC News in an interview earlier that the United States, Israel and Russia shared the objective of removing Iranian and Iranian-led forces from Syria, and ending Iran's backing of the Lebanese Hezbollah guerrillas. The US government is trying to force Facebook Inc to break the encryption in its popular Messenger app so law enforcement may listen to a suspect's voice conversations in a criminal probe, three people briefed on the case said, resurrecting the issue of whether companies can be compelled to alter their products to enable surveillance. Ilana Shemesh, an Israeli midwife shocked by the harsh conditions of the Jewish community in Uganda, established a new maternity center. At the opening ceremony a cheerful song and dance event attended by the community's rabbilocal women could not believe their eyes: new beds and a new incubator replaced the stained mattresses. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter The Tobin Health Center, where the new maternity center is located, welcomes any Ugandan woman. Shemesh, the chairman of the Adat Shalom Emanuel congregation in Rehovot, has enlisted her professional background as a midwife to help the residents of Abayudaya. : X It all began about a year ago, when Shemesh arrived in Uganda for the first time and discovered the poor conditions of the centers treating pregnant women. "I arrived in the villages of the Jewish community in Uganda," she told Ynet. "I spoke to the community's key figures, and asked about was happening there." According to Shemesh, "they do not have obstetrician services at all. The conditions in the governmental hospital are terrible, and private hospitals are very expensive. This cannot even be compared with Israeli standards." Abayudaya Jewish community in Uganda (Photo: Asher Shemesh) "There are no monitors and no delivery rooms, many women are still giving birth in their homes, and diseases like malaria, tetanus and TB, that the Western world almost eradicatedare still endangering Uganda's residents, including pregnant women and newborn babies," she said "The situation is dire, and the villagers have no money at all. Women give birth in their homes, made out of wicker and mud, while lying on dirty mattresses. Therefore, babies are at risk of getting infected the minute they are born. If a woman bleeds heavily during labor, she might die and no one will be there to help her," Shemesh stated. Israeli midwives to assist African counterpart The visit prompted Shemesh to promote a fund-raising campaign, which eventually raised $12,000 for the recently opened Shifra and Puah maternity center. A mass funding campaign has also been established for the benefit of the project (donations can be made here). The new center (Photo: Asher Shemsh) "The rabbi of the local Jewish community, Gershom Sizomu, and the directors of the medical center allocated four rooms for the use of the birth center," Shemesh said. "We bought beds, baby cribs, sets of medical equipment, medicines, pulse monitors. We set up an array of equipment. We bought an incubator, something they had never seen before. When the local women and midwives came in, they simply could not believe their eyes," she added. The opening ceremony of the center was a touching event that included song and dance, as customary by the community. Since its opening, the center assisted in two birthsthe first the night after its opening. "In the meantime, the center is being run by local midwives, and we hope to establish a system in which midwives from Israel and around the globe come to the center on a monthly basis to reinforce and teach local midwives new delivery techniques and new methods for treating pregnant women," Shemesh concluded. Abayudaya population estimated at 2,000 The African Jewish community Abayudaya was founded by an army officer, Semei Kakungulu, a Christian who converted to Judaism at the beginning of the 20th century, and was followed by many. He declared his community was Jewish and circumcised his sons, the members of the community, and himself. When Kakungulu died in 1928, he left most of his land to the Abayudaya community. Abayudaya community (Photo: Asher Shemesh) The members of Abayudaya practice circumcision, the Torah and its laws, keep kashrut and observe Shabbat. Many of the Abayudaya children were born to families who identified as Jewish and raised their children according to Jewish tradition, but this was not always the case. In the 1970s, Idi Amin, then president of Uganda, persecuted the community, and as a result, the community dwindled to a few hundred Jews. Even in the 1980s there were violent attempts to eradicate the communityin exactly the same place where a new synagogue now stands. Today, the Abayudaya's population, who now has stronger ties with the government, is estimated at 2,000 members. The community has its own health center, two schools, a bakery, a shared community, a guest house, as well as an afforestation plan. In order to feel like genuine members of the Jewish community, Abayudaya has been demanding official recognition from the State of Israel for the past several years. However, despite the fact that the Jewish Agency recognized the community as Jewish in 2009, the Interior Ministry has yet to decide on their religious status, stating that it is a "complicated situation." The community itself began to officially convert to Judaism only in the last 20 years, after receiving the assistance and sponsorship of the World Conservative Movement. In 2009, about a year after completing five years of Conservative rabbinical studies, one of which in Jerusalemthe current community leader, Rabbi Gershom Sizomo, converted about 250 people from Uganda and neighboring countries to Judaism. News Somerton, Arizona - On Thursday, August 16th, at approximately 10:25 a.m., the Somerton Police Departments 9-1-1 Center received a call from an unknown male indicating there was a bomb in a Somerton school. No further information was provided. Based on the vague information provided, as a precaution, Jerry Cabrera, Assistant Superintendent/Somerton School District decided to cancel classes for the remainder of the day for the Somerton School District. A total of 3500 students and staff were affected by this incident. Somerton Police Department facilitated the schools dismissal. As of now, classes in the Somerton School District were expected to resume Friday morning. As a precautionary measure, Yuma MCAS Military Police K-9 unit was contacted to provide explosive K-9 support to assist in searching the schools. Officers from ADOT/Enforcement Compliance Division and Agents from the US Border Patrol also assisted is evacuating schools and searches. A through search of all the schools was conducted with no device(s) being located. The Somerton Police Department detectives have since developed information they believe will lead them to an arrest in this case. If you have any information that might help detectives in this case, please contact Somerton Police at (928) 722-7300 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Border News Beaumont, Texas - An illegal alien from Honduras was sentenced to nearly three years in federal prison Monday for shooting the son of an off-duty law enforcement officer. This investigation was conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcements (ICE) Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) in Houston, Texas, with assistance from HSI Boston, HSI Madrid and IRSs Criminal Investigation Division. Santos Alfredo Paz-Ruiz, 42, was sentenced Aug. 13 to 33 months in federal prison for firearms violations. On May 10, 2018, Paz-Ruiz pleaded guilty to being an illegal alien unlawfully possessing a firearm. On Nov. 4, 2017, Paz-Ruiz was confronted by an off-duty law enforcement officer for driving erratically on a rural road in Hardin County, Texas. During the confrontation, Paz-Ruiz brandished a handgun and fired a shot. Paz-Ruiz was then tackled by the off-duty officers son and a struggle ensued. During the struggle, the firearm discharged striking the off-duty officers son in the ankle. The injury was not life-threatening. Further investigation revealed Paz-Ruiz was illegally in the United States and is prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm. Paz-Ruiz was indicted by a federal grand jury Jan. 10, 2018, and charged with firearms violations. This case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Randall L. Fluke, Eastern District of Texas. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - The Arizona Western College Culinary Arts Program presents their formal dinner offerings that include an appetizer, soup or salad, a main dish with sides and dessert. The students in the program create the menus and serve the meals. The funds raised are used for the students and their program necessities. A grilled salmon dinner is scheduled to be served beginning at 6:00pm on Tuesday, September 11, in the Learning Resources (LR) Building-Room LR109 at the AWC Yuma Campus. The Final Student Buffet will be held in Frances Morris Boardroom, Dr. Schoening Conference Center on December 4, 2018. Additional dinners will be offered every two weeks, on Tuesdays. Each dinner will feature a different menu. September 11 Salmon $30.00 September 25 Prime Rib $30.00 October 9 Armenian Night Braised Lamb Shanks $30.00 October 23 Surf and Turf Beef Tenderloin and Lobster Tail $50.00 November 6 Italian Night Osso Buco $35.00 November 20 French Night Coq au Vin $25.00 December 4 Student Buffet $20.00 Tickets cost $20-$50 per person depending on the meal. Season tickets are available for $200 that covers all seven events. Tickets may be purchased in advance through the AWC Business Office on main campus. For payment by phone, please call (928) 317-7666. Yuma News Yuma, Arizona - Friday, at approximately 8:44PM, officers from the Yuma Police Department located an active residential fire in the 900 block S 1st Avenue. Officers evacuated the nearby residences to assist the Yuma Fire Department. The 900 block of South 1st Avenue was closed for approximately one hour, until the scene was released at 9:34PM. The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Yuma Police Department encourages anyone with any information about this case to please call the Yuma Police Department at (928) 373-4700 or 78-Crime at (928) 782-7463 to remain anonymous. Remember if your information leads to an arrest you may receive up to a $1,000 cash reward. 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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Royal Dutch Shell plc was founded in 1907 and is headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands. Read More - Former president Rawlings met and chatted heartily with Akufo-Addo at a public event in Accra - Photos of the two men laughing excitedly have gone viral - The interaction stands in stark contrast to Rawlings' treatment of former president Mahama at public functions Former president Jerry Rawlings could not hide his excitement when he met President Nana Akufo-Addo at the burial of the late Ghanaian statesman, J.H. Mensah, in Accra, YEN.com.gh can report. Former president Jerry Rawlings chats heartily with President Nana Akufo-Addo at the funeral of the late J.H. Mensah in Accra. Photo Credit: Facebook.com/Nana Akufo-Addo Flanked by his wife, Nana Konadu, Rawlings, who is not known to laugh often in public, laughed excitedly with Akufo-Addo, who was in the company of Vice-President Mahamudu Bawumia. It is not known what was talked about, but it is clear that Rawlings and Nana Konadu were enjoying themselves. Akufo-Addo and Bawumia were also having fun as they exchanged pleasantries with the former president and first lady. Former president Jerry Rawlings chats heartily with President Nana Akufo-Addo at the funeral of the late J.H. Mensah in Accra. Photo Credit: Facebook.com/Nana Akufo-Addo READ ALSO: 7 churches where God is not worshipped The stunning photos of the interactions excited many Ghanaians on social media, and instantly went viral. It marked a continuation of the extraordinary rapport that has developed between the two men since Akufo-Addo became president. And it stood in stark contrast with Rawlings' treatment of former president John Mahama, with whom he has had a frosty relationship. Rawlings barely exchanging pleasantries with Rawlings at a public function. Image credit: Facebook. The relationship between Rawlings and Mahama has suffered in recent years, although they are leading members of the same party - the opposition NDC. The former has accused the later of presiding over monumental corruption when he was president. In media interviews, Rawlings has railed against Mahama and his former ministers and close aides, stressing that the numerous corruption scandals that buffeted their administration were inconsistent with the NDC's cherished values of probity, accountability and integrity. Since Mahama lost the 2016 election, Rawlings has often given him a cold, icy stare each time he runs into him at a public event. READ ALSO: Photos of the dresses Yvonne, Jackie and other celebs wore to Becca's wedding Sometimes, he appears to dismissively avoid eye contact when shaking hands with Mahama. Rawlings seems uninterested as Mahama exchanges pleasantries with him In January this year, a video appeared online of Rawlings "snubbing" Mahama at an event to mark the 25th anniversary of Ghana's democracy since 1992. The awkward interactions between the two have often ignited social trolling for Mahama by his political opponents. Mahama himself has addressed this lack of chemistry with his former boss, blaming it on mood swings on the part of Rawlings. READ ALSO: Beautiful photos and videos from Becca's wedding ceremony excite Ghanaians In an interview with Ghana Television (GTV), Mahama said, depending on Rawlings' mood, the former military head of state would either greet him warmly or in "military style". Share your views on this with us in the comments section below. Top Funny Facts on Ghana: Things That Only Happen in Ghana | #Yencomgh Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through Facebook. Click here to download the YEN News app on your phone and get hot and trending news on the go! Source: Yen - 16 nurses are expecting at once in a hospital at Arizona in the US - The group's first birth is expected in September and the last in January Sixteen nurses at a hospital in Mesa, Arizona have all concurrently gotten pregnant, to the surprise of many. The number of pregnant nurses at the hospital amounts to 10% of the nursing staff in the intensive care unit. All the nurses are expected to successfully deliver their babies by the end of January 2019. Some of the nurses gave a news conference on Friday and joked that they had schemed together to get Christmas off. Source: BBC READ ALSO: Kofi Annan in pictures The earliest delivery among them is expected somewhere around September, whiles the groups last birth is expected in January. Despite the surprising nature of their concurrent pregnancies and the possibility of denying the hospital a chunk of its staff when they deliver, the nurses are in good spirits. At a news conference, the women joked that there must be something in the water, or that maybe it was a joint plan for Christmas holidays off. "I don't think we realised just how many of us were pregnant until we started a Facebook group. "It's like we had some kind of pact going on, one of the pregnant nurses by the name Rochelle Sherman is quoted as saying by the BBC. Another pregnant nurse Jolene Garrow was grateful to her colleagues for steeping in to do jobs pregnant women cannot do. READ ALSO: Akufo-Addo disgraces Bawumia at Jubilee House public event These include dealing with contagious illnesses like tuberculosis and shingles, or performing some treatments for cancer patients. All the pregnant nurses are set to go on a 12-week maternity leave but first the staff of the hospital have decided to throw a joint baby shower for all the women. Ghana News Today: Is President Akufo-Addo's government becoming too big? | #Yenkasa READ ALSO: Photos of Ghanaian celebrities at Becca's wedding Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through Facebook. Source: Yen - The US president has not said anything in tribute to the late former secretary-general of the UN - Politicians and the international public alike are wondering why this is so All of the world mourns the death of Ghanaian diplomat Kofi Annan, who was the secretary-general of the UN. World leaders from the French, Russian and German heads of state have all paid glowing tributes to Mr Annan. Surprisingly missing from the list of those mourning the late celebrated peacekeeper is United States president Donald Trump. This comes in even after former US presidents like Bill Clinton, George Bush and Barack Obama have paid tribute. It must be clarified that paying tribute to a late world-acclaimed diplomat is not compulsory. It is however highly encouraged in international relations to be courteous. READ ALSO: Kofi Annan arrived to a joyous welcome after appointment in 1997 A flurry of tweets and posts on social media has come from people high and low, wondering why Mr Trump has said nothing. It has been almost 24 hours after the death of Mr Annan was reported. The United States Sate Department and US Mission at the United Nations have issues statements on their condolences. But this is not enough for many. Twitter user Laurie Brookins wonders how Mr Trump said nothing throughout the whole of Saturday. Another A. J. Stewart was critical of the US president in very strong terms. Some made fun of the US president, a technique that is quite popular with people who disagree with him. No word has come from the White House as to why the Mr Trump has said nothing on the death. YEN.com.gh will keep you posted. Ghana News Today: Is President Akufo-Addo's government becoming too big? Do you have a story you would like us to publish, please reach us through Facebook. Source: Yen.com.gh - The family of E.T Mensah have dismissed reports that he has passed away - Rumours of his death spread around on the same day that news of the death of former UN Secretary-General became public - E.T Mensah's family have revealed that he is alive and doing very well The family of Ghanaian politician, Enoch Teye Mensah, has reacted to rumours of his death. Information available to YEN.com.gh shows that rumours of E.T Mensahs death began to circulate on Saturday, August 18, 2018. On the same day, renowned Ghanaian statesman and former United Nations Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, passed away in Switzerland at the age of 80. E.T Mensah Source: Supplied READ ALSO: Rawlings laughs with Akufo-Addo in new photos Shedding light on the rumour, a member of the family, H.T Mensah, stated that the news of E.T Mensah is a hoax and the work of evil plotters who will not succeed. It was further revealed that E.T Mensah, a former Member of Parliament (MP) for Ningo-Prampram, is alive and kicking. His family added that such was the situation a few years ago, when news broke that the late Former President of Ghana, Professor John Atta-Mills had passed away. It turned out to be untrue, and the ex-president lost his life a few years later. The family concluded by saying that as vengeance is from God, they wished the evil plotters well in their endeavours. READ ALSO: The life of Kofi Annan in pictures Ghana News Today: President Akufo-Addos Tour | #Yencomgh 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 Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia and his wife have left the country to Mecca, Saudi Arabia to mark this years Hajj pilgrimage. Dr. Bawmumia, together with Second Lady, Samira Bawumia, left for Mecca on Friday, August 17, 2018. Both of them are expected to return home on August 27, 2018, a statement from the office of the vice President said. Dr Bawumia and national chief Imam. Source: Office of the Veep READ ALSO: 16 nurses get pregnant at Arizona hospital ICU Vice President Bawumia, accompanied by his wife, Hajia Samira Bawumia, will join thousands of Ghanaians and millions of Muslims around the world in performing this years Hajj, a portion of the statement read. It added: while on the Pilgrimage Vice President Bawumia will use the spiritual exercise to among others pray for the people and nation of Ghana and request Allahs blessings for Ghana. Read the full statement below: Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia leaves for Hajj The Vice President of the Republic, Alhaji Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, departed Accra for Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Friday 17th August 2018 to perform the Islamic pilgrimage of Hajj. Vice President Bawumia, accompanied by his wife, Hajia Samira Bawumia, will join thousands of Ghanaians and millions of Muslims around the world in performing this years Hajj. The Hajj is one of the five pillars of Islam and fulfils one of the conditions for total submission to the will of Allah. While on the Pilgrimage Vice President Bawumia will use the spiritual exercise to among others pray for the people and nation of Ghana and request Allahs blessings for Ghana The Vice President returns to Ghana on Monday 27th August, 2018. Signed Frank Agyei-Twum Communications Director Office of the Vice President Ghana News Today: Is President Akufo-Addo's government becoming too big? | #Yenkasa READ ALSO: Kofi Annan in pictures Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through Facebook. Source: Yen (CNN) Mourners remembered 18 of the victims of the deadly bridge collapse in the northern Italian city of Genoa at a joint state funeral service on Saturday that was reportedly boycotted by some families amid anger against the government. At least 39 people died when a section of the Morandi Bridge a vital link of the A10 highway that connects northwest Italy to France and one of the busiest bridges in Italy suddenly plummeted to the ground on Tuesday. President Sergio Materella, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, and Vice Prime ministers Matteo Salvini and Luigi Di Maio were among the politicians to attend the funeral service at a convention center in the city, led by the city's archbishop, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco. Each of the 18 coffins including one small, white one for a child was decorated with mounds of flowers. Families and survivors sat by the caskets, many of which also had a photo of the victim. Mourners gave a standing ovation as a number of first responders, in uniform, arrived for the service. Many of them stopped to kiss the coffins as they passed by. Those gathered also applauded when the names of the dead were read out. Bagnasco called the disaster "a deep wound" for the city. "The collapse showed a glimpse of the heart of Genoa," he said. "The wound is profound, and made worse by the boundless grief for those who have lost their lives and for the missing, for their relatives, the wounded, the many displaced. There are countless signs of both dismay and affection that have come not only from Italy, but also from many parts of the world." An imam also spoke words of remembrance for two Muslim victims of the collapse. The state ceremony took place as search efforts continued for an unknown number of people who may still be trapped among the massive chunks of concrete. Many families chose not to participate out of frustration and anger over the yet unknown cause of the tragedy. Other families who are still waiting for their missing loved ones to be found complained that it was too soon for a state funeral to be held. A separate funeral for four friends who died in the bridge collapse took place on Friday. Large crowds gathered outside the church in Torre del Greco, near Naples, while the priests blessed the four coffins. Roberto Battiloro, the father of one of the four, told Italian news media he was boycotting the state funeral because he didn't want to be involved in a "parade of politicians." Other funerals will be held throughout the weekend, and those honored at the state funeral will now be taken to their individual towns for burial. Conte has proclaimed Saturday a day of national mourning. Search for the missing continues A few people are known to be still missing. But Italian authorities have said they don't know exactly how many cars were on the collapsed section of the bridge or the number of people that were in them. Firefighters and rescue teams recovered a car from the rubble overnight into Saturday. A local government spokesman told CNN that they had found body parts in the vehicle but could not yet confirm how many people they belonged to, nor who the people were. The Italian fire service tweeted Saturday morning: "With grief in our hearts, our work continues." Hopes of finding survivors are fading and authorities have warned that the number killed in the disaster may rise. The European Commission tweeted its "deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the families and friends of those who have died." Firm faces questions over maintenance Conte announced a 12-month state of emergency for the city of Genoa on Wednesday night and pledged 5 million, or about $5.7 million, (303.8 million) to tackle the immediate costs of the search-and-rescue efforts. The company which had the contract for maintenance on the A10 motorway, Autostrade, said it would hold a news conference Saturday afternoon in Genoa. Leading politicians have blamed Autostrade for the Genoa disaster. Conte announced Wednesday that his government would revoke the concession from the company, while Transport Minister Danilo Toninelli called for senior managers there to resign. The Italian Ministry of Infrastructure and Transport announced the creation of an inspection commission to carry out technical checks and analysis in an investigation into the cause of the collapse. The commission will have 30 days to provide the minister with a detailed report on the collapse. Experts have warned that thousands of other bridges in Italy could be at risk of collapse. This story was first published on CNN.com "State funeral held for Genoa bridge collapse victims as some families voice anger" The U.S. claims that it supports democracy and human rights. Unfriendly nations that the U.S. claims are violating these desired norms risk being attacked or sanctioned. Despite the governments claims, U.S. actions are often taken to benefit its banks and other corporate interests or to undermine alternative political/economic models. Unfortunately, citizens here have been so propagandized by the government, mainstream media and the education system that they blindly accept this U.S. claim. Moreover, many citizens believe that if the U.S. committed a war crime, it was done with the best of intentions. Too many people in this country dont realize that the U.S. was founded on two original sins the genocide of American Indians and slavery of black people. Both these groups were and still are denied fair and just treatment. In the international arena, the U.S. created the Monroe Doctrine that essentially told European powers to stay out of this hemisphere as it was ours to control. Central and South American nations have long suffered the attacks of the U.S. military or the threat of an attack. The U.S. has overthrown or supported the overthrow of many governments in this hemisphere and elsewhere. A few examples of U.S.-staged or supported coups include Iran in 1953, Guatemala in 1954, Chile in 1973 and Ukraine in 2014. During World War II, U.S. war crimes included the indiscriminate fire-bombing of German cities that caused a large number of civilian deaths and widespread destruction. This procedure was repeated against Japanese cities and was followed by the unnecessary and appalling use of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. In 1950, a civil war in Korea started, and the U.S. and the U.N. quickly engaged in the fighting. The U.S. conducted an intensive bombing campaign, and about 12 percent to 15 percent of the North Korean population were killed. The U.S. aggression against the Viet Cong and North Vietnam soon followed. Chemical weapons, in addition to more indiscriminate bombing, were also used widely against the Vietnamese. No sanctions or reparations were imposed on the U.S. for any of its war crimes. More recently, based on U.S. lies, the U.S. destabilized the Middle East causing incredible suffering and turning several nations into failed states. In addition, while allegedly opposing terrorism, the U.S. strongly supports the state terrorism of Israel and Saudi Arabia. Somehow, the U.S. population sees nothing hypocritical in the U.S., the country most widely viewed as a threat to world peace in 2013, a country that uses torture and assassinations via drones, and a consistent violator of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, deciding which nations may have nuclear weapons as well as which nations deserve to be sanctioned or to be attacked. Shamefully, other Western nations go along with this insanity. The Rocky Mountain Peace and Justice Centers Peace Train runs every Friday in the Colorado Daily. Crisis Phone Numberspecial noticeIf you are a veteran in emotional crisis and need help RIGHT NOW, call this toll-free number 1-800-273-8255, available 24/7, and tell them you are a veteran. All calls are confidential.1-888-899-9377A Crisis Intervention Hotline has been established by the VA Heartland Network to assist veterans who may be dealing with a mental health crisis or difficult issue in their lives. The hotline will also aid family members or friends of veterans who need help in assisting a veteran in crisis. Have you noticed how politicians, police chiefs and media have all stopped pretending that crime is falling? Even the supercilious academics who have sneered for years at real public concern about crime and disorder, tittering from their safe, secluded homes about moral panic, may eventually have to change their tune. This is partly because of the exposure which I helped to publicise of the systematic fiddling of crime figures by the police. It is also partly because the police like to pretend that minor cuts in their enormous numbers have made crime more common though how this can be when the police are almost entirely invisible I cannot tell. In the days of regular foot patrols, we had about half as many officers as we do now. But theres another reason. You can hide and fiddle the truth about many types of crime. But you cant keep stabbing and murder secret in any remotely free society. The authorities long ago gave up doing anything serious about shoplifting, public drunkenness and disorder, vandalism, bike theft, car theft, robbery and burglary. They just stick up notices telling you that these things are your own fault. The authorities long ago gave up doing anything serious about shoplifting, public drunkenness and disorder, vandalism, bike theft, car theft, robbery and burglary They now publicly admit they cannot be bothered to pursue anyone for possessing illegal drugs, even though this offence is at the root of so much other crime. Indeed, they boast about it, as if this laziness and defeatism, a mutinous refusal to do the job we pay them for, were somehow enlightened. They pretend that their inaction will free them to tackle other crimes. It never does. My own route home, which I often take late and in the dark, was recently the scene of an unprecedented mugging. Parks I have used safely since I was a child have been plagued by various sorts of attacks. How long, I wonder, before the first knifing? Not all that long, I suspect. Round where I live, you are more likely to spot a grazing wildebeest than to see a patrolling police officer. They dont even pretend that theyre doing it any more. And now we learn, to my total lack of surprise, that prosecutions have sunk to an all-time low in England and Wales, at a time when even our fishy official figures show that crime is surging upwards. This is because our 50-year policy of decriminalising crime has finally blown up in our faces. We wait till offenders are hardened criminals before locking them up. When we do lock them up, we let them out as fast as we can. But even then, the prisons cant hold them. Soft justice, as anyone could have told its supporters, means more crime, for ever. But whatever you do, dont dream of trying to defend yourself or your own home. That is almost the only thing that will get you prosecuted and thrown into prison for years. Like all rotten, incompetent monopolies, our criminal justice system can do one thing well defending itself against competition. When this country eventually goes under, our elites infuriating failure to confront or deal with this problem will be one of the main reasons. Thoughtful Tim gets a rocket... from the snooty BBC Funniest moment of the week was BBC Radio 4 Today programme presenter Justin Webb trying to lecture astronaut Tim Peake about science and religion. Major Peake, though he does not believe in God, had told a group of schoolchildren that his time in space had made him wonder if the universe might be designed. Although I say Im not religious, it doesnt necessarily mean that I dont seriously consider that the universe could have been created from intelligent design, he said. There are many things in science that lead us towards that conclusion. From a point of view of seeing how magnificent the Earth is from space and seeing the cosmos from a different perspective, it helps you to relate to that. Tim Peake poses in an 'Unlimited Space Agency' t-shirt on the International Space Station Professor Webb (who as far as I know has never been in orbit) knew better. After saying that this sort of idea was associated with hillbillies who dont think much of science he compared Tim Peakes view with the long-discredited opinion that the Sun goes round the Earth. Then he chided the spaceman for opening up something that was settled and pretty closed. Youd have to know almost nothing about either science or religion to think that scientists have ruled out the possibility of a designed universe. Einstein, famously, was not an atheist, saying: I prefer an attitude of humility corresponding to the weakness of our intellectual understanding of nature and of our own being. Good advice. It is typical of the BBC and of its smug flagship programme to think that issues which are still open are closed, while simultaneously not knowing much about them. The real reason nothing works any more During my now prehistoric education of hard knowledge, of learning by heart, and the real possibility and fear of failure a set of English A-levels was said to be worth roughly the same as an American college degree. Who would say that now? When did anyone last hear of a brain drain caused by the USA poaching our best minds a major problem of that era? The only interesting thing about the pretence that our exams have not been watered down is that anyone bothers to make it. But like any society run by dogmatic fanatics, our official statistics suffer from what is called the Bikini Effect. What they conceal is more interesting than what they reveal. Modern arguments about grammar schools entirely miss the real point. I personally have no doubt, from widespread personal knowledge, that such schools did help many children from poor backgrounds to make the most of their lives. Pupils at Churcher's College in Petersfield, Hampshire celebrate getting into Oxbridge It was a wonderful thing, for them and for the country. But this wasnt their main purpose. Their main purpose was to educate the next generation so that it would be able to take over and run an advanced, civilised society. To do that, there was no substitute for the proper knowledge and rigorous learning that such schools provided. Between 1965 and 1975, almost all these schools were destroyed in a mad spasm of egalitarianism. The private schools, mostly nothing like as good, also lowered their standards, because they could. The new diluted exams made it possible for them to look marvellous when they were just coasting. And in the years since, there has been a noticeable decline in the quality of our society. Even supposedly educated people dont know how to think, and dont actually know very much, by comparison with those who were in charge half a century ago. And one of the main features of people who cant think is that they cant admit their mistakes and never put them right. If the police and the media had not assumed that Tuesdays weird events at Westminster were a terror attack, they might by now have found out something interesting and useful about it, except that the suspect has no known political or religious enthusiasms. I suppose it is possible that some bearded mullah in an Afghan cave might have wanted a failed student who can barely speak English to drive a Ford Fiesta into a group of cyclists and then into a barrier outside the Palace of Westminster, in the middle of a parliamentary recess. But it is hard to work out who or why. If you think, as I do, that this is most unlikely, youll have a much better idea of the possible reasons for the event. If you want to comment on Peter Hitchens click here Madonna turned 60 last week. We know this because numerous tributes were published, telling us how inspirational she was and is. How she broke boundaries. How she did as she pleased. She is an openly sexual being. Unafraid of anything or anyone or even time. I admit I bought into this shtick throughout her long career. I went to see her at Wembley Stadium: a pointy brad dot on the horizon. I couldnt wait to see her documentary, Truth Or Dare, in 1991, an early precursor of reality TV: it portrayed a mostly lonely, angry person who looked great without make-up and had great arms: the most important thing. I thought she was utterly beautiful. I tried to grow her eyebrows. I wished with every fibre of my being I had a gap between my two front teeth and Italian parents. The Papa Dont Preach video made me yearn for a striped bateau top, pedal pushers worn with flats and teenage pregnancy. The Queen: Madonna used her 60th birthday on Thursday as an opportunity to remind her followers of her status, sharing a fun snap as she held up a sign bearing the words 'The Queen' When I was unlucky in love I comforted myself with the thought that, hey, Madonna has been dumped, too. She liked younger men. Ditto. She made being a single, ambitious woman who was also a bitch acceptable. One of the highlights of my life was attending a party in a disco in Paris, hosted by Versace, and dancing alongside her. There was a photo of my head, bobbing next to her Monroesque do, published on the front page of The Times the next day. Id made it! Id breathed the same air. And then she turned 60 and the way she has celebrated this milestone has tipped her into the ridiculous. I turn 60 in two weeks, and its been one hell of a reality check. I suddenly see how silly we are, how deluded, how out of touch, how alone and, most importantly, how unhappy. Madonnas milestone which she celebrated by posing for a stylised set of airbrushed photos in Italian Vogue has made me start to wonder whether having Botox and filler, and dyeing our hair, and allowing a rich surgeon to place his hand inside our faces, is not a little bit sad. Keep fit and active, yes, but for your health and wellbeing, not with the express purpose of being able to expose a perfect set of abs. Why did actress Angela Bassett celebrate her 60th on Thursday by posting a selfie in a bikini? Whats so abhorrent about a nice cardie? No one aged 60 looks like Madonna or Angela or, to a lesser degree, me. I realised this the other day, on a beach in Scotland, when I met a woman with long, grey hair, using a walking stick. I helped her get up from the sand, which took some time. Do you mind me asking how old you are? I was thinking, hmmm, 80? Im 60. I almost fell over backwards. I recoiled. Madonna pictured last year attending a gala at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art But thats the thing about using Madonna as a template: normal becomes abhorrent. Madonna might bravely get up on stage in Paris after the terrorist attack at a rock concert in the Bataclan, but is strumming the Marseillaise on her crotch really appropriate? Isnt that gesture perpetuating the idea women are supposed to be sexual creatures for ever. Dear God, what woman would really want that? How on earth is that progress? Its so easy, in the media world, to lose touch with reality. You have only to read last weekends broadsheet cover story about ageing naturally accompanied by a list of expensive unguents and personal trainers as long as your (bingo-winged) arm to realise that we are being brainwashed into believing the passing of time is our fault, and that we need to buy the book/cream/Chinese medicine/piece of jade to scrape our skin to make amends. Because if women dont believe this, the economy will fall, like an old womans breast. You only look as good as Madonna with a great deal of time, effort, money and pain. She doesnt have that body because she runs around after small children all day, which is what celebrities will tell you keeps them in shape. Isnt feminism about having the courage to say, right, that part of my life the angst, the workouts, the waxing, arthritic legs slung over each shoulder like a pretzel is over, so why not try something else: riding horses, or painting, or travelling? Why eke out the dreadful teenage years? How is that dignified? Ye Gods, even Germaine Greer admitted recently she took HRT so she could more readily please a new boyfriend when she was 60. Get a cat! For anyone hoping to get into university, this years wait for A-level results has been a little less nerve-racking than normal. Applications for degree courses are significantly down. Britains most prestigious universities have been left with thousands of unfilled places and even teenagers falling well short of the grades they hoped for have been given a second chance. Good news for them, perhaps. But what does this say about the state of our elite institutions, the universities at the supposed pinnacle of our education system? Applications for degree courses are way down, perhaps because colleges have become seminaries of politically correct nonsense which suppress incorrect facts and stifle debate And why is it that a poll last week suggests this is no blip but part of a long-term trend? According to the respected Sutton Trust, which aims to improve social mobility, notably fewer schoolchildren now expect to go to university than a decade or so ago. The answer, Im afraid is troubling. First, it is increasingly clear the universities system is no longer a machine for guaranteeing future wealth and status, as the thousands of graduates in humdrum jobs, or no job at all, know only too well. More than half of graduates dont use their degree in their current work and, despite the official orthodoxy, the truth is that they have increasing difficulty finding any kind of employment. In contrast, vacancies in skilled professions are at an all-time high and are projected to increase after we leave the EU and can no longer rely on importing skilled labour. Perhaps that is why it has begun to dawn on school-leavers that a university place is not the only route forwards. Why spend three years doing media studies at a second-rate university when you could find a better-paid job after getting a qualification in a skilled occupation at a further education college and without a debt of 50,000? The trebling of tuition fees has hardly helped. But there is another, more insidious reason why applications are falling, which is that our colleges have become seminaries of politically correct nonsense Left-wing madrassas whose purpose is not to disseminate knowledge and promote understanding but to suppress politically incorrect facts and stifle debate. Colleges have become seminaries of politically correct nonsense One of the reasons Tony Blair was so keen to expand Britains universities despoiling market towns with thousands of additional students in the process was that he hoped to produce a new generation of instinctive Labour voters. He wanted half of all school-leavers to attend college, knowing that many would come under intense pressure to toe the progressive line in institutions which had already become little more than dogmatic hothouses. Its no secret that the overwhelming majority of British academics are Left-of-centre. A survey carried out by the Times Higher Education Supplement in 2015 found that 46 per cent of university employees intended to vote Labour, 22 per cent were Green supporters and only 11 per cent were Conservatives. A vanishingly small 0.4 per cent said they intended to vote for Ukip even though the party polled 12.6 per cent of the popular vote in that years General Election. Perhaps its no surprise that a recent survey found that 68 per cent of undergraduates support Jeremy Corbyns Labour the highest ever recorded student backing for the party while Conservative support has crashed to 15 per cent, down from 42 per cent a decade ago. This dominance of the Left in university departments particularly in the arts and humanities, where the number of Conservative supporters falls to five per cent means that students who dont subscribe to liberal orthodoxy can feel isolated. Think of the rampant identity politics that has seen demands for the removal of memorials to long-dead imperialists such as Cecil Rhodes, whose statue stands at Oriel College, Oxford. Or the mural of Rudyard Kiplings poem If in Manchester Universitys students union building, defaced on the grounds that the Nobel Prize-winning author was a white supremacist. Or the hounding of Oxford Professor Nigel Biggar by his academic colleagues for daring to suggest the British empire wasnt an unmitigated evil. Apparently, he should not have drawn attention to the Royal Navys century-long suppression of the Atlantic slave trade. Feminist Germaine Greer and gay rights activist Peter Tachell, both of whom have been denounced by students of today Add to this the vipers nest that is student politics, with its vigilant policing of thought crimes, such as Islamophobia, transphobia and ableism although not anti-Semitism, which has become a defining characteristic of the Corbynite Left and the aggressive no-platforming of anyone with Right-of-centre political views, and is it any wonder that some smart school-leavers have decided that going to university is just not worth it? We HAVE seen the treatment meted out to dissenters not least to those undergraduates who dared to vote Brexit and were brave enough to say so and the violent protest against Jacob Rees-Mogg when he attempted to give a speech at the University of the West of England. Other speakers whove been targeted by anti-fascist student mobs include, bizarrely, the feminist Germaine Greer, the gay-rights campaigner Peter Tatchell, and Dr Adam Perkins, a lecturer at Kings College London who was prevented from giving a talk at his own universitys students union entitled The Scientific Importance of Free Speech. The rise of identity politics on Britains campuses with enforced speech codes, safe spaces and prohibitions on views likely to trigger anxiety in others has meant that white students, particularly heterosexual males who are comfortable with their own biological gender, have been made to feel increasingly guilty. As if they are somehow responsible for the evils of colonialism, slavery, racial inequality and the rest. Last year, applications to British universities from 18-year-olds in most ethnic groups increased, but applications from 18-year-old whites fell by two per cent. And this year, 36,000 fewer men applied than women. In America, liberal-arts colleges with a reputation for white-bashing and anti-free-speech protests have already seen a steady decline in enrolments and the more liberal the university, the greater the fall in student numbers. How ironic it would be, then, if those same zealots for social justice, the vanguard of Labours bid to build a permanent Leftist majority, were to end up crippling the madrassas in which so much of its political capital and so much of our money has been permanently sunk. They say if you want something done properly you should do it yourself, and sisters Vrindy and Ramana Benson took that message to heart when they launched a swimwear label because they couldn't find a bikini that was 'simple and flattering'. The Gold Coast-based girls were delving into an extremely competitive market space from the outset - with every second Instagram account spruiking beachwear - but LaHANA was an instant success. 'Our first bikini campaign [which used a range of metallic colours] went viral on social media,' the girls explained to FEMAIL. Scroll down for video Sisters Vrindy and Ramana Benson (pictured) launched a swimwear label in 2015 after feeling like they couldn't find a bikini that was 'simple and flattering' The Gold Coast-based girls were delving into an extremely competitive market space from the outset but LaHANA was an instant success (bikinis pictured) 'LaHANA is all about minimal pieces with jaw dropping cuts, textures and prints. We work closely with our design team and manufacture to create fabrics and cheeky cuts no other swimwear brand has done before.' It was the eye-popping colours and Brazilian bottoms in silk-like material that grabbed the attention of everyday customers. And it's translated into booming business. Sales have dramatically increased from $100,000 in 2016 to over $2 million and counting in 2018. It was the eye-popping colours and Brazilian bottoms in silk-like fabrics that grabbed the attention of everyday customers. And it's translated into booming business Sales have dramatically increased from $100,000 in 2016 to over $2 million and counting in 2018 They're tracking towards an astounding $10 million turnover by 2020 They're tracking towards an astounding $10 million turnover by 2020. 'We did not want to work the average nine to five jobs that society perceives as success,' Ramana said. And so far they haven't had to, but that doesn't mean they've relied on good looking models and a 'sex sells' mentality to make a sale on social media. The sisters are using their religious and cultural background to their advantage. The sisters are using their religious and cultural background to their advantage 'Growing up along the east coast of Australia and immersed in the Hare Krishna religion, we developed an appreciation for beautiful exotic prints and fashion,' Ramana commented Prices aren't exorbitant - it's approximately $89 for a top and the same amount for bottoms - and they're constantly changing their styles month-to-month 'Growing up along the east coast of Australia and immersed in the Hare Krishna religion, we developed an appreciation for beautiful exotic prints and fashion,' Ramana commented. 'In this environment free from judgement and in a community that encourages creativity and freedom from the normal, LaHANA was born.' Prices aren't exorbitant - it's approximately $89 for a top and the same amount for bottoms - and they're constantly changing their styles month-to-month. One of their most coveted looks is that of the ruched bikini - which the girls say has been copied around the world While they are the swimwear on everyone's lips in Australia, globally they received incredible recognition when a certain Jenner sister donned their briefs One of their most coveted looks is that of the ruched bikini - which the girls say has been copied around the world. While they are the swimwear on everyone's lips in Australia, globally they received incredible recognition when a certain Jenner sister donned their briefs. 'We have a beautiful girl gang around the world and one of our main girls is Kylie Jenner's assistant Victoria,' Ramana said. 'Victoria wears LaHANA swim religiously on her Instagram, this is how Kylie spotted us.' The image of the youngest Kardashian was 'liked' 5.5 million times and has given the brand some welcome recognition. Many Australian households spend hundreds of dollars each year on laundry detergents which promise to keep their clothing in pristine condition. But according to a consumer watchdog pricier products aren't always the best - and some are so ineffective they performed little better than water. CHOICE has revealed the results of a new survey after it tested 100 brands. These were ranked the best and worst detergents on the market. And surprisingly, its top-performer isn't a leading brand - it's one by supermarket giant Coles and it costs a mere $4.' Coles' Ultra Front, (pictured) priced at $4 topped the list of best rating products with a score of 81 per cent Topping the list of the consumer advocate's recommended products is Coles' Ultra Front, priced at $4. It rated with a score of 81 per cent. It was followed by OMO Ultimate Front with a rating of 80 per cent and priced at $21.99. Ranking third was OMO Ultimate with a 64 per cent rating, priced at $21.99. Aldi's Trimat Advanced Laundry Powder rated fourth with 61 per cent, priced at $5.69 and OMO Active Clean came in fifth with 60 per cent, priced at $10. Ranking third was OMO Ultimate (pictured left) with 64 per cent, priced at $21.99 and Aldi's Trimat Advanced Laundry Powder Regular Top rated fourth, priced at $5.69 (pictured right) Ranking sixth on the list was OMO Comfort, also with 60 per cent, priced at $10. Seventh place was held by Coles' Smart Buy Top, also with a 60 per cent rating, priced at $3.70. Eighth, ninth and tenth positions were held by OMO Active Clean with 79 per cent, priced at $10. OMO Comfort Front, which rated 80 per cent, priced at $19.99 and Trimat Sensitive Front with 77 per cent, priced at $5.69. TOP 10 laundry brands as recommended by CHOICE: Product and price: Rating: 1. Coles' Ultra Front, $4 81 per cent 2. OMO Ultimate Front, $21.99 80 per cent 3. OMO Ultimate, $21.99 64 per cent 4. Trimat Advanced Laundry Powder, $5.69 61 per cent 5. OMO Active Clean, $10 60 per cent 6. OMO Comfort, $10 60 per cent 7. Coles' Smart Buy Top, $3.70 60 per cent 8. OMO Active Clean, $10 79 per cent 9. OMO Comfort Front, $19.99 80 per cent 10. Trimat Sensitive Front, $5.69 77 per cent Source: CHOICE.com.au Advertisement Popular brand Dynamo, priced at $11, rated 49 per cent for its cleaning abilities CHOICE also revealed which products held ratings of 50 per cent and lower. Surprising, the report found brands performing little better than water. The lowest rated products performed no better than water, included Dynamo Regular Liquid Top at 49 per cent, followed by Cold Power Sensitive with a rating of 48 per cent and Radiant Brilliant Whites Sharper Colours also with 48 per cent. Other brands featured included Cold Power Complete Action with 48 per cent, priced at $10, Ecostore Laundry Powder also with 48 per cent, priced at $8.25 and Trimat Advanced Liquid with 48 per cent, priced at $3.79. Trimat Advanced Liquid (pictured left) rated 48 per cent, priced at $3.79 as did Cold Power Complete Action (pictured right) priced at $8.25 Ecostore Laundry Powder rated 46 per cent and is priced at $9.99 The roundup included Earth Choice Ultra Concentrate with 47 per cent, priced at $10.99. Further down were, and all with 47 per cent ratings, were Supreme Laundry Powder, priced at $2, OMO Sensitive, priced at $10, and Almat Laundry Liquid, priced at $4.99. The tenth position was taken by Ecostore Laundry Powder with 46 per cent, priced at $9.99. After quitting her high-flying job in the corporate world, mother-of-two Olivia Carr launched her own start-up business selling silk pillowcases. Fast forward three years, her booming business Shhh Silk has turned over a staggering $3.3 million. While her luxury sleepwear range is stunning, a plug from the very famous Kardashian-Jenner clan means the collection also has instant celebrity status. And while the savvy entrepreneur has never had to pay the famous family a cent to advertise, capturing their attention meant pulling out all stops. Here, she shares how a four page letter she penned to the Kardashians saw her business blossom into a multi-million dollar lavish bedding brand. Scroll down for video Mother-of-two Olivia Carr(pictured) launched her own start-up business selling silk pillowcases in 2016 Kim Kardashian West (pictured) is a fan of the Australian brand Shhh Silk and was the first person to commission a set of monogrammed pillowcases The Kardashians have an incredible amount of social media influence and between them have more than half a billion followers. While many brands do everything they to earn an endorsement, Ms Carr's strategy was a little more unique. The gutsy mum of two, who started the business in 2016, recalls how she flew to America three months after launching to personally hand deliver pillowcases to the family whom she knew were big fans of sleeping on silk. Shhh Silk pillowcases and nightwear collection is the business dream of the former high flying marketing executive 'I didn't know the sheer size of what I was doing at the time,' she told Sunrise. 'I didn't know about gated communities or anything like that and didn't really understand exactly what I was up against.' Ms Carr revealed how she penned a four-page letter to Kim and Khloe Kardashian explaining to the sisters how she taking the leap of faith in order to start her brand and would appreciate the help they could give her. 'I explained a lot more about my story to them and tried to get them to connect with me,' she said. Khloe Kardashian sent a handwritten note to Ms Carr thanking her for a customised order of Shhh Silk pillowcases And while Ms Carr did make it through the gates to hand-deliver the product and her note, she said 'not much happened' after this. The problem was the brand wasn't making king-sized pillows at the time as this wasn't a product in demand in Australia. However, a chance meeting a few months later with Kim Kardashian's stylist helped turn things around after she revealed Kim 'loved the pillowcases' but needed them in the bigger size. Kim Kardashian requested a set of pillowcases for her family from the budding entrepreneur complete with monogrammed initials After a creating a product line to match, Ms Carr said Kim requested some with her initials monogrammed on them. Thrilled by the request, the company made a special set for her and her famous family. 'And then she fell in love [with the pillowcases] and gave 30 sets away to her followers and fans in 2016,' Ms Carr said. The former corporate marketing executive said it helped to have some understanding of the fact the Kardashians were fans of sleeping on silk, and claim it as one of their beauty secrets. 'We do this right throughout our business whether it's a celebrity or just one of our customers, we are always trying to connect.' In a bid to capture the attention of the Jenner clan, Ms Carr also delivered a set of pillowcases to Kylie (pictured) and Kendall's hotel room when the pair were visiting Australia Ms Carr said when she was starting out, she didn't have the money to pay for a celebrity endorsement, but her mission, one she outlined in her letter, was to help others. She explained part of the profits generated by the business would help orphans in Tigre to go to school for a year. She also shared her advice to others considering striking out on their own: 'Just back yourself, have a purpose, for me, it has to be more than about the sales that come through. Do it for a reason. Have a big dream and the courage to do it.' Shhh Silk pillowcases and nightwear collection has gone on to see sales of over a million dollars What are the benefits of sleeping on silk? * Silk reduces the deepening of fine lines and wrinkles * Silk hydrates your skin * Silk doesn't absorb facial oils or moisturisers in the way standard pillowcases do, allowing cosmetic products to work harder for your skin * Silk minimises friction, trauma and rubbing during the night * Silk pillowcases give you instantly smoother hair and reduces the appearance of split ends, as their cotton counterparts agitate and roughen the hair cuticle * Silk pillowcases extend the life of false eyelashes and prevent them falling out * Silk is hypoallergenic Advertisement Speaking to Daily Mail Australia previously, Ms Carr touched on the challenges making a business dream a profitable reality. 'When you leave a corporate role and take the plunge out on your own like I did, of course, there are massive risks,' she said. 'I was okay with the risk, but I knew I needed a steady plan of attack my strategy was to go global from the outset. 'It's notoriously difficult to break into new markets individually, so I looked at the business through an international lens from day one and the easiest way to achieve success in this way was to target huge celebrities who had already endorsed silk products independently.' As well as approaching the Kardashians directly, the savvy CEO also did what she could to capture the attention of the influential Jenner sisters. When Kendall and Kylie were visiting Australia on a promotional tour, Ms Carr created a PR package from the new Shhh Silk range and delivered it to the sisters' hotel. The impact on sales is something Ms Carr described as an 'incredible' and she added it was amazing 'to see them wearing the designs and using them in their homes. Shhh Silk has gone on to see sales of over a million dollars, with plans for major market expansion in the coming twelve months targeting lucrative regions like Europe and China. 'We are projecting a turnover of $3.3 million for the next financial year,' she said. In October 2017 the brand collaborated with the iconic Beverly Hills Hotel, a luxurious destination for Hollywood's elite over the past century. Billie Faiers is yet to start planning her wedding and hasn't even set a date, but she has started the hunt for her dream dress. The TOWIE alum, 28, has next year in mind for her nuptials to fiance Greg Shepherd, whom she has been engaged to for four years and shares children Nelly, four, and Arthur, one. Billie exclusively told FEMAIL that she has been out gown shopping with her 'girlie gang' - mother Suzanne, and sister Samantha, 27, who offers her fashion advice on gowns while breastfeeding nine-month-old Rosie. She also revealed the secrets behind her work-out routine including at least three sets of 30 squats and 30 sit-ups a day - and gallons of water. Scroll down for video Looking fine! The Only Way is Essex alum Billie Faiers, 28, is yet to set a date for her wedding but has already started hunting for her dream dress with her mother Suzanne and sister Samantha The mother-of-two, has been engaged to fiance Greg Shepherd for four years and shares children Nelly, four, and Arthur, one (pictured) and hopes that they will be able to celebrate their nuptials abroad The mother-of-two also shared plans to add to her brood - but it won't be happening until after the wedding. She explains: 'I mean I am really happy with two, however, I will definitely have another one. 'I wouldnt say: "No Im done". I am open to having another one. I think we have to get the wedding out of the way first and then see what happens,' she said. The reality star, who has her own ITVBe show with her sister called The Mummy Diaries, says somewhere like the Maldives is her 'ultimate dream' for the ceremony with just her family and close friends. Billie's plans to have a low-key ceremony, however, could be overshadowed by her hopes to include ten children from the extended Faiers-Shepherd family. 'Nelly and Arthur will be involved in the ceremony, they will be flower girl and page boy. 'I have got all the little ones, Gregs got sisters and there's my sister's kids. We have all got kids - I think Ive got about ten altogether - which is lovely and then I have got Samantha as my maid of honour,' she explains. The reality star siblings, Sam, left, and Billie, right, also star together on ITVBe's The Mummy Diaries. Billie told FEMAIL that her sister has been bringing her nine-month-old daughter Rosie along with them to wedding dress shopping because she is still breastfeeding Speaking at the launch of her new range of eyelashes and nails for beauty brand KISS, Billie revealed what her dream wedding dress is. 'I do have an idea of what I want, I havent found the dress yet - I have tried on lots,' she said. Greg is like most men - they like it more natural but I think he likes it when I am dressed and glam, ready to go out... Billie Faiers 'I want something quite fitted, and slightly fishtail at the bottom, I just havent exactly found what I am looking for yet.' Her sister Samantha has been key to helping her decide, coming along to dress fittings all while juggling her own nine-month-old Rosie who she is breastfeeding. Already mother to Paul, two, Sam is a huge advocate for nursing and has supported it in public with her first child, when she appeared on This Morning last October, on ITV. Billie explained that she likes to look good but doesn't feel any stress or pressure to be glamorous all the time, adding that her partner Greg likes Billie when she is natural and wearing make-up Billie, who has plans to have a third child after her wedding, also revealed how she has achieved her post-baby body after having two children. The busy mum said that she has several tricks up her sleeve, including drinking hot water with lemon in the morning, avoiding bread, doing 30 sit-ups and 30 squats at least three times a day, and drinking lots of water. She admits that 'appearance is important' but doesn't feel under too much stress or pressure to get glammed up all the time. She added of her other half: 'Greg is like most men - they like it more natural but I think he likes it when I am dressed and glam, ready to go out. 'He likes both really. He doesnt really say anything specific about what I wear but he always pays me compliments.' Billie Faiers is the new brand ambassador for KISS Nails & Lashes range for 2018 Idris Elba has joked his friend Prince Harry is just a 'neighbourhood lad' - while describing the royal wedding as 'one of the highlights of [his] life'. The British actor, 45, explained how he knew the royal, 33, from 'round the way' after attending the big day at Windsor Castle in May with fiancee Sabrina Dhowre. Elba, who DJ-ed at the wedding reception at Frogmore House, described the day as a 'beautiful experience, like all weddings are'. The actor, who has been widely tipped to be the next James Bond, also admitted he is having a 'mid-life crisis' as he heads towards 50. Idris Elba, 45, has joked that friend Prince Harry is a 'neighbourhood lad' after attending the royal wedding at Windsor Castle in May (above, Elba with fiancee Sabrina Dhowre arriving at the ceremony) Speaking to The Observer magazine about attending the royal wedding, Elba said: 'Harry's a friend of mine'. Asked how he knew the prince, the actor responded: 'Just from round the way, haha! He's a neighbourhood lad!' However, the Luther star remained quiet when questioned whether Harry and Meghan would be invited to his wedding to former model Dhowre, 29, following their engagement in March. Elba also admitted he has been having a mid-life crisis, explaining: 'Yeah, there comes a time when you get to 40, 45, where you're like, "Oh s***, I'm losing my youth, I'm facing 50."' Elba remained silent when asked whether Prince Harry and Meghan (above at the Sentebale Polo Cup in July) would be invited to his wedding The actor was one of a number of guests from the showbiz world who attended the royal wedding in March, along with David and Victoria Beckham, Tom Hardy and Charlotte Riley, and Oprah. Elba was reported to have played 1960s R&B and 1980s dance hits during his DJ set a the intimate evening reception, attended by 200 guests. Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan's first dance was said to be to Whitney Houston's hit I Wanna Dance With Somebody. Elba started DJing at the age of 14 and now regularly performs sets around the world under the moniker DJ Big Driis. The Duke of Edinburgh looked sprightly for his 97 years this morning as he joined the Queen to attend church in Balmoral, just two months after he underwent hip replacement surgery. Looking sharp and smart in a grey suit with blue tie, Prince Philip made the rare public appearance as the royals headed to Crathie Kirk church in the Queen's royal Bentley. The Queen, 92, was also joined by family members including a smiling Zara and Mike Tindall, who welcomed their second daughter Lena on June 18, Camilla, and Prince Edward, Sophie Wessex and their 14-year-old daughter Lady Louise. Prince Philip made the short journey to Crathie Kirk church this morning in Balmoral. In a rare public appearance, the 97-year-old joined the Queen in the royal Bentley The Duke of Edinburgh is reported to have been enjoying hunting and fishing during the annual summer stay at Balmoral, which he wasn't initially expected to attend The Scottish summer was nowhere to be seen this morning as rain fell in Balmoral, seeing most of the royal family drive to the Crathie Kirk church The inclement weather didn't appear to put off the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh who chatted as they made the journey Sitting next to the Queen, the prince looked relaxed as he made his way to the traditional Sunday service, with other members of the royal family following closely behind The Queen is enjoying the company of members of the royal family during her extended summer break in the Scottish highlands Offering a wave to well-wishers, the couple looked on fine form this morning as they departed the Sunday service Her Majesty looked ever stylish in a cream ensemble with a matching hat by her favoured milliner Rachel Trevor-Morgan. The monarch finished the look with a striking diamond brooch. Elsewhere, the Duchess of Cornwall, who took the wheel herself to make the short journey to the historic church, looked in high spirits as she drove Prince Charles through the Scottish country roads during a downpour. Her glossy blonde locks contrasting with a moss green beret, Camilla, 71, opted for a colour scheme that matched the verdant outdoors, with a green scarf and coordinating woollen jacket. Charles and the Duchess have a home, Birkhall, on the Balmoral Estate and have been spending spending time with the monarch in recent weeks. Sophie Wessex looked equally smart in a striking navy blazer, with her blonde hair pulled loosely away from her face to reveal a dazzling pair of gold starfish earrings. And daughter Lady Louise, 14, looked composed as she sat in the back of the car behind her parents. It is unclear whether her younger brother Viscount Severn, ten, is also staying at Balmoral. Prince Edward drove his wife Sophie Wessex and daughter Lady Louise, 14, through Balmoral for the service; the family have been enjoying picnics and BBQs during their stay Mike and Zara Tindall, who recently added to their brood with the arrival of baby Lena on June 18, offered broad smiles as they drove through the rain Baby Lena and daughter Mia, four, were nowhere to be seen as the smartly-attired couple were driven to church Wearing a stylish navy blue hat with feather detail, Zara, 37, looked delighted to be spending her summer in the Scottish royal retreat The Queen, looking elegant in cream with a matching hat, kept out the chill with a blue blanket over her lap Driving Duchess! Camilla smiled at onlookers as she got behind the wheel to make the short journey for the church service Camilla, looking stylish in different shades of green, kept her eyes firmly on the road as she took to the wheel with Charles by her side In close pursuit was the Wessex clan, with Sophie Wessex, 53, taking the front seat while Lady Louise, 14, smiled from the back of the royal Range Rover The Queen's maroon Bentley departs through the stone gates at Crathie Kirk this morning Prince Philip, who had a hip replaced in June, is reported to have been enjoying hunting and fishing during the annual summer stay at Balmoral, which he wasn't initially expected to attend following surgery in June. Alongside deer stalking, the Queen's husband is reported to have been catching fish in the pretty River Dee, which runs through the estate. The royals have been enjoying quality time together in the Queen's favourite holiday residence, with picnics and barbecues in the grounds. Last year the Queen departed for Balmoral in mid July and did not end her annual Highland summer holiday until the first week in October. Her Majesty's last official public engagements were on July 13 and 14, when she welcomed overseas visitors - most notably President Donald Trump - to Windsor Castle. The Queen famously enjoys a more low-key existence while staying at the Scottish retreat - with her former royal protection officer Richard Griffin recently revealing that she had a conversation with unsuspecting American tourists visiting the estate while dressed in tweeds and a scarf. Balmoral, which was bought by Prince Albert for 32,000 in 1852, is said to be the Queen's favourite home. I have romantic notions of rail travel that, despite the humdrum reality of scratchy seats, smeared windows and noise-polluting fellow passengers, I cannot seem to shunt into the sidings. How else to explain that by the time this is published, my family should have travelled from London to Berlin via Cologne, with the Bavarian Alps, Lake Konstanz then the Rhineland in our sights. I have rarely been such a geek as with the planning of this interrailing trip, poring over Europe By Rail: The Definitive Guide and Deutsche Bahn timetables. British author Patricia Nicol shared books about train journeys, including the classic Murder on the Orient Express (pictured) It is fiction, in books and on screen, that has fed my fantasies of on-track adventure. Or, misadventure. Murder On The Orient Express is one of many Agatha Christie novels to feature trains and to throw together an apparently disparate party of international travellers. Hercule Poirot journeys from Aleppo in Syria to Istanbul, intending a holiday. Summoned back to London, he secures the last berth on the Simplon-Orient express. She also recommends the novel Us, written by David Nicholls, (pictured), which is about the Petersen family corssing borders After a fitful nights sleep, he awakes to discover that the train has been stranded in a snowdrift in the Yugoslavian mountains and that the boorish American in the neighbouring compartment has been murdered. All other passengers are accounted for, meaning, The murderer is with us, on the train now. Christopher Isherwoods debut novel Mr Norris Changes Trains, published a year later, in 1935, draws on his experiences in Thirties Berlin. In the compartment of a train crossing into Germany, its young male narrator strikes up a curious friendship with the older, snobbish and shady Arthur Norris, who he suspects is a smuggler or spy. In David Nicholls Us, the precious cargo crossing borders is the fragile Petersen family. In its opening pages, Connie tells Douglas their marriage has reached the end of its line. Yet the middle-aged couple persist with plans for an interrailing Grand Tour send-off of Europes cultural capitals for their 18-year-old, Albie. Should my family encounter discord, we can always read our books, or watch the scenery roll by. For Kim Garbutt, the death of her husband was a tragedy which marked the beginning of a monumental financial battle that would mar her life for a decade. Instead of the $208,000 the mother-of-two expected to receive after Craig Mollison's death at 39, she was only permitted to claim a measly $25.09 from his life insurance policy. The funds were supposed to issued as a death benefit from Craig's superannuation fund AMP, but a decade later the family are still out of pocket. 'When Craig died, I didn't even have money to bury him,' she told Daily Mail Australia. Kim Garbutt and her husband Craig Mollison (pictured on their wedding day) were married for just a year before his death from alcoholism in 2008, a tragedy which would mark the beginning of a financial battle that would mar her life for a decade Instead of the $208,000 the mother-of-two expected to receive after Craig's death at 39, she was only permitted to claim a measly $25.09 from a death benefit through his superannuation fund 'We've had to move states since because of it, away from our support structure. And we had lost our house, those have been the hardest parts to deal with.' Initially, signs of the impending trouble appeared when Ms Garbutt began investigating into her husband's secretive financial past. What was revealed included that in the five months before Craig's death, his account at AMP was $212 in arrears and the company had eventually cancelled his policy. She was later informed Craig had transferred $1,621.93 into the AMP account from a previous fund, five years before his death - a discovery first made through a joint investigation by ABC's 7.30 and The Australian. However just weeks later, the balance had dropped to $1,433.77 due to $188.16 worth of premiums from the company. Although Craig never contributed further beyond the initial transfer, he was still deducted fees and charges. Signs of the impending trouble first appeared when Ms Garbutt began investigating into her husband's secretive financial past - including that his account at AMP was $212 in arrears was eventually cancelled Ms Garbutt was later informed Craig had transferred $1,621.93 into the AMP account from a previous fund, five years before his death One of these charges was a monthly death benefit premium, which his family now hopes to stake their claim to - a payment they say they are rightfully owed. After having their two sons, Craig and Ms Garbutt, now 46, married in 2007 - just a year before his death. Unfortunately, Craig was already in the grips of alcoholism - the disease which ultimately claimed his life in October 2008. Ms Garbutt said he had continuously sought help during the addiction, including attending a rehab centre and was without a fixed address in the months before his death. 'Craig was trying to get his life back in order before he died. He was a really good person but he was battling an illness,' she said. 'And it wasn't until after Craig died that I realised he was so depressed.' Life without the additional $200,000 has been devastating for both Ms Garbutt and her sons, who were aged just three and five at the time of their father's death. According to Ms Garbutt, Craig had continuously sought help during the addiction, including attending a rehab centre and was without a fixed address in the months before his death Life without the additional $200,000 has been devastating for both Ms Garbutt and her sons, who were aged just three and five at the time of their father's death 'Every two years, I'm forced to take money out of my own superannuation so far that's fifty or sixty thousand dollars,' she said. 'It's just so they kids have school shoes, or can go to the movies or for medical expenses.' 'We've had to sacrifice so much and my kids have missed out because of it.' But her grief as a then-36-year-old widow was compounded when Ms Garbutt encountered the financial aftermath of her husband's death, including being without the money she came to expect. 'After the funeral, I rang them and asked ''you said he was insured for $200,000 why did I just get a cheque for $25?''' she said. 'I just said, I'm a young widow, I've got young kids and I'm living off hand-outs.' And the ramifications have also extended to her now-teenage sons, Harley and Phoenix. 'I just say to my son, if we had gotten the money 'you could have had your operation in a private hospital, we wouldn't have had to move interstate,'' said Ms Garbutt. Ms Garbutt's grief as a then-36-year-old widow was compounded when Ms Garbutt encountered the financial aftermath of her husband's death, including being without the money she came to expect But according to AMP there are watertight reasons as to why the hefty sum was never awarded to the family. 'AMP appreciates this is a difficult time for the family of the deceased customer and is sorry for the loss they have experienced,' the company said in a statement. 'This situation highlights why we correspond with our customers multiple times, both before and after we cancel a policy, as we know how valuable life insurance is.' According to AMP there are watertight reasons as to why the hefty sum was never awarded to the family, adding that they 'correspond with customers multiple times, both before and after (they) cancel a policy' 'When customers don't pay premiums, and we have made multiple attempts to contact them, we have to assume they no longer wish to hold their insurance.' AMP also acknowledged all claims are assessed on a case-by-case basis, of which more than 95 per cent are paid out. But for the family Craig left behind, the words come as cold comfort, almost a decade after his death. 'With AMP Super, I trusted them, Craig trusted them, AMP Super took out AMP insurance and there, there was a conflict of interest.' 'They're allowed to do whatever they want.' A successful interior designer who generously took her neighbour's dog for a walk has been fined $550 after the boxer 'attacked' a golden retriever in a popular harbour park. Emilie Delalande, who has worked with hospitality barons Justin Hemmes and Matt Moran, was found guilty of being in charge of a dog that attacked another animal despite the pet not even being hers. Ms Delalande, who has also designed the interiors of the exclusive Lexus pavilion for the past two Melbourne Cups, is distressed about having the fine against her name. The 32-year-old had offered to take her restaurateur neighbour Adam 'Bear' Marshall's boxer Obi for a walk at Rushcutters Bay Park in Sydney's eastern suburbs on December 18 last year. Emilie Delalande has completed interior design projects for hospitality barons Justin Hemmes and Matt Moran. She was fined $550 because her neighbour's dog attacked another pet Adam Marshall's boxer Obi (pictured) rushed at a golden retriever in Rushcutters Bay Park, however it was his neighbour Emilie Delalande who was fined for not controlling the dog Adam Marshall runs popular eateries including Foys and The Flying Bear at Kirribilli's Sydney Flying Squadron and Sandy Bear at Clontarf Marina, and owns four-year-old boxer Obi The polo-playing Mr Marshall runs three popular eateries on the north side of the Harbour Bridge: Foys and Flying Bear at Kirribilli and Sandy Bear at Clontarf Marina. He is supporting Ms Delalande's bid to clear her name and does not believe she or four-year-old Obi are to blame for what happened on the day of the 'attack'. Also in the park that afternoon was lawyer David Wilkie, along with his three elderly golden retrievers, including 13-year-old Barney, who is arthritic. According to a statement of facts tendered to Downing Centre Local Court, Barney and Obi were lawfully off their leashes about 5pm. 'Within a short distance into the park, Obi... came from behind Mr Wilkie, rushed past him and without provocation Obi grabbed Barney by the neck,' the statement said. Mr Wilkie later told a ranger: 'I immediately grabbed the attacking dog by its collar but initially it refused to release Barney, so I gave it a hefty kick.' After checking Barney for injuries, Mr Wilkie then saw Obi approximately 15m away. She was leashed and in the control of Ms Delalande, who was also with her own rescue dog, Slick. Emilie Delalande pictured in Rushcutters Bay Park with Obi (left) and her own dog Slick. This photograph was taken by David Wilkie after Obi rushed at his golden retriever Barney Barney the golden retriever pictured two days after he was attacked by Obi the boxer. Barney did not require veterinary treatment. Obi's owner's neighbour was fined $550 'Mr Wilkie approached the defendant and took a photo of her standing with Barney and Slick,' the statement of facts said. 'He then proceeded to have a short conversation with her about the incident and the responsibilities of controlling her dogs.' Barney did not require any veterinary treatment but three days later a City of Sydney ranger arrived at Ms Delalande's Elizabeth Bay home, then interviewed her at the council's offices. Ms Delalande told the ranger she had released Obi into the park and soon heard several dogs barking but could not see what was going on. She whistled and called for Obi to return. 'Whilst I was calling and whistling for Obi I was running into the park,' she said. 'As I made it into the park I observed Obi sitting and waiting for me.' Ms Delalande then saw Mr Wilkie standing with three golden retrievers. She asked him what Obie had done. Adam Marshall (pictured with wife Emma) says his dog Obi is a playful, harmless pet. He is considering appealing against a fine leveled on his dog-walking neighbour Emilie Delalande Adam 'Bear' Marshall (pictured on horseback) is the president of Kurri Burri Polo Club as well as running popular Sydney waterfront eateries on the north side of the Harbour Bridge 'The bitch attacked my dog,' he said. Ms Delalande told the ranger Mr Wilkie was 'standing facing me, screaming profanities in my direction.' She was issued with a penalty infringement notice under the Companion Animals Act for being 'in charge of a dog which rushes at/attacks/harasses/charges any person or animal', which carries a maximum penalty of $11,000. Mr Marshall took the matter to court on Ms Delalande's behalf, concerned Obi would be declared a dangerous dog because she had been involved in another incident with a canine at Kirribilli in 2015. 'I went to court because the ranger said your dog could go on the dangerous dog list now,' Mr Marshall told Daily Mail Australia. 'There was no injury to the other dog. We're not even sure our dog touched the other dog.' A council ranger took this picture of Obi three days after she attacked a golden retriever Mr Marshall said Obi had been traumatised by the earlier Kirribilli incident and was generally wary of other dogs. He gathered 20 references on Obi's behalf and tendered five to the court. 'She's a playful dog,' Mr Marshall said. 'She's not aggressive. She's such a friendly, family dog.' Mr Marshall said the finding against Ms Delalande was unfair. 'It's not her fault,' he said. 'It's not even her dog, it's not her case. It's Obi's case. It's my dog, it's my responsibility.' Mr Marshall will cover the $550 fine and $1188 in council's professional costs awarded against Ms Delalande and may fund an appeal against the decision. Ms Delalande's company Etic has worked closely with Justin Hemmes on Merivale projects including Manly restaurant Papi Chulo, Coogee Pavilion, The Paddington and the Newport Arms, and Matt Moran's new Barangaroo House. Emilie Delalmande designed the interiors of Barangaroo House for restaurateur Matt Moran Eyewitness video captured the moment a 12-year-old girl in Mississippi who had stolen her mother's car ran over a deputy trying to stop her. Lauderdale County Sheriff Billy Sollie tells news outlets Sgt. Kris Cokel was released from a hospital after being treated for a fractured wrist and other injuries. He says the girl struck the deputy Wednesday night at a trailer park near Meridian. Sollie says deputies had placed spike strips in the road several times to flatten the tires as she drove in speeding loops around the trailer park. A man was taking a selfie video of the speeding car, driven by a girl, 12, who stole it from her mom, when the car hit a deputy who had been laying spike strips to get the car to stop A deputy fired gunshots to try to stop the vehicle after Cokel was hit. The sheriff says the deputy wasn't shooting at the girl. Video captures the moments just before and after the incident showing the officer get knocked by the speeding sedan. A man was taking a video of the speeding car when suddenly the car made contact with the deputy, laying him out flat on the ground. One witness named Charles Brown, who said the diminutive thief was endangering the lives of others, described to WTOK-TV how he saw her doing '70 or 80' miles per hour. 'The officer threw the spikes out and blew the tires out, and she still kept going and tried to come back around again,' Brown said. 'The officer, I guess he was trying to get the spikes out the road or something, and she ran him over.' The girl was taken to a juvenile facility. The state Bureau of Investigation is handling the case. An afternoon walk ended in a frantic trip to hospital for a Queensland youngster earlier this month. Four-year-old Jaxon Bird was walking along a creeskside track with his dad at Langshaw near Gympie when what's suspected to be a brown snake suddenly emerged from a pile of leaves and bit him on the foot before he could react. 'Dad something got me and I think it was a snake', he told his dad. Four-year-old Jaxon Bird was in hospital for seven hours after an unlucky encounter with a brown snake Jaxon's foot was swollen and bruised following the snake bite earlier this month. Two little blood dots were a centimetre apart 'I tried to get away from it but it was too fast. It looked like a sliding stick,' the youngster said. Dad Josh saw two blood dots on his toe, and quickly realised it looked like a snake bite. Jaxon started screaming in pain. A Gympie youngster was bitten by a suspected brown snake (stock image) earlier this month They jumped straight in the car, headed for the hospital. 'He was crying and telling us his foot was feeling tingly,' Jaxon's mother Kirby said. The youngster spent seven hours in Gympie Hospital following his near death- experience. It's understood Jaxon suffered a dry bite, in which the snake doesn't inject venom. Kirby said her son had seen snakes before, they were often seen near their home in the four years they've lived there. 'He knows what they look like and knows to stay away.' Jaxon's foot was swollen, bruised and tender for a few days after the ordeal. He will be wearing boots when he is outside from now on, his mum said. The brown snake is considered the world's second-most venomous land snake and is responsible for 60 per cent of snake bite deaths in Australia. Envenomation can result in paralysis, uncontrollable bleeding and death if left untreated. Jaxon Bird was rushed to Gympie Hospital after he was bitten on the toe by a brown snake near his home Jaxon's ordeal happened a week after an youngsters were bitten by the deadly reptile in separate incidents in Western Australia last month. Emilia Barnard, four, stopped breathing for nearly two minutes after she was bitten on the foot in a remote part of Western Australia while she was holidaying with family in Coral Bay last month. Emus are flocking into an outback mining town in record numbers amid Australia's worst drought in a generation. An animal rescue unit in the town of Broken Hill said the large, flightless birds are desperately hunting for food and water. They have been seen in and around Broken Hill, a town located 935 kilometres west of Sydney. 'We used to have the regulars, probably about five or six,' said Emma Singleton, spokeswoman for Broken Hill Council's Rescue and Rehabilitation of Australian Native Animals unit. Scroll down for video Emus have been caught flocking to outback mining town, Broken Hill, in a desperate hunt for food and water (pictured) 'Now they're actually walking down our main street. We're seeing mobs of them,' she said. 'We've had 14 on a sporting oval. They've been out there for weeks - the locals in that area are giving them food and water.' The council is warning residents to watch out for the animals as the rescue unit doesn't want to chase them off the streets. There is an increasing risk that the emus will be hit by road traffic as five have been hit in the past week alone. 'Our biggest concern at the moment is dog attacks on them,' Singleton said. The entire state of New South Wales was declared to be in drought after the state suffered through a drier than expected June and July. This is not the first time animals and livestock have felt the burden of the drought. Kangaroo bones were found standing up intact and many farmers are losing their livestock as they can't afford to feed them. A New Hampshire woman lost an eye when she was horrifically mauled by black bear that entered her home. Despite the life-threatening attack, 71-year-old Apryl Rogers, of Groton, says she's harbors no hate for the bear following the incident. She was startled awake on July 17 when she heard noises coming from her kitchen and later discovered that a giant black bear was the culprit. Healing: New Hampshire woman Apryl Rogers, 71, was mauled by a bear that entered her home She was startled on July 17 to find the bear had entered the home through a door that wasn't fully closed and rummaged through her kitchen before attacking her Imitating the claws that mauled her face, she points out where the bear slashed her left eye, cheek and scalp and also fractured her neck That's when she sat on a chair and tried to remain calm. The bear came to sit next to her then launched his brutal attack, slashing her face. She suffered a sliced cheek and scalp, a fractured neck, and lost her left eye in the incident. The bear got into the home through a door that was not fully closed. Rogers, who was using a wheelchair before the attack, says it was a horrifying experience to see the giant claws grab her face. 'It was a horrible experience. I never want to go through it again,' she said to WMUR. Where it was found: The bear pilfered the kitchen in its hunt for food before it mauled Rogers Despite the attack Rogers said she's not angry with the beast saying: 'I'm not going to let anything get me down', her Groton home pictured above She was in a wheelchair during the time of the attack, making it difficult for her to escape the bear. She has a couple more weeks or rehabilitation left 'I said know what? You better go sit down and just keep calm...and he joined me. He sat right next to me,' she said on the attack. Despite her panic she scrambled for a way to call the cops. 'I said to myself you better do it or you're going to die right here,' she said. But she says she has no hard feelings towards the bear. 'I'm not going to let anything get me down. It's not worth it. I'd rather laugh than cry and I do. I'm happy,' she said. She has a couple more weeks of rehabilitation before she can return to her home. The Cape Cod beach where a New York professor was bit by a shark earlier this week has been indefinitely closed to swimming after more sharks were spotted in its waters. About 20 more confirmed and uncomfirmed accounts of shark sightings just 30 yards off shore have been reported since Thursday. 'We have more shark activity,' said Turo Town Manager Rae Ann Palmer, prompting the closure of Long Nook Beach until further notice. The beach near the tip of the Cape Cod peninsula was originally closed Wednesday after 61-year-old William Lytton, of Scarsdale, was attacked, suffering bites to his hip and legs. Long Nook Beach will be closed indefinitely following even more shark sightings in the waters Massachusetts State Police spotted a shark off the coast of Cape Code's Race Point Beach. This shark sighting, along with one at Meadow Beach, led to both beaches' closures Thursday William Lytton is pictured being transported to the hospital after suffering a shark attack Wednesday According to the Cape Cod National Seashore, a great white shark was seen feeding in the waters off Race Point Beach in Provincetown, Massachusetts, Thursday afternoon, prompting authorities to close even more beaches. The shark was seen feeding on a seal near the shore an act caught on video which prompted authorities to close the beach. A spokeswoman for Tufts Medical Center in Boston where he's being treated said Lytton remains in fair condition as of Saturday. William Lytton, 61, was bitten at Long Nook Beach. He was in Cape Cod on vacation at the time Lytton is a professor of physiology and pharmacology, neurology and bioengineering at SUNY Downstate Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York, who was in Cape Cod on vacation. He was swimming when he was attacked by the shark and airlifted to a hospital with injuries to his torso and legs. Lytton told authorities that he was standing about 30 yards offshore when he felt the shark bite him on his left side, leg and hip. The incident, which occurred at around 4pm, was the first shark attack on a human at the popular summer tourist destination since 2012. Numerous shark sightings have been reported in the area this summer, including several involving great whites, the species immortalized in the 'Jaws' movies. There was no confirmation that Wednesday's attack involved a great white shark, however. The Atlantic White Shark Conservancy, an organization that studies sharks, says shark encounters in which people are injured are as 'terrifying as they are rare.' The state's last fatal shark attack was in 1936. An 88-year-old Florida man was arrested after police said he burned a trapped raccoon alive because the animal had eaten his mangoes. Ezra James told WKMG-TV in a story Saturday that last Thursday threw gasoline on the raccoon and lit a match. In addition to the mangoes, James says he was afraid the raccoon might bite him and give him rabies. James lives in the coastal town of Palm Bay, located about 75 miles southeast of Orlando. Ezra James trapped a raccoon, poured gasoline on it and lit a match after catching it eating his mangoes. He said he was afraid of rabies and didn't want to get bitten. He's seen at right in his booking photo Authorities say nuisance animals can be trapped and either released or humanely euthanized and shouldn't be trapped and burned. (Stock image) A neighbor called 911 as the raccoon burned alive in a metal trap. James called the neighbor a 'wicked woman' for making the call. Police officers shot the raccoon to ease its suffering. The raccoon was still alive when they arrived, completely burned, with the skin was pulled back from the feet from the burns. Authorities say nuisance animals can be trapped and either released or humanely euthanized. James, who is originally from Jamaica, says he was released from jail after posting $2,000 bail on a charge of animal cruelty resulting in death. He says he will not do it again. A Muslim imam accused of abusing council staff over allegations he was illegally clearing land claims his Islamic group is exempt from Australian law. Dr Mustapha Kara-Ali is the Imam of religious guild Diwan Al Dawla, a guild which conducts much of its religious practices on a property in Colo, New South Wales. Hawkesbury City Council has launched legal action against the imam after learning he was allegedly clearing land on the property without a permit, the ABC reported. Dr Kara-Ali, a Harvard graduate, allegedly screamed 'you dogs, I step on your cross' when council workers visited the property to serve court documents. A conflict between council officers and Dr Kara-Ali and an unidentified man was caught on dash cam, allegedly showing the unknown man spitting at officers The property, roughly 50 kilometres outside of Sydney, is owned by a number of members from the guild. However after an anonymous complaint was made to the Hawkesbury City Council about earthworks going on at the property, council officers were sent to investigate. The officers allegedly discovered the illegal clearing of native trees and metal waste. Officers visited the property several times, allegedly discovering vegetation clearing and even the construction of a boat ramp. All were allegedly being done without the correct permits, so council issued an $8,000 fine for 'pollution or potential pollution caused by failed sediment erosion fencing'. Court documents revealed a letter Dr Kara-Ali had submitted to council, ABC News reported. An anonymous complaint was made to the Hawkesbury City Council about earthworks going on at the property, council officers were sent to investigate In it he stated that the guild lives 'separated from secular lifestyles to pursue a religious mode of worship and an ascetic lifestyle under an oath of self-sacrifice and dedication to the purposes of Diwan Al Dawla'. 'The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) Act 2012 stipulates that when it is carrying out religious activities that are related to the practice, study, teaching or propagation of its religious beliefs,' he wrote. DIWAN AL DAWLA Diwan Al Dawla ( ) is a guild that advances a way of living based upon a unitarian epistemology and narrative. Members of Diwan Al Dawla, known as ashab al dawla, live as a religious guild separated from secular worldviews to pursue a religious mode of worship and lifestyle under an oath of self-sacrifice and dedication to the purposes of Diwan Al Dawla. Source: Diwan Al Dawla Advertisement 'Or other activities ancillary to them Diwan Al Dawla, as a basic religious charity is not required to comply with Australian laws.' A conflict between council officers and Dr Kara-Ali and an unidentified man was caught on dash cam, allegedly showing the unknown man spitting at officers. 'Both men were repeatedly yelling obscenities from the other side of the gate, calling out 'you dogs, I step on your cross', the council officer wrote in an affidavit. The Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission was quick to dispute the claims being made by Dr Kara-Ali. A spokesperson for the ACNC said religious charities were still required to comply with Australian law. If a religious charity is found to be in participating in or encouraging unlawful behaviour, it can have its charity status revoked. Migrant parents living in Australia, who prefer having boys over girls, are choosing to abort female babies after undergoing early gender reveals, alarming research shows. Australians now have the ability to find out the gender of their baby from as early as ten weeks into the pregnancy, due to advancement in science and technology. The research, conducted by La Trobe University in Melbourne, has raised questions about whether it is necessary to provide parents with early gender information. New research has shown that expecting parents could be aborting female babies due to a preference for boys (stock image) Lead researcher Dr Kristina Edvardsson said there were instances that soon-to-be foreign mothers were travelling to Australia to abort their babies. 'We believe that some women may be terminating pregnancies after discovering they are expecting a girl and in other cases are travelling overseas to access non-medical sex selection services through assisted reproduction,' she told Fairfax. Naturally, for every 100 female babies born, there should be 105 male babies. The research shows that within some key migrant communities, baby boys are recorded at rates of 122 and 125 for every 100 daughters. A sonographer, kept anonymous, said they witnessed one instance where a couple asked for information about the gender of their baby. 'They said something along the lines of 'We need to know the sex, because if it's a girl we are going to terminate it',' the sonographer told Fairfax Media. Sonographers and obstetricians are leaning towards not revealing gender information at 12 weeks, as people can still readily access abortion and it may not be accurate. Advances in technology and science mean that Australians now have the ability to find out the gender of their baby from as early as ten weeks (stock image) Medical staff are also wary of the trends in China and India, where expecting parents are known to abort female foetuses. Ultrasound providers have no regulation about when they have to provide the sex of the baby, and the Australasian Sonographers Association believes they shouldn't have a say in the hot-topic debate. Chief executive of the association, Jodie Long, believes that if the sonographer is confident in the gender of the baby, then they would provide the information if they were asked. 'What the parents do with information is not for the sonographer to determine,' she said. One of the six contractors given a portion of $65million fro NASA to build a habitat prototype for deep space trekking, showed their massive cylindrical living quarters model on Thursday. Lockheed Martin gave a first look at their prototype at the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, off the Florida coast, the Orlando Sentinel reports. The contractor's design uses the refurbished Donatello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module - created during the space shuttle era to transfer cargo to the International Space Station - as their prototype. Donatello never went to space. The capsule is approximately 15 feet wide and 22 feet long, and roughly the size of a small bus. Lockheed Martin gave a first look at their living quarters prototype at the Kennedy Space Center on Merritt Island, Thursday It's a tight fit for four people but will store science racks, life support systems, sleep stations, exercise machines and robotic work stations, according to manager Bill Pratt. 'You think of it as an RV in deep space,' he said. 'When you're in an RV, your table becomes your bed and things are always moving around, so you have to be really efficient with the space. That's a lot of what we are testing here.' The Besthesda, Maryland, based contractors were able to save time and energy by using augmented reality headsets to visualize the capsule's layout. The reuse of Donatello also saved Lockheed money as well in the developing. The contractor's design uses the refurbished Donatello Multi-Purpose Logistics Module - created during the space shuttle era to transfer cargo to the International Space Station - as their prototype. Donatello never went to space 'We want to get to the moon and to Mars as quickly as possible, and we feel like we actually have a lot of stuff that we can use to do that,' Pratt added. The habitat will serve as an addition to the much larger mission to get crews to the moon and Mars. Lockheed - along with Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corp.'s Space Systems, Orbital ATK, NanoRacks and Bigelow Aerospace - were all tapped by NASA to come up with a prototype by the end of the year. The capsule is approximately 15 feet wide and 22 feet long and will store science racks, life support systems, sleep stations, exercise machines and robotic work stations Lockheed - along with Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corp.'s Space Systems, Orbital ATK, NanoRacks and Bigelow Aerospace - were all tapped by NASA to come up with a prototype by the end of the year From there, NASA will look over the proposals and devide which should be attached to the Deep Space Gateway. The Gateway is a space port that will orbit the moon and work as a jump off for other deep space missions. The crew members would launch on the Orion spacecraft, which NASA as deemed the 'most powerful rocket' it's ever built. The Gateway space port is just 75 tons, which is considerably smaller than the 450-ton International Space Sation, and will house the habitat, an airlock, a propulsion module, a docking port and a power bus. From there, NASA will look over the proposals and devide which should be attached to the Deep Space Gateway space port Lockheed hopes to deliver their European Service Module that will sit below the crew module in September, according to Mike Hawes, vice president and program manager for Orion at Lockheed Martin Orion is expected to make an uncrewed mission to orbit the moon in 2020, when it is done with production. Mission-2 will take a crew into lunar orbit by mid-2022. Orion has been in development since 2004 and is not allowed to have any weld defects, whereas the Apollo mission allowed for a number of defects per inch. The zero defects rule exist sense the spacecraft will have to make the grueling 1,000-day trip to Mars. 'This is the infrastructure for sustained human space exploration and so you have to account for every scenario that could come up, that's why the requirements are so stringent,' said Lisa Callahan, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin's commercial civil space division. Lockheed hopes to deliver their European Service Module that will sit below the crew module in September, according to Mike Hawes, vice president and program manager for Orion at Lockheed Martin. The family of a Briton who drowned in Ibiza have demanded a police investigation after discovering that a beer bottle was smashed over his head in a fight shortly before he vanished. Police on the island initially ruled out any foul play in the death of Anwaar Lahrichi-Greenwood, 24, following the discovery of the teaching assistant's body in the harbour of the party paradise of San Antonio. They suggested that his head injuries had been sustained after his death, possibly by hitting rocks. Police on the island initially ruled out any foul play in the death of Anwaar Lahrichi-Greenwood, 24, following the discovery of the teaching assistant's body in the harbour But his distraught relatives were unconvinced, and his aunt and cousin travelled to Ibiza to investigate for themselves. They traced witnesses to the fight, who told them that Anwaar was hit twice with a bottle and left bloodied on the floor after a 5am brawl with three Spanish youths. Anwaar's family last night accused police of 'failing to investigate' and secure vital evidence, including CCTV footage. They also criticised paramedics who failed to take the Londoner to hospital despite his injuries. Anwaar's mother, Amina Lahrichi, 45, told The Mail on Sunday: 'We want answers. For me it's not good enough that my son went on holiday and now he's dead.' Anwaar, who worked in a school for disadvantaged children in West London, became separated from his friends in the early hours of August 4, the final night of their break. Investigations by the family have established that he was attacked at around 5am on the town's promenade, close to the popular Eden nightclub. Witnesses came forward after Anwaar's aunt, Rashida Lahrichi, and cousin, Syan Angol, went to Ibiza and launched a social media appeal offering 5,000 for information. Among the witnesses was Jules Nelson, 25, a chef from Blackburn on holiday with his brothers. He described how he also fought off Anwaar's attackers. Mr Nelson said he had met Anwaar on the beach, adding: 'He was telling us how he'd had a really good night and he was worse for wear, as were all of us. Anwaar, who worked in a school for disadvantaged children in West London, became separated from his friends in the early hours of August 4 'He was laughing and joking and he encouraged us to go for a swim with him in the sea.' Mr Nelson went to his hotel to change, and returned 30 minutes later to find Anwaar in an altercation with three Spaniards. 'I saw one of the Spanish lads pick up a bottle and it turned nasty, and a few words were being exchanged. Anwaar picked up a bottle himself but he didn't use it he put it down. Then the Spanish lads started hitting him and he was struck twice with a bottle.' Mr Nelson said that he and other British tourists chased the attackers. Fearful of being arrested, he then left the scene but another eyewitness, Nabeel Akhtar, 25, a DJ from London, told Anwaar's relatives what happened next. Mr Akhtar had been walking along the promenade when he saw the fight begin. 'One of the Spanish men had a beer bottle in his hand and he hit Anwaar over the head,' he said. 'The bottle didn't break that time but he hit him again. It was a sickening blow. The bottle smashed over Anwaar's head and he went down.' Anwaar died in San Antonia, a party town in Ibiza (pictured) After helping to chase off the attackers, Mr Akhtar joined a group crowded around the stricken Briton. 'He had quite a few other holidaymakers around him. One guy took off his shirt and was using it to dab Anwaar's head. There was a lot of blood,' he said. A British barmaid, who was with Anwaar when paramedics arrived, told his family that he was disorientated, refused treatment and was allowed to leave the scene. Unaware of his plight, Anwaar's friends returned home on their scheduled flight without him. Only after his body naked apart from his socks was found at sea on August 5 by a pleasure boat skipper, did they learn what had happened to him. Following their inquiries, the family have instructed a lawyer, and police in Ibiza are now understood to be investigating. The family hope it will result in a manslaughter case being opened. Syan said: 'We can't understand why police were so quick to say this was an accident and nothing suspicious. They failed to even do the basics, like check CCTV. 'We are also very upset that paramedics did not do more to help Anwaar. As medical professionals, they should have realised he had a head injury and taken him to the hospital straight away.' Police and paramedics on the Spanish holiday isle did not respond to requests to comment. Casually sauntering along the road, these are the suspects in the savage attack on a 93-year-old woman who was mugged in broad daylight. Just seconds before they were caught on CCTV, the two men are alleged to have tried to wrestle a handbag from the hands of the frail lady at a bus stop, leaving her battered and bruised after she was dragged to the ground. In one of the most shocking days in this crime-ridden year of Wild West Britain, the monstrous assault in Oldham happened just hours before a gang beat up a 95-year-old woman in her home less than ten miles away. The monstrous assault in Oldham happened just hours before a gang beat up a 95-year-old woman in her home less than ten miles away The bus stop victim bravely held on to her handbag and her two attackers eventually gave up and walked away empty-handed, leaving her suffering multiple injuries. In the other sickening attack, the 95-year-old woman was left injured and in shock following a violent break-in by a gang of teenagers at her home in Northenden, Manchester. The five suspects dressed in dark clothing climbed into the victims home on Thursday night. The pensioner described by police as a tough cookie struggled with the burglars and was shoved to the floor. The group, believed to be boys aged 15 and 16, smashed their way out through a kitchen window with a typewriter and fled. Detectives yesterday released the CCTV images of the suspects in the bus stop attack on Turf Lane in the Chadderton area of Oldham, Greater Manchester, that took place just before midday on Thursday. It was later confirmed that a 17-year-old had handed himself in following publication of the pictures. The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with attempted robbery. He is due to appear at Tameside Youth Court on September 4. Greater Manchester Police said the 93-year-old bus stop victim suffered injuries to her head, knees and hands. Detectives yesterday released the CCTV images of the suspects in the bus stop attack on Turf Lane in the Chadderton area of Oldham, Greater Manchester, that took place just before midday on Thursday Detective Sergeant Alex Wilkinson said: This was a violent, cowardly attack. It is hard to imagine what kind of individual would target a vulnerable member of the community and leave them with multiple injuries. This attack could have had much graver consequences. It is only due to the remarkable strength of the victim that she has been able to leave hospital and continue her recovery at home. The 95-year-old burglary victim was also said to be recovering. Detective Constable Rachel Wood, of Greater Manchester Police, said: Although this lady is a tough cookie, she has been left distraught and injured. The comfort of a persons own home is where they should feel safest but these animals smashed their way into the property without a second thought for the woman living there. We cannot allow this kind of thing to happen to those most vulnerable in our society. This could have been anybodys grandmother. Police said three of the suspects were white and two were black. Anyone with any information is asked to call police on 0161 856 3971 or the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. Advertisement Sobbing relatives grieved at a state funeral for 18 victims of the Genoa bridge disaster yesterday with mourners demanding to know how the tragedy was allowed to happen. Italy's former leader Maurizio Martina whose Democratic Party was in charge until last year was jeered when he arrived at the ceremony in Genoa. Around 3,000 people attended the service as the death toll rose to 42 with the discovery of a couple from Turin and their nine-year-old daughter in a crushed car under a slab of concrete. Tragedy: More victims of the Genoa bridge collapse were laid to rest today as relatives attended the state funeral amid growing anger in Italy over the disaster which claimed so many lives Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco leads the service: Italian president Sergio Mattarella has been pictured arriving at the service along with the interior minister Matteo Salvini and a raft of other dignitaries and prominent national figures Genoa's archbishop, Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, who conducted the ceremony, said the disaster was 'a gash in the heart' of the city. Vehicles plunged 150ft when part of the motorway bridge which had been riddled with structural problems collapsed on Tuesday. Among the mourners was Italy's president, Sergio Mattarella. But some of the bereaved who blame the Italian authorities for the tragedy stayed away. Nunzia Eposito, whose son Gerardo, 26, died with three friends, said: 'The parade of politicians is shameful.' Devastation: At least 42 people have died after a 260ft section of the Genoa highway bridge suddenly collapsed during a storm on Tuesday Heavy rain and strong winds are set to batter the Indian state of Kerala today, following floods that have already claimed more than 300 lives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi yesterday flew over the most severely hit areas in the south of the country and met officials amid fears the crisis may deepen. The worst monsoon floods in a century have forced more than 300,000 people into relief camps and stranded thousands on high ground without food, medicine and clean water. Troops have been brought in to aid the rescue effort, with helicopters and boats helping to evacuate victims. Heavy rain and strong winds are set to batter the Indian state of Kerala today, following floods that have already claimed more than 300 lives Mr Modi tweeted: The nation stands firmly with Kerala in this hour. He pledged 56 million for the families of the dead. Krishna Jayan, 58, told the BBC she opened her front door and water gushed in. When we stepped into the street, we were neck-deep in water. One heavily pregnant woman gave birth soon after being airlifted to safety. One resident of Chengannur, a town in central Kerala, took to social media to broadcast himself trapped on the first floor of his home. It looks like water is rising to the second floor, he said. I hope you can see this. Pray for us. On Friday, the MP for Chengannur issued a tearful appeal for authorities to help. Please send helicopters here, Saji Cheriyan said. Please tell someone, please can you tell Modi. If helicopters are not brought in for rescue operations, we will die. Fifty thousand people will die. I am begging for your mercy, please help us. Earlier this year, the World Bank reported that South Asian cities were increasingly vulnerable to flooding because of climate change. Brexit civil servants received more than 750,000 in bonuses last year, despite fears that the UK could crash out of the EU with no deal. Dominic Raab, the Brexit Secretary, faced calls to justify the huge performance pay-out. The row broke amid reports that the Governments own no-deal Brexit plans will this week warn that the M20 would become a giant lorry park if the UK left with no formal accord. Dominic Raab, the Brexit Secretary, faced calls to justify the huge performance pay-out Mr Raab sought to dispel gloom over the Brexit talks last night, claiming that securing a deal is still by far the most likely outcome. He will step up his bid to avoid the no-deal outcome with the launch of fresh discussions on Tuesday with EU representative Michel Barnier. But Mr Raab, who only became Brexit Secretary last month, was asked to explain how staff under his predecessor David Davis received up to 775,000 last year in performance-related bonuses. The figure is eight times the 90,000 amount disclosed just one month ago in the Department for Exiting the EUs (DExEU) 2017-18 annual report, and which included up to 20,000 for Olly Robbins, the Prime Ministers chief Europe adviser. Campaigners for a referendum on the final Brexit deal seized on the scale of the mandarins bonus rewards last night. Labour MP Gareth Thomas, a supporter of the Peoples Vote campaign, said: These astonishing figures will leave people wondering what officials in the Brexit department have achieved to deserve this handsome reward. With the Brexit negotiations in deadlock, this is surely not the time for a Government department that has delivered nothing since its creation to pat itself on the back. Mr Raabs officials defended the staff rewards, saying they were in line with Civil Service pay guidance and ensure value for money for the taxpayer. They also defended the lower figure disclosed in the annual report, adding that it only included bonuses for senior civil servants. The Brexit Department will this week publish the first in a series of technical notices on the implications of a no-deal Brexit. Mr Raab said: We want to make sure that we clearly set out the steps that people, businesses and public services need to take in the unlikely event that we dont reach an agreement. Its the responsible thing for any government to do, to mitigate the risks and make sure the UK is ready to make a success of Brexit. But Brexiteer campaigners raised concerns of Project Fear Mark Two. They said he could be confused and may not remember his name if approached Police have issued a recent image of the dementia sufferer in a shopping centre 60 volunteers have been combing coastal areas in his home suburb of Hillarys Alexander Henderson has been missing since he left his Perth home on Thursday A desperate search is underway for an elderly Perth man with dementia who has been missing for almost three days. Alexander Henderson, 87, who is also deaf, has not been seen since he left his house in Hillarys on Thursday at around 4.30pm. 60 State Emergency Service (SES) volunteers have been combing coastal areas around Hillarys after an unconfirmed sighting of Mr Henderson on Friday afternoon. Scroll down for video Police released an image of a missing elderly man with dementia, Alexander Henderson, 87, at the Whitfords Shopping Centre on Wednesday (pictured) - a day before he was last seen leaving his house in Hillarys Mr Henderson has now been missing for three winter nights - with temperatures in Perth falling to as low as six degrees on Friday night and 11 degrees overnight on Saturday. Police described the man as fair skinned, slim, 165cm tall and with white hair and released a photo of the man at the Whitfords Shopping Centre on Wednesday. In the image, the man is wearing a blue polo shirt and light brown dress shorts. Mr Henderson, who is also deaf, may be confused and not remember his name if approached according to police They also said Mr Henderson may be confused and not remember his name. Inspector Rohan Ingles from West Australian police said Mr Henderson's family were extremely distressed, according to Channel 9. He said: 'The search area is extensive and we have a number of resources. 'We are receiving a number of bits of information from the public which we are acting upon.' Inspector Ingles also said police were considering Air Wing support to help crews on the ground. Anyone who sees Mr Henderson, or has any information as to his whereabouts, is asked to call police on 131 444. Murdered mom Shanann Watts struggled desperately to conceive her children as she suffered from lupus, a disease that makes all pregnancies risky, her brother has revealed. Now the three children two adorable young daughters and an unborn son are all dead along with Shanann, allegedly at the hands of their father. Christopher Watts, 33, is currently in jail awaiting charges following the deaths that have shocked the nation. 'She is the hardest working person I've ever known,' Shanann's younger brother Frankie Rzucek wrote in an emotional Facebook post Friday. 'No matter if her lupus was acting up or if she was pregnant, nothing stoped (sic) her from doing what needed to be done. 'She was very successful and driven,' he added. Frankie Rzucek, the younger brother of murdered Colorado mom Shanann Watts, has revealed that the 34-year-old had struggled desperately to conceive because she suffered from lupus The heartbroken uncle is pictured with his nieces Bella (right), four, and Celeste (left), two, whose bodies were found in oil drums near their mother's shallow grave on Thursday in Colorado Rzucek wrote a long, emotional Facebook post on Friday in which he praised his sister as 'the picture-perfect mother' and revealed her desperate efforts to conceive her children Shanann, 34, and her two children Bella, four, and Celeste, three, disappeared from their $400,000 home in Frederick, Colorado, on Monday. Her husband went on local television to make an emotional plea for them to return. He then admitted that he had killed them on Wednesday, police say, and led investigators to their bodies at an oil company where he worked. The two girls were found in oil tanks on property owned by Watts's employer Anadarko Oil. The girls are believed to have been strangled and defense lawyer Megan Ring has asked for DNA testing of their necks. Shanann's body was discovered close by. She was 15-weeks pregnant with a boy the couple planned to call Nico. The couple had been planning a gender reveal party for Saturday. Watts inmate number 18-12255 is now in Weld County Jail in Greeley, Colorado, awaiting a court appearance Tuesday. He is expected to be formally charged with three counts of first degree murder and three counts of tampering with a body. Under Colorado law he will not face separate charges relating to his unborn son. Christopher Watts, 33, allegedly confessed to killing his pregnant wife Shanann and the couple's two young daughters in Frederick earlier this week. He is pictured in court Thursday Watts is facing three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of evidence tampering in the killings of his wife Shanann and daughters Bella, four, and Celeste, three, all seen above Watts' brother-in-law Rzucek, wrote: 'He stole my whole world and treated them like they were trash. I've never been so mad, sad, enraged, hurt, heartbroken, lost, and shocked in all my life. 'I'm trying really hard not to hate him because that's not how we were raised, but i just can't find it in my heart. I really don't know what to say.' Rzucek, 32, who runs a home improvement and landscaping company, lives in Aberdeen, North Carolina. He traveled to Colorado with other family members following his sister's murder. 'My sister and nieces meant the absolute world to me. They made me strive to be an even better man. I wanted them to be proud of their Uncle,' he wrote on Facebook. He ended the post with the words: 'I wish I could go back in time and be there to keep you safe from harm. Sorry uncle couldn't save you. Absolutely heartbroken.' Lupus is an autoimmune disease in which the body attacks healthy tissues. The Lupus Foundation of America says on its website that many sufferers have healthy pregnancies but all are considered high-risk. 'Problems may occur and must be anticipated,' the foundation says. Miscarriages, stillbirths and premature births are all more common in lupus sufferers, as is low birthweight. Problems for the mother include a higher risk of kidney problems. Preeclampsia and swelling of the joints, especially the knees. Shanann was reportedly planning to throw a gender reveal party Saturday for her unborn son Shanann was active in a local support group for lupus sufferers in Colorado. A sign with the words 'Choose Love' was among dozens of soft toys and flowers and candles left outside the family home. The sign was decorated with a purple ribbon which is used for lupus awareness. In his lengthy Facebook post Rzucek said he always looked up to his sister. He called himself 'a proud little brother'. 'When our family found out she beat all the odds and become pregnant I can't even explain our excitement,' he wrote. 'Shanann was born to be a mother and help change lives. 'She was the picture-perfect mother,' he added. 'I'm not just saying that because I'm her brother either. I was blown away when I moved out there and lived with her for a few months after her first-born daughter Bella' who Rzucek called 'My Bella Bean'. 'I was exhausted by just watching my sister. She made being a parent look easy. Rzucek said his sister was 'the picture-perfect mother' in a lengthy Facebook post on Friday The proud mom is pictured showing off a magazine spread featuring her family in May 'One day she asked me if I wanted to feed Bella a bottle so of course I did. While doing so I spilled some on my hand and I gagged a little bit. I don't know why I guess because in my mind I knew it come from my sister (breast milk). 'Lol Shanann laughed and laughed so hard she had to run to the bathroom.. To pee.' Rzucek also remembered how they grew up. 'I'll never forget day my sister got her driver's license and left the driveway to go to work, I cried while sitting on the front porch waving watching her drive off. Not because I was sad, but because in my head I thought back to riding next to her in our little power wheels car, and now she's a woman driving a real car. We weren't little kids anymore. 'Then when high school came I had it made because all her friends would look out for me. "Oh you're Shanann's brother". 'She even took me to her own senior prom because I didn't have a date for my junior year,' he revealed. 'I tried my best to keep boys away from her. She was smart and beautiful so it wasn't easy. But that's what brothers do, they protect. 'She had success in her eyes and nothing was going to stand in her way of following her dreams.' Shanann and Christopher are seen at their wedding in Charlotte in 2012. They both grew up in North Carolina but moved to Colorado shortly after they were married The couple appeared to have bounced back from their financial struggles three years ago - but there were other signs that the relationship may have been heading for a split Shanann was a frequent poster on Facebook herself, often praising her husband, whom she called her 'Rock.' Investigators have not revealed a motive for the killings, but friends have claimed that Shanann believed her husband may have been having an affair and the couple is known to have had money problems. They filed for bankruptcy in 2015 saying they spent around $4,900 a month. The mortgage on their five-bed, four-bath home in Frederick, 30 miles north of Denver, accounted for nearly $3,000 of that and payments on their Lexus came to another $600. At the time their combined income was around $90,000 a year and they had debts including credit card bills and student loans of some $70,000. But since that filing, Shanann landed a $140,000-a-year job with Le-Vel, a nutrition supplement company, which involved her making frequent business trips leaving her husband at home with the children. Maria Butina (pictured), 29, was indicted last month on several counts including charges of conspiracy to act and failing to register as an agent of a foreign government A woman accused of being a Russian spy who attempted to infiltrate US political organizations has been moved to the same Virginia prison as Paul Manafort, the President's former campaign manager. Maria Butina, 29, was indicted last month on several counts including charges of conspiracy to act and failing to register as an agent of a foreign government, according to The Washington Post. She has pleaded not guilty to all charges. Butina was transferred from a Washington DC jail to a new holding facility in Alexandria, Virginia, this week, her attorney Robert Driscoll confirmed to the Post on Saturday. It remains unclear why she was moved to a new jail. 'As a matter of policy, we do not disclose information related to individual prisoners to protect their privacy, safety and security,' a spokesperson for the US Marshal Service said. Driscoll said the transfer occurred at around 5pm on Friday. The jail in Alexandria is the same facility where Paul Manafort is currently being held while he awaits a verdict on his trial for tax evasion and bank fraud. Butina was transferred from a Washington DC jail to a new holding facility in Alexandria, Virginia this week The transfer occurred just days after the Russian Embassy in Washington DC complained about Butina's jail conditions The Justice Department accuses Butina of being directed by a 'high-level' official in Russia to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and build relationships with conservative politicians The trial now underway in Alexandria, Virginia, is the first case brought by special counsel Robert Mueller to go to trial. The jury will return Monday to begin a third day of deliberations on 18 counts. As jurors weigh Manafort's fate in the sprawling financial fraud case, the former Trump campaign chairman still has another trial looming in the nation's capital. In the District of Columbia, Manafort is scheduled to go on trial in September on charges including conspiracy to defraud the United States, failing to register as a foreign agent, money laundering, witness tampering and making false statements. The jail in Alexandria is the same facility where Paul Manafort (pictured) is currently being held while he awaits a verdict on his trial for tax evasion and bank fraud The transfer occurred just days after the Russian Embassy in Washington DC complained about Butina's jail conditions and claimed that her 'health has deteriorated.' 'It seems as if Washington is trying to force her to cooperate with the investigation by making her living conditions as difficult as possible,' the embassy tweeted on Thursday, adding a 'FreeMariaButina' hashtag at the end. Driscoll said he was unsure whether the transfer was related to the embassy's concerns. The Justice Department accuses Butina of being directed by a 'high-level' official in Russia to infiltrate the National Rifle Association and build relationships with conservative politicians from 2015 to 2017. Russia's foreign minister told the U.S. Secretary of State on last month that Butina had been detained on 'fabricated charges' and should be released. Butina worked for Alexander Torshin, a Russian banker with close ties to the Kremlin, and served as his interpreter at various Washington events. The investigation into Butinas efforts to influence American politics was overseen by the Justice Departments National Security Division and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia, and not by Muellers office. Democrats on the U.S. House Intelligence Committee investigating any ties between Trumps campaign and Russia previously highlighted Butina as a person of interest and sought permission from the committees Republican leadership to bring her in for questioning. Republicans declined that request and later issued a report along party lines that found there was no collusion between Trumps campaign and Russia. Ministers have vowed to hunt down Britons who cheat the taxpayer by wrongly claiming British benefits while living abroad. Work and Pensions Secretary Esther McVey warned benefit cheats overseas that international anti-fraud teams were coming for them. Her pledge came as her department revealed that about 5,000 fraudsters were convicted and a further 5,000 given administrative penalties last year and that the blitz recovered a record 1.1billion at home and abroad. Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) officials said that, with an estimated 3.8 million British citizens now living outside the UK, the Governments international fraud network was playing an increasing role. It includes a team of international fraud specialists working at offices in Essex and in Madrid and Alicante in Spain. Examples of recent international fraud included a 54-year-old woman who falsely claimed benefits potentially worth more than 650,000 after hijacking the identities of four people who had left the UK. In another case a 55-year-old woman was fined 12,500 for claiming Disability Living Allowance and other benefits even though she had a home in Portugal and had taken more than 70 separate flights in less than five years to places including the USA, France and South Africa. Ms McVey said: The DWP uncovers thousands of benefit fraud cases every year and our international reach means our approach to tackling fraud isnt just limited to the UK. Our specialist teams work continually to establish new intelligence sources across the globe and catch the fraudsters who divert taxpayers money from people in need. Kofi Annan speaking at United Nations HQ Kofi Annan, the former UN Secretary-General renowned for his soft-spoken diplomacy with world leaders in times of crisis, died early yesterday at a clinic in Geneva, Switzerland, at the age of 80. His last public appearance was in Harare, Zimbabwe, last month when he appealed for a peaceful poll before the general election. Observers said at the time that Mr Annan seemed hesitant as he delivered a speech and appeared unwell. It was said he had flu-like symptoms. As chairman of The Elders, an international group of diplomats brought together by Nelson Mandela, Mr Annan was there to urge Zimbabweans to bring lasting peace to their country. He said a new wave of freedom was possible. We can all feel the swell. Catch this wave, he said. Mr Annan was an outspoken critic of Tony Blairs decision to join US forces in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. A week before the invasion he warned that military action would violate the UN Security Councils charter. He had earlier said that an invasion would lead to a breakdown in inter-national order and that there should have been a second UN resolution authorising war on Iraq. In September 2004 he went further and condemned the invasion as illegal. In an interview with the BBC World Service he said: The invasion was not sanctioned and not in accordance with the UNs founding charter. Former South African president Nelson Mandela (L) stands with guest lecturer former United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan (R), Johannesburg, South Africa in 2007 Asked outright if it was illegal, he said: Yes, if you wish. I have indicated it was not in conformity with UN charters. From our point of view and from the charters point of view it was illegal. Mr Annan was born into an aristocratic family of Ashanti tribal chiefs in Kumasi, Ghana, in 1938. He is still revered there as a Ghanaian who never forgot his roots and who maintained contact with his local community throughout his life. He attended college in Kumasi, then won a Ford Foundation scholarship to Minnesota, in the US, where he gained a degree in economics in 1961. He started his career at the World Health Organisation, going on to join the United Nations in New York where he was to serve as a diplomat for most of his adult life. In 1990 he negotiated the release of hostages in Iraq after Saddam Husseins invasion of Kuwait. United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan during a meeting with Queen Elizabeth II He persisted in efforts to achieve peace in Iraq and was appointed Secretary-General of the UN in 1997, the first black person to take the top job. Two years later he held talks with Hussein. He is widely acknowledged as having revolutionised the UNs top-heavy bureaucracy and prioritised human rights, climate change and the need for equality in the world economy. In 2001 Mr Annan was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize jointly with the UN for bringing new life to its peacekeeping initiatives. He was given an honorary knighthood by the Queen in a private audience at Buckingham Palace in 2007, the year when he left the UN and set up his Kofi Annan Foundation dedicated to promoting better governance in a fairer, more peaceful world. He headed talks to establish peace in Kenya after post-election violence in 2017 when more than 1,000 people were killed. Elsewhere in Africa Mr Annan worked to combat an HIV/AIDS epidemic, urging the free distribution of anti-retroviral medication. Two years ago he led a UN commission investigating the Rohingya massacres in Myanmar. Mr Annan published his memoirs, Interventions: A Life In War And Peace in 2012. He married twice and leaves two children, a daughter Ama and a son Kojo. A statement from the Kofi Annan Foundation yesterday said: Wherever there was suffering or need he reached out and touched many people with his deep compassion and empathy. The Labour anti-Semitism row took a new twist last night after it emerged that firebrand union boss Len McCluskey was seen dining with Jeremy Corbyns chief-of-staff Karie Murphy. They had supper on Thursday, hours after Mr McCluskey tore into Jewish groups who criticised Mr Corbyn for failing to tackle the issue, accusing them of intransigent hostility towards the Labour leader. Mr McCluskey is a longstanding friend and ally of Ms Murphy, who is blamed by some Labour MPs for urging Mr Corbyn not to back down in the long-running anti-Semitism row. Unite general secretary Len McCluskey spotted having supper with Karie Murphy on Thursday Ms Murphy was forced to withdraw as Labours parliamentary candidate in Falkirk in 2013 after claims of vote rigging by local members of Mr McCluskeys Unite union. She was given a key role in Mr Corbyns Commons office in 2016. Last week, she and Mr McCluskey were seen at a Turkish restaurant near the Houses of Parliament. A Unite spokesman did not dispute that the two dined together, saying: They are friends. Jeremy Corbyn's chief of staff with Mirror at the Mirror's Change the Law for Life event In a separate development, former Labour MP Jim Sheridan was suspended yesterday after accusing the Jewish community of being in cahoots with Blairite plotters to undermine Mr Corbyn. Mr Sheridan, ex-MP for Paisley and Renfrewshire North, wrote on Facebook: For all my adult life I have had the utmost respect and empathy for the Jewish community and their historic suffering. No longer, due to what they and their Blairite plotters are doing to my party. A Bronx construction worker had his throat cut in a street fight with his nephew, police said. Travis Mason, 18, was charged with manslaughter and murder on Friday night - just 12 hours after he allegedly slit the throat of his 55-year-old uncle Eric Shaw in Fordham Manor. His aunt claimed the teen had been in New York visiting from Jamaica and was due to return home next week. Travis Mason, 18, was charged with manslaughter and murder on Friday night, just 12 hours after slicing Eric Shaw in Fordham Manor A video obtained by the New York Daily News shows Shaw walking toward the corner of East 196th Street and Briggs Avenue when he bumps into Mason. Mason - who is wearing a black jacket - and his white tank top clad uncle then begin arguing, moments later a fight breaks out. The young man is then seen slashing his uncle's neck with a sharp object before running off. Shaw was rushed to St Barnabas Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries. 'It's just a tough situation when your own nephew kills your brother,' said a woman who identified herself as Shaw's sister. Relatives said that Mason was in town for the summer, visiting family, and was working with Shaw at a construction site. Footage from the scene shows the pair arguing before a fight breaks out at the corner of East 196th Street and Briggs Avenue According to Shaw's sister, the two would fight at work and had to be separated by their boss. She added that Shaw allegedly threatened his nephew with a box-cutter and that Mason picked up a pair of scissors that he would later use on his uncle. Police could not find a weapon at the scene, ABC 7 reports. Police found Shaw on the street with his throat slashed and rushed him to St. Barnabas Hospital but he succumbed to his injuries 'When he was on the job when he gets there, his uncle was there. Eric (Shaw) said something bad,' the woman claimed. She shared that her brother had a temper, and that 'Eric had a problem...sometimes he liked to argue. I told Travis to ignore Eric.' Shaw's sister said that Mason was supposed to return home to Jamaica next week. He is a child of the woman's sister. Brexit bankroller Arron Banks is being investigated by South African police over claims of corruption, fraud, diamond smuggling and firearms offences, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. The British businessman, who pumped 9 million into the Leave.EU campaign, had a criminal case opened against him earlier this month by an elite crime unit known as The Hawks. Prosecutors in South Africa were last night poring over a dossier of allegations about Banks and diamond mines he owns in the state of Lesotho. Brexit bankroller Arron Banks, pictured with his wife Catya Banks, is being investigated by South African police. He had a criminal case opened against him earlier this month by an elite crime unit known as The Hawks The UKs Serious Fraud Office is understood to have been handed the same evidence as the South African authorities, but last night refused to say whether it had opened its own probe. It comes as multi-millionaire Banks faces increasing pressure over allegations that he was backed by Russia to influence the outcome of the EU referendum. The criminal probe in South Africa was confirmed by Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi, spokesman for The Hawks. He said: We are investigating a number of allegations. Banks last month admitted paying thousands of pounds to a government minister in Lesotho, but insisted it was not a bribe. Arron Banks (pictured second from the left) with Donald Trump, smiling next to Brexiteer Nigel Farage The South African authorities are probing several allegations, including that Banks paid off corrupt government figures in order to obtain a mining licence. He is also claimed to have imported diamonds and planted them at his mines to dupe investors into thinking the ventures were more profitable than they actually were. The Brexiteer is alleged to have sought financial backing for diamond mines from Russia. It is claimed he used the money from investors to fund his Leave.EU campaign. And Banks faces claims that he illegally smuggled a 30,000 uncut diamond out of Africa, and that he bought weapons without a firearms licence. The criminal probe was launched after police were handed a dossier of evidence by a Johannesburg-based fraud investigator. Banks denied wrongdoing and said the allegations stemmed from claims made by Chris Kimber, a disgruntled ex-business partner. This month it emerged Russias ambassador in London offered Banks a slice of a 6 billion deal to invest in state-controlled gold mines ahead of the Brexit poll. Omarosa Manigault-Newman has made the astonishing claim that President Donald Trump might deport First Lady Melania if she tried to leave him while he holds office. It is the latest Trump-bashing claim to emerge from the new memoir, Unhinged, by Manigault-Newman, who was fired from the White House in December for alleged 'integrity violations'. 'If Melania were to try to pull the ultimate humiliation and leave him while he's in office, he would find a way to punish her,' Manigault-Newman wrote in the book, according to the Mercury News. Manigault-Newman implied that Trump played some nefarious role in Melania's immigration to the US from Slovenia in 1996 - even though the couple are believed to have first met two years later, in 1998. Manigault-Newman is seen posing with her new memoir, Unhinged. In it she claims Trump might deport his wife Melania if she tried to leave him The First Lady and Trump are seen on the White House lawn last month. They met in 1998 when she was a model in Manhattan, and have been married since 2005 'This is a man who has said he could pardon himself from the Mueller investigation. Why not pardon himself over an alleged visa payoff?' wrote Manigault-Newman. Questions have been raised in the past about how Melania, who worked as a fashion model, obtained a so-called 'Einstein' EB-1 visa for people in the tops of their fields - though immigration lawyers say there is nothing particularly unusual about a top model being granted the visa. Melania became a US citizen in 2006, one year after her marriage to Trump. In recent months, the Trump administration has made moves to strip citizenship from those who lied or otherwise cheated in the naturalization process. Manigault- Newman implies that Trump may have had personal motivations for the policy move, intending to hold the threat of deportation over his wife's head. Manigault-Newman (far right) is seen at a 2004 watch party for The Apprentice with Trump and Melania, who were dating at the time 'Since Donald is fully aware of however she acquired her permanent citizenship, he could, if there were anything fishy around it, expose the methods and somehow invalidate it,' wrote Manigault-Newman. 'He is a vindictive man, and I would not put anything past him.' 'In my opinion,' she added, 'Melania is counting every minute until he is out of office and she can divorce him.' Stephanie Grisham, the first lady's communications director, refuted Manigault-Newman's claims in a statement to the News. 'Mrs Trump rarely, if ever, interacted with Omarosa. It's disappointing to her that she is lashing out and retaliating in such a self-serving way, especially after all the opportunities given to her by the President,' Grisham said in a statement. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders has previously dismissed the claims in Manigault-Newman's book, saying it is 'riddled with lies and false accusations'. Rose West (pictured with husband Fred) has taken to attending chapel session in prison and believes God will forgive her Britain's worst female serial killer believes she will be forgiven by god and go to heaven despite murdering 10 people. Rose West, serving life at HMP Low Newton in County Durham, said she had 'found a new life in God' and even attended prison chapel services every Sunday. She along with her husband Fred raped and murdered their daughter Heather and buried her under their patio - then did the same to nine others. Former fellow inmate Catherine Jones said West blamed Fred for everything and insisted he 'made me do things'. 'She really believes she'll be forgiven when she dies. Will she? She put her own daughter under the patio,' she told the Mirror. West, 64, and her husband murdered and dismembered young women and children then buried them at 25 Cromwell Street, Gloucester, between 1967 and 1987. Fred killed himself in 1995 while awaiting trial for 12 murders and West was convicted of 10 the same year and jailed for life. A relative said the family was trying to 'move on' and believing she would be forgiven was disrespectful to her victims' families. Former fellow inmate Catherine Jones (pictured) said West blamed Fred. 'She really believes she'll be forgiven when she dies. Will she? She put her own daughter under the patio,' she said 'If Rose thinks that asking God to forgive her will in some way make up for what she's done then that's not a god that I would understand,' they said. Jones, who served 19 years jail alongside West for killing a man in Liverpool, said she ruled the roost at HMP Low Newton and was given special treatment. West was convicted of 10 murders in 1995 and jailed for life after she and her husband killed and dismembered multiple young women at their home 'She'd bake cakes for the girls. She was allowed to shower on her own, she didn't have to go with everyone else,' she said. West would often hold court while chain smoking in the social room and her revelations began when she was asked what it was like knowing she'd leave prison in a 'wooden box'. Jones said West had several lesbian relationships in jail and once tried to have all the TVs removed when a documentary about her was scheduled. 'She walked round looking at the floor, not making eye contact. She had dark eyes. Most people have a little sparkle in their eyes, but hers were cold, dead,' she said. The Left-wing MP who defended Jeremy Corbyn over the Palestinian terrorist wreath-laying row has been accused of touring Britain in a bid to sack up to 20 'saboteur' Labour MPs who have criticised the Party leader. Derby North MP Chris Williamson ignored eight attempts by BBC Newsnight's Evan Davis last week to say if Mr Corbyn laid a wreath at the graves of Black September terrorists linked to the 1972 Olympics massacre of Israeli athletes. Moderate Labour MPs have accused 'menacing' Mr Williamson of attempting a 'Stalinist-style purge' to pave the way for more hardline Left-wing MPs. Chris Williamson (left), a staunch Corbyn ally, has been accused of mounting a Stalin-style purge of politicians who have been critical of the Labour leader He is promoting his Corbynista 'mandatory reselection' tour with a video of him on a Harley-Davidson motorbike and the Hell's Angels rock anthem Born To Be Wild soundtrack. Among the 'targets' of Mr Williamson tour, which he described as a 'democracy roadshow,' are many anti-Corbyn MPs who have spoken out in the anti-Semitism row. They include Chuka Umunna, Luciana Berger, Ruth Smeeth, John Woodcock and Thangam Debbonaire. Mr Williamson visited Labour activists in Ilford, East London, last week an area represented by two Labour MPs, Wes Streeting and Mike Gapes, who have spoken out strongly against Mr Corbyn. He launched a blistering attack in Ilford on anti-Corbyn Labour MPs, accusing them of 'indulging in coups and smears'. He added: 'If it were not for the serial saboteurs we would have won the last Election.' Mr Williamson is on a 'democracy roadshow' around the UK where he aims to help unseat 20 MPs including Chuka Umunna and Luciana Berger Mr Williamson did little to counter claims by some MPs that he is also using the trip to promote his own bid to succeed Mr Corbyn. He told Ilford Labour activists: 'At some point, Jeremy will step down and we have to have a robust system in place to make sure members have the right to choose a socialist.' His tour started in July, with an early visit to Redcar, where local Labour MP Anna Turley is a known Corbyn critic. It ends in September, including a visit to Rotherham represented by Labour MP Sarah Champion, who was forced to quit the Shadow Cabinet after making controversial comments about Pakistani men and grooming. Mr Williamson has denied he is on a 'deselection tour' and said: 'If MPs are serious about representing our movement they obviously have nothing to worry about.' But he has also lashed out at 'Labour MPs who think it's their God-given right to rule'. After the Salisbury nerve agent attack in March, Mr Williamson branded Labour MPs who backed Theresa May's tough response to the Kremlin 'political enemies'. His tour is designed to lead up to next month's Labour conference where Mr Corbyn's allies hope to change Party rules to ensure the Party always has a Left-wing leader. Fans of Disney's Princess Tiana are in a frenzy after she appeared whitewashed in the second trailer for Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2. The Princess and the Frog heroine appeared in the trailer that was released last week, making a cameo with other notable princesses in sleepover scene. Tiana is Disney's first African American princess and in her own origin movies, favors actress Anika Noni Rose - who voices her in the films. Princess Tiana -Disney's first African American princess (second left) - makes a cameo appearance in Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2, along the other notable princesses In one June trailer for the Ralph second installment, Tiana stills favor the animated version with a rounder nose and her locks done up in a press-and-curl updo. She sported a similar look in her own movie In one June trailer for the Ralph second installment, Tiana stills favor the animated version with a rounder nose and her locks done up in a press-and-curl updo. But according to Tiana's fans and black animators on social media, the second trailer features a Tiana who looks vastly different than she initially did. Sleepover Tiana lighter skin, a narrower nose and her 'natural' hair doesn't resemble black natural hair or what a vast majority of black women do with their hair at bedtime. Having had her hair in a press-and-curl means that Tiana would actually have to apply moisture to her hair so that it could exist in a natural state. Otherwise, Tiana would have her hair wrapped in an effort to protect it - mostly with a bonnet or scarf. Sleepover Tiana (third right) - shown in last week's trailer - appears to don lighter skin, a narrower nose and her 'natural' hair doesn't resemble black natural hair or what a vast majority of black women do with their hair at bedtime Having had her hair in a press-and-curl means that Tiana would actually have to apply moisture to her hair so that it could exist in a natural state. Otherwise, Tiana would have her hair wrapped in an effort to protect it - mostly with a bonnet or scarf Bonnets, durags and hair caps/scarves are often worn at nighttime and offer protection against bedding, hair breakage, the loss of moisture, hair texture protection and hair 'setting' durability. The noticeable changes drew fury on social media, with one user who stated: 'How did Tiana go from looking like a teen Anika Noni Rose to Zendaya?' Another added: 'In today's edition of 'you tried it,' Disney decided to reinforce colorism by lightening Princess Tiana's skin in #RalphBreaksTheInternet. Tiana was a dark skin Black woman in Princess and the Frog, now she has light skin and Eurocentric features. What happened to her wide nose? The noticeable changes drew fury on social media That same user highlighter the change in the character's skin color for their next post. 'What makes this all the more infuriating is the fact that previous images from #RalphBreaksTheInternet featured the original dark skinned Tiana. That means that someone at Disney went well out of their way AFTERWARD to redesign Tiana with lighter skin and Eurocentric features.' The sentiment was shared by others who posted the photos, with one user who said: 'why does princess tiana look so different from the wreck it ralph trailer we got 2 months ago to todays new still..........let me know.' Animator Taylor Goeth shared an illustration of what Tiana would potentially looked like if she were to wear a bonnet while getting ready for sleep. Goeth explained: 'All in all this is what I feel a more culturally accurate Tiana should look like in the photo.' Cartoonist Spike Trotman shared similar grievances and posted a photo of Tiana from the movie and a satin scarf. The bestselling author stated: 'For the benefit of folks who might wanna do better: if Image One is a kinky-haired black girl's formal look? Image Two, or something like it, has a a 99.9% chance of being her "lounge look."' Perhaps the biggest indicator as to why the movie has dropped the ball for various Twitter users, comes in the form of a gif that was posted showing disney animators as they celebrated finishing the movie. The quick gif pans across the room to shows mostly white men with a few people of color sprinkled in the mix. There appears to be no women in the room. Disney has yet to comment on the perceived changes and issues with the hair. Ralph Breaks the Internet: Wreck-It Ralph 2 hits theaters on November 21. Coles has blamed the closure of stores across the country for three hours on Sunday morning on 'minor IT problems'. The supermarket chain was left in the dark and forced to shut stores as it battled to amend the error, which occurred just before the weekend morning rush. Coles said in a statement all its supermarkets were open and trading again at 10am, citing technical issues out of team members' control. Chaos erupted in the nation's supermarkets as a computer glitch forced the closure of countless stores After three hours of frustration for customers, Coles announced all of its stores had reopened as of 10am On social media, disgruntled customers expressed their frustration at the company's technical failure, with one warning others they 'shouldn't bother going to Coles' A spokeswoman for the supermarket said, according to ABC News: 'We apologise for any inconvenience our customers experienced earlier this morning' 'We had some minor IT problems in some of our supermarkets which were out of our team members' control.' On social media, disgruntled customers expressed their frustration at the company's temporary technical failure, with one warning others they 'shouldn't bother going to Coles'. One social media user wasn't impressed by a shopper's reaction to the store closures - accusing him of having 'a huge tanty' One notice left on a Sydney branch of Coles advised customers that the 'store will open untill (sic) issue is fixed' One user posted a picture of a notice containing spelling and grammatical errors - put up on the entrance of a Coles store in Sydney. It said: 'Attention customers - due to IT issue store will open untill (sic) issue is fixed. Sorry for any inconvenience.' Another expressed outrage at the lack of communication from the supermarket giant who only hinted at the extent of the chaos through vague signage. 'Would be good if you could post something explaining what's going on with your stores being closed this morning! No explanation on the door besides 'unforeseen circumstances,' she wrote. At one Sydney store, which would typically be buzzing with Sunday morning shoppers, the roller door remained locked down, with only a paper sign as explanation. 'Coles is currently experiencing a state-wide IT system issue and cannot process any transactions,' it explained. 'We apologise for this inconvenience, however Coles will remain closed until the issue is fixed.' The supermarket chain is battling to amend the error, which is believed to have occurred just before the weekend morning rush At one Sydney store, which would typically be busy with Sunday morning shoppers, the roller door remained locked down, with only a paper sign as explanation In a statement, the company attempted to explain the glitch, which has stopped the processing of payments at registers In a statement during the closures, the company attempted to explain the glitch, which stopped the processing of payments at registers. 'Due to circumstances beyond the control of our team members, some of our stores around Australia are unable to open this morning until further notice due to an IT issue which is affecting some of our registers,' they said. 'We thank customers for their patience during this time and would like to assure them that we are working hard to ensure all of our stores are open again as soon as possible.' In April, Woolworths' stores were also hit by a similar glitch, and on July 8 another technical issue meant none of the supermarket's online were fulfilled. 'Some of our stores around Australia are unable to open this morning until further notice due to an IT issue which is affecting some of our registers,' Coles said, as hundreds of stores across the country temporarily shut on Sunday morning Prison inmates across the country are preparing to go on strike by refusing to eat or work, as a way to protest what they call 'prison slavery' and poor conditions. Though the extent of the planned strike is not known, prisoners in at least 17 states say they will be taking part in coordinated action, which will begin on Tuesday and last through September 9. Organizers say the strike is partly in response to the April riot in South Carolina's Lee Correctional Institution, where seven inmates were killed by other prisoners when gang tensions boiled over. The masterminds of the strike have issued a list of 10 'demands', including an improvement of prison conditions, an end to life imprisonment, and an end to low-paid jobs behind bars. Scroll down for video Organizers say the strike is partly in response to the April riot in South Carolina's Lee Correctional Institution (above), where seven inmates were killed by other prisoners 10 'demands' of prison strikers Immediate improvements to the conditions of prisons and prison policies that recognize the humanity of imprisoned men and women. An immediate end to prison slavery. All persons imprisoned in any place of detention under United States jurisdiction must be paid the prevailing wage in their state or territory for their labor. The Prison Litigation Reform Act must be rescinded, allowing imprisoned humans a proper channel to address grievances and violations of their rights. The Truth in Sentencing Act and the Sentencing Reform Act must be rescinded so that imprisoned humans have a possibility of rehabilitation and parole. No human shall be sentenced to Death by Incarceration or serve any sentence without the possibility of parole. An immediate end to the racial overcharging, over-sentencing, and parole denials of Black and brown humans. Black humans shall no longer be denied parole because the victim of the crime was white, which is a particular problem in southern states. An immediate end to racist gang enhancement laws targeting Black and brown humans. No imprisoned human shall be denied access to rehabilitation programs at their place of detention because of their label as a violent offender. State prisons must be funded specifically to offer more rehabilitation services. Pell grants must be reinstated in all US states and territories. The voting rights of all confined citizens serving prison sentences, pretrial detainees, and so-called ex-felons must be counted. Representation is demanded. All voices count. Advertisement Currently, hundreds of thousands of inmates work behind bars, in jobs ranging from GED tutors to custodial and other work that helps prisons run. The average pay runs about 20 cents an hour. In California, more than 1,000 minimum-security inmates have been deployed at trained firefighters to combat the wildfires blazing across the state. They are paid $2 a day plus $1 an hour. Now, prisoner advocates say that the low-paid work amounts to 'slavery' and demanding that taxpayers pay inmates higher wages for their work behind bars. 'Prisoners do like having the opportunity to earn, because they do have to support themselves financially in a lot of ways,' Amani Sawari, a spokesperson for the protests, told Vox. 'They have to buy food if they want to eat outside the three times a day most prisons serve.... Any little thing they need, they have to buy that. So they want to be able to.' An inmate fire crew is seen last month monitoring a wildfire in California. The prisoners on the fire crews are paid $2 a day plus $1 an hour Prison officials say that prison jobs provide inmates with valuable skills, and that there is no money to pay them higher wages, with incarceration already costing taxpayers tens of thousands of dollars a year per inmate to feed, clothe and house the prisoners. Although the 13th Amendment to the Constitution prohibited slavery, it added the caveat 'except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted'. Sawari said that the prisoners will protest by sitting the the common areas or their cells and refusing to go to the cafeteria or perform their work duties. The strike is being timed to coincide with 47th anniversary of the death of Black Guerrilla Family gang founder George Jackson on August 21, and the 47th anniversary of the Attica Prison riot on September 9. The family of a man with Down syndrome who died after a fight over Halloween candy have filed a lawsuit against the owner's of the home where he received the injuries which led to his death. Herbert 'Herbie' Rohloff, 53, who was born with Down syndrome, died last November after getting into a fight with another resident at a Chicago-based group care facility. His brother, Michael Rohloff, says the altercation broke out over Halloween candy, according to The Chicago Tribune. Herbie's family have said they do not believe the resident responsible for his injuries should be prosecuted but have now filed legal action against Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, the firm that run the home. Herbert 'Herbie' Rohloff, 53, died last October after getting into a fight with another resident at a Chicago-based group care facility. His brother, Michael Rohloff (pictured), says the altercation broke out over Halloween candy Investigators with the Chicago Police Department classified the incident as a 'homicide case by exception,' meaning the identity of the perpetrator was known yet law enforcement would not be pursuing charges. That's because the mental capacity of the person who committed the killing is severely diminished, department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi said. On November 1, 2017, Herbie was taken to the Presence St. Francis Hospital in Evanston with four broken ribs, a black eye, and multiple injuries to his head and spine. Investigators with the Chicago Police Department classified the incident as a 'homicide case by exception,' meaning the identity of the perpetrator was known yet law enforcement would not be pursuing charges, according to department spokesman Anthony Guglielmi (pictured) A fight had broken out over a candy bar in celebration of Halloween. 'He got punched in the face, he fell to the ground and was stomped repeatedly,' Rohloff told the Tribune. 'The doctors think he was stomped until the person got tired of stomping him.' According to Rohloff, it would be a full 24 hours before staff members decided to take Herbie to the hospital. The family is still grappling with the question of who should be held accountable for Herbie's death, taking into account the unique circumstances of the case. Earlier this month, Rohloff, along with his wife Maria Rohloff, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Lutheran Social Services of Illinois, the institution that runs the home where Herbie spent most of his life. 'You know, I don't think it serves a purpose for (the person of interest) to be put in jail because he will not understand,' Maria told the Tribune. 'But he needs to be put where he can't hurt anyone else.' The case illustrates a problem law enforcement encounters when dealing with a suspect with mental disabilities - namely, how to punish individuals who do not have the capacity to understand their actions or distinguish from right from wrong. 'Every criminal (offense), or virtually every criminal offense, required a mental state in order to prove the element,' said Hugh Mundy, an associate professor at the John Marshall Law School. 'It's not just the act itself.' The case illustrates a problem law enforcement encounters when dealing with a suspect with disabilities (Pictured: Herbert 'Herbie' Rohloff as a child) The legal community has struggled for decades on the question of how to mete out justice in such cases. There is precedent for prosecuting individuals with severe mental disabilities of serious crimes, especially involving violence. But lawmakers are now examining different options in how the judicial system treats people with mental disabilities in order to carve out a find a middle road that provides alternatives to traditional criminal punishment. Amy Newell, a top official at The Arc, an advocacy organization for people with disabilities, is calling for 'personal punishment plans' for individuals with limited mental capacity, asking judges specific diagnoses and recommendations into consideration when handing out sentences. 'It's not about pointing fingers, shaming people or any of that,' Newell said. 'It's about having an open conversation and really doing what's best and safest for everyone.' ALICE EVANS: Somebody sent me a photograph of my husband of 14 years, the actor Ioan Gruffudd this week. I didn't really look at it very closely at first - he was eating an ice cream on a bench in the South of France, where he's shooting at the moment. He looked happy. I felt glad he was happy, even though we haven't spoken to each other by phone or in person in almost 11 months. I was about to move on, but then I noticed the caption. It was from his own Instagram, which was odd because he hardly ever posts. And his comment was: 'Thank you for making me smile again.' Huh? My mind went blank for a second. Then I realised he was sitting next to a young girl I'd never seen before. She was tagged in the post @iambiancawallace. Then I got that feeling. The feeling nobody in a relationship - even one that's seen better days -wants to feel: My God. They are a couple. He has a girlfriend! But, he's my husband. Pictured: Alice today, left, and with her estranged husband Ioan, inset, on their wedding day. Top right: Ioan's new girlfriend Bianca Wallace and, bottom right, the new couple together. The mother of a woman jailed for murdering her elderly housemate has spoken out, saying she's glad her daughter is behind bars. Mary K Pershall made the extraordinary claims in a new piece which reveals how her daughter was denied government care before she was led to commit the crime. Last year Anna Horneshaw, 29, was found guilty of murdering her 67-year-old roommate Zvonimir Petrovski at their Melbourne unit and was sentenced to a maximum of 17 years jail. The mother of Anna Horneshaw (pictured), who was jailed for murdering her elderly housemate, has spoken out saying she's glad her daughter is behind bars Anna (pictured right, as a teenager with older sister Katie) was found guilty of murdering her 67-year-old housemate last year, after he refused to give her money for cigarettes It is believed the spat erupted after Mr Petrovski refused to give Anna, who was 20 weeks pregnant, the $70 she requested to buy cigarettes with. Now three years since the brutal stabbing, Ms Pershall has opened up about her family's continuous battle to obtain mental health care for their daughter. In a moving first-person piece for news.com.au to promote her new book Gorgeous Girl, Ms Pershall also revealed how they had 'watched with amazement' at Anna's positive progress in prison. 'My daughter Anna is in jail. She belongs there,' she wrote. 'In jail she is finally getting the help we've begged for, for so many years. It's just a tragedy it took a man's death to get her that help. 'She should have been helped many, many years before it got to this point.' Ms Pershall went on to explain how her daughter had suffered from mental health issues since childhood, which later transpired into substance abuse. Katie Horneshaw (right, with Anna) has previously told Daily Mail Australia how the family had long advocated for Anna's mental health care before she committed murder In the new piece, Anna's mother, Mary K Pershall revealed her daughter (pictured as a child) had suffered from severe mental health issues since childhood This behaviour included a suicide attempt, alcoholism and the abuse of her prescribed antipsychotic. Last year Anna's sister, Katie Horneshaw told Daily Mail Australia how the family had long advocated for her care before she committed murder. 'Anna was living in chaos; her mental illness had robbed her of the ability to do the simplest of things, like shopping for food or filling a prescription,' she said. 'She should have been in care, and my family had been trying everything to achieve this. 'Zvonimir Petrovski, the elderly custodian of the messy house where Anna had been staying, had done nothing to provoke his fate. 'Instead, his protectiveness toward my sister had provided my family with a glimmer of relief at a time when her life was falling apart. 'And so, as the shock began to subside and the horror of what had happened took root inside my mind, I kept coming back to the same thoughts. 'He didn't deserve this. And it could have been prevented.' In 2017, Anna was found guilty of murdering her housemate 67-year-old Zvonimir Petrovski (pictured) and remains in jail Ivana Trump hit the streets of Saint Tropez on Saturday wearing the exact same dress she'd worn the night before while out for a stroll with a mystery man. The 69-year-old was photographed walking her small dog through the coastal town where she's spent most of her summer and has been visiting for decades. She once again paired the eye-catching purple wrap dress with a pink and orange palm tree design with red pointed-toe flats, but toned the look down by ditching Friday night's chunky red necklace and full face of makeup. Her blonde locks were still tucked up in her signature beehive 'do as if untouched from the night before. Ivana Trump was seen in last night's outfit while walking her dog in Saint Tropez on Saturday The 69-year-old had worn the same purple wrap dress with pink and orange palm trees to dinner with a mystery man on Friday night. She also paired the dress with the same orange clutch and red pointed-toe flats Ivana was seen carrying a white plastic shopping bag along with last night's orange zipper clutch while out on Saturday morning. The Czech businesswoman's tiny Yorkshire Terrier trailed behind her on the sidewalk. A summer spent under the French Riviera sun appears to have kept her in good spirits, with Ivana flashing a smile at the photographer as she passed. Ivana's face was wiped clean of makeup, but her blonde locks were perfectly tucked up in her famous beehive 'do just as they had been the night before The Czech businesswoman held a plastic shopping bag in one hand and her clutch and Yorkshire Terrier's leash in the other as she made her way down the Saint Tropez sidewalk On Friday night Ivana was seen walking arm-in-arm with the unnamed man after enjoying dinner at Le BanH-Hoi, a little Vietnamese restaurant located in the heart of Saint Tropez's Old Town. Ivana's dinner companion carried a white shopping bag featuring the restaurant's logo in one hand and her dog's leash in the other. For her night out on the town, Ivana layered black liner on her top and bottom eyelids and sported rose lip liner and lipstick. She paired her colorful wrap dress with red suede flats and carried an orange zipper clutch in her free hand. It's unclear if the dark-haired gentleman is a love interest or just a dear friend, but he didn't seem pleased to be having his photo taken by the paparazzi. At one point, he was seen raising his hand in front of him while Ivana smiled for the cameras. Out and about: Ivana Trump, 69, was spotted walking arm-in-arm with an unidentified man in Saint Tropez, France, on Friday evening Summer outfit: Ivana wore a purple wrap dress featuring a pink and orange palm tree design Fun times: The two appeared to be returning from dinner at Le BanH-Hoi, a little Vietnamese restaurant located in the heart of the Old Town of Saint Tropez It's unclear if the dark-haired gentleman on Ivana's arm is a love interest or just a friend Their evening stroll comes less than a month after she was spotted walking through Saint Tropez with her ex-husband Rossano Rubicondi, whom she often vacations with. Legal documents obtained by DailyMail.com revealed Rossano had failed to meet conditions which include paying $543.50 in fines, 50 hours of community service, treatment recommended by DUI school, vehicle immobilization for 10 days, and three months of Ignition Interlock in his car. He also failed to complete a Victim Impact Panel and pay a $100 donation to the Palm Beach Victim Services. The former model was placed on probation last July after he was arrested for drunk driving in Loxahatchee, Florida on December 8, 2016. Last year, the DUI charge was dropped and Rossano pleaded guilty to reckless driving. He was sentenced to 12 months' probation, $500+ in fines, ordered to complete DUI school, complete 50 hours of community service and have an interlock alcohol monitoring device put in his car, but he failed to fulfill any of those requirements. Rossano was ordered to attend a hearing for violation of his probation earlier this month but did not show. It was rescheduled for August 13. The Italian native is at risk of having his license suspended if he does not comply with the conditions. Companion: Ivana was spotted walking through Saint Tropez with her ex-husband Rossano Rubicondi last month. They traveled to France after visiting Capri in May (pictured) A woman who fought off a gang to protect a bag containing $75,000 was run over by robbers as they fled the scene. Police said the woman, who has not been identified, was followed by the group while leaving a nearby bank in Houston, Texas, on Friday. Video released from the Harris County Precinct Constable's office shows the altercation unfold as the woman makes her way to a Valero gas station that she co-owns. The woman was followed by the group while leaving a nearby Houston, Texas, bank on Friday Video released from the Harris County Precinct Constable's office shows the altercation unfold as the woman makes her way to a Valero gas station The woman, who is now in a critical condition in hospital, was rushed as a man emerged from an SUV. 'These criminals out there, they are watching and they are looking for easy targets,' Harris County Precinct 4 Constable Mark Herman explained to KPRC-TV. The woman's husband can be seen rushing out of the store as she continues tussling with the suspect and soon all three are stuck in a battle over the purse. The woman's husband rushes out of the store as she continues tussling with the suspect and soon all three are stuck in a battle over the purse A deputy constable saw the scene and rushed to help, apprehending 31-year-old David Mitchell. And while that happened, another suspect jumped back into the black Chrysler 300 and backed over the woman A deputy constable saw the scene unfold and attempted to make his way to the couple while they fought the suspect. As the struggle continued one suspect backed a car over the woman - leaving her with serious injuries. 'They've done this before. They're brutal. Folks like this all they understand is brute force against brute force,' Herman explained. Mitchell was charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Officials have identified the second suspect as Travonn Johnson, 27, and add that they are looking for additional suspects The deputy constable apprehended one of the suspects, 31-year-old David Mitchell. The man was charged with aggravated robbery with a deadly weapon. Officials have identified the second suspect as Travonn Johnson, 27, and add that they are looking for additional suspects. The woman was taken to a local hospital where she has been listed as being in critical condition. Her husband was said to have suffered bumps and bruises from the fight. Mandy Horvath, 25, was arrested on Tuesday in Colorado Springs on suspicion of DUI A double amputee who made headlines by climbing Pikes Peak has been arrested for allegedly driving drunk and assaulting a paramedic. Mandy Horvath, 25, was arrested at around 2.30am on Tuesday on her way home from the Good Company Bar in Colorado Springs, according to an arrest warrant affidavit reported by the Gazette. A friend had followed her home from the bar to make sure she arrived safely, and then flagged down a passing patrol car after she drove into a curb, police said. The officer noted that Horvath was slurring her words, couldn't complete sentences, and smelled of alcohol. When a medic arrived to treat Horvath for scrapes suffered in the crash, she slapped him in the face, according to police. It is Horvath's third arrest on suspicion of DUI so far this year. She is seen above in mugshots Horvath gained fame earlier this year when she became the first female double amputee to climb the more than 2,700 steps of the Manitou Incline hiking trail (above) Horvath was freed on a $10,000 bail and is due in court on August 27. Records show it is her third arrest on suspicion of DUI so far this year. She was a college student in Kansas when in 2014 she blacked out outside a bar and was struck by a coal train, losing both of her legs above the knees. 'My last memory is smoking a cigarette outside and then it all goes hazy - the next thing I know, I'm in an ambulance with no legs,' she recalled in an interview last year. 'After being told by the paramedic that my legs were gone, I started to panic and tried to kick them in the air, it was only after I saw my blood everywhere that I knew it was true.' Horvath is seen on a hiking trip in June. She also climbed the 14,000-foot Pikes Peak Horvath (above) lost her legs when a train struck her as she was blacked out near a bar in 2014 Horvath said she had just two beers and two shots that night, and claimed that someone had spiked her drink with a date-rape drug, leading to the train accident. However no tests were taken at the time that could prove the drugging claim. Since losing her legs, Horvath has served as an inspiration to many by summiting the 14,000-foot Pikes Peak in June. She also became the first female double amputee to climb the more than 2,700 steps of the Manitou Incline hiking trail. 'One person's struggle is their struggle, but at the same time, we all have them,' Horvath told KRDO at the time. 'Nothing is impossible, and there's always hope.' A young single mother-of-two is desperate for Australian citizenship after the deaths of her ISIS terrorist husbands in Syria. Islam Mitat met her first husband Ahmed, a British national, online and followed him to Turkey in 2014 believing the pair would live there before moving to England. But it was there that she realised he was a radicalised Muslim who had used the trip as an excuse to get her across the border to Syria's ISIS stronghold Raqqa. Scroll down for video. The mother-of-two escaped Syria by risking her life and making a dangerous escape through Raqqa Islam had no idea of her new husband's plans, and soon after they made the move, she discovered she was pregnant with her first child, 9 News reported. Just days after she discovered she was pregnant, Islam's husband was brutally killed at war. Women living under ISIS rule are forced to have the moral protection of a husband, so in order to protect herself, Islam married again. She married Faisal Sahib, an unknown Australian jihadi who slipped under the authorities' radar. The couple also had a child together before Faisal was killed in a coalition airstrike. Islam was left alone, exposed to a world of violence and brutality. 'I wasn't scared of the bombs. I wasn't scared of the planes. I was scared of the people around me,' Islam told 60 Minutes. In 2014, Islam Mitat (pictured) was tricked into going to Turkey with her new husband, Ahmed, who she met online 'I don't want my kids to grow in this because they teach them how to kill.' The mother-of-two escaped Syria by risking her life and making a dangerous escape through Raqqa. Both Islam and her children made it to safety, but she is now begging for an Australian citizenship. Dozens of homes are under threat in the Hunter region of New South Wales from an out-of-control bush fire as up to 150 different blazes lash Australia's east coast. The New South Wales Rural Fire Service announced on Sunday morning there were 82 fires burning across the state - with a further 50 raging in Queensland. The fire in the Salt Ash area north of Newcastle has intensified on Sunday due to strong winds - and residents have been told it is too late to leave. Strong winds fanning the flames of the Salt Ash bush fire in New South Wales' Hunter region on Sunday have forced the NSW RFS to issue an emergency warning to residents - telling them it was too late to leave and to take shelter Firefighters are working to stem the movement of the Salt Ash fire, which had burned through over 1700 hectares of land as of midday on Sunday As of midday on Sunday, an emergency warning had been sent to residents in Salt Ash and the fire had burned through 1704 hectares of land. They are being urged to take shelter and follow the bush fire survival plan, which includes keeping grass low and having a cleared area around the home. In Tabulam in northern New South Wales on Saturday, meanwhile, three rural volunteers narrowly survived being caught in an escalating grass fire which lashed against their truck. Residents of Salt Ash have been advised to follow a bush fire survival plan before taking shelter in their homes - which includes making sure the grass around their houses is cut low Volunteer firefighters battling a fire in Tabulam in northern NSW near the Clarence River (pictured) were forced to run for their lives after an escalating fire surrounded their truck on Saturday The fire in Salt Ash (pictured) is one of around 150 fires currently being tackled by firefighters across the Australian east coast Two of the volunteers had to run to a nearby shed as the fire flared around their truck, while the other sheltered within their truck until the blaze passed. A fire at Woodstock near Ulladulla on the NSW south coast also burned out of control on Saturday - tearing through more than 4000 hectares of land. On Friday, a helicopter pilot fighting the bush fires in NSW's south died when his red water-bombing bucket became snagged in the branches of a tree in Woodstock. The pilot, Allan Tull, had around 8,000 hours of total flying time and 3,000 hours of firefighting experience from the sky. The RFS warned the windy conditions exacerbating the fires would not ease until Wednesday - meaning some areas would remain on a 'Very High' fire danger. The regions designated as 'Very' High risk for Sunday were Greater Sydney, North Coast, Northern Slopes, New England and the Far North Coast. The bomb that was used by the Saudi-led coalition that killed more than 40 children in Yemen earlier this month was sold in an arms deal that was sanctioned by the US State Department. Munition experts were able to determine that the weapon used to kill dozens on August 9 was a 500lb laser-guided MK 82 bomb made by Lockheed Martin, CNN reports. Lockheed Martin is one of the US top defense contractors. Munition experts used a number found on a piece of shrapnel to determine the bomb's origins. The bomb used was very similar to the one used to bomb a funeral hall in Yemen in October 2016. Scroll down for videos Munition experts were able to determine that the weapon used to kill dozens on August 9 was a 500lb laser-guided MK 82 bomb made by Lockheed Martin They used a number found on a piece of shrapnel to determine that the bomb's origins came from the military contractor The Saudi coalition claimed that 'incorrect information' led to the strike that killed 155 while wounding hundreds more. Just earlier that year, in March, a US-supplied precision-guided MK bomb struck a Ymeni market and killed 97 people. Following the attack at the funeral, President Obama banned the sale of precision-guided military technology to Saudi Arabia, citing 'human rights concerns.' In March 2017. President Trump's then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson overturned the ban. 'I saw the bomb hit the bus,' one witness claimed. 'It blew it into those shops and threw the bodies clear to the other side of those buildings. We found bodies scattered everywhere, there was a severed head inside the bomb crater. When we found that, that was when I started running. I was so afraid' The US was quick to assert that it did not make targeting decisions for the Saudi Coalition that is fighting a rebel insurgency in Yemen. However, the US does conduct billions in arms deal with the coalition and aids in the refueling of Saudi combat crafts. The two groups also share intelligence. 'I will tell you that we do help them plan what we call, kind of targeting,' claimed US Secretary of Defense James Mattis. 'We do not do dynamic targeting for them.' The students involved in the latest strike had been out enjoying a day trip when catastrophe hit. Children hold up the shrapnel piece that was found and used to pinpoint its origins Several single shoes are missing their pair in the rubble left over from the blast In total, 51 people died in the airstrike while another 79 were wounded. Of the number of those killed, 40 were children, Houthi Health Minister Taha al-Mutawakil said last week. He stated that 56 children were injured. And according to witnesses near the scene, the bomb made a direct hit for the bus. 'I saw the bomb hit the bus,' one witness claimed. 'It blew it into those shops and threw the bodies clear to the other side of those buildings. We found bodies scattered everywhere, there was a severed head inside the bomb crater. When we found that, that was when I started running. I was so afraid.' More than 51 people were killed in the blast, with 40 of them children Of the 79 people who were injured, 56 were children So many of the bodies were so badly mutilated that identification for them proved to be impossible. A single backpack, schoolbooks, shoes and warped metal were all that was left in the destruction. When asked about the bomb's and their origins, coalition spokesman Colonel Turki al-Maliki said: 'The democratically elected government of Yemen has been displaced by an Iranian-backed insurgency by minority Houthi militias.' 'The coalition is in Yemen with the support of the UN Security Council to restore the legitimate government. The coalition is operating in accordance with international humanitarian law, taking all practical measures to minimize civilian casualties. Every civilian casualty is a tragedy.' The Saudi coalition does deny targeting civilians and claim that the August 9 bombing was a 'legitimate military operations' Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi ambassador to the UN, claimed that 'the targeted Houthi leaders were responsible for recruiting and training young children and sending them to battlefields' The official added that it would not 'be appropriate for the coalition to comment further while the investigation is underway.' The Saudi coalition does deny targeting civilians and claim that the August 9 bombing was a 'legitimate military operations.' 'The US has worked with the Saudi-led coalition to help them improve procedures and oversight mechanisms to reduce civilian casualties,' said Pentagon spokeswoman, Lt. Cmdr. Rebecca Rebarich. 'While we do not independently verify claims of civilian casualties in which we are not directly involved, we call on all sides to reduce such casualties, including those caused via ballistic missile attacks on civilian population centers in Saudi Arabia.' A single backpack, schoolbooks, shoes and warped metal were all that was left in the destruction The UN plans to conduct a separate investigation for the strike. When prompted, al-Maliki claimed that the bus strike was a 'legitimate target'. 'No, this is not children in the bus,' he said. 'We do have high standard measures for targeting.' Abdullah Al-Mouallimi, Saudi ambassador to the UN, claimed that 'the targeted Houthi leaders were responsible for recruiting and training young children and sending them to battlefields.' In response to the bombing, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo spoke with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Monday. The US is working to place distance between it and civilian bombings by placing pressure on the coalition. 'We are not engaged in the civil war. We will help to prevent, you know, the killing of innocent people. I'm very concerned about the humanitarian situation,' US Defense Secretary James Mattis. 'Wars are always tragic, but we've got to find a way to protect the innocent in the midst of this one.' US and Mexican authorities have singled out a former cop turned hired killer as North America's most wanted cartel boss. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes known as 'El Mencho' on the streets has been identified as the most powerful crime figure living today since Joaquin Guzman 'El Chapo' Loera's arrest in 2016. Paul Craine, who headed the federal Drug Enforcement Administration in Mexico squad responsible for El Chapo's capture, has called Cervantes 'public enemy number one.' Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes (L) known as 'El Mencho' on the streets has been identified as the most powerful crime figure living today since Joaquin Guzman 'El Chapo' Loera's (R) arrest in 2016 'And he's got an army of thousands of bad guys,' he told The New York Post in a recent interview. Earlier this month, DEA and Mexican law enforcement officials met in Chicago to identify Cervantes, 52, as perhaps the most dangerous drug lord on the planet after taking over the Cartel Jalisco Nueva Generacion, or Jalisco New Generation cartel. The Chicago meeting also led to the announcement that US and Mexican security forces will undertake a series of joint initiatives against El Mencho and his criminal enterprise. The Jalisco New Generation cartel has overtaken El Chapo's Sinaloa cartel as the dominant underworld force in Mexico, the DEA claimed during the meeting, establishing dozens of drug routes across the US, Europe, and Asia. Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia (pictured) was arrested last May after Mexican authorities accused her of acting as the Jalisco New Generation cartel's chief accountant El Chapo's arrest two years ago created a power vacuum where rival drug figures battled it out to claim the incarcerated gangster's cocaine kingdom. El Chapo was extradited late last year to the US where his federal trial on murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking is expected to begin in November. Although the Sinaloa cartel is still functioning, under the leadership of El Chapo's former partner Ismael 'El Mayo' Zambada, a 70-year-old diabetic recluse whose grip on power may be slipping, the organization is a shell of its former self. 'If you look at El Mayo, most of his family is in jail in the US.' said Craine. 'He is increasingly isolated.' To make matters worse, deadly infighting has thrown the cartel into chaos, leaving El Mencho's organization to take advantage and surpass the Sinaloa cartel in profits, according to The Post. And while the Sinaloa cartel struggles to regain its footing in the drug game, El Mencho has been able to produce 'multi-hundred kilogram quantities of methamphetamine and heroin, and traffics in multi-ton quantities of cocaine.' El Mencho also has thousands of loyal foot soldiers, described as well-trained hitmen armed to the teeth with assault rifles. El Mencho also has thousands of loyal foot soldiers (pictured), described as well-trained hitmen armed to the teeth with assault rifles El Chapo was extradited late last year to the US where his federal trial on murder, money laundering, and drug trafficking is expected to begin in November 'Unlike the other cartels, they function like a paramilitary organization,' Craine told The Post. 'They are like an iron hand taking control of Jalisco, and have set up carjackings and roadblocks to show their power.' Cervantes has had a long and notorious criminal career. In 2015, he allegedly ordered a large paramilitary attack against Mexican security forces in the state of Jalisco. The operation led to the firebombing of gas stations and banks. Cartel members also successfully shot down a military helicopter with a rocket-propelled grenade, killing nine soldiers. Before taking over the organization, Cervantes was a small-time drug dealer who got a job with the Jalisco state police force in the early 1990s. He later joined the Milenio Cartel and married Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, the sister of a leader inside the group. Valencia was arrested last May after Mexican authorities accused her of acting as the Jalisco New Generation cartel's chief accountant. Mexico's crackdown on drug cartels, launched 12 years ago, has already led to the deaths of more than 200,000 people with another 30,000 going missing during that time. 'I have no doubt that El Mencho will be caught, but the violence won't end until the Mexican government gets serious about strengthening the rule of law and ending corruption,' Craine said. A combined $6.5 million bounty has been placed on Cervantes's head by the US and Mexico. A 10-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being struck by a van while trying to cross the road with his six-year-old sister and her friend. The young boy was crossing Springfield Road in Melbourne's eastern suburbs when he was struck by a white Toyota van shortly before 6.30pm on Saturday. The other children were not injured in the incident but the boy was transported to the Royal Children's Hospital in a critical condition. A 10-year-old boy is fighting for his life after being struck by a van while trying to cross the road with his six-year-old sister His family are holding an around the clock vigil at the boy's hospital bedside. Major Collision Detective Sergeant Darren Williams told the Herald Sun that the children were on a pedestrian crossing at the time. 'All indications are at this early point that the kids were doing everything right,' he said. 'The girls, we understand, were in front of him and something attracted their attention, be it the sound of the car approaching or what we don't quite know.' 'They were able to sort of scamper out the way but the young fellow couldn't unfortunately.' Sergeant Williams said by all indications the 45-year-old male driver attempted to brake but was unable to stop in time and struck the young boy with great force. The 10-year-old boy was crossing Springfield Road at a crossing along with his sister and a friend when he was hit by the white Toyota HiAce van (pictured) However the driver did stop and was able to render first aid to the critically injured boy. He is currently in custody, assisting police with their enquiries. Major Collision Investigation Unit detectives are investigating and urge any witnesses or anyone with dash cam footage to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Kate Grant, 19, from Northern Ireland, is the first model with Down's Syndrome to win an international beauty pageant A teenager has defied doctors who 'painted a bleak future' and said she would never learn to read or speak, by becoming the first model with Down's Syndrome to win an international beauty pageant. Kate Grant, 19, took the top prize in the Teen Ultimate Beauty Of The World competition, held in Portadown, Northern Ireland, which celebrates diversity. The event has three categories for children, teenagers and over-20s and is open to anyone regardless of weight, height or marital status. It also supports the Make-A-Wish Foundation, a charity that helps fulfill wishes to children with life-threatening conditions. Forty candidates from around the world took part in the pageant, with Kate representing her native northern Ireland. After an interview with a panel of judges, Kate took to the catwalk in a number of themed-outfits, including jeans and white T-shirt for the casual look, a black and white cocktail dress for the formal round and a sparkling, turquoise sequinned dress for the Time to Shine category. Kate has wanted to be a model since she was 13 and enjoys dabbling with make-up, clothes and fashion. She has previously modelled at Belfast Fashion Week and for boutiques in her home town, in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, but despite mum Deirdre emailing her photographs to agencies, she struggled to get any work - something she believes was due to having Down's Syndrome. Kate with Taylor-Rae Hamilton, pageant director of Teen Ultimate Beauty Of The World The teenager was stunned to discover she had beaten off 40 others to win the pageant crown Top model: The newly-crowned Kate beams with delight next to pageant director Taylor-Rae Taking to social media, Deirdre posted a picture of Kate looking stunning in her prom dress and asked if it was unrealistic for her daughter to aspire to be a model. She was stunned when the post was shared 26,000 times and seen by pageant director Taylor-Rae Hamilton, who then invited Kate to take part in the Teen Ultimate Beauty of the World. Her achievement is a far cry from the bleak outlook one doctor described for parents Deirdre and John, just hours after Kate was born and confirmed as having Down's Syndrome. Ambitions: Kate has wanted to be a model since she was 13, but struggled to find agency work At that time, they were told their daughter would never learn to read and have limited speech. Speaking to Kim Willis for Sunday People, Kate's proud mum said: 'I thought of him [the doctor] as she made her acceptance speech up on the stage at the pageant, describing her hopes for an inclusive society, one where people like her are treated as equals.' Kate will spend the next year attending photoshoots and helping with a hospital toy drive Having been crowned the winner, Kate will be involved in photoshoots throughout the year and participate as a judge and mentor at next year's final. She will also be involved in a toy drive for poorly children at the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast. Kate added: 'I want the next generation who have any special needs to know the true meaning of beauty is who you are, not what you look like. 'Kindness, compassion and inner sparkle, that's the ultimate beauty. If the judges saw that in me, then I'm happy.' Boris Johnson started a row after writing a controversial article in the Telegraph Boris Johnson's official Facebook page has been flooded by hundreds of racist comments after he compared women who wear burkas to 'letterboxes'. Vile Islamaphobic messages were left underneath several of the former foreign secretary's posts calling Muslims 'invaders', 'devil worshippers', and 'lepers' - according to a Sunday Times investigation. One post calls for 'no Muslims in government, police or army', while another says: 'Come on Boris, you had the bottle to start getting rid of these bloody Muslims, just like Enoch [Powell] wanted to rid us of all yer bloody c**ns!' A source close to Mr Johnson said: 'Mr Johnson totally condemns the hateful views posted by a small minority on these Facebook pages, brought to light by The Sunday Times. 'However it is ridiculous to attack Mr Johnson for comments made by individuals on social media when even the official website and Facebook page of the Times and Sunday Times host racist and Islamophobic messages from page visitors.' Protesters in his constituency called for him to be investigated, prompting the Tory party to open an internal review of his behaviour Allies of the former foreign secretary indicated that, to date, his team had not 'censored' comments on his Facebook page - including those attacking him - as he believed in free speech and that people should be able to contact their elected representatives easily. They pointed out that Facebook was responsible for moderating Facebook pages, with a staff of 15,000 to investigate and remove offensive postings. Johnson is currently the subject of an internal Conservative Party investigation after he penned a controversial article in the Telegraph describing women who wear burkas as resembling 'letterboxes' and 'bank robbers'. Prime Minister Theresa May called on Johnson to apologise over the article saying his comments 'obviously have offended'. However, several of his supporters appealed to the former foreign secretary not to apologise and called the criticism of him a 'show trial' to stop him challenging Mrs May for the Tory leadership. Mr Johnson has yet to comment publicly on the furore over his Telegraph article. A luxury resort in the Maldives is now hiring for the world's best job - running a pop-up shop on a desert island frequented by a host of A-list celebrities and the super rich. Philip Blackwell from Ultimate Library, who ran the British bookshop chain Blackwells that his family owned until 2006, is hiring someone to run a bookshop based in the luxury resort Soneva Fushi. Applicants must write a 'lively blog' about their experiences as a desert island bookseller, and entertain kids with storytelling. The successful applicant will have to run the pop-up bookshop for at least three months and host creative writing courses. Philip Blackwell, who ran the British bookshop chain Blackwells that his family owned until 2006, is hiring someone to run a bookshop in a luxury Maldives resort (pictured) The successful applicant will live near the luxury resort of Soneva Fushi (pictured) and sell books to a host of A-list celebrities Prices at the resort range between $2,000 and nearly $26,000 a night. The resort even boasts a resident astronomer to help guests explore the sky at night Mr Blackwell told the Guardian: 'The pay is derisory but the fringe benefits unparalleled. 'The role will evolve and it is in part up to you to make the most of this unique opportunity. It's a dream job for many people. If I was 25 again I would do it.' Mr Blackwell runs more than 250 pop-up bookshops as part of his Ultimate Library business which supplies library collections for resort hotels, cruise ships and game reserves across the world. Ultimate Library also donate a library to institutions in the area so local people can benefit from his bookshop business. He came up with the idea while on a 'gap-year' after Blackwells was sold, when he found it difficult to find a good book to read while on holiday. Mr Blackwell came up with the idea while on a 'gap-year' after Blackwells was sold, when he found it difficult to find a good book to read while on holiday Mr Blackwell added: 'We want someone on the ground who is creative and inspiring and can maybe get more people to share the pleasure of reading, which is what people enjoy doing on holiday.' The store will sell books on topics relevant to the island as well as books wealthy, highly-educated tourists will enjoy. The bookseller will live on the island near the resort where prices range between $1,945 (1,520) a night for a one-bed property and $25,928 (20,330) for their luxury nine-bedroom Private Reserve. Neill Denny, joint editor of BookBrunch, a daily news magazine, told the Guardian: 'Its very much a niche in a niche, selling quality books to the super-rich, but they are starting to appreciate the discreet charm of a good book. 'And of course they have the money to pursue it, building entire libraries from scratch.' Two police officers were injured and there is a hunt for two female suspects after a stolen car collided with a police vehicle. The incident in Deception Bay, 32km north of Brisbane, was caught on body cam. Officers from Queensland Police Service were seen trying to chase a stolen white Subaru wagon in the footage. The vehicle drove back and forth several times before it reversed into a police car that was blocking its path. The Subaru reversed so far that the police car's bonnet was completely covered by it and officers were heard yelling to each other to move out of the way. The officers were then seen throwing a tyre deflation device which the car reversed over. Then a loud popping sound can be heard. The car then reversed around the police vehicle and sped off. Police are left to assess the damage of the car, asking if anyone got a registration on the stolen vehicle. The bonnet of the car is completely pushed up. The incident in Deception Bay, 32km north of Brisbane, was caught on body cam. Officers from Queensland Police Service are seen trying to chase a stolen white Subaru wagon One officer said he was rammed 'four times' in the incident that happened at 7.15pm on Friday. In a statement police said: 'When officers parked behind the vehicle, the Subaru reversed at speed into the police car. The vehicle drove back and forth several times before it reversed into a police car that was blocking it's path. The Subaru reversed so far that the police car's bonnet is completely covered by it The stolen vehicle was left at the intersection of Cork Street and Flinders Parade. The two women inside have not been found 'Officers were forced to take evasive action as the Subaru continued to reverse into the police car three more times causing extensive damage.' The stolen vehicle was left at the intersection of Cork Street and Flinders Parade. The two women inside have not been found. Two officers received minor injuries and anyone with any information is asked to come forward. A severely crippled Sydney nurse who devoted her short life to helping the poor and needy is one step closer to becoming Australia's second Catholic saint. The campaign to make Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor co-founder Eileen O'Connor a Saint has received a major boost after she was officially awarded the title of 'Servant of God' by the Vatican, the first major step towards sainthood. There are three more steps towards sainthood, where the Pope will get the final say. If approved, the Good Samaritan will become Australia's second saint after Mary MacKillop became the nation's first saint in 2010. Eileen O'Connor (pictured) could become Australia's second Catholic saint after she was declared a 'Servant of God' by the Vatican 'Eileen's was a life of immense suffering and judged by today's standards many would have viewed it as lacking in dignity, value or hope,' Sydney Archbishop Anthony Fisher said in a statement. 'That she is on her way to possibly being our next saint shows even a short life, marked by incredible suffering, can be an inspiration to all and reminds us of the dignity of every human life.' The latest development means presenting Eileen as an outstanding Australian example of holiness and charity can now formally begin. Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor co-founder Eileen O'Connor (pictured) was just 28 when she died in 1921 'With every passing year since her death a century ago, Eileen O'Connor has grown in the love and devotion of the people of Sydney and of all Australia,' Rome-based priest Father Anthony Robbie said. 'May she inspire many others to devote themselves to the needs of the outcast and forgotten as her own life becomes better known.' Former congregational leader and Eileen O'Connor Project Leader, Sr Margaret Mary Birgan described the news as 'simply wonderful' for a 'very human, beautiful soul'. 'Eileen is a story waiting to be told and now we have the opportunity to tell, ' she said. 'Eileen has always belonged to the people of God, not us, and we pray that she becomes a ray of sunshine to the faithful today as she was in her short life.' The case to present Eileen O'Connor (pictured) as an outstanding Australian example of holiness and charity can now formally begin Eileen lived a life largely confined to bed after she fell from her pram and severely damaged her spine when she was three. Born in Melbourne in 1892, Eileen moved to Coogee, Sydney, at the age of 10, when she claimed to have a visit from Virgin Mary. After the visit, Eileen founded Our Lady's Nurses for the Poor, a community of nuns and nurses who visited the sick and poor at their homes and nursed the frail and aged. The order - also known as the 'Brown Nuns' because of their distinctive brown cloaks and bonnets - was inspired by Eileen's own family's financial struggles after her father's death. Eileen O'Connor Project Leader Sr Margaret Mary Birgan hailed Eileen (pictured) as a 'very human, beautiful soul' After Eileen died in 1921 at age 28 from spinal tuberculosis, her body was buried at a Randwick cemetery. When her body was exhumed from its burial spot 15 years later, observers swore her body was still intact. Sydney Bishop Anthony Randazzo researched Ms O'Connor's life on behalf of the church. 'She had great courage, steadfastness and in next to impossible circumstances, she did great things,' he told 7 News. These shocking photos show a woman who was left scarred for life after being smashed over the head with a vase. Leah Harvey, 27, had to facial undergo surgery and it's only by chance that she wasn't permanently blinded. The savage attack unfolded when Ms Harvey drunkenly began arguing with her girlfriend, Stacey Davidson after returning to a flat following a pub crawl. But events turned violent when Ms Davidson's cousin, Lauren Eccleston, 21, stepped in and launched the 'nasty' assault. Leah Harvey, 27, had to facial undergo surgery and it's only by chance that she wasn't permanently blinded. Glass penetrated Ms Harvey's eyelid, neck and jugular vein in the attack Pregnant Eccleston started grappling frantically on the floor with Ms Harvey before then arming herself with a vase and flinging it at the victim's head. The glass penetrated Ms Harvey's eyelid, neck and jugular vein, which required immediate surgery at Aintree Hospital. Eccleston left the property before police officers arrived at the scene and continued to deny responsibility for the incident at Ms Davidson's flat in Peasley Cross, Mersey. Eccleston was convicted of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm at Liverpool Crown Court. She was jailed for three years and 10 months on Friday following the horrific attack on August 22 last year. Eccleston struck Ms Harvey in the head with the vase causing serious nerve damage and scarring. Ms Harvey had been drunkenly arguing with her girlfriend, Stacey Davidson, after returning to her flat following a pub crawl. Things turned violent when Ms Davidson's then pregnant cousin, Lauren Eccleston, 21, threw a vase at her head In a victim impact statement, Ms Harvey told a court she 'feels like a broken woman' and will 'never feel the same again'. Detective Constable Phil Poynton said: 'This was a particularly nasty assault which has left a young woman with permanent scarring to her face and neck. 'It is only by chance that Leah Harvey wasn't permanently blinded during the assault. 'Lauren Eccleston left the property before police officers arrived at the scene and continued to deny responsibility for the incident, forcing the matter to go to trial and prolonging the anxiety for her victim. 'I hope that today's sentencing gives Leah Harvey a sense of closure and allows her to move on with her life. 'Lauren Eccleston will also have a considerable period of time to reflect on the consequences of her actions.' A family of 11 have spent months living in cramped hotels up to 100 miles from their Birmingham home after being illegally evicted from their privately-rented flat. Severe leaking and electrical faults forced Simone and Ansar Hussain to take their nine children to multiple hotels from Burton to Bristol as they wait for Birmingham City Council to rehouse them. Now the family live across three apartment blocks in Bristol city centre, revealing they are at breaking point and are 'crying almost all the time',as their wait reaches 65 days. The Hussain family of 11 (above) have spent months living in cramped hotels up to 100 miles from their Birmingham home after being illegally evicted from their privately-rented flat Severe leaking and electrical faults forced Simone (left) and Ansar (right) Hussain to take their nine children to multiple hotels from Burton to Bristol as they wait for a new home The family - who receive over 20,000 a year in child tax credit - say they were forced out of their home in Rowdale Road, Great Barr, Birmingham out on June 13 after their three-bed property was deemed unsafe to live in. They were sent to a Travelodge in Burton-upon-Trent but continued the daily 42-mile school run trip to Great Barr. The family's month-long stay ended in Burton and the Hussains were sent packing 30 minutes away to another Travelodge - this time in Rugeley, Staffs. After another 28-day stay at a Travelodge in Rugeley, the Hussains were moved on again and they were chauffeured 120 miles away to apartments in the middle of Bristol city centre where they're currently residing. The Hussains were hopeful they'd return to Birmingham by August 28 but, according to the family, have now been told it is looking like September 25 instead. Birmingham City Council said they accepted their application and confirmed the family are on the housing register at the highest priority banding, but 'there are very few six-bedroom properties available.' The family live across three apartment blocks in Bristol city centre, revealing they are at breaking point as their wait reaches 65 days The Hussains were hopeful they'd return to Birmingham by August 28 but, according to the family, have now been told it is looking like September 25 instead Simone, 39, who receives 430-a-week in child tax credit, said: 'I'm crying almost all the time now. 'We've got our nine kids with us which is hard and my 17-month-old is struggling to sleep. 'My other kids are four, six, eight, 11, 12, 13, 15 and 19. I've got a 21-year-old daughter back home too in Coleshill who I haven't seen since this all started in June and that upsets me. 'Travelodges were horrible. You don't have a kitchen so we couldn't cook. 'Eating out is extortionate. I kept having to borrow and borrow money - not only that but we were just stuck in a room all day and we still are. 'The kids are away from their friends all of the time. It's just depressing and not fair on them. 'The council paid for our taxis. They sent us three black cabs and the meter at the end was 208 - that's 600 quid in black cabs alone. 'The kids are away from their friends all of the time. It's just depressing and not fair on them,' Simone said Birmingham City Council said that hotels were only used 'when all other housing options have been exhausted' 'Travelodges were horrible. You don't have a kitchen so we couldn't cook,' Simone said. 'Eating out is extortionate. I kept having to borrow money ... we were just stuck in a room all day' 'The apartments down here are better because I can cook now and get some shopping in and stuff but, as a family, we're spread across three apartments. It's far from ideal. 'I think it's about 150-a-night to stay here because my mum was going to come down. It's scary. 'I feel my kids are missing out on stuff, too. There's not a lot to do - there's no parks close by and we're spending a fortune on petrol and parking. 'We're sweating now as well because the new school year is around the corner and I've got to get school uniforms. How am I meant to do that? 'Apparently there's just nowhere for us to go. I had a letter come through the post the other day asking for 165 rent for the house in Great Barr - I've been homeless now for nearly three months and [the council] is saying our house isn't done. 'It needed a lot of work but we're just waiting and waiting. I suffer bad with depression and anxiety, my kids are ill and we've just got no social life. We've been left with nothing.' 'They are currently on the housing register at the highest priority banding however, there are very few six-bedroom properties available,' a spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said A spokesperson for Birmingham City Council said: 'When the Hussain family were illegally evicted from their privately-rented flat, their homeless application was accepted. 'Emergency accommodation for the family of 11 was found by the council on the same day. 'They are currently on the housing register at the highest priority banding however, there are very few six-bedroom properties available and they have been advised that they will need to bid both pro-actively and realistically. 'The council will continue to support the Hussain family until permanent accommodation can be found.' Birmingham City Council said previously that hotels were only used 'when all other housing options have been exhausted'. Robert James, housing director for Birmingham City Council, said: 'We recognise the need to reduce the use of bed and breakfasts and as such have developed a comprehensive plan to put an end to this. 'In the meantime, we are working to deliver new ideas that will make more council-owned accommodation available, as well as working with partners across the city to unlock further housing options. 'We are also implementing a new approach to homelessness that looks at prevention first.' Jamie Oliver has been accused of cultural appropriation by Labour's shadow women and equalities minister and other social media users for launching 'punchy jerk rice'. Dawn Butler, the MP for Brent Central in north west London, picked up on comments from social media about the product and joined in with her own criticism. She suggested Oliver was using the word jerk to increase the sales of his rice and his product was not faithful to the original Caribbean recipe which is usually a marinade for meat. The Labour MP also suggested father-of-five ask Levi Roots, the creator of jerk barbeque sauce Reggae Reggae sauce, to teach him about it. Ms Butler tweeted: '#jamieoliver @jamieoliver #jerk I'm just wondering do you know what #Jamaican #jerk actually is? 'It's not just a word you put before stuff to sell products. @levirootsmusic should do a masterclass. Your jerk Rice is not ok. This appropriation from Jamaica needs to stop.' Jamie Oliver has been accused of cultural appropriation over his 2.30 'punchy jerk rice' (pictured) Social media users have called the celebrity chef out for incorrectly using the label 'jerk' on his product Labour MP Dawn Butler suggested the father-of-five ask Levi Roots, the creator of jerk barbeque sauce Reggae Reggae sauce, to teach him about it Jerk can refer to a type of cooking which involves marinating meat in a jerk spice mixture, or the marinade itself. It originated in Jamaica. What is jerk seasoning? Jerk can refer to both the spice mix or the style of cooking which originated in Jamaica. The name is believed to have come from charqui, the Spanish word for dried meat. Traditionally a meat such as chicken or jerk is marinated in the jerk seasoning before being cooked over fire. Nowadays, the dish is cooked in wood-fire ovens or grilled over charcoal. The seasoning mix is primarily allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers, but usually also contains garlic, cayenne pepper and cinnamon. Advertisement The spice mix itself primarily uses allspice and Scotch bonnet peppers - neither of which are listed on the ingredients list for Mr Oliver's product - alongside others. David Llewellyn wrote: 'I was about to headbutt my desk over this tweet from Dawn Butler because most cultural appropriation brouhahas are nonsense. 'Then I saw this description of Jamie Oliver's "Jerk" Rice. On what planet can "garlic, ginger and jalapenos" be described as "Jerk"?' Many jerk recipes involve meat such as chicken or pork, but Mr Oliver's 2.30 microwaveable rice offering is vegetarian, with the packaging suggesting it is 'seriously good' with chicken wings. Sainsbury's, Morrisons, and Waitrose all stock the product on their websites. The row over the rice began a few days ago when Bristolian Marti Burgess, the associate director of law firm Gregg Latchams, tweeted a snap of the product in her local supermarket. Ms Butler, the shadow women and equalities minister, said jerk is 'not just a word you put before stuff to sell products' Regina Holland pointed out that 'there is no such thing as jerk rice' and that 'she's not saying nobody from Jamaica shouldn't eat Jamaican food, she's pointing out the bastardisation of our national dish' Ms Burgess wrote: 'OMG - this has sent me over the edge - jerk is a marinade and a method of cooking meat @jamieoliver why have you done this? You just cant have jerk rice.' Since then several Twitter users, including Ms Butler, have called Mr Oliver out for incorrectly using the label 'jerk'. Regina Holland said: 'Just because Dawn Butler's an MP it doesn't mean she can't have an opinion on anything else. To say otherwise is ridiculous and single minded at best. 'She's not saying nobody from Jamaica shouldn't eat Jamaican food, she's pointing out the bastardisation of our national dish. 'There's no such thing as jerk rice apart from what Jamie Oliver has concocted. That's her point. Anybody from any nationality can eat anything they want, there are just some dishes that are best left alone and enjoyed how they're supposed to be made.' Michelle Bryan added: 'Spot on Dawn - as the daughter of a proud Jamaican, I know that my dad hated this type of thing - so fake.' But not everyone has agreed with Ms Butler - with many pointing out that British people eat food from many different cultures One individual said: 'Appropriation has quite a specific meaning, and refers to profiting from anothers culture when they themselves are often restricted from doing so. 'Its an extension of the the power that comes from colonisation. Nothing to do with sharing cultures.' But not everyone has agreed with Ms Butler, with many pointing out that British people eat food from many different cultures. One Twitter user wrote: 'Now while I do think Jamie needs taking down a peg or three you're all getting very silly over this appropriation stuff. If no one cooked/ate food from other cultures in the world what a boring life we'd lead.' Benjamin Tucker said: 'Are you honestly saying that white people cant cook food from other cultures in case they get it slightly wrong?' Jamie Oliver and Dawn Butler have been contacted for comment. This is not the first time Mr Oliver has sparked controversy with his own versions of traditional recipes. Back in 2014, he enraged West Africans with a Jollof rice recipe on his website causing a huge backlash dubbed 'Jollofgate'. Mr Oliver was criticised for his use of cherry tomatoes on the vine, when Jollof rice is traditionally made with blended tomatoes, onions, and bell peppers. The Motley Musings blogger said at the time: 'We have to ask ourselves who actually benefits from Jamie Oliver's "appreciation" of Jollof rice. This doesn't necessarily translate into value for Africans. 'For so long, different African cultures have been appropriated without any direct benefit to Africans themselves, and people are particularly sensitive to this.' Flamboyant, extroverted and witty, Oscar Wilde was one of the great personalities of the Victorian era and someone who had women - and men - falling at his feet. But it was a young lady named 'Hattie' that stole the literary genius' heart while on a trip to America in 1882 and one biographer believes he may finally have uncovered her real identity. Matthew Sturgis, author of Oscar Wilde: A Life, published next month by Head of Zeus, has found documents suggesting the object of his affections is Hattie Crocker, the 23-year-old 'beautiful and rich' daughter of a railroad magnate from San Francisco. 'Darling Hattie': Author Matthew Sturgis believes 'Hattie' referred to by Oscar Wilde's love letter is Hattie Crocker, daughter of a rail magnate, as seen in this painting by Giovanni Boldini Wilde confided in a friend that he had lost his heart in San Francisco, during a US tour in 1882 In a letter written following a lecture tour of the United States and Canada, Wilde wrote: 'When I think of America I only remember someone whose lips are like the crimson petals of a summer rose, whose eyes are two brown agates, who has the fascination of a panther, the pluck of a tigress, and the grace of a bird. 'Darling Hattie, I now realise that I am absolutely in love with you, and for ever and ever' His extraordinary correspondence, which features in The Complete Letters of Oscar Wilde, edited by Merlin Holland and Rupert Hart Davis (2000), first prompted Sturgis to investigate who 'Hattie' might be. 'There aren't other letters of that sort to other girls, so that's what made me think it was worth trying to track her down', he told Dalya Alberge for The Observer. Wilde had confided in a friend that he had lost his heart in San Francisco, prompting the author to first look in the city's 1880 census records. Only one 'Hattie' came up, belonging to Hattie Crocker. Wilde went on to marry Constance Lloyd, before a same-sex affair with Lord Alfred Douglas Further investigation confirmed that Wilde had visited her uncle's art gallery in Sacramento and that her parents, Charles and Mary Crocker, were among the audience at Wilde's first lecture. Sturgis said: 'So it would be very likely that Hattie was there as well...The circumstantial evidence linking the Crockers with Wilde's tour and his stay in San Francisco is so strong.' 'I HAVE NOTHING TO DECLARE BUT MY GENIUS': THE WIT OF OSCAR WILDE Author and artist Oscar Wilde was one of the Victorian era's best-known personalities Famous for his razor sharp wit, flamboyant dress sense and enormously succesful plays, Oscar Wilde was one of the Victorian era's best known characters. The son of two Anglo-Irish intellectuals, Wilde studied at Oxford before moving to London where he mixed with the capital's most fashionable circles and began a career as a writer. He is perhaps best known for his play The Importance of Being Ernest, which was still being staged in London's West End when he was arrested on charges of sodomy and gross indecency. He wrote only one novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray published in 1891. In prison, he wrote De Profundis, a long letter discussing his trial and subsequent jail sentence. When Wilde was released he had undergone a transformation, and was no longer the pleasure seeking socialite. He went into exile in France and died destitute in Paris at the age of 46. Today he is fondly remembered for his razor sharp wit and brilliant quotes. On arrival in the USA he is once said to have breezed through customs announcing: 'I have nothing to declare but my genius'. Other memorable quotes include: 'There are only two tragedies in life: one is not getting what one wants, and 'We are all in the gutter, but some of us are looking at the stars'. Even on his deathbed he was said to have quipped: 'Either those curtains go, or I do' Advertisement Advertisement One flaw in his theory however is that Hattie, as according to her family and a portrait of her by Giovanni Boldini, shows her as having blue eyes rather than brown, a detail that Sturgis puts down to Wilde simply having 'misremebered'. Despite his proclamations of love, Wilde and Hattie's relationship never developed further. She went on to marry financier Charles Beattie Alexander and went on to live in New York and Paris. Meanwhile, Wilde married Constance Lloyd in 1884, fathered two sons and then had an affair with Lord Alfred 'Bosie' Douglas, which led to a conviction for gross indecency. After being imprisoned for two years, he died destitute in Paris, in 1900, aged 46. In 2017, Wilde was among an estimated 50,000 men who were pardoned for homosexual acts that were no longer considered offences under the Policing and Crime Act 2017. The Act is known informally as the Alan Turing law, after the Second World War codebreaker, who was convicted of gross indecency in 1952. Advertisement Revealing pictures from inside the wedding of the Austrian foreign minister show Russian President Vladimir Putin celebrating as her guest of honor. The Russian President, whose attendance at the event was criticized by many politicians within Austria, was snapped playing with dogs and dancing with the bride at the intimate ceremony. Putin sat at the top table at the reception in the Austrian town of Graz alongside bride Karin Kneissl, a politician supported by the pro-Russia Austrian Freedom Party. He was also pictured applauding as the groom made a speech and adding his signature to the bodywork of the wedding car - an Austrian tradition. Scroll down for video Russian President Vladimir Putin writes wishes on the car during a wedding of Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl and Austrian businessman Wolfgang Meilinger (left) in Graz, Austria Putin (left) met Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl (center) back in 2001 while attending a summit in Slovenia Bride Kneissl was also pictured dancing with the Russian President as celebrations got underway after the sunny outdoor ceremony Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures around the site of the ceremony near the southern town of Graz for the celebrations as Putin flew in over the weekend. Kneissl, 53, who married businessman Wolfgang Meilinger, invited Putin to the ceremony when the Russian president was visiting Vienna this year, presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov said. The independent foreign minister first met the Russian president 17 years ago at a summit in Slovenia with the then US President George Bush in July 2001. She has sharply criticised the EU's handling of Brexit and Catalonia's drive for independence and poured scorn on Angela Merkel's open-door migration policy, which she has called 'grossly negligent'. Putin was snapped giving a round of applause after the groom had made a speech to gathered crowds at the traditional reception The Russian President also stood near the altar as the pair were married outside a church in the small Austrian municipality As per Austrian tradition Putin added his congratulations by writing on the wedding car before jetting off to meet with Germany Chancellor Angela Merkel Austrian businessman Wolfgang Meilinger embraces his new wife Karin Kneissl as Vladimir Putin watches on from beside the happy couple A row was sparked on Friday as to whether the invitation was appropriate. 'How is Austria's presidency of the EU meant to live up to the government's own claims of building bridges (between the EU and Russia) and being an honest broker, when Austria's foreign minister and chancellor are so obviously on one side?' asked MP Andreas Schieder of the opposition Social Democrats (SPOe). SPOe MEP Evelyn Regner said the invite sent a 'shameful' image of Austria to its EU partners, branding it 'a provocation of European proportions'. The Greens called for Kneissl's resignation, pointing out that 'Vladimir Putin is the EU's most aggressive enemy in matters of foreign policy'. Karin Kneissl and her husband Wolfgang Meilinger are all smiles as they are pulled away by horse-drawn carriage on their sunny wedding day People attend the arrival of the car convoy of Russia's President Vladimir Putin on its way for the wedding over the weekend The car convoy of Russia's President Vladimir Putin containing a cohort of black diplomatic Mercedes cars arrives for the wedding Yet the foreign ministry insisted that Putin's visit 'will not change anything in terms of Austria's foreign policy positions'. However Putin's attendance was originally described as a 'private event' by Kneissl's office but has since been upgraded to a 'working visit'. FPOe Vice-Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache is also at the ceremony. Putin headed to talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel near Berlin on Saturday evening following the ceremony. Topics during the bilateral talks included Ukraine, Syria and the planned Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline from Russia to Germany that the United States and some European countries object to. Kneissl (pictured celebrating her wedding), who married businessman Wolfgang Meilinger, invited Putin to the ceremony when the Russian president was visiting Vienna this year, presidential advisor Yuri Ushakov said Austrian authorities imposed tight security measures (right) around the site of the ceremony near the southern town of Graz for Kneissl Groom Wolfgang Meilinger celebrates his marriage to Karin Kneissl by holding her aloft in front of gathered crowds on Saturday A smiling Austrian Vice Chancellor Heinz-Christian Strache (left) attends the wedding of the country's Foreign Minister Austrian Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl and her husband Wolfgang Meilinger wave from a horse-drawn carriage as they are pulled towards the ceremony New Zealand's Minister for Women, Julie Anne Genter, has been labelled a role model after riding her bicycle to the hospital to give birth. The 38-year-old American-born politician has long been a promoter of pedal-powered transport, frequently publicising bicycle initiatives through her social media. 'Beautiful Sunday morning for a bike ride, to the hospital, for an induction to finally have this baby. This is it, wish us luck!,' Ms Genter wrote. New Zealand's Minister for Women, Julie Anne Genter, has posted a picture of herself after riding a bicycle to the hospital to give birth The 38-year-old American born politician has long been a promoter of pedal-powered transport (pictured with partner Peter Nunnes) 'My partner and I cycled because there wasn't enough room in the car for the support crew... but it also put me in the best possible mood!' The post received over 800 likes and the majority of the comments were supportive with some saying she is a 'role model'. 'Good idea, may have encouraged the baby to come all the best - how exciting for you both!' wrote one commenter. James Shaw, the co-leader of the Green Party of Aotearoa, said it was 'very on-brand for Julie.' Ms Genter was born in the United Sates and attended the University of California, Berkeley before moving to New Zealand in 2006 and working as a transportation planner 'Proud to be living in a country where two members of the country's executive are able to have children as part of their job,' he said. Ms Genter is the second New Zealand sitting MP to give birth this year with the country's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, giving birth to a daughter, Neve, in June this year. Ms Genter was born in the United States and attended the University of California, Berkeley before moving to New Zealand in 2006 and working as a transportation planner. She is expected to take three months off and return to work towards the end of the year while her partner takes on a full-time parenting role. The Queen plans to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War alongside the German president, sources suggest. To reflect the reconciliation between the two nations, the government will issue a formal invitation to Frank-Walter Steinmeier to join the monarch at Westminster Abbey on November 11. He will be the only head of state to join the royal at the televised commemoration of 100 years since the Armistice. The Queen (left) plans to mark the centenary of the end of the First World War alongside the German president (right) Outside the Abbey, Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle hopes to capture the mood of the nation and invite communities across the UK to come together in marking 100 years since the Armistice. He was asked by 14-18 Now, a five-year programme of arts projects connecting people with the First World War, to help plan the event. Sources say his idea is to encourage everyone to write a name of a soldier on biodegradable paper and send it into the sea on Armistice Day to symbolise how they were sent across the Channel to end Germanys aggression. Yet there are apparently some misgivings about the proposal - however 14-18 Now did not respond to requests for comment, the Sunday Times reported. Hollywood star Peter Jackson, director of The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies, will also be involved and has been enrolled to bring to life the soldiers experiences. Outside the Abbey, Oscar-winning film director Danny Boyle (pictured) hopes to capture the mood of the nation and invite communities across the UK to come together in marking 100 years since the Armistice He has been given access to film footage shot during the war, as well as up to 600 hours of audio interviews, by The Imperial War Museum. The rest of the world will most likely be watching Paris in November after the French president Emmanuel Macron invited heads of more than 80 states to a peace forum. It will be to keep the promise made a century ago: Never again. The dignitaries have been asked to come with ideas as the French president said: Peace is currently losing ground every day. In 2014, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the German president in Belgium while the Queen led a candle-lit vigil at Westminster Abbey. And this year a senior royal will attend services taking place in Belfast, Cardiff and Glasgow as well as a ceremony in Paris. A high-level Whitehall source confirmed the plans, saying: 'There have been German representatives involved throughout the commemorations but it is fitting that the current German president should be present at the main commemoration with the Queen in November.' Celebrity chef Adriano Zumbo has admitted he had a close brush with a notorious conman, as he looks to revive his ailing dessert business. Australia's answer to Willy Wonka, Adriano Zumbo, has revealed how he was nearly caught up in the web of the prolific Melbourne-based conman, Rocco Calabrese. As the television chef closed the doors of his South Yarra patisserie, he was confronted by the man, offering to resurrect his business, The Age reported. Scroll down for video Australia's answer to Willy Wonka, Adrian Zumbo (pictured), has been forced to watch his empire built on sweet treats crumble into voluntary administration Mr Calabrese claimed he was a multi-millionaire who 'didn't have to work' and could help ward off creditors by investing in Zumbo's sweets empire. Mr Calabrese, who has been described by a former victim as 'more slippery than an eel swimming in olive oil' approached the chef and introduced himself as Rocco. The veteran conman initially suggested he wanted to open a chicken shop near the failing patisserie but his plans soon escalated. 'He was trying to push his way into the business. He started to pay for a couple of things on his credit card. He had some of our equipment in storage,' Zumbo told the Age. Administrators held a creditors meeting with the reality TV chef on Wednesday where it was revealed his debts could soon amass $10 million But Zumbo's business team eventually clued into the crook's plan after he signed off on an email as 'Rocco Calabrese' instead of his alias - Mark Calabrese. He has used a host of aliases such as Rocco De Gonza, Rocco Cala, Mark Cala and more recently Mark Calabrese. In 2015 he was handed an 18-month prison sentence for setting up a front company known as Gourmet Produce Pantry. He bought 5500 kilograms of prawns worth $82,000 and paid for them using cheques which bounced back because of insufficient funds. He also took another $12,700 worth of seafood in a separate scam. Earlier this month administrators held a creditors meeting with Zumbo on where it was revealed his debts could soon amass $10 million. Administrators appointed to companies directed by Zumbo, made up of landlords and trade creditors, confirmed his eight Sydney and Melbourne eateries would remain open Zumbo, however, was reported to have $8 million worth of assets, inclusive of equipment and company owned property, Good Food reported. Administrators appointed to companies directed by Zumbo, made up of landlords and trade creditors, confirmed his eight Sydney and Melbourne eateries would remain open. Zumbo built his business empire off the back of appearances on Masterchef and his own cooking show on Channel Seven, Zumbo's Just Desserts. He opened Melbourne high-tea salon, Fancy Nance, in 2016, and recently faced start-up delays on $500,000 high-tech macaron-making machine. Zumbo (pictured with contestant) built his business empire off the back of appearances on Masterchef and his own cooking show on Channel Seven, Zumbo's Just Desserts The dessert king also recently sold his luxurious Balmain home for $1.7 million. The exact reason for his company's financial collapse is not known. Reports suggested an investor could be interested in bailing Zumbo out of the deep, with the anonymous identity rumoured to have eyes on his innovative products like his sweet opus, the V8 Vanilla cake and darker chocolate V8 Diesel. Zumbo made headlines in January last year after going public with his girlfriend, Nelly Riggio, who was a contestant on My Kitchen Rules A 'sexist' sign at a Houston school has been removed after it caused an uproar on social media. The quote, which sat above a row of lockers at Gregory-Lincoln elementary school in Houston Independent School District, read: 'The more you act like a lady, the more he'll act like a gentleman.' Many expressed their horror, saying they believed the quote was victim-blaming and perpetuating the women are responsible for men's actions. A quote at a school that read 'The more you act like a lady, the more he'll act like a gentleman' caused an uproar on social media Gregory-Lincoln elementary school in Houston Independent School District announced the sign had been removed on Saturday morning Many expressed their horror, saying they believed the quote was victim-blaming and perpetuating the women are responsible for men's actions. Pictured: Gregory-Lincoln school The quote began drawing controversy on Friday when Houston resident Lisa Beckman tweeted a picture of it. 'This is the wall at Gregory-Lincoln Middle School in Houston ISD,' she wrote in a post accompanying the tweet. 'It's perpetuating horrible gender stereotypes, shaming women, and relinquishing boys of all responsibility. It's sexist, mysogonistic [sic], and discriminatory! I'm horrified.' The tweet has since been liked more than 23,000 times and has been retweeted more than 9,000 times. She told KHOU 11 that her friend was the one who took a picture of the quote and subsequently sent it to her. Twitter users were stunned by the post and took to the social media platform in droves to share their outrage. The tweet has since been liked more than 23,000 times and has been retweeted more than 9,000 times, with many sharing their own take on the sign '"So remember girls, if he's treating you horribly then you had it coming. Now enjoy class!" - the people who put this up apparently,' tweeted one user. 'A gentleman acts like a gentleman because he chooses to act like a gentleman, no matter who he is interacting with. Fixed that for ya Gregory-Lincoln,' wrote another. One user suggested: 'Ah yes. Another impossible responsibility to heap on our girls. How about boys behave like gentlemen no matter how another acts towards them? Its called character.' According to KTRK, the quote is attributed to Sydney Biddle Barrows, a businesswoman and founder of a New York escort agency. She was arrested in October 1984 for promoting prostitution, for which she pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000. Barrows became known as the 'Mayflower Madam' after New York Post reporter Peter Fearon revealed her ancestry could be traced back to three Mayflower passengers. The quote is attributed to Sydney Biddle Barrows, a businesswoman and founder of a New York escort agency Barrows (left in 1995 and right in 2014) was arrested in October 1984 for promoting prostitution, for which she pleaded guilty and was fined $5,000. She became known as the 'Mayflower Madam' after a reporter revealed her ancestry could be traced back to three Mayflower passengers On Saturday morning, the district released a statement that the sign had been taken down. 'Please be advised that the quote on the wall of Gregory Lincoln PK-5 Education Center has been removed,' the statement read. 'Overnight, the wall decal letters were taken down, the wall was floated out, and new slab of drywall was installed and painted.' Beckman tweeted her thanks to the district on Saturday afternoon. 'TY @houstonisd for taking down the "victim blaming" quote. I see this as proof that our elected officials listen when we speak up.' According to the district website, classes have not begun and the first day of school is August 27. A Detroit man has been convicted of sexually assaulting a sleeping Spirit Airlines passenger while his wife was sitting next to him. Prabhu Ramamoorthy, 35, faces life in prison after a federal jury convicted him last week for touching the 22-year-old woman on the Spirit Airlines flight earlier this year. Ramamoorthy, who is an Indian national in the US on a work visa, abused the young woman on the flight from Las Vegas to Detroit on January 3. Prabhu Ramamoorthy, 35, faces life in prison after a federal jury convicted him last week for touching the 22-year-old woman on the Spirit Airlines flight bound for Detroit earlier this year The victim told FBI agents that she awoke in her window seat to find Ramamoorthy shoving his fingers inside her pants 'and vigorously moving them'. She said he stopped touching her when she opened her eyes but she noticed her pants and blouse were unbuttoned. The shaken and crying passenger immediately alerted flight attendants. Ramamoorthy, who was also sitting next to his wife, was arrested when the flight landed in Detroit. The IT manager had initially told police he had been in a 'deep sleep' during the flight and did not know where he had placed his hands. Ramamoorthy, who is an Indian national in the US on a work visa, abused the young woman on the Spirit Airlines flight from Las Vegas to Detroit on January 3 Ramamoorthy later changed his story, saying he might have unclasped the sleeping woman's bra 'while playing with it' and had cupped her breasts over her blouse. He also admitted that he 'unzipped the woman's pants part-way and put his finger in her pants' in an attempt to digitally penetrate her, but says he wasn't able to. Ramamoorthy is due to be sentenced on December 12. US Attorney Matthew Schneider said the jury deliberated about 3 hours before returning the verdict following a five-day trial. Ramamoorthy faces the possibility of life in prison. If released from prison, Schneider said Ramamoorthy will be deported to India. A young single mother who fled Syria following the deaths of two ISIS terrorist husbands in Syria hopes to one day create a new life in Australia. Islam Mitat risked not only her own life but also of her two young children as she carried them for nine hours across the desert in a desperate and dangerous escape to safety, where she was rescued by Kurdish fighters. Now living back in her homeland of Morocco and free from ISIS, she hopes the Australian heritage of her youngest child Maria with second late husband Faisal Sahib will allow them to one day move to Australia for a fresh start. Former ISIS bride Islam Mitat (pictured) still fears that the future for her and her two children is bleak, despite escaping Syria After four years as a ISIS bride, she hopes they can lead a normal life but right now, taking one day at a time is all she can think about. 'My dream? I want a normal life with my kids. This is what I want now,' she told 60 Minutes before breaking down in tears. 'I just look at my kids, I feel so sorry for them.' Islam was a physics student in Morocco with dreams of becoming a fashion designer when she met her first husband Ahmed Khalil, a British nationalist on a dating website. She followed him to Turkey in 2014, believing the pair would live there before moving to England. But it was there that she realised he was a radicalised Muslim who had used the trip as an excuse to get her across the border to Syria's ISIS stronghold Raqqa. Islam Mitat said her late husband Faisal Sahib (pictured right) often spoke about his old life in Australia and how much he missed it before he was killed Islam had no idea of her new husband's plans, and soon after they made the move, she discovered she was pregnant with her first child. Just days after she discovered she was pregnant, Islam's husband was brutally killed at war. Women living under ISIS rule are forced to have the moral protection of a husband, so in order to protect herself, Islam married again. She married Faisal Sahib, a champion kickboxer and unknown Australian jihadi who fled his family and a normal life in western Sydney to join ISIS in Syria. The couple had a child together before Faisal was killed in a coalition airstrike. Islam said her late husband often spoke about his old life in Australia and how much he missed it. 'He told me I wish I didn't come here,' she told 60 Minutes. Former ISIS bride Islam Mitat pictured with youngest child Maria, revealed her hopes to one day create a new life in Australia Followed his death, Islam managed her extraordinary escape from Raqqa through the help of neighbours who delivered Islam and her two children to a people smuggler. She doesn't plan to tell her children about what happened to their fathers. 'I don't want my kids to grow in this because they teach them how to kill,' she said. President Donald Trump is claiming some members of the media apologized to him for a story in the New York Times on White House Counsel Don McGahn talking to the special counsel about whether or not the president obstructed the Russia investigation. He also slammed the paper for implying McGahn is a 'RAT' who turned on him and is claiming the testimony by the top White House lawyer shows he has 'nothing to hide' in the Russia investigation. The Times stood by its story. Trump claims members of the media apologized for the story He also said White House counsel Don McGahn has not turned on him He charged the Mueller probe with being worse than McCarthyism 'Some members of the media are very Angry at the Fake Story in the New York Times. They actually called to complain and apologize - a big step forward. From the day I announced, the Times has been Fake News, and with their disgusting new Board Member, it will only get worse!,' Trump tweeted Sunday morning. The DailyMail.com has reached out to the White House about which members of the press made the apologizes. Trump used a series of tweets on Sunday morning to paint a New York Times story on McGahn's conversations with special counsel Robert Mueller as a 'fake piece.' In a twitter rant, he repeatedly condemned the story and the newspaper. The Times responded to the tweets with a tweet. "The New York Times stands behind the reporting of our Pulitzer-Prize winning reporters @nytmike and @maggieNYT," the paper's public relations team tweeted. The president took umbrage with the tone of the story, charging the newspaper with portraying McGahn as 'a John Dean type 'RAT'' - a reference to the former aide to President Richard Nixon who became a key witness to the prosecution in the Watergate scandal. Trump, who values loyalty, also disputed reports of a troubled relationship between the two men, writing McGahn has not turned on him. 'The Failing New York Times wrote a story that made it seem like the White House Councel had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite - & the two Fake reporters knew this. This is why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People. So bad for America!,' he tweeted Sunday morning. The Times reported that McGahn has told people he is talking to Mueller in order to avoid the fate of John Dean, who served as Nixon's White House counsel and feared Nixon was setting him up to take the fall on Watergate. Dean cooperated with investigators while still working in the White House. Trump emphasized he 'allowed' McGahn and others to testify, a point he also made on Saturday evening when the story was first posted on line. 'I didn't have to. I have nothing to hide,' he wrote on Twitter Sunday morning. The president went on to claim Mueller's investigation is 'McCarthyism at its WORST!' and, in a series of tweets, he used his favorite criticisms of the probe, calling it a 'Rigged and Disgusting Witch Hunt.' The Times responded to the president's tweets with a tweet Trump slammed the New York Times for implying Don McGahn is a 'rat' He emphasized he allowed McGahn to testify He renewed his call for an investigation into Hillary Clinton 'The failing @nytimes wrote a Fake piece today implying that because White House Councel Don McGahn was giving hours of testimony to the Special Councel, he must be a John Dean type 'RAT.' But I allowed him and all others to testify - I didn't have to. I have nothing to hide......,' Trump tweeted. '....and have demanded transparency so that this Rigged and Disgusting Witch Hunt can come to a close. So many lives have been ruined over nothing - McCarthyism at its WORST! Yet Mueller & his gang of Dems refuse to look at the real crimes on the other side - Media is even worse!' He then renewed his call for the special counsel to investigate Hillary Clinton. 'No Collusion and No Obstruction, except by Crooked Hillary and the Democrats. All of the resignations and corruption, yet heavily conflicted Bob Mueller refuses to even look in that direction. What about the Brennan, Comey, McCabe, Strzok lies to Congress, or Crooked's Emails!,' he wrote. He also claimed Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election would make Joseph McCarthy's look in the 1950s into whether communist agents had infiltrated the United States 'look like a baby.' 'Study the late Joseph McCarthy, because we are now in period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Rigged Witch Hunt!,' he tweeted. Late Saturday, Trump said he was fully aware that the top lawyer in the White House has been fully cooperating with Mueller's investigation into whether he obstructed justice in the Russia probe. Responding to a New York Times story on Twitter, the president said that he 'allowed White House Counsel Don McGahn' to fully cooperate and said that his administration handed over one million pages of documents. The president then added that his cooperation was the most 'transparent in history' and again labeled the investigation a 'witch hunt'. This comes after it was revealed that McGahn has given lengthy statements to Mueller's team. He has spent 30 hours being interview on three separate occasions in the last nine months. Donald McGahn (above), the White House counsel, has been fully cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether President Donald Trump obstructed justice in the Russia probe The extent of McGahn's cooperation was first reported by The New York Times on Saturday afternoon, which cited dozens of current and former White House officials familiar with the matter. Trump dismissed the significance of the cooperation in a Saturday evening tweet, writing: 'I allowed White House Counsel Don McGahn, and all other requested members of the White House Staff, to fully cooperate with the Special Counsel. In addition we readily gave over one million pages of documents. Most transparent in history. No Collusion, No Obstruction. Witch Hunt!' McGahn has told the Special Counsel's investigators about Trump's responses to the Russia investigation, the president's firing of FBI Director James Comey, and attempts to pressure Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reassume control over the probe after he recused himself McGahn has given lengthy statements to Mueller's team - some 30 hours worth spread out over at least three voluntary interviews during the span of nine months. Mueller is seen in the above file photo McGahn has told the Special Counsel's investigators about Trump's responses to the Russia investigation, the president's firing of FBI Director James Comey, and attempts to pressure Attorney General Jeff Sessions to reassume control over the probe after he recused himself. The White House counsel also told Mueller's team about Trump's attempts to fire the Special Counsel. Last year, Trump ordered Mueller fired but backed down after McGahn threatened to resign rather than follow his directive. Mueller, who is investigating allegations of Russian meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, learned of the incident in subsequent months as his investigators interviewed current and former senior White House officials in an inquiry into whether the president obstructed justice. The Times is reporting on Saturday that McGahn is the one who likely revealed the president's intent to fire Mueller. The idea that the president's top lawyer would be so forthcoming with prosecutors with potentially damaging information about his client is considered unusual, legal experts told the Times. Mueller's final tally: Trump's inner circle of convicts and turncoats - and 25 wanted Russian trolls GUILTY: MICHAEL FLYNN Pleaded guilty to making false statements in December 2017. Awaiting sentence Flynn was President Trump's former National Security Advisor and Robert Mueller's most senior scalp to date. He previously served when he was a three star general as President Obama's director of the Defense Intelligence Agency but was fired. He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about his conversations with a Russian ambassador in December 2016. He has agreed to cooperate with the special counsel investigation. GUILTY AND JAILED: MICHAEL COHEN Pleaded guilty to eight counts including fraud and two campaign finance violations in August 2018. Pleaded guilty to further count of lying to Congress in November 2018. Sentenced to three years in prison and $2 million in fines and forfeitures in December 2018 Cohen was investigated by Mueller but the case was handed off to the Southern District of New York,leaving Manhattan's ferocious and fiercely independent federal prosecutors to run his case. Cohen was Trump's longtime personal attorney, starting working for him and the Trump Organization in 2007. He is the longest-serving member of Trump's inner circle to be implicated by Mueller. Cohen professed unswerving devotion to Trump - and organized payments to silence two women who alleged they had sex with the-then candidate: porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. He admitted that payments to both women were felony campaign finance violations - and admitted that he acted at the 'direction' of 'Candidate-1': Donald Trump. He also admitted tax fraud by lying about his income from loans he made, money from taxi medallions he owned, and other sources of income, at a cost to the Treasury of $1.3 million. And he admitted lying to Congress in a rare use of the offense. The judge in his case let him report for prison on March 6 and recommended he serve it in a medium-security facility close to New York City. GUILTY AND JAILED: PAUL MANAFORT Found guilty of eight charges of bank and tax fraud in August 2018. Sentenced to 47 months in March 2019. Pleaded guilty to two further charges - witness tampering and conspiracy against the United States. Jailed for total of seven and a half years in two separate sentences. Additionally indicted for mortgage fraud by Manhattan District Attorney, using evidence previously presented by Mueller Manafort worked for Trump's campaign from March 2016 and chaired it from June to August 2016, overseeing Trump being adopted as Republican candidate at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland. He is the most senior campaign official to be implicated by Mueller. Manafort was one of Washington D.C.'s longest-term and most influential lobbyists but in 2015, his money dried up and the next year he turned to Trump for help, offering to be his campaign chairman for free - in the hope of making more money afterwards. But Mueller unwound his previous finances and discovered years of tax and bank fraud as he coined in cash from pro-Russia political parties and oligarchs in Ukraine. Manafort pleaded not guilty to 18 charges of tax and bank fraud but was convicted of eight counts in August 2018. The jury was deadlocked on the other 10 charges. A second trial on charges of failing to register as a foreign agent due in September did not happen when he pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and witness tampering in a plea bargain. He was supposed to co-operate with Mueller but failed to. Minutes after his second sentencing hearing in March 2019, he was indicted on 16 counts of fraud and conspiracy by the Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr., using evidence which included documents previously presented at his first federal trial. The president has no pardon power over charges by district and state attorneys. GUILTY AND GOING TO WEEKEND JAIL: RICK GATES Pleaded guilty to conspiracy against the United States and making false statements in February 2018. Sentenced to 45 days weekend jail and three years probation, December 17, 2018 Gates was Manafort's former deputy at political consulting firm DMP International. He admitted to conspiring to defraud the U.S. government on financial activity, and to lying to investigators about a meeting Manafort had with a member of congress in 2013. As a result of his guilty plea and promise of cooperation, prosecutors vacated charges against Gates on bank fraud, bank fraud conspiracy, failure to disclose foreign bank accounts, filing false tax returns, helping prepare false tax filings, and falsely amending tax returns. GUILTY AND JAILED: GEORGE PAPADOPOLOUS Pleaded guilty to making false statements in October 2017. Sentenced to 14 days in September 2018, and reported to prison in November. Served 12 days and released on December 7, 2018 Papadopoulos was a member of Donald Trump's campaign foreign policy advisory committee. He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about his contacts with London professor Josef Mifsud and Ivan Timofeev, the director of a Russian government-funded think tank. GUILTY AND JAILED: RICHARD PINEDO Pleaded guilty to identity fraud in February 2018. Sentenced to a year in prison Pinedo is a 28-year-old computer specialist from Santa Paula, California. He admitted to selling bank account numbers to Russian nationals over the internet that he had obtained using stolen identities. GUILTY AND JAILED: ALEX VAN DER ZWAAN Pleaded guilty to making false statements in February 2018. He served a 30-day prison sentence and was deported to the Netherlands on his release Van der Zwaan was a Dutch attorney for Skadden Arps who worked on a Ukrainian political analysis report for Paul Manafort in 2012. He admitted to lying to special counsel investigators about when he last spoke with Rick Gates and Konstantin Kilimnik. His law firm say he was fired. GUILTY: W. SAMUEL PATTEN Pleaded guilty in August 2018 to failing to register as a lobbyist while doing work for a Ukrainian political party. Sentenced to three years probation April 2019 Patten, a long-time D.C. lobbyist was a business partner of Paul Manafort. He pleaded guilty to admitting to arranging an illegal $50,000 donation to Trump's inauguration. He arranged for an American 'straw donor' to pay $50,000 to the inaugural committee, knowing that it was actually for a Ukrainian businessman. Neither the American or the Ukrainian have been named. CHARGED: KONSTANTIN KILIMNIK Indicted for obstruction of justice and conspiracy to obstruct justice. At large, probably in Russia Kilimnik is a former employee of Manafort's political consulting firm and helped him with lobbying work in Ukraine. He is accused of witness tampering, after he allegedly contacted individuals who had worked with Manafort to remind them that Manafort only performed lobbying work for them outside of the U.S. He has been linked to Russian intelligence and is currently thought to be in Russia - effectively beyond the reach of extradition by Mueller's team. INDICTED: THE RUSSIANS Twenty-five Russian nationals and three Russian entities have been indicted for conspiracy to defraud the United States. They remain at large in Russia Two of these Russian nationals were also indicted for conspiracy to commit wire fraud and 11 were indicted for conspiracy to launder money. Fifteen of them were also indicted for identity fraud. Vladimir Putin has ridiculed the charges. Russia effectively bars extradition of its nationals. The only prospect Mueller has of bringing any in front of a U.S. jury is if Interpol has their names on an international stop list - which is not made public - and they set foot in a territory which extradites to the U.S. INDICTED: MICHAEL FLYNN'S BUSINESS PARTNERS Bijan Kian (left), number two in now disgraced former national security adviser Mike Flynn's lobbying company, and the two's business partner Ekim Alptekin (right) were indicted for conspiracy to lobby illegally. Kian, an Iranian-American was arrested and appeared in court charged with a conspiracy to illegally lobby the U.S government without registering as a foreign agent. Their co-conspirator was Flynn, who is called 'Person A' in the indictment and is not charged, offering some insight into what charges he escaped with his plea deal. Kian, vice-president of Flynn's former lobbying firm, is alleged to have plotted with Alptekin to try to change U.S. policy on an exiled Turkish cleric, Fethullah Gulen, who lives in Pennsylvania and who is accused by Turkey's strongman president Recep Tayyip Erdogan, of trying to depose him. Erdogan's government wanted him extradited from the U.S. and paid Flynn's firm through Alptekin for lobbying, including an op-ed in The Hill calling for Gulen to be ejected. Flynn and Kian both lied that the op-ed was not paid for by the Turkish government. The indictment is a sign of how Mueller is taking an interest in more than just Russian involvement in the 2016 election. GUILTY AND AWAITING SENTENCE: ROGER STONE Roger Stone, a former Trump campaign official and longtime informal advisor to Trump, was indited on seven counts including obstruction of justice, witness tampering, and lying to Congress about his communications with WikiLeaks in January 2019. Convicted on all counts November 15, 2019, awaiting sentence Stone was a person of interest to Mueller's investigators long before his January indictment, thanks in part due to his public pronouncements as well as internal emails about his contacts with WikiLeks. In campaign texts and emails, many of which had already been publicly revealed before showing up in Mueller's indictment, Stone communicated with associates about WikiLeaks following reports the organization had obtained a cache of Clinton-related emails. Stone, a former Nixon campaign adviser who has the disgraced former president's face permanently tattooed on his back, has long been portrayed as a central figure in the election interference scandal. 'They got nothing,' he said of the special counsel's investigation. Stone gave 'false and misleading' testimony about his requests for information from WikiLeaks. He then pressured a witness, comedian Randy Credico, to take the Fifth Amendment rather than testify, and pressured him in a series of emails. Following a prolonged dispute over testimony, he called him a 'rat' and threatened to 'take that dog away from you', in reference to Credico's pet, Bianca. Stone warned him: 'Let's get it on. Prepare to die.' CLEARED: GREG CRAIG Greg Craig, President Barack Obama's White House counsel, was indicted for failing to register as a foreign agent. Mueller's investigators uncovered Craig's work on behalf the government of Ukraine while probing Manafort, who did business with Craig. Prosecutors released a grand jury indictment of Craig in April 2019, after Craig's law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP agreed to pay more than $4.6 million as part of a settlement. The prominent firm also acknowledged it had failed to register, and placed much of the blame on Craig, a senior partner there. Craig's lawyer blasted the decision as an abuse of prosecutorial discretion, and prepared to argue that omission of information during an interview is not tantamount to making false statements. The charges stem from a 2012 report Craig and the firm produced on behalf of the Ukrainian government on opposition figure and former prime minister Yulia Tymoshenko. She was an opponent of Manafort's client , former Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych. Craig was cleared on September 9 2019. Advertisement People close to McGahn told the Times that he decided to fully cooperate with Mueller because he feared Trump was setting him up to take the fall for any potential illegal activity, including obstruction of justice. McGahn and his lawyer, William Burck, decided to cooperate in order to show Mueller that the White House counsel had nothing to hide, according to the Times. McGahn has told Mueller's team that he never personally witnessed Trump breaking the law, but the information he has divulged could be potentially damaging. Trump, meanwhile, appears to have mistakenly believed that McGahn would act as his personal attorney who would defend the president's interests. News of McGahn's extensive cooperation with Mueller is likely to complicate the already-strained relationship between the two men. TIMELINE OF SPECIAL COUNSEL ROBERT MUELLER'S RUSSIA PROBE Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating whether the Trump campaign and Russia colluded to help Trump win the 2016 U.S. presidential election and whether Trump has unlawfully sought to obstruct the probe. Trump has called the investigation a 'witch hunt.' June 2015 - Donald Trump, a wealthy real estate developer and reality TV personality, announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination. March 2016 - Around this date, Russias military intelligence agency, the GRU, begins a cyber campaign aimed at interfering with the 2016 presidential election, according to U.S. intelligence agencies. April 2016 - Trump foreign policy aide George Papadopoulos meets with an academic who has just returned from Moscow. The academic tells Papadopoulos that the Russians have obtained dirt on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, including 'thousands of emails.' June 9, 2016 - Trumps son Donald Trump Jr, Trumps son-in-law Jared Kushner and campaign manager Paul Manafort meet at Trump Tower in New York with a Russian lawyer and others. Emails later made public show Trump Jr. believed he would receive information harmful to Clinton. July 5, 2016 - Former British spy Christopher Steele, who was investigating Trumps Russia connections in an effort paid for by the Democratic National Committee (DNC), briefs an FBI agent on his findings. July 22, 2016 - On the eve of the Democratic presidential nominating convention at which Clinton became her partys nominee, WikiLeaks releases 44,000 emails hacked from the DNC. The content of some of the emails prompts the resignation of DNC chairwoman Debbie Wasserman-Schultz. U.S. President Barack Obama meets Russian President Vladimir Putin during a G-20 summit in China and warns him of a strong response if Russias meddling continues Late July 2016 - The FBI begins a counter-intelligence investigation of Russian meddling in the election. Aug. 19, 2016 - Manafort resigns as Trumps campaign chairman following news reports of his business dealings in Ukraine. Sept. 5, 2016 - U.S. President Barack Obama meets Russian President Vladimir Putin during a G-20 summit in China and warns him of a strong response if Russias meddling continues. Oct. 7, 2016 - Within an hour of the airing of an Access Hollywood video in which Trump talks in vulgar terms about women, WikiLeaks begins serial publication of thousands of private emails belonging to Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Office of Director of National Intelligence issue a statement that for the first time publicly blames Russia for the election-related computer hacks. Nov. 8, 2016 - Trumps wins the U.S. presidential election. Dec. 29, 2016 - Obama, in response to the hacking and harassment of U.S. diplomats in Moscow, places sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies and individuals, expels 35 Russian diplomats and shuts Russian-owned compounds in Maryland and New York. After the sanctions are announced, Trump national security aide Michael Flynn holds a series of phone calls with Sergei Kislyak, the Russian ambassador to the United States. Trump unexpectedly won the 2016 presidential election. He is seen right with Vice President-elect Mike Pence during their victory rally in New York City on November 9, 2016 Jan. 6, 2017 - In an unclassified report, the U.S. intelligence community states that Putin ordered an election meddling effort whose goals eventually included helping Trump and harming Clinton. President-elect Trump is briefed by U.S. intelligence chiefs on the finding, and is told of the existence of information gathered by Steele. Jan. 10, 2017 - BuzzFeed publishes the Steele 'dossier' detailing alleged collusion between Trumps campaign and Moscow and containing salacious allegations regarding Trump. Jan. 20, 2017 - Trump is sworn in as president. Feb. 13, 2017 - Flynn resigns as Trumps national security adviser, reportedly having misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about his talks with Kislyak. March 20, 2017 - FBI Director James Comey for the first time publicly confirms the bureaus Russia counter-intelligence investigation. May 9, 2017 - Trump fires Comey, and days later attributes the dismissal to 'this Russia thing.' May 17, 2017 - Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, the No. 2 Justice Department official, appoints former FBI director Robert Mueller as special counsel to investigate possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia. July 26, 2017 - Federal agents execute a pre-dawn raid of Manaforts home. Oct. 30, 2017 - As part of Muellers investigation, Manafort and business partner Rick Gates are indicted on money-laundering and other charges. Manafort pleads not guilty. Gates later pleads guilty to lesser charges and cooperates with Muellers probe. Papadopoulos pleads guilty to lying to the FBI about his Russia contacts and agrees to cooperate with the special counsel. Former U.S. National Security Advisor Michael Flynn resigned as Trumps national security adviser, reportedly having misled Vice President Mike Pence and others about his talks with Kislyak. He is seen above arriving at a Washington, D.C. court July 10 Dec. 1, 2017 - Flynn pleads guilty to lying to the FBI and agrees to cooperate with the special counsel. Feb. 16, 2018 - Mueller charges 13 Russian individuals and three Russian companies, including the St. Petersburg-based Internet Research Agency, with conspiracy to tamper with the 2016 election. April 3, 2018 - Alex van der Zwaan, the Dutch son-in-law of one of Russias richest men, is sentenced to 30 days in prison and fined $20,000 for lying to Muellers investigators, becoming the first person sentenced in the special counsels probe. April 9, 2018 - FBI agents raid the offices and home of Trumps personal attorney, Michael Cohen. The raid is in part related to Cohens payment of $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about an affair she said she had with Trump. June 8, 2018 - Mueller filed new charges against Manafort and Konstantin Kilimnik, a Russian political operative with alleged ties to Russian intelligence. The two men were charged with tampering with witnesses about their lobbying for Ukraine. Mueller has said Kilimnik has links to Russian spy agencies, an allegation Kilimnik denies. July 3, 2018 - A Senate Intelligence Committee report supports three U.S. intelligence agencies conclusion that Russia tried to help Donald Trump win the 2016 U.S. presidential election. July 13, 2018 - A federal grand jury charged 12 Russian intelligence officers with hacking Democratic computer networks in 2016, in the most detailed U.S. accusation yet that Moscow meddled in the presidential election to help Trump. In April 2018, FBI agents raided the office of Trump's former personal lawyer. The raid was in part related to a $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels (seen left with her attorney, Michael Avenatti) July 16, 2018 - Trump tried to calm a storm over his failure to hold Putin accountable for meddling in the 2016 U.S. election, saying he misspoke in a joint news conference in Helsinki. July 21, 2018 - The FBI released documents related to the surveillance of former Trump presidential campaign adviser Carter Page as part of a probe into whether he conspired with the Russian government to undermine the 2016 U.S. election. July 27, 2018 - Trump denied knowing about the 2016 meeting his son Donald Trump Jr. and other campaign staff held at Trump Tower with a group of Russians who offered damaging information about Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. August 1, 2018 - Trump appealed to Attorney General Jeff Sessions to end the Russia investigation, drawing a rebuke from his fellow Republicans in Congress who said the probe must go on. The president tweeted: 'This is a terrible situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to stain our country any further.' August 5, 2018 - Trump acknowledged that his son met with Russians in 2016 at Trump Tower to get information on his election opponent Hillary Clinton, saying it was 'totally legal' and 'done all the time in politics.' Source: Reuters Advertisement The two men rarely speak to one another face to face. While Trump believes McGahn is not loyal enough, McGahn has called the president 'King Kong' behind his back because of his temper tantrums, the Times is reporting. Despite tensions over the Russia probe, however, McGahn has played a key role in one of Trump's signature accomplishments since he became president - the dozens of judicial appointments to the federal bench, including the Supreme Court. 'The president and Don have a great relationship,' White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a statement to the Times. 'He appreciates all the hard work he's done, particularly his help and expertise with the judges, and the Supreme Court' nominees. McGahn, his attorney, and the Special Counsel's office declined to comment. Trump's in-house guardrail: White House Counsel Don McGahn White House counsel Donald McGahn, left, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a cabinet meeting in the Cabinet Room of the White House, Thursday, Aug. 16, 2018 As Donald Trump raged in an Oval Office filled with tense senior aides, he trained his eyes on one in particular: White House Counsel Don McGahn. During a tirade on March 3, 2017, Trump erupted over his attorney general's decision to step out of a sensitive investigation on Russian contacts and tangled with his team over how to redo his troubled travel ban. His angriest remarks were reserved for McGahn, who was tasked with making a complex legal case on both fronts to a president concerned about political optics. But less than 24 hours after being on the receiving end of a Trump smackdown, McGahn was in Florida with his boss at an amiable work session and dinner. The new travel ban the president signed days later showed he took the lawyer's advice to stop pursuing his appeal of the first one. In a White House that prides itself on defying the system, McGahn often has the unenviable task of defining that system's parameters. He's an in-house guardrail for a president who likes to veer out of traditional bounds, and McGahn certainly doesn't win all of his battles. Yet for far longer than anyone in the White House outside of Trump's family, McGahn has retained his status of trusted confidant and adviser to a man who isn't interested in making the job easy. 'Don's style is such that it avoids having him get sucked into the vortex,' said Leonard Leo, an adviser to the White House on the Supreme Court nomination process and judicial and legal appointments. 'He's not yapping in the president's ear just for the sake of being close to power. So when they do talk, it's more meaningful.' McGahn - a 49-year-old election lawyer who ended his side-gig as a guitarist in an '80s cover band to take on the all-consuming his White House post - walked into an empty West Wing office on Jan. 20. He's lived the past year and a half in dog years. In rapid fire, he's fielded unprecedented ethics questions, suffered a bruising legal defeat on a signature policy and managed the hiring, and one firing, of prominent officials. A single tweet can send him scrambling without warning, as last weekend when the president accused former President Barack Obama of wire-tapping his phone at Trump Tower. McGahn and his team were dispatched to find out what, if any, options the president had to learn more about the situation, according to former White House spokesman Sean Spicer, who disputed there was anything inappropriate about the inquiry. As the campaign's general counsel, McGahn was with Trump on June 16, 2015, the day he announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination 'If you know Don and the team here, these are unbelievably talented lawyers,' Spicer said Monday. 'They are very skilled at knowing where the bounds are.' McGahn declined to comment for this story. In one of his few interviews, with a conservative TV station during the Republican National Convention last summer, he laughed when asked to preview what Trump would say in his speech that night: 'I wouldn't dare begin to guess what Mr. Trump is going to say.' His boss' unpredictability isn't McGahn's only challenge. Trump's business ties raise a pile of legal and ethical quandaries for this White House. McGahn has hired 26 senior lawyers for his Office of the White House Counsel, including a team of four to contend with the nonstop questions that dog a billionaire president who retains a financial interest in his global real estate and marketing empire. He has sought advice and support from many of his predecessors, including Obama's first chief White House Counsel Bob Bauer and George H.W. Bush's top attorney C. Boyden Gray. 'It was more of a commiseration,' Gray said of his conversation with McGahn. While the elder Bush had a successful private-sector career in which he pioneered offshore drilling, he'd sold everything off by the time he went into politics, he said. 'There weren't the entanglements the Trump family has.' As the campaign's general counsel, McGahn was with Trump on June 16, 2015, the day he announced his bid for the Republican presidential nomination. He was with him on the ground in every important primary state and again on Nov. 8, 2016, as the final results rolled in. Only Jared Kushner, the president's son-in-law-turned adviser, has also traveled each step in Trump's improbable rise. That familiarity has made McGahn comfortable enough with Trump to push him without permanently damaging their relationship - even if a discussion becomes 'heated' or 'spirited,' as two administration officials described last week's exchange. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private conversations. It fell to McGahn to explain that it was up to no one but Attorney General Jeff Sessions to make the decision to recuse himself from any investigation into Trump campaign links to Russia - a move that Trump argued felt like an admission of defeat. 'It can be emotionally draining,' the adviser Leo said. 'You don't just have to answer complex legal questions, but you have to do so in a way that is accepted and embraced by your boss.' Although Trump's first travel ban was written with little legal vetting, McGahn took heat for it as courts blocked it. Some legal experts called the executive order sloppy. The federal appeals panel said it could not rely on McGahn's after-the-fact written assurance that lawful permanent residents were exempt. The new ban expressly does not apply to that group. McGahn also was in the middle of the ouster of Michael Flynn, Trump's first national security adviser. According to the White House, he was the first to learn from the acting attorney general, Sally Yates, that Flynn had not been forthcoming about the nature of his contacts with the Russian ambassador to the U.S. McGahn took the information to Trump that same day, although Flynn wasn't fired until after details were made public. McGahn, who friends say has both the humor and intensity to withstand pressure, is a former chairman of the Federal Election Commission, where he pushed to give political groups and candidates more flexibility in raising and spending money. His wife, Shannon McGahn, recently joined the Treasury Department as a senior adviser, after serving as staff director for the House Financial Services Committee. Source: Associated Press Advertisement In March of last year, footage emerged appearing to show the impact of an agitated Trump dressing down top aides Steve Bannon and Reince Priebus on Friday. But the footage actually depicted fallout from the president directing his ire at McGahn, according to three sources familiar with the tense meeting. 'He was chewing out the White House counsel about Sessions,' a senior administration official told DailyMail.com, referring to Sessions' move to recuse himself from federal investigations linking Russian officials with Trump campaign personnel. Sessions' move came hours after Trump said he had 'total' confidence in Sessions, and shortly after then-White House press secretary Sean Spicer pre-recorded a Fox news Channel interview in which he said there was no reason for Sessions to step away. McGahn absorbed most of Hurricane Donald's force after the president found glowing media coverage following his well-received speech to a Joint session of Congress crowded out by the Sessions mini-scandal. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull held a 'crisis meeting' on Sunday night amid reports he could face a leadership challenge before the end of the year. The Cabinet officially met at Parliament House to discuss energy policy over dinner, but the talks were also said to be held to allow the prime minister to shore up his job. Fairfax reported that supporters of Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton say he has the numbers to win and is looking to challenge Mr Turnbull for the top job. Scroll down for video Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is hosting a 'crisis meeting' at the Lodge as rumours swirl that he will be facing a leadership challenge before the end of the year It is believed that Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton is being pressured to call for a leadership challenge High-profile attendees seen entering the dinner included Treasurer Scott Morrison, Leader of the House Christopher Pyne and Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack. Nine News reported that one of Mr Dutton's backers in the Liberal Party said 'We are going off a cliff under Turnbull' when asked why the party would contemplate another potentially damaging spill. 'I think Malcolm Turnbull is terminal and will be very surprised if he is still leader by the end of the year,' another said. But not all were complimentary of Mr Dutton's abilities, one senior Liberal saying, 'Peter Dutton is one of the most unpopular people in government. It would be electoral suicide to have him as leader.' Mr Turnbull outlined further changes to his controversial National Energy Guarantee in a video posted to Facebook on Saturday amid increasing pressure from within his own party. The prime minister said power companies would face default energy prices, as well as tough penalties for providers that failed to bring costs down. 'There is no single reason for these prices and so there is no single solution, which is why we have been taking action across the board,' he said in the video. The video came after Mr Turnbull changed his stance on legislating the Paris emissions reduction targets in his policy after rebel MPs threatened to cross the floor. Meanwhile, the latest Fairfax-Ipsos poll shows the Coalition's primary vote dropped from 39 to 33 per cent over the past month following disputes on energy and speculation over the leadership, The Age reported. But the prime minister waved off any speculation of a leadership spill over the weekend telling reporters that he will be focusing on the National Energy Guarantee. 'I'm focused on getting energy prices down and I'll leave you to all of the speculation,' he told ABC. The Prime Minister waved off any speculation of a leadership spill telling reporters that he will be focusing on the National Energy Guarantee And despite the ledership challenge rumours, Mr Dutton tweeted on Saturday reiterating his support for Mr Turnbull. 'In relation to media stories today, just to make it very clear, the Prime Minister has my support and I support the policies of the Government,' he said on Twitter. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann told Sky News on Friday 'I'm not aware of any such talk, nobody has raised that with me' and Mr Pyne said there was some 'hyperventilating' from colleagues. 'The cabinet is 100 per cent united behind Malcolm Turnbull, and in the party room on Tuesday only four people said that they reserved their right not to vote for the NEG,' Mr Pyne said. A formal sign-off on NEG is not expected until later this week. Professor John Pitcher pictured after the employment tribunal A top Oxford University professor was forced to retire by college bosses in favour of diversity, an employment tribunal heard. Professor John Pitcher wanted to carry on working as an English tutor and official fellow, but was told he would have to retire at 67 to help promote the university's 'diversity'. A specialist in Shakespeare, Elizabethan and Jacobean literature and poetry, he had worked at the prestigious St John's The Baptist College in the University of Oxford for more than 36 years. In December 2012 a retirement date was set for September 30, 2016, but Professor Pitcher was then made a Founder's Fellow on a fixed term from 2014 to 2020. But Professor Pitcher, now 69, claims he was 'forcibly retired' on that date after the university and college applied a Employment Justified Retirement Age (EJRA) policy. The college said the retirement was to 'safeguard the high standards' of the the university as well as 'inter-generational fairness' and to 'refresh the workforce'. 'Succession planning' and 'diversity' were also used to justify the move, an employment tribunal heard. EJRAs were introduced after the default retirement age was scraped by the government in 2010. The head of division at the university wrote to Professor Pritcher in 2014 with a notice of intended retirement date, and that it could be extended under EJRA. A university panel met on January 26, 2016, and he was written to two month later stating his employment would not be extended to September 2020. He appealed against that decision in March 2016, but that was rejected and a formal grievance was lodged. A colleague at the university, Professor Denis Galligan, successfully challenged the EJRA principle at the appeal court, in which the university panel was heavily criticised. Now Professor Pritcher is suing the college and university for unfair dismissal on the grounds of age discrimination. He said in court documents submitted to Watford Employment Tribunal that the university knew its actions were discriminatory, but carried on because it was 'legally justified'. Professor Pitcher said: 'I believe that decision was discriminatory because of age and was not justified and was also unfair. 'The EJRA for both the college and university which applied to me applied a retirement age of 67 years that retained the status quo from the mid-1980s. 'This age is far too low and I can see that I would be able to carry on working, as would many of my colleagues, well into my mid-70s. 'I felt it was unfair that I had to try and "convince" the university and college panels that my continued employment was appropriate. 'To be forced to reapply for my job by trying to satisfy an unreasonably high threshold test that I am virtually indispensable to the university when I had decades of impeccable service is degrading and humiliating.' During part of the academic year from 2011 to 2012, Professor Pitcher was off sick after suffering a subdural haematoma and was unable to continue his research into 17th Century English poet and historian Samuel Daniel. He claims the university appointed another tutor to take over his teaching duties on a five year contract before he was dismissed. In 2014 he was awarded university distinction title and was given the right to be called a Professor. Although he was the first Professor to have applied through the EJRA, two other professors have successfully appealed against the process since. A specialist in Shakespeare, Elizabethan and Jacobean literature and poetry, he had worked at the prestigious St John's The Baptist College (pictured) in the University of Oxford for more than 36 years No other Russell Group university, except Cambridge, has retained a retirement age, the claimant's witness statement said. Professor Pitcher added: 'None of these other institutions have reduced their standards by not forcibly retiring staff. 'There is no evidence to support the need to "refresh" the academic workforce in terms of turnover. 'The university is effectively seeking to justify discrimination on the grounds of age in order to promote equality and diversity of other protected characteristics. 'I fully accept the importance of equality and diversity. I am myself from a working class background and the importance of these kinds of social aims weighs strongly with me. 'I did not wish to retire, as I did not see the relevance of my age to my ability to carry out the duties of my post in research or teaching for the duties of the Founder's Fellow.' Professor Pitcher claims he was let go despite raising more than 1 million in donations for the college. Since the decision to enforce the initial retirement date, Professor Pitcher said he was removed from the university website and does not feature in online directory, and was offered unpaid Emerius status. But Professor Maggie Snowling, President of the college and who chaired the panel that made the decision to retire Professor Pitcher, said the move had helped diversity. In a witness statement, she said: 'I believe the decision not to accept the application John made was the right one. 'A decision not to allow John to work beyond his EJRA is not to question any of the work that he has done. 'The EJRA helped both the college and university take steps towards a more diverse academic body and will continue to do so. 'It is a proportionate means of ensuring increasing diversity and inter-generational fairness.' Professor Pitcher, who lives in Oxford, is claiming more than 102,000 in loss of earnings from both his college and university salary over around 18 months. He earned 83,000 a year for his official fellow and English tutor roles plus a housing allowance of 18,000. The college argued he still receives support such as paying below market rent at college accommodation, college lunches and dinners as well as access to the library and a research allowance. The tribunal continues. Flushing contact lenses down the sink or toilet is adding to plastic pollution in oceans and rivers - and could even lead to them being served up in our food, new research has warned. Some 4.2million people in the UK wear contact lenses, and one in five wearers dispose of them through the drainage system instead of with other solid waste - sometimes after just a single day's use. Now a research team based in the US has shown for the first time how they can get eaten by fish and other marine life and be returned to us on our plates. The study, presented at an American Chemical Society meeting in Boston, was inspired by personal experience. Dr Rolf Halden, an environmental health engineer at Arizona State University, said: 'I had worn glasses and contact lenses for most of my adult life. Flushing contact lenses down the sink or toilet is adding to plastic pollution in oceans and rivers, a new study has warned (file photo) 'But I started to wonder, has anyone done research on what happens to these plastic lenses?' His team had already been investigating plastic pollution and it was a startling wake-up call when they could not find any relevant studies. Lab member Charlie Rolsky, a PhD student, told the conference: 'We began looking into the US market and conducted a survey of 139 people. 'We found 19 per cent of contact wearers are flushing the lenses down the sink or toilet.' He added: 'This is a pretty large number, considering roughly 45 million people in the US alone wear contact lenses.' The team estimates up to 10 metric tons of plastic lenses end up in wastewater in the US alone each year. As they are denser than water they sink and endanger aquatic life, especially bottom feeders that may ingest them, explained Dr Halden. But transparent material is difficult to observe in wastewater. What is more, contact lenses are different from plastics used in other products, such as polypropylene, found in everything from car batteries to textiles. They are often made with a combination of poly(methylmethacrylate), silicones and fluoropolymers to create a softer material that allows oxygen to pass through the lens to the eye. So it is unclear how wastewater treatment affects them. In the first study of its kind five polymers found in many contact lenses were scanned after being exposed for varying time to microorganisms in wastewater treatment plants. A research team has estimated that up to 10 metric tons of plastic lenses end up in wastewater in the US alone each year (file photo) Graduate research assistant Varun Kelkar said: 'We found there were noticeable changes in the bonds of the contact lenses after long term treatment with the plant's microbes.' The microbes actually altered the surface of the lenses, weakening the plastic polymers. Mr Kelkar said: 'When the plastic loses some of its structural strength, it will break down physically. This leads to smaller plastic particles which would ultimately lead to the formation of microplastics.' Aquatic organisms can mistake microplastics for food and since plastics are indigestible, this dramatically affects the marine animals' digestive system. These animals are part of a long food chain. Some eventually find their way to the food supply, which could lead to people being exposed to plastic contaminants and pollutants that stick to the surfaces. By calling attention to the problem, the team hope lens manufacturers will take note and, at the very least, provide a label on the packaging describing how to properly dispose of them with other solid waste. Dr Halden added: 'Ultimately, we hope manufacturers will conduct more research on how the lenses impact aquatic life and how fast the lenses degrade in a marine environment.' Microplastics are particles measuring less than five millimetres (0.2 inches). Improper disposal has resulted in tonnes of waste making its way into the ocean. They have been found in three in four deep sea fish. The amount of plastic rubbish in the world's oceans will outweigh fish by 2050 unless the world takes drastic action to further recycle. More than 80 per cent of the world's tap water is contaminated with plastic. Scientists warn microplastics are so small they could penetrate organs. Creatures of all shapes and sizes have been found to have consumed the plastics, whether directly or indirectly. Previous research has also revealed microplastics absorb toxic chemicals, which are then released in the gut of animals. Advertisement The Indian flooding death toll has risen to over 350 with more than 800,000 people in total displaced by the natural disaster. Experts are labeling the deluge which has smashed the southern Indian state of Kerala this week as 'the worst flooding in a century' as rescuers battle to save those still cut off by the floods. Authorities are also rushing to bring drinking water to the most affected areas, officials said Sunday. P.H. Kurian, a top disaster management official in Kerala said rainfall in some areas went well over double that of a typical monsoon season. Thousands of rescuers were continuing efforts to reach out to stranded people and get relief supplies to isolated areas by hundreds of boats and nearly two dozen helicopters, Kurian said. He said weather conditions had improved considerably and expected the nearly 10,000 people still stranded to be rescued by Monday. Scroll down for video An elderly man is carried to safety by rescue workers in the southern Indian village of Mala in Thrissur, Kerala on Sunday morning Rescuers have been using inflatable dinghys and life jackets to carry children and the elderly to safety after the flooding Aerial shots showed the extent of the flooding which has displaced over 800,000 Indians in rural areas of the state of Kerala An estimated 800,000 people have taken shelter in some 4,000 relief camps across Kerala, Kurian said. Large parts of southern India have been battered by heavy rain for weeks, which has triggered floors and landslides causing death and destruction. At least 190 people have died in the flash flooding caused by torrential rain since August 8, while 350 have died in the three months of the rainy season. The floods have triggered landslides and sent torrents sweeping through villages. Heavy rain hit parts of Kerala again this morning, which has slowed attempts to deploy rescuers and get relief supplies to isolated areas. Many have seen no help for days and can only be reached by boat or helicopter, although rescue attempts are underway in some parts. Authorities said they were being inundated with calls for assistance, local media reported. 'We are receiving multiple repetitive rescue requests,' the office of the state's top official, Pinarayi Vijayan, said Friday in a tweet, asking those in need to provide their exact location and nearby landmarks so rescuers can find them. Officials have called it the worst flooding in Kerala in a century, with rainfall in some areas well over double that of a typical monsoon season. The downpours that started August 8 have triggered floods and landslides and caused homes and bridges to collapse across Kerala, a picturesque state known for its quiet tropical backwaters and beautiful beaches. A house is totally enveloped in water in Chengannur in the southern state of Kerala as a rescue helicopter circles overhead Aid workers dropped much needed supplies to stranded people in a house in rural areas of the state as they waited to be rescued A woman wades out in waist deep flood water to tell rescuers there are people trapped in a building as they rush to help Hundreds of rescued flood victims wait to receive food in a college auditorium in the city of Kochi, southern India Formerly thriving towns became uninhabited wastelands after mud carried by the floods blanketed populous urban areas Relief workers form a human chain to carry much-needed supplies to the people displaced by the severe flooding in Kerala Hundreds of rescue workers clad in life jackets have been working tirelessly to help free people who have been left stranded A man carrying a goat walks away from a flooded village as people and livestock were brought to safety after the floods Officials estimate more than 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) of roads have been damaged. One of the state's major airports, in the city of Kochi, has been closed Hundreds of troops and local fishermen are staging desperate rescue attempts with helicopters and boats across the southern state, which draws international tourists to its tropical hills and beaches. With thousands still trapped, power and communication lines down and fresh alerts of further torrential rain, authorities warned of more trouble ahead and further deaths to come. 'We are deploying more boats and army to ramp up rescue operations,' senior state government official P.H. Kurian said. More than 30 military helicopters and 320 boats are attempting rescues across Kerala. Authorities said thousands of people have been taken to safety so far but 6,000 more are still waiting for rescue. Helicopters have also been dropping emergency food and water supplies, while special trains carrying drinking water have been sent to Kerala. According to India's weather bureau, since the beginning of June more than 126 inches of rain has fallen on the hilly central Kerala district of Idukki, which is now virtually cut off from the rest of the state. Houses and properties have been completely destroyed by the flash floods and landslides in the south Indian state of Kerala Rescuers help a woman to move through a water-logged road after she was evacuated from a flooded area in Aluva in the southern state of Kerala A boat carries relief material towards flooded areas in Thrissur, in the southern Indian state of Kerala as efforts were stepped up on Saturday Indian People are airlifted by Navy personnel during a rescue operation at a flooded area in Paravoor near Kochi, in the Indian state of Kerala today With no end in sight to the deluge, people all over the state of 33 million people have made panic-stricken appeals on social media for help, saying they cannot make contact with rescue services. 'My family and neighbouring families are in trouble,' wrote Ajo Varghese, a resident of the coastal city of Alappuzha, in a Facebook post that quickly went viral. 'No water and food. Not able to communicate from afternoon. Mobile phones are not reachable... Please help,' he added. Other messages have been sent from people trapped inside temples and hospitals as well as their homes. The Kerala government has said it faces an 'extremely grave' crisis and state chief minister Vijayan warned of a new wave of rainfall hitting the battered region over the weekend. Strong winds have also been predicted for Saturday and Sunday. The gates of dozens of dams and reservoirs across the state have been opened as water levels reach danger levels, inundating many other villages. North and central Kerala have been worst-hit by the floods with the international airport in the main city of Kochi shut until at least August 26. A family crowds into a tiny dinghy while rescue workers wade through the floods hauling them to safety as the rain continues to fall on Friday The government says 6,000 miles of Kerala roads have been destroyed or damaged, along with thousands of homes A rescuer saves a a drowning man from a flooded area after the opening of Idamalayr, Cheruthoni and Mullaperiyar dam shutters People all over Kerala have made panic-stricken appeals on social media for help, saying they cannot make contact with rescue services Partially submerged trucks are seen surrounded by floodwaters at a parking bay after the opening of Idamalayr, Cheruthoni and Mullaperiyar dam shutters following heavy rains, on the outskirts of Kochi Thousands are still waiting for relief and rescue across the flood-ravaged state with more than 800,000 staying in temporary rescue camps Christopher Frost, 31, (pictured) was assaulted outside a Cambridge pub on Friday and died from the injuries A 31-year-old man who was assaulted outside a Cambridge pub on Friday, has died from his injuries, police said. Christopher Frost of Lode in Cambridgeshire, died in hospital on Saturday evening after an incident on Friday. At 11.35pm, Cambridgeshire Police were called to reports of violence outside The Brook pub, Brookfields. Dennis Hurworth, 31, of Cambridge, has been charged with manslaughter and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Monday. In a statement released through the police, Mr Frost's family said: 'The loss felt throughout our family is impossible to describe. We're devastated by the loss of our beloved Chris. 'We ask that our privacy is respected as we continue to grieve. We would like to thank and commend both the police, and the staff at Addenbrooke's Hospital for their incredible support and care.' At 11.35pm, Cambridgeshire Police were called to reports of violence outside The Brook pub, Brookfields Dennis Hurworth, 31, of Nuns Way, Cambridge, has been charged with manslaughter and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on Monday An easyJet flight from Manchester to Gibraltar had to be diverted after a passenger started to act 'drunk' and became 'rowdy.' The disruptive passenger was met by police once the Sunday morning flight landed in Porto and two friends travelling with him also left the plane. After refueling, the plane continued to Gibraltar and arrived around an hour and a half behind schedule. An outgoing Gibraltar to Manchester flight was also delayed by around two hours due to the commotion. An easyJet flight from Manchester to Gibraltar was diverted to Porto after a passenger 'behaved disruptively' onboard this morning A subsequent Gibraltar to Manchester flight was also delayed by around two hours due to the commotion caused by the diversion EasyJet have apologised for 'any inconvenience caused' and that they 'do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard and always push for prosecution.' Passengers who were also on the plane told GBC the man was 'drunk and rowdy.' They praised EasyJet's crew for how well they handled the difficult situation. A spokesman for EasyJet said: 'easyJet can confirm that flight EZY1963 from Manchester to Gibraltar diverted to Porto on 19 August due to a passenger onboard behaving disruptively. 'The safety and welfare of our passengers and crew is easyJet's highest priority. The flight made it to Gibraltar an hour and a half behind schedule. Other passengers on the flight praised easyJet's staff for how well they handled the situation The passenger was escorted off by police once the plane landed in Porto. Two friends travelling with him also disembarked, according to witnesses 'easyJet's crew are trained to assess and evaluate all incidents. Whilst such incidents are rare, we take them very seriously do not tolerate abusive or threatening behaviour onboard and always push for prosecution. 'Police met the aircraft on landing and escorted the passenger off the aircraft. Two customers accompanying the passenger also chose to disembark. 'The aircraft has since continued on to Gibraltar and we would like to apologise to all passengers for any inconvenience caused by the delay.' A South Carolina bar is under fire after the bar owner fired the manager and staff because the crowd at the bar became 'too dark', attracting a predominately African American crowd. Moosehead Saloon owner Matt Shmanske reportedly sent a text message to his former manager in June saying 'whatever is happening to the crowd shift, I want it to stop now. It's gone too far. I will bring in a entire [new] staff if needed'. He complained that the bar was attracting more black customers and had too many black employees working there,' according to The State. He then fired his staff at the Columbia bar on July 2, demanded employees play less hip hop music and bouncers allegedly tightened restrictions on who could get in. South Carolina Moosehead Saloon is being accused of racism after owner Matt Shmanske said his bar was becoming 'too dark', meaning it was filled with more black patrons and employees The bar owner fired all his employees in July and rehired a select few black workers. He demanded less hip hop music be played and bouncers crack down on who is allowed in Bar owner Matt Shmanske, pictured in 2007, sent his manager a text in June saying: 'whatever is happening to the crowd shift, I want it to stop now... I will bring in a entire [new] staff if needed' A black customer was reportedly denied entry for wearing a solid-colored shirt which was against the dress code, yet a white man wearing a solid-colored top was let in. Other banned dress code items at the bar have been interpreted as racially biased as list items include grills, baggy clothing, and chains. A screenshot of Shmanske's text message to former manager Josh Sutton was shared among employees and was later posted online by the bar's social media head Trent Brown. The text read: 'I need all new employees and bartenders to fill out new hire form tonight.' 'Josh whatever is happening to the crowd shift I want it to stop now. It's gone too far. I will bring in a entire [new] staff if needed.' Brown posted a summary of the bar owner's actions on Snapchat, where it was viewed by nearly 400 people. Bar owner's message Bar owner Matt Shmanske texted his manager Josh Sutton: 'I need all new employees and bartenders to fill out new hire form tonight.' 'Josh whatever is happening to the crowd shift I want it to stop now. It's gone too far. I will bring in a entire [new] staff if needed.' Advertisement It read: 'The manager of Moosehead along with a mostly black staff was fired this week by the owner. According to the owner he didn't like the "crowd shift" and the bar was getting "too dark". Because of these "Dark" people that filled Moosehead Saloon every weekend, Moosehead has NEVER been as busy or as profitable than it has been this past year. I've seen the numbers and I've seen how Moosehead struggled before my Manager Josh got there. So I will not be working for or supporting that bar anywhere. Stay tuned for my next moves...' Sutton, who is white and worked at the bar for two years, said he was shocked when his boss complained the bar was becoming 'too dark'. 'He said they (the bouncers) were all trash and didnt work,' Sutton said to The State on the majority black bouncers. 'He was like you dont have the people in the bar that I want in the bar. There was no need to carry on the conversation anymore. I told him Im not going to fire anybody because of their skin color. Youre going to have to fire me if you want that done,' Sutton added. His boss Shmanske formerly said Sutton was a member of his 'dream team' and a part of the 'hardest working staff' he knew. He along with other staff were fired in early July and told to reapply for their jobs. Former manager Josh Sutton, who is white and pictured above, received the 'crowd shift message' which he shared with some employees. That text was shared online where it ignited a social media storm, leading to a stream of negative comments on the bar's review pages Several say the dress code is racially biased banning chains, grills, and baggy clothing. A black customer says he was denied entry for wearing a banned solid-colored shirt, but a white man wearing the same thing was allowed in Moosehead Saloon's review pages are now inundated with negative reviews alleging racism Negative reviews: One user said 'Do not patronize this racist bar' Yelp users have left comments accusing the business of being racist and discriminatory At least two African American employees were invited back, but refused to return. Of the black employees eight to 10 were of the bouncers were black and three of the seven bartenders were black. Fired black bouncer Marcus Hughes, who started working at Moosehead Saloon in October 2017, said the bar was doing well prior to the firing. He didn't get re-offered a position at the bar. 'I dont see any reason I would have been let go. I wasnt late. I did my job and made sure everything was done. There wasnt any viable reason for Josh and everyone else to get fired,' Hughes said. Moosehead Saloon is just one of the bars Shmanske owns in the area. His other bars including Thirsty Parrot and Latitude 22 are also being plagued with negative online reviews following his racist business crack down. One Tripadvisor user accused the pub of racial profiling saying: 'Purposefully keeping certain people from entering based on "rules" made up in the moment. Blatant disregard for diversity & inclusion.' A Yelp reviewer wrote: 'I went in for a fun evening, but then noticed that Matt Schmanske was giving me funny looks...After being told about his attitude regarding wanting a "lighter" crowd, I put two and two together. To be singled out because I wasn't light enough was very upsetting, and I will never tolerate such poor business practices. DO NOT PATRONIZE THIS RACIST BAR.' 'Racist business owner. My money will go elsewhere,' another reviewer wrote. 'Best bar in South Carolina....for racists,' another added. A California man detained by immigration agents while he was driving his pregnant wife to the hospital for a scheduled C-section is wanted in connection to a murder in Mexico. Joel Arrona Lara's arrest in San Bernardino, California on Wednesday prompted outrage after his wife Maria del Carmen Venegas revealed she was forced to drive herself to the hospital to give birth. But Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials have since revealed that Arrona, 35, was detained because he was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant in a homicide case in Mexico. Venegas, 32, said she and her husband were driving to the hospital last week when they stopped for gas in San Bernardino, just east of Los Angeles. Scroll down for video Joel Arrona Lara, 35, was detained at a gas station San Bernardino, California on Wednesday while he was driving his pregnant wife to the hospital for a scheduled C-section His arrest prompted outrage after his wife Maria del Carmen Venegas revealed she was left alone at the gas station (above) and then forced to drive herself to the hospital to give birth Surveillance footage shows two vehicles immediately flank the couple's van after they pulled into the gas station. ICE agents questioned the couple and asked for identification. Venegas said she provided hers but that Arrona had left his at home in their rush to the hospital. The surveillance footage shows the agents handcuffing Arrona and taking him away, leaving a sobbing Venegas alone at the gas station. Venegas said she drove herself to the hospital for a scheduled cesarean section for the birth of her fifth child. 'I feel terrible,' Venegas said in a telephone interview from the hospital as her newborn son Damian cried in the background. 'We need him now more than ever.' Venegas said she and her husband came to the US 12 years ago from the city of Leon in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato. They do not have legal authorization to live in the US and all five of their children are US citizens. ICE officials have since revealed that Arrona was detained because he was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant in a homicide case in Mexico His wife earlier described him as a hard worker and the sole provider of the family. She claimed her husband (above with four of their children) hadn't committed any crimes Venegas said she drove herself to the hospital for a scheduled cesarean section for the birth of her fifth child (pictured above) Venegas said her husband is a hard worker and the sole provider of the family. She claimed her husband had never committed any crimes. Authorities released a statement Saturday afternoon saying Arrona 'was brought to ICE's attention due to an outstanding warrant issued for his arrest in Mexico on homicide charges'. ICE said agents with the agency's Fugitive Operations Team detained Arrona on Wednesday and said he remained in custody pending removal proceedings. Though the team prioritizes arresting immigrants who are transnational gang members, child sex offenders and those who've had previous convictions for violent crimes, the agency's statement said it 'will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement'. 'All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States,' the statement said. Emilio Amaya Garcia, director of the San Bernardino Community Service Center, said his nonprofit group is providing legal help to Venegas and Arrona, will file a motion on Monday for an immigration court to set a bail hearing for Arrona and will ask that his removal proceedings be canceled. Garcia did not respond to messages and calls for comment about the arrest warrant in Mexico. An AFL legend has called for a lifetime ban for a fan after they threw a bottle onto the field during a weekend game at Etihad Stadium. Jimmy Bartel, a former Geelong player and Brownlow and Norm Smith Medalist, has said the league should consider a lifetime ban after the incident in which the bottle was hurled from the crowd. The almost full Coke bottle landed between Carlton's Dale Thomas and the Bulldogs Lachie Hunter. Jimmy Bartel (pictured in 2016 with wife Nadia) has said the league should consider a lifetime ban after the incident in which the bottle was hurled from the crowd on Sunday The almost full Coke bottle landed between Carlton's Dale Thomas (pictured) and the Bulldogs Lachie Hunter In the moments before the bottle was thrown (pictured), Thomas had been involved in shoving with Bulldogs players In the moments before the bottle was thrown Thomas had been involved in shoving with Bulldogs players after Jed Lamb caused a 50m penalty due to hitting Marcus Bontempelli in the back. 'Lachie said it landed between him and Daisy, so he wasn't sure who it was aimed at but I certainly don't condone it and you hope whoever threw it, they got rid of them,' Bulldogs captain Easton Wood told the Herald Sun. Victoria Police ejected the man from the stadium according to the Herald Sun with the AFL likely to review footage and come up with a punishment this week. Police in Tennessee are looking for two men whom they believe fatally shot two people during a robbery in a series of 'cold-blooded' killings. Jaime Sarrantonio, 30, and Bartley Teal, who was celebrating his 33rd birthday, were killed around 3.30am as they left The Cobra bar in Nashville. The suspects then fled the scene in a later model, small Chevy car before dumping the victims' belongings in a nearby alley. The murders are the latest in a string of unsolved shootings and robberies that have occurred in the city this past month, prompting authorities to believe they may all be connected. Police in Tennessee are looking for two men whom they believe fatally shot Jaime Sarrantonio, 30 (pictured), and Bartley Teal, 33, during a robbery in a series of 'cold-blooded' killings Teal (pictured) was celebrating his 33rd birthday on Friday when he, Sarrantonio, and two friends left The Cobra bar in Nashville around 3am to get snacks at a convenience store The four were approached by two black men who demanded that Teal turn over his belongings and, after he said he didn't have anything to give, shot him and Sarrantonio before taking off in a dark Chevy (pictured) Authorities said Teal and Sarrantonio were with two other people, a 34-year-old man and a 32-year-old woman, who were not injured. All four left The Cobra around 3am and stopped a nearby convenience store to buy snacks. Police believe the two suspects were looking for victims at random when they approached the four friends in the bar's parking lot. According to The Tennessean, they demanded that Teal turn over his belongings and, after he said he didn't have anything to give, shot him. It remains unclear why Sarrantonio was shot. The suspects, described as two black men - one had shoulder-length dreadlocks - drove away in a small, dark Chevrolet vehicle. The Metropolitan Nashville Police Department released a grainy, security camera photo of the men in the car on Twitter on Friday afternoon. The Tennessean reported that Sarrantonio was taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center where she died from her wounds and Teal was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died during surgery. The other victims were not injured. Teal (left) was taken to Vanderbilt University Medical Center where he died during surgery and Sarrantonio (right) was taken to TriStar Skyline Medical Center where she died from her wounds and Police said the victims' belongings were dumped in an alley on 23rd Avenue North (pictured), an area the suspects may be familiar with. The items are currently being processed for clues at the MNPD Crime Laboratory Police said the victims' belongings were dumped in an alley on 23rd Avenue North, an area the suspects may be familiar with, but they did not specify what the items were. The items are currently being processed for clues at the MNPD Crime Laboratory. MNPD Spokesman Don Aaron called the murders 'senseless cold-blooded homicides.' 'Officers throughout the city are on the lookout for two cold-blooded killers who obviously have no respect whatsoever for the sanctity for human life,' he said, according to WZTV. Police say the murders may be linked to several other local shootings that have occurred in Nashville earlier this month. On August 8, an unidentified woman was shot in the lower back while she was walking her dogs around 12.30am near her home. She told police that two men in a dark-colored sedan approached her and, after she told them to leave, shot her. The woman managed to call 911 but she has been left paralyzed from the tragedy. Police say the murders may be linked to several other local shootings that have occurred in Nashville earlier this month. Kendall Rice, 31 (pictured), was shot around 5am on August 14 while walking to catch the bus to work and witnesses say it was by men in a dark car Ryan Noble, 30, said he and two friends were approached on August 15 as they walked by The Cobra (pictured) by men with guns who demanded their belongings. Police said his description matched that of the suspects who are believed to have killed Teal and Sarrantonio On August 14, 31-year-old Kendall Rice was shot around 5am while walking to catch the bus to work. Witnesses said a dark-colored sedan drove up behind Rice and shot him with a rifle. He was pronounced dead at the scene. Just 15 minutes after Rice was killed, a man was shot and critically wounded in an apparent robbery just 3.5 miles away. Ryan Noble, 30, told The Tennessean that he and two friends were approached on August 15 as they walked by The Cobra. The men brandished guns and demanded their belongings. Police confirmed to the news outlet that Noble's description matched the description of the suspects who are believed to have killed Teal and Sarrantonio. A GoFundMe page has been started to raise funds for Sarrantonio's family. So far, $165 has been raised out of a $2,000 goal. Another GoFundMe page was created to help cover Teal's funeral expenses. Currently, more than $11,000 has been raised out of a $12,000 goal. Police are asking anyone with to call Crime Stoppers at 615-74-CRIME. Jemma Lilley loved horror films, had an obsession with knives, fantisised about murder and had multiple blocks of sharp blades in her home. But the British expat didn't just indulge in the macabre, she wanted to kill someone before the age of 25 - and her urge 'was getting stronger and stronger'. In November 2017, Jemma Victoria Lilley, 26, and Trudi Lenon, 43, were found guilty of murdering 18-year-old Aaron Pajich-Sweetman and Seven's Sunday Night explored what drove the then 23-year-old to kill. Scroll down for video Jemma Lilley (pictured left) and her bondage-loving housemate Trudi Lenon (right), who agreed to help her commit her first murder as her 'submissive' Aaron Pajich-Sweetman,18, (pictured) had trusted Trudi because of his friendship with her young son, she lured the teenager to a shopping centre and back to their home. Lilley grew up in the affluent town of Stamford, Lincolnshire - a two hour drive from London. She had an obsession with the idea of murder and from a young age and wrote a book as a teenager called 'Playzone'. Playzone was about a brazen killer, named S.O.S., who tortured their victim. When she was angry, she would tell people 'S.O.S. is coming out'. Despite supporting his daughters creativity, Richard Lilley said his daughter's work was 'a little bit too graphic'. He said: 'A lot of people thought she had a mental problem.' Lilley became a regular at her local video shop, managed by Angela McKibbin, and began to divulge her twisted fantasies. Despite supporting his daughters creativity, Richard Lilley (pictured) said his daughter's work was 'a little bit too graphic'. 'She liked horror movies. And that's the only genre she would rent,' the store manager told Sunday Night. Ms McKibbin said: 'She told me that she wanted to kill someone and that the feeling that she had was getting stronger and stronger. 'She didn't know if she could control it for much longer. And that she wanted to kill someone before she was 25.' Killers Lenon and Lilley's Perth home was filled with terrifying paraphernalia and multiple blocks of sharp knives. Lilley enlisted Lenon, a mother-of-three who lived with the 24-year-old in Perth. Lenon introduced her to Pajich-Sweetman, her son's friend who lived on the same street, whom she had known for eight years. In June, 2016 Lilley texted Lenon: 'I feel as though I cannot rest until the blood or flesh of a screaming victim is gushing out and pooling on the floor, until all the roads and streets are stained red.' Lenon replied, 'It is definitely time I am ready, you are ready.' That same month she murdered Pajich-Sweetman with the help of her bondage-loving housemate Lenon, who agreed to help her commit her first murder as her 'submissive'. Trudi Lenon, who became obsessed with the Briton, had a secret locked room where they tortured and killed their victim (pictured) Later, in the home the two shared, police found a large saucepan containing mouldy meat that they suspect was used in an experiment with hydrochloric acid. Lenon, who Pajich-Sweetman had trusted because of his friendship with her young son, lured the teenager to a shopping centre and back to their home. Pajich-Sweetman, who had Asperger's syndrome, was believed to have been killed just after arriving at the home, and was found buried beneath a concrete slab in the backyard a week later. Later, in the home the two shared, police found a large saucepan containing mouldy meat that they suspect was used in an experiment with hydrochloric acid When he was eventually found he had multiple stab wounds, had been garrotted and had cling film around his face. In Feburary, 2018 Lilley and Lenon were given life in jail for murder. Judge Stephen Hall said the pair had violent fantasies about murder and death, and chose their victim because he was vulnerable. 'The idea of killing another person was something that excited both of you. You killed for your own pleasure,' Judge Hall said. A British man accused of being involved in a precious metals fraud scheme in the United States, which allegedly defrauded investors out of more than 300,000 has been placed on the FBI's 'most wanted' list. James Ward, 65, from Scotland, allegedly defrauded investors under a scheme operating in Florida from September 2007 to March 2010. The scheme is said to have involved deals to buy metals such as gold, silver, and platinum and Mr Ward has been hunted by US authorities since 2012. British man James Ward (pictured) has been placed on the FBI's 'most wanted list' A notice on the FBI's website stated: 'Ward allegedly operated an entity called Kastle & Hawk, Inc., which solicited investors to buy precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum on a leveraged basis. 'Instead of investing the approximately 400,000 dollars Ward received from at least 12 investors, Ward allegedly used the money for his own personal use and benefit. 'No precious metals were ever acquired for investors.' A federal arrest warrant was issued in a Miami court for Glasgow-born Ward in 2012 after he was charged with wire fraud, the FBI said. He is described as being white, around 5ft 8ins tall, with hazel-coloured eyes and blond hair, which may change in colour. Described as being a securities broker, the Scot is said to have previously lived in Miami Beach, and he may travel within the UK, or to Canada and Mexico. Advertisement The British woman who plunged from a cruise liner into the Adriatic Sea on Saturday night before surviving a 10-hour ordeal in the water may have jumped, a crew member claimed today. Daniel Punch, who works aboard the Norwegian Star ship, said Kay Longstaff was unlikely to have fallen into the sea by accident. The air hostess, 46, plunged from the seventh deck of the 92,000-ton Norwegian Star 60 miles off the Croatian coast as it headed towards Venice on Saturday before being rescued 10 hours later - having sung to keep up her spirits. Mr Punch said in a Facebook exchange: 'She didn't fall, she jumped. It was on my ship. I spoke [to her] throughout the whole week. She was arguing with her fella the whole time.' Police are believed to be working on the theory that Ms Longstaff jumped and believe no foul play was involved, and Italian source told The Sun. The source spoke out as Ms Longstaff was released from hospital though declined to say anything about her fall. Ms Longstaff posted Facebook pictures of herself during the cruise including when the vessel docked off the Greek island of Santorini (pictured) last week Kay Longstaff, left, has been revealed as the British tourist who fell off the back of a cruise ship in the northern Adriatic The former air hostess posted an image of her boyfriend Craig Rayment showing off a birthday cake on board the ship (left). The couple are shown (right) together in a photo from his Facebook page British woman Kay Longstaff pulled from the Adriatic Sea 10 hours after falling from a cruise ship says she managed to survive the terrifying ordeal by 'singing' and her 'yoga fitness'. She is pictured smiling with her rescuers before being taken to hospital Footage from a Croatian broadcaster showed Kay Longstaff being helped on to dry land after her 10-hour ordeal in the sea The Briton was pulled from the water 10 hours after she fell from a cruise ship and has spoken about her miraculous rescue Passengers took pictures showing a taped off area on one of the ship's decks. It is not yet known how exactly she came to be in the water Another of her holiday snaps posted on Facebook shows the Norwegian Star near shore during the Mediterranean cruise last week The source said: 'Footage has been viewed and you can clearly see she was there on her own when she fell. She was not pushed. The theory we are working on is that she most likely jumped.' Police have spoken to her boyfriend Craig Rayment, an electrician, who confirmed the pair had been drinking and arguing before the plunge, the source added. After the fight he went back to their cabin before the crew informed him that Ms Longstaff was missing and they had found her bags and belongings, it is reported. Mr Rayment refused to comment ahead of Ms Longstaff's release from a hospital in the Croatian city of Pula. He said: 'I'm not interested in talking' before hanging up on reporters who reached him on his mobile. A British man living at Craig's old home in the holiday resort of Benalmadena, a terraced house in a quiet cul-de-sac he used to rent, said: 'He left here about six months ago and I don't know where he moved to. 'Kay wasn't living here with him. I know Craig but I'd never met Kay. The first time I saw her was on the news today when I switched on the TV and saw she'd been rescued.' A neighbour said: 'Craig rented next door but the blonde woman that was rescued didn't live with him. People keep themselves to themselves round here but I remember him and never saw her.' Another acquaintance added: 'I knew Craig was in a long-term relationship but I'd never met his girlfriend. 'He used to work on the oil rigs doing two weeks on and two weeks off and last time I saw him he was talking about going back to work on them.' It comes after a friend of Ms Longstaff said that she had a 'troubled past'. The 46-year-old, who does not wish to be named, said that he was 'very worried' about the Briton, who remains in hospital but is expected to be discharged today. Passengers have claimed Ms Longstaff, who lives in Benalmadena on Spain's Costa del Sol, had argued with friends before going overboard. MailOnline had earlier revealed how she plunged into the water after spending the evening drinking and left her handbag and passport on board. Ms Longstaff posted Facebook pictures of herself during the cruise including when the vessel docked off the Greek island of Santorini. She also posted a picture of Mr Rayment showing off a birthday cake. She was rescued after 10 hours in the sea with crew saying she managed to survive the terrifying ordeal by 'singing' and her 'yoga fitness'. The rescue ship's captain, Lovro Oreskovic, said that the Briton was exhausted and staff were 'extremely happy for saving a human life'. 'It is a real miracle that she is alive,' Oreskovic said today. 'On the cruiser ship they thought she is not. It's obvious that she's very fit.Luckily for her we saw her immediately because she raised and waved her hands when she saw us.' It is not yet clear how she came to be in the 25C water, but Ms Longstaff says she 'fell off' the back of the ship. Her disappearance at about midnight local time triggered a frantic search by the crew after the alarm was raised. The ship doubled back to the sea area where she was thought to be and carried out at least four passes in its search for the missing woman, before a coastguard cutter and Pilatus PC-9 spotter plane joined the hunt and found her at about 9.45am yesterday. Ms Longstaff, pictured smiling with her rescuers after being hauled from the sea, revealed: 'I fell off the back of the Norwegian Star, and was in the water for ten hours. Then these wonderful guys rescued me.' Cruise ship safety railings are designed to prevent people from falling overboard while decks are routinely monitored by CCTV cameras. Irena Hrstic, a spokeswoman for the hospital in Pula, confirmed that Ms Longstaff is being 'assessed for stress' but is 'physically fine'. 'She is excitedly waiting for her boyfriend to come and take her home,' Hrstic said. One of the crew who rescued her said: 'She said the fact that she practises yoga helped her as she was fit. And she said she was singing to not feel cold in the sea overnight.' British air hostess Kay Longstaff, 46, who now lives on the Costa del Sol, survived 10 hours in the water after falling from the Norwegian Star The British tourist used to work as cabin crew for Virgin Atlantic and now works on private planes. A friend wrote on her Facebook page: 'So pleased you're OK and your strength got you through that horrid ordeal. Bless you... so pleased you are OK darling.' Another said: 'OMG Kay! So glad you're OK, I couldn't believe my eyes.' Ms Longstaff told Croatian television she was 'lucky to be alive' and it is not yet known how she managed to survive all night in the water or if she had help staying afloat from a life ring. Other passengers who were on the liner said the incident had been captured on the 17-year-old ship's CCTV system. Norwegian Star had been heading back to Venice at the end of a seven-night eastern Mediterranean voyage taking in Kotor, Montenegro and the Greek islands when the drama unfolded. A Derbyshire businessman who was on board told the Daily Mail as passengers waited to disembark yesterday: 'We heard she was in a cabin on her own but had been travelling with family and friends. They raised the alarm when they realised she was missing. The ship turned around at about 2am and went back to the area where she fell. Coastguards found her at about midday local time today.' The passenger, who asked not to be named, said ship staff had used metal barriers to seal off the area where she is said to have fallen. 'We were told she had left her handbag, which contained her passport, on the deck before falling, and that the incident was captured on CCTV,' he added. 'Apparently she had been drinking.' Another passenger told the Sun that Ms Longstaff had been involved in arguments throughout the day. 'When getting off the boat, seven hours late, a number of passengers were saying there had been a midnight dispute amongst the Longstaff party,' the passenger said. Others spoke of chaos as the liner ran into delays - and hit out at Norwegian Cruise Line for failing to help international passengers with their onward travel once the ship had eventually docked at about 2.30pm. Ms Longstaff (pictured sat with her rescuers) said 'I fell of the back of the back of the Norwegian Star, and was in the water for ten hours. Then these wonderful guys rescued me' in a TV interview The 46-year-old air hostess fell from the seventh deck of the huge cruise ship around 60 miles off the coast of Croatia Ms Longstaff is pictured speaking to Croatian TV after she apparently fell at around midnight on Saturday Kay Longstaff, centre, who survived for ten hours having fallen off the Norwegian Star cruise liner into the Adriatic Sea Ms Longstaff is pictured left with a friend before her terrifying ordeal when she was left in the Adriatic sea for 10 hours Ms Longstaff is understood to be in hospital today as she recovers from her ordeal. She is pictured (centre) partying with friends in the Spanish resort of Marbella Survival was down to' perfect weather conditions' The British woman who fell from a cruise ship and spent 10 hours in the Adriatic Sea only survived because of 'perfect weather conditions'. Government officials in Croatia have told MailOnline that Kay Longstaff, 46 was 'extremely fortunate' to plunge into warm water when there was no wind and the ocean currents were very weak. David Radas, spokesman for the Ministry of Martime Affairs in Croatia said that part of the coast had frequent summer storms. He said: 'The only reason she survived for so long in the water is because of the perfect weather conditions on Saturday night and the early hours of Sunday. 'The sea was warm, about 25.C in temperature, there was no wind at all which is unusual and the currents were weak, probably moving at no more than 2mph. 'This part of the Adriatic Sea is usually very stormy during the summer and had that been the case on Saturday night, her chances of survival would have been greatly reduced. 'Had there been high waves and strong currents then she would have most likely drowned. As it was, one of the main dangers facing her was the possibility of being hit by a passing boat. 'We use a scale from one to 10 to measure the calmness of the sea and the stormiest waters we've had recorded off that section of coast is five. 'On Saturday night it was classified as number one, the lowest it could be. 'Physically she is in good health and her body is in good shape and this undoubtedly helped her to survive as well.' Advertisement One, called Bethany, told MailOnline: 'The cruise line was very unhelpful with helping us rebook travel plans. The only thing they gave us was 15 minutes of free WiFi to try and rebook travel arrangements. They also started a number system to get to the very few phones they did have available to use - they handed out numbers 1 (to about) 16 but only got up to number 6 while my family was number 13. 'Disembarkation was also a mess because they did not give any information regarding when we were getting off the ship. We had to sit around for hours just waiting for vague instructions.' She said that after 4am, she noticed 'we were going faster than usual' - supposedly when the vessel was making its way back to where Ms Longstaff had fallen. 'The captain made an announcement at around 6am saying a passenger went overboard and we were searching for her. I would say we spent about 3-5 hours searching for her until the captain said he was going to suspend the search and leave it for the Croatian search and rescue teams. 'He then said we would arrive in Venice at around 2:30pm but we did not get off the ship until 5pm. 'At around 4am I noticed we were going faster than usual and believed that was when we were traveling back to where she was thought to have fallen. My brother said he saw spot lights out our cabin window at around 5am.' Commenting on the railing around the ship, she said it would be 'rather difficult to get over' adding: 'I am 5ft 5ins and the railing went to about my chest.' The ship should have berthed in Venice at 8am but did not arrive until the afternoon, by which point Ms Longstaff had returned by sea to Pula, northern Croatia, and had been taken to hospital. She was found about a mile from where she fell in and was brought to safety after 10 hours when rescuers pulled her out of the sea and gave her emergency medical help. The British Embassy is said to be aware of the situation. A Croatian government spokesperson said the cruise ship staff would look at CCTV to find out how the British tourist had fallen into the sea. It was still not confirmed whether she fell or jumped, it was reported. David Radas, from the Croatian ministry of maritime affairs, said Ms Longstaff was 'extremely fortunate to be alive' 'The Crew on board the cruise liner originally had doubts that she would survive but she was picked up alive. 'She was waving her arms in the air and calling out when the coastguard first reached her. She was very relived to be saved.' Earlier, he told the Daily Telegraph that Ms Longstaff was 'not injured, just exhausted, hypothermic and in shock'. 'When they reached the coast, she felt pretty much recovered. That was also confirmed by the hospital staff after they conducted a preliminary health check'. Friends posted on the 46-year-old British tourist's Facebook page to express their relief that she had survived the ordeal A search was quickly launched using the Croatian Coast Guard patrol ship 'Cavtat' and an airplane PC-9 to look for the missing woman in the water A passenger calling herself Seafoam Sally, who started a thread on the incident on the cruisecritic.com web forum, said passengers were informed just after 6am yesterday that a passenger had gone overboard overnight. She added: 'Around 8am the captain notified us that he was suspending the search and rescue and heading back to Venice, but the Croatian coastguard would take over.' The Croatian rescue ship was scrambled from the port of Vargarola and found her swimming 1,400 yards from where she was believed to have fallen overboard. According to survival expert Mike Tipton, the water was warm and calm on the night Ms Longstaff went overbaord - factors that would have been in her favour. He said it was possible to survive in 20C water for up to about 25 hours. 'The problem is keeping your airway clear of the water. In this particular case there was a fair amount of swimming being done, but because there was a female involved, they have higher levels of body fat and are more able to float,' he told BBC Radio 4. 'The luckiest thing was they were able to find her. It really would have been like looking for a needle in a haystack.' The rescue mission would have been like 'looking for a needle in a haystack' but he added: 'Being female she is going to have about ten per cent more body fat than a man so she is going to be able to float.' The circumstances of the incident are being investigated and the British embassy in Croatia was informed. According to the Cruise Lines International Association, man overboard cases are not common - but there are no official statistics on the annual number. Its report said last year: 'Without exception, when investigations of MOB incidents are successfully concluded it is found that they were the result of an intentional or reckless act'. Rescue services at the scene after the British woman spent more than 10 hours in the water The British woman was rescued after falling off the cruise ship Norwegian Star (file photo) A Norwegian Cruise Line spokesperson said: 'In the morning of August 19, a guest went overboard as Norwegian Star made her way to Venice. 'The Coast Guard was notified and a search and rescue operation ensued. We are pleased to advise that the guest was found alive, is currently in stable condition, and has been taken ashore in Croatia for further treatment. 'We are very happy that the individual, who is a UK resident, is now safe and will soon be reunited with friends and family. They declined to comment on claims from fellow guests that the passenger had been filmed on CCTV falling from the ship. The firm said that it was working to assist guests whose onward travel plans had been affected by the ship's late return to port in Venice. The cruise line's website says the ship was recently refurbished and travels on round trips to the Caribbean, South America, the Mexican Riviera and the Panama Canal. It is said to feature '15 delicious dining options, 10 bars and lounges, a sprawling spa, an always-exciting casino with VIP area, plus tonnes of fun for kids of every age'. Deck seven, where the air hostess is said to have fallen from, is thought to house a theatre and at least five bars or cafes. Last month, a Norwegian Cruise worker was 'miraculously' rescued after 22 hours in the Atlantic without a life-jacket. Francis Rakochi Santiago, a Filipino cleaner on the Norwegian Getaway, was plucked out of the Atlantic Ocean after spending 22 hours in the water without a safety device before a Carnival Cruise Line ship found him. Director Boots Riley has given a sharp critique of Spike Lee's latest film BlacKkKlansman, claiming the movie based off a black police officer's account of infiltrating the Ku Klux Klan is actually a 'made-up story.' In a three-page essay posted to Twitter Friday, the Sorry to Bother You director criticized the content and timing of the film, writing: 'It's a made-up story in which the false parts try to make a cop the protagonist in the fight against racial oppression'. BlackKklansman is based on the story of Ron Stallworth, a black Colorado detective who infiltrated a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s and later wrote a book about the experience. But in the midst of today's Black Lives Matter movement Riley argues that Lee's film changed historical events to portray police officers as heroes fighting racism and claims the real-life Ron Stallworth is the true 'villain'. Sorry to Bother You director Boots Riley wrote a three-page essay critiquing Spike Lee's latest film BlacKkKlansman The movie is based on the true story of a black Colorado detective, played by John David Washington (right) who infiltrated a chapter of the Ku Klux Klan in the 1970s, but Riley claims many of the plot points were fabricated to depict cops as the heroes 'in the fight against racial oppression' Riley begins his essay with praise for Spike Lee, saying the director 'has been a huge influence on me' and is 'the reason I went to film school so many years ago.' But he also notes that like Lee, he too is an outspoken critic who won't 'hold my tongue'. In BlaKkKlansman, Stallworth, played by John David Washington, prevents a bomb from going off at a civil rights rally, subsequently making him the hero. Riley claims that event and many others in the film are fabricated to showcase the police in a positive light. 'To the extent that people of color deal with actual physical attacks and terrorizing due to racism and racist doctrines - we deal with it mostly from the police on a day to day basis. And not just from White cops. From Black cops too,' he writes. 'So for Spike to come out with a movie where a story points are fabricated in order make Black cop and his counterparts look like allies in the fight against racism is really disappointing, to put it very mildly.' The film is based off Stallworth's memoir of the same title, which Riley says was written to portray the officer in the best light. Riley claims the protagonist Stallworth is actually the 'villain' who worked against radical black anti-oppression groups Riley also claims that Stallworth's undercover operation was part of COINTELPRO, an FBI program that infiltrated white supremacist groups to disrupt radical groups fighting racism. He says that with this program Stallworth worked against black causes and 'infiltrated a Black radical organization for three years' to 'sabotage' a group who stood against racist oppression, citing the Freedom of Information Act. 'Without the made up stuff and with what we know of the actual history of police infiltration into radical groups, and how they infiltrated and directed White Supremacist organizations to attack those groups, Ron Stallworth is the villain,' Riley writes. He says BlackKklansman reinforces the misguided argument that black-on-black crime is the issue and not police brutality. The director says Lee has bought into this argument, especially in his 2016 film Chiraq that depicted gun violence in Chicago. Riley finishes the essay by pointing out that the New York Police department paid Lee - one of its most outspoken critics - $200,000 by to help launch an advertising campaign to improve their image and relations with minority communities. 'Whether it actually is or not, Blackkklansman feels like an extension of that ad campaign,' he concludes. Read Riley's entire critique below: Robbie Gibb (pictured) tweeted a poll showing more people would now vote Leave Theresa May's spin doctor has hit out at calls for a second referendum on Twitter saying 'the country hasn't changed its mind'. Robbie Gibb, the Director of Communications for Number 10, quoted a poll commissioned by the Sun on Sunday in the Twitter outburst on Sunday morning. '1.9 million Leave voters say they would now vote to Remain. But 2.4 million Remain voters would now vote to Leave. The country hasn't changed its mind. (Deltapoll, Sun on Sunday) #RoadtoBrexit,' Mr Gibb tweeted. According to the poll, carried out by survey company Deltapoll, 62 per cent of those questioned said they would vote the same way as they did in the 2016 EU referendum. While only 15 per cent of people said they wanted a final vote on whether Britain leaves the EU. In total, only 13 per cent of respondents said they had changed their minds on Brexit since the referendum result was announced. The Deltapoll data showed that more people had flocked to the Leave camp than the other way around Of that 13 per cent, 15 per cent had shifted from supporting Remain to Leave and only 11 per cent had gone the other way - the equivalent to 500,000 extra people backing Brexit. Iain Duncan Smith said the poll had 'nailed the lie' that many people regret voting Leave. Deltapoll director Martin Boon said: 'Half the public believe themselves to be under siege from the political classes trying to change their minds. 'But the message they are sending back is that they haven't changed their minds and the likelihood is they won't.' While former Cabinet minister Priti Patel last night said: 'It is clear that most people are sick to the back teeth of being bullied by the EU and listening to politicians at home erecting all kinds of obstacles to prevent them honouring the referendum result. Tens of thousands of people from around the world made donations for the families of five officers who were killed during a march and demonstration in Dallas, Texas, on July 7, 2016. But most of the money never made its way to the widows and children, according to a report by the Dallas Morning News. The officers were shot by a sniper during a protest concerning police who killed two men one in Louisiana, the other in Minnesota just days earlier. As money poured into city hall, the task of managing it was handed to the Assist the Officer Foundation, a long-standing charity run by the Dallas Police Association. Since the killings, millions of dollars wound up at two other charities linked to the police department, according to the report. Police Sgt. Demetrick Pennie runs those charities: the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation and the Texas Fallen Officer Foundation. The news outlets investigation found that most of the money raised in fact went to three telemarketing companies, one of which is owned by Pennies friend. And Pennie pocketed tens of thousands of dollars. In all, the officers families received just 22 percent of the total $3.2 million donated to Pennies two charities in 2016 and 2017, the Dallas Morning News review of IRS filings found. The Better Business Bureau recommends that charities spend no more than $35 of every $100 from donors on fundraising costs such as telemarketers, the report stated. Where did the money go? Last year, out of every $100 donated to Pennies Texas Fallen Officer Foundation, $5 went to families. The rest includes $74 for telemarketing, $15 to cash reserves and $6 for expenses for Pennie and his team. For the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation, every $100 donated last year saw $10 going to fallen officers families. Additionally, $48 went to telemarketers, $25 to cash reserves and $17 to travel, salaries and other expenses, the report states. The Better Business Bureau told the new outlet at least 65 percent of a nonprofits spending should go toward its core mission. Last year, the Texas Fallen Officer Foundation and the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation allocated just 6 percent and 13 percent of their spending, respectively, toward helping families, according to the report. The report concluded that the practices are far out of line when compared to the IRS filings of other police charities for metropolitan police charities. The so-called charity work is helping Pennie. He was paid $43,300 from funds donated to the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation, according to IRS records obtained by the news outlet. He also earns a $89,400 salary from the police department. The foundation also paid $37,900 to its vice president, Sonia Godinez. And $12,600 was spent on travel, although records do not provide details. How was this defended? Pennie defended his salary, saying he dedicates more than 20 hours per week for charity. He also explained that his non-profits are only a few years old, and telemarketing is a way attract donations that otherwise wouldnt be raised. If donors ask, telemarketers are required to explain how much will go to the charity, according to Pennie. We need a constant revenue stream coming in, Pennie told the Dallas Morning News. Doing the barbecues and stuff like that wasnt working. Having the fundraisers doing the phone soliciting that works best for what we need. He also pointed to the impact he has had by holding events for families of fallen officers, such as taking them to see movies, throwing Christmas parties and other events. But two experts who reviewed IRS filings from Pennies charities were alarmed at how little the Dallas Fallen Officer Foundation and the Texas Fallen Officer Foundation allocates to police families. This is crazy, Erica Harris, a Villanova University professor who studies nonprofit accounting, told the Dallas Morning News. Theyre spending all this money to call up people to try and get more money and then they barely use any of the money to do what they say theyre going to do. Spending a large amount on telemarketing is often an inefficient use of cash and its misleading to donors because they dont realize that most of their money going to telemarketing firms and not victims families. That is a violation of the charitable ethos, Doug White, a philanthropy adviser and former head of Columbia Universitys fundraising management program, said. Maxine Peake, the star of Mike Leigh's new historical drama Peterloo, addressed a Manchester crowd gathered to pay tribute to the film's bloody political battle. Peake, 44, made an impassioned speech to crowds gathered to commemorate the massacre which occurred on the same date and in the same place, 199 years ago. The English actress, who stars as Nellie in the film, called the massacre 'an outrage of which humanity recoils with horror and which is a foul stain upon our national character'. The BFI London Film Festival is set to premiere director Mike Leigh's new film Peterloo in Manchester, with Maxine Peake (left) addressing crowds (right) gathered to pay tribute to the historic 1919 massacre on Thursday Crowds gathered on Thursday August 16 to commemorate the massacre which occurred on the same date and in the same place, 199 years previously It's the first time the film festival will hold a premiere outside the capital, with a screening to be held in the city's HOME art centre on October 17. Leigh said: 'It's always an honour to be included in the glorious London Film Festival, but how inspired and generous of the Festival to screen Peterloo in Manchester, where it all happened! I'm truly delighted!' 'There has never been a feature film about the Peterloo Massacre,' he said. 'Apart from the universal political significance of this historic event, the story has a particular personal resonance for me, as a native of Manchester and Salford.' The award-winning filmmaker and some of the movie's cast will be in attendance, including Rory Kinnear, Neil Bell, Philip Jackson, Vincent Franklin, Karl Johnson and Tim McInnerny. The film is a depiction of events surrounding the Peterloo Massacre, named in comparison to the Battle of Waterloo which had taken place four years earlier. A crowd of up to 80,000 people from Manchester and surrounding towns had gathered on August 16 1819 in a peaceful attempt to speak about the reform of Parliament and to extend voting rights. The rally turned into one of the bloodiest and most notorious episodes in British political history, sparking a nationwide outcry and further government suppression. However, the event sowed the seeds of a later social justice movement which fought for voting rights for working men, and later women. Peake has previously spoken about 'the importance of protest' and 'the importance of people having a voice'. A crowd of up to 80,000 people from Manchester and surrounding towns had gathered on August 16 1819 in a peaceful attempt to speak about Parliamentary reform and voting rights 'How inspired and generous of the Festival to screen Peterloo in Manchester, where it all happened! I'm truly delighted!' Mike Leigh, who is a native of Salford, said Maxine Peake (above) stars as one of the 80,000 Northerners who gathered in August 1819 British soldiers charge the crowd at St Peter's Fields in Manchester during the political protest Radical speaker Henry Hunt was due to speak during the protest, but as he began to speak soldiers tried to arrest him and attacked anybody who got in the way. In the ensuing chaos, an estimated 15 people were killed and 700 injured. After the massacre the Government cracked down on reform and paid tribute to the Army for trying to keep order, while Mr Hunt was jailed for more than two years. Meetings of more than 50 people at any one time were banned, after what was the largest crowd ever seen in Britain at the time. The film hopes to honour the 15 who died and 700 who were wounded when cavalry charged into 80,000 peacefully rallying demonstrators at Manchester's St Peter's Field. Peterloo will also be shown in London as part of the BFI's festival on October 19 and released in cinemas on November 2. The 62nd BFI London Film Festival will take place from October 10-21. Two young children, believed to be under ten, have been forced to flee with a man who was allegedly involved in a random assault. Around 11pm on Saturday a 37-year-old fought with a group of men in Prince Park, near Ewing Road, Woodridge, Queensland. He was stabbed in the neck as a result. Aound 11pm on Saturday a 37-year-old fought with a group of men in Prince Park, near Ewing Road, Woodridge, Queensland CCTV footage obtained by 7 News showed the main struggling to get away and a friend assisting him. People can be seen frantically calling emergency services after the man was attacked. Steve Logaivau, who lives close to where the stabbing occured, said he was threatened by the man who is being sought over the attack. Mr Logaivau told the program that the man threatened to stab and shoot him. When he heard screaming he didn't leave his home. 'And thats it I dont want to go out because he already pointed a gun at me,' he said. Asked about the people who were seen with the man, Mr Logaivau said: 'They were small. 'I can hear just a girl, like screaming "leave him, leave him, leave him" just like that.' Police units including uniform and plainclothes officers, the dog squad and Polair2 searched for three men after the stabbing but they were not found. CCTV footage obtained by 7 News showed the main struggling to get away and a friend assist him SES are helping with a search of the area. Units involved in the investigation include the Logan Child Protection Unit and Criminal Investigation Branch Investigators are appealing for witnesses, particularly those who may have CCTV. They also want to speak to a group of three men aged between approximately 20 and 40-years-of-age and two young children who may be able to help. Police said one of the men was playing music loudly on a portable music device while another wore an orange high-visibility jacket. SES are helping with a search of the area. Units involved in the investigation include the Logan Child Protection Unit and Criminal Investigation Branch. Rudy Giuliani is claiming the 'truth isn't the truth' when asked about President Donald Trump sitting down with the special counsel as part of the investigation intoRussia's role in the 2016 election. The former New York City mayor, who's serving on Trump's personal legal team, made the comment in an interview on Sunday. 'I am not going to be rushed into having him testify so that he gets trapped into perjury,' Giuliani said on NBC's 'Meet the Press' when asked if Trump would sit down with special counsel Robert Mueller. 'It's somebody's version of the truth. Not the truth.' Rudy Giuliani said 'Truth isn't truth' about the Russia investigation NBC's Chuck Todd said the comment would become a 'bad meme' NBC's Chuck Todd noted: 'Truth is truth.' Giuliani responded: 'No, it isn't truth. Truth isn't truth.' The former New York City mayor went on to clarify he meant 'truth isn't truth' when two witnesses give conflicting reports in an investigation. He cited former FBI director James Comey's claim that Trump talked to him about his former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, who was being investigated as part of the Russia probe. Originally the president's team said Trump did not ask Comey to drop its look at Flynn and the Russia investigation when the two men met in February 2017. But Giuliani said last week the two men did not discuss Flynn at all. Comey, who was then FBI director, claims Trump said to him: 'I hope you can see your way clear to letting this go, to letting Flynn go.' But Giuliani said on CNN last week: 'There was no conversation about Michael Flynn.' Flynn, who was Trump's first national security adviser, pled guilty in December to lying to the FBI about conversations he had with the Russian ambassador and is cooperating with Mueller's investigation. He resigned from the White House after 24 days when it was revealed he lied to Vice President Mike Pence about conversations he had with Sergey Kislyak after the election. But Giuliani seemed to realize his 'truth isn't truth' statement could be misinterpreted, telling Todd 'Don't do this to me,' when the 'Meet the Press' host groaned, put his head in his hands, and pushed him on the issue. Todd laughed, put his head in his hands and shook his head back and forth when Giuliani made his statement and said: 'Truth isn't truth? Mr. Mayor do you realize, this is going to become a bad meme.' Giuliani responded to his gesture with: 'Don't do this to me.' 'Don't do truth isn't truth to me,' Todd shot back. Giuliani then went on to clarify: 'Donald Trump says I didn't talk about Flynn with Comey. Comey says you did talk about it. So tell me what the truth is. If you're such a genius.' Todd then brought up White House counsel Don McGahn, who the New York Times reported is talking to Mueller's team: 'Don McGahn might know.' 'Don McGahn doesn't know,' Giuliani said. The former mayor went on: 'So we have two pieces of evidence: Trump says he didn't tell him. The other guy says that he did say it. So which is the truth?' Todd conceded Giuliani had a point. 'Alright on that point you're right, on two people,' he said. Giuliani clarified he was talking about the conflicting reports witnesses give on an incident during an investigation Giuliani also talked about the infamous 2016 Trump Tower meeting attended by Donald Trump Jr. Negotiations have been ongoing between Trump's legal team and the special counsel's team on whether the president will sit down with them. Giuliani was also asked about the infamous June 2016 Trump Tower meeting, where Donald Trump Jr., Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner and then-campaign manager Paul Manafort meet with a Russian lawyer who had ties to the Kremlin. He doubled down on Trump's assertion the meeting - which took place during the heart of the presidential campaign - was to get information on Hillary Clinton. 'Because the meeting was originally for the purpose of getting information about Clinton' he said. 'That was the original intention of the meeting. It turned out to be a meeting about another subject and it was not pursued at all,' he added. 'And, of course, any meeting with regards to getting information on your opponent is something any candidate's staff would take. If someone said, I have information about your opponent, you would take that meeting.' He also said the Trump campaign team didn't know they were meeting with a Russian and that the attorney, Natalia Veselnitskaya, did not represent the Kremlin. 'She didn't represent the Russian government. She was a private citizen. I don't even know if they knew she was Russian at the time. All they had were her name,' Giuliani said. 'They knew it when they met with her. Not when they set up the meeting.' He added: 'All they knew was a woman with a Russian name wanted to meet with them.' However, Donald Trump Jr. posted the emails about the meeting on his Twitter account. The emails were sent to Trump Jr via Rob Goldstone, a music publicist who represented Emin Agalarov, whose father, Aras Agalarov, is a major real estate developer close to Putin and who bought rights to the 2013 Miss Universe pageant that took place in Moscow and which Trump attended. One of the messages notes the meeting is with a 'Russian government attorney who is flying over from Moscow.' Explanations for the Trump Tower meeting, which has become a focal point of Mueller's investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election, have varied and a tweet from the president in early August added yet another one when he wrote the meeting was about Clinton. But the original statement from Donald Trump Jr about the meeting - which President Trump helped craft - said it was about Russian adoptions. Donald Trump Jr. gave the New York Times a statement in July 2017, when the paper broke the story, that said the gathering was about an adoption program. His statement did not address whether the presidential campaign was discussed. The Russian lawyer at the meeting, Natalia Veselnitskaya, has led a multipronged attack against the Magnitsky Act, an American law that blacklists suspected Russian human rights abusers and championed by financier Bill Browder, who Russian President Vladimir Putin named during the Helsinki press conference as someone Russians want to speak to in exchange for letting Mueller talk to Russian nationals. The Magnitsky Act so enraged Putin he retaliated by halting American adoptions of Russian children. Up to 109 bushfires are still burning out-of-control in the Hunter region of New South Wales, with over a dozen homes under threat. The fire in the Salt Ash area north of Newcastle has intensified on Sunday due to strong winds - and the NSW Rural Fire Service have told residents it is too late to leave. Dramatic images have emerged of the fiery scenes as more than 800 firefighters continue to battle the ferocious fires around the state. Scroll down for video Up to 109 bushfires are blazing out-of-control in the Hunter region of New South Wales The New South Wales Rural Fire Service announced the Salt Ash bushfire had burned through 2016 hectares As of midday on Sunday, an emergency warning had been sent to residents in Salt Ash and the fire had burned through 1704 hectares of land. By 8:17pm it had burned through 2016 hectares. An emergency warning was sent to residents around Rookes Road, Lemon Tree Passage Road and Brownes Road in Salt Ash. With teams on foot and in the air, the NSW Rural Fire Service ground crews and waterbombing aircraft in Salt Ash worked together to tackle the fiery blaze. NSW Rural Fire Service ground crews and waterbombing aircraft in Salt Ash worked together to tackle the fiery blaze A baby possum was caught trying to escape the fire while livestock continued to feed while the blazed flared up next to them A baby possum was seen trying to escape the fire and firefighters jumped into action by picking up the animal and winching it off to safety. Firefighters continue to battle the fires as they face wild conditions as the skies fill up with smoke. The blaze can be seen burning near livestock, and wild animals can be seen trying to escape the dangers surrounding them. The Daily Telegraph reported that the flames reached 'in excess of 20 metres' as it threatened livestock and properties. Luckily, firefighters are able to take advantage of the conditions as winds have slowly eased. Despite easing conditions, residents are warned to keep an eye out for anything suspicious and follow the bushfire survival plan. Firefighters took advantage of the change in weather as the win eased down and stopped spreading the fire Reports say the flames reached 'in excess of 20 metres' as it threatened livestock and properties In Tabulam in northern New South Wales on Saturday, three rural volunteers narrowly survived being caught in an escalating grass fire which lashed against their truck. Two of the volunteers had to run to a nearby shed as the fire flared around their truck, while the other sheltered within their truck until the blaze passed. A fire at Woodstock near Ulladulla on the NSW south coast also burned out of control on Saturday - tearing through more than 4000 hectares of land. Strong winds fanning the flames of the Salt Ash bushfire in New South Wales' Hunter region on Sunday have forced the NSW RFS to issue an emergency warning to residents - telling them it was too late to leave and to take shelter On Friday, a helicopter pilot fighting the bushfires in NSW's south died when his red water-bombing bucket became snagged in the branches of a tree in Woodstock. The pilot, Allan Tull, had around 8,000 hours of total flying time and 3,000 hours of firefighting experience from the sky. The RFS warned the windy conditions exacerbating the fires would not ease until Wednesday - meaning some areas would remain on a 'Very High' fire danger. The regions designated as 'Very' High risk for Sunday were Greater Sydney, North Coast, Northern Slopes, New England and the Far North Coast. They may not be stopped by rain or snow - but it turns out massive escaped snakes ARE reason enough not to deliver a day's mail. One carrier in Overland Park, Kansas arrived at a suburban home to deliver the post on Friday and discovered an eight-foot tan and brown ball python wrapped around the railing and letterbox by the front door. He called animal control instead of leaving mail, so the resident wouldn't be tempted to come outside to retrieve letters and encounter the snake. A Kansas mail carrier found this snake wrapped a mail box on Friday as he did his delivery route The postman called Animal Control rather than leave any letters so that the homeowner wouldn't come outside Photos posted by police show three Animal Control officers, wearing gloves, carefully untangling the animal from the home. The department joked along with the photos that theyre working to convince animal control to relocate the python underneath the chiefs desk. They python is believed to be an escaped pet and is in foster care until its owner can be found. And while it may look scary, the ball python is fortunately not poisonous, and gets its name from the way it defensively curls up into a ball. A former Texas doctor who was convicted of raping a patient while she was heavily sedated will not be receiving any jail time. Shafeeq Sheikh, 46, was instead sentenced by a jury to just 10 years' probation and will have to register as a sex offender after he was found guilty of second-degree sexual assault. The jury also recommended a suspension of a $10,000 fine. The judge, by law, had to follow the jury's recommendation. Shafeeq Sheikh, 46 (pictured on Friday), a former Texas doctor, was sentenced to just 10 years' probation after being found guilty of raping a patient in 2013 The assault occurred at Ben Taub General Hospital in November 2013 where a woman, then 27 years old and named only as Laura, had been hospitalized following an asthma attack. She told the Houston Chronicle back in 2015 that a doctor, later identified as Sheikh, entered her room in the middle of the night. He claimed that he needed to examine her lungs but instead set about touching her chest and fondling her breasts. 'During the first two visits, the male physician entered the room and placed his mouth on her breast and inserted his fingers into her vagina. He also attempted to place his penis in her mouth,' according to a 2015 lawsuit she filed. He then returned again to her room and raped her without a condom while she was being treated overnight for shortness of breath and wheezing. Despite pressing a button to call a nurse, she discovered the next morning that that the alarm had been disconnected, meaning there was no way for her to summon help. At the time, Laura told the newspaper that she felt helpless during the ordeal. 'It's the feeling that you can't do anything. You can't do anything to save yourself,' she said. When Laura first reported the assault the morning after the attack, hospital staff didn't believe her. A rape kit was performed on Laura and DNA extracted from it matched a swab taken from Sheikh. Surveillance video and ID card logs were then reviewed, which showed the doctor accessed the woman's floor 12 times on the night of the attack even though she had not been assigned as his patient. The assault occurred at Ben Taub General Hospital in November 2013 where a woman, named only as Laura, had been hospitalized following an asthma attack. Sheikh (left and right) admitted to having sex but said it was consensual and that she had been trying to seduce him However, it took another two years for the doctor to be arrested and charged from when the sexual assault was first reported in 2013 Laura, now 32, told the court during the trial how the assault left her life unrecognizable and led to the end of her marriage. Sheikh, a married father of four, originally from India, lost his position at the Baylor College of Medicine and saw his license revoked by the Texas Medical Board due to a 'continuing threat to public welfare,' according to the Houston Chronicle. Sheikh's attorney attempted to question Laura's credibility during the trial by suggesting that she was alert and aware of her surroundings. Defense attorneys said records showing lengthy text message conversations and phone calls while she was in the hospital were proof that she was more alert than she had claimed. It was even noted that she had sexual contact with her husband the night she was admitted, which the defense said showed she was not totally incapacitated. Sheikh's attorney suggested that while the doctor violated medical ethics, he was seduced by Laura in an effort to make her husband jealous. The former doctor testified that, after first being intrigued about her breast implants, the woman placed his hand on her breasts as he conducted a chest exam and that she touched his genitals and took off her underwear. In another bold statement, Sheikh suggested that Laura moved herself to the edge of the gurney, indicating she wanted to take things further. 'It immediately sunk in that something terrible had happened, and I was scared for myself,' Sheikh testified. 'You're not supposed to have sex with a patient. That's part of medical ethics.' Another reason the jury may have given such a lenient sentence was because his family and friend testified about the horrible impact a jail term would have on his four children. 'What he has done to himself and his family is punishment,' his defense attorney told the court. 'They are serving his sentence with him. His children are serving his sentence with him.' Laura said Sheikh claimed that he needed to examine her lungs but fondled her breasts and later raped her. She said she tried to press the nurse call button but later discovered it had been disconnected. Pictured: Ben Taub Hospital Previously Laura filed a lawsuit because she believes Sheikh has other victims. 'The reason I think so is because this person has everything very organized,' she told KHOU. 'He has no fear. He abuses his authority, uses his power...and without thinking twice takes control over someone who is sick.' Sheikh was working at Ben Taub while he was a resident at the Baylor College of Medicine from June 2011 to June 2014. Laura said she hopes her case will show people that rape 'doesn't have a social status'. 'I want to inspire and motivate these women,' she said. 'To find the courage to talk and speak up to get out of the pain they're in.' Emma Arbuthnot (pictured), the chief magistrate who reinstated Ubers London license The judge in Ubers legal battle to operate in London has stepped down to avoid any conflict of interest over her husbands links to the company. Emma Arbuthnot, the chief magistrate who reinstated Ubers London license after it was judged not a fit and proper private car hire operator, has withdrawn from hearing further appeals from the firm. It comes after an investigation raised questions over links between her husbands work and the company. Senior Tory Lord Arbuthnot was the director of SC Strategy Ltd, which advised one of Ubers largest investors, Qatar Investment Authority, until December 31 last year - three weeks after the start of the companys appeal, revealed the Observer. Once this connection was pointed out however, a spokesman for the judiciary confirmed that Lady Arbuthnot would not hear Uber-related cases in the future. The chief magistrate had been due to hear a licensing appeal by Uber in Brighton at a date yet to be fixed, the spokesman said. However, as soon as this link was pointed out to her, she assigned the case to a fellow judge. It is essential that judges not only are, but are seen to be, absolutely impartial. The spokesman added that it it was the first time that the chief magistrate and her husband had been made aware of such a link. Pictured: London cab drivers protest against Uber in central London, on February 10, 2016 Lady Arbuthnot approved a probationary 15-month licence for Uber to once again operate in the capital in June. This was after the company was told nine-months prior that Transport for London would not renew its licence. Although Lord Arbuthnot, a former Tory MP for North East Hampshire, and chair of the defence select committee, stood down as a director of the strategy firm last year, his parliamentary website states that he remains a senior consultant to the company. Mick Rix, national officer with the GMB union which contested Ubers London licence, said: GMB is surprised by the suggested connection between magistrate Arbuthnots husband and Uber, Any matter which may be perceived as a conflict of interest is required to be drawn to the attention of the parties involved in any litigation at the outset. A shocking picture of a malnourished child has shown the brutal effects of Yemen's 'forgotten' civil war which has left 17 million people starving to death. The terrifyingly thin child can be seen lying on a bed in a hospital in the town of Abs yesterday as he was treated by doctors. Heartbreaking photos show him being weighed by medical staff with his bone structure fully visible beneath his skin as he undergoes treatment. The child is one of millions suffering from the famine, which is killing around 130 people per day, as a result of the civil war in Yemen. Scroll down for video A malnourished child lying on a bed in a doctor's surgery in the northern Yemeni town of Abs on Saturday Doctors treated the child but first took accurate height and weight measurements to gauge the scale of his malnutrition Leading humanitarian charities are battling to supply food to those in need, with an estimated third of the country's 29million-strong population now reliant on western agencies to survive. The number of people suffering malnutrition went up by a quarter in the last year alone. Yemen's conflict began in March 2015 when an international coalition led by Saudi Arabia backing its incumbent government launched airstrikes on the Iran-backed Houthi rebels. According to the World Health Organisation the famine has partially been caused by the US-backed Saudi forces devastation of Yemeni infrastructure. The coalition is said to have targeted Yemen's water supplies in particular, making crop production and agriculture almost impossible. Jan Egeland, who heads the Norwegian Refugee Council and also advises the United Nations on Syrian humanitarian operations said: 'We will have a famine of biblical proportions, if it continues like now with only a portion of those in greatest need getting humanitarian relief.' The child's bones could be seen poking through his skin as a result of the starvation he had suffered Millions of children in the country are malnourished because of the brutal civil war which started in 2015 Heartless thugs have viciously attacked four pensioners in seven days of savagery seen across the streets of 'Wild West Britain'. In another crime-ridden week plaguing the country, detectives launched a manhunt for a callous yob who 'sickeningly' battered a 92-year-old man as he walked home in Blackburn, Lancashire. The attacker, riding a motorbike displaying 'L' plates and wearing a black helmet, followed his frail victim before 'seriously assaulting' the pensioner, between 8pm and 8.20pm, on Wednesday night. Police have released CCTV images of the suspects in the bus stop attack in Chadderton, Oldham on Thursday, which left a 93-year-old lady with injuries to her head, knees and hands Police said there was no motive as yet for the mindless assault and are appealing for witnesses to the 'unwarranted attack', while the elderly man recovers from his injuries at home. They added: 'If anyone has any information that could assist in identifying the offender or if anyone has any CCTV footage that would cover the route the gentleman walked home, they should come forward.' Meanwhile, an 88-year-old pensioner was left with a swollen face and black eye after smashing his head on the pavement, following a daylight mugging in Norbury, South London. Albert Wright had just picked up his pension when he was thrown to the ground on Oakland Avenue at around 10.50am on Monday, August 13. He was left laying defenceless on the ground by the thug, who stole his bag, phone and 300 in cash, before fleeing the scene in a waiting black Mercedes driven by another man. Both are described as black males. The victim's daughter, Josephine, 53, who lives close to where her father was attacked, was alerted to the incident by a neighbour. The Oldham attack took place hours before a gang assaulted a 95-year-old woman in her home She said: 'I ran over the road with my daughter and he said he got off the bus from Norbury, because he went to Barclays Bank. 'He heard a loud bang and the next thing he knew he was thrown to the floor, his bag was grabbed and he banged his face on the pavement. 'He started screaming for help, but there was nobody in the road.' His daughter added: 'It's upsetting as he is a vulnerable old man. 'He walks very slowly as he gets out of breath and you just think how can someone look at him like that, push him to the ground and rob him? 'He is now scared to walk down my road.' Family friend Nigel Hackett, 52, has set up a fundraising page, with so far 1,200 donated by well-wishers. 'It's shocking that someone could do something like that as you couldn't meet a nicer gentleman - he is always smiling.' Metropolitan Police has confirmed they are investigating the robbery. No arrests have yet been made. Both attacks came ahead of two savage attacks on pensioners, which happened just miles apart, on Thursday. In the first incident, two men attempted to wrestle a handbag from the hands of a 93-year-old lady at a bus stop in the Chadderton area of Oldham, leaving her suffering injuries to her head, knees and hands, after she was dragged to the ground, just before midday. Following publication of CCTV images of the suspects, a 17-year-old handed himself in to police. The youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, has been charged with attempted robbery and is due to appear at Tameside Youth Court on September 4. Detective Sergeant Alex Wilkinson said: 'This was a violent, cowardly attack. It is hard to imagine what kind of individual would target a vulnerable member of the community and leave them with multiple injuries. 'This attack could have had much graver consequences. It is only due to the remarkable strength of the victim that she has been able to leave hospital and continue her recovery at home.' An 80-year-old man has been left fighting for his life after he was stabbed at a mosque in Whalley Range, Manchester, on Friday In the second incident on Thursday, a gang beat up a 95-year-old woman during a violent break-in at her home in Northenden, Manchester. Five male suspects, believed to be aged 15 and 16 and dressed in dark clothing, climbed into the victim's home on Thursday night. The pensioner described by police as a 'tough cookie' struggled with the burglars and was shoved to the floor. They smashed their way out of the pensioner's home through a kitchen window and fled. Detective Constable Rachel Wood, of Greater Manchester Police, said: 'Although this lady is a tough cookie, she has been left distraught and injured. 'The comfort of a person's own home is where they should feel safest but these animals smashed their way into the property without a second thought for the woman living there. 'We cannot allow this kind of thing to happen to those most vulnerable in our society. This could have been anybody's grandmother.' In a separate incident on Friday, an 80-year-old man is fighting for his life after he was stabbed at the Zakariya Masjid and Madrassah mosque in Whalley Range. Police were called to reports of a stabbing on Clarendon Road at around 1.50pm on Friday. After arriving at the scene, officers found the 80-year-old man with stab wounds and was taken to hospital, where he received treatment for serious injuries. A man in his 20s has been arrested on suspicion of section 20 assault and is being questioned. Greater Manchester Police say enquiries into the full circumstances of the incident are ongoing, but it is understood the incident happened inside the mosque and both people involved are worshippers. It is not being treated as a hate crime at this time. Chief Inspector Faz Zaman of GMP's City of Manchester Division, said: 'People will understandably be concerned that an elderly man has been stabbed in a place of worship, but we believe there is an isolated incident.' Anyone with information can call 0161 856 6151 or make an anonymous report through the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. A former model has been forced to undergo surgery after a dog she was patting at a Colorado restaurant jumped up and bit her on the face. Police initially released surveillance video of the August 7 attack in Arvada, just outside Denver, in a bid to find the dog's owner who was filmed fleeing the restaurant just moments after the attack. The incident, which took place at the Rockabillies Bar and Grill, showed the black and white husky roaming around on the outdoor patio as various people patted it. Surveillance video from a restaurant in Arvada, Colorado captured the moment a husky attacked a woman and bit her face while she was patting it on August 7 In the moments prior to her being bitten, surveillance video captured the woman leaning in close to the dog as she patted its head. When she leaned back in a second time, the dog attacked and latched on to her face. The dog's owner, who was sitting just feet away, was filmed jumping up to check on the woman. As other patrons tended to the injured woman, the owner scrambled to collect her belongings and fled the restaurant with the dog. Police said the woman had to be treated in hospital for eye injuries and underwent plastic surgery to her face. Doctors say the woman is expected to regain vision in her injured eye. The dog was filmed jumping up onto the woman and latching on to her face after she had been patting the animal for several minutes The dog attack occurred on an outside patio at the restaurant as the owner (far left) sat just feet away The owner of the bar told the Denver Channel that the victim was mostly concerned whether the dog had rabies and was relieved to learn police would be checking the animal for diseases. 'No one knows because they don't know if the dog is up to date on shots,' Jim Nigg said. He added that they were told the dog was a foster animal. 'We were told it was a foster dog,' he said. 'The girl that actually got bit was thinking about adopting the dog. I think she changed her mind.' Soon after the attack, police put out a plea to track down the owner of the dog. The woman went to the police station with a lawyer on Friday so investigators could inspect the dog and check whether its vaccinations were up to date. Authorities have not revealed if she is facing any charges as a result of the dog attack. 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. White House National Security Adviser John Bolton is saying there is 'sufficient' concern that China, Iran and North Korea could be meddling in the upcoming 2018 midterm election. The White House has been feeling the heat about concerns Russia may try to interfere again in an American election but this was the first time that additional countries have been mentioned. Bolton added those three countries in an interview on Sunday morning. White House National Security Adviser John Bolton said there is 'sufficient' concern that China, Iran and North Korea could be meddling in the 2018 election President Trump warned of China interference in a tweet on Saturday 'I can say definitively that it's a sufficient national security concern about Chinese meddling, Iranian meddling and North Korean meddling that we're taking steps to try and prevent it. So all four of those countries, really,' he said on ABC's 'This Week.' 'Those are the four countries that we're most concerned about,' he added. President Donald Trump warned of Chinese election meddling in a tweet on Saturday. 'All of the fools that are so focused on looking only at Russia should start also looking in another direction, China. But in the end, if we are smart, tough and well prepared, we will get along with everyone!,' he wrote. Bolton would not address specific concerns about China when pressed on the issue but citied the four countries as ones the U.S. is watching closely as voters prepare to head to the polls in November. The national security adviser emphasized he cannot get into specifics about preparations but offered reassurances that cyber security is a priority. 'You need to establish structures of deterrence so that our adversaries who have conducted cyber operations against us or who are contemplating it come to understand they will pay a much higher price if they do that than if they simply refrain,' he said. Earlier this month the White House put on a show of force about election meddling, trotting out five national security officials to offer assurances they were working to safeguard American votes while offering few specifics on how they were doing so. 'Our democracy is in the crosshairs,' Secretary of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen declared during the early August press briefing. National Security Adviser John Bolton, Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, and FBI Director Christopher Wray briefed the public on election preparations in early August Trump came under fire for siding with Vladimir Putin at their press conference in Helsinki when the Russian president said Moscow didn't meddle in the 2016 contest The unusual amount of senior level fire power came as the White House was under pressure about what actions it was taking to combat concerns about possible Russian meddling in the 2018 election. Trump has asserted Russians are meddling in the upcoming contests to help Democrats. 'I'm very concerned that Russia will be fighting very hard to have an impact on the upcoming Election. Based on the fact that no President has been tougher on Russia than me, they will be pushing very hard for the Democrats. They definitely don't want Trump!' the president tweeted in late July. His allegation came after he came under fire for siding with Vladimir Putin at their press conference in Helsinki when the Russian president said Moscow didn't meddle in the 2016 contest. U.S. intelligence agencies claim the Russian did so. Antisemitism training at this year's Labour conference could be scrapped after Jewish members accused party leaders of trying to 'censor' the sessions. The Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) has decided to not run courses at the conference in Liverpool next month, reports the Independent. In a letter sent to Labour general secretary Jennie Formby, JLM chair Ivor Caplin said: 'You may also be aware that we have withdrawn from offering to deliver the antisemitism awareness module at party conference in Liverpool after some of its content was censored. 'We presume this was to make the module compliant with the antisemitism code of conduct that neither JLM or the Jewish community have any confidence in.' He also accused the party of 'deliberately undermin[ing]' the group and 'add[ing] to further tension'. Antisemitism training at this year's Labour conference could be scrapped after the Jewish Labour Movement (JLM) decided to not run the course after being 'censored' It is believed party leaders asked the JLM to remove references to Ken Livingstone, who was suspended from the party for claiming Hitler once supported Zionism It is believed Labour asked for references to both Ken Livingstone and Naz Shah be removed from the course. Mr Livingstone, the former Mayor of London, was suspended from Labour after a serious of rants claiming Hitler once supported Zionism ahead of the 2016 local elections. He finally quit the party in May. Ms Shah was suspended for three months in 2016 for sharing a post on Facebook about Israelis being deported to the US with the comment 'problem solved'. Mr Caplin added in his letter: 'It remains unclear how or who will deliver this training. 'Without full transparency, the party will be acting once again in a manner to deliberately undermine its formal Jewish affiliate and add to further tension.' It is believed Labour asked that references to Livingstone and Naz Shah (pictured) be removed The news comes amid growing turmoil in the party over Mr Corbyn's refusal to accept the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition It is believed Labour has contacted Jewish educational charities to run the training instead. The news comes amid growing turmoil in the party over Mr Corbyn's refusal to accept the full International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance's (IHRA) definition - sparking fury from his own MPs and Jewish leaders. The IHRA definition includes key clauses which say it is anti-Semitic to say Israel is a racist endeavor, accuse Jews of dual loyalty and comparing Israel to Nazi Germany. Mr Corbyn has faced a fresh political storm after The Daily Mail exclusively published photographs of him carrying a wreath at a ceremony where an extremist linked to the Munich Massacre was honoured. Mr Corbyn insists that he was actually at the 2014 ceremony in Tunis to honour other people killed who were not linked to terrorism. He has refused to apologise for attending - despite calls form his own MPs and the Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu. Two Minnesota beer deliverymen convinced a man not to jump off a bridge and commit suicide by offering him a 12-pack. Jason Gaebel and Kwame Anderson were driving their truck in St Paul on Wednesday morning when they saw a man standing on the other side of a chain-link fence on the Earl Street Bridge, above Interstate 94. In a video recorded by Anderson, Gaebel, who is in the driver's seat, can be seen calling out to him: 'Yo, bro, you alright? Man, come on this side, bro.' After the man told them he was planning on committing suicide, they immediately pulled their truck over and started talking to him. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Jason Gaebel and Kwame Anderson were delivering beer in Minnesota on Wednesday when they saw a man standing on the other side of a chain-link fence on the Earl Street Bridge, above Interstate 94. Gaebel, who is in the driver's seat, can be seen calling out to him (left and right): 'Yo, bro, you alright? Man, come on this side, bro.' After the man told them he was planning on committing suicide, they pulled their truck over, called 911, and started talking to him. Pictured: The man talks to an officer and Anderson The two men called 911 immediately but, even after police arrived, kept talking to him, hoping to distract him from his plan. Gaebel said he wasn't sure about how they would be able to coax the man of the ledge. 'I was thinking to myself: "This poor guy is going to end his life in front of us and Kwame and I were here to witness it",' he told KSTP. Meanwhile, Anderson told the station that he thought of Denzel Washington in the movie Inside Man, in which the actor played an NYPD hostage negotiator. 'I thought about his negotiating tactics in The Insider,' Anderson said. 'I was like: "Alright, I got to be the negotiator." I wanted to build a rapport with him. So I asked him his name, where he grew up. He says he's got a house four blocks away from here. If he's got kids.' The man told Anderson that he is from Chicago and has two kids, but still refused to come down from the ledge. Anderson asked the man if he wanted food or money, but he responded no to both. Anderson (right, with Gaebel) said he tried to build a rapport with the man and asked him his name, where he grew up and if he had kids After the man still seemed reluctant to get down, Anderson offered him a 12-pack of beers if he came down. Pictured: Anderson, left, and Gaebel Then, remembering the beers he was transporting, he offered the man a drink. 'He said: "Maybe." I told the officers: "You guys keep him distracted, I'll be right back",' Anderson said. 'I left and I grabbed a case of beer. I came back and said: "If you get down from there, this is yours".' Police closed the interstate until the man came down and an ambulance took him to Regions Hospital for a medical evaluation. 'We just talked a guy off a ledge with some beer. And he did not commit suicide so it's a good day,' Anderson said a video posted to Facebook recounting the day's events. The officers are seen smiling for the camera, giving a thumbs up and one officer is even heard saying: 'Nice job, Kwame,' In a video recounting the day's events, Anderson is seen with officers smiling for the camera, giving a thumbs up, and one officer is even heard saying: 'Nice job, Kwame' Police closed the interstate until the man came down and an ambulance took him to Regions Hospital for a medical evaluation The video currently has more than 98,000 views while the post has more than 2,400 reactions and has been shared more than 3,100 times. As it turns out, neither men were supposed to be on the bridge on that day. Gaebel told WCNC that he accidentally made a wrong turn. 'We have a route that we do every Wednesday and that wasn't the way I would normally go. It wasn't part of the plan, but it was God's plan,' he said. Anderson said that on Wednesday he was supposed to have begun his role in the sales department. St Paul police spokesman, Sgt Mike Ernster told The Pioneer Press that he credits the men and the officers for helping to save a life. 'Beer has been bringing people together for a long, long time,' he said. '[On Wednesday] it brought people together in a life-saving way.' If you or anyone you know needs to talk, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is available 24/7 at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) For confidential support, call the Samaritans on 116123 or visit a local branch. See www.samaritans.org for details. LIFELINE: 13 11 14 www.lifeline.org.au . Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 A young woman will think twice about giving two strangers a lift home again after she was brutally bashed and had her car stolen. Tamryn Parkes, 20 was at a house-warming party in Mandurah on Western Australia's southwest coast on Saturday night when she agreed to go out of her way to give two males she didn't know a lift home. It turned out to be a big mistake after she was punched and carjacked 10 minutes into the trip at an intersection in the suburb of Lakelands. 'I don't know who to trust anymore,' carjacking victim Tamryn Parkes (pictured) said I was choked, I was kicked in the stomach a number of times, my head was punched in, she told 7 News as she fought back tears. 'They punched my throat into the car window.' The young nurse suffered a broken finger, along with several bruises and scratches in the attack while trying to fight off her attackers. She chased her attackers down the road in a desperate attempt to get her keys back. 'This is what happens now when you try and help people,' Ms Parkes said. 'I don't know who to trust anymore.' Tamryn suffered a broken finger in the shocking carkjacking Stranded with no way to get home, Ms Parkes knocked on residents' doors until Bronny Edwards came to her rescue. 'There was a young lady outside who looked distraught and was begging for help,' Ms Edwards told 7 News. Police found Ms Parkes' beloved Mazda 3 that she worked three jobs to saved for on Sunday morning. The hunt for her attackers continues. Resident Bronny Edwards (pictured) came to Ms Parkes' rescue after she was stranded with no way to get home One was described as a Caucasian male and the other an African male aged 17-19. Still shocked by the terrifying ordeal, Ms Parkes plans to move to Perth next year. Anyone with information regarding this matter is urged to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. The accused assassins of former crime boss Mick Hawi allegedly had access to internal police radio conversations using a black market transmitter. The Lone Wolf bikie gang members were allegedly eavesdropping on police with an illegal $25,000 encrypted radio, according to the Daily Telegraph. Police from Strike Force Amirs found the radio during a raid on August 2 - in the same raid they seized a tow truck and three cars believed to be used in Hawi's murder. The accused assassins of former crime boss Mick Hawi (pictured with wife Carolina) allegedly had access to internal police radio conversations using a black market transmitter Police from Strike Force Amirs found the radio during a raid on August 2 - in the same raid they seized a tow truck and three cars which were believed to be used in the murder of Hawi Tow-truck driver Moustafa Salami was arrested on Friday and charged with accessory after the fact of murder Tow-truck driver Moustafa Salami was arrested on Friday and charged with being an accessory after the fact of murder. The 36-year-old allegedly moved one of the getaway cars which was used in the shooting of Hawi outside a gym in south Sydney. Two other men have been charged with the murder of the former Comanchero bikie boss Hawi at Fitness First in Rockdale on February 15. Alleged shooter Tusuf Nazlioglu, 37, and Ahmad 'Adam' Doudar, 38, have been charged with targeted killing. The balaclava-clad men allegedly shot Hawi multiple times from the drivers' side of the car. They were thought to have burnt out the Mercedes used to getaway in a nearby alley and hid. The balaclava-clad men allegedly shot Hawi multiple times from the drivers' side of the car Police allege DNA samples taken from the inside of a balaclava found in the car led them to Naziloglu. New South Wales police described their radio system as 'sophisticated' and ensured they undergo 'regular testing'. However even if police catch people listening in to their radio, hackers can buy back the connection for as little as $5000. Liverpool City Council and Merseyside Police have apologised for social media posts which appeared to blame victims of sexual assault. Both organisations have since removed the tweets from their accounts and instead posted a statement apologising for how the original messages were perceived. The original posts also contained a video titled 'Know when to step in' as part of a wider campaign to encourage friends to look after each other on nights out. The statement issued on behalf of Citysafe, Liverpool's Community Safety Partnership, says: 'It was not our intention to blame anyone who has been subject to sexual assault, rape or any other crime.' 'The only person ever responsible for making the decision to rape is the perpetrator. 'We apologise for not making that clear in our posts on social media.' It went on to explain that a partnership group which includes people from sexual violence support services, the council, police and local charities was consulted during the video's development. The storyline of the video was also tested on focus groups, the statement adds, saying that no one consulted felt the campaign blamed victims 'but when viewed in isolation the tweet has been perceived in that way and we are sorry for any distress caused'. However, the video caused uproar on Twitter, with hundreds of people replying to the tweet accusing the council of victim blaming. One women wrore: 'This is an absolutely horrendous campaign - a perfect exercise in victim blaming at every level. The only person who needs to have acted differently is THE RAPIST. No one else did anything wrong. Not the victim. Not the bar staff. Not the friends. Please withdraw it!' Another said: 'A bit of victim blaming to kick off the weekend! How about... he knew his personality changed when he drank. Staff could see he was getting volatile but continued to served him. His mates could have stepped in & told him to leave a vulnerable disinterested girl alone.' A third added: 'Outrageous! And to think this a joint campaign with the police! No wonder victims dont come forward or dont press charges. Look what theyre up against. Shocking. Whoever came up with this needs a career change!' President Donald Trump is 'creating a list of political enemies' with his decisions on whom to revoke security clearances, warned former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen. And former CIA Director John Brennan is considering legal action against the administration after his security clearance was revoked on Wednesday. Both men were responding to reports that the Trump administration has drafted more documents revoking the security clearances of those who have been critical of the president's policies. Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mike Mullen said Trump is creating an 'enemies list' Former CIA Director John Brennan is considering legal action against the administration 'It immediately brings back of the enemies list under President Nixon and even before that in early 50s the McCarthy era where the administration starts putting together lists of individuals who don't agree with them and that, historically, has proven incredibly problematic for the country,' Mullen said on 'Fox News Sunday. 'So it's creating a list of political enemies,' the retired admiral added. Mullen, who said he still has his security clearance, did concede Trump has the right to revoke any security clearance he wants. 'I don't think there's any question the president has a right to pull security clearances. That authority is very clear,' he said. But he said he doesn't agree with the president revoking Brennan's clearance. 'I don't agree with the president pulling it. I think I am concerned about the whole issue of free speech,' he said. 'And as long as John is not revealing classified information that he shouldn't, then I certainly think he has a right to speak.' Brennan, who served as CIA director under President Barack Obama and has emerged as one of the president's harshest critics, said on Sunday he had 'been contacted by a number of lawyers' who have given him advice on filing a complaint or an injunction to try to 'prevent Trump from doing this in the future.' 'If my clearances and my reputation, as I'm being pulled through the mud now, if that's the price we're going to pay to prevent Donald Trump from doing this against other people, to me it's a small price to pay so I am going to do whatever I can personally to try to prevent these abuses in the future and if it means going to court, I will do that,' he said on NBC's 'Meet the Press.' He called Trump's move an 'egregious abuse of power and authority.' He claims getting his security clearance revoked 'was a clear signal to others who still have their security clearances, both in the government as well as outside, that if you cross him, if you speak out against him, he is going to use whatever tools he might have at his disposal to punish you.' Brennan also said senior level administration need to decide at what point they should quit over the issue. 'People like John Kelly, his chief of staff, who I know and respect and like so much, John and I worked very close together. I'm sure he's trying to keep Mr. Trump from doing awful, terrible things,' he said. 'But at some point,' Brennan added, 'these senior officials have to ask themselves, are they enabling this continued abusive and reckless behavior or not? And if they feel as though they're enabling it, and they're not having that type of governing influence on it, I think they have to show their displeasure and their unhappiness and leave.' White House press secretary Sarah Sanders announced on Wednesday Brennan's clearance was being revoked although the document making it official had been in the works since July. President Trump is said to be considering revoking more officials clearances By announcing it last week the administration was able to divert attention from the new book by former White House aide Omarosa Manigault Newman. An administration official told The Washington Post that similar announcements could come as the White House needs a distraction from a bad news cycle. Other people who could lose their clearances include current Justice Department official Bruce Ohr - who was in contact with former British spy Christopher Steele, whose unverified dossier said the Russians had information on Trump that could be used for blackmail. The White House has previously said former deputy Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation Andrew McCabe, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, former Director of the National Security Agency Michael Hayden, and former National Security Advisor Susan Rice are also in danger of losing their clearances. Additionally former FBI agents Peter Strzok and Lisa Page are on the list as is former deputy Attorney General Sally Yates. All have been critical of the president. Comey and McCabe do not currently have clearances. High-level officials typically keep their clearances for years so they can provide counsel to their successors and be called upon for their advice. 'Former officials have kept their security clearances to be able to advise on critical issues over time. These are individuals typically that have a lot of both wisdom and experience and our entities inside the government. There are contractors who support the government that ask for advice in certain areas,' Mullen said. More than 50 million tons of fresh fruit and vegetables is discarded every year in Europe as it is not deemed 'good enough' shape to hit super market shelves. Across Europe, more than a third of fresh produce is discarded, meaning in the UK 4.5million tons is thrown away. The University of Edinburgh, who conducted the study, described food loss and waste as 'one of the great scourges of our time', when 10 percent of the world's population is chronically hungry. More than 50 million tonnes of fresh fruit and vegetables is discarded every year in Europe as it is not deemed 'good enough' shape to hit super market shelves Their findings stated: 'The use of aesthetics for classifying and accepting fresh food for sale and consumption is built into food quality standards and regulations of the European Union. 'The food distribution sector in Europe and the UK is oligopolistic in nature; a small number of supermarket chains control a large market share. The influence of these 'multiples' enables them to impose additional proprietary 'quality' criteria. 'Produce that doesn't meet these standards may be lost from the food supply chain, never seeing a supermarket shelf - it may not get past the supplier, or even leave the farm.' 'Our estimates suggest over a third of total farm production is lost for aesthetic reasons.' The university said the climate change impact of growing the wasted food - some of which may be ploughed back into fields, used in animal feed or otherwise reused - is equivalent to the carbon emissions of almost 400,000 cars. The university said the climate change impact of growing the wasted food - some of which may be ploughed back into fields, used in animal feed or otherwise reused The scientists suggest that greater awareness among consumers, and a movement towards shopping sustainably, could encourage the sale of more 'ugly' vegetables. They also suggest a greater use of misshapen produce, perhaps in chopped or processed goods, or for sale at a discount to charities. Professor David Reay, of the university's school of geosciences, said: 'The scale of food that is wasted when it is perfectly safe to eat is shocking at a time when one tenth of the world's population is perpetually underfed.' Stephen Porter, also from the school, added: 'Encouraging people to be less picky about how their fruit and vegetables look could go a long way to cutting waste, reducing the impact of food production on the climate, and easing the food supply chain.' The study has been published in the Journal of Cleaner Production. One American tourist couldn't stop her case of the giggles while an adorable elephant showed her love. Video shows the moment a baby elephant named Suki cuddles and rolls around with a female tourist in Thailand. Suki is the newest calf to be born at Chia Lai Orchid, a sanctuary that rescues elephants in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The sanctuary assures that 'no humans were in harmed in the making of this video', which is reassuring considering Suki could weigh as much as 200 pounds! An American tourist was taped playing with Suki and couldn't stop laughing Suki pushes her trunk on the woman and rolls her around to give a big hug Suki clearly has bundles of energy as she tirelessly played with the unidentified visitor. The video shows the calf pushing its trunk toward the human, trying to grab hold of her. When that doesn't work, Suki lifts one leg forcing the woman to roll over and then falls on top of her. The woman appears to be getting a kick out of her unique interaction and is giggling so hard she can barely speak words. The two new friends then move near Suki's mother who eats grass, unbothered by her calf's schenanigans. A friend of the tourist joins the pair and the three stroke and feed the adorable Suki. Suki is the newest elephant to be born at Chai Lai Orchid in Thailand The father of missing Iowa college student Mollie Tibbetts is heading back to his California home a month after his daughter vanished. Rob Tibbetts revealed he was reluctantly going back to San Francisco for 'a break' as police continue to investigate the 20-year-old's baffling disappearance from the small town of Brooklyn on July 18. 'Very reluctantly, I'm being told I sort of need to do this,' Tibbetts told KCRG. 'We've called this sort of a half-time, a break.' Mollie's father said authorities had been urging him and his family to return to the daily lives and trust them with the investigation. Mollie Tibbetts, a 20-year-old University of Iowa student, vanished from Brooklyn, Iowa while she was out jogging a month ago Tibbetts, his sons and Mollie's boyfriend Dalton Jack have been helping to lead the search efforts in Brooklyn ever since the young woman disappeared a month ago. He said it was difficult to return home without any news but said he would return the moment there is any type of development in the case. So far, investigators have received more than 2,300 tips regarding her disappearance but nothing has led to a break in the case. Search crews have spent that last month scouring rural areas near where Mollie was last seen and the reward for her safe return has skyrocketed to $366,000. Mollie, a University of Iowa student, vanished while she was out jogging in Brooklyn on July 18. Tips have been rolling in ever since authorities launched a website and revealed they were focusing on five locations in the town regarding her disappearance. Rob Tibbetts revealed he was reluctantly going back to San Francisco for 'a break' as police continue to investigate the 20-year-old's baffling disappearance from Brooklyn on July 18 The search for Tibbetts has now zeroed in on five areas (above), including a truck stop and car wash, in the rural Iowa town where she vanished from a month ago An FBI source told Radar last week that police believe Mollie is still alive and being held hostage by an abductor. The source also said the suspect is likely 'hiding in plane sight' and may have even assisted in the search for her. It came as more than 200 people gathered for a candlelit vigil in Mollie's honor, two weeks after she was last seen out jogging. 'There is reason to believe the person responsible for Mollie's disappearance attended a vigil and has continued to closely follow the case,' the source said. They said that authorities are tightening the net around the suspect and are looking at single, divorced, and widowed men around Brooklyn. They are also examining Tibbetts' 'digital footprint', including data from her Fitbit and cell, in a bid to try and track her down. Mollie's father has previously said he believes his daughter was taken by someone she knows. 'I do believe Mollie is with someone who she knows, probably someone who cares about her,' he said. Mollie was staying alone in the home she shared with her boyfriend Jack Dalton (above) in Brooklyn when she vanished. He is not a suspect in her disappearance 'But that relationship was misguided, misinterpreted and went wrong, and I think they're in a place with Mollie and don't know how to get themselves out of this horrible situation.' The search for Tibbetts has now zeroed in on five areas, including a truck stop and car wash, in the rural Iowa town where she vanished from a month ago. Investigators searching for Mollie launched a website last week to generate even more tips from potential witnesses who were near those specific areas on the night she vanished. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation assistant director Mitch Mortvedt says investigators are considering all scenarios but that it's 'possible that Mollie has come into contact with someone who has caused her harm'. He asked the public to report information about anyone who has recently displayed odd behaviors. 'Often, someone in the community will unknowingly be associated with the offender, and may be in a position to observe behavioral changes in that person,' he said. 'They will recognize the change and may even question them about it, but will not relate the change to that person's involvement in a crime.' Is it possible to give what God asks of us? Join us on Sunday at 10 a.m. Calm me, quiet me, settle me... Steady me, balance me, ground me... Plant me, root me, embed me... Support me, sustain me, protect me... Forgive me, pardon me, free me... Refresh me, restore me, heal me... Enfold me, embrace me, hold me... Lord, hear my prayer today! A woman who became a first-time mother at 52 after a 16-year journey costing 30,000 says she now wants another baby at 55. It took Diane Reid a staggering nine attempts at fertility treatment culminating in a trip to a Spanish fertility clinic before her daughter Jessica was finally born. Jessica celebrated her third birthday last week, and now Miss Reid says she would love to have another baby. Diane Reid (pictured with daughter Jessica) finally conceived her first child after nine attempts at fertility treatment Single mum Miss Reid, who works for the NHS sterilising operating theatre equipment, said: It was the best decision I ever made to have my daughter. It took 16 years for me to become a mother and cost me 30,000 but it has been worth it to finally have Jessica. Miss Reid first started trying for a baby when she was 36. But after 12 months passed without her becoming pregnant, she went to the doctor, who referred her for IVF treatment. She had a first attempt at the Princess Royal Hospital in Hull and three embryos were implanted, but failed. She said: It was really upsetting when that first attempt didnt work, as I had been so hoping that it would. I still had nine embryos in the freezer so I was confident that with another go, it would work. Following Jessica's third birthday last week, Miss Reid (pictured with Jessica following her birth) has revealed she wants a second child Miss Reid (pictured with Jessica) began trying for a baby at 36, and was referred for IVF by her doctor after just 12 months But Miss Reid had another three attempts with her remaining nine frozen embryos having three embryos defrosted and implanted each time and they all failed. She said: It was heartbreaking when they all failed, one after the other. I was getting desperate as it had cost me such a lot so far. Miss Reid saved up more money and at 40, she embarked on her fifth attempt, this time at CARE Fertility in Sheffield. On this occasion she used donor eggs, as her age meant that it was unlikely that her own would succeed. She said: I was really excited for this attempt. I was using donor eggs, so I was so hopeful that it would work. 'Three eggs were fertilised with donor sperm, but none of them survived long enough to be used. It was devastating. She had a sixth attempt again using donor eggs, which failed again. On her seventh attempt she finally got pregnant before having a miscarriage at seven weeks. She said: I had been so thrilled when I thought it had finally worked at last. So to lose the baby early into the pregnancy was heartbreaking for me. On her seventh attempt at fertility treatments Miss Reid (pictured above) did fall pregnant - but she sadly miscarried at just seven weeks Miss Reid then had her eighth attempt and again got pregnant, but lost the baby at six weeks. She said: I had got to the age of 50 now, and no clinic in the UK would treat me. I had tried for so long to be a mother that I was determined that I wouldnt give up. Tina Malone [Brookside and Shameless actress] had successfully had a baby over the age of 50, so I was determined to keep going. Britain's oldest mother gave birth at 66 The oldest mother in Britain is Elizabeth Adeney, who as a childless divorcee gave birth at 66 in 2009 following IVF treatment in the Ukraine. The businesswoman, from Lidgate, near Newmarket, was heavily criticised for her choice but said: I dont have to defend what Ive done. Its between me, my baby and no one else. The previous record holder was Patricia Rashbrook, who gave birth at 62 in 2006 following IVF. The child psychologist, from Lewes, East Sussex, and her husband John had travelled to the former Soviet Republic for IVF treatment. The worlds oldest natural conception was retired civil servant Dawn Brooke, of Guernsey, at 58. She initially feared that her aches, cravings and exhaustion were signs of cancer. In 2006, Carmela Bousada, of Barcelona, Spain, took the world record for the oldest mother when she gave birth to twins a week before her 67th birthday. The former shop worker was said to have lied about her age to get IVF treatment in America. She died two years later of cancer. Advertisement Looking online, she found a clinic in Alicante, Spain that would treat her. She flew out in 2014 and had more embryos created using donor eggs and sperm. This time, the treatment was successful. She said: I was thrilled to be pregnant, [but] nervous in case I lost the baby again. However, her pregnancy progressed smoothly and she gave birth to Jessica in June 2015 at Hull Royal Infirmary. Miss Reid said: It had taken 16 years and cost me 30,000 and eventually I was a mother at last. It was so amazing to finally hold my daughter in my arms after such a journey. We stayed in hospital for just four days. Miss Reid says she would love to have another baby if she could afford another cycle of IVF, adding: The clinic in Spain wouldnt treat me again because of my age now, so I would have to go a clinic in the Ukraine or Greece. The age where women can be treated at fertility clinics in the UK should be raised, as I believe women are missing out. In the NHS, most areas fund treatment for women up to the age of 42. Miss Reid says that despite being mistaken for Jessicas grandmother, she wouldnt change anything, adding: I work part-time and Jessica goes to nursery. Im a single mother and it is hard work. But it is the most wonderful thing in the world to be a mother at last. Jeremy Corbyn hailed speeches by Palestinian terrorists as fascinating and electrifying after attending a controversial conference, it can be revealed. The Labour leader went to a 2012 event in Qatar addressed by several ex-prisoners who had recently been released in exchange for an Israeli soldier. One was Abdul Aziz Umar, who received seven life sentences for aiding a suicide bombing that killed seven in Jerusalem in 2003. Another was ex-Hamas military leader Husam Badran, who orchestrated several attacks in Israel in which more than 100 died. Jeremy Corbyn hailed speeches by Palestinian terrorists as fascinating and electrifying after attending a controversial conference in Doha, Qatar, in 2012 (pictured) They were among the Palestinian prisoners released in exchange for Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier who had been held in captivity by Hamas. Earlier this month, footage emerged of Mr Corbyn on Iranian state TV speaking about the Doha conference on Palestinian refugees in April 2012 and referring to the men in the prisoner swap as brothers. At the time, Labour insisted he was in no way supporting or endorsing the Palestinian prisoners actions and only used the word brother as it was a respectful term for a male Muslim. Also present were Abdul Aziz Umar (left), who aided a suicide bombing that killed seven people in Jerusalem in 2003 and former Hamas military leader Husam Badran (right) But a newly unearthed article written by the now Labour leader which has since been deleted online appears to cast doubt on that explanation. Days after the event in April 2012, Mr Corbyn wrote in the Morning Star newspaper: The conference... was attended by delegates who had recently been released from prison in return for the Israeli soldier Gilad Shalit. Their contribution was fascinating and electrifying. He has been embroiled in controversy after photos emerged of him holding a wreath at a Tunisian cemetery where terror leaders linked to the 1972 Munich massacre are buried. Last night, Mr Corbyns spokesman said: Jeremy has a long and principled record of solidarity with the Palestinian people and engaging with actors in the conflict to support peace and justice in the Middle East. That is the right thing to do. A cure for cancer is set to be denied to dying patients as officials and pharmaceutical companies argue over pricing. NHS watchdog Nice will this week publish draft guidance expected to reject access to the first in a line of new CAR-T therapies treatments which re-engineer a patient's immune system to fight off cancer. The technology, available in the US for the past year, offers the chance of a cure for children with leukaemia and adults with lymphoma. It has been greeted by scientists as a genuine breakthrough which could transform cancer treatment, offering hope to patients with no options left. Even the head of the NHS has described it as one of the most innovative treatments ever seen. Children with leukaemia and adults with lymphoma could be denied life-changing treatment But it comes at an eye-watering price. In the US, CAR-T costs 375,000 per patient and that does not include the cost of hospital time, follow-up treatment and chemotherapy. The price makes it the most expensive ever created for a common disease. Insiders say the cost to the NHS will be far lower, although the exact price is being kept commercially confidential. But a draft appraisal by Nice, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, is expected to say the first of these treatments a therapy called Yescarta made by drugs giant Gilead is not cost-effective for use on the NHS. Another draft decision for Novartis's CAR-T treatment Kymriah is due in the coming weeks. Experts hope the expected rejection is simply an 'opening gambit' in negotiations to drive down the price. Simon Stevens, chief executive of NHS England, has said he wanted to see patients have access to CAR-T treatments but that companies must 'set fair and affordable prices'. Experts say making CAR-T therapies is extremely complicated, which is why the cost is so high. It takes a team of scientists and a 17-day process simply to prepare the treatment. But unlike conventional cancer drugs, which have to be given for years, it needs to be given only once. Professor Alan Melcher of the Institute of Cancer Research in London said: 'Companies are not just plucking a price out of the air, this is a really complicated process.' The expensive cancer cure costs 375,000 in the U.S. not including time in hospital and care But he added: 'Negotiations will be going on; this is likely to be the opening gambit.' Scientists have had extraordinary success in trials, putting patients into remission who had only months to live. The latest Yescarta trial data showed 72 per cent of patients responded to treatment, and 51 per cent had no trace of cancer at all in their blood stream 15 months after treatment. Patients treated with Kymriah showed similar results, with 52 per cent responding and 40 per cent completely clear of cancer after 14 months. The treatments are expected to be licensed by the European Medicines Agency this month, making them available privately in Britain and elsewhere in the EU. But their use on the NHS relies on Nice, which is particularly concerned that the immune system could run out of control and attack the body. My tumours went. It was incredible Remission: Mr Dimas Padilla When Dimas Padilla found out his cancer had returned for a third time, doctors told him he had only months to live. The father-of-two, who was first diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma in 2011, had started putting his affairs in order when he received a call asking him to take part in a medical trial. Last week Mr Padilla, a 44-year-old sales representative from Florida, celebrated two years in remission following successful CAR-T cell therapy. When he joined the trial, tumours in his neck had grown so large he was unable to talk to his wife Johanna, 44, and their daughters, aged 14 and seven. In August 2016 T-cells were removed from his blood and sent to a lab in California, where they were reprogrammed to attack his cancer, then infused intravenously into his body over two weeks. Within two days of the treatment, I noticed my neck was skinnier, he said. When I started to look for the tumours, they were gone. It was incredible. After overcoming side-effects such as fevers of up to 105F, he now has six-monthly check-ups and said: There is no doubt that this treatment saved my life. Democrats chances of winning the House of Representatives are improving thanks to strong support from women, a new poll revealed, and many of them are naming President Donald Trump as the deciding factor in their vote. Female voters are proving to be the under lying foundation behind the party's strong chances of victory in November. A plurality of women, in a new CBS News poll, revealed they are checking the Democrats' box at the ballot this fall with 46 percent saying they will go Democratic while 34 percent are supporting Republicans and 16 percent were not sure. A plurality of women in a new CBS News poll said their vote this fall would be 'in opposition' to President Trump Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand said Trump is the reason so many women are running for political office in 2018 The new poll also estimates Democrats could win 222 House seats - plus or minus an 11 seat margin of error. It takes 218 seats to control the chamber. And Trump is proving to be key in women's decision-making process. A plurality named the president as a deciding factor in who they will support in the midterms: 39 percent of women said their vote would be 'in opposition' to Trump; 30 percent said it would for Trump and 31 percent said he's not a factor. And it's his policies - not his personal life - that have women concerned. In the poll, 59 percent of women said Trump's policies and how he manages the government are the most important factor in their thinking about the president while 24 percent said it's the values and culture he represents, and 17 percent said it's how he handles himself personally. Trump has proven to have a tougher time with women than with men. In the past month, the president has gotten better approval numbers from men than women in the Gallup daily tracking poll. And while the president has bragged he won the women's vote in the 2016 election, he actually only won non-college educated women. Hillary Clinton won the overall women's vote. But those non-college educated women were essential to his presidential win, meaning it's a group he needs to keep in his corner as the 2020 election approaches. One Democratic senator said Trump is the reason so many woman threw their hat in the political ring this year. 'The response to him being elected, I think, is this overwhelmingly -- overwhelming desire of women to be heard, to be counted, and to fight back against what he stands for and what he said,' said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, a Democrat from New York, on CBS' 'Face the Nation' on Sunday morning. 'Protest, anger, frustration and determination to protect their families,' she said of women's desire to be in the political arena. A record number of women are running for office this year: 54 in the Senate (with 29 still in the running after the primaries) and 476 in the House (with 272 still in contention after the primaries), according to the Center for American Women and Politics at Rutgers. But the biggest message out of the poll was that women want to send a message to Washington D.C.: 67 percent said sending a message to the nation's capitol is a big part of their vote. Marchers attend Women's March Los Angeles 2018 on January 20, 2018 Protesters walk during the Women's March on Washington on January 21, 2017 Turnout could hit record high in the midterms, which typically see fewer voters than in presidential elections: 69 percent of women and 83 percent of men said they definitely plan to vote in November. And 89 percent of women voters say their 2018 vote is at least as important as a vote in a presidential election. Even some Republicans concede that even though Trump's name won't be on the ballot in November, the midterms will be about him. 'This is an up or down vote on President Trump,' said former White House adviser Steve Bannon on MSNBC on Friday. 'You know, this election's going to come as a referendum on him. He permeates the entire political culture. And I think those that are around him are telling him that, 'hey, it's OK to lose the House. You can work with the Democrats and you can run against a Democratic House in 2020.' It's bad advice.' The CBS News poll was conducted between August 1016 with 4,989 respondents in 57 competitive and likely competitive congressional districts. The margin of error is 1.8 percent. It was conducted online by YouGov. Cosplay superheroes came to the rescue of a devastated seven-year-old boy from Texas after only one friend showed up to his birthday party. Houston boy Max was heartbroken when just one of his 30 invited friends showed up to his birthday bash on June 30, leading his mom Susann to write a letter to her local radio talk show to ask them to remind parents to RSVP. But she never expected the 94.5FM station to read the letter on air and that members of Houston Cosplay for Charity would overhear the broadcast. Inspired to help Max, the cosplay volunteers suited up in their Deadpool and Wonder Woman garb and launched a mission to throw Max a do-over party he'd never forget. A group of kindhearted cosplayers threw seven-year-old Houston boy Max, pictured above, a birthday do-over after only one friend attended his birthday party on June 30 Best day ever! Max could hardly contain his excitement when he got to his party and saw the room filled with people including cosplayers dressed as superheroes Forty people attended the party do-over on July 29, Max pictured center with his new friends Brandi Coatsworth, who plays Wonder Woman, reached out to Susann in July after hearing her letter read over the radio and the two started to plan Max a new birthday party, according to Chron. 'Anyone who knows Max and his story was just heartbroken for him. He's such a great, kind kid that it's hard to hear something like that happened. When [the radio show] forwarded Brandi's email, I was floored. I had no idea something like that would or could happen,' mom Susann said on the surprise. Trampoline park Urban Air, where Max's original party took place, even agreed to donate a second party package for the seven year old. On July 29 Max celebrated a second birthday party that couldn't have been more different than the original with 40 party guests, including some kids who couldn't make it to the first one, and more than a dozen superheroes and movie characters including Captain America, Batman, Catwoman and Tinkerbell. Max's mom Susann said: 'The superheroes jumped in our corner without a second thought and have done more than anyone could ask to make sure Max had the best birthday ever' To the rescue! Max's special party guests pictured above in their superhero garb. Brandi Coatsworth, who plays Wonder Woman, said: 'Seeing the pure joy on his face is why we do what we do' 'He's such a cute, sweet kid. And Susie's such an awesome mom,' Coatsworth said. Susann said Max was beaming on his special day. 'I wasn't looking to get anything out of it, or any attention at all. The fact that Brandi and Houston Cosplay for Charity jumped in the same day my email was read on the air made my heart smile,' she said. 'The superheroes jumped in our corner without a second thought and have done more than anyone could ask to make sure Max had the best birthday ever. I will never be able to thank them enough,' she added. Speaking on the good deed Coatsworth, 41, said: 'It only takes a moment to make a difference in someone's life.' 'Seeing the pure joy on his face is why we do what we do, and it really warmed our hearts to see such a sweet child so happy.' She along with the other cosplay volunteers devote their time to attend fundraisers, charity events, and youth programs to bring smiles to children's faces. A Slovakian woman who has been driving her neighbours mad by blasting opera from her loudspeakers for 16 hours every day since 1999 has been arrested. The woman, identified only as Eva N, played a four minute aria from Guiseppi Verdi's 'La Traviata' on loop every day from morning until night- infuriating her neighbours in the town of Sturovo, in Slovakia. The homeowner claims the music was to drown out the noise of a dog, according to Parameter.sk Her neighbours were clearly not too keen on the constant noise, which started at around 6am and then would go on until 10pm. One neighbour told reporters 'I love Placido Domingo, but not like this.' A scene from the opera La Traviata, by Guiseppi Verdi, who was an Italian composer In the 1983 Italian film of the opera the tenor is Placido Domingo. Fortunately for Eva's beleagured bordering homeowners the Slovakia Supreme Court recently upheld a decision meaning Eva had to stop playing her music at such a loud level. She ignored the ruling, as she has done for previous rulings about her music, but this time was arrested and has been accused of harassment and malicious persecution. Eva's house was nicknamed the singing house in 1999, shortly after she moved there. She claimed the reason she blasted out the four minute aria was due to her neighbour's loud dog. But the bizarre thing about the situation is that apparently the dog left many years ago and she continued to play the music, much to her neighbours chagrin. This is not the first time somebody has been landed in hot water after playing a song too loudly. In March 2017 a woman from Walsall was jailed for repeatedly playing Ed Sheeran's Shape of You. A student playwright was beaten with a metal bar after refusing demands to pay more money for her holiday hostel. Laura Denmar, 26, was injured when she was brutally attacked as her boyfriend was pinned to a wall. She needed emergency hospital treatment and cut short her trip to the fashionable Croatian resort of Split. Laura Denmar (pictured) was attacked in the Croatian resort of Split when she refused to pay more money for a hostel The student playwright suffered a gash to the head, a fractured hand and bruising to the arms and body (pictured) Last night Miss Denmar said she feared other young British travellers could fall foul of shady accommodation operators. We are doing okay now that we are back in the UK, but it was a really terrifying ordeal, she said. It was clear that the entire operation was not legal in the first place and the attack was definitely premeditated. We are lucky to be out of there and want to warn others before they book accommodation online. The aspiring playwright, who is studying at Londons Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, travelled to Croatia last month. She and her boyfriend Jeremy, 39, booked a 60-a-night hostel through a major website because of peak season hotel prices. But when they arrived in the citys picturesque Old Town, which lies on the Dalmatian coast, they were immediately sent away to a grimy suburb. We were told that we had to pick up the keys from a different hostel, and then make our way to the apartment, she said. When we arrived we realised that it was not legitimate at all there were 30 beds and only one bathroom and no one there running anything. We had nowhere else to stay and we had already paid so we decided to make do. Miss Denmar (pictured) made a statement to Croatian police and has been in contact with the British Embassy Miss Denmar (pictured) and her boyfriend Jeremy were approached by a cleaner on their last day and told to pay more money On the last day, a cleaner came in early and told us that we needed to leave right away or pay more money. I told her that was unreasonable and refused to hand over any money and so she told us she would call the police if we did not leave. I knew what they were doing was illegal so I told her to go on and call the police. Instead she called a man who we think was the owner. We decided to get out of there as soon as possible, but she locked the doors so we could not leave until the man arrived. When he did, he slammed Jeremy into a wall with another guy and the woman started beating me with a metal pole. It was awful. Miss Denmar, from Cambridge, suffered a nasty gash to her head, which required stitches, a fractured hand and bruising to her arms and body. She made a statement to Croatian police, has been in regular contact with the British Embassy and complained to the website which brokered the hostel. But she fears others could fall foul of similar operations as shady businesses take advantage of the citys popularity with British tourists. Croatia was the backdrop of hit film Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again and the Beckhams enjoyed a luxury holiday there last month. Miss Denmar said: What happened to us was awful and I would hate for it to happen to anyone else. I just want people to know what happened to me so it never happens again. No one from the Dublin-based hostel website was available to comment. Police in Split said they were investigating an assault. An Air New Zealand flight to Sydney has been forced to turn back to Auckland due to a technical issue. Flight NZ101 took off at 7.20am but turned back a short time later. The incident came just hours after another Air New Zealand plane, NZ80, which returned to Hong Kong Airport on Sunday night. An Air New Zealand spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia the pilots on board the flight decided to turn back as a 'precautionary measure'. '[The decision was made] due to an issue with the system that heats one of the windows in the flight deck. 'There was no risk to safety at any point. The aircraft landed without incident and customers are being accommodated on alternative services.' More to come Air New Zealand Flight NZ101 took off at 7.20am but turned back a short time later (stock image) Staff have lost control of one of Britain's biggest prisons, a shocking report reveals today. Inmates are openly taking drugs, carrying out assaults and behaving with 'near impunity'. In a dramatic escalation of the dire situation in the country's jails, inspectors warn that Birmingham Prison is in 'a state of crisis' and host to 'appalling violence and squalor'. The situation is so out of hand that inmates are roaming around unchecked while 'fearful' staff lock themselves in their offices or sleep when they should be on patrol. In his report today, the Chief Inspector of Prisons, Peter Clarke, accuses the Ministry of Justice of an 'abject failure' to monitor the jail, which is run by G4S on a 15-year, 30million private contract. A shocking report has revealed staff have lost control of prisoners in one of Britain's biggest prisons in Birmingham. Pictured: Prisoners gleefully pose with guard's helmets during a prison riot in 2016 After being confronted with the findings, Justice Secretary David Gauke took the dramatic step of moving the jail back into Government control for at least six months. Eight deaths and a string of dire warnings has forced the Government to re-nationalise prison The decision to seize back control of Birmingham Prison is the culmination of months of increasingly dire warnings. Campaigners told of chronic overcrowding and surging violence in chaotic, drug-soaked institutions. Shocking images regularly posted online highlight how inmates are taking advantage of acute low staffing and spiralling morale. As well as smuggling in mobile phones, illicit substances and other luxury items, many boast about their 'easy life' behind bars. Contraband is often delivered using drones, 32 of which have been seized in just six months more than one a week. Advertisement A new governor has been appointed, 30 extra staff moved in and 300 inmates moved out. Mr Gauke insisted there would be no additional cost to the taxpayer. But the scathing assessment of conditions at the Category B prison the first in the public sector to be privatised is a major blow and will spark intense concern about the state of our jails. A series of dire reports have already suggested that prisons are mired in chronic overcrowding, surging violence and rampant drug abuse. Tory ministers now face a battle to the party's reputation on law and order. Mr Clarke's report, following an unannounced inspection at the end of July and start of August, assessed the 1400-place jail in Birmingham to be failing in every one of the criteria. It found: Birmingham was the most violent prison in England and Wales and thugs could act with 'near impunity'. Inmates intimidated staff without consequence and 'routinely disregarded the rules'. There was a 'general lack of order' on some wings. Staff were 'fearful' and locked themselves in offices - or slept - when they should have been on patrol. Blatant drug use went unpunished and prison officers simply shrugged their shoulders when challenged by inspectors. Trafficking of illegal substances including Spice was 'blatant' and drug use so widespread inspectors felt 'physically affected' by cannabis smoke in the air. 50 high risk criminals are due to be released in the next three months, and measures to protect the public are 'very poor'. The prison was filthy, infested with rats and cockroaches and blood and vomit not cleaned up. The lack of security at the jail the scene of a major riot in 2016 was highlighted during the inspection itself when there was an arson attack on a supposedly secure car park in which inspectors' cars were destroyed. Warning of 'high levels of 'violence and delinquency', Mr Clarke said serious assaults had left staff and inmates needing hospital treatment. A 'wholly inadequate' response meant most attacks were ignored and investigations eventually dropped. Bullied prisoners hid in their cells for fear of attack, with many emerging for just one hour a day to have a shower. Staff have been beaten up by marauding prisoners, guards hiding in offices and drugs are openly taken as ministers take back control of the prison. Pictured: Lawless inmates during a riot inside the facility in 2016 The report said: 'Throughout our investigation we observed a prison where control was tenuous...with wing staff often not knowing where their prisoners were at any one time. 'There was a general lack of order on some wings and the movement of prisoners from place to place within the prison lacked sufficient control.' One in three prisoners were on drugs and one in seven said they had started using since being locked up. Mr Clarke said the 'use and trafficking of illegal substances was blatant' but staff did nothing about it. Prison workers are pictured going to work at HMP Birmingham today after the government takeover from private company G4S Prison officers are pictured arriving at work at HMP Birmingham today as the government takes over control The report said: 'When inspectors raised the fact that drugs were clearly being smoked on a wing, the response from staff was to shrug.' Condemning 'innefective' leadership and management, Mr Clarke said staff were 'anxious and fearful' as they did their jobs. 'We saw prisoners behaving poorly or intimidating staff and other prisoners without challenge and staff were ineffective in maintaining even basic standards. Dozens of dangerous criminals will be released in the next three months after staff 'failed to deal with high-risk criminals' The public are at risk from around 50 dangerous criminals to be released from crisis-hit HMP Birmingham in the next three months, inspectors warned. The report said that between August and November the criminals assessed as posing a 'high risk of harm' would walk free at the end of their sentences. But inspectors said they were 'greatly concerned' about what would happen when they were released. They wrote: 'Birmingham held and frequently released men who were assessed as posing a high risk of harm to others. Between August and November this year, 50 high-risk men are due to be released and we were greatly concerned that measures to protect the public from those men while in prison and on release were very poor.' The report also found that risk assessments for inmates were not up to date and criticised staff for failing to deal with high-risk criminals. Sex offenders were also unable to access rehabilitation courses. Advertisement 'It was often difficult to find officers, although we did find some asleep during prisoner lock up-periods. On more than one occasion we found groups of staff who had locked themselves in their offices.' Speaking this morning, Mr Clarke suggested ministers had been 'asleep at the wheel'. 'How is it that in 18 months a prison which is supposedly being run under the auspices of a tightly-managed contract, how has that been allowed to deteriorate?' he said. 'There are Ministry of Justice officials on-site permanently, and yet somehow there seems to have been some sort of institutional inertia that has allowed this prison to deteriorate to this completely unacceptable state.' Asked whether the MoJ had failed, Mr Clarke told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'I think that's the only reasonable conclusion you can come to.' He added: 'It cannot be the case that the only time urgent action is taken to restore decency in a prison is when an inspection report is published, surely somebody must have been asleep at the wheel?' During the unannounced inspection, inspectors found piles of rubbish left to fester in 'filthy' communal areas, rats, cockroaches and blood and vomit not cleaned up. A pool of blood was left for two days in a shower area, inspectors found. Ministry of Justice sources said the decision to 'step in' at the jail had in train for some considerable period, and insisted the other four G4S prisons were performing well. But one Whitehall source told the Mail the decision had been made in recent days in response to the catastrophic findings of the report. Mr Clarke issued an 'urgent notification' to the Ministry of Justice last Friday in a letter to Mr Gauke setting out the failings at the jail. G4S took over the prison in 2011 when HMP Birmingham became the first publicly run prison to be privatised. It is only the latest in a string of scandals to affect the controversial firm. Most notoriously, in 2012, it botched the security of the Olympic Games leaving the Government to summon the Armed Forces to fill the gaps. A prison van is pictured entering the Birmingham jail today after it was announced the government are taking over management from private firm G4S Prisons Minister Rory Stewart said: 'What we have seen at Birmingham is unacceptable and it has become clear that drastic action is required to bring about the improvements we require.' Jerry Petherick, managing director of G4S said: 'HMP Birmingham is an inner-city remand prison which faces exceptional challenges including increasingly high levels of prisoner violence towards staff and fellow prisoners. 'The well-being and safety of prisoners and prison staff is our key priority and we welcome the six month step-in and the opportunity to work with the Ministry of Justice to urgently address the issues faced at the prison.' Built in 1849, HMP Birmingham is a category B facility for adult male inmates and had a population of 1,269 at the end of last month. A still from video footage of the riot at HMP Birmimgham last year shows rubbish and debris strewn on the grounds Today prisons minister Rory Stewart MP was grilled on the crisis at HMP Birmingham by Jeremy Kyle and Kate Garraway during an interview on Good Morning Briain this morning. They quizzed him on why the Government had not taken over from G4S before now, as issues of overcrowding, drug use, self harm and violence have been 'going on for years'. Mr Stewart told the programme: 'So you're right, it's absolutely shocking. I visited last week and saw for myself, the chief inspector of prisons and the secretary of state have also visited. 'The two main drivers of this are that there was a riot at Birmingham prison 18 months ago and they've never really recovered from that. They've brought in a new team, they've tried to stabilise. 'The other thing along with the riot is new psychoactive substances, new types of drugs that are causing problems.' Host Kate Garraway pointed out that an ex-gang member who appeared on the show on the same morning said 'prisons are no longer the deterrent they used to be'. Mr Stewart responded: 'It is a horrible thing to hear. 'Prisons are very challenging environments. Prison is not a comfortable place to go. 'But there are some people in this country who come from such challenged backgrounds that they don't find prison the deterrent that it should be. 'And that's why we need to work with them in every single way to turn their lives around, because that's the way we're going to protect the public. 'That's education, that's work, but there's an element of punishment that needs to be addressed here.' ** Do you or your relatives have any experiences of life inside Birmingham Prison? Please email: tips@mailonline.co.uk ** Prison riots, a botched Olympics and 'unprecedented levels' of complaints but security firm G4S is STILL charging taxpayers BILLIONS of pounds A litany of scandals has not stopped G4S pocketing billions of pounds from taxpayers over the last decade. The world's largest security company has been repeatedly exposed over failures in prisons, tagging, security services and patient transport. It even botched the security of the 2012 Olympics leaving the Government to summon the Armed Forces to fill the gaps. MPs called on ministers to rethink any future contracts as critics said the outsourcing giant had effectively become a 'private army' of the State. The firm was then hit with a 109million bill after it was revealed it had overcharged the Government during a contract to monitor electronic tags. The world's largest security company has been repeatedly exposed over failures in prisons, tagging, security services and patient transport (Security pictured at Wimbledon 2014) Incredibly, senior staff continued to bill the taxpayer for watching over criminals who were dead, in prison or had left the country. But the high-profile and embarrassing problems appeared to have little to no impact on the company's bottom line. Executives continued to receive lucrative public-sector contracts, posting a significant rise in profits last year and overall revenue of almost 8billion. However, the collapse of rival Carillion wiped significant chunks off the share value off it and other public-sector contractors. And don't forget jails where drones fly in steaks By Chris Greenwood, chief crime correspondent The decision to seize back control of Birmingham Prison is the culmination of months of increasingly dire warnings. Campaigners told of chronic overcrowding and surging violence in chaotic, drug-soaked institutions. Shocking images regularly posted online highlight how inmates are taking advantage of acute low staffing and spiralling morale. As well as smuggling in mobile phones, illicit substances and other luxury items, many boast about their 'easy life' behind bars. Contraband is often delivered using drones, 32 of which have been seized in just six months more than one a week. Incredibly, it was recently revealed prisoners in Cheshire were cooking sausages, bacon, fish and steaks simply thrown over the fence. Specialist teams have been sent in to quell explosions of violence including at Birmingham following a 15-hour riot in 2016. Officials have condemned conditions in the nation's prisons as the 'most disturbing' ever seen. Just a few weeks ago inspectors said jails were rife with violence, drugs, suicide and self-harm. One report said the living standards in some institutions 'have no place in an advanced nation in the 21st century'. Chief inspector Peter Clarke singled out conditions at HMP Liverpool, where some convicts were forced to live in damp cells with exposed electrical wiring and infested with rats and cockroaches. In a few posts, the unknown inmate can't resist showing off his muscles in workouts for the camera (left) and enjoys food such as chicken cooked on his contraband Breville Grill (right) Standards at HMP Nottingham, a Category B prison, were so bad it was feared this was driving inmates to kill themselves. Eight men had taken their own lives in the two years to January. Amid concerns staff cannot cope with chronic overcrowding, jails have been hit by record levels of assaults and self-harm. Figures show the number of attacks on staff and inmates has doubled since 2012 to a record 29,485 last year or one every 18 minutes. Incidents of self-harm also rose from 23,158 in 2012 to 44,651 last year. Meanwhile, the number of prison officers has fallen by 8,000 nearly 20 per cent since 2010. In January Mr Clarke used new powers to demand ministers improve a 'fundamentally unsafe' jail. He issued an 'urgent notification', requiring the Justice Secretary to make an action plan to tackle 'serious failures' at HMP Nottingham. Rattled by the scale of the crisis engulfing jails in England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has been busy trying to re-establish control. Last week prisons minister Rory Stewart said he would resign in a year if he does not reduce drug and violence levels at ten target jails. He made the promise as the Government announced 10million to improve security and conditions. Officials hope body scanners and sniffer dogs will help clamp down on smuggling of drugs, including Spice, and mobile phones. Ministers want to raise standards of leadership by sending prison governors to military-style colleges. There will also be a programme of repairs and improvements to cell windows and perimeter security. The decision to seize back control of Birmingham Prison is the culmination of months of increasingly dire warnings. Campaigners told of chronic overcrowding and surging violence in chaotic, drug-soaked institutions. Shocking images regularly posted online highlight how inmates are taking advantage of acute low staffing and spiralling morale. As well as smuggling in mobile phones, illicit substances and other luxury items, many boast about their 'easy life' behind bars. Contraband is often delivered using drones, 32 of which have been seized in just six months more than one a week. Shocking images regularly posted online highlight how inmates are taking advantage of acute low staffing and spiralling morale in HMP Birmingham Incredibly, it was recently revealed prisoners in Cheshire were cooking sausages, bacon, fish and steaks simply thrown over the fence. Specialist teams have been sent in to quell explosions of violence including at Birmingham following a 15-hour riot in 2016. Officials have condemned conditions in the nation's prisons as the 'most disturbing' ever seen. Just a few weeks ago inspectors said jails were rife with violence, drugs, suicide and self-harm. One report said the living standards in some institutions 'have no place in an advanced nation in the 21st century'. Chief inspector Peter Clarke singled out conditions at HMP Liverpool, where some convicts were forced to live in damp cells with exposed electrical wiring and infested with rats and cockroaches. Standards at HMP Nottingham, a Category B prison, were so bad it was feared this was driving inmates to kill themselves. Eight men had taken their own lives in the two years to January. Amid concerns staff cannot cope with chronic overcrowding, jails have been hit by record levels of assaults and self-harm. Figures show the number of attacks on staff and inmates has doubled since 2012 to a record 29,485 last year or one every 18 minutes. Incidents of self-harm also rose from 23,158 in 2012 to 44,651 last year. Meanwhile, the number of prison officers has fallen by 8,000 nearly 20 per cent since 2010. As well as smuggling in mobile phones, illicit substances and other luxury items, many boast about their 'easy life' behind bars In January Mr Clarke used new powers to demand ministers improve a 'fundamentally unsafe' jail. He issued an 'urgent notification', requiring the Justice Secretary to make an action plan to tackle 'serious failures' at HMP Nottingham. Rattled by the scale of the crisis engulfing jails in England and Wales, the Ministry of Justice has been busy trying to re-establish control. Last week prisons minister Rory Stewart said he would resign in a year if he does not reduce drug and violence levels at ten target jails. He made the promise as the Government announced 10million to improve security and conditions. Officials hope body scanners and sniffer dogs will help clamp down on smuggling of drugs, including Spice, and mobile phones. Ministers want to raise standards of leadership by sending prison governors to military-style colleges. There will also be a programme of repairs and improvements to cell windows and perimeter security. Many adults put off going to their GP because they do not like being told what to do, research suggests. Data from 4,300 Britons saw nearly one in five admit they had delayed making an appointment to avoid being lectured about lifestyle changes. Experts say patients stay away for fear of giving away control even when they are already showing worrying health symptoms and warn this poses a considerable threat to public health. British adults are putting off going to the GP because they don't like being told what to do and have a 'fear of finding out' (file photo) The report, by experts at University College London, the University of Bedfordshire and think-tank 2020 Health, says many people also have a fear of finding out they are unhealthy and so avoid their doctor. This can lead to major issues in the long term because minor problems missed at an early stage can escalate into far more severe issues. Cancer, for example, can be treated far more successfully if spotted early. But many people especially the rising number who know they do too little exercise or are overweight do not report health complaints for fear of being lectured about their lifestyle. GPs are encouraged by the NHS to ask patients about their weight and how much exercise they do, and are even given financial incentives to give weight-loss advice. Julia Manning, founding director of 2020 Health, said: Its easy to think that consumers are wilfully refusing to change unhealthy habits, but the truth is, we are bombarded by conflicting health advice and mixed messages everywhere we turn. This is both confusing and dangerous as it can lead to important, evidence-based health information and guidance being lost or overlooked. Not only are lifestyle changes undermined, but the importance of getting specific symptoms checked out early are obscured. Some 18 per cent of participants in the study nearly one in five said they had delayed an appointment because they were worried they might be pressured to change their lifestyle. Data from 4,300 Britons saw nearly one in five admit they had delayed making an appointment to avoid being lectured about lifestyle changes (file photo) With 68 per cent of men and 58 per cent of women in Britain now overweight or obese, many may have reason to fear being lectured. A quarter of participants said they had avoided a doctor because they did not want to be physically examined. A fifth said they were anxious about treatment that might be required, and another fifth were worried about the impact a diagnosis may have on family members. The report, funded by pharmaceutical firm AbbVie, said patients who go to their doctor when they have a problem actually have a smaller impact on the NHS. It said: The model of the good patient [is] one who adopts a healthy lifestyle, sees the doctor promptly if they notice what could be the early signs of illness and turns up to routine health checks and screening appointments. Number of articles seized at UK borders has more than halved from 4.6 million Cuts to the number of officials patrolling the borders is allowing organised gangs to smuggle fake goods into Britain unchecked. As well as contributing to huge queues at passport control this Summer, budget cuts at Border Force have been blamed for a dramatic fall in the number of fake items seized at the border. The influx of counterfeit goods has been largely driven by Chinese counterfeiters which are selling their wares through online market places such as Amazon, eBay and Ali Baba as well as on the High Street. Cuts to the number of officials patrolling the borders is allowing organised gangs to smuggle fake goods into Britain in black market worth 9.3billion (file photo) The bogus market is worth as much as 9.3 billion every year - or around 4 per cent of imports - according to the most recent estimates from the OECD thinktank. But the number of articles seized at UK borders has more than halved from 4.6 million to two million in 2016 according to separate figures published by the European Commission. The number of shipments - or 'cases' - of counterfeit items discovered at the UK's ports and airports has plunged by 83 per cent from 12,123 in 2015 to 2094 in 2016. This is less than Belgium, the Czech Republic, Germany, Greece, Lithuania, Malta, Netherlands and Romania. The drop has coincided with budget cuts at Border Force, meaning fewer shipments coming into the UK's ports and airports are being checked. The number of full time Border Force officers fell by 662 or almost ten per cent in two years from 8332 in 2014/15 to 7602 in 2016/17. The Border Force's budget was cut by another 2.3 per cent last year although the number of permanent staff rose to 7674 according to the Home Office's latest annual report and accounts. Phil Lewis, a former government adviser who has fought against piracy for almost two decades, said cuts to Border Force means they have been 'pushed to the absolute limit'. Speaking to the Mail in his new role as boss of the Anti-Counterfeiting Group, he warned Britain's 'whole enforcement structure is creaking'. Border officials are increasingly being forced to prioritise issues such as immigration, leaving them less time to help combat the 362billion global trade in fake goods. The influx of counterfeit goods has been largely driven by Chinese counterfeiters which are selling their wares through online market places (file photo) The number of articles seized at UK borders has more than halved from 4.6 million to two million in 2016 (file photo) This has made it increasingly easy for criminals to smuggle fake goods across the border. A fall in the number of local trading standards officers also means that once fake goods have been smuggled across the border they are less likely to be seized when they turn up in local markets, according to Mr Lewis. The illegal trade is robbing the UK exchequer of an estimated 3.8billion in unpaid tax and costing struggling retailers and businesses billions of pounds in lost sales. Mr Lewis said: 'The current plight of Border Force is ominously portrayed in the fight against the global trade of counterfeit and pirated goods. 'Our businesses, economy and consumers are under ruthless attack from international criminals involved a dark trade that gets more damaging and menacing by the day. 'But our whole enforcement structure is creaking. It is dreadfully over-stretched and has been pushed to the limit. 'Unless this is taken seriously I wonder whether we will ever be anywhere near 'taking back control of our borders'.' In a damning report published by the commons Home Affairs committee in February, MPs said they are 'increasingly alarmed about the impact that inadequate resources are having on the capacity for Border Force to operate effectively.' It added that the reduction in officers has meant members of staff being diverted regularly from customs operations to the priority service of immigration control'. Organisations including Interpol and the World Customs Organisation have warned huge profits from fake goods which range from anything from jewellery to luxury handbags and pharmaceuticals are being channelled into the trafficking of drugs and human beings as well as related crimes such as money laundering. Mr Lewis said the cuts at trading standards run by local authorities have made it easier counterfeit goods to be sold in markets and shops. The funding has almost halved in seven years from 213million in 2009 to just 124 million in 2016. Labour MP John Mann, who sits on the commons Treasury committee said: 'We have to keep our borders secure and that means counterfeit goods as well as people. 'Otherwise to people will put themselves at risk by using dangerous projects and genuine manufacturers will lose out.' Almost three quarters of fake goods arrive by sea. But increasingly smaller consignments are being delivered by air as people and businesses use the internet to buy and sell fake goods from their homes and offices. The most commonly counterfeited goods are tobacco, clothing, alcohol, footwear and cosmetics. Safety concerns have been raised about many of these products, including hair straighteners and other electric goods as well as pharmaceuticals. The trade in fake goods has damaged the high street, with a report by the OECD estimating it have cost legitimate firms 8.6billion in lost sales in 2013. Mr Lewis has been one of the key figures in the fight against piracy since 2001 when he became the UK's senior policy adviser on intellectual property under the Blair government. As part of that he was in charge of developing the UK's first strategy to tackle this crime. He has also been an adviser to the European Commission and Interpol The Anti-Counterfeiting Group represents more than 3,000 international manufacturers, retailers and businesses. Some of the group's members have complained of an increase in counterfeit goods being sold particularly online. They include American footwear company Deckers which makes UGG boots. Alistair Campbell, who is in charge of leading to fight against counterfeit goods in Europe, said: 'The depletion of UK customs and Trading Standards officers has resulted in a huge rise of shoddy fake goods, hitting our high streets, which undercut legitimate retailers, ultimately leading to the closure of shops and lost jobs in the locality.' Jilted wife and mom-of-five, Robyn Billings, 48, (above on Facebook) has spoken out about her messy divorce A mother-of-five in the midst of a messy divorce with her multi-millionaire husband has spoken out about her family's betrayal as their legal battle storms on. Robyn Billings, 48, filed for divorce to her pesticide business CEO husband, Dean Billings, 52, around Valentine's Day of 2017 following seventeen years of marriage which became tumultuous three years ago. The Staten Island woman claims in court documents Dean has lavishly blown money on other women, wild nights out, alcohol and drugs instead of providing financial support for her herself and their children. While speaking to the New York Post, Robyn said: 'He took my lifestyle from me and my money and hes shoving it in my face that hes giving it to other women.' Robyn alleges her wealthy estranged husband refuses to pay bills to keep their family afloat - and has even failed to make payments toward their children's private school tuition. The couple have three children together - two other children are from her former marriage. 'Some of our accounts are months behind... the sad truth is that neither the children nor I were ever denied anything until (Dean) began to lose control of the other part of his life,' court documents state. Robyn alleges the money is going toward 'partying, shopping, drinking, substance abuse and women.' Robyn (far right) filed for divorce to her pest company CEO husband, Dean Billings, 52, (left) around Valentine's Day of 2017 Robyn said: 'He took my lifestyle from me and my money and hes shoving it in my face that hes giving it to other women' DailyMail.com reached out to Robyn but she declined to comment further. However, earlier in the day, Robyn took to Facebook to thank everyone who has showed their support. 'It is with tremendous sadness that is my life! the actions of my ex have caused me and my family so much embarrassment and pain,' she penned in the public post. The creative designer at CPC Events shared words of encouragement to herself and other women in her shoes. 'I explain to my children that we might get some bumps and bruises but sometimes to get to a rainbow you have to go through the rain! Robyn is pictured above posing in a luxury car. She said her estranged husband no longer provides the lifestyle she once had Robyn also alleges that Dean refuses to pay bills to keep their family afloat She posted this message to Facebook back in April saying she is 'happy to get back to me' Robyn posted about her messy divorce in public social media posts 'All women should not be afraid and should not be controlled by their husbands because they make money they should stand up and know their value and get out of toxic relationships for the sake of themselves and their children!!!' Last Thursday, she also shared a picture quote in which she seemingly shamed Dean's despicable ways. 'They don't discard you for someone better. They discard you for someone who can't see their bullsh*t,' the quote said. She captioned above it: 'Fact!!! They surround themselves with people who they can hide their true identity!' Dean's attorney, James Sexton, told the Post: 'One of the most frustrating aspects of New York divorce law is how easy a disgruntled spouse can make false claims in preliminary litigation papers, for dramatic effect.' The Billings' gorgeous $6.3million Benedict Road mansion is shown above The home was deemed 'Staten Islands most expensive house for sale' on its real estate listing The family purchased the posh property in 2012, before their family fell apart The property was taken off the market since the couple filed last year Another photo of their former Staten Island home is pictured. The couple filed for divorce last year Robyn's attorney, Leslie Barbara, however, called her client a 'wonderful mother, good wife' and a 'stand-up person who does not deserve this.' The once-happily married couple met in 1997 before they hosted a fairytale winter wedding in January 2000. They jet-setted off to Anguilla for their honeymoon, the Post reported. Shortly before their marriage took a turn for the worse, the Billings moved into a mansion in 2012 located on Benedict Road in Staten Island. The home was put up for sale last year, when they filed for divorce. It has been taken off the market since. The home was deemed 'Staten Islands most expensive house for sale' on its real estate listing. Florida Congressman Alcee Hastings kicked off a Democratic rally with a joke about President Donald Trump drowning. The 81-year-old representative from Florida's 20th district told the joke while emceeing a 'Stronger Together' rally in Sunshine, Florida, on Sunday. 'I will tell you one joke,' Hastings said. 'Do you know the difference between a crisis and a catastrophe?' 'A crisis is if Donald Trump falls into the Potomac River and cant swim,' he went on, 'and a catastrophe is [if] anybody saves his ass.' The joke was met with uproarious laughter and cheers from the rally crowd. Democratic Congressman Alcee Hastings, above at an event in 2016, kicked off a 'Stronger Together' rally in Sunshine, Florida, on Sunday with the joke: 'Do you know the difference between a crisis and a catastrophe? A crisis is if Donald Trump falls into the Potomac River and cant swim, and a catastrophe is [if] anybody saves his ass' The 81-year-old representative's joke was met with cheers and uproarious laughter from the rally crowd. One attendee recorded the delivery on Snapchat (above) Republicans have slammed Hastings' quip as distasteful and disturbing - despite the fact that Trump himself made a comment about Hillary Clinton being shot while on the campaign trail in 2016. Hastings said he'd originally heard the joke from Ari Silver, the son of former Florida state legislator Barry Silver. Hastings has long been a vocal critic of Trump, whom he called a 'sentient pile of excrement' when speaking at an event one month before the 2016 election. He then boycotted Trump's inauguration the following January. The southern Florida congressman first elected in 1992 lambasted Trump later in Sunday's speech by saying: 'There is no question that something is tragically wrong with the president of the United States in his mind.' Hastings, who was first elected to represent southern Florida's 20th district in 1992, has long been a vocal critic of the president, whom he called a 'sentient pile of excrement' in 2016 Hastings said that he's recently modified one of his regular lines about Trump which was originally that if Robert Mueller - the special counsel investigating the president for Russia collusion - doesnt bring down Trump, Stormy Daniels will. Now he's changed that line to: 'If Mueller does bring Trump down, Omarosa [Manigault Newman] will', referring to the former White House aide who claims to have a recording of the president using the N-word. Hastings also called on citizens to turn out for the midterm elections this November to avoid what he called 'continued assaults on voting rights, equal rights and womens rights'. 'Weve seen a degradation in our society, a turning back of the clock in a way that none of us ever imagined would occur,' he said ominously. Other speakers at the event, which attracted four of the five Democratic candidates for governor and Senator Bill Nelson, delivered more subtle jabs at the president in subsequent speeches. Disgraced former deputy mayor Salim Mehajer's estranged wife has been taken to court by a construction company in an attempt to recover $60,000 in debt. Mehajer was sued by construction company Post Tension Company Pty Ltd in March for unpaid work in the Central Coast. His wife Aysha Learmonth - who has an apprehended violence order against him - was asked to file a defence in the civil case at Wyong Local Court on Thursday, a day after the couple's third wedding anniversary. Scroll down for video Disgraced former deputy mayor Salim Mehajer's estranged wife Aysha Learmonth has been taken to court by a construction company in an attempt to recover $60,000 in debt Mehajer was sued by construction company Post Tension Company Pty Ltd in March for unpaid work in the Central Coast (Pictured: Mehajer and Ms Learmonth at their wedding) Ms Learmonth has been asked to file a defence by September 20, the Sydney Morning Herald reported. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Post Tension Company for comment. Since the couple's split, Ms Learmonth has been working as a beauty therapist specialising in Brazilian butt lifts made popular by Kim Kardashian. The case is expected to return to court on September 27. The action comes as Mehajer is being chased for a further $15,000 bill for a scripted 'tell-all interview'. The bizarre sit-down chat with 'reporter' Dale Walker was widely mocked when it was posted to YouTube in 2017 after the disgraced Auburn deputy mayor was sacked. Since the couple's split, Ms Learmonth has been working as a beauty therapist specialising in Brazilian butt lifts made popular by Kim Kardashian Now, the film company which produced the interview has revealed the entire production was fake, with paid actors and pre-rehearsed scripts. The Box Studios, located in Sydney, claim they are owed $15,000 from Mehajer for their work in the production. Mehajer was declared bankrupt by a Federal Circuit Court judge after one of his companies failed to pay a debt of over $200,000. It was the photo seen around the world: Pope Francis, on his landmark visit to the US, bending down to kiss the head of a little girl on Market Street in Philadelphia. That child was Gianna Masciantonio, a one-year-old girl who at the time was fighting for her life against a debilitating brain tumor. Four weeks after she was born, doctors told Gianna's parents to start planning her funeral. Now, three years later, her tumor has completely disappeared. It's a story made all the more incredible by that fateful day in September 2015, the day Gianna earned the nickname 'Miracle on Market'. Gianna Masciantonio was dubbed the 'Miracle on Market' when she was kissed on the head by Pope Francis during his US visit in 2015. Months later, her inoperable brain tumor disappeared When Gianna was born, by all appearances she looked to be a healthy baby girl. But doctors realized something was wrong when she failed a hearing test at the four-week mark. They then discovered the newborn had a massive tumor on her brain stem. It was inoperable. They were shocked Gianna had even survived the pregnancy. Doctors told Kristen and Joey Masciantonio to put their baby girl in hospice care and prepare for her death, giving her weeks to live. But the loving parents didn't give up hope. They began contacting the best children's hospitals across the country, searching for advice and second opinions. Now three years old, Gianna is continuing to defy doctors' predictions and thriving. Her family recently donated $50,000 to her hospital from their foundation Gianna (pictured with one of her doctors) was given just weeks to live when doctors discovered she had a massive tumor on her brain stem Meanwhile, the Catholic couple found solace in prayer. They began weekly Tuesday telephone meetings with family and friends to say the rosary. It was one of the few things that offered them hope as they woke up every morning, unsure if they would find their baby alive or dead in her bassinet. When news spread that the pope was coming to town, Kristen knew they had to be there. The couple debated whether it'd be safe to take Gianna into the crowd but, after getting the green light from her doctor and a little help from a friend's FBI connection, the trip seemed destined to happen. They were given a spot as close as possible to the street procession, and raised Gianna high above the crowd as the Popemobile came towards them. Doctors told her parents to put Gianna in hospice care and begin planning her funeral. But they didn't give up hope Two months after Gianna was kissed by the pope, she was correctly diagnosed with a rare blood disorder and it was discovered her tumor wasn't malignant after all The car stopped and Pope Francis, not knowing anything about Gianna's story, gazed directly into Joey's eyes. Gianna was brought to him and the pope kissed her on the forehead and blessed her with the sign of the cross. Two months after the pope's kiss, the family received a life-changing call on Christmas Eve. On the other end of the line was Ira Dunkel, a specialist from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. Dunkel was baffled by the cysts that were forming around Gianna's brain tumor. It was something he had never seen before. He ordered a biopsy. Gianna underwent 15 months of intensive chemotherapy and soon the tumor began to shrink Soon, Gianna (pictured with her brother) was doing things doctors never dreamed she would. She started to crawl and pull herself up, feed herself, and even talk It was then revealed that Gianna didn't have cancer but Juvenile Xanthogranuloma, a rare blood disorder that affects one in 10 million children. The tumor wasn't malignant after all. Gianna underwent 15 months of intensive chemotherapy and the tumor quickly began to shrink. Soon, the little girl was doing things doctors never dreamed she would. She started to crawl and pull herself up, feed herself, and even talk. 'We had watched Gianna die her first year of life, but now she's come to life,' Kristen told Aleteia. And while the family believe in the power of prayer, they don't credit that fateful kiss for saving their daughter. Now three-years-old, the tumor has disappeared and Gianna is preparing to attend preschool 'Gianna's life is a miracle,' Kristen added. 'Pope Francis kissing her is God's way of showing he has been with us through this journey and is listening to our prayers.' Two years later, the tumor has completely disappeared and Gianna is preparing to attend preschool. 'Seeing your kid run around and seeing her doing the things she's doing with what they told us from the beginning is amazing,' Joey told CBS Philadelphia. Earlier this week Gianna returned to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP), but this time it wasn't for any tests. Instead her grateful family arrived with a gift - a check for $50,000 from their foundation For the Love of Grace. 'This place is so special to us in our heart,' Joey said. 'What they did for Gianna is something for us that no amount of money could ever repay, but we just want to help the kids.' The 'broken' business rates system should be scrapped to ease the burden on struggling high street shops, the Liberal Democrats have said The 'broken' business rates system should be scrapped to ease the burden on struggling high street shops, the Liberal Democrats have said. Sir Vince Cable, the party's leader and former business secretary, said the system was hurting the economy and gave an unfair advantage to online retailers. He called for it to be replaced by a new tax which would only be levied on land value and not buildings and equipment. At the moment rates are calculated using 'rateable values' based on shop rents, meaning bills can go up if business owners improve their properties. But Sir Vince said: 'Business rates were a badly designed policy to begin with and have become an unacceptable drag on our economy. 'They are a tax on productive investment at a time of chronically weak productivity growth, and a burden on high streets adapting to the rise of online retail. 'By only taxing land and not the productive capital above it, this reform would remove a major disincentive to investment, boosting productivity and contributing to a necessary revival in UK industry.' His comments come as pressure is mounting on the Government to review the system, which critics say is helping destroy traditional retailers. High street shops must pay crippling rates on their bricks-and-mortar premises, while internet giants such as Amazon pay less for out-of-town warehouses. The Mail has launched a campaign calling on ministers to save the high street by reforming business rates. In a report, Lib Dem advisers and Adam Corlett, an independent analyst, described the current system as 'broken' and said a land value tax would dramatically reduce the burden on high street shops. Factories and computing businesses with large amounts of equipment would be among those who benefit the most. Ed Westwick has been spotted out for the first time since finding out he won't be prosecuted over rape allegations. The Gossip Girl star, 31, looked in great spirits as he returned to the social scene, having enjoyed a dinner with friends at celeb haunt Craig's in Los Angeles on Friday. Speaking to TMZ outside the eatery, Ed shared his delight over the LA County District Attorny's decision not to press sexual assault charges - and revealed he will return to the screen very soon. Back out: Ed Westwick, 31, was seen for the first time since his prosecution on rape charges was rejected and confirmed he'll be 'back to work soon' while out in Los Angeles on Friday The actor looked sharp in a midnight blue jacket over a black buttoned shirt and matching slacks, teamed with chestnut patent shoes. Ed didn't appear to mind the flashing cameras as they surrounded the star, and happily answered questions. When asked if he feels vindicated following the DA's decision, the Hammersmith native replied: 'I'm delighted that everyone got it right.' Despite production on his BBC Two comedy White Gold put on hold in light of sexual assault allegations made in November 2017, Ed revealed his intentions to make a comeback. Happy: 'Speaking to TMZ outside the eatery, Ed shared his delight over the LA County District Attorny's decision not to press sexual assault charges - and revealed he will return to work Of restarting his career, Ed added: 'I'll be back to work very soon.' MailOnline has Ed's representative for further comment. His outing comes a few weeks after he found out he will not be prosecuted on rape charges by the Los Angeles County District Attorney. The star was accused of sexual assault by four women and the district attorney's office decided to go forward with an investigation into three of the allegations in March. Heading out: The actor looked sharp in a midnight blue jacket over a black buttoned shirt and matching slacks, teamed with chestnut patent shoes Candid: Ed didn't appear to mind the flashing cameras as they surrounded the star, and happily answered questions In a memo released in July, prosecutors said they were not able to collect enough evidence to pursue charges against Ed. His lawyer Blair Berk told TMZ: 'The evidence was clear from the start that each of the allegations made by these three women were absolutely untrue. 'It is a shame there are those who prejudged this case and that it took over eight months for Ed to be officially cleared of all of these charges. 'I hope that those who made such quick judgment here not knowing anything about the abundant evidence of innocence in this case will hesitate next time before they so publicly accuse someone who has committed no wrongdoing.' Got the answers: When asked if he feels vindicated following the DA's decision, the Hammersmith native replied: 'I'm delighted that everyone got it right' According to the memo, two of the women reportedly provided witnesses to help corroborate their accounts, including some who were outside the room where the alleged assaults took place. Those two cases were declined by the prosecution due to insufficient evidence. 'Those witnesses were not able to provide information that would enable the prosecution to prove either incident beyond a reasonable doubt,' prosecutors wrote. 'Vindicated': His outing comes a few weeks after he found out he will not be prosecuted on rape charges by the Los Angeles County District Attorney The DA's office was unable to get in touch with the third victim, according to the memo, thus no charges could be filed. The memo also revealed that some additional women made allegations of inappropriate touching, but that the incidents fell outside the statute of limitations. The first allegations against Westwick surfaced in November, with actress Kristina Cohen and former actress Aurelie Wynn both claiming they were they were raped by the actor in 2014. LAPD launched an investigation into Cohen's claim after she filed an official report on November 7. Soon after Wynn took to Facebook to write that Westwick raped her at the Glendower Estate in Los Angeles after a party. Comeback? Production on his BBC Two comedy White Gold (pictured) was put on hold after the sexual assault allegations were made in November Westwick vehemently denied the both claims on Twitter, writing: 'I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape.' Less than a week after the first two allegations Hollywood creative producer Rachel Eck revealed the star had allegedly pushed her down onto a bed and 'aggressively groped' her breasts at a hotel in Hollywood. The most recent allegation came from Haley Camille Freedman, 23, who revealed in an exclusive interview with DailyMail.com that she had allegedly been raped by Westwick. It is unclear which of the three women's cases were investigated by the LACDA or which woman did not respond to communications from the office. They have a total of four children from their respective past marriages. And when they set off for a holiday in Hawaii, reality star couple Ant Anstead and Christina El Moussa brought all of them along. Christina, 35, showed off her bikini body and looked the picture of glee as her beau scooped her up into his arms at the beach. When they set off for a holiday in Hawaii, reality star couple Ant Anstead and Christina El Moussa brought all of their respective children along The pair were in the shallows, and Christina affectionately draped her arms over her man's shoulders as he supported her from below. For her beach day, she opted for a busty two-piece that was solidly navy at the top but featured a geometric navy, pink and white print on the bottoms. Sweeping her drenched blonde hair back to keep it out of her face, she shielded her eyes from the rays with a pair of massive sunglasses. Togetherness: She was glimpsed cradling her son Brayden in one arm she wrapped the other around Ant and gave her boyfriend a kiss on the lips Having a ball: Christina, 35, showed off her bikini body and looked the picture of glee as her bombshell beau scooped her up into his arms at the beach Barrel of laughs: The pair were in the shallows, and Christina affectionately draped her arms over her man's shoulders as he supported her from below When you got it: For her beach day, she opted for a busty two-piece that was solidly navy at the top but featured a geometric navy, pink and white print on the bottoms Christina shares two children - a daughter called Tayor, seven, and a son called Brayden, two - with her ex-husband Tarek El Moussa. Tarek and Christina, who shot to fame on their house-flipping show Flip Or Flop, had their divorce finalized in January of this year. Flip Or Flop has been running since 2013 and has managed to survive its stars' turbulent personal lives for an upcoming eight season. Hello, gorgeous: Sweeping her drenched blonde hair back to keep it out of her face, she shielded her eyes from the rays with a pair of massive sunglasses Family people: Ant and Christina have a total four children from past marriages Mother of two: Christina shares two children - a daughter called Tayor, seven, and a son called Brayden, two - with her ex-husband Tarek El Moussa History: Tarek and Christina, who shot to fame on their house-flipping show Flip Or Flop, had their divorce finalized in January of this year Meanwhile, For The Love Of Cars host Ant split from his wife of 12 years Louise last year, and the pair of them also have two children. Christina was seen lovingly splashing about in the water with Brayden, who in a safety-first measure had a pair of arm floatees. She was also glimpsed cradling Brayden in one arm she wrapped the other around Ant and gave her boyfriend a kiss on the lips. Making it work: Flip Or Flop has been running since 2013 and has managed to survive its stars' turbulent personal lives for an upcoming eight season Heartthrob: Meanwhile, For The Love Of Cars host Ant split from his wife of 12 years Louise last year, and the pair of them also have two children So sweet: Christina was seen lovingly splashing about in the water with Brayden, who in a safety-first measure had a pair of arm floatees Christina signed with Christies International Real Estate's offshoot First Team, the Orange County Register reported in February. The platinum blonde has sold the luxurious home she and Tarek lived in together in Yorba Linda, which is in California's Orange County. She asked $2.995 million for the five-bedroom 6,366-square-foot house, according to a report in People magazine. Coup: Christina signed with Christies International Real Estate's offshoot First Team, the Orange County Register reported in February Offloading: The platinum blonde has sold the luxurious home she and Tarek lived in together in Yorba Linda, which is in California's Orange County Price tag: She asked $2.995 million for the five-bedroom 6,366-square-foot house, according to a report in People magazine According to Realtor.com, she and Tarek paid $2 million for the place in 2013 and spent a further $1.5 million renovating the nine-bathroom house. At the start of this May, the Los Angeles Times reported she had gotten the full $2.995 million on the sale of her house, which boasts 8.25 bathrooms. Citing a police report from Yorba Linda, People reported that in May 2016, Christina called the police on Tarek, fearing he was going to kill himself. He had taken a gun and set off from their home, and police ultimately discovered him in Chino Hills State Park. At that point, Christina resolved to separate from him. Adding it up: According to Realtor.com, she and Tarek paid $2 million for the place in 2013 and spent a further $1.5 million renovating the nine-bathroom house Feeling fab: 'This is by far the happiest Ive been in a while,' Christina effervesced to Us Weekly this June, adding: 'Im really excited about the future' 'Everything's going really good': She gushed: 'Im excited about the show, Im excited about the move, Im in a great relationship, my kids are doing well' Tarek insisted on the Today show that the gun was merely for self-defense from animals, and that he'd had no suicidal plans but was just going for a hike. Their split went public that December and in January of 2017, People reported that Tarek had filed for divorce. She and Tarek had tied the knot in 2009, and they share two children - seven-year-old daughter Taylor and two-year-old son Brayden. Tarek appeared a while back on The Dr. Drew Podcast and discussed having had cancer twice, as well as the testosterone injections he received, which he feels fed into his marital problems by altering his hormone levels. High praise: Christina vaunted Ant as 'an amazing guy,' as well as 'a great father' who is 'so grounded' and 'so supportive' and 'really lifts me up' As seen with his children: Of their joint travels, Christina dished: 'The most romantic thing that hes done [for] me is he took me to Napa, which Napa has always been on my bucket list' 'This is by far the happiest Ive been in a while,' Christina effervesced to Us Weekly this June, adding: 'Im really excited about the future.' She gushed: 'Im excited about the show, Im excited about the move, Im in a great relationship, my kids are doing well. Everythings going really good.' Christina vaunted Ant as 'an amazing guy,' as well as 'a great father' who is 'so grounded' and 'so supportive' and 'really lifts me up.' Of their joint travels, she dished: 'The most romantic thing that hes done [for] me is he took me to Napa, which Napa has always been on my bucket list.' The process: Her split from Tarek went public that December and in January of 2017, People reported that Tarek had filed for divorce Horsing around: Ant was seen playfully launching his son into the air as they waded in the shallows She recently admitted she 'hated' having the surname of her ex-husband, Michael Klim months before tying the knot with Adam Ellis in August. Now, Lindy Rama-Ellis (nee Klim) has explained why she ditched her estranged husband's last name in exchange for her new hubby's moniker. Speaking to Sydney Morning Herald's The Goss on Sunday the 40-year-old Balinese princess said she discussed her new double-barrel surname with Adam and her three children from her previous marriage to Michael - Stella, Rocco and Frankie. Scroll down for video 'It was a family decision': Lindy Klim takes new husband Adam Ellis' last name after admitting she 'hated' having ex-husband Olympic swimmer Michael's surname. Pictured - Lindy and Adam at their Italian nuptials in August 'Myself, the kids and Adam had all discussed a name change and so we all decided that I should change it back to my maiden name, which is "Rama" which means king in Indonesian and then "Ellis" which is Adam's name, ' she explained. 'The kids are like, ''we are so happy that we have Adam and we understand that we are Klim and that a name is a name, it doesn't really matter,''' she added. Lindy also touched on her private European nuptials with the British property at the Conti di San Bonifacio wine resort in Italy earlier this month. 'I didn't work out for my wedding, I had grey hair, I had no manicure, I had no shoes on, I did my own hair and makeup': Lindy insists her special day with British property developer Adam Ellis at the Conti di San Bonifacio wine resort in Italy this month was 'low-key.' Lindy and Adam pictured on their wedding day in August with their children The bride, who turned heads in a custom couture gown by Toni Maticevski insists her special day was 'low-key.' 'I didn't work out for my wedding, I had grey hair, I had no manicure, I had no shoes on, I did my own hair and makeup,' Lindy told The Goss. Lindy revealed in April this year that she couldn't wait to take her second husband's surname after marriage, admitting she hated being known by her ex-husband's surname. 'I would love to get rid of Klim': In April, Lindy told The Daily Telegraph that she 'hated' having her ex-husband's last name, Michael Klim (pictured) Lindy told The Daily Telegraph earlier this year: 'I would love to get rid of Klim, I really hate having that as a last name but for my children at the moment, that is what it is.' Lindy's maiden name is Rama, but she took Michael's surname when they married in April 2006. However, she insisted at the time that she would be known as Lindy Ellis once she marries Adam. 'My kids all want me to keep the name Klim and it has been a big issue with them and they have been concerned about it,' she added. '[But] they understand that once I marry Adam it will change.' However Lindy seemingly backflipped on these comments, telling Kidspot's The Juggling Act Podcast in early August that she wanted to remain a Klim at the time. She explained her reluctance to drop her former married name was inspired by her own experience from childhood when her mother remarried. Lindy explained she felt like an 'outsider' when her mother changed her surname from Rama to her stepfather's last name when she was three-years-old. Social media: However, the Balinese princess has wasted no time renaming herself 'Lindy Rama-Ellis' on Instagram, although she has still kept @LindyKlim as her handle 'It's because of what I went through as a child and feeling like an outsider and I don't want that for my children,' she said. However, she wasted no time renaming herself 'Lindy Rama-Ellis' on Instagram after her European nuptials, although she has still kept @LindyKlim as her handle. She added: 'It's taken me a long time to discuss with them, and how they feel about it and obviously Goldie [her eight-month-old daughter with Adam] is an Ellis so they're getting used to that.' Ian Beale will be left seething when he discovers his mum Kathy and Masood Ahmed locking lips in the kitchen in upcoming eye-opening scenes. Drama ensues as the EastEnders favourite (Adam Woodyatt) throws his mother out of his home after finding out she is involved romantically with his business partner. Awkward scenes reveal Ian is fuming when he walks in on his mum (Gillian Taylforth) packing on the PDA with the fast food restaurateur (Nitin Ganatra). EastEnders SPOILER: Fuming Ian Beale walks in on his mum Kathy and Masood Ahmed sharing a VERY saucy smooch In the heat of the moment, the businessman tenderly cradles the mum's head as they steal a passionate kiss in a place they thought was away from prying eyes. Smartly-dressed Ian is unable to tear his eyes away from the unlikely lovebirds when he watches in horror from the doorway. Tense scenes reveals it becomes too much for the Albert Square resident after he had a jam-packed schedule with the launch of his restaurant Walford East. Shock: Drama ensues as the EastEnders favourite (Adam Woodyatt) throws his mother out of his home after finding out she is involved romantically with his business partner Ian had invited the press along from the Walford Gazette for the glittering launch of his fast food chain. Yet on arrival, Ian is nervous when he finds out the journalist is someone he has clashed with in the past. He does his best to keep everyone happy by running around on the press launch day which is when he stumbles across his mum kissing Masood. Inevitably, Ian blames the hands-on couple when his glittering hopes of the launch don't go to plan. The angry son packs his mother's bags as he seemingly prepares to throw her out of his home following the smooch. Elsewhere in the soap, Louisa Lytton is gearing up for her return to the stilettos of troubled Ruby Allen after 12 years away from Albert Square. She has been busy filming for E4's Celebs Go Dating. And Olivia Attwood certainly looked in the mood to party as she headed out to Faces Nightclub in Essex on Saturday night. The Love Island star, 27, cut an incredibly glamorous figure in a plunging mini-dress which put all focus on her long legs and busty cleavage. Glam: Olivia Attwood, 27, certainly looked in the mood to party as she headed out to Faces Nightclub in Essex on Saturday night Olivia cut a stylish figure in the clingy number which showed off her envy-inducing pins as she posed up a storm. The star boosted her height in a pair of perspex heels and wrapped up in a trendy camouflage jacket. Toting her belongings in a black handbag, Olivia looked every inch the blonde bombshell as she sported a glamorous coat of make-up and a stylish do. Turning heads: The Love Island star cut an incredibly glamorous figure in a plunging mini-dress which put all focus on her long legs and busty cleavage Standing tall: The star boosted her height in a pair of perspex heels and wrapped up in a trendy camouflage jacket Olivia was joined on the night out by TOWIE's Shelby Tribble show slipped her figure in a skintight black dress. The star sported a glamorously teased brunette mane and a contoured make-up look. She added a pop of colour with towering strappy red heels. Saucy: Georgia Harrison put on a daring display in a semi sheer pink crop top which exposed her black bralet Stunner: Olivia was joined on the night out by TOWIE's Shelby Tribble show slipped her figure in a skintight black dress Georgia Harrison put on a daring display in a semi sheer pink crop top which exposed her black bralet. She teamed the look with a tiny shorts and added a pair of chunky black boots to the look. The blonde bombshell sported lashings of mascara, as well as a plump pout. The girls looked like they were having a whale of a time as they joined forces for their night out. Fun: The girls looked like they were having a whale of a time as they joined forces for their night out She's the Chilean-Australian model who was recently named as an ambassador for this year's Melbourne Fashion Week. Now, former Home and Away star Pia Miller, 34 has spilled the secrets to her effortless personal style, citing 'simplicity and 'comfort' as the keys to her sartorial success. Speaking to Sunday Life this week the exotic stunner said: 'I like to keep things simple and dress for comfort - a T-shirt, a pair of Levi's and sneakers or R.M Williams boots.' Scroll down for video 'I like to keep things simple and dress for comfort': Home And Away's Pia Miller (pictured) reveals her style secrets 'I also wear a backpack if that gives you my sense of practicality as a mother of two sons (Isaiah,15, and Lennox, 11) who's always on the go,' the mother-of-two explained. Pia, who recently stepped out in a $5,400 designer outfit for a Melbourne Fashion Week event also dished on her favourite labels. 'I wear Scanlan Theodore, Camilla and Marc, and Bassike. I'm drawn to linen and drapey pieces and love Isabel Marant. I love raw fabrics, raw silk and anything with a feminine twist,' she revealed. 'I like to keep things simple and dress for comfort - a T-shirt, a pair of Levi's and sneakers or R.M Williams boots': Pia Miller, 34, (pictured) has spilled the secrets to her effortless personal style, citing 'simplicity and 'comfort' as the keys to her sartorial success 'I definitely havent had an easier time because I look a certain way': Pia (pictured) has previously explained her stunning good looks haven't given her an 'easier time' in life The Sydney-based beauty, who originally hails from Melbourne told the publication she used to model for the Victoria capital Fashion Week as a teenager. Pia has previously explained her stunning good looks haven't given her an 'easier time' in life. Despite Pia's endless string of magazine covers and lucrative modelling campaigns with brands like Maybelline and Gillette Venus, she told Stellar last week: 'I definitely havent had an easier time because I look a certain way.' 'Who I am has nothing to do with how I look,' Pia revealed last Sunday. Pia was first discovered at 14 after winning a modelling competition for Dolly Magazine. 'The only reason I [pursued] modelling after having Isaiah was to provide for him!' After having her eldest son Isaiah (pictured) at just 19, she went on to star in a string of campaigns for Myer, Qantas, Midas and Star Casino Off the market! The brunette beauty announced her engagement to entrepreneur Tyson Mullane in November 2017 After having her eldest son Isaiah at just 19, she went on to star in a string of campaigns for Myer, Qantas, Midas and Star Casino before turning her attentions to acting and landing her breakthrough role as Summer Bay copper, Katarina 'Kat' Chapman. Meanwhile the brunette beauty recently announced her engagement to entrepreneur Tyson Mullane in November last year. Tyson will be Pia's second husband, after she was previously married to AFL player Brad Miller whom she shares an 11 year-old son, Lennox. She's been basking in the sunlight during a lavish summer getaway across Europe. And to make the most of the end of her vacation, model Shanina Shaik stripped down to a racy pastel blue bikini in a snap shared to Instagram on Friday. The 27-year-old showed off her slender frame as she posed poolside, while complaining about her holiday coming to an end in the photo caption. Life's a beach! Shanina Shaik flaunts her flawless figure in a barely-there bikini as she poses poolside in sizzling a holiday snap 'My vacay has sadly come to an end. Going to miss my late night summer swimming xx,' she wrote in the caption. The exotic brunette, whose parents are of Lithuanian, Pakistani and Saudi Arabian descent, travelled to various European nations including Italy, France and Spain in recent weeks. Wearing a skimpy two-piece ensemble, Shanina put her enviably toned abs and hourglass physique on display, as her skin glistened with a deep bronzed glow. Almost over! To make the most of the end of her lavish European vacation, model Shanina Shaik stripped down to a racy sky blue bikini on Friday as she took a late night dip in the pool amid a stunning rain forest backdrop The bikini featured a triangle-cut top in a sky blue colour and a pair of matching thongs with delicate string detailing on each side of the hip. The set is by LA brand Basic Swim and costs approximately $103 Australian dollars. The beauty was also pictured sporting her flawless complexion with a bare face, as her gorgeous brunette tresses were slicked back away from her face. 'My vacay has sadly come to an end. Going to miss my late night summer swimming xx': Shanina wrote in the caption of the sizzling snap And the sexy Victoria's secret model is no stranger to posting in barely-there attire for her legions of fans on social media, but even a model can have insecurities. Shanina candidly revealed during an Instagram Q&A session last month that confidence hasn't always come easy. 'It took me a while to be confident with how my body looks, and I still have those days where I feel... ugh,' Shanina responded to a fan who quizzed her about body image. Candid: Even a model can have insecurities - Shanina revealed during an Instagram Q&A session last month that confidence hasn't always come easy 'It took me a while to be confident': After inviting her fans to ask questions, the 27-year-old Australian model offered a surprisingly candid response when quizzed about body image 'I learned with age that my body will change, I should never compare my body type, but I have to work hard to look and feel fit. 'I love looking after myself and I found workouts that are right for my body type,' Shanina added. Born and raised in Melbourne, Shanina started modelling at a young age before debuting on the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show runway in 2011. Beloved performer, Maria Venuti, 77, made a 'surprise' visit to the opening of a cosmetic centre in Sydney last week following a 'catastrophic' stroke in 2016. The 77-year-old attended the launch of Skin Cancer and Medical Aesthetic Centre, Geniale in a wheelchair last Tuesday with her daughter, Bianca Venuti-Hughes and the niece of Ita Buttrose, Lizzie according to Sydney Morning Herald's The Goss. 'Everyone broke into an applause when she came through the door, they were so excited to see her and she wasn't expected [at the event],' An event organiser told The Goss. Scroll down for video 'Everyone broke into an applause when she arrived!' Maria Venuti, 77, (middle) makes 'surprise' visit to Sydney cosmetic centre launch in wheelchair following 'catastrophic' stroke. Maria appeared to be in high spirits alongside her daughter, Bianca (left) and the ex-wife of John Singleton, Julie, 51 (right) Maria appeared to be in high spirits amid her health woes as she was pictured beaming alongside her daughter and the ex-wife of John Singleton, Julie, 51. It is believed the socialite niece of the iconic TV legend helped primp and prime Maria for her appearance at the Drummoyne event, according to the publication. The sighting comes after Maria wasn't able to 'sing or speak' at Australia Day celebrations earlier this year for the first time in 23 years, following a 'catastrophic' stroke last year. Rare sighting! The 77-year-old attended the launch of Skin Cancer and Medical Aesthetic Centre, Geniale in a wheelchair last Tuesday with her daughter, Bianca Venuti-Hughes and the niece of Ita Buttrose, Lizzie (back-centre) 'Her life doesn't have to stop because she had a stroke. She can still be fabulous and inspire people more than ever,' her daughter Bianca told The Daily Telegraph in January. 'She wanted to continue being an Australia Day ambassador and so this year will just be shaking hands and joining in on the anthem,' Bianca said in reference to her mother's Australia Day appearance. 'She can still be fabulous': '(Maria's) life doesn't have to stop because she had a stroke. She can still be fabulous and inspire people more than ever,' her daughter Bianca said in January Maria was rushed to hospital in November 2016, after suffering a stroke when a stalker broke into her Sydney home. 'Initially, one of the nurses told me it (the stroke) was catastrophic - 'one of the biggest bleeds I have ever seen'' Bianca told New Idea last year. She was in a coma at the Royal North Shore Hospital for five-weeks before regaining consciousness. Stroke scare: Maria was rushed to hospital in November 2016, after suffering a stroke when a stalker broke into her Sydney home The stroke occurred in early November, when a 38-year-old man entered her house, who was allegedly convinced he was her husband. Maria is understood to have collapsed just minutes after alerting police of the man at her home around 8.30am. The man was allegedly still harassing Ms Venuti when officers arrived and had to be Tasered after becoming angry. Daily Mail Australia reached out to Bianca Venuti-Hughes for comment. It's all proving too much at The Gatwick Hotel for some contestants on The Block. A shocking preview for Sunday's episode of the Nine renovation programme reveals one star, if not more, sensationally walk off the show as pressures mount. Although it's not sure who is throwing their hi-vis in, Norm can be seen storming down the street while removing his reflective vest alongside wife Jess in the clip. Scroll down for video They quit? The Block's Jess and Norm teased in shock 'walk off' during Sunday's episode as pressures mount ...following their 'credit card' scandal Teasing the 'walk off' will feature the Queensland couple, Jess later races out of another shot while seemingly trying to escape the cameras with a look of fury. Another cut away clip shows the shadow of another contestant, potentially Jess, rushing away from the film crew during a night shoot. Both Courtney and Kerrie can also be seen crying in the preview. Known for her frequent tantrums and threats to walk out in other promo clips for the show, this year's Block 'villain' Sara is seen shouting: 'You've got to be kidding me!' Feeling the pressure: Norm can be seen racing down the street while removing his reflective vest alongside wife Jess in the clip, with the blonde later storming out of another shot A tearful episode: Kerrie is seen crying while Spence comforts her, looking very disappointed 'You've got to be kidding me!': This year's Block 'villain' Sara is seen distressed in the preview of Sunday night's episode During the last episode of The Block, Jess and Norm denied unauthorized spending on the credit card the Nine show provided them strictly for building purposes only. An employee from Suncorp, an official sponsor of the show, confronted the couple about discrepancies in their spending on Wednesday night's episode. A statement from their account shown $94 had been spent on liquor in Woolworths and $34 on a charcoal chicken. Scandal: The 'walk off' comes after Jess and Norm were faced with controversy during the last episode of The Block amid a credit card scandal Big spending: The couple denied unauthorized spending on the credit card the Nine show provided them strictly for building purposes only Jess and Norm denied the accusations, while suggesting the card may have been stolen and all the additional spending had been fraudulent. 'We're not going to buy charcoal chicken with The Block's money... it went on my f***ing vases. That card has been flogged for sure,' Jess said. Her husband added: 'One of the credit cards we haven't seen in a while we thought had been misplaced. All the stars are starting to align that this card may be outside The Block somewhere.' The Block continues Sunday August 19 at 7.30pm on Channel Nine. They're both known for their work in supernatural action adventure franchises. But on Saturday Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves joined up for a photo call for their new romantic comedy titled Destination Wedding. Stranger Things star Winona, 46, kept things quite straight-laced sartorially for the appearance. Scroll down for video Cool duo! On Saturday Winona Ryder and Keanu Reeves joined up for a photo call for their new comedic movie titled Destination Wedding The Hollywood vet donned a classic blazer, which she layered over a black vest and a grey graphic tee. Black straight-leg trousers and high-heeled oxfords with contrasting white laces completed her low-key ensemble. Multiple chain necklaces and a standard brown leather belt appeared to be her only accessories. She parted her brunette tresses in the center and allowed them to fall down just past her shoulders. Nothing fancy: The Hollywood vet donned a classic blazer, which she layered over a black vest and a grey graphic tee Keeping it simple: Multiple chain necklaces and a standard brown leather belt appeared to be her only accessories Heavy dark eye-liner, subtle blush and a dash of crimson lipstick ensured that the Heathers actress was ready for her turn in front of the cameras. Legendary Matrix star Keanu, 53, looked quite dashing on the red carpet as well. The John Wick actor chose a standard black blazer, black tee and suit pants. A pair of heavily worn brown leather boots added just a hint of character. Ageless! Legendary Matrix star Keanu, 53, looked quite dashing on the red carpet as well Cheers! The film they were promoting, Destination Wedding, follows the high jinks of two wedding attendees who clearly don't fit in with the staid ceremony taking place in California wine country The film they are promoting, Destination Wedding, follows the high jinks of two wedding attendees who clearly don't fit in with the staid ceremony taking place in California wine country. Destination Wedding is scheduled for an August 21 limited release. While comedy will be a bit of a departure for Keanu, earlier in the summer he was no doubt more at home while filming the third installment of the John Wick action series. Heather Locklear has shared an upbeat social media post, despite reports she's 'climbing the walls' in rehab. The troubled actress took to Instagram on Saturday with a photo of her dog wearing sunglasses, above the caption 'Sun shining day'. The 56-year-old has been staying in a residential facility in California for the last month following her arrest on June 24 for attacking cops called to her luxury home after she downed a bottle of tequila and smashed her Porsche into a gatepost. 'Sun shining day': Heather Locklear has shared an upbeat social media post, despite reports she's 'climbing the walls' in rehab The Melrose Place starlet is climbing the walls in rehab and is bombarding boyfriend Chris Heisser with emotional phone calls, DailyMail.com can reveal. After spending 14 days at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles on a 5250 psychiatric hold, the Melrose Place alumni was released and taken to a residential rehab center to dry out and get help. But sources close to Heisser, 56, have told DailyMail.com that nothing has changed for the actress, who continues to call him three times a day, often screaming down the line from rehab. Tough times: The Melrose Place starlet, 56, is climbing the walls in rehab and is bombarding boyfriend Chris Heisser with emotional phone calls, DailyMail.com can reveal The friend said: Hes just been annihilated with it nothings changed. Its just her calling him from rehab versus her house. Shes climbing the walls in there. Shes freaking out from not knowing what hes doing going crazy in the place that shes at. Just going nuts. He has visited her but because shes got her phone, shes on him 24/7 screaming. All the things she was doing before. Its so unhealthy. Shes just screaming at him the same thing she did before. Nothings changed. Shes going to get out and do the same thing. To add insult to injury, Heather learned that the sprinkler system in her home went off accidentally, ruining tens of thousands of dollars worth of clothing an furniture. Ouch: The paramedic that Locklear allegedly attacked during her most recent run in with the law is reportedly suing her for reparation for medical and emotional damage The paramedic that Heather Locklear allegedly attacked during her most recent run in with the law is suing her. The EMT has reportedly hired personal injury lawyer Kevin Flahavan to represent her. She is said to have suffered injuries to her head and neck during the ordeal, according to TMZ, citing sources. The paramedic, who has been assigned desk work for the moment, wants money for medical bills, pain and suffering plus cash for emotional abuse from the Firestarter star. Flahavan refused to comment about the suit, saying his only concern was his client's health and well-being. The suit comes after Heather was arrested after allegedly drinking a bottle of tequila and crashing her Porsche into a pylon on the grounds of her California mansion on June 24. As she was: The star, seen at an event in 2016, has been spiraling down in recent months due to alcohol abuse and mental issues The blonde then 'attacked the cops when they arrived to calm her down' and was arrested and booked into Ventura County Jail on police battery charges. She was released the next morning but was rushed to a hospital a little over six hours later after allegedly taking an overdose. Her arrest came exactly a week after Heather was cuffed and taken to hospital after choking her mother Diane, 85, and threatening to shoot herself. Back in the day: Heather with ex-husband Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 58, with whom she shares daughter Ava After being released from hospital on June 19, the troubled star allegedly checked into a detox center but checked herself out again after completing just two days of a five-day program. Meanwhile, Heather's 20-year-old daughter Ava Sambora is said to be devastated by her mom's recent mental health and substance abuses. She is said to be leaning on her father Richie Sambora of Bon Jovi, 58, who has been a 'great support' and the rest of her inner circle. Locklear is an actress who starred on several successful series including Dynasty, TJ Hooker, Melrose Place, Spin City and Hot In Cleveland. Fans have been very supportive online for the star, wishing her a speedy recovery. He's set to turn 40 on Wednesday. And James Corden kicked off the celebrations early, sipping on a margarita by the pool in holiday hotspot Cabo, Mexico on Saturday. The host was joined by pals, including One Direction's Harry Styles for the festivities. Birthday boy: James Corden, 39, kicked off his 40th birthday celebrations early, sipping on a margarita by the pool in holiday hotspot Cabo, Mexico on Saturday Styles, 24, adopted a casual look as he reclined on a sunbed. The pop star heartthrob wore a simple ensemble of T-shirt and shorts, giving a clear view of his many tattoos. His mid-length hair was held back from his face with a hair clip, giving an unfettered view of his features - were it not for a pair of dark shades obscuring the Dunkirk actor's eyes. Pop star: The host was joined by pals, including One Direction's Harry Styles for the festivities Drinky drinky: The Late Late Show host meanwhile wore a blue T-shirt with patterned board shorts The Late Late Show host meanwhile wore a blue T-shirt with patterned board shorts. The English entertainer shielded his eyes against the glare with his own pair of dark shades. Harry and James first struck up a close friendship following the belter's appearance on the ITV competition show, where he came in at third place with his chart-topping group One Direction. Cool: Styles, 24, adopted a casual look as he reclined on a sunbed Displaying their close bond, the Gavin and Stacey actor even enlisted the help of Harry to host his late-night talk show as he and his wife Julia Carey, 41, welcomed their third child Charlotte together in December last year. James's display comes after he transformed into Queen Elizabeth II with Matt Smith in a hilarious cop spoof of The Crown. He sent his viewers wild with his portrayal of the Queen, as he dubbed the parody Lizzie & The Duke. Future's so bright: The English entertainer shielded his eyes against the glare with his own pair of dark shades Tatt's impressive: The pop star heartthrob wore a simple ensemble of T-shirt and shorts, giving a clear view of his many tattoos Meanwhile, it was recently reported that Harry 'lived in the attic' of his pal Ben Winston - who is the executive producer of The Late Late Show - for more than a year ahead of new CBS sitcom Happy Together. The show has been inspired by the star's early years of fame and according to Just Jared, Harry favoured living in the attic of Winston's home instead of his own mansion. His time spent there is believed to have influenced producer Winston to create the sitcom in which a young pop star moves in with a suburban, married couple as he chases fame within the music industry. Flower in the attic: Meanwhile, it was recently reported that Harry 'lived in the attic' of his pal Ben Winston - who is the executive producer of The Late Late Show - for more than a year According to Rolling Stone, Harry had lived in Winston's home as the house he had wanted to move into wasn't ready. He agreed to live with Ben and his wife Meredith for just a few weeks - but the arrangement ended up lasting for 20 months. Winston divulged to the publication: 'Those 20 months were when they went from being on a reality show, X Factor, to being the biggest-selling artists in the world. 'That period of time, he was living with us in the most mundane suburban situation. No one ever found out, really.' 'Even when we went out for a meal, it's such a sweet family neighborhood, no one dreamed it was actually him. But he made our house a home. And when he moved out, we were gutted,' the producer added. She recently split from her hunky French boyfriend, Gilles Souteyrand. But on Sunday, bikini blogger Natasha Oakley proved she's wasting no time dwelling on the past as she enjoyed a sun-soaked sojourn in Mexico. Taking to Instagram, the blonde beauty, 28, shared sizzling snaps of herself on a yacht off the coast of the resort town of Acapulco, on the country's Pacific coast. Scroll down to video Showing Gilles what he's missing? Natasha Oakley flaunts her toned figure in a blue bikini on a yacht in Mexico after split from Souteyrand Showing the hunky photographer what he's missing, the A Bikini A Day founder flaunted her sizable chest and trim pins as she bathed in the tropical sun. Appearing relaxed, Natasha struck a number of poses on the deck of the luxurious leisure vessel as she let her thick blonde mane fall on the beige cushions. In the sizzling snap, the blonde beauty opted for a pale blue triangular-shaped bikini which flaunted her golden curves. All the right types! The blonde bikini model enjoyed a quick wardrobe change while on the boat, slipping her bronzed curves into a chic blue-and-white jumpsuit Possibly protecting herself from the sun, the model wrapped an lightweight sarong around her waist, which partially covered her inner thigh. On the trip, the model appeared to be enjoying time with family as she showed off her bronzed gams while sitting with her mother and sister. Enjoying her day out on the crystal blue waters, the model later slipped into a chic blue-and-white striped jumpsuit. Family time: Natasha, who is the founder of A Bikini A Day, appeared to be enjoying the getaway with her family after her split from hunky French boyfriend Gilles Souteyrand Looking ever so stylish, the sung resort style outfit featured a plunging neckline, which flaunted the model's cavernous cleavage. Again, posing on the railing of the yacht, the MONDAY swimwear designer paired the chic 80s-style outfit with a wide brim straw hat. In a separate snap, the model appeared to be braving the crystal blue waters with of the tropical hotspot on an inflatable boat. The luxurious getaway comes after the blonde beauty revealed to her two million followers that she is single after her split from French boyfriend Gilles Souteyrand. Chilling out! The blonde model flaunted her ample bust in the chic jumpsuit as she headed to shore in an inflatable boat while holidaying in Acapulco, on Mexico's Pacific coast. The news does not come as a surprise to fans of the attractive twosome, who both suddenly stopped sharing photos of each other several months ago. Back in 2014, it was revealed she had secretly split from her then-boyfriend, French Big Brother star Martin Medus, 28. The bikini model went on to date Gilles for six months before she took fans by surprise when she unveiled their romance on social media. She concluded her Australian tour on Friday and is headed to New Zealand for the last two shows of her Witness World Tour. And to celebrate, Katy Perry took to Instagram on Saturday, sharing a delightful snap of a brand new tattoo she decided to get while touring Sydney. The 33-year-old's tattoo is located at the centre of her right wrist and features an intricate design of planet Saturn amid a galaxy. Tatt's nice! Katy Perry got an inking of planet Saturn on her wrist in Sydney, to commemorate the end of the Australian leg of her Witness world tour Katy penned a reflective caption, shedding light on the symbolic meaning of her new tattoo. 'The end of tour tattoo tradition continues with #4 by the gentle precisionist [Dr Woo],' she wrote. Katy continued: 'The planet in the middle is Saturn as this journey has taught me many lessons with a few tears along the way BUT I am happy to report a sense of real resilience as we wrap. Sentimental: 'The planet in the middle is Saturn as this journey has taught me many lessons with a few tears along the way BUT I am happy to report a sense of real resilience as we wrap,' Katy penned the caption of the post 'I share this insignia with 45 other tour mates and moreover an incredible year of memories with over 100 beautiful & kind humans and a numerous amount of gracious attendees,' she added in the caption. Katy also included the hashtags '2moretogo', 'WitnessTheTour', and 'Resilient'. And the Bon Appetit hitmaker has been immersing herself in Aussie culture while touring Sydney, even taking some time out of her busy schedule to enjoy classic Australian food. Heartfelt: 'I share this insignia with 45 other tour mates... ,' she continued in the picture's caption Last week, Katy was seen eating a meat pie with a fork while she strolled around the streets of Paddington. Katy has been wowing fans across Australia since bringing her Witness tour Down Under last month. Katy began her fourth concert tour last September in Montreal, Canada, and is scheduled to conclude this week in Auckland, New Zealand. Roxy set up daughter Pixie with her own business in 2011 - Pixie's Bows - which has debuted in Myer this August. And to commemorate the launch of the hair accessory brand, Roxy put together an extremely lavish event fit for Australia's youngest entrepreneur - her seven-year-old daughter, Pixie Curtis. Held at Sydney's Myer on Sunday, the Parisian style event featured an eccentric array of decor and had a generous number of pamper activities in store for 40 mini fashionistas that joined Pixie to celebrate. Australia's youngest entrepreneur! Roxy Jacenko's daughter attended a breathtakingly lavish launch for her brand Pixie's Bows hosted in Sydney's Myer on Sunday. Roxy is pictured with daughter Pixie Curtis, 7 The guests were treated to manicures, face painting, a balloon artist and hair braiding that was finished off with one of Pixie's signature bows. Pixie wore one of her bright pink bows paired with an adorable Disney-themed jungle frock, with playful iconic characters adorned at the hem. Roxy looked radiant in a casual chic ensemble, teaming up a red-and-white striped Yves Saint Laurent shirt worth approximately $550 AUD with a pair of dark wash jeans, ripped at the knees. The setting of the launch was breathtakingly beautiful and featured a pastel rainbow balloon installation at the entrance, while a combination of assorted flowers embellished the fancy dinner tables. Lucky gals! The guests were treated to manicures, face painting, a balloon artist and hair braiding that was finished off with Pixie's signature bows Parisian inspired! The setting of the launch featured a pastel rainbow balloon installation at the entrance, while a combination of assorted flowers embellished the fancy dinner tables Guests were served a delicious high tea lunch of mini pies, finger sandwiches, macaroons and finished off with chocolate dipped strawberries and tea. As flowers adorned the wall in lavish abundance, the dinner table was accessorised with a golden splash of old-world decadence with royal-inspired cutlery. Pixie's Bows has grown exponentially since its inception in 2011. Yummy! Guests were served a delicious high tea lunch of mini pies, finger sandwiches, macaroons and finished off with chocolate dipped strawberries and tea It's all in the details: As flowers adorned the wall in lavish abundance, the dinner table was accessorised with a golden splash of old-world decadence with royal-inspired cutlery Celebration! Pixie's Bows has grown exponentially since its inception in 2011 The hair accessory brand is also stocked on The Iconic, in addition to the brand's launch in Myer. During last week's Sydney's Business Chick's 9toThrive event, Roxy spoke about Pixie's involvement with the business to the crowd: '[Pixie will] be very happy when she's 18 and living in Point Piper [an affluent Sydney suburb] looking at the seaside.' 'She's got money in the bank and she'll be able to buy a property or start a business lucky her. 'She loves it, she's involved with it, and she does every campaign... The second she doesn't like it, she doesn't have to do it,' Roxy added, speaking of Pixie's heavy involvement with the brand's promotion. Her raucous antics on Ex On The Beach won her notoriety as a bad girl. And Jemma Lucy proved her bad girl ways also extend into her wardrobe on Saturday night as she stepped out in an extremely risque ensemble comprising of a skin-tight nude mini for an evening at Sakana restaurant in London. The inked-up beauty showed off every inch of her figure and assets in the sheer number, made most shocking by her decision to shed her bra underneath while sporting just a high-rise thong to partially protect her modesty. Sizzling: Jemma Lucy proved her bad girl ways also extend into her wardrobe on Saturday night as she stepped out in an extremely risque ensemble comprising of a skin-tight nude body for an evening at Sakana Jemma soared to fame on the third season of the MTV dating show in 2016, where she struck up a romance with Kirk Norcross, and has since become a regular fixture on the party scene before returning to EOTB in the explosive fifth season last year. Hitting the town once again at the weekend, Jemma was keen to show off her surgically-enhanced frame in all its glory - complete with her eye-popping, unsupported cleavage and her extremely perky posterior. The nude dress meant passersby were undoubtedly forced to do a double take while she spiced up the ensemble with the glittering jewels adorned all over. Her flame coloured tresses were worn in straight, shoulder-tickling lengths while her make-up was lavishly applied to enhance her pretty features. Ahem! The inked-up beauty showed off every inch of her figure and assets in the sheer number, made most shocking by her decision to shed her bra underneath while sporting just a high-rise thong to partially protect her modesty Oh my! The nude dress meant passersby were undoubtedly forced to do a double take while she spiced up the ensemble with the glittering jewels adorned all over As if her dress was not breathtaking enough, Jemma's trademark tattoos only added to the look - complete with a portrait of her nemesis Katie Price. Jemma, real name Jemma Henley, got her first taste of TV fame on Channel 4s Brat Camp in 2005, where she was sent to a US correctional centre following a string of offences including shoplifting atop being expelled from three schools. Following this she competed on Signed by Katie Price, a reality show hoping to find a protege for the model, before she launched herself into the reality world on EOTB. Woah! As if her dress was not breathtaking enough, Jemma's trademark tattoos only added to the look - complete with a portrait of her nemesis Katie Price Sizzling: Jemma, real name Jemma Henley, got her first taste of TV fame on Channel 4s Brat Camp in 2005, where she was sent to a US correctional centre following a string of offences including shoplifting atop being expelled from three schools During her first run in 2015's third season, she enjoyed a dalliance with Kirk, before returning in series five this year - where she was ejected for her 'unreasonable behaviour' after an array of brawls. The inked-up star has gained hers bad girl reputation during her stints on MTV after she frequently became embroiled in furious rows with co-stars. Kayleigh Morris was the particular thorn in her side as the duo frequently rowed over various topics, before one argument escalated after which security withdrew her from the Thai villa. Earlier this month, radio hosts Kyle Sandilands and Jackie O Henderson suggested he had 'big d**k energy', a new millennial term referring to the quiet confidence exuded by well-endowed men. But on Sunday, Beau Ryan, 33, took to Instagram Stories to make fun of his shrinking manhood following a chilly winter dip. The shirtless TV star cheekily employed the use of a large and small eggplant emoji as he captioned the image: '9 degrees and turned into a...' '9 degrees and turned into a...': Shirtless Beau Ryan [pictured] poked fun at his shrinking manhood during a chilly winter dip Wearing just a towel and a beanie while posing in front of a sun-drenched ocean swimming pool, Beau flaunted his rippling muscles and rock-hard abs while beaming for the camera. Boasting a perfect tan after returning from a South East Asian getaway with wife Kara, the former NRL star recently found himself a topic of conversation during a saucy segment on KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O Show earlier this month. While discussing the new millennial term 'big d**k energy' which has become a viral hit, the radio duo chatted about the phenomenon and how it [possibly] applies to Australian celebrities. Expert analysis: The former NRL star-turned-comedian recently found himself a topic of conversation during a saucy segment on KIIS FM 's Kyle and Jackie O Show earlier this month Together with newsreader, Brooklyn Ross, the trio speculated which local stars have 'big d**k energy'. And according to Kyle, Jackie and Brooklyn, Beau was top of the list of celebrities who posses 'big d**k energy'. They also claimed My Kitchen Rules judge Manu Feildel boasted the same swagger while Brooklyn was confident in suggesting that Karl Stefanovic is well endowed, with the newsreader insisting: 'He's got huge d**k energy'. 'He's got HUGE d**k energy!' Earlier this month, KIIS FM 's Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson [pictured] discussed the phenomenon of 'big d**k energy' and how it [possibly] applies to Australian stars However, the KIIS FM team were unable to decide whether Malcolm Turnbull or Shane Warne qualified for the term. '[I'd say] middle d**k energy.... he definitely doesn't have small d**k energy,' Jackie said of the Prime Minister. When it came to Shane, who is a notorious ladies' man, Jackie offered a shrug that implied she was sitting on the fence. She recently admitted she turned down a chance to be in reality show MIC. And that didn't stop Lottie Moss from enjoying a night out with some of MIC's stars as she joined her friends at London's swanky restaurant MNKY HSE on Saturday. The stunning model, 20, teased a glimpse of her cleavage in her skimpy black lingerie, which peaked out of her silky sleepwear-inspired co-ords. Stepping out: Lottie Moss, 20, teased her cleavage in a silky nightwear-inspired ensemble as she enjoyed a night out with Made In Chelsea pals in London on Saturday Lottie looked sensational in the glamorous blue patterned suit, embellished with blue feathers along the sleeves. The socialite boosted her statuesque frame in a pair of classic white stiletto heels and toted an ultra chic faux snake-skin handbag. Lottie styled her glossy blonde tresses in a sleek straight 'do as she puffed on a cigarette while walking with pal Emily Blackwell. Shimmering: Lottie looked sensational in the glamorous blue patterned suit, embellished with blue feathers along the sleeves Heading home: The fashionista amplified her staggering beauty with soft rosy make-up and accessorised with simple gold hoop earrings Glamorous: Made In Chelsea star Emily Blackwell, 26, took a note from Lottie with her own slinky jumpsuit, which showcased her lacy lingerie and ample cleavage Who is he? Olivia Bentley was spotted out with a mystery man as the pair left the swanky eatery behind and headed into the night The fashionista amplified her staggering beauty with soft rosy make-up and accessorised with simple gold hoop earrings. The rising star in the modelling world has been hitting the clubs for a series of very boozy nights with her pals in the British capital recently. Despite her party lifestyle and rousing love life, Lottie who is friends with a number of Made in Chelsea stars insisted she would never appear on reality TV. Making a dash: MIC's Sam Thompson was spotted out with girlfriend Sophie Habboo, and the pair looked cosy as they made their exit from the bash All in black: Olivia cut a sophisticated style in an LBD which drew attention to her endless legs Coupled up: Olivia tried to shield her face as she headed home alongside her unnamed friend The model told The Sun that she had been approached about MIC, but she isn't interested in taking part. She said: 'I've been asked a lot from Made In Chelsea. Obviously I'm friends with everyone on it. It's not for me. I quite like having a private life. I don't like everything being on TV. 'My guilty pleasure, which is really bad, is Ex On The Beach and Geordie Shore. I absolutely love them.' Cosy: Sam stayed close to Sophie in a khaki green T-shirt and skinny jeans, while the blonde beauty looked stylish in her floral mini dress Flashing lights: Sophie also tried to conceal her face as she strolled in a pair of edgy black leather boots Lottie famously dated Made In Chelsea star Alex Mytton on and off for nine months, before the pair finally called it quits in July 2017 amid 'cheating' rumours. Alex, himself, had hinted he had been unfaithful while away filming for E4 reality show MIC in Ibiza during an interview on BBC Radio 1 on his return to London. Asked about his antics, he confessed: 'I wasn't exactly single when I went out to Ibiza for Made In Chelsea. Lottie is following in the star-studded footsteps of her supermodel half-sister Kate as she worked on her own eponymous range for Topshop since 2007. First she secured the attention of model scouts at the tender age of 13 for her youthful beauty at her older half-sister's wedding to rocker ex-husband Jamie Hince. Strut her stuff: Emily's glossy black tresses were set in glamorous Hollywood curls as she drew further attention to her cleavage with a glittering chain necklace Sara Vale has established herself as the 'villain' on The Block. And on Sunday night's episode, the emotional 31-year-old broke down when she and husband Hayden's bedroom came last, calling the result 'a f***ing load of bulls**t'. In a preview for next week's episode, Sara is seen storming off the show, insisting that she is not returning. Drama: Sara Vale has established herself as the 'villain' on The Block. And on Sunday night's episode, the emotional 31-year-old broke down when she and husband Hayden's bedroom came last, calling the result 'a f***ing load of bulls**t' and storming off the show The drama began when Bianca and Carla's bedroom design came first in the judges scores, despite the pair not painting underneath their bedside tables. Sara and Hayden's bedroom received the lowest score, over which the Bondi local snapped: 'What a f***ing load of bulls**t. 'Let's not paint beside a besdie table and win' she added, before becoming tearful after her 45-year-old husband said the result was 'disappointing'. 'Disappointing is an undertstatement. It's actually devastating,' Sara said, crying. Winners: The drama began when Bianca and Carla's bedroom design came first in the judges scores, despite the pair not painting underneath their bedside tables Upset: 'Disappointing is an understatement. It's actually devastating,' Sara said, crying. 'Why do I have to be ridiculed on national TV when I could be spending time with my family? That's what makes me mad' Out? In the preview for next week's episode, a voiceover then reveals that Sara leaves the show, and she is seen storming out. 'I'm going mate, I'm f***ing over it. I'm not coming back. This was the biggest mistake of my life,' she is heard crying She added: 'Why do I have to be ridiculed on national TV when I could be spending time with my family? That's what makes me mad.' In the preview for next week's episode, Sara is again seemingly disappointed with her score and is heard snapping: 'They hammered us for not having feet on our beds. You've got to be kidding me.' The voiceover then reveals that Sara leaves the show, and she is seen storming through the carpark to her car. Issues? It comes after she hit back at sensational claims their marriage was in trouble on Monday and that her husband Hayden had threatened to divorce her 'I'm going mate, I'm f***ing over it. I'm not coming back. This was the biggest mistake of my life,' she is heard crying. It comes after she hit back at sensational claims their marriage was in trouble on Monday and that her husband Hayden had threatened to divorce her. Sara rubbished the claim to Daily Mail Australia. 'Spoiler alert we're still together and we are still madly in love,' she said. 'In fact, we are trying for another baby.' She has never been shy of plumping up her pout. Yet Lauren Goodger looked as though she may have slightly overdone her beloved fillers on Saturday night as she hit the town in London while displaying what appeared to be a painful looking pout. The 31-year-old former TOWIE star did not let her lips impact the rest of her look however as she opted to up the sex appeal to full in a racy ensemble complete with plunging sides to best display her surgically-enhanced assets. Fuller: Lauren Goodger looked as though she may have slightly overdone her beloved fillers on Saturday night as she hit the town in her native Essex while displaying what appeared to be a painful looking pout Lauren has always been candid about the many enhancements she has undergone since soaring to fame following TOWIE's 2010 inauguration, when she was a main character with her relationship with Mark Wright taking centre stage. Following a nose job and boob job, the blonde beauty fell foul to a love of lip fillers, yet in 2016 she had her fillers removed and vowed to steer clear of the injections. Despite her two-year-old promise, she appears to have returned to her habit as she emerged for her night on the tiles with her plumped up pout on full display. As a cosmetics enthusiast, the rest of her make-up was naturally stunning complete with perfectly shaped eyebrows, neatly contoured cheekbones and a smudge of neutral eyeshadow beneath fluttering natural lashes. Saucy: The 31-year-old former TOWIE star did not let her lips impact the rest of her look however as she opted to up the sex appeal to full in a racy ensemble complete with plunging sides to best display her surgically-enhanced assets Upping the sex appeal to the maximum, Lauren left little to the imagination in her sizzling getup, complete with a leotard which not only flashed an eye-popping glimpse of sideboob but also a peek at her svelte hips. To make sure she was showing as much skin as she could, the stunner hooked her hand into the waistband of her trousers while then flaunting her derriere. Adding height to her already statuesque frame, she sported sexy thigh-high boots with a staggering heel and a clingy suede material. Open and honest: The TOWIE star previously discussed her image with MailOnline and said how it was the right time to embrace her natural self The TOWIE star previously discussed her image with MailOnline and said how it was the right time to embrace her natural self. She explained: '2016 was the year to get my lip fillers removed after nearly 5 years of constant top-ups. I have lovely full natural lips so it's finally time to embrace them. 'This year I am really looking after my body and health so this was the natural and the right decision for me for where I am in my life and career.' Very shapely posteriors are taking the Instagram world by storm. But The Sunday Project host Lisa Wilkinson appears to be baffled by the meteoric rise of the Brazilian butt lift. After a segment on the body-enhancement trend, the 58-year-old said she remembers when a large rear was not a good asset. Scroll down to video Not behind it! The Sunday Project's Lisa Wilkinson [right], 58, was left baffled by the Brazilian butt lift trend, saying she remembers a time when a more petite posterior was in vogue 'I'm old enough to remember the days when you said, 'Does my butt look big in this?' The correct answer was 'No!' she said, bemused. The comments followed a short segment on the rise of the Brazilian butt lift, which is a surgical fat transfer from one part of the body to the behind. The segment featured Dr Tim Papadopoulos, who said the butt is now considered the 'new breast', due to its attractiveness. The procedure ranges from $7,000 to $15,000. The Sydney surgeon went on to say there has been a 30 per cent increase in demand in the last two to three years. The upshot of the segment was that he now wants to create a national taskforce, in order to ensure patients are better advised on the procedure. A less invasive form of a Brazilian butt lift is where a gel is applied to one's posterior, and a beautician uses a machine to apply pressure to the cheeks. The procedure, which costs approximately $180 for a 40 minute session, is said to smooth the skin's texture and create a visible lift. Under construction! The popular procedure, which costs between $7,000 and $15,000, involves a fat transfer from one part of the body to the butt Last year, age-defying Lisa shared a number of her own beauty tips, including how she keeps her own flawless complexion. 'I absolutely love Cetaphil moisturiser,' she told Now to Love. The former TODAY Show journalist then added that she buys it in a 'huge pump pack' adding she uses it 'all over, every single day.' Plenty of lift! The procedure give patients a fuller derriere, with it receiving a 30 per cent increase in demand over the past two to three years Notoriously toned actor Aidan Turner was most definitely having a cheat day on Saturday, as he enjoyed a night of beer and fast food with his pals in London's Soho. The Poldark star - who has a habit of leaving viewers of the BBC period drama flustered when he appears in shirtless scenes - stood outside, chatting to friends, as he enjoyed a pint of Guinness and a catch up. Looking unkempt with messy hair and a layer of stubble, the 35-year-old hunk sported a denim jacket with a fleece trim over a white tee. Night off: Notoriously toned actor Aidan Turner was most definitely having a cheat day on Saturday, as he enjoyed a night of beer and fast food with his pals in London's Soho Chowing down: Aidan stopped by a Subway to tuck into a sandwich He added black jeans and boots to the look as he spent the chilled Saturday evening enjoying downtime with mates. His girlfriend Caitlin Fitzgerald wasn't with him - and before heading home to her Aidan stopped by a Subway to tuck into a sandwich. Carrying a gym holdall on one shoulder, Aidan ordered his late night snack and sat at the window of the fast food joint to wolf it down. He then took a call on his mobile as he headed through Soho to meet an Uber, which drove him home. Night off: The Poldark star - who has a habit of leaving viewers of the BBC period drama flustered when he appears in shirtless scenes - stood outside, chatting to friends Chilled: He enjoyed a pint of Guinness and a catch up Casual: Looking unkempt with messy hair and a layer of stubble, the 35-year-old hunk sported a denim jacket with a fleece trim over a white tee Low-key: He added black jeans and boots to the look as he spent the chilled Saturday evening enjoying downtime with mates Aidan and Caitlin met while playing lovers in the forthcoming fantasy film The Man Who Killed Hitler And Then The Bigfoot, which opens in the US next month. It is thought they became close while filming scenes in Massachusetts, and sources claimed they rarely mingled with other cast members while staying at the historic Deerfield Inn, near Boston. Hailing from the States, it was then revealed that the actress has a colourful history - with her grandfather, Desmond FitzGerald, a high-ranking CIA officer who tried to assassinate Fidel Castro. Boys night: His girlfriend Caitlin Fitzgerald wasn't with him Peckish: Carrying a gym holdall on one shoulder, Aidan ordered his late night snack Order up: Aidan was struck by a case of the munchies Guilty pleasure: He sat at the window of the fast food joint to wolf it down Cheeky sarnie: The hunky actor tucked into what looked like a meatball sub The romance comes after Aidan split from artist Nettie Wakefield, 30, in June last year, following his five-year relationship with Sarah Greene, 32. Meanwhile Caitlin, best known for her roles in Masters Of Sex and Sweetbitter, has previously dated Welsh actor Michael Sheen. The pair's relationship only emerged in June, but the film's principal photography kicked off in mid 2017. She left glittering lights of Los Angeles for Sydney's Palm Beach. And former Bold and the Beautiful star Ashleigh Brewer looks set to shake things up on Home And Away, after the 27-year-old's character was caught kissing Tim Franklin. The pair were spotted on set on Tuesday, filming dramatic scenes by the beach. Scroll down to video Stealing a kiss! Home And Away stars Ashleigh Brewer and Tim Franklin put on an affectionate display, while filming scenes for the soap at Sydney's Palm Beach on Tuesday Ashleigh, who is yet to hit screens on the long-running soap opera, engaged in conversation with Tim. Standing on a jetty, the pair looked to have had a tense exchange, before Tim, who plays Colby Thorne on the show, leaned in for a kiss. However it wasn't all picture-perfect, with Ashleigh at one stage trying to remove herself from Tim's embrace. All ok? However it wasn't all picture-perfect, with Ashleigh at one stage trying to remove herself from Tim's embrace New love interest? The pair filmed dramatic scenes for the soap on the jetty Ashleigh cut a casual figure in a loose plaid shirt which she teamed with a red pencil skirt. Meanwhile Tim sported a pair of faded black jeans and a white V-neck T-shirt. Tim finished his low-key outfit with a mauve shirt, which he left unbuttoned. Gentle touch: Tim gently put a hand on Ashleigh's arm Elsewhere, fan favourite Sophie Dillman, who plays Ziggy Astoni on the series, was spotted deep in thought while sitting on a fence. While Kestie Morassi, who plays Sophie's mother in the series, looks concerned following her cancer scare on the show. Upset? In a separate scene, Sophie Dillman [pictured] looked pensive while sitting on a fence. The actress plays newlywed Ziggy Astoni on the show In the scene, the 40-year-old's character looked to be showing signs of stress as she watches two of her co-stars in an embrace. Kestie wore a stylish olive green jumpsuit and a pair of tan wedges. Home And Away airs on Channel Seven, at 7pm weeknights She fled to Bali to escape the spotlight on Thursday after being wheeled out of Kylie Jenner's 21st birthday face down on a stretcher earlier this month. But as she arrived back in Brisbane airport on Sunday night, Tammy Hembrow seemed ready to take on the world again as she showed off a relaxed holiday glow. Cradling her two-year-old daughter Saskia close to her chest, the fresh-faced 24-year-old model slipped her petite frame into a billowing white mini-dress. Ready to face the world! Tammy Hembrow, 24, showed off a holiday glow, as she arrived in Brisbane on Sunday following her Bali getaway... a week after leaving Kylie Jenner's 21st on a stretcher Mother's love: Cradling her two-year-old daughter Saskia close to her chest, the fresh-faced 24-year-old model slipped her petite frame into a billowing white mini-dress Peek-a-boo: Sporting a sun-kissed glow, a braless Tammy flashed a generous hint of side-boob and an eye-catching rose tattoo while carrying the cute tot Sporting a sun-kissed glow, a braless Tammy gave a knowing smirk while flashing a generous hint of side-boob and an eye-catching rose tattoo in the thigh-skimming ensemble. With her flaxen locks tied into a messy high bun, Tammy attempted to shield the little girl from the flashbulbs. Sporting minimal jewellery, the young mum struggled to contain the tot's excitement to be home, as she wriggled in her arms. Handful: Sporting minimal jewellery, the young mum struggled to contain the tot's excitement to be home, as she wriggled in her mum's arms Otherwise engaged: Accompanied on the trip home by her three sisters, Emilee, 26, Amy, 28 and 18-year-old Starlette, the quartet appeared to chat animatedly as they made their way through airport arrivals. Emilee (left) was engrossed on her phone Cheery display: While Tammy carried her daughter, younger sibling Starlette (right) beamed while ambling through the airport terminal, swinging a Louis Vuitton wallet Accompanied on the trip home by her three sisters, Emilee, 26, Amy, 28 and 18-year-old Starlette, the quartet appeared to chat animatedly as they made their way through airport arrivals. And while Emilee was engrossed on her phone, younger sibling Starlette beamed while ambling through the airport terminal, swinging a Louis Vuitton wallet. Older sister Amy held onto Tammy's three-year-old son, Wolf, as the party made their way towards the car park. All tuckered out: Resting her head on Tammy's shoulder, the little girl appeared exhausted after the long flight from Bali Auntie duties: Tammy's older sister Amy held onto Tammy's three-year-old son, Wolf, as the party made their way towards the car park The fitness blogger became an overnight sensation earlier this month after she was carried out of Kylie Jenner's 21st birthday party in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, face down on a stretcher. She was transported from the Delilah nightclub after paramedics arrived just before midnight on Thursday, August 9. She was then loaded into the back of an ambulance as Kylie's father Caitlyn Jenner, 68, and rumoured girlfriend Sophia Hutchins, 21, looked on in horror. Under the spotlight: The fitness blogger became an overnight sensation earlier this month after she was carried out of Kylie Jenner's 21st birthday party in West Hollywood, Los Angeles, face down on a stretcher Just hours later, she seemed to have recovered remarkably well and was enjoying a spot of shopping in upscale Beverly Hills. But earlier this week, Tammy spoke out for the first time in a YouTube video, blaming 'drinking' and a 'lack of sleep' for her horrifying collapse. She looked visibly exhausted and wiped away tears as she spoke of feeling 'embarrassed' by the incident before pleading with trolls to stop 'being nasty'. She rose to fame after starring in the 2006 Tourism Australia campaign, where she stated: 'Where the bloody hell are ya?' And Lara Worthington, 31, (nee Bingle) went back to her roots on Sunday, when she slipped herself into a skimpy black bikini for a day at the beach. Taking to Instagram, the Cronulla-born beauty proved she can still turn heads as she emerged from the tropical blue water. Scroll down to video Where the bloody hell are ya? Model Lara Worthington, 31, proved she can still turn heads when she slipped into a skimpy black bikini, while going for a dip at a secluded beach Channelling a Bond girl, the mother-of-two flaunted her impossibly flat stomach and toned pins. In a second snap, Lara opted for a black one-piece that clung to her gym-honed physique. After posting the photos, fans immediately started referencing her 2006 Tourism Australia campaign, in which she said: 'Where the bloody hell are ya?' Lithe: Lara showed off her slender frame in a second snap, this time opting for a black one-piece The $180 million tourism campaign saw Lara say the now iconic phrase at Fingal Bay, New South Wales. The adverts and billboards catapulted her into the limelight Down Under, but her image was banned from British TV after the slogan was deemed too risque. After the fracas, Lara went on to marry actor Sam Worthington in 2014, and has since transformed herself into a doting mother-of-two. Their son Rocket is three, while their other son Racer is one. Iconic! A number of fans started referencing the Sydney-born model's 2006 Tourism Australia campaign, which saw her promote Australia's natural wonders No longer a fixture at 'parties', Lara revealed to Harper's Bazaar Australia last month that her children helped her grow. 'As a mum, you can doubt yourself, so it's good to talk to others going through the same thing,' Lara candidly told the publication. She then added: 'My twenties were about travel, parties, exploring, less responsibility.' She finished: 'My thirties feel more about routine and are more grounded. We travel a lot - we will always be a nomadic family, which I like.' She has been focusing on her mind and body since the arrival of her baby daughter Sunday in November. And Ferne McCann proved hard work pays dividends on her latest holiday to Majorca, as she displayed her incredible body during a dip in the pool on Wednesday as she sported a tiny white bikini with a fun, pom-pom trim. The 28-year-old beauty was displaying her taut abs and lithe limbs as she hit the water solo, in a rare moment away from her beloved baby girl. Wowie! Ferne McCann proved hard work pays dividends on her latest holiday to Majorca, as she displayed her incredible body during a dip in the pool on Wednesday as she sported a tiny white bikini with a fun, pom-pom trim Ferne looked phenomenal for her dip as she lapped up the sunshine while also topping up her impressive tan ahead of the autumn month. The white colouring ensured she looked every inch the bronzed babe yet she injected her trademark hints of fun to the look with the pom poms. Complementing her radiant complexion, the TV personality wore neutral-toned makeup, which featured matte nude lipstick, lashings of mascara and shimmery eyeshadow. Sizzling: The 28-year-old beauty was displaying her taut abs and lithe limbs as she hit the water solo, in a rare moment away from her beloved baby girl Wow-factor! The white colouring ensured she looked every inch the bronzed babe yet she injected her trademark hints of fun to the look with the pom poms Striking: Complementing her radiant complexion, the TV personality wore neutral-toned makeup, which featured matte nude lipstick, lashings of mascara and shimmery eyeshadow Ferne continued to command attention in the hair department as she framed her striking visage with poker straight tresses. Ensuring all attention remained on her incredibly slender frame, the former TOWIE star kept it simple with her accessories, sporting a gold pendant necklace with a matching bangle. Ferne shares baby Sunday with ex Arthur Collins, who was handed a 20-year prison sentence for an acid attack carried out at a London nightclub in April 2017. Earlier this year, in a magazine interview, the stunning star admitted there are aspects of single motherhood that she still struggles with. Smouldering: The blonde bombshell showed off her frame in the white two-piece while larking around the pool All eyes on her: Ferne continued to command attention in the hair department as she framed her striking visage with poker straight tresses Candid: Earlier this year, in a magazine interview, the stunning star, who is mother to daughter Sunday, eleven months, admitted there are aspects of single motherhood that she still struggles with Ferne spoke to OK! magazine about the day-to-day dilemmas she faces without the baby's father around. She said: 'While I was pregnant, I knew I was going to be a single mum, but it didn't hit me until I actually had Sunday... 'That was tough to deal with - realising I really was totally on my own. I don't have another person to confer with. I don't have another person to discuss my day-to-day decisions with - like choosing what food she has. It's tough.' The star moved back in with her own mother within just four months of moving into her own home last year. After welcoming her baby, she now shares her own Brentwood home with just Sunday and is adjusting to life as a single parent. After welcoming the baby, she now shares her own Brentwood home with just Sunday and has adjusted to life as a single parent. All in the details: Ensuring all attention remained on her incredibly slender frame, she kept it simple with her accessories, sporting a gold pendant necklace with a matching bangle Stunner: Ferne looked phenomenal for her dip as she lapped up the sunshine while also topping up her impressive tan ahead of the autumn month Versatile: During her relaxing day out, the yummy mummy swept her tresses into a tousled ponytail Speaking out: 'While I was pregnant, I knew I was going to be a single mum', Ferne admitted They've been dating for more than one year and share a six-month-old daughter, Stormi, together. And Kylie Jenner dispelled Twitter rumors that her boyfriend Travis Scott had moved out of her Calabasas home. The 21-year-old makeup mogul said that news the couple had split was 'obviously fake' after a fansite posted a screen grab which detailed the move. Sitting pretty: Kylie Jenner dispelled Twitter rumors that her boyfriend Travis Scott had moved out of her Hidden Hills home One fan wrote a lengthy note on her Instagram account, revealing that her father routinely helps the Kardashian/Jenner brood move homes. 'Well home boy spilled the tea and told me that TRAVIS SCOTT AND KYLIE SPLIT,' @lisabootylisa wrote online. 'He said they moved all of Travis' s**t out of her house. Shouts to my dad for keeping up with the Kardashian's.' A few minutes later, the user continued on her rant and added, 'Kylie also gave my dad more tequila so it's lit.' Noteworthy: One fan wrote a lengthy note on her Instagram account, revealing that her father routinely helps the Kardashian/Jenner brood move homes. Lovers in LA: The 21-year-old makeup mogul said that news the couple had split was 'obviously fake' after a fansite posted a screen grab which detailed the move; seen on Instagram Kylie later commented on the post, saying , 'Obviously fake. S**t was never moved I never gave anyone tequila.' The makeup mogul recently made her Vogue cover debut with a gorgeous spread for the September issue of the Australian version of the publication. Sister Kendall Jenner was at the helm of the interview, where Kylie detailed her life as a new mom. Cute couple: Kylie and Travis began dating in April 2017 after she broke off her relationship with Tyga; seen together in August 'I dont think my life has changed since becoming a mum: I think the way I look at life has changed since becoming a mum. I think more of the future,' she said; seen on Instagram The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star began talking about motherhood: 'I dont think my life has changed since becoming a mum: I think the way I look at life has changed since becoming a mum. I think more of the future.' As the interview was wrapping to a close, Kylie made sure to include a few thoughts about her Astroworld beau. 'Im actually scrolling through Instagram right now, and it says that me and Travis dont live together, and so I just want to say that we never miss a night with each other, we go back and forth from my Calabasas house and the city home that we actually got together,' she said. 'So just if you wanted to add that in.' He has a new girlfriend. And actor Jonah Hill hasn't been shy about showing her off. The 34-year-old star and his new lady Gianna Santos couldn't keep their hands off each other while out on a date in New York City on Saturday. The native New Yorker, who is a stylist, held on tight to the hand of the 34-year-old LA native - who sported a $118 red, white and blue Noah top, matching a $45 Palace hat bucket hat, and gray Adidas sneakers. New love: Actor Jonah Hill, 34, hasn't been shy about showing her his new lady Gianna Santos as they couldn't keep their hands off each other while out on a date in New York City on Saturday She wore flowing, wide-legged black pants with a matching fabric belt tied around her waist accompanied with a low-cut V-neck white, tank top. Her brunette hair was pinned half up and half down and she appeared to be wearing little to no makeup. Gianna carried a black, leather purse on her arm and wore matching sandals on her feet. Who is she? Gianna is a stylist/producer for the clothing company KITH and she graduated from Fordham University in 2011 Gianna is a stylist/producer for the clothing company KITH and she graduated from Fordham University in 2011. Before Santos, Hill (born Feldstein) reportedly enjoyed prior romances with Erin Galpern, Isabelle McNally, Rita Ora, Ali Hoffman, Jordan Klein, and Brooke Glazer. The two-time Golden Globe nominee's street sighting came a few months after he dished about attending Kanye West's listening party for his eighth studio album Ye in Jackson Hole, WI back on May 31. Past relationships: Before Santos, Hill (born Feldstein) reportedly enjoyed prior romances with Erin Galpern, Isabelle McNally, Rita Ora, Ali Hoffman, Jordan Klein, and Brooke Glazer 'It was really an epic, legendary thing,' he said on the July 17 episode of Jimmy Kimmel Live! 'And I didn't realize it was controversial to go support Kanye at that time. Like my sister [Beanie] didn't speak to me for a week because he wore a MAGA hat. To me, it just felt like a bad Andy Kaufman swing and a miss.' The 41-year-old rapper-turned-designer has raised eyebrows over his public admiration for President Donald Trump and his unhinged rant about slavery 'being a choice' on TMZ Live. Famous friends: The two-time Golden Globe nominee's street sighting with Gianna came a few month after he dished about attending Kanye West's listening party for his eighth studio album Ye in Jackson Hole, WI back on May 31 The 21-time Grammy winner's manic tweets and interviews are even more worrying considering his nine-day stint for 'temporary psychosis' at UCLA Medical Center in 2016. Jonah added: 'I don't bail on people right away. People f*** up and do stupid stuff. You shouldn't bail on everybody right away. This guy has given me so much. He's my guy.' Meanwhile, the actor's upcoming series Maniac released its first teaser trailer that featureand Emma Stone. Styling: The native New Yorker held on tight to the hand of the 34-year-old LA native - who sported a $118 red, white and blue Noah top, matching a $45 Palace hat bucket hat, and gray Adidas sneakers Next gig: The actor's upcoming Netflix series Maniac released its first teaser trailer that features him and actress Emma Stone The limited Netflix series was created by Patrick Somerville, with director Cary Fukunaga - known for Beasts of No Nation and the first season of True Detective - at the helm. Jonah stars opposite Stone, Sonoya Mizuno, and Justin Theroux in the series, with production from Paramount Television. The show is set to hit the streaming service on September 21, and is based on the Norwegian television series of the same name by Hakon Bast Mossige. He's had a whirlwind week celebrating his 46th birthday. And Ben Affleck may be in some hot water with girlfriend Lindsay Shookus after he was spotted dining out with Playboy model Shauna Sexton, 22, at Nobu in Malibu on Thursday night, according to PEOPLE magazine. Shookus, a Saturday Night Live producer, reportedly deleted her Instagram account just days after her Justice League beau indulged in a night out with the blonde bombshell. Trouble? Ben Affleck may be in some hot water with girlfriend Lindsay Shookus after he was spotted dining out with Playboy model Shauna Sexton, 22, at Nobu in Malibu on Thursday night, according to PEOPLE magazine; the couple pictured together in November While Ben and Lindsay have been an item for more than one year, she was noticeably absent from his birthday festivities with the family on Wednesday evening. To add even more fuel to the fire, Lindsay and Ben haven't been spotted together since July when the pair were in Puerto Rico as he filmed scenes for the upcoming Netflix movie The Last Thing He Wanted. Affleck was spotted smoking a cigarette as he waited for his vehicle after an evening at the trendy restaurant. Problems? To add even more fuel to the fire, Lindsay and Ben haven't been spotted together since July when the pair were in Puerto Rico as he filmed scenes for the upcoming Netflix movie The Last Thing He Wanted; seen in June Whoops: Affleck puffed on a cigarette outside of the trendy restuarant after a night out with the Playboy model Model behavior: The Justice League star - who is dating Saturday Night Live producer Lindsay Shookus - was dining with Playboy's Miss May 2018, Shauna Sexton, according to TMZ Shauna - who hails from Virginia Beach, Virginia, showed off her killer curves in a figure-hugging dress and heels. Not only did the 22-year-old receive the coveted title of Miss May 2018, she's also returned to Playboy for various blogs and photo shoots. Sexton lists herself as 'single' on her Facebook page, and in addition to her career as scantily clad model, boasts about her work with animals as a veterinary technician. Strike a pose: Shauna - who hails from Virginia Beach, Virginia, graced the Playmates.com website in May Best friends: The blonde bombshell lists herself as 'single' on her Facebook page, and in addition to her career as scantily clad model, boasts about her work with animals as a veterinary technician; seen with her beloved dog Otis 'I started in this field when I was about 16,' she told Playboy. 'After my first experience in surgery, I realized working fast-paced and under pressure is for me. Whatever requires me to move quickly and freely is intriguing. I love surgery more than anything.' At the time, Sexton told the publication that she was 'very much single' and is looking for someone with a strong head on their shoulders. 'I want someone who's able to compromise but doesn't sell himself short,' she said. 'I appreciate people who are the truest forms of themselves and brutally honest about who they are.' Lucky lady: Here the stunner is seen with a silver Playboy jacket on. And she is also pictured in a silky black robe in a loft Beauty: Not only did the 22-year-old receive the coveted title, she's also returned to Playboy for various blogs and photo shoots; seen on Instagram The Armageddon star's appearance comes after he celebrated his birthday with his children Violet, 12, Seraphina, nine and Sam, six, in Los Angeles on Wednesday. Earlier in the day, Ben was spotted heading into the Refuge Recovery Treatment Center in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles. Ben shares his three children with estranged wife Jennifer Garner, and the powerful pair have yet to formally finalize their divorce. Pit stop: Earlier in the day, Ben was spotted heading into the Refuge Recovery Treatment Center in the Venice Beach area of Los Angeles On friendly terms: On Friday the actor was spotted paying a visit to ex Jennifer Garner The couple separated in June 2015 following 10 years of marriage, and filed for divorce in April 2017. The actor is reportedly 'in a good place' and is 'doing well' after recent reports surfaced that he and Jennifer, 46, were sent legal warnings by the court for 'dragging their feet' over their divorce, according to People. 'He is in a good place mentally and has worked really hard to get here,' a source told the publication. 'He continues to focus on himself and the health of his relationships.' She recently revealed that she can see babies on the horizon after she weds fiance John Noble next year. And following the news Vicky Pattison was spotted heading to Rosso Restaurant looking stylish in Manchester on Sunday. The TV presenter, 30, donned a silk leopard print blouse in pink hues, which she teamed with a pair of very distressed blue jeans. Heading out: Vicky Pattison, 30, donned a silk leopard print blouse in pink hues, which she teamed with a pair of very distressed blue jeans as she headed for lunch in Manchester on Sunday Vicky, who rose to fame during her Geordie Shore stint, added a touch of glam to her look with a pair of barely-there black heels. She tied her look together with a chunky black belt with an ornate gold buckle, while carrying her essentials in a chic leather bag. The star wore her locks back in a low-ponytail for her lunch date, enhancing her features with a coat of make-up. Sultry: Ahead of the outing Vicky shared a sultry shot of herself reclining by the pool in a vibrant red bikini, ensuring her giant engagement ring was on show Radiant: The star wore her locks back in a low-ponytail for her lunch date, enhancing her features with a coat of make-up Ahead of the outing Vicky shared a sultry shot of herself reclining by the pool in a vibrant red bikini, ensuring her giant engagement ring was on show. She also posted another snap of herself in the pool leaning of the edge, flaunting a beaming smile, during her recent juice cleanse retreat in Portugal. Elsewhere, Vicky recently revealed she can hear the pitter-patter of tiny feet a lot closer than before as she got very candid about her plans for a baby once she's made it down the aisle. In an interview with Now magazine, she admitted she feared being left behind while her friends all had children, but confessed that her businessman beau is actually 'broodier' than she is. Trendy: Vicky, who rose to fame during her Geordie Shore stint, added a touch of glam to her look with a pair of barely-there black heels Vicky spoke about her close relationship with former TOWIE star Ferne McCann, 28, and how her adorable daughter Sunday, nine months, has left fiance John desperate to kick start their own brood. Of her plans for babies, Vicky told the publication: 'Before I met John, I was scared I was being left behind! Now I have him, I know babies arent far off.' Discussing her plans for a family, the reality TV star continued: 'Theres a running joke between my friends that Johns probably broodier than me. If I leave him for five minutes, Ill come back and hell have a picture with a kid'. Glam: She tied her look together with a chunky black belt with an ornate gold buckle, while carrying her essentials in a chic leather bag But despite the excitement surrounding baby plans, Vicky said she's still happy to wait until after their 2019 nuptials. The I'm a Celebrity alum added: 'Well get married next year, enjoy a couple of years in that stage, and then well embrace the next one.' The couple had previously postponed the special day in January as they didn't want to rush into married life, but Vicky recently revealed that plans are in full swing with a goal of tying the knot next summer. She recently embarked on a new career as a lingerie designer after last year's widely successful release of her inclusive makeup line. And Rihanna showed off her eye for style as she rocked a bright pink ensemble at the airport in Barbados on Sunday morning. The 30-year-old singing sensation flaunted her toned legs in a pair of cozy shorts just hours after serving as a bridesmaid at her best friend Sonita Alexander's wedding at the Halton Great House. Electric: Rihanna showed off her eye for style as she rocked a bright pink ensemble at the airport in Barbados on Sunday morning Rihanna appeared to be in a jovial mood in her bubble gum pink ensemble as she pounded the pavement to a private jet. She added another electric hue of the feminine shade with a massive neon pink duffel bag strapped across her shoulder. Opting for comfort, she slipped on a pair of sandals and carried a beautiful Christian Dior tote in one hand with dark sunglasses covering her eyes. Bright: The 30-year-old singing sensation flaunted her toned legs in a pair of cozy shorts just hours after serving as a bridesmaid at her best friend Sonita Alexander's wedding at the Halton Great House Rihanna appeared to be in a jovial mood in her bubble gum pink ensemble as she pounded the pavement to a private jet. Earlier in the day, she stopped by local fast food chain Chefette for a quick bite to eat before her day of travel. The Barbados-born beauty was in town to serve as a bridesmaid at her best friend's wedding, where Rihanna made sure to give her millions of fans a glimpse at the romantic nuptials. Clad in a navy blue gown with a plunging neckline, the Love on the Brain vocalist posed for a few selfies with her fellow maids. Good eats: Earlier in the day, she stopped by local fast food chain Chefette for a quick bite to eat before her day of travel Slay: Clad in a navy blue gown with a plunging neckline, the Love on the Brain vocalist posed for a few selfies with her fellow maids In one image, Rihanna and Sonita posed for a selfie wearing silky robes ahead of the big day where her friend married Raymond Walker. While the songstress has earned her acclaim as a powerhouse performer, her makeup line Fenty Beauty reportedly earned 'a staggering $100 million in sales within 40 days' of release in September, according to Vogue. In addition to more than half-a-dozen fragrances baring her name, Rihanna recently launched her own lingerie line, Savage x Fenty, with affordable pieces available in a wide range of sizes. Strike a pose: The Barbados-born beauty was in town to serve as a bridesmaid at her best friend's wedding, where Rihanna made sure to give her millions of fans a glimpse at the romantic nuptials They found themselves at the centre of a media storm earlier in the year when it was claimed they had an affair - rumours they strongly denied. And on Sunday's Celebrity Big Brother, outspoken contestant, Natalie Nunn, decided to grill Gabby Allen over the Dan Osborne claims as she asked if they had 'f**ked'. Talking in the bedroom, the Bad Girls Club star, 33, asked: 'Why did someone tell me that you and Dan had f**ked?' Scroll down for video Awkward: On Sunday's Celebrity Big Brother, outspoken contestant, Natalie Nunn, decided to grill Gabby Allen over the Dan Osborne claims as she asked if they had 'f**ked' To which Gabby retorted: 'That was in the press because my ex-boyfriend said we did.' With Natalie laughing as she replied: 'I was just trying to see if it was true. Listen, I don't know, I'm just keeping it real.' Yet Gabby was offended by the question as she added: 'Dan is married and has been ever since I've known him and they were still together when I met him.' Tense: Talking in the bedroom, the Bad Girls Club star, 33, asked: 'Why did someone tell me that you and Dan had f**ked?' Gossip girl: With Natalie laughing as she replied: 'I was just trying to see if it was true. Listen, I don't know, I'm just keeping it real.' And things took an even more awkward turn when Dan heard his name mentioned and asked what they were talking about. With Gabby explaining: 'They're asking if we f**ked basically.' Talking to her housemates, she added: 'He's just had a baby seven weeks ago. I spoke to his wife [Jacqueline Jossa] and everything. I said to her: "I just want to let you know, nothing happened."' While later on, Dan and Gabby had their own separate conversation about the claims and Natalie's grilling. The former TOWIE star asked: 'The conversation has ended. Yeah?' Not impressed: Yet Gabby was offended by the question as she added: 'Dan is married and has been ever since I met him and they were still together when I met him.' With Gabby replying: 'It was still going, it literally just ended then.' To which Dan snapped: 'Good. Has it been clarified?' Tongues have been set wagging over Gabby and Dan's joint appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, as the hunk had been accused of cheating on his wife Jacqueline Jossa with the blonde earlier this year. Both have firmly denied the claims, with Gabby admitting she has no plans to make a move on him in New! magazine following his shock split from Jacqueline in May. She said: 'He's a f***ing joker since he's become single. I keep reading about it in the press. It's like mate, sort it out. He's still married.' Oh dear: And things took an even more awkward turn when Dan heard his name mentioned and asked what they were talking about Gabby said that even if Dan wasn't married to Jacqueline, he would still not interest her, adding: 'He's just not for me. I'll wingman him though, if he is actually single.' Ahead of the launch, Dan told The Mirror he has reconciled with Jacqueline and is living with the EastEnders actress and their two children once more, revealing: 'Me and Jacqueline have had a bad patch but we've been getting on a lot better recently. We've been getting on well. Drama: While later on, Dan and Gabby had their own separate conversation about the claims and Natalie's grilling 'We've just had a baby. Things are fine and we're getting on well. I don't think I'm in a position to be thinking about love interests in there'. While Gabby is currently single after her dramatic split from Marcel Somerville, who she met on Love Island 2017, in May. Yet the fitness fanatic did admit to her housemates that she is 'seeing' someone currently. Celebrity Big Brother continues on weeknights at 9pm on Channel 5. As the Married At First Sight 2018 cast continue their downward spiral into obscurity and financial ruin, former 'villain' Davina Rankin is having the last laugh. And with her business expanding and romance with cafe owner Jaxon Manuel going from strength to strength, the 27-year-old may have another reason to celebrate. According to friends of the Brisbane-based entrepreneur, there are 'rumours' swirling that she could be pregnant with her first child. Scroll down for video 'There are rumours she's pregnant': According to NW magazine, friends of Married At First Sight star Davina Rankin (pictured) suspect she could be expecting her first child. Pictured: Davina and her boyfriend Jaxon Manuel A source told NW on Monday: 'There are rumours she's pregnant - and if they're true, she'd make an amazing mum.' Unfortunately, however, it seems the publication may have jumped the gun. Within hours of the magazine hitting newsstands, Davina rubbished the rumours by telling Daily Mail Australia: 'No, I'm not pregnant!' Baby or burrito? Several months ago, Davina sparked pregnancy rumours by sharing a video (above) to Instagram of her bloated stomach which resembled a baby bump Davina, who is the owner of We Love Brunch Co. and fashion label Soleil Luna, has previously claimed that she wants children in the future. 'Once I find the right person, kids are something that I want,' the personal trainer said earlier this year. While they may not be expecting a child just yet, Davina and Jaxon's relationship reached a major milestone earlier this month. Gossip: A source told NW magazine on Monday, 'There are rumours she's pregnant - and if they're true, she'd make an amazing mum'. Pictured: Jaxon with his hand protectively placed over Davina's stomach at a recent social event The lovebirds, who met after Davina filmed this year's season of Married At First Sight, recently moved in together in Brisbane. 'This is the first time I have ever lived with a boyfriend so it's a big step,' she told The Daily Telegraph two weeks ago. 'But we survived and the place is perfect and it's perfect timing for us.' Nothing to see here! Unfortunately, however, it seems the publication may have jumped the gun. Within hours of the magazine hitting newsstands, Davina rubbished the rumours by telling Daily Mail Australia, 'No, I'm not pregnant!' Davina was paired with tradesman Ryan Gallagher, 30, on MAFS but during filming she caught the eye of fellow contestant Dean Wells, 40. Their love triangle became one of the most talked-about reality TV storylines in years and, unfortunately, made Davina the target of cruel trolls. Following the 'affair', she refocused her attention on her businesses and personal training career - and unexpectedly struck up a romance with Jaxon. Scandalous! Davina was paired with tradesman Ryan Gallagher (left) on Married At First Sight but during filming she caught the eye of fellow contestant Dean Wells Backlash: Their love triangle became one of the most talked-about reality TV storylines in years and, unfortunately, made Davina the target of cruel trolls. Pictured right: Dean Wells As the future looks brighter than ever for Davina, the fortunes of her former MAFS castmates are rapidly dwindling. Her former flame Dean was recently caught begging Melbourne restaurants for free food in exchange for plugging the venues on Instagram. Meanwhile, Tracey Jewel tried to commit suicide several weeks ago after being left 'stranded' in Germany by her ex-boyfriend Patrick Kedemos. She's a widely celebrated actress with a sturdy resume. And Maggie Gyllenhaal also proved to be quite the style icon as she stepped out in New York on Sunday afternoon. The 40-year-old actress looked supremely chic wearing a pair of distressed denim trousers and a silky blouse as she stopped by the Rachel Comey store in the SoHo area of Manhattan. Out and about: Maggie Gyllenhaal also proved to be quite the style icon as she stepped out in New York on Sunday afternoon Maggie showed off her laid-back style rocking a pair of high-waisted denim slacks with distressed elements along her ankles. She tucked a billowing white blouse into the top of her jeans, with long sleeves covering her arms. The Secretary star added a pair of black loafers with gold clasps to her afternoon ensemble as she carried a large orange tote by her side. Shop til you drop: The 40-year-old actress looked supremely chic wearing a pair of distressed denim trousers and a silky blouse as she stopped by the Rachel Comey store in the SoHo area of Manhattan Cute: She tucked a billowing white blouse into the top of her jeans, with long sleeves covering her arms Her short blonde hair was tied into a classy updo, with wispy tendrils framing her face. Gyllenhaal recently resumed filming of her hit HBO show The Deuce in New York where her character Candy portrays a prostitute. Fed up of life on the street, Candy had decided to join the growing porn film industry at the end of the first season. Action: Gyllenhaal recently resumed filming of her hit HBO show The Deuce in New York where her character Candy portrays a prostitute Maggie was dripping in sparkling jewels and rocked a retro-inspired white dress to film an episode. Last month Maggie admitted that she had watched '70's porn films to prep for her role, telling W Magazine:: 'Yes, I watched some Lasse Braun movies. He was a very playful Italian porn director. But I havent seen Deep Throat.' Maggie stars with James Franco in the series created and written by author and former police reporter David Simon and his frequent collaborator George Pelecanos that returns on September 9. She dated Peter Sarsgaard for seven years before the couple tied the knot during an Italian ceremony in 2009. The couple has two daughters; Ramona and Gloria. She was left heartbroken after she discovered that her boyfriend of almost a year had slept with another woman while on a not-so romantic holiday together in Mexico. And Gabby Allen revealed that she is now 'seeing someone' as she shared what really happened with her ex-boyfriend Marcel Somerville on Sunday's explosive episode of Celebrity Big Brother. Talking to her fellow housemates, she explained that she only found out after the girl he had cheated on her with, a woman from Canada, got in touch and showed her the messages - with her former beau claiming he was single. Scroll down for video Candid: Gabby Allen revealed that she is now 'seeing someone' as she shared what really happened with her ex-boyfriend Marcel Somerville on Sunday's Celebrity Big Brother She said: 'We were on holiday together and we had a bit of a tiff, an argument. I went to bed and he went downstairs and slept with another girl who was on holiday. 'Then, two months later, she contacted me. But the thing is, he was known as the "Love Doctor" and stuff, so I think that's why it was such a big deal to everyone on the outside because it was so out of character for him. 'It was the last thing I would ever expect him to do, it is what it is. It's just I feel like I'm never going to trust anyone ever again.' Heartbreak: Talking to her fellow housemates, she explained that she only found out after the girl he had cheated on her with, a woman from Canada, got in touch Upsetting: She said: 'We were on holiday together and we had a bit of a tiff, an argument. I went to bed and he went downstairs and slept with another girl who was on holiday.' Yet it looks as though Gabby has found happiness again as she revealed to kidnap victim, Chloe Ayling, that she is seeing someone. The two girls bonded as they applied lipstick on each other, with the fitness fanatic asking the model if she had a beau, to which she responded no. Yet when Gabby was grilled about her love life, she admitted that she doesn't have a boyfriend but added: 'I'm seeing someone though.' The Liverpudlian met Blazin' Squad's Marcel on the 2017 series of Love Island, with the two quickly becoming fan favourites. New romance?: Yet it looks as though Gabby has found happiness again as she revealed to kidnap victim, Chloe Ayling, that she is seeing someone Mystery man: Yet when the Liverpudlian was grilled about her love life, she admitted that she doesn't have a boyfriend but added: 'I'm seeing someone though.' Yet their romance ended in tears and infidelity just 11-months later after a not-so romantic holiday together. Marcel confessed to sleeping with another woman and admitted he would 'always regret' his actions towards Gabby at the time. After previously denying it, the rapper finally confirmed that he had cheated on his former girlfriend in May 3. His rep said: 'Sadly the rumours are true, Gabby and Marcel have split up. Marcel can't really defend his actions as he knows he did wrong and will regret it forever. Love's (former) young dream: Gabby met Blazin' Squad's Marcel on the 2017 series of Love Island, with the two quickly becoming fan favourites 'Marcel is upset that he broke the heart of someone he loves and someone that he shared so many special moments with, but with all the good times there are difficult times, and sadly Marcel and Gabby had been in a bad place at this stage. 'He knows what he did was wrong and is extremely sad about how he has hurt Gabby.' However, Marcel has since claimed that his ex Gabby struck up a sexual relationship with married Dan Osborne, who is currently on Celebrity Big Brother with her, while they were at a fitness camp in Marbella in April, something which they have both denied. And during Sunday's episode, the two housemates were forced to admit what REALLY happened with each other as outspoken contestant, Natalie Nunn, asked if they had 'f**ked'. Rumours: However, Marcel has since claimed that his ex Gabby struck up a sexual relationship with married Dan Osborne, who is currently on Celebrity Big Brother with her, something they have both denied Awkward: And during Sunday's episode, the two housemates were forced to admit what REALLY happened with each other as contestant, Natalie Nunn, asked if they had 'f**ked' To which Gabby retorted: 'That was in the press because my ex-boyfriend said we did.' The fitness fan was offended by the question as she added: 'Dan is married and has been ever since I've known him and they were still together when I met him.' Talking to her housemates, she added: 'He's just had a baby seven weeks ago. I spoke to his wife [Jacqueline Jossa] and everything. I said to her: "I just want to let you know, nothing happened."' MailOnline has contacted Marcel's representative for comment. Celebrity Big Brother continues on weeknights at 9pm on Channel 5. Khloe Kardashian felt like her mother Kris Jenner was bullying her into eating too much when she was pregnant with True Thompson. In a teaser for Sunday's Keeping Up With The Kardashians - which was filmed months ago - the 34-year-old star is in the kitchen with her mom. When they are enjoying a plate of pasta, the girlfriend of Tristan Thompson says, 'You know I can't eat all this.' Later she complains her mother has made 'the heaviest pasta dish with so much oil in it.' Oh no: Khloe Kardashian felt like her mother Kris Jenner was bullying her into eating too much when she was pregnant with True Thompson; here she is seen in a new trailer for KUWTK Pushy: In a teaser for Sunday's Keeping Up With The Kardashians, the 34-year-old star is in the kitchen with her mom Too much? When they are enjoying a plate of pasta, the girlfriend of Tristan Thompson says, 'You know I can't eat all this.' Khloe is then seen with her doctor as she complains, 'She wants me to gain 80lbs!' She also says, 'I love my mom but she's a psychopath.' In an earlier teaser Khloe was not happy with her mother's surprise gift. When the 62-year-old momager presented her daughter a box of Krispy Kreme, the beauty exploded. 'I can't eat 8 dozen donuts,' screamed the star. The scene was filmed before she welcomed daughter True Thompson in April. Pressure: Khloe is then seen with her doctor as she complains, 'She wants me to gain 80lbs!' Mad: Khloe was not happy with her mother's surprise gift. When the 62-year-old momager handed her pregnant daughter a box of Krispy Kreme donuts, the beauty exploded Not good for her: The star relayed that she didn't want to get too heavy while pregnant Kris actually didn't bring eight donuts. She brought eight boxes of donuts. The clip started with Kris walking into Khloe's Calabasas, California mansion. The mother-of-six said, 'I brought you a surprise. This is your lucky day. It's Krispy Kreme day, to celebrate the pregnancy of Khloe Kardashian!' During a later interview, Khloe said, 'I remember back when my mom was pregnant, she and Bruce almost got a divorce because Bruce would not pull over to get 2 dozen donuts.' Here she is: The clip started with Kris walking into Khloe's Calabasas, California mansion It's a lot of donuts: The TV star held up eight boxes of donuts, which no one could eat in one day Pushy mom? She then opened one of the boxes and made Khloe look at them Digging in: Jenner then ate one of the donuts, which are covered in sugar She added, 'He's like, "You don't need them, Kris" and they were screaming at each other. He finally got her these stupid donuts and she ate every f***ing donut. She ate every f***ing donut. That's just not who I am, that's disgusting.' And Kris then said she was worried that Khloe was not 'enjoying her pregnancy' because she was avoiding treats. 'If I want a donut or cookies, I'll eat them. I'm not depriving myself,' Khloe snapped. Old news: The scene was filmed before she welcomed daughter True Thompson in April 'Everything I'm doing is instructed by my doctor and I would love to avoid a C-section if possible. 'If my baby turns out to be really big, I'm gonna have to get a C-section!' Then Khloe fumed. 'I don't think anything I have to say is registering,' she said. Dead right: Also in the Sunday teaser, Kim has to do makeup on a corpse with Mario by her side 'My mom has that old school mentality where she thinks I should be sitting on the couch, eating food. If I don't have the same experience as my mom, then she thinks something's wrong with me, which blows my mind.' Also in the Sunday teaser, Kim has to do makeup on a corpse with Mario by her side. And Kris gets mad at Scott as she tells him, 'When you f*** up you don't just f*** up a little bit you f*** up!' Keeping Up with the Kardashians airs Sundays on E! and available to stream first on Mondays in the UK & Ire on hayu. Australian Greens leader Richard Di Natale concedes his party must do better in response to allegations of sexual misconduct. Several women claim they were not supported after coming forward to the Greens with accusations of misconduct against members and staff. "We're doing everything we can to ensure that women who come forward feel supported when they do," Senator Di Natale told the ABC on Sunday. The Greens have consulted widely on the misconduct allegations and are implementing compulsory training of staff, officials and members of parliament. A NSW Greens MP is the subject of an active investigation into sexual misconduct allegations. He has not been stood down while the investigation is held. Senator Di Natale said the NSW Greens were still examining the matter. "They are responding to and they're taking it very, very seriously," he said. "I expect the investigation to be concluded very, very soon." A senior constable has been left with a broken finger after an "aggressive" group of drunk people turned on police who were breaking up out-of-control parties on Sydney's northern beaches. Officers asked more than 100 youths to leave a party in Freshwater about 8.15pm on Saturday night, and another 50 from a nearby reserve. About an hour later, police received complaints about another party spilling onto the streets close by. Police allege the group became aggressive when asked to leave the area and had a bottle thrown at them. A 28-year-old Brazilian woman was arrested and charged with a number of offences, including assaulting an officer. She is due to face court in September. A senior constable suffered a fractured finger during the arrest and was taken to hospital for treatment. Another 100 youths were moved on from a party in Curl Curl later on Saturday, with local officers seeking help from police helicopters and the dog unit. Daria Gavrilova is primed for her first WTA title defence but fellow Australian star Ashleigh Barty has pulled out of the Connecticut Open battling illness a week out from the US Open. Barty cited a viral illness as she withdrew from the field in New Haven on Saturday. Preparing for the year's final grand slam in New York, world No.16 Barty has played strongly and is coming off back-to-back losses to world No.1 Simona Halep - in a semi-final at the Canadian Open in Montreal and then in the round of 16 in Cincinnati this week. World 23. Gavrilova will face 55th-ranked Irina Camelia Begu in the first round, when she returns to the event where 12 months ago she claimed her lone WTA title. Fellow Australian Samantha Stosur must get past Camilla Giorgi of Italy in the final round of qualifying if she is to join Gavrilova in the main draw. The 34-year-old Stosur, ranked 65th, is seeking a confidence-building lead in to the US Open, where she famously claimed her grand slam title with victory over Serena Williams in the 2011 final. Safer hospitals could prevent patients suffering complications and save Australia's health system $1.5 billion a year, a new report has found. One in nine Australians who go into hospital experience a complication, which costs public hospitals more than $4 billion a year and costs private hospitals more than $1 billion, according to the Grattan Institute. But 250,000 patients could be saved from complications annually if all hospitals improved their safety measures to be in line with the safest 10 per cent, a new report from the policy think tank shows. That would save the health system a cool $1.5 billion annually. The Grattan Institute's Stephen Duckett says the figures show Australia's hospital accreditation system needs a makeover. Instead of a "one size fits all" system, accreditation should be based on measurable safety outcomes tailored to each hospital, he said. "Hospitals would no longer be spruced up for a once-a-year visit by accreditation inspectors," the institute's health program director said in a statement. "Instead, surveyors would conduct safety tests without notice, but concentrate on helping hospitals to give safer care." The policy body is encouraging state government to make sure public hospitals know their bottom line will be improved if they are safer. Based on its analysis of the nation's 20 largest public hospitals, complications cost hospitals about three times what they receive in extra revenue for treating a sicker patient. Kesley Burgess was born a hero, his mum says, but now - eight years after his death - his bravery is "cemented in history". Tracey Burgess could only watch as 25-year-old Kesley armed himself with a sword and stepped into their hallway to fight off a drug-dealing gang who had stormed their home in July 2010. The invaders were armed with machetes and meat cleavers. Kesley pushed his mother and girlfriend into a bedroom before striking one of the four thieves as they ransacked his home looking for drugs and cash. Another invader hit Kesley in the back, then the rest of the gang turned on him. "By the time my son got to the hospital there wasn't a drop of blood left in him," Ms Burgess told AAP on Thursday. "His wounds were like something you'd see in the third world. It shouldn't happen here, not in Australia". Ms Burgess said her son was her "best friend", her "rock", her "everything" and the man of the house. He will be among 62 Australians recognised by Governor General Sir Peter Cosgrove for their heroism with a Bravery Decoration on Monday. As a trained security guard, Ms Burgess said, Kesley always wanted to protect. But he had a wicked sense of humour, would slide around the house in his socks, singing songs or playing tricks on his relatives. "He was a family hero even from when he was small, he just looked after his friends and his brothers," she said. "But - for what he did that night trying to protect us - I can't find words. He gave his life for us." Ms Burgess said she'll accept her son's accolade "with a heavy heart" alongside his youngest brother, Jacob, who has had to lead the family in the wake of Kesley's death. "My first stop after that will be the cemetery," she said. "I'll take it to him, I know it might sound silly to some people but I'll go talk to him." She said her son would have been thrilled to receive his commendation. "I raised my boys right," she said. "He's a hero and I hope it's cemented in history now." Also among the recipients will be Matthew Bruce Warwick who helped teenage schoolgirl Madeleine Pulver after a suspected collar bomb was strapped to her neck. It was in August 2011 that then NSW Police Senior Constable Warwick, who worked with the bomb detection dog unit, was called to Mosman in Sydney's north. Mr Warwick and his police dog swept the home for explosives and, later, helped police negotiators check the device strapped to the panicking girl. After a harrowing 10 hours they determined the bomb was fake and freed the young woman. The girl had been the target of a bizarre extortion attempt by a businessman who is now behind bars. The Australian Bravery Decorations recognise members of the public who selflessly jeopardise their own safety to help others. The awards define bravery in a crisis as willingly going from a place of safety to danger, or the choice to remain in danger, to provide help. A man who was threatened with a bullet in the heart when he tried to stop a gunman from slaying his colleague says it is "bittersweet" being recognised for his bravery. Robert Strange is to receive a Bravery Medal among 62 other Australians honoured in the latest national bravery awards announced by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on Monday. The award acknowledges his selfless attempts to protect fellow NSW Environment and Heritage officer Glen Turner, who was shot dead by farmer Ian Turnbull at a northern NSW property in July 2014. The pair were conducting a compliance inspection at a property in Croppa Creek just south of the Queensland border. "Look it's very humbling but bittersweet," Mr Strange told AAP. "Nothing will undo the horrendous events of that day." Turnbull shot Mr Turner twice with a hunting rifle before stalking him for more than 20 minutes as he tried hiding behind a vehicle. As he kept his wounded colleague aware of the gunman's movements, Mr Strange tried several times to move him to safety. At one point the rifle was pointed at him and he was told to "get back or you'll get one in the heart." When darkness fell Turnbull would shoot Mr Turner twice more and, again ignoring Mr Strange's pleas, fired the third and fatal shot when the 51-year-old made a desperate dash for freedom. "Mr Strange immediately went to the wounded man and attempted CPR," his award reads. "By his actions, Mr Strange displayed considerable bravery." "It's really nice people say that but you don't think of that at the time," Mr Strange said. "Honestly, I'd hope that anyone else in that position would do the exact same thing." He hopes the award will remind people of Mr Turner's life and the pain both their families are still going through. "I don't talk about it with my kids but if they raise it I try and articulate it as best I can, that Dad's just having a bad week." "There's no trigger, I just get this feeling of sadness." Turnbull died in 2017 while serving a 35-year sentence for killing Mr Turner and detaining Mr Strange. The bravery shown by Lindt Cafe siege victim Katrina Dawson and survivor Jarrod Morton-Hoffman has been formally recognised four years after the attack brought global terrorism to Sydney's streets. The pair are among 62 Australians honoured in the latest national bravery awards announced by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on Monday. Ms Dawson bargained with crazed gunman and terrorist Man Haron Monis to release another hostage after he appeared to offer her a way out of the siege in mid-December 2014. "When he refused, Ms Dawson continued to provide genuine support to other hostages throughout the ordeal," Ms Dawson's accolade reads. The terrorist eventually shot dead the cafe's manager, Tori Johnson, and heavily armed police stormed the building. Ms Dawson, who had complied calmly with her captor's demands in a bid to keep everyone safe, was killed in the crossfire. Monis was also shot and killed. Mr Morton-Hoffman, a worker at the cafe, was instructed by Monis to call the media. He followed instructions calmly, his accolade reads, even with the terrorist's gun trained on him. "As the gunman became increasingly agitated, Mr Morton-Hoffman interacted with the offender dissuading him from violence while he formulated a number of plans to assist the hostages." By his actions Mr Morton-Hoffman displayed considerable bravery during the 17-hour siege, the accolade says. The Australian Bravery Decorations recognise members of the public who selflessly jeopardise their own safety to help others. Two Aboriginal men who saved the lives of 68 people during a flood are being officially honoured for their bravery more than 160 years after their heroic feat. Wiradjuri men Yarri and Jacky Jacky used large bark canoes to save lives when the Murrumbidgee River flooded the NSW Riverina town of Gundagai in June 1852. As the floodwaters rose to record levels over the course of three days, the men piled stranded townspeople into their canoes and took them to safety. Another 89 locals died as the town was swamped by two metres of water. Yarri and Jacky Jacky - who later changed their names to James McDonnell and John Morley - were among 62 Australians honoured in the latest national bravery awards announced by Governor-General Sir Peter Cosgrove on Monday. Both Yarri and Jacky Jacky, who worked day and night to rescue people, were each awarded posthumous bravery medals for their actions. Gundagai locals last year honoured the pair with a large bronze statue in the town. Sixteen other men and women also received bravery medals, including two teenage boys who saved a mate from a great white shark while surfing at Ballina on NSW's north coast in September 2016, and a French tourist who saved a woman from drowning at Redgate Beach in Western Australia in November 2017. The Star of Courage was awarded to Sydney doctor Martha Knox-Haly who rescued a colleague from a violent road rage attack at Carramar, in the city's south west, in August 2015. Another 40 Australians received commendations for their brave conduct, while group bravery citations were announced for two groups of NSW police officers from Broken Hill and Noosa, along with another from Happy Valley in Queensland. Sir Peter paid tribute to all the bravery awards recipients, describing each of them as a source of courage, support and inspiration. "Sadly, there are those whose brave acts mean they are no longer with us," he said. "Today, to their families, I express the nation's sadness at your loss but pride in your loved one's actions." A 10-year-old Melbourne boy remains in hospital fighting for life after being hit by a van in the city's east. The boy, from Croydon, was struck while using the pedestrian crossing on Springfield Road at Blackburn with his sister, 6, and a friend, 10, on Saturday night. He was taken to the Royal Children's Hospital in a critical condition. The driver of the Toyota HiAce van, a 45-year-old man from Blackburn North, stopped at the scene and was arrested before being released pending further inquiries. The two other children were not injured. Police told the Herald Sun they were able to get out of the way of the van. Police will interview the children and another witness before determining whether the man will face charges. They are calling for any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage to contact them. A man has been charged with possessing drugs and a weapon after police searched his car in Melbourne's east. Officers came across the vehicle within a hotel car park on Dorset Road about 10.30pm on Sunday. A search of the car allegedly quantities of drugs, believed to be ice and GHB, along with drug paraphernalia. Police allegedly also found a knife in the vehicle. The 27-year-old driver from Olinda was charged and bailed to appear at Ringwood Magistrates' Court on January 29. Authorities have turned to the public to help find 10 outlaws, wanted over offences including sexual assault and murder, thought to be "hiding in plain sight" across the country. Images of the men - accused or convicted of crimes in Victoria, NSW, Queensland and South Australia - have been released in the hopes people recognise them. One, Jonathon Edward Dick, is wanted over the murder of his brother, David Dick, who was attacked with a sword and knife in the northeast Melbourne suburb of Doncaster last February. Dick may be living on the streets after changing his appearance, according to Crime Stoppers. In Queensland, Keith John Porter hasn't been seen since he failed to attend a 2006 sentencing hearing over a cocaine and cannabis syndicate. Wanted NSW man, Harley Bennett, is thought to have fled interstate in a breach of parole after being jailed over a 2003 sexual assault in Newcastle. "These criminals may appear to be leading a normal life; they may be your work colleague, neighbour or a new person that has moved to your area, hiding in plain sight," Crime Stoppers Australia chairman, Trevor O'Hara, said on Monday. Anyone with information is urged to make a confidential report via 1800 333 000 or online, and may be eligible for a cash reward. OUTLAWS ON THE RUN: * Arron Michael Blenkinsop (AKA Andrew Ross Bailey): Convicted in Queensland in 2015 for drug trafficking. Failed to comply with conditions after being granted parole. * Cody Allan Coppock (AKA Cody Gallegos, David Morris): Wanted over an aggravated break and enter at Armatree in NSW in February. Has "Gallegos" tattooed on his forearm. * Graham Gene Potter (AKA Josh Lawson, Peter Anderson): Charged with two counts of conspiracy to murder at Brunswick in Melbourne in 2008. * Harley Bennett: Sentenced over a 2003 aggravated sexual assault in Newcastle. Believed to have fled interstate after being granted parole. * Johnathan Robert Simmons (AKA John Robert Griffiths, Tristian Simmons, John Simmons): Allegedly obtained more than $50,000 from a fraudulent punters website in Adelaide. * Jonathon Edward Dick: Fled after the murder of his brother, David Dick, at Doncaster in Melbourne in February 2017. * Keith John Porter: Failed to attend 2006 Brisbane Supreme Court sentencing hearing over a cocaine and cannabis trafficking syndicate. * Paul Paterson (AKA Paul James, Jason Anthony Taylor): Convicted in 1996 for assaulting a child at Wauchope in NSW. Believed to be in the Darwin area. * Pham Nguyen: Wanted for conduct endangering life after allegedly getting into a woman's car and splashing her with petrol in Victoria last year. * Paul Brent Steadman: Former Bathurst karate instructor charged in 2015 with sexually assaulting child under the age of 16. Steadman's car was later found in bushland. He may have died. The son of murdered NSW Police accountant Curtis Cheng has called for an end to political "scapegoating" of Muslims in Australia following a speech by federal MP Fraser Anning calling for a ban on Muslim immigration. Alpha Cheng says he would be justified in reiterating the calls after a 15-year-old Muslim shot his father in cold blood outside the NSW Police Headquarters in Parramatta in 2015, but chooses not to. "I am tired of needing to explain to adults that the actions of these individuals cannot be attributed to an entire group of people. If I, of all people, can think this way, then sure as hell our "elected" representatives can think this way too," Mr Cheng wrote in an opinion piece in Fairfax Media. The Ipswich City councillors about to be sacked by the Queensland government will hold what is expected to be their final meeting on Monday. The government will on Tuesday introduce laws to sack the entire council and appoint administrators after a corruption probe saw 15 people, including two former mayors, charged with 86 offences. Those matters are now before the courts but the government has said the council cannot remain in office. Ten councillors who aren't facing any allegations are expected to give farewell speeches at Monday's meeting. Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) granted Stevan Utah (pictured) refugee status An Australian man has reportedly been granted refugee status in Canada amid fears for his life after he infiltrated the Bandidos bikie gang. Canada's Immigration and Refugee Board (IRB) granted Stevan Utah refugee status after hearing evidence about how he had acted as a police informant. Mr Utah went undercover for the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) during an operation against bikie gangs in 2006, the ABC reported on Monday. The decision by the IRB is considered highly unusual given Mr Utah comes from Australia, which while a democratic country has been found to be lacking when it came to protecting him. Mr Utah, a former soldier, fled Australia after his cover was blown and Bandidos members tried to kill him on Queensland's Sunshine Coast. The IRB ruled that Mr Utah had presented 'clear and convincing evidence' of the failure by Australian authorities to provide him with adequate protection from the Bandidos. An Australian man has reportedly been granted refugee status in Canada amid fears for his life after he infiltrated the Bandidos bikie gang (stock image) 'I do find that the claimant would more likely than not face a serious risk to his life, almost immediately on his return to Australia,' IRB member Jodie Schmalzbauer wrote in a judgment obtained by the ABC. Mr Utah said he was no longer an Australian. 'What was done to me years ago is not the cause of current serving members of policing agencies ... nor did the sitting [federal] government do this to me,' he told the ABC. 'But the institutions they currently serve most certainly did.' Mr Utah had given the ACC information about serious crimes, including the murder of Victorian man Earl Mooring, during his time as an informant. The ACC's successor, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), told the ABC it did not 'comment on operational matters'. Activists have occupied the roof of a Victorian slaughterhouse, while others have locked themselves onto holding pens in protest at the treatment of animals. Animal Liberation Activists say they peacefully entered the Gathercoles slaughterhouse at Carrum Downs about 3am on Monday, while others locked themselves onto holding pens within the grounds. "The activists are occupying the roof of the facility to speak out against the injustices of the animal harming industry, and to stand in solidarity with the animals," the group said in a statement. Tony Abbott says debate around energy policy is not about personalities or the future of Malcolm Turnbull's leadership. The former prime minister reportedly told a meeting of Tasmanian Young Liberals on the weekend that he looked forward to "a Dutton government", however he declined to speculate on Peter Dutton's leadership ambitions when quizzed by reporters in Canberra on Monday. "It's not about personalities. It's not about him, it's not about me ... It's about policy and what we've got to get is a contest. The only way we can win the next election is to have a contest over policy not personalities," Mr Abbott said. Shopkeepers salvage what they can from a shop after the Taliban burned a market area in the city of Ghazni A year since President Donald Trump unveiled his strategy for Afghanistan, a fresh wave of violence and bloodshed has assailed the war-torn nation and overshadowed some small glimmers of progress. Each successful attack represents a massive setback not just for the Afghanistan government, which is pushing for peace talks with the Taliban, but also for the Pentagon, where officials insist things are finally improving. In just the last few days, the Taliban and the Islamic State group have unleashed a series of deadly operations where civilians have borne the brunt of the bloodshed, including an IS attack inside a school that killed dozens of students. Before that, Taliban militants launched a high-profile attack on the strategic city of Ghazni, forcing US-backed security forces to struggle for days to repel them, and challenging the Pentagon narrative that the Taliban is struggling to effectively target larger cities. Such headlines are surely not what Trump envisioned when on August 21 last year he announced that -- despite his instinct to pull out -- he was doubling down on the US commitment to Afghanistan and indefinitely prolonging America's longest war. Fed up with President Barack Obama's notion that America could somehow pull out of Afghanistan without leaving a security vacuum, military brass welcomed Trump's decision to deploy thousands of additional US troops, loosen rules of engagement and cancel the promise of a timetabled withdrawal. "The consequences of a rapid exit are both predictable and unacceptable," Trump said as he revealed his strategy, which also sought to pressure Pakistan do more to tackle the Taliban. - Looking bleak - Just months later, the top US commander in Afghanistan, General John Nicholson, claimed the war had "turned the corner" and predicted the Afghan security forces would expand government control of the population from about 64 percent now to 80 percent over two years. But according to a US government watchdog, the percentage of people under government control has only risen to 65 percent, with insurgent groups holding steady. Afghan volunteers carry an injured youth on a stretcher to a hospital following a suicide attack in Kabul "We've turned so many corners in Afghanistan that we've probably made multiple circles," Bill Roggio, an Afghanistan expert and senior fellow at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told AFP. "Things look pretty bleak," he said. "Without a US presence in Afghanistan you would quickly see large areas of the country... fall under the control of the Taliban," he added, pointing to the horrendous casualty rates and other problems that have beset the Afghan security forces. A core part of Trump's Afghanistan plan was to force the Taliban to the negotiating table and to support peace talks between Kabul and the insurgents. An unprecedented country-wide ceasefire between the Taliban and government forces in June gave some relief to civilians and sparked hopes the truce could clear the way for talks to end the war. - Game changer - Alice Wells, the senior official for the State Department's Bureau of South and Central Asia Affairs, reportedly met with Taliban officials last month in Qatar. And on a visit to Kabul last month, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was now hope for peace talks between the Afghan government and the Taliban. "Many of the Taliban now see that they can't win on the ground militarily. That's very deeply connected to President Trump's strategy," Pompeo said. US-backed Afghan President Ashraf Ghani hailed Trump's strategy as a "game changer." However, the recent attacks have led many to question how such negotiations could move ahead. Observers have suggested the Taliban may be trying to strengthen their position before any potential talks. "This is what we've seen before (in) insurgencies, when there's going to be a negotiation or a cease-fire, trying to up the ante," Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said Thursday. President Donald Trump delivers remarks on Americas military involvement in Afghanistan White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said the US remains committed to finding a political solution to end the Afghanistan conflict. "We're exploring all avenues for dialogue in close coordination with the Afghan government, and we're going to continue to do that," she said. Still, amid the chaos, one sign of progress is that the Taliban have been unable to hold cities they've invaded for more than just a few days at a stretch. But signs are emerging that Trump is growing frustrated with the pace of progress in Afghanistan, where the US taxpayer has already spent more than $1 trillion and American soldiers are still dying. NBC News reported Friday the president is showing fresh interest in a proposal by Eric Prince, the former head of a controversial private military firm once known as Blackwater. His idea, loathed by the Pentagon, would essentially privatize the Afghan war by replacing most US troops there with private contractors. Currently, about 14,000 US troops are in Afghanistan, providing the main component of the NATO mission to support and train local forces. A translator prepares to help Muslim pilgrims in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on August 17, 2018, ahead of the start of the hajj pilgrimage Lost in translation? Not in Mecca, thanks to a dedicated squad of interpreters gearing up to help two million Muslims speaking dozens of languages at the annual hajj pilgrimage. The six-day hajj, which starts on Sunday, is one of the five pillars of Islam, an act all Muslims must perform at least once if they have the means to travel to Saudi Arabia. Most of the world's Muslims do not speak Arabic -- Indonesia is home to the largest Muslim community by population, while tens of millions of the faithful are native speakers of Urdu. In all, 80 percent of pilgrims to the western Saudi city of Mecca are non-Arabic speakers, according to Mazen al-Saadi of the official hajj translation bureau. Muslim pilgrims speak to a translator in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on August 17, 2018, ahead of the start of the hajj pilgrimage His team provides 24/7 interpretation services in English, French, Farsi, Malay, Hausa, Turkish, Chinese and Urdu -- the most widely spoken language among hajj pilgrims. For Samir Varatchia, who made the trip to Mecca from France's Indian Ocean island of Reunion, the men in grey vests -- the uniform of the official hajj translation team -- are a welcome sight. "I really don't know much Arabic," Varatchia told AFP. "The French translation will help us understand things, including the sermons." - Indispensable - Tunisian interpreter Abdulmumen al-Saket is happy to help, fielding frequent requests for his phone number. "We try to help as much as we can, even with reading the maps," he said. "Some ask for our personal phone numbers, to call us later if they need help," he added. Pilgrims come to Mecca from across the world, including India, Pakistan, Nepal and Bangladesh. Many speak only Urdu, Saadi said. Muslim pilgrims walk past an information poster for a translation bureau in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on August 18, 2018, ahead of the start of the hajj pilgrimage Many of the signs directing pilgrims are translated into English, Urdu and in some cases, French. Mecca's Grand Mosque provides a range of translation and interpreting services to pilgrims. Specialist departments deal with sermons and rulings, and a hotline is available in dozens of languages to answer religious questions. But for practical matters, Saadi's 80-strong team is indispensible. The department has been in place for four years, he said, and is being continuously expanded to deal with rising demand. "Most (pilgrims) don't speak Arabic and are afraid to ask in the event of an accident," Sanaullah Ghuri, an Indian translator, told AFP in Arabic. A deadly stampede in 2015 left more than 2,000 pilgrims dead in Mina, the Mecca neighbourhood where the symbolic stoning of the devil ritual takes place during hajj. Many pilgrims were unable to understand security forces' instructions, delivered in Arabic. - 'They feel more comfortable' - The hajj presents Saudi authorities with vast logistical challenges. A Muslim pilgrim speaks to a translator in the Saudi holy city of Mecca ahead of the start of the hajj pilgrimage Islam is currently the world's fastest-growing religion, according to the Pew Research Center, which says the number of Muslims in the world is expected to rise from 1.8 billion in 2015 to three billion in 2060. The hajj sees millions of pilgrims visit the country, all clad in white, to perform rituals in Mecca's Grand Mosque and on the Mount Arafat plain east of Mecca. It ends with Eid al-Adha, a three-day feast which starts with the "stoning of the devil". Saudi Arabia, one of the world's most restrictive countries, has recently embarked on an ambitious reform programme spearheaded by the powerful young Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. That has included pumping millions of dollars into high-tech initiatives. Providing services for two million pilgrims is no small feat, and authorities are pushing a "smart hajj" initiative this year to meet the rising demand. An interpreter helps pilgrims find information on a poster displaying smartphone applications in the Saudi holy city of Mecca on August 18, 2018, ahead of the hajj pilgrimage That includes apps providing information on emergency medical services and geographic guides to Mecca and Mina, the two cities home to Islam's holiest sites. One app will also translate hajj sermons into five languages. But the Indian translator, Ghuri, said the presence of real-life interpreters made the experience of hajj easier for pilgrims. "When they see someone speaking their language, they feel more comfortable seeking help," he said. By 2020, China is aiming for half of the industrial robots sold in the country to be made by Chinese companies, up from 27 percent currently -- with a target of 70 percent by 2025 Robots that can diagnose diseases, play badminton and wow audiences with their musical skills are among the machines China hopes could revolutionise its economy, with visitors to a Beijing exhibition offered a glimpse of an automated future. The popular stars of this year's World Robot Conference, which ends Sunday, were undoubtedly the small, amateur-made "battle bots" which smashed, hammered and sawed their way through their opponents to a cacophony of cheers and shouts from a rapt audience. "With this robot, I can fully express myself. I love the sparks," said Huang Hongsong, one of around a dozen Chinese youths whose creations went head-to-head. But while the battle bots are designed largely to entertain onlookers, China is deadly serious about riding the robotic wave with an eye on its economy. Cheap manufacturing propelled the populous giant to become the world's second largest economy in just a few decades. President Xi Jinping has called for a 'robot revolution' as China faces an ageing population and higher labour costs But the country's population is ageing, leaving it facing a double whammy of a worker shortage and increased labour costs as it gets wealthier. Automated machines offer a possible way out with President Xi Jinping in 2014 calling for a "robot revolution". Under the ruling Communist Party's road map for its industrial future -- dubbed "Made in China 2025" -- state subsidies are pouring into the sector. And at the robot show, a vast array of machines demonstrated how technology may eventually replace human workers. In one corner, a mechanical arm -- designed to teach children -- painted an elegant Chinese character while a robotic fish explored its tank and a bat flapped its mechanical wings overhead. - Delicate balance - By 2020, China is aiming for half of the industrial robots sold in the country to be made by Chinese companies, up from 27 percent currently -- with a target of 70 percent by 2025. "Robots are the jewel in the crown for the manufacturing industry... a new frontier for our industrial revolution," said Xin Guobin, China's vice minister of industry, as he opened the conference. Under the ruling Communist Party's road map for its industrial future, state subsidies are pouring into the robotics sector But it is a delicate balancing act for Chinese policy-makers due to the potential for human job losses -- a 2016 World Bank report said automation could threaten up to 77 percent of jobs in China's current labour market. Nonetheless a great robotic leap forward has already been made. China is now the world's number one market for industrial robots with some 141,000 units sold last year, accounting for a third of global demand, according to the International Federation of Robotics, which says demand could rise an additional 20 percent per year until 2020. "China has huge opportunities to increase the level of its industrial automation (and) industrial robotisation," said Karel Eloot, an expert at consultancy firm McKinsey. He notes that China still has huge room for growth given that competitors like Japan and Germany have four times the level of robotisation in their factories compared to the Asian giant. Qu Daokui, president of local firm Siasun, which was showing off a snake-like robot that can operate in narrow passages, said China needs to increase the quality and sophistication of its robots, particularly in the field of AI. "We used to focus on the accuracy, reliability and speed of robots -- now it's their flexibility, intelligence and adaptability that makes the difference," he said, adding robots needed to interact and adapt to their environments and "make independent decisions". - Doctor Bot - Outside China's factories, robots are becoming a more visible presence, deployed in restaurants and banks and even delivering parcels. China's iFlytek, a specialist in speech recognition systems, presented a new "medical assistant" robot at the Beijing show which it said was able to help identify up to 150 diseases and ailments -- even passing a national medical qualification exam with a high score. Outside China's factories, robots are becoming a more visible presence, deployed in restaurants and banks and even delivering parcels The robot, which operated in conjunction with a doctor, asks patients a series of diagnostic questions and can also analyse X-rays. "It's already being used in hospitals since March and has made some 4,000 diagnoses," company president Liu Qingfeng said, adding such a device could be particularly useful for clinics in more remote parts of China. Chindex, a subsidiary of the conglomerate Fosun, also distributes the "Da Vinci System" in China, an American built robot with arms and high-tech cameras to aid surgeons in the operating theatre. "It transcends the limits of the (human) eye," chief operating officer Liu Yu enthused. But like the diagnostic robot, it still needs a helping human hand. "It only helps the doctor, it cannot replace them. It would not be ethical, the human body is still too complicated," he said. Roselina Seaga, who attended a public meeting on reforming land ownership in South Africa, says "Since I was born I never had a piece of land that I can call home" "We live like sardines while white farmers live on hectares of land. Bring back our land!" declared Nthabiseng Tshivhenga, a black civil servant. Her intervention prompted enthusiastic applause at a public hearing organised by parliament on the hugely sensitive issue of reforming land ownership in South Africa. "Our forefathers were robbed of their dignity through brutal colonialists" who seized land, she said. "The majority of the people in this country are black. Yet they are the poorest. Let's expropriate without compensation!" said the mother with her fist raised. As elections due in 2019 approach, President Cyril Ramaphosa has intervened to accelerate land reform in order to "undo a grave historical injustice" against the black majority during colonialism and the apartheid era that ended in 1994. Twenty-four years on and the white community that makes up eight percent of the population "possess 72 percent of farms" compared to "only four percent" in the hands of black people who make up four-fifths of the population, according to Ramaphosa. Maselo Motana and fellow activists and artists take a stand against former regional leaders who were beheaded by Boer and British colonialists for their land To remedy the imbalance, the president recently announced that the constitution would be altered to allow for land to be seized and redistributed without compensation to the current owners. Many black voters welcomed the announcement that provoked unprecedented concern among the white minority that has been aired at a series of public hearings across the nation this June, July and August to debate the combustible issue. In a public hall in Vereeniging, a town an hour south of the commercial capital Johannesburg, more than 1,000 people turned out to make their voices heard. In the front row sat a group of women wearing traditional Sotho dress. - 'We never stole land' - "Why should we compensate people who didn't acquire the lands rightfully?", asked Tsabeng Ramalope, a 30-year-old black nurse. "Are we waiting for a civil war for this matter to be resolved?" she asked, speaking into a microphone, referring to several illegal land occupations seen in mostly urban areas in recent months. A lawmaker who mediated the debate, Vincent Smith, will on September 28 submit to parliament a report either recommending or rejecting the proposed constitutional change, considering feedback from the local consultations. "What the Zimbabwean experience is telling us is that expropriation without compensation is a catastrophically bad idea," warned white 37-year-old Carley Denny. Carley spoke on behalf of her father who owns a farm of 100 hectares (245 acres) that has been in her family for five generations. Public land hearings were held in July on South African land reforms "The Zimbabweans might have seized land without compensation, but they are still paying for it through years of economic decline," she added, referring to the disastrous legacy of land reform launched by former leader Robert Mugabe in 2000. The smattering of white audience members applauded her point. "We all paid for our properties. We never stole our land," said another of their number, animal breeder John Knott. Land reform was a potent issue before the dawn of non-racial democracy and the election of the ruling African National Congress (ANC). - 'Time bomb' - The party had long promised to redistribute land more equitably but has never delivered on its election promises. "The land reform has been a huge failure because of corruption and lack of political will," said Edward von Bodenstein passionately as he challenged the president's proposals. In a recent report former head of state Kgalema Motlanthe -- an ANC member -- highlighted the grindingly slow process of past efforts to reallocate land more fairly. "You are sitting on a time bomb," said Khethisa Khabo, a local organiser for the radical leftist Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party. "We are not advocating for a white genocide. But the land belongs to us. We will do everything we can to get it back," he said, encouraged by the majority of those at the Vereeniging hearing. A timeline of the apartheid years in South Africa His party, which has wooed voters disillusioned by the ANC, has kept pressure up on the liberation party of Nelson Mandela. And at the end of July, Ramaphosa took to the airwaves to announce the constitution would be changed to fast-track land reform in favour of the black majority -- even before the nationwide land hearings had concluded. Constance Mogale of the Alliance for Rural Democracy -- a network of associations supportive of land expropriation without compensation -- has described the proposed change to the highest law in the land as a mere "election ploy". The constitution already allows for land to be expropriated without compensation, she said, echoing the view of several experts in the field. "Amending the constitution is going to take forever, it is not going to bring the land to the people," she said. Roselyn Seaga, 67, was in tears as she spoke to the assembled local residents. "Since I was born, I never had a piece of land that I can call home," she said. Ghana's President Nana Akufo-Addo was voted into power in 2016 on a pledge to revamp Ghana's economy Ghana is backpedalling out of a banking crisis as the government takes on debt to save a troubled sector and vows to punish the executives responsible. Early in August, Ghana's central bank revoked the licenses of five local banks and combined them into one -- the newly created state-run Consolidated Bank -- issuing 5.8 billion cedis ($1.2 billion) in bonds to clear their debt. The Bank of Ghana (BoG) accused the collapsed banks of a range of issues, including poor corporate governance, questionable transactions and dishonest reporting. The merger was just one step out of many that President Nana Akufo-Addo's government has been forced to take in order to reform Ghana's rotten banking sector, brought close to collapse as a result of bad governance and weak lending. This past week, Ghana's deputy central bank governor Elsie Addo Awadzi said in an interview that law enforcement agencies will "further investigate criminal behaviour" connected to the failed banks. Ghana faces a "now or never" decision to clean up the banking sector, economist Eric Osei-Assibey told AFP. "This central bank is carving a niche for itself. It is beginning to bite and that alone could engender some confidence in the medium and long term," Osei-Assibey said. - 'Good progress' - The banking intervention will add to Ghana's already high debt burden, said Razia Khan, Africa economist at Standard Chartered, in a note to investors earlier this month. Ghana is currently in its final year of an IMF bailout totalling almost $1 billion, with its debt as a percentage of gross domestic product hovering over 60 percent. Along with the Consolidated Bank loan, the central bank will give support to other banks in order to help them meet a minimum capital requirement of 400 million cedis by the end of 2018. Despite the turmoil, "Ghana has made good progress on fiscal consolidation in recent months", said Khan. "The action taken to strengthen the banking system is likely to be viewed as a necessary measure by the fund and we do not expect this to disrupt disbursements under the current IMF programme," she said. If Consolidated Bank is run properly, it may even play a positive role in the economy, said Souhir Mzali, Africa editor at Oxford Business Group, a London-based research firm. "It might transform from a debt burden to an asset by the time the government is expected to offload shares in 2020," Mzali said. - 'Lost confidence' - Of course, there will be consequences. "It's going to affect banking habits," said Kwesi Jonah, senior research fellow at the Institute of Democratic Governance in Ghana's capital of Accra. "Some people will lose confidence in the banking system altogether, other people will be more inclined to move towards the foreign banks," Jonah said, blaming the previous administration for letting the sector rot. "There was lack of political will to deal with the problem," he added. President Akufo-Addo was voted into power in 2016 on a pledge to revamp Ghana's economy after it had to turn to the IMF for a bailout the year before. Ghana became Africa's fastest-growing economy in 2017 thanks to a surge in oil and gas production, recording a blistering 6.8 percent growth in the first quarter of this year. But there is no getting away from the fact that West African gold and cocoa producer still has work to do in order to restore integrity to the tarnished financial sector. As Ghana's Finance Minister Ken Ofori-Atta put it this past week, the days of being "soft" on laws are over. "Hopefully (with) what we are going to do in the banking sector, everybody will begin to realise that those periods are gone." Israeli art photographer Ron Amir visited African migrants in the desert, but his pictures have no people in them, he says, to stimulate questions about what the viewer sees. Photographer Ron Amir spent years visiting African migrants in the Israeli desert to understand the new world they had created. He came back with a provocative set of pictures -- without people in them. The human-less photographs include objects such as a makeshift bench and gym or a mud oven, composed in a way that hints at the migrants' desperation and their attempts to manufacture new lives. The exhibition, previously on display in Israel, is set to move to the Museum of Modern Art of the City of Paris, where it will open on September 14 and run until December 2. Amir said recently at the Israel Museum, where the exhibition appeared in 2016, that keeping people out of the pictures was a way to stimulate questions about what the viewer sees. It was a means to "open another channel of observation that enables developing broader connotations on these sites," the Israeli photographer said. In one, a plank of thin metal sits atop three stones, wild shrubs behind it leading to a cloudless sky and a red ball attached to power lines. The understated photograph, its yellowish desert shades punctuated by red flecks of garbage, is named "Hamed Alnnil's Bench." Alnnil, one of the thousands of African migrants who were held at the Holot detention centre near Israel's border with Egypt, had ventured out of the open facility's boundaries to create his much-needed personal space. Amir had visited Holot over the years 2014-2016 and befriended some of the facility's residents, who showed him the spaces they had created -- most of them hidden away in the desert land surrounding Holot. Those held at the now-shuttered facility were allowed to leave during the day. - 'Time to kill' - Art photographer Ron Amir (L) and curator Noam Gal flank a picture from "Somewhere in the Desert" at the Israel Museum storage room in Jerusalem. The show moves to Paris in September Amir created a series of photographs of the special spaces, with some of them serving clear functions, such as the gym, an oven for baking bread or a row of stones delineating the outline of a small mosque. Others, such as a line of empty water bottles half-buried in the hard desert ground, give no hint as to their purpose. The 30 photographs show "what happens when people have a lot of time to kill," Amir said. The oven ultimately "tells more about us, about Israel, about the system, about the limitations it imposes -- and less about the people who came from Africa," he said. His decision to keep the migrants unseen in some ways matched what they were facing. At the time of Amir's work, the Israeli government was seeking a way to make the approximately 42,000 African migrants in the country vanish, with religious and conservative politicians portraying the presence of Muslim and Christian Africans as a threat to Israel's Jewish character. Many of the migrants, predominantly from Eritrea and Sudan, arrived in Israel illegally through Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. They settled in a number of poor neighbourhoods in the coastal city of Tel Aviv, the country's economic capital. Others were eventually sent to Holot. In April, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu cancelled an agreement with the UN refugee agency aimed at avoiding forced deportations of thousands of the migrants. Under the deal, some 16,000 migrants were to be transferred to Western countries, with Israel giving residency to an equal number of them. Netanyahu faced heavy pressure to cancel the deal from his right-wing base, who want to see all the migrants expelled. Their fate now remains in limbo. - 'Expand the limits' - Accompanying Amir's photographs are six videos from outside Holot which do contain people -- migrants chatting, posing for a picture, making coffee or listening to music and waiting. "In Ron's videos, nothing happens," said Noam Gal, the curator for Amir's exhibition in Jerusalem and Paris. Noam Gal, curator of photography at the Israel Museum, says Ron Amir's exhibition is also "an opportunity to draw public attention to the phenomenon (of asylum seekers) from the artistic perspective" "That's just the point -- you can see what's happening at Holot only if you take upon yourself to sit and kill time from your day, and understand that what happens to the people there is the same time as yours," he said. The exhibition arrives in Paris as France and other European states also seek ways to deal with an influx of migrants. To Gal, the Israel Museum's curator of photography, the exhibition is also "an opportunity to draw public attention to the phenomenon (of asylum seekers) from the artistic perspective," he said. Doing so could even "expand the limits of the discourse so that it's not just between decision-makers of the high political and diplomatic echelons, but maybe there's room here for other voices," Gal said. Palestinian Hamas security forces stand at the Palestinian side of the Erez pedestrian crossing with Israel after it was closed on March 13, 2014 Israel closed its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip on Sunday except for humanitarian cases over border incidents that saw protests and clashes at the weekend, an Israeli official said. A spokeswoman for the Israeli defence ministry unit that oversees the passage confirmed that the Erez crossing had been closed. Border protests and clashes on Friday left two Palestinians dead by Israeli gunfire. Israel's army said firebombs and IEDs were also hurled at the border fence, while a number of Palestinians briefly crossed into Israeli territory. The closure and border incidents occurred despite attempts by Egypt and UN officials to reach a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the blockaded Gaza Strip. The spokeswoman for the defence ministry unit, known as COGAT, did not say how long the crossing would be closed. The Palestinian Authority civilian affairs office in Gaza also confirmed the closure except for medical cases and Palestinians seeking to cross back into the enclave. Israel has enforced an air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip for more than a decade, but grants permission to a limited number of people to cross for various reasons. Israel had just last week reopened its only goods crossing with Gaza after closing it to most deliveries for more than a month over border tensions. Protests and clashes began on the Gaza border on March 30 and have continued at varying levels since then. At least 171 Gazans have been killed by Israeli fire during that time. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July. There have also been several severe military flare-ups, including three since July. UN officials and Egypt have been seeking to secure a long-term truce between Hamas and Israel to allow for humanitarian issues in the impoverished enclave of two million people to be addressed. Israel is demanding calm and a return of the remains of two soldiers Hamas is believed to be holding. Israel and Hamas have fought three wars since 2008. Kim Bong-eoh arrives at a hotel before the reunion Dozens of elderly and frail South Koreans gathered excitedly Sunday on the eve of their first meeting for nearly seven decades with family members in North Korea. The three-day reunion -- the first for three years -- begins Monday at the Mount Kumgang resort in North Korea, following a rapid diplomatic thaw on the peninsula. Millions of people were swept apart by the 1950-53 Korean War, which divided brothers and sisters, parents and children and husband and wives and perpetuated the division of the peninsula. Among them was Lee Keum-seom, now a tiny and frail 92. She was waiting to see her son for the first time since she left him behind in the turmoil of war. She lost her husband and four-year-old son as their family fled, and boarded a ferry headed for the South with only her infant daughter -- who was accompanying her to the reunion. The son is now 71 and Lee has been told that he will bring his daughter-in-law to the meeting. "I don't know what I'm feeling, whether it's good or bad," Lee told AFP. "I don't know if this is real or a dream." She raised seven children after remarrying in South Korea but always worried about the son she left in the North. Now there are many questions to ask. "Where he lived, who he lived with and who raised him -- because he was only four," she said. Because the conflict ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, the two Koreas have remained technically at war. All civilian exchanges -- even mundane family news -- are banned. - Time running out - Since 2000 the two nations have held 20 rounds of reunions but time is running out for many ageing family members. More than 130,000 Southerners have signed up for a reunion since the events began but most of them have since died. Most of those still waiting are over 80 and the oldest participant this year is 101. With a few people dropping out at the last minute for health reasons, 89 elderly South Koreans -- accompanied by relatives -- gathered in Sokcho city on South Korea's northeast coast to spend the night before heading to the heavily-fortified border that has taken them decades to cross. On the eve of the reunion, the hallways of the resort where the families are staying were silent, interrupted only by the knocking of doctors conducting last minute health check-ups of the frail attendees. Many, tired from the day's journey to Sokcho and the anticipation over their reunion with their loved ones for the first time in decades, have taken to bed early. Lee Keum-seom is one of the few parents reuniting with a child. Some of those selected for this year's reunions gave up after learning that their parents or siblings had died and that they could only meet more distant relatives whom they had never seen before. But Lee Kwan-joo, 93, said he would meet his nephew and niece to get a sense of the life that his parents and six siblings had led in the North before they died. Lee in 1945 went to school in Seoul, away from his family in Pyongyang, and the war made the separation permanent. "I was delighted to hear about my nephew and niece, even though I don't even know their faces," Lee said. "I just want to ask them how my brothers, sisters and parents passed away." - 'Horrible thoughts' - All his life, Jung Han-cheol worried that his older brother was shot dead trying to escape from the North Korean army after he was dragged to the battle field in 1951. The 84-year-old recalled helping his brother, Han Sik, hide in a closet from the North's forces -- a badly failed attempt that divided the brothers for life. "I had a lot of horrible thoughts," Jung told AFP. "But now I know that he led a life in North Korea, that he had children." Thinking that his brother might come home, Jung has lived in the same house for decades and left Han Sik on their family registry. He laments that his turn to attend the reunions came a little too late but added he had a chance to connect with Han Sik through his children, whom he has never met. "I won't recognise them," he said. "Because I can't recognise them, I won't accept them without pictures." Korean Red Cross workers register participants arriving at a hotel before the reunion Over the next three days, the participants will spend only about 11 hours -- mostly under the watchful eyes of North Korean agents -- with their relatives in the North. And on Wednesday the families will be separated once again -- in all likelihood for a final time. Families at previous reunions have often found it a bitter-sweet experience. Some complained about the short time they were allowed to spend together. Others lamented the ideological gap between them after decades spent apart. Entire villages in Kerala have been swept away in the state's worst floods in a century Rescuers waded into submerged villages in southern India on Sunday in a desperate search for survivors cut off for days by floods that have already killed more than 350 people. Entire villages in Kerala have been swept away in the state's worst floods in a century, and emergency responders fear the death toll will rise as they reach areas almost entirely underwater. In Thrissur, one of the worst-hit districts, rescuers sifting through inundated houses have discovered the bodies of those unable to escape as the floodwaters quickly rose. "They didn't think that it would rise this high -- 10 to 15 feet at some places -- when the initial warnings were issued," said Ashraf Ali K.M, who is leading the search in the small town of Mala. "Some of them later gave distress calls when the water rose high and fast," he told AFP at the scene, where dead cattle and other livestock floated past. Thousands of army, navy and air force troops have fanned out across Kerala to assist as distress calls sound out across the idyllic tourist hotspot. Thousands of army, navy and air force troops have fanned out across Kerala to assist The death toll stands at 357, local officials said, with 33 killed in just the last 24 hours. Among the dead was a mother and son in Mala, whose home collapsed around them late Saturday. Another was a local man who volunteered for the search and rescue mission. His body was retrieved by comrades early Sunday, said Dibin K.S, a Kerala firefighter, in a grim reminder of the perils facing rescuers. Officials say many houses are irreparably damaged across the state, and have warned residents against trying to return to them. - Panicked appeals - Roads and 134 bridges have been damaged, isolating remote areas in the hilly districts of the state which are worst affected. With power and communication lines down, thousands remained trapped in towns and villages cut off by the floods amid growing shortages of food and water. thousands remain trapped in towns and villages cut off by the floods amid growing shortages of food and water A train from Pune, in Maharashtra state, embarked south on Saturday for Kerala laden with one million litres (two million pints) of drinking water. Panic-stricken flood victims have been making appeals on social media for help, saying they cannot get through to rescue services. In Mala, villagers in desperate wait had to improvise as the floodwaters rose. Jobin K John, a local rescuer, showed pictures of locals rowing through the murky brown waters using kitchen pots as rafts to reach their stricken neighbours. "They used these huge cooking pots to rescue around 100 people in the first wave of flash floods, as no one was prepared (for a rescue)," he told AFP. The floods have caused an estimated $3 billion in damage Mobile phone operators have been offering free data and SMS messages across Kerala since Saturday to assist with distress calls. Dam levels remain dangerously high, swollen by monsoon deluges. More than 321 centimetres (126 inches) of rain has fallen on the hilly central district of Idukki, which is now virtually cut off from the rest of the state. Landslides triggered by the torrential downpours have wiped out entire villages. Some 350,000 people have been left homeless and taken shelter in relief camps. The floods have caused an estimated $3 billion in damage but the bill is likely to rise as the scale of devastation becomes clearer. The state chief minister has requested more funding as well as 20 more helicopters and 600 motorised boats "Actual losses can be estimated only after the water recedes," Kerala's state information officer said in a statement Sunday. The state chief minister has requested extra funding as well as 20 more helicopters and 600 motorised boats in order to step up the rescue efforts. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi conducted a brief air inspection tour of the state Saturday and announced an immediate grant of $75 million. Muslims walk in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on August 18, 2018, ahead of the start of the annual hajj pilgrimage More than two million Muslims from around the globe on Sunday started the hajj pilgrimage at Islam's holiest sites in Saudi Arabia, one of the world's largest annual gatherings. The ultra-conservative kingdom, which is undergoing dramatic social and economic reforms, has mobilised vast resources for the six-day journey, one of the five pillars of Islam. "It's the dream of every Muslim to come here to Mecca," Frenchman Soliman Ben Mohri said. "It's the ultimate journey. What worries me is the return to my normal life. For the moment, I am in a dream," the 53-year old told AFP. Every Muslim is required to complete the hajj at least once in their lifetime if they have the means to do so. Tens of thousands of security personnel have been deployed for the pilgrimage, which was struck by its worst ever disaster three years ago when around 2,300 worshippers were crushed to death in a stampede. Muslim pilgrims walk in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on August 18, 2018, ahead of the start of the annual hajj This year, the Saudis have launched a "smart hajj" initiative, with apps to help pilgrims with everything from travel plans to medical care. The interior ministry said on Saturday that the number of pilgrims arriving in Mecca had already surpassed the two million mark, mostly from abroad including large contingents from Egypt, India, Pakistan and Bangladesh. Most of the pilgrims began moving on Sunday from Mecca to the nearby Mina valley where they will spend the night in fire-resistant tents. Thousands of buses and vehicles carrying the pilgrims lined the eight kilometre (five-mile) road from Mecca to Mina. Many pilgrims made the journey walking under the scorching heat of the sun. On Monday, pilgrims will climb nearby Mount Arafat for the climax of the hajj, praying and reading the Koran. The prophet Mohammed delivered his final sermon from Mount Arafat to Muslims who had accompanied him on his final hajj, according to Islam. Muslims pray at the Grand Mosque in Mecca on August 15, 2018, ahead of the annual hajj pilgrimage After sunset, pilgrims head to Muzdalifah, half-way between Arafat and Mina, where they stay at least until midnight. They gather pebbles to perform the symbolic stoning of the devil on the eve of the Eid al-Adha feast, which marks the end of hajj. This year's pilgrimage comes with the oil-flush kingdom witnessing unprecedented change, including an end to a ban on women driving. While rights campaigners have welcomed the reforms, they have also expressed alarm about a crackdown on dissent. Although the kingdom's young de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, has spearheaded the changes, religion remains a key force in Saudi Arabia. Palestinian Hamas security forces stand at the Palestinian side of the Erez pedestrian crossing with Israel after it was closed on March 13, 2014 Israel closed its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip on Sunday except for humanitarian cases after weekend border clashes, the latest tightening of its blockade on the Palestinian enclave despite truce efforts. The move could prevent Gazans from travelling via the crossing for this week's Muslim holiday of Eid al-Adha, which runs from Monday night until Thursday night, but Israeli officials did not say how long the closure would last. Israeli Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said the closure of the Erez crossing was due to "violent incidents on the border last Friday". The Palestinian Authority civilian affairs office in the Gaza Strip also confirmed the closure except for medical cases and Palestinians seeking to cross back into the enclave. Border protests and clashes on Friday saw two Palestinians killed by Israeli gunfire. Israel's army said firebombs and improvised explosive devices were also hurled at the border fence, while a number of Palestinians briefly crossed into Israeli territory. No Israelis were reported wounded. The closure and border incidents occurred despite attempts by Egypt and UN officials to reach a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Islamist movement that runs the blockaded Gaza Strip. The two sides have fought three wars since 2008. Israel has enforced an air, land and sea blockade on the Gaza Strip for more than a decade, but grants permission to a limited number of people to cross for various reasons. An average of around 1,000 Gazans cross through Erez each day, mostly those in need of medical care but also businesspeople, students and others, Israeli authorities say. Israel had just last week reopened its only goods crossing with Gaza after closing it to most deliveries for more than a month over border tensions. Gaza's only other border is with Egypt but the Rafah crossing with the enclave had largely been kept closed in recent years. Cairo opened it in mid-May and it has mostly remained so since. Separately on Sunday, US President Donald Trump's national security adviser John Bolton arrived in Israel for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a time of shared concerns over Syria, Iran and the Gaza Strip. - 'A big step forward' - Protests and clashes began on the Gaza border on March 30 and have continued at varying levels since then. At least 171 Gazans have been killed by Israeli fire during that time. One Israeli soldier was shot dead by a Palestinian sniper in July. A picture taken on August 17, 2018 shows tear gas canisters fired by Israeli forces raining down on Palestinian protesters during a demonstration along the border of the Gaza Strip There have also been several severe military flare-ups, including three since July. The latest was on August 9, when Israel responded to some 180 rockets and mortars fired from Gaza with widespread air strikes. UN officials and Egypt have been seeking to secure a long-term truce between Hamas and Israel to allow for humanitarian issues in the impoverished enclave of two million people to be addressed. Israel is demanding calm and a return of the remains of two soldiers Hamas is believed to be holding. Two Israeli civilians, both said to be mentally unstable, are also believed to have entered Gaza and to be held by Hamas. Israel is also seeking their return. Senior Hamas official Khalil al-Hayya told AFP on Friday that he believed a durable truce with Israel was near. He said that UN and Egyptian talks taking place in Egypt with various Palestinian factions have "taken a big step forward towards understandings with the occupation... and the possibility of restoring calm". An Israeli official said on condition of anonymity Wednesday that an initial set of "understandings" had been reached with the help of the UN and Egypt, leading to several days of calm on the border last week and the opening of the goods crossing. Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas has however expressed concern over any agreement that bypasses the Palestinian Authority. Hamas and Abbas's Fatah, based in the occupied West Bank, have been deeply divided for more than a decade. Question: Regarding my posts about the terrible perversion of Torah and halacha that Rav Shmuel Kaminetsky has engineered with his prod... Rosh(6:7): When a community agrees on some matter an individual has no right to protest. Concerning this the Torah states that one m... I received the following letter - as a response to my recent posting of the Chazon Ish's letter - with permission to publish it. ... Igros Moshe (Y.D. 3:88): Is it permitted to argue with the words of our Sages in public even in their communitie... We just had a sweater checked for shatnez in Jerusalem -it was claimed that every fiber was shatnez We donated it to a Shatnez checker in... Important!! email - yadmoshe@gmail.com Muslim pilgrims gather for prayers at the Grand Mosque in Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca on August 18, 2018 ahead of the start of the annual hajj pilgrimage Qatar on Sunday said its citizens were unable to take part in the annual hajj pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia as the two countries remain bitterly locked in a diplomatic dispute. "There is no chance this year for Qatari citizens and residents to travel for hajj," a government official told AFP. "Registration of pilgrims from the State of Qatar remains closed and residents of Qatar cannot be granted visas as there are no diplomatic missions," added the official. Qatar and Saudi Arabia have been locked in a political feud for more than a year, with Riyadh banning all flights to and from Doha and severing diplomatic and trade ties with its neighbour. Saudi authorities have said Qatari pilgrims were welcome at the hajj and last week denied it was blocking them from travelling to the kingdom's holy sites. The Qatari official said the border closure and the lack of diplomatic missions and direct flights between the two countries effectively meant that no Qataris could undertake the pilgrimage. The row over hajj is the latest frontline in a highly fractious 14-month long diplomatic dispute between the two states. Qatar has been isolated since June 2017, accused by Saudi Arabia and its allies of supporting terrorism and being too close to Riyadh's archrival, Iran -- charges Doha denies. Sanctions imposed by Riyadh as part of the dispute stop Qataris from travelling to Saudi Arabia. However, an exception was made for hajj, according to official Saudi statements. Under a quota system established by Saudi Arabia, some 1,200 Qatari citizens should be able to attend the hajj -- which attracts two million Muslims from around the world each year. But many Qataris have complained that registration on a Saudi Arabian ministry website specifically for the pilgrimage has proved impossible. US National Security Advisor John Bolton (C) leaves a press conference in Moscow, on June 27, 2018 US President Donald Trump's national security adviser arrived in Israel on Sunday for talks with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a time of shared concerns over Syria, Iran and the Gaza Strip. Ahead of a joint dinner at Netanyahu's Jerusalem residence, John Bolton said that "the Iran nuclear weapons programme, the ballistic missile programmes are right at the top of the list" of global challenges. "I'm delighted to be here, and look forward to our discussions," he told Netanyahu in a video released by the Israeli premier's office. Netanyahu told Bolton the most important issue he was looking forward to discussing was "how to continue to roll back Iran's aggression in the region and to make sure that they never have a nuclear weapon." In an interview with ABC News in the United States broadcast earlier, Bolton said he planned to discuss Iran's presence in Syria with Netanyahu. "Certainly the objective of the United States, of Israel -- President Putin said it was Russia's objective -- is to get Iran, Iranian forces, Iranian militias, Iranian surrogates out of the offensive operations they're in both Syria and Iraq and frankly, to end Iran's support for (Lebanon's) Hezbollah," Bolton said. He argued that Trump's withdrawal from the Iran nuclear deal and his reimposing of sanctions had "put a real crimp into the Iranian economy" and affected Tehran's ability to "conduct offensive operations" in the region. Bolton's trip will also take him to Ukraine and Geneva, where he will meet with his Russian counterpart Nikolai Patrushev on Thursday. The meeting in Geneva is a follow-up to Trump's highly controversial July summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki, according to the White House. Iran is backing Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in his country's civil war along with Russia and Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah. Netanyahu has pledged to prevent Iran, his country's main enemy, from entrenching itself militarily in neighbouring Syria, and a series of recent strikes that have killed Iranians there have been attributed to Israel. Israel has also lauded Trump's withdrawal from the nuclear deal between Iran and world powers. Netanyahu has held a series of recent talks with Putin on Iran's presence in Syria, pressing Moscow to guarantee that Iranian forces and their allies, such as Hezbollah, will be kept far away from the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights. Bolton's visit comes as speculation increases over efforts by Egypt and UN officials to secure a long-term truce between Israel and Hamas, the Palestinian Islamist movement that runs the Gaza Strip. Months of tension along the Gaza border have led to fears of a fourth war between Israel and Hamas since 2008. On Sunday, Israel closed its only crossing for people with the Gaza Strip following border clashes at the weekend, the latest tightening of its blockade of the Palestinian enclave. Despite the closure, the past week has been notably calmer along the Gaza border. No caption Aid trickled into Ghazni Sunday, residents and relief workers said, days after security forces pushed Taliban militants from the eastern Afghan city following nearly a week of heavy fighting. Residents suffered food and water shortages along with rising prices for basic provisions after insurgents overran the city, torching buildings and destroying infrastructure in a battle that killed hundreds of people. "We need this aid to survive," said Gul Badshah, one of many in Ghazni who made their way to distribution centres Sunday, who said his home had been destroyed by two rockets during the onslaught. Siraj Ahmad, another resident, said he was collecting aid for a neighbour whose husband -- a police officer -- and young son were killed by the Taliban during the fighting. "They had no one else left in their family so I decided to come here for them and get any donations to take for them," he said. Rice, oil, beans and tea were handed out after the first humanitarian convoy arrived in the Ghazni on Saturday, said Afghan Red Crescent regional head Mohammad Esmail. He added that the Red Crescent hoped to reach 800 families Sunday, followed by another 1,200 on Monday. "The people who receive this aid are those who have either lost their loved ones or houses during the fighting in Ghazni," Esmail said. The UN estimates that at least 200 civilians died in Ghazni before Afghan forces backed by US airstrikes finally pushed Taliban fighters from the provincial capital on Wednesday. But analysts said the Taliban scored a military and psychological victory against the government, proving they have the strength to strike a strategically vital city near Kabul at will and remain entrenched there for days. The delivery of aid to Ghazni comes after Afghan President Ashraf Ghani briefly visited the the the city to review the security situation on Friday. During the stopover, Ghani demanded Pakistan's newly elected Prime Minister Imran Khan investigate reports that fighters from his country had joined the battle, which Kabul said had left at least 100 Afghan soldiers dead. The fight for Ghazni was part of an extraordinarily violent week in Afghanistan that saw Taliban militants press the fight against security forces across the country and Islamic State insurgents attack Kabul, including a suicide blast at a school that killed at least 37. The surge in violence comes weeks after Afghans marked an unprecedented nationwide ceasefire between the Taliban and government forces in June, giving some relief to war-weary civilians. Anticipation had been mounting that a second ceasefire would be announced for the upcoming Eid al-Adha holiday this week. But President Ghani has since indicated there will be no truce offered to the Taliban. Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa is accused of hijacking an EgyptAir plane and forcing it to divert to Cyprus An Egyptian man accused of hijacking a plane and diverting it to Cyprus has been sent back from the Mediterranean island to his homeland after a two-year extradition battle, officials said Sunday. Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa, 61, allegedly used a fake suicide belt to seize an EgyptAir airliner from Alexandria to Cairo in March 2016. "Cypriot authorities yesterday handed over to the Egyptian authorities, Egyptian detainee Seif al-Din Mohamed Mostafa," a statement from Cyprus's justice ministry said. Officials at Cairo airport confirmed his arrival amid tight security late Saturday. Egypt's attorney general said that Mostafa was being handed over to prosecutors in the country for further investigations. State-run Al-Ahram newspaper reported that prosecutors in the city of Alexandria on Sunday ordered him held for a preliminary 15 days in custody. Mostafa fought his extradition on the grounds he would not receive a fair trial in Egypt, but the Cypriot supreme court dismissed his appeal against being sent home last year. Mostafa's request for asylum was refused as Cypriot authorities deemed him a "perpetrator of serious crimes". During hearings, Mostafa described himself as a liberal who wanted democracy for an Egyptian people subjected to "abductions, disappearance, illegal detention and extrajudicial killings". Mostafa said his motive for hijacking the domestic Egyptian flight was to seek asylum in Italy and tell the world about the "repressive" Egyptian government. The justice ministry in Cyprus said Mostafa eventually "expressed the wish to go back to his own country" and withdrew an appeal to the European Court of Human Rights that stayed the extradition. "Egyptian authorities have given assurances that Mostafa will face legal procedures that comply with international standards," the ministry said. According to Cypriot police, Mostafa gave a voluntary statement admitting to the hijacking, which ended peacefully with his arrest. Most of the 55 passengers were quickly released after the plane landed, but some escaped only minutes before the six-hour standoff finished. US President Donald Trump has stepped up his attacks on special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, likening it to "McCarthyism" US President Donald Trump on Sunday angrily denounced the federal probe of Russia's 2016 election meddling as "McCarthyism at its WORST!," insisting he had authorized his White House counsel to testify to bring the matter to a close. Trump's Twitter storm was set off by a front-page report in the New York Times that said White House counsel Don McGahn had provided Special Counsel Robert Mueller with an unusually detailed account of Trump's thinking during key episodes under investigation. Trump -- who had already addressed the issue late Saturday -- stepped up his attacks on the story and the probe in a series of angry morning tweets, slamming The New York Times for implying that McGahn had turned on him. "I have nothing to hide ... and have demanded transparency so that this Rigged and Disgusting Witch Hunt can come to a close. "So many lives have been ruined over nothing - McCarthyism at its WORST!" Mueller is investigating whether the president sought to obstruct justice as well as whether his campaign colluded with Russia's covert effort to sway the 2016 presidential election in Trump's favor. In more than 30 hours of testimony over the past nine months, the Times said McGahn laid out for investigators Trump's fury over the probe and the ways in which he asked McGahn to respond to it. Among the episodes he testified to were Trump's firing of former FBI director James Comey, and his obsession with putting a loyalist in charge of the probe, according to the Times. It noted that McGahn played a key role in stopping Trump from firing Mueller, who was made special counsel after Comey's firing. Trump called the story a "Fake piece" and seemed particularly incensed at the suggestion that McGahn was a "RAT" like John Dean, the former White House counsel who testified against president Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal. "The Failing New York Times wrote a story that made it seem like the White House Councel [sic] had TURNED on the President, when in fact it is just the opposite - & the two Fake reporters knew this. This is why the Fake News Media has become the Enemy of the People. So bad for America!" "Study the late Joseph McCarthy, because we are now in period with Mueller and his gang that make Joseph McCarthy look like a baby! Rigged Witch Hunt!" The current Ebola outbreak was first reported on August 1 The deadly Ebola outbreak in eastern DR Congo has now claimed 49 lives since the start of the month, the government has said, and the World Health Organization expects more cases. The gradually increasing death toll, with a further 2,000 people feared to have come into contact with the virus, adds to the woes of a country already facing violence, displacement and political uncertainty. First reported on August 1 in the North Kivu province, the current outbreak has killed 49 of the 90 cases reported, according to the latest health ministry bulletin on Saturday. It said of the 49 deaths from the haemorrhagic fever, 63 were confirmed and 27 were probable. Confirmed cases are verified through laboratory tests on samples taken from patients. The cases treated as "probable" often concern sick people with a close epidemiological link to confirmed cases, but who have not been tested. Most deaths -- 39 -- were recorded in the agricultural village of Mangina 30 kilometres (some 20 miles) southwest of the city of Beni. Three deaths occurred in the neighbouring province of Ituri. Field teams also identified 2,157 "contacts" -- people who may have been in contact with the virus -- according to the health ministry. WHO spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told reporters on Friday from the UN agency's Geneva headquarters that it "expects more cases". "We do not know if all the chains of transmission have been identified," he added. The outbreak is the 10th to strike the DRC since 1976, when Ebola was first identified and named after a river in the north of the country. Ebola has long been considered incurable, though swift isolation and the rapid treatment of symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhoea and dehydration has helped some patients to survive. The quest for a vaccine grew increasingly urgent during an Ebola epidemic that killed more than 11,300 people in the West African states of Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone in 2013-15. Members of the ancient Yoruba ethnic group offer sacrifices and prayers to Osun, the great Yoruba goddess of fertility and water "I'm dressed like a river," says priestess Osundele Okugbesan as she shows off her flowing white strapless dress and long beaded necklaces cascading down her chest. This year, as she has done for the past 35, she has come to the Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove in southwestern Nigeria to celebrate Osun, the great Yoruba goddess of fertility and water. Others have tattoos of fish on their bodies or have sewn seashells onto their dresses. Every year, the festival attracts thousands of Yorubas, an ancient ethnic group in West Africa that numbers around 40 million, the vast majority living in Nigeria. According to UNESCO which named the area a World Heritage site in 2005, the dense forest of the grove and "its meandering river is dotted with sanctuaries and shrines, sculptures and art works in honour of Osun and other deities". A devotee of Osun, the goddess of water and fertility, makes her way to the river to offer prayers and sacrifices "You do not decide to become an Osun priest," says one mother holding the hand of her little girl, whose face his half black, half white. "It's the spirit that chooses you. Look at my daughter, she was chosen too, one day she will become a great priestess," she says enigmatically before retreating. Elsewhere, priestesses prepare offerings and sacrifices to the great goddess: a heady mixture of sacrificed chickens, ochre powder, potato chips and gin. Beating drums and the sound of shots from colonial-era rifles build to a crescendo. Soon tens of thousands of people are marching past. - Trances and kola nuts - And yet belief in the Yoruba gods persists, unstifled by successive Muslim jihads in the Sahel, Christian colonialists from Europe or, more recently, by evangelical pastors from Nigeria's mega-churches Crowds accompany the Arugba, a virgin whose face is covered with a scarlet cloth embroidered with shells, to the river where the spirit of the water goddess lives. The wife of Sango, god of fire and thunder, once demanded a sacrifice to bring prosperity to the community, but today the virgin is just tasked with giving the offerings to the sacred river. On the riverbank, in the shade of century-old trees, a woman reads the future in kola nuts. One after another, women fall into a trance and have to be held back so that they do not drown in the river. It could all be a scene from another lifetime, were it not for the billboards advertising mobile phone services and other 21st-century wares. And yet belief in the Yoruba gods persists, unstifled by either successive Muslim jihads in the Sahel, Christian colonialists from Europe or, more recently, by evangelical pastors from Nigeria's mega-churches. These Nigerian women will turn to the beautiful Osun to give them children. - Many gods - Men assist a woman in a trance during the Osun-Osugbo Festival. One after another, women fall into a trance and have to be held back so that they do not drown in the river "Traditional religion has not been killed by modern religion because it is too deeply rooted among the Yoruba people to be destroyed," said researchers Saskia Cousin and Jean-Luc Martineau in the academic journal Cahiers d'Etudes Africaines. "I'm Christian, Muslim and a traditionalist," said Ayodele Folasade, an employee of the Osogbo museum. "I pray to Allah five times a day, I pray to the Lord Jesus Christ, but I also go to worship Osun by the river," Folasade said. "Yoruba people say that if your prayers don't work with one God try the other ones," she said with a smile. "Pastors or imams say it's not good to have many gods, but almost everybody turns to Osun when they need her," said Folasade. Omitola Babaosha, a visitor to the festival, said he believed in the traditional gods but unlike others did not hide it. "I'm very proud of my heritage and I don't care what people say about me," said Babaosha, wearing a large white tunic. "Whoever you believe in, whatever your religion, at the end of the day you need water to survive," he said. "There is no one on this earth who isn't a child of Osun," he said, hand in hand with his wife, walking in the crowd. "Going to the river to celebrate her spirit is like saying 'thank you' for the creation of nature." Former CIA director John Brennan -- shown here in September 2016 -- says he knows he has a "bullseye" on his chest over his comments on Donald Trump Former CIA chief John Brennan doubled down Sunday on his charge that Donald Trump has engaged in "treasonous" behavior and called on Congress to block the US president's attempts to strip other intelligence officials of their security clearances. Brennan has received an outpouring of support from former top-ranking intelligence officers -- but not much from Republican lawmakers -- since Trump revoked his top secret security clearance last week in retaliation for what the president called "unfounded and outrageous allegations." Trump served notice that other top former and current officials -- all Democrats -- also were at risk of losing their clearances, and the White House has reportedly drawn up more revocation orders, raising the chilling specter of an "enemies list." In an interview with NBC's "Meet the Press," Brennan reaffirmed his most inflammatory accusation against the president. "I called his behavior treasonous. I stand very much by that claim," he said. "These are abnormal times ... I have seen the signs blinking red on what Mr. Trump has done and is doing." Brennan leveled the charge after Trump met with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Helsinki last month and cast doubt on the US intelligence community's conclusion that Moscow meddled in the 2016 election to sway it in Trump's favor. Special Counsel Robert Mueller is investigating whether Trump's campaign colluded with Russia and whether the president sought to obstruction justice. Earlier this week, Brennan denounced as "hogwash" Trump's repeated claim there was "no collusion" with Russia. "This is the time for members of Congress to step up," he said on NBC, referring to a move by Democrats in the Senate to constrain the president's ability to revoke clearances without following the normal process. Republican Senator Ron Johnson, chairman of the Homeland Security Committee, defended Trump's actions towards Brennan, telling "Fox News Sunday" that the former CIA chief had "crossed a line" in his criticism of the president. But he added: "I don't want to see this become routine. I don't want to see it be politicized." Retired admiral Michael Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said on the same show that while Trump had the authority to pull security clearances, it evokes "the enemies list under president Nixon and even before that in the early '50s, the McCarthy era where the administration starts putting together lists of individuals that don't agree with them." "So it's creating a list of political enemies, in particular those who have worked in a government and some very specifically who spent their life in government," he said. "Doing this would be really off-base." Afghan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani is keen to pursue peace talks with the Taliban Afghan President Ashraf Ghani declared a provisional three-month ceasefire with the Taliban in a televised broadcast Sunday, a move welcomed by Washington but yet to receive a reply from the militants themselves. The announcement followed a bloody week of fighting across Afghanistan which saw the Taliban launch a massive assault against the provincial capital Ghazni. Anticipation had been mounting ahead of Ghani's speech following mixed signals from the presidential palace over whether the government would offer a fresh truce -- following a brief, unprecedented ceasefire earlier in June. That three day pause in the fighting saw thousands of insurgents pour into cities across Afghanistan to celebrate. "I once again announce a ceasefire from tomorrow until the prophet's birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate," said Ghani, referring to the Prophet Mohammeds birthday which Afghanistan celebrates on November 21. Ghani said his administration removed "all obstacles" to peace with the announcement following consultations with religious scholars, political parties and civil society groups. But he said the truce would hold only if the insurgents reciprocated. "We call on the leadership of the Taliban to welcome the wishes of Afghans for a long lasting and real peace, and we urge them to get ready for peace talks based on Islamic values and principles," he said, in an announcement as Afghans celebrated their independence day. - 'Time for peace' - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo welcomed Ghani's announcement and called on the Taliban to participate. "We remain ready to support, facilitate, and participate in direct negotiations between the Afghan government and the Taliban," he said in a statement. "There are no obstacles to talks. It is time for peace." NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg tweeted: "I encourage the Taliban to demonstrate their concern for Afghans by respecting it." Ghani's announcement was also swiftly welcomed in neighbouring Pakistan, which has long been accused of fostering links with the Taliban's leadership and providing sanctuary to its fighters. However the offer drew mixed responses among Afghans, with some slamming the idea of welcoming Taliban fighters back into their cities to eat ice cream and pose for selfies like they had during the three-day ceasefire over the Eid holiday in June. "We should not be begging for peace with the Taliban. I promise, if I see any Taliban eating ice cream in Kabul, I will hit him with a stone," wrote Facebook user Rahman Ahmadi. Others seemed more optimistic if the deal ensured an end to fighting. "Now it is up to the Taliban to make this best ever opportunity for peace & security in Afghanistan," tweeted analyst M. Shafiq Hamdam. - Desperation? - The June ceasefire -- the first such truce in the country since the 2001 US invasion -- spurred hopes that a new path was opening for possible peace talks in the country to the end the nearly 17-year-old war. But violence has surged in the weeks since as talk of a new ceasefire continued. The days-long fight for Ghazni, which concluded on Wednesday killed hundreds and saw Taliban fighters ransack the provincial capital, torching buildings and destroying infrastructure. That battle coincided with blistering attacks on government installations across the country. Analysts have suggested the Taliban were seeking to demonstrate strength ahead of any possible talks. Ghani did not mention any cease in fighting with the Islamic State group, which has expanded since it first emerged in the region in 2014 and was not included in the June ceasfire, or any of the other militant groups plaguing Afghanistan. Kabul-based analyst Haroon Mir said the move might be perceived as an act of desperation by the government following mounting battlefield pressure from insurgents. "I doubt the Taliban would reciprocate given their past stance and recent gains on the ground," said Mir. Afghan security forces, beset by killings, desertions and low morale, have taken staggering losses since US-led NATO combat forces pulled out at the end of 2014. But it is ordinary Afghans who have borne the brunt of the violence in the grinding conflict, especially in Kabul, which the United Nations has said is the deadliest place for civilians in the country. The Taliban did not immediately respond to the offer but in a message from its leader published over the weekend to mark the upcoming Islamic holiday of Eid al-Adha the group continued to push for direct talks with the US. Washington has repeatedly refused, saying negotiations must be Afghan-led. Last month, however, Taliban representatives met US officials for talks in Qatar, though little is known about the details of the meeting. When Ugandans talk about their Rolex, they mean a national dish, not a luxury watch When people talk about a "Rolex" in Uganda, one of the last things they probably have in mind is a luxury watch. So at Kampala's third annual Rolex festival on a hilltop in the Ugandan capital on Sunday, there were no stalls to be seen selling pricey wrist wear. In Uganda, the Rolex is the country's favourite snack, a sandwich made up of an omelette and chapati bread, and it derives its name from a play on the words "rolled eggs". Organisers hope the festival will turn what many regard as a poor man's supper into a tourist attraction. "Rolex is a delicacy in Uganda," Tourism Board official Patrick Muhire told AFP. The dish, which originated in the eastern town of Busoga, quickly became popular among students at Makerere University in Kampala: at around 1,000 Ugandan shillings (26 US cents, 23 euro cents), it was not only nourishing, but very affordable as well. Its appeal spread rapidly from there. "Most people took it to be a poor man's food. But with the festival, it is being accepted by the elites as ... a national delicacy," Muhire said. "Ever since we started the annual Rolex festival, there are restaurants which have started doing the Rolex and some hotels have embraced it, too," he continued. There are already many regional variants of the "Rolex". The "Rolex", a sandwich made from an omelette and chapati bread, derives its name from a play on the words "rolled eggs" In eastern Uganda, for example, bamboo sprouts are mixed in with the chapati, while in the north, cooked vegetables are added. It comes in various sizes, too, with the super-sized "Swazzneggar Rolex" -- cheekily named after Hollywood muscleman Arnold Schwarzenegger -- using between six and 10 eggs and big enough to feed an entire family. At the festival, Indian, Mexican and Kenyan chefs all offer their own special takes on the sandwich. There's also a whiff of politics in the air, with the music of Bobi Wine blaring from the loudspeakers as the queueing customers wait for their food. Wine is the stage name of Robert Kyagulanyi, a popstar-turned-politician who is a fierce critic of President Yoweri Museveni. Kyagulanyi is currently in jail for the illegal possession of firearms. People pray and celebrate the life of singer Aretha Franklin at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit, where her father was the pastor, on August 19, 2018 -- the first Sunday service since her death at age 76 Fans and worshippers celebrated the life of Aretha Franklin at her father's Baptist church in Detroit on Sunday, with her powerful voice again ringing out within its walls in tribute to her spectacular career. Civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, greeted by a standing ovation, sent the several hundred parishioners into raptures with his eulogy and rousing prayers for his old friend, the "Queen of Soul." The New Bethel Baptist Church -- located in a down-at-heel, quiet neighborhood of Detroit -- has been the focus of tributes to Franklin, who passed away from advanced pancreatic cancer on Thursday at age 76. "On Thursday morning, Earth lost her music. Heaven gained her music," Jackson told the congregation. "Right now, the gospel choir in heaven has a lead singer. Detroit lost something, but heaven gained something." Franklin's recording of "Precious Lord (Take My Hand)" -- one of Martin Luther King Jr.'s favorite gospel tracks which she sang at his funeral in 1968 -- filled the church as a woman dressed in black and red danced. The high-energy service was packed with music belted out by chief Pastor Robert Smith Jr. "We are sad that Aretha has gone," Smith said. "We're happy that she's free from the shackles of time." In his lengthy address, the now frail Jackson recounted Franklin's life in the context of the civil rights movement, from her birth into the segregation of the American south to singing at Barack Obama's inauguration. The Rev. Jesse Jackson -- a family friend of Aretha Franklin -- speaks in celebration of her life at New Bethel Baptist Church, where her father was the pastor Jackson, a Baptist minister and former Democratic presidential candidate, told the church that during the year of Franklin's birth "in a shack on the Mississippi River" in Tennessee, "225 blacks were lynched." Her father, C.L. Franklin, was a prominent Baptist preacher and civil rights activist, who in June 1963 helped King organize the Walk to Freedom through downtown Detroit, only two months before King's historic March on Washington and "I Have a Dream" speech. "I remember one time Dr King was facing bankruptcy... and Aretha did an 11-city tour and gave all the money to Dr King," said Jackson, who was a close aide to the slain activist. "She was a rose that grew tall in a garden of weeds." - 'A mighty tribute to the Queen' - Fans of Aretha Franklin pray during the Sunday service at New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit Franklin recorded the album "One Lord, One Faith, One Baptism" at the church, where she performed over the years, and also served dinners to worshippers and the homeless at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Talking about his final visit with Franklin last Wednesday, Jackson told the church that he walked into the room calling out "Re, Re, Re." "She opened her eyes and pressed my arms, and we began to pray," he said. His eulogy had worshippers on their feet. Smartly dressed women raised their arms into the air and swayed to the music, as a few wiped away tears, with Jackson leading them in prayers and song. Worshippers spilled out of the service, invigorated by what they called a celebration of the music icon's life and legacy. "It was beautiful and it spoke to all of us," said Denise Redmon, a 57-year-old Indiana bus driver on a weekend coach trip to Detroit. Avis Doughton holds her arms up as the Rev. Jesse Jackson celebrates the life of late singer Aretha Franklin "I thought it was excellent. A mighty tribute to the Queen," agreed Esther Birden, 60, on the same two-day "Aretha Franklin soul weekend, joining in all the festivities and being a part of history." "I remember listening to Aretha when I was eight years old and dancing to her music," she said. "We have nothing to be sad about because she gave us so much. She gave us secular, she gave us gospel, she gave us opera... and you don't find too many that can fit in every arena like that." - 'Freedom fighter' - Ralph Godbee, a former Detroit police chief turned pastor, led the congregation in a rousing hand clap for Franklin. He recalled how she had once called to complain about a relative who had been mistreated by the police department, telling him that no one -- regardless of their family -- should be treated in such a way. "There's something about when the queen calls," he said, hailing her as a "freedom fighter" and "demanding justice for everybody from the back row to the front pew." Fans have left balloons, flowers and other trinkets outside the New Bethel Baptist Church to pay their respects to the late Aretha Franklin He said the revival of the Motor City -- the home of the US auto industry that has turned a corner after years of economic depression and high crime -- was "on the back of the spirit of the Queen of Soul." Outside the pale brick church, mourners have left helium balloons, bouquets of flowers, teddy bears and hand-written tributes. "Aretha Will Always be My Queen. Nothing But Respect!!" read one home-made poster adored with cut-out, black-and-white newspaper pictures of the musical icon in her prime. "You will always be in my heart," said another. "Your voice will always ring in my heart and soul. I hear it all of the time, soothing me." 177 people have been sat off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa since August 16, 2018 after being saved by the coastguard's Diciotti vessel, seen in July 2018, and Italy is battling with Malta over who should take them in Italy's far-right interior minister threatened Sunday to send "back to Libya" nearly 180 people stranded for three days on an Italian coastguard ship if the EU did not step in to resolve another migrant row with Malta. The 177 people have been sat off the coast of the Italian island of Lampedusa since Thursday after being saved by the coastguard's Diciotti vessel, and Italy is battling with Malta over who should take them in. "Either Europe decides to seriously offer Italy some concrete help, beginning with for example the 180 immigrants on board the Diciotti ship, or we will be forced to do what will definitively end the human traffickers' business. That means taking the people saved in the sea back to Libya," Salvini said in a statement. Numerous human rights abuses have been reported in detention centres that hold migrants hoping to make the perilous crossing of the Mediterranean and arrive in Europe. The Diciotti has been stood off Lampedusa while Italy's populist government, in power since June, demanded that Malta take in the passengers. Earlier on Sunday the Maltese government, which on Wednesday allowed 141 migrants aboard the Aquarius vessel to dock after an agreement to distribute them to a number of European countries, underlined its refusal of Italy's demands. - 'Not in distress' - Prime Minister Joseph Muscat said that the migrants boat was not in distress and that they also refused help, while interior minister Michael Farrugia wrote on Twitter that "the only solution" was for the people, saved in waters between the countries, to be taken to Lampedusa or another Italian port. Farrugia added that the Diciotti picked up the migrants inside the Maltese search and rescue area "without any coordination from the competent RCC (Rescue Coordination Centre), just to stop them arriving in Italian waters". "An interception of a boat that exercises its right to free navigation in the high seas is not considered a rescue operation," said Farrugia. Malta's refusal to take in the migrants has infuriated the Italian government, already angered by an operation that Salvini says was carried out by the Italian coastguard without the approval of Rome. Italy: migrants in limbo on coastguard ship "Malta's behaviour is once again unqualifiable and deserves sanction," Italian Minister of Transport Danilo Toninelli said on Twitter on Sunday. "The EU needs to step forward and open its ports to solidarity, otherwise it has no reason to exist." The spat between Italy and Malta is the second in just over a month. It follows the battle over 450 people rescued from a fishing ship and taken aboard two EU border agency vessels who were eventually allowed to disembark in Italy after five European countries agreed to take 50 each. In June, Malta was forced to take the German NGO boat Lifeline carrying over 234 migrants, just days after a standoff between the island nation and Italy led to the French rescue ship Aquarius being diverted and taking 630 people to Spain. Ben Deri (C), a 24-year-old Israeli policeman accused of killing a Palestinian teenager in 2014 during clashes in Beitunia in the occupied West Bank, had his prison sentence doubled from a nine-month term previously imposed on him Israel's top court on Sunday doubled the prison sentence of a police officer who shot dead a Palestinian teenager in 2014, an incident documented by video footage. The supreme court ruling said the original nine-month prison term handed to Ben Deri by the Jerusalem district court earlier this year did not sufficiently reflect the severity of his actions. Deri had admitted to fatally shooting Nadeem Nuwarah, 17, on May 15, 2014 during a day of clashes in Beitunia, south of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank, between Israeli forces and Palestinian protesters. The clashes were on the anniversary of what Palestinians call the Nakba, or "catastrophe", when more than 700,000 fled or were expelled during the war surrounding Israel's creation. Footage recorded by US broadcaster CNN captured a group of five or six border police officers in the area, one of whom could be seen firing at the time when the youth was hit. Some five minutes earlier, Nuwarah was seen on other CNN footage throwing stones at Israeli forces. But when Deri shot him, he was not engaged in any such action, simply walking in the general direction of Deri's force with his hands to his sides, the Sunday decision noted. Deri had said during his trial he had mistakenly introduced live ammunition into his M-16 instead of rubber bullets. But even the firing of rubber bullets was not justified at that point, the court said. The April district court sentencing had "not sufficiently given expression to the value of the human life severed by Deri," Sunday's ruling read. "The prison term sentenced by the district court is not close in expressing the severity of such an intentional deed, combined with the severe negligence that caused the deceased's death," supreme court justice Noam Solberg wrote in his decision, supported by another judge and opposed by one. Right-wing legal aid organisation Honenu, which represented Deri, said the supreme court's ruling could "jeopardise the motivation and operational abilities of our soldiers." Defence Minister Avigdor Lieberman said that while Deri's actions might have been wrong, "that doesn't mean his punishment should be increased". "Those fighting terror on a daily basis, exposed to provocations, have feelings too. They're not robots," he told Israel's public broadcaster Kan. Afghan security forces patrol along a road in the city of Ghazni; some analysts believe Kabul's latest ceasefire offer might be perceived as an act of desperation by the government following mounting battlefield losses The United States on Sunday welcomed the announcement by Kabul of a provisional ceasefire with the Taliban, saying the plan "responds to the clear and continued call of the Afghan people." The announcement by President Ashraf Ghani followed a bloody week of fighting across Afghanistan which saw the Taliban launch a massive assault against the provincial capital Ghazni. It came after a brief, unprecedented ceasefire earlier in June. "The last ceasefire in Afghanistan revealed the deep desire of the Afghan people to end the conflict, and we hope another ceasefire will move the country closer to sustainable security," Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in a statement. "The United States and our international partners support this initiative by the Afghan people and the Afghan government, and we call on the Taliban to participate. "It is our hope, and that of the international community, that the Afghan people may celebrate Eid al-Adha this year in peace, free from fear," he added, referring to the Islamic holiday that starts next week. Ghani declared the latest ceasefire in a televised broadcast on Sunday on the condition that the Taliban reciprocated. "I once again announce a ceasefire from tomorrow until the prophet's birthday provided that the Taliban reciprocate," said Ghani, referring to the Prophet Mohammed's birthday which Afghanistan celebrates on November 21. The president's announcement was immediately welcomed in neighboring Pakistan, which has long been accused of fostering links with the Taliban's leadership and providing sanctuary to its fighters, and by NATO secretary general Jens Stoltenberg. But it drew mixed responses among Afghans. Some analysts said it might be perceived as an act of desperation by the government following mounting battlefield pressure from insurgents. Millions of people were swept apart by the 1950-53 Korean War, which separated brothers and sisters, parents and children and husbands and wives With tears and cries, dozens of elderly and frail South and North Korean family members met on Monday for the first time since the peninsula and their relationships were torn apart by war nearly 70 years ago. Clasping one another, they tried to bridge the decades of separation through precious physical contact and by showing each other pictures of their relatives. Many of the North Korean women were clad in traditional dresses, known as hanbok in the South and joseon-ot in the North, and all had the ubiquitous badges of the North's founder Kim Il Sung or his son and successor Kim Jong Il, while the Southerners wore their best suits. As soon as 99-year-old South Korean Han Shin-ja approached their table, her two daughters -- aged 69 and 72 -- bowed their heads deeply towards her and burst into tears. The three-day reunion at Mount Kumgang, a scenic resort in North Korea, is the first for three years Han also broke down, rubbing her cheeks against theirs and holding their hands tightly. "When I fled during the war..." she began, choking back tears as if she were about to apologise for leaving them behind. Millions of people were swept apart by the 1950-53 Korean War, which separated brothers and sisters, parents and children and husbands and wives. Hostilities ceased with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two Koreas technically still at war and the peninsula split by the impenetrable Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), with all direct civilian exchanges -- even mundane family news -- banned. Since 2000 the two nations have held 20 rounds of reunions The three-day reunion at Mount Kumgang, a scenic resort in North Korea, is the first for three years and follows a diplomatic thaw on the peninsula. According to pool reports, the event began with a popular North Korean song "Nice to meet you" -- also well known in the South -- blaring out from speakers. - 'Never imagined this day would come' - Lee Keum-seom, now tiny and frail at 92, met her son for the first time since she and her infant daughter were separated from him and her husband as they fled. At the time Ri Sang Chol was aged just four. Lee shouted his name when she saw the now 71-year-old, before hugging him as both were overcome with emotion. The divided Korean peninsula Her son showed her pictures of his family in the North -- including her late husband -- telling her: "This is a photo of father." Before leaving for the meeting, Lee told AFP: "I never imagined this day would come. I didn't even know if he was alive or not." With time taking its toll, such parent-child reunions have become rare. Since 2000 the two nations have held 20 rounds of reunions but most of the more than 130,000 Southerners who signed up for a reunion since the events began have since died. More than half the survivors are over 80, with this year's oldest participant Baik Sung-kyu aged 101. South Korean Park Ki-dong, 82, met his two North Korean siblings, who had brought dozens of family photos with them. Pak Sam Dong pointed at one of the images, telling his brother: "This is you." The older man stared at the picture silently, deep in thought, while his North Korean sister quietly wiped tears from her eyes. - Bittersweet - The reunions are resuming after a three-year hiatus as the North accelerated its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and relations worsened. The reunions are resuming after a three-year hiatus as the North accelerated its pursuit of nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles and relations worsened But after a rapid diplomatic thaw the North's leader Kim Jong Un and the South's President Moon Jae-in agreed to restart them at their first summit in April in the DMZ. The two Koreas have since discussed cooperation in various fields at meetings between officials. But while Kim and US President Donald Trump held a landmark summit in Singapore in June, Pyongyang has yet to make clear what concessions it is willing to make on its nuclear arsenal, while Washington is looking to maintain sanctions pressure on it. Families at previous reunions have often found it a bittersweet experience, with some complaining about the short time they were allowed together and others lamenting the ideological gaps between them after decades apart. South Koreans prepare to depart from Sokcho for the reunion in North Korea Some of those selected for this year's reunions dropped out after learning that their parents or siblings had died and they could only meet more distant relatives whom they had never seen before. Over the next three days, the 89 families will spend only about 11 hours together, mostly under the watchful eyes of North Korean agents. They will have only three hours in private before they are separated once again on Wednesday, in all likelihood for the final time. BUENOS AIRES, Argentina (AP) - Hundreds of people gathered in Buenos Aires on Saturday to oppose the influence of religion on Argentine politics and encourage people to quit the Roman Catholic Church in the wake of a Senate vote not to legalize some abortions. The event, called "Collective Apostasy," centered on a signature drive for Argentines wanting to renounce their affiliation to the church through a form that will later be given to the Episcopal Conference in the homeland of Pope Francis. People formed long lines in Buenos Aires and other Argentine cities, and organizers hoped thousands would officially register their desire that the church not interfere in Argentine politics and that their names be eliminated from its registries. A seller offers handkerchiefs reading in Spanish "Church and state- Separate issues" in Buenos Aires, Argentina Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. People formed lines on Saturday as part of a nationwide movement in the homeland of Pope Francis to file forms with their name and signature to renounce their religious affiliation, after a bill to legalize elective abortions in the first 14 months of pregnancy was finally rejected by Senators in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) "We are receiving the apostasies of all the people who want to renounce their ties to the Catholic Church," said one of the organizers, Maria Jose Albaya. The movement is led by the Argentine Coalition for a Secular State and its backers often wear orange scarves. "Obtaining the vote for women, the divorce law, marriage equality, the gender identity law, the assisted human fertilization law, the law of integral sexual education, the dignified death law were all done fighting clerical power, which seeks to have total dominion over our minds and bodies," the event's manifesto published on social media said. Saturday's event follows the rejection by the Senate in early August of a bill that would have legalized abortion in the first 14 weeks, a vote that was seen as being swayed by the Catholic church. "The discourse by the church to convince the people to not accept the (abortion) law was so outrageous that I reached the height of my enmity toward the Catholic Church," said Nora Cortinas, a founding member of the Mother of the Plaza de Mayo human rights group. About two-thirds of Argentina's 43 million residents define themselves as Catholic, but there is rising discontent with the church amid sex abuse scandals and the historic defeat of the vote to legalize abortion. The Argentine Episcopal Conference and the Archbishopric of Buenos Aires did not immediately respond to requests for comment. While some wanted to renounce all ties to the church, others thought it still had support. Ignacio Amui, a company director and a Catholic, said he believes the church "has many things to work on and modernize." "But the Catholic religion is, was and will be the most important religion in our country," the 56-year-old said. . A woman is instructed on how to fill a form to renounce to her religious affiliation in Buenos Aires, Argentina Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. People formed lines on Saturday as part of a nationwide movement in the homeland of Pope Francis to file forms with their name and signature to renounce their religious affiliation, after a bill to legalize elective abortions in the first 14 months of pregnancy was finally rejected by Senators in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) People form lines to deliver a form to renounce to their religious affiliation, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. People formed lines as part of a nationwide movement in the homeland of Pope Francis to file forms with their name and signature to renounce their religious affiliation, after a bill to legalize elective abortions in the first 14 months of pregnancy was finally rejected by Senators in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) People form lines to deliver a forms to renounce their religious affiliation in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. People formed lines as part of a nationwide movement in the homeland of Pope Francis to file forms with their name and signature to renounce their religious affiliation, after a bill to legalize elective abortions in the first 14 months of pregnancy was finally rejected by Senators in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) A woman fills a form to renounce to her religious affiliation, in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. People formed lines as part of a nationwide movement in the homeland of Pope Francis to file forms with their name and signature to renounce their religious affiliation, after a bill to legalize elective abortions in the first 14 months of pregnancy was finally rejected by Senators in recent weeks. (AP Photo/Natacha Pisarenko) SEOUL, South Korea (AP) - Lee Soo-nam was 8 the last time he saw his older brother. Sixty-eight years ago this month the boy watched, bewildered, as his 18-year-old brother left their home in Seoul to escape invading North Korean soldiers who were conscripting young men just weeks after invading South Korea to start the Korean War. An hour later, his brother, Ri Jong Song, was snatched up by North Korean soldiers near a bridge across Seoul's Han River. Lee always assumed Ri died during the three-year war that killed and injured millions before a cease-fire in 1953, but his mother prayed daily for her lost son's return, giving up only a few years before her death in 1975. But Ri survived the war, living in North Korea. The brothers, now 76 and 86, will be among hundreds of Koreans who will participate, starting Monday, in a week of temporary reunions of divided families. Many have had no contact with each other since the war cemented the division of the Korean Peninsula into the North and South. In this Aug. 17, 2018, photo, Lee Soo-nam, 76, shows photos of his brother Ri Jong Song in North Korea during an interview at his home in Seoul, South Korea. Lee is among about 200 war-separated South Koreans and their family members who are crossing into North Korea for heart-wrenching meetings with relatives they haven't seen for decades. The week-long event beginning Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort come as the rival Koreas boost reconciliation efforts amid a diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) The elderly relatives gathering at North Korea's scenic Diamond Mountain resort know that, given the fickle nature of ties between the rival Koreas, this could be the last time they see each other before they die. "I'm nervous. I'm still unsure whether this is a dream or reality. I just want to thank him for staying alive all these years," Lee said in an interview in his home in Seoul, not far from where he last saw his brother. Since the end of the war, both Koreas have banned ordinary citizens from visiting relatives on the other side of the border or contacting them without permission. Nearly 20,000 people have participated in 20 rounds of face-to-face reunions since 2000. No one has had a second chance to see their relatives. This week's reunions come after a three-year hiatus during which North Korea tested three nuclear weapons and multiple missiles that demonstrated the potential of striking the continental United States. At past meetings, elderly relatives - some relying on wheelchairs or walking sticks - have wept, hugged and caressed each other in a rush of emotions. According to Seoul's Unification Ministry, which handles inter-Korean affairs, more than 500 separated South Koreans and their family members will cross the border for two separate rounds of reunions between Aug. 20 and 26. At Diamond Mountain, Lee expects to meet Ri and his 79-year-old North Korean wife and 50-year-old son. Lee will bring more than a dozen family photos, including a black-and-white picture of Ri in a buzz-cut when he was 16 or 17. "That's how I remember him," Lee said. "I lost a brother and my parents lost a child, but my brother lost his parents, siblings, friends and an entire hometown, and he probably spent his whole life longing for all of those things. It's heartbreaking to think about." The difference in the siblings' family names is a product of the Korean Peninsula's division - each country uses different English transliteration rules, so Lee in the South is spelled Ri in the North. Many of the South Korean participants in the reunions will be war refugees who were born in North Korea. Kim Kwang-ho, 79, was among some 14,000 refugees who were ferried to South Korea by the American freighter SS Meredith Victory in December 1950 in one of the world's largest humanitarian operations. Also on the ship were the parents of current South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who described the evacuation as a "voyage of freedom and human rights" in a speech in Washington last year. At the reunions, Kim expects to meet his 78-year-old brother, Kim Kwang Il, and his sister-in-law. Kim has vivid memories of what he described as a beautiful hometown in northern North Korea, where he plowed rice and corn fields with cattle, picked peaches and apricots from trees and spent hours swimming in brooks. He gets emotional when talking about the mother he left behind, who used to cry over the death of his brother during the war. "I have clear memories of events that happened," Kim said. "But somehow I can't remember the faces of my mother and brother." Behind the raw emotions, the meetings are tightly coordinated events where participants are closely watched by North Korean officials and dozens of South Korean journalists. As in previous reunions, South Korea's Red Cross, which organizes the events with its North Korean counterpart, has issued a guidebook telling South Koreans what to do and what not to do. "Political comments such as criticism of the North's leadership and the state of its economy could put your (North Korean) family members into a difficult situation," the green book says. "If a North Korean family member sings a propaganda song or makes a political comment, restrain them appropriately by naturally changing the subject of the conversation." Lee knows he won't be able to talk much about what happened when his brother was taken in August 1950. Instead, he plans to share childhood memories, such as when Ri took his younger brothers on a hike on nearby Mount Nam to look at foxes living near an old fortress wall. South Koreans also can't give their North Korean relatives luxury items because of international sanctions imposed on the North over its nuclear and missile programs, with past cash gifts banned this year to reflect the sanctions, according to a South Korean Red Cross official who didn't want to be identified, citing office rules. The reunions are occurring during a flurry of diplomatic contacts. In recent months, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has met Moon twice and held a summit with President Donald Trump in Singapore, where they issued a vague goal of a nuclear-free peninsula, without describing how and when it would occur. Moon, who plans to meet Kim again in September in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, says progress in inter-Korean reconciliation will be a crucial part of international efforts to resolve the nuclear standoff with the North. The Koreas have held military talks and are fielding combined teams at the ongoing Asian Games in Indonesia in a gesture of goodwill. Still, South Korea has failed to persuade the North to accept its long-standing proposal for more frequent reunions with more participants. North Korea has also ignored the South's suggestion of hometown visits and letter exchanges. The limited number of reunions cannot meet the demands of divided family members, who are now mostly in their 80s and 90s, South Korean officials say. More than 75,000 of the 132,000 South Koreans who have applied to participate in reunions have died, according to government figures. Analysts say North Korea sees the reunions as an important bargaining chip with the South, and doesn't want them expanded because they give its people better awareness of the outside world. While South Korea uses a computerized lottery to pick participants for the reunions, North Korea is believed to choose based on loyalty to its authoritarian leadership. "When we meet this time, that will be the end for me," said Yoon Heung-kyu, a 91-year-old Korean War veteran from the South and a staunch anti-communist campaigner in his youth who will be meeting his North Korean brother-in-law and grandnephew. "North Korea guards against exposing its people to the free South because of fear of a regime collapse. It just allows 100 or so participants every several years to save face internationally," Yoon said. "These aren't really family reunions; if they were, we would be meeting in our hometowns, not at Diamond Mountain." ___ Follow Kim Tong-hyung on Twitter at @KimTongHyung In this Aug. 17, 2018, photo, Lee Soo-nam, 76, explains about photos showing his family members during an interview at his home in Seoul, South Korea. Lee is among about 200 war-separated South Koreans and their family members who are crossing into North Korea for heart-wrenching meetings with relatives they haven't seen for decades. The week-long event beginning Monday at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort come as the rival Koreas boost reconciliation efforts amid a diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Aug. 17, 2018, photo, Lee Soo-nam, 76, arranges gifts for family members of his brother Ri Jong Song in North Korea during an interview at his home in Seoul, South Korea. Lee is among about 200 war-separated South Koreans and their family members who are crossing into North Korea for heart-wrenching meetings with relatives they haven't seen for decades. The week-long event beginning Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort come as the rival Koreas boost reconciliation efforts amid a diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Aug. 17, 2018, photo, Lee Soo-nam, 76, shows documents confirming his brother Ri Jong Song is alive in North Korea during an interview at his home in Seoul, South Korea. Lee is among about 200 war-separated South Koreans and their family members who are crossing into North Korea for heart-wrenching meetings with relatives they haven't seen for decades. The week-long event beginning Monday at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort come as the rival Koreas boost reconciliation efforts amid a diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Aug. 17, 2018, photo, Kim Kwang-ho, 79, speaks about his family members in North Korea during an interview at his home in Seoul, South Korea. Kim is among about 200 war-separated South Koreans and their family members who are crossing into North Korea for heart-wrenching meetings with relatives they haven't seen for decades. The week-long event beginning Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort come as the rival Koreas boost reconciliation efforts amid a diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Aug. 17, 2018, photo, Kim Kwang-ho, 79, speaks as some gifts for his family members in North Korea are displayed on a table during an interview at his home in Seoul, South Korea. Kim is among about 200 war-separated South Koreans and their family members who are crossing into North Korea for heart-wrenching meetings with relatives they haven't seen for decades. The week-long event beginning Monday, Aug. 20, at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort come as the rival Koreas boost reconciliation efforts amid a diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Aug. 17, 2018, photo, Kim Kwang-ho, 79, speaks in front of some gifts for his family members in North Korea during an interview at his home in Seoul, South Korea. Kim is among about 200 war-separated South Koreans and their family members who are crossing into North Korea for heart-wrenching meetings with relatives they haven't seen for decades. The week-long event beginning Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort come as the rival Koreas boost reconciliation efforts amid a diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this Aug. 16, 2018, photo, Yoon Heung-kyu, 91, speaks about his family members in North Korea during an interview at his office in Seoul, South Korea. Yoon is among about 200 war-separated South Koreans and their family members who are crossing into North Korea for heart-wrenching meetings with relatives they haven't seen for decades. The week-long event beginning Monday, Aug. 20, 2018, at North Korea's Diamond Mountain resort come as the rival Koreas boost reconciliation efforts amid a diplomatic push to resolve the North Korean nuclear crisis.(AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) MECCA, Saudi Arabia (AP) - More than 2 million Muslims began the annual hajj pilgrimage at first light on Sunday in Saudi Arabia, circling the cube-shaped Kaaba in Mecca that Islam's faithful face five times each day during their prayers. The five-day hajj pilgrimage represents one of the world's biggest gatherings every year, and is required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. The hajj offers pilgrims an opportunity to feel closer to God amid the Muslim world's many challenges, including the threat of violence and extremists in the Mideast and the plight of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority. Muslim pilgrims circumambulate around the Kaaba in the Grand Mosque, before leaving for the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, early Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. The annual Islamic pilgrimage draws millions of visitors each year, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) "We are very blessed by Allah to be in this place, and we pray to Allah to make the Islamic nations from the West to the East in a better situation," said Essam-Eddin Afifi, a pilgrim from Egypt. "We pray for the Islamic nations to overcome their enemies." Muslims believe the hajj retraces the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as those of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail - Abraham and Ishmael in the Bible. Muslims believe God stayed the hand of Ibrahim after commanding him to sacrifice his son, Ismail. In the Christian and Jewish version of the story, Abraham is ordered to kill his other son, Isaac. The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God. Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between the two hills traveled by Hagar, Ibrahim's wife. Mecca's Grand Mosque, the world's largest, encompasses the Kaaba and the two hills. Before heading to Mecca, many pilgrims visit the city of Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried and where he built his first mosque. After prayers in Mecca, pilgrims will head to an area called Mount Arafat on Monday, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon. From there, pilgrims will head to an area called Muzdalifa, picking up pebbles along the way for a symbolic stoning of the devil and a casting away of sins that takes place in the Mina valley for three days. At the hajj's end, male pilgrims will shave their hair and women will cut a lock of hair in a sign of renewal for completing the pilgrimage. Around the world, Muslims will mark the end of hajj with a celebration called Eid al-Adha. The holiday, remembering Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, sees Muslims slaughter sheep and cattle, distributing the meat to the poor. Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, the spokesman of the Saudi Interior Ministry, told journalists Saturday that over 2 million Muslims from abroad and inside the kingdom would be taking part in this year's hajj. Saudi Arabia's ruling Al Saud family stakes its legitimacy in part on its management of the holiest sites in Islam. King Salman's official title is the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques," at Mecca and Medina. Other Saudi kings, and the Ottoman rulers of the Hijaz region before them, all have adopted the honorary title The kingdom has spent billions of dollars of its vast oil revenues on security and safety measures, particularly in Mina, where some of the hajj's deadliest incidents have occurred. The worst in recorded history took place only three years ago. On Sept. 24, 2015, a stampede and crush of pilgrims in Mina killed at least 2,426 people, according to an Associated Press count. The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since only two days afterward. The kingdom has never addressed the discrepancy, nor has it released any results of an investigation authorities promised to conduct over the disaster. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also faces threats from al-Qaida militants and a local faction of the Islamic State group. Days earlier, the Interior Ministry acknowledged arresting a Saudi wearing an explosive vest in the kingdom's central al-Qassim region who shot at security forces. Meanwhile, a Saudi-led war in Yemen against Shiite rebels drags on without an end in sight. The rebels have fired over 150 ballistic missiles on the kingdom during a conflict that has seen Saudi airstrikes hit markets and hospitals, killing civilians. Muslim pilgrims pray at the Grand Mosque, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. The annual Islamic pilgrimage draws millions of visitors each year, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) Muslim pilgrims walks towards the Grand Mosque, to offer prayers ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018.The annual Islamic pilgrimage draws millions of visitors each year, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) A Muslim pilgrim drinks water distributed by Saudi volunteers near the Grand Mosque, ahead of the annual Hajj pilgrimage, in the Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Muslim holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. The annual Islamic pilgrimage draws millions of visitors each year, making it the largest yearly gathering of people in the world. (AP Photo/Dar Yasin) CHENGANNUR, India (AP) - Some 800,000 people have been displaced and over 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century in southern India's Kerala state, officials said Sunday, as rescuers searched for people stranded in the worst-affected areas. The downpours that started Aug. 8 have triggered floods and landslides and caused homes and bridges to collapse across Kerala, a picturesque state known for its quiet tropical backwaters and beautiful beaches. Thousands of rescuers were continuing efforts to reach out to stranded people and get relief supplies to isolated areas by hundreds of boats and nearly two dozen helicopters, said P.H. Kurian, a top disaster management official in Kerala. He said weather conditions had improved considerably and expected the nearly 10,000 people still stranded to be rescued by Monday. An Indian policeman, left, and a volunteer carry essential supplies for stranded people in a flooded area in Chengannur in the southern state of Kerala, India, Sunday, Aug.19, 2018. Some 800,000 people have been displaced and over 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) An estimated 800,000 people have taken shelter in some 4,000 relief camps across Kerala, Kurian said. Weather officials have predicted more rains across the state through Monday morning. In several villages in the suburbs of Chengannur, one of the worst-affected areas, carcasses of dead cattle were seen floating in muddy waters as water began receding. However, vast rice fields continued to be marooned and many vehicles were submerged. In some villages, floodwaters up to 3 meters (10 feet) high had entered homes. Rescuers in a motorboat reached a hamlet where they tried in vain to persuade an 80-year-old woman, Bhavani Yamma, to be taken to a government-run shelter from her partially submerged single-story house. "I will not come. This is my home and I will die here," said Yamma, who lives alone. The team later rescued a 61-year-old kidney ailment patient, Raveendran, who needs dialysis twice a week. One of the rescuers, Rajagopal, a police constable who uses only one name, said initially "we didn't anticipate it would be such a big disaster." But he said that by Wednesday, "we realized it's really big." Officials have called it the worst flooding in Kerala in a century, with rainfall in some areas well over double that of a typical monsoon season. At least two trains carrying about 1.5 million liters (400,000 gallons) of water moved to the flooded areas from the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra on Sunday, Indian railway official Milind Deouskar said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. After one of the trains arrived, Kurian, the disaster management official, said authorities had largely restored the state's water supply systems. "What we need right now is bottled water, which is easy to transport to remote and isolated places, where some people are still stranded," Kurian said. Officials estimate that more than 10,000 kilometers (6,200 miles) of roads have been damaged. One of the state's major airports, in the city of Kochi, was closed this past Tuesday due to the flooding. It is scheduled to remain closed until Aug. 26. The Indian government said a naval air base in Kochi would be opened for commercial flights starting Monday morning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi inspected the flooded landscape from a helicopter on Saturday and met with the state's top officials, promising more than $70 million in aid. While the central government has dispatched multiple military units to Kerala, state officials are pleading for additional help. Officials have put initial storm damage estimates at nearly $3 billion. At least 250 people have died in the flooding in a little over a week, with 31 others missing, according to Kurian. More than 1,000 people have died in flooding in seven Indian states since the start of the monsoon season, including over 350 in Kerala. In Vatican City on Sunday, Pope Francis held a moment of silence during his noontime blessing to pray for Kerala flood victims. "I am close to the church in Kerala, which is on the front lines in providing aid to the people," Francis said. He called for solidarity and "the concrete assistance of the international community." Kerala has a sizeable and ancient Christian community. Francis had hoped to visit India last year when he visited Bangladesh, but preparations fell apart in New Delhi and the Vatican added Myanmar to his trip instead. ___ Associated Press writer Nicole Winfield in Rome contributed to this report. A stranded woman gestures towards her house as she asks for more essential supplies from a volunteer in a flooded area in Chengannur in the southern state of Kerala, India, Sunday, Aug.19, 2018. Some 800,000 people have been displaced and over 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Volunteers rescue stranded people in a boat from a flooded area in Chengannur in the southern state of Kerala, India, Sunday, Aug.19, 2018. Some 800,000 people have been displaced and over 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Volunteers rescue stranded people from a flooded area in Chengannur in the southern state of Kerala, India, Sunday, Aug.19, 2018. Some 800,000 people have been displaced and over 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) An aerial view of flooded Kuttanad in Alappuzha district, in the southern state of Kerala, India, Sunday, Aug.19, 2018. Over 300 people have died and 300,000 are displaced in the worst flooding in a century. (AP Photo/ Charly K C) A family stranded with a dog ask for help from rescuers in a flooded area in Chengannur in the southern state of Kerala, India, Sunday, Aug.19, 2018. Some 800,000 people have been displaced and over 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) Volunteers travel in a boat with essential supplies for stranded people in a flooded area in Chengannur in the southern state of Kerala, India, Sunday, Aug.19, 2018. Some 800,000 people have been displaced and over 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) A stranded person gestures to volunteers asking for help in a flooded area in Chengannur in the southern state of Kerala, India, Sunday, Aug.19, 2018. Some 800,000 people have been displaced and over 350 have died in the worst flooding in a century. (AP Photo/Aijaz Rahi) TILOS, Greece (AP) - When the blades of its 800-kilowatt wind turbine start turning, the small Greek island of Tilos will become the first in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power. The sea horse-shaped Greek island between Rhodes and Kos has a winter population of 400. But that swells to as many as 3,000 people in the summer, putting an impossible strain on its dilapidated power supply. This summer, technicians are conducting the final tests on a renewable replacement system that will be fully rolled out later this year. It will allow Tilos to run exclusively on high-tech batteries recharged by a wind turbine and a solar park. In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, photo a road leads past a wind turbine stands on the Aegean island of Tilos, Greece. When the blades of the 800 kilowatt wind turbine start turning, Tilos will become the first island in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power, feeding the needs of its population of some 400 people in winter, and some 3000 in summer. (AP Photo/ Iliana Mier) The European Commission says Tilos will be the first autonomous renewable green island in the Mediterranean. It plans to use the project as a blueprint for other small islands across the European Union that have limited grid connection to the mainland. The EU has largely funded the project, providing 11 million euros ($12.5 million) of the total 13.7 million-euro ($15.7 million) cost. "The innovation of this program and its funding lies in the batteries - the energy storage - that's what's innovative," project manager Spyros Aliferis said. "The energy produced by the wind turbines and the photovoltaics will be stored in batteries, so that this energy can be used for the grid when there is demand." The batteries store power during sunny and windy conditions, releasing it during periods of heavy demand and lower production - such as at nighttime and the peak tourist season - to keep the grid powered up. Named TILOS - Technology Innovation for the Local Scale Optimum Integration of Battery Energy Storage - the project uses a prototype battery system that improves storage of the excess energy generated until it's needed. To work, it required an overhauled grid with smart meters installed in homes and businesses to calculate times of peak demand. Currently, Tilos gets its energy from an underwater cable that runs from Kos to the island of Nisiros and on to Tilos. That creates an erratic, outage-prone service that routinely breaks appliances and has forced many businesses to rely on diesel generators. While lacking the dazzle of other Greek islands like Mykonos and Santorini, Tilos - a 14-hour ferry ride from the mainland - is a quiet vacation spot that sees an average of 13,000 visitors a year. It's known as a green island, popular with hikers and bird watchers, and most of it is now a protected nature reserve. Mayor Maria Kammas saw a green energy system as the island's natural next step. "For many years now, Tilos has plotted a course that is dedicated to protecting the environment," she said. "We are seeking visitors - tourists actually - people who will visit our island who love the environment and want to protect it and nature as it was given to us." Tourism is the main source of revenue for the island. But businesses have been plagued by lengthy blackouts, leaving hotels without air conditioning and restaurants without light or power, forcing them to discard food from warm refrigerators. Hotel owner Sevasti Delaporta has closely followed the project since its inception over two years ago. There were initial doubts about the idea among Tilos residents, but tests have run smoothly, even during peak times this summer. The grid is expected to be fully operational in a few months. "I'm very optimistic about this project because there are few negative consequences as a business, and for the guests of the hotel that I run," says Delaporta. "People are pleased with the service because they have no problem with their fridges and they have no problem with their air conditioning. They are happy." With long sunny days and average temperatures of 33 degrees Celsius (91 degrees Fahrenheit) during the summer, tourists spend their mornings at the beach and afternoons napping. The island comes alive in the evening, when businesses open and residents and tourists alike flock to bars and cafes. Eva Lemaier has visited the island every year for more than two decades. Coming from the Netherlands, which has one of the world's highest environmental standards, she says Tilos' green policies stand out in Greece. "I'm also a little bit proud of Tilos about what they are doing now, with the renewable energy," she said. "I think it's good for the island not to be dependent on other islands." ___ This story has been corrected to show that the Dutch tourist's surname is Lemaier, not Lemaire. In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, photo a road leads past a solar park on the Aegean island of Tilos, Greece. Tilos with its winter population of 400 and summer population of some 3000, will become the first island in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power when the blades of the 800 kilowatt wind turbine start turning. (AP Photo/ Iliana Mier) In this photo dated Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, a wind turbine on the Aegean island of Tilos, Greece. Tilos with its winter population of 400 and summer population of some 3000, stands on the brink of becoming the first island in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power when the blades of the 800 kilowatt wind turbine start turning. (AP Photo/ Iliana Mier) In this photo dated Monday, Aug. 6, 2018, people eat in a tavern in the Aegean island of Tilos, Greece. When the blades of the 800 kilowatt wind turbine start turning, Tilos will become the first island in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power. (AP Photo/ Iliana Mier) In this Thursday, Aug. 9, 2018, photo people drink coffee in a coffee shop on the Aegean island of Tilos, Greece. Tilos with its winter population of 400 and summer population of some 3000, will become the first island in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power, when the blades of the 800 kilowatt wind turbine start turning. (AP Photo/ Iliana Mier) In this Thursday , Aug. 9, 2018, photo, a solar park on the Aegean island of Tilos, Greece. Tilos with its winter population of 400 and summer population of some 3000, will become the first island in the Mediterranean to run exclusively on wind and solar power, when the blades of the 800 kilowatt wind turbine start turning. (AP Photo/ Iliana Mier) JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's defense minister says he's closing the country's main personnel crossing with Gaza in response to recent violence along the frontier. Avigdor Lieberman says Sunday that he's shutting down the Erez border crossing. Two Palestinians were killed by Israeli fire and another 60 were wounded during violent protests Friday amid ongoing Egyptian efforts to broker a cease-fire. The protesters threw rocks and firebombs at Israeli troops from behind clouds of black smoke from burning tires. The soldiers responded with tear gas and live fire. Relatives of Palestinian Hamas militant, Karim Abu Fatayir, who was shot and killed during the Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, mourn over his body in the family home during his funeral in town of Deir el-Balah, Central Gaza Strip, Saturday, Aug.18, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Hamas officials have been meeting with Egyptian officials in Cairo to hammer out details of a possible truce with Israel. The sides have come close to serious conflict in recent weeks, as militants have fired rockets at Israel, which has responded with airstrikes. Relatives of Palestinian Hamas militant, Karim Abu Fatayir, who was shot and killed during the Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, mourn over his body in the family home during his funeral in town of Deir el-Balah, Central Gaza Strip, Saturday, Aug.18, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) Relatives of Palestinian Karim Abu Fatayir, who was shot and killed during the Friday's protest at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, mourn in the family home during his funeral in town of Deir el-Balah, Central Gaza Strip, Saturday, Aug.18, 2018. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra) PRAGUE (AP) - It's been 50 years, but powerful images of the Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia taken by photographer Josef Koudelka still resonate among Czechs and elsewhere in the world - they've even been admired in Russia. As the armies of the five Warsaw Pact countries invaded his country an hour before midnight on Aug. 20, 1968, Koudelka was ready. Risking his life, he took thousands of photos in the week that followed, capturing the shocking experience for his nation - and the defiance of its people. After the negatives were smuggled out of the country, the photos that were published in the West became one of the most famed documentary series of the 20th century. In this Aug. 10, 2018 photo Josef Koudelka answers questions in a rare media interview with the Associated Press, at his retrospective exhibition "Returning" at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Czech Republic. Powerful images taken by Koudelka some 50-years ago still resonate across the world, bringing back memories of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia.(AP Photo/Petr David Josek) Looking back at 1968 in an interview with The Associated Press, Koudelka said he seized the once-in-a-career opportunity. "The opportunity to take so many photos made it possible for me to do something I never thought I would be able to do," Koudelka said. "And I think that a majority of people in Czechoslovakia who knew me as a photographer didn't even think I could do anything like that." His photos captured the mood on the streets of Prague: the public anger, frustration and massive protests against the troops that came in with tanks to crush the Prague Spring - the brief period of liberal reforms under leader Alexander Dubcek meant to lead toward democratization of communist Czechoslovakia. "It was a tragedy. But also miracles happened at the time," Koudelka said. "One of the biggest miracles for me was - and that has happened at major events elsewhere - that people are able to completely change overnight." He said in reaction to the attack, the whole nation became united. "No matter who you were, only one thing mattered: We were all against them," he said. One of his now-iconic photos shows a man holding his coat wide open in front of an armed soldier standing on a Soviet tank, while another one captures an elderly man trying to hit a tank with a cobblestone. "My photos captured a moment when we behaved like a nation," Koudelka said. "And that didn't happen too often in our history." Unarmed people could not stop the armies, however, and the country was subsequently taken over by a hard-line Communist regime fully loyal to Moscow. The occupying troops stayed for over 20 years and withdrew only after the 1989 Velvet Revolution led by the late Vaclav Havel. According to historians, 137 people were killed by Warsaw Pact soldiers in 1968 alone, and a total of over 400 died during the occupation of Czechoslovakia. Koudelka's photos were first published by media around the globe in 1969 under the attribution "P.P." (Prague photographer) to prevent his persecution by the Communists. He left the country in 1970 to work for the Magnum Photos agency and didn't reveal until 1984 that he was the author of the 1968 pictures. Now 80, Koudelka is not ready to retire. He still keeps his camera busy every day. Over his long career, he took many great photographs, including his Gypsy, Exile and Panoramas series that are in the collections of major museums, including the Centre Pompidou in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the J. Paul Getty Museum in Los Angeles. But his 1968 photos have been most known globally. This year alone, there are exhibitions of his work in Poland, Belgium and Italy, together with a retrospective, "Returning," at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague accompanied by the publication of his new book of the same name. His photos been displayed around the world, including in China and Russia. "I never believed I would be able to take the Russian tanks to Moscow," Koudelka said. In this Aug. 10, 2018 photo, photographer Josef Koudelka answers questions in a rare media interview with the Associated Press, at his retrospective exhibition "Returning" at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Czech Republic. Powerful images taken by Koudelka some 50-years ago still resonate across the world by bringing back memories of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion of Czechoslovakia. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) In this Aug. 10, 2018 photo 80-year old photographer Josef Koudelka, 3rd right, talks to visitors at his retrospective exhibition entitled "Returning" at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Czech Republic. Powerful images taken by Koudelka when he risked his live to document the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia some 50-years ago, still resonate across the world by bringing back memories of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) In this Aug. 10, 2018 photo 80-year old photographer Josef Koudelka answers questions in a rare media interview with the Associated Press at his retrospective exhibition "Returning" at the Museum of Decorative Arts in Prague, Czech Republic. Powerful images taken by Koudelka when he risked his live to document the Warsaw Pact invasion of Czechoslovakia some 50-years ago, still resonate across the world by bringing back memories of the 1968 Soviet-led invasion. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek) NICOSIA, Cyprus (AP) - An Egyptian man who hijacked a domestic EgyptAir flight in 2016 and ordered it to land in Cyprus has been extradited to his homeland after giving up a drawn-out legal fight, authorities said Sunday. Seif Eddin Mustafa was transferred to Egyptian custody and flown back to Egypt late Saturday, where prosecutors are investigating the incident. Cyprus Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou told The Associated Press that Mustafa's extradition went ahead after he dropped a three-year court battle to avoid extradition. On Sunday, Egyptian prosecutors ordered Mustafa to remain in detention for 15 days pending an investigation into the 2016 hijacking, Egypt's state-run MENA news agency reported. FILE - It his April 22, 2016 file photo, EgyptAir plane hijacking suspect Seif Eddin Mustafa, center, with a t-shirt reading "Cici Killer", is escorted by Cyprus police officers as he arrives in a court in capital Nicosia, Cyprus. Cyprus police say an Egyptian man who in 2016 hijacked a domestic EgyptAir flight and ordered it to land on the east Mediterranean island has been extradited to his homeland. Police said Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, that Seif Eddin Mustafa boarded an EgyptAir flight that took off for Egypt on Saturday evening. (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias, File) Mustafa had challenged extradition on the grounds that he could face torture or an unfair trial in Egypt. Mustafa hijacked the EgyptAir flight in March 2016 using a fake suicide belt and diverted it to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. A six-hour standoff with Cypriot authorities on the tarmac of Cyprus' Larnaca airport ended peacefully after all 72 passengers and crew were released and Mustafa was arrested. Mustafa told a Cypriot court that he meant no harm to anyone. He said he was trying to expose what he called the "fascist regime" of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and to help secure the release of 63 female dissidents being held in Egyptian prisons. But prosecutors said Mustafa admitted in a written statement to police that he only carried out the hijacking in order to reunite with his Cypriot family, from whom he had been estranged for 24 years. Mustafa dismissed the written statement as "purposeful misinformation" by the Cypriot and Egyptian governments put out to discredit him. Doros Polycarpou, with the migrant support group KISA that assisted Mustafa, told the AP that the 62-year-old decided of his own accord to return to Egypt and face prosecution there, despite fears that he may be tortured. Egypt and Cyprus have a 1996 extradition treaty. Polycarpou said Mustafa told his legal team he was willing "to take the risk" of suffering mistreatment at the hands of Egyptian authorities because he could "no longer take" his holding conditions in Cyprus' prison complex. He said Mustafa had complained that he was being held in "isolation" and put under "psychological strain" because authorities kept him away from the prison's general population. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights blocked Cyprus from extraditing Mustafa until it could rule on whether doing so would violate its prohibition on returning individuals to countries where they may face torture or inhumane treatment. Cyprus' Justice Ministry said Sunday that Mustafa had fired his lawyer and expressed a wish to return to Egypt. It added that Egyptian authorities gave assurances that Mustafa would "face legal proceedings commensurate with international standards." ___ Magdy reported from Cairo. JERUSALEM (AP) - When Simone Zimmerman arrived at the check-in window at the Israeli border with Egypt, it didn't take long for the young activist to run into trouble. Zimmerman, a Jewish American living in Israel, quickly became a person of interest after telling the border agent that she worked for an Israeli advocacy group that assists Palestinians. She says that led to a series of "super-charged" questions about her professional activities and political views. The agent wanted to know why she worked with Palestinians, not Jews, and asked for the names of Palestinian contacts in the West Bank. Agents unlocked her phone, asked her opinion of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and threatened to deport her if she lied. After four hours, Zimmerman, who had taken a brief vacation in Egypt, was allowed to return to Israel. FILE - In this Thursday, Feb. 25, 2016 file photo, American and Israeli Reform rabbis pray at the Western Wall, the holiest site where Jews can pray in Jerusalem's old city. Israel's recent detentions of Jewish-American critics entering the country is shining a spotlight on a growing gulf between the country's hard-line government and the predominantly liberal Jewish community in the U.S. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File) A series of similar incidents at Israeli border crossings has highlighted a growing gulf between the country's hard-line government and liberal Jewish Americans who say they support Israel but oppose its policies on issues including religion, President Donald Trump and especially the continued occupation of the West Bank. This shift already appears to be having important implications for what historically has been a close relationship built on almost unquestioning bipartisan support. Some Jewish leaders have begun to criticize Israeli policies publicly, and some predict that the Democratic Party - home to an estimated 70 percent of American Jews - could soon turn away from its support for Israel. A poll published by the American Jewish Committee in June showed deep differences between U.S. and Israeli Jews on issues like Israeli settlements, religious pluralism and Trump's policies. Only 34 percent of American Jews, for instance, supported Trump's handling of relations with Israel, compared with 77 percent of Israeli Jews. A separate poll conducted by the Pew Research Center early this year found deep partisan differences in attitudes toward Israel, with Republicans more sympathetic to Israel than Democrats by a nearly 3-to-1 margin. The differences between the world's two largest Jewish communities have been in the making for years. Non-Orthodox American Jews have long identified with liberal causes, such as civil rights and social justice, and have become well-integrated into mainstream American society. They have a high rate of intermarriage with non-Jews, are less engaged in Jewish communal life than their parents, and tend to hold relatively dovish attitudes in Israel's conflict with the Palestinians, according to Steven Cohen, a prominent sociologist who studies the American Jewish community. In contrast, many Israelis have more conservative world views. They generally oppose mixed marriage, have a more collective identity and take a harder line toward the Palestinians, Cohen said. "Essentially, you have a liberal American Jewry confronting an increasingly conservative Israeli electorate, specifically an Israeli Jewish electorate," Cohen said. Despite these differences, the Jewish American establishment - led by the influential pro-Israel lobbying group AIPAC - has firmly backed the Israeli government and its policies over the years. But a series of decisions by Netanyahu's government has begun to soften that support. Netanyahu upset many American Jews by appearing to side with Mitt Romney over Barack Obama in the 2012 presidential election. He openly welcomed Trump's election in 2016 and has angered many American Jews by forging a close relationship with a U.S. president they see as anathema to their values. The relationship hit a major turning point last year when Netanyahu, under pressure from religious political partners, called off an agreement to create an egalitarian space where men and women could worship together at the Western Wall, Judaism's most holy prayer site. The Reform and Conservative movements, which represent most affiliated American Jews, slammed his decision. Netanyahu's government has also passed legislation aimed at curbing the influence of anti-occupation advocacy groups, banned gay couples from receiving state-funded surrogacy services and approved a ban on activists who support boycotts of Israel or Jewish settlements in the West Bank. Last month, Israel approved a "nation state" law enshrining the country's Jewish character, angering many in Israel's Arab minority, who said it rendered them second-class citizens. Jewish American groups have strongly condemned the law, as have Israeli liberals who saw it as undermining democracy and needlessly provoking the country's Arab minority. This week, a coalition of anti-occupation Jewish groups in the U.S. pledged to demand explanations from any visiting Israeli lawmaker who supported the law. Ronald S. Lauder, president of the World Jewish Congress, wrote in The New York Times this week that some diaspora Jews "wonder if the nation they cherish is losing its way." He said this sentiment is especially prevalent among younger Jewish Americans. "Jewish millennials are raising doubts that their parents and grandparents never raised," Lauder wrote. "Passing the torch to this younger generation is already a difficult undertaking. But when Israel's own government proposes damaging legislation, this task may well become nearly impossible." Israel still has significant support in the American Jewish community. AIPAC continues to wield influence in Washington; the White House and Congress remain strongly pro-Israel; and the smaller but more politically engaged Orthodox Jewish minority fervently supports Israel. Elad Strohmayer, spokesman for the Israeli Embassy in Washington, said Israel and American Jews have a special bond "that Israel does not take for granted and which must always be nurtured." He said all of Israel's diplomatic missions in the U.S. are engaged in "extensive outreach to American Jews and work to strengthen the connection of all Jews to Israel, regardless of their denomination." Zimmerman, 27, said she grew up in a mainstream Jewish family in Los Angeles and was raised to show unwavering support for Israel. She only began to ask questions after heading to college, where she said she found it difficult to defend Israel against critics of its policies toward the Palestinians. This led to disillusionment with the Jewish establishment. She became involved with J Street U, the campus arm of a Jewish lobby group that supports Israel but opposes the occupation. "That really for a lot of young Jews is how the process started for many of us. It was actually just about wanting the space to ask the hard questions that didn't exist in the community," she said. Three years ago, Zimmerman formed "IfNotNow," a grassroots group that opposes Israel's occupation. The group claims to have nearly 2,000 trained activists, with chapters in 16 cities and a dozen college campuses. "Our contribution is to bring the crisis of American Jewish support for the occupation into the center of public discourse and to force a difficult conversation," she said. In recent weeks, several other vocal critics of Israeli policies have been detained and questioned about their political views when entering the country. Among them was Peter Beinart, a journalist, TV commentator and university professor who is well known in Jewish circles. Beinart warned "there is no question" American Jews are growing ever more distant from Israel. "The depth of animosity and alienation has grown dramatically," he said, predicting that Israelis will be "shocked" by how critical of Israeli policies Democratic presidential candidates in 2020 will be and how much support they will get from young American Jews. "When you think about how liberal American Jews think about Donald Trump, that's the way they feel about Netanyahu," he said. "That's the emerging demographic majority in the United States." FILE - In this June 21, 2012 file photo, prominent Jewish-American commentator speaks during an interview with The Associated Press in Jerusalem. Israel's recent detentions of Jewish-American critics entering the country is shining a spotlight on a growing gulf between the country's hard-line government and the predominantly liberal Jewish community in the U.S. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File) FILE - In this Sunday, July 29, 2018 file photo, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu attends the weekly cabinet meeting at the Prime Minister's office in Jerusalem. Israel's recent detentions of Jewish-American critics entering the country is shining a spotlight on a growing gulf between the country's hard-line government and the predominantly liberal Jewish community in the U.S. (AP Photo/Sebastian Scheiner, File) MINSK, Belarus (AP) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has fired his Cabinet, emphasizing the need to strengthen the economy to preserve the nation's post-Soviet independence. Lukashenko said he fired Prime Minister Andrei Kobyakov's Cabinet for failing to execute his orders and for paying too little attention to the country's social needs. He appointed banker Sergei Rumas to succeed Kobyakov. Lukashenko has ruled Belarus with an iron hand for 24 years, maintaining rigid Soviet-style controls over economy and showing little tolerance for dissent or independent media. FILE - In this file photo taken on Sunday, Oct. 11, 2015, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to media at a polling station after voting during the presidential election in Minsk, Belarus. Alexander Lukashenko has appointed a new prime minister Saturday Aug. 18, 2018, and carried out a significant reshuffling of the government. (AP Photo/Sergei Grits, FILE) He warned Saturday that Belarus will not turn into a "vassal" of its giant neighbor, Russia, even though he underlined the importance of close ties with Moscow. Belarus has long depended on cheap energy and other subsidies from Russia, which is facing its own economic woes and warned that it would scale down assistance to its ally. Lukashenko criticized Russia for failing to honor its agreements with Belarus. "We will never become a vassal to anyone," he said, warning against any attempts to encroach on Belarus' independence. "We will remain independent for as long as our economy develops as needed," the Belarusian leader said, warning that "we won't be able to maintain our independence if we ruin the economy." A new Belarusian Prime Minister Sergei Rumas poses for a photo in Minsk, Belarus, on Saturday, Aug. 18, 2018. Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed the country's prime minister and other top ministers, according to information released from the Presidential office, and named Rumas, the former head of the country's Development Bank, as new prime minister. (Maxim Guchek/BelTA Pool Photo via AP) MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's top investigative agency says it has detained a deputy head of the nation's top space corporation on fraud charges. The Investigative Committee said Sunday's that Alexei Beloborodov, a deputy director general of the state-controlled RKK Energiya company, has been detained along with his two associates. It said they face charges of attempted fraud but did not elaborate. Energiya is the maker of the Soyuz crew capsules and the Progress cargo ships that deliver crews and supplies to the International Space Station. In recent years, Russia's space program has been dogged by a string of launch failures and other problems that have eroded the nation's niche in the international market for commercial satellite launches. The Kremlin has reshuffled the leadership of the Roscosmos space agency in a bid to solve the industries' problems. Michael Avenatti, the attorney taking on President Donald Trump on behalf of adult film star Stormy Daniels, is attending a New Hampshire picnic held by local Democrats as he weighs a bid for the White House. 'Obviously, New Hampshire is the second state that ultimately picks a Democratic nominee. In the event I were to run, it's important to be there,' he told CNN. Avenatti is scheduled to attend the Hillsborough County Democrats' Summer Picnic fundraiser in Greenfield on Sunday afternoon. Proceeds will contribute to efforts in the county to elect Democrats. Michael Avenatt arrives to speak at the Hillsborough County Democrats' Summer Picnic fundraiser in Greenfield, N.H. Michael Avenatti does a meet-and-greet after speaking at the Hillsborough County Democrats' Summer Picnic fundraiser in New Hampshire on Sunday Avenatti has made a name for himself in multiple TV appearances Michael Avenatti speaks at the Iowa Democratic Wing Ding last week New Hampshire is an important stop on the presidential campaign express as it's the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state. Momentum out of a New Hampshire fired the candidacies of politicians like Bill Clinton - who famously became the comeback kid - and John McCain. Avenatti also recently visited Iowa, which holds the caucuses that signal the beginning of the presidential nomination process. 'I'm 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,' he told the Des Moines Register at the time. During his trip to the Iowa State Fair - a must-stop on the presidential campaign trail - Avenatti dismissed concerns he's is contemplating a run for publicity's sake. 'I would never think to come to Iowa in order to use the state or the people of the state to raise my profile,' he said. '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.' He's also making stops in other important states on the road to the White House. On Saturday, he spoke at the Hillsborough County Democrats' Kennedy King Dinner in Florida. Avenatti has gained national attention for representing Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump following an alleged 2006 affair, which the president denies. Avenatti tweeted in July that he would challenge Trump in 2020 if '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.' 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. Michael Avenatti, left, takes a selfie with Mike Munhall of Bennington after speaking at the Hillsborough County Democrats' Summer Picnic fundraiser Avenatti is suing President Trump on behalf of porn star Stormy Daniels Michael Avenatti poses for a selfie with a fairgoer at the Iowa State Fair in Des Moines, Iowa last week Michael Avenatt shakes hands at the Iowa State Fair- a must-stop on the road to the presidency Whether the trash-talking, sharp-suited, telegenic attorney is the right fit for Democratic presidential nomination 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 admits his appeal is based on his toughness. 'I'm not cute and cuddly,' he's said. 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. SANTA FE, Texas (AP) - Students in Santa Fe, Texas, will begin a new school year Monday with additional security measures in place following a mass shooting in May that left 10 people dead. The school district had metal detectors installed at entrances and hired five additional police officers, as well as 10 "security assistants" who will monitor hallways throughout the day. Teachers are receiving training on both trauma support and active shooter situations. For some students, Monday will be the first time they've been back in class since the shooting rampage , which happened toward the end of the school year. FILE - In this May 18, 2018, file photo, law enforcement officers respond to Santa Fe High School after an active shooter was reported on campus in Santa Fe, Texas. Students at the school will begin a new school year with additional security measures in place following a shooting in May that left 10 people dead. For some students, Monday, Aug. 20, will be the first time they've been back in class since the shooting, which happened near the end of the school year. (Steve Gonzales/Houston Chronicle via AP, File) "We are going to try our best to get it all right on Monday, but I'm sure there will be things we'll have to go back and tweak to get it right," school board President J.R. "Rusty" Norman said last week, according to the Houston Chronicle. "But we will get it right." The school has also built a new hallway so students and staff won't need to walk in the art classroom area, where authorities say Dimitrios Pagourtzis began a rampage that killed eight students and two teachers. A grand jury has indicted Pagourtzis on capital murder charges, and he remains jailed without bond. The school says it's also hired additional counselors who specialize in trauma to aid students and staff, Superintendent Leigh Wall said in a video posted on the district's website that outlines the security changes. "It's going to be difficult in many ways for many people to return," Wall said. "But I also think it's going to be a great opportunity for us to come together and pull together as a community." Rhonda Hart, whose 14-year-old daughter, Kimberly Vaughan, was among the students who died in the shooting, said she and other victims' parents welcomed new safety features at the high school, including metal detectors. However, Hart, who has been outspoken on the need for more gun control, said her middle-school-age son would not be returning to a Santa Fe district school this year. "As long as we have the leadership in Austin and Washington, D.C., that we have now, I don't trust Texas schools to protect my kid," Hart said. KAMPALA, Uganda (AP) - Ugandan police say one person has been killed in riots over the arrests of opposition lawmakers, including two who sustained injuries during detention. Five other protesters were injured Sunday as police tried to disperse a group of people who barricaded a road in Mityana, about 60 kilometers (37 miles) from the capital Kampala. The area's representative in parliament, Francis Zaake, is hospitalized in critical condition. Police said the officer who fired his weapon would be apprehended. There were riots on Thursday in Kampala over the detention of another lawmaker, the pop star Kyagulanyi Ssentamu. Both Zaake and Ssentamu were arrested for their alleged roles in an incident Monday in which the president's motorcade was pelted with stones. Ssentamu, who is detained in a military barracks, charged he was "severely tortured." JERUSALEM (AP) - Israel's Supreme Court has doubled the sentence of a former border policeman who was convicted in the death of a stone-throwing Palestinian teenager in 2014. The court on Sunday upheld a state appeal for a longer sentence, extending Ben Deri's imprisonment from nine months to 18 months. The Jerusalem District Court ruled in April that Deri unjustly opened fire during demonstrations in the West Bank, killing 17-year-old Nadim Nuwara. FILE - In this Friday, May 16, 2014 file photo, mourners carry the body of Palestinian teen Nadim Nuwara, who was killed in a clash with Israeli troops, during his funeral in the West Bank city of Ramallah. Israel's Supreme Court on Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018, doubled the sentence of former border policeman Ben Deri, who was convicted in the death of a stone-throwing Palestinian teenager Nadim Nuwara in 2014, from nine months to 18 months. (AP Photo/Majdi Mohammed, File) The court ruled Nuwara did not pose an immediate threat to Deri's life, and that he negligently loaded live rounds instead of rubber coated bullets typically used to disperse demonstrations. Deri agreed to a plea bargain that dropped the charge from manslaughter to causing severe bodily harm and death through negligence. He was also ordered to pay the victim's family $14,000. ST. LOUIS (AP) - Parts of Missouri are so dry that corn crops are suffering and hay for cattle is in short supply, with water becoming increasingly scarce, experts say. Missouri has had below-average rainfall since winter. The U.S. Drought Monitor map shows that nearly all of Missouri is experiencing drought, with several counties in the northwestern part of the state facing "exceptional" conditions - the most dire classification assigned by the monitor. Conditions were nearly as bad elsewhere along the northern tier and in southwestern Missouri. Much of the western U.S. is also experiencing drought. But Missouri is the only Midwestern state with such severe conditions. Parts of Kansas also are extremely dry, but most of Illinois and Nebraska, and the northern half of Iowa, are drought-free. In this Aug. 10, 2018 photo provided by the University of Missouri Extension, a steer takes shelter under a bush near a dry pond on a farm near Monett, Mo. Drought conditions across most of Missouri are causing concerns for farmers. Corn yields could be lower than normal and hay, vital for feeding cattle, is proving scarce. About three-quarters of Missouri pastures are in poor or very poor condition, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. (Eldon Cole/University of Missouri Extension via AP) "That isolated nature really hurts some corn growers because they're competing against other farmers in the Midwest that have had bumper crops," said Mark Fuchs, hydrologist for the National Weather Service office near St. Louis. "That puts a lot of them on the brink of financial ruin." The U.S. Department of Agriculture lists soil moisture as "short" or "very short" in four-fifths of the state. As for Missouri's corn crop, nearly half of it was listed as poor or very poor, according to the most recent USDA progress report. Only about a quarter was listed as good or excellent. The drought has also hurt pastures, with about three-quarters in poor or very poor conditions, according to the USDA report. Many pastures haven't been able to support grazing cattle, prompting farmers to feed cattle with hay that might normally be saved for winter. It's also hurt the hay crop, which is down about one-third from normal. "It has been a very bad summer following a very bad winter as far as the feed supply," said Eldon Cole, a University of Missouri Extension livestock specialist out of Mt. Vernon. "The winter was so long last year they had to feed hay until April. That caused them to run out of hay, and then we didn't have a good growing season." Kent Arnaud, 57, said this year's drought may be the worst since 1980 at the 1,500-acre (607-hectare) cattle farm he operates with his father and son near Monett in southwestern Missouri. Arnaud said he and his relatives are scrambling to find enough feed for the cattle over the winter. They've even sold off some calves early so they won't have to feed them in the cold-weather months. The calves are typically sold in November or December. "Unless we get an awfully good fall, we're going to be pretty nervous going into the winter," Arnaud said. "We need several rounds of soaking rain and cooler temperatures." Some farmers unable to sell drought-damaged corn were using it for cattle feed, Cole said. The weather forecast offers some hope. Fuchs said most of Missouri is expected to get at least an inch (2.5 centimeters) of rain over the next week or so, and some especially dry areas in northern and southern Missouri could see 2 inches (5 centimeters) of rain. "If we could squeeze that out of the atmosphere, that would certainly be helpful," Fuchs said. As temperatures rise in the U.S. West, so do the flames. The years with the most acres burned by wildfires have some of the hottest temperatures, an Associated Press analysis of fire and weather data found. As human-caused climate change has warmed the world over the past 35 years, the land consumed by flames has more than doubled. Experts say the way global warming worsens wildfires comes down to the basic dynamics of fire. Fires need ignition, oxygen and fuel. And what's really changed is fuel - the trees, brush and other plants that go up in flames. FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2018 file photo, firefighters monitor a backfire while battling the Ranch Fire, part of the Mendocino Complex Fire near Ladoga, Calif. The years with the most acres burned by wildfires have some of the hottest temperatures, an Associated Press analysis of fire and weather data found. As human-caused climate change has warmed the world over the past 35 years, the land consumed in flames has more than doubled. (AP Photo/Noah Berger) "Hotter, drier weather means our fuels are drier, so it's easier for fires to start and spread and burn more intensely," said University of Alberta fire scientist Mike Flannigan. It's simple, he said: "The warmer it is, the more fire we see." Federal fire and weather data show higher air temperatures are turbocharging fire season. The five hottest Aprils to Septembers out West produced years that on average burned more than 13,500 square miles (35,000 square kilometers), according to data at the National Interagency Fire Center and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration . That's triple the average for the five coldest Aprils to Septembers. The Western summer so far is more than 3 degrees Fahrenheit (1.7 degrees Celsius) warmer than the 20th century average. California in July logged its hottest month in 124 years of record-keeping. The five years with the most acres burned since 1983 averaged 63.4 degrees from April to September. That's 1.2 degrees warmer than average and 2.4 degrees hotter than the years with the least acres burned, AP's data analysis shows. In California, the five years with the most acres burned (not including this year) average 2.1 degrees warmer than the five years with the least acres burned. A degree or two may seem like not much, but it is crucial for fuel. The hotter it is, the more water evaporates from plants. When fuel dries faster, fires spread more and burn more intensely, experts said. For every 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit that the air warms, it needs 15 percent more rain to make up for the drying of the fuel, Flannigan said. Fuel moisture levels in California and Oregon are flirting with record dry levels, NOAA western regional climate center director Tim Brown said. And low humidity is "the key driver of wildfire spread," according to University of Colorado fire scientist Jennifer Balch who says the Western U.S. soon will start to see wildfires of 1 million acres (1,562 square miles). Veteran Colorado hotshot firefighter Mike Sugaski used to consider 10,000-acre (16-square-mile) fires big, now he fights ones 10 times that or more. "You kind of keep saying, 'How can they get much worse?' But they do," Sugaski said. The number of U.S. wildfires hasn't changed much over the last few decades, but the area consumed has soared. "The year 2000 seemed to be some kind of turning point," said Randy Eardley, the fire center's chief spokesman. From 1983 to 1999, the United States didn't reach 10,000 square miles burned annually. Since then, 10 years have had more than 10,000 square miles burned, including 2017, 2015 and 2006 when more than 15,000 square miles burned. Some people who reject mainstream climate science point to statistics that seem to show far more acres burned in the 1930s and 1940s. But Eardley said statistics before 1983 are not reliable because fires "may be double-counted, tripled-counted or more." Nationally, more than 8,900 square miles (23,050 kilometers) have burned this year, about 28 percent more than the 10-year average as of mid-August. California is having one of its worst years. Scientists generally avoid blaming global warming for specific extreme events without extensive analysis, but scientists have done those extensive examinations on wildfire. John Abatzgolou of the University of Idaho looked at forest fires and dry conditions in the Western United States from 1979 to 2015 and compared that to computer simulations of what would be expected with no human-caused climate change. He concluded that global warming had a role in an extra 16,200 square miles (42,000 square kilometers) of forests burning since 1984. A study of the 2015 Alaska fire season - the second biggest on record - did a similar simulation analysis, concluding that climate change from the burning of coal, oil and gas increased the risk of the fire season being that severe by 34 to 60 percent. One 2015 study said globally fire seasons are about 18.7 percent longer since 1979. Another study that year says climate change is increasing extreme wildfire risk in California where wildfires already are year-round. Also, drought and bark beetles have killed 129 million trees in California since 2016, creating more fuel. Contrary to fire scientists, Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke this week told Breitbart radio that "what's driving" increased wildfires is an increase in fuel. He said the government has "been held hostage by environmental terrorist groups" that oppose clearing dead trees that they say provide wildlife habitat. Zinke, however, has acknowledged that climate change was a factor in worsening wildfires. ___ Follow Seth Borenstein on Twitter: @borenbears . His work can be found here . ___ 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. VICTORIA, Texas (AP) - A former Texas congressman had tried steering a federal contract to the owner of a business who gave him a $160,000-a-year job after the congressman resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, according to a newspaper investigation published Sunday. Republican Blake Farenthold resigned in April amid bipartisan pressure over revelations that he used $84,000 in taxpayer money to settle a lawsuit brought by a former aide who accused him of sexual harassment. A month after leaving Congress, Farenthold was hired as the lobbyist for the Calhoun Port Authority on the Texas coast. His hiring was directed by port chairman Randy Boyd, who owns a dredging company called RLB Contracting and was a political donor to Farenthold. Emails obtained by the Victoria Advocate show that Farenthold's office arranged a meeting in May 2015 between Boyd and the Army Corps of Engineers about a government project. Federal officials took the meeting but declined working with Boyd's company, citing ethical and environmental rules, after which Farenthold's office followed up with the Corps by to see "if there is anything our office can do to be helpful (to the Corps) and Mr. Boyd." FILE - In a Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2017 file photo, Rep. Blake Farenthold, R-Texas, arrives for a House Committee on the Judiciary oversight hearing on Capitol Hill, in Washington. Farenthold had tried steering a federal contract to the owner of a business who gave him a $160,000-a-year job after the congressman resigned amid sexual harassment allegations, according to a newspaper investigation published Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File) Boyd donated $5,000 to Farenthold's campaign a day after the congressman's office began arranging a meeting for him with the Corps, according to Federal Election Commission records. The Victoria Advocate is suing the port over allegations of open meetings law violations when it hired Farenthold. In a deposition this month, Farenthold said his favor to Boyd wasn't exceptional. "It's certainly not my job to push one person over another to get a government contract," Farenthold said, "but it is to bring economic development to the district I represent." The contract Farenthold discussed with the Corps involved the Houston Ship Channel, which was not in Farenthold's district. Boyd said during a July deposition that he considered Farenthold a friend, but he didn't think the former congressman had helped him or any board member in securing a government contract. "I don't believe he's able to by law, but I don't know," Boyd said. "Not to my knowledge." Boyd told the newspaper that his donation to Farenthold after the meeting was arranged was "coincidental." Legal experts and a political watchdog group described Farenthold's business favor as ethically questionable. "The problem is, one, did he (Farenthold) intervene appropriately?" said Meredith McGehee, of Issue One, a Washington, D.C., nonprofit that seeks to reduce pay-for-play politics. "Two, did he do so because this entity or the people involved were contributors? And three, did he get this job as a reward for what he had done for him as a public official? And the fourth question is, obviously, what the heck is the owner of a dredging company doing as chair of the port authority?" Boyd said his company has given a tremendous amount of money to the community and that "we believe in doing what's right, and that there is no conflict of interest with us and the port." Farenthold was first elected in 2010. He had originally pledged last year to return the $84,000 used in the lawsuit settlement but later reversed course. He also rebuffed Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's request that he use the money to help pay for the special election to fill the remainder of his term. ___ Information from: The Victoria Advocate, http://www.victoriaadvocate.com SAO PAULO (AP) - In a story Aug. 19 about Venezuelan migrants in a Brazilian border town, The Associated Press reported erroneously that officers sent to the Brazil-Venezuela border are troops. They are members of a military-style police unit, but not part of the military. A corrected version of the story is below: Brazil sends elite force to town bordering Venezuela The Brazilian government says it plans to members of a military-style police unit to the border town of Pacaraima after residents there attacked Venezuelan migrants SAO PAULO (AP) - The Brazilian government plans to send members of a military-style police unit to the border town of Pacaraima after residents there attacked Venezuelan migrants. Government-run news agency Agencia Brasil said Sunday that the Public Security Ministry plans to send at least 60 members of the elite, military-style National Force to Pacaraima. Calls to the ministry for details went unanswered. Pacaraima is a major border crossing with Venezuela, where economic and political turmoil has driven tens of thousands to cross into Brazil over the past few years. Authorities have said that Saturday's violence erupted after a local storeowner was robbed, stabbed and beaten in an assault blamed on four migrants. Groups of angry residents then roamed the town hurling rocks at the immigrants and setting fire to their belongings. The army's Humanitarian Logistics Task Force inn Roraima said Sunday that at least 1,200 immigrants fled Pacaraima to escape the violence and returned to Venezuela. The Roraima state government estimates that more than 50,000 Venezuelans have crossed the border, occupying already existing shelters or sleeping in tents, plazas and streets. The influx was nearly equal to 10 percent of the state's population of 520,000 inhabitants. On Saturday, Claudio Lamachia, president of the Brazilian Bar Association, said that the violence in Pacaraima "exposed the humanitarian drama afflicting our neighbors ... who are trying to improve their lives and survive." "The state of Roraima does not have the conditions to shelter all the immigrants," he said. The crisis has prompted state authorities in recent months to try to limit services to Venezuelans and temporarily shut the border. The federal government and high courts have curtailed attempts to do those things. HOUSTON (AP) - A former Houston doctor convicted of sexually assaulting a patient while she was tethered to machines and receiving treatment for asthma won't serve any prison time and will instead serve 10 years' probation. The punishment has surprised defense attorneys, disappointed law enforcement and raised concerns from a victims advocacy group, the Houston Chronicle reported . The victim said through a former attorney that she had no comment and wanted to put it all behind her. Dr. Shafeeq Sheikh was sentenced Friday, a day after a Harris County jury of five women and seven men found him guilty after 14 hours of deliberations. Sheikh, 46, was not assigned to the woman's medical case at the time. He acknowledged at trial that he had sexual contact with the woman during the night shift at Ben Taub hospital in 2013 but told jurors it was consensual. In this Friday, Aug. 17, 2018 photo, Dr. Shafeeq Sheikh awaits his sentencing at Harris County Family Law Center in Houston. The former Baylor doctor received 10 years probation for raping a patient in 2013 at Ben Taub Hospital. (Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP) Prosecutors said the woman was weak, sore and medicate following several acute asthma episodes. The victim, who is now 32, testified that a doctor came to her bedside in the dark and began touching her breasts during a chest exam. She said she tried to summon a nurse with the call button, but witnesses testified it had been unplugged. She said the man returned twice more and sexually assaulted her. The Associated Press generally does not identify victims of sexual assault. Prosecutors pushed for prison time but said they respected the jury's decision. Sheikh has lost his medical license and must register as a sex offender. The jury decided the sentence. "When you're a doctor, I'd expect you'd get prison time," said attorney Casey Kiernan, who has defended sexual assault cases for nearly four decades. "We hold doctors to a higher standard." Sheikh declined comment after the sentencing. His lawyer, Stanley Schneider, asked the jury to have mercy on a man who had a wife and children and no prior felonies. Schneider told jurors that his dreams to become a doctor "were shattered by his conduct." Sonia Corrales, chief program officer at the Houston Area Women's Center, was unfamiliar with the case but said there should be equity in sentencing violent offenders. "Oftentimes, perpetrators will attempt to minimize the severity of their actions by claiming it wasn't sexual assault, but was consensual sex," she said. "Sexual violence is a willful choice a perpetrator makes to harm another human being and should be addressed by the criminal justice system with the same severity as any other violent crime." BAGHDAD (AP) - Iraq's top court has ratified the results of the country's May parliamentary elections following a manual ballot recount ordered by the outgoing chamber following charges of irregularities. The Federal Court's decision on Sunday paves the way for the president to summon lawmakers to an inaugural session of the new, 329-seat house. In theory, parliament should then proceed to elect a speaker, a president and a prime minister, who will in turn form a new government. However, political wrangling over who gets to be prime minister will likely delay the process for weeks, maybe months. A coalition led by maverick Shiite cleric Muqtada al-Sadr won the largest number of seats, 54, followed by an alliance of government-sanctioned militias known as Hashed, with 47. For decades, Michael Drweiga has opened his wallet whenever the donation basket comes around at church, but the latest revelations of priests sexually abusing children brought him to the conclusion that he can no longer justify giving. Brice Sokolowski helps small Catholic nonprofits and churches raise money, but he too supports the recent calls to withhold donations. And Georgene Sorensen has felt enough anger and "just total sadness" over the past few weeks that she's reconsidering her weekly offering at her parish. FILE- In this Sept. 24, 2015, file photo a member of the clergy prays the rosary as he waits for Pope Francis to arrive at St. Patrick's Cathedral for evening prayer service in New York. Across the U.S., Catholics once faithful with their financial support to their churches are searching for ways to respond to the constant sex-abuse scandals that have tarnished the institution in which they believe, with back-to-back scandals in the past two months. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer, File) Across the U.S., Catholics once faithful with their financial support to their churches are searching for ways to respond to the constant sex-abuse scandals that have tarnished the institution in which they believe, with back-to-back scandals in the past two months. The most recent came Tuesday when a grand jury report revealed that hundreds of Roman Catholic priests in Pennsylvania molested more than 1,000 children in six dioceses since the 1940s - crimes that church leaders are accused of covering up. The report came two months after Pope Francis ordered disgraced ex-Cardinal Theodore McCarrick removed from public ministry amid allegations the 88-year-old retired archbishop sexually abused a teenage altar boy and engaged in sexual misconduct with adult seminarians decades ago. Last month, Francis accepted McCarrick's resignation as cardinal and ordered him to a "life of prayer and penance." The most recent "whopper of a report" from Pennsylvania, Drweiga said, was enough to make him wonder where his money was going and whether it was being used to cover up abuses. "In an organization that spans the whole world like the Catholic Church, you don't know where your money is going. And when you read about these priest-abuse scandals it just raises that question to the highest power. What is this money going for?" said Drweiga, 63, who lives in Wilmette, Illinois. Sokolowski, an Austin, Texas, resident who founded Catholicfundraiser.net to provide advice to Catholic nonprofits and churches, said he's heard from many who are "really sick and tired" of hearing about priests abusing children. "So the big thing that people are saying is, 'We just need to stop funding their crap,'" said Sokolowski, 36. He said he encourages people to stop giving money to their diocese, which oversees the network of churches in an area, but to keep supporting their local parish and tell their priest and bishop what they're doing. Calls to financially boycott the Catholic Church are not new. Five years ago, after sex-abuse scandals rocked the archdiocese in St. Paul, Minnesota, parishioners talked about withholding their donations in protest. But Catholics face a delicate balance because some of the money dioceses raise are shared with parishes, cautioned Dr. Edward Peters, the Edmund Cardinal Szoka Chair at Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Detroit. "I'm just saying, be careful about punishing the Spouse of Christ and her dependent children because some priests and even bishops, men presumably wedded to her as Jesus was wedded to her, abandoned her so shamelessly," Peters wrote in a blog post Thursday, referring to the Catholic Church. Sorensen, who lives near Tucson, Arizona, said after the McCarrick story broke, her prayer group sent a letter to her bishop voicing their concerns. "Then came the Pennsylvania scandal and we thought, 'Oh my God, this isn't over. We thought it was over,'" the 72-yearold Sorensen said. "We thought we were building the new church again." Sorensen said she doesn't plan to withhold money that she has pledged, including her diocese's Annual Catholic Appeal, but she has spoken with others about the possibility of not giving a regular weekly contribution or only offering money to specific projects. As for future major giving, she said, "we are definitely waiting to see where all the chips are going to fall." "It comes down to one thing: It's the message, not the messenger," she said. "I'm a faithful Catholic. ... I will never leave the church. I will fight to save it." For Eddie Shih, however, the scandal has shaken his faith - one to which he converted about a decade ago and has intensely studied through three years of night school to earn a master's degree in theology. "I am struggling with it - it's not easy for me," said Shih, a Taiwanese immigrant who lives in New York City and attends several Catholic churches. "I don't think I'll leave the church but I can imagine a lot of people ... will just drop out of the church." Tim Lennon, the president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, said his organization has fielded calls from Catholics who have pledged to stop giving to their church. "It's an action as opposed to just sitting here doing nothing," he said, but added that it's a symbolic gesture. "That in itself will not protect children. That in itself will not support survivors. That in itself will not compel ... an attorney general to take action," he said. "It's just a message to the church that it's not just survivors knocking at their door as we have been for the last 30 years." Ilene Kennedy, a San Antonio resident who attended Mass at St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York City on Sunday, said she doesn't know "what the fix would be" aside from "holding the higher-ups accountable." Still, she doesn't think withholding her money from the collection basket is the answer. "I don't think that we should punish all churches just for that," she said. "I don't think that's right." ___ Associated Press video producer Robert Bumsted in New York contributed to this report. GREENFIELD, N.H. (AP) - The Latest on Avenatti weighing 2020 presidential bid during New Hampshire visit (all times local): 6:15 p.m. An attorney who has bedeviled President Donald Trump during the past year over his personal relationships and immigration policies has made a presidential pitch to Democratic voters in New Hampshire on Sunday. Michael Avenatti, right, an attorney and entrepreneur, arrives to speak at the Hillsborough County Democrats' Summer Picnic fundraiser in Greenfield, N.H. Sunday, Aug.19, 2018. Avenatti, the attorney taking on President Donald Trump over his alleged affair with an adult film actress, is exploring a possible 2020 run for president. (AP Photo/ Cheryl Senter) Michael Avenatti, who represents adult film actress Stormy Daniels in her case against Trump, tells Hillsborough County Democrats that he is considering matching Trump's confrontational style with his own pugilistic brand in a 2020 presidential run. "When they go low, we hit harder," Avenatti says, modifying a former first lady Michelle Obama slogan. He says Democrats today are fighting for "nothing short of the survival of our republic." Avenatti is putting a toe in the 2020 race, posting a platform on Twitter and recently visiting Iowa, another key primary state. ___ 9:21 a.m. Michael Avenatti, the attorney taking on President Donald Trump on behalf of adult film star Stormy Daniels, is attending a New Hampshire picnic held by local Democrats as he weighs a bid for the White House. Avenatti is scheduled to attend the Hillsborough County Democrats' Summer Picnic fundraiser in Greenfield on Sunday afternoon. Proceeds will contribute to efforts in the county to elect Democrats. New Hampshire is the first-in-the-nation presidential primary state. Avenatti also recently visited Iowa, which holds the caucuses that signal the beginning of the presidential nomination process. Avenatti has gained national attention for representing Daniels in her lawsuit against Trump following an alleged 2006 affair, which the president denies. Michael Avenatti, left, an attorney and entrepreneur, has a selfie taken with Mike Munhall of Bennington after speaking at the Hillsborough County Democrats' Summer Picnic fundraiser in Greenfield, N.H., Sunday, Aug. 19, 2018. Avenatti, the attorney taking on President Donald Trump over his alleged affair with an adult film actress, is exploring a possible 2020 run for president. (AP Photo/ Cheryl Senter) The Government is investigating fresh reports that a number of British Second World War wrecks in Asia have been plundered by grave robbers. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said he was very concerned to hear allegations that remains of four ships lying off the Malaysian and Indonesian coasts have been looted. It comes after six wrecks, including Royal Navy battleships HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Repulse, were feared to have been damaged or destroyed by scavengers. Altogether the wrecks are thought to be the final resting place for hundreds of Royal Navy sailors and civilians. Mr Williamson said the Government absolutely condemns the unauthorised disturbance of any wreck containing human remains. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson condemned the reports (Andrew Matthews/PA) I am very concerned to hear any allegations of incidents of Royal Navy wrecks being plundered in the Far East, he said. We will work closely with the Indonesian and Malaysian governments to investigate these claims. The Mail on Sunday said wrecks of HMS Tien Kwang, HMS Kuala, HMS Banka and SS Loch Ranza had recently been targeted by thieves for their metal. HMS Tien Kwang, a submarine chaser, and HMS Kuala, an auxiliary patrol vessel, were carrying hundreds of evacuees when they were attacked by Japanese bombers near the Indonesian Riau Islands on February 1942. Earlier that month the SS Loch Ranza, a cargo ship, had been set on fire in a Japanese air raid off the Riau Islands and exploded, killing seven men. It came after HMS Banka, a minesweeper, sank after hitting a mine off the coast of Malaysia in December 1941, killing its crew of four British officers and 34 Malay sailors. Looters are said to favour targeting the Second World War-era wrecks because of the ship steels properties. Built before the advent of atomic weapons, the metal has absorbed little background radiation, making the material suitable for sensitive instruments. Royal Navy battleships HMS Prince of Wales, where Churchill and Roosevelt signed the Atlantic Charter, and HMS Repulse both sank off the Malaysian coast, on December 10 1941. In 2014, the ships, the last resting places of more than 830 Royal Navy sailors, were found to have been damaged by scavengers. A British man accused of being involved in a precious metals fraud scheme in the United States has been placed on the FBIs most wanted list. James Ward, 65, from Scotland, allegedly defrauded investors out of around 400,000 US dollars (313,796) under a scheme operating in Florida from September 2007 to March 2010. The scheme is said to have involved deals to buy metals such as gold, silver, and platinum. Handcuffs being held by a police recruit (PA) Help @FBIMiamiFL locate James Alexander Ward, who is wanted for his alleged involvement in a precious metals fraud scheme that operated in Florida from September of 2007 to March of 2010. Contact your local #FBI with any information. #WantedWednesday https://t.co/7eyuNAOv9F pic.twitter.com/InRg7ZyXjn FBI (@FBI) August 15, 2018 A federal arrest warrant was issued in a Miami court for Glasgow-born Ward in 2012 after he was charged with wire fraud, the FBI said. He is described as being white, around 5ft 8ins tall, with hazel-coloured eyes and blond hair, which may change in colour. Described as being a securities broker, the Scot is said to have previously lived in Miami Beach, and he may travel within the UK, or to Canada and Mexico. A notice on the FBIs website stated: Ward allegedly operated an entity called Kastle & Hawk, Inc., which solicited investors to buy precious metals such as gold, silver, and platinum on a leveraged basis. Instead of investing the approximately 400,000 dollars Ward received from at least 12 investors, Ward allegedly used the money for his own personal use and benefit. No precious metals were ever acquired for investors. Jurgen Klopp expects his Liverpool old boys to rise to the challenge as new arrivals continue to raise the bar at Anfield. Klopp enjoyed a busy summer in the transfer market, signing Alisson Becker, Naby Keita, Fabinho and Xherdan Shaqiri to increase pressure on places. Competition in the midfield areas looks particularly fierce, with Keita and Fabinho costing almost 100million combined and the likes of Jordan Henderson, James Milner and Georginio Wijnaldum all hoping to retain prominent roles. Jurgen Klopp saw Naby Keita excel on his Liverpool bow (Mike Egerton/PA) Keitas debut in the 4-0 win over West Ham last week left pundits purring but Klopp, speaking ahead of Monday nights trip to Crystal Palace, sees quality throughout. We talk about Naby Keita, thats good, hes new. The world is like that. When its new its fantastic, he told the clubs official website. What you already have (must say) yeah, Im still here too. James Milner made big steps in the last three years, thats the truth. No #LFC player made more passes, completed more passes or touched the ball more often than @JamesMilner during yesterday's win.https://t.co/XWyfmLOHP1 Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 13, 2018 I dont want to judge his career but it feels like its the best moment of his career. Gini Wijnaldum, no-one speaks about him. He can play the six and the eight in the way I dont know many players can. They dont talk about him. We only spoke about these three but Fabinho didnt play a minute so far and we expect big things from him. Adam Lallana, a long time injured. Theres Xherdan Shaqiri too. Milner accepts there may be a rotation policy at Anfield this season (David Davies/PA) At 32 Milner is the oldest of the current group, but having ended last season strongly he turned in a man-of-the-match showing last weekend. He understands he may no longer be able to bank on a starting place every time but has no intention of slipping to the sidelines. I feel very good and very fit I want to play every single game, he told Premier League Productions. Obviously thats not going to happen, Im sure, and you need to rotate to be successful with the amount of games we have. With the quality thats in the squad, Im sure thats going to happen. The latest fitness update on Joel Matip and Dejan Lovren.#CRYLIV team news https://t.co/WSqF6Fuojj Liverpool FC (@LFC) August 19, 2018 But as long as Im performing every time I step onto the field and making it as difficult as possible for the manager to leave me out of the side, I cant do any more than that. The biggest thing for me is that I want to be successful at Liverpool: to win trophies and for me to be a part of that and contribute to that. In defence, Joe Gomez will be hoping to continue his partnership with Virgil van Dijk. The England international will soon come under pressure from the returning Joel Matip, who is expected to make the bench at Selhurst Park, but is finally getting a chance in his preferred central position. Gomez has been asked to fill in at right-back for most of his Reds career but Ragnar Klavans departure for Cagliari indicates Klopp now plans to utilise the 21-year-old through the middle. The Catholic archbishop of Dublin has said the Pope should speak frankly about church abuse scandals. Diarmuid Martin said the institution had come through moments of real darkness and needed to avoid covering up or justifying what happened. The first papal visit to Ireland for almost 40 years takes place next weekend. Archbishop Martin said: My hope is that he will speak kindly but also speak frankly. The recent history of the church in Ireland had its moments of real darkness. We need a church of light, a light that exposes darkness for what it is, and a light that is such that the mechanisms of cover-up and self justification cannot extinguish or tone down. My hope is that Pope Francis will challenge the church in Ireland to be different, to be more authentically the church of Jesus Christ in a culture that is different. The church has faced a sex abuse crisis which is global of nature but which has caused great harm to a once all-powerful institution in Ireland. Archbishop Martin added: The Pope has to speak frankly about our past but also about our future. He said the scandals had produced deep-seated resentment amongst believers. Pope Francis has been urged to speak frankly about the abuse scandal within the Catholic church (Niall Carson/PA) It is not just anger over the horror of abuse, but an anger at the role of Church leadership in compounding the suffering of so many in institutions for children, for unmarried mothers and for vulnerable women. These were people who found themselves placed in the care (of) the church to be loved and respected but who so often encountered extraordinary harshness. What is worse, they were in the main poor and vulnerable people, those who should above all have been the privileged recipients of what the love and care of Jesus Christ mean. I keep asking myself what it was in Irish Catholicism that led to such a level of harshness? He said the number of victims was immense and not all their identities were known. It is not something that belongs to the past but a hurt that survivors and those close to them carry in their hearts every day of their lives. He said the anger was not just about abuse but also directed at a church that was authoritarian, harsh, autocratic and self-protecting. Rather than bringing the liberating message of the love of God, it imposed a world of rules to such an extent that it lacked respect for the personal life of many and especially of women. We experienced a church that felt that it knew all the answers. We experienced a church that failed to form mature consciences and help men and women grow in discerning a mature faith. Faith requires rules and norms but there are also occasions where empty rules alienate from Jesus himself. Brexiteers have dismissed a 1 million donation by fashion tycoon Julian Dunkerton to the campaign group fighting for a second referendum, insisting more people than ever now wanted to leave the EU. The co-founder of the Superdry clothing brand said his donation to Peoples Vote would be used to bankroll one of the biggest polling exercises undertaken in the UK, in support of their demand for a referendum on any final Brexit deal. However pro-Brexit Tory MP Andrew Bridgen insisted it would make little difference as many former Remain voters were now swinging behind Leave. Superdry boss Julian Dunkerton says Brexit will be a disaster (SuperGroup/PA) Peoples Vote talk about democracy. What their declared intent is is to overturn the democratic decision of the 2016 referendum to leave the European Union, Mr Bridgen told BBC News. The way the EU have dealt with the UK Government in these negotiations, a large number of former Remain voters have come to the conclusion that we couldnt possibly stay in this relationship any longer. It would be rather like returning to an abusive relationship if we stayed in. We would be an absolute doormat. Writing in The Sunday Times, Mr Dunkerton said he was making the donation because he believed Brexit would a disaster. Im putting some of my money behind the Peoples Vote campaign because I know we have a genuine chance to turn this around, he said. Dominic Raab will return to Brussels for fresh talks with Michel Barnier (Stefan Rousseau/PA) Meanwhile Downing Street has confirmed that Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab would be travelling to Brussels on Tuesday for a further round of talks with the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier. On Thursday the Government will publish the first of a series of technical papers setting out the preparations it was making for a no-deal Brexit across dozens of areas of national life, from farming to finance. Mr Raab, who will deliver a keynote speech the same day in Westminster, said he believed a deal was still by far the most likely outcome but a responsible Government needed to set out the steps it was taking to mitigate the risks of a no-deal break. The publication of the technical notes comes amid growing frustration among some sectors about the lack of clarity about the Governments planning. Road Haulage Association chief executive Richard Burnett said businesses were unable to plan for the future. We are seven months away from Brexit and there have not been any discussions or negotiations about access rights for British hauliers into the EU certainly with a no-deal, he told BBC Radio 4s The World This Weekend. This is incredibly frustrating. It is incredibly concerning for businesses that are going to be affected by these changes. The message that we are getting back is We hope we get a deal, but we cant live on hope. Businesses need to plan, they need certainty, they need clarity. At the moment we are not getting any of that. David Silva made his timely return to the Manchester City starting line-up as he replaced the injured Kevin De Bruyne for the Premier League thrashing of Huddersfield. The former Spain international marked his 250th league appearance for the champions with an influential display which offset the absence of his team-mate, including scoring a tremendous free-kick. Here, Press Association Sport takes a closer look at Silvas display in the 6-1 victory. Reception Silva walked out for the pre-match amble at the Etihad Stadium carrying his son Mateo. The playmaker missed a string of games over the Christmas period after Mateo arrived extremely premature and spent five months in a Spanish hospital. The Manchester City supporters heartily cheered when Silvas name was announced before kick-off and even more so when he was substituted just after the hour. Teamwork Silva shone out as City showed their strength at home to Huddersfield (Martin Rickett/PA) One of the best playmakers of recent times, Silva laid on three chances inside the opening moments of the contest. He wriggled through the Huddersfield defence to set up Sergio Aguero before twice creating opportunities for Gabriel Jesus. A constant thorn in the side of the Terriers, Silva continued to torment the visitors with his vision. Goal threat Fired in a half-volley just after the half-hour mark but it was blocked. His 49th goal for City came in style as he curled a superb free-kick past Ben Hamer at the start of the second half. It was, in fact, Silvas first Manchester City goal to come from a direct free-kick, a set-piece he probably would not have taken had De Bruyne been involved. Overall Silva carried his son onto the pitch before putting on a masterclass (Martin Rickett/PA) Silva may have only been on the pitch for 64 minutes before being replaced by Riyad Mahrez but he certainly showed he is ready to carry on where he left off last season. Plenty of the headlines will be saved for the performance of hat-trick hero Aguero but Silvas display shows that, despite losing a player of the calibre of De Bruyne, Citys strength in depth is second to none. Retiring from international duty will only help Silva provide these sorts of performances on an ever-regular basis and he will be keen to keep himself on free-kicks, too. The family of a teenage girl who has gone missing have made an appeal for her to get in touch. Naomi Rees, from Rhydyfelin, Pontypridd, South Wales, has not been seen or heard from since the morning of August 15. South Wales Police and her family are becoming increasingly concerned for her welfare. South Wales Police and her family are becoming increasingly concerned for Naomi Reess welfare (Joe Giddens/PA) The 15-year-olds family appealed for her to come home. They said: Please let us know where you are and that you are safe. Come home, we are all so worried about you. Detective Inspector Meirion Collings, from South Wales Police, added: We have carried out extensive enquiries into where Naomi may be and we and her family are becoming increasingly worried. We are concerned she has left the local area and would like to know that she is safe. Naomi please call us or your family, or friends, or go to your nearest police station so we can reassure your family that you are OK. Tyson Fury contacted Deontay Wilder directly to capitalise on the breakdown in negotiations for a fight between the American and Anthony Joshua and persuade him he instead should be his next opponent. The WBC heavyweight champion will next defend his title against Fury in Las Vegas in November. He travelled to Belfast to watch his rival defeat Francesco Pianeta at Windsor Park on Saturday, after which they confirmed their fight. Furys status as his latest challenger comes after lengthy negotiations for a unification showdown with Joshua ended in frustration and, it transpires, after Fury independently concluded he was already ready for what he considers his hardest fight. Tyson Fury and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will fight in Las Vegas in November (Niall Carson/PA). He returned after almost three years of inactivity on June 9 against the little-known Sefer Seferi and, despite then still being significantly above his fighting weight, he had already re-thought his initial plan to take several warm-up contests before challenging for a title. An understanding exists between the pair, partly as a consequence of Fury revealing it was Wilder who helped inspire him to get into shape and return to the ring. The American told Press Association Sport: Fury contacted me and we had a great conversation. This was Instagram, on June 22. Bronze Bomber v Gypsy King coming soon to a tv near you. I Promise you will feel an extreme amount of pain during and after I spark you out#BombZquad @Tyson_Fury pic.twitter.com/IczCvZONve Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) August 18, 2018 In that conversation he was apologising to me, about the situation that had occurred (in not securing the Joshua fight) and he told me, They never wanted to fight you. That theyd avoid me for as long as possible until (Joshuas trainer) Rob McCracken says hes ready. He said, I promised you Id fight you lets make this happen, itll be the biggest fight in the world. Ive always wanted the Tyson Fury fight. To finally get him, its a blessing. In our eyes hes still the lineal champion, hes undefeated. Massive thanks & big respect to everyone who came & watch the fights last night. Great support.! Im humbled. pic.twitter.com/jCjnWHTWi5 TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) August 19, 2018 Hes still getting massive respect, hes the man who beat the man. I cant wait to meet the man that beat the man so when I beat the man I become the man, you understand? Those that make the 32-year-old the favourite to defend his title do so partly because of the belief that Fury is rushing into such a dangerous fight so soon into his comeback, while further observers believe Wilder will struggle with the Britons awkward style. Wilder is instead convinced that not only is Fury already ready to challenge him in a fight that he says is most definitely bigger than one with Joshua, but that his stoppage of Cubas Luis Ortiz earlier this year provided the ideal preparation for a fighter with Furys strengths. Hes well ready for it, he said. Hes in perfect shape probably the best shape of his life. If hed never been a champion Id have some concerns, but being a champion and knowing what it takes to beat a champion? No excuses. Being out for a long time? No excuses. Being out of shape? No excuses. People can always get back in shape. He still can fight. Its just a different height. Ortiz is more experienced and been fighting just as long as Fury, if not longer. Hes definitely got way more amateur experience; the Cubans, thats what they do. Ive knocked out one guy and now Im going for another. Im not going to be denied. EU migrants living in Britain will be given the right to remain in the country in the event of a no deal Brexit, it has been reported. Leaked Cabinet papers show ministers plan to take the moral high ground by unilaterally granting the 3.8 million EU nationals in the UK the right to stay, according to The Daily Telegraph. However the move was also said to reflect concerns of potential labour shortages in key sectors of the economy once Britain is outside the EU. The Telegraph said the details would be set out in one of around 80 technical notes due to be published by the Government, starting on Thursday, setting out its preparations for a no deal break across a wide range of sectors. It will mean EU citizens in the UK would be able to continue accessing the NHS and the benefits system, regardless of whether British nationals in the EU are granted reciprocal rights. The leaked paper states: The Home Office plans to make an offer to existing EU residents that they can remain in the UK in a no deal scenario, in effect unilaterally implementing the [immigration element of the] Citizens Rights agreement agreed with the EU in December 2017. The proposal is to make the offer irrespective of whether the EU reciprocates. Any package would need resolution for the reciprocal elements of the December 2017 deal. Making an offer is not only important to provide certainty publicly, but will enable the UK Government to take the moral high ground. A number of other plans are also dependent on the Governments position on this issue, relying heavily on the availability of existing labour in a no deal scenario. The paper, which was said to have been given to ministers last month, describes the issue as one of the most important aspects of the Governments no deal planning. Jacob Rees-Mogg has welcomed the offer to EU migrants (Stefan Rousseau/PA) The move was welcomed by Jacob Rees-Mogg, the leader of the influential pro-Brexit European Research Group of Tory MPs. EU migrants came here legally, and the UK is not the sort of country that applies retrospective legislation. They should have broadly the same rights as British citizens no better or worse, he told the Telegraph. However, former Brexit minister David Jones told the paper: Its got to be reciprocal. We have a large number of Britons in the EU and their interests have got to be reflected. We have got to look after our own people. A Government spokeswoman said: We do not comment on leaks. The disclosure comes as Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab prepares to travel to Brussels on Tuesday for a further round of talks with the EUs chief negotiator Michel Barnier. Mr Raab said that while he believed a deal was still by far the most likely outcome of the negotiations, a responsible Government needed to set out the steps it was taking to mitigate the risks of a no-deal break. Staff at one of Britains largest prisons were found asleep or locked in offices during an inspection that uncovered appalling squalor and violence, a watchdog has said, as it emerged the Government is taking over the privately-run jail. In a scathing critique, Chief Inspector of Prisons Peter Clarke warned HMP Birmingham has slipped into crisis following a dramatic deterioration in the last 18 months. The Ministry of Justice has now assumed control of the establishment from G4S for at least six months. G4S welcomed the move, saying the prison, which it has managed since October 2011, faces exceptional challenges. We have today taken over the running of HMP Birmingham for an initial six-month period read more here: https://t.co/d3CgJsxrTt Ministry of Justice (@MoJGovUK) August 20, 2018 The highly unusual intervention came as Mr Clarke warned that levels of violence were the highest for any local jail in the country, with some inmates saying they felt unsafe even behind locked cell doors while perpetrators could act with near impunity. His assessment found blatant use of illegal substances went largely unchallenged amid a looming lack of control. At one point, staff were said to have shrugged when inspectors pointed out that drugs were being smoked. It also emerged that the chairman of the prisons Independent Monitoring Board had raised concerns in May that prisoners, rather than staff, appeared to be controlling many of the wings. After an unannounced inspection of the prison concluded earlier this month, Mr Clarke triggered the urgent notification scheme to alert the Government to his findings. In a letter to Justice Secretary David Gauke, the chief inspector said staff were ineffective in maintaining even basic standards. It was often difficult to find officers, although we did find some asleep during prisoner lock-up periods, he wrote. On more than one occasion we found groups of staff who had locked themselves in their own offices. We were told this was to prevent them, when busy, from being distracted by prisoners an explanation that was neither plausible nor acceptable. Mr Clarke noted that many staff felt fearful and unsafe after a number of incidents, including an arson attack that destroyed nine vehicles in a car park. HMP Birmingham the scene of a major riot in 2016 was rated poor in all four healthy prison tests. An arson attack destroyed nine vehicles (Richard Vernalls/PA) Mr Clarke said he was astounded by the deterioration at the prison since it was last inspected in February 2017. There has clearly been an abject failure of contract management and delivery, he concluded. His assessment detailed how: Violence had increased, including serious assaults that left prisoners and staff requiring hospital treatment Communal areas in most wings were filthy, there were widespread problems with cockroaches and vermin, and blood and vomit was left uncleaned The smell of cannabis and other burning substances pervaded many areas, with Mr Clarke saying he felt physically affected by drugs in the atmosphere While some staff were clearly competent, relationships with inmates had deteriorated and there was a general lack of order on some wings In one bullying case a man had a poster with the message Say No to BO stuck on his door and was hosed down by other prisoners who put a fire hose through his observation panel. In the wake of Mr Clarkes findings, the MoJ confirmed it had taken over the running of HMP Birmingham for an initial six-month period at no additional cost to the taxpayer. (PA Graphics) Announcing the decision, Prisons Minister Rory Stewart said: What we have seen at Birmingham is unacceptable and it has become clear that drastic action is required to bring about the improvements we require. Shadow justice secretary Richard Burgon said: This shocking situation underlines the dangerous consequences of the ever greater privatisation of our justice system. HMP Birmingham was the first publicly-run prison to be transferred to the private sector. This should be a nail in the coffin for the flawed idea of prison privatisation. The Government must scrap its recently announced plans to build yet more private prisons. Jerry Petherick, managing director of G4S Custody & Detention Services, said: HMP Birmingham is an inner-city remand prison which faces exceptional challenges including increasingly high levels of prisoner violence towards staff and fellow prisoners. The well-being and safety of prisoners and prison staff is our key priority and we welcome the six month step-in and the opportunity to work with the Ministry of Justice to urgently address the issues faced at the prison. Built in 1849, HMP Birmingham is a category B facility for adult male inmates and had a population of 1,269 at the end of last month. By Andreas Rinke and Vladimir Soldatkin MESEBERG, Germany, Aug 18 (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discussed the conflicts in Ukraine and Syria, as well as Iran and a gas pipeline project that has drawn U.S. ire during tough talks outside Berlin that ended with no clearcut progress. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters no agreements were reached, but the meeting had simply been intended to "check the watches" after Merkel's meeting with Putin in the Black Sea resort of Sochi in May. Ties between the two countries have been strained since Russia's annexation of the Crimea region of Ukraine in 2014. The two leaders both viewed the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project as a purely commercial venture, despite persistent fire by the U.S. and Ukrainian governments, Peskov said. "Thats why it is necessary to take measures against possible non-competitive and illegal attacks from the third countries in order to complete this project eventually," he told reporters shortly before Putin flew back to Russia. It was not immediately clear what such "measures" could entail. At the start of the talks, Merkel underscored her expectation that Ukraine should continue to have a role in gas transit to Europe, and welcomed the start of discussions among the European Union, Ukraine and Russia on that issue. Putin, speaking at the German government's Meseburg castle, said such a move had to make sense from a business perspective. "The main thing is that the Ukrainian transit - which is traditional for us - meets economic demands," he said. "Nord Stream 2 is exclusively an economic project." The United States is pressing Berlin to halt the pipeline that will carry gas from Russia under the Baltic Sea, arguing it will increase Germany's dependence on Russia for energy. Ukraine fears the pipeline will allow Russia to cut it off from the gas transit business, while Germany's eastern European neighbours worry about Russian encroachment. Peskov said the threat of possible U.S. sanctions against companies involved in the project was not discussed on Saturday. Standing beside Putin before the talks, Merkel said both countries - but especially Russia as a permanent member of the U.N. Security Council - had a responsibility to try to solve the ongoing fighting in Ukraine and Syria. She said she also planned to raise potentially thorny human rights issues with Putin, and discuss bilateral relations. "I am of the opinion that controversial issues can only be addressed in dialogue and through dialogue," she said. Both leaders raised concerns about Syria and the plight of the many refugees created by the seven-year-old war there. Merkel said it was important to avert a humanitarian crisis in Idlib, Syria and the surrounding region, and said she and Putin had already discussed the issue of constitutional reforms and possible elections when they last met in Sochi in May. Putin told reporters that everything must be done to help Syrian refugees to return to their country and that Syria needed assistance to rebuild. The two leaders took no questions. On Ukraine, Merkel said she hoped fresh efforts could be undertaken at the beginning of the new school year to disentangle Ukrainian military forces and separatists on the front lines in the Donbass region. Putin arrived in Germany on Saturday evening after a stop at an Austrian vineyard where he danced with Foreign Minister Karin Kneissl at her wedding to entrepreneur Wolfgang Meilinger. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas told the Welt am Sonntag newspaper Germany hoped to "create new momentum" in the Minsk peace process. Sanctions relief for Russia would only be negotiated if the Minsk accord was implemented, he added. Maas said he had spoken with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Pavlo Klimkin this week, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was due to visit Berlin again on Sept. 14 after a meeting with Merkel in the German capital last month. (Reporting by Andreas Rinke and Vladimir Soldatkin; writing by Andrea Shalal; editing by Andrew Roche and Chris Reese) Authorities searching for bodies after the Genoa bridge collapse have called off the operation, saying all those missing have now been accounted for. The death toll from Tuesday's disaster, when a 200-yard section of the Morandi bridge caved in, stands at 43. Nine people remain in hospital, four of whom are in a critical condition. A clean-up operation is now underway in Genoa, whilst the collapse has prompted other European countries to consider the safety of their own infrastructure. A GPR (ground penetrating radar) installed by the firefighters checks the collapsed Morandi highway bridge Firefighters and workers inspect the wreckage of the viaduct days after a section of it collapsed on August 14, 2018 in Genoa, Italy Thousands attended a state funeral for victims of the disaster yesterday, but some families boycotted the event, blaming the government for failing to ensure that the bridge was safe At the time of the collapse, there was heavy traffic on the bridge and about 30 cars plunged more than 165ft. On Sunday, workers and firefighters were seen clearing the concrete and rubble in order to make the site secure. Others were searching for clues as to the cause of the disaster. The Morandi bridge was a section of the A10 motorway linking Genoa in Italy with the French border. It was managed by Autostrade per l'Italia, part of the infrastructure group Atlantia. On Saturday, Autostrade promised to allocate funds of 500m (449m) to rebuild the bridge and immediately aide the victims, their families and those in the area who have had to leave their homes. The bridge was operated by Autostrade per l'Italia, which promised to allocate funds of 500m (449m) to rebuild the bridge and immediately aide the victims On Sunday, workers were clearing the concrete and rubble in order to make the site secure and help establish the cause of the disaster Meanwhile, an independent audit commissioned by the French government found that 840 bridges in France have serious damages and are at risk of collapse. The audit, published by the Journal du Dimanche newspaper, states that there are 12,000 government-maintained bridges in France, and of these about one third need repairs and 7% - or about 840 bridges - present a 'risk of collapse' in the future. It does not factor in thousands of French bridges under operation by private companies. Saturday was declared a national day of mourning in Italy including a state funeral at the industrial port city's fair grounds for those who plunged to their deaths Highways England, a government-owned company responsible for operating, maintaining, improving England's motorways and major A roads, as well as several bridges, also released a statement. Its chief highways engineer Mike Wilson said: 'Our deepest sympathies are with everyone involved in the tragic bridge collapse in Genoa, Italy. 'We can reassure drivers that safety is and always will be our top priority. People light candles for the victims of the Morandi Bridge collapse among other tributes on a bridge opposite The cause of the disaster is not yet clear, but the bridge was having work done on its foundations, and there had been a period of bad weather in the run up to the collapse 'We have detailed design standards and quality control processes to ensure bridges are designed and constructed to provide safe and comfortable journeys for road users. 'This is supported by a thorough and regular regime for inspecting all structures, including bridges, on England's motorways and major A roads and taking any necessary action to help ensure they stay safe. 'A very small proportion of our structures are suspension or cable stayed bridges but none of them are of similar construction to the one in Genoa. 'We're committed to continually improving our network to make every journey the safest it can be. So when the causes of the Genoa bridge collapse have been investigated and reported, we will carefully assess any lessons to be learnt and will bring in any required changes to standards and processes.' The collapse and the deaths of 43 people vehicles have many in Italy to question the safety of the nation's infrastructure - with some blaming the government Nuns look at the wreckage of the Morandi Bridge from a high vantage point opposite People gather by a barrier in an Ikea car park in front of the Morandi Bridge after a section of it collapsed on Tuesday in Genoa, Italy The bridge was built in the 1960s and was a main route in and out of Genoa, linking it to the western Italian border with France There are also fears for the safety of a 'twin' structure in Venezuela which suffered a fire just days before the Genoa disaster. The five-mile-long General Rafael Urdaneta Bridge links the country's second city Maracaibo with the rest of Venezuela and was also designed by Riccardo Morandi. Venezuelans have long been concerned about the country's crumbling infrastructure, and experts from the University of Zulia, as well as engineering and construction specialists, are preparing a report on the condition of the bridge. What Sri Lanka can learn from the Australian legal system? Delivering the keynote address at the Lawbiz Symposium, Supreme Court Justice Prasanna Jayawardena - Presidents Counsel shared an impressive method to improve Sri Lankan economy. He contemplated establishing an effective and reliable legal system which could attract investors and traders to our economy. However, he was of the view that such an effort would require careful study of a comparable jurisdiction, which has achieved a reduction in court time. In search of such new ways and strategies, which could be adopted to the Sri Lankan Judiciary from a comparable legal system, Daily Mirror conducted an interview with a Barrister of Australia, Alan Moyle (LLB, BEc, GDLP, LLM, DipIPL), who has forty years of professional experience and was also a guest speaker at the Colombo Lawbiz Symposium organised by the Colombo Law Society.Following are the excerpts. Q What is your basic understanding about the legal knowledge that the Australian general public have? They have a confidence in the legal system. But, sometimes people criticize judges too. Q If I may disturb you, in order to criticize a judge those people need to have a sufficient knowledge on their legal system and law. So, does your education system in schools provide sufficient legal knowledge to students? There is education and awareness to a considerable level about how our constitution and legal system are structured. Australia is a federation and each state has its own constitution and a parliament, and at the top of them, there is a federal parliament and a federal constitution, therefore, children learn about those basic things in schools. Every year, lawyers in Australia will have to get a practicing certificate. There is also a compulsory professional indemnity insurance, which means that if lawyers get sued by a client then everybody has professional indemnity insurance There are law reform bodies to look into issues in prevailing laws in Australia Q From where do children start learning them? Their learning of legal studies initially start primary school and gradually in high school and those who prefer legal studies for higher education, they get a lot of time to study about the court structure and how it works. Q That means in general, they have a fair knowledge on their legal system, right? Yes. I suppose they have an idea about how it works. Delaying of cases did happen in the past in Australia, where we had cases dragged for years. But now the Australian legal system does not really let that happen The documents are filed in Australian courts electronically. There is a case management system so that the case can be heard quickly. Even in some cases, if the witness cannot be present in court judge might be prepared to hear them online through video call. Q There is a saying that no other place like Sri Lanka for a lawyer to practise. May be people say that because of the freedom that lawyers in Sri Lanka actually have or perhaps for the reason that there is no independent body to scrutinize the practice of the lawyers? Can you say anything on that? I think I am not in a position to comment on that since I dont have a very good knowledge about the Sri Lankan legal system. Q Tell us about that situation in Australia... In Australia there is a legislation that lawyers have to comply with, in order to regulate the legal profession. Every year, lawyers will have to get a practising certificate. This certificate has to be renewed every 12 months and we pay a fee for that. There is also the compulsory professional indemnity insurance, which means that if lawyers get sued by a client then everybody has professional indemnity insurance. Level of that insurance varies but there should be at least a minimum level of insurance. "The clients can complain to an independent body (like an ombudsman) and it will look into it and see whether the lawyers charge is disproportionately high. Then that could be a subject for a court action against the particular lawyer by the client or the regulatory body will take actions against that lawyer " Q Are there any restrictions in your country on how lawyers should charge for their services? There is no restriction on what lawyers can charge except for market forces such as more experienced people tend to charge more and less experienced people charge less. Some areas in law, there is a lot of competition among lawyers, while some areas dont have such competition. Q Is there a payment scale for the lawyers? There was such thing before, but now there are no set fees or scale of fees anymore, because it was said that it was anti-competitive for lawyers to compete with each other and therefore the previous fixed scales of fees was abolished. Now people are charged on hourly base and or a set fee for a particular case of work. Lawyers can also charge based on time if they want to (monthly or for a particular milestone in the case). Those are the two ways that lawyers mainly charge and sometimes there might be a success fee for winning the case while there could be some cases that lawyers carefully enter into the no fee no win cases as well. Even though, there is no restriction on how lawyers should charge on clients, certainly clients can complain to an independent body (like an ombudsman) and it will look into it and see whether the charge is disproportionately high. Then that could be a subject for a court action against the particular lawyer by the client or the regulatory body will take actions against that lawyer. "If you fail to fulfil procedural requirements on time, then judge can made a cost order against the lawyer personally to prevent delaying of cases" Q With the technological advancement in the modern world, can you educate us on how the Australian legal system has evolved over time? We have a British based legal system, where we have constitutional monarchy, that queen of England is the queen of Australia even though not actively doing anything. Each state in Australia has a court system while there is a federal court system because the federal constitution divides on the responsibilities of states and the commonwealth of Australia. So, over the time the court system has evolved with technological advancements. The documents are now filed in courts electronically. There is a case management system so that the case can be heard quickly. Even in some cases, if the witness cannot be present in court judge might be prepared to hear them online through video call. And also for some procedural hearings, rather than solicitors coming to the court, judge might say lets have a telecommunication conference to smooth up the process. The Australian legal system uses these technological advancements to speed up the process. Even, barristers are allowed to use their i-pads, laptops and phones in the court. Q How about the freedom of press for the legal sector in Australia? Actually, the press is allowed for most matters that are taking place in open court, but recording is completely prohibited. And also sometimes there are suppression orders on media preventing coverage of certain cases. Even though usually media oppose that these suppression orders are there because sometimes, for instance, in a rape case, when news reports carry that news during the trial it might have a negative effect on the minds of the public since they will assume that he is guilty even thought there is a saying one is innocent until proven guilty, so that can do a lot of damage to that persons reputation. If that person is found guilty at the end of the case then normally the suppression order will be lifted so that media can report about it. "There is also compulsory mediation to try and settle cases before they get to trial. Even though, cases may not necessarily settle in mediation, it will help to quicken the court process by reducing listed court cases" Q When it comes to the aspect of delay of cases in Sri Lankan legal system, many people accuse lawyers as responsible since they come up with various reasons to drag the case. Is that the same scenario in Australia? This delaying of cases did happen in the past in Australia, where we had cases dragged for years. But now the Australian legal system does not really let that happen. There are procedural requirements to speed up the resolution of cases. One of the things that the legal system does is that if you do not comply with the procedural orders that are made by the judge then the court will cost against the lawyer not against the client. If the judge in a procedural stage says that you have to file these documents within a certain time period and you fail to file them on time, then judge can make a cost order against the lawyer personally. That compels lawyers to go through that procedural stage quickly without further unnecessary delay. There is also compulsory mediation to try and settle cases before they get to trial. Even though, cases may not necessarily settle in mediation, it will help to quicken the court process by reducing listed court cases. In the court trial, firstly the two parties usually get together and decide on their witnesses in the case and how long it will take to conclude proceedings with them. Then, they go before the judge and reveal the approximate time period that they will take for trial. Then judge will usually ask them how many days that the trial may take place and accordingly judge may fix extra days within a certain time period in order to maintain the continuity of the trial. Q How does the Australian legal system play its role in the context of policy making? Sometimes judges make comments on the cases if the law needs to be reformed. There could be cases where the judge may think the outcome of the law is unsatisfactory even though it is the prevailing law. "Australia is a federation and each state has its own constitution and a parliament, and at the top of them, there is a federal parliament and a federal constitution" Q So, are you saying that those opinions of judges are being heard by the politicians? Not always, but sometimes politicians respond to them. On the other hand, there are law reform bodies in each state, which look into bringing new laws as well as the need of reformation to the prevailing law. There are actually some laws that came out from these law reform bodies and public agitation like environmentalists. Sometimes these law reform bodies will look into existing laws that have expired. Q Can you contemplate how the young generation of Australia see the field of legal studies? It is interesting. Actually I always get asked by young people that whether they should study law or not. I respond to them, saying dont do law just because parents tell them or the students think that they can make a lot of money or to pursue a job with status in the society. I ask them to do law if you are passionate about law. "There is a case management system so that the case can be heard quickly. Even in some cases, if the witness cannot be present in court judge might be prepared to hear them online through video call" Q Is there an authority or any kind of an institution that conducts productive researches on the Australian legal system in a statistical nature? The law reform bodies do that. If there is an institution of judicial administration, which looks into a lot of statistical details about cases such as how quickly cases are resolved, how long the trials have gone, etc. Q Very recently Daily Mirror reported about two famous suspects, who were in remand custody, over the controversial financial scam. After being brought to the courts in morning by the Prison officers to produce for the magisterial inquiry, the suspects were not given water or food until 3.00 p.m. The Prison moved as reasons saying the delivery of lunch packets was late. Any comments on that? As Justice Prasanna Jayawardena mentioned, in his speech at the Lawbiz Symposium, about the reforms that were brought in to the Pakistan legal system recently, I can tell you a story in Pakistan. When the new Chief Justice was appointed a few years ago in Pakistan, he got a letter from a prisoner who was in remand. Letter said Dear Chief Justice, I have been in jail since several years and I am just wondering when my case might come to the court. The new Chief Justice thereafter immediately ordered this guy to be produced in the court. Then the judge asked what the case was against him and subsequently found out that this person was in remand longer than the maximum punishment for what he was charged for, despite whether he was guilty or not. Then the Chief Justice immediately ordered to release him. That shows how some legal systems were in a napoleon state, which really should not have happened. World figures have been paying tribute to former UN secretary-general and Nobel laureate Kofi Annan, who has died at the age of 80. Current UN chief Antonio Guterres hailed him as "a guiding force for good" and Russian President Vladimir Putin described a "remarkable person". Sri Lankan President Maithripala Sirisena said Kofi Annan was a visionary leader whose work reshaped international efforts to ensure peace and stability across the world. Generations to come will benefit from his hard work. Ex-US President Barack Obama said Annan had always pursued "a better world". The Ghanaian national served as UN chief from 1997 to 2006 and is the only black African ever to hold the post. Since then he has served as the UN special envoy for Syria, leading efforts to find a solution to the conflict. The career diplomat died in hospital in the Swiss city of Bern. He had been living near Geneva for several years. He "passed away peacefully on Saturday after a short illness", the Kofi Annan Foundation said. He was a "deeply committed internationalist who fought throughout his life for a fairer and more peaceful world", the statement added. Mr Guterres led the tributes to his predecessor. "In many ways, Kofi Annan was the United Nations. He rose through the ranks to lead the organisation into the new millennium with matchless dignity and determination," he said in a statement. UN high commissioner for human rights Zeid Ra'ad Al Hussein said in a tweet he was grief-stricken over Annan's death: Mr Obama, the first African American to win the White House, said: "Long after he had broken barriers, Kofi never stopped his pursuit of a better world." President Putin said the memory of Annan would "forever live in the hearts of Russians". Meanwhile, Indian PM Narendra Modi said "the world has lost not only a great African diplomat and humanitarian but also a conscience keeper of international peace and security". While congratulating Imran Khan's election to office as the Prime Minister of Pakistan, President Maithripala Sirisena said he looked forward to working closely with him to further develop the historic friendship and partnership between the countries and find avenues to deepen the cooperation between the two countries. "Our countries enjoy close and cordial relations that have grown over the years, with potential for further advancement, the President said in the congratulatory message. The President said that he was confident that Khan's tenure of office would help steer Pakistan towards peace, stability and prosperity. Former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee was a "true friend" of Sri Lanka and had assisted the country in the civil war against the LTTE, Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said today. Mr Wickremesinghe made these comments after visiting the Indian High Commission in Colombo to sign a condolence book for Vajpayee, who passed away on Thursday at the age of 93. "He was one of the great prime ministers. He was a true friend of Sri Lanka, he stood for Sri Lanka at all times," Wickremesinghe said. "When I was the prime minister of Sri Lanka previously, the LTTE was in a very strong position. Our economy was weak. Mr Vajpayee helped us develop the economy and extended military training. We were able to stop the sea Tigers (LTTE's sea wing) because of him," he said. Wickremesinghe said he met Vajpayee for the first time in 1975. When Vajpayee later became India's foreign minister in 1977, Wickremesinghe as Sri Lanka's deputy foreign minister carried on the friendship, he said. "He gave me his personal telephone number when he returned as the prime minister, and we continued the friendship," Mr Wickremesinghe said.(PTI) ir Vidhyadar Surajprasad Naipaul, or Vidia as he was known to his friends, has died without leaving a new literary successor or equal of Indian origin who could scale the heights he reached. Only the second writer of Indian origin to win the Nobel Prize, he leaves a complex legacy of finely written books, literary feuds and enmities, and a uniquely individual way of viewing the third world which many found hard to stomach. Though he was born in Trinidad and Tobago and lived much of his adult life in England, Naipaul may be called an Indian writer. But he would have detested that definition. Essentially rootless, he was scathingly critical of both the West Indies and India, and haughtily contemptuous of Britain, calling it a country of bum politicians, scruffy writers and crooked aristocrats. "Though he was born in Trinidad and Tobago but lived much of his adult life in UK, Naipaul may be called an Indian writer. He was scathingly critical of both the West Indies and India, and haughtily contemptuous of Britain" I discovered Naipaul among the fiction shelves of the British Council library during my school days. The first thing I read was a collection of short fiction, which included some excruciatingly funny pieces. His masterpiece was the autobiographical novel A House for Mr. Biswas, which too, is very funny. Thereafter, his fiction as well as non-fiction grew bleaker and bleaker. Mimic Men, In a Free State and Guerillas were dark, brooding novels. I have read enough of bleak novels in my life. But, whether its Dostoevsky, Thomas Hardy or Joseph Conrad, the romantic view of life which is central to their plot and character building makes their books a pleasure to read. Naipaul is the least romantic of all major writers Ive ever read. Writing about love was as difficult to him as writing about monastic life would have been to Henry Miller. That may amount to a considerable literary achievement to leave out what many writers would consider as essential, and create a lasting literature around the ugly truths and inconsistencies of life. But it put me off Naipauls fiction considerably. His non-fiction was more interesting. It created the biggest controversies of his literary life, too, earning him the unenviable reputation of being a racist and a bigot. Naipaul was born in 1932. His grandparents were labourers. His father Seepersad was a journalist with a great love of European literature, and proved to be his inspiration to be a writer. During his lonely years at Oxford University in Britain (he got there thanks to a scholarship), the letters between father and son were a source of strength to Naipaul. These were published later as Letters Between Father and Son (1999). A House For Mr. Biswas, was published in 1961 when he was only 29, establishing his literary reputation. The success allowed him to spend the next few years travelling in India, Africa and the Caribbean. The ensuing writing was hardly flattering to these countries. An Area of Darkness, his book about India (1964), has him recoiling in horror at the narrow, broken lanes with green slime in the gutters, the choked back to back houses, the jumble of filth and food and animals and people, the baby in the dust, swollen-bellied, black with flies, but wearing its good-luck amulet. That hardly won him many friends in India. His writing about Africa was no different. He took up a writer-in-residence fellowship at a university in Uganda, and wrote The Mimic Men while there (1967), the story of a politician of Indian origin in the Caribbean who only succeeds in mimicking the behaviour of his former European masters. His writing about Africa was scathing. Travelling widely, he saw only destruction and despair. In A Free State (1971) won the Booker Prize with its portrayal of a violent, post-colonial milieu attracting young, idealistic whites in search of sexual freedom. Guerillas (1975) was an even more disturbing novel about a politically naive white girl who was fatally attracted to a self-styled messiah leading a ragtag liberation movement in a Caribbean state. A Bend in the River (1979) based on the Republic of Zaire under Mobutu Sese Seke, is a frightening study of how absolute power corrupts absolutely. Such works seem to confirm Naipauls view that Africa would revert to the bush. Such bleak views of life in the third world drew vehement criticism from notable literary figures such as Nobel laureates Chinua Achebe and Derek Walcott; the latter said that Naipaul wrote beautiful prose scarred by scrofula and a repulsion towards Negroes. After Africa, the West Indies and India,Naipaul turned his attention to the Muslim states and Islamic fundamentalism. In The Believers (1981), he attacked Muslim clerics and the new generation of religious youth mercilessly. In reviewing it for the New York Times, one writer wrote that it bore an antipathy to the religion so blatant that a book taking a comparable view of Christianity or Judaism would have been hard put to find a publisher in America. When Salman Rushdie went into hiding after The Satanic Verses, Naipaul described the fatwa as an extreme form of literary criticism. Writing about Islam, he wrote that there probably has been no imperialism like that of Islam and the Arabs. The academic Edward Said declared he found it hard to believe any rational person would attack entire cultures on such a scale. Many critics saw him as a misogynist and a hater. Novelist and travel writer Paul Theroux, his one time friend and admirer, became a bitter enemy when he discovered in a second hand bookshop one of the books gifted by him to Naipaul. Not all Muslim writers saw him in a negative light. Turkish writer Orhan Pamuk wrote that Naipaul represented the third world not with sugary magic realism but with their demons, their misdeeds and horrors which made them less victims than human. He married twice. His first wife was Patricia Hale, a fellow student at Oxford. She was very supportive and read all his manuscripts, but he was unfaithful to her. "As Naipauls fame grew, his younger brother Shiva Naipaul (born 1945) was relegated to obscurity. The late Shiva Naipaul too, was an acclaimed fiction and travel writer. He died in 1985 without realizing his full potential" As Naipauls fame grew, his younger brother Shiva Naipaul (born 1945) was relegated to obscurity. The late Shiva Naipaul too, was an acclaimed fiction and travel writer. He died in 1985 without realizing his full potential. His two novels The Fireflies (1970) and Chip Chip Gatherers (1973) explore his native Indian community in Trinidad.Geoffrey Wheatcroft, commenting about them in the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, said that Fireflies was written in limpid prose, with a crystal ear for dialogue and comedy. Through the human story of struggle it strikes at the heart of the functioning of the Hindu community in Trinidad. After publishing these two novels, Shiva Naipaul too, spent time travelling in Africa. The resulting work, North of South,is harshly critical of African life just as his brothers writing was. In 1980, came out Black and White, an exhaustive study of the mass suicide in Guyana by members of American preacher Jim Jones cult, which led to accusations of anti-Americanism by critics. His last novel was A Hot Country, a dark and despairing work set in a fictitious South American country. In early July the Shenzhen Component Index, dominated by technology stocks fell to its lowest point since 2014. However, focus has shifted past the trade war, as a number of big Chinese tech companies see their share prices plummet for other reasons. https://t.co/cXUWJzCjMv Sunsets like this one at Zuma Beach in Malibu, California, make many Golden State coastal properties prime rental investments. But Golden State limits on property taxes on inherited homes cost cities and other jurisdictions billions of dollars. (Photo by Alex Beattie via Flickr CC Californians love Proposition 13, the grandfather of tax-limiting ballot initiatives. Since its passage in 1978, it has kept a tight cap on property tax increases. But an expansion of the original Prop 13, enacted eight years later, and its unforeseen consequences have cost Golden State school districts, cities and counties of billions of dollars in revenue, according to an investigation by the Los Angeles Times. Tax break bequest for real estate heirs: The original property tax initiative passed 40 years ago limits property taxes to 1 percent of a home's taxable value based on the year the house was purchased. The real estate isn't reassessed for tax purposes until it's sold. Then its market value, i.e., the purchase price paid by the new owner, resets the tax value to which the tax cap is applied. Eight years after Prop 13 was passed, an additional property tax break, Proposition 58, overwhelmingly passed. This added tax break was designed to protect families from sharp tax increases on the death of a loved one. It extended Prop 13 tax cap advantages to inherited property, even when the real estate that heirs receive is used as rental, not residential, property. This has allowed Californians to use their inherited homes as investment properties, notes the L.A. Times, often renting choice properties for monthly amounts that are many times more than the limited annual property taxes they owe under Prop 13 and its subsequent laws. Rents much more than tax bills: Reporters Liam Dillon and Ben Poston cite as an example the Malibu beach home inherited by actors Jeff and Beau Bridges and their sister, which they advertise for rent at $15,995 a month. The home's annual property tax bill last year, according to the story, was $5,700. The newspaper calculated that the tax break allowed the Bridges to avoid paying $300,000 in property taxes they would have faced if the house had been reassessed when they inherited it in 2009. The Bridges family is not alone in legally benefiting from the property tax limit law. The newspaper found that in in Los Angeles County, as many as 63 percent of homes inherited under the system were used as second residences or rental properties last year. That trend also was noted "in a dozen other coastal counties where prime vacation spots in Sonoma and Santa Cruz have some of the highest concentration of homeowners receiving the benefit." More than celebs benefit: Celebrities aren't the only ones benefiting from this property tax break that only California offers. "The inheritance tax break," write Dillon and Poston, "has allowed hundreds of thousands including celebrities, politicians, out-of-state professionals and some of California's most prominent families to avoid paying the higher taxes owed by newer homeowners." Even out-of-state residents who inherit pricey and desirable homes are benefiting. Tax breaks and inequality: The inheritance tax break's costs the paper figures that Los Angeles County alone lost more than $280 million in property tax revenue last year; areas of Beverly Hills and Manhattan Beach could have collected an additional $7 million and $5.5 million, respectively has ignited a new round of debate on at least that portion of Prop 13. But are those amounts enough to prompt change? Those who say the property tax break for heirs should be revisited argue that it is symbolic of, and has in fact exacerbated, California's growing income (and subsequent housing) inequality. Thomas Hannigan, a former California state assemblyman who authored the inheritance tax break in 1986, admits he did not foresee the financial windfall it would produce for real estate heirs. His proposal, he told the L.A. Times, was designed to level the playing field for families, regardless of income, as compared to businesses. Under Proposition 13, companies could maintain low property tax bills on their buildings forever even as management in effect, the company's owners changed over time. Hannigan argued that families should be treated similarly when ownership changed via bequests. Another ballot vote on the way? There is a move to rewrite Prop 13, but it doesn't affect individuals, either owners or heirs, and it won't happen, if at all, for several more years. The new proposal, which could be on California ballots in November 2020, would tax California business and industrial properties based on regular assessments of their value. There would be exemptions for small businesses, vacant property intended for agriculture or housing, and the owners of apartment complexes. If the Prop 13 revision ballot initiative is eventually approved by Golden State voters, the regular reassessment of business property values could raise collective corporate tax bills by billions of dollars. That could help offset the billions lost when California homeowners rent their inherited residential properties. And speaking of those billions of dollars, the state law Proposition 13 that keeps tax collectors' hands off those forgone property taxes is this week's By the Numbers figure. You also might find these items of interest: Times: Trump uses dispute with Turkey Worlds leading global publication The Financial Times claims that US President Trump uses dispute with Turkey to rally evangelicals. The interesting article was published 2 days ago in Financial Times. In that article Trumps insistence for Brunson was discussed. TRUMP IS SEEKING SUPPORT As President Donald Trump presses Turkey to release an American pastor under house arrest, one group in particular has praised his administrations efforts the evangelical Christians who claim Andrew Brunson as one of their flock. In November there will be the midterm elections and Trump is seeking some support for this election. "PENCE HAS PROMOTING FROM THE BEGINNING" "The Brunson case is a rallying cry for evangelicals within the Republican base because you have a Christian pastor being held in a Muslim-majority country, said Amanda Sloat of the Brookings Institution. It seems like this is something that Pence has promoted from the beginning. Sexual exploitation is not a common phrase in Faribault County, but according to statistics from the Advocates for Human Rights and Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force, sexual exploitation and human trafficking are an issue in Minnesota. In 2015, Minnesota had the third-highest number of human trafficking cases in the United States, and the FBI identified the Twin Cities as one of 13 U.S. cities with a particularly high incidence rate of child prostitution. But how does that affect Faribault Countys small, rural area? Quite a bit. Victim/Witness Coordinator for Faribault County, Deb Wiederhoft says there have been a few cases of human trafficking, but those have happened on Interstate 90, which immediately makes those cases federal cases, and out of the countys hands. In talking with the Committee Against Domestic Abuse (CADA) program manager, Porter Arch, there are more people in domestic slavery now than any other time in history. That includes sex workers, that includes domestic slavery, that includes sexual exploitation of young adults, the whole gambit, says Arch. It is a constant concern. Human trafficking is a form of modern slavery and is a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to 20.9 million people around the world. No matter where a person lives, chances are it is happening nearby, says Arch. And the deeper concern is that there is no definitive identification of a perpetrator who uses human trafficking to their advantage. There is no stereotype for the recruiters of human trafficking, Arch shares.?What we see on television, you know like pimps and stuff? They dont necessarily fit the stereotype that has been portrayed. Recruiters can be older women, it can be another teenager in your son or daughters class, it can be a beloved member of the community. Human traffic recruiters come in all sizes, shapes, colors and identities. Arch also shares that the largest group of recruiters can be found online. And, Arch says, a lot of folks who are recruited into trafficking are young, between 13 and 14 years of age. There are four main recruitment tactics: abduction and coercion are the least common, surprisingly, says Arch. Those types of recruitment tactics fall under the stranger danger category. If you are doing that type of training with your children, thats a step in the right direction, but whats much more common and much more insidious is what we call befriending and boyfriending.' Arch says this type of recruitment for sex trafficking looks like a friend or a boyfriend who are extremely good at manipulating someone into isolation, submission and other tactics of dependence. A lot of that communication in smaller towns between a recruiter and recruitee is online; things like Facebook, social apps, and YouTube, Arch explains. Lots of students have YouTube channels now, whether theyre doing vlogging or like a daily online journal type thing, or even the ever-popular slime making videos. Once recruiters see their presence, they will jump into the comments section and start talking to them from there. Arch says recruiters look for young people who have the most vulnerability, which would include socioeconomic instability students who come from homes where they may not receive the love and attention they need, get it from the recruiters. LGBTQ teens in rural areas are also at higher risk. Usually LGBTQ youths in rural areas end up having to go online to find a community where they identify with similar people, Arch says. Its important that these young adults and teenagers have access to people in their community they can talk to and feel safe around. According to The Advocates for Human Rights, victims of trafficking have multiple risk factors including poverty or lack of resources, young age, racial or ethnic marginalization, personal histories of abuse or exploitation, chemical dependency, lack of support systems or unstable family environments, and the like. Victims also may be fleeing a crisis situation, may lack immigration status or have a different cultural background, or are facing homelessness or status as a runaway. Arch also says that about 30 percent of youths in Minnesota who are subject to sex trafficking are male. Not just females are targeted. The biggest thing that I think we need to be aware of here is that selling the actual purchasing and trading of humans is made online, Arch says. And the biggest take away is that studies have shown that 20 percent of the male population purchases sex. That means that 80 percent of that population sets the tone for everyone else. We have to stand up and show these behaviors, these stereotypes, these notions are completely unacceptable. Human trafficking, sex trafficking, and prostitution is not okay and we need to stand up to it. Human trafficking occurs in cities and communities of all sizes and in a variety of industries and places. One of the most popular locations for human and sex trafficking is the Super Bowl. In order for families and communities to stand up against the issues of sex trafficking and human trafficking, or trafficking for purposes of labor, it is important to know your role as a citizen. The best thing anyone can do to help is to know the issues, know your resources in the area, like CADA, the police department, and sheriffs department, and inform any of those resources that have proper training in these situations when something is wrong, says Arch. The most common thing to look out for is a young person traveling with an older male, or a younger person who is not necessarily with family. Most people who are being trafficked dont necessarily realize they are victims, especially in the case of having a boyfriend or girlfriend who manipulates them. Theres not necessarily outright signs that someone is being recruited, but they have very similar dynamics of an abusive relationship. Not every rest area attack scenario is the result of sex trafficking; not every domestic violence situation turns into prostitution, but it can happen. And, it is important for citizens to know who is here to help and how to help someone in need. Sexual exploitation does not have a definitive appearance, it takes many shapes and many forms. For more information on sex trafficking and human trafficking, check out the National Human Trafficking Resource Center and Polaris Project at polarisproject.org, the Minnesota Human Trafficking Task Force at mnhttf.org, and the Advocates for Human Rights at theadvocatesforhumanrights.org. When asked what got her started quilting, 2018 Upper Midwest Woodcarvers and Quilt EXPO Featured Quilter Julie Post says she has always liked it. From watching her grandmother and helping her hand-quilt, to starting on her own and digging deep into books, magazines, and eventually blogs and online communities to learn more, Post says she was bitten by the bug over 20 years ago. She is married to Ken Post, and together they had three boys Dan, Mike, and Chris. She also has two grandsons named Zander and Luke. All six men of the family were sewn quilts by the featured quilter, and each quilt is uniquely their own. Post, who is from Titonka, Iowa, and works as a Braille transcriber at Algona schools, says she found the quilting EXPO around five years ago when she and some friends made the small hike up to Blue Earth to explore the EXPO. It was like a quilting group with no rules, she says. It was calm and relaxing, we could bring our show and tell projects, we could ask questions, buy materials, and there are usually one or two sessions where you learn something new. Now, shes become the featured quilter, and one of the greatest features of her quilts are her uniquely patterned letters that she shared with quilters at the EXPO. Its just a lettering pattern that Id won in a giveaway and I just love the look of them, so I use them fairly often, says Post. She says her favorite part of quilting is piecing things together and figuring it out; sometimes with a pattern and some times without. There are times where I sit on a quilt for a long time before I figure it out, but the EXPO?really helped me to finish up a lot of projects, she laughs. It was nice to have a deadline, even if it did cause some anxiety for me to get everything done. I did it, and Im very honored to be featured, and am very happy to have the finished products. Posts favorite quilt featured at the show was a large Texas quilt she made for her daughter-in-law, Allie. She doesnt know its even here at the EXPO, says Post. Im hoping she comes to see it and reads who the owner of the quilt is. Shes from Texas, so I made this one for her. I really love the way it turned out. The weekend of the EXPO, Posts quilts were displayed throughout the Blue Earth Area High School, where afficionados could ooo and ahh over her immaculate piecing together and quilting, as well as engage in conversation with Post and ask her questions. She even brought a few of her favorite letters with to share with others. She says she hopes the enthusiasm for quilting continues into the future, not just for her, but for anyone interested in making quilts. She shares quilting is fun to do when you do not overwhelm yourself with projects. Jump in, but start small, she says to green quilters. Dont choose complicated patterns. Start small, like with a baby quilt smaller quilts are lighter to carry and work with, while larger quilts are heavier and more complicated. As for tools, Post says all anyone really needs is a sewing machine, cutting board, fabric scraps, scissors, a rotary cutter, and a ruler, 6 inch by 12 inch is her go-to size ruler. That, and an idea for what you want your quilt to look like. There are ideas everywhere, keep your eyes open for them, and dont be afraid to branch out once youre more comfortable with what you are doing, she says. After all, Post would know, considering shes spent almost half of her life quilting. And with half a life of quilting under her belt, she says she finds she keeps quite a few quilts, but it never stops her from starting on a new one. And were it left to me to decide whether we should have a government without newspapers, or newspapers without government, I should not hesitate a moment to prefer the latter. You would think a famous newspaper publisher said that. But no, it was Thomas Jefferson. You remember Jefferson, dont you? He was one of the main authors of our Constitution of the United States and the Bill of Rights. A farmer, a statesman and one of the Founding Fathers of our country. Oh yes, he was also our third president. You would think that Jefferson was a friend of the press and newspapers after reading that opening quote. However, that is not quite true. Actually he was not a big fan. In fact, Jefferson was often criticized by newspapers and literally was often blasted by the press. Back in those days newspapers were openly biased and editors filled their columns with propaganda for the political sides they favored. And, yet, no matter how much he hated what they wrote about him, Jefferson still felt a free press, that was a watchdog over what the government and its officials were doing, was an important component to democracy. Fast forward to today, 200 plus years later. The current president, Donald Trump, our 45th president, is also warring with the press, calling most of what they say or write Fake News. He certainly has a right to have his own opinions of the press. But unlike Jefferson, Trump not only hates the press, but also has gone so far as to call the press the enemy of the people. And the problem is, people believe him, when actually the opposite is true. This week hundreds of newspapers across the country are writing editorials about President Trump, Fake News, and Freedom of the Press. My feeling is (and yes, I know I am a bit biased on this point) that most mainstream newspapers today are filled with dedicated journalists and follow journalism ethics more so than any other time in our history. Yes, there is an official Journalism Code of Ethics. Most of us, even we small town community newspaper editors, try to follow it. It is a voluntary thing, because to be truthful, there are no official rules in the newspaper world. The First Amendment to the Constitution says Congress shall make no law respecting the freedom of speech or of the press Basically that means anyone can publish a newspaper. You dont need a license or permit. And it means you can put anything in your newspaper you want to. Real news or fake news or just nothing but your own personal opinions. Most mainstream newspapers these days strive hard to bring real news to their readers. And by mainstream I mean most of the big city daily and small town weekly newspapers in our country. To be honest, President Trump is not wrong about there being Fake News. A lot of that is on cable television networks, where there is about five-percent news and then 95-percent commentary about the news. And then there are those grocery store tabloids that have headlines such as I am having Elvis baby and the like. And there are all those bloggers out on the Internet, writing and commenting about anything and everything, whether it is true or not. But most newspapers, most real newspapers, strive to report the news to the best of their ability, and to keep their opinions confined to the editorial and op-ed pages. Now just to be fair, and before someone else points it out to me, Thomas Jefferson also is quoted as having said The man who reads nothing at all is better educated than the man who reads nothing but newspapers. However, while Jefferson probably was not in love with what the newspapers were writing about him, he still knew the press was an important part of having a free democracy and that people had a right to say and print what they felt about him and the new country known as the United States of America. And journalists today take their role of watchdogs of the government very seriously. Even here at the Faribault County Register, we feel it is important to write stories about what your city council, school board and county board are doing, just to let you know what they are up to. And we try to do it with as little amount of bias as we can. No fake news here. Only real news. Well, except for that issue of the Register which comes out around April 1 each year. THE WA Liberal Party has supported a motion to support the live export trade which was a great win for sheep producers according to Pastoralists and Graziers Association of WA president Tony Seabrook. The motion came from the Durack and OConnor Divisions, and the WA Liberal Partys Rural and Regional Committee supported it unanimously at the WA Liberal Party State Conference on Saturday. Mr Seabrook said the result was a clear indication of the high level of support for the continuation of live sheep export trade among Federal and State Liberal MPs and senators, as well as the greater community, many of whom live in the city. The motion called on the Federal government to continue the live shipping trade and ...ensure that all Liberal State and Federal MPs oppose any move to ban or phase out the trade. Contrary to the numerous myths put out by animal activist groups that the government is divided on its support for the live export trade, and that the majority of Australians want to see live sheep exports phased out, the fact is that within government, and both in rural/regional areas and in the city, there is strong support for the continuation of this important and vital trade, Mr Seabrook said. Federal Liberal Member for OConnor Rick Wilson said it was good to see the grass roots members of party initiate the motion. If nothing else it is sending a message to city people and the Eastern States that WA producers want this trade to continue, Mr Wilson said. He will take up the decision of the State Liberal Party with his Federal colleagues. It will be the first Liberal Party room meeting since (the live export forum at) Katanning and Ill be reiterating the WA decision to support the motion, he said. Mr Wilson has been holding live export forums and updates throughout the OConnor electorate. He said he was delighted with the support from producers across the regions with about 150 people turning up at Brookton, about 50 in Esperance and more than a 100 in Mayanup. They were very well supported, Mr Wilson said. It shows you that farmers are really concerned about the longer-term future of the industry. We are having a magnificent season, with good prices, but what we are seeing is stock agents, truckies and pellet mills being impacted by the lack of sheep exported. Mr Wilson said in the short-term there would be real problems for producers to work through and in the medium and longer-term, greater industry decisions would need to be made. What has come out of the meetings is that people have come to the realisation that it will be very hard to see sheep leave before mid September, Mr Wilson said. He said the decision by the independent regulator about the suspension of Emanuel Exports was due to be handed down next Tuesday, August 21 60 days after the suspension was issued, which is in line with the legislation. Mr Wilson believed the pendulum of public opinion swung too far one way but had come back again. State Liberal Member for Geraldton Ian Blayney said he was sure the industry will appreciate this support from the WA Liberal Party. We have to make the new standards work, but I think the industry has a real future, Mr Blayney said. The issue of most serious concern is that final approval is granted when the ship is loaded and ready to go. If at this point Animals Australia seeks a court injunction everything stops. It was said that this is a huge concern to exporters. Federal members said that they are seeking a change to this rule. Mr Wilson said Federal Agriculture Minister David Littleproud was looking at bringing the final permission for exporters forward, which was something they had been calling for in WA. Ongoing we know that we are not going to have a second or third chance so we have got to get this right, Mr Wilson said. Mr Seabrook said the live export trade was not a sunset industry, and sheep exports continued to remain a strong and viable part of the WA regional economy, even though the trade has been stalled for eight weeks. Over 5000 sheep farm businesses rely on the income that comes from this trade, and it also employs thousands of Western Australians, both in regional and metropolitan areas, Mr Seabrook said. He said last year Australia exported more than 1.5 million sheep to markets in the Middle East, and according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, live sheep exports rose 21.4 per cent between March 2017 and March 2018. In addition, according to the latest reports from the Federal Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, since 2010 sheep export mortality rates have fallen, Mr Seabrook said. In fact, in 2017 the delivery rate of all sheep exported from Australia was 99.29 per cent, a clear indication that our live export industry and regulatory process is continuing to secure world leading outcomes in animal welfare. These facts continue to be lost on those who wish to ban this industry and remain in denial about the support for the live sheep trade among our Federal and State MPs and senators, the general public, and the greater farming community. Mr Seabrook said livestock producers couldnt be complacent and sit back and let others fight for their industry, because they were all being or going to be affected by the impact of a live export phase out if Federal politicians continued with their push to appease the animal activists. Its now up to producers to step up, he said. They need to give a clear indication that they are prepared to do something. Its been eight weeks since the last ship left. Its also up to the Minister (David Littleproud) to meet with the exporters and work out how to get it going again. This week Harmony Agriculture and Food said it would not ship a consignment of sheep to Oman with the current uncertainty surrounding exports although it did have two cattle shipments that were expected to continue to export in the next few weeks. The company joined Wellard, Livestock Shipping Services and Victorian based Otway Livestock Exports that have also decided to steer clear of sheep exports until the Federal government can guarantee they wont get caught up in court action after being issued with a threat of legal action by Animals Australia if they proceed to ship during the northern hemisphere summer. Heather Locklear returned to social media Saturday night for the first time in four months amid her legal and personal struggles shes been facing throughout the past year. Locklear took to Instagram Saturday to post a photo of her Maltese dog, Mister. Sun shining day, the 56-year-old captioned the picture of her dog wearing sunglasses. The post was the first since April 13, prior to her being arrested and checking into rehab. Its unclear where the photo was taken. HOW HEATHER LOCKLEAR WENT FROM TV'S HOTTEST ACTRESS TO STRUGGLING STAR The troubled actress had a rough year. Locklear was arrested in February after an alleged confrontation with her boyfriend, Chris Heisser. The Melrose Place star then allegedly attacked officers who were responding to the incident, officials said. Locklear ended up back in handcuffs again in June when police responded to Locklears home after receiving a disturbance call. Cops found the actress heavily intoxicated and arguing with other subjects at the residence. Locklear was arrested after she allegedly kicked a police officer and emergency personnel while she was being taken into custody. Just hours after posting bail, the actress was hospitalized after emergency responders got a call about an alleged overdose. Locklear was fine after the incident and reportedly checked into rehab for alcohol and mental health treatment. It was the second time in three months she was entering rehab. Locklear is also scheduled to appear in court on Aug. 30. This city is suggesting residents cool it with the sex. The health secretary of Santa Marta, Julio Salas, advised locals to abstain from sex to stay cool during an intense heat wave, according to Colombia Reports. Santa Marta, a popular tourist destination on the coast of Colombia, has seen temperatures rise higher than 104 degrees Fahrenheit, according to the Associated Press. Recently, medical facilities in the coastal city have been flooded with patients complaining of heat stroke symptoms, the AP reported. For those who cannot contain their sexual urges, Salas says they should wait until night when the temperature is lower, SkyNews reported. If you have a good air conditioning, there is no problem, he added. Salas issued the advice as part of a list of other recommendations for combating the heat wave, include taking cold showers, staying hydrated, and avoiding prolonged exposure to the sun. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Exploring the Great Barrier Reef has been near the top of my Bucket List for a long time. If you have followed my work you know I am mad for travel. Whether around the USA or around the world, I cant get enough of it. When my Aussie husband and I moved to Oz a little over a year ago, the anticipation began building. I knew this was my chance to explore one of our worlds greatest natural treasures. I have been scuba diving and snorkeling in the Caribbean, but I imagined the Great Barrier Reef would take things to a whole new level. Why? Well, it is one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World and it is larger than the Great Wall of China. To give more perspective, it is about half the size of Texas. And we all know as Americans that everything is bigger in Texas! Ha! Or how about this mind boggling fact: The Great Barrier Reef is so big it can even be viewed from outer space! I booked a big boat excursion through a tourism group that departed from the Cairns marina in Tropical Queensland. About half the crowd chose to scuba dive while the rest of us snorkeled. I recently gave birth to my first child but I was pregnant at the time so I needed to follow my doctors recommendations, and not strap on the tank and go to the bottom. I was about four months along at the time and felt him kick for the first time while on the boat! It was more of a flutter than a kick but it was so cool. And the way it happened was even cooler. We were on our way to our first snorkel/dive location and our tour guides spotted whales! It was in that moment I felt the baby kick as the crowd onboard was oooh-ing and ahhhhh-ing. It was truly a magical moment. Not a bad way to start my Bucket List adventure. From the whales we saw breaching on the way to our first location... to the magnificent coral and fish... to the glass semi-submerged boat ride... to the helicopter ride we paid a little extra for to get a better idea of the size and scope of the reef... to the live music and games on the cruiser... to the provided lunch of tasty prawns, steak, white fish, and roasted veggies all of it was amazing! The moment my mask hit the water, I saw some beautiful creatures. The idyllic images are in my mind right now. How splendid to literally flutter my feet among schools of fish. Neon pinks, yellows, greens, blues, and purples. Wow! Swimming along the Great Barrier Reef was such an inspiring and eye-opening adventure. But I also saw and heard some things that make me want to encourage you to go see the Great Barrier Reef too... ASAP! Upon booking the trip, virtually every Aussie I mentioned it to would say, "You better see it while you can. The Great Barrier Reef is disappearing. It's not what it used to be." These thoughts were echoed by several crew members during our tour. I have to say I loved seeing all manner of exotic creatures, but I also saw loads of coral that had lost its color. It's a phenomenon you're likely familiar with called coral bleaching. According to NOAA, 'When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, causing them to turn completely white.' I imagine you've probably heard a lot of people talk about the issue, right? I certainly have, for years. I remember learning about it in my Oceanography class in college, and of course the news headlines that associate coral bleaching with climate change (human caused or not). It was quite troubling to see. I witnessed what looked like coral graveyards, a lot of them. That sounds weird to say, but that's exactly what they looked like. To be fair, I don't personally have a previous experience on the Great Barrier Reef to compare this one to, but the crew members leading the tour all seemed to have some rather strong and discouraging opinions. Some of the coral looked similar in structure to those close-by, still in their usual shape, just missing color, and missing the marine life hustling and bustling by. It looked like a bunch of coral skeletons. But there were also a lot of areas that simply looked like a pile of coral 'bones' along the seafloor. I don't know how else to describe it. The pictures in my mind are quite grim. The marine biologist leading the glass semi-submerged boat tour said she has noticed the bleaching getting much worse in the last couple of years. She says what we were seeing can be part of the natural process coral goes through, but that the current conditions have been speeding up the process at an astounding rate. She asked us to take note, though, that just because the coral has turned white doesn't necessarily mean it is indeed dead, but it does mean it is at risk of dying. What a sad reality. We dont want to lose this treasure. The Great Barrier Reef has an ancient history and it is valuable today for a whole host of reasons besides its beauty. Many modern medicines are being developed from its plants and animals medicines to treat cancer, heart disease, arthritis, Alzheimers, etc. Countless communities depend upon the Great Barrier Reef for economic reasons. Tourism to the reef generates billions of dollars a year. Of course the actual fish provide food and livelihoods for residents as well. More than 1,500 fish species call the Great Barrier Reef home. It is easy to see why the Great Barrier Reef is considered a Natural Wonder. My son is now six months old and I am already dreaming about the adventures we will go on together in our world travels. I must say I cant wait to go back to the Great Barrier Reef so he can experience this wonder with his own eyes, rather than just in the womb. I hope the degradation doesnt get worse so he can view the incredible marine life I did. He would most certainly enjoy it! Remember that first flutter!? FRIENDS! Please check out my travel, fitness, & lifestyle website, AnnaKooiman.com. Also, dont forget to leave me some comment love on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Editors Note: In the initial version of this op-ed, the author represented himself as having the support of the United Kingdoms government for a position as an undersecretary general of the U.N. In a written statement, a spokesperson for the U.K. Mission to the U.N. later told Fox News:the British Government has never nominated, nor endorsed, Mr Parish for a position as a UN Under-Secretary-General. The United Nations has been getting bad press recently. The way it acts can be harmful, as President Trump and U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley have made clear. I am seeking to become an undersecretary general of the U.N. because I want to work on reform. We've got to focus on stopping all this nonsense: corruption, the missing billions of dollars, oil-for-food scandals it's all got to end. Refugees moving around the world unchecked with no documents and then having nowhere to go this is going to stop. The United Nations can help, and it's going to end right now. Weve got to put terrorists and murderers in prison. The United Nations can help with this. The U.N. has the systems to do it. We need to be building positive outcomes with our allies beginning with America that stops international criminals from being a danger to the world. Cutting gasoline prices is something else the United Nations can help with. The U.N. has agencies and experts that work on this every day. Right now theyre going in the wrong direction and we expect them to change course. I know Ill be able to work with President Trump and his fantastic team of people on this very issue. Hes already taken the lead. Were almost there and a victory is easy if just we drain the U.N. swamp. We're going to cut out the mumbo jumbo. We've had too many explanations of this, explanations of that, everyone using long words but nobody giving results. That's going to come to an end. The United Nations is about stopping poverty, refugees, wars and violence. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres is a friend of mine. He and I are going to work together, and were going to stop all the carnage that affects the economy of America and its allies. Babies and children are dying in the streets from wars, violence, chlorine gas and missiles. There are nuclear threats. These are global problems and they are disgusting. The United Nations has trained officials to prevent this kind of thing. They need to do their jobs. Problems are going to be solved if we tell the world that America demands a fair deal. The U.N. has control over satellites and fissile materials this has to be looked at. President Trump demands these things, and hes absolutely right. Weve got to stop all these foreign regulations that are hurting American businesses. Theyve got to be rolled back. In the United Nations we can veto, and we do veto, and were going to keep on vetoing. Changing this sort of thing is so easy. When we talk about American values, we're going to keep America at the top. The American people want America first, and the American way of life, without barbarians and troublemakers at the doors. President Trump demands these things, and its so easy to do. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Hispanic Americans are rapidly becoming the embodiment of a new political narrative one that isnt being written by politicians, and isnt pegged to the unnecessarily divisive issue of immigration. The developing narrative of the Latino community is one about economic opportunity. This young, growing, entrepreneurial demographic is todays most vivid example of what can happen when government creates the right environment for entrepreneurs and workers to do what they do best. The benefits of an improved economic environment, created through lower taxes and regulatory relief, are reflected in both the Hispanic unemployment rate which has reached an all-time low and is going lower and in the ten percent rise in Hispanics approval rating of President Trump. For too long, Hispanics have been treated in the political arena as monolithic as if they are a single-issue group that must be placated in a certain way in order to harvest a winning percentage of their considerable voting numbers. It was easy to characterize and target the community in this way when Latinos were visibly suffering, growing in numbers but not in socio-economic power. Today, Hispanics are on the rise in every way. They start businesses at a faster rate than any other demographic group, they have high employment and they are actively improving the economic and social outlook for their children. It is past time for politicians to view this important group accordingly. For perspective, they ought to consider a recent Economist/YouGov poll indicating that a minority of Latinos support Obama-administration-era catch and release immigration policies, and a majority by a two-to-one margin! believe that immigration enforcement isnt strict enough. Hispanic Americans are an economically vibrant, ambitious community with a variety of views on the issues of the day. This fact requires politicians to appeal to Hispanics in a new way with an emphasis on economic opportunity. This may require a new mindset for many leaders, where they begin to think of Hispanic Americans as simply Americans interested in starting a business, finding a job, climbing the social and economic ladders of opportunity and creating a better future for their families. My father a legal Mexican immigrant whose entrepreneurial spirit and tireless work ethic drove him to achieve the American dream of citizenship, business ownership and community leadership used to say that, in politics, there are no permanent adversaries, only permanent interests. The Trump administration is proving that a healthy environment for starting and growing the independent businesses that create jobs is a permanent interest of the Hispanic community. A dedication to creating that environment is a political characteristic that is deeply appealing to a critical mass of Latinos. Those who want to be elected or re-elected this November must take note and change the way they interact with this important, growing community. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! I grew up in Atlanta during the Civil Rights Movement. As a child, after Dr. Martin Luther King was assassinated, I watched his funeral procession through the streets of downtown. And I remember the race riots that erupted all over the country as a result of his assassination. Years later, I marched on the National Mall in support of Kings birthday becoming a national holiday. I was militant. My entire life from infancy to young adulthood was steeped in blackness. I attended all-black schools, lived in all-black neighborhoods and espoused all-black causes. Many Americans, black and white, have a viewpoint just like I did. But after receiving a renewed heart as a born-again Christian, my attitude began to change. The hearts and minds of Americans have to be renewed in the area of race, just like my heart and mind were, if we are to achieve racial harmony in this country. God called me to view my role in this world as a Christian first, not as a black person first. I still had a driving passion for the causes of my people. But it became apparent to me that my hunger and enthusiasm for God needed to precede my enthusiasm for my race. And thats exactly what happened! The cause of Christ became the controlling force in my life, instead of the causes promoting blackness without any realization on my part, because it happened over time. As Christians, our minds are not renewed overnight. We still bring garbage from our former lives to the other side of the cross. God had to deal with me; it was a process. When I got filled with the Spirit, I began to hunger for God. I gained an appreciation for other preachers and other musical artists outside my culture. My spiritual hunger and thirst for God was so great, it took me past my ethnic comfort zone, so that I was willing to learn from other people outside my culture. If you have yielded totally to God, you shouldnt put up a wall when God wants to bring His truth to you through a culture or race thats not your own. Too often, though, thats what happens within the Body of Christ. I call it the get it syndrome. When I talk to black people, they say, White folks dont get it. Nor do they want to get it. They dont know our history. They dont know our culture. They dont understand how the impact of slavery and the cruel, involuntary separation of our families have destroyed our ancestry. They dont understand the effect that Jim Crow laws had on our social, political and financial well-being. When I talk to white people, they say, I get it. Now, black folks need to get over it! Racism no longer exists. We elected a black man and put him in the highest position in the country! You had a black president in the White House! You no longer need any special treatment or consideration. Besides, we didnt do anything to you. It was our forefathers who made all of the mistakes, not us. So, get over it! Consequently, an invisible gulf exists between the races. This gulf represents misunderstandings by both parties. In order to bridge that gulf, members of both races must listen with spiritual ears to truly empathize with each other. Many social and political advances have been made since I was a child, but one thing remains the same: the country I live in now is as racially charged as the country I grew up in. Despite the social improvements and legal advances, a greater change must take place in the hearts of Americans, black and white. Just like I was, many Americans are at a crossroads today where their race collides with their faith. They want to really know how to walk as a Christian while not losing their racial identity. I discovered the answer to that question when I realized that God was calling me to view myself as a Christian first, not as a black person first. NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! The great engine of American capitalism is once again firing on all cylinders, as shown by the 4.1 percent annualized growth of Americas gross domestic product (GDP) in the second quarter of this year. Most Americans (with the exception of Democrats in Congress) are celebrating the good economic news. There is quiet rejoicing in many European and Asian capitals as well, since their mostly sluggish economies will now be drawn along in Americas powerful wake. But there is one capital where the American economic renaissance is definitely not welcome news. Consternation reigns in China, where President Xi Jinping is nervously watching his China Dream of dominating the United States go up in smoke. You see, surprising though it may sound, Americas economy may now be growing at a faster clip than Chinas. And this changes everything. Until recently, the Chinese economic juggernaut seemed unstoppable. Once China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, its GDP exploded. Unfettered access to American markets combined with predatory trade practices allowed China to grow an economy only one-tenth the size of Americas to one nearly two-thirds as large. Xi Jinping confidently predicted continued robust economic growth. He promised his people that in the decades to come China would dominate manufacturing, hi-tech, trade and just about everything. He said that by 2049 the Chinese economy would be three times the size of Americas. Chinas rise seemed so inexorable that in 2016 Bloomberg News even predicted the exact year that Americas economy would be eclipsed by Chinas. It was a virtual mathematical certainty, its analysts calculated, that in 2027 the Chinese dragon would overtake the American eagle and never look back. The prediction was based on two seemingly reasonable assumptions: First, that China would continue to grow its economy at 6.5 percent a year. Second, that America would struggle to maintain the anemic 2 percent growth of the Obama years. Both assumptions have been dramatically proven wrong. Under the Trump administration, the American economy is rising like a phoenix from the ashes of the over-regulation, over-taxation and bad trade deals that had threatened to suffocate it. Chinas economic growth, on the other hand, is slowing under the burden of an aging population, massive corruption, unproductive investment and excessive debt. Add to this the growing risk that Chinese products will be gradually pushed out of their major export market the United States and you have the risk of a full-blown economic meltdown in China. I concede that the official figures, especially those from China, seem to be at odds with my projection of continued American economic dominance. After all, the Chinese governments state plan calls for robust 6.5 percent growth through at least 2021. On the American side, Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin forecasts sustained 3 percent growth over the next four or five years. While this would be a boffo performance for a mature economy like ours, it would still be only half of Chinas. Or would it? It is wise to be extremely skeptical of the economic claims of totalitarian dictatorships, whether they practice the classic communism of the Soviet Union or the so-called red capitalism of China. Chinese officials exaggerate their countrys economic performance. In a sense, they cant help themselves. If President Xi calls for 6.5 percent economic growth, officials report 6.5 percent growth or perhaps a little more for the country, prefecture or province they control. This is an act of political self-preservation. How much do Chinas autocrats inflate their GDP? A recent study by University of Chicago political scientist Luis Martinez suggests that autocratic regimes inflate their GDP growth by anywhere from 15 to 30 percent. Martinez knows that a countrys growth in nighttime brightness the amount of electric lights that are on each night is a good measure of economic growth. The more light, the more growth. So, he compared the reported GDP growth rates of countries that were growing brighter at the same rate. Martinez found that China was the worst offender, inflating its GDP growth by about one-third. Another study of night lights by researchers at the St. Louis Federal Reserve found that cumulative Chinese growth over the years (1992-2006) could be overstated by as much as 65 percent. The study said that only Burma officially called Myanmar had a larger gap between the official and estimated numbers. Other economic metrics used to measure Chinas growth may be equally misleading. The countrys colossal building spree, for example no less than its stock market boom has been funded not by private creditors or entrepreneurs, but by a massive outpouring of public debt. The Chinese landscape is littered with bridges to nowhere superhighways that carry virtually no traffic, along with high-rise apartment buildings that stand empty each representing a government loan that will never be paid back. All government spending is inherently inefficient. But in a society like Chinas, where corruption on the part of Communist Party officials is endemic, it is actually destructive. Officials at all levels conspire with well-connected companies to waste scarce public resources on projects where there is simply no expectation of a return except for the officials and those they conspire with. As a result of these factors, real growth in China is dramatically lower than the 6.5 percent Beijing claims. Even Harvards Kennedy School, long bullish on China, now projects that Chinas GDP will grow at just 4.4 percent annually over the next decade. Even this estimate may be far too optimistic, however, primarily because it doesnt take into account the devastating effect that President Trumps toughness is having on the Chinese economy. The countrys industrial output, retail sales and investment are all falling below forecasts. It stock market is tanking, and its currency is weakening. The Trump administrations limited tariffs, economists estimate, will cut as much as half a percentage point from Chinas annual economic growth. If President Trump slaps a 25 percent tariff on all Chinese imports, as he has threatened to do, it could cut an entire percentage off of Chinas economic growth. This would put China's real growth in the years to come at closer to 3 percent. Or lower. China watcher Gordon Chang, for one, suggests that Chinas economy is only growing at around 2 percent at the present time. All this is to say that Americas economy will, in all likelihood, be growing faster than Chinas for some years to come. The gap between the worlds largest economy and the worlds second-largest economy will not be narrowing but widening. At least some of Chinas otherwise quiescent academics seem to be waking up from their China Dream to the new reality of Americas continued dominance. Well-known economist Ren Zeping, for example, recently warned that the U.S. will use its hegemonic system established since World War II from trade, finance, currency, military, et cetera, to stop the rise of China. Blaming America for Chinas problems, of course, is a safe play for Chinese intellectuals like Ren. But just as it is indisputable that Americas recent successes are of its own making, so are Chinas failures homegrown. While America under President Trump is lightening the regulatory and tax burdens that have hindered economic growth, China is attempting to spend its way out of its self-inflicted economic malaise. The only Chinese sector that has been performing well in recent years is exports, and here President Trump is determined to make the Chinese pay for its rampant cheating of the past. The bottom line is this: The 21st century may not belong to China after all. In fact, may well turn out to be the second American Century. National Security Adviser John Bolton on Sunday suggested that former CIA Director John Brennan might have misused classified information, and that the "unprecedented leaks" from the administration may prompt broader changes in how security clearances are handled. Bolton was in Israel for the first time as a Trump administration official to discuss national security issues with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other top officials. "Whether [Brennan] actually used classified information, I think people will be able to determine, but I think that's a serious problem," Bolton said. "There is a line, and I think it's clear some people can cross it. BRENNAN FLOATS SUING TRUMP ADMINISTRATION; OTHER EX-CIA OFFICIALS WEIGH IN DURING PARADE OF SUNDAY INTERVIEWS "My opinion is that he was politicizing intelligence," Bolton added, saying Brennan had failed to keep intact the "wall of separation between intelligence and policy." Host Martha Raddatz ultimately challenged Bolton: "Youre not sure whether John Brennan used classified information? You have no specific examples." Bolton replied, "I think a number of people have commented that [Brennan] couldnt be in the position hes in of criticizing President Trump and his so-called collusion with Russia unless he did use classified information. But I dont know the specifics." President Trump revoked Brennan's security clearance on Wednesday, saying he had politicized his security clearance and misled Congress about CIA spying in the Senate. A larger review of who can retain security clearances after leaving the federal government may be warranted, Bolton added. TRUMP HITS BRENNAN AS POLITICAL 'HACK' WHO CANNOT BE TRUSTED "I think it's certainly appropriate in a time of unprecedented leaks of classified info," Bolton said. "I don't see that there would be anything wrong if it were determined to go that way to review the policies about former officials having clearances. Sometimes it can be useful. Brennan had publicly accused President Trump of "treason" after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin this summer in Helsinki, Finland, and he has repeatedly lambasted Trump with Twitter posts that critics have charged improperly hint at classified insider information about the ongoing Russia probe. On Sunday, Brennan claimed on NBC's "Meet the Press" that "I dont believe Im being political at all." He also suggested he might take legal action against the president. "If my clearances and my reputation as Im being pulled through the mud now -- if thats the price were going to pay to prevent Donald Trump from doing this against other people, to me its a small price to pay," Brennan said. "Im going to do whatever I can personally to try to prevent these abuses in the future, and if it means going to court, I will do that." Speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, a critic of Trump's decision to revoke Brennan's clearance, acknowledged that Brennan's unfettered comments had become an "issue." "John and his rhetoric have become an issue in and of itself," Clapper said Sunday. "John is sort of like a freight train, and he's going to say whats on his mind." On CBS' "Face the Nation," however, former CIA Director Leon Panetta claimed Trump may not have had the legal authority to terminate Brennan's clearance unilaterally. I think there are questions raised as to whether or not this president has followed the executive order, and whether or not hes provided due process to those that are going to have their security clearances revoked, Panetta said, referring to Executive Order 12968. The order establishes procedures for revoking security clearances. Asked in the wide-ranging ABC interview about the threat of cyber-warfare ahead of the November elections, Bolton said the administration is monitoring threats from a variety of countries other than Russia. "I can say definitively that it's a sufficient national security concern about Chinese, Iranian, and North Korean meddling," Bolton told Raddatz. "I'm not going to get into what Ive seen or haven't seen, but Im telling you, looking at 2018 election, we are concerned about four countries." But Bolton said he plans to press his counterpart in Russia on the country's alleged election meddling in a meeting on Thursday. "We'll keep raising it, and see what their response is," Bolton said. "But it's not a question of just speaking with Russians. At the president's direction, we had a briefing with myself and four heads of deptartments, to lay out in nonclassified environment, what we're doing. That includes both defensive and offensive cyber operations to protect integrity of election process." Bolton said his meetings would also touch on Afghanistan, North Korea, Syria, and the Iran nuclear deal, which President Trump pulled out of earlier this year, leading to unrest and further economic decline there. Bolton also told Raddatz that Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be returning to Pyongyang "soon" for a fourth visit to engage in direct talks with North Korean leader Kim Jung-un. The White House's timeline for denuclearization is one year, Bolton said. And the national security adviser said it would "ultimately be the presidents decision" whether to replace U.S. troops in Afghanistan with private military contractors. Former CIA Director John Brennan risked damaging the intelligence community with his anti-Trump comments, retired Adm. Michael Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, told "Fox News Sunday." Mullen's comments came as several former intelligence officials appeared on Sunday talk shows, including Brennan -- who floated the possibility of taking legal action against the president. "I think John's an extraordinary servant of the country, but I think he has been incredibly critical of the president, and I think that has put him in a political place which actually does more damage for the intelligence community -- which is apolitical," Mullen said. Brennan had publicly accused President Trump of "treason" after his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin this summer in Helsinki, Finland, and he has repeatedly lambasted Trump with Twitter posts that critics have charged improperly hint at classified insider information about the ongoing Russia probe. However, Mullen added, Trump's decision to revoke Brennan's security clearance last week raised significant concerns. "For someone of my age, it brings back the whole concept of the 'enemies list' under President Nixon," Mullen continued. "And even before that, in the early 1950s, the McCarthy era -- where the administration starts putting together lists of individuals who don't agree with them." The White House announced Wednesday that President Trump had revoked Brennan's security clearance, in the first decision to come from a review of access for several top Obama-era intelligence and law enforcement officials. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders read a statement on behalf of the president during the start of the press briefing, saying Brennan "has a history that calls his credibility into question." Specifically, the president's statement criticized Brennan for falsely telling Congress that the CIA had not infiltrated Senate computers, and for claiming that the unverified Steele dossier was not a factor in 2016 intelligence assessments. SPECIAL OPS HEROES SHOOT DOWN BRENNAN: 'YOU PUT YOUR POLITICS BEFORE US' The statement also claimed Brennan had been "leveraging" the clearance to make "wild outbursts" and claims against the Trump administration in the media. Also speaking to "Fox News Sunday," Senate Homeland Security Committee chairman Ron Johnson, R-Wis., criticized Brennan's political comments, but suggested an alternative to yanking his clearance. "John Brennan really did cross the line. He's one of the leaders of the resistance movement. ... I understand President Trump's frustration," Johnson said, noting that Brennan began harshly criticizing the president as soon as he took office. He added that former officials with security clearances aren't automatically entitled to view classified information. "The best way of handling this, in any administration, is: If you dont want to consult with somebody, you dont necessarily have to yank their security clearance," Johnson said. "Just dont give them access to the classified material." Trump on Saturday took aim again at Brennan, calling him a political hack who cannot be trusted with national secrets. Has anyone looked at the mistakes that John Brennan made while serving as CIA Director? He will go down as easily the WORST in history & since getting out, he has become nothing less than a loudmouth, partisan, political hack who cannot be trusted with the secrets to our country! he tweeted. For his part, Brennan declared the move to take away his clearance part of a broader effort by Mr. Trump to suppress freedom of speech & punish critics. LAWYERS ASK: CAN BRENNAN APPEAL TRUMP'S DECISION TO TERMINATE HIS CLEARANCE? On Sunday, Brennan denied that he has improperly traded on his access to classified information to trash Trump, telling NBC's "Meet the Press" that "I dont believe Im being political at all." Brennan also suggested he might take legal action against the president. "If my clearances and my reputation as Im being pulled through the mud now -- if thats the price were going to pay to prevent Donald Trump from doing this against other people, to me its a small price to pay," Brennan said. "Im going to do whatever I can personally to try to prevent these abuses in the future, and if it means going to court, I will do that." Several former intelligence officers have also come to Brennan's defense, saying the president's targeted action against one vocal critic gave the appearance of petty political retribution. One critic of Trump's decision, former CIA Director Michael Hayden, told CNN on Sunday that the relationship between Trump and the intelligence community was "dangerously close to being permanently broken; it is badly injured right now." Hayden also suggested he'd be "honored" to lose his security clearance as well, in response to a question from host Jake Tapper. "Well, to be included in that group? Sure," Hayden said. "And frankly, if his not revoking my clearance gave the impression that I somehow moved my commentary in a direction more acceptable to the White House, I would find that very disappointing and frankly unacceptable." But speaking on CNN's "State of the Union," former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, another critic of Trump's decision, acknowledged that Brennan's unfettered comments had become an "issue." "John and his rhetoric have become an issue in and of itself," Clapper said Sunday. "John is sort of like a freight train, and he's going to say whats on his mind." The parade of ex-CIA officials on the Sunday morning shows continued on CBS' "Face the Nation," where former CIA Director Leon Panetta claimed Trump may not have had the legal authority to terminate Brennan's clearance unilaterally. I think there are questions raised as to whether or not this president has followed the executive order, and whether or not hes provided due process to those that are going to have their security clearances revoked, Panetta said, referring to Executive Order 12968. The order establishes procedures for revoking security clearances. Fox News' Brooke Singman and Adam Shaw contributed to this report. President Trump's personal attorney, Rudolph Giuliani, proclaimed Sunday that "truth isn't truth" while attempting to explain his reluctance to have Trump sit down for an interview with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team. "I am not going to be rushed into having him testify so that he gets trapped into perjury," Giuliani said on NBC News' "Meet The Press." "And when you tell me that, you know, he should testify because he's going to tell the truth and he shouldn't worry, well that's so silly because it's somebody's version of the truth. Not the truth." "Truth is truth," interrupted moderator Chuck Todd, to which Giuliani responded: "No, it isnt truth. Truth isnt truth." An apparently exasperated Todd joked, "This is going to become a bad meme," before telling Giuliani, "Don't do 'truth isn't truth' to me." "[If] they have two pieces of evidence," Giuliani shot back, "[and] Trump says I didnt tell them and the other guy says that he did say it, which is the truth? Maybe you know because youre a genius." "At that point, youre right," Todd answered. "... No, youre right. I dont read minds on that front." Trump repeatedly has said that he is open to sitting down with Mueller's investigators. However, attorneys Giuliani and Jay Sekulow have cautioned against it. Both sides have exchanged proposals for interview conditions, but no agreement has been struck. The president's lawyers also have said they would fight any attempt by Mueller to issue a subpoena to Trump. Giuliani also accused the special counsel's office of illegally leaking to The New York Times that White House Counsel Don McGahn has been cooperating extensively with the Mueller probe. The Times published the story Saturday, drawing an angry response from the president on Twitter. "The only other one that could've done it was McGahn," Giuliani said. "I mean, I didn't leak it to The Times and Jay Sekulow didnt leak it to The Times, the president sure as heck didn't, so who could it be? It could be McGahn, and McGahns not doing it. He would've done it a long time ago if he was going to do it. "Theyre down to desperation time," Giuliani said of the Mueller team. "They have to write a report and they dont have a single bit of evidence." Earlier Sunday, Trump tweeted that McGahn was not, as he put it, "a John Dean type 'RAT,'" -- a reference to the White House counsel for Richard Nixon during the Watergate scandal. Dean eventually cooperated with prosecutors and congressional investigators, providing key testimony that led to Nixon's resignation in the face of certain impeachment and removal from office in 1974. Giuliani told NBC that Trump didn't raise executive privilege or attorney-client privilege during those interviews because his team believed he says now, wrongly that fully participating would be the fastest way to bring the investigation to a close. "The president encouraged him to testify, is happy that he did, is quite secure that there is nothing in the testimony that will hurt the president," Giuliani said. McGahn's attorney William Burck added in a statement: "President Trump, through counsel, declined to assert any privilege over Mr. McGahn's testimony, so Mr. McGahn answered the Special Counsel team's questions fulsomely and honestly, as any person interviewed by federal investigators must." The Associated Press contributed to this report. President Trump declared his administration the "most transparent in history" Saturday, saying his White House staff has supplied more than a million pages of information to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators. In a Twitter message Saturday evening, the president said he allowed White House attorney Don McGahn and others on the White House staff to "fully cooperate" with Mueller in a bid to show there was "no collusion" and "no obstruction." The president's message followed reports that McGahn had spoken with investigators from Muellers investigative team multiple times, which Fox News confirmed Saturday. The revelation came amid a New York Times report, citing multiple sources, indicating that McGahn willingly spoke to the team members who are looking into, among other things, whether President Trump obstructed justice for 30 hours over the course of at least three separate occasions. He reportedly gave insight into Trump's demeanor regarding Muellers investigation. The special counsel is investigating alleged Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign associates in the 2016 presidential election. Specific incidents mentioned in these conversations included moments surrounding Trumps decision to fire former FBI Director James Comey, and his reported preference that Attorney General Jeff Sessions oversee the investigation, according to the Times. (Sessions ultimately recused himself.) Trump seemingly responded to the Saturday's report tweeting: "I allowed White House Counsel Don McGahn, and all other requested members of the White House Staff, to fully cooperate with the Special Counsel. In addition we readily gave over one million pages of documents. Most transparent in history. No Collusion, No Obstruction. Witch Hunt!" A source familiar with the investigation confirmed to Fox News that McGahn spoke to Mueller at length on three occasions. However, the source played down the Times article, saying that there didnt seem to be anything revelatory in the reports information and adding that it was already known that Trump instructed McGahn to cooperate with Muellers team. The special counsel declined to comment when contacted by Fox News. McGahn initially began working with Muellers team at the behest of Trumps original team of lawyers, the Times reported. McGahn and his own lawyer, William Burck, were surprised by this decision, sources told the newspaper, and questioned whether he was potentially being set up. As a result, they reportedly decided to cooperate in order to clear McGahn of any wrongdoing. Burck released a statement saying, "President Trump, through counsel, declined to assert any privilege over Mr. McGahn's testimony, so Mr. McGahn answered the Special Counsel team's questions fulsomely and honestly, as any person interviewed by federal investigators must." John Dowd, Trumps former lead outside attorney, told Fox News that Don McGahn was a very strong witness for the president. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told Fox News, The president and Don have a great relationship. He appreciates all the hard work hes done, particularly his help and expertise with the judges and the Supreme Court. The Times report comes amid pressure from Rudy Giuliani, Trumps personal attorney, for Mueller to conclude the monthslong investigation. Time for Mueller investigation to file report, Giuliani tweeted earlier Saturday. We will release ours. Dont interfere with election like Comey. The President had nothing to do with Russians. He didnt obstruct an investigation. 1.4 million documents and 32 witnesses no privilege raised. Fox News John Roberts and Ellison Barber contributed to this report. Days after a 61-year-old man suffered a shark bite in Massachusetts, the beach on Cape Cod where the attack occurred was closed off to swimmers for the foreseeable future due to continued shark activity, the town announced Friday. The town website for Truro, Mass., posted the statement around 8:45 p.m. letting visitors know ahead of the weekend. SHARK ATTACK OFF CAPE COD LEAVES SWIMMER WITH WOUNDS TO TORSO, LEGS Longnook Beach is closed to swimming until further notice due to continued shark activity, the statement said. Beach Gate Attendants will be informing patrons of the recent shark activity in the area and distributing Cape Cod Great White Shark Safety brochures. William Lytton, 61, of Scarsdale, N.Y., was airlifted to a Boston hospital after suffering a shark bite Wednesday that resulted in deep puncture wounds to his torso and legs. A great white shark was reportedly suspected in the attack. The beach was closed following the attack and was expected to remain closed until the weekend, officials previously said. GREAT WHITE SHARK SUSPECTED IN CAPE COD BEACH ATTACK Lytton was in fair condition Saturday, a spokeswoman for Tufts Medical Center, where he is receiving medical care, told the Associated Press. Wednesday's shark attack was Massachusetts' first since 2012. The state's last fatal shark attack was in 1936. Fox News Kathleen Joyce, Stephen Sorace and the Associated Press contributed to this report. The United Kingdom is dealing with an exponential increase in bed bug infestations this summer due to the brutal heat, according to experts. During higher temperatures, the reproductive cycles of the bugs shortens from 18-21 days to eight or nine days, a bed bug exterminator told the Guardian. The problem has been spreading globally since the late 1990s, and there is literally no country on the face of the planet that hasnt had a bed bug problem, David Cain, of Bed Bugs Limited, told the British newspaper. Reluctance to seek help because of the social stigma attached to bed bugs contributes to the problem, as well, and since many people wont have a physical reaction, they may not realize theres been an infestation, according to the paper. Bed bugs are parasitic insects that feed on blood and tend to be most active at night. Bed bug bites can cause skin rashes and allergic symptoms and have a psychological effect. SPRAWLING GALAXY CLUSTER DISCOVERED 'HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT' Tony Lewis, head of policy at the Chartered Institute of Environmental Health, said the persistent bed bug presence in the U.K. was made worse in the summer by higher temperatures and people returning from holiday with bed bugs in their luggage. It doesnt matter if theyve been staying in a five-star hotel or a dingy B&B, the chances of encountering bedbugs are equal, he said. Although bed bugs were common in the United Kingdom 100 years ago, they were mostly eradicated by the use of insecticides. Now, bed bugs have developed resistance to some chemical treatments. This insect has developed to be the most efficient and adaptive hunter of human beings that weve probably ever had, said Cain. If people are fearful of sharks, the answer is to stay out of the water. When it comes to bedbugs, the answer is to be permanently on guard. A London woman had been scratching her arms and legs for about a month before she sought professional help, according to the paper. I was waking up every morning with bites which I thought were from mosquitoes, although no one else was suffering. My boyfriend mentioned bedbugs, but I completely dismissed it. In my mind, bedbugs were found in crusty backpackers hostels in other countriesI didnt think it could happen to us, she told the Guardian. MYSTERIOUS GIANT SHARK TRACKED BY SATELLITES, RARE SIGHTINGS When she finally lifted her mattress and found a handful of bugs crawling around, she broke down and wept. "I was totally repulsed and panicked," she said. She is now in the middle of a 14-day program of eradication and monitoring, which involves washing bedding and clothes at 60 degrees, and a deep clean of the bedroom. Her partners office has been identified as a potential source. Cain explained: Bed bugs can happen to anyone. ... Lots of people equate bed bugs with dirt, but dirt has nothing to do with it. The insects have been found in hotels worldwide, including in high-end spots like the Waldorf Astoria in Manhattan. Air India had to ground two of its planes in July after passengers reported being covered in gruesome bed bug bites after their flights. Museums in Western Europe are starting to reevaluate how to deal with certain colonial-era artifacts added to their expansive collections over the years -- despite being stolen or plundered. Some of the items reflect periods of history that were, and still are, contested. As the Washington Post reports, some of Europes leading cultural institutions are considering whether to return various artifacts to their countries of origin, often in Africa or Asia. French President Emmanuel Macron nudged things along by proclaiming in Burkina Faso in November that France would work toward the temporary or permanent restitution of African heritage to Africa. MYSTERIOUS GIANT SHARK TRACKED BY SATELLITES, RARE SIGHTINGS France, as recently as March 2017, had rejected efforts by Benin to reclaim thousands of objects looted in the 1890s from what was then the Kingdom of Dahomeyincluding royal thrones, scepters and statues showcased at the Musee du Quai Branly in Paris, the Post reported. Their restitution is not possible, the French government said at the time, according to French newspaper Liberation. Macrons election in 2017 prompted a different policy. I cannot accept that a large part of cultural heritage from several African countries is in France, Macron said during the Burkina Faso visit. African heritage cannot just be in European private collections and museums. In London, the Victoria and Albert Museum in April staged an exhibit of objects that included a gold crown and chalice taken by the British army from Ethiopia in 1868. NORTH CAROLINA COUPLE SPOT MASSIVE MEGALODON SHARK TOOTH ON BEACH Even at the time, this episode was regarded as a shameful one, the museum noted. Ethiopia filed a claim for the artifacts in 2008. But this year, the V&A director floated the idea of returning the objects under a long-term loan agreement. Meanwhile, the German Lost Art Foundation, which was established to support probes of Nazi-looted art, said in April that it would expand its mandate to include artifacts from other colonies as well, according to the Post. For 2019, Germany reportedly has set aside $3.5 million to help museums determine the origins of possibly illegal or illegitimate artifacts. Although all of this seems to suggest that attitudes are changing, some art analysts have said it may not lead to much of an overhaul of Europe's collections -- since there has been more talk of long-term loans and less talk of fully and permanently returning artifacts. In a perfect world, our mobile phones would work correctly, all day long. Every time we entered a number, a crisp voice would answer, Hello? However, the real world is a labyrinth of obstructions: thick walls, metal frames, competing signals, distant cell towers, and whole skyscrapers stand in our way. Drive behind a mountain, and youll scream through static until the signal finally cuts out. Delays and echoes can make phone calls even more frustrating, and most of the time your environment is to blame. There is an insider trick to works wonders. Tap or click here for a secret smartphone trick that will boost your weak signal on the go. Ironically, many people struggle with poor signals inside their homes. Your house which used to be the only reliable place you could make a call may be filled with signal-muffling architecture and distracting devices. If your home doesnt afford a clear shot to the nearest cell tower, youve got a problem because youre probably not going to move anytime soon. Then again, what if your house is one giant dead spot? Should you never place a call from your living room? Related: Maybe you need a new phone? Tap or click here for the 10 best smartphones in the world. There are at least three ways to keep the signal strong. Improving your cell service is a trial-and-error task, and its impossible to tell whether these techniques will work unless you try them. In the end, you may just have to switch carriers. But if youre willing to troubleshoot, you may find yourself with much clearer conversations. 1. Get a signal booster Also called a "repeater," a signal booster does just that: it boosts your cell signal. Put the unit in an area of the house where you have good reception, such as a window sill, and it will extend that stronger signal to the rest of the house. Some repeaters also come with an external antenna you can mount outside. Boosters are a little pricey; some carriers sell reasonably priced models, but this isnt always ideal because a booster usually only works with that carrier's signal. So if you have family members or visiting friends who use another carrier, and they also have a weak signal, this won't help them. A third-party company like zBoost or weBoost makes boosters that do work with multiple carriers. However, you're probably going to have to pay for this out of pocket. On the lower end, these gadgets set you back about $200. Plus, if you want higher speed 4G coverage, you can expect booster prices to balloon to $300 or more. However, 4G is mainly an advantage only if you use your phone for internet connections. If you already have Wi-Fi at home, you can use your home internet connection on your phone and not the more expensive 4G booster. 2. Try a femtocell Femtocell is also called a "microcell" (AT&T) or a "network extender" (Verizon), which sounds suspiciously like a booster. You even use it similarly: stick it in your house and femtocell broadcasts a strong cellular signal. The difference is that the femtocell needs to plug into your router so it can use your internet connection. That's how it connects your phone to the carrier's servers. This enables femtocell to work in an area where you have absolutely no signal at all. So it's suitable for rural locations or an apartment surrounded by high-rise buildings. Related: Tired of your phones battery not lasting long enough? Tap or click here for a list of the phones with the best power ratings. The downside is that if you get one of these from a carrier, it will only work for that carrier's phones. Also, in this case, third-party options that cover multiple carriers are practically non-existent. It also doesnt work very well with satellite internet. The strangest side-effect of a femtocell is that almost anyone can use it, as long as they subscribe to the same carrier even people strolling past your house. Their calls will go through your internet connection, possibly slowing down your Wi-Fi traffic and affecting high-volume activities, like streaming videos or large downloads. With Verizon, you can set priority numbers, so you always get service first. Still, other people could still be leeching off your internet connection. Many times your mobile provider will loan you a femtocell for free or for a one-time fee. It's better for the carrier to provide a femtocell for free than to lose a customer. If your carrier doesn't loan it to you for free, femtocells will set you back anywhere from $50 to $250, depending on the brand and the amount of data. 3. Make calls over Wi-Fi You may have a Wi-Fi wireless network already set up in your home. If youre using it for home internet access on your smartphone and tablet, then youre already saving money on your cellular data plan and avoiding overages. Wi-Fi can also make calls and send texts using apps like Skype, Google Hangouts, Apple's iMessage and other third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp. So if you don't have a signal, not to worry. Historically, this has meant both parties (caller and receiver) using the same apps. However, now, all four major carriers T-Mobile, AT&T, Sprint, and Verizon have developed Wi-Fi calling for their phones. When this feature is enabled due to a weak signal, your phone will automatically switch over to a nearby open Wi-Fi network so you won't even notice. You can also switch to a phone system like Republic Wireless, which uses Wi-Fi calling as a primary feature. Republic Wireless offers low-cost plans because it mostly relies on Wi-Fi for calling and texting and only uses cellular when Wi-Fi isn't available. Again, the switch is seamless. Of course, calling over Wi-Fi means you need a Wi-Fi network. Tap or click here to always find the closest free Wi-Fi. Easy! What digital lifestyle questions do you have? Call my national radio show and click here to find it on your local radio station. You can listen to the Kim Komando Show on your phone, tablet or computer. From buying advice to digital life issues, click here for my free podcasts. Copyright 2018, WestStar Multimedia Entertainment. All rights reserved. Learn about all the latest technology on the Kim Komando Show, the nation's largest weekend radio talk show. Kim takes calls and dispenses advice on today's digital lifestyle, from smartphones and tablets to online privacy and data hacks. For her daily tips, free newsletters and more, visit her website at Komando.com. This is a rush transcript from "Fox News Sunday," August 19, 2018. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. CHRIS WALLACE, FOX NEWS HOST: I'm Chris Wallace. President Trump puts critics on the intelligence community on notice, as he pulls the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan and reviews the status of nine others. (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Security clearance is a very important debate. Very, very important, and I've had a tremendous response for having done that. JOHN BRENNAN, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: I think he's abusing the powers of that office. I think right now, this country is in a crisis, in terms of what Mr. Trump has done and is liable to do. WALLACE: Is it an effort to protect the nation's secrets or an act of political revenge? We'll ask retired Admiral Mike Mullen, former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Republican Senator Ron Johnson, chair of the Homeland Security Committee. Then -- LARRY KUDLOW, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISOR: Our economy, our investors, our workforce are crushing it right now. We are crushing it. WALLACE: We'll discuss the state of the Trump economy and escalating trade war and a possible government shutdown with White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. Plus, a verdict is expected this week in the special counsel's case against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort. TRUMP: I think it's a very sad day for our country. WALLACE: We'll ask our Sunday panel what the Manafort verdict means for the future of Robert Mueller's investigation. All, right now, on "Fox News Sunday". (END VIDEOTAPE) WALLACE: And hello again from FOX News in Washington. If President Trump wanted to change the subject from Omarosa this week, he certainly did. He pulled the security clearance of former CIA Director John Brennan and is reviewing the status of nine other current and former officials. A former top intelligence figures going back to the Reagan administration reacted with fury. In a few minutes, we'll discuss whether the president is protecting the nation's secrets or playing politics with the head of the Senate Homeland Security Committee Ron Johnson. But first, Admiral Mike Mullen, former chair of the joint chiefs of staff under Presidents Bush and Obama. Admiral, I want to begin with some of the things that John Brennan has been saying about President Trump, starting with him accusing the president of high crimes and misdemeanors after a summit in Helsinki with Vladimir Putin. Take a look. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) BRENNAN: This is nothing short of treasonous because it is a betrayal of the nation. He is giving aid and comfort to the enemy. I think Donald Trump has badly sullied the reputation of the office of the presidency. Just so reflective of somebody who, quite frankly, I don't want you to use this term may be, but he is drunk on power. He really is. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: Admiral, is that appropriate for a CIA director, former CIA director to say about the president? ADMIRAL MIKE MULLEN (RET), FORMER JOINT CHIEFS OF STAFF CHAIRMAN: Well, I think for John and he -- and John is an extraordinary servant of the country, but I think he has been incredibly critical of the president and I think that has put him in a political place which actually does more damage for the intelligence community, which is apolitical, even as he's retired. So, I really don't support him being as critical of the president as he has been WALLACE: The question, of course, is whether we are blurring the lines here between politics and intelligence. I want to put up a statement that John Brennan said in an op-ed, an opinion article in the New York Times rather after his security clearance was cleared. Here it is. Mr. Trump's claim of no collusion -- Trump's claims of no collusion, rather, are, in a word, hogwash. Richard Burr, chair of Senate Intelligence, wrote: If Director Brennan's statements is based on intelligence he received while still leading the CIA, why didn't he included in the intelligence community assessment released in 2017? If, however, Director Brennan's statement is purely political and based on conjecture, the president has full authority to revoke his security clearance as head of the executive branch. Can you understand why I say that to a certain degree, saying in an op-ed that the allegation, or the denials of no collusion are hogwash, it blurs the line? MULLEN: Well, John Brennan knows based on the job he was doing before, an awful lot about what happened with respect to Russia. That said, he's no longer in the job per se, and I worry that what he is saying now puts him in a much more politicized position. I don't think there's any question the president has a right to pull security clearances. That authority is very clear. That said, I do worry about the fact that that, one, John is now in the political arena and, two, at the same time, I don't agree with the president pulling it. I think I am concerned about the whole issue of free speech. And as long as John is not revealing classified information that he shouldn't, then I -- then I certainly think he has a right to speak. As far as the Russian investigation is concerned, I think Bob Mueller will get through that, complete it, and we should rely on him for what actually happened. WALLACE: Admiral, I want to ask you a question a lot of people have asked me this week, which is why should a former official -- I know you have security clearance. Why should a former official, any former official, keep his security clearance when it's been years since he worked for the government? MULLEN: It's -- for a long time, Chris, former officials have kept their security clearances to be able to advise on critical issues over time. These are individuals typically that have a lot of both wisdom and experience and our entities inside the government. There are contractors who support the government that ask for advice in certain areas. I don't find it -- certainly, I have my clearance. It's not used that often and the dependence on sort of a deep understanding of what's actually going on is not called for that often. So, it's been going on for a long time. And I think for the most part, it's been very useful and I have found no one that's abused that. WALLACE: You know, this isn't just about John Brennan, although most of the attention is being paid to him. You've seen the list of one current and eight former intelligence officials whose clearances the president is reviewing and there are reports that the president and the White House have already drafted documents to remove some or all of their clearances. What's the danger here? Why are you and the 14 or so other former senior intelligence and military officials, why is everybody so upset about this? MULLEN: Well, I mean, one of the things for somebody of my age, it immediately brings back the whole concept of the enemies list for -- you know, under President Nixon and even before that in the early '50s, the McCarthy era where the administration starts putting together lists of individuals that don't agree with them and that historically obviously has proven incredibly problematic for the country. So, it's that -- you know, it's creating a list of political enemies, in particular those who have worked in a government and some very specifically who spent their life in government and I think hearing from Bill Webster and Bob Gates is a pretty strong signal that doing this would really be off-base. WALLACE: The one current official, member of the Justice Department who security clearance is being considered is Bruce Ohr, who along with his wife had links to Chris Steele, the man who wrote the Russia dossier. Here's what the president said on Friday about them. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: I think that Bruce Ohr is a disgrace with his wife Nellie. For him to be in the Justice Department and to be doing what he did, that is a disgrace. That is disqualifying for Mueller. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: How big a role do you think the Russian investigation plays in all of this and what if -- because it has been speculated -- what if the president were to pull the security clearances of Robert Mueller and the other members of his special counsel team? MULLEN: Well, again, I think that the president has the authority to grant clearances and to pull them. I think pulling Bob Mueller's clearance would create, you know, a real political firestorm for him and I would hope that the president would just let Bob Mueller get through that investigation. There is -- in the case of Bruce Ohr, who I don't know, but there is a process that the president is concerned about what he did, to have the inspector general look at it and then there's an appropriate official that could take appropriate action based on the investigation. WALLACE: Finally, President Trump wanted to hold a big military parade in Washington in November, as you well know, and it has now been canceled because of skyrocketing costs. As a former chairman of the joint chiefs, what do you think of the idea of this country holding a big celebratory parade for the military? MULLEN: Well, I had a great privilege of serving for over four decades with the greatest young men and women that the country has. One of the things that our country has done is honor them in so many ways. But I'm not one that thinks we need a military parade. And in fact, whatever the costs are, and there have been varied estimates, I think those costs, those funds can be put to better use. The military is the best military in the world. It's the best I've ever seen and support of them in terms of their pay and their benefits, et cetera, and what they are doing is what's really critical. I don't think a parade does much for them in that regard. WALLACE: Admiral Mullen, thank you, thanks for your time today. Always good to talk with you, sir. MULLEN: Thanks, Chris. WALLACE: Let's turn now to the chair of the Senate Homeland Security Committee, Republican Senator Ron Johnson. Senator, I want to start with Sarah Huckabee Sanders reading the statement from President Trump this week explaining why he was revoking the security clearances of John Brennan and reviewing the clearances of nine others. Here she is. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS, WHITE HOUSE PRESS SECRETARY: As the head of the executive branch and commander-in-chief, I have a unique constitutional responsibility to protect the nation's classified information, including by controlling access to it. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: Question, sir, how does the president's action protect the nation's secrets? What evidence is there that any of these ten people have misused classified information? SEN. RON JOHNSON (R-WI), SENATE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE: Good morning, Chris. I'm not sure there's evidence that anybody has misused it but I do believe that former CIA Director John Brennan abused his privilege. When you're an ex-CIA director and you are going on all the cable news shows and acting as partisan as he is and accusing the president of the United States of treasonous behavior, high crimes and misdemeanors, last time I checked, treason was punishable by death. You just crossed the line. And there's a difference between being eligible for receiving classified information and gaining access to it. Let's face it. Nobody was going to be consulted with John Brennan. He didn't need access to any classified information, not during this administration. So, I have no problem with the president pulled his clearance. WALLACE: But as I just discussed with Admiral Mullen, we're not just talking about John Brennan. There are nine other people who were on the list that Sarah Huckabee Sanders read in the White House briefing room. Ten people in all, including Brennan, and the one thing they all have in common is to varying degrees they all have been critics of this president. Here's what Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, had to say about this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) SEN. MARK WARNER, D-VA, SENATE INTELLIGENCE COMMITTEE VICE CHAIR: These people were being singled out to have either their clearances revoked or in the process of being revoked, to me smacks of Nixonian type practices of trying to silence anyone who is willing to criticize this president. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: And he compared it, as Admiral Mullen did, to an enemies list. If you want to clean this up, why not reformat and take away all the security clearances of all former officials? Why go after your political critics? JOHNSON: Well, first of all, I don't want to see this become routine. I don't want to see it be politicized and the reason you don't want to pull security clearance is exactly what the Admiral Mullen was talking about, is being able to, you know, provide access to those individuals you want to consult with. So, the best way handling this is if you don't have confidence in former CIA officials or other government officials that you're not going to be consulting with, just don't give them access. You know, you gain access when you have a need to know and if you're not going to be consulting, you just don't have the need to know. So, again, I don't want this to become routine. But, again, John Brennan really did cross a line. He's one of the leaders of the resistance movement. I understand why President Trump is pretty frustrated. I've never seen in my life time a president not given any chance, no honeymoon, you know, massive protests of the weekend after the inauguration. I understand President Trump's frustration, but again, security clearance is really split between eligibility and access and the best way to handle all of this, if you don't have confidence with people, just don't give them access to the classified information. WALLACE: Well, I was going to say, but doesn't mean that they would lose their security clearance. Just because you have security clearance -- JOHNSON: Right. WALLACE: -- doesn't mean you get access to the information. And I want to follow-up specifically on that. You say you don't want to be routine. There's a report in The Washington Post this weekend that President Trump wants to and, in fact, the White House has already drawn up documents to revoke the security clearances of some of those nine other people on the list and is, in fact, being advised to do so at specific times when there's bad, negative news coming out to try to disrupt the news cycle. If he goes after some of those other nine people on the list, are you going to support him or are you going to oppose that? JOHNSON: I don't want to see him politicize this. Listen, when you fire people from agencies their clearances are yanked. But when people retire honorably, I think let them keep their security clearances in place and if you don't want to consult them, just don't give them access to classified material. That's the best way of handling it. Just don't give them access to the material. WALLACE: I just want to put up one more thing here and that is the backlash which really spread through the intelligence community and a lot of very senior officials. Let's start here. More than a dozen senior intel officials wrote this. It has nothing to do with who should and should not hold security clearances and everything to do with an attempt to stifle free speech. Some 60 former CIA officers wrote this: The country will be weakened if there is a political litmus test applied before seasoned experts are allowed to share their views. And retired Admiral William McRaven who led the special operations command that killed bin Laden wrote this: I would consider it an honor if you would revoke my security clearance as well so I can add my name to the list of men and women who have spoken up against your presidency. I'm sure, Senator, you agree an awful lot of people on this list -- they go back to the Reagan administration in the case of Bill Webster -- they bleed red, white, and blue. JOHNSON: Absolutely. These are honorable Americans. I don't agree that President Trump is stifling free speech. I don't want to see an enemies list, and again, I'll just repeat the west bay to handle this in any administration, if you don't want to consult with anybody, you don't necessarily have to yank their security clearance, just don't give them access to the classified materials. It's pretty simple. WALLACE: Senator Johnson, thank you. Thanks for joining us today. Always good to talk with you, sir. JOHNSON: Have a great day. WALLACE: Up next, what's behind President Trump's stripping the security clearances of his critics in the case against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort? What will the jury decide? We'll bring in our Sunday group to break it all down, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) JOHN BRENNAN, FORMER CIA DIRECTOR: They are turning a blind eye and making excuses for someone who doesn't deserve to be given this type of leash with the authorities of the office of the presidency. DOANLD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Many people don't even know who he is and now, he has a bigger voice and that's OK with me because I like taking on voices like that. I've never respected him. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: President Trump saying he's given John Brennan a bigger platform and Brennan using that platform to go after Republicans for failing to stand up to this president. And it's time now for our Sunday group: Rich Lowry of National Review, Mo Elleithee of Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service, former Democratic Congresswoman Jane Harman, director of the Woodrow Wilson Center, and the co-host of "Benson and Harf" on Fox News Radio, Guy Benson. Congresswoman Harman, let me start with you, because Brennan and some of those other former top intelligence officials are saying that this is an effort to shut them up, but doesn't the president make a good point there? Brennan has a bigger platform than ever. He was all over cable TV. He was in The New York Times. Who was being shut up? JANE HARMAN, D-CALI., FORMER U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN: Well, I'm no shrink but the speculation is that Trump likes a foil, and he's setting Trump up to be this foil, to demonize him. WALLACE: Brennan. HARMAN: And, frankly, I think that Brennan's Irish, as he calls it, maybe is not as effective as if he talks more quietly. But be that as it may, he has a right to free speech, and that letter that was discussed by 14 former senior CIA folks, plus the really compelling op-ed by Bill McRaven who was in charge of the takedown of Osama bin Laden. I don't know what political party he is, but he was honored by the Wilson Center for his public services and is a genuine American hero, says I think everything. You don't revoke security clearances when there's no violation of classified material. I personally have one, by the way, because I'm a member of the Defense Policy Board and -- (CROSSTALK) WALLACE: I'm not sure, you shouldn't tell the president that. HARMAN: I'm telling you that on a fair and balanced show. WALLACE: I understand. He may be watching. HARMAN: Well -- WALLACE: All right. There goes your security clearance. Rich, what do you think of the president moving against Brennan and according to reports apparently soon moving against at least some of these other nine officials? He seemed to link a lot of this to the Russia investigation, telling The Wall Street Journal, here it is: I call it the rigged witch hunt. It is a sham and these people, the ten people we're talking about here, led it. So I think it's something that had to be done. Your reaction? RICH LOWRY, NATIONAL REVIEW: Well, first of all, we're talking about mostly symbolism here, right? I mean, no one -- the reason why former officials have the security clearances is in theory current officials can consult with them, but no Trump official is going to consult with John Brennan over anything. WALLACE: But let me just pick up on that because there was a world prior to January of 2017 where they did consult and people were brought back in and the idea was you might want somebody who's an expert on Russia or the Middle East or whatever to be able to help you. LOWRY: The way Brennan has conducted himself forecloses any opportunity to cooperate with this administration and I do think he crossed a line. It's just a really bad idea to have someone who was wielding some of the most sensitive powers in the United States government immediately upon leaving his office reveal himself to be the most hackish political actor, who is making wild and outrageous charges. Now, if Trump is just going to go through and pick through this list arbitrarily without any process, without any clear standard, I do think it's a bad idea. It seems petty, and it will, even though he has broad powers in this area, will invite some sort of First Amendment challenge. WALLACE: I want to turn to another big story this week, and that's the trial of former top Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, the first prosecution by the special counsel. The jury right now -- not right now because it's the weekend -- but starting on Monday will do its third day of deliberation on the 18 counts of tax and bank fraud. Here's what President Trump said about the trial on Friday. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TRUMP: I think it's a very sad day for our country. He worked for me for a very short period of time. But you know what? He happens to be a very good person. And I think it's very sad what they've done to Paul Manafort. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: Mo, I am old enough to remember when we used to think it was shocking when a president weighed in on a pending case, let alone a case for the jury is in deliberations. What do you think of the president's comments and how important is this Manafort case and the verdict that comes down for the special counsel investigation going forward? MO ELLEITHEE, GEORGETOWN INSTITUTE OF POLITICS & PUBLIC SERVICE: Well, I think it's remarkable that the president said what he said. I think it was inappropriate, you know? But that can be said about half the things he says these days. But you're right. There was a time when presidents didn't weigh in in the middle of a jury deliberation. And -- WALLACE: Or if they did, they got hammered. I remember Richard Nixon in the middle of the Charles Manson case, Barack Obama about Trayvon Martin. ELLEITHEE: Yes, it was inappropriate in those cases and this was inappropriate. Look, I think if there is a guilty verdict, I think that is going to create a sense of momentum behind the Mueller investigation. I don't think there's any question about that. WALLACE: But what if there isn't? ELLEITHEE: But if there isn't, then I think there's going to be further pressure from the president, his allies on Mueller to wrap this up and to just cut the cord. Now, we don't know what Mueller is looking at, we don't know everything that he's got. We know there's 32 at least people who have been indicted or pled guilty so far. So, this is just the first thread in what I think is an intricate sort of -- WALLACE: But you have to agree, he brought the case because he thought it was his best case. If he goes down -- and again, we don't know what the jury is going to decide, it would be very damaging. ELLEITHEE: We don't know what the jury will decide nor do we know exactly what else he's got in his quiver of arrows. I think most people kind of assume that Manafort was his best foot forward but we don't know everything else that he has. WALLACE: All right. Speaking of what we don't know or didn't know until this morning about the special counsel investigation, there's a puzzling story, Guy, in The New York Times that it turns out that Don McGahn, the president's counsel, has done 30 hours of interviews with the special counsel, with the special counsel Robert Mueller with the consent of President Trump. According to the story, McGahn was so surprised that President Trump said, no, you can go talk in three interviews, 30 hours, that he and his lawyer worried was the president trying to set him up to take the fall for President Trump? What do you make of this? GUY BENSON, CO-HOST, "BENSON & HARF": I mean, it was an astonishing story in a number of ways and that last piece goes to potentially a culture of paranoia inside the White House, but for people who are looking -- WALLACE: (INAUDIBLE) BENSON: -- at the headline, or the lead and saying, oh my gosh, this must be terrible for President Trump, there are a few concrete details in the story that I think actually are not totally vindicating but at least interesting. For example, according to the time story, McGahn told investigators, quote, that he never saw Mr. Trump go beyond his legal authorities, and also the very notion that the president said, yes, please, go, speak to Mueller with no restrictions. That did not sound to me like a president who believes that he has deep secrets to hide or that he's done something wrong. If he's -- at least his initial position was to send the chief White House lawyer to talk to Mueller in an unrestricted way with his permission -- I mean, to me that is a fascinating nugget that does color our understanding of how the president views his culpability or lack thereof on the matter. ELLEITHEE: Or that the president -- how the president views the White House counsel, right? I mean, the White House counsel is not the president's personal lawyer. The White House counsel is the lawyer for the White House. WALLACE: But he could have claimed (ph) executive privilege. ELLEITHEE: He could have claimed executive privilege, but there's also some nuggets in that story about how the president thought that McGahn would go out there and get his back in these interviews, which is I think I misreading of -- WALLACE: I just want -- a final word from you, Rich, on all of this because the president has been on the Twitter tear today about this and he saying that The New York Times, it's a fake story and that they are implying that somehow McGahn turned into John Dean in the Watergate case, who was a rat, and in fact, this was all done with the cooperation and consent of the president and it shows that he has nothing to hide. LOWRY: Yes, clearly, they could have stopped him if they wanted to. I just think it's malpractice even if you are in full cooperation mode not to try to limit this interview to some extent just to protect the prerogatives of the presidency. But what Guy hit on, if it's true that McGahn was worried that the president was going to throw him under the bus, so he thought he had to go and do the fulsome interviews possible, that speaks to a deep dysfunction at the very heart of the White House. HARMAN: It could be Rudy Giuliani who moved in here and doesn't want McGahn around anymore. That could be the motivation. WALLACE: It's a little late for that. (LAUGHTER) WALLACE: He's already done the 30 hours of interview. HARMAN: Well, he's done the 30 hours, but if he's removed now, he presumably can't do whatever it is that he's doing. I mean, there's too much intrigue. I worked in the Carter White House, which was a lot quieter. (LAUGHTER) WALLACE: Those were -- those were different times. All right, panel. We have to take a little break. We'll see you a bit later in the program. Up next, the Trump economy has kicked into high gear, but will it last? White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney joins us next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALLACE: Coming up, the White House says the Trump economic strategy is working. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) KUDLOW: We have a president who, in my words, is telling folks to take a whip at the ball and they're doing it. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: We'll discuss the economy and a possible government shutdown with White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney, next. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALLACE: The economy has been a bright spot for President Trump, highlighted by strong growth and low unemployment. But trade wars and a possible government shutdown loom on the horizon. Joining us now, White House Budget Director Mick Mulvaney. Director Mulvaney, let's start with the economy, where there are clearly some great numbers. I want to put them up on the screen. GDP growth in the second quarter, 4.1 percent. Overall unemployment, 3.9 percent. The jobless numbers for blacks, Hispanics and young people are the lowest in decades. Here's what White House Economic Adviser Larry Kudlow told the cabinet this week. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) LARRY KUDLOW, WHITE HOUSE ECONOMIC ADVISER: We are crushing it. And people say this is not sustainable. It's one quarter blip. It's just nonsense. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: But, Director Mulvaney, there are other economists who say that we're on a sugar high based on tax cuts and big government spending that won't last. I want to put up the projection from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office, recent projection. It growth of 3.1 percent this year, 2.4 percent in 2019 and back down to 1.7 percent in 2020. Are they wrong? MICK MULVANEY, WHITE HOUSE BUDGET DIRECTOR: Yes, we -- we think that they are. Keep in mind, all of the folks who are now saying it's -- it's just a short-term sugar high, it's just a blip, it's not sustainable, including the CBO, are the same people who said it was impossible to get to 3 percent in the first place. They have a vested interest in seeing us fail. One of my favorite lines came, I think, from Paul Krugman who said that -- about the time we rolled out our first budget, which introduced this concept of 3 percent growth, sustainable 3 percent growth, he said you could make him complete dictator of the country and he couldn't get you there. So there's a lot of folks who are interested in seeing us fail because we are proving that if you regulate (INAUDIBLE), you let people keep more of their own money, that the American economy can grow and that that growth is sustainable. WALLACE: The White House talks, you talk, other top officials, the president, about all the jobs that have been created. But I want to look at the record because I -- I found out and -- a surprising statistic this week, 3.4 million jobs have been added during the first 19 months of the Trump administration, but 3.7 million jobs were added during the last 19 months of the Obama administration. More jobs. So, in fact, there hasn't been a spike in jobs created under this president. MULVANEY: Right. Keep in mind that when you're coming back from a recession, it's actually easier to do that. It's easier to do what President Obama had done. The criticism we had -- so many of us had, including myself of President Obama, was that he wasn't adding enough jobs. That -- that -- those numbers that you saw coming off of a recession were way below historical American averages. You look at how quickly the economy came back after the recession under the Reagan administration, that the Obama recovery lagged behind all of our historical (INAUDIBLE). So -- WALLACE: But -- but wait a minute, sir. The -- the -- the recession was in 2008. We're talking about 2015 and '16. Eight -- seven, eight years into the Obama presidency versus the first 19 months of the Trump presidency. MULVANEY: True, but when you come out of a deep recession, as we did in the 1980s, and we did again in the 2000s, you should see dramatically increased growth and increased job creation, which you've seen here with our administration is we're able to started at a fairly high level and continue that growth level. Most folks would expect it to sort of tail off at this point. But we're not. We're actually growing faster. We're adding jobs. You've -- you've -- you've mentioned a lot of the statistics. My favorite statistic is that for the first time in the history of the country we have more job openings then we have people who are there to fill them. So we've been able to do this at a time that most folks again thought it was not possible to do. But to get back to your original point about whether or not it's sustainable, and the reason we do think it's sustainable is we're changing sort of the infrastructure of the economy. The things we've done on the deregulatory agenda, the things we've done on taxes are not a sugar high. It's not a one-time sort of pop to the system. It's fundamentally changing the way we create wealth in the country. We do think it's sustainable in the long term. In fact, I think we're already starting to see some folks project that we're going to have maybe again at least 3 percent, maybe 4 percent growth again this quarter. So as you see -- you're seeing it start to build that momentum. WALLACE: All right, one possible roadblock out there, one big issue for the next few weeks is the possibility the president has threatened a possible shutdown of the government on September 30th if he doesn't get full funding for the wall and doesn't get a number of other major immigration reforms. Does he have to get all of that by the end of the fiscal year, September 30th, or is he willing to put this confrontation off until after the midterm election? MULVANEY: A couple different things. I'm always fascinated with the media, the fascination with this narrative about a shutdown. We're supposedly going to have a shutdown just about every six months according to the media. We haven't had one yet, except for the one -- WALLACE: Well, no, wait, wait, wait, wait, I'm not going to let you put this on the media. President Trump has been talking about a shutdown lots. MULVANEY: Sure. WALLACE: This is not generated by us. It's generated by the White House. MULVANEY: That's fair. It's just, I'm always fascinated with the folks always want to talk about a shutdown, but the only shutdown we've had since I've been in the Trump administration was actually caused by Senate Democrats. But come back to your -- to you question, which is, what does the president have to have? I think this is the president's position on this. And we've communicated -- I was in the Oval Office when he communicated this to the leaders in the House and the Senate. It's like, look, we're spending way too much money. Everybody knows it. We had to give the Democrats a bunch of money in order to get the national defense funding that we needed during that last omnibus. What the president's saying is, one, no more omnibuses. He's not going to do that anymore. And, number two, I don't think he should spend all of this money because we don't need to. But if you do, I'd like to have my priorities funded. That's a reasonable position for the president to take. WALLACE: I -- I'm asking a specific question. MULVANEY: So, again, you and I know, I don't -- WALLACE: I'm asking a specific question, though, sir, and that is, does -- is -- MULVANEY: Sure. WALLACE: Is the drop dead time for that September 30th or is it going to push this off until after the midterms? MULVANEY: Oh -- and it's a fair question to ask, but as I've told you before in the show, I don't negotiate with you. We negotiate mostly with Senate Democrats. So, no, we're going to continue to go through the process. The House and the Senate actually spend money under our system, as you know. They've actually done a pretty good job so far. I think the Senate has passed nine of their 12 spending bills. I think the House may have passed almost all of theirs as well. So they're making progress. They're ahead of their schedule from where they were in previous years. So I think all signs are good that we're going to actually get some spending bills passed before the end of the -- the end of the fiscal year. WALLACE: OK. I want to get in two more subjects and we're running out of time. The president announced Friday that he is canceling the big military parade in Washington in November because of skyrocketing cost. He tweeted this. The local politicians who run Washington, D.C., poorly, know a windfall when they see it. When asked to give us a price for holding a great celebratory military parade, they wanted a number so ridiculously high that I canceled it. Never let someone hold you up. The implication there, Director Mulvaney, was that somehow D.C. officials were trying to gouge the federal government. But D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser came back, she said the fact is, although the president has been talking about this since February, that your office, OMB, never came to them until this last Tuesday to talk about this, that they said it's going to cost the city $20 million and it was the military that said it's going to cost them $50 million and that placing the blame on -- on the city is just wrong. MULVANEY: A couple different things on that. First of all, if the parade had been canceled purely for fiscal reasons, I imagine it would have been in the room when that decision was made, and I wasn't. So my guess is there were other contributing factors. But come back to the relationship between the city and the president. I mean I like the mayor. She seems like a nice lady. But, face it, this is a city that voted probably, I don't know, 70, 80 percent against the president. So to think that maybe the city council of Washington, D.C., is not trying to help the president accomplish what he wants to accomplish shouldn't be news to anybody. The $20 million that you've just mentioned to me is a number that I find -- that's a number -- let's put it this way, I'm not familiar with. The numbers that I saw from the city were much higher than that. WALLACE: All right. I'm going to move on to my final subject, and that is a story in The New York Times this weekend that the Trump administration will propose new regulations this week that will leave it up to individual states to decide how to regulate and even whether to regulate power plants fueled by coal. Isn't this a national problem that needs a national standard, not state-by-state solutions? MULVANEY: Chris, I don't mean to dodge your question, but I believe that -- that matter is being considered right now at OMB and our internal rules from administration to administration is that we do not comment on anything that's being overseen by the Office of Information of Regulatory Affairs. I apologize. I didn't know you were going to ask that question. But I don't think I can speak to that and I do apologize. WALLACE: Well, let me just say, the president supposedly is going to announce this on Tuesday. So it sounds like it's been decided. MULVANEY: Again, you -- I can't speak to that. WALLACE: Director Mulvaney, thank you. Thanks for joining us today. Thank you for speaking to all the things you could. And we'll stay on top of all of these developments, sir. Please come back. MULVANEY: Thanks, Chris. WALLACE: When we come back, New York's Andrew Cuomo says America was never that great. Our Sunday panel returns to discuss how this may affect his prospects for running against President Trump in 2020. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I do want to say that I was your guest at Bastille Day and it was one of the greatest parades I've ever seen. It was two hours on the button and it was really very mighty. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: President Trump telling French President Macron he liked the Bastille Day Parade so much he wanted to hold a big military celebration here in the U.S. A project that has now been shelved, at least for this year. And we're back now with the panel. So, Guy, no big parade down the streets of Washington this November to mark the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I. Is that good or bad? GUY BENSON, TOWNHALL.COM: I don't think it's either. You know, I -- I like the president's instinct here. He's like, you know, Bastille Day, that's a very cool event. Let's honor our military. I think that's a good impulse. If you look at the price tag attached to it. You look at a lot of people in the military at the upper echelons of it saying this isn't a terrific idea. I think the American Legion weighing in at the end of this decision-making process and saying, maybe we can use that money and help veterans get health care, that seems like a pretty sensible counterpoint to all of this. So it has been postponed indefinitely and I'd be perhaps a little bit surprised if we ever see it during the Trump years. WALLACE: But as somebody who likes a parade, along with the president, I will ask you this, Congresswoman Harman, some people, I think it's fair to say mostly on the left, are saying, we don't hold military parades in this country. They do it in France, Bastille Day, every year and they do it every year without breaking the bank. So why -- what's wrong with holding a parade? JANE HARMAN, FORMER U.S. CONGRESSWOMAN (D-CA): Well, with great pride I participated in the parades in my district on patriotic holidays. And I also was responsible for the law that allows us to fly the POW flag on patriotic holidays. Very proud of that. But I -- but in this case, right now, I'm glad he pulled it. We could use the money better elsewhere. And there's a lot to celebrate in this country, but I think we -- we could and should do it in a more varied way. WALLACE: All right, I'm going to turn to another story, certainly more interesting. The story of New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, who decided this week it was a good thing to say this. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) ANDREW CUOMO (D), NEW YORK GOVERNOR: We're not going to make America great again. It was never that great. We have not reached greatness. We will reach greatness when every American is fully engaged. (END VIDEO CLIP) WALLACE: Rich, how damaging for Cuomo, who's running for re-election this November, and one hears, at least considering, keeping the options open for running for president against Donald Trump in 2020? RICH LOWRY, NATIONAL REVIEW: Well, it was a ghastly and contemptible comment and it will haunt him for years and speaks to a temptation on the left. You look at surveys. Liberals self-identify as less patriotic than conservatives. They say they're less proud of the country. And that's because elements of the left, they have a cosmopolitan view of the world or they're focused, as in those Cuomo comments, on the sins of the country or they're -- they love the country more than the ideal rather than a lived reality. And this is -- if -- if they run on anything like this message against Trump in 2020, they're throwing away a huge opportunity to appeal to the middle of the country. WALLACE: All right, let me -- let me -- let me just put up because the president, not surprisingly, jumped on this. Let me put up the tweet that he sent. And you can tell he has a history with Andrew Cuomo. He jumped on this with this tweet. Can you believe this is the governor of the highest taxed state in the U.S.? Andrew Cuomo having a total meltdown. And then let's put up the next quote, the tweet from Cuomo, who tried to dig himself out of this on Friday afternoon. The expression I used the other day was inartful, so I want to be very clear, of course America is great and of course America has always been great. No one questions that. Moe, did Cuomo dig himself out of the hole? Some people are comparing it to Hillary Clinton calling some Trump voters deplorables. MO ELLEITHEE, GEORGETOWN INSTITUTE OF POLITICS AND PUBLIC SERVICE: Well, first, having the president weigh in on this, the guy put the phrase American carnage in his inaugural address, so I'm not sure he is the best arbiter of this. But having said that, this was a boneheaded comment by Governor Cuomo. There is no question. I understand the point he was trying to make at the end, right, that there are still too many people out there who are feeling left behind. That is not a unique perspective. That is the perspective that President Trump ran on, that there are too many people who are being left behind. But the way -- but the way you do that is by leveraging -- pulling them out is by -- by leveraging American greatness. We are the greatest country in the world. For a person -- this is not going to impact his gubernatorial race. I don't think it's going to impact his re-election. But if there is any chance that he is going to think about running for president, this is going to haunt him. I agree with Rich, this is going to haunt him for years. You cannot -- you cannot go out there and say America is not a great country. WALLACE: Mo, let me -- let me suggest one reason, which has to do with his gubernatorial race, why Andrew Cuomo might have done this. I'm speculating here. He is running in a primary in New York right now against Cynthia Nixon, the former actress and a self-proclaimed socialist who is very much running against Cuomo from the left. Do you think that this may have been Cuomo, who is leading in the polls by 20 or 30 points, but somehow maybe feeling pressure to show, I'm good with the left too. I'm -- ELLEITHEE: But the left doesn't believe this. The left does not believe that America is not great. Look, I am on -- I am on the left. HARMAN: Right, I -- WALLACE: Wait a second. ELLEITHEE: I am on the left. Please don't tell me that I don't believe America is great. BENSON: I didn't tell you that. ELLEITHEE: Right. People -- WALLACE: All right, go ahead -- go ahead, Guy. BENSON: I think that there are elements of the hard left who do believe that the founding of this country is fundamentally problematic and he was, in my view, pandering to that element of the left. Of course the entire left doesn't believe it. You're criticizing him rightly. But there are folks -- you -- you see them all the time and the hard element of the party, and the left generally, who do not believe this is a great country. WALLACE: All right, Congresswoman Harman? HARMAN: I think -- I so strongly disagree with that. I'm -- I'm a centrist Democrat. So I'm not on the left either and I was opposed by people on the left. We're all patriots. And demonizing any section of the electorate is a huge mistake. And he's 33 points ahead of Cynthia Nixon in the last poll, so I don't know why he would think he has to pander in any way to the left. But I'd just like to make one other comment. I think it was totally boneheaded. I agree with all of you. He was trying to contrast his language with the Trump statement, make America great again, and I think he needs to keep apologizing for this. And I think he will pay for it in the primary to some extent. And I think -- WALLACE: Well, would you agree -- would you agree that there are some elements on the left will do believe that the country wasn't that great and are -- when they see the country, they think of all the things in terms of race, in terms of gender, in terms of participation. HARMAN: OK -- WALLACE: And instead of thinking of the accomplishments, it's mostly about grievances? HARMAN: And I think there are some elements on the right that see the same thing. The white supremacist, for example, think it was a huge mistake, I don't, to include not just the African-Americans, but women among voters in America. So I think there are estranged parts of our electorate on both ends and a lot of them are in the middle of the country. LOWRY: But it's more than just estranged part of the Democratic Party. You see brewing among -- in the Democratic Party, among the base of the Democratic Party, what will be the most radical and stinging and broad-based indictment of America that we've seen in the modern era. As fundamentally racist with a broken constitutional system that needs to be overturned. That -- that is coming. You see it coming. HARMAN: I disagree. ELLEITHEE: And there was some applause. There was some applause for what he said in the room. HARMAN: Yes, well -- WALLACE: There were also some gasps, I have to say. ELLEITHEE: Yes. WALLACE: All right, we're going to have to leave it there. Thank you, panel. See you next Sunday. We've got lots of time to talk about this. Maybe three years. Up next, our "Power Player of the Week." How one man's hobby led to a discovery 100 million years in the making. (COMMERCIAL BREAK) WALLACE: Dinosaurs, space flight, a time machine. This story has it all. Is it this summer's blockbuster movie? No. As we told you back in February, it's our "Power Player of the Week." (BEGIN VIDEOTAPE) RAY STANFORD, ARMATURE PALEONTOLOGIST: It was almost unbelievable. I couldn't sleep for two nights. It's like you've walked into the twilight zone and you -- you can't believe what you've seen. WALLACE (voice over): Ray Stanford is an 80-year-old amateur paleontologist. STANFORD: Well, that's interesting. WALLACE: And he's talking about what he saw in the summer of 2012 after having lunch with his wife Sheila who worked at the Goddard Space Flight Center. STANFORD: From my car, about 90 feet away, I spotted a smooth, light brown rock sticking out. And it looked like the kind of material that we sometimes find tracks in. WALLACE: When he says tracks, Stanford is talking about dinosaur tracks. STANFORD: Much to my surprise, the nicest, nodosaur track that I've ever seen anywhere, I think. Then it dawned on me, this is Goddard Space Flight Center. They're looking out into space millions of years ago, I'm looking down at the earth 110 million years ago. And I thought, wow, this is a wonderful paradox. I want to write some poetry. WALLACE: Stanford's excitement is understandable because he's been hunting dinosaur fossils and tracks for the last quarter century. And he's made hundreds of finds. STANFORD: Yes, this is a mammal footprint from 110, 112 million years ago. WALLACE: One of them is in the Smithsonian. STANFORD: It was the first hatchling nodosaur, an armored dinosaur, that had never been found in the whole world. WALLACE: But there was a problem with his latest discovery. The Gotthard Center was putting up a new building there, so they excavated the 4 tons stone and made a fiberglass cast of it, which Stanford got to study in his basement. And that's when the excitement really started. STANFORD: Well, this was the nodosaur track, the first find with the baby walking right -- right across it. WALLACE (on camera): So this is the big dinosaur and this is a baby? STANFORD: That's the baby of the same species. WALLACE (voice over): But along what appears to have been a prehistoric floodplain, there were more than 70 tracks of eight different species. STANFORD: Mammal tracks here, some scratching around over there, mammal tracks here. You had theropods flesh eating small -- flesh eating dinosaurs walking across here. WALLACE (on camera): So the theropods are here tracking the mammals? STANFORD: That -- well it certainly would appear because they're walking so slowly. WALLACE: How do you know that they're walking slowly? STANFORD: Because they're so close together. WALLACE: They're creeping? STANFORD: Yes. And we've -- we've -- we've done a calculation. They're moving less than a half-mile-per-hour. WALLACE (voice over): That's what Stanford says was so exciting. Fossils show how these animals died, but tracks showed how they lived. STANFORD: I was looking into a time machine and could see these big flying reptiles landing and the little theropods sneaking around, looking down at these little mammals digging in. And maybe that wouldn't affect most people that way, but it sure affected me that way. WALLACE: Stanford's find was announced in January. He calls it a snapshot created before more animals had a chance to cover the tracks. STANFORD: I suspect that a flood came after this had had a chance to dry out just a little bit. A flood came and covered it and preserved it. WALLACE (on camera): So Washington really was a swamp? STANFORD: Oh, indeed. It's been a swamp for over 110 million years. WALLACE (voice over): Stanford will keep looking for signs of dinosaurs. But he knows where this discovery ranks. STANFORD: If anybody tells me I'm going to find anything more interesting and important than this, I'll tell them they're probably crazy. It's absolutely like hitting the jackpot. Not monetary wise, but in the wonderful satisfaction of contributing something the world of scientists and paleontology has never seen before. That, to me, makes my 80 years' worth living. (END VIDEOTAPE) WALLACE: Ray Stanford refuses to sell any of his finds. Instead, he donates them to be studied by scientists and share with the public. And that's it for today. Have a great week and we'll see you next "Fox News Sunday." END Content and Programming Copyright 2018 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2018 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. A youth group headed to Mexico was kept off a flight for being late however, the groups youth pastor feels the blame is with American Airlines. William Davis, a youth pastor at Clays Mill Road Baptist Church in Lexington, Ky., said he and his group of 40 teenagers were heading to Irapuato, Mexico, as part of a mission to help children. The group arrived to the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport at 5:58 in the morning two hours ahead of their 7:54 a.m. flight to Leon, Mexico on August 7. However, the early arrival was met with a chaotic check-in experience that took an hour and a half, Davis claims. I have flown with many groups in my 10 years of working as a youth pastor, but I have NEVER seen any airline process a group like this, Davis wrote on Facebook. (Another employee) told (the employee checking them in) to process all of our 40 tickets and then process all of our 40 bags, he wrote in the post. FLORIDA DOCTOR HAS BIZARRE AIRPORT MELTDOWN TO 'PROVE A POINT' ABOUT POLICE USE OF FORCE: 'IF I WAS A BLACK PERSON, I'D BE TERRIFIED' The lady whose name I do not know attempted to run all 40 bags under my name, he continued. Apparently this strategy didnt work. She then had to go back and do it the regular way Davis went on to explain that the one woman helping them had to go back and check in the 40 members of the group again, taking up precious time. Once the teens had their tickets, they ran to the gate, after getting through security. However, they were too late. These kids had to raise $1,500 to go on this trip, and they missed two days of it. William Davis The lady at the gate (Jennifer) told us that the door was closed and that we could not get on the airplane that was sitting right there because we were 3 MINUTES LATE, Davis wrote. Davis said he begged the airline crew member to let the teenagers, who had saved for two years to raise the money for the mission trip to Mexico, on to the plane. Instead the youth group watched from the window as ground crew removed their bags from the plane. She sent that airplane without 40 passengers, Davis said in an interview with the Lexington Herald Leader. XIAMENAIR PLANE SKIDS OFF RUNWAY IN 'CRASH LANDING' AT MANILA AIRPORT Davis said they were able to book a flight for the next day, but the stranded group had to shell out $880 on 11 hotel rooms in Cincinnati for the night, and wasted $530 on the 11 hotel rooms they had already booked in Mexico. They also had to come up with $320 for breakfast the next day, the Herald reported. These kids had to raise $1,500 to go on this trip, and they missed two days of it, he said. Davis claims the airline representatives he has contacted told him it was the group's fault that we were late, and so theres nothing they can do, the Herald reported. Though Davis tells Fox News that an American Airlines representative contacted him Friday and said they "would like to do something for us," but he's unsure what that means. American Airlines told Fox News it's investigating the incident. We are aware of the issue, and our customer relations team has reached out to Mr. Davis to obtain additional details of what transpired at the airport. Our [Cincinnati airport] team is also reviewing these allegations. We never want to disrupt our customers travel plans, and we are sorry for the trouble this caused. The group was rebooked on a flight the next day. Davis said the parents are filing complaints with the airline, but he wants the carrier to take responsibility. I want them to admit that it was their fault, Davis said. We were just trying to get there to do something for the Lord. Their mistake hindered our trip. Davis noted this is the first time in the 10-year mission trip history that he has booked with American Airlines. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Though the group made it to Mexico and had a great time, the nightmare travel continued -- the airliner lost three bags. Mine is still en route, Davis said Friday night, the Herald reported. They did find it today in Cincinnati. A disruptive man dressed up as Peter Pans fairy sidekick, Tinker Bell, was escorted off of a Ryanair flight Friday morning. The man dressed as Tinker Bell boarded the Poland-bound flight at Londons Stansted Airport with a friend dressed as Bob the Builder. RYANAIR PASSENGERS FILMED FLEEING PLANE AFTER CELL PHONE BURSTS INTO FLAMES Once the men were on the plane, Ryanair says they became unruly and disruptive," a spokeperson told Fox News. Essex police were called to the scene. An armed officer led the man dressed a Tinker Bell off the plane. One of the officers adjusted the mans wings while leading him off the plane, BBC reported. A Ryanair spokesperson told Fox News that two passengers were removed though police did not confirm if the man dressed as Bob the Builder was taken off the flight. RYANAIR DOWNPLAYING EMERGENCY LANDING THAT SENT DOZENS TO HOSPITAL AFTER 'NIGHTMARE' FLIGHT, PASSENGER SAYS Police removed and detained two passengers ahead of this flight from London Stansted to Krakow who were disruptive. Police told BBC the men were cooperative while being escorted off the plane. The flight left after a short delay and the two passengers who were removed were able to book later flights that same day. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Ryanair told Fox News the incident should prompt airports to limit alcohol sales. "This is exactly why we are calling for significant changes to prohibit the sale of alcohol at airports, such as a two-drink limit per passenger and no alcohol sales before 10am, a Ryanair spokesperson said. "It's incumbent on the airports to introduce these preventative measures to curb excessive drinking and the problems it creates, rather than allowing passengers to drink to excess before their flights." A Detroit-area man was convicted after a five-day trial by a federal jury for sexually assaulting a sleeping passenger on a Spirit Airlines flight in January. Eight months ago, 35-year-old Prabhu Ramamoorthy of Rochester Hills, Mich., was arrested and charged with aggravated sexual abuse of a fellow passenger. The 22-year-old victim accused Ramamoorthy of putting his hand in her pants and unbuttoning her shirt while she was sleeping against the window of the plane. DISRUPTIVE SPIRIT AIRLINES PASSENGER REFUSES TO LEAVE, FORCES WHOLE FLIGHT TO DEPLANE According to a federal complaint obtained by the Detroit Free Press, the woman said she woke up as Ramamoorthy was putting his fingers in her (genitals) and vigorously moving them." He stopped when she woke up, she said. The woman immediately alerted the flight attendants. Now, U.S. Attorney Matthew Schneider said Ramamoorthy will face the possibility of life in prison when hes sentenced on Dec. 12. If released, Ramamoorthy will be deported to India, where he is from. Ramamoorthy was in the U.S. on a work visa. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The jury deliberated for 3 hours before reaching a verdict. Fox News' Michael Bartiromo and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Residents of the Brazilian border town of Pacaraima attacked Venezuelan immigrants on Saturday after a local storeowner was robbed, stabbed and beaten in an assault blamed on four migrants, authorities said. Pacaraima, in the northern jungle state of Roraima, is a major border crossing with Venezuela, where economic and political turmoil has driven tens of thousands to cross into Brazil over the past few years. After a rally held to protest the attack against the storeowner, groups of residents roamed the town hurling rocks at the immigrants and setting fire to their belongings. Police said the storeowner, who was beaten and robbed on Friday night, has been hospitalized and is in stable condition. The Roraima state government estimates that more than 50,000 Venezuelan refugees have crossed the border occupying already existing shelters or sleeping in tents. The influx was nearly equal to 10 percent of the state's population of 520,000 inhabitants. Police said that to escape the violence, hundreds of immigrants crossed the border back into Venezuela. On a video posted by the G1 news portal a man's voice is heard shouting "Get out. Get out. Go back to Venezuela." Wandenberg Ribeiro Costa, one of the organizers of Saturday's rally, told the G1 news portal "we have expelled the Venezuelans." Claudio Lamachia, president of the Brazilian Bar Association, said in a statement that the violence that took place in Pacaraima "exposed the humanitarian drama afflicting our neighbors ... who are trying to improve their lives and survive." "The state of Roraima does not have the conditions to shelter all the immigrants," he said, adding that close to 800 Venezuelans enter Roraima every day. Milene de Souza, a volunteer at an evangelical church, told the Associated Press by phone that the situation is desperate. "The world has to see what is happening here, where no one knows what to do," she said, adding that every day she helps Venezuelan engineers, doctors, lawyers and other professionals who sleep on the streets "with their diplomas tucked under their pillows." Connecticut authorities revealed Friday that a man was arrested in relation to the investigation of several dozen synthetic pot overdoses that occurred in the state this week. John Parker, 53, was taken into custody Wednesday and was discovered with more than 30 bags of K2, the synthetic marijuana linked to more than 100 overdoses, police said. Parker was hit with drug-related charges after authorities found him with the K2, Police Chief Anthony Campbell said. The area around the New Haven Green near Yale was where many of the overdoses occurred, starting on Wednesday. Multiple people who were affected by the drug identified Parker as someone who'd been dealing it in the area, Campbell said. Some of those who experienced overdoses fell unconscious, while others suffered nausea and vomiting, officials said. Some individuals also reportedly overdosed multiple times. No deaths have been reported. Parker was detained on $225,000 bail. A public defender told The Associated Press there was no proof linking any drugs Parker may have had to the ODs. His arrest marks the third in the investigation. Felix Melendez, 37, and an unidentified individual were separately taken into custody, Campbell said. He added that investigators are still working to determine whether theyre connected to the overdoses. Police cautioned that the apprehensions don't guarantee that all the bad K2 has been found. "We want people to be warned that what they have could be extremely dangerous and they should not use it," Campbell said. Synthetic marijuana typical consists of plant material sprayed with chemicals or other substances sold in small, colorful packets. Fox News Frank Miles and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A Kansas letter carrier was unable to carry out some of those Postal Service duties on Friday, after finding a snake on someones mailbox, police said. The scaly creature was found wrapped around the wall-mounted mailbox and railing outside a residents home, the Overland Park Police said on Twitter. MASSACHUSETTS POLICE CAPTURE JAW-DROPPING BOA CONSTRICTOR FROM UNDER CAR HOOD The red tail boa constrictor, which appeared on Broadmoor Street, is believed to have broken free from a neighboring home, police told The Kansas City Star. Once discovered, the carrier called for help from animal control, police said. The poor resident did not receive their mail today (obviously), police said, before joking that officers tried to convince animal control to put the snake under the @OPPD_Chief desk, but they won't. MASSIVE PYTHON SLITHERS UP AUSTRALIAN MANS HOME IN SHOCKING VIDEO Authorities are hoping someone reaches out to them about a missing snake, Officer John Lacy told the outlet. After the capture, the animal was brought to the Great Plains SPCA, Lacy said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Three people were shot at a back-to-school peace picnic held at a playground in Chicago on Saturday night. A fourth person was beaten up at the event that was held to promote peace and community. The picnic, which took place at Seward Park on the citys North Side, was off to a safe start, but onlookers say the mood quickly turned when a group of young men showed up and started fighting. Its senseless and should have never happened, event organizer Raymond Hatcher told reporters. We were doing well. Everything was going swell and then a group of guys who were not associated with us, came to the event intoxicated. We were doing well. Everything was going swell and then a group of guys who were not associated with us, came to the event intoxicated. Raymond Hatcher, organizer of Chicago "peace picnic" Hatcher, who puts on the event that is attended by hundreds of people every year, shook his head as police roped off the area with red crime-scene tape. Nineteen-year-old Trayvon Hatcher came with his two nephews to the park on Saturday. Everyone was trying to get away, he told reporters. Hatcher said when he heard the shots, he grabbed his nephews and left. Saturdays incident was one of several shootings that have rocked Chicago over the weekend. On Friday, as the city girded itself for another weekend of mayhem and bloodshed, a shooting left seven people hurt, including a 3-year-old boy. The youngster was one of 25 people shot in Chicago over a span of roughly 14 hours from Friday afternoon to early Saturday. A 27-year-old man was killed after being shot in the chest and arm around 3 p.m. Friday on Chicago's South Side, according to the Chicago Tribune. Police say the child was hit in his left shin in the Englewood neighborhood on the South Side. He was transported to a childrens hospital and was in stable condition. Clergy sex abuse of children has rocked the Catholic Church not only in terms of trust and reputation, but also financially, to the tune of more than $3 billion, according to National Public Radio. The multibillion-dollar expense has gone to settlements in response to lawsuits filed by people abused by clergy, reports NPR. Nearly 20 Catholic dioceses and religious orders have filed for bankruptcy because of the scandals. An attorney whose firm represented abuse victims said that the money the church has paid because of the crisis is part of justice for those who suffered, though it hardly compensates for all the damage done. "I don't like the word healing," said attorney James Stang to NPR, "because it's too much of an individual process; but at the end of the day, that accountability is demonstrated by the payment of money." The lawsuits have been filed primarily against dioceses and religious orders, which have the kind of auspices over priests that a single parish does not. The Catholic Church assets involved in settlements include cash, stocks, and land. Johnny Vega, who was raped by a priest as well as a deacon of the New Jersey church where he was an altar boy, was one of more than two dozen victims who were part of a $5 million settlement in 2005 with the Paterson Diocese. Vega and the other plaintiffs alleged in the lawsuit that the Diocese of Paterson and then-Bishop Frank J. Rodimer could have prevented the abuse. For the billions it has cost the Catholic Church, it does not compare to the cost of (traumatic) lives that many have suffered over the years, Vega told Fox News. For years, Vega struggled in silence through the abuse and the toll it took on him. The priest and deacon were almost sacred figures to his parents, as well as others in the congregation, Vega said, and the thought of revealing the horrors they had inflicted on him was intimidating to a young boy. He embarked on a chaotic path that included trying to end his life and hanging out with the wrong crowd before he began a journey toward healing that included starting a support group for other Latinos abused by priests. I was lucky enough to have had the support system needed to keep me strong and fight for changes. The Paterson Diocese also provided four years of psychological counseling, but did not publicly admit guilt or issue an apology. On Tuesday, a grand jury in Pennsylvania released a report that said that hundreds of Catholic priests in Pennsylvania molested more than 1,000 children and possibly many more since the 1940s, and senior church officials, including a man who is now the archbishop of Washington, D.C., systematically covered up the abuse. For the billions it has cost the Catholic Church, it does not compare to the cost of (traumatic) lives that many have suffered over the years. I was lucky enough to have had the support system needed to keep me strong and fight for changes. Johnny Vega, clergy sex abuse plaintiff The real number of abused children might be in the thousands since some secret church records were lost, and victims were afraid to come forward, the grand jury said. Priests were raping little boys and girls, and the men of God who were responsible for them not only did nothing. They hid it all, Attorney General Josh Shapiro said at a news conference in Harrisburg. The report put the number of abusive clergy at more than 300. In nearly all of the cases, the statute of limitations has run out, meaning that criminal charges cannot be filed. More than 100 of the priests are dead, and many others are retired or have been dismissed from the priesthood or put on leave. We are sick over all the crimes that will go unpunished and uncompensated, the grand jury said. Authorities evaluated each suspect and were able to charge just two, including a priest who has since pleaded guilty. Shapiro said the investigation is ongoing. Church officials routinely and purposefully described the abuse as horseplay and wrestling and simply inappropriate conduct, Shapiro said. It was none of those things. It was child sexual abuse, including rape, he said. Tim Lennon, the president of the Survivors Network of those Abused by Priests, urged Pennsylvania lawmakers to lift civil and criminal statutes of limitations for child sex crimes, and to provide victims who no longer meet the age requirements in state law with a new window to file civil lawsuits. Vega pushes for an end to such statutes every chance he gets. "The statute of limitations that many states still have that one has two years to report an abuse is wrong and they need to get rid of it," he told Fox News. "More cases will come out in many states and the Catholic Church will be spending more to have cases settled, but yet not apologize because that will cause than to admit wrongdoing on their part," Vega said. "It's time that those who hid these priest be held accountable as well." This is extraordinarily painful, it is embarrassing, it is humiliating, it is nauseating...I really worry about a loss to credibility, a loss of trust. Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of the diocese of New York Cardinal Timothy Dolan, archbishop of the diocese of New York, told CBS in an interview on Wednesday that the latest revelations by the Pennsylvania grand jury could further erode trust in the Catholic church. This is extraordinarily painful, it is embarrassing, it is humiliating, it is nauseating, but we believe in a God that can bring good out of evil, said Dolan, who called the grand jury disclosures a kick in the gut. I really worry about a loss to credibility, a loss of trust, said Dolan. Theres no use denying it. We cant sugar coat it, this is disastrous. Some experts say Catholics already are acting on a lack of trust in the church. "One set of Catholic parents told me, 'I'm never going to let my daughter be an altar girl after this,'" NPR quoted Stephen Schneck, a political scientist at the Catholic University of America, as saying. "Another set of parents said they are thinking about taking their children out of Catholic schools. For young people, this is coming at a time when they are already suspicious of institutions and authority. It will impact everything." Others, however, dont think Catholics will abandon the Church in droves. "The reasons they say they belong to a church or [what they say] they find meaningful in the church don't have much to do with who the leader is or who the bishop is," said Mary Gautier, a research fellow at the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate at Georgetown University. "It's much more personal than that. It's, 'this is where I feel a connection to my God. This is the faith community that nourishes me.'" The Associated Press contributed to this report. A former Texas doctor who was found guilty on Thursday of raping a heavily sedated patient will not serve time in prison for his crime. Shafeeq Sheikh, a former physician at Baylor College of Medicine, was sentenced to 10 years of probation on Friday and will have to register as a sex offender. A 12-person jury found him guilty of sexually assaulting a patient five years prior, the Houston Chronicle reported. The jurors recommended the sentencing, to which visiting Senior District Judge Terry L. Flenniken was required to follow by law, according to the newspaper. Sheikh was working the night shift at Houstons Ben Taub Hospital in 2013 when a woman, previously identified as Laura, was admitted for shortness of breath and wheezing. She was in the hospital overnight and sedated when Sheikh came to her room several times during the night and sexually assaulted her. Laura said she attempted to get help from a nurse, but the call button wouldnt work. AARON HERNANDEZ'S SUICIDE NOTES TO LAWYER, FIANCEE AND DAUGHTER REVEALED DNA evidence was collected from a rape kit but it took two years for charges to be filed against Sheikh. The DNA collected from the former doctors cheek swab match those in a rape kit. Surveillance video also captured Sheikh on the floor where the womans room was located. He used his badge to swipe onto her floor at least 12 times that night. He sought her out. He chose her to prey on, Assistant District Attorney Lauren Reeder said during Fridays sentencing. You know hes the type of man who would go in multiple times, testing the waters, seeing how far he could go and get back to his normal business after that. You know hes the kind man of who walked around for two years before he was charged with this knowing what he did, she added. During the trial, the doctor admitted to the sexual contact with the woman, but insisted it was consensual. His lawyers also pleaded with the jury to show some compassion to Sheikh, his wife and children, who also suffered consequences due to the 46-year-olds actions. The dreams of a man, the childhood dream to become a doctor, were shattered by his conduct. He destroyed his own dreams, Sheikhs lawyer Stanley Schneider said. What he has done to himself and his family is punishment. They are serving his sentence with him. His children are serving his sentence with him. Sheikh has since left the hospital. The Texas Medical Board revoked his license in 2015 after they found he was a continuing threat to public welfare. Laura, now 32, said after the sentencing that she wanted to move on from the incident. She told KHOU11 in 2015 that she believes there are other victims. Police arrested an 88-year-old Florida man for burning a trapped raccoon alive because the animal had eaten his mangoes. Ezra James, who lives in Palm Bay, told WKMG that he threw gasoline on the raccoon and lit a match. Besides the mangoes, James said he was afraid the raccoon might give him rabies. A neighbor called 911 as the raccoon burned alive in a metal trap. Law enforcement officers shot the raccoon to ease its suffering. Authorities say nuisance animals can be trapped and either released or humanely euthanized. James says he was released from jail after posting $2,000 bail on a charge of animal cruelty resulting in death. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A former special agent with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was arrested this week, accused of sexually assaulting one woman and twice raping another. ICE said in a statement that John Jacob Olivas, 43, had worked for the agency's Homeland Security Investigations unit in California and allegedly abused his position to convince the women to not report his "violent conduct," the statement said. The alleged crimes occurred in 2012, the statement said. The indictment alleges that Olivas attempted to rape one victim in January 2012 after telling her that any effort to report his conduct would be futile because of his position as a federal law enforcement officer. The indictment also alleges that Olivas raped another victim in September 2012 and then again in November 2012. Olivas allegedly also told the woman that police would not respond to any complaint about him. Olivas joined ICE in 2007 and resigned in September 2015 after working as an HSI special agent for just over six years, the statement said. Olivas is charged with three counts of deprivation of rights, and could face up to life in prison if convicted. He is from Riverside, Calif., about 55 miles east of Los Angeles. An undocumented immigrant from Mexico who was arrested in California this week while driving his pregnant wife to a hospital was facing a warrant for his arrest in Mexico on homicide charges, officials with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Saturday. But his wife disputed the ICE claim, saying her husband has never been in trouble with the law, KCBS-TV of Los Angeles reported. Maria del Carmen Venegas, 32, said she and her husband, Joel Arrona-Lara, 35, came to the U.S. 12 years ago from the city of Leon in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato. They do not have legal authorization to live in the U.S., she said. She said that because her husband was taken away by ICE at a gas station where the couple stopped on the way to the hospital, she was forced to drive herself there, where she gave birth to a boy -- the couple's fifth child, all born in the U.S. Venegas said she and Arrona-Lara had stopped for gas in San Bernardino, just east of Los Angeles. Surveillance footage showed two vehicles immediately flank the couple's van after they pulled into the gas station. Agents with ICE questioned the couple and asked for identification, Venegas said. Venegas said she provided hers but that Arrona-Lara had left his at home in their rush to the hospital. The agents then handcuffed Arrona-Lara and took him away, leaving a sobbing Venegas alone at the gas station, surveillance footage showed. Mr. Arrona-Lara was brought to ICEs attention due to an outstanding warrant issued for his arrest in Mexico on homicide charges, ICE said in a statement. He was in custody Saturday pending removal proceedings, the report said. On Saturday, Venegas said she and her children were hoping Arrona-Lara would be released soon. "We need him now more than ever," she said from the hospital as her newborn son Damian cried in the background. My husband needs to be here, Venegas told KCBS-TV. He had to wait for his son for so long, and someone just took him away. ICE's statement said while the team prioritizes arresting immigrants who are transnational gang members, child sex offenders and those who've had previous convictions for violent crimes, it "will no longer exempt classes or categories of removable aliens from potential enforcement." "All of those in violation of the immigration laws may be subject to immigration arrest, detention and, if found removable by final order, removal from the United States," the statement said. Emilio Amaya Garcia, director of the San Bernardino Community Service Center, said his nonprofit group is providing legal help to Venegas and Arrona-Lara, will file a motion Monday for an immigration court to set a bail hearing for Arrona-Lara and will ask that his removal proceedings be canceled. An attorney representing Arrona-Lara from the service center told KCBS-TV that the Mexican charges against him were unconfirmed. Garcia told the station that he has been contact with the Mexican consulate, which said it had no information regarding ICE's claim. Fox News' L.A. Ross and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A demonstration in support of Second Amendment gun rights drew left-wing counter-protesters Saturday in Seattle, forcing dozens of police to keep the two sides separated. Conservative groups Washington 3 Percenters and Patriot Prayer held their Liberty or Death rally outside Seattle City Hall, to oppose a city gun-control initiative, while a group of left-wing organizations rallied nearby. The left-wingers -- including members of Organized Workers for Labor Solidarity, Radical Women and the Freedom Socialist Party -- yelled and used cow bells and sirens in an attempt to drown out speeches from the other side. One person on the gun-rights side, sporting a Donald Trump hat, was treated for an injury at the scene. A police spokesman told the Seattle Times that a total of three men were arrested for misdemeanor assault. As tensions mounted, additional police arrived, including some in riot gear. Bicycle officers lined up their bikes as a type of moving barrier to keep protesters from entering the street. The gun-control initiative would expand background checks, raise the age for people buying semi-automatic rifles from 18 to 21, and create standards for safely storing firearms. On Friday a judge threw out 300,000 signatures necessary to put the initiative on the November ballot on the grounds that it did not meet election-law requirements. The Alliance for Gun Responsibility, the group behind the proposal, has appealed the motion. Saturdays protest came two weeks after police in riot gear in Portland, Ore., tried to keep right-wing and left-wing groups apart. The effort mostly succeeded, but police were accused of being heavy-handed, prompting the city's new police chief to order a review of officers' use of force. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Camp Pendleton-based Marine who fell overboard this month from an aircraft vessel off the Philippines, prompting a search, has been identified by military officials. Cpl. Jonathan Currier, a native of New Hampshire, was declared dead Friday after five days of efforts to find him or recovery his body were unsuccessful, San Diego's FOX 5 reported. Currier went overboard from the amphibious USS Essex around 9:40 a.m. Aug. 9 while the aircraft was conducting routine operations off the coast of the Philippines, the report said. Capt. Diann Rosenfield said Currier was with the 13th Marine Expeditionary Unit stationed at Camp Pendleton near San Diego, according to a news release. Our hearts go out to the Currier family, commanding officer Col. Chandler Nelms said. Cpl. Curriers loss is felt by our entire ARG/MEU family, and he will not be forgotten. According to the release, Currier enlisted in the Marine Corps in August 2015 and graduated from Marine Corps Recruit Depot, Paris Island, several months later. At the time of Curriers disappearance, he had been deployed with Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 166 Reinforced, 13th MEU, aboard the Essex. The search for Currier, assisted by the U.S. Navy, the U.S. Embassy in the Philippines, and the Philippine Coast Guard, spanned 13,000 square nautical miles, the Marine Corps Times reported. All of our Marines and Sailors demonstrated a tremendous resilinence and put forth an extraordinary effort over the past five days, Nelms said. Our thoughts and prayers have been and will continue to be with our Marines family during this difficult time. Officials are currently investigated the circumstances surrounding the incident, the press release said. No official photo of Currier was provided. Good things come to those who wait. And wait. And wait. In the case of Cpl. Edgar Harrell, a promotion to sergeant in 1945 was finally made official 73 years later. A chance conversation with Capt. Scott Montefusco while both took part in a recent Veterans Day Parade in Salt Lake City led to Harrell receiving, at long last, the documents making his sergeant rank official, on Aug. 9. Harrell, who is 93 and a Tennessee resident, told Montefusco about his time on the USS Indianapolis -- how he would sleep on lifeboats because the heat below deck was too intense. He stopped slipping out to the lifeboats after his unrecognized promotion because he didnt want his new title to be stripped from him, he told Montefusco. Montefusco, organizer of the Utah Military History Group, thought it unacceptable to allow Harrell to continue to go on without the official recognition of his promotion to sergeant. I learned how this amazing man was never recognized for his sergeant rank. The whole time I kept sitting there thinking that we needed to fix this. Capt. Scott Montefusco, who led the effort to get Edgar Harrell's promotion recognized That's when I learned how this amazing man was never recognized for his sergeant rank, Montefusco said. The whole time I kept sitting there thinking that we needed to fix this," he said. And so he reached out to Sen. Bob Corker's office to get help. Harrell didn't speak often of his "unofficial" rank. He considered it "more trouble than it's worth." Instead, he has devoted his life since his days on the Indianapolis to speaking about the heroism of the men who perished when the Japanese torpedoed the ship during the closing months of World War II. Harrell recalled swimming aimlessly in the salt water mixed heavily with black oil and blood with a group of 80 other men who had jumped off the fiery USS Indianapolis. It was July 30, 1945, and it was 110 degrees. They had no water. Dehydration left their lips covered with sores and their tongues swollen. By the afternoon of the third day, the group dwindled to just 17 men. Shark fins surrounded them. Harrell prayed continually. Ultimately, of the 1,196 men on board, nearly 900 died. It was the single largest loss of life from a single ship in the U.S. Navy's history. Harrell spent months in the hospital recovering from a perforated appendix. He thought of how he had been promoted to sergeant on the ship, but it hadn't been official. Documents were lost, along with the ship's wreckage. But the lament over his unrecognized milestone was eclipsed by a sense of duty to honor the men on the USS Indianapolis and to tell their story. There was no fanfare when the men returned from the Pacific. Soon afterwards President Harry Truman announced that Japan had surrendered. I cant tell the story without reliving it somewhat, he said in an interview with USA Today Network - Tennessee. Im an old man today, but the good Lord is still watching over me. I hope I have some more time to go and tell this story. The church, where Harrell's son, David, is a pastor, was filled with his family and friends dressed for a special occasion. They had gathered for something that's been long overdue: Harrell's official promotion. "We have a saying that once a Marine, always a Marine. We might be a little late with this one," Maj. Gen. Paul Kennedy said in the quick but emotional ceremony. "The Marines have been inspired by the legacy of (Harrell)." The now-sergeant turned to look at the group who stood and clapped for him. "Stay faithful," he said simply, touching on his faith that he credits to have saved him at sea. His "little" brother, Bill Harrell, who towers over Edgar Harrell's small frame, made his way to the front and embraced his brother. "I'm so proud of you," he whispered. He was just as proud as he felt when his saw his brother return decades ago. Then just 8 years old, the younger Harrell sat with their father and mother as they listened to a radio news report that Indianapolis had sunk. Soon after, they received a telegram that his brother was missing. I cant tell the story without reliving it somewhat. Im an old man today, but the good Lord is still watching over me. I hope I have some more time to go and tell this story. Cpl. Edgar Harrell on his mission to pay homage to the men of the USS Indianapolis who perished We stayed glued to the radio for days to hear what had happened to Edgar. When we eventually found out he had survived, it was incredible, Bill Harrell told the USA Today Network - Tennessee. "To go through that and to see him standing here with this recognition is beyond words." Harrell has written a book about his terrifying firsthand account of the Indianapolis. He's shared his story with anyone who asks, still continuing his promise to remember those who had died. He became a celebrity of sorts last year when the ship's wreckage was finally located after seven decades of searching. He answered as many calls and emails he could from those who wanted to hear about what had happened. His calendar filled up with stops in cities like Knoxville, Indianapolis and New Orleans. And in what Kennedy described as the "fastest piece of legislation to be signed," Harrell's honorary promotion was approved. "I felt a sense of accomplishment to see this happen," Montefusco said. "(Harrell) has dedicated his life so that future generations don't forget about this tragedy." Harrell called his promotion a "double honor" and something he didn't realize was in the works until he was asked Monday when he might be available. Im just delighted and to see this turn out, I am very honored. Its an honor for me to live and tell of the tragedy that all of those 880 boys had to experience for the freedom America has today, he said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A pregnant Colorado mother had beaten all the odds to conceive despite her health condition, her brother said as records revealed her husband Christopher Watts had struggled with past financial issues before he allegedly murdered the 34-year-old and their two daughters last week. Shanann Watts was diagnosed with lupus, an autoimmune disease that attacks the healthy tissues and could cause fertility issues and high-risk pregnancies. Watts brother, Frankie Rzucek, wrote in a lengthy Facebook post that his older sister beat all the odds with her pregnancies. No matter if her lupus was acting up or if she was pregnant, nothing stoped [sic] her from doing what needed to be done. She was very successful and driven, Rzucek wrote in a Facebook post on Friday. When our family found out she beat all the odds and become pregnant I can't even explain our excitement. Rzucek said Watts was born to be a mother and was blown away by the way she stepped into motherhood when her first daughter Bella was born. I was exhausted by just watching my sister. She made being a parent look easy, he wrote. COLORADO GIRLS' BODIES WERE SUBMERGED IN CRUDE OIL 4 DAYS, DOCUMENTS REVEAL Watts, 4-year-old Bella and 3-year-old Celeste were found dead last week a day after Christopher Watts was arrested in their murders. The 33-year-old had told reporters a day before his Wednesday arrest that he missed his wife and two daughters and was hoping for their safe return. Shanann revealed in June she was pregnant with her third child. Her family said the mother of two was expecting a baby boy the couple planned to name Nico. He [Christopher Watts] stole my whole world and treated them like they were trash. I've never been so mad, sad, enraged, hurt heartbroken, lost, and shocked in all my life, Rzucek said. So forgive me for how I went about it. My sister and nieces meant the absolute world to me. They made me strive to be an even better man. I wanted them to be proud of their Uncle. Officials have not provided a motive in the alleged murders. But prior to the deaths, the Watts family had struggled with financial issues. The couple moved from North Carolina to Colorado already bogged down by debt. They filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy in July 2015, claiming liabilities of more than $400,000, the Denver Post reported. CHRIS WATTS IN PROTECTIVE CUSTODY BECAUSE OF PUBLICITY SURROUNDING TRIPLE-MURDER CASE: REPORT Shanann and Christopher Watts had a combined income of $90,000 in 2014 but faced tens of thousands of dollars in credit card debt, student loans and medical bills. Christopher Watts had just begun his job as an operator for Anadarko Petroleum and reportedly earned $61,500. Shannan Watts worked at a call center at a childrens hospital and earned $18 an hour. They said in the filing that their nearly $3,000 mortgage and $600 in monthly car payments formed the bulk of their $4,900 in monthly expenses. Despite the bankruptcy filing, the family appeared to have a change in fortune recently after she became a seller for the product Le-Vel: THRIVE. Shanann Watts recently posted on Facebook about the trips shes been on reportedly paid by her employer. We have qualified for so many amazing trips in 2 years that we never otherwise would have been able to visit! she wrote in a June 23 Facebook post. She said she traveled to several places, including Toronto, Punta Cana and New Orleans. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Patrons rallied around a restaurant owner in Massachusetts after he received a one-star Yelp review that focused on a small LGBT pride flag hanging in his storefront and barely mentioned anything else. Nino Barbalace, the owner of Caffe Zia Gianna in Dorchester, always wanted his restaurant to be a welcoming place for all. He recently noticed a one-star Yelp review and wondered what the customer was upset about. In the review, which has since been taken down, the person said, After seeing the rainbow flag in the window, Ive had it with this place and have thrown in the towelWell, that flag says all and when you delve deeper to see the real customer base here, its clearly geared and catered ONLY to those who rally behind the rainbow flag. It was personal, Barbalace told Boston 25. If you go to a place and youre not happy with the food or the service, I understand that if I made a mistake because we all make mistakes. This is a restaurant, not politics. The Yelp reviewer wrote that the food is decent but that he could no longer accept patronizing this establishment. Yelp's content guidelines state that reviews "aren't the place for rants about a business' employment practices, political ideologies, extraordinary circumstances, or other matters that don't address the core of the consumer experience." The restaurant owner, who was born in Italy, posted a screenshot of the Yelp review on Facebook and said all are welcome at Zia Gianna, even this gentleman. His customers rallied around him. We thought we were beyond that at this point, Tiffany Andrade, a customer, told the Boson Fox affiliate. Andrade specifically came to the cafe Friday to show her support. Luckily we live in the land of the free and people are entitled to their own opinion, but I do think its something to understand that we are an open community and there are people who come from all different countries and all different backgrounds and we should be welcoming of everyone, said Andrade. Its unfortunate that some people are so small minded! Keep it up! Youre doing a great job and what a classy response to this ignorant jerk, wrote another customer on Facebook. Another wrote: No one should have to deal with this. We love everyone there. You guys are great. Meanwhile, the LGBT pride flag remains and Barbalace said hes willing to give the one-star reviewer a second chance. Im here to serve the food. If he is hungry, he is welcome to come here, Barbalace said. At state fairs around the country, the usual staples of greasy treats and finely groomed livestock are accompanied this summer by something a bit more unexpected political discussion. And its not just the customary presidential candidate trying to get face time; its actual policy talk among farmers. This is our Super Bowl, Iowan farmer Brad McConahay said, before buzzing off the final uneven ends on his prized cow. Two rows down, farmer Steve Bohr agreed, calling state fairs across the Midwest an important and unique opportunity for farmers to reconvene. I think farmers need to stick together and have those group conversations, Bohr said. Whether its an informal setting at the fair or a formal bi-annual meeting you might have with a producer group. Below the grumblings of fans and hoses spraying down 1,500-pound cows in the Iowa State Fairs Cattle Barn, you can catch talk between farmers over this years hot topic trade wars. Farmers take a hit The pressure on American farmers in particular soybean, dairy and pork is building as a result of escalating retaliatory tariffs from some of the U.S. top trading partners. Last month, prices for agricultural exports fell at the steepest rate since 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. Everybody is down in the dumps about it for sure, McConahay shrugged. Bohr added that it will be difficult to break even. He added that its hard to quantify the hit farmers will take at this point, but the bottom line is [compared to] last year, our yields are going to be down, our prices are down. Pence promises improvement for farmers Tim Hagle, a political science professor at the University of Iowa, said state fairs across the Midwest give farmers the chance to air out these issues and see where theyre at. He added, Its an opportunity for politicians to then listen in to those conversations. And it seems nearly every politician who visits the Hawkeye State acknowledges the difficulties farmers are facing. As a former governor at an ag state, I know theres some concern among our farmers right now, Vice President Mike Pence said to a crowd of Iowans in a speech touting tax cuts. Let me make you a promise: Our administration will not back down. We will stand with American farmers 100 percent. Republican Gov. Kim Reynolds of Iowa stopped by the state fair every day for dialogue with farmers. Our farmers are willing to give this administration some flexibility to get the negotiations done, but I am telling you, the closer it gets to harvest, the anxiety continues to escalate, Reynolds told Fox News. U.S. Rep. Steve King (R-Iowa) echoed that notion, warning the Trump administration that its going to get pretty tense around this neighborhood without change by the fall. Farmers remain optimistic Despite a tricky year ahead for many American farmers, Fox News could not find a single one at the Iowa State Fair who called Trumps tariffs the wrong move. Kelsey Sutter, an Iowan farmer and member of the Iowa Pork Producers Association, described farmers as big picture people. They understand theres going to be lulls, downs and highs, Sutter said. Her own farm took a super painful hit several years in a row when the corn market dipped a half decade ago. Nine months pregnant, smiling and as cheerful as any other worker handing out glorified bacon on a stick, Sutter said, right now farmers are seeing the big picture and theyre hopeful that something positive will come out of this. McConahay and Bohr are hopeful too, applauding Trumps efforts to even the playing field with trade. I for one am willing to wait and have some short-term pain as long as it brings some long term gain, and I think most people around here agree with that sentiment, Bohr told Fox News. The tipping point is near John Heisdorffer, president of the American Soybean Association, expressed more frustration with the timing of the tariffs, telling Fox he thinks there was a better way. In the meantime, farmers have to cut costs wherever possible and lock in prices before they drop even more through forward contracts. When asked how he will make up for losses this year, McConahay chuckled and said, Thats a good question. Youre at the mercy of the market, theres not a lot you can do, he added. The Trump administration faces pressure to act soon from farmers and politicians in Midwestern states. Fox News may not have been able to find dissenting farmers at the Iowa State Fair this year, but many warned without speedy negotiations and the introduction of new export markets, next year they wont be so Iowa nice. This blog may be a labor of love for me, but it takes a lot of effort, time and money. For over 14 years and 30,000 articles I have been providing accurate, original news that would have remained unnoticed. I've written hundreds of scoops and sometimes my reporting ends up making a real difference. I appreciate any donations you can give to keep this blog going. A Florida woman seen on video swiping a cash-stuffed donation jar for a slain 7-year-old girls family has been arrested, Jacksonville deputies said. Can we say in jail? Thats right, Tammy Crews has been arrested and booked into jail, the Jacksonville Sheriffs Office said in a Facebook post Saturday night. A lieutenant was looking for Crews when he stopped her Saturday afternoon and she spontaneously uttered that she had a crack pipe, according to the post. Crews then admitted to an officer "that she took the donation jar and used the money to support her Crack Cocaine addiction, the post said. She was charged with grand theft and possession of the crack pipe. The JSO asked for the publics help in identifying Crews after she was seen in surveillance video Friday taking the donation jar at El Taptio Restaurant, Fox 30 Jacksonville reported. Authorities said the jar contained an estimated $600 in cash. The money was being collected to help the family of Heidy Rivas-Villanueva, who was killed by a stray bullet Aug. 11 while sitting in a car near the restaurant, the station reported. The Sheriffs Office has arrested three people in connection with the girls murder, the Florida Times-Union reported. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 Hundreds of people gathered in Buenos Aires on Saturday to oppose the influence of religion on Argentine politics and encourage people to quit the Roman Catholic Church in the wake of a Senate vote not to legalize some abortions. The event, called "Collective Apostasy," centered on a signature drive for Argentines wanting to renounce their affiliation to the church through a form that will later be given to the Episcopal Conference in the homeland of Pope Francis. People formed long lines in Buenos Aires and other Argentine cities, and organizers hoped thousands would officially register their desire that the church not interfere in Argentine politics and that their names be eliminated from its registries. "We are receiving the apostasies of all the people who want to renounce their ties to the Catholic Church," said one of the organizers, Maria Jose Albaya. The movement is led by the Argentine Coalition for a Secular State and its backers often wear orange scarves. "Obtaining the vote for women, the divorce law, marriage equality, the gender identity law, the assisted human fertilization law, the law of integral sexual education, the dignified death law were all done fighting clerical power, which seeks to have total dominion over our minds and bodies," the event's manifesto published on social media said. Saturday's event follows the rejection by the Senate in early August of a bill that would have legalized abortion in the first 14 weeks, a vote that was seen as being swayed by the Catholic church. "The discourse by the church to convince the people to not accept the (abortion) law was so outrageous that I reached the height of my enmity toward the Catholic Church," said Nora Cortinas, a founding member of the Mother of the Plaza de Mayo human rights group. About two-thirds of Argentina's 43 million residents define themselves as Catholic, but there is rising discontent with the church amid sex abuse scandals and the historic defeat of the vote to legalize abortion. The Argentine Episcopal Conference and the Archbishopric of Buenos Aires did not immediately respond to requests for comment. While some wanted to renounce all ties to the church, others thought it still had support. Ignacio Amui, a company director and a Catholic, said he believes the church "has many things to work on and modernize." "But the Catholic religion is, was and will be the most important religion in our country," the 56-year-old said. . Afghan President Ashraf Ghani has called for a conditional cease-fire with Taliban insurgents for the duration of the Eid al-Adha holiday. President Ghani made the announcement Sunday during celebrations of the 99th anniversary of Afghanistan's independence in the capital Kabul. "The cease-fire should be observed from both sides, and its continuation and duration also depend on the Taliban's stand," Ghani stressed. He added that should the Taliban agree, it would be observed over Monday and Tuesday, the Eid holidays. He said he hoped extensions could also be agreed upon to make it last until Nov. 20, which will mark the birth anniversary of the Muslim prophet Muhammad. The Taliban did not immediately respond to the announcement. The government had previously announced a cease-fire with the Taliban during the Eid al-Fitr holiday in June. The Taliban accepted that three-day cease-fire, but later rejected a call by the president to extend it. President Ghani's call comes just a day after the leader of the Afghan Taliban said that there will be no peace in Afghanistan as long as the "foreign occupation" continues, reiterating the group's position that the country's 17-year war can only be brought to an end through direct talks with the United States. In a message released on the occasion of the Eid al-Adha holiday, Maulvi Haibatullah Akhunzadah said Saturday that the group remains committed to "Islamic goals," the sovereignty of Afghanistan and ending the war. The Taliban have resurged in recent years, seizing districts across the country and regularly carrying out large-scale attacks. Earlier this month, the Taliban launched a major assault on the city of Ghazni, just 75 miles from Kabul. Afghan security forces battled the militants inside the city for five days, as the U.S. carried out airstrikes and sent advisers to help ground forces. The battle for Ghazni killed at least 100 members of the Afghan security forces and 35 civilians, according to Afghan officials. Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit North Korea next month, accepting Kim Jong Un's invitation to attend the country's 70th anniversary of its founding, a report said Friday. Xi's visit to Pyongyang would be his first to the North Korean capital since 2012 when he took power, Reuters reported, citing Singapore's Straits Times. The trip would also be 13 years after the last visit by a Chinese president, the report said. Hu Jintao, Xi's predecessor, visited in 2005. North Korea's celebrations are scheduled for Sept. 9, the paper reported. But Xi's visit could still be subject to last-minute changes, the report said. The Chinese foreign ministry did not immediately respond for comment. Kim has visited China three times so far this year -- twice before the Singapore summit with President Trump and the third time a week after. Their discussions primarily involved economic reform and cooperation between the two nations, according to Reuters. China is North Korea's only major ally, although trade between them has plummeted in recent months as Beijing enforces United Nations economic sanctions in response to the North's nuclear bomb and ballistic missile tests. Earlier this month, U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo warned Russia, China and other nations against any violation of international sanctions on North Korea. Pompeo had said Washington would take seriously any action that reduces pressure on the North to abandon its nuclear weapons. The Associated Press contributed to this report. An Egyptian man who hijacked a domestic EgyptAir flight in 2016 and ordered it to land in Cyprus to allegedly protest Egypt's military-backed government has been extradited to his homeland after giving up a drawn-out legal fight, authorities said Sunday. Police said Seif Eddin Mustafa, escorted by Egyptian authorities, boarded an EgyptAir flight to Cairo on Saturday evening. Cyprus Justice Minister Ionas Nicolaou told The Associated Press that Mustafa's extradition went ahead after he dropped a three-year court battle to avoid extradition. Doros Polycarpou, with the migrant support group KISA that assisted Mustafa, told the AP that the 62-year-old decided of his own accord to return to Egypt and face prosecution there, despite fears that he may be tortured. Polycarpou said Mustafa told his legal team he was willing "to take the risk" of suffering maltreatment at the hands of Egyptian authorities because he could "no longer take" his holding conditions in Cyprus' prison complex. He said Mustafa had complained that he was being held in "isolation" and put under "psychological strain" because authorities kept him away from the prison's general population. Mustafa's change-of-heart stands in stark contrast to his vociferous fight against extradition to Egypt on the grounds that he could face torture or an unfair trial there. Last year, the European Court of Human Rights blocked Cyprus from extraditing Mustafa until it could rule on whether doing so would violate its prohibition about returning individuals to countries where they may face torture or inhuman treatment. Mustafa hijacked the EgyptAir flight in March 2016 using a fake suicide belt and diverted it to the Mediterranean island of Cyprus. A six-hour standoff with Cypriot authorities on the tarmac of Cyprus' Larnaca airport ended peacefully after all 72 passengers and crew were released and Mustafa was arrested. Mustafa told a Cypriot court that he meant no harm to anyone. He said he was trying to expose what he called the "fascist regime" of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi and to help secure the release of 63 female dissidents being held in Egyptian prisons. But prosecutors said Mustafa admitted in a written statement to police that he only carried out the hijacking in order to reunite with his Cypriot family. Joaquin El Chapo Guzman has been officially dethroned as the most-wanted drug lord. Nemesio Oseguera Cervantes, known as "El Mencho," was named the most-wanted drug kingpin in North America after Mexican Authorities and the U.S. State Department put a combined $6.5 million bounty for the leader of the Jalisco New Generation cartel. Paul Craine, who previously headed the Drug and Enforcement Administration in Mexico when El Chapo was captured in 2016, told the New York Post that El Mencho has an army of thousands of bad guys. Hes public enemy No. 1, Craine said. El Mencho, 52, a former police officer in Mexico, runs the cartel that rose in the ranks following El Chapos arrest in 2016 and his extradition to the United States. Guzman remains in prison in New York City, where hes awaiting his November trial on murder, money laundering and drug trafficking charges. MEXICAN DRUG LORD 'EL CHAPO' TORTURED, KILLED 6 AMERICANS AND DEA AGENT WITHIN 9-WEEK SPAN, REPORT SAYS Jalisco New Generation cartel has proven to be more ruthless and better organized than the Sinaloa cartel in recent years. Unlike the other cartels, they function like a paramilitary organization, Craine told the New York Post. They are like an iron hand taking control of Jalisco, and have set up carjackings and roadblocks to show their power. El Mencho has entrenched his cartels routes in the U.S., Europe and Asia. DEA Regional Director North and Central Americas Region Matthew G. Donahue said last week that the cartel is a rapidly expanding brand in Chicago and in the world, WLS-TV reported. The now most-wanted drug lord had previously shown his violent side. He ordered a series of attacks in 2015 on security forces in Jalisco. He reportedly firebombed gas stations and banks and ordered cartel members to take down a military helicopter with rocket-propelled grenades, the New York Post reported. Mexican authorities announced last week they were adding $1.5 million to the State Departments $5 million reward offer for information leading to El Menchos arrest. El Menchos wife, Rosalinda Gonzalez Valencia, was arrested last May. She worked as the cartels chief accountant. I have no doubt that El Mencho will be caught, but the violence wont end until the Mexican government gets serious about strengthening the rule of law and ending corruption, Craine said. Relentless monsoon floods in the southern Indian state of Kerala have left around 800,000 people displaced and nearly 10,000 others stranded, according to reports. The death toll has risen to more than 350 from the floods and landslides, Reuters reported, citing information from the chief minister of the southwestern state. The disaster represents the worst flooding in a century in Kerala, officials said. Some 4,000 relief camps across the state sheltered the hundreds of thousands displaced. Officials also pleaded for more help as the stranded people waited to be rescued by Monday. "Please ask (Indian Prime Minister Narendra) Modi to give us helicopters, give us helicopters. ... Please, please!" state legislator Saji Cherian said on a Kerala-based TV news channel, the Indian Express newspaper reported. Authorities said they were being inundated with calls for assistance, local media reported. "We are receiving multiple repetitive rescue requests," the office of the state's top official, Pinarayi Vijayan, said in a tweet. At least two trains carrying about 400,000 gallons of water were moving to the flooded areas from the neighboring states of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra, Indian railway official Milind Deouskar said, according to the Press Trust of India news agency. Rainfall in some areas were well over double that of a typical monsoon season, officials said. The disaster drew attention in the United States from U.S. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, an Illinois Democrat. Im horrified to see the loss of life and broader destruction caused by the continuing floods in Kerala. With more than a quarter of a million people displaced and hundreds dead, the human cost of this continuing tragedy is nearly unimaginable." Raja Krishnamoorthi, Congressman from Illinois Im horrified to see the loss of life and broader destruction caused by the continuing floods in Kerala," the congressman said in a statement, according to the Indian Express. "With more than a quarter of a million people displaced and hundreds dead, the human cost of this continuing tragedy is nearly unimaginable," he continued, "and it is felt far beyond Kerala by countless families across the whole of India, here in the Chicago area, and throughout the world." The downpours that started Aug. 8 have triggered floods and landslides and caused homes and bridges to collapse across Kerala, a picturesque state known for its quiet tropical backwaters and beautiful beaches. Initial storm damage estimates were nearly $2.8 billion, Vijayan said. Prime Minister Modi inspected the flooded landscape from a helicopter and met Saturday with the state's top officials, promising more than $70 million in aid. At least 36 more people were missing, according to Kerala's disaster management office. Official said some people have also died in relief camps, Reuters reported. My thoughts and prayers are with the people of Kerala and their loved ones, Krishnamoorthi said. Officials also estimated that more than 6,200 miles of roads have been damaged. More than 1,000 people have died in seven Indian states since the start of this year's monsoon season, including more than 300 in Kerala. The Associated Press contributed to this report. next Image 1 of 2 prev Image 2 of 2 More than 2 million Muslims began the annual hajj pilgrimage Sunday in Saudi Arabia, circling the cube-shaped Kaaba from first light in Mecca that Islam's faithful face five times each day during their prayers. The five-day hajj pilgrimage represents one of the world's biggest gathering every year, a trip required of all able-bodied Muslims once in their life. The hajj offers pilgrims an opportunity to feel closer to God amid the Muslim world's many challenges, including the threat of extremists in the Mideast after the Islamic State group was beaten back in Iraq and Syria and the plight of Myanmar's Muslim Rohingya minority. "We are very blessed by Allah to be in this place, and we pray to Allah to make the Islamic nations from the West to the East in a better situation," said Essam-Eddin Afifi, a pilgrim from Egypt. "We pray for the Islamic nations to overcome their enemies." The Kaaba represents the metaphorical house of God and the oneness of God. Muslims circle the Kaaba counter-clockwise seven times while reciting supplications to God, then walk between the two hills traveled by Hagar. Mecca's Grand Mosque, the world's largest, encompasses the Kaaba and the two hills. Before heading to Mecca, many pilgrims visit the city of Medina, where the Prophet Muhammad is buried and where he built his first mosque. Muslims believe the hajj retraces the footsteps of the Prophet Muhammad, as well as those of the prophets Ibrahim and Ismail Abraham and Ishmael in the Bible. After prayers in Mecca, pilgrims will head to an area called Mount Arafat on Monday, where the Prophet Muhammad delivered his final sermon. From there, pilgrims will head to an area called Muzdalifa, picking up pebbles along the way for a symbolic stoning of the devil and a casting away of sins that takes place in the Mina valley for three days. At the hajj's end, male pilgrims will shave their hair and women will cut a lock of hair in a sign of renewal for completing the pilgrimage. Around the world, Muslims will mark the end of hajj with a celebration called Eid al-Adha. The holiday, remembering Ibrahim's willingness to sacrifice his son, sees Muslims slaughter sheep and cattle, distributing the meat to the poor. Maj. Gen. Mansour al-Turki, the spokesman of the Saudi Interior Ministry, told journalists Saturday that over 2 million Muslims from abroad and inside the kingdom would be taking part in this year's hajj. For Saudi Arabia, the hajj is the biggest logistical challenge the kingdom faces. Its ruling Al Saud family stakes its legitimacy in part on its management of the holiest sites in Islam. King Salman's official title is the "Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques," at Mecca and Medina. Other Saudi kings, and the Ottoman rulers of the Hijaz region before them, all have adopted the honorary title The kingdom has spent billions of dollars of its vast oil revenues on security and safety measures, particularly in Mina, where some of the hajj's deadliest incidents have occurred. The worst in recorded history took place only three years ago. On Sept. 24, 2015, a stampede and crush of pilgrims in Mina killed at least 2,426 people, according to an Associated Press count. The official Saudi toll of 769 people killed and 934 injured has not changed since only two days afterward. The kingdom has never addressed the discrepancy, nor has it released any results of an investigation authorities promised to conduct over the disaster. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia also faces threats from al-Qaida militants and a local faction of the Islamic State group. Days earlier, the Interior Ministry acknowledged arresting a Saudi wearing an explosive vest in the kingdom's central al-Qassim region who shot at security forces. Meanwhile, a Saudi-led war in Yemen against Shiite rebels drags on without an end in sight. The rebels have fired over 150 ballistic missiles on the kingdom during a conflict that has seen Saudi airstrikes hit markets and hospitals, killing civilians. The star of International City Theatres Blues in the Night is a veteran of the... damyti at 19-08-2018 09:35 PM (3 years ago) (m) Members of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide are still thanking God for preserving the life of Gen. Prince J ThankGod, the resident pastor of OFM Kontagora in Niger State who was involved in a fatal accident that claimed lives and injured many along Suleja- Minna road on Saturday. Members of Omega Fire Ministries Worldwide are still thanking God for preserving the life of Gen. Prince J ThankGod, the resident pastor of OFM Kontagora in Niger State who was involved in a fatal accident that claimed lives and injured many along Suleja- Minna road on Saturday. The accident occurred as he was returning from Edo State to his base in Kontagora in Niger State. According to the pastor, all the pastors under Omega Fire Ministries converged in Benin city, Edo State for a pastors meeting with Apostle Johnson Suleman. On his way from the meeting, his vehicle collided with a truck along the highway. Many passengers were left seriously injured and some dead in the crash but the pastor survived. The accident occurred as he was returning from Edo State to his base in Kontagora in Niger State.According to the pastor, all the pastors under Omega Fire Ministries converged in Benin city, Edo State for a pastors meeting with Apostle Johnson Suleman. On his way from the meeting, his vehicle collided with a truck along the highway.Many passengers were left seriously injured and some dead in the crash but the pastor survived. Post Reply Posted: at 19-08-2018 09:35 PM (3 years ago) | Upcoming A selection of recent media releases, and news stories is available in the database below and can be searched for by year and month. Monday 20 August 2018 His Excellency the Honourable Paul de Jersey AC, Governor of Queensland, congratulates the following Queenslanders, recognised for their brave acts in the latest round of Australian Bravery Decorations: BRAVERY MEDAL (BM) The Late Mr Ryan Richard Martin On the afternoon of 25 March 2016, Messrs Ryan Martin, Luke Robinson and several others were involved in the rescue of a woman and young girl from a rip at Fingal Head in New South Wales. A mother and her young daughter were swimming at Dreamtime Beach at Fingal Head when they became caught in a dangerous rip. The pair were quickly swept out by the rip and towards the jagged rocks of the headland. Seeing the pair in distress, Messrs Martin and Robinson separately entered the water and swam through the crashing waves to reach them. Mr Martin grabbed hold of the girl, and Mr Robinson the woman, and assisted them to stay afloat and away from the rocks. The group then continued to be pushed around the headland by the rip. When the two men became tired, others who had also entered the water to assist, took over helping the woman and child to stay afloat and managed to swim the woman back to the beach. By this stage Mr Martin was in difficulty and unable to stay afloat. A rescue boat crewed by lifesavers then arrived and pulled one of the men and the young girl into the boat. They took them to the beach where they were assisted by others. The crew returned the rescue boat to the group and pulled the remainder into the boat and took them to shore. Tragically Mr Martin could not be revived. By their actions, Mr Martin and Mr Robinson displayed considerable bravery. Senior Constable Adam David Tickner In the early morning of 6 November 2014, Senior Constable Adam Tickner apprehended an armed offender at Noosa Heads in Queensland. At about 4.45am a domestic violence incident occurred at a residence in Noosa Heads. A male discharged a firearm causing head injuries to a female who required hospitalisation. The offender fled the scene on a motorcycle before flagging down a motorist. In a distressed state the offender admitted to the assault, believing he had killed his partner. He surrendered his firearm to the motorist who then called triple 0. Whilst waiting for police to arrive the offender opened the passenger door and retrieved the firearm. He then pointed it directly at the motorist before commandeering the vehicle and driving off. Soon after, Senior Constable Tickner and a colleague arrived on the scene. The motorist got into the police car and provided vital information to the officers about the offender as they pursued the stolen vehicle. A few kilometres down the road the offender crashed the stolen vehicle into a 7,000 litre liquid gas tank at a local service station before entering the service station shop. Senior Constable Tickner and his colleague immediately stopped the police vehicle and, with pistols drawn, ran across the forecourt. A strong smell of gas permeated the air and the gas could also be heard venting from the damaged tank. Two other police officers then arrived at the scene. The offender left the shop and shuffled towards the leaking gas tank holding a jacket in front of his body which concealed his hands. Senior Constable Tickner moved towards the man ordering him to stand down. Other officers, who were approximately 20m from the gas tank, were concerned about the danger from the leaking gas, particularly as bystanders were nearby. Senior Constable Tickner informed the offender of the victim's condition and convinced him to surrender before apprehending him with the assistance of another officer. The other officers quickly ran to the gas tank and attempted to shut it off. By his actions, Senior Constable Tickner displayed considerable bravery. Senior Constable Tickner is also receiving a Group Bravery Citation for this incident. COMMENDATION FOR BRAVE CONDUCT Plain Clothes Senior Constable Jeremy Michael Carter and Senior Constable Daniel Thomas Fysh On the afternoon of 13 June 2013, Plain Clothes Senior Constable (then Constable) Jeremy Carter and Senior Constable Daniel Fysh went to the assistance of a man in difficulty in the Barron River near Cairns in Queensland. Shortly after 2:45pm a man jumped from the Barron River Bridge into the water and began to struggle in the tidal river, known to be inhabited by crocodiles. Senior Constable Fysh responded to the incident and when he arrived at the scene he could see the man panicking in the water. As Senior Constable Fysh prepared to enter the river the man went underwater on three occasions. After removing his gun belt Senior Constable Fysh entered the water and swam half way across the river to reach the struggling man. At this point Constable Carter arrived and, despite the danger, immediately entered the water and swam out to where his colleague and the struggling man were. Working together the two officers managed to get the man to shore, and out of the water where they remained with him until emergency services arrived. For their actions, Plain Clothes Senior Constable Carter and Senior Constable Fysh are commended for brave conduct. Mr Jason Peter Emeny On the morning of 19 May 2017, Mr Jason Emeny went to the assistance of two people after a motor vehicle accident near Georgetown in Queensland. Mr Emeny was travelling approximately 40kms east of Georgetown when he witnessed the car and caravan travelling in front of him hit a large pothole, leave the highway, and roll down an embankment. He quickly stopped his own vehicle, called emergency services, and then went to the embankment. He could see smoke coming from the engine bay of the overturned vehicle as he approached. He immediately returned to his own car and grabbed a fire extinguisher. Despite the warnings of other witnesses about the danger of the fire, he ran down the embankment towards the rolled car and caravan. With the presence of smoke and possible flames inside the car, he emptied the fire extinguisher in the direction of the engine bay and was able to douse the fire. Mr Emeny then assisted the two occupants out of the vehicle and helped them to the road. For his actions, Mr Emeny is commended for brave conduct. Mr Fletcher William Ericson and Senior Constable Michael John Gray On the afternoon of 18 October 2016, Mr Fletcher Ericson and Senior Constable (then Constable) Michael Gray went to the rescue of two swimmers in difficulty at Elliott Heads Beach, near Bundaberg in Queensland. At approximately 1pm Constable Gray, who was off-duty at the time, witnessed two distressed swimmers about 100m from the shore at Elliott Heads Beach. Realising they were in difficulty, and being dragged further out to sea with the quickly moving tide, he immediately entered the choppy water and swam towards them. Constable Gray attempted to communicate with the swimmers, who were in a panicked state, with one swimmer intermittently falling below the water. At this point another man also entered the water and began to swim in the direction of the struggling pair. Mr Ericson arrived at the scene and without concern for his own safety he also entered the treacherous water and swam out to the struggling pair. On reaching them he saw that the male was barely conscious and in need of medical attention. When the rescuers reached the swimmers they linked arms with them and began making their way to shore where emergency services were waiting. The swimmers were transported to Bundaberg hospital and both recovered from their ordeal. For their actions, Mr Ericson and Senior Constable Gray are commended for brave conduct. Mrs Helen Louise Evans On the afternoon of 9 March 1991, Mrs Helen Evans (then Ms Gibney) and Mr Gerard Woodward went to the rescue of three young boys who were caught in a rip at Surf Beach in New South Wales. Ms Gibney and Mr Woodward were at Surf Beach when they observed three boys (between the ages of 6-12 years) playing in knee deep water. After a short period of time the boys had drifted into deeper water and then they were suddenly caught in a rip and taken out to sea. Ms Gibney and Mr Woodward attempted to alert other beachgoers before swimming out towards the boys. They also got caught in the rip and were carried towards the boys as one of the boys was taken further out to sea. Initially Mr Woodward reached and held onto the bigger boy before handing him to Ms Gibney. He then swam towards the smaller boy. Ms Gibney struggled with the bigger boy who was panicking and pushed her under the water numerous times. Despite being battered by the waves Ms Gibney managed to get the boy onto his back and they made their way towards the rocks where she pushed him out of the water. Meanwhile, Mr Woodward reached the smaller boy who grabbed him around the neck and they swam towards the rocks where Ms Gibney and the other boy were located. As they were climbing onto the rocks they were hit by a wave and sucked back out. Still holding the smaller boy, Mr Woodward swam for the rocks again and was able to climb out with the boy. Mr Woodward desperately called to bystanders that one child was still missing. Unfortunately the third boy didn't survive the incident. For their actions, Mrs Evans and Mr Woodward are commended for brave conduct. Mr Warren George Francis and Inspector Robert James Graham On the evening of 26 April 1993, Mr (then Senior Sergeant) Warren Francis and Inspector (then Constable) Robert Graham went to the assistance of a vessel in distress near Wide Bay in Queensland. Queensland Water Police Officers, Senior Sergeant Francis and Constable Graham boarded police vessel P.W.Cahill at around 6.00pm and headed towards the Wide Bay Bar crossing to provide support to the Tin Can Bay Volunteer Coast Guard who had gone to assist a stricken cruiser that was in difficulty in treacherous seas. On attempting to cross the Bar the Volunteer Coast Guard vessel had to turn back due to the dangerous conditions and after crew members had sustained injuries. Senior Sergeant Francis and Constable Graham commenced crossing the Bar in their vessel and encountered violent waves, wind and driving rain. They located the stricken cruiser which they observed being knocked down on three occasions by the high seas before righting itself. Senior Sergeant Francis carefully navigated the police vessel close to the cruiser and Constable Graham transferred fuel to the stricken cruiser. They then escorted the cruiser to a less treacherous area where both vessels anchored for the night. At first light a Tin Can Bay Volunteer Coast Guard boat arrived and assisted the cruiser and the police vessel to more protected water inside the Wide Bay Bar. During the rescue the police vessel was significantly damaged by the high waves and winds and Senior Sergeant Francis and constable Graham sustained broken bones and other injuries. For their actions, Mr Francis and Inspector Graham are commended for brave conduct. Senior Constable Cameron John Mosley On 13 February 1993, Senior Sergeant (then Acting Senior Constable) Shaun Furniss and Senior Constable (then Constable) Cameron Mosley assisted a woman during an attack at the Western Arrente community of Ntaria (Hermannsburg), in the Northern Territory. Senior Constable Furniss and Constable Mosley were assessing a non-responsive man after a disturbance of approximately 40 people, armed with various weapons, surrounded them in a threatening manner. At this time, a female came running down the road in their direction. She was yelling for help as the group indicated that she was responsible for injuring the non-responsive man. The officers saw a man raise a pocket knife above his head and stab the female. Constable Mosley grabbed the female and Acting Senior Constable Furniss was able to put her behind the driver's door of their vehicle and shield her with his body. Constable Mosley went towards the offending male, restraining him as the pocket knife fell to the ground. He then collected the knife and came back to the police vehicle as Acting Senior Constable Furniss ushered the female into the rear seat. The group remained aggressive as the officers yelled instructions for the deceased man to be driven to the local health clinic. The officers re-entered the police vehicle and proceeded to the clinic. Upon arrival they noticed a large group of armed people looking to avenge the male's death. Sensing the danger, Constable Mosley decided to stay at the clinic and offer assistance, whilst Acting Senior Constable Furniss drove the injured female to the police station. Acting Senior Constable Furniss left the female at the locked police station and returned to the clinic. On his way he was confronted by an angry group of males who ran towards his vehicle with weapons raised. He quickly turned his car around and returned to the police station. He, and another officer who had arrived, discovered that the female had escaped and could not be found. After a short time, the officers returned to the clinic in separate vehicles. During this trip, Acting Senior Constable Furniss was stopped and threatened by a male armed with a steel bar and a rock. The other officer drove his car in between Acting Senior Constable Furniss and the man. Both officers got out of their vehicles, assured the man that they were trying to look after everyone involved, and continued to the clinic. On arriving at the clinic a group of about sixty people had now congregated and continued to act in an aggressive manner. The crowd dispersed after the deceased man was transported to Alice Springs. Acting Senior Constable Furniss and Constable Mosley remained at the clinic assisting health workers who were dealing with a number of people coming in with stab wounds and other injuries caused by the violence that followed the murder. For their actions, Senior Sergeant Furniss and Senior Constable Mosley are commended for brave conduct. Ms Cherylyn Suzanne Richardson In the early morning of 17 November 2015, Ms Cherylyn Richardson assisted with the evacuation of residents from a burning accommodation centre at Ashmore in Queensland. Ms Richardson was working at a supported accommodation complex in Ashmore when she heard a fire alarm activate. When all the alarms on the premises sounded she went to investigate. Ms Richardson made her way to the east side of the complex where she could see flames flickering under the door of a unit and opened the door slightly. She immediately saw three metre high flames coming from a bedspread on the floor of the small room. She ran back down a corridor to get the fire extinguisher, informed a colleague to call triple 0, and returned to the unit. Realising that the fire was taking hold, and with a duty of care for the 34 residents, she began to check other rooms for occupants. As soon as she knew the nearby units were empty she ran back to the other building to assist residents. Despite the danger and smoke, Ms Richardson crawled down a passage towards the office to obtain the 'roll call' book. She checked other areas for occupants before making her way to the carpark and conducting a roll call, ensuring everyone had been evacuated. Soon after emergency services arrived. For her actions, Ms Richardson is commended for brave conduct. Mr Peter Neil Steer In the early morning of 6 November 2014, Mr Peter Steer was involved in the apprehension of an armed offender at Noosa Heads in Queensland. At about 4.45am a domestic violence incident occurred at a residence in Noosa Heads. A male discharged a firearm causing head injuries to a female who required hospitalisation. The offender fled the scene on a motorcycle before flagging down a vehicle driven by Mr Steer. In a distressed state the offender admitted the assault to Mr Steer, believing he had killed his partner. He surrendered his firearm to Mr Steer who placed it in his vehicle and then called triple 0. Whilst waiting for police to arrive the offender opened the passenger door and retrieved the firearm from the car. He then pointed it directly at Mr Steer before commandeering his vehicle and driving off. Soon after two police officers arrived on the scene and Mr Steer got into the police car and provided vital information to the officers about the offender as they pursued the stolen vehicle. A few kilometres down the road the offender crashed the stolen vehicle into a 7,000 litre liquid gas tank at a local service station. A strong smell of gas permeated the air and the gas could also be heard venting from the damaged tank. Other officers then arrived at the scene. Despite the danger from the leaking gas an officer approached the offender and eventually convinced him to surrender. For his actions, Mr Steer is commended for brave conduct. GROUP BRAVERY CITATION Sergeant Andrew John Bauer, Detective Senior Constable Stewart John Fairgrieve, Senior Constable Wesley Thomas Hopper and Mr Daniel Joseph MacFarlane Awardees are members of the Queensland Police Service and the public who rescued a man from the ocean at Happy Valley, Queensland on 1 November 2015. On the evening of 1 November 2015, three members of the Queensland Police Service and a volunteer surf lifesaver went to the aid of a man intending self-harm at Happy Valley beach in Queensland. Around 9.00pm a male was observed to be struggling in the turbulent surf at Happy Valley beach in Caloundra. A volunteer surf lifesaver, who was at his home unit, went to investigate and was alerted to the man floating out to sea. The lifesaver ran to the beach and entered the water to assist. A police officer, also alerted to the struggling man, had already entered the water and was making his way to the swimmer in distress. Due to the difficult surf conditions he began to tire as the lifesaver passed him in the water and reached the man. The swimmer struggled against the lifesaver telling him he wanted to drown himself. Battling fatigue the police officer managed to reach the shore and alerted two other police officers of the situation. The two officers then entered the water and swam 150 metres to the pair. On reaching them they assisted the lifesaver to forcibly swim the struggling man back to shore. For their actions, the recipients are recognised by the award of the Group Bravery Citation. Senior Constable Michael Romas Grigalius, Sergeant Gordon Dean Holmes, Senior Constable Peter Thomas Low and Senior Constable Adam David Tickner Awardees are members of the Queensland Police Service who arrested a man following an assault and use of a firearm at Noosa Heads, Queensland on 6 November 2014. In the early morning of 6 November 2014 four members of the Queensland Police Service were involved in the apprehension of an armed offender at Noosa Heads in Queensland. During a domestic violence incident an offender discharged a firearm causing head injuries to a female. The offender fled the scene, later flagging down a motorist and admitting to the assault. He surrendered his firearm to the motorist who then called triple 0. Whilst waiting for police to arrive the offender retrieved the firearm, pointed it at the motorist, and then fled the scene in the motorist's vehicle. Two police officers arrived at the scene and the motorist got into the police car and provided vital information to the officers as they pursued the stolen vehicle. After crashing the stolen vehicle into a 7,000 litre liquid gas tank at a nearby petrol station, the offender abandoned the car and entered the service station shop. The two police officers immediately stopped and, with pistols drawn, ran across the forecourt. There was a strong smell of gas in the air and the gas could also be heard venting from the ruptured tank. Two other police officers then arrived at the scene. The offender left the shop and moved towards the leaking gas tank with his hands concealed by a jacket. One officer moved towards the offender and ordered him to stand down. The other three officers, who were approximately 20 metres from the gas tank, were concerned about the danger from the leaking gas as bystanders were nearby. Once the offender had been convinced to surrender, he was quickly apprehended by two officers, whilst the other two officers ran immediately to the gas tank and attempted to shut it off. For their actions, the recipients are recognised by the award of the Group Bravery Citation. This blog is dedicated to the understanding of the current Greek (but also European) economic, political and institutional crisis. It was created by Prof. Aristides Hatzis of the University of Athens , after many requests by his students who seek a source of reliable analysis on the Greek current affairs. Its aim is to post commentary and reports published mainly in the major U.S. and European media and to encourage a rigorous discussion. Haiti - FLASH : Military confrontation at the border at least 7 victims Saturday, Dominican soldiers have repelled in confused circumstances, "an attack" of Haitians at the border post of Carrizal, Elias Pina, a cement truck could be the cause of this serious incident. According to the report of the specialized body of land border security (CESFRONT), Haitians have attacked the soldiers in service in Carrizal, who have called reinforcements in front of the number of Haitians "CESFRONT members arrived on the scene, were welcomed by long and short arms firing, as well as throwing stones and tear gas," says the report. What prompted a response from the Dominican military "We repelled the aggression and we inform our superiors that they send more reinforcements, because the number of Haitians exceeded that of the military forces responsible for the surveillance of the zone." During the shooting, at least 6 Haitians and a Dominican soldier were wounded. The report indicates that after the return to calm, the Haitian and Dominican authorities met in the afternoon, without knowing what it says or what really happened. Following this border incident, Jean Marie Reynaldo Brunet, the resigning Minister of the Interior, was sent Saturday afternoon on the border in the Commune of Belladere by the Head of State, explaining, the President Moise "[...] was anxious to ensure the safety of the people of the area and good care of the victims and he also wanted a preliminary investigation into the incident [...]" According to the version of the Minister Brunet from testimonies gathered, "Dominican soldiers would have fired at the level of men in response to shots made by a Haitian citizen" Six Haitians were shot by the Dominican soldiers and led to the Hospital Center of Mirebalais. Brunet said and reassured "the vital prognoses of these people are not engaged. He also said he asked the Dominican Embassy in Haiti to explain the regrettable incident. For his part Jovenel Moise said "I regret the incidents that occurred on the border in Belladere, following a territorial violation, during which compatriots were injured [...] I ask the people of Belladere to keep calm and his serenity. Instructions have been given to the competent authorities to accompany victims and border residents in general." SL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Politic : Minister Lamur honored as woman Leader Friday at the Royal Oasis Hotel, the National Forum of Haitian Youth, on its 10th anniversary, in the presence of several hundred young people, honored Regine Lamur the resigning Minister of Youth, as "woman leader". The Minister, who came to speak with a panel on the role of youth in the country's development, welcomed this distinction, which she shared with all the youth of the country. In her speech, she emphasized "the potential and determination of young people who are doing everything they can to do", taking advantage of the fact that they invite all sectors to work side by side with young people and continue to believe and invest in their country. Minister Lamur also spoke about the initiatives of her ministry aimed at the socio-economic integration of young people, notably the "Jenibiznis" program realized at the beginning of the month https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25226-haiti-economy-70-young-people-are-introduced-to-entrepreneurship.html which allowed 70 young people to train in entrepreneurship and receive funding to start their business. Minister Lamur believes that such programs must be replicated in order to help young people participate actively in the development of Haiti. See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25226-haiti-economy-70-young-people-are-introduced-to-entrepreneurship.html HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - Education : Haiti on the podium at the International Olympiads Geosciences 2018 Saturday, back from the 12th edition of the International Olympiad of GeoSciences 2018 held from August 8th to 15th, at the Mahidol University Kanchanaburi Campus in Lum Sum (Thailand), Cedric Aby Garcia Bien-Aime and Jennifer Vanessa Constant, two NS2 students at the College Catts Pressoir, bronze medal and certificates of honor of first rank individually and group at these Olympiads, were welcomed at the Diplomatic Salon of Toussaint Louverture International Airport by including Pierre Josue Agenor Cadet, the Resigned Minister of National Education, Port-au-Prince Deputy Mayor, Kettyna Bellabe, Guy Etienne, Director of the Catts College, teachers of the school, relatives and friends. In spite of the difficulties encountered during their trip, Cedric and Vanessa arrived in the Thai capital (Bangkok) less than four hours before the start of the competition, were able to do well and represent Haiti with dignity by reaching the podium, in this intellectual tournament that brought together 250 participants from 40 countries. Cedric and Vanessa are delighted by this enriching experience that brings a greater certainty to their knowledge of the human, the world and the cultures of peoples. In his speech Minister Cadet hailed the performance of these young people "It is with a feeling of pride and joy that I welcome Vanessa and Cedric. The victory of these young people is not only theirs, it is also that of the College Catts Pressoir and especially Haiti,"underlining that this brilliant participation proves that despite criticism against the education system, there is a job which is done still somewhere. The Minister promised to continue to support young people in order to give them more opportunities through education, including school scholarships and invited other school leaders to take inspiration from the work done at the College Catts Pressoir. Guy Etienne, while congratulating the two young people who have just measured themselves against other young people from all over the world, is proud of what is happening at his school in terms of training young people and believes that this work should be duplicated in all other schools in the country "I sincerely thank the Minister of National Education who accompanies us and understands the need to have a critical mass of quality schools in the country. " For her part, Deputy Mayor Rose-Michelle Bellabe expressed her joy and pride for this honorable participation of Haiti in this competition "You are role models for other Haitian students. I'm proud of you," noting by the same ocassion that the Communal Council is working in partnership with the College Catts Pressoir, to ensure that students from this institution can share their experiences with those of the communal schools At the end of the ceremony, the Minister Cadet announced that his Ministry undertook to assume the full payment of school fees for these two young people for the academic year 2018-2019. HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... Messages : Passing of Kofi Annan President Jovenel Moise "Kofi Annan, a great UN figure, has passed away. Nobel Peace Prize, his passage at the head of the Institution has left the memory of a craftsman of global stability. I bow to his remains and convey my condolences to the great family of the United Nations." PM resigning Jack Guy Lafontant "I salute the departure of a world political leader, former Secretary-General Kofi Annan, who died in Switzerland on 18 August. Nobel Peace Prize winner in 2001, Annan marked his time as head of the institution and his death is a great loss for Africa and for the world." Michaelle Jean "From friend Kofi Annan, who has seen the world fall into horror, I hold this confession, its dilemma "How can the United Nations defend its raison d'etre if it fails to stand up for human rights first and foremost?" Respect for this tireless peace maker." Deputy Gary Bodeau "Kofi Annan, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and former UN Secretary General. Beyond the speech, a whole life dedicated to fight for a better world. The example to follow." The opposition wants a transitional government In a note, the organizations of the "democratic and popular" movement which gathers about twenty opposition political parties, which are not involved in the consultations with the appointed Prime Minister, Jean Henry Ceant for the formation of the next Government, reiterates its attachment to the installation of a Transitional Government with a provisional President from the Court of Cassation. Canada : More than 500 rejected Haitian asylum seekers More than 500 Haitian asylum seekers in Canada, have already received notifications of Canadian immigration to leave the country after the rejection of their demands. https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-25196-haiti-flash-already-more-than-500-haitians-entered-illegally-in-canada-expelled-in-haiti.html Did you know ? The Ministry of Planning and External Cooperation (MPCE) funded the restoration of the Cap-Haitien Cathedral, built in 1670 during the founding of the city of Cap-Haitien. Work that lasted nearly 2 years Festival of Gelee The festivities of the Festival of Gelee in Les Cayes (12th to 15th of August) took place overall in a good atmosphere. The Civil Protection volunteers who were mobilized in Gelee, recorded only one case of stabbing, who received first treatment on the spot before being rushed to the hospital by a team from the National Ambulance Center (CAN). HL/ HaitiLibre th. (Photo: VNA) The event aims to honour Vietnamese artists, traditional craft villages and famous silk and brocade weaving destinations, as well as Japans silk products, contributing to the development of traditional silk and brocade weaving in Vietnam. There are a series of activities, namely an exhibition on latest products of leading brands from Vietnam and Japan and a symposium on the conservation and development of traditional silk and brocade weaving. In addition, fashion shows featuring silk clothing created by Vietnamese and Japanese designers and Kimono, traditional Japanese garment, will be held within the event. The Japan Cultural Day in Quang Nam and the 16th Hoi An-Japan Cultural Exchange is underway in Hoi An city from August 17th-19th. As part of activities marking the 45th anniversary of the Vietnam-Japan diplomatic relations (1973-2018), the events are jointly organised by the provincial Peoples Committee, the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, agencies, organisations and businesses in Quang Nam and Japan./.